Catching Up With Melissa Mayhue

Catching Up With Melissa Mayhue

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melissa mayhueThe Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome back Melissa Mayhue. Melissa is here today to talk about her just released book, Warrior Untamed and her ohter new book, Take a Chance, which is the start of a new series.  She will also tell us what she has in store for 2014.

Let’s Catch Up with Melissa.

 

TRC:  Hi, Melissa.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us at The Reading Cafe, to discuss you recently released “Warrior Untamed”, as well as your upcoming new series.

Melissa:  Thank you for inviting me, Barb.  I really appreciate the opportunity to visit with your readers!

TRC:  You have just released Warrior Untamed, which is the 4th book in you’re the Warrior series.  For those who may not have read this series, would you please give us a brief description of the premise of the series?

Melissa:  The Warrior series is set in the highlands of Scotland in 1294.  It's filled with the same Faerie magic as readers might remember from my Daughters of the Glen series [since it's a spin-off from that series!] with the added dimension of magic from the Norse gods.  The underlying premise is a fight between factions of a family for control of their clan which has led to the release of a monster from Norse mythology into the mortal world.

Warrior Untamed Novem 2013TRC:  Will you please tell us a bit about Warrior Untamed, which was released a week ago?

Melissa:  Warrior Untamed is Halldor and Bridget's story.  It wraps up the overall battle in the Warrior series and gives readers the big picture Happy Ever After they've been waiting for in this series.  Here's the back copy blurb:

Award-winning author Melissa Mayhue returns to the Highlands, where a beautiful warrior intent on avenging her father’s murder joins forces with the captivating Norseman who saved her life…

Descendant of the ancient Pictish royal line, Bridget MacCulloch fears nothing, so when brash Halldor O’Donar rebuffs her offer to help defeat the foe that killed her father, she refuses to surrender her quest.  But Bridget’s need for vengeance is equaled only by her growing attraction to Halldor.

Descendant of the Norse god Thor, Halldor must find the missing Sword of the Ancients, for only with this weapon can he overcome the loathsome monster that has entered the Mortal world determined to destroy it.  Though he’s forbidden Bridget from accompanying him on his mission, he soon discovers the stubborn–yet sinfully irresistible–warrior princess heeds no one but herself.

Now they must learn to trust each other if they’re to defeat their enemies…or risk everything as they surrender to a desire with the power to conquer all.

TRC:  You have a new book coming in the next week, Take A Chance.  Can you please tell us the premise of this new series?  Also how many books are you planning on?

Melissa:  This is the first of my new contemporary Chance, Colorado series.  It's basically the story of a small mountain town in Colorado and the people who live there.  The tag line for the series sums it up pretty well:  Chance, Colorado - Where love gets a second chance.

I can't tell you yet how many books there will be.   I'm finding that as I'm building the town and adding people, more stories keep coming to life!

TAKEACHANCE-FrontCover(forAmazonandSmashwords)TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of your first book, Take A Chance?

Melissa:  Here's the back copy blurb for Take a Chance:

Allison Flynn has spent the last eight years struggling to build the life of her dreams.  But a cheating boyfriend, the loss of her beloved job, and her mother's illness have all conspired to bring her back home again, shutting the door on those dreams.

Logan O'Connor is a man driven by guilt and haunted by the what-ifs of his choices in life.  Betrayed by the woman he'd thought he loved, he's given up any dream of the Happy Ever After he'd once assumed his life would have and devoted himself to his work.

When Allie and Logan cross paths, they'll need to risk their hearts once more to have any chance at finding what they really want.

Sometimes you have to take a chance to make your dreams come true...

TRC:  What are you currently working on, and what do you have planned for 2014?

Melissa:  I’m currently putting the finishing touches on Take A Chance to ready it for its December release.   I have at least two books slated for 2014 — the second Chance book [Second Chance at Love – Liz and Ryan’s book] and another highlander book, which will be the beginning of a new spinoff series, All The Time You Need.  This new series will be set in the same world as both Daughters and Warriors and will, I’m sure, bring back some characters from both of those series [there are still so many who need their stories told!!]

