Shifters in the Shadows: Seventeen Paranormal Romances of Sexy Shifters, Dangerous Vamps, & Things That Go Bump in the Night Read online

  Shifters in the Shadows

  Jacqueline Sweet

  Liv Brywood

  J.K. Harper

  Gen Géricault

  Auriella Skye

  J.M. Klaire

  Edith Hawkes

  Olivia Arran

  Cynthia Fox

  Alyse Zaftig

  Elianne Adams

  Claire Ryann

  Scarlett Grove

  Bella Love-Wins

  Anya Nowlan

  Kit Fawkes

  Suki Selborne

  Contents

  Copyright

  A Sneak Peek . . .

  Claim Me Cowbear

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Also by Liv Brywood

  About the Author

  The Lion’s Halloween Baby

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Also by Scarlett Grove

  About the Author

  The Darkest Dragon

  1. Sabrina

  2. Sabrina

  3. Donovan

  4. Sabrina

  5. Donovan

  6. Sabrina

  7. Sabrina

  8. Donovan

  9. Sabrina

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Her Dragon Protector

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Also by Olivia Arran

  About the Author

  Hunter’s Moon

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Also by J.K. Harper

  About the Author

  Hell or High Water

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  About the Author

  Let the Bodice Hit the Floor

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  The Vampire Wore Stilettos

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Cynthia Fox

  A Ghost of a Chance

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  Also by J.M. Klaire

  Fallen Angel

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  About the Author

  Also by Élianne Adams

  Bear Naked for Halloween

  1. Lee

  2. Megan

  3. Lee

  4. Megan

  5. Lee

  6. Megan

  7. Lee

  8. Megan

  9. Lee

  10. Megan

  11. Lee

  12. Megan

  About the Author

  Also By Edith Hawkes

  Sweet Vidalia

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Also by Gen Géricault

  About the Author

  Eternally Mated

  1. Leaving

  2. Seer

  3. Fairy Godmother

  4. Shock

  5. Wrench

  6. Finding Nastia

  7. Plans

  8. Kidnapping

  9. Stranded

  10. Together

  11. Viktor’s Prophecy

  12. Guns

  13. Fish

  14. Helicopter

  15. Bunker

  16. Unexpected Visitor

  17. Inside

  18. Opening

  19. Mating

  20. Cleaning Up

  21. Samhain

  Epilogue

  Gift of the Dead

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  The Night Shift

  1. Work

  2. Steal

  3. Help

  4. Talk

  5. Shelter

  6. Hide

  7. Hold

  8. Reveal

  9. Want

  10. Close

  11. Ask

  12. Hope

  13. Shock

  14. Lose

  15. Find

  16. Wake

  17. New

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Summoning Her Alphas

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Cursed Mate

  1. Vincent

  2. Sonya

  3. Sonya

  4. Vincent

  5. Sonya

  6. Vincent

  7. Sonya

  8. Sonya

  9. Vincent

  10. Sonya

  11. Vincent

  12. Sonya

  13. Vincent

  14. Sonya

  15. Vincent

  16. Sonya

  Also by Bella Love-Wins

  About the Author

  All stories Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline Sweet, Cynthia Fox, Claire Ryann, J.K. Harper, J.M. Klaire, Liv Brywood, Auriella Skye, Gen Géricault, Alyse Zaftig, Kit Fawkes, Edith Hawkes, Olivia Arran, Scarlett Grove, Elianne Adams, Suki Selborne, Bella Love-Wins, and Anya Nowlan.

  Cover design by Jacqueline Sweet

  All rights reserved.
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br />   No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  A Sneak Peek . . .

  Claim Me Cowbear by Liv Brywood—At Curvy Bear Ranch, Halloween night is brimming with magic and seduction. Jack isn't looking for love, but can he resist his perfect mate?

  The Lion’s Halloween Baby by Scarlett Grove—Can lion shifter Rowan and witch Geneva navigate their unexpected feelings while unraveling the mysterious Halloween message that brought them together?

  The Darkest Dragon by Anya Nowlan—A dragon always gets what he needs. Even when he isn't sure what that is. When curvy Sabrina stumbles into dragon shifter Donovan secret lair on Halloween, both their lives will be thrown into turmoil. Can Sabrina face her fears and can Donovan shake the shackles of tradition for what he truly wants?

