Sometimes readers ask where a book idea comes from. In the case of Out on a Limb, the idea stems from the panic all pet owners experience when their buddy is missing. In Limb, the question is– what will you do when your cat climbs to the top of your neighbor’s tree in a howling rainstorm? 

It was a dark and stormy night… Arriving home at 10 pm, still in skirt, pumps, etc from a long workday and night school, I entered the house. Kids in bed. Husband watching a late Monday Night Football game. The Patriots were on the west coast. Time for bed . . . until the cat escaped. I immediately followed. Through our yard. Into the neighbor’s yard. Up their tree. In my pumps and skirt. Cat . . . climbs higher. I climb higher. It starts raining. Hard. Cue the wind gusts. I’m clutching the skinny limbs you see all the way at the top of trees. I realized how high I’d climbed when the neighbor’s bedroom light winked out. Ten feet below me. The branches were getting slippery. Cat continues yowling– but refuses to budge. I lose one pump. Cue hysterical female sobs. (quietly, because– ssshh . . . the neighbors are now sleeping).

By halftime of the Pats game, Husband finally realizes I’m missing. I know– so flattering, right? He appears outside with a flashlight . . . searching near the car. I whisper-yell to him (because the neighbors are sleeping) and he finally looks up. And up. He trudges over to the neighbor’s yard to the base of the tree. Our conversation goes something like this: Me: Please call the fire department. Him: They probably won’t come for the cat. Me: Uh– how about to get me down? Him: I’ll just get a ladder. (Disappears to the man-shed. Returns ten minutes later with a five foot ladder). Me: What about the other fifteen feet? Him: I’ll guide you down. (Meanwhile, he’s informed me that I’m on the clock because the 3rd quarter is about to start. Me: angry whispers Call the fire department. Him: We can do this– and can you hurry up about it?

Bingo! A story idea. The moral here is never follow a cat up a tree– especially in a rainstorm. Especially late at night– while wearing heels. Especially during a Patriots game. The cat survived. I survived. But my husband missed the third quarter of the Pats game. I still hear of it to this day. 

It has been a hot, busy summer! Glad it will soon be fall, my favorite season. I am excited to announce book 3 of my contemporary romantic suspense series, Can’t Help Falling is coming soon! Book three, OUT ON A LIMB, will be available at all retail sites on September 18th! 

MaryJo Mullaney is out on a limb . . . literally. High in a tree in the middle of a gusting rainstorm. No glasses. No shoes. No coat. Rescuing her cat, Jack– who doesn’t realize he needs rescuing. Banker by day, hacker by night, she’s given up on the male species. Except Jack.

Coding his next blockbuster software release, millionaire developer Travis Lockwood, discovers a spy perched in the tree outside his second floor window. A rival developer out for a little espionage. This time he’ll take matters into his own hands.

Rescuing MaryJo is a breath of fresh air for the workaholic loner. Convincing the beautiful hacker that a hot, no-strings affair is better than a relationship may prove challenging. Because MaryJo has rules. Specifically, a seven-date-rule. Battling wills with the stubborn beauty ticks him off– yet, somehow makes him try even harder to win. But, risking his heart might be the greatest victory of all.  

When corporate espionage morphs into threats against MaryJo, they will battle a faceless enemy bent on destruction. At stake: his company . . . or MaryJo’s life.   

It has been a crazy winter and spring. I apologize to all those who have asked what’s taking so long with Alyssa and Teagan’s story. But I am excited to finally announce book 2 of my romantic suspense series, Can’t Help Falling is coming soon! Book two, OUT OF REACH, will be available on Amazon June 10th! 

Out of Reasons . . .

            Member of an elite Army Ranger squad specializing in black ops, Teagan ‘TJ’ O’Brien has traveled halfway around the world, returning home to Boston before another dangerous tour of duty. Discovering a beautiful squatter in his apartment after a sixteen hour flight is simply . . . unacceptable.  

            When Teagan breaks down the door, Alyssa Barnes’ memories come flooding back. One horrible, amazing night she’s never managed to erase– ending with Teagan’s leap from her bedroom window. Now, she’ll be forced to rely on the proven flight risk to catch the stalker who wants her out of the picture. 

             TJ’s best friend made him promise only one thing– stay away from his sister. Maintaining several continents between them has worked just fine. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he wants to believe it’s only to keep Alyssa safe. Because hunting a stalker is easier than resisting the woman he left behind.