Alessa Kelly's Blog, page 3

Navy SEALs vs Green Berets, who wins?

Hello, lovely readers.

I've always been fascinated by the military (yeah yeah, I have a thing for men in uniform :D). It started when I caught a documentary series called Sniper: Inside The Crosshairs on the History Channel.

Now as a writer, I love exploring the unique depth of characters which make our military heroes who they are.

In the Red Mark Rescue & Protect series, former Navy SEAL Sam Kelleher and ex-Green Beret Mark Connor join forces and set up an elite company which specializes in rescuing missing children.

As the series continues, I will bring in more characters from different military branches, and I'm looking forward to deep-diving into their hearts and souls!

For now, if you haven't already, read the prequel to the Red Mark Rescue & Protect series for free. Click the image to download it.























▶️ Fun stuff: Watch this video which puts Navy SEALS and Green Berets head to head.

Also a reminder...

Book 1 of the Red Mark Rescue & Protect series, Her Unbreakable Protector, is available on Amazon and free with Kindle Unlimited. Check it out if you haven't read it.



Amazon US
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Strong heart, brave mind,
Alessa

Her Unbreakable Protector is live! ⚓

He lives to protect. She’s there to pick up the pieces. When greed and brutality come calling, can their love shield them from a bloody end?

Hello, lovely readers.

I'm so excited today—'dancing on the ceiling' kind of excited. Because...

Her Unbreakable Protector is live!

It's time to meet the tenacious Sam Kelleher. When the woman he loves is viciously taken, the ex-Navy SEAL races to track her down.

If you have made your purchase, thank you! If you haven't, get it today from your local Amazon store. It's free with Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia



"There is plenty of action and the characters are well-developed in vivid detail. I would recommend Her Unbreakable Protector to readers who enjoy slow-burn romances filled with unpredictable outcomes." - Readers' Favorite, ★★★★★

"A hero-filled thrill for romance readers of every kind. Steeped in luscious language and visceral scenes of both drama and pleasure, this book flexes between wild extremes of intensity and powerful themes of trust, passion, and self-control." - Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★

Heroes live here,
Alessa

When the woman he loves is taken, an ex-Navy SEAL races to track her down ⚓

Hello lovely readers,

Her Unbreakable Protector is one of the hardest books I've written.

My novels are generally character-driven—and with this one, where the hero/heroine took me as the author was at times overwhelming. I had to make a lot of tough decisions to keep the story cohesive (and enjoyable!).

The tough love seems to work though! Her Unbreakable Protector has earned a five-star badge from Readers' Favorite! You can read the review here.

PLUS... today, I've got a short teaser video for you!

Click to watch below.



Sam Redley Kelleher never gives up. Haunted for over two decades by his still-missing brother’s abduction, the former Navy SEAL faces danger head-on to rescue kidnapped children. So when the woman he loves is viciously taken, he races to track her down.

Her Unbreakable Protector is the pulse-pounding first book in the Red Mark Rescue & Protect romantic suspense series.

Order to pull the trigger on passion today!

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia

"There is plenty of action and the characters are well-developed in vivid detail. I would recommend Her Unbreakable Protector to readers who enjoy slow-burn romances filled with unpredictable outcomes." - Readers' Favorite ★★★★★

Her Unbreakable Protector goes live on Valentine's Day, February 14th (free with Kindle Unlimited).

If you have pre-ordered, thank you! If you haven't, check it out at your local Amazon store:

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia

To our heroes,
Alessa

It takes a true hero to temper a stubborn heart ❤️

Hello lovely readers.

They say real love is the person who won't give up on you.

I love romance that is hard-fought and full of twists—which is what you will get in my upcoming book Her Unbreakable Protector (out on Valentine's Day).

Ex-Navy SEAL Sam Redley Kelleher faces death every day to rescue missing children. Cassidy Winter is the woman who keeps him grounded, but she fears commitment will end in heartache.

When greed and brutality come calling, can their love shield them from a bloody end?



Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia

Her Unbreakable Protector is the pulse-pounding first book in the Red Mark Rescue & Protect romantic suspense series.

If you like tenacious heroes, sizzling chemistry, and adrenaline-fueled action, then you’ll adore this life-or-death thrill ride.

