The Jekh Saga Series by H.E. Trent

As an adamant opponent of Terran settlement on the planet Jekh, Owen McGarry made his family name synonymous with “traitor” on Earth. Lobbyists standing to profit from off-world colonization hinted that the Jekhans were preparing to declare war. Nearly twenty years after Owen’s supposed death, his granddaughter Courtney wants to learn the truth—even if she has to travel to the far-flung colony to do it... moreAs an adamant opponent of Terran settlement on the planet Jekh, Owen McGarry made his family name synonymous with “traitor” on Earth. Lobbyists standing to profit from off-world colonization hinted that the Jekhans were preparing to declare war. Nearly twenty years after Owen’s supposed death, his granddaughter Courtney wants to learn the truth—even if she has to travel to the far-flung colony to do it. Court soon learns that not only was her grandfather right about the Jekhans, but that conditions on their world are far more hostile than she feared. Terran forces decimated the population of the resident human-alien hybrids, and the people who remain seem to be all out of fight. That is, except for the pair of men Court finds hiding in her basement. Fugitives Murki and Trigrian see a future in Court. On a planet where so few women remain, she has the potential to be the mate the lovers need. And more, she could become the advocate for their people that her grandfather didn’t get the chance to be. When the corrupt local government seeks to punish Court’s friends and family for her actions, she has no choice but to make a stand. If it takes a riot to make the people on Earth see that they were misled about Jekh, she’s more than willing to start one. After all, her reputation couldn’t possibly get any worse. ___. ERSTWHILE is a romantic adventure set in the near future that contains dark humor, some violence, and a very needy pair of extraterrestrials. less

Erin McGarry fears she’s becoming the very thing she hates. She traveled to the planet Jekh to get her big sister, Courtney, out of a jam, and now Erin has become a colonist, too. In spite of the planet’s unstable political environment and ongoing rioting by the native Jekhans, Erin fears that retreating to Earth would mean she’d never see Courtney again... moreErin McGarry fears she’s becoming the very thing she hates. She traveled to the planet Jekh to get her big sister, Courtney, out of a jam, and now Erin has become a colonist, too. In spite of the planet’s unstable political environment and ongoing rioting by the native Jekhans, Erin fears that retreating to Earth would mean she’d never see Courtney again. To complicate her ordeal further, as one of very few women on a planet of desperate men, people expect Erin to pick a lover—or two—and settle down. With the Jekhan race having nearly been obliterated by Terran colonists, Erin refuses to help further dilute their culture. But at least two men think Erin’s objections don’t hold water. They may have been enemies at first sight, but Esteben Beshni and Headron Jiro intimately bond over a common goal: making Erin their mate. Just when they think they’ve made headway with convincing her, the men’s efforts are choked by the reemergence of Erin’s long-missing grandfather and by unsettling revelations about the abductors who created the Jekhan hybrid race. If they can’t convince Erin that a mixed-culture ménage is the intergalactic ticket to happiness, they may miss their chance to have children. How can they help rebuild Jekh if the one woman who wants them both is too idealistic to commit? _____. Each Jekh Saga story can be read as a stand-alone MMF romance, but for maximum series enjoyment, read ERSTWHILE first. less

Owen McGarry’s plan to isolate himself on planet Jekh in hopes of escaping survivor’s guilt about his identical twin’s death drastically backfires when the newest inhabitant of his sister’s farm proves she can’t be trusted with independence. Raised in an alien lab and designed to be a “better” Jekhan hybrid, lonely Ais is actually nearly blind and can barely communicate... moreOwen McGarry’s plan to isolate himself on planet Jekh in hopes of escaping survivor’s guilt about his identical twin’s death drastically backfires when the newest inhabitant of his sister’s farm proves she can’t be trusted with independence. Raised in an alien lab and designed to be a “better” Jekhan hybrid, lonely Ais is actually nearly blind and can barely communicate. While her hostesses bend over backward to make Ais feel welcome, their brother Owen treats her like a petulant child who lacks common sense. After enduring a quarter century of experimentation on a cold Tyneali space station, Ais wants to feel useful and wanted, but Owen thinks what she needs is to be locked away for her own good. Lust and affection bloom in close quarters when gutsy Ais shows she’s more than a problem for Owen to solve. His gruffness doesn’t deter her. She soothes his wounded spirit and can actually put a smile on his face, but love on Jekh is never simple. Ais is being hunted by three entities with competing agendas, and they won’t stop until they have her. Owen didn’t move to Jekh to play hero, but if he doesn’t want to see true love slip away, he’ll have to quickly learn to be one. Other JEKH SAGA installments:. 1 - ERSTWHILE. 2 - CRUX. less

