I'm thrilled to present the cover art for the fourth book in my paranormal romance shifter series!
Book four of Blood of the Pride
P.I. Rebecca Desjardin is surprised when two seemingly unrelated
missing-teen cases land in her lap on the same day. Her cat-shifter instincts
tell her there's more to the story, and when she uncovers a bitter feud between
the two families, she suspects Romeo and Juliet runaways. She turns to her
lover, Brandon Hanover, a man who knows the underground better than most.
Brandon is
determined to help the woman he loves outwit ruthless enforcers and bring two
missing kids to safety, but when a woman from his past resurfaces he finds
himself caught between two worlds once again.
As the claws come out and the war between the shifter families turns deadly,
the two will have to stand together or fall separately—and even that might not
be enough to save them.
Book 4 in the "Blood of the Pride" series comes out in October but here's an excerpt to let you know what you're in for with Brandon and Reb!
*****
I’d always thought I’d appreciate
the sight of a near-naked man scampering around my house in a pair of boxer
shorts.
Until now.
I cleared my throat as Jake Middleston glared at me, his
back to the kitchen. He had about ten years on me, with skin that had been left
out in the sun too long. The jean jacket he wore over a dingy gray T-shirt was
ripped along the arms—honest injuries and not for fashion. His short-cropped
black hair was turning gray in spots, scattered over the scalp.
His nostrils flared and he frowned.
He could smell Brandon Hanover, my lover and new roommate,
as Bran snuck into the kitchen.
He let out something akin to a huff.
Jake was old-school Felis. Tolerated humans when necessary,
and even then under duress. He and his kin believed in the doctrine of each to
their own and being in the same house as a human was tough, much less knowing
said human was mated to me, a fellow Felis. I could see the words on his lips
itching to break out, a good old-fashioned racist rant at me for being so involved
with human society that I’d consider one of them as my beloved.
I had a snappy retort ready to go, curses included. My home,
my rules.
But he was also a client and I had to stay polite in the
face of old-fashioned prejudice. I’d done it before for other clients, slimy
adulterers who wanted an easy way out of their marriage and itchy-fingered
businessmen looking for criminals in their midst who stole paperclips and
pencils.
If you had asked me six months ago if I’d have my fellow cat
shifters as clients I would have laughed in your face. Being outcast for two
decades has that effect on me.
But recent events had brought me back into the family and
scored me one hot human mate, so I was prepared to deal with family as possible
clients. And keep my mouth shut.
Besides, I needed the cash.
“You said you needed my help,” I prompted, trying to draw
his attention away from Bran. I couldn’t see him but I could smell him, fresh
from our bed upstairs.
He hadn’t showered yet, making his natural male smell more
intense, almost to the point of overpowering—let’s just say that we enjoy
waking each other up multiple times before we actually get up. I’d managed to
get into the shower before my arranged meeting with Middleston but he’d
refused, showing his stubborn streak and annoyance at me having anything to do
in the morning other than stay in bed.
Bran knew we Felis had an enhanced sense of smell. And he
knew I knew my new client would have it, as well.
The older man rubbed the palms of his hands on his jeans,
likely in an attempt to ignore the musky scent drifting across the room. “I
have a daughter, Lisa. She’s almost eighteen and thinks she knows it all.” He
gave me a knowing smile. “As you can guess we disagree on a few things.”
I nodded. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Bran
tiptoeing toward the stairs cradling a huge bowl of tortilla chips and a bottle
of salsa.
He knew I hated crumbs in bed.
He knew I couldn’t say anything without making a scene.
*****
You can pre-order "Battle Scars" now from
Amazon and
B&N! I hope you'll come along for this next installment of Brandon and Rebecca's strange and sometimes stressful relationship!
Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.