Here is what Self-Publishing Review says about Her Unbreakable Protector:

"A hero-filled thrill for romance readers of every kind. Steeped in luscious language and visceral scenes of both drama and pleasure, this book flexes between wild extremes of intensity and powerful themes of trust, passion, and self-control."

Her Unbreakable Protector goes live on Valentine's Day, February 14th (free with Kindle Unlimited).

If you have pre-ordered, thank you! If you haven't, check it out at your local Amazon store:

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia

Kind heart, fierce mind, brave spirit,
Alessa

Her Unbreakable Protector Teaser

Hello, lovely readers.

Her Unbreakable Protector teaser is here!

Her Unbreakable Protector is the first book in the Red Mark Rescue & Protect series, and it will be out in less than month!

If you want to read the prequel to the series, and a longer sneak peek at the book, Montana’s Bravest download Montana's Bravest for free.

Message me your comments and feedback. Thank you!

Enjoy,
Alessa



Chapter 1 - Cassidy Winter

I’ve lived long enough to know that nightmares do come true. But I never imagined that the one I fear most—the terror that has haunted me for years and has me gasping for air long after I wake up—would grip me like this.

I’m drowning.

Yet I’m not in the water.

“Where is the money, Cassidy?” one of my captors repeats, snatching the drenched towel off my face.

I cough and gasp, trying to catch pockets of air through the water clogging my throat.

The drug they shot into me had worn off, but somehow I wished I was still under the influence—so I wouldn’t have to live this nightmare.

I was tied to a rigid board, my feet slightly above my head, creating an incline. My arms stretch down low, my wrists secured.

The two men keep pouring cold water into my nose and mouth over a thick towel spread across my face. At this stage, I’m too weak even to entertain my panic. Every dollop of energy goes to keeping my lungs going.

Professionals like them don’t kidnap and demand money from a single mother who makes ends meet by working at a bar and running a small brewery. Harvey, my ex-husband, is the only man after me, and I have no doubt this debacle somehow links to him. This won’t be the first time.

I choke. “I don’t know what you’re t—”

He slaps me.

“God, I hate that answer! I’ve heard it many times before. And you know how many changed their minds after I finished with them?”

The man squeezes my chin. “Eight out of ten. The other two didn’t even have a chance.” His round eyes are only inches away from mine when he leans down to me—it must be what an executioner’s stare looks like. “So don’t play dumb with me, lady!”

I swallow the remaining water, and for the first time in ages, I manage to take one full breath.

A bitter smile crosses his face. “Unlike your husband, we wouldn’t care if you live or die. We’ll get the money sooner or later. It’ll just be easier if you cooperate.”

I fucking knew it.

Damn you, Harvey Whitlock!

But the money matter is still puzzling me. If my ex had sent these men to find me, his only goal would be to take our daughter and me back. He should know I haven’t gotten enough cash to entice a small-time gambler, let alone a pro like him.

I give my captor a fuck-you stare as if he was my dickhead ex himself. The man then swings his arm hard. I wince, bracing for his fist. But his accomplice stops him. Obviously, despite declaring they wouldn’t care if I live or die, they seem to need me alive—or at least conscious.

“Cassidy, listen to me.” His accomplice takes over, leisurely walking around me. He might as well be the same man, for he looks identical. I’m sure they’re twins. When they speak, it sounds like the same person talking to himself. The only distinguishing feature among the brothers is the gunshot wound I inflicted on one of them on his arm. He’s the one talking to me now.

The injured twin circles me one more time, running his fingers on top of my soaked shirt. I don’t have my bottoms on; the two men captured me when I was changing after a shower. They want nothing of me that way—which I’m thankful for.

“You’re not on our death list,” he adds, “but we know how to hurt. We’ve studied you. What can I say? We like to know who our employers are, including their families.”

“Harvey Whitlock is my ex-husband,” I emphasize. “I haven’t seen him since I left him three years ago. If he promised you money, I don’t have it!”

“Well, Cassidy, we like to keep things simple. Ex-husband, husband, what’s the difference?”

His brother soon flanks him. Now I notice that the unwounded one has a relatively large mole just under his right ear. I’ll call him the mole man.

