Cary Redmond Short Stories Series

Going on an ordinary date should not be this tough…   Despite knowing each other for two months, and surviving more than one dangerous adventure together, Cary Redmond and her leopard shifter mate have never managed a regular date. A first date.   An event which carries a significance that unnerves Cary. How can she be this worried about going to a movie with a man she's fought demons with? And seen naked.   But of course, for Portland's resident Protector, even the simple things in life prove complicated. And when someone needs her help, Cary doesn't dare avoid her job…even on a date.   Author's Note: This story takes place between the end of The Trouble with Ghouls and Serial Killers (Book 2 in the Cary Redmond series) and The Trouble with Leopard Queens and Shifter Wars (Book 3 in the Cary Redmond series). There may be some spoilers for the main series, though this story is made to be a standalone.

Protectors don't get nights off…   Girls' night means different things to different groups of friends. For Cary Redmond and her three closest friends, it means staying in and watching a classic 80s film while eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas. The perfect evening, with the perfect company…   Until an unexpected guest crashes the party. Literally.   In the ensuing wreckage, Cary discovers her night off has just become a work night. Since she's a magical Protector, she's used to diving in to keep the good guys safe from the bad guys. But this time, it's her dearest friends in danger.   And no one, not even the Goblin King, messes with Cary's friends.

Third time's the charm. Right?   For Cary Redmond, Portland's resident magical Protector, going on a simple date with her leopard shifter mate is proving almost impossible. Really, she just wants to get through dinner. After two failed attempts, Cary and Deacon are determined to make this date work.   They even make it all the way to the starter course.   But bad guys show no respect for a magical Protector's romantic life. And Cary can't ignore her job when there's danger. Because if she does, people die.   Author's Note: This story takes place between the end of The Trouble with Ghouls and Serial Killers (Book 2 in the Cary Redmond series) and The Trouble with Leopard Queens and Shifter Wars (Book 3 in the Cary Redmond series). There may be some spoilers for the main series, though this story is made to be a standalone.

If at first you don't succeed…   Cary Redmond's first attempt at a real date with her leopard shifter mate definitely did not go according to plan. In fact, the date went so disastrously wrong, they decide to try again. Clean slate. Another movie. Another dinner reservation.   Another interruption she can't ignore.   Wizard and vampire fights wait for no woman. And as Portland's resident magical Protector, Cary has to answer the call of someone in danger. No matter the cost.   Author's Note: This story takes place between the end of The Trouble with Ghouls and Serial Killers (Book 2 in the Cary Redmond series) and The Trouble with Leopard Queens and Shifter Wars (Book 3 in the Cary Redmond series). There may be some spoilers for the main series, though this story is made to be a standalone.

A family dinner with leopard shifters…what could go wrong?   Cary Redmond's first introduction to her leopard shifter boyfriend's family proved a little more interesting and fraught than she might have liked. Okay, the trip was a disaster. So Deacon's mother declares a do-over. And no one argues with the Jones family matriarch. They even agree to come up to Portland, into Cary's territory, for the big meal.   What could possibly go wrong?   Unfortunately, in Cary's world, anything that can, usually does. And when her bosses show up with a job, she can't refuse. Magical Protectors don't get time off for family events…   Not when there are innocent people to protect and monsters on the loose.   Author's Note: This story takes place about a week after the events of The Trouble with Leopard Queens and Shifter Wars (Cary Redmond Book 3) and contains spoilers for the novel.

When her best friend's mysterious past comes calling…   Cary Redmond is prepared to step in.   Although powerful witch, Angie Jordan, is one of Cary's closest friends, there are parts of Angie's past she refuses to talk about. Things she's hinted at but always avoids explaining. Demon related things. And while Cary is very curious about that past, she also respects her friend's privacy. After all, everyone should be allowed their secrets.   But when someone out of Angie's past comes to town and threatens her family, Cary doesn't hesitate to throw herself between this threat and her friend. She might not understand the undertone, but she can keep Angie and her family from getting hurt. After all, it's her job as a magical Protector.   And what good is being a magical Protector if you can't stand between your friends and disaster?  

