Preorder: Mad, Bad Bear by Kenna McKay & Jessica Coulter Smith #shifters #paranormalromance @AuthorKMcKay @kitcatjms

Cover Art by Angela Knight

Jessalyn Delaney has only known pain at the hands of her shifter ex-husband, a coyote who thrived on making her scream. When a brash Highland bear shifter insists she’s his destined mate, she knows better than to go down that path again. Except Tavish isn’t anything like her ex, and she can’t ignore how much she yearns for his touch.

Tavish MacBride is determined to claim his mate and her cubs, even if she’s human. The fact that her ex is causing problems is easily enough handled. As a bear, Tavish isn’t afraid of shedding a little blood. When the coyote harms his mate, Tavish knows he’ll have no choice but to take the shifter out. But first, he has a mate to claim… and what a claiming it will be!

Author’s Note: Mad, Bad Bear has a few violent scenes, bad language, and an alpha bear shifter who knows how to make his mate beg for more. There’s a guaranteed Happily Ever After, and no cliffhanger.

Available January 8th at Changeling Press or January 15th at online booksellers

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2021 Kenna McKay & Jessica Coulter Smith

Jess didn’t know why she’d thought she could escape. Eighteen years of marriage, of torment and fear, and she’d thought she was finally free. But could he let her go? No. It wasn’t enough that he’d dragged things out and not signed the divorce papers for months, but now he’d followed her to Scotland. It had sounded so simple. Take a trip with her girlfriends to get away for a while, leave the kids at home with the grandparents, but it was fast turning into a nightmare.

Nicholas didn’t seem to have any interest in the kids, even though they’d seen their fair share of his special kind of attention over the years. She didn’t understand why he wanted her back. Love had been missing from their marriage for a long time, if it had ever truly existed. All he did was belittle her, and that was on a good day. The other days he let his fists do the talking.

She felt the Scotsman approach, had noticed him the previous night, but the last thing she needed was a hookup. Men were the bane of her existence and she was much better off without one, right? Maybe if she found a nice man someday, one who would treat her kids like they were his own, then maybe she could see herself giving love another try. Too bad there wasn’t some magical way to know you were destined to be with someone.

“Lass.”

She refused to look up at him. If she ignored him, would he go back to the bar?

Gently, he pinched her chin between his large fingers and turned her to face him. She saw the concern and anger in his eyes when he noticed the bruise on her cheek. It wasn’t like she could hide it.

“What happened, lass? Who did this to you?” he asked.

“We don’t need your help,” her friend Monica said, a hand on her hip. “Just go back to your buddies at the bar. If you’re looking for a quick lay, you won’t find it here.”

The Scotsman held her steady gaze, his hand still gently holding her chin. “I’ll nae hurt her. I want to help.”

“You can’t help me,” Jess said. “No one can.”

“Now, lass. That cannae be true. I swear it, if you tell me who did this to you, I’ll see you avenged.”

Her eyes widened a little. “Avenged? What exactly does that mean?”

She had visions of a sword-swinging barbarian going after Nicholas, which almost made her smile. She’d love to see the look on his face if this huge Highlander went after him with a claymore. Her lips twitched.

“Ah, that was almost a smile there, lass.” His lips tipped up on the corners and her breath stilled. She couldn’t remember ever seeing a more handsome man before. What he was doing at her table she didn’t understand. “Tell me his name, lass. I ken just aboot everyone in this town. You tell me who’s responsible and I’ll see that justice is done.”

Monica snorted. “Yeah, because she wants a club-wielding caveman to beat up her ex. On second thought, that isn’t such a bad idea.”

“Ex?” the Scotsman asked.

“Her asshole of an ex-husband followed her to Scotland. It’s his handiwork you see on her face. I guess we should just be grateful he didn’t do worse.” She muttered something he didn’t quite catch. “I never thought he’d leave the US just to get his hands on her.”

Jess saw his eyes flare, then change from a mossy green to a golden brown, then back again. She thought it was just her imagination playing tricks on her until it happened again. Through the hand gripping her chin, she felt a tremor rake his body, as if he were trying to contain something within himself. Could he be like her ex? Were there others out there like him? The man was huge, and if he also had a shifter’s strength, she wouldn’t stand a chance. Yet, he’d seemed enraged by what Nicholas had done to her. Was it possible it wasn’t her ex’s shifter side that had made him so violent?

The Scot looked at Monica. “Do you have a picture of this ex? Do you ken where he’s stayin’?”

Monica snatched Jess’s phone off the table and began scrolling through the photo gallery. When she found what she was looking for, she flipped the phone around and showed the Scot the last family picture with Nicholas. Jess had meant to delete it, but the kids looked so happy in the photo she hadn’t been able to part with it.

The Scot looked from the picture to Jess. “Are those your kids?”

She nodded. “Piper is sixteen and Donovan is thirteen. You’d think it was the other way around, as tall as he is.”

“Your ex disnae look verra tall.”

Jess smiled. “He isn’t. The men on my side of the family are all over six feet tall. Donovan took after them.”

“I don’t know where the asshole is staying,” Monica said. “We’re at the Sheep’s Heid Inn and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’d found a room at the same place. The better to keep an eye on Jess and ensure she doesn’t have any fun.”

The Scot waved toward the phone. “May I borrow that for a moment?”

Monica arched a brow, but handed the phone over. The Scot rose to his feet and returned to the three men he’d been sitting with. Jess watched as they talked amongst themselves and didn’t miss the dark looks cast her way. When he returned, the men followed him.

The Scot handed the phone back to Monica and knelt in front of Jess again, taking her hand in his. The way his fingers wrapped around her smaller hand, the callused feel of them against her softer skin, sent shivers down her spine. There was heat in his touch, something she’d only ever read about. She watched his eyes do that weird thing again where they changed colors, and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him about it.

Would you like to win a swag pack, book-themed charm bracelet, and a metal bookmark? Check out the release giveaway for Mad, Bad Bear at Rafflecopter.

*Giveaway is open Worldwide. Two winners will be announced after January 25th at Rafflecopter. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 or older to enter.

Kilted Wolves by Jessica Coulter Smith & Kenna McKay #shifters #paranormalromance

Kilted Wolves
Jessica Coulter Smith & Kenna McKay

Published by Changeling Press

A werewolf can only deny his destined mate for so long before the beast takes over.

Ranald’s Mate: Ranald has resigned himself to an arranged mating with a lass he can barely tolerate. He never counted on her turning into a feisty beauty! But if there’s one thing Ranald knows how to do, it’s woo a lass. His mate doesn’t stand a chance.

Highland Shifter’s Baby: One sniff and Camdan knows Lily’s his destined mate. Too bad she’s off-limits — or is she? When the temptation becomes too great, Cam knows that he’ll do whatever it takes to claim Lily and make her his.

