Beyond The Next Star

"She wasn't dreaming, in a coma, having a mental breakdown, or in hell.

She was abducted by aliens."

An intolerable order.

Before Commander Torek Renaar can return to active duty, he's ordered to purchase an animal companion to help relieve his PTSD symptoms. But having been a caretaker for and lost a loved one, keeping even one little human alive is a challenge he feels doomed to fail. It doesn't help that his animal companion is the newest, most exotic breed on the market, demanding constant attention, daily grooming, and delicate handling. If she doesn't die first in his incompetent care, she'll be the death of him.

A desperate charade.

After witnessing the murder of her domestication specialist, Delaney McCormick allows her new owner to treat her like the pet he believes her to be. If anyone suspects she's more intelligent than a golden retriever, her murder would be next. She endures the humiliation of being washed, the tediousness of being trained to "sit" and "come," and the intrigue of hearing private conversations. But in Torek's care, she finds something unexpected on this antarctic planet, something she never had in all her years on Earth while house-hopping between foster families: a home.

A deadly secret.

As companionship grows to love, must Delaney continue the charade, acting like an animal and hiding from the murderer waiting on her misstep? Or can she trust Torek with her secrets, even if the truth threatens everything he holds dear-and both their lives?

Melody Johnson is the author of the "out of this world" Love Beyond series and the Night Blood series published by Kensington Publishing/ Lyrical Press. The City Beneath (Night Blood, book 1) was a finalist in the "Cleveland Rocks" and "Fool for Love" contests. Melody graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with her BA in creative writing and psychology. Throughout college, she wrote contemporary love stories, but having read and adored the action and dark mystery of vampires and aliens her entire life, she decided to add her fingerprint to the paranormal and sci-fi genres. When she isn't working or writing, Melody can be found swimming at the beach, hiking with her husband, and exploring her new home in southeast Georgia. Keep in touch with Melody on social media or sign up for her newsletter to receive emails about new releases and book signings. Website: authormelodyjohnson.com