This first story will follow one of the characters introduced in Warrior Untamed, Alexander MacKillican, and his unexpected encounter with modern day woman thrown back into his time.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Melissa:  Only that I'd love to hear from any of your readers who have questions or comments.  They can find me on Facebook [www.facebook.com/Melissa.Mayhue.Author ]  or they can stop by my website [www.MelissaMayhue.com] and leave a comment in the ShoutBox.  If they'd like to stay informed as to when my books are being released, they can sign up for my newsletter at www.MelissaMayhue.com/newsletter.html. 

With the release of Take A Chance, we've also started a Chance, Colorado group on Facebook, [  https://www.facebook.com/groups/614037238656349/  ] specifically for readers to talk about the stories, the characters, or to share any of their other reading favorites with one another.  You're all invited to join in with us and talk books!

TRC:  Thank you, Melissa for giving us an update on Warrior Untamed and Take a Chance, as well as what we can look forward to in the future.  It was a pleasure talking with you again.  We hope to catch up again in the future.

Melissa:  Thank you, Barb.  It was great to visit with you again!

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Melissa has graciously offered to give one lucky member of The Reading Café a paper copy of Warrior Untamed and an e-copy of Take a Chance.

1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open U.S. & Canada Only

4.  Contests runs from December 4, to December 7, 2013

 

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Warrior Untamed/Take a Chance by Melissa Mayhue – reviews

Warrior Untamed/Take a Chance by Melissa Mayhue – reviews

Melissa Mayhue has two releases within weeks apart.  Warrior Untamed is part of her Warrior series, and Take a Chance is Melissa’s first book in a new romance series. Below are the reviews of each book.

 

Warrior Untamed
Warrior series – Book 3
by Melissa Mayhue
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Warrior Untamed Novem 2013Links to order Warrior Untamed:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
If only Bridget MacCulloch, descendant of the mighty Picts, could control her temper and overcome her lack of patience, she’d likely be the most formidable warrior of her day. But how’s she supposed to master that temper when all the men she encounters seem determined to thwart her every move, suggesting that she find a good husband and settle down? Her only interest in life is avenging her father’s death—a goal which in no way includes spending time with the arrogant, domineering Norseman who saved her life.

As a descendant of the Norse god Thor, Halldor O’Donar carries his ancestor’s title as the Protector of Man. Though he’s plagued by interfering Faeries, he’s determined to save Mankind from a monster that escaped from his ancestors’ world. The last thing he wants is a wild-tempered woman to distract him from his quest.

But the Fates have other ideas. Brie and Hall find that the only way to meet their individual goals is to work together. To succeed, she must learn to harness her negative emotions to free the power of the warrior within, and he must let down his protective walls to allow one very special woman inside…


 Review:

Warrior Untamed is the 3rd book in Melissa Mayhue’s Warrior series.  When we left off in Warrior Reborn, I suspected that our heroes would be Bridget and Hall, and I was right. Warrior Untamed picks up with Hall rescuing and bringing Brie back to Castle MacGahan.  Brie and Hall have very strong feelings for each other.  Hall though tries desperately to hold back his feelings, as he is a descendant of Thor, and knows he cannot take Bridget with him, when he returns.  Brie is a one of a kind heroine, tough, confident, temperamental, independent and stubborn, not to mention a perfect female warrior.  She truly is a perfect match for Hall.  But despite her feelings for Hall, Brie senses his distance, even though she can see the desire in his eyes, and just takes it as meaning he isn’t interested in a woman like her.

It is Brie’s stubbornness and intense desire to enact revenge against our villain, Torquil for killing her father.  She will not let anyone stand in her way, which is difficult as both Hall and her brother, Jamesy want to protect her by forcing her to stay back in the Castle.  Brie sneaks out more then once along the way, always a step of ahead of them, though Hall does catch up with her a few times. 

The villain, Torquil, is actually a beast that has taken over his body. Fenrir lives inside Torquil, and will stop at nothing to kill anyone who tries to lock him up again.  Hall knows that Brie’s stubbornness will get her killed, or worse yet, the beast will overtake her body.  She keeps escaping Hall, and each time he comes to her rescue, but Brie will not be stopped, as it is her right to kill Torquil.  This is an exciting adventure, and Hall and Brie made a fabulous couple.  The sexual chemistry between them is hot, and despite their misgivings, they are both very much in love with each other.  Will Hall be able to find a way to have Brie as his mate?  Will Hall be able to save a reckless Brie?  Will both Torquil and Fenrir meet their deserved end? 

