Bøger af Nicola Claire

Ever wondered how the Norm War started? Now's your chance to find out. This Christmas Special Novella (approx. 23,000 words) from Michel's POV is set between DREAMING OF A BLOOD RED CHRISTMAS and DARKLIGHT. A sweet surprise full of a few Kindred secrets, wrapped up in a Michel package, just in time for Christmas."Lucinda smiles that soft smile of hers, the one that tells me she has a secret. I would die a thousand Final Deaths to know all of her secrets. I have caused a thousand more to keep them secret for her. I had not realised that love could be so beautifully brutal until I met Lucinda. I had not realised a vampyre could love to such a degree at all."It's Christmas and something is troubling Michel Durand. His Kindred cannot feel it. His line of master vampires do not sense it. The Iunctio Council is blind to its draw. But Michel knows something dark and dangerous is approaching.And then the Norms - the humans - start a war.In this quick glimpse into the Kindred World, we see Michel as we've always loved him. Powerful. Sexy. Hungry. Masterful. Commanding. Alluring. And in love with the Kindred who stands at his side.A short story to say thank you from the author of the Kindred Series. Enjoy! And thanks for loving Michel & Luce as much as I do.

[Start Recording]The stars have shifted and my mission along with them. I rescued the black-ops agents and sent a message to the Admiralty, but no plan survives contact with the enemy, right?The more I try to complete the mission, the more it feels like I'm failing at the one thing the Originators asked me to do for them. And to make matters worse, things back on New Earth are getting grim.My prime directive puts humans first. But the humans controlling my home planet are deadly and corrupt and it's messing with my processors. I'm not sure I can do what's right anymore.I'm not sure what is right. And the one line of code that should give me the answer is glitching.I'm a third-generation artificial intelligence out of New Earth, though; I can fix this.But I'm also not so sure about that anymore, either.[End Recording]

When a Heat Wave hits town, a Crime Wave always follows.Someone is stealing pets in Northland, New Zealand. And Doubtless Bay's resident kooky, private investigator is put on the case. It's not what she normally investigates, but in order to pay the bills - and buy more donuts! - Summer O'Dare is willing to take on any job that pays.Just as well, because the police are too busy investigating something else; something Summer's 'Honey Bunny' - Detective Danvers to those who don't know him, and Detective Douche to those who do - isn't telling.With this many secrets flying around town, you'd think it would be easy for Summer to keep her own counsel.But add in a ferret-loving goth guy who can see the dead, a real estate agent who scares the beekeepers out of Summer and her friends, and an arch-enemy who has her sights set on Summer's beachside property, not to mention Summer's hot date, and secrets start unravelling all over the place.Just as well she's got a few tricks up her sleeve. And a penchant for donuts. But can Summer keep them? Her secrets, as well as the donuts. Or will the world finally know Summer O'Dare for the freak of nature she truly is?A fast-paced cozy mystery set in Northland, New Zealand from Amazon Bestselling Author Nicola Claire.

It's the last hoorah for the Harpy, but things are looking pretty grim.With near to a thousand sleek-looking alien battleships massing beyond the Belt, Kael and the crew have a fight on their hands.But when an opportunity presents itself for an infiltration of the alien space station producing the drones bombing Zenthian planets, Kael dons his Deep Space Operative hat again and does what he does best.Blowing things up with a little help from his friends.Outgunned and outnumbered, facing two wars on two different fronts, and a courting process that includes a fight to the death; you'd think Kael would have enough to worry about. But there's something else. Zenthia's past is coming back to haunt it, and their ghosts aren't opposed to using whatever they need to achieve their objectives - including New Earth.Either Kael and his crew come up with a miracle to stop one war and win the other. Or all is lost. No one ever said life in the stars would be easy, but does it have to be this hard?

You wanted more? Well, here it is! A Christmas Special Novella (just over 16,000 words) from Michel's point of view, set after the end of book eight in the Kindred Series: Kiss Of The Dragon. A sweet surprise full of a few Kindred secrets, wrapped up in a Michel package, just in time for Christmas. "When I look at her, I see the strong, independent, courageous woman I have always seen. The sexy, confident, alluring hunter she was the first day I watched her handle a stake. The love of my life. The very air I breathe. The very blood that fuels my veins. She is everything to me. And not once when I look at her do I see anything other than perfection." It's Christmas and Michel Durand has a lot on his mind. His kindred Nosferatin, his role on the vampire council; the Iunctio, and now a visitor long thought forgotten. Life is never simple for the five-hundred-year-old vampire, but would he have it any other way? In this last quick glimpse into the Kindred World, we see Michel as we've always loved him. Powerful. Sexy. Hungry. Masterful. Commanding. Alluring. And in love with the kindred who stands at his side. A short story to say thank you from the author of the Kindred Series. Enjoy! And thanks for loving Michel & Luce as much as I do.

