By
NY Times Bestselling Author
JM Madden

Reconnect with the Lost and Found group as they settle into the intricacies of marriage and growing families.

When Shannon proposes having another baby, John is caught flat-footed. He just survived the weekend from hell, caring for his two rambunctious boys. Now she wants to add another? Fudge no!

But that conversation has to go on hold, because she’s brought home a young soldier who is struggling to reconnect with civilian life. He seems to be checking off a list of tasks before he checks out himself. Can they detour his death plan and give him something to live for?

Marigold Lee hired on at the Lost and Found Investigative Service to honor her father’s memory while she attains her psychology degree. The young soldier with the devastating burns makes her yearn for a relationship, but his suicidal tendencies brings up her own emotional pain.

As she helps him wade through the traumatic minefield of discovering his own lost family and consoling another, they find a connection greater than either of them ever expected.

This book had me laughing at the first page, John’s email to Shannon while she’s away at a convention is absolutely hysterical. Her response even more so as she’s gotten a bit tipsy with her flight home delayed then cancelled.

John’s handling of the twins is both funny and endearing. He does of course have help, but the daycare Moms can scare the hardiest of the LNF guys. Chad goes with him to the twin’s doctor’s appointment and then to the airport to pick up Shannon.

Shannon on the other hand sees someone who needs help but won’t ask as she’s heading the gate for the final leg home. She manages to break his barriers just a bit between the walk to their flight and during it. However, it’s John and Chad that make the first bit of a break through.

This is a favorite scene.

Shannon smiled at Logan. “It’s so much easier to just let them pass. They’re in a hurry to get somewhere, so just let them.”

They retrieved his crutches and bag, and she slung her own bag up over her shoulder. He scowled as she maneuvered up the ramp ahead of him, but there was no way he could get himself and the bag up the ramp. He had to accept her aid. At the top she waited for him, taking the few seconds to check her messages.

He reached out to take the bag and rather than fighting, she let him take it. At least she would be nearby if he stumbled or fell. The baggage claim wasn’t very far away, either.

Her heart began to pound as they navigated the flow of traffic heading to retrieve their bags. It had been a long, stressful week, and she was more than ready to see her grumpy husband. Then she looked over against the wall, and he was there, looking incredibly handsome and strong in his leather jacket and black T-shirt. His shoulders were more broad than the wheelchair, but tapered to a strong, lean waist. There was a scowl on his dark bearded face, but as soon as he saw her his expression lightened and a sexy smile curved his lips. She motioned for Logan to follow her, then jogged across the tile to kiss her husband.

Grinning, he pulled her down into his lap, his mouth settling over hers. Shannon felt the tension from the week ease out of her as she sank into John’s strength, and his hungry kiss. The thrill that she felt from his touch was as energizing today as it had been when they’d first gotten together, and she cherished that.

“I missed you,” she breathed against his neck, hugging him tight.

He drew back enough to look into her eyes. “I don’t like business trips.”

She laughed and slipped off his lap, moving to hug the man standing beside them. “Hi, Chad. You let him drag you along, huh?”

Chad laughed, his blue eyes twinkling. He tipped his cream-colored hat back on his head. “He’s just so cute, Shannon, with those big dark eyes. He needed a battle buddy today taking the kids to the doctor, so I volunteered.”

“Fuck you, asshole,” John growled, swinging around. “You were just bored. I could have done it.”

Chad laughed and made a face. “Maybe.”

“John,” she admonished. “Language.”

Scowling, he looked at Chad. “Fudge you, asshole.”

Shannon shook her head, laughing at the banter. The two of them always had each other’s backs, so she shouldn’t have been surprised to see them together. She glanced over her shoulder. Logan had hung back, moving his bad side to the wall, but he watched the men, seeming a little shocked. She held out a hand and tried to remember if she had told him her husband was disabled. No, she didn’t think she had. She barely even thought about John being bound to a wheelchair anymore. It was just part of him.

Chad had more visible issues, but he didn’t try to hide them anymore. The tendons in his damaged left hand had contracted to the point of almost making a fist, and though they’d faded, the scars on the side of his neck were still visible.

“Logan Vance, this is my husband John Palmer and our good friend Chad Lowell, two of the partners from the Lost and Found Investigative Service.”

John reached out a gloved hand. “Were you hitting on my wife, Mr. Vance? Do I need to kick your ass?”

Logan blinked, obviously aggravated. “No, sir. Your wife was just being kind and helping me out with my bag. I didn’t hit on her, I swear.”

“John,” Shannon breathed. “Stop. You’re embarrassing the guy.”

Logan’s face had flushed, the scars going pale against the floridness of the rest of his skin. John continued to glower, even as he shook Logan’s hand. “Welcome to Colorado, then.”

Chad stretched out a hand as well. “Chad Lowell. You have family out here, Mr. Vance?”

Logan shook his head. “Not anymore, I don’t think. There’s a chance, I suppose. My father’s family was from here, but he said all the family was gone by the time he moved east. I just want to see our old house and the neighborhood where we lived.”

Shannon looked at John, widening her eyes, trying to convey that there was more to the story. Her brilliant husband seemed to understand. “Do you know where it is? We can do a quick search at the office.”

Logan’s face shifted into a frown. “No, thank you. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

John shrugged, negligently. “You haven’t taken up any of my time. Why don’t you come with us to the office? A few keystrokes and I should be able to tell you all you need to know about your family. I’ll be helping a fellow veteran out.”

Logan looked at his feet, then around the milling people of the airport. Shannon had a feeling he didn’t want to try to make his way through the mass alone. He would do it if he had to, but she could see the struggle in his face.

“Have you rented a car yet?” she asked him.

He shook his head. “I planned on seeing what kind of shuttles were running.”

“Then consider us your shuttle, for now,” she laughed. “You can get a taxi when you leave the office, if you want.”

His eyes slid over John’s chair before, with a sigh, he nodded. “Okay. Let me grab my other bag.”

They walked over and retrieved their bags, the last ones on the belt. Chad took them both, motioning for Shannon and Logan to follow John through the throng. As usual, her husband plowed through people like he was in a race, glaring at those that took too long to move. A wheeled baggage cart drifted over, rubbing the wheels of his chair. The woman pushing the cart was talking to her companion and didn’t even see it happen.

“Hey, Oblivious,” John snapped. “Watch what the fuck you’re doing.”

The woman’s attention jerked around, and she corrected her cart. “I am so sorry,” she gasped, her face going pale.

Shannon followed along in her husband’s wake, keeping pace with Logan on his crutches. She leaned over conspiratorially. “John suffers from a particular form of wheelchair rage. He has no problem giving people a piece of his mind. Usually with the F-word involved.”

Logan smirked, the first humorous response she’d seen from him. “I think we can all appreciate the F word.”
Madden, J.M.. Embattled Return (Lost And Found Book 6). Kindle Locations (375-425). Kindle Edition.

We learn about Marigold, Shannon’s assistant and how John almost messed up her hiring. Yet more giggles from me.

Once at LNF Headquarters, John gets the information from Logan to start his search for his family. When that’s done he recruits Marigold to take Logan to a hotel.

Here we get a closer look at Marigold as she drops her act of annoyance with John. Logan appreciates the humor, and in spite of himself finds he’s attracted to her. Marigold too, is facing that pull and she isn’t quite sure how to handle it.

This is an intense yet enjoyable read, as Logan finds some peace and lots of other things including love.

5 Contented Purrs for JM!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

Raine Walters loves her nursing position at the Elton building. Though she hasn’t been on the job long, she’s seen and done some amazing things.