Melissa Mayhue once again creates a fabulous story, and brings everything to a conclusion.  I loved the epilogue when we get to see all of the fabulous heroes of the three books, and see how they are doing in their lives.  I am a huge of fan of Melissa, and am dying to know what is next (besides her contemporary romance Take a Chance)?  Warrior spinoff?  Daughters of the Glen?  If you have not read this series, you need to start with Warrior Redemption and then continue on to Warrior Reborn and Warrior Untamed.  Great series for the always fantastic Melissa Mayhue.

 

Take a Chance
Chance Colorado series – Book 1
by Melissa Mayhue
Release Date: December 16,2013

TAKEACHANCE-FrontCover(forAmazonandSmashwords)Links to order Take a Chance: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Description:
Allison Flynn has spent the last eight years struggling to build the life of her dreams.  But a cheating boyfriend, the loss of her beloved job, and her mother’s illness have all conspired to bring her back home again, shutting the door on those dreams.

Logan O’Connor is a man driven by guilt and haunted by the what-ifs of his choices in life.  Betrayed by the woman he’d thought he loved, he’s given up any dream of the Happy Ever After he’d once assumed his life would have and devoted himself to his work.

When Allie and Logan cross paths, they’ll need to risk their hearts once more to have any chance at finding what they really want.

Sometimes you have to take a chance to make your dreams come true

Review:

Take a Chance by Melissa Mayhue is her first book in her Chance Colorado series.  Take a Chance is a contemporary romance, which is a new genre for Melissa. The story takes place in  Chance, a small town in Colorado.

Allison (Allie) is our heroine, whom we meet as a teenager, 8 years before present time.  Allie has always had a secret crush on her brother’s friend, Logan.  But Logan doesn’t even know Allie exists, especially since he only sees her as his friend’s little sister.  At her prom, she is with Ryan, Logan’s brother, and he finds out that she has been using him to be able to meet Logan.  With her best friend betraying her, and her embarrassment for doing that to her friend, Ryan, Allie leaves town soonafter graduation.

The story picks up 8 years later, as Allie’s brother Matt, has been injured while stationed oversees, and with her mother ill, Allie decides to go home with Matt and help take care of both of them.  Having caught her current boyfriend having an affair, made it easier for Allie to go home again, something she swore she would never do.

No matter how much she tries to avoid some people, she does come face to face with Logan, the boy she crushed over 8 years earlier.  This time Logan notices the beautiful young woman, whom he does not really know.

This is a sweet romance that has such a nice hometown feel.  I loved Allie and Logan together, as they took their time to build this romance.  At first, Allie shied away from Logan, thinking he knew the story of why she left town.  But no one cares what happened years earlier, especially when she was just a teenager.  Melissa Mayhue has created some wonderful characters that make this story so good.  I loved the cousins, Desi and Dulcie, and their coffee shop. I want to go there and taste their fabulous cakes and great coffee.  It is the cousins who help Allie settle in Chance, to build her own life.  I also loved Logan’s brash sister, Katy, and Logan’s friend Tanner, a hot hot fireman.  I can foresee a budding romance with Katy and Tanne. Melissa also gives us a glimpse at some new characters that we can be sure will have their own story.

If you enjoy a pure romance; a small town atmosphere; a wonderful couple; great secondary characters; then this book is perfect for you.  Take a Chance is a new genre for Melissa Mayhue, but no matter what she does, she is a fabulous writer.  Being a big fan of Melissa, it is no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Take a Chance.   I wholly recommend that you also Take a Chance.  🙂

Reviews by Barb

Copies provided by Author/Publisher

 

 

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Cover Reveals May 24, 2013

 

COVER REVEALS May 24, 2013

AMR final

 

TITLE: Avoiding Mr.Right

AUTHOR: C.J. Ellisson

SERIES: A Walk on the Wild Side

RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2013

 

 

 

BLURB: Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:

1. Casual Sex
2. Friends with Benefits
3. Avoidance of Intimacy

Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her.

Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It’ll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla’s sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate.

