Latest post function for wordpress with short code

gistfile1.php

function get_latest_posts ($args) {
    // change "no-cat" to your default "nocategory" catSlug
    $blogCat =  !empty($args['cat'])?$args['cat']:"no-cat";
    $postsCount = !empty($args['count'])?$args['count']:"2";
    $html;

    $postArgs = array(
        'posts_per_page'   => $postsCount,
        'category_name'    =>$blogCat
    );


    $newQuery = new WP_Query($postArgs);

    //Mini Loop
    if($newQuery->have_posts()):
        while($newQuery->have_posts()):$newQuery->the_post();
           // Wrap each post
           $html.='<div class="latest-post">';
           // The thumbnail has some attributes look at the codex http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_the_post_thumbnail
           $html.=get_the_post_thumbnail();
           // First get the title
           $html.=get_the_title();
           // Second the Ecxerpt
           $html.=get_the_excerpt();
           // Now the more link
           $html.='<a href="'.get_permalink().'">read more</a>';
           //Close wrapper
           $html.="</div>";
        endwhile;
    endif;
    wp_reset_postdata();
    return $html;
}
add_shortcode('latest_posts','get_latest_posts');