Goodbye, 2025... and Before the Dawn Cover Teaser❣💞

Okay, I promise, we are going to get back onto a monthly posting schedule. Hm...why does that sound familiar? 

All joking aside, I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Year❣😊 I obviously underestimated how much it would affect my productivity having our little one home this past summer—sincere apologies for the neglect. September was just as crazy with back-to-school and birthdays (yes, plural), and then the holidays hit. Phew! I also have to be honest, and I don't know if anyone else can relate, but 2025 really wasn't that fun for us: major family shifts, car troubles, job challenges, medical scares. Hubbs, the little one, and I are here, however, healthy and doing well, and we can't ask for any more than that.

Now on to book news and what I'm most excited to share, which is Before the Dawn's Cover Teaser and excerpt❣🎉💖 

Maria honestly worked so hard on this one, you guys, and I cannot wait to reveal the whole thing, hehe. I've included our next excerpt below for anyone wanting another little teaser. This week, I'll be focusing on catching up here (responding to comments) and on Facebook. And of course, writing. 

Oh, and for anyone wondering, yes, 3002 was briefly published this past summer. It's still available on my Patreon Page, which you can read more about here.

I also wanted to end with a quick ask: even if you're just reading and never comment (which is totally fine!), if you could please leave a heart or other little emoji in the comment section below, it will help me to know that you're here! 

Let's rock 2026🤘 Hugs.

💗JM

    

She felt strong, too-long fingers grasp her upper arms like bands of steel and her feet left the floor, the wall slamming hard against her back. She made herself suck in a breath, shocked that he had made contact this time and that it wasn’t just another fake.

            Shit, but she’d wasted precious seconds of reaction time. Roz growled. Thinking fast, she braced her hands and feet on his body, snapped her head back, and headbutted him. Pain exploded across her skull, blinding her for a moment and making her stomach clench. She blinked…realizing just how much she'd misjudged. Their faces felt like they were made of titanium, and Roz had to blink again, trying to see clearly while two yellow orbs appeared to peer back at her now. She’d felt his head jerk back with the blow, but he didn’t seem to be affected at all. She was also vaguely aware of a low clicking sound, and then what felt like a claw digging into her chin, lifting her gaze to hold his.

            Another low click, and Roz shook her head to try to clear it.

            In the next instant the steel bands that held her up against the wall suddenly let go and she dropped to the ground, stumbling to stay upright under the weight of Xaphan’s gaze. The weird dreads atop his head fell back into place, and he stepped away with a snort. Roz almost felt herself sag with relief when he growled something, eyed her one last time and turned to leave, his large form pulling away as if it had its own gravity.

            It took some seconds more, but she recovered, straightening where she stood.

            She watched a pulse of light ripple down the back of his black alien body suit as he walked away. A suit that molded perfectly to his tall, thickly muscled shape. It was also a suit hers should have matched, but didn’t, because of a blood exchange he had tried to force on her with Wells earlier in the hallway, but now, what…he wasn’t interested?? Roz scrambled to put it together, her head still spinning.

            She assumed he’d been looking for an excuse to fight before. Now she didn’t know what he was about.

            Had she not been enough of a challenge for him? Roz huffed, the idea taking hold where she stood, watching him walk away. Then she heard the infamous snap of sharp shark teeth, and she couldn’t explain it, but the sound was different than when he’d first seen her on the bridge. Like an afterthought. A footnote, and it suddenly made her feel…pathetic.

            Roz’s nostrils flared.

            Ohh-ho, no. Just, N to the fucking O.

            First, this psycho had stalked her like an animal from the moment he’d laid eyes upon her. Then he’d terrorized her in full view of her superior who had done fuck-all to stop him. He had the literal audacity to attack her just now when they were supposed to be teammates, but if she was really being honest? All that wasn't what actually set her off, she thought, her anger reigniting like an inferno where she stood.

            Roz knew his kind didn’t think much of Earth fighters or their military unless they were wielding Askari tech. In fact, it'd been the reason she volunteered to wear their black body suits called havats in the first place—because Roz hated feeling weak, she hated failure, and for a fighter of her caliber, that stung. But by Xaphan dismissing her so easily just now, Roz didn't only feel like she'd lost the fight. She somehow felt like she'd failed her entire team, her planet. Hell, the list went on...and there was really only one way she knew how to fix it, she thought, drawing herself up.

           So, he wanted a fight, did he? Roz sniffed. Well, she sure as shit was gonna give him one.

           “Hey!” she barked, more like snarled. “We’re not fucking finished yet.”

