HOWDY MEL!!!!!
Meet Melissa:
Born to an Air Force family at an Army hospital Melissa has always been a little bit screwy. She was further warped by her years of watching Monty Python and her strange family. Her love of romance novels developed after accidentally picking up a Linda Howard book. After becoming hooked, she read close to 300 novels in one year, deciding that romance was her true calling instead of the literary short stories and suspenses she had been writing. After many attempts, she realized that romantic comedy, or at least romance with a comedic edge, was where she was destined to be. Influences in her writing come from Nora Roberts, Jenny Cruise, Susan Andersen, Amanda Quick, Jayne Anne Krentz, Julia Quinn, Christina Dodd, and Lori Foster. Since her first release in 2004, Melissa has had close to 20 short stories, novellas and novels released with seven different publishers in a variety of genres and time periods. Those releases included, The Hired Hand, a 2005 Eppie Finalist for Contemporary Romance and Tempting Prudence, a 2005 CAPA finalist for short erotic romance. Her contemporary, A Little Harmless Sex became an international best seller in June of 2005.
Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, fate always has her waywith mortals. Her husband is an Air Force major, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, and they live wherever the military sticks them. Which she is sure, will always involve heat and bugs only seen on the Animal Discovery Channel.In her spare time, she reads, complains about bugs, travels, cooks, reads some more, watches her DVD collections of Arrested Development and Seinfeld, and tries to convince her family that she truly is a delicate genius. She has yet to achieve her last goal.
She has always believed that romance and humor go hand in hand. Love can conquer all and as Mark Twain said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” Combining the two, she hopes she gives her readers a thrilling love story, filled with chuckles along the way, and a happily ever after finish.
Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, fate always has her waywith mortals. Her husband is an Air Force major, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, and they live wherever the military sticks them. Which she is sure, will always involve heat and bugs only seen on the Animal Discovery Channel.In her spare time, she reads, complains about bugs, travels, cooks, reads some more, watches her DVD collections of Arrested Development and Seinfeld, and tries to convince her family that she truly is a delicate genius. She has yet to achieve her last goal.
She has always believed that romance and humor go hand in hand. Love can conquer all and as Mark Twain said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” Combining the two, she hopes she gives her readers a thrilling love story, filled with chuckles along the way, and a happily ever after finish.
First I want to thank Kati for having me here at Romancing Rakes. It is so exciting to get to talk about my new paranormal series The Cursed Clan. The first book in the series is Callum and features our first hero of the five book series who is also the laird.
The Lennons have been trying to break a curse that has plagued them for centuries.
Finally, they might have the key to solve it. Unfortunately, they need an expert and that turns out to be our heroine Phoebe Chilton, PhD. Sparks fly immediately between the stoic and mysterious Callum and Phoebe.
Callum is one of my most complex heroes I have ever written. He has a duty to fulfill, but for the first time in his life, he finds his loyalty torn between a woman and his family. Of course, everyone looks at the cover and swoons, but Callum is ruthless in business and in protecting his family. What I found so interesting is how he seemed to crumble as his desire for Phoebe grows. Watching these two people fall in love was so wonderful.
Make sure you read to the end. I'll be letting you know how you can win an eCopy of CALLUM.
Here is a little tidbit from the book.
“I want you to stay away from Angus. He doesn’t need you leading him on.”
She blinked. “You think I was trying to seduce your cousin?”
He said nothing, letting the silence speak for him.
“I assure you, I wasn’t trying to seduce Angus. I wouldn’t even know how to begin.” She was turning to leave when she said, “I know that you dislike me.”
“It isn’t that I don’t like you. I don’t trust you.”
She paused and turned to face him. “Don’t worry. I get that—loud and clear. You’ve made sure I knew that the first day I met you.”
“I have no reason to trust you.”
She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “There’s something more.”
“Does the name Kenneth McWalton mean anything to you?” The moment he said the words, he wanted to call them back, afraid of her answer.
She didn’t so much as twitch. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think I would know if I met someone.” She cocked her head to the side and studied him as if he were a bug. “Can you tell me exactly what you think I can or cannot do to your family?”
“I don’t like coincidences.”
“And that’s an explanation?” She raised her hand to prevent his answer.
Truly he didn’t have an answer. The questions she asked made him feel uncomfortable. “You’re suspicious by nature, most businessmen I know have a touch of it. You are over the top, especially when it comes to your cousins.”
“I protect what is mine. I’ll not allow you to use Angus.”
She moved away from the counter, her body tense with anger. “I have never used another person, especially never in that way. You’ve convinced yourself that I decided to somehow use my considerable wiles on your cousin to somehow gain who knows what.”
When she said it like that, he felt juvenile and petty.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Lennon. I’ll avoid your cousins from now on.”
Which is what he wanted, but at the same time he felt like the lowest form of scum even if it was the best choice. The diary could hold their secrets, and the less she connected to them, the better. They just needed it translated, and for her to leave. As soon as that happened, he would be free of this affliction, he was sure.
“I’ll do my work and take my meals in my room.”
He heard the hurt in her voice. His need to banish Phoebe was as unexplainable as the need to ease her pain.
She attempted to brush past him, but he stepped in front of her, blocking her one exit. “I didn’t say you needed to avoid my cousins.” It was what he wanted, needed, but here he was contradicting his own thoughts, again.
When she looked at him, there was no humor in her gaze, no studied interest as he’d seen before. Now, all he saw was loneliness and he ached.
“No. I’ll finish my task and leave. I know you must have a very good reason, although I can’t understand what it could be. I will respect your wishes.”
Again, she tried to move past him, but he refused to budge. That same fresh scent of her reached his senses, seducing him. Even as he was reaching for her, his mind was screaming stop. He ignored it, and every other protective instinct. The only thing roaring through his head was to take, to claim.
“It isna my family that has me worried, lass.” The moment he wrapped his hand around her upper arm, her head shot up, alarm lighting her eyes her mouth falling open in surprise. “It seems being around you is no’ good for my peace of mind.”
He jerked her against him. She gasped, the sound filled with both fear and excitement. Arousal spiked and his body craved—demanded—more intimate contact. Knowing it was wrong, even knowing it was dangerous, he bent his head and took possession of her luscious mouth.
~~~
Now that you've had a little taste make sure you leave a comment to get your name in the running for a digital copy of CALLUM.
You heard the lady. All you have to do is leave a comment with your email addy, ninja style: yourname at gmail dot com. And fill our the rafflecopter form with your name and email addy saying you left a comment. No other hoops to jump through. Giveaway runs 1/7 to 1/11. INTERNATIONAL.
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A huge thank you to Mel for stopping by and sharing her latest series and to her assistant Brandy for forwarding correspondence between Mel and I.
