Livres - Bibliographie

“You may not be aware, ma douce, but not all vampyre have a kindred, some will live out their existence without such beauty in their lives. I have waited five hundred years for you."

Vampires, shape shifters, ghouls and magic users abound in a world where the Norms, (those humans without paranormal abilities) are ignorant of the creatures of the night and the supernatural species that live alongside them.

Lucinda Monk is a bank teller by day and a vampire hunter by night, but she wasn’t always a part of this world. Thrown into a heady mix of powerful people and sensual beings, she’s had to find her way practically blindfolded in amongst the creatures of the night. But she’s a capable and realistic kind of girl. Her motto: never show fear. But, there's something different about Lucinda, something those creatures she hunts, want. In order to stay one step ahead of the enemy she has to let the enemy in. In all his compelling, seductive and delicious ways. Sleeping with the enemy has never meant so much before. But, can she trust him?

From the urban streets of the city, to the dark alleys and sinful bars that promise a wickedness a girl from the farm has never before been exposed to, Lucinda gets drawn irreversibly into the dark side of life. And if the Master of the City had his way, she would always be his. For eternity

“I would die for you Lucinda, I would cast away everything I possess to be near you, I would take anything you willingly give and no more, this is what you mean to me.”

Lucinda's relationship with the Master of the City is progressing at an alarming rate, but she is unsure if what she feels is the truth. Or just a by-product of the joining and Bond. Can she even trust her own feelings?

To top that off, the vampire governing body has taken an interest in Lucinda and Michel's joining. The Iunctio's attention has now swung towards Lucinda and her kindred. Can they prove themselves to be no threat to those vampires who rule all Nosferatu?

Then temptation appears in the form of a hedonist playboy vampire, who does not play by the rules. Lucinda must decide if this new seductive attraction is the correct path for her heart, or the vampire she is tied to for life is her one true love. With such delectable men in her world you'd think life would be a breeze. But, there are whispers of a Prophesy and even Darker days ahead.

Lucinda may believe she belongs to no one, but there are those who seek to control her. And she may not have a say in that at all

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 shape shifters 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

His lips met mine again, this time in a slow, soft caress, conveying everything he had just said in those beautiful words that had reached my very soul. I could have drowned in that kiss. I could have lived there for eternity. It filled me up with everything I needed to survive. He gave me life through his lips and I treasured it.

Recovering from recent losses, Lucinda finds herself in a Dark place. She starts to doubt who she has become. She seeks reassurance, that despite the Prophesy and what that has meant for her life, she is still remaining true to herself.

The American Families of Vampires close in on Lucinda and her kindred. There is one who insists Lucinda is his and none other's. He has not forgotten her and will do anything, anything at all to make her his. Loyalties are tested and fall short, and Lucinda must find the strength to fight for something she cannot even remember. But, that is not all Lucinda must battle. The Queen of Darkness appears in amongst the mayhem to exact her plans for Dark's success and the final confrontation of Light and Dark comes to a head.

Without the steadfast support and love of her kindred, Lucinda would not be able to face what is to come, but still she holds something of herself back. Will she never give herself completely to Michel? And if she does, will it be enough to save her? And enough to save the Light from the Dark once and for all?

A free eBook showing a series of chapters (one from each of the first four books) in the Kindred Series from Michel's Point of View. WARNING: Some background information and plot spoilers may be found in these chapters.

Get to know our sexy Master of the City and see the Kindred world from his perspective. Gain an insight into his relationship with Lucinda, the vampires of his line and his very old friendship with Gregor Morel. Michel as you have never seen him before: vulnerable, besotted, loyal and hungry for the Nosferatin in his sights.

This is the first volume of a series of compendiums from differing points of view. This compendium includes the following chapters from Michel's point of view:

Book One Kindred, chapter 2: Master Knows Best

Book Two Blood Life Seeker, chapter 3: Secrets

Book Three Forbidden Drink, chapter 23: The Spy

Book Four Giver of Light, chapter 2: Pick-Up Lines

NB. You may not need to download this eBook. Kindred Series Books 1-4 purchased after 14th June 2013 also contain the chapter from Michel's POV applicable for that book.

If you still require a copy of The View From Here you can download it for free at the Nicola Claire Website.

'I'm supposed to be the one that calls him back toward the Light. I am the Light to your Dark. You call to me as I call to you. I will always hold you dear. But, it was getting harder. I loved him and it's not as if I never knew it would be difficult loving a vampire. I just never knew the degree of difficulty it would entail.'

Michel battles his rising Dark, all but losing his Light within. His line falters, his life is in turmoil and Lucinda is ultimately shut out. Without his kindred to draw him back to the Light, just how Dark will Michel become? And can Lucinda survive without him in her life? To bring him back towards the Light they both must face harsh truths and their deepest secrets and desires. But a vampire's number one rule is survive at all costs. Just what will Michel do to survive and how will it affect Lucinda?