More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2026, J.M. Link

All rights reserved

May Recap

Hiya guys, 

Last month was busy with edits (3002) and word count (Dawn). I was even able to outline a little of Liv & Braxas's story.😊 Before the Dawn's cover is also still in progress, as we ran into a minor snag, but not to worry. It's coming❣ June, I plan to make major headway on Askara #4, as that book will be our primary focus until it's written and in the editing phase.

Below is another excerpt from Roz & Xaphan's story for those who would like a little something.

I hope everyone has a great week!

💕JM 

Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel (Roz & Xaphan's Story, Askara Book #4)

Roz took a deep breath in through her nose. She rubbed her face and decided maybe she would hit the mess. If nothing else to annoy Sanchez, since she never did have an appetite when they waited for a call, she thought to herself as the doors parted and she turned the corner to exit the training room. She was forced to stop dead, however, at the big body that filled the hall not fifty feet in front of her.

Roz blinked. What the—

“You.” She pointed, her heart kicking into high gear.

Where had he even come from? It was him. It was Xaphan.

He hissed and advanced on her almost instantly, the dread-like things atop his head growing huge. Roz’s eyes widened. “What are you doing? You stay the hell away!” she commanded, while at the same time trying not to panic. She stumbled back a step before she could catch herself, then planted her feet. Let him come at her. She was ready for him this time; she'd call his damn bluff.

Rather, Roz thought she was ready. She’d seen combat, taken down countless opponents much bigger than herself completely unarmed. But they’d all been human, and she quickly realized that none of it really prepared her for the likes of him.

The way Xaphan’s massive body moved, it was inhuman and nearly too quick to follow. Bright yellow eyes bore into her—eye, she barely had time to note before the vision of him blurred, the scarred one a sickly gray color which she hadn't seemed to notice before. Roz caught a flash of sharp teeth, a mouth full of them, and then he was on her.

*Further excerpts/chapters available on Patreon** 

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2025, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

April Happenings...and Book Signing Event!

Hello Lovely Readers,

Oof. I have to be honest, April was a bit of a rough month... More of a rollercoaster ride, really. There were some very sad lows and amazing highs, but let's focus on the good stuff, shall we?

I have some super exciting news...and that is that I will be signing at the 2026 FanGrrrl Romance Recs Premier Book Signing Event in Orlando, FL, Disney Springs! (Ahhhh!!) haha. Oh my gosh, I am beyond excited, you guys! 💞📚✨

This will be my very first book signing event/learning experience, and while I'll be super nervous, it's also great motivation for me to get 3? more books published before next September. Fellow sci-fi/ paranormal romance authors Regine Abel and Marina Simcoe will also be attending, so be sure to mark your calendars if you're interested. I'll also include FanGrrrl's Facebook Group Page links below for more information, but if any of you are able to make it, I cannot wait to meet you!💜

Okay, now it's back to Roz & Xaphan. We should have a cover teaser to share soon, too, so be sure to stay tuned.😉

I hope everyone has a great week❣

Hugs,

💕JM

FanGrrrl 💜 Romance Recs (Book Signing Events!) https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18R9JcQpD3/

FanGrrrl 💋Romance Recs (Urban Fantasy, Romantasy & Paranormal Romance!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/fangrrrl

FanGrrrl🖤 Romance Recs After Dark 🔥 (Contemporary Romance Books!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/fangrrrldark

February Update

Hiya everybody,

Just a quick check-in to say that things are moving along. 3002 is officially done, and I'm just finishing up some self-edits before it goes off to the editor this week. I plan to tackle getting Worlds into print next while also adding some serious word count to Roz & Xaphan's story. 

The daffodils are already blooming here, and spring is in the air.💐 I love it! 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend❣

Hello, 2025

Okay, I promise, we are going to get back onto a monthly posting schedule lol. This new year feels like a fresh start. A new book. And we are back in the saddle! 

Currently on my plate: WIP Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan's story) Askara Book 4, When Fae Collide: Breaking the Veil *extended edition* final edits, WIP A MidAutumn Night's Dream, Veil Book 2, Spanning Worlds (Mina & Jadar's story) print and audiobook. Oh! And Before the Dawn's cover. 

I think I also mentioned in a previous post a little side project I've been working on that I'm excited to share with you--cover reveal below✨ This cute couple's story, between a space cadet and a human-ape hybrid, will be released as a 99c novella, but you can actually read the first half right now on Patreon (all patrons will receive the e-book and a signed print for free upon request, and a limited number of free e-copies will also be given away to Mailing List subscribers). I'll be sure to post a little snippet below, along with our next installment from Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan's story)😉 

I hope you enjoy! 