Two hearts. Two souls. And they have chosen.Ellie Durand had no idea what she was getting herself into when she agreed to leave her home in Auckland with Hakan Bahar, a Vampire Prince of Mhachkay. Telling herself that she'd do anything to help her twin brother, Luc, she blindly stepped through a portal to wherever the hell he was taking her. But no sooner had she arrived in Istanbul than the infuriatingly sexy vampire disappeared. Right after her brother. But Éliane is a Durand. And Durands don't give up.They also never show fear. Never give an inch. And always stay on guard.Armed with a sword, two silver stakes and an attitude most would be wise to steer clear of; Ellie sets out to find both her brother and the vampire who has stolen her heart. But time is running out, her need to join to a kindred vampire is approaching, and more monsters are crawling out of the shadows, hunting Ellie.Two hearts. Two souls. And they have chosen.But what and who will Ellie choose and will it be enough to save her?

The crew of the Harpy are back and this time they're armed for a battle.Half the known systems want to kill them. The other half wants to be them. It's hard trying to save the universe when the universe can't make up its mind.But when a gap appears in the Belt enticing every known species to peek through to the other side, things go from bad to worse.And that's not even taking into account the rogue Originator Class vessel out of New Earth.Secret science stations, nimble gunboats, and a missing High Councillor; you'd think the crew have enough on their hands. But there's more. The hack code that took out Zenthia Actual, the seat of the High Council of Zenith, is homing in on the crew of the Harpy. And it's as if it knows who they are, where they are, and what sort of threat they are to its goals.Either Kael and his crew keep one step ahead of their enemies. Or they get stomped on. Nothing like running for your life in a universe falling apart.

'Oh, this was sweet torture. To be this close to nirvana and walk away because I am coy. I closed my eyes tightly and swallowed down my fears. Theo wanted me. Like this. He craved me, in any way he could get me. Even if I wasn't his, even if this all was torn asunder tomorrow, how could I not take the chance to feel this, to share this, with him? Even if just for a moment.'For the past year Casey Eden has nurtured a crush on handsome, confident and slightly arrogant Theo Peters. For the first time in her life she's actually been able to flirt with a man. She even believed he was about to take their delicious flirtations to the next step.But then things changed.A pit full of dirt.A preternatural world she never knew existed.And a fire of passion ignited deep inside her heart.Now, they are sworn enemies, their attraction to each other a bitter-sweet temptation that will only lead to heartache in the end. But there is more for Casey to be worried about than forbidden love. Her world has been turned upside down and inside out, and now she has to find out who and what she has become. To do that, she must walk a dangerous tightrope between desire and reality. But reality for Casey includes a calling to the Earth and a longing for Fire, not to mention those who become aware of her will do anything to get what they want. And she soon begins to realise nothing will ever be the same again.

