Saturday, January 25, 2014

SEALed With A Kiss Coming for Valentine's Day

We have a special treat for all you military romance fans. Coming the week of Valentine's Day, a new anthology, SEALED With A Kiss, all containing Navy SEAL heroes. Most of this is brand new material, novellas you've waited years to read from some of your favorite authors.

Since there are several participating authors who blog regularly here on FTLOMR, I'm going to allow them to post a few excerpts of their own. NYT and USA Today Bestselling authors Marliss Melton, Gennita Low, Stephanie Tyler, Teresa Reasor, Deiliah Devlin, Elle James, J.M. Madden and Sharon Hamilton have combined to bring you a variety of SEAL stories guaranteed to knock you to your knees (or reads you can take to bed to savor).

Here's an example of the talent of this anthology. MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM TO ENTER A CONTEST FOR FREE AUDIO BOOKS!

From Marliss Melton CODE OF SILENCE 



“How long did you know?” Vinny demanded, diving right in. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he awaited her answer. 

The reminder that the precious little life she’d been guarding was gone drove a shaft of pain straight through her heart. She lowered the cup to her lap and stared down at it, devastated. She had tried turning over a new leaf. She had wanted to put the baby first, and now it was too late. “Almost two months,” she admitted, too ashamed to even look at him.
Stunned silence followed her reply. “Two months,” he finally repeated, in a voice that resonated with betrayal.
“I was going to tell you,” she rushed to assure him, “but I was afraid you’d force me to quit my job and I wasn’t ready…” She cut herself off, dismayed by how petty she sounded.

“You weren’t ready.” Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his hands gripping the edge of the chair he sat in, as he fought to rein in his incredulity. “Is that all you ever think of—yourself? What about the baby?” he demanded with controlled rage. “What about me? I haven’t slept or eaten or breathed in thirty-six hours because you didn’t tell me what you were up to. If I had known you were interviewing Rawlings, I would have recognized his name and realized what you were up against, and I would have protected you. None of this would have happened!”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Remorse twisted through her, wringing tears from her heart. “I was going to tell you.”
“Really?” he scoffed, his volume climbing. “After all the secrets you’ve kept from me, how do I know

you had any intention of telling me at all?”

She gasped at the hurtful words, wrenching her gaze up in a desperate bid to convince him. “I was,” she insisted. “On Christmas day, I was going to put the pregnancy strip in your… stocking.” Her voice broke at the realization that that would never happen now. The poor little life inside of her had never stood a chance. She’d endangered it by continuing with her risky plan, knowing all the while how villainous a man Rawlings truly was. “Is he—did he get arrested yet for what he did to me?” she asked in a desperate bid to shift some of the blame off her own narrow shoulders.

“Not yet.” Vinny sprang to his feet and stalked to the window, his agitation a clear sign that Rawlings’ continued freedom chafed at him. “The cops and the district attorney want to make sure he won’t find some kind of loophole to get around the charges.”

An aching silence fell between them. Vinny kept his back to her. She watched his shoulders rise and fall as he fought to bring his emotions under control.

“I swear, Vinny,” Ophelia said, in a last-ditch effort to elicit his understanding, “if I’d known what Rawlings would do to me, I would never have taken chances with our baby.”

He turned his head at her assertion. But the look in his eyes wasn’t even one that she recognized. He looked at her as if he’d never seen before—or like he was seeing for the first time who she really was. The look encased her heart in ice.
He had finally realized what she’d known all along—that she did not deserve him. That she wasn’t the woman he thought she was.




From Stephanie Tyler blurb for HOLDING TIGHT 

Christmas was coming, and so was Jamie's due date. The entire family was arriving, except for one key person. Her husband. Chris was away on a mission, and even though his brothers were also SEALs and probably knew where he was, they couldn't share that information. Instead, they teased, complained, and did everything they could to keep her from worrying too much.

Chris had completed his mission and now had two goals. Goal one: Get home to his wife. Easier said than done. Goal two: Deliver his and Jamie's baby. If he is only able to get there in time.


