Category Archives: Jessica Coulter Smith

New Release: HARD JUSTICE

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Publisher: JCS Books
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 1, 2016

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Dirty cop, Travis Malloy, has kept psychic, Bliss Dougan, under his thumb for a year. But as his jealousy rages out of control, she finally finds the break she’s been waiting for. Escaping into the night after an epic fight that’s left her scared and bruised, she does the only thing she can—she hides. When the ghost of a recently deceased woman appears, imploring her for help, Bliss knows that Malloy’s dirty dealings are much worse than she’d feared, and she’ll stop at nothing to take him down.

Officer Justice Wild has always believed in the oath he took when he donned the badge, and he’s always been a sucker for a woman in need. Bliss tugs at his heart strings, even if he does think she’s completely crazy. When her insane ramblings about ghosts and Officer Malloy start making sense, he wonders if he’s lost his mind, or if he’s ready to believe in the supernatural. Justice might have been prepared to do anything to put Malloy behind bars, but he hadn’t counted on falling for the sassy psychic who won’t leave his side.

EXCERPT

Pain exploded across her cheek and through her eye as her head snapped to the side. Bliss staggered back a step, bracing her hand on the wall. With narrowed eyes, she faced her soon to be ex-boyfriend. She’d taken a lot of crap from him over the past year, but hitting was one thing she wouldn’t tolerate.

“I told you there isn’t anyone else,” she said in a near hiss. “I took myself out for lunch and a shopping trip. I needed to get out of the house.”

“You haven’t fucked me in months. If you aren’t giving it to me, you must be giving it away somewhere else.” Travis’s face contorted with rage, his skin turning an ugly shade of red. She watched a vein tick in his forehead and wondered what it would take to make it explode.

“That’s the problem, Travis. Maybe I want more than a fuck. I want it to mean something, and whatever emotions were once between us are long gone. Ever since you moved to the midnight shift, things have turned to shit between us. I can’t stand that you’re home all day every day. I need space!”

“You mean you need time to whore around.”

Grinding her teeth together, she balled up her fist and took a swing at him. He caught her hand easily enough and jerked her off balance, causing her to teeter a moment before stumbling into his chest. He gripped her hair and wrenched her head back, leaving her throat and shoulders exposed to him.

Bliss fought like a wild cat, refusing to give up or give in. Her nails raked down the side of his face, and he let out a roar before shoving her to the floor. She scrambled backward toward the safety of the next room, but he wrapped his hand around her ankle and pulled her back. Bliss kicked out at him, hitting him in the thigh. She saw the madness lurking in his eyes and knew she had to get away before it was too late. She’d waited too long to escape, and now she’d pay the price. All the signs had been there, but she’d ignored them.

She twisted and pulled herself onto her hands and knees, but he jerked her flat again, her chest against the floor, his heavy body coming down over hers. Bliss felt trapped as the oxygen was pressed from her body, leaving her gasping and praying for a way out. He placed his lips by her ear and a shiver raked her spine at his softly uttered words.

“I treated you like a princess, gave you everything. You want to fuck around like a whore? Is that what you want?” His hand worked its way between her breast and the hard floor, giving the soft mound a painful squeeze. “Want to spread those thighs for another man, sweetheart? I bet my buddies would pay good money to fuck you.”

She screamed in outrage, slamming her head back into his face. She heard a satisfying crunch and hoped like hell she’d broken his nose. For a moment, she thought she might escape, but long fingers wrapped around her neck, digging into her sensitive flesh. Her eyes widened, and she gasped as he cut off her air supply. Not one to go down without a fight, she bucked and struggled, finally managing to turn herself over.

Her hands batted at his face as she fought for breath, the world turning hazy. Reaching blindly for him, she dug her thumbs into his eyes. Travis screamed out and scrambled off her. As she sucked in much-needed air, she staggered to her feet and fled. She heard his booted steps hot on her heels and ducked into the first room with a door—the spare bedroom—and slammed it shut, twisting the lock.

Travis beat on the door. “Come out of there you fucking bitch!”

“No way in hell,” she croaked.

He beat on the door another few minutes before wandering off. Muscles strained and tensed, she listened for any signs that he remained in the house. A glance at the bedside clock told her that he would have to leave for work soon, or call in sick. She hoped like hell he went to work. It would be her only chance to escape.

