E.G. Manetti's Blog

September 25, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Pets in Space ~ Cyborgs on Mars



In celebration of my invitation to join Pets In Space 10, Indie Spotlight will feature stories from my fellow authors in the anthology for the next few months. From High Plains Cyborg to The Cyborg Way (PISA 9), I’ve loved every one of Honey PhillipsCyborgs of Mars stories. Cyborg with No Name is no exception, combining far-future Mars settlement with the ethos of the Old West in a suspenseful romance.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.

All work and no play…Can a wounded cyborg help an isolated scientist remember her own humanity?

Dr. Rose Abbott is the cybernetic engineer who created the robot horses used in the efforts to terraform Mars. Disgusted by the way her creations are treated by the GenCon Corporation, she chooses to leave her work behind and live in isolation.

Then one of her horses finds her and leads her to an injured cyborg ranger – one with no memory. She reluctantly decides to take the big male, who she nicknames Roy, back to her home to heal.

All Roy can remember is cold and pain. But the prickly little scientist taking care of him begins to thaw his frozen heart, awakening feelings he never thought to have. He is determined to protect her – even from his unknown past.

With the help of a robot horse and a cybernetic dog, can two wounded souls find peace in each other’s arms? Or will Roy’s past threaten the new life he is hoping to build?

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The Cyborgs of Mars adventures continue in HIGH NOON CYBORG.

Dr. Cassandra Winters has dedicated her life to the study of Mars and the mysteries beneath its surface. When strange readings emerge from a remote monitoring station, Cass sets off with her cybernetic armadillo Roland to investigate.

Cyborg ranger Z-542’s job is to protect, not to feel. He does his best to keep his distance from the humans on Mars—even the enticing little scientist he can’t stop thinking about. However, when he discovers that Cass has headed out into the wilderness alone, nothing will stop him from going after her.

 When an unexpected storm traps him with Cass, the attraction between them can no longer be ignored. But something dangerous is stirring beneath the surface of Mars. With danger closing in from above and below, can they protect each other—and admit the feelings blossoming between them?

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Published on September 25, 2025 11:36

September 17, 2025

Pets in Space 10 Playlist: From RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE to LEARNING TO FLY



As companion material for Pets In Space 10, the authors were asked to pick a playlist song to accompany their story. For my story, HUNTED: Nightingale, Volume 2, I was torn between two song suggestions. The first, CCR's Run Through the Jungle, reflects the story’s on-the-run trope. The heroes of “Hunted ” are running through mountains, not jungles, to escape their pursuers, but it’s totally the right vibe for the challenge facing Lochan and Adele.

My other pick for the playlist is Tom Petty's Learning to Fly . The refrain—I'm learning to fly but I ain't got wings, Coming down is the hardest thing—ran through my head the entire time I was crafting the flyer crash and the main characters' rough landing. While Run Through the Jungle sets the atmosphere for the chase, Learning to Fly serves as a metaphor for both the development of the main characters' relationship and the exploration of the newly discovered Thirteenth System. Especially the lines: So I've started out for God knows where / I guess I'll know when I get there. Together, both songs capture the sense of risk and adventure in HUNTED. I hope they add a new dimension to your reading experience. Below, there’s a short sneak peek into the 'coming down is the hardest thing' aspect.

PETS IN SPACE 10 Playlist

****HUNTED SNEAK PEEK

Bright Star Prime, The Thirteenth System, Sevenday 42, Day 4

Adele plummeted through the night sky; the glider unfurled overhead, doing nothing to halt her descent. Terror dried her mouth and slowed her wits as she fumbled to find the navigation controls. At the press of her finger, she was jerked up and back, halting the free fall.

How high were they when the flyer exploded?  Her fingers scrabbled over the controls, and the glider responded by turning in a circle. Is that fire?   It was gone from sight and then back again. It had to be the crashed flyer.

Culling her memory for the safety instructions, she manipulated the controls. The circle widened, but she began to drop faster.

Five Warriors’ Mercy.<.i> How had she come to be fighting for her life over uncharted lands at the edge of the known galaxy?  