Because the men at the Elton building are not your average military men. They’re elite soldiers that have been tortured and experimented upon with an incredibly dangerous drug. The men are struggling to find balance as they work out their new abilities and recover their vitality.

Unfortunately, Haven, one of their most dangerous residents, leaves the facility behind to rescue a woman Raine isn’t even sure is real.

Noah Cross is settling into his new position at the Silverstone Collaborative as a patient liaison at the Elton building. No more bodyguard work for him. At least he thinks. When one of the patients escapes the recovery building Noah volunteers to go after him. Unfortunately, that means working with the beguiling young nurse he might have kissed recently.

Now they have to work together to find Haven and put out any imaginary fires he creates. But maybe they aren’t so imaginary, and maybe the woman they’re looking for is the catalyst of the entire Spartan program.

As this book opens, Haven is distraught and not responding to Raine as he usually does. She seeks out Noah, who also has a bond with Haven, hoping to make some sense of his ramblings.The two of them together manage to glean some information but most importantly get Haven to take a sedative and relax. Over the next couple of days Haven, while still anxious, begins eating more and regularly. While pleased Raine also worries he might make himself sick.

Raine wakes in the middle of the night and can’t sleep. Deciding to have a snack, she goes to the Hospitality room for some cookies and milk. There she finds Noah also enjoying a treat. As they discuss some of her worries the phone on the wall rings and Raine is informed Haven has gone missing.

This is a favorite scene.

When the phone on the wall rang, they both looked at it in surprise. “I didn’t realize that thing was even there.”

Raine snorted as she crossed the room to the phone. “Hello.”

“Raine? It’s Cassie. Haven is gone.”

For a moment she couldn’t absorb the words. “What do you mean gone? Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. He’s not in his room, or on this floor. We’re canvassing the other floors, but I knew you’d want to know.”

“Okay. We’ll start up here and work our way down.”

She slammed the receiver into the cradle and turned to Noah, her heart in her throat. He was already moving toward her, gripping her arms. Obviously, he’d heard Cassie over the line.

“You take the North hallways. I’ll take the South. Go down the fire stairs at the end and I’ll meet you at the next floor. He’ll be fine, Raine.”

She nodded, numb. Then she ran for the door, right behind him.

They canvassed three floors before they met up with anyone else. No one had seen him. Noah and Raine went to the security office on the first floor. Jerome Paul was scanning a bank of security cameras. Every floor had them. Hell, every hallway had them. He glanced up when they entered the room, but didn’t say anything. Just continued to scan.

“Cassie said she saw him at about eleven,” Raine said. “She assumed he was going to bed.”

Jerome nodded, operating a mouse over a screen and clicking. “I know. I’ve been scanning every screen since that time, but I’m not seeing anything. Everyone that I’ve spotted had a reason for being where they were when they were.”

“Have you checked the main door?” Noah asked, arms crossed over his chest.

Jerome nodded. “Of course. And I’ve checked with the two guards manning the security post. Nothing unusual.”

Raine clenched her jaw and wrapped her arms around herself. Where had Haven gone?

“I’m going to step outside,” Noah murmured.

Raine glanced at him. Did he mean outside the office or outside the building? She followed along rather than watch Jerome surf the CCTV. The guards on duty were people she knew. They were both competent men and surely no one had slipped by them.

“Have you had anyone come through here tonight?”

Carson, the more senior of the guards, stepped forward. “Oh, yeah. No one unexpected, though. Nine people have left the building, but all of them were regular workers going off shift, most of them kitchen. Three others were nurses who had worked a split shift.”

Noah glanced around, hands on his hips. “Let me out.”

The guard returned behind the desk and pressed the lock release. The door buzzed and Raine followed Noah out into the frigid night. Almost immediately she wished she’d stayed inside, but it was too late now. She watched Noah cock his head to the side, obviously listening. He glanced at her.

“I hear a male’s voice talking to a cab, but I can’t tell if it’s Haven.”

Her heart sank in her chest and she looked around. This part of Arlington was quiet right now, but in the morning it would be positively bustling. If Noah didn’t hear him within the next couple of hours he probably never would.

“Where would he have gone?”

Noah shook his head again, looking as frustrated as she felt. “Go back inside. I’m going to circle the building and see if I see anything.”

Raine nodded, pushing back through the doors of the Elton Building. She waved her wrist at the scanner and the gate buzzed, letting her in. She realized then that they didn’t normally have to scan to get out, just in. The guards opened the doors for them when they left.

And realistically, she didn’t know what mechanism was in place in case a resident wanted to leave the facility. The men here weren’t technically prisoners, but she didn’t think they were free to go either. Most of the men were too ill to go anywhere, so it hadn’t been an issue, but Haven was physically almost a hundred percent. His mind wasn’t perfect but if he was aware enough to get himself outside the building was it their responsibility to stop him? Wouldn’t that make them jailers just like Damon Wilkes’ cronies?

“Can I look at your exit sheet?”

Raine knew the guards kept detailed records of entry and exit logs. It was easier since they’d implemented the watches, but she’d seen the men entering names manually as well. The second, younger guard, pulled up a screen on the computer. Raine spotted the mistake immediate. Snatching the phone from the cradle she called fourth floor.

Cassie answered immediately. “4C.”

“Cassie, is Paul still there?”

“Yes, he’s down the hall. Do you need him? Did you find Haven?”

Raine winced. “Not exactly.”

By the time Noah returned, the security guards had isolated the segment of tape where Paul, Raine’s nurse partner on her floor, had left. But it wasn’t Paul. After watching the segment replay several times she could see some irregularities in the recording. There was a fuzziness to Paul’s shape, and he didn’t move exactly right. Paul was a big, confident guy. This shape moved more carefully.

Haven.

“Did you know he could do that?” Noah demanded, pointing at the screen.

Raine shook her head. “No idea. I guess we should have expected it though. He manifests apparitions that look completely real to us. Could he have just dropped an apparition over top of himself?”

Noah shook his head, looking a little wild-eyed. “If he walked out of here cloaked, for lack of a better word, we may never be able to find him.”
J.M. Madden. Catalyst (Kindle Locations 1110-1156).

When they see how Haven left the premises, they wonder how they will be able to find him. The security tape revealed a part of Haven’s ability they were unaware of sort of a cloaking effect.

With Wulfe’s help they discover the woman Haven mentioned is Donna Frame and she was definitely with Senator Hall as he abruptly left DC.

All they have to do now is find Haven, find the right resources, get evidence, and take down the senator. Easy right?

What ensues is an edge of your seat tale with plenty of action, as Raine and Noah chase after Haven and find love along the way.

I don’t know exactly what’s next for J.M. but I have a feeling it has to do with the new team we just ran into.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

The Dogs of War have rescued American servicemen from research camps run by the Silverstone Collaborative. Now it’s time for the company, and it’s owner Damon Wilkes, to pay for what they’ve done. Wulfe Terberger is the man to bring them to justice.

With the cooperation of the CIA and a covert informant, they begin taking down the conspirators, but Damon has disappeared, and kidnapped his own son to hold as protection.

Elizabeth Wilkes has stayed in her sham of a marriage only for the sake of her son, but when her soon-to-be ex bastard kidnaps her child, all bets are off. She’s been working behind the scenes for years to secure her company and her son’t future, but it’s time for her to come out of the shadows to take control.

That also means reconnecting with Wulfe. They were an item years ago and now she needs his help if she is to get her son back. As they chase Damon down, Wulfe and Elizabeth have to fight the attraction they feel for each other…

Since the men broke out of the hell that was the research camp, Wulfe has been instrumental in getting them where they are now. In the last couple of books he’s been a bit of a mystery as he works behind the scenes in Washington. He hasn’t heard from his informant and he’s very worried. In this book we find out the who and the why.

