Why I’m Thankful…A Personal Story about Diabetes
Kiss and Thrill is actively involved in trying to raise money for diabetes this month — so pardon us rerunning a post from last November. Lena Diaz’s story of her daughter’s struggle with diabetes touched all of our hearts and is one of many reasons we’re participating in the Brenda Novak Auction for the Cure of Diabetes. We have put together a nifty Kiss and Thrill Gift Basket, Carey Baldwin has donated her Vail, Colorado condo and a copy of her book, and of course there are tons of other wonderful things on the Brenda Novak Auction Homepage. Please take a look around and you’ll be surprised at the inexpensive goodies up for auction. And thank you for helping cure diabetes!
Now here is Lena Diaz’s post:
When I think about what I’m thankful for, I can’t ignore the fact that November is Diabetes Awareness month. Eleven years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with this terrible disease, and for that–I am thankful. Not because she has diabetes of course, but because she’s a survivor. Like most people, I wasn’t aware of the symptoms of diabetes, and because of that, I very nearly lost my daughter.
By sharing this personal story about my daughter’s diagnosis, my hope is that people who think they know about diabetes – but have never personally experienced its impact in their lives – will take a moment to read this. You never know. What you learn might save a life.
Most people are familiar with Type II diabetes, which is typically caused, or at least exacerbated, by an unhealthy lifestyle (over-eating, over-weight). People with Type II can lose weight and exercise, and often (but not always) symptoms of the disease will dramatically improve or disappear altogether.
I’m going to tell you about the other type of diabetes, Type 1, which my daughter Jennifer has. The picture above shows her in the hospital a couple of days after she was diagnosed.
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, because it usually strikes children. In this disease, the islet cells in your pancreas stop producing insulin. Most people who get this disease are NOT overweight. And losing weight or eating differently won’t make it go away or make it better. Your body doesn’t produce insulin. Period. And if you don’t have insulin every day, you die. Period.
Most people think they know the symptoms of diabetes. Thirsty all the time. Check. Frequent urination. Check. But there are many other symptoms you may not be aware of. I used to be one of those people who didn’t know the other symptoms, and because of that, I almost lost my daughter. Let’s step back in time to when my daughter, Jennifer, was seven.
Jennifer was thin. Always. No matter what she ate, she didn’t gain much weight (Symptom #1). From the time she could hold a sippy cup, she liked to drink a lot. So, for her, drinking a lot (and therefore going to the bathroom a lot) was normal. (Symptom #2)
Jennifer was relatively healthy, just like any other child her age. But shortly after she started school, she would complain about tummy aches. (Symptom #3) She only complained occasionally. It wasn’t chronic. Kids get tummy aches. A lot. So I really didn’t think that was a problem. I gave her medicine for her tummy, and she always felt better the next day.
I took her for a haircut one day. The hair dresser called me over. I thought she was going to ask me something about the hair cut, but instead she showed me several long strands of my daughter’s hair. The hair dresser told me my daughter’s hair came out too easily (Symptom #4). I have to tell you, I blew that off. I thought that lady was being silly.
A few weeks later, my daughter wasn’t acting like herself. She sat around a lot instead of playing. Her cheeks were also bright red. My husband took her to the pediatrician. I asked my husband to be sure to let the doctor know that the hair dresser said my daughter’s hair was falling out too easily. Because by this time I was thinking the same thing, but I didn’t have a clue what that could mean. Our pediatrician ignored the hair symptom, much like I initially had. And he diagnosed my daughter with Fifth’s Disease, which basically means a red rash and that she is tired a lot and doesn’t feel well. The cure was to give her time to get better. (Being diagnosed with an illness OTHER than diabetes is Symptom #5).
The following weekend, my daughter woke up in the middle of the night. She said her tummy hurt. And she was breathing very fast. (Symptom #6) She threw up and then seemed to feel better. No fever. So I put her to bed with me and she went to sleep.
