Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Jen Colly in the interview chair. Learn more about Ms. Colly and her series The Cities Below, a paranormal romance. Check out the latest release Night Stalker, book six. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

“Secrets, demons, lovers and murder… Who can you trust?”

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1.  What is something unique/quirky about you?

Jen:  Probably the oddest thing about me is that I’m a wallpaper girl. I love wallpaper. My entire home, every room, is done in some variation of antique or stylized wallpaper. On purpose. White bricks covered in deep green ivy is in my laundry room. A distressed red with golden woven vines covers my living room. A raised, white art deco pattern is in the kitchen. Faux mosaic tile with dolphins in the kids bathroom. I could go on and on. The artistry makes me happy. It was a massive undertaking, and I can proudly say that I’m the nut who installed it all by myself.

2.  Where were you born/grew up?

Jen:  My parents were married in jeans and white T-shirts in a state park in Colorado. I was born in Colorado, but at 6 months old, my parents moved us to a small town in Northwest Ohio. I’ve been here ever since.

3.  What are you passionate about these days?

Jen:  Writing, editing, publishing! Now that I have full control over my series as an Indie Author, it has been so liberating to see my books out there the way I envisioned. Romance is certainly at the core, but these stories revolve around political upheaval, life altering choices, demon attacks, betrayal, and so much more. At long last, the covers reflect what’s inside, and they have truly breathed new life into the series, and into me. A thousand thanks to my Hot Stuff Hubby for creating all my covers, redesigning my website, and taking my new author photo. He has been truly amazing.

4.  What do you do to unwind and relax?

Jen:  In the summer…sitting on the front porch, drinking a cool beer, and snuggling the Porch Monster. The Porch Monster is a huge, striped tabby cat that showed up one rainy morning. I dried him off and fed him. Now he guards my porch. From anyone and anything. Except me.

In the winter…honestly, we all kick back as a family and throw in a couple half hour comedy shows. The kids each get to pick a show. My babies are now 19 and 13, and that they want to hang around with mom and dad at the end of the night for an hour is a blessing.

5.  How do you find time to write as a parent?

Jen:  It was definitely difficult when they were little, but as I now have a whole adult and a teen, everyone is self-sufficient. They rarely need me. The girl will still ask mom to kill a wasp, and the boy will still ask to go for a walk down the road, but I am no longer needed as I once was. And now I’m crying.

6.  When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Jen:  That would be when my beta-reader Hubby handed me the very first round of edits for In the Dark. The amount of red marks on the page made me burst into tears. Thankfully, he got me to calm down, told me the concept of the story was good and I just needed to take the edits one at a time. He was right, his edits were spot on, and I’m a better writer for having gone through that process. We’re still married, he’s still my beta-reader, but I took away the red pen.

7.  Do you have a favourite movie?

Jen:  I’m partial to musicals, but I’d never be able to pick a favorite. I do, however, have two go-to movies when I’m sick. Star Wars: A New Hope, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I can fall asleep on the couch and be comforted knowing exactly where I am in the movie when I pop back into consciousness.

8.  Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

Jen:  All of them, as I see them play out in my head, but the two that were the most vivid in my imagination are Beneath the Night and The Guardian.

9.  What is your writing mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

Jen:  A black panther, for no other reason than Cat has one in Beneath the Night. And it’s a pretty kitty.

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Title: In the Dark
Series: The Cities Below, Book 1
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Fate will not be denied.

Blurb: Faith should be crowned “Queen of the Wrong Place and Wrong Time.” Her impulsive, solo trip to Paris seems like a genius idea – until she loses her way back to the hotel. In the rain. At night. When the two men she flags down for directions shove her into the nearest alley, she fears the worst.

Soren was irritable. Not surprising as he’d held off feeding as long as possible. The thought of feeding from someone he knew turned his stomach, and so he ventured above to become just another body in the chaos of Paris. But when the cries of a female in distress reach his ears, everything inside him demands he protect her, and he is unable to hide the true nature of his species.