Elizabeth Wilkes is the major shareholder in Silverstone, not her soon to be ex Damon. She’s now going to have to come out from behind her own research and shutdown all the bad Damien’s created.

Apparently Damon has his own ideas as he takes off with their son and his bodyguard. Leaving Elizabeth distraught and seeking help from the only person she knows can help, Wulfe.

This is one of my favorite scenes.

Wulfe took the seat beside hers, propping his arms on the counter. “I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to tell you,” he said honestly.

Elizabeth reared back like she’d been slapped. He had the information, obviously, but refused to tell her? “After all this time,” she breathed, looking away. Somehow this betrayal hurt more than any of the others, because Wulfe had always been in her corner. He’d never treated her the way everyone else thought they had a right to.

The change was shocking. More shocking, actually, than anything else that had happened recently. If he wasn’t going to give her any information, then he probably wouldn’t help her find her son, either. The despair that swamped her then was enough to drown her. Closing her eyes, she did everything she could to tamp down the panic trying to take her over. Panic wouldn’t do anyone any good, especially her son. The longer they sat here not doing anything the further away her son could be traveling. Damon had vast resources, thanks to her. He could be heading to the end of the world right now, and she would be none the wiser.

Wulfe touched her shoulder, and she glanced at him. Taking a breath, she forced down the hurt. Her son needed her. “I understand why you don’t want to get involved, but I have no one else to turn to. No one else has the resources to figure out where he’s gone. You know things and can get things done.”

“I never said I wouldn’t help you,” he growled, baritone voice rumbling. His German accent deepened when he was aggravated. His heavy black brows furrowed over his eyes. “I have to be careful though. Look at it from my position. We’re in the middle of taking down a company that has been testing on servicemen from a dozen different countries, all financed by your husband. You’ve been married to him for many years, quietly working on your own projects in the background.”

She scowled. “Are you seriously going to compare my endeavors with Damon’s? I don’t think we’re anywhere near the same playing field.”

“Probably not,” he agreed easily, “but from an outsider’s perspective looking in, you were working at the company every day. You’re on the board and listed as Director of Research. People will assume that you know everything that goes on there. Including the forced research with the Ayahuasca.”

Elizabeth blinked, knowing he was probably right but not sure how to change that perception. The position that Damon had put her in was highly suspect, and she wondered if he hadn’t been planning this for when it would all come crashing down around him. No, she didn’t think he had any idea that things would fall apart like they had. He’d been too distracted recently.

“So, what can you tell me?” she asked finally. “Are all of the men you rescued going to survive?”

He frowned as if the question surprised him. “They should, yes. Some have injuries that will keep them in the hospital for weeks, maybe months, but they should all recover.”

Again, he stared at her for a long moment, his dark blue eyes probing. “When is the last time you saw your son?”

Her throat tightened with emotion again. “Last night when I checked on him before bed. I kissed his cheek and told him to plug in his cell phone. He tends to use the thing until the battery is completely flat, which leaves it useless.”

Wulfe nodded. “Then?”

“This morning I woke up and I thought he was just sleeping in a bit. His tennis teacher doesn’t come until ten so I didn’t begrudge him the extra time. Then Lukas called me. Damon wasn’t answering his phone. I knew something was wrong, because he always answers his phone, even on the weekend. I went up to the bedrooms and I could tell there was stuff missing from the closets. There was cash taken from the safe in the master bedroom, and the game system Blake likes to play was gone from his console.”

Wulfe scowled. “When could he have done this?”

Elizabeth looked away. “I assume early this morning. I sleep on the other side of the townhouse in the mother-in-law space. I dozed off on the couch and I didn’t hear anything. All of his security men are gone, as well as Blake’s personal guard.” Wulfe slipped off the stool and moved to stand at the expansive windows on the opposite side of the apartment. The city lit him from behind and she was struck with how big he looked. Protective. Strong. He had to help her because she had no one else.
Madden, J.M.. Retribution (Dogs of War, Book 3 (The Dogs of War) (pp. 7-9). Kindle Edition.

It wasn’t too difficult to find where Damon was hiding out,  Elizabeth’s son Blake and his bodyguard Noah were capable of helping out a bit.

So many things happen in this book, we learn so much more about Wulfe and his relationship with Elizabeth. There’s plenty of emotion, action, laughter suspense and tears.

Plus we get to  see everyone from the previous books as more and more pieces come together, and the attraction between Elizabeth and Wulfe grows exponentially.

I really can’t wait for Catalyst to be released!

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

The long-awaited spin-off from the Lost and Found Series!

Aiden Willingham has lived a hard life. As a Navy SEAL, he agreed to take part in an ultra-secret government testing program. The company running the program, the Silverstone Collaborative, has produced a serum from an Amazonian plant that’s been proven to enhance physical abilities and mental fortitude. Problem is, men– heroes– have died during the testing, and it’s time for the company to be taken down before more men die needlessly.

Aiden, along with three others, have escaped the camp with evidence of the company’s horrendous practices. Now they’re in a race to expose them. They’ve already lost one of their team, and the Collaborative’s mercenaries are converging.

Angela Holloway knew the homeless man with sadness in his eyes was trouble as soon as she saw him hanging around the site of a murder. Uncooperative, he stonewalls her investigation, but draws her in when the badge comes off. Aiden has scars, both internal and external, that make her heart ache. It’s a serious no-no getting involved with a suspect… too bad her heart isn’t listening. As details come to light about what’s going on in her city, she has to fight for what she believes is right, as well as the man on the wrong side of the law.

First let me say I am very excited for this series. After reading Genesis and remembering Aiden in the Lost and Found Series I sincerely want these guys to have their happily ever after.

Aiden is in his brother’s hometown, a brother he didn’t know he had until recently. His brother John works for Lost and Found as a computer specialist and his wife just had twins. Aiden has been keeping watch over them. Their safety has been his top priority while staying underground out of sight, avoiding the assassins sent to finish him off.

An initial confrontation with Angela, a police officer and former Marine, leaves Aiden feeling things he hasn’t felt in a very long time.

This is part of that meeting, right after he kisses her to distract her.

She heard the snick of handcuffs and a chill ran through her. When the man pulled away, there seemed to be genuine regret in his dark brown eyes. “I’m sorry I had to do this,” he told her, clearing his voice. He backed away, hands held out.

Angela felt tightness on her waist and she jerked. What the hell had he done?

“You, you…” she sputtered, totally, immediately pissed.

He winced and stared at her for a long moment, like he was waffling in his decision, then his eyes cooled and he turned away. As he disappeared around the corner of the building, Angela reached behind her to feel what was holding her. The man had handcuffed the belt loop of her jeans to a utility pole running horizontally across the building.

With a cry of outrage she dug in her pocket for the knife she always carried. It took her less than a minute to cut through the heavy fabric of the belt loop. As soon as she was free, she bolted after the suspect but he was gone.
JM Madden. Chaos (Kindle Locations 123-130).

Now both Aiden and Angela are more than a little confused about the emotions that encounter stirred. Which leads to them seeking each other out, quite the unusual situation.

Fontana and Wolfe play a part in this book as does, Duncan and John from Lost and Found.

There was fun, laughter, sizzling scenes and plenty of action that will keep you turning the pages.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, but in the meantime I am re-reading LNF to remember Aiden’s role in all of them, hopefully it will ease my impatience for the next book.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
JM Madden

After a harrowing mission, Navy SEAL Aiden Willingham was approached to participate in a secret research project. Now he realizes the Spartan Project is a covert, multinational government testing program run by a private company called The Silverstone Collaborative. The company’s mission is to create super soldiers, men capable of recovering from horrendous illness and injuries, using a serum derived from indigenous plants in the Amazon rainforest. The program is brutal and when the men object, they go from test subjects to caged prisoners overnight.