“If you’re thinking about protecting him, just don’t,” the wounded one carries on. “Your husband told us a long time ago that you’re afraid of water. We intend to use it until we get results. So one last time, where is the money?”

“I don’t know!”

Soon the towel is back on me. Like the first round, water enters every cavity it can find on my face. I gyrate to no avail as my cry turns into nothing but helpless gargles.

My drowning nightmare was a reality once—an ordeal I’ll never forget and keep being reminded of by the night terrors that follow. I was barely fourteen then.

Now, as a grown woman, in the hands of two strangers, I’m transported back to the place on earth where I should’ve died. It was the dead of night, as if I had dived into a black hole. Only it wasn’t hollow. The water was thick. I couldn’t inhale or exhale. As my airway closed, I heard my struggles amongst the sloshing water.

Just like I am now.

And the sensation keeps going. For sure, the brothers have gone on longer than the first round.

I thrash around, imploring the men to release me. But they thrive on my struggles. The time slows, but eventually, they seem to have had enough, and they let me off.

After coughing and retching violently, I beg. “Please… I don’t know!”

“A couple of days after we reported your whereabouts to your dear Harvey, he was at your house.” The man shows me a photo of that scumbag.

“If you saw him, then why didn’t you ask him about the money?” I huff, wincing to counter the sting in my lungs. “He hates me. Why would he give me his money?”

“If you’re not dumb, you would’ve figured out by now that he hasn’t paid us.”

As always, Harvey has left me to deal with his mess.

“I swear, I don’t know where he is. I’ll pay you the money. Just let me go.”

The mole man appraises me. “We’re not queuing up for our wages here, Cassidy.”

Maybe the men were still on good terms with my ex when they last saw him, or they hadn’t found out about Harvey’s newfound wealth—if it exists. Something must’ve gone astray. Now Harvey’s minions have turned on him.

“Then go fuck yourself!” I blurt.

His face reddens. Releasing a nasty bellow, he slaps the towel back on my face.

This time the water comes down like a fall.

The unforgiving passage of time forces me to draw everything I have—to defy death, to deny them a win. My stake is higher than riches. I have my daughter, and I have to stay alive for her.

Second by second, my defiance is crushed by the relentlessness of my torturers.

There’s only one person who can turn this around, and he’s not just a man.

He’s Sam Kelleher—a former Navy SEAL, a rescue specialist.

A lover who made me break my own rules.

And he’s the only one whom I would trust with my life.

But I don’t even dare wish that he was somehow thinking of me. He’s in the middle of a dangerous assignment and can’t afford to be distracted. The missing little girl needs him more than I do.

Yet, when there’s Sam, there’s always hope.

And I’m clinging to it no matter how thin the thread is.

---

Chapter 2 - Cassidy (three days ago)

The Slick Smugglers’ fast-fiddle number gets the crowd cheering and clapping. It’s country fest at the Thirsty Fox, and the bar is as busy as it can be for a Monday night.

After helping my Fox boys fix a clogged keg in the back room, I return to the floor, chatting with our regulars. The bar is only a couple of blocks from the Montana State Capitol, so it’s no surprise that many of our patrons are politicians whom I know well.

People nickname me ‘Hardy Cassidy’ or ‘The Sarah Connor of Helena’—depending on whether they see me as the manager or as a chick who’s not afraid to do boys’ work.

Most of the time, though, what I do is juggle fun, firm, and friendly. I’m twenty-seven years old, younger than the average age of bar managers in the country (which is thirty-eight, apparently). But when someone crosses the line, I’ll be the first to say, ‘fuck off.’

Tonight I’ve been keeping an eye on a potential pest. He’s the new city treasurer, and he’s been ogling my new barmaid since the minute he got here.

“You know, in Helena, by law, a woman can't dance on a table in a bar unless she has on at least three pounds, two ounces of clothing,” he slurs to the room over the live music. He then gets closer to my barmaid when she passes him by. “So if you wanna dance for me tonight, darling, I’ll get us a room.” He extends his arm, ready to ransack her bottoms.

I swipe at the man, yanking the back of his collar. “Out!” I drag the drunken mess outside.

