by Zoe Chant
Partner. DJ and Echo go on a series of missions, from undercover escapades at an excruciatingly elegant diplomatic party to a desperate battle in a terrorist compound. Their relationship grows stronger under fire... until they’re confronted by a terrible choice. A full-length novel.
Mated to the Meerkat, by Lia Silver. Jasmine Jones, a curvy tabloid reporter, meets her match— in more ways than one— in notorious paparazzi and secret meerkat Chance Marcotte. A romantic comedy novelette.
Anchor, by Jorrie Spencer. The arrival of a young fugitive wolf is nothing new for Angus, the alpha of Wolf Town. But Mala, the dreamwalker following the boy, is extraordinary. He’s not only drawn to the dark-eyed beauty, he’s driven to protect her.
The Strength of the Pack, by Jorrie Spencer. Seth Kolski, a werewolf, hides his heritage and passes for normal. Until he meets Jamie.
Taming the Beast, by Honey Dover. Beauty is a paranormal investigator. Whatever her job throws her way – ghosts, zombies, or werewolves - she can handle. Until she's hired to deal with a man cursed to become a monstrous beast. Helping him recover his humanity will change her life.
Claimed by the Wolf, by Candi Jackson. Zenobia Jones ends up pregnant after a night with a billionaire—and learns he’s a werewolf, landing herself in the middle of a war between werewolf packs. Now, as the mother-to-be of his heir and successor, she has no choice but to flee her old life and stay close to Grant in his mansion—and his bed.
The Right Bear's Arms, by Nora Eli. Curvy Katie knows exactly what she wants, and it's not a bear shifter. After a sizzling one night stand with Jake, Katie realizes her perfect man is everything she's tried to avoid. If they can both stop running from their pasts, they may find a destined future together.
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Lauren Esker. Curvy farm girl Julie Capshaw was always warned away from the wolf shifters next door, but Damon Wolfe is the motorcycle-riding, smoking hot alpha wolf of her dreams. Can the big bad wolf and his sheep shifter find their own happy ending? A full-length novel.
Handcuffed to the Bear, by Lauren Esker. A bear-shifter ex-mercenary and a curvy lynx shifter searching for her best friend's killer are handcuffed together and hunted in the wilderness. Can they learn to rely on each other before their pasts, and their pursuers, catch up with them?
Discovering the Dragon, by Sofia Stone. Reporter Chloe Martin is investigating Lancaster Gold for unsafe working conditions, but along the way she finds herself tangled up with the oldest son—Isaac Lancaster, a notorious playboy and heir to billions. Now they’re both trying to sort out truth from fiction; can they trust each other enough to make it work?
Special Sneak Preview
Bodyguard Bear (Protection, Inc. # 1)
By Zoe Chant
As Hal Brennan drove to the police station, he couldn’t stop wondering about his new client, Ellie McNeil. What sort of woman was brave or crazy enough to agree to testify against Wallace Nagle, Santa Martina’s answer to the Godfather? That man practically ruled the city.
Hal would have understood it if Ellie had been a criminal herself, desperate to cut a deal to escape prison. But according to Gutierrez, she was an ordinary citizen— a working woman, a paramedic on the late shift. She must be terrified. She was probably regretting her decision already.
He pulled into the police parking lot and went into the station, half-convinced that he’d find that she had changed her mind about testifying and gone home.
Watch Commander Gutierrez waved at him, then indicated a door. “She’s in there.”
Mildly surprised, Hal headed for the door. He had to duck his head to go in. Most places weren’t built for men his size.
Ellie McNeil sat with an empty paper coffee cup in her lap, her head lowered, her hair hanging forward to hide her face. She seemed to have dozed off in her chair. Everything about her posture spoke of utter exhaustion, which didn’t surprise him. She’d worked all night, then witnessed a murder and nearly gotten killed herself, and then had been questioned at a police station for eight hours. Talk about a rough night!
He couldn’t see her face behind a tumble of curling dark blonde hair. It was a pretty color; it reminded him of clover honey. Her practical paramedic uniform didn’t conceal her generous curves. Though her shirt and pants were cut loosely, Hal could see the shape of her wide hips, her plump thighs, and her lush breasts. She had exactly the sort of body he liked: big and soft and curvy.
With thinner women, Hal always worried that he’d hurt them by accident. They seemed so fragile, especially given how big and strong he was. Besides, he didn’t like how bony they felt. But with a woman like Ellie, big and voluptuous, he wouldn’t have to worry about anything but whether she was enjoying herself as much as he was. Besides, he liked the way curvy women felt. He imagined running his hands over the gentle swell of her belly, the delicious weight of her breasts, the silky softness of her thighs...
Hal forced himself to stop that train of thought right there. He’d come to protect her, not to hit on her. The fact that she was incredibly hot was completely irrelevant. Unfortunately.
He cleared his throat. “Excuse me.”
“Wha—” Ellie jumped, her head jerking up. So she had been dozing.
Hal stepped forward, holding out his hand. “Hi. I’m Hal Brennan, your bodyguard.”