"You do realise," he whispered, his hand reaching up to brush my hair from my face. He began twining a strand around one of his fingers. "That you are my most magnificent obsession." Magnificent obsession. I think I liked that. I certainly understood it. He was mine too."Confronted with yet another curve ball, Lucinda finds herself in Álfheimr at the mercy of the Dökkálfa. And the Fey have unusual rules, rules which even the Dark Fairies like to stretch. Throwing herself into the political machinations of her hosts, Lucinda must negotiate her release. But what could the Dökkálfa monarch want that would mean Lucinda's freedom?Never one to have the patience for politics, Lucinda must adapt to new environments and new challenges, not just from the Fairies, but from all sides now. An old enemy rises to do more harm than good, forcing Lucinda to confront depths of loss she thought long buried. Struggling with her physical well-being, battling a political world that is now her home, and working against a powerful, devious and underhand enemy, Lucinda must draw on all her Light to succeed. However she is not alone. She is watched over by the spirit of a dragon. But everyone knows, the kiss of the dragon is as lethal as its flame.Part I of this series is complete and includes the following titles: KindredBlood Life SeekerForbidden DrinkGiver of LightDancing DragonShadow's LightEntwined with the DarkKiss of the DragonDreaming of a Blood Red Christmas (Michel's POV)Bridging the two parts of this series is the following anthology title: Never Show FearPart II of this series continues with the following title: Darklight"WOW! AN AMAZING END TO AN AMAZING SERIES. A MUST READ FOR ALL PNR AND UF FANS. THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITES AND I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NICOLA CLAIRE IS NOT BETTER KNOWN, IN MY OPINION HER BOOKS ARE JUST AS GOOD AS, IF NOT BETTER THAN THAN OTHER GREAT AUTHORS SUCH AS PATRICIA BRIGGS, CHLOÉ NEILL, ILONA ANDREWS AND J. R. WARD." LISA (GOODREADS #132 TOP REVIEWER) "OMG. I HAVE LOVED THIS SERIES FROM THE START, AND THE WAY EVERYTHING WAS ALL WRAPPED UP IN THE END WAS PHENOMENAL...NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT OTHER STORIES NICOLA HAS OUT THERE." KYRA DUNST (AUTHOR OF SEVERED BONDS)"PERFECT. JUST PERFECT. LOVE FINDING NEW AUTHORS TO ADD TO MY LIST." MICHELLE BOOKLOVERFOREVER (GOODREADS #24 TOP REVIEWER)

"You are my most magnificent obsession, Lucinda. My treasure. My saviour. My heart. I care not if the Bond chooses to remind me of this fact. I wish never to lose that knowledge again. It is a small sacrifice to have it work its wonder."After battling possessed shapeshifters and reanimated corpses, Lucinda Monk-Durand thought she could handle anything thrown at her by the Old Gods.After all, she's a vampire hunter by birth and Kindred to the Champion of the Iunctio.But Apep, God of the Underworld, is not finished using her in his eternal war against Ra. And he has allies that are capable of such horrors.As a new group of supernaturals moves into Auckland City, storm clouds gather overhead, blocking out the Light. Earthquakes abound as a snake is seen slithering through the shadows. And something so very precious is stolen from our girl.Evernight is here, and it brings with it Luce's worst nightmare. She's only just got him back, and now the Lord of Chaos has struck a blow to her heart.But Luce has gods-given gifts and has just received another. These paranormals don't know what's about to hit them ... if only she can trust the gifts, of course.

'Birdsong was the first thing I registered. The sharp caw of a parrot, but there was more than one. And somehow they overlapped to make a beautiful symphony out of what should have been an unmusical sound. I grinned; the feeling of my lips tipping up was foreign. How long had it been since I last smiled?'Casey Eden has had her life turned upside down and inside out, just when she thought it was going somewhere. Thrust into a new and dangerous world, and not knowing who to trust, Casey has to push herself to be stronger, harder, and better than she has ever been before. To top things off, she's now battling with her new Elemental powers alone, and living thousands of miles away from home.A forest wreathed in power.A dangerous world full of predatory beings.And a passion for Fire even the soothing scent of Earth can't calm.Faced with a corrupt and rotten group of powerful beings, in an environment which calls to her soul, but lashes out unexpectedly to trip her up, Casey must dig deep to traverse the hurdles before her. But to do that, she has to embrace an old lesson of belief. A lesson her dead grandfather taught her, which now carries an entirely different and ominous meaning. But she soon begins to realise anything is possible when you choose to believe.

Join familiar, much-loved characters and gain an insight into the KINDRED WORLD with this enthralling anthology of short stories! Included in this collection of exciting tales from the kindred are the following titles and points of view: ON THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL (Amisi's POV) "Nosferatin," he says, and imbues it with power, with his Sanguis Vitam. It calls to me. I dance and spin, and he laughs, and something in his aura sings; a song it has sung before but not for centuries. It is sad and joyous, lonely and complete. It changes everything. . . THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (Michel's POV) "I lost our daughter," I say with as much dignity as I can muster. Which, in the face of an irate Nosferatin, is very little dignity. I can sense the silver in her jacket's pockets. I can sense Lucinda's need to reach for it. I do the only thing I can think of. I step closer to the danger and swallow the distance between us. "Ma douce," I say softly. . . LET THERE BE LIGHT (Luc's POV) I watch for a few more moments and then step out of the shadows. If Zahra is not aware I am here, then I will eat my stake in a heartbeat. Delaying this meeting only makes me appear weak. Never show fear. Even if it's fear of the woman who entwines your soul with hers, and who threatens to entwine your heart along with it. . . HOME SWEET HOME (Yves' POV) I am alone, but not unarmed. I carry two silver stakes - my most prized possessions - which I wrap my sweaty palms around inside their pockets. My heart beats too fast, and it takes everything in me to remember what I have been taught and to slow it. I stand still in the shadow of a patisserie's stoop and breathe in a measured cadence. The vampire stills too, all but invisible in its shadow. It waits; a patient hunter. . . NEVER SHOW FEAR bridges Part I of KINDRED which ends with DREAMING OF A BLOOD RED CHRISTMAS and Part II which begins with DARKLIGHT.