Soren has no choice but to keep her and bring her to his underground city. It doesn’t take him long to realize why he’d been drawn to Paris, to that street, that alley…Faith. She is the other half of his soul. Admitting the truth to her could damage the fragile connection they built, but when an old enemy, lurking in the dark attacks, they are separated. Now, he may never have the chance.

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At the scene before him, he shook his head. Faith lay sprawled on her stomach across his bed, her right arm folded over her heart, left arm pressed somewhere between her stomach and the comforter. The sight of her hair completely covering her face, her nose peeking out, almost made him laugh out loud.

Regaining his composure, he covered her with a blanket. He should have turned around then, walked away, found the couch and let sleep take him. Instead he remained there, smiling.

Something was wrong with her, or maybe him. He rarely lost his temper, and never with a woman. But he had with her. When he’d seen her running across the grass, his heart nearly stopped with fear. Steffen had been close by, ready to kill. Yet he remained thankful Steffen’s shift hadn’t ended. No one else would have recognized Faith.

Then he’d yelled at her. He hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but he couldn’t control himself at the time. She put him on edge. He’d been insanely jealous of  Steffen simply speaking to her, and ready to fight a council member over his right to keep her. She unhinged him.

Soren controlled the urge to brush her hair from her face. He wanted to lie next to her and pull her against his chest, and just hold her. As strange as it sounded, sleep held no appeal if he couldn’t have her beside him.

He couldn’t recall standing over a woman as he did now, wondering if she needed anything he could provide. Did she need another blanket? Had she gone to sleep hungry? What kind of daily rituals did she have? Would she mind if he lay beside her?

With a growl, he closed his eyes, and turned away from her. His instincts screamed at him, demanding he bind her to him as his mate. Those internal impulses always had a reason, a solid need for being present, but this time he couldn’t understand them. Faith already belonged to him. According to his laws, he could do anything he wanted with her, but it wasn’t enough.

If he mated her, she’d have to become vampire. It would be an all or nothing deal. She couldn’t be turned without being his mate, and she couldn’t be his mate without being turned. This kind of thing should only be considered if…

Most vampires mated, binding themselves to someone they loved. Rarely, though, did a vampire find their true mate. Histories and legends said the only thing more potent than the calling of the sun was the pull of your other half, the one meant to save you from death and give you life.

Staring at Faith, he couldn’t believe it possible. Not after all these years, not with a human.

Placing his hand on the mattress, he leaned closer, wanting to somehow test his theory.

Faith woke with a start as the mattress dipped, and rolled onto her back. She peered up at him, but her eyelids remained mostly closed, as if she were unprepared for the bright light of the room.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she mumbled, still half asleep and groggy.

“Nothing, get your rest.” He’d forced out the words, unsure if he lied to her, or himself.

She flopped back onto her stomach. Readjusting herself on the bed, she tucked her hands under her body. Before long, her breathing became even.

Soren pulled a thickly cushioned chair near the bed and watched her sleep. The possibility she was his one true mate could not be denied, but he would ignore that hope and be pleased with reality. She chased away the loneliness in his life, even if fate hadn’t handpicked her for him. Caring for her gave him a new purpose, a different reason to live.

****

Title: Bound
Series: The Cities Below, Book 2
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

His heart belongs to one woman, his life to another.

Keir didn’t exist. Not anymore. The Lady of Galbraith had saved him from death. Forever indebted to her alone, Keir had become her confidant, her spy, her assassin. He was her secret weapon against those trying to remove her from power. When Keir is ambushed by a pack of demons, he used the last of his strength to return home and warn the Lady of impending danger.

To say she was stunned when a dying man fell to her feet, was an understatement. For the first time in her life, Cleo acted on instinct and without hesitation – their lives now undeniably bound together. Her single act of benevolence left her reeling, confronted with the knowledge that a stranger had more care and consideration for her well-being than her own family. 

Political upheaval is sweeping through the city of Galbraith, splitting alliances and stoking discord. When Cleo is abducted, taken in retaliation from the side she’s chosen, only Keir can get her back. And he will, even if he must start a war.

