Assignment: Bodyguard »

Lenora knew she wanted to be a writer after her fourth-grade teacher assigned a creative writing project. While the other children moaned and groaned, Lenora gleefully wrote her first story, then promptly sold it (for a quarter) on the playground.

She actually started selling in bookstores in 1993. Before joining Steeple Hill books, Lenora wrote for Avalon and Leisure. She's written 13 books for the Love Inspired series so far.

Her first Love Inspired book, The Wedding Quilt, won Affaire de Coeur's Best Inspirational Award for 1997. Logan's Child won Romantic Times Magazine's Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Love Inspired in 1998. His Brother's Wife was nominated for Romantic Times's Reviewers' Choice Award in 1999, and The Reluctant Hero was nominated for the same award in 2000.

Lenora's three-book In the Garden series proved to be very popular with readers. This included When Love Came to Town, Something Beautiful and Lacey's Retreat, which was also nominated for a Romantic Times award.

Her bestselling novel I'll Be Home for Christmas was rereleased in a three-in-one trade-size novel, titled The Three Gifts. In spring 2003, Easter Blessings featured a two-in-one release along with Gail Gaymer Martin. Lenora's title was "The Lily Field." Lenora is currently working on books for the Love Inspired series as well as for Steeple Hill's new women's fiction program.

Married for 28 years, Lenora has two children. Before writing full-time, she worked in marketing and public relations. She has served in her local RWA chapter and as President of Faith, Hope and Love, the inspirational chapter of RWA. She also wrote a weekly opinion column in Shreveport, Louisiana, for The Times for five years.

Her father will accept only the best for Kit Atkins's protection. So when Kit is threatened, he calls on Shane Warwick, a CHAIM agent. Shane is calm, capable, protective—and way too charming for Kit's peace of mind. Yet despite her protests, Shane refuses to leave her side. As they hide out at a remote Texas ranch, a powerful bond grows between them, even as danger rises. Connections to the mysterious death of Kit's late husband reveal old betrayals. Suddenly, Kit's assigned bodyguard is the only person she can trust.