The Department of Homeworld Security Series

"...this story waltzes through danger, risk and sacrifices we make for love." — 5-star Amazon review   Is he after her heart or her planet?   Evelyn Chambers is a nerdgirl and proud of it. When she finds out that her drop-dead gorgeous best friend is an alien general with only three days left on Earth, she has to wrap her head around too much at once. Aliens are real, and if she wants to keep hanging out with one, she'll have to marry him!   Adam Smith has never seen a planet as beautiful as Earth or a woman as enticing as Evelyn. His government wants him to re-enlist, but when Evelyn suggests marriage to help him stay, Adam realizes that what he really wants is her—and he'll sacrifice everything to be with her.   Can he convince his government—and Evelyn—that he's looking for more than a Gray card?   Main Content: Approximately 20,204 words, 98 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

He thought he was beyond the need for physical pleasure—until he met her.   Paige Sloan thought dedicating her life to protecting Earth's ecosystems meant dealing with human mistakes—until her latest test samples put her on the hit list of an invasive species of aliens. As if that's not enough to deal with, there's a huge, hunky alien soldier demanding she leave the planet with him. But she's not about to leave until she's figured out what's really going on.   Khel's assignment to bring Paige Sloan to the Coalition spaceship orbiting Earth should be simple, if only she would comply. She's determined to unravel the truth behind the Tau Ceti's presence on Earth, even though they've killed everyone else who knows where her samples were taken. Her passion for her planet is strong enough to burn down the walls he's created in himself to be the perfect Sadirian soldier—and it lights a flame of desire in him unlike any he's ever known.   But the longer they work together on Earth, the more danger they're in, and soon their hearts are on the line as much as their lives. Can Khel convince Paige to accompany him to safety, or will her quest to protect her planet lead them both to destruction?   Main Content: Approximately 25,982 words, 127 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

A second chance they never expected...   When Henry's parents died unexpectedly, he dealt with his grief the way any healthy biologist would—by moving into their cabin to begin searching for Bigfoot. As if he's not processing enough, the mysterious woman he fell head-over-heels for on Christmas Eve shows up on his doorstep—in the middle of the woods. She says she can only visit for a few days, but he's desperate for more time. "Forever" would work well...   Vay never thought she'd see Henry again, until a rogue energy signature is discovered near his isolated cabin. Even though she's the least experienced Sadirian soldier working with the Department of Homeworld Security, she convinces her commanding officer to send her to track down the source of the alien signal. After all, how likely is it to be the Scorpiian assassin everyone's so afraid of?   But Henry has fallen in with the wrong crowd—a pair of Lyrians, aka Bigfeet, who have decided to "adopt" him as their own. And they aren't the only aliens lurking in Henry's woods. Can Vay keep Henry and his new family safe and still complete her mission?   Main Content: Approximately 28,927 words, 128 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

On the battlefield of desire, he has the advantage.   Eric Peterson has one goal: get his AWOL asset, Brendan, back to work on a classified communications relay his superiors want finished yesterday. When Eric tries to reconnect, a gorgeous—and strange—woman shows up in Brendan's place, claiming to be an alien on a mission to save the planet.   Sorca has been sent to bring Eric to the Arbiter so that he can join the Department of Homeworld Security...or receive a mindwipe if he's not interested. As the strongest soldier in the Coalition fleet, her plan is simple—ask him nicely, and if he says no, take him anyway. But the more contact she has with the Earthling, the more her thoughts turn from battling the human to bedding him.   The distraction could land them in the claws of an enemy they'll never see coming, because Sorca isn't the only alien on Earth. Will their missions align as well as their passions, or will they be lost to a force that no one sees coming?   Main Content: Approximately 28,303 words, 137 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

Brendan has always dreamed of making alien contact. He's about to get lucky.   When Brendan Sloan sends transmissions into deep space, he never believes he'll actually reach aliens. The sultry voice that responds is too good to be true. He's convinced Kira was sent by his government to keep an eye on him while he's on vacation from his top secret communications project—until she shows up on his doorstep in a silver spaceship.   Kira has been assigned to the listening station orbiting Earth for two years—years she's spent alone. Responding to Brendan's broadcasts could land her in jail or worse, on a Coalition scientist's examination table. She couldn't ignore the connection she felt, and now, he's the only person she can turn to for help. Because a vicious species of aliens have set their eyes on her—and Earth—and she can't hide her secrets forever. Can Brendan convince Kira to risk everything to help protect his planet?   Main Content: Approximately 23,914 words, 115 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

