When Katherine Vaughn flees California, she returns home to her native Arkansas, a place she barely remembers. As she settles in at the family farm with her aunt, she finds herself growing closer to her late cousin's husband, Ben Hatfield. Ben is a lot more than the country bumpkin she first takes him to be and when the men who threatened her follow her to Arkansas he will rely on his skills as a former Navy SEAL to protect her.
As their feelings toward one another grow, so does the danger and in the end, it's anyone's guess what will happen or if anyone will be safe.
Katherine's life is in jeopardy as she wonders if there is any hope left in her heart.
Kinfolk is a novel about the power of love and the strength of family ties.
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is a full-time romance author. A native of the old historic city of St. Joseph, Missouri, one time home to both Jesse James and the Pony Express, she now lives and writes in the beautiful Missouri Ozark region. Her romance novels include Wolfe's Lady (December 2010 Evernight Publishing), Love Tattoo, (March 2011, Evernight), Love Scars (June 2011, Evernight), Love Never Fails (May 2011, Rebel Ink Press), Kinfolk (July 2011, Champagne Books) Witness Protection Program (Rebel Ink Press), and The Marriage Cure (Astraea Press). Other works scheduled for upcoming publication include four other novels, short fiction in several anthologies and more.
Her work also appears in nine anthologies to date. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Missouri Writers Guild, EPIC, The Ozark Writers League and Paranormal Authors Guild. She earned a BA degree in both English and History from Missouri Southern State University as well as an AA Degree in Journalism from Crowder College. She worked in broadcast media for a decade and has also worked in the education field.
She is married to Roy W. Murphy and the couple has three children, Emily, Megan, and Patrick Murphy.
If Lee Ann – or Lee as many of her writing friends know her – isn't writing, she's reading or spending time outdoors.
Also by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy:
Wolfe’s Lady (Evernight 2010)
Love Tattoo (Book one of the Love Covenant Series) Evernight March 2011
Love Never Fails (Rebel Ink Press, ebook May 2011, paperback edition, June 2011)
Love Scars (Book two of the Love Covenant Series) Evernight June 2011
Love Knots (Book three of the Love Covenant Series) Evernight July 27, 2011
An Interview with Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Lee Ann, Thank you so much for talking with us at TRS. Your featured book is Kinfolk. Where did you get the idea for this suspense filled tale?
Lee Ann: I was in Fayetteville, Arkansas and I noticed that from the local bus station you can see "Old Main" on the campus of University of Arkansas very well. I wondered about who would arrive on a Greyhound bus and came up with the idea of a woman running back to Arkansas in fear for her life. That was the beginning; the rest soon followed.
HH: What can you tell us about Katherine and why will readers relate to her?
Lee Ann: Katherine is very vulnerable as the story begins and she craves the security of home, of kinfolk (family). She endured a troubled marriage and now just wants to enjoy life so I hope that readers will relate. We all have problems to overcome, must face things that we don't always want to deal with. She just desires what we all do - safety, love, and security.
She is also a very caring person, sensitive and intelligent.
HH: What can you tell us about Ben and why will readers love him?
Lee Ann: On the surface, Ben is a tough guy, hardened and strong. But within, he's very caring and sensitive. He loves his aged grandfather who raised him very much and their roles have reversed so that he watches out for Pop. He's a lonely man but he hides it well until he meets Katherine who manages to break through that defensive shell. He loves his family, his home, and his country - all things that I think most readers will love about Ben. He's also hard working and he's willing to do whatever he must to keep those he loves, especially Katherine, safe.
HH: What sort of research went into this story?
Lee Ann: I made a number of trips to Northwest Arkansas which isn't far (I live in Southwest Missouri) but I wanted to get details right. I also did a lot of research into Navy SEALS.
HH: Is Ben related to THE Hatfields? <g>
Lee Ann: Well, since I actually am -- my great, great grandmother was a younger sister to the Hatfield (Devil Anse) who got into the feud with the McCoy's -- then Ben has to be which also would make him my long lost cousin!
HH: Was the story inspired at all by the brave SEALS whop stopped Osama Bin Laden? OR was it a happy coincidence that your story came out when interest in Navy SEALS is high?
Lee Ann: It was a happy coincidence although I have always had a great respect and interest in any of the Special Forces -- Navy SEALS, Army Green Berets, Army Rangers, etc.
HH: What do you have coming up for lucky readers?
Lee Ann: Between now (August 2011) and summer 2012 I have several more releases. The third novel in my "Love Covenant" series from Evernight Love Knots came out in late July, book 4 will be out soon. Witness Protection Program from Rebel Ink Press will be out in October, I have a time travel romance, A Time To Love from Champagne Books in November, in February 2012, I have a time travel/ghost romance In Love's Own Time from Rebel, May 2012 will be two releases - Long Live The King (Elvis) from Champagne and Miss Good Samaritan from Rebel Ink and then Guy's Angel, a historical romance set in the 1920's in my hometown of St. Joseph summer 2012 from Rebel Ink Press. And I'm still writing so that list should grow!
HH: How much of your day is devoted to your writing career?
Lee Ann: I write early until my kids get up, then for a couple hours in the morning, after lunch for a couple of more, and sometimes in the evening. Most days I get in at least 8 hours writing/editing/promoting, sometimes even more.