 

 

The Wicked.July 2013jpg

 

 

TITLE: The Wicked

AUTHOR: Thea Harrison

SERIES: A Novel of the Elder Races

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Endless Night oc t 2013

 

TITLE: Endless Knight

AUTHOR: Kresley Cole

SERIES: Arcana Chronicles

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

 

Wild Wolf Feb 2014

 

TITLE: Wild Wolf

AUTHOR: Jennifer Ashley

SERIES: Shifters Unbound

RELEASE DATE: February 2014

 

 

 

Warrior Untamed Novem 2013

 

TITLE:  Warrior Untamed

AUTHOR:  Melissa Mayhue

SERIES: Warrior #3

RELEASE DATE:  November 2013

 

 

 

 

I Surrender July 2013

 

 

TITLE: I Surrender

AUTHOR: Monica James

SERIES: I Surrender Trilogy #1

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

Against-the-Ropes-May 2013

 

TITLE:  Against the Ropes

AUTHOR:  Carly Fall

SERIES:  N/A

RELEASE DATE:  May 29, 2013

 

 

 

After burn  aug 2013

 

TITLE :  Afterburn

AUTHOR:  Sylvia Day

SERIES:  Cosmo Red Hot Reads #1

RELEASE DATE:  July 2013

 

 

 

 

Aftershock Nov 2013

 

TITLE:  Aftershock

AUTHOR:  Sylvia Day

SERIES:  Cosmo Red Hot Reads #2

RELEASE DATE: November 2013

 

 

 

Alone January 2014

 

TITLE: Alone

AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot

SERIES: Bone Secrets

RELEASE: January 2014

 

 

 

After the Kiss - Lauren Layne

 

TITLE: After The Kiss

AUTHOR: Lauren Layne

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Runaway Queen May 2013

 

TITLE:  The Runaway Queen (YA)

AUTHOR:  Cassandra Clare/Maureen Johnson

SERIES:  The Bane Chronicles/The Mortal Instruments

RELEASE DATE:  May 2013

 

 

 

 

Playing the part

 

TITLE: Playing the Part

AUTHOR: Robin Covington

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The Spider Dec 2013

 

TITLE: The Spider

AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep

SERIES: Elemental Assassin

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

 

 

 

Conceal

 

TITLE: Conceal

AUTHOR: Juliana Stone

SERIES: The Barker Triplets #3

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The last kiss goodbye Aug 2013

 

TITLE: The Last Kiss Goodbye

AUTHOR: Karen Robards

SERIES: Dr. Charlotte Stone #2

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Revealed Oct 13

 

TITLE: Revealed

AUTHORS: PC & Kristin Cast

SERIES: House of Night (YA)

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Big Bad Beast Oct 2013

 

TITLE: Big Bad Beast (re-release)

AUTHOR: Shelly Laurenston

SERIES: Pride and Pack

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Her Ladyship's Curse aug 13

 

TITLE: Her Ladyships Curse

AUTHOR: Lynn Viehl

SERIES: Disenchanted and Co. Part 1

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Falling Into Us June 2013

 

TITLE:  Falling Into Us

AUTHOR:  Jasinda Wilder

SERIES:  Falling Into You #2

RELEASE DATE:  June 2013 

 

 

 

Fit muscular man exercising with dumbbell

 

TITLE: The Winning Season

AUTHOR: Alison Packard

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Shattered Emotions

 

TITLE:  Shattered Emotions

AUTHOR:  Carrie Ann Ryan

SERIES:  Redwood Pack

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The Sharpest Blade

 

 

TITLE: The Sharpest Blade

AUTHOR: Sandy Williams

SERIES: Shadow Reader #3

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

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Melissa Mayhue Prize Package Giveaway

Melissa Mayhue Prize Package Giveaway

WhiteUWallpaper-2-2

Today’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY prize package giveaway has been graciously donated by Melissa Mayhue. Melissa has donated a SIGNED paper copy of WARRIOR REBORN and a hand-made bookmark for ONE lucky commenter.


Click HERE for Melissa Mayhue’s Website

Warrior Reborn

TO ENTER: Giveaway open to 18 years of age and older

NOTE: Register at The Reading Cafe using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook etc, please post your email address with your comment, as Twitter etc does not account for email contact.

1. Open to US and CANADA only

2. Please post a comment telling us to enter you in the giveaway.

3. Giveaway runs until February 28, 2013

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An Interview with Melissa Mayhue

An Interview with Melissa Mayhue

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome the wonderful Melissa Mayhue as our guest today.

Melissa just released Warrior Reborn, her newest book in her Warrior series.  We posted our review of Warrior Reborn yesterday. 

Let’s begin our interview with Melissa.

