Bracale, Carla

(Carla Cassidy, Carla Cook)

PERSONAL:

Married Frank Bracale, 1975; children. Education: Attended Johnson County Community College, Kansas City, MO.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Kansas City, MO.

CAREER:

Writer. Has worked as a professional cheerleader, for the Kansas City Chiefs football team, an actor, and a singer/dancer in a show band.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Best Silhouette Romance of 1995, Romantic Times magazine, for Anything for Danny; Career Achievement Award, Romantic Times magazine, 1998, for Best Innovative Series.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Patchwork Family, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Whatever Alex Wants, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Fire and Spice, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Homespun Hearts, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Golden Girl, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

A Fleeting Moment, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Something New, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Heart of the Beast, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Pixie Dust, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

The Littlest Matchmaker, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Swamp Secrets ("Shadows" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Getting It Right: Jessica ("Loop" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Silent Screams ("Shadows" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Fugitive Father, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

The Marriage Scheme, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Try to Remember, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Under the Boardwalk, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Anything for Danny, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Mom in the Making ("Baker Brood" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Deputy Daddy ("Baker Brood" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Mystery Child, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Passion in the First Degree, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

An Impromptu Proposal, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Daddy on the Run, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Behind Closed Doors, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Pop Goes the Question, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Pregnant with His Child, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Their Only Child, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Reluctant Dad ("Sisters" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Reluctant Wife ("Sisters" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Father's Love, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Will You Give My Mommy a Baby?, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Princess's White Knight, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

One of the Good Guys, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Waiting for the Wedding, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Strangers When We Married, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Just One Kiss, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Lost in His Arms, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

In a Heartbeat, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

An Officer and a Princess, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Born of Passion, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Pregnant in Prosperino, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Promised to a Sheikh, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

More Than Meets the Eye, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Secrets of a Pregnant Princess, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

If the Stick Turns Pink …, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

What If I'm Pregnant …?, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

A Gift from the Past, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Rules of Engagement, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Promise Him Anything, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Protecting the Princess ("Wild West Bodyguards" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Defending the Rancher's Daughter ("Wild West Bodyguards" series), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Perfect Family, Signet Eclipse (New York, NY), 2005.

Are You Afraid?, Signet Eclipse (New York, NY), 2006.

A Forbidden Passion, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Bodyguard's Promise, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Without a Sound, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Bodyguard's Return, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Safety in Numbers, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Paint It Red, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2007.

"CHEYENNE NIGHTS" SERIES; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Midnight Wishes, Harlequin, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Sunrise Vows, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Sunset Promises, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

"MUSTANG, MONTANA" SERIES; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Code Name Cowboy, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Her Counterfeit Husband, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Rodeo Dad, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Wife for a Week, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Imminent Danger, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

"DELANEY HEIRS" SERIES; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Once Forbidden, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Man on a Mission Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

To Wed and Protect, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Out of Exile, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

"CHEROKEE CORNERS" SERIES; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Last Seen …, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Dead Certain, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Trace Evidence, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Manhunt, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

"BOMBSHELL" SERIES; UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA CASSIDY

Get Blondie, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Pawn, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Hell on Heels, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Deceived, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

UNDER PSEUDONYM CARLA COOK

The Magician, Love Spell, 2002.

YOUNG ADULT NOVELS; AS CARLA BRACALE

Falling for You ("First Kiss" series), Ivy Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Fair-Weather Love ("First Kiss" series), Ivy Books (New York, NY), 1988.

My Dream Guy ("Sweet Dreams" series), Bantam Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1989.

Dream Date ("Sweet Dreams" series), Bantam Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1989.

Down with Love ("Sweet Dreams" series), Bantam Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1991.

Puppy Love ("Sweet Dreams" series), Bantam Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1991.