“You yourself ain’t bad,” he giggles, eyes down at my cleavage.

“You’re banned!” I bark as I let him go, almost throwing him to the ground.

“Bitch!” he spits out. “You don’t know who I am!”

“Oh, I know you. And I know your boss very well. If I see you step foot on this bar again, I’ll make sure the mayor will be the first to know what you’ve been up to.”

“Fuck you!” The man points at me as he steps backward, almost losing his balance.

I leave the prick and return inside, where my barmaid is now serving other patrons as if nothing happened.

I pull her aside. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she replies.

“We’ve got this, boss,” Lisa, Fox’s longest-serving barmaid, and my friend, assures me as she serves alongside her.

“I’ll be at the back if you need me,” I say and head to the kitchen, exiting the bar through the back door as I try to cool the hell myself down.

God! Those bawdy pests really irk me. Sometimes I wonder if the likes of that city treasurer are an outcome of some sort of an evolution-gone-wrong—that they were supposed to belong to a different subspecies. Truly, some men are just born Homo sapiens assholus.

“Lisa said I’d find you here.” A man comes out of the darkness of the alley.

Now he, I can categorically say, isn’t one of the asshole-kind.

He’s Sam Kelleher, the co-owner of Red Mark Rescue & Protect, and a man who has me in knots every time he turns up. Maybe it’s because of who he is. Maybe it’s because of what he does. Or both.

“Look who’s back.” I step closer to the man whom I fondly call ‘Mr. Gray Diamond’ because of his gorgeous gray eyes.

Sam and his business partner Mark Connor are Montana heroes by day, putting their lives on the line to rescue missing kids. And by night, they’re the perfect gentlemen who keep a low key, stay pro no matter the situation, and tip generously. So, the Red Mark guys are definitely the opposite of assholes, or may I say, the crown jewel of human evolution.

The pair settled in Montana from New York just over two years ago. New York’s loss is Helena’s gain, even though men who are the epitome of sex and danger are naturally trouble for girls—especially in this city where you can count on one hand how many eligible bachelors are worth pursuing.

But Mark and Sam have proven that they are a rare breed who’s not the trouble kind.

Since I work at a bar, gossip flies my way all the time, whether it’s political or not. Mark doesn’t date—full stop. And Sam? Well, he’s technically single, but he and I usually hook up when he’s not away on assignment. ‘Hey-I’m-in-town’ kind of hookups.

And he never disappoints. The man is a concoction of the sought-after danger and sex. So far, sex is the only ingredient that I’ve tasted in him. He wears danger like a suit, but when he’s with me, he sheds it. And I’m only too happy to be tangled in his nakedness—literally or not.

“You’ve kept the city as I left it,” Mr. Gray Diamond quips, looking around the alley. He has come with his canine companion—Retired Staff Sergeant ‘Tripawed’ Maximus—who is tugging at him to get to me.

I kneel in front of the German shepherd and pat him rigorously. In response, he lifts up his right paw to give me a high-five, but in the absence of his other paw, he collapses onto me—his well-known strategy to get a hug from his human.

The mutt’s still eager to have me for himself, but I let him go. There’s only one thing in my mind now—Sam’s lips, and I waste no time plundering them.

He still tastes as divine as I remember, although the last kiss I had with him was to say, ‘see you soon, stay safe.’ Now welcoming him home, his response is that of a man staking his claim—valiant and sexful, if that’s even a word. My imagination runs riot, spitting out possibilities of where that luscious pair may land other than my own lips.

“My dog first, then me?” he complains over my puckering mouth.

“He’s your alpha,” I whisper back. Sometimes I just like to make my man wait.

“Don’t encourage him.” Sam tries to control his dog, who refuses to be ignored. “Down! Maximus, down!”

Maximus lost his handler in a blast in Iraq, and he himself lost his right leg. Since Sam adopted the mutt, Max has had a tough time transitioning into civilian life, giving his new master a handful.

I survey Sam from head to toe. Despite being off-duty and slightly upstaged by his canine companion, he looks every bit the hero. His biceps stretch his shirt sleeves, which are rolled up just below his elbows. He usually combs his fringe back, but tonight he lets it tumble over his forehead messily as if he had just saved the city.