Vegans Welcome!   Living in a treehouse restaurant in Florida, Sarah expects to encounter plenty of wildlife. But the huge lizards who suddenly show up in her tree aren't the health conscious clientele she was hoping to attract when she expanded her menu to be vegan-friendly. She also didn't expect one of the lizards to seem determined to kill her.   Disguised as a tourist, the Sadirian soldier Ari is investigating strange readings coming from a huge oak tree in Florida—a tree with an Earthling living in it. The Department of Homeworld Security has sent him to find out if something extraterrestrial is going on, and with the Coalition looking to bring Earth into the fold before humanity is ready, he doesn't have much time to sort things out.   When Sarah is pulled into an alien duel, he discovers that more than Earth's fate hangs in the balance. Can they navigate their nascent connection as they forge a new bond with a species that could save—or destroy—them all?   Main Content: Approximately 25,059 words, 121 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

An alien assassin could get used to life on Earth…   Zemanni has been called many things—shapeshifter, bounty hunter, assassin, Gray. But since being ripped apart by an angry Lyrian and barely managing to piece himself back together, the only word he can think of is "trapped". Trapped in the form of Eric Peterson, and saddled with the biological needs and urges of a human—urges that center around the aggressively helpful woman giving him shelter.   Brooke knows her unhealthy need to rescue people is reaching a new level when she takes the wounded alien she finds hiding in her car back to her apartment. He's gorgeous and rude and has glowing streaks of silver all over his body—a body he doesn't seem to know what to do with. She has a few ideas…   After meeting Brooke, Zemanni begins to think that Earth is the perfect place to retire. Can he convince his many enemies that he's truly out of the game, or will his past catch up to him before he can start a future with Brooke?   Main Content: Approximately 23,979 words, 118 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

She wanted to curl up with a Sci-fi Romance—she never thought she'd be living one!   Kyle has finally found a woman who seems more interested in his intellect and interests than his physique. Too bad it happens right before discovering his entire life has been built on a lie.   Tracey thinks she's found her own "Happily Ever After" when she hooks up with the smartest, hottest guy she's ever met. But their story takes a turn, landing them in the crosshairs of alien invaders who've barely begun their conquest of Earth.   Can they figure out who to trust in time to save their homeworld and their lives?   Main Content: Approximately 20,811 words, 102 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

Her next delivery will be out of this world!   Lily's main priority is to steer her family's import/export company toward altruistic pursuits. That is, until her Nana starts talking about doing yoga with a little lizard person from outer space. Lily's new goal is to help her Nana see through her delusions. But then, the alien in question actually shows up in the green-scaled flesh, dragging along a doctor that Lily would love to have examine her.   As field medic for the Coalition soldiers stationed at the Earth base in Florida, Rin is pretty non-essential. His job is to smile and distract people while med-tech takes care of whatever issue they're having. So why is a Vegan—the creators of that technology—coming to him for help? Though he can't complain about being introduced to the strong and compassionate Earthling named Lily.   Throw in some desperate Antareans wanting to start a trade agreement with Earth, and an attack by dozens of fanged, furred Earth-monsters called "cats," and Rin is going to need some of that med-tech for himself. Can he and Lily work together to solve Cyan's mysterious ailment and give the Antareans the supplies they need to stave off a deadly plague?   Main Content: Approximately 28,625 words, 140 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

He wanted to spend Christmas with the girl of his dreams—he never dreamt they'd spend it in space!   Buddy didn't mean to stow away on an alien warship. He just wanted to surprise Nika with a holiday dinner she'd never forget. But now, he's stuck aboard the Reckoning with his dog, of all things, headed to a star system far from Earth and the Christmas dinner where he planned to introduce Nika to his family.   Nika has enough on her plate building colonies, dome worlds, and space stations in the Sol system—all without Earth's governments detecting their presence. With a war going on throughout the galaxy, it's up to her to create sanctuaries for sentients who have lost their homeworlds. When she's called aboard the Reckoning to track down odd system errors—and pulled from a holiday dinner with Buddy—she knows something's gone very wrong. It goes from bad to worse when she finds Buddy and his dog on board.   Now, they have to work together to figure out how to fix the ship for good, keep Buddy and his dog hidden, and forge an alliance with a planet full of super strong warriors with impulse control issues. For a galaxy at war, can a chef, his dog, and a little holiday four-part-harmony pave the way to peace?   Main Content: Approximately 30,512 words, 153 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

