Keeping a Warrior by Melanie Hansen (VNBtM, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

It is my pleasure to present a guest post by author Melanie Hansen, who shares...

 

Hi, my name is Melanie, and I’m a pantser! The way my process looks, I get an idea for a story. If it requires research, I’ll start doing that research, and then one day I sit down, pick what I think is a good starting point and start to write. That’s it. No outlining. Is it an easy and stress-free way to go about it? Definitely not. Does it work for me? Well, eight novels later, I’d say it does. 

One challenge of writing this way is that I don’t know what’s going to happen until it does. I’m feeling my way, scene by scene, sometimes sentence by sentence. There’ve been many times I’ve lain awake at night, worried out of my mind because I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. Sometimes it takes days to rework paragraphs, or even mere sentences, over and over and over, until I finally discover that magic combination of words which then opens the door and shows me the way forward. 

As a result, I’m not a fast writer and deadlines are very difficult and stressful for me. Another huge downside of pantsing is that I’ve written myself into a corner more than once. The worst was when I ended up scrapping almost 30,000 words because it was leading nowhere and I realized too late that it was the wrong place to have started in. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, what I love about pantsing—as I go, I discover things I’d never thought of doing when the idea first popped into my head. I get to learn my characters almost the way the reader does, and it’s amazing to watch them develop along with the story. Sometimes a secondary character takes on a life of his or her own, and ends up getting a story. Since I’m not tied to an outline, I’m not afraid to deviate and go where my instincts are telling me to.

In short, my inexpert advice would be, whatever your writing process is, if it results in a finished book, trust it. It is NOT wrong. By all means, refine your process as you go and read all the writing advice you can get your hands on, but at the end of the day, you simply have to trust what works for you. Nobody else. For YOU.

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

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Keeping a Warrior

by

Melanie Hansen

ADULT title

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Devon Lowe is a survivor.

A survivor of war. Of combat. And of a betrayal by men she considered her brothers-in-arms. But her trailblazing work as a Cultural Support Team member working alongside the Navy SEALs is too important for her to back down now.

Fresh off a painful break-up, Air Force pararescueman Rhys Halloran recognizes Devon’s trauma for what it is—something that’s left her isolated, but far from irreparably damaged.

With Devon’s trust still lying shattered back in Afghanistan, putting her faith in a man who’s nursing a broken heart isn’t easy. But she’s tired of people making her feel weak, and Rhys makes her feel anything but, sparking a heated attraction that was never part of the plan.

With all eyes on Devon to prove herself in a brutal man’s world, having it all will mean putting her heart on the line like never before. But when it comes to Rhys, it’s an uphill battle she’s ready to fight.

Publisher’s Note: Keeping a Warrior deals with topics some readers may find difficult, including past sexual assault.

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EXCERPT

 

Rhys watched until Devon had disappeared safely into her room, then turned toward his own with a sigh.

“If I were you, I’d watch yourself with her.”

The voice came at Rhys out of the darkness, and he jumped. “Jesus!”

Mullet stepped out of the shadows where he’d been leaning against the wall. He held up his phone. “Came out to call my wife, saw you drive up with Lowe.” He paused. “What were y’all doing?”

None of your business. “Just talking,” Rhys said tightly. “Unwinding. What’s it to you?”

“Man, it ain’t nothin’ to me. Just think you should be aware of what you’re dealing with.”

“We were just talking,” Rhys emphasized with a slash of his hand. “What exactly am I ‘dealing’ with?”

“Why don’t you ask one of the guys she accused of rape? Oh wait, he’s dead.”

Rhys rocked back on his heels. “What?”

“Yeah, that first team she was attached to in Kandahar?” Mullet’s voice was hard. “Lowe started fucking one of the dudes there, and when she found out he was engaged, she lost it and accused him and two other guys of rape.”

Rhys’s mouth flapped open and closed uselessly.

“She was hanging out with them,” Mullet went on. “Drinking with them, you know? A real party girl. Got into a relationship with this dude, and when he tried to break it off ’cause of his fiancée, she turned on him, tried to ruin his career.”

“Where did you hear this?” Rhys croaked. “Did she tell you this?”