Three sevendays earlier . . .


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Published on September 17, 2025 13:26

September 11, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Pets in Space ~ Far Future Japan



In celebration of my invitation to join Pets In Space 10, Indie Spotlight will feature stories from my fellow authors in the anthology for the next few months. S.J. Pajonas's first entry into Pets In Space, Suri’s Sure Thing (Pets in Space 6), began the Kimura sisters series, which takes place in far-future post-apocalyptic Japan. The world-building is done with a light touch, the narrative emphasis is on the main characters, and, of course, the doggy.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.

All work and no play…

Suri Kimura has decided not to go to the Hikoboshi Farewell Ball. She’d rather work in orbit and earn more cash, even though her overbearing father insists she should attend. When she meets up with her dog, Finn, and her best friend, Erik, for a short planet-side rest, they’re met with a surprise. Her ex-boyfriend is back and he insists on taking her to the ball.

Suri doesn’t know what to do. Finn’s doggy instincts don’t trust the ex, and neither does Erik. Something strange is amiss, but Suri has to give it a fair shot. After a disastrous attempt to rekindle the romance, Suri realizes Erik means a whole lot more to her than just a friend — but, does he feel the same?

Quiet and reliable project manager Erik has always taken care of Suri, but it’s never felt romantic before. When he rushes to her side to help her handle her ex and her work troubles, Suri suspects that the dynamic between them has changed… or has it?

Will Suri and Erik breach the boundaries between them? Or will Suri just return to space and leave her feelings for Erik far behind?

Suri’s Sure Thing is the first novella in The Kimura Sisters science fiction romance series. If you like juicy family sagas, handsome men with a heart of gold, and lovable dogs, then you’ll adore S. J. Pajonas’s thrilling best-friends-to-lovers romance.


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The saga of the Kimura Sisters continues in ROSA'S NEW GAME.

About the only thing in Rosa's life that isn't unstable is her paired relationship with scruffy mutt, Raimei.

Rosa Kimura's life is falling apart at the seams. With a career-ending soccer injury and whispers of budget cuts at the Interstellar Agency where she counsels astronauts, she's desperate for any distraction. When her physical therapist suggests yoga to help her recovery, Rosa reluctantly agrees… only to discover her instructor is the same man who ghosted her after one perfect date a year ago.

Rhys never meant to disappear from Rosa's life. Caught between a manipulative ex and Rosa's overprotective sister, he made the cowardly choice to vanish. Now fate has given him a second chance, but winning back Rosa's trust won't be easy, especially when he’s doubting his yoga business, her job security crumbles, and family drama threatens to suffocate them both.

With a crumbling family estate, a snarky dog best friend, a meddling sister, and their undeniable chemistry pulling them together, Rosa and Rhys must learn to communicate — on and off the mat — if they want to find their balance in love.

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Published on September 11, 2025 07:52

August 29, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Pets in Space ~ Aliens and Unicorns



In celebration of my invitation to join Pets In Space 10, Indie Spotlight will feature stories from my fellow authors in the anthology for the next few months. Best-selling author Skye MacKinnon has been a regular contributor to the Pets in Space anthologies. Her Intergalactic Guide to Humans series features alien who are not very good at the whole alien-abduction-thing.

Fortunately, in Alien Abduction for Unicorns, the unicorn has a clue.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.

Unicorns are just as real as aliens.

Despite achieving fame and fortune as a renowned unicorn tamer, Bruin has never found the one thing he craves: love. When a horrific accident puts him deep in debt, Bruin’s only chance of returning to his old life is aiding his scientist father. Sent to find out why the people on a primitive planet called Earth don’t believe in unicorns, all Bruin has to do is abduct a human. But he never expected that human to be his fated mate…

All Tara’s ever wanted is to leave her small Scottish town and explore the world. Being kidnapped by a crazy guy with a fake unicorn wasn’t what she had in mind. Especially when the unicorn turns out to be real, and the crazily hot guy turns out to be an alien.

Her abductor is offering a chance to explore the galaxy with his charming unicorn in tow. But to see the stars, she’d have to give up everything, including the walls around her heart.