Get it November 20th at Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/38JUg8I

Or preorder at online booksellers for November 27th

https://books2read.com/KiltedWolves

Excerpt

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2020 Jessica Coulter Smith & Kenna McKay
Excerpt from Ranald’s Mate

Blair tapped her fingers on her leg, trying not to think about what awaited her. She remembered the boy she’d met all those years ago. He hadn’t been thrilled at the idea of mating with her, and she couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t been anyone’s ideal. Blair liked to think she’d improved over time, but men still gave her a wide berth. Her father had wanted her to go to her mating a virgin, but she’d taken care of that little pesky problem when she’d turned nineteen and realized she didn’t want her mate thinking she was unprepared for him.

Oh, she’d heard the talk over the years. Her mate had been kicking up his heels and having a grand time, diving under one skirt after another. Good thing shifters couldn’t carry diseases or she’d worry she might catch something from him. She supposed she couldn’t hold it against him. He’d been so young when they were contracted, older than her, but still young. It must have chafed to have his life mapped out for him. As for her, it wasn’t uncommon for a father to arrange a marriage for a daughter, but not in the pack. A bit outdated, perhaps, but she understood he meant well.

What kind of wolf had Ranald turned into? Despite his obvious distaste over mating with her, he’d seemed kind when she’d met him. Her father had encouraged her to seek him out over the years, but she’d always held back. Truthfully, she’d been enamored of him at that first meeting. He’d been so tall, his shoulders already broad. The way his hair had fallen over his forehead had made her fingers itch to push it back to see if it felt silky. She’d had a crush, instant lust, and it hadn’t dissipated over the years.

She’d had lovers, but only a few. Blair considered it research, not wanting to go to her mate’s bed a complete innocent. Unbeknownst to her father, she’d downloaded videos to learn how to please a man, and she couldn’t wait to put the knowledge to good use. Whatever her mate wanted in the bedroom, he would get. She’d learned long ago, a satisfied mate was a mate who didn’t stray. If they were true mates, she’d never have to worry about it. Destined mates would rather cut off their paw than cheat on their mate. But with an arranged mating? Anything was possible.

“You’re quiet,” her father said.

“Just thinking. Do you think Ranald has changed much over the years?”

“I have no’ seen him, but I’ve heard the whispers. He’s something of a ladies man, but I wouldnae fret. I’m sure he’ll be faithful to you.” Her father muttered something under his breath and she smiled when she made out the words or I’ll neuter him. He may be old and dying, but her father was still every inch the alpha male. He took his duties seriously, which was why he would be stepping down after she was mated today. He hadn’t trusted anyone to honor the contract between Ranald and her, but once the deed was done, he would be free.

It was sad that she wouldn’t be part of her pack any longer. She was not just gaining a mate, but a father-in-law and new pack mates. Would they accept her? She didn’t doubt that there would be challenges. With a male of Ranald’s standing, she would be highly surprised if the females in the pack just sat back and let him mate someone without a challenge. But what no one knew was that Blair had been training for this day. It’s why she’d taken so long to mate with Ranald. Every morning she’d risen and gone into the woods where she met up with Fyor, an ancient elf. He’d sworn her to secrecy, as elves and wolves didn’t get along. She’d kept his presence a secret in exchange for battle training. If she could take down a two-centuries-old elf, then she had faith she could take down a bitchy she-wolf.

They pulled to a stop in front of the alpha’s house. Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she wondered if Ranald was inside. She hadn’t seen him in ten long years. Had those years been kind to him? He’d been handsome as a teen, had that carried over into adulthood? Blair had to admit she was both excited and nervous to see her mate again. She was a far cry from the mousy girl he’d once seen. Would he like the woman she’d become? Or would she still fall short in the eyes of the mighty Ranald Douglas?

Her hair wasn’t quite as frizzy as it once was, now hanging in sleek curls to her waist, thanks to a hair mask she used religiously. Her freckles had faded over the years and could be hidden entirely with a light layer of make-up, when she deigned to wear any. She was still tiny, not quite five feet tall, and her figure was… well, her hourglass had a little extra, but she hadn’t had complaints from the few boys she’d dated, behind her father’s back of course. She supposed she was pleased with her appearance.

Today being a special day, she’d chosen to wear a pretty sundress with low-heeled sandals. She’d even gotten a manicure and pedicure for her big day. She’d wanted everything to be perfect, but what happened next would rely solely on Ranald. He must have agreed to mating, or she wouldn’t be here, right? Surely, he wouldn’t wait until she showed up on his doorstep to deny her? She’d had all week to pack and think about her future, a future with Ranald. But she had to admit, that several times she’d pictured this day and what would happen if he denied her. It wasn’t a pleasant thought.

“Ready?” her father asked.

“As I’ll ever be.”

Her father patted her leg before opening his door and climbing out of the car. With a deep sigh, Blair got out and followed him up to the front door of the large house. She’d thought the alpha lived in a castle, like her father did, but this home was much smaller than the one she’d grown up in. It was nice and she could easily see herself living here. Was this Ranald’s home too? Or did he have his own place?

Alpha Douglas opened the door and ushered them inside with a warm smile. The sound of the door shutting seemed so final to Blair. She followed her father and the alpha into the living room. There was a bar along one wall and a massive figure stood in front of it, his back to the room. His kilt was of the Douglas clan, and his hair was a touch darker than Ranald’s. His shoulders were so broad she wondered how they fit inside his shirt. Beneath his kilt, his calves were thick and muscular with silky looking hair sprinkled across them.

Heat spread from her middle out through her limbs; a blush rose to her cheeks. She hadn’t even seen his face yet and already her body responded to him. Blair inhaled deeply and the scent that surrounded her was a deep, forest musk that soothed her inner beast and made her want to move closer for more. The hand braced on the bar was large, with long, thick fingers. Capable looking hands. The kind of hands a woman would beg to have on her body, stroking her to ecstasy. Good lord! She was practically mated and here she was lusting after this hunk of a stranger.

Blair licked her lips and tried to get her body back under control. She’d never felt such an intense stirring before and her wolf was more than intrigued. Then the guilt hit her. She was betraying her mate by lusting after this man, a man who she didn’t even know. Knowing he was kin to her mate just made it even worse. This was a man she’d probably have to sit across from at the dinner table. How she would manage it she didn’t know.

“Blair,” Alpha Douglas said. “You remember my son, do you no’?”

Son? Holy mother of… That was Ranald?

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About Jessica Coulter Smith

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 she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

Find her on Facebook or Twitter

About Kenna McKay

Kenna McKay is a lover of all things Scottish—especially men in kilts! There’s just something sexy about Scotsmen. The Scottish burr, perhaps? Their rugged good looks? Maybe it’s not just one thing, but everything combined into one mouthwatering package.

Kenna didn’t start out wanting to be a writer, but she’s loved the written word for as long as she can remember. She devoured books from a young age, and even worked in a library for a while. Now she enjoys making up her own worlds and hopes you enjoy them as much as she does.