She pushed her hair out of her face and looked up. Their eyes met.
The force of the contact nearly knocked Hal backwards. It was an earthshaking, heart-stopping jolt of recognition.
Mine!
The roar of Hal’s bear was so loud that he half-expected Ellie to have heard it. But of course, she hadn’t. She just sat there, her head tilted quizzically, her kissable pink lips parted in a smothered yawn.
Everything about her was perfect, from her snub nose to her ocean-blue eyes to the sprinkling of freckles on her upper arms. He knew nothing about her other than that she was a paramedic and beautiful and sexy and incredibly brave, but he loved her already.
Holy shit, Hal thought. She’s my mate.
He was nearly overwhelmed with joy. There was the other half of his heart and soul, sitting right there in front of him. If he took a single step forward, he could sweep her into his arms, kiss her and caress her, and never let her go. They’d be together forever.
If Nagle didn’t kill her first.
Hal was jerked from happiness to a protective fury in the blink of an eye. He’d finally found his mate, and the most powerful crime lord in the city was trying to murder her.
He knew then that he’d give his life to protect her.
“Mr. Brennan?” Ellie asked. “Are you feeling all right?”
Hal was jerked back into reality. Ellie was peering at him, looking concerned. God knew what sort of weird impression he’d just made on her.
“Yeah,” Hal said shortly. He couldn’t think of anything but getting her away from Nagle, immediately. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Oh, good.” She stood up, then swayed wearily.
Hal caught her elbow, steadying her. Her arm was warm and soft in his hand. “Easy. I know you’re tired. You can sleep in my car.”
Ellie straightened, rubbing her eyes. “I’m not that tired. My apartment is only about ten minutes from the station.”
Hal shook his head as he began to lead her to the door. “We’re not going to your apartment. You have to get out of the city.”
She stopped abruptly, pulling her arm out of his grasp. “I’m not leaving the city. Didn’t the watch commander explain that to you? He said he was assigning someone to protect me here, in Santa Martina.”
Hal turned to look her in the eyes, trying to convey how serious he was. “First of all, I’m not a police officer. I’m private security.”
She looked dismayed rather than relieved at that. “You’re a security guard?”
“I’m not a mall cop,” Hal replied. “I run an elite private security company. We provide bodyguards for politicians and celebrities— and private citizens li
ke you. Nobody’s ever been hurt under our protection.”
“Oh. Well, great. Then you can protect me right here.”
“No!” Hal exclaimed. “I have to get you out of the city!”
Ellie’s blue eyes narrowed, reminding him that she was one tough woman. “Mr. Brennan, can you protect me or not?”
Hal gritted his teeth. Of course he could protect her— he’d showed up expecting to guard her right there in Santa Martina. But that was before he’d known that she was his mate. His instincts, not to mention his bear, were roaring at him to not merely stand between her and any possible threat, but to get her far away from anyone who might try to harm her.
“Because if you can’t,” she went on, “I’ll talk to the watch commander again and ask him to assign a police officer.”
“I can protect you,” Hal said immediately. “But you’d be a lot safer if you left Santa Martina.”
“I already had this conversation,” Ellie replied. “I’m not going anywhere. I already ran through my sick leave this year. If I take off for more than a couple days, I lose my job. Anyway, I thought no one ever got hurt under your protection.”
Take her home and keep her safe, Hal’s bear demanded. Grab her and carry her away to the forest!
I can’t do that, Hal replied. But I will take her home. To my home.
“All right,” Hal told her. “I’ll guard you here. But you can’t go straight to your apartment. I need to have my team check it first.”
“Check it for what?”
“Hit men. Bombs.”
“Oh.” The delicate skin of her throat bobbed as she swallowed. He could see the fear under her cool exterior, and it made him want to kill the men who had frightened her.
He laid his hand on her shoulder. Touching her, even through cloth, gave him a surge of desire. It was hard to do nothing but keep his palm there, comforting and still, when he wanted to scoop her into his arms, kiss her, and hold her safe and tight.
But she’d shown no sign of responding to him the way he had to her. She wasn’t a shifter— she knew nothing of mates. He had to give her time to get to know him. In the meantime, he’d be professional.
“I swear, I’ll keep you safe,” Hal said, willing her to believe it.
Ellie let out a sigh and leaned into his hand, as if she liked having it there. Then, to his disappointment, she pulled away. “So, do we go to a hotel?”
“No. We’re going to my place. I have a guest bedroom.”
“Why not a hotel? Security, again?”
Because I want to welcome you into my home, Hal thought. Because it’ll make me feel safe knowing that you’re in my lair, where I can protect you.
Fishing for a reason that would make sense to her, he said, “Yeah, security. And...” His gaze fell on the empty coffee cup. “It’s got a cappuccino machine.”
For the first time, Ellie smiled. It was like the first bright burst of sunlight on a cloudy day. Sure, it was at the promise of coffee rather than at him, but he’d take it. “Cappuccino, huh? Lead on.”
Click to keep reading Bodyguard Bear.