Hi Melissa. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book. We are big fans of your book, and it is a pleasure to have you here at The Reading Café.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Melissa: This is always the hardest question I get! Truly, I am one of the most uninteresting people I know. Maybe that’s why I spend so much time in my own imaginary worlds!  I love writing – obviously! – and the research involved in the writing. In fact, I’m such a research nerd, I have to really be strict with myself not to get lost in that part of preparing for the stories. In addition to writing, I love to travel and hunt down my family genealogy [which feeds my joy for research]. I love spending time with my grandsons and, of course, reading has always been a passion. My favorite way to unwind is playing games on Facebook, which is why I maintain a personal page [for the games] and an Author Page where I can connect with the readers who don’t want to see all the game updates.  I live in Northern Colorado with my husband and two wonderful Boston Terriers who are so much like kids that my husband jokes if we’d bought them first, we might not have three sons! 🙂

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing? Have you always liked to write?

Melissa: Because I’ve always been a reader, I think there has always been a part of me that wanted to be a writer. Especially when I’d read a book that didn’t end the way I wanted it to! I attempted my first book when I was around thirteen… and gave up after only a few pages because it was HARD!  But I’ve been inventing stories since I was really young and playing with my Barbie dolls!

TRC: How did you come up with the idea of Daughters of the Glen series? Was 30 Nights with a Highlander your first book?

Melissa: Thirty Nights was my first book. It had been percolating around in the back of my brain for years and when we went to Scotland on vacation, it just sort of forced its way out! I always loved reading fantasy and romance, so I knew whatever I wrote would have to include those elements. And it HAD to have my Happy Ever After! I loved time travel and historical and paranormal romances, so when I found myself sitting in a place called The Fairy Glen, well, it all just fell into place.

TRC: I love the time-traveling theme in DOTG. How did you come up with that idea?

Melissa: I had been reading a lot of time travel romance before I sat down to write that story. Flora Speer, Diana Gabaldon, Karen Marie Moning, Terri Brisbin and so, so many other wonderful authors shaped my love for the genre in the years before I began working on Thirty Nights. Time Travel just seemed the perfect fit for me to combine my love of historical and my love of fantasy.

TRC: Warrior Redemption was the first book in your new Warrior series. Why did you decide to spin this off from DOTG, rather then make it part of the same series?

Melissa: We were already eight books into the DOTG series and with Warrior’s Redemption we were adding a whole new dimension of magic into the stories. It seemed like a good thing to do. I didn’t want it to be an entirely NEW series [thus the “spin-off”] because there are still too many characters from the older books who are nagging to have their stories told! 🙂

TRC: On that same note, will we get to see our favorites again from Daughters of Glen? There are so many wonderful characters ( Dair, Sim, Dallyn) that still need their story told, not to mention the wonderful children, such as Rosie, to come in the future.

Melissa: As long as the readers keep buying the books, I’ll keep telling the stories of the characters who keep speaking to me!

TRC: Warrior Reborn, which was just recently released on October 30th, is the second book of the Warrior series. Can you tell us the premise of this story, and who are the heroine and hero?

Melissa: The hero in this story is a young man who was only mentioned in the DOTG series, Chase Noble. [Interestingly enough, I’ve gotten LOTS of emails from readers wanting to know more about him ever since he first showed up!]. Chase has basically spent his life on his own since his mother’s death, never giving up on believing in the promise his father [a full-blood Faerie] made to him. He’s spent the last decade searching, unsuccessfully, for the place he belongs. He just didn’t realize the place the Fae had chosen for him was seven hundred years in the past!

The heroine is Christiana MacDowylt, who readers met in Warrior’s Redemption. When she assured her brother that she’d already seen the man who would save her, it was Chase she was talking about. Her only problem is how to get him from his time to hers.

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ The Book Depository /

TRC: What are you working on now?

Melissa: I’m working on the third full book in the Warrior Series, which doesn’t really have a title yet. [I’m playing with Warrior Untamed, but I’m not sure it will stick]. It’s the story of two characters you’ll meet in Warrior Reborn, so I won’t go into a lot of detail right now. Don’t want to ruin any surprises!

TRC: What is your writing process? Do you have a favorite spot or time? Do you like to outline your stories or just go with the flow?

Melissa: I begin with a rough idea of who my characters are and what their major obstacles will be but, other than that, the stories come as they come. 🙂

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Melissa: I’d love to invite your readers to stop by my Website if they have time. www.MelissaMayhue.com. On there they’ll find family genealogy charts for the characters and information about my research and the stories/mythologies that inspired many bits and pieces of the books. They can also sign up for my newsletter which is where I conduct all contests when I have a new release.


LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Chicken Fried steak and French fries with white cream gravy [any wonder I have a weight problem???]

Favorite Dessert: – Chocolate Lava cake [ditto the above comment]

Favorite Author:There are just too, too many whose work I love to even attempt to narrow this down! And it changes all the time, depending on whose book I just read!!  Though I will admit to having books by Mary Stewart, Douglas Adams, and Charlaine Harris on my Forever Keeper Shelf.

Favorite Movie: Varies depending on the mood I’m in. The American President and The 13th Warrior are two that are always on my Keeper List. [Unless it’s close to Christmas and then, bar none, it’s The Christmas Story].

Favorite TV Show: It’s a tie. The Newsroom [because the characters banter is quick and witty and you really have to pay attention] and Restaurant Impossible [because it usually makes me cry – in a good way].

Milk or Dark Chocolate: No hesitation here. Milk chocolate. Definitely milk chocolate

Favorite character (male & female) not written by you:
Female: Kate Schechter – in Douglas Adams’ Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul
Male: Thor – same book

Melissa: As a matter of fact, though this is supposed to be the lightening round, it was that book that ultimately made me decide to sit down and write my first book. I felt just one more chapter in that book and Adams could have given me the Happy Ever After I wanted. But, no matter how many times I read it [and I have read it MANY times] it never morphed into the romance is should have been. 🙂

TRC: Thank you, Melissa for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you in the future.

Melissa: Thank you so much for hosting me here today and allowing me to chat with your readers!!

If you would like to learn more about Melissa, you can find her at the following links:

Website: http://www.melissamayhue.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Melissa has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of their choice of one book from her backlist (Daughters of the Glen or Warrior’s Redemption)

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say Hi to Melissa

4.  Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada Only

5.  Contest runs from November 14th – November 17th

 

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Melissa Mayhue – Biography-Bibliography

Melissa Mayhue – Biography-Bibliography

Biography

Faced with telling you all about me, I realized…I’m not very interesting! So, rather than bore you with useless trivia about my life, [I was an only child, born and raised in Texas], I’ll share the story of how I came to be a writer.

First and foremost, I am a reader. Some of my best memories are of my mother taking me to the local library every week during the summer to check out armloads of books. I could hardly wait to get home, dive into the stories, and get lost in a whole new, wonderful world. My prized possession as a girl was an entire shelf of Nancy Drew Mysteries. I adored Nancy Drew.

My first experience with writing a book came at age 13. I developed a fascination with genealogy and, after spending time visiting older relatives to gather information, I found I had all sorts of wonderful family stories. What on earth could I do with all those [mostly false] tales? Why, I’d write a sweeping, 600+ page novel of course! A tale of life through several generations, spanning two centuries. It would be fantastic.

Armed with purpose and enthusiasm, I sat down at my big typewriter, [yes, I’m dating myself…typewriter, not keyboard], and began Page One. Hours later I had almost completed two whole pages. [double spaced, of course]. Hmmmmm… An entire day and I had barely two pages to show for it? [rather boring pages, at that].

Maybe I wasn’t cut out to be an author after all.

In spite of my writing setback, I retained my passion for books. I simply concentrated on reading other people’s books. Lots of books. All kinds of books. Until I discovered Romance. Finally, a world I could escape to where I knew I’d always find a happy ending! I devoured them, literally reading hundreds.

Years passed before the writing bug seriously bit again. I was working in downtown Denver and, as so many writers advised, every lunch hour I took my pad and pen [actually, I preferred a pencil] and headed for my favorite coffee shop to spend my 50 minutes writing.

Unfortunately, my favorite coffee shop was in a book store. Invariably, I’d end up writing nothing. There were too many fascinating people to watch, too many interesting conversations to hear and then, of course, there were all the books to distract me.

Still, I had these two characters living in my head, wanting their story told…

Then came the summer we took our second family vacation to Scotland. On the Black Isle [ which isn’t black or even an isle ], near the pretty little town of Rosemarkie, we parked our rented car and hiked back into a magically beautiful placed called Fairy Glen. Resting on a large rock at the edge of a waterfall and pool, lulled by the lush nature of the setting, I suddenly realized THIS was the place for Cate and Connor. For the remainder of that trip, I’d catch glimpses of them, in a castle, standing at the foot of a crumbling staircase, or riding through a highland meadow.