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Heavy footfalls of a Guardian approached, and Keir vanished. He’d easily taken his Spirit form, moving freely without being seen, even among his own kind. The only downfall of using Spirit was the chilled air it created around him. It would tip off the Guardians to his presence. Backing away from Morley, he tucked his invisible self into the far corner of the cell.

The Guardian glanced left and right as he sped through, no doubt rushing his turn to check on the prisoners. He’d just passed the cell when his steps faltered in mid-stride. He backtracked, leaned closer, and studied the man on the floor.

“Quint! Morley’s dead!” He yanked the keys off his belt, fumbled through them. The cell door swung open just as Quint came racing down the narrow aisle, his freckled face flushed.

“It’s the same knife. Red rose on a white hilt. It’s him,” the Guardian whispered, glancing over his shoulder. “But he’s never killed in the dungeons.”

“Or slit a throat.” Quint motioned the Guardian into silence and brought a radio to his lips. “Captain? We have a situation in the jail.”

The radio buzzed briefly before the captain’s steady voice broke through. “Go ahead. What is it?”

“Cancel the execution. It’s already happened.”

“What?” the captain roared. “Who killed him?”

Quint stared down at Morley’s corpse. “I don’t know, but he was killed with a very familiar knife.”

Ten seconds of silence suddenly gave way to the captain’s controlled voice. “I’m about to enter a council meeting with an unexpected guest from Balinese. I can’t leave. Handle it, Quint.”

“Yes, sir.” Quint clipped the radio to his hip. “Seal the jail. No one goes in or out, including Guardians. I want a full head count first, Guardians and prisoners, then a thorough search.”

For nearly half an hour Keir watched the Guardians methodically check the jail from cell to cell, top to bottom. The captain’s second in command possessed an altogether entertaining tenacity when thrown into action. Keir hated to walk away, but the lady waited.

In his invisible state, he sent Quint a mock salute, then turned, moving through the jail without giving his path much thought. He’d been here time and again, and he’d be back. Blocked walls, iron mazes, and wasting life. Home, sweet home.

Keir skirted along the walls, keeping the cooler air of his Spirit clear of the Guardians. Often that chill could be felt nearly two feet away from his location. Being captured was not part of his plan. Best not to take the chance.

The stairs carried him away from the prison to freely search for Morley’s intended target. Galbraith was an oddly constructed city, the cylindrical structure diving deep into the ground with a dozen levels. Originally designed to separate nobility from the lower classes, it remained true to its purpose. The layout made finding Lady Arianne a simple task.

As Keir had just eliminated the need to execute Morley, the lady had no reason to make an appearance at the arena. Tonight being Monday, he scratched the chapel off his list. It wasn’t mealtime, which excluded the dining hall. By process of elimination, if she wasn’t in the council room, she’d be home.

Still cloaked in Spirit, Keir paused not far from the closed and guarded doors of the council room. Relentless bickering seeped through the doors. He cringed and turned away. Her home waited two floors above.

****

Title: Beneath the Night
Series: The Cities Below, Book 3
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Demons are not the only enemy among them…

Blurb: Waking from a seven year healing sleep should have been the biggest shock of Navarre’s night. It was not. The brave female standing before him was, without a doubt, his fated mate. That wasn’t the stunner either. She’d been sent here to feed him, to bring him back and restore his strength, risking her life to save his. Still, not yet the biggest surprise. What had Navarre reeling was her red hair. She was decidedly not his kind.

Cat had responsibilities. Five, to be exact. The children in her care were not hers, but she would do anything to protect them, and that meant staying in Balinese. The evidence of her mixed species was something she could not hide. As this city belonged to Navarre, only he has the authority to allow her to stay. Cat willingly faces her greatest fear, and with it, her past.

Beneath the night, a dark plot unfolds, and Navarre finds himself in danger of losing not only Cat, but his entire city.

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Her leg gave out, but she didn’t fall. Navarre swept her up in his arms, carried her into the storage room. He laid her on a fainting couch then left her to slide a chest in front of the door, a good move since the door only locked from the outside.