The doctor leading the program is world-renowned for his cutting-edge cures, but Aiden sees only the madness in his eyes. The serum is producing results, but men are dying every day of testing. And, as more men die, the experiments turn more deadly. What the research team doesn’t realize is exactly what the serum is doing … creating a psychic connection between four of the men.

Aiden and his team have to break out of the camp before they’re compromised further. But getting out of the camp is the easy part. They know that actually living to bring the Silverstone Collaborative to justice is going to be the most difficult mission any of them have ever undertaken.

If you are a fan of the Lost and Found Series you will remember that we first met Aiden in Embattled Hearts, and he pops up in the other books as well. Now at long last we get his story, this is the beginning and we meet the others that were with him during this truly trying period of his life.

This is not a romance, this is a detailed accounting of the events leading up to Aiden appearing in Denver. We first meet the four men held close together. Aiden, Wolfe, Fontana and TJ Rector. Wolfe is the only non- American in this group, he is from Germany.

These men originally had volunteered for the program, but when men started dying things changed. They became prisoners.

The conditions are harsh, the treatment is brutal and had me sniffling and holding my breath.

We also meet the cold hearted Priscilla Mattingly, COO of the Silverstone Collaborative. She becomes the most dangerous of all their captors as she lets everyone know who is in charge.

This is a favorite scene as the guys escape this hell.

Like a whisper, Fontana came for him two hours later, with Wulfe and TJ Rector by his side. How the fuck did you get out of your cage? Aiden demanded.

Fontana grinned and moved to the door. Watch. Holding the iron lock in his hand, Fontana just looked at the thing for several seconds. Then, with a click, the lock fell open.

Aiden shook his head, amazed, and honestly a little fearful. Fontana was doing things he’d never even considered.

I managed to get the guards to fall asleep, Fontana told him. We’ve got a little bit of time to get out of here. The cafeteria should be empty right now. I suggest we gather what food and water and supplies we can before we head out.

Agreed.

We’re not leaving.

Aiden’s throat closed up as he stepped outside, unshackled and uncuffed for the first time in months. Yes, he was naked as a jaybird, but he was finally free. No one would be putting him back into handcuffs, he vowed. He would die first. Then what Wulfe said sank in, bringing him back to focus.

What are you thinking?

Wulfe looked at the medical building. Our proof is there.

The rest of them turned to look at the med center, knowing he was right. It housed all of the secrets. Shu had been meticulous about his notes, and they each had files several inches thick. The technicians had complained endlessly about the duplication. It could be a suicide mission going back in there, but they had no other option. Wulfe was right about that.

Rector and Fontana, go to the cafeteria and Shu’s hut. See what you can find. We’ll also probably need something to go through the fence, so look for some tools. Wulfe and I will see what we can find inside. Meet back here in thirty minutes.

The two men nodded and slipped away into the darkness. Aiden looked at Wulfe.

I really don’t want to go in there, he admitted.

I don’t also, but we must, American. This is the only time. She will get rid of everything. Every record, every note. And we will be liars.

Aiden knew he was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to do. He scanned the area, checking for soldiers or guards, but the camp was deathly silent.

He looked at the squat cinder block building, fighting nausea. Deliberately, he slowed his breathing, but it was hard. His heart was trying to thud out of his chest and his body demanded oxygen. Aiden couldn’t even remember how many dangerous missions he’d been on as a SEAL, but certainly into the triple digits. Too many to count. He’d been shot and stabbed, snake-bitten and had busted ankles and knees, and he’d take any one of those injuries again rather than voluntarily walk into that building.

Wulfe was thinking like a squad leader, though. They needed hard, physical proof of what had happened here. Otherwise everything they’d been through would be hearsay, unprovable.

Quietly, Aiden began gearing himself up, just like he did for hard assaults. Neither one of them was physically ready for hand to hand combat and they had no weapons other than their minds…but their fledgling abilities hadn’t been tried in stressful situations. There was a very real chance that the first time he tried to finesse anyone they’d laugh in his face, then shoot him in the head. He was convinced that the sniper in the med center had been a fluke. The man had already wanted to kill— Aiden had just removed the tiniest restriction in his mind.

Wulfe slammed his doubled fists into Aiden’s shoulders to psych him up and they turned toward the building.
Madden, J.M., Genesis: The Dogs of War Prequel (Kindle Locations 443-471). Kindle Edition.

I have to say I was much relieved when the guys got out. However there were many trials and tribulations for them as they trek through the jungle hoping to find a place big enough for phone reception.

Action-packed, emotional, scary and I couldn’t put it down!

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

Contains:
Return of the Warrior – Sleeper SEALs: Flat Line
Mac & Roz
A Family Affair – Dogs of War: Chaos
Aiden & Angela
Oh Louie – Helping Hands, Healing Hearts: Healing Home
BB & Lincoln
Christmas Raine – Dogs of War: Catalyst
Raine & Noah

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

In this set we’ll catch up with some of your Lost and Found favorites, and introduce you to new ones! This is a 46,000 word set of short stories.

In Return of the Warrior we’ll catch up with Mac and Roz from Flat Line as she struggles to regain balance and maybe take a step forward in her life.

In A Family Affair Aiden has a surprise for his big brother John Palmer, but he’s left reeling when the tables are turned on him…

In Oh, Louie, BB Jones takes a sick puppy into her heart and home, and struggles to feel secure while Lincoln is deployed, especially when faced with an unexpected gift.

Raine Walters fights to bring the holiday spirit to the tortured men that the Dogs of War have recovered in Christmas Raine.

I have to confess I went back to read Flat Line to refresh my memory about how Mac and Roz met. I’m very glad I did because they really did need to have their story continued from there.

Roz is a very strong woman and Mac has a great deal of respect for her. She’s been through so many traumatic experiences and she’s starting to deal with her issues.

Mac has been with her since before the last attack and he was pleasantly surprised when she asked him to return to the cabin with her. Now it’s almost Christmas and he’s made some changes to himself that Roz has noticed.

I love Mac’s cat and this is a favorite scene.

Cracking the book open on his lap, he leaned back the chair, waiting to see if she would talk. On nights like these, though she was upset, he loved the closeness of having someone to talk to in the depths of the night.

“Your cat has no manners,” she said finally.

Mac looked at Oliver. He wasn’t a bad cat, just a starving stray that he’d found in the back alley behind his Columbus townhouse. But he’d been a solid companion for many years. “He knows when somebody is hurting,” Mac said.

Roz look looked at the cat out of the corner of her eyes. “Is that why he jumps on me all the time?”

“I’m sure,” Mac said. “He’s gotten me through a lot of long nights.”

Roz gave him a deliberate look. She knew he had bad nights as well and he was okay with that. If it brought her focus away from her own hurt, he would expose anything he needed to.

“He’s okay, I suppose.”

Mac grinned and reached for his tea.

“He likes it up here. And I’m not sure if you noticed but he’s caught several moles and mice around the cabin.”

Roz made a face. “Yes, I know,” she said, “he keeps leaving the bodies on the front porch.” Mac grinned again.

“Hey, at least he’s getting them.”

Roz looked at the cat contort into a position to lick his private parts, and she snorted. “I suppose.”

Max decided it was time to change the subject. “Did you talk to your son tonight?”

Frowning, she sighed. “Yes, but he didn’t have a lot of time to talk. He was on his way to the airport.”