The next morning she was feeling better, but not great. Her tummy didn’t hurt anymore, and she wasn’t throwing up, but she sat around not doing much. And when I looked at her, I could tell there was something wrong, but wasn’t sure what. I can only describe it as saying she didn’t look like Jennifer. Something about her face was ‘off’ but I couldn’t figure out what it was. (Symptom #7 – sunken-in eyes)
That was in September, on a holiday weekend. I was definitely planning to take her back to her doctor after the holiday. But I was so worried about her, that I went ahead and took her to the emergency room. Honestly, I felt silly doing it. She had no fever. Her doctor had already diagnosed her a few days earlier with Fifth’s Disease, which could theoretically explain her not feeling well. But my gut told me to go, so I went.
On the way to the hospital. She complained about being thirsty and I bought her a Gator-ade to drink. She drank a LARGE bottle on the way to the E.R. – all of it. It did nothing to quench her thirst. Her tongue was dry like sandpaper (Symptom #8).
When the nurse triaged my daughter, I told the nurse my daughter didn’t feel well, had just been diagnosed with Fifth’s, and that she drank a bottle of Gator-ade on the way to the hospital and her tongue was dry. I also mentioned her face just didn’t look right to me but I didn’t know why. I hadn’t even finished telling her all of that when the nurse reached for a glucose monitor and checked my daughter’s blood sugar level. That nurse knew with just one look that my daughter was severely dehydrated – which explains the thirst and the sunken-in eyes that made her look ‘off’.
Her sugar level was too high to register on the meter.
My daughter was immediately taken to the Intensive Care Unit. Her blood was drawn and sent to the hospital lab to get an accurate blood sugar level reading, and she was put on an insulin drip. A normal sugar level is around 100. If your sugar gets around 250 or higher, it’s considered really bad and dangerous. My daughter’s sugar was over 1000. Her doctor later told me he had never heard of anyone having sugar that high who survived.
My daughter spent four days in the ICU. I almost lost her. The doctor later told me that when sugar levels get that high, people typically have seizures and die. He also told me that if I had waited until after the weekend, my daughter would have died. He estimated she was literally within an hour or two of seizing and dying.
Think about that for a minute.
How many of you would have taken your child to the emergency room when they had no fever and just seemed ‘off’ and just weren’t very active? Especially since the pediatrician had diagnosed her with a condition just a few days earlier that explained her symptoms? I don’t know for sure why I went to the E.R. that day. My gut just told me something was wrong, so I went. And I thank God that I did.
I’m not saying to assume diabetes every time your child has a tummy ache. I’m saying to trust your gut and be your child’s advocate.
MOST Type 1 diabetics are diagnosed with a different illness shortly before being diagnosed with diabetes. Why? Because Type 1 is an auto-immune disease. Every time a person with Type 1 gets sick — whether it’s a cold or something else — their body attacks the Islet cells in their pancreas, killing more of them. One day, one of those “attacks” kills enough cells so that the diabetic goes into ketoacidosis, which is what happened to my daughter. Her blood was literally turning to acid and killing her.
So what about all of those symptoms I mentioned? Here’s a quick run-down of each symptom, and what it really meant, even though I didn’t know it 
at the time.
- Can’t gain weight – Your body needs insulin in order to absorb nutrition, so without insulin your body eats all the fat to survive.
- Thirsty – If your sugar is too high your blood is getting acidic, so your body’s natural reaction is to crave water to dilute the acid.
- Frequent urination – Drink more, pee more (smile)
- Hair Falling out – Malnutrition! The body can’t absorb nutrients.
- Sunken-in Eyes – Dehydration because the body can’t absorb water anymore (acidic blood).
- Tummy ache – Malnutrition
- Throwing up – Potassium and electrolytes in the blood are all ‘off’ which throws the entire body out of whack and makes you sick
- Rapid Breathing – Respiratory distress. This is one of the last systems, along with throwing up. It happens right before the body shuts down. Next symptom – seizure and death.
Okay, enough of the doom and gloom. I’m happy to report that my daughter recovered and is now living a rich fulfilling life in spite of the incredible challenges of living with this horrible disease. (The picture above is a current picture of Jennifer.)