When midnight rolled around, she heard the front door slam shut and breathed a sigh of relief. The bastard was gone. She waited another half hour, just to make sure he didn’t double back. He’d been known to leave and return unannounced. When Bliss thought it was safe, she unlocked the door and crept out into the hall.

Her heart still pounded in her chest as she checked the house room by room. The first thing she noticed was her missing keys. Asshole had probably taken them, thinking it would keep her home. Keys or no keys, her ass wouldn’t be here when he returned.

“He’s coming back.”

Bliss whirled, her heart leaping into her throat at the unknown voice. “Now?”

The apparition nodded. “He has plans for you. The same plans he had for me.”

“Who are you?”

The woman smiled. “Cherise Carlton. I had a nice life once, like you. Until he and his friends snatched me off the street, drugged me, and sold me.”

“Sold you?”

“I’ll tell you about it while you walk. You have to get out of here now, or it will be too late. If he gets his hands on you, you’ll wish you were dead.” Cherise smiled sadly. “Trust me; this is an improvement.”

“Where?” Bliss rushed onto the front porch, looking down the street both ways. “I don’t have a car. Where am I supposed to go?”

“Anywhere he can’t find you.”

Calling All Readers…

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I’m at the point where I have several active series, and just not enough of me to go around for the remainder of the year. That’s not to say the lower ranking series won’t be finished, they just may be postponed until next year.

For those of you familiar with my books, I’d love to know what you think. Which series is your favorite, which genre you prefer, and if you’re a Sci-fi reader, which type of alien you like best. It’s only three short questions, and your opinion would mean so much to me.

 Take the Survey

Romance in Moonspell

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NOW AVAILABLE at CHANGELING PRESS

Genre(s): Action Adventure & Suspense, Urban Fantasy

Theme(s): Werewolves, Shapeshifters (Other), Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures

Length: 242 pages

Bellamy Crawford aches for the touch of her mate. Wolves and cats might not mix in the animal kingdom, but his heated gaze tells her that this kitty shifter will be more than welcome in the big, bad wolf’s bed.

Reika sucks at being a fairy, but she still tries… one botched spell at a time. Who knew setting your home on fire could have such yummy results? One look at wolf shifter Jax, and she wonders what else she can send up in flames.

Lacey escapes a mental institute and a killer, only to run straight into the arms of hot dragon shifter, Draco Coldstorm. The sexy fireman, known for putting out fires, is definitely setting her ablaze. But with a killer on her trail, does she really have time for love?

Publisher’s Note: Romance in Moonspell (Box Set) contains the previously published novellas A Familiar Sin, Fire Within, and Twisted Fate.

 

EXCERPT

Bringing Bellamy flowers was a little awkward with such a large audience. All of her sisters were present, along with a handful of other raven shifters. If this didn’t go well, he’d be the laughingstock of the community for weeks to come. He only had to hope that she’d felt something the other day, too. He thought he’d caught a flash of something in her eyes as she’d looked at him, but he might’ve been wrong. There was only one way to find out. Man up and approach her.

As he neared the small group huddled around his target, the talking died down to a minimum. The young shifter behind Bellamy narrowed his eyes and set his jaw, clearly wanting to stake his claim. Seaton wondered just how close the two were. Did he have real competition there? Or was the young man just fantasizing? Getting a good look at him, he realized it was Rio, a raven known for his penchant of getting into trouble. He had to be a few years younger than Bellamy, didn’t he? She seemed older, anyway. Not that her age mattered one whit to Seaton.

He paused beside her chair and waited until he had her attention. When she looked up at him, he presented her with the bouquet he’d picked up on his way over. Her smile lit up her face as she accepted the blossoms, inhaling their scent.

“Thank you, Seaton. They’re lovely.”

“You’re welcome. I thought I’d come by and see how you were doing.”

One of the girls pulled away from the group and dragged a chair over for him. He settled himself and placed his elbows on his knees, studying Bellamy. With the sun kissing her tanned skin, she looked like a goddess. The scent of suntan lotion drifted to him on a breeze, mingled with what he knew was Bellamy’s own unique scent. It was an intriguing mixture.

“I’m doing well, thank you.” She smiled. “I never got a chance to properly thank you and the other trackers.”

“No thanks were needed. We were tasked with a job and we did it. I’m just glad we found you before something bad happened to you.” He paused. “We did find you before then, right?”