Find Kenna on Facebook or Twitter

Audiobook Release: Moonlight Hero by Jessica Coulter Smith #shifters #paranormalromance @kitcatjms @hollymholt

Get it at Audible

Alpha werewolf Gabriel Andrews is stunned when his mate comes bursting through the door of his garage. Running from a ravenous vampire, Kiera is happy to see the hot mechanic. A confrontation between the couple and the vampire forces Gabriel to announce Kiera as his mate. When the vampire throws down the gauntlet, demanding that Gabriel and Kiera marry in order to prove that she’s really the alpha’s mate, Gabriel is only too happy to agree. Kiera, on the other hand, has her doubts. Coming from a small town in Tennessee where werewolves do not associate with other shifters, the little werefox can’t believe that Gabriel could really want her in his life. 

Will these two have a happily ever after? Or will Kiera’s past life and an angry vampire keep them apart?

Listen to a Sample

5-Stars — Werewolves, vampires, and fairies.. oh my! This was an intriguing, suspenseful, and entertaining journey to go on with Gabriel and Kiera. (A. Fernandez, Audible)

Duration: 5 hours 19 minutes
Narrated by Holly Holt

Did you miss the first two in this series? Click the images below to find them at Audible!

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. If Jessica isn’t writing, then she’s like reading. Her favorite books are romances, but she also enjoys the occasional mystery or general fiction book. Romance is an integral part of her world and she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

Find more of her audiobooks at Audible.

About the Narrator

Accomplished, passionate, and on the rise audiobook producer. Holly has over 10 years professional audio experience under her belt. Being a narrator is a dream come true for Holly. She’s delighted to make the characters come to life. Audiobooks are her obsession! 

You can find more of her narrations at Audible.

Lion Her Ass Off by Sarah Marsh #shifters #paranormalromance @SM_fiction

Lion Her Ass Off

Blue Valley Shifters, Book 2

By Sarah Marsh

 

Blurb:

Just like any other shifter, Julie always imagined meeting her mate and living happily ever after with the charming male of her dreams. Nothing could have prepared her for the shitstorm that was about to become her love life. With her luck though, shouldn’t she have expected it?

Hector has lived his life knowing that he’d become Alpha of Blue Valley one day. Turns out, acting like you always have it together and living it? Well, those are two very different things. He panicked when he first realized that his sister’s best friend was his mate, now he must rise to the occasion in hopes that he can salvage the rest of his life—but no pressure.

Deacon had no idea what fate had in store for him with a new start in Blue Valley, meeting his mate and her ‘plus one’ wasn’t it. These two are so mixed up in the past it seems almost impossible to make things right and move forward. Good thing he’s a professional.

 

Buy Links:

Evernight: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/lion-her-ass-off-by-sarah-marsh/

Amazon: https://www.amazn.com/dp/B084BYSCVS

Smashwords: https://bit.ly/36GSkcm
Nook: https://bit.ly/319LdIi
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2RJPTlb
Bookstrand: https://bit.ly/2S1QA8m

 

 

Excerpt:

Julie was very proud of herself for waiting until seven the next morning before she climbed the trellis to Heidi’s bedroom window and snuck in just like she’d done a million times since they were children—well, maybe not exactly the same. This time, she had the forethought to listen at the window to make sure all occupants were still sleeping. The last thing she needed was to interrupt her bestie getting ‘serviced’ by her new beaus. But given the fact that the current bane of her existence was most likely sleeping in a room down the hall, she simply couldn’t risk the front door.
She had just eased the window shut and turned around to a rather large mound of bodies in Heidi’s double bed, thankfully still covered by a quilt. Her legs were bent, preparing to launch as a devious smile crept over her lips…
“Wak—ahh!” She squeaked and jumped back as a low growl split the previous silence and two sets of golden feline eyes popped open in the dim light of dawn.
“No, Julie,” Mason growled. “No eggs and no damned bakey! We’re taking back that spare key unless you agree to never come through our door before 8:00 AM again.”
“She came in through the window,” Wade muttered before pulling a pillow over his head.
“What’s happening?” Heidi groaned before her eyes opened slowly. “Hey, babe, what’s going on? Why do you look like hammered shit?”
“No.” Mason placed a huge paw over Heidi’s face, and Julie struggled not to laugh, as her twenty minutes of sleep last night threatened to snap her mind. “You can have a key to our new place if you agree not to barge into our bedroom at ungodly times in the morning.”
“Okay … unless it’s an emergency.” She reluctantly agreed with the giant, naked tiger in her best friend’s bed.
“Great, now can I please get back to cuddling my mate—”
“It’s an emergency!” Her voice bellowed to the ceiling as she interrupted him, causing giggles to erupt from Heidi and curses from the men on each side of her.
You are an emergency.” Mason groaned and followed Wade’s lead to pull a pillow over his head as Heidi tried to climb out from in between the two of them.
“Awww, you’re so sweet, thank you.” She knew he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, but she was a wolf and was therefore genetically predisposed to only hear things she wanted to.
“Is there a reason you’re using the window instead of the door?” Heidi asked as she pulled on a robe. “Oh Goddess, did Derek get drunk and pass out in his lion form on the porch again?”
“No…”
Wow, this confession was going to be tougher than she thought it would be. Julie didn’t think Heidi would be mad that Hector was her mate, but there was a very good chance that she was going to be furious that Julie had known all these years and didn’t say a Goddess-damned thing about it to her best friend in the entire world.
There was really only one way to deal with this, Julie knew that. So, she’d do what she’d always done when it came to delivering bad news to a lion shifter female—she’d Band-Aid that bitch off quickly and then dive for cover.
“I’ve known for the last six years that your asshole brother, Hector, is my mate, but he pretended like it wasn’t happening and he obviously doesn’t want me, so I don’t want him either and last night he lost his mind and said it out loud in front of your brothers and your dad and now I don’t know what’s going to happen!”
It all came out in one overly loud, long, run-on sentence and when it was done, Julie covered her face with her hands and waited for the worst.
Huh. I wasn’t expecting the worst to be a bunch of heavy breathing…
She moved two fingers aside so she could see what was happening, and in case Heidi tried to maul her, she would still only lose one eye. To her surprise, Heidi, as well as both of her mates were just staring at her with their mouths hanging open.
The seconds ticked by and Julie watched closely as her friend’s expression moved from shock to realization, then a murderous look clouded over and Julie waited to get yelled at for betraying the one person she loved most in the world.
“That … arrogant, selfish, know-it-all, big-haired son of a bitch!” Heidi screamed, her hands clenching as her claws slid from her fingertips. “I’ll kill him!”
Now it was Julie’s turn to stand there in shock, but lucky for them all, Heidi’s mates recovered quickly as they both grabbed her before she could yank the bedroom door open and go find her big brother.
“So … you don’t hate me?” Julie’s words were quiet, but they stopped Heidi in her tracks like she’d used a bullhorn. “For not telling you all these years?”
“Oh, babe.” Heidi pulled her in for a big, lion-sized hug, and for once, Julie didn’t struggle. She just took the comfort her friend offered. “I don’t hate you. I wish you had told me, though. I can’t imagine how awful this must have been, going through it all alone. But don’t worry, we’ll fix it.”
Julie sighed. “I don’t need you to fix anything, Heidi. There’s nothing left between me and your brother. He made his choice, and I made peace with that years ago.”
Liar. The worst thing that cat-bastard ever did was make me have to lie to my best friend, and now he’s doing it all over again.
From the look on Heidi’s face, she suspected Julie wasn’t being honest, but she was thankful Mason interrupted.
“Well,” he announced, looking at his phone. “I think the first thing we should do is get both of you out of here and away from that asshole lion. My assistant just texted the house is ready. Let’s go.”
“Good plan,” Julie agreed and walked to the exit, ready to get away from the slight scent of Hector that was lingering in the hallway.
When the room went silent, she looked behind her.
“We’re not climbing out the damned window.” Wade rolled his eyes at her.
Tigers. So danged bossy.