“What are you doing back here? Reminiscing our first meeting?” He teases me after he finally manages to get his dog to sit.

“I just need fresh air,” I deadpan.

“Should I remind you?” He insists on being nostalgic and moves right next to me as if I’d forgotten where I was when his dog found me that afternoon. “You were right here.” He points to the ground.

Suddenly he drops himself on the dirt, lying flat right next to my feet.

“Sam, what are you doing?”

“I found you like this, didn’t I?” He looks up at me comically.

“Sam, get up!”

He ignores me. “Max, come here!” He taps at his chest, and soon Maximus pounces at him, growling playfully. “I found you like this, Cassidy Winter.” His eyes flare, and his mouth gapes.

I laugh at the reenactment.

Indeed, Sam crashed into my life six months ago in this very alley. That afternoon Maximus decided to change his master’s life—and mine—by pouncing at me, acting as if the dog had won me in a ‘catch the baddie’ game. I was lying like Sam is now, but he’s nowhere near as stunned as I was, no matter how much he exaggerates it. I was frozen by a presence that I thought was a dream. With the Helena sky spreading above us, he stooped over me, checking if I was okay. Never mind his handsome face and overall hotness, his eyes sparkled like gray diamonds—a first encounter that I’ll never forget.

“Come on, play time’s over,” I assert. “Max, sit.” The mutt gets off his master and sits next to me.

I cock my head at the hunky horizontal frame that’s still left lying on the ground. I can trace the contour of his muscles underneath his shirt, reminding me that despite him acting like a clown, he was a Navy SEAL—one of the military’s most lethal weapons—and his lethality hasn’t diminished just because he’s a civilian now. A lot of his assignments make the news, and most of the time, he tries to avoid cameras. But when he’s in view, in his full gear—covered in sweat, full of testosterone—God, even a full-grown lion would not want to mess with him.

“He listens to you, you know,” Sam remarks as he gets up and dusts off his shirt.

This man never hesitates to show that he’s happy to see me when he returns from assignments. But after an upbeat start, he’s usually turning serious just about—

Now.

“Your place? My place?”

I frown—not the kind of seriousness I was expecting. Usually, he would hint that there’s a thing or two about his assignments that he wants to share with me. At other times, he’d look at me and beg please don’t ask.

He might have a different agenda tonight because his question about our rendezvous logistics is surely out of character.

“What do you say?” His smile disturbs the ebony scruff wrapping his square jaw. The scruff is studded with sporadic sprouts of silver. He said he was getting old, but for me, he has simply experienced life—too fast, too dangerously.

“You’re kidding, right?” His place is by the creek. The first time I went there, I had a panic attack, and I never returned. And my place? I have little Grace at home with her grandmother. “What happens to a hotel room?”

“Just trying to up the ante.”

“Hotel, Sam.”

“Okay. Join me when you’re ready,” he says. “You don’t mind a bit of a drive?”

I hook my index finger under his chin, keeping his head still. “No. Wherever you are, baby, I’ll be there.”

I lock my gaze on him, and I gnaw my lower lip.

He draws me into his embrace, breathing hard like we’re already in our room. “Goddamn, you’re sexy like that.”

“Later,” I murmur.

He slowly lets me go and turns away. His perfectly rounded ass sways as he disappears into the night.

God! I can’t wait to have him.

If I was me six years ago, I’d take the plunge headfirst with this man. But for a single mother on the run, for now, our ‘Hey-I’m-in-town’ hookups are as far as I would go.

---

Her Unbreakable Protector is available for pre-order (out on Valentine's Day). Free with Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia

Happy New Year

Hello, lovely readers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope you're having a relaxing break, and welcoming 2023 with a smile.

2022 was an adventurous year for me. There were so many 'first times' happening throughout—some left me gasping, some made me laugh, and a few I simply want to forget.

Well, to kick off 2023, I have a gift for you.

The Red Mark Rescue & Protect series prequel, Montana's Bravest, is now free for you to download. This edition includes a sneak peek at the first book in the series (Her Unbreakable Protector).

Enjoy the read.

I have no doubt this year will bring even crazier ups and downs, and I'm looking forward to it!