Once I finally sat down at my keyboard and decided the time had come to give those two life, I found, amazingly enough, they weren’t the only characters running around in my head. There were a bunch of them… all clamoring for their own turn!

My GOAL, as a writer, is to give each of those noisy characters a life in their own story.

My HOPE, as a writer, is that you’ll enjoy reading their stories as much as I enjoy writing them!

Bibliography

Daughters of the Glen Series
Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband
– Book 1

Released – 6/2007
Connor & Caitlyn

Highland Guardian – Book 2
Released – 10/2007
Ian & Sarah

Soul of a Highlander –  Book 3
Released – 5/2008
Ramos & Mairi

A Highlander of Her Own –  Book 4
Released – 1/2009
Caden & Ellie

A Highlander’s Destiny –  Book 5
Released – 12/2009
Jesse & Destiny

A Highlander’s Homecoming –  Book 6
Released – January, 2010
Robbie & Isabella

Healing the Highlander – Book 7
Released – 2/2011
Drew & Leah

Highlander’s Curse – Book 8
Released – 3/2011
Colin & Abby

The Warrior’s Series
Warrior’s Redemption
– Book 1

Released – 12/2011
Malcolm & Dani

Warrior’s Last Gift – Ebook Only
Released – 10/2012
Eric & Jeanne

Warrior Reborn – Book 2
Released – 10/2012
Chase & Christiana


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The Daughters of the Glen/The Warrior Series – A Poem

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE GLEN/THE WARRIOR SERIES- A Poem based on the novels by Melissa Mayhue

I wrote this poem about one year ago but have since added a few more stanzas as Melissa Mayhue has written her WARRIOR series.
 

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE GLEN and THE WARRIOR SERIES

Melissa Mayhue dreamed a book
The Fae had filled her thoughts.
Of scattered worlds, from then and now,
A world, she blessed with Scots.

Connor was the first to seek,
An otherworldly trek.
The maiden Cate, was his to meet,
A love he’d not forget.

Sarah loved the written word,
To Scotland she was bound.
But Ian captured Sarah’s heart,
Their love, at long last, found.

Ramos gathered thoughts of good,
But Reynard tempted fate.
Mairi knew she found a love,
With Ramos, as her mate.

Caden searched, his brother gone,
The laird was missing too.
The Fae had plans for Ellie now,
For Caden-love renewed.

Jesse knew, his one true love,
Was Fae, so clean and pure.
And Destiny was by his side,
With hope, to reassure.

Robert’s life was waning fast,
A cure he needed now.
His guilt did cause, a shattered sense,
Of time, a broken vow.

Isa grew, so brave and strong,
Her power was foretold.
And Robert feared, he’d lost his chance,
But love had taken hold.

Andrew saved a maiden Fae,
Her secrets, she did hide.
But Leah craved his gentle touch,
She travelled by his side.

Abby wished for just one thing,
A soul mate, she would love.
But Colin’s cursed, to never know,
His woman’s gentle touch.

The Highlander’s of Scotland yore,
The women and the men.
Have found their lives, their love, their souls,
In The Daughter’s of the Glen.

And now the stories build once more,
The heroes from the Glen.
Of Scottish lass, and passing times,
Of Warriors, Fae and men.

Malcolm had a brother whom,
Desired death, revenge.
But Dani aided Malcolm’s cause,
His life she would avenge.

Eric never knew the truth,
When he broke a woman’s heart.
But a life alone without her love,
Meant Jeanne would live apart.

Chase had dreamt of long ago,
A beauty caught his eye.
And Christiana thought she found,
The stars, the moon, the sky.

The Warriors will meet once more,
When Torquil fights for power.
The gathered group, defend their lives,
Their loves with truth and honor.

Melissa writes a tale of love
That spans the years and miles.
Of Scottish Glens, and Fairy dreams,
Of kisses, sighs and smiles.

by Sandy

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Warrior Reborn by Melissa Mayhue – a Review

Warrior Reborn by Melissa Mayhue – a Review

Warrior Reborn is the second novel of Melissa Mayhue’s Warrior series, which was a spinoff from her glorious Daughters of the Glen series.  Warrior Reborn picks up immediately after Warrior Redemption ended. Below is the official description of the book, which is followed by my review.       