Hopefully by sharing my daughter’s story, I have educated some people about symptoms you may have otherwise overlooked. And if that saves a life, well then, that’s a wonderful thing.
Grave Danger winner
The winner of Grave Danger is Cris! Congratulations!!
Be sure to contact us within ten days with your snail mail address to receive your signed copy of Rachel’s new book. 
~~~
Join us Tuesday for author Stacy Green talking about Black Market adoptions, the basis for her new novel TIN GOD. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Born in Indiana and raised in Iowa, Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.
Rachel Grant puts herself in Grave Danger
I wanted to be an archeologist for at least a year after I discovered Macchu Picchu (Peru) in a sixth grade textbook. I later realized I might not have the patience required for the job, but that didn’t stop my fascination with ancient sites and unearthed artifacts. Which is part of what I love about Rachel Grant’s books. They give the reader a glimpse into the real world of an archeologist. Add in some danger and steamy romance, and her stories have it all.
Rachel’s latest—out today!—Grave Danger, includes a determined archeologist trying to rebuild her reputation, a stalker, an unexpected find in the archaeological site, and a sexy small town cop who’s not sure if he can trust her, but can’t stay away. You won’t want to miss it!
She’s being stalked…
After struggling to recover from a career-crippling mistake, archaeologist Libby Maitland has landed the project of her dreams—a data recovery excavation in a picturesque, historic sawmill town. Tasked with digging up secrets of the town’s founding family, Libby soon learns that nothing in Coho, Washington, is as idyllic as it seems.
She’s barely settled into her new home when suspicious events make her believe she’s being stalked…
Or maybe she’s losing her mind.
Coho Police Chief Mark Colby can’t decide if Libby is crazy or if she has her own twisted agenda, but the deeper he delves into her past, the more intrigued he becomes. Even as he and Libby grow closer, he can’t quite let his initial suspicion go.
When Libby’s life is threatened, they must work together to determine if the truth about her stalker is buried in her past, or if the answers can be found in the layers of the excavation.
Read on for more about Rachel, archeology, and her books. And be sure to answer her question for a chance to win a signed copy of Grave Danger.
Gwen: Clearly your experience as an archeologist provides background for your stories, but was there something in particular that sparked Grave Danger? An incident? An article? A scene idea?
Rachel: The story for GD really flowed from the axiom “write what you know” – and while I’ve never been romanced by a hunky police chief or been stalked, I know a fair amount about prehistoric shell midden sites in the Pacific Northwest. I wanted to write a book about real archaeology, as it’s practiced in the United States, because most books with an archaeological storyline either focus on treasure hunting (which will get a real archaeologist blackballed) or contain other inaccuracies. So I started with the archaeological project, and plotted from there.
Avoiding spoilers, there is a discovery Libby makes during the excavation that is a real concern among archaeologists given the protocols we must follow in similar circumstances.
Is that vague or confusing enough? 
Gwen: Hah, now everyone has to read it. 
This book was the first you’d ever written. I know you’ve made a lot of changes since the first iteration almost a decade ago, but what is it about this story that kept pulling you back in?
Rachel: I shudder when I think of that first draft. I set this story aside in 2008 so I could focus on writing Concrete Evidence and other, more suspense-y books, but I never really let this one go. This is my small-town-romantic-mystery, as opposed to my city-set-political-thrillers, and I’d love to write more books in this part of the romance genre. I’ve had the sequel plotted for years and I can’t wait to write it.
Gwen: I definitely want the sequel! In GD, Libby is an archeologist trying to restore her good name, and Mark is the chief of police of the small town where she’s starting a new project. What do you think makes these two characters perfect for each other?
Rachel: Libby is really attracted to confidence, because she’s lost confidence in herself after a professional and emotional setback, but Mark sees her strength—and the courage in her convictions that she thinks she lacks—from their first meeting. Plus they are both outsiders in a small, closed community, but they each need to understand and become members of that community as part of their respective professions.
To me, the town of Coho was a character—a beautiful, pristine historic gem on the outside, but with a dark and conflicted history that overshadows today.