“Yes. He merely yelled and threatened before you showed up. I have no doubt he would’ve harmed me if you hadn’t arrived when you did, though. I really do owe you and your friends my life. Is there anything I can do to repay you?”

This wasn’t exactly how he’d planned to ask, but he’d take what he could get.

“There is one thing.”

“Name it.”

“Go to dinner with me, tomorrow night.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Dinner? As in a date?”

Seaton nodded. “Yes, I’d very much like to take you out on a date.”

A delighted smile curved her lips. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more. What time should I be ready?”

“Say, seven?”

“Seven sounds perfect.”

He rose. “I’ll let you get back to your pool party. I didn’t mean to intrude. If I’d have thought about it, I’d have called ahead to make sure it was okay to stop by. In the future, I won’t drop by unannounced.”

“We have an open door policy here,” Bellamy told him. “Stop by any time you want. I seldom go out so you can find me by the pool or reading in the sunroom most days.”

“Well, we’ll just have to do something about that. Can’t have you cooped up in the house all day every day.”

One of the girls snorted. “If you can get Bells out of the house, more power to you. We invite her to the movies or out for ice cream all the time, but she almost always turns us down.”

“She even turned down my invitation to the bookstore the other day, and everyone knows how much she loves to read,” another said.

“Well, I do believe I’ve just been challenged. I’ll have to come up with something that lures you out of the house,” he told Bellamy.

“If anyone can do it, I’m sure it will be you.” Her cheeks flushed. “I look forward to seeing you at dinner tomorrow.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers. “Until then.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “Marry me!” pop out of his mouth – and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

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Intergalactic Loyalties series

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Book 1 – Entwined

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Bane has wanted Ariana since the first moment he met her, except she belongs to his brother Arko. When a tragedy happens, Bane steps forward to claim Ariana as his own, but Keshpan law states a slave can never be a bonded mate. That isn’t going to stop Bane from loving her every day for the rest of his life, though.

When Ariana is kidnapped by space pirates, Bane is determined to rescue her, no matter the cost. But things are getting bad back home on Keshpa, a political storm is brewing that just may rip Ariana from his arms the moment he returns with her. Bane will stop at nothing to have her by his side, even if it means turning his back on his people and his culture. He’ll walk away from it all to have the woman he loves by his side.

 

Book 2 – Cherished

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After an accident, Lucie has spent the past two years nearly blind and dependent on her owner, Cael. But things are changing for Lucie and the other slaves. As part of an agreement for a chance at a new life, Cael has given up his rights to Lucie and now she finds herself faced with a ship full of Tarnan males who want only one thing – a mate.

Prince Drexyl of Tourmalane is intent on collecting the bounty on the four Keshpan males on board the Lynten 12. What he doesn’t expect is to come face to face with his destined mate – a woman he’d thought didn’t exist. Having come from a world where women are extinct, Drexyl is completely enthralled with the tiny human female, and willing to do anything to keep her by his side. Even take on an entire ship of Tarnans by himself.

 

Book 3 – Surrender

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Kidnapped by pirates, all Meghan wants is to return to Earth and her brother, the only family she has left. Unbeknownst to Meghan, her kidnapping was not a matter of chance. The pirates were sent after her. But before they can sell her, or worse, she is rescued by more pirates and taken to the alien world of Tarnan, where she is told she must choose a warrior mate. Determined to return home at any cost, Meghan refuses every advance made to her.

Zayne, an inventor of weapons, isn’t sure what to make of the Earth female. She isn’t anything like the ones that have been brought to their world before. She’s prickly and rude, and sometimes downright hostile. When he beseeches the Prime to allow her to return home, he, instead, ends up with her in his home, as his assistant.

As time passes, the two grow closer. When Meghan receives devastating news, it’s Zayne who is there for her, comforting her. She begins to see the alien-hybrid in a new light and allows herself to open her heart to the possibility of a mate.

But the road to their union is a bumpy one, and both are left wondering if they will ever be allowed to be together as more than friends.

Entwined (Intergalactic Loyalties #1)

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The 2nd edition of Entwined is releasing at Changeling Press on 2/12 and at other retailers on 2/19! You can pre-order your copy at Amazon and All Romance eBooks.

Bane has wanted Ariana since the first moment he met her, except she belongs to his brother Arko. When a tragedy happens, Bane steps forward to claim Ariana as his own, but Keshpan law states a slave can never be a bonded mate. That isn’t going to stop Bane from loving her every day for the rest of his life, though.

