Jude's Romance Novels & Ebooks

Faith's Portrait ~
The woman within the frame certainly looked younger than Claire and far prettier. She had only seen the old fashioned hairdo in a few movies, as well as the style of her dark blue dress. Claire finally looked at the woman's face, and her eyes widened. She looked sort of lost and a bit sad. As she looked into the younger woman's eyes, she had the deepest desire to touch them. They seemed so real that it looked like a living photograph. That's what she thought at first, though as Claire held the frame closer to the light, she could clearly see the brush strokes. She reluctantly tore her gaze from those haunted eyes and looked at the bottom of the painting for the artist's name. She couldn't decipher the tiny scrawl and shook her head.
"So very beautiful," she sighed. Not wanting to leave the portrait in a dusty attic, Claire took it with her back to the dumbwaiter. Though she still wanted to explore, she might be missed soon and didn't want anyone to worry about her. The painting fit nicely in the back of the dumbwaiter, and Claire slid in beside it. The two of them then made their way back down to the basement.

A Modern Myth: Drew's Destiny ~
His eyes slowly opened, and he took a step forward and then another. The growling grew louder with each step, and he took a deep breath to settle his nerves. He tried to prepare himself, but nothing could prepare him for what he saw when he emerged from the tunnel. The thing flew at him from the darkness. In his surprise he fell backward with a choked gasp. He pushed himself up to his elbows and stared at the winged beast hovering over him. He tried to speak but nothing came out, his lips moving soundlessly in horror. As the thing moved closer, its malicious grimace looked like an insane smile. It opened its mouth, as if to speak, or attack. He fell to his back as he threw his arms across his face. Finally, a scream broke through and shook the stone walls.

A Modern Myth: Grady's Return ~
Nada took a deep breath and sighed. Her gaze moved from her nightshirt to her feet, which were still on her bed. She bit her lip and pushed up to a sitting position. After pulling her legs from the sheet, she stood and then sat on the edge of her empty queen sized bed. She leaned forward, crossed her arms over her knees and rested her forehead on her wrists. The tears were unexpected, but she didn't try to stop them.
How could a dream seem so real when she'd never experienced anything like that before, let alone with Grady Duncan? She and Grady had only shared one kiss, before fate intervened and left him in a coma. Even her lovemaking with Derek, the only other man she'd ever loved, hadn't been as good as that dream.

A Modern Myth: Nada's Secret ~
The woman moaned and shifted. She placed a hand to her head and pushed up to a sitting position. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked around. Obviously disoriented, she tried to recognize where she was. Finally looking up and gazing upon the moon, she groaned.
"Oh, hell!" She stood quickly and broke into a sprint. She ran faster than most animals, and it only took a few minutes to reach the back of her apartment building. She bit her lip and looked around before jumping up to catch the fire escape ladder. She quickly climbed the two flights to her apartment, where her open window awaited her. Once inside, she closed the window and locked it.

Texas Moonshine ~
The movie was a period piece, and Jack had long hair, as did his co-stars behind him. The previews looked great. This could be the movie that finally made his career.
"Definitely have to see this movie." She had just begun to turn away from the poster, when she felt another presence. As she wondered about the chill that ran down her back, she heard a man's deep voice.
"So, you like him?"
Monique barely spared him a glance as she moved away from the wall. Nodding, she responded. "Yeah, he's a great actor."
She could sense he was walking just behind her and was tempted to turn to look at him. Instead she slowed her walk to see if he would pass her. She got another chill and quickened her pace.
"Thanks," he answered softly.

Mexican Sunsets ~
A scream ripped from her throat as Kendall Sinclair jolted upright in bed. Terrified, she frantically looked at the shadows in her room. Her breathing was labored, and she gripped the sheet in tight fists. She thought it was a nightmare, but only for an instant. Even awake, she could still see it.
When she was little, she and her twin brother, Kyle, played hide-and-seek. She always won, since she could see through his eyes and knew where he hid. She could do other things she thought were completely normal, until she grew older and realized other people couldn't do them.
She sat soaked in perspiration, terrified at what she had just seen through her brother's eyes. Kendall jumped out of bed and nearly tore off her nightshirt. She ran to her closet and threw on the first clothes she found. When objects suddenly blurred, she realized she was crying.

Tomorrow's Past ~
"What is it with the sky?" His gaze never left her face as he unlocked the trunk.
Mickaila just stared at him for a while before looking back up at the sky. Brett obviously took the beauty of his world for granted. "In my world the sky is not this beautiful. The ozone layer is almost completely gone, and the air is toxic. It is not this magnificent blue with white clouds but a light purple." She stopped and took a deep breath. Brett was surprised to see tears in her eyes. "At least I was told you could not breathe it. I had never been out of the compound before this. That is why I enjoy the air so much. I am used to recycled air." She paused to take a deep breath. "Not this. I can smell so much. Probably things you are so used to that you do not even smell anymore. I can smell the flowers and the leaves."

Gone But Not Forgotten (forum exclusive) ~
"My sister's name is Jessica. We all call her Jessie. She's four years younger than I am...Dakota, my sister was, Justin leaned closer to Dakota, "she was brutally raped and beaten when she was fifteen." He then sat up straight, almost rigid. Dakota just stared in stunned disbelief.
"Do you know who did it?"
Justin shook his head in anger. "I looked everywhere. I didn't know of any enemies she might have. Everyone loved her. The police finally came to the conclusion that it was just a fluke that it happened to her. It could have been anyone. I would still love to get my hands on the person or people."
Dakota looked down at Justin's hands. They were clenched into fists. "You mean they never caught who did it?"
"No, but I will never give up looking."
The cab stopped in front of a big building. Justin paid the fare and they stepped out. Dakota glanced at the plaque on the wall.
"Why are we here? This is an old folks home."
"Yes, I know. This is where Jessie has been for the past five years."