Ryson Acumen finds that his time of service to the land of Uton is not yet complete. Together with Holli Brances and Lief Woodson, they must work together once more to end a growing threat and to meet their own undeniable destinies. It is not without loss or sacrifice as they struggle to battle grotesque forces of malevolence. Enemies once forgotten return to hold sway over each ensuing conflict.[Book 1 in the "Year of the Chick" series. There's a bit of a cliffhanger to end this book, but the sequel addresses any unanswered questions]An awkward family homecoming at Christmas.A humiliating public weigh-in, with two judging parents as the audience.The announcement of a deadline for arranged marriage doom.And that's just the first two chapters.In "Year of the Chick," Romi Narindra must find love before her parents find her a husband (a seemingly absurd concept that's the norm in many cultures). To escape her fate, Romi wades through the waters of secret-dating, where self-consciousness is at an all-time high, and experience at an all-time low. It's the sort of thing that would turn almost anyone into a man-crazy freak with romance tunnel-vision, and that's exactly what happens to her. All the while, a lack of inspiration in her corporate job leads Romi to her love of writing, in what quickly becomes a man-quest play-by-play.From whiskey-breath scum bags to uni-brow creeps and everything in between, Romi and her wingmen come up empty time after time. And that's when she meets a fellow writer. On the Internet.So will it be arranged marriage doom, or an Internet affair that's not as creepy as "To Catch a Predator"? Time will tell in the "year of the chick," a twelve-month quest to find love.Tick-tock.---------------------------------------------"Year of the Chick" is book 1 in a series, and the sequel "Last-Minute Love" is available now!LENGTH: 75,000 words or 288 pagesDISCLAIMER: this book contains profanities, blunt accounts of the dating scene, and cringe-worthy awkward family moments

Rath Scampion explores the barren planet Fenrir just before a Regency Council plants a genetically created "alien." Geneticists create the Fenrites in cloning labs, infusing knowledge of basic agriculture, but as the colony takes hold, researchers discover the Fenrites advancing at an alarming pace. The experiment spirals out of control, and Rath must flee, ending up in the midst of outcasts.From the Author: Alien Cradle is one of my first novels. It is more plot focused than character driven, so it is very different from my other works, such as the Delver Magic series. I am including it for the sake of completeness. I wanted to make all of my work available for anyone interested in my earliest books. If you decide to give Alien Cradle a try, I hope you will also consider some of my other novels, even if you find this particular story not to your liking. Thank you,Jeff InloSummary: Rath Scampion, outer rim scout, explores the barren landscapes of Fenrir just before a Regency Scientific Council plants the seed of a genetically created "alien." Captured trying to steal precious gems from the planet, Rath finds himself entangled in a massive deception. Geneticists create the Fenrites in cloning labs, infusing knowledge of basic agriculture through brain wave technology. As the alien colony takes hold on the once barren planet, researchers discover the Fenrites advancing at an alarming pace, passing quickly through complex stages of industrial and technological growth. The experiment spirals out of control and Rath must flee Regency controlled space, ending up in the midst of marauders and outcasts. He is caught with no safe haven as the Fenrite disaster spurs on political and military chaos throughout the Regency colonized worlds.

The Sphere of Ingar has been destroyed, but a growing wind of rebellion leads to a new threat. The dwarf queen, Yave, declares war on the algors. Ryson Acumen attempts to intervene as the algors fight for their very existence and the elves threaten to unleash their own weapon of sheer terror. The overriding need that brought the races together is gone, and the land of Uton fractures into chaos.Forced from her childhood home by the murder of her father and the fear of the man she knew had killed him, Sybil ran from her past. Finding a new home and the love of a miss matched group of people, she'd found peace again even with the scars of her past forever haunting her future. At the turn of the 20th century, her prospects of a family of her own took on new dimensions as she stumbled onto a near frozen discovery. With the love of a small child, Sybil's heart bloomed as fate brought the darkness of a stranger to her door. Was it possible after all this time, she could have a family of her own?*After reading several old western romances by Norah Hess, the story and characters of Texas Rose haunted my dreams. Pushing aside three other stories I'd been working on, Sybil and Cole just wouldn't stay away! I might be a simple country girl, but I'd be lost without my computer and internet, so most of my stories happen in modern times. Texas Rose however is based in the late 1800's (early 1900's) and is my first attempt at older western romance. Unlike my other stories, there was no place for the full, descriptive portrayals of the sexual intimacy in Texas Rose. I hope the readers enjoy Texas Rose as much as I enjoyed writing it.*"Oh my Lord," she whispered still scanning her soft brown eyes over the letter, "Robert, is this for real?" Stepping toward her once again wrapping the softness of his palms over her shoulders, Robert smiled and nodded slowly. "If no parental claims of the child are made by Christmas, the one year standard wait will have been concluded and you can file to adopt Rose yourself," his voice low and soft as the tears began to fall over the length of her lashes. She had grown to love the little girl as her own and now that the possibility of it actually being true settled on her, Sybil trembled with happiness. Looking up at him, the happiness of the warm tears streaked down her cheeks and the sob caught in the back of her throat as he pressed his lips to hers. Slipping his hands down her shoulders and wrapping them around her waist, Robert pulled her body against his as his breath feathered between their lips. With the joy of the news and the sweetness of his breath on her lips, Sybil melted into the warmth of his arms for a moment. She had often longed to be in his arms again, dreamed of them raising Rose as husband and wife. Husband, the word shattered her heart as she realized he was already someone else's husband. Pressing her hands into his chest and pushing him away, Sybil stepped away, holding tight to the letter. "What are you doing," she sobbed as he tried to pull her back to him. Watching the happiness on her face transform into confusion and hurt, Robert lowered his head and stepped back. Pain twisted the soft features of his face. He had always loved her, but he had made his decision two years ago. "Sybil," his voice low as he backed down the steps, stepping into the stirrup of his horse's saddle and swinging his leg over, Robert raised the sadness of his blue eyes to her, "I'm sorry."

A rolling tremor passes through the land of Uton signaling a return of long absent magic as well as violent, evil creatures bent on shredding the very fabric of reality. Ryson Acumen, purebred delver, learns that legends he considered fables hold more truth than fantasy. He discovers the Sphere of Ingar is free from its tomb in Sanctum Mountain and it threatens to obliterate all life.A rolling tremor passes through the land of Uton signaling a return of long absent magic as well as an ancient evil that accompanies it. Ryson Acumen, purebred delver, senses the changes and begins his explorations to discover the source behind the upheaval. In his investigations, he learns that legends he considered fables hold more truth than fantasy. The delver encounters elves and learns the Sphere of Ingar, a talisman that captured all magical energies long ago, is free from its tomb in Sanctum Mountain. As violent, evil creatures return to shred the very fabric of reality, the sphere gains awareness and chooses to spew corrupted magical energies to obliterate all life. The sphere must be destroyed, but it rests within Sanctum, a hollow mountain with a single path to its center. The way to the sphere remains defended by devices created long ago, forged by members of each race to thwart entry to the mountain's core. Those that wish to defeat the sphere must not only overcome these barriers, they must conquer the mistrust which has flourished during the long period of separation. Human, elf, dwarf, algor and delver must reunite to defeat the obstacles that now protect the sphere. Once inside Sanctum, representatives of each race face the secrets of the ages that once undone will change their lives forever.