An ancient vampire appears in London feasting on innocents with abandon. Lucinda's role as the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor calls her to the streets of Knightsbridge and into the grasp of this powerful and hungry Dark predator. Calling on all her reserves she is barely able to survive with her life, but fails to save those humans he blithely kills. Guilt wages with fear as she realises this is not a one-time event and attempts to discover the meaning behind his appearance and Dark hunger which cannot be assuaged.

In the shadows left by the Dark vampire lurks a strange new threat. Dressed in the guise of a mischievous, gorgeous and compelling young man who catches Lucinda in a spell which could not possibly be of this Earth. It's not just his beauty that traps Lucinda though, it's the fact that he has Light. A Light so similar to her own that she is drawn to it, can't stop herself reaching for it. But she ultimately knows, to touch it could prove her downfall. But, can she resist?

The world is turning Darker, greater threats than vampires are about to appear and Lucinda is the key. Try as she might, without her kindred by her side her chances of success are dimmed. For together they are stronger, apart they grow weaker. And there are always those on the sidelines who are willing to take advantage of the weak. They are vampyre, it is in their nature to hunt prey and Lucinda is the ultimate game for the predator within.

I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks at his words. Spoken so carelessly, 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 someone's prey.

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 shape shifter 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 shape shifters; 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 who is 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.

"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.

The explosive conclusion to the Kindred Series.

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.

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.

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 Wánměi 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 Wánměi. 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 Wánměi 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.

Have you been a model Citizen today?

Lena Carr is a Citizen who does not exist. Being invisible can have its advantages, but not when the Chief Overseer knows what your alias is. She can no longer use the gift her father left her.

But she also can't walk the streets as the Elite she was born to be...

The Cardinals are closing in, and one in particular has Selena in his sights. With revolution on the Citizens' minds and hope in the form of a rebellious Elite exhibiting non-model behaviour, the Overseers crack down on dissension. Causing chaos on the streets and blood to flow.

For his "Zebra" Trent Masters would do anything. Risk his life. Face the increasingly sentient drones head on. Kill. But there's one thing he will never do - jeopardise the rebellion. Funny thing about love though, sometimes it can make liars of us all.

But that's not his only dilemma. Selena's up to something, and if Trent knows his Elite, he's sure it's going to be reckless. Throw in a manipulative benefactor and a decimated revolutionary base and Trent can't tell which way holds more danger. But the Cardinal, hell bent on his destruction, sure looks like he's in the lead.

Citizen versus Cardinal. The battle has begun.

Have you been a model Citizen today?

The destruction of the Chief Overseers’ Palace was meant to bring about a change. But the streets of Wánměi are just as dangerous and just as falsely perfect as they ever were. Lena Carr, now a confirmed member of the revolution, hides in the shadows of the city-state she adores and works hard to undermine those in a position of authority.

But there are secrets among the Overseers…

The leaders of Wánměi would have you believe that the nation is model. That Wánměi provides all that you need. And many do still believe it. Battling propaganda and brainwashing becomes more insurmountable for the rebels each day.

But one person will never give up on a free Wánměi. Trent Masters has led the rebel army through some tough times, but now he faces the biggest battle of all. Convincing the Citizens of his beloved nation that there is more beyond the invisible, yet impenetrable, walls of Wánměi.

And to do that he needs Lena. Because without the Elite who has captured his heart, as easily as she moves across the rooftops of the city in the dead of a storm shrouded night, he won’t find the key that unlocks it all. But what that key unlocks will be the biggest shock of them all.

Citizen versus Citizen. The battle ends now!

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.

No one owns life. But they can certainly own death.

A woman is murdered outside an exclusive gaming club and all the clues point across the street to Sweet Hell. Lara Keen, Detective at Auckland Criminal Investigations Bureau, is called in to consult, adding her own unique take on the crime scene.

But the murder is only the tip of the iceberg, and Lara soon finds herself twisted up in a series of chilling crimes that don't seem to connect, but keep pulling her inexorably further in. Uncovering each clue will require delving deeper into her past and facing some shocking truths better left untouched. And when her boyfriend, HEAT Chief Investigator Damon Michaels, gets caught up in it all, the dots simply disconnect.

Trust is something they both will have to learn to give, but can Lara open up to that degree? Or will Lara's past make it impossible for her to solve the crimes before the murderer strikes again? Everything hinges on Lara, but the more she uncovers, the harder it is for her to even breathe.

A sexy, sizzling crime-thriller sure to add a touch of heat to your night.

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!

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 night time 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 night time 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!

Book two in the Mixed Blessing Mystery Series.

Please read author review for an update of publication.

The final book in the Mixed Blessing Mystery Trilogy.

'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.

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.

This couldn't be happening. This was a trick. A cruel ploy to finally break me. They knew I'd weakened. Today the first day I'd let the tears fall and screamed my frustration and despair. They knew they almost had me, so they were pushing the knife in further and twisting the blade. Just to be sure.

Casey Eden knew her life had changed beyond recognition when she woke up one morning covered in dirt. Since then she's crawled her way through treacherous environments, been pitted against dangerous predatory beings, and survived formidable destructive forces. Only to find herself in the one place she'd feared above all.

A mad scientist's laboratory.

A harrowing world full of heartache and betrayal.

And a longing for Fire even the chilling change in the Air can't cool.