This one is from the heart; a thank you to all my readers; a sexy, seriously naughty, delightfully twisted novella about redemption, forgiveness and love. Oh, and it involves a very long chain and a man who knows how to use it. Enjoy! - Nicola Claire "I sometimes wonder if life had gone differently would I be a different man? It's hard to say. I can't imagine being any other way. I am who I am and I relish it. I breathe the air I want to breathe. I drink the wine I want to drink. I touch the flesh I want to touch. I am in control of my world and no one can tear it asunder." Ethan Keen lives by a certain set of strict rules. Secrecy and discretion are paramount. And memories must stay locked away in a mental drawer. It makes him hard and uncompromising. It means his role as Superintendent of South Auckland Police is kept clean of all that taints his private life. It means he hasn't spoken to his daughter in six long years. And then a new pet arrives. On his doorstep, eyes downcast, face serene. Her grace is exquisite. Her silence a siren call to his soul. Her surrender is his undoing. But also his salvation. For his sweet Haydee, he'll break his rules. For his sweet Haydee, he'll remember. Wild passions ignite in a twist of heat that sears them both together. And for Ethan, nothing will ever be the same again. NB: This delicious erotic companion novella to the H.E.A.T. series is a stand-alone story. You do not have to read any of the previous H.E.A.T. books to enjoy this hot & sizzling adventure. However, events in this book take place during A Touch Of Heat and may contain plot spoilers.Ethan is a Dom who takes what he wants and delivers unending pleasure in the form of controlled release. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

To survive, she must become one of them. To thrive, she must become the best.The walls of Dökkálfa have ears.They have ears and they whisper. And what they have to say can be chilling, but not all fairies hear them. Only those blessed by the Old Gods.And the one they call Skilja. Separate.Kara Middleton wasn't always a fairy. Heck, even now, she couldn't be called completely Fey. Because the Queen of Ljósálfar made her what she is and what she is...is frightening.A monster.But there is one fairy who is not afraid of Kara and the devastating power she wields as if her very own. For he, too, hears the whispers of the castle walls.And what they tell him is intriguing.But everyone knows, you should never catch the eye of a fairy.Especially if the fairy is the Dökkálfa King.FEY TOUCHED: SEASON ONE was originally published on Patreon as an episodic series. This much sought after tale in the KINDRED UNIVERSE is now available for anyone to read in book format. A full-length novel of approximately 65,000 words, this is the first of many seasons in this new spin-off series to the much-loved KINDRED/MIXED BLESSING MYSTERY WORLDS. Enjoy!

To survive, she must become one of them. To thrive, she must become the best.Something is rotten in the realm of Dökkálfa. And it has nothing to do with their newest fairy.But try as she might, Kara Middleton - former human and current member of the Dark Fey - can't find the root of the foul magic that is consuming her adopted homeland.That's the trickery of magic, though; it can hide its face so very well.Evil stalks the Dökkálfa, but can Kara uncover its secrets in time to save the one fairy she loves the most? Or will the spell cause unimaginable damage to her, to Aliath, and to all of Faerie?It's hard being different, but maybe Kara's difference is what will save them all.At the very least, she'll go down fighting ... and kicking ... and screaming ... and ... tearing her hair out.