It was supposed to be a simple house call for a sick cat, so how'd she end up on a spaceship?   Caitlin's had some pretty weird house calls in her work as a veterinarian outside a small desert town. Feral burros, mischievous coyotes, dogs getting a little too close to cacti… The tall, gorgeous guy who shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night begging her to help his cat seems mundane by comparison—aside from the atomic attraction she feels toward him. Then he starts talking about aliens.   To help restore the emotions stolen from him by the Coalition of Planets, Marq was supposed to care for Meredith—the Earth cat his brother smuggled aboard his ship. Now, she's developed some kind of sickness he fears will endanger her life. He'll do anything to assist his pet, even make unauthorized contact with an Earthling. The trouble is, he isn't sure how to handle the rising desire in him to make…additional contact with her.   To get Caitlin's assistance, he must first convince her to trust him—though with soldiers on his ship who are still loyal to the Coalition, he's not sure who he himself can trust. Meredith's illness is not the only threat they will face. Can Marq save his cat, control his unruly emotions, and keep Caitlin safe?   Author's note: This novella was originally published in the Pets in Space® 4 anthology.   Main Content: Approximately 23,677 words, 122 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

She wanted to learn about aliens—and ended up uncovering their secrets!   Gwen Williams wants nothing more than to explore the vast possibilities of outer space, but Earth's technology isn't going to get her there. Her solution? Make contact with aliens. The only problem is, her plan works a little too well—landing her on the radar of a group of aliens with plans of their own that involve her homeworld.   Xan was just trying to help his Vegan friends avoid getting into trouble for messing with human things they should have left alone. He didn't expect to run up against Gwen, a brilliant, beautiful Earthling who stirs a depth of emotion in him that he didn't know he possessed—and who also has evidence of his friends' transgression. Adding in the fact that the super-smart "space cat" who's adopted him has plans to bring Gwen into their little family and this Coalition pilot has some tricky space to navigate.   As if that wasn't complicated enough, the trio discovers a plot on Xan's ship that could compromise the security of all of their people—and the newly forged bonds between the sentients working toward peace in the galaxy. Will they be able to work together to secure a more peaceful future, or will their secrets drive them apart?   Author's note: This novella was originally published in the Pets in Space® 6 anthology.   Main Content: Approximately 27,617 words

She's sure that aliens aren't real—until she falls for one.   Sabrina knows that aliens don't exist, even if her grandpa keeps telling people stories about his best friend, Craig—the giant, white-furred, four-armed Lyrian. If one more person mentions the "Space-Sasquatch," she's going to start throwing things—even if that person is a gorgeous, mysterious guy skulking around her pet parlor late at night. With his pet iguana. Oh, and by the way, he says they're both aliens, too. Yeah, right.   When Len volunteered to help Cyan, the Vegan's xenobiologist, collect DNA samples from Earth cats, he had no idea it would be such a dangerous mission. He thinks he's lucked out when the human who catches them turns out to be the granddaughter of their contact on Earth—until she starts throwing things. Who knew she'd be so sensitive about her grandpa's friendship with a Lyrian?   But their quest for cat DNA has caught the attention of another alien hanging around Sabrina's home town—and this one isn't looking to make friends. Can Len and Sabrina keep the people and pets of Harbor safe?   Main Content: Approximately 28,223 words, 139 (5.5 x 8.5) pages

When Kimmy dreamed of meeting a werewolf, she never imagined he'd be from space!   As co-owner of the only pet parlor in the county, Kimmy is serious about taking care of animals. When she hears a pair of dogs fighting in her yard in the middle of the night, she runs out to break them up. The only problem is they aren't dogs—they're wolves. And one of them has tentacles. And the other one is glowing. It seems like something straight out of her favorite paranormal romance novels when the glowing wolf turns into the hottest guy she's ever seen. So what if he's actually from outer space?   Serac is intrigued by the courageous Earthling that ran to his aid wielding only a primitive weapon called a 'broom.' His zyln, the elemental spirit that lives within him, is fascinated by her—a fascination that Serac quickly shares. But she's thrown off his mission, accidentally imprinting with the Lyrian pet he was supposed to deliver and distracting him from securing smuggling routes out of Earth. To make things worse, his ex-partner, a shapeshifting mercenary from Scorpii-2, is out to capture Kimmy for his own nefarious ends.   When Serac's attraction deepens into his only chance at forming a mate bond, he is once more forced to choose between his heart and his conscience. And this time, he may not be strong enough to walk away.   Can their bond survive while they work together to complete a mission that could benefit billions of sentients throughout the galaxy?   Main Content: Approximately 28,325 words