Broken, but not beaten, Casey must fight not only for her survival, but for everything she holds dear. A world growing darker and bleaker every day. And is Casey the answer to it all? Trying to determine just what she is becoming, while desperately clinging to her heart's desire, Casey must learn to face a future she never would have chosen for herself. But she soon begins to realise, although she's not alone in this battle, the war itself has only just begun.

"I'm going to give you memories to last a lifetime, Genevieve Cain. I promise you that."

With a loser ex-boyfriend threatening her dream business, Sweet Seduction, Genevieve Cain is forced to go to a lawyer to finalise things once and for all. Gen knows she's only good for one dream in her lifetime, so when she meets senior partner, Dominic Anscombe, in the foyer of the law firm's building, she dismisses any delusional ideas her mind creates involving his very fine body. But Dominic is intrigued by Gen's run-away mouth and if there's one thing to say about Dominic Anscombe, he knows what he wants and when he finds it, he sets out to take it, claim it and possess it - completely.

Kidnappings, shootings, dream-shattering moments, hot investigators and just as hot lawyers, everything comes to a head when Genevieve sacrifices something so precious for something even more so. And it wasn't the sacrifice she thought she'd make. The sweetest of sacrifices, the most worthy offering. But can she believe Dominic has fallen as hard for her as she has for him in such a short time? And can she allow herself a second dream in her life, by letting him in?

Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"One night eight years ago and you ran, angel. One night now and you're gone again. I won't let you run this time without giving chase."

Eight years ago Evangeline Rowe met her ice-blue eyed, perfect cowboy, but she was running from a past he would have kept her trapped within. One night of unbelievable passion, a lost and consequently broken heart, and only memories that haunted her dreams and made all subsequent liaisons fall short. By the time she is called back to Auckland to tend her dying father, she has only just managed to vanquish the ghosts of her past enough to settle down. Her time as a cowgirl-in-the-rodeo-ring is coming to an end - and then she sees him. Standing across the crowd at Sweet Seduction, listening to her sing. With his arm wrapped around his fiancée. Try as she might to refuse him access to her heart again, Nick Anscombe has never forgotten that night eight years ago either. And sets out to prove to Eva, his angel, that their hearts are indeed meant to be one.

Old grudges, disgruntled relatives, and a past that haunts as much as hurts, chases Eva down. Gunshots, attempted kidnappings, hostage situations, hot investigators and just as hot police detectives, everything comes to a head when Eva faces her past and accepts who she is inside. And who she is began that day eight years ago - but was it truly the same for her ice-blue eyed cowboy? And can she still be the cowgirl-in-the-rodeo-ring she desires and let him back inside her battered heart?

Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"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.

"Don't for a minute believe I want you any other way, Jason Cain. The second you stop being you, is the moment you should fear most."

For several months now Katie Anscombe has tried to hide her attraction to Jason Cain. That's what everyone expects of Katie. And of course, it helps that he basically ignores her too. But something about the ex-special forces soldier has caught her attention. And dreams are free, aren't they?

Forced into a lock-down for forty-eight hours, with no one to come between them and stop the tension from exploding inside her small house, things become volatile. And a volatile Jason Cain is really something to witness. But the closer she gets to Jason, the more it becomes apparent that he's unlike any other man she has ever met.

A sexy, dominant, but slightly broken soldier. A Pandora's Box of desire and fervent need opened. Katie and Jason must face up to their fears, in order to embrace what feels right. But with overprotective brothers and an eccentric millionaire art dealer throwing spanners in the works, surrendering to each other isn't as easy as it sounds. Fighting their attraction has been second nature for too long, so when they finally give in to their base desires, will it be everything Katie dreamed about? And will it last?

Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

"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.

"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.

"There are those who become obsessed with what they cannot obtain. Then there are those who already own it, given freely and completely. Guess which one you are."

Bad guys come in all sorts of guises, sometimes they can be loving and devoted, and take on the appearance of a businessman. Just ask Amber Lane, she should know. She's been sleeping with the enemy for twenty months and only just now found out who exactly Jaxon Harding is.

Thinking her world is crumbling around her, she starts to see danger in every friendly face. Even in those she has called friend for three years. If you can count an on-line acquaintance a good friend. When she decides to hack her chat-room partner to find out if he could be a member of Jaxon's team, she opens up a part of her heart she never knew she had already lost. And it hadn't been lost to her boyfriend.

Eric Shaw knows how easily possession can become obsession, at least his good friend Ben Tamati isn't above pointing it all out to him. But when his on-line fantasy becomes a thrilling reality he realises he'd sell his soul to have Amber Lane. But believing the beautiful, intelligent dancer-come-hacker has given him her heart freely is harder to accept.

Bomb threats and sinister dealings, manipulative and powerful men, chases through shadowed nightclubs, building collapses and international cyber stalking. Amber's world is nothing like she thought it. Can she survive the obsession of one very bad man? Or will she rejoice in being the possession of one very wicked one? Stripping for a living has nothing on baring your heart and soul.

Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.

This instalment in the Sweet Seduction Series centres around Adam Savill and his love interest.