FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW:The Firefighter Daddy by Margaret Daley

From Bachelor to Father

Firefighter Liam McGregory is used to staring down fivealarm fires—but becoming a father to his two little nieces has him sending out a call for help. When the girls return a lost pup to its beautiful owner, Liam thinks widow Sarah Blackburn is just the person he needs—or who the children need. He's promised to never marry again. ' Sarah takes his deal: she'll watch his kids and he'll watch her menagerie of pets—but the new father is off-limits. But two determined little matchmakers can be hard to resist when they need a mom to make one big happy family…

Interview:

How exciting to have Liam McGregory, the hero, from The Firefighter Daddy, a Love Inspired April release by Margaret Daley.

1.  Liam, tell me the most interesting thing about you. I enjoy my job as a firefighter and helping people in need.

2.  What do you do for fun? I love the outdoors and playing different sports. That’s what I usually did when I lived in Dallas before moving to Oklahoma to take care of my two nieces. Now I have tea parties with them and their dolls.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it? Coming to terms with my brother’s death.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life? Falling in love with a woman who wants to be a mother. I can’t have children and my first wife left me because of that.

5.  What is the most important thing to you? My two nieces.

6.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? Yes, usually non-fiction.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? That I could father a child.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? I didn’t until my nieces convinced me to get them each a kitten. He couldn’t say no to them.

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? I wouldn’t go back in time. What happened in the past is just that in the past.

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: Standoff at Christmas by Margaret Daley

DANGEROUS HOLIDAY HOMECOMING 

Anchorage K-9 officer Jake Nichols returns home for Christmas to recover from the accident that almost killed him—and find a little peace and quiet. But those plans are shattered when his childhood friend Rachel Hart gets caught up in a drug-smuggling ring after her aunt is brutally murdered. Jake quickly discovers that Port Aurora is no longer the tranquil little fishing town he left behind. He promises Rachel that he'll stick around until he tracks down the killer—and vows to protect her at all costs. Both of their lives are in peril as he battles against the Alaskan winter, a ruthless criminal…and his developing feelings for Rachel. 

Alaskan Search and Rescue: Risking their lives to save the day

Interview:

Today we're welcoming Jake Nichols, the hero of Standoff at Christmas, written by Margaret Daley, a December 2015 release by Love Inspired Suspense. 

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.   

1.  Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense. I’m a K-9 police officer for the Anchorage Police Force. I was injured on the job while searching a bomb site. Before I go back to work I came home for the holidays to Port Aurora where I grew up.

2.  So, during the book you met Rachel Hart.  Tell us a bit about her.  What was your first impression?  When did you know it was love? Rachel was my best friend growing up in Port Aurora. I didn’t realize what I was feeling for Rachel was a romantic love (not the love of best friends) until I had to keep her safe at Christmas.   

3.  What strengths/skills do you have?  What is your greatest weakness?  I’m good at my job. I care about my job and helping others. I don’t easily.       

4.  What scares you? Being abandoned by another love one.    

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I was more trusting, but with the job I have and being let down by some important people in my life, I’ve put up my guard.

6.  Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? On shaky ground.

7.  Where are you in your faith at the end of the story? I realize I have to give the Lord control and to let go of the past.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story.  Tell us why this scripture is significant. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Galatians 1:4 I needed to learn that the Lord is here to help deliver us from evil. We aren’t alone.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? Baked Alaskan—Alaska is my home so the dessert fits me.

Lone Star Cowboy League Continuity Miniseries

LONE STAR COWBOY LEAGUE:
Bighearted Ranchers in small-town Texas

Welcome to Love Inspired's 2015-2016 Continuity Mini-series!

The Cowboy's Second Chance 

As president of the Lone Star Cowboy League, rancher Carson Thorn is committed to serving his community of Little Horn. But when high school sweetheart Ruby Donovan returns, his steadfast pledge is tested. Ruby left town twelve years ago—stealing money from his father and breaking Carson's heart in her wake. Now she's asking for his trust—just as her brother becomes Carson's prime suspect in the rash of recent ranch thefts. Carson is torn. His town is depending on him for justice, but one look in Ruby's eyes has him questioning everything he thought he knew—about truth, about love and about the wisdom of second chances…

A Season for Healing 

As Little Horn, Texas, prepares for Thanksgiving, Dr. Tyler Grainger tries to count his blessings. Returning to his family's ranch brings bittersweet memories of the sister he lost. But one thing he canbe grateful for is Eva Brooks, who's just become the nanny for her cousin's baby. Tyler is glad to offer advice, but when his late sister's f horse is stolen, Eva's the one who helps him cope. Tyler's past heartache urges him to ride off into the sunset—alone. Yet the holiday season offers hope that the good doctor may have finally found a woman to heal his heart.

From Leigh Bale:

Writing is usually a solitary job.  But writing "A Doctor for the Nanny," which is the 2nd book in the Lone Star Cowboy League series, it was delightful because I got to bounce ideas off of several of my fellow authors who were also writing books in this fun series.  When something wasn't going well, we could chat and find ways to make it work.  It was like having a "brain bank" to make each story within the series more effective.  I thoroughly enjoyed this series. 