“Your plan worked great, you big idiot. You caught someone’s attention.” She readjusted her position, trying to ease the pain in her leg. “What good is this partnership if we both end up dead?”

Navarre knelt to inspect her leg. His brows maintained that worried crease. Not good at all. “It’s bad. You’ll have to feed.”

“I’ll live,” she whispered through clenched teeth.

“There’s a mangled hole in your thigh. You will feed. I…” His words faded, and she could see his thoughts were in turmoil. When he spoke, he seemed to have settled on a solution he didn’t like. “Whom do I call?”

She laughed, her voice sounding thin. “You want to call up Paris? Have them grab a drunk off the street.”

“Do you not feed from someone inside the city?”

A ragged breath left her, and when she sucked enough air back into her lungs, she said, “I don’t take from vampires. Never have.”

“You’ll have to. You’re in need of blood.”

Cat clenched her teeth, her fingers digging into the chaise as the pain in her thigh became intense, throbbing. “Vampires bite back. Not gonna happen.”

“Cat, sleep will soon seize you, shut down your body. I can’t lose you,” he said, the admission rushing past his lips. Her eyes held his, wide and searching. He was lord. He had no right offer his blood. Navarre took her hand in his, and whispered, “Please.”

She’d only taken from humans in the past, because they were weak, unable to turn on her, tear into her with their teeth. She didn’t believe Navarre would do such a thing, but the fear remained just the same. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

The second she denied him, Navarre pulled a single knife from her belt and made a vertical slit at the side of his neck, straight into his vein. In this condition she didn’t have the speed or strength to stop him, but she tried, wincing in pain as she sat halfway up.

Cat wrenched the knife from his hand, tossed it away. The blade clattered, metal on wood, to the floor near his knees.

Blood dripped down his neck and over his collarbone, seeped into his white shirt. Navarre pointed at his neck, a determination in his voice she had never heard before. “Feed or seal the wound.”

Navarre bent over her, his arm braced on the back of the chaise, leaving her to decide how to proceed. He couldn’t possibly seal his own wound, not where it was located, and she dare not let the lord of the city bleed out. He’d left her no choice.

She moved slowly, closing in on his vein, but when Navarre drew in a deep breath, expecting her touch at any moment, Cat flinched, pulled back.

He’d caught her sudden uneasiness and held her gaze. “I will not move unless you ask. I swear it.”

His promise eased her doubts. Cat’s cheek grazed his smooth jaw, and he tipped his chin up to give her better access. Slowly, she traced her tongue over the wound, sealing his skin.

Her senses perked at the taste of him, little things coming to the forefront of her awareness. He’d held his breath. Why? To keep from speaking? His arm was locked in place, holding back his desires, or maybe his nature, for her sake.

She hadn’t retreated after she’d healed his sliced skin. Her mouth a breath away from his vein, she was close enough to soak in the heat of his body. Cat brushed her lips over his vein, and he gasped, a response he clearly couldn’t help as he now fought to slow his breath. His pulse beat faster, calling to her.

She’d caused these reactions in him, and still he had enough control over himself to remain motionless, allowing her to explore. The power was intoxicating. How far could she push him? Would he break his promise?

She opened her mouth, allowed her teeth to graze his neck. He jolted slightly at the contact, but remained steady. Her eyes slid shut, and her head bobbed as sleep tried to pull her under. Cat forced her eyes open. She wasn’t ready to stop testing him, touching him. What if she did feed?

Subconsciously she must have already made her decision. The second the word feed traveled through her mind, she parted her lips and her teeth pierced his skin. He grunted as her teeth sank deep.

On that first drugging pull, she thought he would break his promise. His shoulders and arms shuddered under the onslaught of pleasure. She did nothing to help preserve his good intentions. Cat sidled closer, her fingers sliding into his long hair, holding him to her. She fit him, perfectly.

****

Title: Sheltered
Series: The Cities Below, Book 4
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

When the enemy is your mind, there is no escape.

