Due to the noxious gas covering the planet, she can’t conceive a child, and the Council, determined to repopulate the planet, have ended her third—and most precious—relationship. They insist she pick a new mate and try again, but she’s sworn off love and the possibility of ever having a real family.When a ship from the thriving planet of Urslat crashes on Zerris, Marlee rescues the ship’s daring captain, Tyris. His ship is grounded, winter is setting in, and he won’t survive without help. She offers him a deal…he can live with her if he pretends to be her mate so the Council will leave her alone.Tyris agrees and a hungry desire sparks between them as they battle the harsh winter and primitive conditions. Their attraction grows, and soon, keeping their distance becomes impossible, even more challenging than the snow, the Council, and, for Marlee, the risks of a real relationship.Will she risk her heart one last time for a chance at her dream? Or will Tyris be her undoing?

    When she is rescued by a tall, attractive alien and taken to his planet, her only wish is to return home. After all, she cannot possibly tie herself to a barbaric alien whose race thinks that a man can simply throw a woman over his shoulder and claim her for himself – even if this ‘Neanderthal’ does arouse feelings in her that she would never have believed possible. When Marruk, the Prince of the Arr’Carthian, rescues his daughter from slave dealers, the last thing that he expected was to find a woman who makes his laboriously controlled heart beat again. However, his honour forbids him from leaving a defenseless woman in the hands of ruthless slave dealers, so, for better or for worse, he does have to take her with him, but he will definitely not touch her. After the death of his mate he had sworn that he would never give his heart away again. But the petite woman with the unusually fair hair puts his self-imposed abstinence fully to the test.

    He walked with a quick sure step. There was no hesitation or sign of injury in his pace. Strength, power, and command were evident in every stride he took as he moved closer to the truck. This was a man to be obeyed. Fiona shivered.’Fiona is in hiding from an abusive stalker. Her life changes forever when she witnesses the crash landing of a group of alien prisoners, known as Hunters. She helps the injured and goes on the run with the Hunters as they elude the government agencies that are pursuing them. She grows to trust Ardal, as time and again, he proves that he will do anything to keep her safe.Ardal is the leader of a unit of Hunters. The elite alien warriors have been deemed dangerous and ordered executed. His decision to escape sends their ship plummeting to earth. When Fiona risks her life to help his men, Ardal swears to protect her. The last thing he expects is to be attracted to Fiona, especially when it is forbidden for a Hunter to mate.

    But Ankari Markovich needs a few archaeological samples for her latest business venture, a venture that might prove lucrative enough to move her family off the impoverished planet where she grew up. Unfortunately, she has no sooner collected her samples than she’s captured by a band of brawny mercenaries. The captain might be handsome, but he’s intent on turning her over to some finance lord who has, for reasons unknown, put a bounty on her head, a ridiculously large one at that. If she can’t figure out a way to escape before she’s delivered to the lord’s home world, she could be forced into a life of indentured servitude—or worse.Captain Viktor Mandrake doesn’t usually take on piddling bounty hunting gigs, but when his intelligence officer informs him of a criminal on a nearby planet, he decides it wouldn’t hurt to take a shuttle down to collect the woman. But Ankari Markovich is trouble from the start, nearly eluding his elite forces, then fighting and tricking his people left and right. He finds himself admiring her spirit, but according to her warrant, she’s a criminal. The safest thing is to keep her in the brig and ignore her until she can be handed off to the man who wants her.But the situation grows more complicated when other bounty hunters show up, wanting to claim Ankari for themselves. Thanks to this woman, Viktor’s ship is in danger, his crew members are going missing, and he’s fighting enemies he never asked for in a jungle in the middle of a hurricane. He’s either going to strangle Ankari… or fall in love. Either scenario could get him killed.Mercenary Instinct is a full-length, stand-alone novel of 90,000 words. It is part of the “Mandrake Company” series of science fiction romance stories and is recommended for readers who enjoy space-based adventure (such as Firefly) and steamy love stories (in the style of Linnea Sinclair).

    It is a bonus scene from Escaping Fate, Veredian Chronicles Book 1 told in Lhor's POV. Please read Escaping Fate first to fully enjoy this bonus scene. EXCERPT Her sultry voice stirred the embers, deep in my gut, of a fire I had not felt in years. The same powerful connection struck me when our eyes met. My skin tingled and my pulse perked up. Her throat worked and her pupils dilated. She quickly looked away, breaking the bond. Goddess have mercy.

    Humans look like they are compatible but if they find out the secrets of his kind they will refuse to send them mates. Lista needs money for her mother's operation or she will die. Her sister has volunteered her to be a bride for an alien. If she wins the mating game she will be free to keep the money and return home. Can she outwit him or will he claim her heart before it's game over? Note: For mature readers only.