Mac tried not to scowl. “Where the heck is he going now?”

“The Dominican Republic. He’s with some group going down to do volunteer work. I guess it’s worth half his grade.”

“But did it have to be planned over Christmas?” Mac asked.

Roz shrugged. “Supposedly that’s when they need the most support.”

Mac used the finger to mark a space in the book and prop it on his lap. “That just doesn’t seem right.”
J.M. Madden. Lost and Found Pieces 2 (Kindle Locations 153-170).

Encouraged, a plan is put into place for the holidays and fun ensues. I loved their journey into something more than comfortable friendship and seeing old friends.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

Once again I decided I had to re-read the book where these two met. Chaos was a favorite of mine. I’m also going to have to go back to Lost and Found Pieces 1. It’s been a while and I love these characters so very much.

It’s Christmas at John and Shannon’s. The twins Wyatt and Caden are growing fast and at eighteen months old into a lot. This holiday is very different for Aiden in that he isn’t hiding in the shadows like before.

His relationship with Angela has also grown and flourished in this time and sharing this holiday with her just brings them closer.

This is a favorite scene.

Aiden knelt down beside the boys and looked at the ornaments, his attention caught by one in particular. It had the Navy SEAL crest on it, and his name in gilt along the bottom. His throat tightened as he looked at every individual letter of his name. Then he reached out and ran his thumb over the blue globe.

The boys’ chatter faded as he looked over the rest of the tree. It was beautiful. He’d been around Christmas trees before, but none had had his name on them, even when he was little. If his mother had decorated, he certainly didn’t remember it, and the orphanage had been too poor. They might have had a tree and he might have gotten a present, but it had surely been a generic boy gift, probably donated or handed down.

Nodding to the boys, distracted, he looked around the room. Shannon had decorated the house and tree beautifully, but that tiny little detail, that ornament, made it feel more like a home to him than anything else. He looked at Shannon. She stood with her hand on John’s shoulder. “Thank you,” he told her, but she shook her head, nodding her chin at John. “He did it. Not me.”

Aiden looked at John, and there was an understanding there that very few people in the entire world would get.

Wyatt turned his head forcefully to look at him. Aiden grinned as the boy told him something and Aiden felt the emotion more than the spoken words. He reached out and hugged the little man who looked so much like his big brother. Aiden expected him to wiggle away, but he let Aiden hold him for several long seconds before being distracted by his brother.

Angela brought the present bags toward the tree, distracting the boys even more. At eighteen months old, they were very pleasure driven. Everything was supposed to make them happy, or they objected. And now, as Shannon told them they couldn’t open the bags yet, they yowled.

“After dinner,” she said firmly.

Angela had brought a broccoli casserole. She disappeared into the kitchen with Shannon, leaving John and Aiden to watch the boys.

“It’s a little weird, isn’t it?” John asked him, sitting back in the chair as the boys played on the floor.

“What?” Aiden asked.

“Real life.”

Aiden laughed, feeling exposed, but nodded. “Very. I’m trying to be all cool and sh-crap,” he changed quickly, glancing at the boys, “but the holidays put me on edge.”
J.M. Madden. Lost and Found Pieces 2 (Kindle Locations 504-522).

There’s more than one surprise that brought tears to my eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many of my favorite couples and sharing this holiday with them.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

I’ve loved Lincoln and BB since I met them Healing Home. With Lincoln now deployed she’d found a closer friendship with Mary. and some of the other wives and girlfriends

Her loneliness was pulling at her and when Mary calls about a Frenchie puppy in need, she immediately embraces the challenge.

Now nursing the tiny puppy to a point where he can have the needed surgery was just the beginning. She also finds she is pregnant but can’t tell Lincoln until she hears from him.

This is a favorite scene.

Lincoln was going to freak.

Tears filled her eyes as she thought about bringing a little Lincoln into the world, with dark hair and his brilliant colored eyes. She would need to run to the drug store to get a test, but in her heart she was almost positive she was going to have a baby.

Even more desperately she wished Lincoln would call.

Mary seemed to sense that something was going on but BB didn’t want to tell her if she could avoid it. If at all possible, Lincoln should be the first to know. Should she write him a letter and hope it got to him? There was a program called Sandbox Letters that Mary had told her about but she hadn’t tried the service yet. Did she dare? Maybe if she technically told him about the baby before Mary guessed she wouldn’t feel so bad.

Or maybe she should just wait. By her estimates, if she was counting correctly, she was probably two to two and a half months along. Maybe waiting another two months until he came home would be smart. She was a little older and wasn’t there a point in the pregnancy when it was assumed the baby was safe? Like the first trimester or something.

Just the thought of finally holding a baby in her arms, her child, was shocking. And thrilling. And a little horrifying. She wasn’t sure how exactly she’d managed to get pregnant, but she would accept the joy, happily.

Suddenly, the realization that she was going to have a baby hit her hard. They were going to have to prepare. Just the thought of all the stuff they needed to get… crap… They were going to need Lamaze classes and maybe even a new house. The two-bedroom beach house was fine for now but she would have to give up her office for the baby.

Louie whined and she moved to pet him, distracted.

Then Frankie moved in beside him, taking her hand. BB snorted, loving that her dogs seemed to sense her disquiet.

At a loss, she sank down into her comfy chair on the far side of the room. No, she thought, pushing up, she needed to plan. Grabbing a note pad she flipped to a fresh page, sank back down into the chair, then just stared, not having any idea where to start.

Maybe… maybe it would be smart to head to her house up north. She needed to decide what to do with it anyway. It had been vacant pretty much since she and Lincoln had gotten together. It would get them out of town and she wouldn’t slip with the information.

Or maybe she should slip with the information. Mary, who’d had three kids, would be an invaluable resource right now.

Shit. For one of the only times in her life she had no idea what to do.

Louie whined and she looked down. That’s what she would do; she would take the dogs for a walk. And when she got back she would make a cup of tea and try to work out her priorities.
J.M. Madden. Lost and Found Pieces 2 (Kindle Locations 1004-1026).

Between planning the changes required for the baby and missing Lincoln, this book had me crying and impressed.

Lincoln’s homecoming is the best! A perfect holiday read.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.

This one has me wanting time to fly. Raine is a nurse caring for the more recovered men that had been rescued. There are serious challenges here, but she needs to bring some Christmas into the starkness of the environment.

Her boss, Dr. Elizabeth Wilkes has no problem with her doing it and even makes it part of the budget.

With her plans settled, all she needs to do is get through her shift. She first encounters Noah as she’s rushing to change after getting drenched helping a patient. The second time as she hurries back to calm yet another charge. But it’s their third encounter that’s the most interesting.

This is a favorite scene.

Raine didn’t know what to think when she answered her apartment door early the next morning and found a lazily smiling hot hunk in the hallway. Noah was leaning against the doorjamb, arms crossed, looking way too sexy for seven-thirty in the morning.

Raine, who’d been just about to leave, fumbled to a stop, purse and car keys swinging from her hand. “What are you doing here?” she hissed.

Noah’s black brows lifted. “A little birdy told me you would be going shopping this morning and might need a truck. I’m here to volunteer my services.”

She stared at him dumbly for a moment, then her eyes slid down his muscular shape of their own volition. “You’re volunteering to be my grunt?” she asked, incredulous. “And driver?”

His golden eyes twinkled. “Well, I suppose I am.”

“What’s it going to cost me?” she asked suspiciously.

“Breakfast,” he said immediately. “Don’t care where, just soon.”