When Ariana is kidnapped by space pirates, Bane is determined to rescue her, no matter the cost. But things are getting bad back home on Keshpa, a political storm is brewing that just may rip Ariana from his arms the moment he returns with her. Bane will stop at nothing to have her by his side, even if it means turning his back on his people and his culture. He’ll walk away from it all to have the woman he loves by his side.

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EXCERPT

A noise startled her awake. A quick look around showed that the suns were setting. Another crash downstairs had her jolting upright. Was that Bane?

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood slowly, making sure they would hold her weight. Surprisingly, she felt almost a hundred percent better. Whatever the doctor had given her to wake her at the hospital, combined with the food she’d had and the nap she’d taken, had done wonders for her.

She heard a chittering sound and frowned. Bane didn’t have pets that she knew of. Deciding to be brave and investigate, she made her way downstairs only to stop in open-mouthed shock at the sight before her when she’d reached the bottom step. She had no clue what the furry critters were that were bounding around the lower level, but they were blue with swirling pink eyes, pointed ears and bushy tails. They kind of reminded her of the squirrels on her home planet, if squirrels were the size of small dogs. At the moment, the beasts were intent on wreaking havoc on the few knick-knacks Bane had scattered around his home. She cringed as something else crashed to the ground, shattering on impact.

Ariana stepped further into the room. “Stop it!”

The chittering stopped. A dozen beady eyes focused on her. Was it her imagination or did the one by the window just lick its lips? What exactly did an alien squirrel eat? She hoped to God it wasn’t people.

They began to converge on her, creeping along, their eyes intent on their prey. Should she throw a stick? Did they play fetch? Looking around for an escape, she saw that they had maneuvered behind her and blocked the stairs. The path to the front door was clear, but she didn’t have the alarm codes. As the creatures inched closer, those eerie eyes glued to her, she realized she had little choice but to make a dash for the yard and hope they scattered when they hit the outside.

Sprinting for the door, she burst through it, alarms blaring. She’d just cleared the walkway, with a dozen blue furballs of fury on her heels, when Bane zoomed into the driveway. He looked startled at first and then amused. She didn’t see the humor in the situation. A bunch of overgrown neon rodents were about to devour her. Where was the humor?

She ran for him and launched herself into his arms.

“I take it the zirrels got into the house again,” he said, a trace of laughter in his voice.

“Zirrels? Is that was those things are called?”

He nodded. “We actually engineered them from the squirrels on your planet about fifty years ago. One of our warriors saw them, thought they were cute and brought some back with him. Something went horribly wrong with the cloning process though, and that’s what we ended up with. They’re mischievous, but they won’t harm you.”

“I’m not convinced. They chased me from the house! Did you see the looks in their eyes? They wanted to eat me!”

Violet and Her Alien Matchmaker

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Single-mom and unemployed, not the best combination. Violet has done everything she can to provide for her son, but sometimes you just have to admit you can’t do it all. Dating humans hasn’t worked out so well for her, so why not look for some out of this world kind of love?

There’s just one problem. The official at the Interstellar Love Dating Agency takes one look at her son Simon and nearly has an epileptic fit. Who knew such a sweet and charming little boy could cause such a reaction?

When Tiraz, an alien of the Liptu race, overhears Violet’s pitiful tale, he can’t help but lend a hand. Tiraz might not want a female of his own – just yet – but he knows plenty of males who do. What harm could come of playing matchmaker for this down on their luck family?

Famous last words. The more time Tiraz spends with Violet, the more he starts to feel something. He has no idea what the strange sensation is, but every time Violet is near, he has the urge to hold her, to press his lips to her smooth rosy cheek, and whisper words of comfort in her ear.

What’s a confirmed bachelor alien to do when he realizes what he wants most is the little family living under his roof?

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EXCERPT

“I have a better idea,” Tiraz said. “I was going to have some boxes delivered here tomorrow so your mom could pack while you’re in school, but what if the two of you pack a bag and stay with me tonight? I can still bring your mom here tomorrow to pack.”

Simon’s eyes lit up. “And we can get something to eat on the way to your place?”

“I’ll go through whatever drive-thru you want.” Tiraz glanced at Violet to see what she thought of his idea. There were tears gathered in her eyes and he watched as she pulled herself together.

