Author Spotlight: JM Madden

Today I would like to welcome Author JM Madden.

BIO: 

Terminally addicted to romances, thanks to finding her aunt's stash of 'Harlequin Presents' years ago during a sleepover, J.M. Madden loves any and all good love stories. Most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes.

J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she's at the computer, reading and writing, trying to perfect her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde, and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time now. She always has several projects in the works and loves to hear from readers.

The Embattled Road and Embattled Hearts

BLURB:

The Embattled Road- Is the harrowing prequel to The Lost and Found series, three embattled Marines must deal with their devastating physical and emotional injuries in a world that seems to have turned against them. 
When the rescue helicopter crashes into his convoy in Iraq, Marine First Sergeant Duncan Wilde struggles with the loss of men, his career and the use of his body. Things can't get much worse. Until his fiancée decides she has to move on with her life, and that of her unborn child by another man.
Sergeant Chad Lowell knew when he went to war that it would come with a price. And it did. A young Marine under his command is killed by a landmine. Chad's left with one less leg and a mountain of recriminations. That doesn't mean he wants to be a pitied by every female he comes in contact with.
Gunnery Sergeant John Palmer is furious at the hand he's been dealt. He's served his country faithfully, if not without antagonism, for many years. Now they're turning him out like a relative who has overstayed his welcome. And, since he's not even a real man anymore, maybe it is time to move on permanently. 

Can these wounded warriors use a friendship borne out of adversity to form a partnership rescuing others? And can they find real love in spite of their challenges?

EXCERPT:

Grinning, Dodd chambered a round and turned to follow the group, who was disappearing over a knoll. They picked up their pace to a jog, Dodd looping around a rock.

“Dodd, follow…”

…the footprints.

Chad’s world went supernova. Blazing heat seared his body, blinding him, and he went spinning through the air. He landed on his pack and floundered, trying to find up. His brain blanked out. Adrenaline pumped through his body and he managed to pull his weapon around, even though he couldn’t see a damn thing. His eyes refused to focus.

He heard voices to the right of him, and it sounded like a group of men. He brought his weapon to his shoulder but couldn’t find a target.

First Sergeant Wilde’s voice broke through the melee. “It’s just us, buddy. I’ve got your weapon, Chad. Let go, buddy.”

He didn’t want to let go. That weapon was his life and death. He slept with it, kept it in the latrine beside him. First Sergeant was asking for it, though, and of all the men in the unit, he trusted him the most. The weight of the M16 left his arm.

The world was slowly coming back into focus, and there were a ring of faces hovering over him. Warmth was spreading across his lower legs. It felt like there was wool in his ears. The feeling was similar to the aftereffects of a hard shoot when he didn’t use his hearing protection.

“I need a tourniquet above that knee!”

Nothing on earth could make a grunt focus like those words. “What…tourniquet? Wait…” He rolled his head forward enough to try to focus on his legs, but all he saw was a blur of gore. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck no. That much red couldn’t be good. Panic clutched at his insides. He reached out to his friend.

Rough hands released Velcro and buckles, pulling his pack away, and he dropped flat to the ground. His helmet thumped against a rock, but it didn’t really bother him. The heat that was licking up his legs and rolling up his left side was bothering him more. He shifted on the ground, trying to get away from the burning, but it followed him, making him grit his teeth. “First Sergeant, what’s going on?”

Duncan’s rough face leaned over his own, making solid eye contact. “Chad, you got issues, buddy. Dodd stepped on a mine. Your left leg’s a mess, but we’re taking care of you. Medevac’s on its way, but it’ll be a few minutes.”

Chad fought to untangle the words and keep focus on the face above. “Fuck. My legs?”

First Sergeant nodded. “Looks like just one, though. The side that was closest to Dodd. Your other one looks good.”

“Are my nuts still there?”

First Sergeant grinned at him. “Well, I’m not going in to check, but from the outside it looks like you lucked out. You’ve still got your nuts.”

Chad allowed himself to relax back against the ground. There were two sharp pinches in his arms, and the roaring heat on his left side kind of started to ease. The sunlight straight up above was hard to look at, so he rocked his head to the side.

Dodd’s young face was surprisingly clean considering the mess the rest of him was in. His eyes stared unseeingly. Chad knew that wasn’t good. “You guys take care of him.”

There was a warm, soft wave blocking the blaze of pain from his side as it was tugged him into sleep. With a sigh, he let his worries fall away.

The next time he opened his eyes, he was in the hold of a Medevac. His stomach somersaulted as they surged into the air.

BLURB:

Embattled Hearts- John Palmer hasn’t felt like a real man since he was injured during combat in Iraq. Though not content with his new life, he is mostly adapting, just like the other vets at the Lost ‘N’ Found Investigative Service. When Shannon Murphy is hired on as the new office manager, life suddenly gets a lot more interesting. Before long, John finds himself wondering if he could ever be the kind of man Shannon needs.
Shannon Murphy wasn’t really looking for love when she hired on at LNF, but finds herself hopelessly attracted to the sex-on-wheels former Marine, John Palmer. The man is grumpy and nearly impossible to work with, but his brand of masculinity appeals to her on a basic level. Soon Shannon is wondering just what it would take for John to want her the way she wants him.
When an old enemy tries to settle a vendetta against Shannon, John insists on protecting her. He moves into her house, fanning the spark of attraction into a blaze. But the danger continues to escalate. Will the connection that they’ve found survive when they’re thrust into a fight for their lives?

EXCERPT:

John watched Shannon leave regretfully. It made him uncomfortable to know she was irritated with him and not do anything to explain. But there was nothing he could say to exonerate himself. Roger had stoked his jealousy, plain and simple. Stoked it to where it was a roaring blaze of anger. But the anger was at himself, not Shannon or Roger.

He should have approached her with the bracelet differently, so that she understood it was work and not personal. Roger had punched him in the arm as soon as she was out of earshot. “You dumb shit. You just made that girl think she meant something to you, then ripped her down. You need to get your head out of your ass before somebody steps in with a real offer.”

As much as he hated to admit it, the other man was right. Shannon was a fantastic woman. And she reacted to Roger as if he were her best friend in the world. He didn’t blame Shannon for responding that way. The man was likeable. He blamed himself for not making an effort to even try to be personable.

Shannon had to think he was a total ass. And it was his own damn fault.

It wasn’t as if she would seriously consider you for an option, but damn, dude. Show some sense. Don’t alienate her for no reason.

As he rolled up to the monitors, his gaze zeroed in on her form lying in the bed. The blue satin comforter was pulled up and tucked beneath her arms. She was crazy hot, in a simple white flannel nightgown. And she looked to be already asleep. What he wouldn’t give to be in that bed with her.

BUY LINKS:

The Embattled Road 

Embattled Hearts 

CONTACT JM 

WEBSITE

Blog 

Twitter- @authorjmmadden

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