Guest Post & Giveaway with Author Melissa Schroeder

When I sat down to write Infatuation, I had to prepare myself. As a military wife, I want to get everything right and while I have spent most my life as a military dependent, I hadn’t spent time with Seals. My other issue was that many times I read military romances and find them a little too romantic. I know the reality which includes more forms, idiocy and BS than any one person should have to deal with.  I knew I had to balance the reality I lived with on a daily basis, while adding in enough romance to keep that fantasy we all love in romance books.

I had written one military hero before in my book Mau Loa Ko `u Aloha (Forever My Love) in the Operation Love anthology. But Mano, the hero, was in the Air Force, plus, it was a shorter book. This time, though, I was starting off an entire series, and I wanted to make sure I got it right. 

All romance has to have that balance of goals, motivation and conflict, but military romance, just like every other subgenre, has an added element. You have to filter in the things that come with the job. For someone who has lived through it, I know just how the tentacles of the military can infiltrate lives—those on active duty and their families and loved ones. Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my husband—and my father who is retired AF. But when it comes to my personal life, I am a bit of a realist. I might create fantasy, but I keep my feet grounded (for the most part). I took writing the military romances seriously, and it was one of the reasons I hadn’t really written many. I didn’t want to make it melodramatic or gloss over the complexities our men and women in uniform deal with on a daily basis. In Infatuation, our hero is dealing with losing a friend on a mission, and the survivor guilt many service men feel in that situation. In the upcoming May release Possession, I have a pair of exes who walked away when a military marriage was too hard before, but now they have more than one reason to get back together. Both of these couples have to deal not only with their own problems, but how those problems play out when the military interferes. It was something that was very important for me to have in the books so that people understand that being a hero is great in a parade, but it isn’t always fun to live with one and the terrors he or she relives every day.

My first book in the A Little Harmless Military series, Infatuation, is now on sale in digital. If you would like a chance at the download and a prize pack that includes a Infatuation dog tag and trading card, answer this question in the comments:

What is your favorite kind of military hero, ie what service or job (SEAL, pilot, special forces etc)

INFATUATION: A Little Harmless Military Romance

ARe     AMAZON     B and N

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 he thought he could save changes a man. 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, 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.

This is an original novella that is approx 32,000 words. This is an interracial military romance with light BDSM.

Melissa Schroeder is the author of over 30 published short stories, novellas and novels, including the best selling Harmless series. In 2010, her erotic contemporary romance, A Little Harmless Sex, was named on of the 100 top selling Nook books of the year.
She is a military wife, former military brat, and is looking forward to her husband's retirement from the Air Force in a few years. Then, she will be able to live some place without bugs. She spends her free time reading far too many books, and watching 30 Rock reruns because she feels a kinship with Liz Lemon.
Her latest release is Callum, the first of a 5 book paranormal series featuring the Lennon family.
You can find Mel all over the web:
www.melissaschroeder.net
twitter.com/melschroeder
facebook.com/melissaschroederfanpage
facebook.com/groups/HarmlessLovers/ for HARMLESS ADDICTS
melissaschroeder.blogspot.com

Thanks so mush for stopping by Melissa :) Good Luck everyone!!!

.