A Christmas to Remember 

In Little Horn, Texas, Amelia Klondike is known as the Queen of Christmas. Her generosity and sheer joy during the holidays is contagious—to everyone except Finn Brannigan. The attractive, wounded stranger doesn't know who he is or where he came from—and he isn't feeling merry at all. It isn't long before Amelia, her grandfather and their adorable dog begin to warm Finn's heart. But when Finn's memory starts to return, his past as a Texas Ranger—the one thing that might cause Amelia to withdraw from him—is revealed. And he worries that he may lose his chance for one perfect Western Christmas with the woman he can't bear to forget…

From Allie Pleiter:

The most exciting thing about working on A RANGER FOR THE HOLIDAYS was the chance to finally use my amnesia experience in a book.  In 2010 I developed a case of Transient Global Amnesia, which meant that I lost a portion of my memory and my ability to process new information for about 4 days.  It was a temporary phenomena—brought on by the stress of my son’s cancer at the time—but we are both absolutely fine now.  I like to think I was able to use the fear and disorientation of my experience to make Finn’s full-scale amnesia come truly alive for readers.

A Cowboy's Homecoming 

Since his return to Little Horn, Texas, former special ops soldier Grady Stillwater has felt lost. Stillwater Ranch needs his attention—and so does his brother's abandoned baby. But the injuries Grady sustained in Afghanistan have skewered his confidence. Physical therapist Chloe Miner offers hope and guidance—and a balm for the cowboy's wounded heart. Little does he know that Chloe is hiding a life-altering secret of her own. The sweet girl he remembers from high school has a baby on the way, and she may need Grady every bit as much as he does her…

His Unexpected Valentines 

Clint Daniels knows he is nobody's sweetheart. The rugged mountain guide has lived most of his life alone, and with his heartbreaking past, he can't imagine a domestic future with anyone. Especially not a warm and graceful widow like Olivia Barlow. But when her three towheaded little boys approach him at the Lone Star Cowboy League's annual Valentine's dance, he finds it impossible to turn them away. Clint isn't prepared to be a father, but these boys draw out his paternal side. And somehow, vulnerable Olivia and her children begin to make the cowboy suspect their wary hearts might actually be a perfect match…

From Deb Kastner:

It was an absolute delight working with the other five ladies in the Lone Star Cowboy League continuity. My favorite part was the process of world-building with the others, based on the original story conceived by editor Shana Asaro. It was great having the opportunity to sling around ideas and to have other authors around when I got stuck on a plot point. I truly enjoyed writing A DADDY FOR HER TRIPLETS and hope readers will enjoy the whole series.

The Cowboy's Unexpected Family 

Awakening from a months-long coma, Ben Stillwater is met with a big surprise: the footloose bachelor cowboy is a father! Ben tries to adjust to life with baby Cody and decides what the child really needs is a mom. Sheriff Lucy Benson does not seem a likely candidate—she already has her hands full closing in on the thieves who have been targeting the ranches of Little Horn, Texas. But the closer Ben gets to Lucy—and the closer they get to solving the mystery—the more it seems the free-spirited rancher and the determined officer could be the perfect match.

From Margaret Daley:

I've taken part in a lot of continuity series but usually it is a Love Inspired Suspense series. This is my third for Love Inspired and I had a great experience working with the other authors. They were so willing to share and help each other. They worked as a team to make the best continuity series.

I loved the story I was given with a female sheriff and a rancher with a baby. I read all the other books before I turned in my story to make sure it addressed and tied up the loose threads. I had the last book in the Lone Star Cowboy Series. I had the fun of wrapping it up at the end and giving the readers a glimpse at all the couples in the previous books.

We hope you've enjoyed a peek into the books and the authors, and we encourage you to pick up all six books in the series!

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: The Protector's Mission by Margaret Daley

DEADLY EXPLOSION 

Lydia McKenzie is the only living witness to a serial bomber's latest threat. Surviving the explosion at the café, Lydia is rescued by police sergeant Jesse Hunt and his K-9 partner, a Rottweiler named Brutus. She's struggling to remember details of the incident. But one thing she'll never forget is how she once felt about Jesse—the high school sweetheart she left to marry another. In charge of her protection, the guarded cop believes the bomber's after her, and he promises to keep her safe. But as more of Lydia's memories return, the more the vicious killer wants her dead. 

Alaskan Search and Rescue: Risking their lives to save the day

Interview:

Today we're welcoming Jesse Hunt, the hero of The Protector’s Mission, written by Margaret, a September 2015 by Love Inspired Suspense. 

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.   

1.  Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense. 

I’m a sergeant on the Anchorage Police Department in the K-9 unit. Brutus, my Rottweiler, is cross trained to search for bombs. In the opening the serial bomber struck again. Not only did I search for a second bomb with Brutus, but we also helped with rescuing the injured under the rubble.

2.  So, during the book you met Lydia.  Tell us a bit about her.  What was your first impression?  When did you know it was love? Lydia and I were high school sweethearts, so we knew each other but years ago parted in a big misunderstanding. My first impression was Lydia was severely injured and might die. I knew I was still in love with her when the bomber came after her and threatened her life. I didn’t want to lose her a second time.  

3.  What strengths/skills do you have?  What is your greatest weakness? I’m dedicated to my job. I’m good at what I do as a canine officer as well as when I volunteer with the Northern Frontier Search and Rescue.          

4.  What scares you? Caves, dark tight places.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Dwelling in the past and not letting it go. Forgive and forget.

6.  Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? I believe but at times I question the evil in this world. It’s hard to be a police officer and not have my doubts sometimes.   

7.  Where are you in your faith at the end of the story? Through this difficult time, my faith grew as I became more dependent on the Lord.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story.  Tell us why this scripture is significant. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

This is one of my favorite verses. Even when things are going really badly, God is there for us.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? Anything chocolate. Nothing beats it.