View All Titles by Jenny Penn

REVIEWS for Mating Claire [Sea Island Wolves 1]

5 Cups: 2008 Coffee Time Reviewer's Recommend Award: "Ms. Penn uses suspense, humor, raunchy sex, action, and adventure to grab the reader in this hot tale of paranormal fantasy. Claire is an independent character who is strong and capable of handling any alpha male character. Derek is a no nonsense dominant male without being overwhelming. The first line in Mating Claire is hilarious, and I was riveted from there. The author uses wonderfully vivid words to describe everything from the office, the forest, the passionate encounters. Paranormal stories usually have me jumping for joy to read, but this novel had me excited to spread the word about the sensational book I read. Readers, pay attention because here is a tale fit for any book lover. Spectacular read! CAUTION: This book contains graphic sex scenes and passionate encounters. Not for the weak hearted." —Danielle, Coffee Time Romance

5 Stars: "Demon, werewolf, serial killer…Mating Claire is a very sensual book. The tension between Derek and Claire is undeniable; the reader can feel it. There are twists and turns throughout the plot that will keep the reader eagerly turning pages." —Debra Gaynor, Review Your Book

Joyfully Recommended: "Mating Claire is a strong, well-plotted, totally fun and sexy paranormal romance. Readers will find it difficult to put down! Alpha wolf Derek is domineering, possessive and tender (yum) while Claire is tough, smart and somewhat naïve about romance and true love. Also, the cast of secondary characters enriches the story and makes Mating Claire a more realistic paranormal tale. Mating Claire is a thoroughly enjoyable and sizzling story from start to finish. Therefore I Joyfully Recommend Mating Claire!" --Lisa, Joyfully Reviewed.

STORY EXCERPT

Of all the undercover assignments she’d done over the years, playing Dorothy Walker was the easiest. Being Dorothy, Claire could be the uptight, anal-retentive person she really was. All she had to remember was to respond to the name Dorothy.

A pair of black boots crossed in the doorway drew her attention and her scowl. They were standard issue for the officers. She was not in the mood for any teasing. Sitting back on her heels, she looked up to give the man a set-down.

The words froze on her lips as the piercing blue gaze of the stranger trapped her eyes. He was large and heavily muscled. The charcoal gray shirt was pulled taut over a solid wall of steel.

His black slacks rode a little low on his hips, held down by the heavy gun belt. It added to the air of danger he exuded, emphasizing the narrowness of his hips and the thickness of his thighs.

Handsome was too pretty a word for his features. They were rough, rugged and inspired a primal thrill in her. His dark hair was a little long, falling around his ears and framing those amazing eyes.

Claire could sense the wolf prowling, stalking her, through those eyes. He was leaning against the doorframe. His stance was deceptively relaxed, but Claire wasn’t buying into that lie.

She could feel the tension coiling in him as he studied her like a hunter sizing up the prey he was about to take down. Not with violence, though, but with barely restrained sexuality.

Her heart began to race as instinct whispered she should flee. Claire ground her teeth together, her hands curling into fists as she watched him sniff the air, scenting her arousal.

Her body’s response to his blatantly sexual look riled her already inflamed temper. Narrowing her eyes on him, she rose to her feet. Carefully she set the stack of files on her desk and replaced the receiver.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m Chief Jacob.” The man nodded his head slightly. “You must be Dorothy.”

“Very perceptive.” Claire was unable to keep the sarcastic edge out of her tone.

“So you’re my new assistant.”

The smooth southern drawl dripped like honey down Claire’s spine and pooled warmly between her legs. Claire clamped her thighs together in a futile effort to hide his effect on her.

She looked at Derek Jacob, keeping her eyes off his face and away from those captivating eyes. The problem with that tactic was it meant she had to look at the rest of him. His hard, toned muscles were no less mouthwatering, no less mesmerizing.

Her mouth went dry as she watched the bulge in his gray slacks grow impossibly larger. Quickly she looked away, feeling her panties dampen in response.

The bastard sniffed the air again and her eyes shot back to his face. The edges of his lips kicked up in a satisfied smile and Claire knew exactly what she was dealing with. A werewolf.

Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as his gaze traveled downward, stopping and staying on her breasts. Despite her annoyance with the jerk, she felt her breasts tighten. Her nipples hardened, straining against the flimsy silk blouse.

The phone rang just then, jarring her out of her growing anger.

“Chief Jacob’s office. How may I help you?”

Claire saw Derek snicker as her tone changed, becoming pleasant, almost cheerful. It was a farce. One she pulled off with ease as she listened to a breathless woman asking if the chief was in.

“Yes. May I ask who’s calling?” Claire had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. With the Chief back, she was probably going to get a lot of these calls. No doubt the man had a whole harem of women who loved hard-bodied men in uniform.

“Never mind.” The line went dead before Claire could respond.

“Well, Assistant Dorothy.” His joking use of her title had Claire’s teeth grinding. “You ready to catch me up?”

“Of course, Chief Jacob.” Claire managed not to snarl. Just barely, but she managed. Gathering his schedule, the files he needed to review, and papers needing his signature, she turned.

“After you.” Derek gestured to the open door of his office.

Lucky girl. That man is sizzling.

Kate’s hungry voice echoed through Claire’s mind. Claire saw the ghost materialize for just a moment before fading back into the air. The apparition’s habit of popping in and out always irritated Claire.

“Something wrong?” For the first time the chief sounded serious, almost alarmed as he looked around the room.

Yeah, he has too many clothes on.

“No.”

Tell him to get naked.

“Nothing.” Claire’s words were sharper than necessary. This time though her annoyance was not directed at the chief.

Trying to ignore Kate, she focused on Derek. That was a mistake. Trapped in the small office with him not more than a foot away had a disastrous effect on her equilibrium. As sexy as he was at a distance, he was outright gorgeous close up.

The small scars on his forehead and chin, the bump from a break on his nose, the laugh lines around his mouth, every little flaw added to his appeal. Derek Jacob was the living personification of the sexy bad-boy.

A walking wet dream, that’s for damn sure.

Women don’t have wet dreams, Claire mentally retorted, exasperated with the ghost.

The hell they can’t.

I never had one.

I’m having one right now.

You don’t have a body!

That’s not stopping me.

“You alright?”

Claire took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. It didn’t help. She stepped back, trying to put some distance between them.

It was a futile effort, one the chief took notice of with a raised eyebrow. His infernal smug smile reappeared. Arrogant wolf, he was probably used to women responding this way to him.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine,” Claire muttered.

“A little hot maybe?” The humor in his tone was evident. “You look a little flushed?”

“No.”

“Hmm.” He considered her for a moment. “You’re breathing a little fast. You got asthma?”

“I said I was fine.”

“No need to be snippy.” Derek shrugged.

“Snippy?”

“I was just being polite.”

Polite was not the word for what the man was being, but Claire held her opinion back behind clenched teeth.

“Are you ready to work?”

“By all means.” Derek nodded to a chair as he moved around his desk. “Have a seat and let’s get to it.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Derek’s cock felt like a length of hot, living steel, driving him almost beyond control with the primal beat of lust pounding through his body. With every wave, his painfully tight flesh whispered demands.