Kelly's Current Projects

Want Ad Mysteries:

Tread Softly--2007 Golden Heartâ Finalist

   Ex-NASA engineer Casey Bartolino is experiencing an early mid-life crisis at the age of twenty-six. She has quit her engineering job, moved to the beach with her cat and dog and is exploring life by trying new jobs in the Want Ads. But as a newly licensed medical massage therapist, she finds herself in deep trouble when she awakens on the floor of a murdered client’s home dressed in someone else’s clothes, is mistaken for a prostitute and murderer, and she can’t remember anything that happened.
   With her reputation, her father’s ministry and her life on the line, she teams up with cynical LAPD Detective Eric Matthews to uncover the real murderer and discover an inner well of faith and love that may save them both.

Tread Softly is the first in a series of books that are light and humorous, but founded on deeper issues of faith, hope and love.

*Finaled in RWA's 2007 Golden Heart Contestâ in Romantic Suspense*

Won first place in the Inspirational Category of the Daphne du Maurier Contest Award 2005, finaled in the Get Your Stiletto in the Door Chicklit contest 2005

Cargo To Die For

   While working at her new job as a limousine driver, ex-NASA engineer Casey Bartolino is forced to kidnap a gangster’s boy to save his life. Now she must choose between what is legally right by turning the boy in and win the approval of her detective boyfriend versus what is morally right and accepting the help of an unscrupulous reporter to keep the boy safe.

   Cargo to Die For is the second book a series where the heroine is exploring life and love through the Want Ads.

Won second place in the Inspirational Category of the Daphne du Maurier Award Contest 2006

Romantic Suspense Novels:

Kitty’s Fire - 2009 Golden Heartâ Winner Inspirational
                                  2008 Golden Heartâ Finalist
   Ex-FBI agent Luke Tanner doesn’t need any more complications in his life. He has moved to Pine Lake to be closer to his minister father, hoping a smaller community and supportive church family will help his rebellious teen-age son. Acting as the temporary fire chief, he suddenly finds in himself in the biggest complication of all as Kitty McGuire’s arrival in town not only sparks a new series of arson fires and murder, but rekindles a love in his heart that he thought was gone forever.
   Kitty McGuire is determined to convince the new Pine Lake fire chief that someone has killed her father and framed him for arson. But by returning to her hometown, she has to deal with her painful past and gain the courage to love again.

2009 Golden Heart â Winner Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript.
2008 Golden Heartâ Finalist in Cont. Series Romance Suspense/Adventure. Won First Impressions contest 2004, Second place in the Category/Series Category of Daphne du Maurier Award Contest, 2004. Won 3rd place in the Romantic Suspense category of the Genesis Contest 2006. Finaled in the Dixie First Chapter Contest 2007.

A Cowboy’s Prayer

   The two most important things in Chase Montgomerys’ life are his nephew, Danny and his ranch, and he is in danger of losing them both. Not only is his wayward brother suing to regain custody of Danny, the boy Chase raised as his own, but Chase’s cattle are being stolen in the middle of the night. When Chase utters a prayer for help, he never expects the answer to come in the form of a woman who can testify against him in court.
   Hired under false pretenses by Chase’s brother, nurse Megan O’Keefe is to evaluate and educate Danny and his family on his diabetes but finds herself caught in a family war. Can she help this family without destroying it and her chance for love?

Won second place in Jasmine Contest 2003, 2nd place in Dixie First Chapter Contest 2004, 3rd place in the Daphne du Maurier Award Contest, 2005.

Stand By Me

   Detective Sydney Banks is determined to solve a cop killing case even if it means having to go undercover and live with reformed boys from the gang that killed her husband and son.
   Ex-Marine Mitch Garrett has dedicated his life to helping wayward boys and is convinced that the police are wrong about their prime suspect, an 18 year old boy named Parker. He agrees to work with Sydney only so he can be there to find Parker before the angry cops did. But as they work together he falls in love with her. Will his love and strong faith be strong enough to help Sydney overcome her pain and learn to forgive the past before it’s too late?

Won Honorable Mention in the Inspirational Contest in the Daphne du Maurier Award Contest, 2005, and 2nd place in the Dixie First Chapter Contest 2005