"The moment you entered my world, you set it alight. Until there were no more shadows left to hide in."Abi Merchant has been on the run for five long years. Panic and paranoia have been her constant companion. In an effort to survive the tortured memories of her past, she's had to live within her mind. But five weeks into a new identity and new location Abi knows her past has caught up with her. That itch between her shoulder blades and that bullseye she imagines on the centre of her back have returned. During one last ditch effort to escape a fate worse than death she meets him; a handsome, mysterious stranger who dwells in the shadows. Hiding just like she is, in plain sight. But can she trust him? Ben Tamati is following her for a reason. Abi just doesn't know if it's the same reason that has had her running for the past half decade or not.A constant threat of capture and a life lived on the run finally wears Abi down. Attempted abductions, shoot-outs in back alleys, frantic and drastic evasions, determined police detectives and passionate gun-toting investigators all culminate in a showdown with Abi's past. A past that she has to face in order to discover who she really is in the end. But can she find the courage to confront the one man who has never stopped hunting her? And can she draw her shadow man out his shadows, just as he has drawn Abi out of herself?Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"I wanted to tell him I loved him. I wanted to touch his cheek, tip his lips down to mine. I wanted to look in those beautiful blue eyes and see my love reflected back at me. But I knew it was all a lie."Time heals all things, they say, but it can also wear them down. Even if time, to an immortal, is but a fleeting thought. Faced with an eternity of wear, Lucinda Monk, vampire hunter by birth, confronts the hardest challenge of her everlasting life.A marriage that has been worn down by time.Such a simple thing, and yet, the Prophesied never once thought her relationship with the most powerful vampire alive would become mundane. That was for Norms. Not them. Not the golden couple of the Iunctio Council.But life has a way of throwing curveballs at you, and Lucinda must don her catcher's mitt once again, or risk losing everything she loves.This time, though, she has allies and power, and decades of experience walking the treacherous halls of the political arena that is a supernatural life. Just as well, because nothing is as it seems, and soon Luce discovers a mystery with far-reaching consequences, and the possibility of devastation on a scale never before seen.But she has allies and enough power to face off against anything . . . doesn't she?

His whole body jerked against mine, his arms tightened and a low growl mixed with a decidedly sexy moan came from the back of his throat. I could tell he was having an instant response to my biting him, I could feel exactly where his mind had taken the moment to. I gasped at his reaction, thinking this was having way more of an effect on him than me. And then the taste of his blood hit my tongue.Working as a bartender at the most popular club in town, dating a handsome, sexy and ever so slightly mysterious Englishman, Georgia thought her life was finally going somewhere. Then one night a rogue vampire caught her unaware, introducing her to a nighttime life she never knew existed. Trusting no one and finding it hard to forgive the one man who could have warned her, but didn't, Georgia fights to retain her humanity. All the while fighting her attraction for the one who let her down. But with some hard and fast rules, an iron will and determination, plus abilities that make her a commodity to any who traverse the nighttime world, Georgia must find a way to remain true to herself and not give in to the seduction of the Dark.But the Dark is so appealing and her vampire-within so strong. Can Georgia resist temptation, in all its glorious guises and still be true to her Light-filled side? As she'd say, this really sucks!

"Have you been a model Citizen today?"Selena Carstairs has been raised an Elite. She lives the life of privileged luxury, never wanting for anything. Respected. Admired. Honoured.But life is not what it seems...The island of Wanmei has a strict set of rules. Be a model Citizen and all will be rewarded. Disobey the law and the consequences are dire. For Selena, the urge to defy is in her blood. Out of boredom? Or something else? But she never knew just what penalty she'd have to pay for her latest stunt.Trent Masters is a Citizen, born and bred. The leader of a small group of revolutionaries desperately trying to free their beloved city of Wanmei. He knows a world exists beyond the island's borders. He knows a life exists without the heavy handed manipulation and tight fisted control of those in charge.What he didn't know was that an Elite would have more chance of challenging the Overseers who control Wanmei than a rebel ever could. And he certainly wasn't expecting her to capture his heart as stealthily as she moves under the darkness of a hot and humid night.Citizen versus Elite. The battle has begun.