  Her Dragon Protector by Olivia Arran—When dragon shifter Trent finally finds the woman he’s been searching for, his vow to return the feisty she-dragon back to her clan is the last thing on his mind. Curvy Astrid has his mouth watering and his heart thumping, leaving no doubt that she's his true mate. Honor demands that he resist the mating urge and leave her unclaimed, but is he strong enough to fight the hunger…and does he really want to?

  Hunter’s Moon by J.K. Harper—Abby Kenyon belongs to Quentin Walker heart, body, and soul. But she's a sweet wolf shifter, and he's one big brute of a bear shifter. The autumn full moon mating run is his last chance to prove that only he can win the hunt for her heart...

  Hell or High Water by Kit Fawkes—Water elemental Naiya has a tender heart and an affinity for healing. The bad boy demon she meets at a Halloween party should be the last man to ever interest her, but she’s soon inviting Bach back to her apartment for what she thinks will be one night only. He keeps coming back, and she’s quickly falling for him, but will their fledgling love survive the full truth of his past—and how it affects hers—when it comes to light?

  Let the Bodice Hit the Floor by Jacqueline Sweet—Bear shifter Rhett thinks providing security for the Raven Queen's Halloween party will be a breeze, but he didn't expect a sassy, curvy witch to try and rob the castle on his watch.

  The Vampire Wore Stilettos by Cynthia Fox—Charlotte Van Kampen is a vampire who's too busy for love. When a guest of her nightclub disappears on Halloween, one hot detective tries to crack the case and capture her heart.

  A Ghost of a Chance by J.M. Klaire—Love isn't only for the living. Halloween night, when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, was probably the wrong night to grab life by the balls.

  Fallen Angel by Elianne Adams—What happens when an angel falls, and the only one who can save him is the one who sent him tumbling down? All hell breaks loose—literally.

  Bear Naked for Halloween by Edith Hawkes—It's been five years since Lee left without saying goodbye. But now he's back can I trust myself to give him a second chance even though we both have secrets?

  Sweet Vidalia by Gen Gericault—Wolf shifters Logan Calloway and Albany Cumberland have known they were fated since childhood. An adrenaline-fueled run-in with Savannah’s ever-expanding vampire population threatens to thwart the big surprise Logan has planned for Albany’s Halloween birthday.

  Eternally Mated by Alyse Zaftig—Vampire Pyotr is running out of time, unless he mates before Halloween. Without her, he'll turn to dust. Can he find and claim his mate before it's too late?

  Gift of the Dead by Claire Ryann—True love can conquer any obstacle—even death. As a young widow, the last thing Naomi wants to do is celebrate the Day of the Dead and pretend that she's with Logan again. When her grandmother introduces her to the secrets of a small Mexican village, Naomi is about to discover that the most precious gifts in life might actually be from the dead.

  The Night Shift by Suki Selborne—Tiger shifter medic Dr. Isabel Prowse knows you never invite a vampire into your war zone field hospital — or your bed. But when the Halloween full moon lights up Isabel's corner of the desert, mysterious vamp Louis isn’t the only one losing control.

  Summoning Her Alphas by Auriella Skye—What happens when a spirit witch invokes a spell to find her warlock mates that goes wrong? For Sherri, she summons a vampire and a dragon shifter for a night of heated passion instead, but spirit witches aren’t supposed to use the spell she’s discovered. When complications from her conjuring result in her men vanishing, she’ll need the magic of the annual Kala West All Hallows’ Eve Ball to find her sexy, powerful Alphas again.

  Cursed Mate by Bella Love-Wins—Vampires and wolf shifters are mortal enemies. So how did I end up becoming the maid of honor at a Halloween wedding with Vincent, a 350-year-old, sexy as sin vampire?

  Claim Me Cowbear

  by Liv Brywood

  Chapter 1

  As Sasha drove her truck under a wooden sign marked Curvy Bear B&B, a smile spread across her face. To the right of the dirt road, a crop of bright orange pumpkins sat on drying vines. A scarecrow dressed in a Tyrannosaurus rex Halloween costume hovered over the patch, adding a festive charm to the ranch’s entrance.

