Last Light by Claire Kent is available now!

Enjoy this apocalyptic road trip romance story.

Book info:

Title: Last Light

Author: Claire Kent

Publishing date: November 13th,, 2019

Genre: Romance, Apocalyptic

Book Summary:

It only took four years for the world to fall apart.

Now the last member of my family has died, and I'm forced to travel across what's left of three states to find the only people I know left alive. To survive, I'll have to salvage food and supplies and try to avoid violent men who've learned they can take what they want by force. The only way I'm going to make it is by trusting Travis.

Travis used to fix my car, and now he's all I have left in the world. He's gruff and stoic and unfriendly, and I don't really know or like him. But he's all I have left. He'll keep me safe. We'll take care of each other. Until we reach what's left of our town and can finally let go of one another.

Last Light is a standalone post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe.

Enjoy this fragment:

“You mad?” Travis asks after a couple of minutes.

“No.”

“Thought it best to just scare folks like that away so they don’t get ideas.”

“I understand. I’m not mad.”

“So what’s wrong?”

If I’m getting to know Travis better, then he’s obviously getting to know me too.

“Nothing.” I shake my head as I try to find words for it. “It just makes me feel weird.”

“What does?”

“The idea that I need a man.”

I risk a glance over at him and see he’s studying me with a thoughtful frown.

I try to explain. “You know, it wasn’t very long ago when it never would have occurred to me. I was raised to believe a woman could do anything a man could. To know I could be independent. Live alone if I wanted. Or live however I wanted with whoever I wanted. The idea that I’d be somehow unsafe without a man to take care of me…” I clear my throat. “So it just… still sometimes feels weird.”

“Lots changed since then.”

“I know. Usually I don’t even think about it, but sometimes it hits me. And… I don’t know… I wish I could feel independent again. I wish I didn’t feel so small and helpless in this new world.”

“You are small.”

I make a face at him. “I know that.”

“No. I mean that’s what it’s about. A few years ago, life wasn’t about physical size. You could take care of yourself without a man because life wasn’t about fightin’ for survival. But we’re back to survival now. Like it was way back in history. Men are stronger. Not every single one, but in general. And that makes a difference when you’re fightin’ for your life. It’s not ’cause there’s anything lackin’ in you, Layne. You’re just not as big as a man.”

I’m not sure why, but the words actually make me feel better. I give him a little smile.

Travis adds, “Men might be stronger, but we’re not independent anymore either.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I say. Men can’t make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other.” He clears his throat and avoids my eyes. “I need you. Like you need me.”

“You do?”

“You think I’d’ve done nearly as good this week without you? You think of things I don’t. You’re better at finding houses with food and gas. You… you make things nice. I might not have even kept going if not for you, especially if we didn’t have that message. You make me…”

I’m staring at him in astonishment. “I make you what?”

Travis’s face twists like he’s regretting what he said. “Nothin’.”

I open my mouth, but his suddenly shuttered expression makes me bite back my words. He’s said more just now than he’s ever said to me before, and I don’t want to push too far and have him retreat again.

I like it better when he’s talking to me for real.

I think about everything we’ve said. “Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m helpless.”

He glances at me with raised eyebrows. “I never said you were.”

“I can shoot a gun and use my knife.”

“I know it.”

“I did okay with you. That first day. Getting you away from my motorcycle. I did okay.”

“You did good.” His voice sounds sincere, but he’s not meeting my eyes.

I frown. “What? What aren’t you saying?”

He opens his mouth and then closes it again the way I had earlier.

“Tell me.” My voice isn’t pushy. It’s almost pleading. “What did I do wrong?”

“You didn’t do anythin’ wrong. You did good.” He tightens his lips and then says, “You would’ve kept most people away. I mean it. But I coulda got your gun away if I wanted.”

“What? No, you couldn’t have!”

He doesn’t argue, but the look he shoots me is skeptical.

“Seriously? You could have taken it from me?” Not for a minute do I doubt his word. This man wouldn’t lie to me about something like that. “I thought I did okay. You backed off.”