Blurb: Bette feared the city, and for good reason. Valenna had become corrupt, targeting citizens with any substantial amount of wealth or power to their name. Her self-imposed solitary confinement caused her to lose track of time, and her sanity. She could no longer live this way. Only three solutions existed: allow Valenna to dictate her fate, die in the sun, or flee to the fabled city of peace. Bette ran.

Rollin was a Guardian. His job defined his life, the man he’d become, and his core beliefs. Everything he did was in service to the city of Balinese and the citizens within. When a terrified female crashed into his arms, begging for help, he did not hesitate. Everyone and everything seemed to frighten her, except Rollin. He took her home, and once safe under his protection, she began to flourish.

Problem was, in her plea for sanctuary, she claimed a demon chased her toward Balinese, but none had been found. His affection for her grows rapidly, as does his concern over her lie. Then, the arrival of a demon forces Rollin to question his beliefs, his place among the royal family, and the motives of the woman he so lovingly sheltered.

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His shift was nearly over. Rollin drew in a deep breath, savoring the fresh night air. Of all the posts he’d rotated through, picking up the slack for other Guardians, filling in where needed, the gate was by far his favorite. Though standing beside Ivan for the entire night had challenged his patience.

“Not much longer,” Ivan warned quietly, his connection with the rising of the sun much stronger than Rollin’s.

A muffled cry suddenly floated through the night from the forest before them. Both men froze. Rollin scanned the tree line. “That was no animal.”

“I’ll check it out,” Ivan said.

“There.” Before Ivan could take a single step, Rollin pointed to the trees. “You won’t have to.”

A dark-haired woman raced toward them. Her hand grasped her polka dot dress, lifting it above her knees as she ran, the loose fabric whipping wildly behind her. She was moving fast.

Ivan crossed his arms over his chest, studying her approach. “You don’t see that every day.”

“No.” Rollin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She looks…”

“She looks like a 1950’s American pinup,” Ivan said, sounding intrigued.

Rollin couldn’t disagree with Ivan, but he’d meant that the woman looked terrified, racing toward them as if the devil himself was on her heels. When her feet touched the wide stone walkway leading to the gate, she didn’t slow. Her strapless dress wasn’t made for this kind of activity, and every time she took a step, her breasts nearly broke free.

“Oh, hell.” Rollin’s words came out on a breath.

Ivan laughed, an oddly dark sound. “Close your eyes, boy. You’re not old enough to see those. She’s too much woman for you.”

Rollin brushed off the insults and ignored Ivan. This frightened woman needed help, and though he was always ready and willing, there was no reason to leave his post. She was coming to them, with no visible danger surrounding her, and the sun had not yet brightened the sky. There was time. He trusted his training, allowing events to play out while he remained observant. Prepared.

She glanced at Ivan, then her wild-eyed gaze settled on Rollin. Rollin gave her a nod of encouragement and motioned for her to keep running, and when he opened his arms to receive her, she ran headlong toward him.

Suddenly Ivan stepped between them, preventing the woman from reaching Rollin. She looked up at Ivan and screamed, sheer panic in her movements as she twisted to break loose from her captor. She freed one hand from Ivan’s crushing hold and reached for Rollin, those beautiful doe eyes wide and pleading, her lashes wet from tears.

“Help me!” she gasped through heaving breaths. God, he could hear the desperation in her voice, felt it as she reached for him. Why was she so afraid of Ivan?

She twisted again, turning away from Ivan, squeezing her eyes shut so she couldn’t see him. Rollin couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward and took her cold, shaking hand in his, her fingers biting into his flesh as if he were her very lifeline.

“Ivan, you’re scaring her. Let her go.” His sharp command drew Ivan’s attention. “She means no harm.”

“Famous last words,” Ivan muttered, but didn’t protest as Rollin pulled the woman away and into the circle of his arms.

Rollin didn’t stop to think, didn’t second-guess his actions. He pulled the woman against his chest and hugged her tight, never once thinking he shouldn’t, as she was infinitely more comfortable with him. Though her breathing remained ragged, she melted into him, seeming to calm by the second. At least until he covered her bare shoulder with his hand in an attempt to warm her. She gasped at the skin-to-skin contact, and at first he’d thought she’d only shivered, but her trembling didn’t stop.

He pulled away slightly and curled a finger beneath her chin, tipping her face up. Her watery eyes shimmered in the dim light. “Are you hurt?”

“I… I don’t…” She’d begun to answer him, but then turned her focus inward, seemingly speaking to herself. Though her words were mumbled, he heard her say, “I wasn’t supposed to cry, was I?”

Rollin tried again, gentling his voice. “What are you running from?”

The woman’s focus returned in a flash, her eyes meeting his, her fear suddenly gone. Something just clicked into place, as if she’d caught a passing memory. Her jaw dropped ever so slightly, and then her lips trembled as she whispered a single word, “Demon.”

****

Title: The Guardian
Series: The Cities Below, Book 5
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Prepared to die…fighting to live.

Blurb: Savard was in a mood to die, but when a human insists on saving his life, death is no longer an immediate option. He knew of no species – human, vampire, or demon – that could see him while in his invisible Spirit form. Unique to this world, this woman’s singularity was a danger to the entire vampire race.

Waking behind bars in an underground vampire city was not how Sera envisioned her night drive ending. She has come to expect nothing from those who pass through her life, but this man, dying on the side of the road, proves to be different. Savard fights to free her from tyrannical vampire laws and to hide her unique abilities. What Sera doesn’t understand, is why he would fight his growing love for her.

Savard’s haunted past threatens to tear them apart. Soon, Sera discovers just how far her guardian is willing to go, and what he’s willing to do, to keep her safe.

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Sera suddenly threw her arm out and hit him in the chest. He grunted, not having a chance to recover before she grabbed his lapel and pulled him from the short corridor toward the small underground lake. Several feet away from the railing, she gaped in awe, smacking him square in the center of his chest several times. “Look, look, look! It’s an underground oasis!”

“I’ve seen it,” he said kindly. “This is my home, remember?”

“But you’re not looking!” She closed her fist around his lapel again and pulled him along with her right up to the edge of the railing.

Sera’s wonder was infectious, and for the first time in years, he found his gaze lingering on the pleasant details around him rather than anticipating the negative. The trees canopied this tucked away paradise, jutting up against the backdrop of a craggy rock wall. Dark patches of moss hugged tight to the small outcroppings, lighter green plants dangled from several perches, and a few vines hung from trees to touch the still waters.

Details were something Savard absorbed, but only when they were relevant to the city’s security, his lord’s safety, or a speedy escape. Enjoying the beauty of these tranquil scenes was a luxury for those rare, few, innocent souls undamaged by this world.

Sera pointed across the water. As her upper body shifted, he noticed the tattooed birds flying across her shoulder were raised, her skin uneven beneath the ink. Textured. He stilled. The tattoos hid scars. His gaze shot straight to her face, a lovely profile glowing with joy over finding what was essentially a large puddle of water. How did she do it? He envied her ability to see the beauty around her, the brighter side of life, and to literally drag him there with her.

Her hand still gripped his jacket, her joy so great she’d never thought to release him. Savard took her hand in his, loosened her fingers, and inspected each one. A few were decorated with a silver ring, sometimes two, and one finger had a tall stack of three. She hadn’t removed them when she’d slept, leaving them a part of her. His thumb brushed the smooth silver, then the side of her finger to the tip of the pad. She had the ability to absorb the things around her, leaving them uniquely their own, yet completely fused to her. If he wasn’t careful, he’d become a part of her, too.

“How long has it been?” she whispered, as if asking him to share a secret.

Savard pulled away from his thoughts to meet her steady gaze. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t kiss me like you wanted to. You kissed me like you needed to. So how long has it been since you’ve kissed a woman?”

He shook his head. “As I do not recall the woman or the kiss, it would be impossible to count the years.”

“Why now?” Sera asked calmly, as if this could be any ordinary conversation. “Why in that moment?”

“I didn’t think. I acted on impulse.” His answer, more so than her question, put Savard on the defensive. “Is that what you want to hear? That I couldn’t control myself?”

“Dev, you tell yourself that if you need to, but I was on the other end of that kiss.” She fully turned to him, placing her hand against his cheek, and pinned him in place with her unwavering gaze. “And you controlled it masterfully.”

****

Title: Night Stalker
Series: The Cities Below, Book 6
Author: Jen Colly
Genre: Paranormal Romance

He had every intention of crossing a line.

Blurb: In all honesty, Jake had to give his trip to Paris mixed reviews. Beaten and broken by seemingly invincible men with eerie red eyes marked the low point, but abduction by a sexy, knife-wielding vampire? Better than fireworks on the Fourth of July. She was the best medicine for a wounded man’s body and soul. A few busted ribs cost him precious time, but he had to keep moving. Call it vengeance or justice, either way, Jake had a man to kill.

Dulcina had witnessed the destruction left in the wake of demons for far too many years to be rattled by a bloody body. She brought him home and catered to his comfort. Big mistake. The smart-mouth, irritatingly likable man pulled through, and was determined to leave, but with knowledge of other species in his head, the human is a problem.

To stop Jake from escaping, Dulcina promised to help him finish his mission, but the price was steep, and neither were prepared for what they discovered. Secrets are uncovered, and as a Night Stalker charged with protecting all species, Dulcina is forced to make a difficult choice.

**NEW RELEASE**

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“Are you going to be like this every time your ego gets a little boost?” she teased.

Jake ducked down and caught her earlobe in a quick pinch between his lips, then whispered, “You bet I will and you’ll like it.”

Dulcina shivered, allowing herself to enjoy his playfulness, his touch. He pulled back, unhooked his arm from hers and brought her hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

Her hand in his, he tugged her along with him. Jake was leading her, deliberately urging her to pick up her pace. Something had changed in him from one kiss to the next. Gone was his jovial banter, the gleam in his eyes that followed her with interest. Jake wasn’t exactly distant, but his every move had become…deliberate. Watchful.

A dozen or so steps down the road and Jake tugged her into a cubby of a building along the sidewalk. His back to the wall, he tugged her tight against him, his arm encircling her waist.

Jake took her lips in one heated kiss after another, and they parted long enough for Jake to whisper, “We’re being followed. They’re not close yet, but gaining ground.”

“Obviously,” she said with a soft laugh, leaning fully against him. “When did you notice?”

“A couple blocks back,” he said, nipping her jaw line.

Dulcina practically hummed with desire. He’d noticed they had company at nearly the moment she had, and she found his awareness supremely sexy. She dare not tell him, though. Not yet. “So we’re hiding?”

“No,” he said, touching his nose to hers. “My plan was to put the immortal vampire between me and the demon.”

She smiled. “Not immortal.”

Jake stole a quick kiss. “Invincible?”

“Nice thought, but no.” Dulcie stole a kiss of her own.

Jake thought for a moment, and then with a nod, said, “Death resistant.”

Dulcina laughed, head thrown back, joy lifting her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed him close. Ah, this man.

“Don’t look now,” he said, nibbling at her ear. “But company is coming.”

“Shall I save you?” she asked, her hand taking a lovely detour down his chest as she went for her Bowie knife.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Do a girl a favor?” she whispered. The flickering change in his gaze told her he expected them to round the corner at any moment. “When you’re ready, push me up against that wall behind you and drop to your knees.”

“Oh, honey.” His eyes lit with excitement as he leaned forward, pressed his forehead to hers.

Jake didn’t rush to take position, which helped her gauge the distance of the man coming for them. He stayed close, giving a convincing illusion of an intimate moment, but his attention was definitely focused toward the street. If Jake wasn’t in a hurry, then the threat hadn’t even entered the alley yet.

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Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires.

She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, and four rescued cats.

Follow Jen: Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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