The oldest of three children, Baker grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Ruskin High School and majored in history at the University of Missouri and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She continued pursuing her degree through marriage and motherhood.

While working as a court reporter, Baker began writing articles for publication. She soon discovered a local writer's group and it was through one of the published novelists in the group that she met an agent. The agent sold Baker's first novel, a contemporary romance that launched the Silhouette Desire line, and soon the publisher requested more contemporary romances.

In 1998, Baker formed her own small publishing company, Delphi Books. As of August 2007, Delphi Books has 16 titles in print. Seven of those titles are large print editions of books that were first published by mainstream houses.

Baker is married and has one son; she lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri.