Tag: Jessica Coulter Smith

ALPHA’S SECOND CHANCE by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms

.Reading time 5 minutes.

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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

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ADULT EXCERPT:

“Torren,” she said softly.

His hand cracked against her ass, making her yelp in surprise.

“When I want to pleasure my mate, you won’t try to push me away,” he said. “I know you liked what I was doing. You were soaking wet.”

His hand came down on her ass again, making her gasp from the sting that quickly turned into a burn. His fingers trailed along her ass cheek, then stroked her pussy, before delivering another blow to her aching backside. He spanked her three more times before his body came down over hers, the weight pressing her against the pillows and mattress.

“Are you going to keep me from pleasuring you in the future?” he asked, his voice dark and delicious.

“No, Alpha,” she said softly.

His fangs scraped her shoulder, then he quickly moved off her. She heard the rustle of fabric before the bed dipped.

Torren’s hands cupped her ass and spread her open. “I love seeing you like this. Tied down. Open. So fucking wet. Your ass is nice and pink from me spanking you.”

“Torren, please,” she begged.

His hands squeezed her ass cheeks. “One of these days, I’m going to fuck this tight, virgin ass. I’ll claim you in every way possible.”

Goosebumps erupted along her skin and her cheeks warmed, but not in embarrassment. No, what he’d said made her burn in a good way.

Torren nipped her ass, then his body covered hers again. She felt his long, hard cock pressing against her pussy. Torren thrust deep, and Olivia gave a muffled scream as she buried her face in the bedding. He took her hard and deep, his thrusts unrelenting. She felt his hand caress her ribs, then slip between her and the bed. He gave her breast a squeeze before pinching her nipple.

“Mine,” he said in a garbled voice that was a mix of beast and human.

Check out the Book Trailer on YouTube!

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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.

OFFERED TO THE CYBORG by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 17 minutes.

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Offered to the Cyborg

Series: Cy-Con #2
Publisher: Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Karen Fox
Genres: Science Fiction Romance, Alien Encounters, Cyber Punk

One look in her eyes and he wanted her. One taste and he knew he was never letting her go.

 

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When the Zelranian cyborg’s ship The Sphinx is attacked by a reptilian race called the Meori, Wrylack is the only cyborg left standing. Forced onto the Meori vessel, his skills as a medic are demanded in exchange for his life. But any plans Wrylack may have had to escape died the moment he laid eyes on Shaylee, the human female slave in the Meori med bay. Even injured, she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. And when the Meori realize they can use her to control Wrylack, they are only too pleased to give her to him.

Shaylee has only known pain and suffering all her life. First on Earth, passed around the foster care system, and later as a slave to one alien after another. No one has ever touched her with kindness, has ever cared what happened to her. When the sexy purple cyborg with the strange eyes and gentle touch says she’s his, Shaylee is almost scared to hope that her life is changing. But the big male isn’t interested in owning her as a slave. He wants a mate!

Releasing March 2nd at Changeling Press

Releasing March 9th at:
Amazon / BN / iTunes / Kobo

Excerpt

The ship grew quiet and Wrylack tried to communicate with his fellow cyborgs, but no one was responding. He feared they’d all been killed, which meant the Meori would come for him next, once they realized he was on board. He could hear the clang of boots coming down the corridor and braced himself. When the doors to the med bay slid open, he stared at the green and gold aliens, with their serpent-like eyes and tongues.

They looked him over, laughing when they saw the scalpel clutched in his hand. Two held ion blasters pointed at him, and he knew there was no way he was taking them out. Not on his own and only armed with the scalpel.

The three Meori in front hardly had a scratch on them, but the ones in back were pooling blood on the floor. Wrylack tried not to smile at the sight. It seemed his brothers had fought hard, even if they hadn’t been victorious. Would they kill him now too?

“The healer thinks to fight us,” the larger one up front said.

Little did they know he could kick their asses, if it weren’t for the unfair advantage of the blasters in their hands. He might be enhanced, but he wasn’t indestructible. Going into a blaster fight with nothing more than a scalpel would get him killed.

“Where’s my crew?” Wrylack asked.

The alien shrugged. “Alive, but incapacitated.”

Why hadn’t they killed everyone? What was it they wanted?

“And your plan for us?” Wrylack asked.

The alien smiled, his pointed teeth showing. “The others will be dropped at Alpha9, for a fee of course, and we’re commandeering this ship. You, however…” The alien looked him over again. “We need a medic. Ours died and since your cyborg brothers did some damage, my crew will need to be tended. Serve us well and you will be rewarded.”

Wrylack could read between the lines. Service would be required regardless, if he wanted to live. He would imagine the reward would be his freedom. What they didn’t know was that the moment he’d laid eyes on them, he’d hacked into the telecommunications system and had the computer send a message to the commanders on Xpashta, with their present location and who had taken command of the ship. It wouldn’t be long before the cyborgs’ other ships were on their way to lend aid. He only hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

One of the Meori gripped his arm tight, making the nerves in his arm go numb and the scalpel fell from his hand, clattering to the floor. Wrylack allowed himself to be dragged through the ship and taken aboard the Meori vessel. He wasn’t stupid enough to think he could take on two ships himself, which meant he had to follow orders and stay alive until backup arrived. The ship was much larger than The Sphinx and had probably once been a luxury liner, judging by the artwork on the walls and the dense carpet under his feet. Slave females of all races shuffled down the hallways and gathered in open rooms. Some were dressed in transparent tunics and he knew they were breeding stock. The thought made him ill.

When they reached medical, Wrylack was shoved inside and he froze at the sight before him. Two human females lay dead, the sheets covering them stained with blood, with a third huddled in the corner, her eyes wide in fright. Blood dripped down her arm and her clothes were torn. Anger welled inside of him and he turned to snarl at the Meori who had dragged him on board.

“You attacked innocent females?”

The Meori shrugged. “When we purchased them, we didn’t realize they wouldn’t be sexually compatible. Their master was raving about how good it felt to fuck them. We stopped a male from mounting the third when the first two died.”

Wrylack was horrified and sickened. Moving slowly, he approached the female in the corner. He knelt in front of her and used his cybernetic eyes to scan her. Aside from some bruising and the bite mark on her shoulder, she seemed to be healthy. All of her organs were in good working order, and he was thankful to note she wasn’t pregnant. Judging by the scarring in her womb, even if the Meori hadn’t been able to breed with her, someone had been successful at some point. The haunted look in her eyes spoke of someone who had lived this life for a while. His heart ached for her, imagining the horrors she’d probably faced as a slave.

Wrylack pulled aside her slave tunic and studied the bite. It was deep and the tissue around it was badly bruised. The Meori who had tried to mount her had likely bitten her to hold her in place. Wrylack hoped she’d fought like hell. No one deserved the fate of being a breeder, especially to the Meori. He stood quickly and rummaged through the cabinets until he found what he needed. With a tube of livron gel in his hand, he sank to his haunches in front of her again. Wrylack squeezed the gel onto his fingers and spread it over her wound. She flinched at his touch, but didn’t lash out at him. He knew the gel would cool the angry wound first, then numb it within minutes. If applied regularly, the wound would seal in a few days.

“My name’s Wrylack and I’m a medic,” he told her. “I’m going to help you.”

“She’s useless,” the Meori said. “No sense in treating her. We’re just going to toss her out an airlock. I can’t take the chance that she would sell right away when we reach Alpha9 and I don’t intend to stay there long. She’s a waste of space.”

Wrylack growled and glared at the Meori. “You’re not tossing her out an airlock.”

The Meori rocked back on his heels. “You seem rather fond of her.”

“She’s a helpless female.” Wrylack wasn’t about to admit that he thought she was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen. Looking into her eyes, he wanted to be her hero. But he was just as much a captive right as she was. But then, if they’d met under other circumstances, how likely was it that she’d have let a cyborg get anywhere near her? Especially him with his strange-looking eyes.

“And females are precious to your people, aren’t they?” the Meori asked slyly. Wrylack wasn’t certain he liked the look on the Meori’s face. “Do what we say, and you can keep her. Consider her your reward for good behavior.”

Keep her? Wrylack hesitated and glanced down at the female. Her hair was black as pitch and hung in long curls down to her ass. The elfin face that peered up at him had eyes a beautiful lavender, a color he’d never seen on a human before. The female’s skin was pale as ivory and had felt soft when he’d administered the gel to her wound. He lowered himself in front of her again, bracing his fist on the floor, and leaning in close. She didn’t shrink away or seem scared of him.

Her gaze met his, steady. When he reached for her, smoothing her hair back from her face, she didn’t so much as flinch.

“Do you know what I am?” he asked.

“No,” she said softly.

“I’m a Zelranian cyborg.”

“Is that why your eyes are so different?” she asked. “They’re beautiful when they glow. Why do they only glow sometimes?”

Her voice was soft and mesmerizing, much like her.

“My eyes are cybernetic, along with my lungs and heart. My eyes glow when I’m doing a scan to check for injuries. I’m different, even from my people. Does that frighten you?” he asked.

Her gaze strayed to the Meori in the doorway before returning to him. There was a question in her eyes that she didn’t seem to want to voice. The Meori had mentioned her previous owner had used for her sex, and the Meori had intended the same. It stood to reason she would wonder if he would hurt her if they were intimate.

“I won’t harm you,” Wrylack assured her. “Unlike the Meori, Zelranians are compatible with humans.”

Her cheeks flushed but she held his gaze.

“If they throw you out of the airlock, you’ll die,” Wrylack said. “Space is cold and your organs will begin to freeze, assuming you don’t die from asphyxiation first. I won’t force you to be mine, but it’s the only way I can save you.”

It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that maybe she would prefer death. It saddened him to think she might feel that way, but there was something in her eyes that said she was a fighter.

“I’m Shaylee.” She smiled softly, seeming to accept that she was his now.

“Shaylee.” Wrylack reached for her again, smoothing his fingers down her cheek. “I will treat you well, this I promise.”

If you missed book one, Rescued by the Cyborg, you can get it here!

About the Author

Jess Feb 2018

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.

Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it.

Jessica loves to hear from her readers! You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website at jessicacoultersmith.com.

Want to be notified of new releases or special discounts? Sign up for her newsletter!

HEIDI AND THE ALIEN COP by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms

.Reading time 13 minutes.

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Heidi’s life hasn’t been easy since she dropped out of school at sixteen to have a baby. The worst mistake she ever made was moving in with her boyfriend Brent, who turned out to be an abusive bastard, but with no education and no job, there’s nowhere for her to go. Her life for the last five years has disillusioned her that happily-ever-after could possibly exist… Then he comes into her life.

When Raylic rushes to Heidi’s aid, the last thing he expects is to end up with house guests, but she and her small son, Shane, are just what he needs. They bring life to his monstrous home and make him want things better left alone. But the more time he spends with the little family, the more he wants to keep them with him forever. Even knowing Heidi is pregnant with another man’s child doesn’t stop him from wanting to claim her.

Heidi knows Raylic is one of the good guys, but can she dare trust her heart to someone again? He’s everything she’s ever wanted, but she knows wanting and having aren’t the same thing.

Available August 4th at Changeling Press

Pre-order for August 11th at Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Heidi hoped like hell that Shane had gotten out of the house. She hadn’t heard the door open or shut but prayed her little boy had run to safety and not stayed to help her. Despite his young age, he acted like her protector when his dad got mad, which was far too often.

She placed a protective hand over her stomach as she cowered in the corner of the room. Brent towered over her, his face flush from too much alcohol and the rage that was burning in his veins. It wasn’t the first time he’d struck her, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last, unless she finally managed to escape. But where would she go? Without a job, or friends, or family, only the streets waited for her and their small son.

“Everyone was talking tonight about how you’ve been whoring around behind my back,” Brent said, spit flying from his lips.

“Brent, please. You know how rumors are around here.” She swallowed the knot of fear in her throat. She’d learned the hard way that fighting back only made it worse. When she fought back, it pushed him to the point of nearly killing her, and she had to keep living to take care of their son. She couldn’t leave him in Brent’s hands. Either her boyfriend would kill him, or he’d turn her sweet boy into a monster.

“Stupid, lying bitch. Did you think I wouldn’t hear about it? I bet that brat in your belly isn’t even mine. Who’s to say the other little snot is mine either? You just saw a meal ticket and latched on.”

“Of course, it’s yours, Brent. They both are. You know I haven’t been with anyone else.”

He backhanded her across the face again, an explosion of pain ricocheting through her cheek and rattling her brain. Another blow landing in almost the same spot nearly knocked her off her feet. She had just braced herself on the wall when another fist pummeled her stomach. Heidi cried out, her hands clutching her belly, hoping he hadn’t harmed their child. She’d tried damn hard not to get pregnant a second time by him, but the condom had broken two months ago.

She saw his hand wind back for another blow and cowered down, but it never came.

“I know humans play by different rules, but where I come from, we don’t beat females,” a deep voice said with a hint of a growl.

Heidi’s eyes went wide as she looked around Brent at the purple alien with the badge clipped to his belt. Was he a real cop or one of those Terran guards? He knocked Brent’s legs out from under him, then pressed him face first onto the floor, wrenching Brent’s hands behind his back. Her drunken boyfriend was no match for the rather brawny guy manhandling him. The alien slapped cuffs on Brent, then pulled out a cell phone.

“Dispatch, this is Officer Raylic. Can you send a car around to pick up some trash I found beating a female?”

She didn’t hear what else was said as the room spun around her. Heidi sank to her knees and tried to process what was happening. Had someone really come to her rescue? How had he known where to find her? A small hand slipped into hers, and she looked into the terrified eyes of her son.

“Shane?”

“I found a police officer, Mama. He’ll take care of us, won’t he?” Shane asked, looking more troubled than a five-year-old had any right to.

“Are you all right?” the officer asked her.

“I don’t know. He hit me in the stomach and the face.”

Shane’s face scrunched up. “What about the baby?”

“You have a baby?” the officer asked.

“In her tummy,” Shane told him.

The officer cursed. Brent took his moment of distraction to rear up and lunge at Heidi, a murderous glint in his eyes. She jumped to her feet and lashed out at him, kicking him in the shin and hitting him in the eye. The officer made a grab for him and shoved him back down. Brent fell face first onto the floor, getting a mouthful of nasty carpet. Heidi had to admit that it had felt damn good to fight back for once.

Heidi approached her boyfriend. With a well-placed kick between his splayed legs, she had him howling and cursing her all at the same time. She felt a bit of satisfaction, knowing she’d caused him pain, but it wasn’t enough. She looked at the officer who regarded her with a bit of mirth for attacking her abuser.

“Want to have another go at him?” the officer asked.

“What I’d like to do is beat him over the head, with a cast-iron skillet, until he can’t ever hurt anyone again.”

He nodded. “I probably would get into a bit of trouble if I let you do that. But feel free to kick him again. It’s just his word against mine.”

She looked at her bare feet. “It might contaminate my foot if I kick him there again. I’ve always heard if someone accuses you of cheating, they’re probably the one with the guilty conscience. No telling where he’s put that thing.”

The officer chuckled a bit. “As soon as backup arrives to take care of him, I’m going to take you somewhere safe. We’ll stop by the Terran Station first though. I want our healer to look at you. As small as you are, he could have easily broken bones or caused internal damage.”

“Thank you for helping us,” she said. “No one’s ever helped us before.”

He frowned. “Have you called the police before now?”

She nodded. “The officer who answered the call said I was overly emotional and it was just a domestic dispute. He said if he got another call, he would haul both of us to jail. It was the first and last time I asked for help.”

“Asshole,” the officer muttered. “Do you remember who it was? I’ll make sure he’s written up.”

“Officer Clarke.”

He nodded. “I can see him saying something like that. Don’t worry. Your husband is getting locked up this time.”

“We’re not married,” she said.

“Good. Then you can make a clean break when he’s taken out of here today. Do you plan to stay in this apartment?” he asked, looking around.

She knew what he’d see. Cracked walls, stained carpets, and the ugliest furniture imaginable. The place reeked of mildew and piss, and unfortunately for her, the rent was past due. It might not have been much, but it had been home for the last year. As often as they’d been late, no way the landlord would renew the lease. Not that she could pay it anyway.

“Where are we gonna go, Mama?” Shane asked.

“I don’t know, baby.”

The officer tilted his head. “Go pack your things. I was going to take you to a hotel for the night to give you some time to think things through, but it sounds like you need a more permanent solution.”

“The rent is past due here,” she said. “I don’t have a job to pay for a hotel room. Could you take us to a shelter?”

“Don’t worry about the cost,” he said in a soothing tone. “Just pack your things and be ready to go as soon as possible. Don’t leave anything behind that you want to keep.”

About the Author

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now 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.

You can follow Jessica at:

Her website: http://www.jessicacoultersmith.com
Her blog: https://jessicacoultersmith.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacoultersmithauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kitcatjms

Sign up for her newsletter to find out about new releases, sales, and the occasional free book! http://eepurl.com/bwPvbT

RORY AND THE ALIEN GROOM by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 11 minutes.

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AMAZON / B&N / iTUNES / KOBO / CHANGELING PRESS

Humiliation burns through Zwyk as he comes to the realization his bride has left him standing alone at the altar. When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. He should have known someone as vivacious as his bride-to-be would never settle for a paper pushing, XBox playing geek like him. While his heart isn’t exactly broken, his pride is wounded, and his confidence has taken a hit.

Rory hates that she had to tell Zwyk her sister has run away instead of marrying him. Well, she hates the pain her sister caused. She can’t exactly say she’s sorry the wedding is off. Maybe now she can make Zwyk see what’s been right under his nose this entire time — her.

ABOUT THE STORY

We’ve all read jilted groom or jilted bride stories before. Usually the maid of honor, a bridesmaid, best friend, or best friend’s sister ends up making it all better and they ride off into the sunset. So what makes this story different from any of those? Besides the purple aliens…

Zwyk has always wanted one thing. To have his own family. A mate, children. Maybe a family pet. And he thinks he’s well on his way to achieving his dreams when he proposes to Brittany, only to be left stranded at the altar without so much as a goodbye. He decides love is too painful and gives up on his dream, determined to keep his heart from ever breaking. Enter Rory…

She’s spunky, quirky, and just what Zwyk needs. He’s always felt like he had to hide who he is when he’s with a woman. None of them have ever been impressed with his paper-pushing job, nor his love of Xbox. But Rory isn’t like the others. She’s a hardcore gamer with a degree in finance, every bit as geeky as he is, and she may be just the cure that Zwyk needs. And Rory is determined to get what she wants…

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EXCERPT

His poor game system was hidden away in the hall closet, banished there by Brittany along with two boxes of his games. He hauled everything out and started hooking it back up, petting the console and whispering words of contrition to it for his poor treatment the past few months. When it booted right up, he took that to mean he was forgiven for his transgression. Looking in the boxes of games was akin to opening presents on Christmas — a human tradition he’d embraced wholeheartedly — and he had trouble deciding what to play first.

There wasn’t a better way to dive back into things than to play Gears of War 4. His Xbox Live membership had lapsed and his account had been deleted, so he’d have to enjoy one-player mode for now. Hell, he didn’t even know if his gaming buddies were still around, assuming he could find them online after he made a new account. He’d just up and vanished on them three months ago. It was an asshole move, but Brittany had grabbed him by the balls. Well, figuratively, because she’d never gotten close enough to actually touch his balls. They’d kissed, but she’d always shied away when he tried to take things further, saying she wanted to wait for their wedding night. Now he had to wonder how much of that was bullshit. Had she detested him so much that she couldn’t stand to be touched by him?

The game had just finished loading when there was a knock at his front door. Zwyk set his controller aside and went to answer, almost dreading who might be on the other side. If word had already spread about his failed wedding, any number of his friends could be on the other side with an “I told you so” ready on their lips, or worse, a pitying look in their eyes. He almost didn’t answer, but something made him pull open the door.

His eyebrows rose when he saw who stood on the other side.

“Rory?”

She grinned and held up two pizza boxes while she pushed her glasses further up her nose. “I thought you might need sustenance after your trying day. It’s your favorite. Sausage and onion.”

His stomach rumbled and he stepped back to let her in. It wasn’t the first time she’d been to his house, but it was the first time they’d been alone. Was she feeling sorry for him? He’d have thought she’d be with her parents, trying to figure out where Brittany went. But then Rory had always seemed to follow her own rhythm. What was that Earth saying? Marching to the beat of her own drum?

He shut the door and followed her into the living room, where she set the boxes on the coffee table. He grinned a little, thinking about Brittany’s head exploding if she saw such a travesty. It gave him the sudden urge to leave rings and scuff marks on the pristine surface. Juvenile perhaps, but refreshing. It was like he’d been freed from a prison sentence, and if that wasn’t a sobering thought, he didn’t know what was.

“Whatever you just thought, stop thinking it,” Rory said as she opened the first box. “I figure we can just eat out of the box, but we probably should grab some drinks before I kick your ass on the Xbox.”

He blinked at her. Did she just say…

“Drinks?” she prompted then shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll get them.”

