Winner of Callum: The Cursed Clan

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for Callum:The Cursed Clan.

And the winner is 

Ursula (umavery@...)

Congratulations! 

A special thank you to Melissa Schroeder.


Winner has been notified by email.

 

Guest Post & Giveaway: CALLUM: THE CURSED CLAN by Melissa Schroeder

I want to thank Monique for allowing me to stop by AsianCoca’s Secret Garden to talk about my upcoming release, Callum. It is the first of my five book series, The Cursed Clan. I came up with the idea way back in 2006. I wondered what it would be like to write a big five book series set in modern times but with a curse that had followed the family for several centuries. I have never written a huge world building type of series like this and I was really excited. Of course, I didn’t think it would take several years before I would have a chance to delve into the series.

The one thing that really drew me to the idea, other than hanging out with some modern day Highlanders, was that the plot was steeped in history. I have a degree in history and English, so I love the subject. One of the joys of writing this book was partly the research. My concentration was twentieth century Europe, mainly WWII, so being able to read about the Clan system and the Clearances really caught my attention. Studying that and seeing how actions in those times could affect people today plays very big in this series. And, again, learning more about Scotland and its heritage has made me want to go there even more. Here is a little tidbit about The Cursed Clan, which is releasing January 24th.

~ Melissa Schroeder

The Cursed Clan: Callum
by Melissa Schroeder
Release Date: January 24, 2012

Will Desire be the answer or the ruin of an entire clan?

As Laird, Callum Lennon feels he has always failed to protect his cousins. Callum’s impulsiveness caused the death of his father and the experience has scarred not only his body, but his soul. From that point on, he made sure to always go with the more logical choice in every matter. When his younger cousin Angus finds clues that might help break the curse, Callum begrudgingly hires Phoebe Chilton to investigate. Callum doesn’t like bringing outsiders into their family affairs. Their life would become fodder for the tabloids if anyone were to find out about the curse. It doesn’t help that the instant he meets Dr. Chilton he’s attracted. But, he doesn’t really have a choice because she might be their last hope.

An expert in archeology, Phoebe has always been dwarfed by her parents’ shadow. Their high standards had her in college by thirteen and earning a second PhD by twenty-two. But her career and her broken marriage have left her needing something more than just diplomas and degrees. She wants to prove that her interest in legends, especially Celtic legends, is as important as her parents’ work. When the Lennon family contacts her, she sees the opportunity to win a massive research grant. With a long-time rival breathing down her back, she jumps at the Lennons’ offer her, hoping it will ensure her the grant. But uncovering the Lennon family secrets, and her attraction to Callum, could prove more than she can handle.

Forces outside the family are determined to ensure that they fail. When an old enemy threatens both the well being of the clan and the fragile new love, Callum will have to choose between believing his mind or his heart.

Click Here to read an excerpt.

Giveaway:

Melissa is giving away a digital copy of Callum: The Cursed Clan to one lucky reader!

To enter, leave a comment with your email address. This giveaway is open internationally.

Entry Deadline is Sunday, January 15^th. Good luck!

Review: INFATUATION by Melissa Schroeder

Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance
by Melissa Schroeder
Release Date: November 14, 2011
Source: Review copy from Author

To prove her love and save her man, she has to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Francis McKade is a man in lust. He’s had a crush on his best friend’s little sister for years but he has never acted on it. Besides that fact that she’s Malachi’s sister, he’s a Seal and he learned his lesson with his ex-fiancé. Women do not like being left alone for long months at a time. Still, at a wedding in Hawaii anything can happen—and does. Unfortunately, after the best night of his life, he and Mal are called away to one of their most dangerous missions.

Shannon is blown over by Kade. She’s always had a crush on him and after their night together, it starts to feel a little like love. But, after the mission, Kade never calls or writes and she starts to wonder if it was all a dream. Until one night, her brother Mal drags him into her bar and grill and Shannon gets the shock of her life.

Kade isn’t the man Shannon knew in Hawaii, or even the last few years. Losing a friend and being injured changes a man, especially one who had never felt so vulnerable. He still can’t shake the terror that keeps him up at night. Worse, he is realizing that the career he loves just might be over.

Shannon is still mad, but she can’t help but hurt for the man she loves. He is darker, a bit more dangerous, but beneath that, he is the Kade she's known for so many years. When he pushes her to her limits in the bedroom, Shannon refuses to back down. One way or another, this military man is going to learn there is no walking away from love—not while she still has breath in her body.

Warning: This book contains two infatuated lovers, some drunken dancing, a hard-headed military man, a determined woman, some old friends, and a little taste of New Orleans. As always, ice water is suggested while reading. It might be the first military Harmless book, but the only thing that has changed is how hot our hero looks in his uniform—not to mention out of it.

Infatuation: A Little Harmless Military Romance is a good start to this new military themed Harmless series. Shannon is a strong willed independent business woman and Kade is a tough Navy Seal. They have been attracted to each other for awhile and finally seal the deal at a wedding in Hawaii. It is the best night of their lives and seems like it could be the beginning of a really hot relationship. Then Kade is called away to a very dangerous mission. Shannon doesn’t hear from him for months even after she knows that he has returned from his mission. 

Soon, Shannon’s brother, Malachi drags Kade and another friend back to his hometown of New Orleans. Shannon is finally reunited with the man of her dreams but finds that Kade has come back damaged. He’s not the same exuberant, take-charge man she fell in love with. He’s become quiet and introverted and she’s not sure how to help him. She’s still upset that he never called after their tryst in Hawaii but she knows she still has very strong feelings for him and can’t turn her back on him. 

I liked both Kade and Shannon and the secondary characters were likable as well. There was a lot of emotional turmoil going on that made the story a little depressing for me. I was rooting for Kade to heal enough mentally to let Shannon back into his heart. The story flowed very well and I really enjoyed this book. The sex scenes were mildly hot with very light BDSM elements. Infatuation was a good emotional read and will appeal to erotic romance junkies.