Now it's back to the keyboard for me. Have a wonderful weekend, everybody💕

Before the Dawn: An Askari Series Novel (Roz & Xaphan's story, Askara Book 4)

Foomph!

Roz couldn’t help but smile as Sanchez rolled to his side on the floor in front of her again, wincing after she’d flipped him flat onto his back. Twice.

            “Jeezus,” he complained. “What the hell did I do now?”

            “Sorry,” she replied, feeling only mild remorse. Her friend always had at least a partial ass whooping coming to him at all times. “I should probably thank you. I really just needed to hit something.”

            “Glad I could be of assistance.” He smiled crookedly, rolling his shoulders. “Now, where were we?” He dropped back down into a defensive position. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with our charming new teammates, would it?”

            Roz glared at him. She swung, and he jumped back, barely missing her fist. “Whoa! Hey, okay, I get it. I’m not psyched to go all Interview with a Vampire with them either.”

            “Yeah? Well, at least you don’t have that big sucker with the scar after you.”

            Sanchez straightened. “Wait, what do you mean?”

            Roz dropped her hands. “What I said. He put the ambassador on me to try to get me to agree to take his blood, but I think he just wants to fight me, and almost did in the hallway. I mean, why?? It’s damn sus.”

            Her friend went still. “Fight you…like how?”

            Roz looked at him like he’d lost it. “What??”

            “Fighting can be foreplay for those bastards. And it’s not like we don't have a couple precedents now, right?”

            “What are you even—” Roz cut off as it dawned on her what he was saying. “No,” she said emphatically, shaking her head when he proceeded to grin.

*Further excerpts/chapters available on Patreon* 

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2025, J.M. Link

All rights reserved.

3002: A Scifi Romance Novella

Sara happily chose a spot in the mess hall to eat her lunch. It was Day One, she’d only just arrived, and the thrill of spaceflight still hummed in her veins. 

It made no difference that Beta Prime was little more than an old mining colony turned research outpost with several life habs on a small arid planet. The point was, cadets were rarely given such an opportunity and she was psyched…okay, so, the food generators might be a little dated and Prime’s crew definitely left something to be desired, she concluded thoughtfully while she chewed. Still, she wasn’t complaining. Because if she did well here, then maybe, just maybe, her application for the Inceptivus would be accepted. Or dare she dream…SpaceFleet.

            “Hey,” the group’s beefy mechanic she’d only just met earlier suddenly set his tray down next to hers. “Remember me?” he prompted with a grin.

            “Hi, yeah…” she forced a smile and scooched down the bench. One of Beta’s finest. Not that Sara wasn’t used to interest from the opposite sex. She was young and healthy with dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Thankfully, something else drew her attention in that moment as a figure moved past the mess. His head was down, copious brown hair hiding his face.

            “Hey, um. Who’s that?”

            “Who’s what?” The mechanic answered, his gaze now on his tray while he smacked his food loudly. Sara frowned. She thought she'd been introduced to everyone since arriving here.

            Her unwanted companion’s gaze finally flicked toward the figure. He stopped chewing. “Oh,” he grunted. “Yeah, ah, listen… it’d prolly be best to warn you. Some of the stuff here on Beta might be, ya know, a little old school. Er, are you done with that?” he said suddenly, pointing to her tray. Sara nodded.

            “Hey! Mod!!”

            On cue, the messy-haired guy came back into view. Immediately, Sara’s back straightened. There was something different about him, as he approached with a shuffle, his head still firmly down. He wore a standard white uniform, but it fit him oddly.

            “What are you standing there for? Take her tray to the washer. I swear,” the mechanic shook his head with a look of disgust. “And they’re supposed to be smarter than droids.”

            Sara watched “Mod” walk away, carrying her tray. She’d never heard a name like that for a droid before.

            “What do you mean it’s not working?” The mechanic, Eron, if she remembered right, touched his ear. “Alright, I’ll be right there.” He swore. “Hey, I’ll catch ya later. Remember what I said though.”

            Sara glanced up. “Mm-hm,” she replied, happy to see him go.

            As soon as Eron left, “Mod” came back for the tray. Sara’s gaze fixed on his hand when he took it and turned. Then her eyes slowly widened. It couldn’t be… If she’d been walking, she probably would have tripped and fell flat on her face. Mod wasn’t a droid at all, she finally realized with no small amount of shock. He was a hybrid! A genetically modified humanoid.