He watched, bemused, as she helped herself to his kitchen. She returned a moment later with a disgusted look on her face and two soda cans in her hands.

“Please tell me this is another Brittany travesty and you don’t actually drink diet.”

He coughed to cover his laugh, but he couldn’t deny that she amused him. “I’ll go to the store later and pick up some regular soda.”

“You should get grape too. It’s my favorite.”

He scratched his neck and wondered if that meant she planned to hang out for a while. Zwyk wasn’t quite sure what to make of Rory, but he was just going to go with it for the time being. He couldn’t really think of anything else to do. Retaking his seat on the couch, he grabbed a slice of pizza and took a huge bite before downing half the can she’d placed in front of him. The intro to the game blared from the TV speakers and Rory wiggled her fingers at him, snatching the controller from his hand.

“You eat. I’m going to play.” She grinned at him before turning her focus to the game on the screen.

Zwyk devoured almost an entire pizza by himself as he alternated between watching the comical expressions on Rory’s face and her annihilation of everything in her path on the screen. Her skill was rather impressive and her maniacal laugh as she took out the opposing force was amusing. Who knew such a pint-sized female could be so bloodthirsty?

“All right, killer. It’s my turn,” he said holding out his hand for the controller. “You’re pretty good, but it’s time to show you how the pros do it.”

AUTHOR LINKS

Website
Facebook
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Amazon Author Page
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jess-feb-2017

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now 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 out 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.

CELESTE AND THE ALIEN BARTENDER by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 15 minutes.

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Celeste and the Alien Bartender

Publisher: Changeling Press
Genres: Sci-fi Romance
Themes: Alien Encounter
Series: Intergalactic Brides (#8)
Length: 100 pages
Cover Artist: Karen Fox

BLURB

A desperate mother. A determined alien. And a romance neither expected.

Zanar has made himself a home on Earth, where he owns Stardust Bar, popular with both aliens and humans. There’s only one thing missing from Zanar’s life. Despite his best efforts to impress the human females he meets, he’s still without a mate. At the age of twenty-six, it isn’t imperative for him to pair off and start a family just yet, but he’s lonely and ready to settle down. The last thing he expects is for Celeste to come into his life and turn it upside down.

After having been abducted by an alien race five years ago, Celeste is back on Earth. She’s spent those years as a slave on the planet Vaaden, where she had a precious daughter with her owner, Pynder. But when Pynder dies suddenly, his parents swoop in and snatch Sophie from Celeste’s arms before banishing her from their world. Celeste will do anything to get her daughter back, but falling in love with a bartender — or anyone else — was never part of the plan.

 

PRE-ORDER LINKS (for January 27th release)

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com//dp/B01MUBRADS

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celeste-and-the-alien-bartender-jessica-coulter-smith/1125495115

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/celeste-and-the-alien-bartender

 

EXCERPT

“I didn’t know how fancy the hotel restaurant was,” Celeste said, smoothing a hand over her dress from earlier that morning. “Is this okay, or should I change?”

“You’re perfect,” he said softly, and she could tell he meant it.

Her cheeks warmed, and she took his outstretched hand, letting him lead her to the restaurant. Her mother trailed behind them, giving them some time alone. Celeste tightened her grip on Zanar’s hand as they entered the restaurant, which to her looked pretty swanky. The tables were draped with white tablecloths, and a single rose was in a vase in the middle of every table. The strains of a quartet could be heard even from the entryway.

“Zanar, I really think I should change.”

“Relax, Celeste. I think you look beautiful, and I’m sure every man in the room will agree with me. Stop worrying about what other people think.” He stared down at her. “Do you feel pretty in your dress?”

She hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

“Then that’s all that matters.” He smiled. “Never let someone else’s opinion dictate how you feel about yourself or others. Always be true to yourself and everything else will fall into place.”

“You truly believe that?” she asked.

“I do. But if makes you feel better, I would never lie to you. When I tell you that you’re beautiful, I mean it.”

She warmed at his praise and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her lips. She glanced at her mother and saw that Zanar was quickly winning both of their hearts. He really was almost too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere, but she hadn’t found it just yet.

They were seated and given menus. A waiter appeared almost instantly to take their drink order and then vanished as silently as he’d arrived. Celeste was a little overwhelmed with the menu choices, and worried when she didn’t see prices listed. It might have been a long time since she’d been on Earth, but even she knew that meant the place was expensive. She didn’t know how much a bartender made, but this seemed like an unneeded extravagance.