Author Info:

Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia, she’s only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five job. She’s a science fiction and romance junkie and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.

Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind … she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish.

When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.

 

Blog: http://sarahmarshfiction.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sarahmarshfiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SM_fiction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_marsh_fiction/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/sarahmarshfiction/

Facebook Street Team link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/955387561187276/

Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/b50yvX

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/sarah-marsh

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahmarshfiction

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14226436.Sarah_Marsh

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/sarah-marsh/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-marsh

 

 

Ashton Grove MC is now on Audible! #audiobooks #shifters #romance #MCromance #bikerromance #PNR

Available in Audiobook at:

Audible US / Audible UK / Audible FR / Audible DE / Amazon / iTunes 

 

Books one to four:  A motorcycle club has rolled into Ashton Grove, trying to make a place for themselves. For a motley crew of shifters, f—ing and fighting are just a way of life. But if there’s one thing they can’t stand, it’s anyone who abuses a woman.

Viper: When Viper sits down to a game of poker with the Red Devils MC, and their sergeant at arms tosses a woman in as his bet, Viper knows he has to win at all costs.

Axel: Axel Bloodmoon loves his life in the MC. Danger abounds and there’s lots of willing women to be had. But when he goes on a mission to rescue some abducted women, things don’t turn out quite as he’d planned. One sniff of Amelia and his cat is convinced she belongs to them. Stubborn beast!

Ghost: When Ghost realizes Shelly is being forced to sell her body, and that her pimp is a little too free with his fists, he realizes he can’t sit back and wait any longer. Charging in on his Harley, he swoops in, and rescues the damsel in distress. There’s only one problem. Who’s going to rescue him from her?

Crimson: When Crimson nearly loses Holly, he realizes that he will do anything to keep her by his side – and when a bear gets an idea in his head, he’ll stop at nothing to make it happen. What’s a love-struck shifter to do when his mate has cold feet?

 

Romance in Moonspell by Jessica Coulter Smith #PNR #UrbanFantasy #shifters #fairies #preorder #Amazon #itunes #kobobooks #NookBook @changelingpress

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller
Length: Box Set

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.

 

Available 9/21 at Changeling Press
Pre-Order for 9/28 at online retailers

Amazon / BN / iTunes / Kobo / Changeling Press

Available in Paperback too!

 

EXCERPT

Copyright ©2016 Jessica Coulter Smith
Excerpt from A Familiar Sin

Seaton McCullough hunkered down outside the dilapidated cabin in the woods, his gaze focused on the front door even as he listened for his fellow trackers to catch up. They’d tracked their prey across five miles, half of which was in a thickly wooded area on the outskirts of Moonspell. Once they’d picked up the scent, it hadn’t taken them long to follow the trail. The idiot hadn’t even tried to mask his offensive odor, his cologne thick and cloying, with an underlying scent of stale sweat, fear, and desperation. It was the fear that stood out most.

If the man thought he was desperate now, just wait until he had three wolves knocking down his door. He’d made a fatal error when he’d absconded with one of the Crawford girls, daughter of the most respected black wing in town.

Seaton looked over his shoulder as Xander approached on silent feet. Silent to a human, anyway. To Seaton, his friend sounded like a herd of buffalo crashing about. If it weren’t for Xander’s exceptional nose, he never would’ve made it as a tracker. The man was a hulking giant, making it harder for him to blend in when he wasn’t in wolf form, and even then he was huge. And yet, he managed to be one of the best trackers the Moonspell pack had, aside from Seaton and their friend Evan, who was lurking somewhere nearby in wolf form.

“‘Bout time you showed up,” Seaton said softly. “I was starting to think I’d have to come after the two of you.”

A wolf edged between them, giving Seaton an annoyed look.

“Evan, you go around to the back; make sure he can’t escape. Xander and I are going to go through the front. One of us will nail the bastard while the other checks on the girl.”

“What do you know of Ely Crawford’s daughter?” Xander asked.

Seaton shrugged. “Only that she’s in trouble. He has a passel of them, all teenagers I believe. I’m honestly not sure which one we’re after. All I know is Hayden said jump and I asked how high.”

Xander snickered. “I think we pretty much all did. He and Ely go way back.”

Seaton sighed. “All right. Let’s do this.”

Evan moved stealthily forward, creeping around the back of the cabin. As the wolf disappeared around the corner, Seaton and Xander approached the door, both men moving silently. Standing on the porch, they could hear a man inside, ranting, screaming, and the softer dulcet tones of a woman. Perhaps Ely’s daughter was no young miss, after all.

Seaton gave Xander a nod and the other man kicked the door in, storming into the cabin. Fast on Xander’s heels, he watched as his friend chased after the lunatic who’d thought he could capture a shifter, barreling down the hall after him. Seaton scanned the room, his gaze coming to rest on a young woman tied to a bed, her hands and feet bound. Moving quickly, he released her, rubbing the circulation back into her limbs and helping her sit.

Her hair hung in a long braid over one shoulder. Brown wisps had come loose and hung in disarray around her face. Her features were delicate, her nose small and pert, her lips full and sensual. Eyes stared up at him the glittering green of emeralds, eyes that tipped ever so slightly at the corners. Cat’s eyes. Even in her rumpled state, she was stunning.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “Who are you?”

He grinned. “My name is Seaton, and I’ll be your rescuer today. My partner, Xander, is the one who just ran after your captor, and my other partner is around back making sure he doesn’t escape.”

“My papa sent you, didn’t he?” she questioned.

“Actually, my alpha did. I believe your father went to him for help.”

Her nose twitched. “Wolf?”

“Yeah. Can you stand? We need to get you out of here.”