“Go pick out an outfit for school tomorrow and some pajamas. You’ll still need a bath tonight,” Violet said. “I’ll get the bag out of the closet.”

Simon whooped and hurried off, leaving Violet behind. When she looked at Tiraz, he had to lock his knees in place. The gratitude, longing, and pain he saw in her eyes was enough to make him come undone. He’d never felt anything for a woman before, but he felt a piece of the wall surrounding his heart crumble a little. Reaching for her, he pulled Violet into his arms and held her for as long as she allowed. When she pulled away, she went up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his jaw before hurrying away.

Tiraz reached up and touched the spot, feeling the tingle all the way to his toes. No one had ever given him such a chaste kiss before, and yet it packed more of a punch than any of the kisses his easy conquests had given him. Her kiss touched him and made him want…something. There was a shift inside of him, something he couldn’t name, as he stood staring dumbly at the door she’d just vanished through.

A few minutes later, she returned carrying an open bag, and moved toward the dresser holding the TV. He averted his gaze as she pulled out a bra and panties, wanting to give her some privacy. When he heard the drawer close, he saw that she had zipped the bag and was clutching it in her hand once more. Tiraz wasn’t about to make her carry the bag to the car and took it from her; a look of surprise flitting across her features.

Hazel and the Alien Biker

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About the Book

Kicked off his home world after losing his mate, Reyvor has made a place for himself on Earth, spending his afternoons drinking and his nights cruising the streets on his Harley. But all of that is about to change. A commotion outside of his motel room just may turn out to be his saving grace.

Hazel has lost everything, but she’d do it all again if it meant escaping the abusive boyfriend who liked to beat on her three girls and herself. Dumpster diving has never been her favorite thing to do, but she doesn’t have a penny to her name and her girls are starving. But when she’s caught, something miraculous happens.

Reyvor knows right away that the petite woman with the large blue eyes needs him. When he hears that this little ragtag family hasn’t eaten in days, he convinces Hazel to accept a warm meal and a place to stay for the night. The girls warm his heart and remind him of what he once wanted out of life. Is it too late to start over?

Hazel is hesitant to trust anyone again with her heart, but Reyvor is determined to make her his. What’s an alien to do when all he wants is a loving family to call his own? He’ll break down her defenses one by one, until she melts against him and begs for his kiss. But can he claim the feisty Hazel without completely losing his heart to her?

 

EXCERPT

The bike purred to life and he pulled away from the curb. It wasn’t too terribly late, but he knew the upscale stores would be closed. After driving through town, he found one of those large stores that seemed to carry a little bit of everything and decided it would suit his purpose. Human clothes were a mystery to him, but a gaggle of giggling teen girls had been only too happy to help him out. They’d flirted outrageously, even though he was obviously too old for them. He’d been kind and considerate, but had made sure their flirting didn’t go any further.

After he paid for his purchases, he shoved them into his saddlebags and went back to the hotel room he was renting by the week. It was really more of a suite with a separate bedroom and living area, more than enough room for him. Reyvor pulled to a stop in front of his door, turned off the bike, and retrieved his bags of clothes. Inside the room, he put everything away and pulled out the pajama pants the girls had talked him into. They felt soft and he thought they would be ideal for lounging around the room, but he’d always slept naked and didn’t intend to stop now.

He changed, braided his hair, and was about to sit down and turn on the TV when he heard a commotion outside. The panic of a female voice sent him into motion and he opened the door to see what was going on. A very small woman was struggling to break free of the hotel manager. He noticed three small, very scared children, hovering nearby.

“What’s the problem?” he asked as he stepped outside.

“I caught this piece of trash digging through the dumpsters and peeking in the windows. She’s here to steal stuff and I’m calling the cops.”

Her clothes were worn and torn in places, her hair matted and dirty. The children huddling behind her were just as worn and unclean. It didn’t take but a moment for him to surmise that they had nowhere to go and were living on the streets. He’d seen several people begging for money on street corners, but the stubborn tilt of the woman’s chin told him she’d never begged for anything in her life.

“Did you stop to think maybe they were merely hungry and looking for food?” Reyvor asked. “Perhaps if you offered them a hot meal they wouldn’t need to dig through the dumpster.”

“I’m not running a charity here. If they want to eat, they’ll pay for it just like everyone else. It’s bad for business having people like this hanging around.”