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From unicorns to dragons, Sky MacKinnon continues the adventure in My Big Grumpy Alien Dragon.

He’s fire, fury, and scales – until sunshine crashes into his life.

Tyvaron was built to destroy. Not to fall in love.

When a crash-landed human stumbles into his territory and refuses to run from his fire, this battle-scarred alien dragon is drawn to her like nothing he has ever known. She is his opposite. His temptation. His mate.
With a tiny dragon determined to claim them both, Tyvaron is about to learn that even monsters can find family.

A spicy alien romance with a grumpy cyborg dragon and the sassy human woman who brings him back to life.

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Published on August 29, 2025 07:36

August 22, 2025

Sneak Peek: Pets in Space 10- Meet the HUNTED Pet



I’m ecstatic that my story, Hunted is part of Pets in Space 10! I’ve loved all the earlier anthologies, and this one is every bit as exciting. This anthology brings you on a journey through the stars with tales of romance and heroism, featuring extraordinary pets who steal the spotlight. Read on for an initial glimpse of Rogue, the star-bred terrier.

Releases October 7, 2024!
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The last survivors of an ancient civilization.

Rogue, a far-future hybrid of a Jack Russel Terrier, is no ordinary canine. His ancestors were genetically modified to survive the rigors of space travel and settlement on terraformed worlds. As with all terriers, he is adventurous, intelligent, willful, and dedicated to his chosen people. The advanced space-traveling civilization that created the Star Bred terriers left behind terraformed worlds, fragments of technology, and history but nothing about where they came from or where they might have fled when stellar warfare broke out.

Rogue’s planet, Bright Star Deuce, is part of a newly discovered star system. For over a thousand years, no human has visited the planet until the intrepid crew of the Nightingale.  Although they suspected the ancients terraformed the planet, the discovery of the Star Bred terriers was a revelation.


Rogue’s first meeting with humans.

Adele wandered toward the grasslands where the edge of the forest was visible. To her disappointment, the five-foot ledge was sheer, rather than sloped. Not that she was foolish enough to enter a wildwood, but the view of the trees was limited.

A sharp sound had her turning. Maybe she heard a bird call. It came again, but from the ground. Squatting, she examined the pitted surface. Another sound, and she met two bright blue eyes floating six inches from the ground. Shocked, she lost her balance, her butt landing hard.

White spread from around the eyes, revealing a panting muzzle with a pale-pink tongue, overlarge pointed ears, and then the body of a small dog, huddled awkwardly by the base of the ledge.

Adriana’s dog? “Blue?”

Easing forward, Adele held out her fingers. “How did you get all the way up here?”

The little creature stretched to sniff her fingers, and the sharp, painful sound came again.

“You are hurt!”

Crawling forward, she gave the dog a minute to get her scent. She gently rubbed its ears with one hand, using the other to stroke the stocky little body. When the dog did not flinch or cry, she slid her hands beneath its belly and lifted.

Its sharp yelp tore at her heart. Cradling it close, she sought the source of its injury and discovered it could not possibly be Blue. “You are a little boy.”

As she said it, she recognized other differences between the little dog and Blue. He was smaller and younger. Not a puppy, but also not full-grown. No more than six or seven pounds. His coat was smoother, revealing muscles that would thicken and strengthen with time.

When she probed its hind left paw seeking injury, it cried again. His doe-eyed gaze was pleading.

“Adele, are you injured?”

Intent on the dog, she had not heard the soft hum of Felspar’s cart.

The geologist peered at her over the console. “Where did you get the Star Bred terrier?”

“I found it here. Its left hind leg is injured. I think it may have fallen over the ledge.”

“Possible,” he said, dismounting from the cart. “The pack lives in those rocks. There’s a freshwater pond on the other side.”

Adele had been told Blue’s kind lived near the vistrite seam but had not realized she was near their den. “It seems docile for a wild creature, but it is hurt.”

Bracing her back against the ledge, Adele struggled to rise while holding the dog. “I thought it was Blue at first.”

