Author Spotlight: Melanie Moreland, HEAs Worth Binging
I know exactly the moment I discovered Melanie Moreland’s books. I was asking for new reads in a group, and Avery Maxwell recommended several. Melanie was one of them. And when I said I had never read Melanie’s books, Avery messaged me and said, “What??? How is that possible?” And that, my friends, is how Revved to the Maxx wound up on my Kindle.
I call Revved my Melanie Moreland gateway drug, because man did it create a beautiful addiction to her stories and characters. And I definitely believe there are certain books that just grab you and pull you into that writer’s sphere. Even though I was looking for a standalone read at the time, and at that time Revved was a standalone, I dove right into Melanie’s backlist because I just needed more!
On the recommendation of so many readers I grabbed The Contract. And I fell hard. Like really freaking hard. Melanie has a way of developing beautifully deep, damaged, but incredibly redeemable characters. And if I thought Maxx was a growly alpha, I had no idea what was in store for me with Richard. Or the amazing family of characters she created with just one book. It absolutely pulled me in. And when I exhausted the book in that series, I went back to find more to dive into.
At that point I figured I was solidly a Melanie Moreland fan, so I joined her Melanie’s Minions group on Facebook. And asked what to read next. And got so many recommendations. Because Melanie has a seriously deep backlist with all kinds of amazingness. And her group is welcoming and very eager to share why they flove their fearless writer leader. But one other series kept coming up again and again. And once again, Avery was tempting me with a name… Bentley.
Turns out, Bentley is just the beginning of another seriously awesome series deep dive. And it starts with those BAM boys. I binged that Vested Interest series hard! And a few months later, when I hit a wall and needed comfort read, I went back to Reid- book 4 in the Vested Interest series. Because Reid is one of those books that pulls you in and brings so many feels, and it owns a permanent place in my head and my heart. Maybe it’s because I married a computer geek. Or because I have a soft spot for misunderstood heroes with troubled backgrounds who thrive and soar with the right people in their corner. But whatever it is, Reid continues to be a book I come back to again and again when I need a comfortable place to land after a difficult read, a difficult day, or a reason to stop and breathe for a minute.
And just when I thought Melanie was all light-hearted, happy fun heroes, she threw Matteo in the mix. And then Marcus. And Julian. And if you don’t know who I’m talking about, you need to meet the Men of Hidden Justice. Think of them as Canadian Grey… they’re not quite dark romances, but they trend toward a darker side than Melanie fans were used to when she wrote them. I remember when that term first showed up in the group and I did that confused puppy head tilt. Then I read the books and it made so much sense. That little team effort on the part of Melanie, her PA Karen, and her promotions manager Kim has become part of the Melanie vernacular. A great little play on words that works so well to pull the group together into the know and showcase Melanie’s versatility while still keeping true to her writing and her readers. And, oh yeah, one of my favorite subtle gestures (call it a Love Language, if you will) is in The Boss. If you know it, or read it and find it, message me. There may just be some book money in it for ya ;-)
Circling back a little to the first book I mentioned, my Melanie Moreland gateway book- well, Maxx became the base for a series, too. And what a series it is. It’s a hot one, y’all! Especially Brett. Kindle melting hot. And some of my favorite scenes in a Melanie book are from Stefano’s book. So check out those men of Reynolds Restorations. They do not disappoint.
Wrapping up my fangirling for Melanie, I’m writing this while away at a bookish event, and thinking back to when I got a chance to meet Melanie at Indies Invade Philly in November of 2021. I wasn’t able to get a ticket to the blogger session because I was so new when they went on sale, but Melanie and Karen saved a beautiful blogger gift for me, and not gonna lie, it made me feel 10 feet tall. Being seen and understood, recognized and accepted, felt so freaking good. That culture and concept of love and acceptance, people helping and supporting each other, is one of the main things I truly love about Romancelandia.
Melanie will be joining us as an attending author for Charm City Romanticon in Ellicott City, Maryland in March of 2023 and I cannot wait to see her again. Although I think I may have a chance again in Philly this year, and this time at the blogger session.
Just the facts:
First book I read by Melanie: Revved to the Maxx
What I love most about her books: Strong steamy heroes, heroines you want as your besties, great variety among themes, tropes, and genres.
Fave book by Melanie: Reid
Fave character: Maddox
Fave cover: The Boss because, Andrew Biernat
You can get her books on Amazon
You can find Melanie on social media here: Facebook Instagram TikTok
Facebook reader group: Melanie’s Minions