“Nah.” Mullet shook his head. “You think El-Tee isn’t gonna vet anyone we’re bringing on board?”

Rhys’s face went hot with anger. “And then what, our leadership just sat down and gossiped with you about it, knowing it could destroy unit cohesion before it even had a chance to form? No way. Try again, and leave El-Tee out of your bullshit story.”

“Fuck you with the gossip and the bullshit,” Mullet growled. “All you need to know is it’s a fact that accusations were made, there was an investigation, and Lowe was transferred off the team.”

The team Rhys had been a part of for such a short time. One mission. The mission where Devon had made such an impression on him.

“It’s your life, Halloran, but that girl’s trouble, and if I were you, I’d keep it strictly business.”

He strode off, leaving Rhys numb with shock. He sucked in a few deep breaths, horror freezing his blood when he saw Devon standing there, an ice bucket in her hand, her face white as a sheet.

Oh, God. She must’ve heard everything.

“Devon.” Rhys took a step toward her, and she put up a shaking hand to ward him off.

“Just in case you’re wondering if his facts are true,” she said tonelessly, “they are.”

Devon’s knuckles clenched white on the bucket, her lips twisting in a bitter smile. She shoved open her door, and right before she disappeared inside, she turned to look back at Rhys.

“Not all war stories are heroic, you know.”

She shut the door with a quiet click.

Amazon buy link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

Social Media:

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GIVEAWAY

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The tour dates can be found here

The Asset by Anna del Mar (review) ADULT title

ADULT title

Blurb:
Anna del Mar's explosive, sexy debut novel in the Wounded Warrior series, perfect for fans of Lisa Marie Rice and Lora Leigh—the story of a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her

Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he's gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother's isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.

Like recognizes like.

Lia Stewart's in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it's loving him that might get them both killed.

Soon, Ash realizes he's not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he'll protect Lia until his last breath.

This book is approximately 97,000 words


My review:

5 out of 5 stars


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“The Asset” by Anna del Mar is part of the ‘Wounded Warrior’ series and is a romantic suspense story that follows Lia Stuart who unwillingly acquires a roommate/tenant named Asher (Ash) Hunter and his Wounded Warrior dog, Neil.  Finding a way to help Ash heal from some of his wounds forces Lia to expose far more of her own issues than she is comfortable with, and their burgeoning relationship may have fatal consequences.

The unexpected twists to this exciting story kept me enthralled until the last fascinating word.  One should be forewarned that this is a very gritty story with sometimes gut-wrenching scenes that evoke the price paid by those who go to war, and sometimes paid by those who are innocents in an evil situation.  I love the way the author vividly creates tension-filled situations that show the strength that each of these characters has acquired while craftily revealing snippets of background that has shaped them.  The reader is buffeted by tension and fear throughout the story yet a wonderful sense of camaraderie and affection is gradually coaxed into being, just as occurs within the story itself.  I had not realized at first that I had already encountered this author’s dexterity at presenting vivid and tortured characters, but once I made the connection to her fantasy books, the ‘Stonewiser’ series, I was reminded of how memorable her characters have been for me. 

I always have a soft spot for stories that feature military heroes who are trying to find a way to deal with the horrors they have dealt with and rejoice when they find someone to help ease their burdens.  The connection that forms over a common issue of PTSD is both heartbreaking and a beautiful unfolding to observe.  The combination of the therapy dog who is able to use his training to treat both of the main characters, the wry humor that breaks up the tension at times (e.g. vet treating the vet), the poignant flashbacks, and the persistence and determination that are hallmarks of the characters’ personalities make this a wonderful start to the series and I can only hope that future stories continue to showcase such compelling characters in equally exciting and mesmerizing situations.  

A copy of this title was provided to me for review which has been submitted to Night Owl Reviews

Stealing Second by Alison Packard (VBB, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

Stealing Second

by Alison Packard

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BLURB:


Katherine Whitton doesn’t purposely avoid men and relationships, but she doesn’t mind that side effect of immersing herself in her job with the San Francisco Blaze. Years ago she was betrayed by her one true love, and she’s never fully recovered, though she’s tried by building a new life in a city she loves.

