New Book Cover & Fostering an Elephant Orphan!

Happy springtime, everyone! Look at what I got this month! I love it! I also love that it has 'USA Today Bestselling Author' on it. I still can't believe it! I may be biased, but I think the Harlequin art department did a phenomenal job with my latest cover. I was drawn into the scenery...transported right into my story...the minute I saw it. As you might have guessed, Through the Storm, the third book in my 'From Kenya, with Love' series, takes readers back to Kenya's Serengeti.

In fact, the story revisits the plight of the elephants from book 1, The Promise of Rain. Those of you who read The Promise of Rain know that the heroine, Dr. Anna Bekker, was devoted to rescuing baby elephants orphaned by poachers. Well, in Through the Storm, the heroine, Tessa Henning, who has always chosen the 'safe' route in life, finds herself in dangerous position. One where she can bring down a ruthless elephant poaching ring...if she risks everything...including her life.

Yes, there's adventure, romance and a lot of wildlife in this story! Oh, and the hero is that hot, Indiana Jones type bush pilot who helps rescue elephants in The Promise of Rain. Remember Mac? ;) And don't worry if you haven't read all the stories. They each stand alone, including the linked novella I wrote as part of a Harlequin Heartwarming Thanksgiving celebration. The Sweetheart Tree can still be read for free through April on Harlequin.com or my page on Wattpad. But if you do get the chance to read all three books in the series, I think it makes for a 'wilder' experience :). You'll even get to re-visit characters from the previous two stories, including my 'wounded' ex-Marine hero in book 2, After the Silence, and little Pippa from book 1.

Here's the blurb for Through the Storm:

The biggest risk she'll ever take…

Tessa Henning is no damsel. But she's definitely in distress. If her husband really is involved in the ivory trade, he'll come after her when he finds out what she's uncovered. Unfortunately, the only person who can help is Mac Walker. Stubborn, fiercely independent, danger-loving bush pilot Mac Walker—with whom she shares custody of their orphaned nephew. Though Mac's no knight in shining armor, he can keep her and their nephew safe in the Serengeti while they wait out this storm. But he can't protect Tessa from the strange weather brewing inside her, stirring up feelings for Mac she wishes she could ignore.

The really great news is that this time print books will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, as well as on Harlequin.com (as they were in the past)! Print copies will also be releasing early, so unless you prefer ebooks, you won't have to wait until May. Print will be available April 19th on Amazon and BN. Many thanks in advance if you pre-order! ;) You can also find in both formats at Harlequin and of course anywhere ebooks are sold. I really hope you enjoy this one as much as I did writing it.

I've always loved elephants and I've always supported different wildlife organizations. Writing this series, including all the research I did on the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking and poaching, drove me to want to do more. Since becoming one of my characters and moving to Kenya to help rescue elephants orphaned by poachers isn't feasible right now (though it would be a dream), I adopted/fostered one. Although my characters are totally fictional and not based on any 'real life' person, there are groups who, much like my Dr. Bekker and her Busara Elephant Research and Rescue Camp, dedicate their work to saving wildlife. One such amazing group is The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, founded by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in Kenya. Their ongoing work to rescue elephants is nothing short of amazing. The videos and stories you can find on their website says it all. And one of the programs they offer involves fostering. Raising elephant orphans requires supplies...food, medical care etc... On the DSWT website, you can find a list of all of their orphans, by age, and their individual stories. I wish I could have helped them all, but when I read Quanza's story, I couldn't walk away. I fostered Quanza, which means I'm helping fund her care but I also get monthly keeper updates and photos. You can see a little photo of her in my certificate pic above and you can read about her (just look up her name) and others here.

In other news, Harlequin Heartwarming books are still in select Walmarts and we're hosting a big blitz Walmart gift card giveaway! I'll post the info here in the next few days!

Happy Spring!