I’m happy to have Lynne Silver here today, and not only because she loves M&M’s but because of her book,  Heated Match.  She also writing about controversial books.

Take it away, Lynne!

I wrote a controversial book. I didn’t mean to, I swear. As someone who shies from conflict as much as possible, it’s odd I would tackle a controversial subject. But the story was caught in my brain and wouldn’t let go.

So here’s the issue: I’ve built a world where the main heroes are genetically enhanced. And I don’t mean like X-men or freaky enhancements that we know are never possible. No, my enhanced soldiers are entirely in the realm of possibility. In our lifetimes!

I got the idea for the book from a newspaper article talking about designer babies. Science isn’t so far away from having the means for prospective parents to pick the genetic traits for their new baby. Eye color, hair color, height, you name it. We can also imagine the possibility of better cognitive processing and more lung capacity to allow for faster running.  The soldiers in my book have enhanced lung capacity, greater strength and eidetic/photographic memories.

Fun stuff, right. Though it’s easy to say that genetics shouldn’t be used for anything so frivolous as eye color.

But where it gets harder is when it comes to disease. There are a ton of genetic diseases such as Sickle cell anemia, tay sachs, cystic fibrosis that could be wiped out thanks to genetic manipulation during the fertility process.

Fabulous. No parent would ever have to watch their child suffer. But what about the gray area, like genetic defects, or non life-threatening diseases? Are we as a society willing to say these children don’t have value? I’m not.

But as a parent, if I could omit any second of physical pain in my child’s life, I’d do it.  What do you think? Not an easy question, right?


Heated Match

By Lynne Silver

Book Blurb:

A lead byline and a cover story were what journalist Loren Stanton wanted most. Until she meets genetically enhanced soldier, Adam Blacker. Team leader of a top-secret covert ops group, Adam never wanted to search for his genetic match, but whenever he gets close to Loren, things turn hot quickly, making him forget every reason he had for retaining his bachelor status.

After a scorching night together, neither is in any doubt they are connected at the DNA-deep level, although both fear the high stakes of what it means to be together. Loren gives Adam two weeks to prove he is bred for more than war. He must show he is coded for love.

EXCERPT

“Adam!”

Slowly he turned back to face her and her stomach clenched with a thrill of fear and desire. Last night’s civilized dancer in a tuxedo was completely gone. In his place stood a snarling, angry, completely aroused soldier.

She used the balls of her feet to scoot farther against the wall and measured the distance between her current location and the bathroom door. Her calculations proved unnecessary.

With an untranslatable growl, Adam flung himself into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

She waited a minute then tapped on the door. “Um, Adam? Are you okay?”

“The damn door doesn’t lock. Back. Away.”

Alrighty then. With him behind a closed door, the aching in her lower belly subsided a degree. “Adam, will you tell me what’s going on?” She bit her lip and fondled a stiff nipple through her blouse before registering where her hands were. Adam needed to answer her questions, like right now, because she had no idea why she was locked in this small conference room with an angry, sexy man. “Adam, please.”

“You work for a newspaper. Don’t you read it?”

“Well, sure, but that doesn’t explain why we’re locked in here together.”

“Think, Loren. What did the articles say about how the Program gains new members?”

She racked her brain trying to remember. “Um, through birthing a new generation, right? But…”

The door opened a crack and she could see his anguished expression peeking through.

“Use your brain. Do I have to explain the birds and the bees? You’re no virgin, are you?”

“I know how babies are made, Adam,” she said. “But the article said you only breed with women who are your perfect genetic match…oh…” Shep’s words came back in a flash. “They think I’m your genetic match?”

He gave a curt nod and started to close the door again. She shoved her foot in to stop him. “How did they figure that out so quickly?”

“The cheek swab at the entry. I’m such an idiot. I should’ve guessed last night.”

About the Author:

Award-winning author Lynne Silver lives the life of a suburban soccer mom, volunteering with the PTA, doing laundry and working. By night she enters the sensuous world of alpha males and passionate heroines. She lives in an old fixer-upper with her husband and their two sons. When not writing romance, she reads it. Lots of it. Over and over and over again, preferably with a bag of M&Ms in hand.

Website: www.lynnesilver.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LynneSilverAuthor

Twitter: @lynnesilver