To more troubles,
Alessa

Merry Christmas

Hello, lovely readers.

I'm preparing for a low-key Christmas here in Melbourne.

My family and friends are scattered all over the world (I'm hoping to have a big reunion next year). Besides, my karaoke buddies aren't in town.

So for now, it's going to be a quiet one for me and my boo.

I've warned him that I'm going to sneak in some writing time. I'm working on the first steamy scene of Cherish Me Forever (Book 2 in the Hartley Brothers series) and I can't wait to put my thoughts into words!

It's kinda naughty of me, but hey, he doesn't mind. And it'll give him something to tease me about anyway.

I hope you have a relaxing break. Don't forget to hug your loved ones and tell them how much you love them.

Please stay safe, especially if you're affected by the crazy December weather.

And finally, I wish you joy, happiness, and a satisfying escape—be it real or bookish :)

Merry Christmas,
Alessa

PS: We never have a white Christmas here. So I can only dream of being back in Montana. Here's me snowshoeing in the Yellowstone backcountry.

Looking for a gift? How about a romantic suspense boxed set?

Hello lovely readers.

I'm going to play Santa this week. Well, sort of.

I have a bundle of hot reads which I think will be a perfect gift this Christmas—perhaps to surprise that special bookish friend of yours. Or even to treat yourself?

If you like tough characters, searing sensuality, and pulse-pounding danger, you’ll adore this western romantic suspense boxed set.

You'll get three books for just US$2.99!

Grab this deal now. The price will go up in the New Year.





"An electric series that never disappoints." ~ Self-Publishing Review

Book 1 - BURNING FOR YOU

He’s a simple farm boy at heart. She’s a big-city girl. Thrown together by revenge, will their explosive chemistry endure a hostile takeover?

Book 2 - FIGHTING FOR YOU

She’s ready for a soulmate. He’s sealed away his heart. When attempted murder brings them together, can they survive long enough to find love?

Book 3 - LONGING FOR YOU

His world is steeped in violence. Her job keeps her tough. When their passion ignites, can they battle the coming storm?

Get all three books for just US$2.99 (limited time)!

Tempting you,
Alessa

Hold Me Forever is live!

She’s a survivor. He’s a former soldier reeling from loss. Can passion help two lost souls keep hope afloat?

Hello, lovely readers.

I'm sooo excited, because today...

Hold Me Forever goes live!

Find out how our hero and heroine, Robson Hartley and Amber-Rose Cannizzaro, overcome their traumatic pasts and learn to love again.

Plus... you will have a chance to read all about *that marriage proposal that we've been talking about in the past few weeks!

Buy Hold Me Forever at a special price of US$1.99 during the launch period (free with Kindle Unlimited).

If you have made your purchase, thank you! If you haven't, get it today from your local Amazon store:

Amazon US

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia



Stay joyful,
Alessa

Can two lost souls find safe harbor together?

Hello, lovely readers.

Last week, I sent out a sneak peek into the main characters from my upcoming romantic suspense novel, Hold Me Forever.

Today, I've got a short teaser video for you!

Click to watch below.



Amber-Rose Cannizzaro is not your typical trauma survivor. After her ex-boyfriend left her maimed and about to drown, the resilient fighter mends by fixing stuffed animals who are just as beaten and broken.

After his parents’ sudden death, Robson Hartley struggles to connect with a kid brother who desperately wants to cuddle a shredded toy. So when he saves a sweet seamstress from a robber, the SEAL turned billionaire fears he’s got too much on his hands to make a relationship work.

As Amber drops her defenses, she’s horrified when an old abuser returns and threatens to shipwreck her happily ever after. And even as Robson embraces his healed sibling and the woman of his dreams, he prepares to defend his family from the dangerous predator on their trail.

Can this wounded couple overcome their traumatic pasts and learn to love again?

Hold Me Forever is the first book in the Hartley Brothers romantic suspense series. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, complete with a HEA that boasts the best marriage proposal you'll ever read!



Hold Me Forever goes live on October 24th with a special price of US$1.99 (free with Kindle Unlimited).

If you have pre-ordered, thank you! If you haven't, check it out at your local Amazon store:

Amazon US

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Carve your own path,
Alessa