Reyvor frowned as he saw the shame flash in the woman’s eyes and the flush of embarrassment on the cheeks of her children. He didn’t know what had happened to her, why she had fallen so far, but in that moment he determined that he would help her in any way that he could. Despite the grime, he could tell she was an attractive woman, and he couldn’t understand why she didn’t have a male watching over her.

“Let her go,” Reyvor said. “I’ll take responsibility for her.”

The manager eyed him and finally released the woman, shoving her toward Reyvor. She fell against him and his arms immediately went around her. She was slight and he worried that it had been too long since she’d last eaten. The manager stormed off in the other direction and Reyvor addressed the tattered creature in his arms.

“My name is Reyvor and I’d like to help you, if you’ll let me.”

She looked like she might refuse for a moment, but one of the children tugged on her ratty shirt and he saw the stubbornness melt away. Her gaze was adoring as she looked at her children. She smoothed the hair of the one nearest and then turned her gaze up at Reyvor.

“I’ll accept your help, but only because my children are hungry. We haven’t eaten in two days.”

“Come inside and I’ll pick up some food for you. The children can rest and watch TV while you wait.”

She hesitated a moment, but nodded her consent then followed him into his suite. The children settled on the sofa and looked around the room with wide eyes. He handed the eldest child the remote and watched as she found something for them to watch. The mother had yet to take her eyes off him and he wondered what she was thinking.

“I need to step into the other room to change,” he said. “It won’t take long to retrieve food for you. Is there anything in particular you’d like? Or any allergies I need to know about?”

She shook her head. “Anything will be fine. I appreciate your kindness.”

He looked at the children on the sofa once more and realized they were all three girls. Reyvor couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be to live on the streets with three children, but especially three female children. He would think they wouldn’t be as tough as a boy.

He crouched in front of them. “What are your names?”

The eldest looked to her mother before responding. “I’m Nikki, and my sisters are Winnie and Abby.”

“I’m Reyvor. It’s very nice to meet the three of you. And does your pretty mother have a name?”

The mother in question blushed. “I’m Hazel.”

“Make yourselves at home.”

Reyvor ducked into the bedroom and quickly changed into one of his new pairs of jeans and a tee. After he’d put on his boots, he gathered his keys and wallet, and stepped back into the living room. Four heads turned in his direction and for a moment he wasn’t sure if he should say something. With a smile, he let himself out and got on his bike, revving the engine before taking off out of the parking lot.

What the hell did kids on Earth eat?

The Story Behind the Story

Reyvor’s story stumped me at first. He’d lost his mate and blamed himself, but I wasn’t sure how to convince him life was still worth living. The only thing I think to do was give him a woman he could save. While I’ve never lived on the streets or had to dumpster dive for meals, I did lose my home not too long ago, and had someone not taken pity on us, we wouldn’t have had a place to live. It was scary, terrifying, and I felt like a failure. So I put myself in Hazel’s shoes and asked what I would have done if someone hadn’t come through at the last minute (literally two days before we had to be out of our other home). Reyvor’s story was a labor of love and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

About the Author

Jessica lives in a world where warlocks, shapeshifters and fairies exist, and everyone deserves a happy ending — from tragic vampires finally finding love after centuries of being alone, to super hunky womanizing werewolves finding their destined mate –- it’s all in a day’s work.

Unable to find a werewolf of her very own, she decided to marry someone who thinks he’s one -– minus howling at the full moon, fleas, and a rousing game of chase-the-mailman. Okay, so he sometimes howls at the full moon.

When she isn’t writing, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, reading (mostly romance), or going to the beach (which she seldom gets to do). She’s especially fond of bookstores and Starbucks!

 

Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador

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Now available at Changeling Press

Born into a world of silence, Charlotte has always been made to feel inferior to her sister in every way. When her father demands she take Charity’s place in a bride exchange on another world, Charlotte decides to embrace her future and hope for the best. She knows it’s her last chance to find happiness, and she’ll do anything to grab it with both hands.

Borgoz agreed to see the young girl married, but the ethereal woman who steps off the shuttle holds him spellbound. She’s everything he’s ever wanted, and the one thing he can never have. His job as Chief Councilor of his world is too demanding to give him time for a family of his own… but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her.

A moment of passion flares bright between them, and unbeknownst to Borgoz, has lasting consequences. When Charlotte returns to her world, he’s devastated and realizes he’s lost the one thing he wants most. Will he buck the rules of his planet and go after Charlotte? Or will he live with the heartache he feels as the memory of her touch haunts him?