“Zanar, maybe we should go somewhere else.”

His eyebrows rose. “You don’t see anything you like?”

“It’s not that.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth.

“I think what my daughter is trying to say is that this place is too expensive,” her mother said. “After being off world for so long, she’d be just as content with fast food as she would shrimp and lobster.”

“I see.” He smiled a little. “If you’re worried I can’t afford this place, don’t be. I may not be as rich as some of my friends, but I’m not hurting for money. The Stardust does good business and I own my house, so I don’t have to pay rent or a mortgage every month. I also own the bar, so aside from the usual monthly expenses it doesn’t cost much to keep the place going.”

Her mother nudged her. “In other words, he’s a good provider should you decide to give him a chance.”

Zanar cleared his throat, and his cheeks flushed a darker purple. She found it charming that her mother could unnerve him. Even when she’d lived on Earth, it hadn’t been often that she’d seen a man blush. She’d figured someone in his line of work had seen and heard everything and wouldn’t be flustered by much. Somehow, it made him a little more human to her, even though she knew there wasn’t a drop of human blood in him.

“What brought you to Earth?” Celeste asked.

“My brother is a rather revered warrior on my world, and so is my father. I do well enough in combat, but my talents lie elsewhere. I can take a failing business and make it thrive in a short amount of time, but there’s not much use for that skill on my world. When I saw that some of my people were settling on Earth, I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than being at home.”

“So, you left your family behind?” her mother asked.

“I still speak with my parents on the Vid-comm rather frequently. What do you humans say? I was the black sheep of the family. While I miss my family, I know that my time is better spent here. At least on Earth, I have a chance at finding a mate.”

“I’ve read articles about the Terrans,” her mother said. “There’s a shortage of females on your world, right?”

He nodded. “My generation has been all male. We don’t understand exactly what happened, but it’s been necessary to find females outside of our race to ensure our survival. Humans are the most compatible.” He smiled. “And the most beautiful.”

“How exactly did the Terran stations come about?” Celeste asked. “So much has happened since I’ve been gone. When I was captured, I didn’t even know aliens existed, and now you’re walking among us, running businesses, getting married. It’s almost too much to take in.”

“My planet made an agreement with Earth’s government. In exchange for our protection should Earth be attacked, we were allowed to open a bride exchange in different locations around your world. Women would take a series of tests, were paid a fee, and then were shipped to my world where they would find a match.”

“And the stations were where those tests are administered?”

“Yes, and they were also where the shuttles would land and take off. Things evolved quickly, and our stations grew, with more and more of our males coming here. Now it’s common to find my kind on your world, and it keeps the monsters at bay. A few friendly alien races have reached out to us and Earth to share in the bride exchange and negotiations are still ongoing. Some races have already been accepted, and you may see them from time to time at the different stations, but they don’t roam the cities as much.”

It seemed so surreal to Celeste. When the Vaadens had taken her and she’d woken as a captive on another world, it had been a complete nightmare. It was hard to imagine living side by side with other alien races, and living in harmony. She supposed it only made sense that not all aliens were alike, just like all humans weren’t. Thinking that Terrans and whatever other races were out there were the same as Vaadens wasn’t fair. Zanar was proving that some aliens could be trusted.

“So, you only have one brother?” her mother asked.

“Yes, and we’re very different. Ryx is a few years older than I am, and he’s very serious about his position on my world. He claimed one of the first humans to be part of the bride program, and they seem happy enough. Unfortunately, they haven’t had children as of yet, which I think frustrates him.” Zanar shrugged. “I think my parents are now relying on me to make them grandparents. It’s the one thing my mother wants most.”

“Are you actively seeking a mate?” her mother asked.

“Not exactly. I’ve been on dates since coming here, but I just never clicked with anyone. We’d share a meal and then go our separate ways.”

Her mother smirked. “Handsome guy like you, I’m sure there was a bit more to it than that.”

He flushed again. “Yes, well… it’s been quite a while since I’ve been with a woman. I decided I was finished with casual sex and would wait for my mate, however long it took to find her.”

“And are you getting any closer to finding her?” her mother asked.

His gaze zeroed in on Celeste. “I think I may be.”