  A spark of excitement awakened her bear. She couldn’t wait to spend a week at the artist’s retreat. Her bear sniffed the pine-scented air with approval. She’d never expected to discover a ranch dedicated to helping shifters find a community so close to her home. The website had promised a week of inspiring exercises in a variety of artistic mediums—everything from metalworking to oil painting.

  After battling piles of uninspiring clay, she needed a break. But she couldn’t play around too much. Her favorite patron, Nancy Bran, expected a fully fired piece of unique art for her mansion by the end of the week. If Sasha couldn’t design an amazing clay creation, Nancy would drop her in favor of an artist who wasn’t wallowing in creative hell.

  Gravel crunched under the truck’s tires as she approached the parking area. Several cars formed a line to the right of the barn. She pulled up beside them and turned off the engine. As she hopped out, a curvy woman with fluffy golden-blonde hair approached her from the direction of a large ranch-style home.

  “Welcome to the ranch. I’m Abigail, but you can call me Abby,” she said.

  “I’m Sasha,” she said.

  “Did you find the place okay?” Abby asked.

  “Yes, your directions were great.”

  “Here, let me help you with your bags,” Abby said.

  “Thank you.” Sasha pulled a bag out of the back seat and handed it to her. “I usually pack a lot lighter, but I wasn’t sure which tools I was going to need this week. I have clay in the back, but I’ll come back for that.”

  A tall, muscular man with wavy brown hair and bright green eyes strolled around the side of the barn. Dressed in jeans, a red-and-white checkered shirt, and sporting a tan Stetson, he carried himself with a cool confidence.

  “Hey, hon.” Abby stood on her tiptoes as she stretched to kiss the man. “This is my husband, Cody.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Darn, too bad he was already married.

  “I heard you say you have clay in the back. I’d be happy to grab it for you,” Cody said.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother,” Sasha said.

  “It’s no bother,” he said.

  “He likes showing off his muscles,” Abby joked.

  “Any chance I get.” He winked at his wife. “I’ll take this up to your room, Sasha. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Sasha said.

  As Cody hauled two ten-pound blocks of clay out of the truck’s bed, Sasha pulled a second bag out of the back seat. She followed Abby up the road past the ranch home toward the two-story B&B.

  “Wow. This place is huge,” Sasha said.

  “We have twenty rooms for guests, but we’re only about half full this week,” Abby said. “During the summer and at Christmas we tend to fill up, but business is slower i
n the spring and fall. That’s partially why I decided to run this retreat.”

  “I can’t wait. I have a feeling this week is going to be great,” Sasha said.

  “We love to host other shifters at the B&B. I’m surprised by how many of us live in areas without other bears. You’re a grizzly shifter, right?” Abby asked.

  “Yep.” Her bear stretched in her chest. “She can’t wait to come out and run around the woods. Is it fairly safe, or do you have problems with hunters?”

  “We used to have a few issues, but we managed to scare away the humans,” Abby said. “So it’s basically safe, but as usual, you should be careful if another bear approaches you. Some of the creatures in this area aren’t shifters. If you’re cautious, you should be fine.”

  “You’re a painter, right?” Sasha asked.

  “Oil and acrylic.”

  “I work with clay.”

  “Bowls and plates?” Abby asked. “Or figurines?”

  “A little bit of everything,” Sasha said.

  “Is it your full-time job?”

  “For now,” she sighed. “I have a piece due at the end of the week and I can’t think of anything new and original.”

  “Can you get an extension on the deadline?” Abby asked. “What’s the piece for?”

  “It’s for my main patron. Without her, I’d be in trouble right now. The economy’s been terrible the last few years and I have very little money left. If I don’t fulfill this order, I’m going to lose my business.”

  “We can’t have that happen.” Abby climbed the porch steps, then stopped in front of the door. “My goal this week is to enjoy the process of creating art. I know it’s not the easiest thing to do, but it might help you come up with a new design.”

  “I hope so.”

  Sasha followed her into the foyer. Polished wood floors led into a large living room. A fireplace sat in the center of one wall. Bookshelves stretched toward the vaulted ceiling. Oil paintings depicting bears and other nature scenes decorated the walls. Sasha’s eyes widened.