"Life is not meant to be easy. It's a challenge you have to rise to every single day. We've all got demons inside us. We've all got secrets that could drag us down into an abyss." Infiltrating the enemy has never been a problem for Charlie Downes. She's spent the past ten years pretending to be someone she's not, all in the name of crown and country. New Zealand may be a small South Pacific nation, but there is nothing trifling about its security taskforce. And her employer, despite being a shadow dwelling organisation, takes security of its state very seriously. But her latest assignment on home soil is set to be her most challenging. Pitted against a private security firm with skills - and operatives - both unexpected and surprising, Charlie finds out more than she bargained for. And the truth will indeed enlighten. But can she remain emotionless when the hunter becomes the prey? And can she ignore how being hunted makes her feel? Because the moment she lays eyes on Adam Savill everything changes. Her assignment. Her objectives. Her entire world. And if Adam has his way, Charlie will be changed forever. International espionage. Counter terrorism. Mob syndicates. And drug cartels. Everything clashes in this exciting penultimate instalment in the Sweet Seduction series. And as Charlie and Adam chase down the enemy, dodging bullets and emotions, all the while fighting their explosive attraction to one another, secrets are revealed that shock them all. For knowing her secret could get you killed. And Charlie Downes' secret is most definitely lethal. Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"What was wrong with me to antagonise a vampire of his standing to such a degree? I knew I had become too rebellious, too sure of my own place in this world. I was aware that Dark had been encroaching, that I played so often in its shadow I was losing sight of the sun, of my Light. There were times when I truly felt consumed in anger, for all that had happened, for all that I had suffered and lost."Leaving Auckland and moving to London, Lucinda has to learn new rules and assimilate into a new life she has no love for. Rebelling against everything that just doesn't seem fair, Lucinda upsets not only the new Master of the City, but the local shapeshifter pack as well. Not to mention her fairy liaison and the Iunctio itself.Vampires demand her attention and covet her power. Fairies demand her compliance and seek revenge. And the shapeshifters; it's any one's guess what they want, but Lucinda is sure that she's registered on their radar, whatever their radar is set to detect.A dreary, Gothic, monstrosity of a house, a Nosferatin partner whose scared of the dark, too many rules and too many obligations and things are beginning to fall apart. But Lucinda is a fighter and fighting for the innocents in her city is not all that she is determined to do. She'll fight for her freedom and for the Light - even as she slowly realises just how far she is already entwined with the Dark.Part I of this series is complete and includes the following titles: KindredBlood Life SeekerForbidden DrinkGiver of LightDancing DragonShadow's LightEntwined with the DarkKiss of the DragonDreaming of a Blood Red Christmas (Michel's POV)Bridging the two parts of this series is the following anthology title: Never Show FearPart II of this series continues with the following title: Darklight"THIS SERIES IS HANDS DOWN, ONE OF MY FAVORITES. LUCINDA IS STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, EVEN WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMS TO BE GONE. MICHEL IS SWEET, AND POWERFUL, AND COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO HER. I THINK I EVEN LIKE HIS VAMPYRE/DRAGON SIDE AS MUCH AS THE MAN. THE CHARACTERS, EVEN THOSE THAT ARE IN THE BACKGROUND, ARE WELL WRITTEN AND SPECIAL. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THE WHOLE SERIES TO ANYONE WHO LOVES VAMPIRE AND SUPERNATURAL STORIES." KYRA DUNST (AUTHOR OF SEVERED BONDS)"MELODRAMA AT ITS FINEST." MICHELLE BOOKLOVERFOREVER (GOODREADS #24 TOP REVIEWER)

"I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks at his words. Spoken so carelessly, but with such shameless intent. He knew how I felt. How I had been feeling. How lost and alone and full of grief my days had been. Avery was not a friend. Not even a trusted acquaintance. But he understood what I was going through. Even if he didn't have a compassionate bone in his entire buffed body, he knew what I had suffered. I didn't have to justify my behaviour to him."Walking out on her life and hiding in the only place she can think of that the Iunctio - the vampire governing body - and in particular, the Champion, can not find her, Lucinda faces eternity alone and on the run. Heartbroken, bereft and quite desolate she hides in amongst the lowest forms of vampire society. Doing what she can to keep the innocents safe, while denying herself the support she desperately needs to recover from such personal losses.A saviour of sorts arrives, but can he be trusted? Avery Rousseau has only ever been interested in himself. But the handsome, arrogant and always so well-put-together vampire does seem to care. At least he offers a distraction from the heartache and loss. Lucinda battles with her inherent mistrust of the one vampire who understands what she is going through. But should she allow him inside her crumbling walls?More than just vampires stalk Lucinda though. There is a fairy who claims she is his one true love. Lucinda is called to his Light, she can't help reaching for it, but to do so could have everlasting consequences she may not be prepared to face. As time runs out - first with the Iunctio, then the Ljósálfar - Lucinda must do what she has to do, to survive, before her heartache breaks her in two.But memories plague her, her mind starts to play cruel tricks and slowly reality begins to crumble, taking a once strong and confident Nosferatin down as quickly as a predator catches its prey. And now, there are just so many predators, Lucinda may not stand a chance at all at avoiding being their prey.