A smile hovered at the edges of her lips. “If you’ll just bring my chair over, I’ll be happy to get out of this bed.”

His brow furrowed. “Chair?”

She pointed across the room. His gaze followed the direction of her finger and noticed a small wheelchair in the corner of the room. He looked at the black contraption then looked at his petite damsel in distress again. Surely she couldn’t mean…

“You can’t walk?”

“No. I can stand for brief periods of time, but walking is excruciating so I avoid it as much as possible. Even when I do walk, I can’t go very far. Across the room is about it.”

Instead of retrieving the chair, he lifted her slight weight into his arms and carried her across the room. Gently setting her in the chair, he watched as she situated herself. It still baffled him that someone who looked so perfect would be confined to that wheeled contraption. And a shifter at that! Of course, as a raven she could always fly and didn’t really need to use her legs for much, but still, it was horrible to even think about. What would it be like to be trapped forever, never being able to run with the pack? A shiver raked his spine.

Grasping the handles on the back of the chair, he wheeled her through the front door and onto the porch, where he promptly stopped and surveyed the area. How in the hell had her captor brought her here? The trail they’d followed had been over rough terrain. Surely he hadn’t pushed her chair through that! Her body would be bruised from the bone-rattling force of some of those dips and large tree roots running across the path, but Seaton knew they’d come through the woods. He’d followed the scent himself. He pulled out his phone and turned it back on. Dialing Hayden, he waited patiently for his alpha to answer.

“Do you have her?” Hayden asked by way of greeting.

“She’s safe. But we have a problem. I can’t get her out of here, not without a vehicle.”

“Tell us where you are and I’ll bring her father.”

Seaton looked around. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. I’ll turn on the GPS in my phone. Have one of the tech guys track it.”

“Done. Just sit tight and we’ll be there soon.”

Seaton disconnected the call and wheeled his beautiful companion down into the yard. Setting the brake on her chair, he moved around beside her, watching as she tilted her face toward the sun and inhaled the clean, sweet air scented with pine.

“You know my name but you never told me yours,” he prompted.

“Bellamy.”

“Bellamy?” he asked. It was unusual, but it seemed to suit her.

She nodded. “Bellamy Rainelle Crawford.”

“A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

A blush suffused her cheeks.

 

Alpha’s Second Chance #Shifters #Bondage #Spanking #RomanceBooks #NewRelease @changelingpress

 

Alpha wolf Torren lost his mate a year ago. They weren’t fated mates, but he’d tried to give her a good life and thought she was happy. The day he found her mangled body, everything changed. Now he lives for his pack, keeping busy to forget the nightmares that plague him. When Torren wakes to discover a human has been brought onto pack lands, he doesn’t know what the hell his Omega was thinking, but the last thing they need is trouble.

Olivia Grant has never been accepted by the townspeople where she lives. Her parents are sorry excuses for human beings. The day she’s attacked and left for dead, her friend, Omega wolf Jaxon, takes her back to his home. She’s one breath away from dying, and only the Alpha’s bite can save her, but at what price?

Bonded together, Olivia and Torren discover a passion neither has experienced before. They’d thought they had found their happily-ever-after, but someone from the past is lurking in the shadows, and they aren’t happy the Alpha has a new mate.

Note: No Cliffhanger. No Cheating. Guaranteed HEA. Bondage. Spanking.

Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo / Changeling Press

EXCERPT:

“She’s dying,” he told Jaxon.

The Omega whined and tears gathered in the younger wolf’s eyes. It was obvious that Jaxon was close to her, maybe closer than Torren had thought at first. His beast didn’t like the idea at all, and he had to fight back another growl.

“How do you know her?” Torren asked. “Have you ever…”

Jaxon shook his head. “We were never intimate, but she was my friend. She refused to come stay with me, saying it wouldn’t be fair. I gave her what I could, but her circumstances… She needed a miracle.”

“She’s not your mate?” Torren asked.

“No,” Jaxon said, his voice breaking. “There has to be something… What if she’s the mate to someone else in the pack? It’s possible, right? They could bite her, and she’d heal. She doesn’t have to die, right? Or what about a witch? Maybe a witch could heal her?”

“Jaxon.”

“Please,” the Omega begged. “You have to save her.”

Torren focused on the young woman again, leaning a little closer. He breathed her in, trying to get through the scent of death and blood, looking for the subtler scent that would be uniquely hers, the one he’d smelled earlier. He found it, barely, but it was there. The closer to death she got, the fainter that smell became. His vision shifted as his wolf came closer to the surface, his beast distraught over the broken woman. The wolf inside of him whined and whimpered, pawing at him and urging him to do something.

His wolf had never shown any interest in a female before and it baffled Torren. Not even when he’d been mated to Gwen had his wolf cared one way or another about the female in his life. Why did the beast react to this small human? His fangs lengthened, making Torren jolt. Fur sprouted along the backs of his hands and he felt his muscles swell, nearly bursting the seams of his shirt and jeans.

His Omega moved closer, his gaze locking on Torren’s extended fangs. Excitement flared in the other wolf’s eyes.

“Bite her, Alpha,” Jaxon said. “You can save her. And maybe she’ll save you too.”

He focused on the other wolf and saw hope blazing in Jaxon’s eyes. Was it possible? Was Olivia his mate? His fated mate? Yes, he’d claimed Gwen, but it had been an arranged mating. They’d never actually bitten one another, but had a mating in name. They’d been intimate on occasion, but there had never been any true passion between them. When she’d gone into heat, she’d practically begged him for relief, and he’d granted it. But not once had they ever touched one another out of more than obligation. At the age of thirty, he’d assumed he’d never find the one female meant to be his, the one who called to his wolf, so he’d settled when the opportunity presented itself. It seemed impossible that after all this time, he’d found his mate. And she was dying.

Torren leaned over Olivia, lapped at the blood along her shoulder, and growled as her taste exploded on his tongue. His vision sharpened and his pulse quickened. Mate. His beast became excited, nearly spinning in circles in Torren’s mind, like an overenthusiastic pup. If he’d had any doubts, he didn’t now. Without any hesitation, he bit, his fangs digging deep until they hit bone. His saliva entered her body, mixing with her blood. Torren growled again and released her. He licked his lips as he sat back and looked down at the woman who now belonged to him. For however long she’d live.

It was too soon to tell if she’d survive both her beating and his bite. Torren realized he may have claimed yet another female destined to die, but he hoped the fates wouldn’t be that cruel. All he could do was wait and see if she began to heal. His enzymes would bond with her cells, and her body would have slight alterations from his claiming, as well as rapid healing. But only if she lived through it. It wasn’t often his kind claimed a human, and he’d heard tales of the females not surviving the bite. He could only hope that Olivia was a fighter.

“Take your mate home, Alpha,” Jaxon said softly. “She should be in your bed when she wakes.”

“If she wakes,” Torren muttered.