Gwen: Confidence is definitely sexy. Grave Danger—and your first release Concrete Evidence—both have archeologist characters, but the books aren’t a series. Do you have related stories for either of them in the works?
Rachel: I’ve had the sequel to GD plotted for a long time and look forward to writing it. I have two sequels to CE written and am working on a third. No promises yet on when those books will be released.
Gwen: Ooh, can’t wait for more in both series. Grave Danger takes place in a small sawmill town in Washington State, and Concrete Evidence was set in the big city—Washington, D.C. Do you find it easier to write small town or big city settings?
Rachel: The fictional small town was based on an historic sawmill town not far from where I live. This setting was easier simply because I could adapt the setting to suit my needs, but I loved writing the D.C. book too, because I lived there for two years and know the city well enough to write it with confidence. In CE, every scene (except for the ones set on fictional tribal-owned land) was set in a place I’ve visited at least once. Erica’s apartment in SW D.C. was my own, and the Bethesda office building was (not really) shockingly similar to the building I worked in.
Gwen: I definitely find it easier to write about places I’ve lived or at least visited. What’s the most interesting thing you ever found while working as an archeologist?
Rachel: Oh, that’s a hard one! In the Pacific Northwest, we don’t have pottery, we have woven basketry instead. Woven fibers decompose easily—they are only preserved in ideal conditions, very wet, or very dry—so finding prehistoric basketry is rare. Years ago, I worked on an excavation inside Porcupine Cave in Eastern Washington and caves and rockshelters have wonderfully dry preservation conditions. I found—in the screen, not in situ—a small fragment of a basket. That was really cool, but it was only about an inch across and something that wouldn’t trigger backflips for people who don’t know how rare and unique the find was.
Another exciting find was in SW Idaho, when I found a petroglyph on a rock face on the Owyhee Plateau. The petroglyph itself wasn’t all that exciting – it was a simple circle slightly larger than a softball – but still, it was the first time that particular petroglyph was recorded by an archaeologist and I was thrilled to have spotted it.
On a more bizarre note, I once dug a pit and found a rusted metal bucket and shovel head—evidence the site had been looted about a hundred years before.
Gwen: How cool to be the first to record a petroglyph! And I hadn’t thought of finding looting evidence, but then I guess that’s just another layer of artifact with its own provenance… Okay, one last question, like my experience after reading about Macchu Picchu, was there a particular incident that sparked your interest in archaeology?
Rachel: I was a senior in high school when I discovered Elizabeth Peters’ mysteries, and I (fondly) blame her for my decision to become an archaeologist, which leads me to my question for our readers…
Have you ever read a book that made you reconsider your career choice?
I’m giving a signed copy of Grave Danger to one commenter. Thanks so much for hosting me today, Gwen! I want to thank all the ladies at Kiss and Thrill for the fabulous support you all have given me over the last months.
Gwen: Thanks for sharing your new release with us. I can’t wait for more of your stories!
Pick up one of Rachel’s books today. C’mon, you know you want to.
Concrete Evidence
Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Barnes & Noble
Grave Danger
Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
Kendra’s Winner!
It was a blast having the awesome Kendra Elliot with us this week. We hope she comes back very soon. As you recall, Kendra has generously offered a signed copy of her latest release BURIED to one lucky commenter.
The winner of a signed copy of BURIED is Mary! Mary please contact us here with your snail mail address to claim your prize.
Don’t forget to join us next Tuesday when Gwen hosts our very own Rachel Grant. Y’all are loving CONCRETE EVIDENCE, right? Then you won’t want to miss our Tuesday blog!
Kendra Elliot: Secrets Hidden Chilled and Buried in Bone
We have a special treat for you guys today: An interview with Kendra Elliot, author of the Bone Secrets series, along with a giveaway of a signed copy of her latest romantic suspense novel, BURIED! Don’t forget to comment below for a chance to win.
I’ve been hearing wonderful things about Kendra and her books, so I’ve been itching to have her as our guest. Before we get to the interview, here’s some information about her lastest release, BURIED.