All vacations are not created equal…   And as far as magical Protector Cary Redmond is concerned, going to Hawaii with her best friends ranks at the top of the list. No work, no magical Protector business, no jumping between good guys and bad guys to keep good guys safe. For two whole weeks. She gets to enjoy sun, sea, and tropical breezes without any paranormal chaos. Couldn't get any better than that.   Except Cary's life bends toward chaos, no matter what she tries. And when paranormal danger rears its head, Cary has to answer the call. Even if it means facing one of her greatest fears.   Because her best friend's future is on the line.

Lights, Music…Trouble.   When Cary Redmond, Portland's resident magical Protector, agrees to help one of her best friends spy on a rival nightclub, they find a lot more than overpriced drinks and swirling lights. Hidden in the heat and flash and pounding music lurks a deadly threat driven by dangerous magic.   Just the kind of disaster Cary is uniquely qualified to handle. So long as she can find the source of the trouble before it's too late.   Because if she can't solve the mystery in the music fast, people will die.   Don't miss this exciting urban fantasy novella from bestselling author Kat Simons, now available as a standalone eBook. Cary at the Haunt and Howl was originally published in HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND GUARDIAN SPELLS.

A quiet holiday shouldn't be too much to ask…   Unless of course your name is Cary Redmond and your job title is Magical Protector. But in the days leading up to Christmas, in her second year as a Protector, Cary might just get the quiet time off she hopes for.   Nothing to do but watch Christmas movies, drink Christmas coffee, maybe even decorate for the season. No shapeshifter trouble. No vampires up to no good. No demons popping in to threaten death. Just peace and quiet. Lots and lots of quiet.   Until, of course, her new Christmas tree reveals a surprising complication...   That is anything but peaceful.

When a dragon asks if you're a Protector, you say…yes!   Then agree to go help the dragon and his hero because… Well, he's a dragon.   After her last deadly adventure into Faery, Cary Redmond needs time to heal and recover. Still shaken, and shaky, flying off on dragon back to do her Protector thing seems like a bad idea.   But courting death marks Cary's life. With kids in trouble, goblins on the loose, and a pair of heroes in need, Cary races to the rescue. Again.   All in a night's work for a Protector.   AUTHOR'S NOTE: WARNING Spoilers ahead. This novella is full of spoilers for the main series. It takes place roughly a month after the events of The Trouble with Magic and Faery Curses (Book 5 in the Cary Redmond series). Events from this book will also reverberate into Book 6 of the main series.   So if you hate spoilers, DO NOT read this one until you've read The Trouble with Magic and Faery Curses. Seriously. The spoilers start on page one. Even the sample will contain spoilers. However, if you don't mind spoilers, or have already read book 5 in the series, then read away! Enjoy!

Who needs Valentine's Day when you have Trouble…   For Cary Redmond, Portland's resident magical Protector, a simple night out with her friends to celebrate an alternative to Valentine's Day should involve good food, too much wine, and plenty of girl talk. What it actually involves is…a lot more dangerous.   But saving the innocent is what Cary does. Even on pretend national holidays.   And when called to save someone from the manipulative dangers of a wizard, Cary races to the rescue. Her friends at her back. Her wine buzz left behind.   Because no one messes with love on Cary's watch.

Beltane, bonfires, magic…and human sacrifice?   When Cary Redmond ends up at a Beltane celebration with her best friend, the witch Angie Jordan, Cary knows she's in for an interesting night. Trouble swirls in the air right alongside the campfire smell. Magic and danger and people to protect. All in a night's work for a magical Protector and her powerful best friend. But Cary gets a lot more than she bargains for.   A field full of bespelled pagans trying to throw themselves into a giant bonfire only starts a night of deadly danger. Because inside that fire, the real threat lurks. A threat impossible to destroy.   And if Cary can't figure out what's going on in time, a lot of people will burn.