From Sharon Hamilton SEAL MY DESTINY

She fingered his tats. He had a Celtic band across his bicep. A Fear/Faith scripted tat over his heart. Frog prints from his wrist to his elbow. The number 5326 on his other bicep. She’d seen the large skull tat on his back with something written under it in Latin. That one she could go look up later. So she chose the 5326 and brushed her fingers over it.

            “Tell me about his one.”

            “It’s the prime directive.”

            His face was deadly serious. She was looking for some hint, some help so she could understand him. The number meant something.

            “Directive for what?” she finally asked. That made him grin, showing blindingly white teeth.

            He licked his lips.

            “All beautiful women must be made love to as often as possible. The directive to stay in bed all day. Not to eat. Not to sleep.”

So this was just a sample. Not even half the great novellas are represented here. We'll post more as February 14th comes closer. Judging from the responses we've been getting, Valentine's Day is going to be very lucky - for a lot of people!

To celebrate, I'm offering three free audio books to commenters on this blog. You have your choice of Audio Books from Accidental SEAL, Fallen SEAL Legacy or SEAL Under Covers. My early Valentine's Day present to you. I think you'll love how the artful narration by J.D. Hart brings these characters to life. 

All you have to do is tell me why you love reading romances with hot Navy SEALs as the hero.


Sharon Hamilton
Life is one fool thing after another.
Love is two fool things after each other.





20 comments:

  1. As a vet and daughter of a vet the military is very dear to my heart
    Reading stories about the Seals just makes me smile plus they are always HOT
    I love listening to audio books so I'm excited for a chance to win
    Can't wait to read this book

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Karen! I agree, the SEALs are hot, but they are honorable men without ego (not without flaws). Love intensely and are always there for their women, and to protect the innocent. What not to like?

      Delete
  2. I'm married to a Gulf War Era Army Veteran and military stories are near and dear to my heart. Men and women in uniform deserve love as much as anyone, and I am drawn to stories that highlight their (and their loved ones') sacrifice, and capacity for love and loyalty, while keeping that dry, sometimes dark, sense of humor that many have.
    ~Michelle
    mmmazuros at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle - you nailed it. And thank you for saying you liked reading about their sacrifice, their capacity for love and loyalty with the dry sense of humor. Yes. That's what I try to portray, the emotional side of their service. So happy you stopped by today, and thank your husband for his service.

      Delete
  3. Seals are just so determined and true. They are truly full of strength but to see them portrayed with loving hearts just makes me melt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very exciting to hear this because I totally agree. We hear about all the "shoot 'em up" stuff on the news and TV and the sensational books, but showing how they deal with love, and learning to trust themselves in a loving relationship, that's the emotional journey I like to tell. Thank you so much for your comment.

      Delete
  4. Can't wait to get started reading Sealed with a Kiss and read authors that a new to me. I have read Sharon's Seal Brotherhood series and they are just fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nicole. All of us have different ways we portray these fine men. I think you'll love all the talented authors here, several of whom have also served in the military, too.

      Delete
  5. Can't wait for Sealed with a Kiss what a great treat for Valentine's day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, that was our thought too, Mary! And they deserve our extra love on this holiday we celebrate love.

      Delete
  6. I have always loved your SEALs Sharon. I'm sure this one will be no exception!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love military romances because the men are hotter then sin and protective and honorable! They set examples of what we all strive for in men! We all want to be loved and protected!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes!!! Shannon. We all want to be loved and protected. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think Shannon summed if up nicely. I have to agree whole heartedly with all her points. Whatever else it is about them, there isn't a military romance I haven't enjoyed. perhaps the fascination began after watching things like Navy Seals and Blue Thunder many many years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amanda, hey those guys keep me pretty tong-tied too!! Good job. These heroes only get better with age, don't they. At least the memories do!

      Delete
  10. I love reading military romance because what is hotter than a man in uniform especially one that would die to protect us and the country. Nothing better than a steamy romance staring a hot marine,seal, ranger or airforce guy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay Brenda. You sound like our kind of gal. Pull up a chair and stay awhile. I agree completely.

      Delete
  11. SEALs are just the best of the best! Sexy as he*l!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love reading Military Romance because I love the commitment of these men to their country and the women they choose to love. Besides, they are extremely HOT and know what they want and don't hesitate to go after it.

    ReplyDelete