The geologist surged forward, grasping Adele’s elbows to assist. “It’s the nature of the breed to like people. The ancients bred them.”

“The ancients made invisible dogs?”

The geologist chuckled. “Genetic hybrid. They did something so the fur changes color to match its surroundings. Like some lizards.”

“They terraformed more than half the Thirteen Systems. I suppose a lizard-dog was nothing to them.” Adele walked toward the cart.

“What are you doing? You cannot simply take the creature. That whole section of forest, including the terriers, is a Blooded Dagger preserve.”

Easing into the cart, Adele said, “What choice do we have? It is injured. If we leave him here, he will die.


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Published on August 22, 2025 07:10

August 15, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Pets in Space ~ A Dragon, A Sheik, & A Mage



In celebration of my invitation to join Pets In Space 10, Indie Spotlight will feature stories from my fellow authors in the anthology for the next few months. Award-winning and best-selling authorS.E. Smith has been a regular contributor to the Pets in Space anthologies. I first discovered her in the first Pets in Space Anthology with the captivating A Mate for Matrix–a cyborg romance featuring a brilliant dog. Her work blends sci-fi with magic, and her Dragon Lords of Valdier is a favorite series.

She returns to dragons in the first book in her Rings of Power Series: Wynter and the Stone Dragon.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.


When a doorway between worlds opens and unites two lives, anything is possible…

Since she was a child, Wynter Stormhold’s curious nature has taken her to far-off worlds. In one world, she touches the life of a young human boy. In another, she finds her most trusted friend, a stone dragon she calls Pow-pow. Hiding her growing powers from her mage family started out as a childish prank, but now she uses them to go on secret adventures.

Sheikh Khalid el Amid’s life changes forever when he encounters a beautiful but alien girl. Wynter brings unexpected miracles during his darkest hour and he vows to always protect her—but then she disappears through a portal.

When grown-up Wynter suddenly reappears years later, Khalid falls in love. All too soon, however, she is ripped from him again. As Wynter and Pow-pow fight for their lives against a mage who would use Wynter and her father’s Rings of Power to control the vast worlds across space, Khalid fights for his people and his rightful place on Earth.

Can an alien princess and her dragon find their way back to her beloved sheikh, or will their responsibilities keep them apart forever?

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The adventures continue with the second book in the Rings of Power series: The Lost Ring

A lost ring, a wish, and two mischievous water dragons spark chaos when magic collides with science in the heart of the Louisiana bayou…
Harmonia Stormhold has inherited her mother’s bold spirit and her father’s thirst for knowledge—but as the eldest of the Stormhold children, she’s always felt the weight of responsibility. Serving as an assistant to the Mage Council on Enyo was meant to give her purpose. Instead, it’s only deepened the restlessness in her soul — and awakened an ancient magic she doesn’t fully understand.

Dr. Landry Savoy has spent his life studying the delicate ecosystem of his beloved bayou. A fifth-generation native and passionate biologist, he’s dedicated to preserving its fragile beauty. But when a routine check of his equipment uncovers a shimmering gold ring—and two colorful, talking water dragons—Landry’s world is turned upside down.

Now, three worlds are set on a collision course: one ruled by magic, one grounded in science, and one born of legend. When an ancient monster stirs in the dark waters, threatening the isolated community Landry calls home, Harmonia, Landry, and the two mischievous water dragons must work together to stop the devastation before the government discovers what is happening.

Can a mage with buried powers and a scientist who doesn’t believe in magic save the bayou before it’s too late?

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Published on August 15, 2025 06:39

August 2, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Otherworldly Pets



In celebration of my invitation to join Pets In Space 10, Indie Spotlight will feature stories from my fellow authors in the anthology for the next few months. Award-winning author Pauline Baird Joneshas been a regular contributor to the Pets in Space anthologies. Her Project Enterprise series is one of my favorite space opera/space opera romances. If you have missed some of her fabulous stories about the Project Enterprise pets, not to worry. She has them collected in a bargain-priced boxed set.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.


