Defying Kilan

Deena Clanless, originally Deena Addington, is a human woman made to order by the Addington family. Because this human family lived far from Earth-controlled space, they decided to have a woman specifically designed and shipped out to be a wife and provide the next generation of Addingtons.

During her time with the Addington family, she's treated with extravagant neglect. Given anything she asked for, she finds herself learning to pilot. When she gets the chance to escape an abusive husband and uncaring family, she walks away from the only home she's ever known. She learns to make her way in the universe with her skills as a pilot and her own will of iron.

Many years later, she finds herself surrounded by a species called the Hissa. The strange mix of DNA used to create Decanted human females means she's biologically breeding compatible with the Hissa, who lost so many of their population to a horrible plague a decade earlier.

But she has no intention of sticking around now that her good friend Lara is happily mated with one of their males and has a child of her own. She only came to Hissa to help Lara reconnect with her twin sister, Mara. That job done, she's ready to figure out how to get off-planet and back into the role that suits her best: independent pilot.

She hits a snag when she finds herself trapped with Kilan, the only Hissa on the planet that doesn't seem to like her. To make matters worse, she goes into heat while they're both stranded in the middle of the dense Hissa jungle. Forced to sleep with him to relieve the worst of the symptoms, she doesn't expect him to become so loving, or for her heart to start thawing.

But their few days together will cause a cascade of problems that have the potential of ripping apart Deena's vow to be independent again.

And Kilan's strange actions toward her aren't helping. The only answer, as far as Deena is concerned, is to get as far away from Kilan and all the Hissa as soon as she can.

Too bad fate has other ideas.

Defying Kilan is part of a larger series but can be read as a standalone. This story includes a small, plucky heroine, HEA, a grumpy hero, and an entire civilization alternately getting in their way or helping them out. This book is intended for 18+ readers.