Description:
Award-winning author Melissa Mayhue delivers once more with her second enchanting novel of the MacDowylt clan, featuring a captive Scottish seer who awaits the man from her visions to rescue—and love—her. . . .

Former special ops agent CHASE NOBLE has been searching his whole life for the place where he belongs. As a descendant of Fae, he senses fate has more in store for him. And he will not rest until he discovers what his true purpose is. When he travels back in time to medieval Scotland, he discovers his mission is to save a beautiful woman—the same woman he is destined to be with.

CHRISTIANA MACDOWYLT possesses the gift of foresight. Prisoner of her evil half brother, Christiana has visions that show her that only one warrior can rescue her—a man she is mysteriously drawn to. The only problem is, he’s in the future. Now she must rely on the magic of a fairy to transport him to the past. And when Christiana finally meets Chase, the sparks between them set off a smoldering desire. But will the magic that brought them together also tear them apart? 

Review:

Warrior Reborn opens with our heroine, Christiana MacDowylt, who surveys the scene, where most of her brother’s warriors lie dead, enabling her other brothers Malcolm & Patrick to get away free, with Malcolm’s wife Dani and Elesyria, a faerie, who is living with the MacDowylts.   That is how the first book ended, now Christiana must find a way to fool her evil brother,Torquil that she had nothing to do with Malcolm’s escape. 

Torquil, is the evil villain in this series; he is very powerful and almost impossible to kill.  He lays unconscious, but Christiana knows soon he will fully recover. As more of Torquil’s warriors are on the way to rescue him, she puts herself deeply into one of her visions, allowing her become almost comatose, when Torquil regains consciousness. 

This does work, as Torquil will believe Christiana, and despite his concerns of her betrayal, he knows he needs her.  For she sees visions of the future, and he uses her visions to benefit himself.   When Warrior Redemption left off, as they were escaping, Christiana had asked Elesytria to bring her the warrior she dreams about in some of her visions.  Of course, Elesytria does this, and finds Christiana’s soulmate in the present time.

Chase Noble is our hero, and he is the brother of Leah and Destiny Noble, from the Daughters of the Glen series. Chase is unhappy, as he travels to search for his soulmate that he dreams about, as well as where he feels he should belong. When a storm comes, Chase is suddenly whipped away through time to medieval Scotland, in the year 1294. When Chase regains his faculties, he finds himself being beaten by others, and an Irish man comes to his rescue.  Hall will become Chase’s friend, or as he calls himself, his brother, to help protect him.  There is something about special about Hall, that makes him to be a powerful and loyal friend to Chase.   They both go to work for Torquil, who is gathering all the men available to eventually lead them to destroy Malcolm, and all his family.  Torquil is determined to get revenge, not to mention he wants all that Malcolm owns, including Dani. 

Both Chase and Hall become convinced that there is evil in Torquil’s castle.  Then Chase meets Christiana, and knows she is the woman he has been searching for all of his life.  Christiana herself, knows Chase is the man she asked the fae to summon, however she thought of him as the man who in her visions was going to save her and help her escape Torquil.  Both Chase and Christiana turned out to be a wonderful couple.  Chase was such a great guy, happy now that he felt he was where he belonged, and with whom he belonged with. He was a strong warrior, and protected Christiana with his life, and finally showed her his love.  Christiana, who started to become dependent on Chase, began to realize that he was her soulmate.  She too was protective of Chase, and worried that if Torquil would find out that they were soulmates, he would kill Chase.  Only Christiana knew how evil, powerful, and dangerous Torquil was, not to mention his instability. 

It was an exciting finish, with Chase, Christiana, and Hall fighting insurmountable odds to survive.  Will they survive?  Will Chase save Christiana and claim his soulmate?  Will they finally be able to destroy Torquil?   Melissa Mayhue does not disappoint in this wonderful continuation of this series, and she does not leave us hanging to my questions.    We get to spend a little time with some of the characters from the first book, and we know that even without cliffhangers, the story will continue with these wonderful characters.  Not sure who the next book is about, we do have some great characters that Melissa can use…Patrick MacDowalyt, Hall, and Bridget.  Warrior Reborn was an excellent addition to the Warrior series, and I can’t wait for the next book.  I also want desperately to return to our favorites that we came to love in Daughters of Glen. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by publisher

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