 

PLAYLIST

1.       Snakes on a Plane by Cobra Starship

2.       I’m Gonna Be by The Proclaimers

3.       Blank Space by Taylor Swift

4.       Marines’ Hymn by Madison Rising

5.       Give Me Novacaine by Green Day

6.       Picture to Burn by Taylor Swift

7.       Cool Kids by Echosmith

8.       Applause by Lady GaGa

9.       Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

10.   Timber by Pitbull & Kesha

11.   Lips are Movin’ by Meghan Trainor

12.   The Monster by Eminem

13.   Whistle by Flo Rida

14.   Wild Thing by Tone Loc

15.   Love the Way You Lie by Eminem

16.   Scream & Shout by Will.I.Am

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.

Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it.

You can find Jessica on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.

BEAUTY AND HER BEAST by Jessica Coulter Smith

.Reading time 8 minutes.

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Purchase Links:

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Maggie Miller has lived a hard life. She’s been on the streets since the age of sixteen and has learned the hard way how cruel men can be. Despite the fact that she knows nothing is ever free, when alpha wolf Zach Drake offers her a hot meal and a place to clean up, she cautiously accepts. After not having eaten for days, the thought of food that doesn’t come from a dumpster is too good to pass up, no matter the consequences. It wouldn’t be the first time a man suggested she pay with her body.

Broken wolf Zach Drake is appalled to find the small, stuttering woman living in a box behind the town bar. With dirt smudging her face, she could be anywhere from barely legal to thirty, but none of that matters to the insistent wolf in his head that is begging him to take her home. The thought of anyone harming sweet Maggie is enough to send him into a rage, but he holds himself in check as he coaxes her into his truck and back to his house. It’s the first time his wolf has seemed happy since they lost their mate twenty years ago, and Zach isn’t ready to let go of the sensation just yet.

EXCERPT

Zach snarled at the woman who approached him. It was a dark night for him, the one day of the year he dreaded most. Several buxom beauties had approached, but he’d sent them all running. Monster. Beast. He’d heard the whispers and didn’t much care. No one could understand the pain he felt every day. His brother and sister-in-law tried, but even they gave him a wide berth when he was in one of his moods.

Between the two brothers, Weston was the one everyone fawned over, the one ladies dreamed of when they lay down at night. Zach was the nightmare parents told their children, the story of how not to live your life. As alpha of his pack, he held his position more from fear than respect.

A braver woman than the others settled on the stool next to him and ran her finger down his bicep, a sultry smile on her lips and a world of promise in her eyes. She was attractive in a fake, made-up sort of way. Her hair was teased and styled to fall in chaotic curls past her shoulders, but the honey blonde of her hair was as fake as the rest of her, the dark roots a testament to the time she spent at the salon.

“What do you say you buy me a drink and we can get to know each other better?” she said, licking her lips.

“I have a better idea. You can take your hand off my arm and scurry your fake ass back over to your table of friends.” His eyes narrowed on her, and he showed a bit of fang. It was enough to make her blanch, and she nearly toppled from the stool as she ran away.

The bartender sat another beer in front of Zach.

“You’re going to scare off my best customers tonight. Any other night you’d have taken that woman up on her offer, hauled her into the alley, and had her suck your cock. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t.”

Zach shrugged. He wasn’t about to tarnish Delfinia’s memory tonight of all nights. Sexual pleasure was the last thing on his mind. He sipped at the cold brew in his mug. He really wasn’t the heartless bastard everyone thought. Zach loved his brother, and he loved his sister-in-law. In some way, he loved every member of his pack, even if he didn’t always show it. What he couldn’t do was fall in love, not ever again. Losing Del had killed part of him, and it was a piece that would never heal and never be replaced.

He tipped up his mug and drained every drop before slamming it down on the bar. Even though this was his favorite place in town to hang out at night, it just wasn’t the place to be right now. After a few days had passed, he’d come back, and he’d be in a better mood. Maybe then he’d be ready to take up the blonde’s offer and haul her into the alley like the bartender had suggested. For now, it was better for him to take his ass home and be miserable alone.

He could snarl at everyone in a few days just as well as he could today, but maybe his wounds wouldn’t be quite so painful then. Fake it ‘til you make it. Zach had lived every day of his life that way since Del had been ripped from his arms, and he’d continue down that path until he either became so nasty that the pack rallied to take him down, or until a miracle happened and some light finally shone in his dark world.

Anything had to be better than merely existing.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now 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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