It’s taken seventeen years for Tom Morgan to get over Katie—Katherine now. Sober now and faced with the incredible opportunity to manage the Blaze, he thinks he’ll finally be able to handle working with this beautiful woman without falling to pieces…as long as she doesn’t get too close.

A crisis with the team's star pitcher forces Tom and Katherine to put in long hours together. Years of animosity melt away as the sexual tension between them ignites. But it’ll take more than scorching kisses to avoid the wreckage of the past. And neither Tom nor Katie are sure they’re ready to trust each other or risk their hearts for a second chance at happiness.




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EXCERPT:


“Dance with me.” The low tone of his voice sent a shiver up her spine.

For what seemed like forever she couldn’t speak. She glanced at the couples swaying to the romantic music, and her heart started to pound at the thought of Tom holding her in his arms, of being that close to him after so many years.

“I don’t like to dance,” she said, finding her voice.

His eyes glinted with something resembling amusement. “That’s not how I remember it.”

She shrugged. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s all.”

“Scared?”

Yes. “No.”

“Prove it.” He extended his hand. “Dance with me.”

“Fine,” she said. No one knew of her prior relationship with Tom, and she didn’t want them to. Causing a scene would only start rumors. And there were enough of those going around already.

With an exaggerated sigh, she returned her phone to the table and ignored his hand as she rose to her feet. He inclined his head, motioning her forward. Every nerve in her body tingled as he followed her to where the other couples had congregated.

The second she turned and faced him and he put his hand on her waist, her heart skipped a beat, then kicked into full-on pounding mode. He reached for her hand, gloving it in the warmth of his, and lifted it as he pulled her closer. Instinctively, she raised her free hand and rested it on his shoulder.

Looking past him as they began to dance, she held herself rigid and tried to distract herself from his scent—clean with a hint of soap. How was it possible he smelled exactly the same as he had seventeen years ago? And how was it possible she’d never forgotten it?

To her right, she glimpsed Kelly and Matt swaying to the music, gazing into each other’s eyes like no one else existed. And next to them, Angie and J.T. were just as engrossed in each other. All the love in the room was making her ill.

“Relax,” Tom said in a low voice.

Even in four-inch heels, she had to lean her head slightly back to meet his gaze. “I am relaxed.”

His lips quirked with amusement. “If this is relaxed I’d hate to see you when you’re tense.”

“If I’m tense it’s because you’re crossing boundaries you have no business crossing.” 

“It’s just a dance, Katie.”

Annoyed, she leaned toward him and whispered, “Don’t call me that.” Too late, she realized her mistake. He slipped his hand to her back, anchoring her against him. Now her body was in direct contact with his, and it reacted accordingly. Slow heat unfurled in her stomach and her nipples pebbled against the soft, satiny fabric of her bra.

“I saw you with Logan.”

He had lowered his head, his lips grazing her earlobe. Pleasurable goose bumps rose on her skin. Her instincts had definitely been on point. This dance was a bad idea. A really bad idea.

“Are you sleeping with him?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Does he know you like to be touched like this?” Tom traced a finger up her spine. She let out a soft gasp and trembled. He chuckled, his breath warming her ear. “And what about that sensitive spot between your neck and your collarbone? Does he know about that?”

“What Adam knows about me, or my body, is none of your concern.” She pulled back. Another bad idea. The heat smoldering in his eyes sent the blood rushing to her ears, and for a moment all she could hear was the pounding of her heart. Quickly, she regrouped. “And furthermore, my sex life is perfectly adequate. Thank you very much.”

“Well, that’s a damn shame.” His mouth tipped in a lazy, sexy smile as he settled his hand on the curve of her lower back. Every nerve ending in her body went on instant alert as the warmth of his fingers seemed to burn through the thin fabric of her dress, straight to her skin. “’Cause I sure as hell don’t recollect you ever settling for adequate.” 

“We’re dropping this subject right now,” she said in a stern voice.

“Whatever you say, darlin’.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:






Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she’s still getting used to the blistering summers and the slot machines in every grocery store.

When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.



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