'I watched as he comprehended what it was that he saw on my face, in my eyes. And I watched as a part of him shut down, locked away from me forever. And I hid the fact that my heart was breaking even as I lied to him, even as I broke his. And I swore I would never let him know otherwise, or I would truly be lost and the war would be over.'Surviving Paris and the Iunctio has left a jagged mark on Lucinda's soul. Now she must stay under their radar and out of their sights. But that's not all she has to worry about. Lucinda's life is spiralling out of her control. There are those who want to shackle her under the guise of protection and love. If she is to have a chance at fulfilling the Prophesy, she must break free. But, to do that is to cross a line. One she had never thought she would.With her personal world becoming more complicated and her powers growing by the day, Lucinda has to take on even more responsibility. Helping out the Master of Wellington City with an increasingly alarming human vigilante problem. Split between Wellington and Auckland, her kindred and her pull toward the vampire who wears her mark, Lucinda has to dig deep to stay true to the Light within and not give in to the seduction of the Dark.And then, there are the shapeshifters and her best friend Rick. Things are changing, relationships twisting and Lucinda has to face it all while battling to stay in control. Control that she feels is slipping through her fingers as surely as blood drips from an open vein.

"There are times when I truly believe humanity will not survive." Some of the last words spoken to Detective Lara Keen by her Criminal Investigations Bureau partner Carl Forrester before he died. They have haunted her ever since. With a spate of murders to solve, a tip-off about suspicious activities in a popular sex club, and the return into her life of the one man she never wanted to trust again, Lara's world becomes darker and much more sinister indeed. Having to rely on HEAT, Hauraki Emergency Assistance Team, Chief Investigator Damon Michaels in order to discover the reason behind a grisly body in a car boot fire just proves how disturbing Lara's life has become... on so many levels. But with Carl's wise words in her head and a gut instinct many detectives would long to have, Lara is determined to join the dots before the killer strikes again. And if she has to get up close and personal with her new hot HEAT partner to achieve that? Well, that's just what good detectives do. A sexy, sizzling crime-thriller sure to add a flare of heat to your night.

Freedom has a price tag...Trent Masters had always known he'd do anything to keep his Elite safe. He'd promised he would, and if there is anything the former rebel leader is good at, it's following through with a promise. He'd just never realised his promise could bring so much pain...Wánmei is now free, but it is no longer alone. Allies and enemies encroach from all sides, but staying on the island that once lived behind invisible walls is impossible. In order to keep their freedom, and free those they once discarded, the Citizens of Wánmei must fight.Lena Carr has learned to roll with the punches, but having almost lost Trent, to the sadistic machinations of an oppressive regime from across the waters, she knows leaving the safe harbour of Wánmei could prove costly.But just how much is the Elite willing to pay?Citizen versus Wiped. The battle gets costly!

"I crave to be near you, Kelly. And I have since I first laid eyes on you in Sweet Seduction's store. I can't explain it any other way. I was drawn to you, like the gravity of the sun. I didn't want to fight it, I wanted to, even if only briefly, say it was mine."Kelly Quayle has always been a good time girl, finding her thrills wherever and whenever she could. But the reality of her lifestyle hits her hard one morning when she wakes up in a stranger's bed. With no recollection of how she got there or what happened when she did, she decides a shake up of her life is in order. But cutting ties with the five guys she regularly sees is harder than she thought.Especially one.Lately, Drew Kline has been turning up in all the most unexpected places. Namely, on each of Kelly's dates. Somehow he manages to waylay her; grab her attention and steal her away for himself. Or maybe, she just lets him. In any event, he's sabotaging her style. But with a posse of men to be rid of and the mess that has become her life, Kelly must first hit rock bottom, before she can even attempt to see the light in Drew's eyes. Ex-lovers who would rather use their fists instead of words, thrills and excitement, illicit hook-ups, heartbroken friends and a man who can't help but try to reach inside and save those parts of her he sees shine. It all makes for a turbulent time. And just when Kelly thinks she's made it out the other side, another saboteur enters her life. Will Kelly let Drew save her? Or will she revert to her old ways? Or will they even get a chance to find out? Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"You can be scared of something, even terrified, and still have the courage to do what's required. I would not let my fear rule me. I would do what I had to do to put this right."As the leaseholder's daughter, Adriana Price holds a position of importance onboard the AUS Aquila. But not everything is as it seems.Death and danger have followed her from Old Earth, and Adi soon finds herself facing threats from every which way onboard the spaceship.Teaming up with the dashing and heroic Captain Hugo Tremblay, Adi finds a strength inside that defies the devastation and horror closing in from all directions.Courage and chivalry explode like supernovas, but can the civilian and captain truly win against an out of control, lethal artificial intelligence?And can any of them hope to survive the treacherous voyage to New Earth unscathed?When humanity reaches for the stars in a race for survival, only the most daring amongst them will succeed.