What reviewers are saying about BURIED:
“Buried by Kendra Elliot took me by surprise. ‘Engrossed’ is too mild a word for what I felt while reading this amazing romantic suspense novel.” —Morgan Doremus, RT Editor; RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence Nominee
“Romantic suspense fans, drop everything — cooking, cleaning, even the dog can wait — because you will have your nose buried in Buried for the next 24 hours. Elliot once again proves to be a genius in the genre with her third heart-pounding novel in the Bone Secrets collection. The author knows romance and suspense, reeling readers in instantaneously and wowing them with an extremely surprising finish. Plus, returning characters from her first two stellar stories make a guest appearance with gusto. Elliot’s best by a mile!” —RT Book Reviews Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars
“A page-turning blend of romance, thrills, and danger! HIDDEN is a winning debut from a new star in romantic suspense.” –Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
BURIED: A BONE SECRETS NOVEL
MARCH 26, 2013
Reporter Michael Brody is used to getting answers. The one that’s eluded him, though, for twenty long years is learning what happened to his brother Daniel the day his school bus disappeared. When the remains of the other children are discovered—and Daniel’s aren’t among them—a desperate Michael calls upon the sole survivor of the tragedy, Chris Jacobs, hoping he will finally break his silence.
Constant fear of being found by his kidnapper has driven Chris into hiding. The only lead Michael has is Chris’s sister, Jamie. Strong and impenetrable, she’s capable of burrowing deep into Michael’s heart. As they race to find Chris, Michael and Jamie somehow find each other among the decades of wreckage. But locating Chris may not be so easy. Now grown, his scars go far deeper than skin.
In Buried, the next thrilling Bone Secrets novel from bestselling author Kendra Elliot, a damaged hero digs deep into his terrifying past…and unearths a chance at love for the future.
Welcome Kendra!
Carey: Kendra, you’ve got a smashing success on your hands with your Bone Secrets Series which includes HIDDEN , CHILLED, and your latest release, BURIED. Can you tell us how your background in dentistry influenced the series?
Kendra: Thanks, Carey! I spent 16 years as a dental hygienist. I have a sister who is a hygienist, a sister who is a dentist, and a brother-in-law who is a dentist. My dentist from when I was kid would die laughing to know I went into the field. I was the kid with four cavities each visit. Part of keeping my dental license requires I complete continuing education classes each year. I loved the forensic identification courses and when I was looking for an idea for HIDDEN, I came up with a forensic dentist who identifies remains by their teeth. She loves what she does, but she’s not comfortable working around some of the nastier aspects of the medical examiner’s office.
Carey: What do you see as the unifying theme for the three books?
Kendra: Each book has a different main character that works in a different forensics specialty. HIDDEN has the forensic odontologist, CHILLED has a forensic nurse death investigator, and ALONE (January 2014) has a forensic anthropologist. BURIED features the odontologist and anthropologist as secondary characters.
Carey: I frequently get asked the question, “Where do you get your story ideas?” But what I often wonder is where do certain characters come from. Is there anyone in your real life who has inspired a character in one of your books?
Kendra: My younger sister was a big part of the inspiration of Lacey, the forensic odontologist in HIDDEN. My sister is a dentist and was a NCAA gymnastics champion. I based a lot of Lacey’s background on my sister’s experiences. I had already written the scene where Lacey’s home is broken into and some jewelry stolen, when my sister’s house was broken into and they took her jewelry. It was freaky.
Carey: Erm..That really is freaky! Michael Brody and Jamie Jacobs are the protagonists in BURIED. What quirks, if any do these two have that make them unique?
Kendra: Michael is an investigative reporter who is freakishly intelligent, but can’t live by the rules. He likes to take short cuts to get what he wants and usually breaks the law while doing so. The heroine, Jamie, is an elementary school principal. Her life is based on rules and order; it’s how she keeps her sanity. These two butt heads like crazy but of course can’t get past their attraction.
Carey: Michael and Jamie have the common goal of locating Jamie’s brother Chris. What else draws them together?
Kendra: Outside of animal attraction? Michael’s brother vanished in the same incident as Chris two decades ago. Chris didn’t return for two years. Both of them lost their siblings as children and have strong empathy for the other’s experience.