Laughing, she hoisted her purse higher on her shoulder. “Done,” she agreed, and they walked down the hallway together. Raine had to wonder what the heck she was doing because Noah was so incredibly intense. He was probably one of the most intense men she’d ever met. So why was she going to breakfast with him? Maybe because she’d seen a flash of insecurity in his expression when he’d offered? And humor? Yesterday she’d seen brooding and angry. The humor was intriguing.

It was a little awkward riding down the elevator with him to the parking garage. They had seen each other a couple of times in the building, but yesterday had been their first interaction of any length, so it seemed a little odd to be getting into a vehicle with him. He was barely more than a stranger. Anxiety churned in her stomach.

With her mother’s remonstrations about being safe chanting in her head, she drew out her phone. She typed off a quick message to Paul to let him know what she was doing. He had probably just started his shift so he may not see it for a bit, but at least she was covered in case Noah turned out to be a serial killer or something. Glancing into the back as surreptitiously as she could she looked for anything out of the ordinary.

“I keep the ropes and duct tape in the very back,” he murmured as he hit a button overhead to let them out of the garage.

Her mouth dropped open at his words and the bottom fell out of her stomach.

Then she looked at him and saw the glint of humor in his golden eyes. Without thought she reached out and punched him in the shoulder. He winced a little, then grinned.

“You’re bad,” she groused. “Why would you scare me like that?”

“What?” he grinned. “Ropes for the tree. I thought that was why you needed the SUV.”

Raine stared at him, wondering if she’d completely misread the situation. No, she hadn’t. She glared and he laughed again, holding up a hand. “Okay, I might be teasing you a little. I could almost see all the warnings you’ve ever received in your life marching across your face. ‘What’s that pretty little woman doing with the big, scary, black dude. He has to be kidnapping her…’”

He snorted derisively, shaking his head.

“You have no idea how close you are,” she laughed, a little uncomfortably. “Where I was brought up people of any color were few and far between, and not looked upon without suspicion, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I thought so.”

“College opened my eyes a lot, though. As well as dealing with my patients. We’re all the same,” she said simply. “Your blood is as red as mine.”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes. “You are very right.”

“And my worry about being kidnapped is not color specific. My mother warned me to stay away from men in general, especially handsome men.”

She snapped her mouth shut, praying he hadn’t caught that bit, but of course he did.

“Handsome, hm?”
J.M. Madden. Lost and Found Pieces 2 (Kindle Locations 1792-1823).

With the decorations, an unusual occurrence, a tearful and beautiful story unfolds.

The interactions with patients especially Haven, the first kiss from Noah and so much more has me wanting the next book in the Dogs of War, ‘Catalyst’.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
JM Madden

Former Navy SEAL Commander Jack Bishop thought he was done with the government shenanigans that cost him part of his mobility. So when he’s presented with a new case thanks to the Bone Frog division of the Department of Homeland Security, he’s less than enthused, until he learns that Navy SEAL families are in danger. But there’s a more personal connection. Somehow his best-friend’s widow is involved and no matter how hard he has to fight his need for her, he has to be there to help her out. He has no desire to rejoin any part of the government, but there are lives at risk, as well as a personal connection he can’t ignore.

Andrea Winters knows that something hinky is going on in her high traffic coffee shop. As a former Navy SEAL wife, she knows something feels off. She reports her feelings to a man she thinks she can trust, and suddenly she’s running for her life. Is there a conspiracy afoot? Or is she just overreacting to a strange set of circumstances? Things begin to turn around when Jack Bishop returns, looking even more handsome than he did years before. In spite of his scarred, inscrutable exterior, she still sees glimmers of the man she thought at one time would help her rebuild her life after her husband—his best friend— was killed.

Will he help her understand what’s going on now? Or just confuse her further with his hungry looks and even more demanding hands… more importantly, will he stay this time?

They’re in a race against time to save lives, and possibly hearts…

One of the things I really love about these books is how the Commanders asked to handle things are always doing something really relaxing when they get the call. I almost feel sorry for them.

In this book we meet Andrea Winters, she is the widow of a SEAL who now owns a coffee shop in a college town. When she overhears something ‘hinky’ she does some cleaning up of the tables near the guy and later calls one of the people she knows can take care of the situation.  This doesn’t end well.

Jack is called in when CIA Agent Roger Mann is found in a dumpster behind Andrea’s shop, and there is no sign of her anywhere. It’s Jack who knows where she might go, her husband was his best friend and they were all more like family than just friends. When she calls him from the road, he confirms where she’s headed and rushes to join her.

This is a favorite scene.

Two hours later, she was pacing the mostly dark house but she was feeling better. It was late, but she had no desire to lay down. She didn’t think she could, not until Jack got there. She’d taken the time to jot down notes about what she’d observed at the murder scene. The man on the motorcycle was the same man she’d overheard inside the Daily Grind. She had no idea how Roger had found him but the motorcycle was the same. The man who killed Roger was wearing a helmet but it didn’t have a visor and she’d recognized him immediately.

If they didn’t figure out what the hell was going on, there was a chance she could end up as dead as Roger.

She wasn’t sure what made her turn around, but Jack was suddenly just there, in the living room with her, holding out his strong arms to her. If he’d approached her any other way, she’d have been okay. Instead he came in and disarmed her, offering her comfort she knew she shouldn’t take. But after the past day and night, she couldn’t help but take it. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she turned her head into his heavy chest and sobbed.

Andrea hated feeling weak in that moment. It was everything she’d grown up fighting against and it contradicted everything she’d tried to teach her daughter and the young women that worked for her— Be strong and be able to support yourself without a man in the picture.

She’d been alone for so long though. And this wasn’t something she could deal with on her own.

Jack smelled as good as he always did, like man and the outdoors. For a second she forgot about everything that had happened and just basked in being held in his arms. Yes, she could support herself on her own, but sometimes it was nice have someone else to bear some of the weight.

Jack give her time to cry herself out. He didn’t pull away and he didn’t shift uncomfortably under her tears. His hard arms were locked around her. Andrea couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried so hard. Actually, she could. Jack had held her then as well. It had been when Dorian had been killed.

“You’re always holding me when I cry,” she whispered.

“It’s all good,” he told her roughly.

For moment, she thought he meant something else, something more. No, that wasn’t what he meant. Reluctantly pulling away, Andrea scrubbed her face, wiping away tears. “Sorry, Jack.”

Jack Bishop was a massive figure. Not as tall as Dorian had been, but built almost twice as heavily. He’d retired from the SEALs almost five years ago now, then she thought he’d joined Homeland Security for a couple years, but that had seemed odd to her. Last she’d heard, he’d been retired, moving around here and there. Helping out as a contractor on a few things. Overall, after Dorian died, Jack had gotten away from the Navy. He’d been in the same accident that had killed Dorian. Jack had been left with a mangled lower leg and foot and half a dozen bullet holes in his body, but he’d been there for her when the body of her husband had come home, standing in a cast to hold her, though she should’ve been the one giving him comfort and care. They’d both been grieving.

Jack looked good now though, broad and strong, his rough face tanned. It was obvious he was outside a lot. His iron gray hair was short, but still looked thick. His face was the same, lean and scarred, hard silver eyes unfathomable. Years ago on a mission to Kuwait Jack had been attacked by a terrorist with a machete. The terrorist had gotten a lucky swipe in before Dorian had taken him out. The cut had started on his forehead and gone straight down over Jack’s right eye and cheek, then the back swipe of the machete had left a line along the left side of his face and taken the pinky and ring finger of his left hand, as well as a corner of his palm when he held his hand up to protect himself. It was a miracle that he hadn’t lost more and his eyes hadn’t been damaged. It had taken over a hundred stitches to pull Jack’s face back together, and another fifty for his hand and other fingers. Then, because he’d been so far from real medical care, he’d gotten an infection the antibiotics hadn’t been able to kick for a long time.

