Books By Mel


Black Pawn (Michael Cailen Book 1)

Genre: Espionage / Suspense Thriller

After witnessing something he wasn't meant to see, Michael Cailen is caught in a real life game of chess where every move could be his last. A former special ops soldier, he uses his training and skills to stay alive and one step ahead of those hunting him.

Jessica Nickoli's life is forever changed when a chance encounter with Michael in a cafe almost leads to her death. Saved by Michael, she must go on the run with him as it becomes clear they intend to kill her now too.

As Michael learns more about Jessica's murky past and questionable career as a computer hacker he begins to wonder if there is more to her than meets the eye. He soon realizes it was not mere coincidence that brought them together. With his own survival now dependent on hers, he will stop at nothing to protect her as they work together to bring down the powerful forces working to kill them.


Forced Move (Michael Cailen Book 2)

Genre: Espionage / Suspense Thriller

Responsible for exposing rogue CIA agents and bringing a Russian mafia to their knees two years ago, Michael and Jessica Cailen are trying to adjust to their new quiet home life. However, when Michael is called to help an old friend rescue his niece from kidnappers, it sets in motion a string of events that turns their new "normal" lives upside down and places them in a unique position to take down one of the most villainous men on the planet. In this riveting sequel, follow Michael and Jessica as they dare to pick apart a vast criminal empire that no one has been able to touch until now.


Critical Play (Michael Cailen Book 3)

Genre: Espionage / Suspense Thriller

No longer in hiding from a notorious Russian Mob or running from corrupt CIA agents, Michael and Jessica Cailen have settled in to a quiet life, adapting to their new role as parents. However, when an old friend arrives at their door needing their help they find themselves in the middle of a deadly conspiracy that reaches across the globe.

Unable to receive help from their friends in the CIA, they are forced to turn to an unlikely ally. A man with mysterious power and influence who happens to be Jessica's estranged father. The stakes are higher than ever as Michael takes on corrupt government officials colluding with terrorists who will do everything in their power to keep from being exposed.

Identity

Genre: Suspense Thriller / Romantic Suspense

This slow-burn thriller set in Moscow will keep you glued to the page as the secrets from April's past begin to unravel. Living as a paramedic in sunny San Diego, April Peterman spends her days saving the lives of others. With a pleasant and cheerful personality, she has no shortage of friends and is known to all as an easy-going and trustworthy person. When a shady ex-boyfriend unexpectedly emerges from her past, however, it raises questions about just who April Peterman really is. His sudden appearance followed by her curiously evasive and volatile reactions to questions, as well as an attempt to disappear, deepens the mystery and threatens a burgeoning relationship with a man whose life she saved while leaving everyone wondering just what she could possibly be running from.


What Can't Be Bought (Part 1 & 2)

Genre: Drama / Romance

While on the trip of a lifetime in Europe, Amanda Pierce finds herself alone in Edinburgh when her traveling companion deserts her for a wealthy local. With her vacation teetering on disaster, she crosses paths with Viktor and their brief, chance encounter will completely change their lives in ways neither thought possible. Viktor has everything he could ever want and lacks nothing. Or so he thinks, until he meets Amanda, who is unlike anyone he’s ever met. After only a day he realizes she is the one thing missing in his life and he sets out to pursue her. But winning her will not be so easy.

Follow the exhilarating 2 part journey of Amanda and Viktor as they meet, fall in love, and fight to maintain their devotion through challenging and even frightening situations that trigger deeply rooted insecurities and threaten to divide them.

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What had happened was...

Life can change in a second. One minute, you're on top of the world. The next you're at the bottom of a large boulder wondering what's going to happen to you. This is literally what happened to me over 3 years ago, not long after publishing Identity .  It all started one fateful day in September of 2017 when I went hiking with a group of friends on Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. We made it to the top with no issues. It was great. We sat on the top for a while, enjoying the view while trying to hide from the flies. (Swams of flies. It was gross.)  We had just started to descend and I was walking down a very large boulder when my foot slipped and I began sliding down the boulder. Seconds later my foot hit a raised edge on the rock and I heard and felt a snap. I knew I was in trouble but was also a little in denial and promptly jumped to my feet and attempted to hurry back down the mountain. (Ridiculous.) I took about 10 steps before I was forced to accept the reality. A li
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My Beef With Plot Holes

Part of the reason it takes me so long to write one of the Cailen thrillers is my strong detest of plot holes. I find movies hard to enjoy sometimes because so many of them have such giant plot holes I can't even get past it. Haha. Watch a couple "CinemaSins" or "How It Should Have Ended" (HISHE) videos on YouTube and you'll know what I mean. Just keep in mind, "What has been seen, cannot be unseen." Once your mind is opened up to plot holes, you might just see them everywhere. It's a curse.  Because I am overly aware of them, when I write I agonize over the story and events, endeavoring to make them both plausible and logical, which is not always easy. Sometimes I make a huge mistake and end up having to rewrite small, or sometimes large, portions of the book because the events don't make sense based on one tiny detail that can't be changed or ignored. I'll give you an example of one. **Spoiler Alert!** In Critical Play , Jessica i
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