Carey: Kendra, you’ve received glowing reviews for your trilogy, and are consistently praised for your in-depth forensic knowledge. What types of research have you done in order to deliver such authentic accounts?
Kendra: Blushing here…I read a lot. I have shelves full of forensic manuals and devour other authors’ works who write in the same specialty that I do. I have access to a medical examiner, but I try not to bug him with questions too often. Amazingly, Facebook opens up access to a whole bunch of experts. I refuse to be a pest and dig hard to find the answers to questions before I bug a friend. As a hygienist, I had a patient who was a chemist for the Oregon State Forensics Lab…talk about a boring job. It was not CSI.
Carey: Let’s get personal. Which character in your stories is most like you, and in what way?
Kendra: Hmm. There’s a little of me in all my female characters. I’m a bit introverted and hide my emotions like Victoria Peres, seek the best in people like Lacey, and I’m a tiny bit OCD like Jamie in BURIED. (Ask my family about recycling and the proper way to load the dishwasher.) Sometimes I wonder if the people who really know me are nodding their heads as they read my books, saying, “That’s exactly what Kendra would do.”
Carey: LOL about the proper way to load the dishwasher. If anyone needs lessons see either Kendra or me! What books are on your keeper shelf?
Kendra: Everything by Lee Child, Robert Crais, Tami Hoag, Lisa Gardner, Karen Rose, Allison Brennan, and Michael Connelly.
Carey: What can readers expect from you in the future? Will there be more Bone Secrets books, or is there a new series on the horizon?
Kendra: ALONE comes out January 2014. The forensic anthropologist, Victoria Peres from HIDDEN and BURIED will finally have her chance at happily ever after. I didn’t want to write about her, because she intimidates the hell out of me and comes across as a cold b%tch. But my editor loved her in BURIED and pushed for me to write her story. She was right, of course. I’m contracted for two more Bone Secrets novels after ALONE. There is the possibility of a Lacey Campbell (my HIDDEN heroine) short story this summer…I’m waiting on the details!
www.KendraElliot.com Facebook Twitter Blog
Kendra, Thanks so much for joining us today and for your generous giveaway! Please come back soon! Readers don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of BURIED
And the Winners Are…
Thank you all so much for sharing my print release day with me! I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful group of blog mates and readers! I love having the chance to share my journey with you all!
The winner of a signed copy of FIRST DO NO EVIL is Brenda Rumsey.
What a treat it was to have the awesome Elisabeth Naughton with us on Monday! Thank you Elisabeth and please come back soon!
The winner of BOUND is Beth Haney. 
Winners please contact us here with your snail mail addresses so that we can send out your books! Congrats and happy reading!
Carey Baldwin’s Spectacular Announcement! (Drum roll…)
Lena, I don’t know how spectacular the news is, but I’m danged excited! Today is the day the paperback version of FIRST DO NO EVIL is officially released into the world. That’s right, all of you who don’t do e-readers (like my Aunt Lynn) can now read my debut romantic thriller. Help me celebrate by leaving a comment below, and I’ll give one randomly chosen commenter a signed print copy.
The reviews are in for FIRST DO NO EVIL
“Engaging, witty, intelligent and fresh. Add in hot romance and scintillating suspense, and Carey Baldwin has penned a winner!”~ New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard
“A first rate thriller…with plenty of sizzle to boot!”~Fresh Fiction
“First Do No Evil by Carey Baldwin hits all the right notes in a compelling, superbly written romantic suspense thriller that grabbed me from the beginning and still hasn’t let go.” ~The Romance Dish
“Carey Baldwin puts the Thrill in Thriller. A sexy, tense, sometimes shocking story that will grab you from page one and never let go. FIRST DO NO EVIL is fast-paced, smart, and daring – a roller-coaster ride that will steal your breath and set your pulse racing. This story should come with a health warning! But the delicious love story is worth the risk.” ~ Lena Diaz author of HE KILLS ME HE KILLS ME NOT and SIMON SAYS DIE“…A dazzling talent for writing pure evil.”~ Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews“A perfect example of a well-balanced mix between suspense, romance and strong characterization… This book made me gasp…bite my nails in suspense, cry with its emotional intensity and sigh with its romance. Carey Baldwin wooed me with her excellent writing, heart-pounding suspense and fabulous characters. She’s been added to my list of go-to authors for romantic thrillers! I was just blown away. A perfect 10.” ~ Pearl’s World of Romance
For those of you who are interested here are the blurb and links.