"Marie, I want to be a part of your lives. Not just a satellite. Not just a fading star. I want to be your sun. And I want you to be mine."Five years is a long time to hide from your greatest fear and biggest regret. Ask Marie Cox, she should know. She's developed an icy shield of confidence to ensure no ones sees her hidden angst. But her dangerous and dirty past comes back to haunt her when everything is torn asunder with the determined and sexy Detective Sergeant Ryan Pierce walking through her door. And he won't let her get away with anything.Battling her returning dread, and fighting her instant attraction to a cop with his own demons but a pure heart, Marie faces the biggest challenge of her life. And this time, there's more at stake than just her survival. A precious five-year-old secret both Marie and Ryan would give their lives to protect in the end.Tattooed henchmen on her trail, high-speed car chases through inner city streets, gunshots, kidnappings, fierce male bodyguards and even more assertive female friends, Marie has something the bad guys want. But will it be her downfall in the end? Or can her knight in shining armour protect her? And will she let him?Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

One bite. One drop. Two hearts. Two souls.Éliane Durand is entwined with a Prince of Mhachkay; something she didn't even know was possible until recently. But that's not all that has the daughter of the Champion worried. Her brother is still missing. Her father's spymaster along with him. And something has corrupted the Light Fey. A moment to catch her breath would have been nice, but the instant she steps foot back on Earth from Faerie all hell breaks loose.With a side order of megalomania and a liberal coating of familial dysfunction.Armed with a sword, two silver stakes, and a take-no-prisoners attitude, Ellie faces her greatest battle to date. But if she doesn't hurry and reach her twin brother first, Lucien's life could be forfeit. The clock is ticking, and the Dark is rising. But there is more at play here than even Ellie realises.And now two swords.Ellie, though, is not alone. And as the ultimate confrontation draws nearer, she finally realises just what it means to be enchanted. Her blood. Her life. Her upbringing.All of it has led to this moment. But can Ellie pull off the impossible and save all those she loves? Or is there a price to pay for being Blood Enchanted?

Nicola Claire's captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century - brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector...Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.But society is not ready for a female surgeon.Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna's downfall.Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he'd rather you didn't know.But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.This is not your average historical romance. You'll find no bad-boy earl deflowering his virgin lady here.It's gritty and twisted, authentic and a little dark. It's Whitechapel meets early settler New Zealand, Jack The Ripper mixed up with Suffragettes.It's the type of historical romance I've always wanted to read, but could never find.It's real. It's Victorian. It's shocking.It's the true and sometimes devastating vagaries of love.And like Jack, it will rip you apart in the end.But it is a love story... mixed up with a whole lot of mystery and death."I've really been missing out. Nicola can lay her writing hand to anything she imagines. Her use of language is realistic and sympathetic to the era... Incredibly well written!" Carlene Barton (Sweet Street Seducer Reviewer)"Nicola Claire has the exceptional talent of bringing her fictional characters to life and of making them seem real to her readers. [...] In fact, I love Anna's character. She is a strong (perhaps even willful) woman who will not compromise her beliefs even when it is to her detriment." Amie Gaudet (Amie's Book Review Blog)"I loved this book. I'd even go so far as to say it's a top read of 2015. From the very start, it was a whole new world, and a huge learning experience. Words, speech, appearance, behavior, laws, everything was new, yet old at the same time. Nicola did an utterly fantastic job interweaving elements of history with her patented brand of love, mystery, and danger." Jamie Webb (Sweet Street Seducer Reviewer)"Nicola has a way with words and storytelling that truly captivates the reader and drags you into the beautiful worlds that she creates." Open Book Society