Guest Author

A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED

I’d like to welcome Angi Morgan for being my guest blogger today.  I have a special place in my heart for Angi because she presented me with my Golden Heart Award for my book The Spy in the Mirror a year and a half ago.

Thank you Angi for sharing your story!  Shout out to Lena Diaz for arranging this blog post, too.

A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED

My May hero is a Texas Ranger. Now, I’m an 11th generation Texan. Seriously. My morgan-angi-headshotancestors on my mom’s side received original Spanish land grants and we don’t know when they arrived, but the first recorded death is in 1759 “by Indian arrow.” My father’s grandfather was a Texas Sheriff who owned the local saloon. So both sides of my family have been here quite a while. Die Hard Texan…that’s me.

I have no idea why I became so “Texas Proud.” My family wasn’t crazy about it. I spoke to my grandmothers to receive colorful stories and history. One that pops into my mind is from the Depression about a swinging ham in the smokehouse and my grandmother cutting some fingers off a thief. But I think my real love for Texas came because there is so much to see and write about. My books are all located in Texas and when I wanted to go west…the only logical hero was a Texas Ranger.

I was surprised to discover that the Rangers are the oldest law enforcement organization in the northern continent. Established in 1823, there could be several generations of Rangers in one family–sort of like generations of cop families. Enter Cord McCrea…he’s definitely a ‘Kiss & Thrill’ hero, loyal to a fault, good at his job, and in love with one woman–his ex-wife.

angimorgan-protectingtheirchildWhen reality strikes Cord, and his failure slams into him threatening to end his family history…well, that’s where the story begins. Kate loves all of Cord. She doesn’t want him to change or to leave the Rangers. She’s working her land and cattle, taking over the family ranch. So I guess part of my love for family history seeped into this book. I know my love for the land did.

I can’t imagine what it was like for pioneer women to see their men ride off to track hostiles, go off to war, or fight so hard for a piece of land. Never knowing IF or WHEN they’d return. We’ve definitely got it a lot easier. But then I think of those men and women still going through that today. It may be modernized, but it’s still fighting hostiles. Thank you to those that protect and serve. Whatever the badge or uniform…or whatever the year…YOUR SERVICE IS APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

Here is the trailer for Angi’s book Dangerous Memories:

I hope you enjoy my Ranger in PROTECTING THEIR CHILD. Thanks again for having me.

~ ~ ~

Angi Morgan writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi is a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.

~ ~ ~

Is there an interesting story in your family history?  Please let us know!

16 thoughts on “A RANGER KISSED & THRILLED”

    1. AND XO to you, Diana ! Loved your interview with Lena. I was so surprised when I logged into WordPress and there was a picture of her…wow…at the top of things that might interest me.

      Thanks for having me here and at KissAndThrill.
      ~Angi

      Reply

  2. Wow, this Texas history stuff is really interesting. I am looking forward to reading more about it in your book!

    Reply

    1. THANKS AGNES. I’m not certain –yes, I wrote it, LOL– there’s as much ‘history’ as the feeling of how that history forms my characters. But the location is authentic. There will be more of my actual family history in the book I’m currently working on (working title is DOUBLE BLIND) which is schedule for June 2014 with Harlequin Intrigue.

      I hope you enjoy PROTECTING THEIR CHILD.
      ~Angi

      Reply

  3. I don’t know much about my family history. I’m sorry my folks didn’t tell me about their parents at all. I do research in books, but it isn’t the same as hearing the stories first hand.

    Reply

    1. I was lucky to spend many hours listening to my grandmothers chat together. And my dad videotaped many of the chats. Very, very fortunate.

      I especially love the recordings of my grandmother playing her piano. Thank goodness my dad thought of it.
      ~Angi

      Reply

    2. No, it isn’t the same, Jenny, but you can find out so much online these days. And people like Angi help fill in the blanks with their own family stories. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply

  4. Sounds like you could write a TV series with all that information about your family. What fun!

    Reply

    1. I’d never thought about a TV series… I do hope to write down the stories from those videos one day. Hmmm….now, my husband’s side of the family has so many funny stories it could be a comedy. NO ONE would believe some of them.

      For instance: Randy is an engineer who has two degrees. He raked leaves together on his property for hours. Instead of bagging them, he decided to burn them in a 55 gallon drum. Gasoline. A boom. Fire. Singed eyebrows. Fire trucks to extinguish the burning squirrel nests in the trees. He’s promised never to set fire to anything again…but from his history, the Fire Fighters know he won’t keep it.
      ~Angi

      Reply

  6. Hi Angie,
    I loved hearing about your Texas roots. I recently found a printout of a family member from Louisiana who left home and joined the ranks of Civil War men protecting their homes.
    Good luck with your latest release!

    Reply

Let us know what you think