The facial scars had never bothered Andrea, but she knew they had changed Jack. Before that attack he’d been quiet and reserved, but after that his personality had taken on a dangerous edge. His tolerance was shorter and it was almost like he shut people down before they had a chance to reject him. It had broken Andrea’s heart at the time because Jack was already stone hard, but after the accident, there was very little give to him at all. For the most part, women avoided him, although there were a few that had pushed his boundaries. He’d been married once, but it had been a corrosive relationship that hadn’t lasted. Dorian had said he’d had hookups, but no actual close relationships, and that included the marriage.

It made her sad because as tough as Jack appeared to be he had a soft heart.

“We need to talk,” he told her, nudging her toward the couch.

Andrea sat down on the soft cushions, for the first time feeling some of the tension leave her body. The past fourteen hours had been crazy.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning,” Jack prompted her, settling down beside her, his big body dwarfing hers.

Andrea related everything that had happened, all of her suspicions and the whispers she thought she’d heard. Jack didn’t say anything, he just let her talk herself out. When she reached the part about getting into the beach house, she allowed her voice to trail away.

“What do you think,” she asked finally.

Jack leaned back against the couch, folding his hands over his lean belly. “I think you did everything exactly right,” he told her, eyes direct, mouth an unforgiving line. “It’s not unusual to have terrorist cells working independently across the country. And it’s as you suspected, they come in to use the free WiFi, just like everybody else. I’m not sure what Roger Mann had a chance to implement before he was killed but I assume he was coming to talk to you about what he had done, and figured out. Obviously, he got close.”

Andrea nodded. “That’s what I thought, too. I’m heartsick I dragged him into this.”

Jack gave a hard shrug. “It’s a part of the game,” he said simply. “It’ll always be us against them and people will fall. It’s just nice when they screw up sometimes,” he said pointedly giving her a look.

Andrea gave him a bit of a smile, but it was hard to be lighthearted when a man had just been killed. “So, what do we do?”

“Well,” Jack said, “first thing I’m going to do is call Si and see if he’s learned anything.” He reached down beside the couch and lifted up a bag she recognized. ”I grabbed a few things from your apartment I thought you might need.”

Andrea sighed as he handed the bag over, loving that he’d brought her a piece of home. This was why she knew what a good heart he had. In the midst of a crisis he worried about her having her things.

“And here’s your cell phone.”

Andrea swiped through the security and into her messages. Luke was freaking out but promised to keep things running until she notified him otherwise. Her son had texted her a silly meme. And she had three text messages from unknown numbers.

One was from Mann.

Andrea, I know it’s late but I need to come by and have you identify a picture. I think I know who your hat guy is.

The next two texts sent chills through her and she began to shake. They had come in within the past two hours, since she’d been running. And the address said it was from Roger’s phone!

ANDREA, such a pretty name. Sorry I left a mess in your back alley. But then, that’s what you get for spying on me. Doesn’t matter, you have stopped nothing.

Wordlessly, she handed the phone to Jack. His mouth tightened and his silver eyes flashed with anger.

“Everything will be okay,” he told her firmly, but she wasn’t sure she believed him.

A hard hand gripped her chin and he forced her head up. She met his eyes. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, Andrea. Yes, we’re in the shit now, but I will protect you.”

Andrea nodded, tears filling her eyes again. She was so emotionally overwrought. When Jack dragged her into his arms again she didn’t protest like she knew she should. He just felt so good…
J.M. Madden. SEAL Hard (Kindle Locations 410-475).

Things heat up almost right away in the form of an attack at the beach house. More information from the captured attackers and a quick move to another location. With the help of another Bone Frog, they start piecing together what the possible plan could be. It’s devastating.

As they face the almost impossible, Andrea comes to the realization that she wants a relationship with Jack. Jack is more than a little reluctant but time will tell.

Scary, emotional, heartrending, with hold your breath action, tears and a simmer to sizzle romance. Do not miss this book!

5 Contented Purrs for JM!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

Erin Knox has never dealt with a dog as difficult as Wicked, an injured Military War dog, but then, she’s never had a dog with the kind of experience that he’s had. Since being blown up in an IED, the dog has traveled around the world and been separated from his long-time handler, who was also wounded in the blast. It’s going to take a lot of work to foster him. The dog is broken in more ways than one.

Luca Carmichael was told his best friend had died in the explosion in Afghanistan, so it’s a shock when he receives a letter from the woman fostering Wicked back to health. A desolate future suddenly takes on fresh hope and he waits impatiently for every email. As they both heal, he and Erica share more and more of themselves. Before long he’s waiting to hear from her, but not just for a report on Wicked. Would she be willing to take two wounded soldiers into her heart?

Erin won my heart from the first page of this book, and Wicked shortly thereafter. She didn’t have to find Wicked’s handler but she did and the results, well, tears.

Luca wasn’t doing well, mentally anyway. His guilt over losing his canine partner was overwhelming. When he read the first email from Erin, his world tipped and he found a new balance.

Erin and Luca maintain a correspondence with pictures and updates. They even planned a visit once Wicked was fitted with prosthetic.

This is a favorite scene as Erin Facetimes Luca as they leave the vet’s office.

Wicked was not wild about having people mess with his leg again, and he definitely didn’t like the thing mounted to his foot and Velcro-ed, but once he realized he could move around like he used to he forgot about it. Within two minutes he was walking like he’d always worn a prosthetic. Erin went up and down the hallway of the vet’s office, watching his mobility. One of the vet techs took a walking video and they looked at it on loop several times.

“I’m very happy with this,” Dr. Lang told her. “It’s a small prosthetic and I think he’ll be completely fine with it. If it was further up the hock the process would be a little more difficult, but I think he’s going to adapt like he should. You saw how easy it was to add the piece.”

Erin nodded. Literally it had taken two straps of Velcro and five seconds to put on. It was only two shaped bars of plastic, with a cushion pad on the bottom and a strip of rubber on the sole. If anything he might need heavier Velcro to attach to the leg if he was going to be doing a lot of jumping. But that was an issue for later down the road.

They walked out of the vet’s office side by side, and Wicked only had the most minor of bobbles. He jogged beside her as they went through the parking lot and even seemed excited to jump up into the back without using the old man ramp. Laughing, Erin drew her phone from her pocket and dialed Luca, then hit the FaceTime button. It rang and rang, and that was when she realized that maybe he didn’t want to see her, or for her to see him. She was just about to hang up when he answered.

Her first view of him was a shock. Damn. Luca Carmichael looked to be a handsome dark devil, with dark hair and eyes. His curly hair was a little mussed, like he’d been running his hands through it, but there was an alertness in his expression that so reminded her of Wicked. She grinned into the camera. “I thought you would like to see your dog in action.”

Turning the camera she scanned the view over his body and down to the prosthetic.

“Oh, Boss.”

Wicked jerked to alertness, focusing in on the phone, and she realized he hadn’t even heard his handler’s voice for weeks. “Luca,” she said, turning the phone back to herself, “I think he just recognized your voice.”

She turned the phone back to the dog. “Hey, Boss, look at you, buddy!” Luca called.

Wicked went nuts, whining and shoving his nose toward the phone, as if he was sniffing for Luca, and it actually brought tears to her eyes. It was obvious the dog recognized and missed his partner. He danced in the back of the car as Luca talked to him.

“Erin,” he said.

She turned the phone around, wiping her eyes. He seemed to be a little emotional too. “It seems like I’m always telling you thank you. He looks amazing.”

