Every year, Sophie takes over the kitchen at Hope’s Crossing Kennels to bake batch after batch of holiday treats for her friends and family. She could bake at her apartment, but the kitchen at Hope’s Crossing is bigger. Boom loves to help out and all the adults like to pass through the kitchen to snitch a cookie or two as they go through their work day. There’s always new recipes to try but she always bakes her meltaway snowball cookies. And of course, Sophie bakes for the dogs of Hope’s Crossing Kennels too. She’d never leave a soul out of the festivities. * * * Sophie’s Melt Away Snow Balls (for humans!) Ingredients: 2 cups Flour 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/8 tsp salt 1 cup butter, cold 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup miniature chocolate chips Powdered Sugar Directions: Heat oven to 400 degrees F In large bowl combine flour, powdered sugar and salt. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add vanilla and or mini chocolate chips. Mix with hands to form smooth dough. Using about a Tbsp of dough, shape into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 400 degrees F…

Describe THE SOUL OF A SEAL in 6 words. Alpha Male Female Sexy Action Space Tell us something interesting about Bennett and Kimberly that we won’t find out in the book. They are both intensely passionate, not just about each other and the space race, but also about humor. They enjoy cracking each other up. Can you tell us about your experience with Navy SEALs and how being married to one ties into your books? Though a SEAL might retire or leave the Navy, in my opinion, he takes his laser-focus and dedication to task with him. Whatever he ends up doing, whether it’s a task or learning or new skill, it will be completed effectively and efficiently. As a wife, it’s wonderful having a husband who will take a ‘honey-do’ task list and go above and beyond. 4 fun facts about the book… It was super-fun learning more about Navy frogmen and their connection to the space program. Speaking with individuals, who actually met the space capsules in the water, was fascinating. I’ve met quite a few SEALs who want to travel to space. Such an interesting experience to create new technology concepts for the hero and heroine to…

Describe SWEET SOUTHERN BAD BOY in 6 words. Fun, funny, sexy and happy romance. Favorite thing to munch on while you write? Baby carrots and homemade hummus. Weird, I know. But then I top it off with Hershey’s chocolate nuggets; no nuts. Plain milk chocolate for me. Tell us something interesting about Katie and Vance that we won’t find out in the book. Katie went to Hawaii for spring break one year with her friend Inslee and learned how to surf. And Vance was at his sister-in-law’s side when her third child was born, because his brother was serving overseas. What’s your favorite TV show? How about Katie and Vance’s? My favorite show for the past 6 years has been Project Runway…I’m obsessed. In my next life, I’m going to be a fashion designer, oh, and a ballet dancer (no relevance, I know). Katie and Vance’s favorite show would probably be House of Cards for its suspense and drama. If Vance could’ve written any novel out there, what would it be? How about you? If Vance could’ve written any novel it would probably be Catch-22 or The Hunt for Red October. And for me, of course, I’d have to say…

I write in the Victorian period, usually somewhere around the mid-1850s. In book three of Those Magnificent Malverns series, Ridley Malvern, the second son, became Lord Caulfield after rescuing the queen’s favorite son from an icy pond. Although the queen bestowed the title of baron upon him as his reward, nothing else of substance went with it, so Ridley went about building a fortune on his own, only to lose it in a series of financial downturns. Desperate to refill his coffers before his feisty siblings learned of his plight, he wed a rebellious, high-spirited Highland lass sight unseen. His bride brought to the marriage both an immense dowry, and a dark secret that would bind them together or destroy their lives. Thus, begins the story of Ridley Malvern, Lord Caulfield, and Lainie MacGregor, who meet at the altar on their wedding day. Marriage between an Englishman and a Highland lass was considered quite unusual even during Victorian times because Scots were still long on memory as to the misery the British had heaped upon them throughout history. I love writing character-driven stories in which people are forced to draw upon inner strengths they didn’t know they possessed. However, I…