The Otherworldly Pets of Project Enterprise

What do you get when you cross intergalactic danger, swoony heroes, fearless heroines, and pets that are anything but ordinary? You get Claws & Effect—a quirky, heartfelt collection of sci-fi romance adventures from USA Today bestselling author Pauline Baird Jones! 🐾✨

These aren’t your average companion animals—they sass, slither, squawk, and occasionally save the galaxy. Buckle up for five fun-filled stories of love, laughter, and a little chaos, starring the galaxy’s most unexpected MVPs: a caticorn, a chatty parrot, a prophetic python, a snarky frog, and one highly opinionated dragon.

🚀 Time Trap – Sergeant Briggs just wanted to recover and get back to work—not open a mystery package from Area 51 and accidentally unleash a woman claiming to be from the future and her sarcastic talking parrot. Now he’s dodging threats from the Time Service Interdiction Force, helping save a base full of genius nerds, and maybe, just maybe, falling for a time-tossed troublemaker.

🪐 Operation Ark – Caro never expected to share a mission—or a spaceship—with a smoldering space pirate and a mischievous caticorn. Together, they must return alien refugees to their home planets while dodging a grudge-holding villain and their growing attraction.

🤖 Cyborg’s Revenge – She’s tired of heartbreak. He’s tired of circuits. Can this bashful cyborg and his determined lady overcome betrayal, battle a terrifying enemy, and trust a snake who thinks he’s the hero of the story?

🐸 General’s Holiday – All General Halliwell wanted was some peace, quiet, and a chance to channel his inner Picard. What he got was a woman with a wild tale, a frog with attitude, and a crisis that might end in either planetary doom—or a first kiss worth the risk.

🔥 The Real Dragon (Bonus Short Story) – When Emma’s pet bearded dragon starts typing (yes, typing), her dad’s bossy bride-to-be may get more than she bargained for. One girl, one dragon, and a Texas-sized mess…what could possibly go wrong?

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Published on August 02, 2025 07:40

July 27, 2025

Secret Project Revealed: Pets in Space 10!



I have been a fan of the Pets in Spaceanthology since the first volume, where I discovered some fabulous writers, many of whom return in the 10th Anniversary edition. Since then, each new anthology has contained fabulous SFR stories and at least one new-to-me author who has become a favorite.

When Carol Van Natta invited me to contribute to last year’s Pets in Space 9, I was thrilled. When she asked to return for Pets in Space 10, there was only one possible answer: YES!

HUNTED is the second volume in the Nightingale series that follows the crew’s adventures exploring the newly discovered Thirteenth System.

For those unfamiliar with the anthology, each science fiction romance novella has a pet or animal as a main character. The anthology donates 10% of the preorders and the first month’s sales to Hero Dogs, a fabulous charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders.


Nine Interstellar Tales.

Nine Unforgettable Romances.

Nineteen Adorably Badass Pets.


In this tenth-anniversary edition of PETS IN SPACE®, you’ll find smart-mouthed birds, cyber armadillos, tiny dragons, and alien creatures who steal the show — and sometimes save it. Across distant planets, space stations, and magical realms, unlikely heroes and heroines are drawn together by danger, fate… and the meddling of their pet sidekicks. These stories blend swoon-worthy romance with thrilling sci-fi adventure in a way only PETS IN SPACE can deliver.

Don’t miss your chance to escape into the stars with nine sizzling sci-fi romances — each with a pet who will steal your heart and a hero or heroine who will make it race. Grab PETS IN SPACE 10 and get ready to binge beyond the stars!

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HUNTED: Nightingale, Volume 2

At the far edge of the galaxy fear has a new home . . .

Security Chief Lochan Rondel joined the Nightingale to gain a warrior’s signet and join the Thirteen Systems elite. He knew venturing into an uncharted section of the galaxy meant risking his life, but he did not expect to fight a harrowing battle with the despoiler fleet. With the despoilers defeated, the signet is almost within his grasp. A few days with a lovely engineer on an uninhabited planet is a well-earned reward for months of risk and danger. Except that Bright Star Prime is not uninhabited, and the squatters are deadly.