            Sara quickly took in his shaggy hair again, tufts of which stuck out from the bottom of his sleeves, and then his long fingers with dark nail beds. He was spliced with primate DNA—chimp, if she had to guess, and based on what she had always heard. The thing was, she’d never seen one up close and it struck her hard that she’d mistaken him for human.

            “Um, excuse me… Mod?” she tried, wondering if that was the reason behind his odd name, and not thinking it very funny.

            At her voice, he stopped with the tray on his way to the washer. His shaggy head perked, as if listening for an order. Sara tried and failed to think of something that would make him turn to face her, and at her silence he continued with his task then turned to leave the mess hall. Sara debated for all of five seconds before she bolted up to follow him.

*Read the rest of Part I of this novella here*

3002, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2025, J.M. Link

All rights reserved. 

October Happenings

Hello Lovely Readers, 

And Happy October❣🧡 We were fighting some nasty colds recently so I missed our intended post(s) and snippet(s). Last month was also birthday parties and back-to-school...and I can't believe I'm even typing this, but our little one just started preschool! Like, wha...?? Where did the time go! It just seems to be moving faster and faster, I swear lol. 

Right now, I'm working on Dawn as much as possible, as well as trying to get Worlds ready for recording🤞 Updates to come as soon as I have them. But as usual, any and all excerpts (plus other extras) are available in full on the Patreon Page😊 https://www.patreon.com/JMLink. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Enjoy☕🍂🍁🎃

Askara #4 Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan's story) sneak peek cont'd...

Wells closed his eyes for a moment, clearly struggling with telling the big Askari no. Well, that was his problem, Roz thought. They might work for the same people, but there were lines, and for her this was one of them. If he chose to report her, it’d be a first too. Her record was immaculate; she pursed her lips.

     She also knew most of the other spec ops were just as uncomfortable with the idea of having to exchange blood with their newfound allies as she was, but true to their character, they'd put duty first. That’s what she was trying to do. Until the ambassador blindsided her with a whole different kind of Askari, as her gaze flicked over him once more where he stood behind Wells. He was bigger than the others. The wicked claws at the end of each of his long, thick fingers seemed bigger too. Oh, she had an answer alright...

“I suppose I'll have to find Representative Aderus,” Wells said. “Maybe he can help solve this situation.”

    “Understood,” Roz replied with relief. It was a relief that was short-lived as the dread-lock things atop Xaphan’s head suddenly lifted. There was a deep throated hiss and then he made to lunge at her. Roz jerked, her entire body going immediately on the defensive as instinct and years of training prepared her for the hit she knew was coming... Until it didn’t.

     Roz tore her gaze away from his deadly claws. It was a fake, she realized when he growled softly, watching her with bright yellow eyes. Was he serious right now? Her thoughts flew. “Am I dismissed, sir?” Roz breathed hard through her nose.

     “Wha—yes!” Wells had stepped to the side, his eyes still wide. “Yes, dismissed. Thank you, Captain.”

     Roz gave the big Askari a lasting glare and spun to leave. So, she’d been right. He did want to fight her, she thought, her heart still slamming in her chest. She shook her head as she stalked down the hallway...

There was only one thing that helped calm her down when she got this riled, Roz thought as she drew up short. Hopefully Sanchez answered his comm...and on that note, she headed for the training room.


Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link
Copyright 2024, J.M. Link
All rights reserved
*unedited & subject to change*

We're Back!

Hello Lovely Readers,

Oh, gosh. I'm sorry I haven't posted here in so long! I've been working hard to get back on track as far as a posting schedule, though. And for the sake of brevity, this one will still be short, as my days are usually planned down to the minute now to allow for writing time #toddlerlife

But how have you all been?? Well, I hope😊💕 I've definitely missed this blog, and I'm delighted to finally be able to share an excerpt from our current WIP, Askara Book 4, Before the Dawn, Roz & Xaphan's story. So exciting!!

I've also been working on a little side project; more to come soon. Right now I'm off to work on Dawn. Hehe, happy reading...

Chapter One

No fucking way.

Captain Rosalind Carter thought, as she eyed the nasty-looking massive Askari with the scar lurking behind Ambassador Wells. She remembered him well from the team’s initial meeting with the alien species on the bridge of the Amendment. The top of her head came to right beneath his chiseled chin: which was saying something, because she wasn’t a small woman. Didn’t matter. The bigger they were, the harder they fell, in her experience. Though she had yet to spar with one of the demonic-looking beings, and had already been briefed on how much stronger, heavier and faster they were than humans. But shit, his looks weren’t even what made her recoil. This was the one whose creepy yellow eyes had followed her around nonstop the entire time on the bridge during the team’s first “meet and greet”; as soon as he’d spotted her, in fact, Roz remembered, and he had snapped his sharp shark teeth in her general direction too. Either he didn’t care for her—which, fine by her, the feeling was mutual—or he’d been trying to size her up.