“She will,” Jaxon said. “She has to.”

 

Check out the Book Trailer on YouTube!

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 she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

Find Jessica on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / jessicacoultersmith.com.

#NewRelease TALES OF MOONSPELL #menage #shifter #vampire #threesome #RomanceBooks #EroticRomance #PNR @changelingpress

Four women find the mates of their hearts as wolves battle vampires for control of Moonspell.

Belonging to Hayden: Daniela has been captured by the local vampire nest in her small hometown. The last thing she expects to find at the mansion is the Alpha werewolf of her dreams.

Between Two Wolves: Falan has lots of curves, and a little extra. She’s never been anyone’s ideal before. Now she’s suddenly faced with not one but two hot men ready to be at her beck and call. Can she be woman enough for both of them?

Serenity’s Wish: When Serenity surrenders to the local vampire nest in order to save the alpha werewolf’s mate, she knows it won’t be long before her body betrays her and gives up the battle she’s been fighting for months. But there’s one thing Serenity doesn’t count on. How is it possible that she’s falling for the enemy?

Their Sinful Seduction: Sin finds herself pregnant and alone after a single night of passion. The two men responsible made it quite clear they aren’t ready for fatherhood. But once the werewolves find out she’s expecting their child, they’ll stop at nothing to claim the woman destined to be their mate.

Publisher’s Note: Tales of Moonspell (Box Set) contains the previously published novellas Belonging to Hayden, Between Two Wolves, Serenity’s Wish, and Their Sinful Seduction.

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EXCERPT FROM BELONGING TO HAYDEN

Impenetrable darkness surrounded her, the air was dank and musty, and the plink of water dripping was the only sound in her tomblike space. She felt dirty from sitting on the cold, stone floor for God only knew how long. Thick, heavy manacles encircled her wrists; a chain was looped through them and fastened to the wall. Her mouth felt like cotton and her head was throbbing. She had little doubt she’d been drugged. The question was why? And where the hell was she?

Terror gripped her as possible scenarios bounced around her mind, none of them good. She’d only been awake for what felt like an hour or two, but she hadn’t heard or seen anyone in all that time. As far as she knew, she was alone. Her captors were obviously elsewhere in the building.

A door creaked open and light spilled into the space, casting everything into shadow. What was illuminated scared her. She was in a cage, not unlike the many other cages lining the walls. It looked like she was in a basement, but that still didn’t tell her where she was. The last thing she remembered was having drinks with her friends at the local club. Moonspell being so small, one human club was all they had.

Light footsteps descended the stairs and a tall, thin man came into view, illuminated by a shaft of light. His long, silvery white hair shimmered even in the darkened room, his pale skin glowed like a beacon, and ice blue eyes pierced right through her as he pinned her with his gaze.

He unlocked her cage and roughly pulled her to her feet. Removing her chains, he gripped her arm firmly and began leading her out of the cell and up the stairs. The bright light hurt her eyes, and she squinted at her surroundings. Plush oriental rugs covered gleaming hardwood floors, the furniture looked like something out of an antiques catalog, and the paint on the walls was varying shades of blue.

The man dragged her up a large curved staircase to the second floor and down a long hallway. Pushing open a door at the far end, he shoved her inside. He shifted his grip and pulled her across the room and through another doorway into an opulent bathroom. After opening the glass door on the shower, he turned it on and steam started billowing out almost immediately.

“Strip,” he commanded.

Her eyes widened and she clutched her shirt together at her throat. He wanted her to undress in front of him? She took a step back as if to flee, but she had nowhere to go. He’d closed the door behind them. And even if she did manage to make it through the door, she had no doubt he would catch her before she could reach the stairs.

His eyes narrowed. “I said strip,” he growled. “Or I’ll do it for you.”

She squeaked and took another step backward.

Advancing on her, he gripped her shirt in both hands and ripped it apart, sending buttons flying everywhere. He tugged the material down her arms and tossed it on the floor. Reaching for the button on her jeans, he unfastened them quickly and jerked them down her legs. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her tight as he finished stripping away her clothes. Lifting her into his arms, he set her down in the shower.

“Wash yourself.”

With shaking hands, she did as he commanded. As the dirt washed down the drain, she should have felt better, but all she felt was stark terror at what might be about to happen to her. He seemed so calm and cool, so very in control.

The man turned off the water and held out a towel, wrapping it around her as she stepped out of the shower. He helped her dry off, then slipped a skimpy satin nightgown over her head. The stark white material clung to her slim curves. He handed her a comb, and she pulled it through the long, black, curly locks. When she was finished, she set the comb down on the counter and faced her captor.

He pulled her back into the bedroom, but they were no longer alone. A tall, dark-haired man lounged on the bed, wearing nothing but a pair of unbuttoned jeans. There was a hint of silver at his temples, but it only enhanced his good looks. His arms and chest were heavily muscled, his legs long. He watched her intently, but unlike the man holding her prisoner, this one didn’t terrify her. His gaze skimmed over her, caressing her. His eyes narrowed when he saw the man’s hand clamped on her arm.

A growl rumbled from him. “Release her.”

She was suddenly free, yet she still had nowhere to go.

The man beside her moved toward the door. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours, dog.”

Dog? As in… No, he couldn’t possibly mean the other man was a werewolf! It was no secret that there was a werewolf pack in Moonspell. She wasn’t sure if she had anything to fear from him or not.

The werewolf rose from the bed and came toward her. He circled her, checking her out from every angle. Stopping behind her, he leaned in close and sniffed her neck. She heard a low growl rumble in his chest right before he kissed the sensitive skin below her ear. He placed his hands on her waist and addressed the man again.

“You’ll give me longer than twenty-four hours. No one else will touch her.”

The man hissed, showing a set of very sharp fangs. She gulped as she realized she’d been in the presence of a vampire this entire time. He could have drained her at any moment, and she’d have been powerless to stop him.

“You forget your place. You may be an alpha, but here you’re just a prisoner. Aiden has a thing for dark-haired women. She’ll service him tomorrow night.”

“No! She’s my mate and will bed no one but me.”

The vampire looked surprised. “Your mate? You’ll have to pardon me for not taking your word for it. I’ll need proof.”

“You know there’s only one way I can prove it. After we sleep together, we’ll be marked.”

“Very well. I’ll give you a week. After that, you lose the opportunity to be free.”

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 she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

Find Jessica on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / jessicacoultersmith.com.

Harley Wylde is the “wilder” side of award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith. You can find Harley online at harleywylde.com. Jessica also writes gay romance under the pen name Dulce Dennison.

#ThrowbackThursday – Moonlight Hero #PNR #werewolves #romance

Alpha werewolf Gabriel Andrews is content with his life, even if it’s a bit lonely. He wants what every wolf wants — his mate. When a stunning woman darts into his garage, panting for breath and looking more than a little frightened, his wolf sits up and takes notice. She smells enticing and a hunger grows inside of Gabriel, and he knows he must have her. But loving Kiera will not be an easy task with a ravenous vampire hot on her trail. It seems his little shifter mate is something a little more, and it will take him and an entire pack to keep her safe.