FIRST DO NO EVIL
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes
One killer is in her blood. The other is in her house.
There’s a killer lurking in Dr. Skylar Novak’s family tree: the gene for breast cancer. That’s why her brilliant brother invented the Bella vaccine. But even if the miracle drug protects her from the cancer that took her mother’s life, it can’t save Sky from the flesh and bone evil stalking her in secret.
When the killer strikes, detective Daniel Benson finds himself in the wrong place at the right time. The bold detective manages to save Sky’s life…just in time for her to return the favor. Survival leads to seduction, and Danny risks everything—his career, even his life, to keep Sky safe. But will the buried sins they uncover cost him her heart?
Danny’s strong arms may hold her close, but only Sky can stop the terror that’s coming next…
PRODUCT WARNINGS
Contents include: One heart-melting hero—good luck getting this delicious detective out of your head. One reluctant heroine—wielding a Glock was never on her to-do list. One crazed villain—an entire flock of baa baa black sheep won’t be enough to put you to sleep. And a lifesaving vaccine with one deadly side effect—murder.
Don’t forget to comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of FIRST DO NO EVIL.
And now for the Winner announcement from Thursday’s post about Angi Morgan’s newest release, Protecting Their Child…
Jan Vanengen, You are the winner of a copy of PROTECTING THEIR CHILD by Angi Morgan.
Nancycinnc, You have won a copy of EXPLOSIVE ATTRACTION by Lena Diaz.
Please use the Contact Us page to provide your email address and your preference (Nook or Kindle copy) to receive your prize!
Elisabeth Naughton Answers All Your Questions about Bondage
It’s been more than a year since I hosted Elisabeth Naughton on the blog in which she gave us advice on how to electrocute your husband without getting caught, and in that time, all of us at Kiss and Thrill have learned that people use the Internet to search for ways to murder their spouse with disturbing regularity.
We at Kiss and Thrill would like to believe our blog had something to do with the spectacular rise of WAIT FOR ME, the book Elisabeth featured in that blog post, which spent 5 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list earlier this year. (And is currently #4 on Amazon’s bestsellers of 2013 so far!) but we know we had nothing to do with it. If there were a ranking of authors who give advice on mariticide, we could and would take full credit for Elisabeth’s #1 ranking, but as far as WAIT FOR ME goes, the credit all goes to Elisabeth, who wrote a fabulous, intensely emotional romantic suspense novel that will always be one of my favorites in the genre. (Seriously, if you haven’t read WFM yet, get it now—the book is amazing!)
In late March, the latest book in Elisabeth’s Eternal Guardians series, BOUND, was released, and because I love her paranormal romance novels as much as her romantic suspense, I invited Elisabeth back to K&T, hoping this time she’d give us some solid advice on bondage (hey, the book is called Bound …) but leery of being ranked #1 in bondage advice within the pantheon of romance authors, Elisabeth opted to be interviewed instead. Personally I was looking forward to seeing “how to tie up your husband without getting rope burns” in the search engine terms, but Elisabeth was firm.
However, while she didn’t want to answer *my* bondage questions, she didn’t say anything about questions from our readers… (and I might be sort of hoping she doesn’t notice the title I gave to this post). In spite of the lack of bondage advice, I’m thrilled to welcome Elisabeth Naughton back to Kiss and Thrill! Elisabeth is giving away a copy of BOUND to one lucky commenter. Please check back on Thursday to see if you are our winner!
Rachel: What published author (any genre) turns you into a total fangirl? Is there a particular book or is this based on their entire body of work?