 Purchase from Changeling Press

EXCERPT

“Are you Charlotte Mayweather?” the male asked.

She nodded. “Why can I understand you and not anyone else?”

“I, along with quite a few other males on this planet, have learned your Earth English. However, to make sure you can understand everyone around you, I’m going to implant you with a translator. I’ll also implant you with a sensor that will allow you to make purchases on our world. When you select a mate, he will pay for whatever you buy between now and then. Once your mating is approved, you’ll be added to his accounts everywhere in Terran Prime.”

“Thank you for explaining how everything works. I’ve been a little lost.”

He frowned. “May I ask a personal question?”

She nodded.

“Your voice is different from anyone else I’ve encountered from Earth. Are you from a special region?”

“I’m deaf.” She pointed to her hearing aids. “These allow me to hear a little, but it’s like listening to someone talk under water. I don’t always catch everything. And, while it allows me to hear a little, I can’t always tell how loud I’m speaking.”

“Understood. Perhaps, after you’ve found a mate, they will permit me to run some tests and see if we can restore your hearing.”

“I was born deaf. My mother had preeclampsia when she was pregnant with me, and I was born early. Some of the bones inside my ear didn’t form correctly. A doctor tried to explain it to me once, but I didn’t understand the terms he used.”

The doctor nodded. “Well, we’ll take care of those implants today and if you decide you wish me to run tests later, then that’s what we’ll do.”

She meekly followed the doctor into a back room and stretched out on the table at his direction. He explained the procedure to her before giving her some gas to put her to sleep. When next she woke, her wrist and the back of her ear hurt a little, but otherwise she couldn’t tell she’d had anything done.

Charlotte found the other male pacing in the lobby.

“Can you understand me now?” he asked.

She nodded.

“I have a translator, so I understood everything you told the doctor. You’re not Charity Mayweather, are you?”

“Charity is my younger sister.”

The Terran’s face flushed with anger. “Your father lied to me. He said he was sending Charity here to find a husband, not her deaf older sister.”

She felt shame burn through her as she realized she was about to be cast aside again. Charlotte knew she should be accustomed to it by now but it still hurt, knowing she wasn’t good enough for yet one more man.

“If you send me back to Earth, I’ll be homeless,” she said. “My father said if I didn’t come here and find a husband, I would be thrown out of the house and all my accounts would be closed.”

The Terran muttered something, raked a hand through his waist-length hair, and then faced her with his hands on his hips. “I’m Chief Councilor Borgoz and you’ll be staying in my home. You may not be the sister I was expecting, but I’m not about to leave you stranded here. Especially with your condition.”

“I’m deaf, not stupid.”

The harshness of his face relaxed into an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were stupid, but there are many dangers on a new world for anyone, much less someone who can’t hear. I didn’t mean to make you feel unwanted or as if you were a burden.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time in my life I’ve felt that way.”

His gaze narrowed. “Your father made you feel unwanted?”

“And my sister. Be thankful she didn’t come in my place. She’s a spoiled, selfish brat who always has to get her way or she screams and throws things.” It felt good to be honest about her sister without fear of being punished. Everyone always treated Charity as if she was a princess, and Charlotte was tired of it.

“Right. Well, let’s get you settled. I’m sure you’ll want more things than what you brought with you. Once you’ve had a chance to put your belongings away, I’ll take you shopping for anything you had to leave behind.”

“I don’t need much. As long as you have something to wash with, I’ll be fine. I have enough clothes to last a week before I’ll have to do laundry.”

“An Earth week is seven days, correct?”

She nodded.

“A Terran week is eleven days. You’ll need more clothes. Things are different here on Terran. We don’t have machines in our homes to launder our clothes, and the shop in town that handles it is usually busy. You’ll want as many outfits as possible.”

He crooked his elbow and she curled her hand around it, watching as he hefted her bag as easily if it contained no more than feathers.

Charlotte tried to take in the scenery as they walked through Terran Prime. Borgoz explained that, while he had a vehicle to maneuver through the city, he thought she might like the walk to stretch her legs after such a long shuttle ride.

When they reached his home, her jaw dropped as she stared at the massive structure. She’d lived in a mansion all her life, but Borgoz’s home surpassed that of her father’s by a fourth floor and probably another twenty feet in width. She tried not to stumble over her feet as he led her up the stairs and into his home. Charlotte looked everywhere, not wanting to miss a thing.