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Excerpt

Kiera ran on silent feet through the darkened alley.  It probably would have been easier to escape if she had shifted into her animal form, but then she would have been stuck without clothes later.  That would have been a little hard to explain to the average human.

Running for all she was worth, she could sense the vampire’s presence not far behind her.  Going into that bar was the dumbest thing she had ever done! Why had she allowed the girls to talk her into it?  Shaking her head, she continued to the end of the alley.  Hopefully, she would live to see another day.

When she reached the corner, she looked around.  There wasn’t much nearby except an old Victorian home and an auto repair shop.  Noticing the lights were on in the auto shop, she hurried across the street.  Reaching for the door, she glanced over her shoulder and gasped.  The vampire was standing on the corner under the street lamp.  To a passerby he would seem harmless, but Kiera knew better, knew him for the predator he was.  She was trembling as she watched the vampire; she knew he could smell her fear but was helpless to do anything about it.

Pushing the door open, Kiera rushed inside.  As soon as she closed the door, she turned the lock.  The logical part of her brain was calling her an idiot for thinking a lock would keep out a vampire, but her self-preservation skills were kicking in.  That small piece of metal made her feel a little bit safer, even if her safety was nothing more than an illusion.

Across the room, Gabriel heard the door close and lock.  As he slid out from under the Mustang he had been working on, he noticed the disheveled woman warily watching the street through the glass door.  He got up and walked slowly toward her. Taking in her creamy complexion, petite stature and long ebony hair, his body immediately responded to her.  She was definitely something to look at, curved in all the right places.

“May I help you?” he asked.

Kiera gasped and spun toward the deep voice.  Momentarily startled, she regained her composure, trying to keep her expression as neutral as possible.  “Is it alright if I stay here for a minute?”

Gabriel casually looked her over, appreciating the way her black dress clung to her curves. “Everything okay?”

Kiera glanced back outside.  The vampire was still on the corner, watching her every move.  She knew that he was waiting for her to leave.  It wasn’t fair to involve this stranger in her problems, but she didn’t have much of a choice if she wanted to live.  And she definitely wanted to live!

Looking back at Gabriel, she said, “That man across the street has been following me.  I’m a little nervous about going back outside.”

Gabriel looked through the glass door.  Sure enough, a tall blond man was standing on the corner, watching them.  An inner voice was screaming at him that the man was a vampire and to be wary.  Gabriel shook his head, clearing the ridiculous thought from his mind. Vampires?  He was starting to lose it. Granted, being an alpha werewolf made him believe in the impossible, but he had yet to see proof that vampires existed.

Gently taking her arm, he pulled her away from the door. “You’re safe here.  You can stay as long as you need to.”

Kiera gave him a shaky smile. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”

“Since I’m offering sanctuary, mind telling me how that guy ended up following you?”  If he was getting pulled into a domestic dispute, now was the time to find out.  The last thing he needed was an angry husband coming after him.

Kiera sighed, realizing she could only tell him half of the truth.   If she said that a vampire was following her, she had no doubt she would be dragged off to the loony bin.  Granted, that would be the perfect ending to her not so perfect day, but she would prefer to not land herself in a padded cell.

“The short version is that he tried to pick me up in a bar.  I told him that I wasn’t interested, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.  When I left, he followed me.  He kind of gave me the creeps so I ran.” 

Something seemed a little off with her story.  If she had been running, why wasn’t she winded?    Not that he wouldn’t have enjoyed watching her run in that skin tight dress and heels; it definitely would have been a sight to behold, especially with her being so top heavy. He almost grinned at the image his mind was creating.

Giving himself a mental shake, he asked, “How did you end up here at my garage?  There isn’t a bar for at least three or four miles.”

Kiera hoped the shock didn’t show on her face.  Had she really run that far? “I guess I got lost.  I was just trying to get away from him and didn’t really pay attention to where I was going.” 

She knew her excuse sounded feeble, but she couldn’t very well tell him she was a werefox, giving her more agility and stamina than your average human.  There were some things that humans just weren’t prepared to hear.  The fact that “make believe” creatures really existed ranked high on that list.

Gabriel looked skeptical. There had to be more to her story than that, but obviously she wasn’t going to share the full tale.  “What’s your name?”

“Kiera.”

“I’m Gabriel.”

Kiera smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.  I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Do you need to use the phone to call someone?  It doesn’t look like that guy is leaving anytime soon,” Gabriel said, glancing out the door.

“Oh.” Kiera followed his gaze. Sure enough, the vampire was still watching from across the street. “Um, I don’t really have anyone to call.”

Gabriel arched an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.  Just what kind of trouble was she in?  She didn’t look more than twenty-one or so.  A deep primal instinct arose, making him want to comfort her and protect her.  The wolf in him responded to her soft feminine scent while the man responded to her lush curves.  She didn’t even reach his shoulder, which told him that she was under five-foot two since he was a little over six-feet tall.  She wasn’t bone thin like a lot of woman he’d met, but she wasn’t fat either.  Her elfin shaped face held full rosy lips and beautiful green eyes that were almost almond shaped.  They reminded him of cat eyes. 

Kiera noticed the appraisal.  “I don’t want to keep you from your work.  Please don’t feel like you have to keep me company.”

Gabriel grunted, noting the obvious dismissal.  Evidently mechanics weren’t good enough for her. He should have known that a woman as pretty and as well dressed as this one was would have an attitude.  Paper pushers were probably more her style; wealthy paper pushers.

“Guess I can finish up this job while you wait to see if your admirer goes away.”

Walking away from her, he slowly climbed back under the Mustang.  It was difficult to concentrate on his work, but he managed.  There was something about her that wasn’t entirely human.  He knew she wasn’t a werewolf, but she was definitely something special.  His alpha instincts told him that she was a mate for his pack.  Since Cole was already married, that meant that she belonged to either him or Michael.  Just thinking of Michael being with her made him grind his teeth.

Kiera watched Gabriel effortlessly slide under the car.  She started feeling light headed and realized that she had been holding her breath.  He was the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen!  Easily over six-feet tall, he had medium length black hair, piercing blue eyes, and was well muscled.  It had been difficult to not throw herself into his arms. If he had stood by her much longer, she wouldn’t have been able to keep her hands to herself.  She hoped that he hadn’t noticed the effect he had on her.  Her animal instincts were going to get her into trouble one of these days.

As she glanced back out the door, she realized that the vampire was crossing the street.  Startled, she instinctively started backing toward Gabriel.  It wasn’t fair to ask for his protection, but she had never been so terrified in her life.  She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about the mechanic made her feel safe and protected.