Elisabeth: Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I love all her books, but especially her Chicago Stars series. My favorites are THIS HEART OF MINE and MATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I can’t write funny – I’ve tried but my characters always end up either too angsty or killing someone – but I love to read funny and no one does romantic comedies better than Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
Funny fan-girl story about her…at last year’s Romantic Times Convention in Chicago, I saw her at the book signing. I was signing too, and she had a featured table at the end of my row. I kept watching to see when she had a break in readers because I desperately wanted to get an autographed copy of her recent release. So when I had a lull in readers and I saw she did too, I jumped up and raced over to her. She must have seen me coming because her eyes grew wide and she leaned waaaay back in her seat. Then (like a total fan girl) I started rambling. I have no idea about what – probably which books of hers I’m in love with. I know I went on and on about being a writer myself (so she wouldn’t think I was a total loon) and pointed out my table. She gave me one of those “aaah” raised eyebrow looks and leaned back even further, like she didn’t believe me. About half way through my rambling, I realized things weren’t going very well and she probably thought I was a total stalker. Which, at this point, I felt like. So completely mortified, I grabbed my book, ducked my head and slinked back to my table.
Rachel: I haven’t read THIS HEART OF MINE (yet), but I LOVED MATCH ME IF YOU CAN. And the next one… I think it started with the heroine in a beaver costume? LOVED that book. I would happily take a month off from life and read nothing but SEP.
Have you ever written fan fiction, and if so, what work was it based on? If you haven’t, what would you be tempted to write fan fiction about?
Elisabeth: No, I’ve never written fan fiction, but if I was tempted, I’d HAVE to write fan fic for Game of Thrones. Except I wouldn’t kill off the well-loved characters (well, not all of them anyway). Or, in keeping with my paranormals, I’d kill them off then bring them back to life (but not as white-walkers. Ew!)
Rachel: I’ve never thought about it that way before, but I totally agree—what is fanfic for if not to fix the heartache George R.R. Martin caused me when I first read Game of Thrones? I loved that book. And it broke my heart. Okay, next question. Facebook or Twitter?
Elisabeth: Both, though I really like the ease of Twitter. I’m sort of addicted. I find I use Facebook more for promo and to connect with my fans and Twitter to network with other authors.
Rachel: What is the strangest weapon you’ve used to kill off a character, either on or off-scene?
Elisabeth: I’m so boring. I use knives and guns and sword-type weapons in my books. I did kill a character with a pitcher of lemonade in STOLEN SEDUCTION. Poisoned lemonade. That was fun.
Rachel: Tell us about BOUND.
Elisabeth: BOUND is the sixth book in my Eternal Guardians series. The Eternal Guardians are seven warriors who can trace their lineage back to the greatest heroes in Ancient Greece and who protect the mortal realm from threats of the Underworld. BOUND is Titus’s book.
Rachel: Sigh. Love Titus. I know you have a lot of fans who are eagerly awaiting Nick’s book (me too!) but I’ve been waiting for Titus ever since we learned a bit about his curse in ENTWINED.
Elisabeth: Titus is a descendent of Odysseus, the great thinker, but he’s been both blessed and cursed. He can read minds, but he also feels the emotions of those he touches. Touch is something he’s learned to avoid—from anyone—because the force of the emotional transfer can be crippling. He’s served with the Guardians for over a hundred years and never questioned his loyalty. Until he meets a woman he can touch and whose thoughts he can’t hear. Obsessed, he has an uncontrollable urge to find out why she’s special. And that curiosity takes him on a journey he never expected.
Rachel: I loved, loved, loved BOUND. I was enthralled with the way you interwove the myths involving Prometheus into the story and pulled together threads laid in earlier books in the series. And the heroine – well, I LOVE a strong, fiery heroine, and Natasa is that and so much more.
Thank you so much, Elisabeth for joining us today! We’ll open up comments to readers with questions about bondage… I mean BOUND…
Bestselling Author Elisabeth Naughton writes full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her books have appeared on every major bestsellers list, including the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Digital Book World and IndieReader, and have been nominated for numerous awards such as the prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, The Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her at www.ElisabethNaughton.com to learn more about her books.