Because of course leprechaun trouble on St. Patrick's Day…   When magical Protector Cary Redmond's mentor asks for her help, she finds herself in a grocery store parking lot on a beautiful spring day. Staring at the best dressed leprechaun she's ever seen. And since that leprechaun irritates her mentor a lot, Cary decides this mission could be fun.   The trouble the leprechaun brings with him…not so fun.   Saving the day, finding an ancient relic, preventing the bad guys from driving all humankind into the sea… What better way to spend St. Patrick's Day.   So long as she can manage to hold off the deadly plot without anyone getting killed.   Don't miss the latest adventure in the life of Portland's resident magical Protector, as she tries to keep the good guys safe, and the beer green.   Author's Note: For regular readers of the series, this is the story of Cary's first meeting with Tom the leprechaun, who makes on-page appearances in The Trouble with Black Cats and Demons (Book 1) as well as The Trouble with Magic and Faery Curses (Book 5). However, readers new to the Cary Redmond series can read Cary's Leprechaun Troubles without having read any of the other books.

When Cary met Jaxer, her life changed forever. Not that she wasn't already looking for a change. But still. Rethinking her career goals is one thing. Finding out the world is a lot spookier than she knew, quite another. Cary never intends to jump head first into that strange, new world. But for a soft hearted animal lover, there are just some things she can't allow. And seeing a poor little Labrador puppy taking abuse from a huge man pushes her beyond her tolerance…right into one of the scariest moments of her life. And the beginnings of a new adventure she may not survive. See how it all began. When Cary Met Jaxer.

A new job, a new house, a new demon dog… And so much to learn. Cary Redmond has a lot of study ahead of her if she wants to survive her new job as a magical Protector. Study means books. And books mean spending time in a bookstore—something she will never object to. However, the place her mentor sends her isn't an ordinary bookstore. And the clientele are more than what they seem. But with the help of The Bookstore's proprietor and the resident basset hound, Cary is sure she can navigate this new world without getting eaten by anything. Maybe.

For Cary Redmond, sometimes the mayhem really is all about the magic… After only a few months as a Protector, Cary's got the basics of the job down. Get between the good guy and the bad guy. Good guy survives. Everyone's happy. Except the bad guy, of course, but they don't really count. Introduce magic into that equation, however, and Cary knows she's out of her league. A magic problem needs a magic solution. And while the super powerful witch who comes to her aid isn't exactly what Cary expects, she'll take all the help she can get. She might even survive the night, with a little help from her newest friend.

All women need more pockets in their clothes… Except Cary Redmond has found in her new job as a magical Protector standard pockets do not hold up to the abuse. After losing her keys—again—she seeks the help of a friend from her pre-Protector life. Marianne is an animal lover, a devoted fan of 80s music, agrees wholeheartedly that pineapple does not belong on pizza, and best of all, is a seamstress. Their friendship was meant to be. But there is more to Marianne than meets the eye. And in this new world of magic and mayhem, Cary is learning everybody really does want to rule the world.

Who knew pumpkins could do that?   Cary Redmond encounters a lot of unusual things in her life as a magical Protector. A cursed Jack-O'-Lantern, however, is new. But since the creepy pumpkin is in her best friend's place of business, Cary is quick to help.   The only problem is she has no idea how to stop a curse. Or a pumpkin. Or, really anything. Getting between bad guys and good guys…she does that all day long. Stopping a deadly pumpkin come to life…not so much.   But Cary is up for the challenge. At least, she hopes so.   Because if she's not, it could cost her her best friend's life.

In Cary Redmond's life as a Protector, magic does not always cause the mayhem… Running into the darkness under a bridge is not the sort of thing an ordinary woman should do late at night. But for Cary Redmond, it's just part of her job as a magical Protector. And frankly, after the not-so-fun dinner with her parents, charging into danger to rescue the innocent seems like a good idea. Almost as good as the donut she was going to have before her Protector senses went off. What she discovers in those midnight shadows, however, changes her perspective completely on women running into the darkness under a bridge. And sets the stage for a brand new friendship.