Contributor to omnibus volumes, including Shadows '93 (short stories), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993; To Wed a Royal, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002; Hot Pursuit, Signet Eclipse (New York, NY), 2005; Whirlwind Weddings, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Carla Bracale writes romance fiction under the pseudonyms Carla Cassidy and Carla Cook. The author of more than seventy books, Bracale told Su Bacon, a contributor to the Kansas City Star, that her books are about "everyday women who get caught up in dangerous, emotional circumstances," adding: "They are not exotic characters; they could be your sister or your aunt." For example, in Once Forbidden, Bracale tells the story of Johanna Delaney, one of four children of Adam Delaney, who leaves his dude ranch in Arizona to his children. However, the children, including Johanna, also inherited their father's distrustful nature. Johanna becomes pregnant by Jerrod, a young man living in a nearby trailer park. Johanna does not believe Jerrod is good enough for her, goes on to become a lawyer, and years later meets him again when he asks her to represent a friend in a murder case. Before long, Johanna finds herself involved romantically with Jerrod, who is now a pastor. Thea Davis, writing on the Romance Reader Web site, noted that the author "does her usual fine job in character and plot development."

In Rodeo Dad, the author tells of the romance between Marissa Sawyer and Johnny Crockett, who is about to be released from prison for murdering a woman in Mustang, Montana. Marissa tries to convince Johnny, whom she once loved, not to return to Mustang. Johnny, however, is not inclined to listen to her for two reasons: she never visited him in jail and he is intent on finding the real killer. Furthermore, Johnny does not know that he has a son by Marissa. Jean Mason, also writing on the Romance Reader Web site, called the book "an engrossing and enjoyable story."

Are You Afraid? features a serial killer who once tried to murder Dr. Jessica Langford years earlier when she was a teenager. Now a successful therapist with a radio talk show, Jessica begins getting strange, threatening phone calls late at night. When she contacts the police, she talks with detective Jake Merridan, who happens to be working on another serial-killer case. As Jake investigates the case and frets over Jessica, a romance develops. A contributor to the PBR Web site noted that "the overall tone of the book stays true to what one would expect from a romance with a serial killer in it. It is dark in the sense that the subject matter is dark." A Publishers Weekly contributor commented that the author's "sharp new thriller boasts an easy, masterful balance." Get Blondie is about a woman police detective, Cassie Newton, who used to be part of a secret agency and is once again recruited for a job involving drug smuggling, which results in a rekindled romance with her old lover Kane. "This book is a solid read— nice pacing, plot, suspense," wrote Karmela Johnson on her home Web page. "The action scenes were tight and the dialogue believable."

The Perfect Family features Marissa, a mother of two young children whose husband dies in a hit-and-run accident. A year later, Marissa and her children are being stalked by a madman looking to join the "perfect family." When a cop is assigned to protect Marissa and her children, a romance evolves. Kristin Ramsdell, writing in the Library Journal, called the novel an "exceptionally well-crafted tale." Other novels by the author include Secrets of a Pregnant Princess, about a princess who experiences an unwanted pregnancy, and Promise Him Anything, about a psychotic husband whose wife falls in love with a hostage negotiator. Writing on the AllReaders.com Web site, Harriet Klausner noted that Promise Him Anything features "exciting romantic suspense [and] stars a delightful lead couple, both suffering from mental wounds and a vile intelligent villain who believes he is smarter than the law."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, January 1, 2005, Kristin Ramsdell, review of The Perfect Family, p. 91.

Publishers Weekly, February 13, 2006, review of Are You Afraid?, p. 68.

ONLINE

AllReaders.com,http://www.allreaders.com/ (November 15, 2006), Katrina Lo, review of The Reluctant Wife; Harriet Klausner, reviews of Secrets of a Pregnant Princess and Promise Him Anything.

Fantastic Fiction,http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ (November 15, 2006), information on author's books.

Kansas City Star Web site,http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/ (October 11, 2006), Su Bacon, "Author of Nearly 100 Books Will Visit with Readers Friday."

Karmela Johnson Home Page,http://karmelajohnson.com/ (November 15, 2006), Karmela Johnson, reviews of Deceived and Get Blondie.

Mid-America Romance Authors Web site,http://www.mararwa.com/ (November 15, 2006), brief profile of author.

ParaNormal Romance Web site, http://paranormalromance.writerspace.com/ (November 15, 2006), Barbara Sheridan, "Fated to Mate!—A Date with Destiny," interview with author.

PBR,http://www.paperbackreader.net/ (November 15, 2006), review of Are You Afraid?

Romance Reader,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (November 15, 2006), Jean Mason, review of Rodeo Dad; Thea Davis, review of Once Forbidden.

Suspense Romance Writers,http://suspenseromancewriters.com/ (November 15, 2006), brief profile of author.