Adele Cypress invented a revolutionary launch platform that will be the first in the Thirteenth System. A commoner from a modest background, it is an opportunity beyond her wildest dreams. Not only will its success secure her future, but she will also meet the heroic Commander Lochan. A man she has fantasized about since he first appeared in the media streams. When he joins her for a planetary excursion, she is as thrilled with his company as she is with the wonder of a new and untamed world. Her excitement turns into terror with a midnight attack.

Fleeing into the night, can Lochan and Adele stay ahead of their enemies long enough for the Nightingale to rescue them?


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Published on July 27, 2025 10:00

July 8, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Cyborgs in Hiding

I loved Cara Bristol's Men of Mettle series, so when her Cosmic Mates series veered into cyborgs, I had to read them. Unlike the Men of Mettle, where the cyborgs are elite military volunteers, the Cosmic Mates cyborgs are disposable machines created for nefarious purposes. Their creators consider them disposable, and when they succeed in escaping, they also need to hide.

Can she find refuge in the arms of a killer cyborg?

Bio-engineered to be an assassin, cyborg Jason Steel is targeted for destruction after he runs afoul of his creators. He escapes, and, passing himself off as human, seeks asylum on planet Refuge. Since couples are given priority, he applies for a wife through the Cosmic Mates interplanetary matchmaking program.

He loathes shackling himself to a wife just as he can taste freedom, so he intends to jettison the ball and chain as soon as he fulfills the contract requirements.

Honoria Foster is on the run from a hit man. After overhearing her boss plotting a murder, she testifies against him in court. But he’s acquitted, and now she’s in the crosshairs. In desperation, she submits an application to Cosmic Mates as a way to get off Earth. To her immense relief, she gets a match.

Her new husband isn’t the alien she expected, but a human—a cold, rude, rather scary man. But she finds solace in the fact that she’ll be safe at Haven Ranch on planet Refuge.

Mutual dislike puts their marriage on a rocky footing, but, as they’re forced to cooperate with one another to adapt to a new life on a strange planet, friendship and mutual respect begin to grow, and amity soon blooms into attraction, passion, and love.

But Steel’s secret past remains a threat to their sanctuary and their marriage. Will Honoria still love him when she finds out the man she married is a cold-blooded killing machine?

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Published on July 08, 2025 12:52

June 15, 2025

Indie Romance Spotlight: Protective Detail

Speaking out against the rich, powerful and corrupt is dangerous folly. In Samantha’s Wilde’s Taschen, the heroine has kept quiet for decades but grief and outrage overwhelm her survival instinct. Fortunately, her business manager knows a guy.

Seraphina Burgess refuses to look down the corridor of her past—until the present forces her hand.

Her childhood haunts her, but nothing is more devastating than the news her best friend, and costar of their hit teen sitcom, has committed suicide.

Sephie knows who’s to blame. Needing retribution, she goes live. With hundreds of thousands of viewers watching, she blasts the producers of the show for what they did ten years ago.

The clap back is quick. But Sephie never expected to fight off a killer. She narrowly escapes with her life, and flees with her dog.

She’s whisked under the protection of a bodyguard. Taschen is stacked with temping masculinity and a smile that reveals his desire. The fine line between client and bodyguard blurs, but Taschen holds fast to his obligations. As they fight their growing attraction, the two of them quickly unravel the truth of her best friend’s death.

And if they’re not careful, she’ll be next.

Taschen was born to protect.

From military soldier to Backcountry Protection Services bodyguard, Taschen McAvery should’ve been prepared to handle looking after ex-child star Seraphina Burgess.

God help him, he wasn’t ready for her.

After the starlet implicates some of the biggest names in Hollywood, the shit hits the fan. Sephie’s heartbreak is evident in her pretty green eyes. Eyes that instantly twine him around her little finger.
Sephie might be innocent in all this, but she’s still in the crosshairs.

Taschen will protect her with everything he has but his heart is the one thing left unguarded.

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**Books featured in the spotlight have been read by EG and received at least a 4-star rating on GoodReads.




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Published on June 15, 2025 09:11