“You did do okay. Like I said, you would’ve kept most people away from you.”

“But not you? If you’d wanted to get me, you could have.” I sigh and slump slightly. “What did I do wrong?”

“You relied on the gun. If your faith is in a gun, then you’re never gonna be able to always defend yourself.”

The words ring true, and I think about them for a long time. Eventually I ask, “Will you teach me? To do better? I know I’m small, but I don’t want to feel helpless. Will you show me?”

Travis turns his head, and both his gaze and his jaw soften. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll help you.”

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As a pilot and a smuggler, Lenna has spent her life flying under the radar in Coalition space--taking care of herself, not relying on anyone. She's always liked it that way.

But now she's stranded without any resources on a stone-age planet, and the only way to survive is to hook up with a bunch of cavemen. She'll do whatever she needs to do in order to survive in their world--even if it means letting one of them take her as a mate.

She doesn't expect to like it. Or like him. Or lose her heart in the process.

Review 

For many people, this might be a guilty pleasure read. Caveman Alien. Yeah.

I have no guilt. Well, a little guilt for the heavy handed simple living rejecting a life with more agency but then getting agency in the choice stuff but other than that.... no guilt!

I love language barriers and cultural adaptation romance. Some really fun world building here and I believe the love story. I can see this become a silly comfort read.

Kyla was born the younger daughter of the royal family of a planet known throughout Coalition space for its indulgence and debauchery. Travelers come from all over to give into their deepest desires in the decadent royal court, but Kyla has been surrounded by sex and physical indulgence since childhood. Now she wants nothing to do with such empty pleasures--at least, until she encounters Hall.

Hall is irresistibly sexy and mysterious, and he seems to know her from the inside out. He makes her want to explore the sensual side of herself for the first time. But he has already declared himself as a potential suitor of her sister, which means he's completely off limits to Kyla. He's also hiding a gift that makes him as dangerous as he is attractive.

When she discovers a plot that threatens to bring down the iron fist of the Coalition on her peaceful planet, Kyla is forced to rely on a man who has been hiding secrets from her all along--a man who makes her want things she's never wanted before.

Review

I was very excited when I realized Kent was going to put out more books in the world she set Hold.

This book isn't a prison planet one but it does feature a character we met there. He has cool powers and time in the prison changed him into a better person. Kind of... lol The heroine is a bookworm living in a public sex/orgy society who does care for that sort of thing. T

his is an odd book for me. I read it easily and happily. I like the characters and the writing as always with Kent/Noelle Adams is very good. But everything is paper thin. The love between the couple, the world building, character motivation... I think because I knew the hero from the last book and had snuck and read the third book in the series, I was more inclined to hang in there.

Find the strongest man there. Give yourself to him in return for protection. It’s the only way you’ll ever survive.

Convicted of a minor crime, Riana is sentenced to a prison planet—a dark primitive hold filled with convicts vying for power. Her only chance of survival is with Cain, a mysterious loner who has won his territory in the prison through intelligence and brute strength. Sex is all she has to offer, so she uses it. She’s under no delusions here. No one is ever released, and no one ever escapes. Survival is all she can hope for—until Cain.

An earlier version of this book was published under the same title and a different penname. It has since been substantially revised and expanded.

Review

I must love this book as I have purchased it in every updated version. And I will say that this last updated edition with the pen name of Claire Kent aka Noelle Adams is my favorite as it sets the ground work for a series in the Science Fiction World. Yea!

She hired him to take her virginity...but now she wants even more.

Lori might be a popular romance writer, but she's never been anything but a flop with sex and love in her personal life. Still a virgin at twenty-six and increasingly frustrated by her inexperience, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires a talented, sexy male escort to take care of her inconvenient virginity.

She assumes one time with Ander will be enough, but she never dreams how much pleasure he can make her feel. Once isn't nearly enough. Twice isn't enough either. Soon, she becomes one of his regular clients.

Lori knows that nothing would be as foolish as falling in love with her paid escort, but she's never been wise with her heart. And, despite his professionalism, he doesn't seem entirely immune either.