Borgoz handed her bag to another male, and they followed him up the stairs to her room. It was twice the size of her bedroom at home with doors that opened onto a balcony overlooking a garden. It was gorgeous, and for the first time in her life she felt lucky. She was glad her father had sent her here, and had hope that her future would be bright and wonderful.

She turned from the fantastic view to find Borgoz studying her. Charlotte couldn’t guess his age. There were no wrinkles on his face, but the silver in his hair told her he was probably forty at the least. But then, she didn’t know how Terrans aged. For all she knew, he was pushing seventy like the vile old man her father had tried to force her to marry.

Borgoz was a handsome man. His purple eyes were dark like a pansy and quite beautiful. Those eyes were taking her in, and she wondered if he found her lacking like everyone else in her life. If she’d known she was coming to a palace, she may have dressed a little nicer for her trip. She tugged on the hem of her tank and wondered if she should change clothes before going shopping with him. He was being kind enough to give her a place to stay, the least she could do was not embarrass him in front of his people.

“I’ll come back in thirty of your Earth minutes to see if you’ve finished unpacking. If you’re hungry, we can stop for a bite to eat while we’re out and then go shopping. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need. If you can’t find me, Helio will help you,” he said, indicating the other male.

“Thank you.”

Borgoz gave her a regal nod and then he exited with his servant.

Left alone, she quickly unpacked and changed into a pretty sundress so she would be appropriately attired for an outing with someone so important, then she spent the rest of her time admiring the view. Charlotte hoped she’d get a chance to walk through that garden and admire the petals of the vibrant flowers close up. This world was amazing and full of new and wonderful things. She couldn’t wait to explore as much of it as she was allowed.

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What it is like to be married to a romance writer ?

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What it is like to be married to a romance writer ?.

 

I could not have said it better myself! I’ve often been asked if I’ve tried everything I write about it. People seem to think that the fiction stories I write are based off reality, but they aren’t. Well, most of the time they aren’t. But heck if I’m going to tell you which scenes are real and which ones aren’t 🙂

Resisting the Alpha (Love Spell #3)

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Bridget Donohue is beyond furious with the meddling alpha of the local wolf pack. He not only crashed her wedding, but scared the groom away. And for what? It isn’t like he’s ready to man up and claim her. 

Disgruntled by his attraction, Micah Smythe feels the pull but isn’t willing to bite. Bridget is irrational, mouthy, and temperamental. So why does his body respond every time she’s near? He’s declared her off limits, but the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to keep his hands to himself. 

Passion ignites between them, but Bridget refuses to give in to the wolf’s game of seduction. She’s determined to resist the alpha at all costs. 

EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING      AMAZON      ARe

 

EXCERPT

“How could you…!” Bridget screamed into the wind as the storm raged around her, knowing damn well with his sensitive wolf hearing, she could have whispered. “You sent my fiancé running scared! We were about to say our vows, you asshole!”

Bridget stood outside the church, her white dress feeling like it weighed fifty pounds as the rain pelted down, soaking her. A gust of wind wrenched off her veil and sent it into the nearby gutter, dirty water destroying it on contact.

“You aren’t marrying him,” Micah said, a growl to his voice.

“Why?” she asked, the anger draining away as her shoulders sagged. “Why would you ruin my life this way? I was happy, damn it!”

“You don’t belong with him.”

“I don’t belong with you,” she yelled. “Go back to your pack. You aren’t welcome in my life!”

Bridget struck hard, making contact with his cheek. Holding her hand to her chest, she turned on her heels and stormed back into the church, the heavy doors slamming shut behind her. Five of the groomsmen formed a line, blocking Micah from following her. His hands clenched at his sides as he bared his teeth at them.

“Move!” he demanded.

The eldest of the groomsmen, a bear-shifter of some sort, shook his head. “You heard her. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Micah’s ears pricked as he listened for sounds inside the church. Over the crowd of wedding attendees, he heard Bridget crying. He hadn’t meant to upset her, but there was no way he could allow her to marry some random guy. She hadn’t even been with the loser more than a month. Who the hell married someone they’d only been dating a month? He would have stopped her sooner, but he’d only heard about the wedding that morning.

“This isn’t over,” he told them. “You know I was right to stop the wedding. She doesn’t belong with that puny paper-pusher. She just thinks she wants a man she can control.”