Hearing her footsteps drawing near, Gabriel slid out from under the car and looked up at her. “What’s wrong Kiera?”

“He’s coming over. I know that I have no right to ask this, but please help me.”  As she looked down at him, her eyes were wide with fear.  Her heart had doubled its rhythm and felt as it would burst from her chest. 

#NewRelease – Grizzly Affair @AuthorDulce @changelingpress #LGBTQ #GayRomance #PNR

 

Publisher: Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Angela Knight

Genres/Themes: Paranormal, Suspense, Interracial, Men in Uniform, Gay
Length: Novella

With a rogue shifter on the loose leaving a trail of bodies, it isn’t the best time for bear shifter, Roarke Hilliard to have his heat cycle. Especially since he’s the lead Special Agent on the case. But nature must take its course. When his partner, agent Spencer Malloy, places himself in Roarke’s path during his greatest time of need, the bear is worried he might break the human. But Spencer wants Roarke badly… bad enough to call in a paranormal escort.

Grigore Gabor may be a male escort, but he’s never slept with any of his clients… until now. The moment the wolf shifter gets a whiff of the bear who hired him, and his human companion, he knows he’s found his mates. But getting the surly ursa to agree is another matter.

With a killer on the loose, now isn’t the time for finding true love. With Roarke handicapped by his heat cycle, there’s only so much the agents can do against the rogue shifter. They can only hope to bring the man to justice before another body is found.

Available 9/15 at Changeling Press

Available 9/22 at Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo

Excerpt

Special Agent Roarke Hilliard, Bureau of Paranormal Affairs, scented the air as he scanned the crime scene for clues. Darkness filled him, narrowing his world to this one moment. Blood soaked through his pants and coated his hands as he knelt beside the too still, mangled body. The copper tang of the teen’s blood teased his nostrils. His nose flared as he searched for other scents. Gunpowder residue and the stale smell of sweat hung heavy in the air.

A gun was clutched in the young man’s hand, his fingers gripping it even in death, and yet the weapon hadn’t been able to save him. Slashed across his sternum, the killer’s claws had dug deep, all the way to the bone. His clothes were torn in other areas. His belt had been partially torn from him. The clues were adding up to a terrifying, grisly picture.

This wasn’t the first victim, and if Roarke couldn’t catch the bastard responsible, it wouldn’t be the last. Up to this point, the killer had targeted male prostitutes. But this one was different. There were no indications of drug use, no condoms in the victim’s wallet. Was the killer branching out? Or were his tastes changing?

“This is definitely our guy,” Agent Spencer Malloy said as he surveyed the scene. “If we don’t catch him soon, we’ll be on every channel in the country. You know how much the Bureau hates bad publicity.”

Roarke stood. “There has to be a pattern. The first known victim was in Chicago. The second was in South Bend, Indiana. But now, victim number five is in Atlanta. Where is he going?”

“I still say they aren’t planned. I think our guy is picking up young men, then he gets frustrated when they won’t give him what he wants and he kills them.”

“They’re prostitutes living on the streets. There isn’t much they won’t do for the right amount,” Roarke reasoned.

“What’s that super sniffer of yours telling you?”

“I don’t smell semen. I don’t think he got very far before he killed this one. Maybe that was his motivation. Either he couldn’t get it up, or the victim resisted.” Although he could be wrong. Roarke wasn’t about to admit it to anyone, but during his heat cycle his nose was not the most reliable. It took every effort not to turn bear the closer the time got.

Spencer ran a hand through his short, blond hair. “I don’t like this. Rogue shifters are one thing, but one bent on murder?”

“The lab ran the sample three times,” Roarke reminded him. “No match was found in the system, but the DNA suggested a hybrid.”

“Which explains the instability,” Spencer muttered. “He obviously has impulse control issues. My gut says there are more murders. Unless some switch flipped in this guy’s head, there’s no way his first murder was last month. Not unless he was just turned, and what’s the likelihood of a just-turned hybrid?”

Roarke sighed. “I’m afraid I have to agree with you. We need to have records run a search on all unsolved shifter related homicides nationwide for the past five years, see if anything pops up that matches our guy’s MO.”

“I’ll call it in while you check out the rest of the scene. Maybe we missed something on the first walk through. Then you’re going to the hotel for a shower and a change of clothes.”

Roarke nodded and looked around again. He began a slow circuit of the space, sniffing for something he might have missed as his gaze touched on every square inch of the room. He knew from experience they wouldn’t find anything new. Fingerprints and DNA did them no good when the killer wasn’t in the system. According to the shifter laws of 2023, formed when shifters came out of hiding, all shapeshifters were required to have DNA and fingerprints on file with the government. Those who didn’t comply were termed “rogue” and would be put to death if they were found to have committed a heinous crime. If you weren’t registered, you didn’t have rights.

Spencer motioned to him from the doorway and Roarke stepped out into the sunshine. With the smell of death and decay surrounding him, he’d forgotten how beautiful it was outside. Spring was in the air, which spelled trouble for a bear on a never-ending job. The urge to mate would hit him hard and Roarke would be powerless to stop it. Last mating season, he’d damn near lost his job when he’d holed up in a motel room for three days with a willing male from a shifter run escort service… he might do well to keep their number handy.

“I passed on our thoughts about there being more murders and Rawlins said he would put a team on it.” Spencer began walking toward their SUV. “He asked why the hell we couldn’t have thought of that weeks ago. I told him we were too busy chasing a trail of mangled bodies. Pompous ass.”

Roarke grinned.

“I say we go get you cleaned up and grab a bite to eat. We missed lunch and I know that beast inside of you has to be starving.” Spencer held out his hand. “Keys.”

Roarke pulled them from his pocket and handed them over. He climbed into the passenger’s seat and patiently waited for Spencer to get in and start the vehicle.

“Speaking of my beast, there’s something you should know,” Roarke said as they pulled out of the parking lot. “My mating heat is going to hit soon. Since I don’t have a mate, my bear is going to seek the first willing male available. It’s going to possibly put me out of commission for a few days.”

“So we take a break.”

Roarke shook his head. “The mating fever is going to hit our killer grizzly too. It means more murders if he can’t find someone willing and able to handle the frenzy. Think double or even triple the body count we have now.”

“Fuck. We have to catch this guy!” Spencer slammed his hand against the steering wheel.

About Dulce

With an overactive imagination and a penchant for making up stories, was it any wonder Dulce Dennison decided to be an author? From cowboys to shapeshifters, she has a story for them all, but her passion lies in writing m/m romances. Dulce believes in love in all shapes and sizes, and that everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.

Married since 2000 to a man she isn’t sure is quite human, her husband and children (which she fondly calls the demon spawn) keep her busy, but never too busy to write. Is there such a thing as too busy to write? Most mornings you can find Dulce set up with her laptop, a cat curled up next to her, and a steaming cup of coffee just an arm’s reach away.

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