She figured it was to fight, since they were a warrior species, as she understood it, and the team had been warned to watch their body language and power poses so as not to seem threatening...

“No, thank you,” was all she said. Short, sweet and to the point. That was usually how she came across…unless she was looking to spar, then she loved to talk shit.

Wells cleared his throat. The middle-aged man seemed like your typical politician, but she was getting the sense he was more formidable than he appeared...

“Captain Carter, was it?? In case I wasn’t clear, Representative Krim and Jinn have already volunteered to help all your teammates fully bond with their havats,” he said, glancing at the huge Askari. “You’re the only one that Representative Xaphan volunteered to help specifically, and as none of the other Askari appear comfortable performing such an intimate act…”

The male clicked, a sound of impatience if she ever heard one, and Roz denied the shiver that ran down her spine. She held her ground. “And I don’t blame them, but I can approach someone else myself if I have to. You have my answer, sir.”

He wasn’t technically her superior, but she addressed him as such anyway out of respect. And how the hell had she gotten herself into this situation anyway? Roz clenched her teeth in frustration. Call it intuition, but this was why she’d tried to tag their doctor, or healer, or whoever Jadar was as soon as they’d figured out that the team needed Askari blood to complete the “bonding” of their black alien body suits, because she didn’t want to have to deal with this one.

Xaphan.

  

***

Xaphan watched the large, delicately muscled female—delicate, compared to his kind—retreat swiftly down the passageway away from him. He could sense the ambassador still cowered beside him, and acknowledged that lunging at her in the diplomat’s presence probably wasn’t the best decision. He regretted nothing, however, as he continued to stare at her retreating form with a soft growl.

The sight piqued something inside of him, and Xaphan tilted his head, going still while he tried to place it.

The feeling was new, and fierce, and it took him by surprise…

Struggle as he might, but he could not remember a time he had ever given chase to a female before. To be true, since it was always they that found him, there’d been little need for him to go hunting in lust as other males often did for the chance to secure a breeding. But she, this Earther…she seemed to be giving him that opportunity, it occurred to him as his nostrils flared—whether she knew it or not. And Xaphan could not be more pleased.

Finally! Something to slake his lusts in this desolate system while they prepared for an attack he still mostly believed would not happen. Which was, he deemed, a whole other matter. All the same… He thought. Yess, all the same. This would do nicely. Then he snikted and lifted his chin to catch her lingering scent in the air.

Xaphan knew she would be much easier to track with a healthy havat, having sensed before there was something very wrong with the Earthers’ new bonds. Fortunately for him, he’d imprinted her scent the first time he saw her.

“Uhm, are you alright Representative Xaphan?” The ambassador made a small noise next to him. “I can have someone find Representatives Jadar, or Aderus, right away if you’re not feeling well.”

“No need,” he growled. Xaphan leveled the male with a stare, watching him cower again before he made to escape the annoying diplomat. “We are done here,” he grunted with single-minded intent.

Xaphan intended to track her. He was going to track Captain Carter...

In truth, he had attempted to do so more than once since spotting her, but the others kept him busy: Braxas, or Aderus, or Jadar. Their plans of warring with the humans for Askara came first, this he knew. Still. That did not mean he could not enjoy the prospect of catching her alone, he thought with a rolling click. Especially now, with what Jadar and the slight female with wild tresses had discovered: that their fighters needed Askari blood to complete the bonding of their havats... and Xaphan knew as soon as he’d heard it, that he wanted to be the one to give to her, Carter, as he continued tracking her through the passageways.

She was harder to impress than he figured. Especially when he’d never had issue impressing his own kind before. But humans were difficult, he snorted. One never knew what contorted reasonings were behind what they did, as they were all unfortunately coming to understand. It was no matter. He just needed to find her alone, Xaphan plotted. Because he had absolutely no intention of standing in the shadows while she asked other males for their blood. He would be the one to give to her, or none at all... He was unsure where she had been thinking to go, however…until he stopped again, clicking slowly.

His tresses lifted, and he turned his head toward the access to what the humans called their training room. It was a large space where they fought for sport, or as practice for warring, and if her scent didn’t tell him for certain, then another pulse from his havat plainly did.

Xaphan had found her.

Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link

Copyright 2024, J.M. Link

All rights reserved

*Full Prologue & Chapter One available @* https://www.patreon.com/posts/askara-series-4-103312576