Wicked bumped her hand, as if telling her he wasn’t done. Turning, she sat on the back end of the SUV, with the dog directly behind her so that Luca could see them both. “It was too big of a deal not to celebrate. I’m sorry if I caught you at a bad time.”

Luca laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it. There is no bad time for you to call. It was so worth it.”

Erin related the conversation with the vet, along with her own observations. She wasn’t sure if Wicked could actually see Luca on the other end of the line, but he definitely recognized his voice. At one point the dog rested his head on her shoulder, as if in thanks for everything, and she teared up again. For a dog as reserved as Wicked, this was like a parade with confetti to Erin.
J.M. Madden. Wicked Healing (Kindle Locations 572-574). Kindle Edition.

This book triggers so many emotions, I was sniffling almost all the way through. Not in a bad way though.

Luca’s mother left much to be desired, she really had no right to do the things she did. The only thing she got right was hiring Healing Hands, Healing Hearts to care for Wicked. At least his father was supportive.

The journey for both the man and the dog was priceless and Erin’s role inspiring and romantic.

This is a wonderful, feel good book, with a simmer to sizzle romance but you’ll definitely need lots of tissues.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
J.M. Madden

BB Jones has a very nice life, if it’s a little lonely. When her sister calls her to take a job in a pinch, she’s not enthused. She doesn’t need the money and the job itself seems a little dirty- greet a Navy SEAL home, pamper him for three days, then leave. The fact that the man has no one else to welcome him home sways her to take the job.

Lincoln Bezel is greeted on the tarmac with one of the nicest hugs he’s ever gotten by one of the most beautiful women he’s ever seen. The fact that she’s there for him stuns him, and intrigues him. He agrees to the three day pampering, but within a few hours he knows it’s going to be hard, no, impossible, to let her go. When he’s deployed before the contract is complete, he believes his little stretch of paradise is over.

Because why would she come back? There was no way she could have fallen in love with him in two days. Right?

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this new series but I am totally hooked. Clearly a series about a company based on helping our military and veterans outside of what the government can or will do is a winner.

In this first book, the wives of a team returning from deployment, decide that the one single guy deserves a welcome like the rest of them get. They hire Caroline’s company to provide a homecoming for Lincoln, consisting of meeting him at the airport, followed by three days of home-cooking and companionship.

This is a favorite scene.

To that end, he paused long enough to retie one of his boots. As he walked down the ramp, the heat of the California coast hit him, and he drew it in. California had a very different scent from the middle eastern countries. More lush with flowering plant aromas drifting on the breeze.

He glanced up. All of his buddies had made it to their families. Mary was leaning over Justin’s gurney. The guy had roused and was lifting a hand to cup her cheek and wipe away tears. Ryan’s fiancé was leaning over his hands, looking at the white bandages like she could see the injury beneath. Swamp Man’s kids were tangled around his legs, demanding attention, but he was kissing his wife. Toro stood on the tarmac rocking his woman in his arms, whispering into her ear. All of his guys had found their pairs.

Then a woman he didn’t recognize swept forward. She had light, curly brown hair in a knot on top of her head, and stylish purple-framed glasses on the bridge of her nose. Pale green eyes alight with humor focused on him. Her mouth was spread in a brilliant smile as she walked toward him, the skirt of a blue dress swirling round her. Craziest of all she carried a glittering, hand-made sign that said, ‘Welcome, home, Lincoln’.

Link stopped in his tracks. For a split second he wondered when they’d gotten another teammate with the same name, and he looked around, but he knew that wasn’t right. The woman was looking right at him. He continued to stare as she walked forward, closing the distance between them.

God, she was beautiful in a nerdy, cute way, and he couldn’t stop staring. Her smile spread even more, as if she knew he were poleaxed. “Lincoln, my name is BB. Welcome home.”

Then she did the most amazing thing of all. Dropping the sign to the tarmac she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into the best hug he’d ever been given.

Emotion suddenly clutched at his throat and he just stood there for a long moment, not sure what to do. This was such a surreal moment. Then the comfort she was offering began to edge in. What the hell. Dropping his gear, he wrapped his arms around her. He had no idea who this woman was, or where he’d met her before. Surely he’d remember such a stunning woman? Wait, she’d introduced herself. They’d never met before.

Her breasts were pushing at his chest and even through the vest and gear he wore, he could feel every inch of her. She wasn’t very big. His arms wrapped around her easily. But she was strong. The arms around his neck were not letting him go until she was ready.

Link basked in the welcome, everything else fading away. For a moment he could imagine coming home to this every time. This was how it should be. This was how he’d seen his teammates welcomed time after time as he walked through the hangar alone, his chest aching.

* * *

BB had read somewhere that a twenty-second hug was enough to release oxytocin, but she thought the hug needed to be between committed partners. As she absorbed the feel of Lincoln Bezel in her arms, she also felt something settling into her heart.

Contentment. As she breathed, she drew in the masculine, dusty scent of him and it did something to her, making her want to nestle in longer. She had thought the hug would be awkward if he brushed her off or pulled away, but it wasn’t. His arms were strong around her back, and he returned the same amount of pressure she used, which was perfect.

Finally, though, she could feel people watching them. She drew back enough to look into his face, and was shocked at how handsome he was. It was hard to believe that this guy didn’t have a significant other.

There was confusion in his expression, but also a strong sense of interest.

“Do I know you?” he asked finally. His voice was deep and raspy.

She shook her head. “No, you don’t. But I’m here to welcome you home. Your friends and family hired me to welcome you back to the states.”

Link looked up. Half a dozen of his men and their wives were looking at him and grinning.

“What did you assholes do?” he asked, laughing.

Toro’s wife Brittany made a motion to the group. “We thought it would be nice to have someone welcome you home the way you deserve to be. No, it’s not long-term, but we wanted to do something nice for your birthday. Mary set it up, but she’s busy, obviously.” Brittany motioned to where Black was being loaded into a transport, his wife at his side. “You have BB for three days, then she heads back home. This contract does not entail sexual services of any kind. We are obligated to make that clear to you.” She grinned and winked, and he had to wonder if she was telling the truth or not.

He glanced at BB, but her smile stayed in place. This woman was not any kind of hooker, he would bet his life on that. She was too… refined, he supposed the word would be. Pale pink polish made her nails look slick, and her clothes seemed to be well made. He wasn’t up on current trends, but she seemed to be very well put together. Expensive. Out of his league.

So why would she be doing this?

“I acknowledge that no sexual services are inferred in any way,” he told Brittany, but his eyes stayed on BB. And he caught the slight burst of color in her cheeks.

Damn. If she did offer those services, he didn’t think he’d be able to turn her down.

A weird noise drew his gaze down and BB shifted until he could see a barrel-shaped dog hiding in her shadow. He thought she was a bulldog until her batwing ears popped up. “Is that a Frenchie?”

BB smiled and nodded. “Lincoln Bezel, this is Fancy French Vanilla. Frankie, for short.”
J.M. Madden. Healing Home (Kindle Locations 193-239). Kindle Edition.

Now this contract is very specific, and doesn’t include anything salacious.

BB is a cartoonist, and her sister Carolina runs Healing Hands, Healing Hearts. She accepted this job because her sister was overwhelmed with requests and needed a hand with this one. She really didn’t expect to be so attracted to Linc.

Linc found himself enjoying BB’s company and when he had to leave he found himself wishing she would be there when he returned.

I laughed, cried, held my breath and I think I even crossed my fingers as this couple begin a relationship. Very emotional, yet perfectly blended with just enough heat.

5 Contented Purrs for J.M.!

J.M. Madden

J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. 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, perfecting 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 and always has several projects in the works.

She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She’ll respond.