After sixteen lonely years on Jekh, ex-soldier Jasper Escobar resorts to drastic measures to land one of the most sought-after women in Little Gitano. Access to the mysterious Sera Merridon comes at a steep price, because behind the scenes, solitary men like him bid huge sums of money for chances at romance. Untrusting Sera has spent more than half her life being traded from one Terran space pirate to the next... moreAfter sixteen lonely years on Jekh, ex-soldier Jasper Escobar resorts to drastic measures to land one of the most sought-after women in Little Gitano. Access to the mysterious Sera Merridon comes at a steep price, because behind the scenes, solitary men like him bid huge sums of money for chances at romance. Untrusting Sera has spent more than half her life being traded from one Terran space pirate to the next. When schoolteacher Marco Cipriani helped to liberate her from her traumatic existence as a space station courtesan, she wondered if perhaps not all of Earth’s men are the same. Sensitive Marco chases her fears away, so of course she wants him to be her lover and companion. If only he weren’t so clueless. He’s nobly standing aside for the more aggressive Jasper, but after learning about the tasteless wager scheme, Sera’s not inclined to play nice. That is, until Jasper reveals that he’s just trying to belong to someone. He can belong to her. In fact, both men can. Although romantic trios are the norm on Jekh, her two human men hadn’t planned on sharing. And if they can’t share her, not only will the men forfeit the companionship Sera desperately wants to give them, but on the friendship the extraordinary men need from each other as well. ____. Also available in The Jekh Saga:. 1 - Erstwhile. 2 - Crux. 3 - Salvo. less

Luke Cipriani refuses to be pushed back into the closet, so when sparks fly between him and the secretive Alex Hauge, he’s quick to throw ice water on their fling. Luke decides next, that the best way to get the royal-blooded hired gun out of his system, is to find someone else to marry… and fast! Enter Autumn Ray. Luke thinks the mysterious businesswoman relocated to faraway Jekh from Earth solely for their match, but the calculating princess of real estate has other plans... moreLuke Cipriani refuses to be pushed back into the closet, so when sparks fly between him and the secretive Alex Hauge, he’s quick to throw ice water on their fling. Luke decides next, that the best way to get the royal-blooded hired gun out of his system, is to find someone else to marry… and fast! Enter Autumn Ray. Luke thinks the mysterious businesswoman relocated to faraway Jekh from Earth solely for their match, but the calculating princess of real estate has other plans. Jekh is rebuilding fast and is overdue for a population boom, and Autumn wants to be the government’s go-to lady for new developments. .. The engagement was a way for her to get her foot in the door, and Alex isn’t about to let some scheming fraud from Earth come between him and Luke. He’ll do whatever’s necessary to break the newlyweds up! When Luke discovers, though, that there’s more to his wife than meets the eye, he’s suddenly got his work cut out for him. While Alex is willing to go to incredible lengths to be with Luke, Luke doesn’t believe he should have to choose one lover over the other. On Jekh, there’s no such thing as “third wheel”, but if Alex and Autumn can’t ease their friction, someone will be the odd one out… and it won’t be Luke! less

Matchmaker Brenna Zachary is busy connecting Jekh’s loneliest hearts, yet has no romance of her own. That is, until a practical friend makes her an offer of marriage she can’t resist. The industrious and hardworking Herris Deshtan is offering her both marriage and independence. In exchange, he gets to have the family he’s been craving since losing his during the planet’s recent conflicts. .. Now Brenna’s former suitor is at loose ends... moreMatchmaker Brenna Zachary is busy connecting Jekh’s loneliest hearts, yet has no romance of her own. That is, until a practical friend makes her an offer of marriage she can’t resist. The industrious and hardworking Herris Deshtan is offering her both marriage and independence. In exchange, he gets to have the family he’s been craving since losing his during the planet’s recent conflicts. .. Now Brenna’s former suitor is at loose ends. Although he’s a traditional male of the Bouk sect and less interested in securing a bride, Rajan Sunamane can concede that he should have secured Brenna’s hand sooner. However, he’d always assumed that Brenna would be there whenever he was ready. And now, not only has Herris interfered, but he’s already secured his claim with a baby. If Rajan doesn’t wheedle his way back into Brenna’s good graces, his mother - who’s had her heart set on having Brenna as a daughter for a decade - will disown him. There’s no worse fate for a Bouk! While Rajan might be able to convince Brenna to accept him back into her good graces, and into a traditional Jekhan trio, Herris doesn’t intend to be in another one. Brenna is enough for him… or so he claims. There’s a hidden darkness in Herris that Brenna doesn’t know about, and Rajan believes he’s the only man who can temper it. .. less

Eileen Conroy has always embraced the concepts of DIY and self-help. As an acclaimed member of the Jekhan Service Corps, she’s well-known for her get-it-done demeanor and no-nonsense communication style. There isn’t a challenge she isn’t willing to take on, except one. Edgar Salehi. If Edgar knows how to do one thing at all after so many years on Jekh, though, it’s get to the bottom of a mystery. Eileen quitting him didn’t make sense... moreEileen Conroy has always embraced the concepts of DIY and self-help. As an acclaimed member of the Jekhan Service Corps, she’s well-known for her get-it-done demeanor and no-nonsense communication style. There isn’t a challenge she isn’t willing to take on, except one. Edgar Salehi. If Edgar knows how to do one thing at all after so many years on Jekh, though, it’s get to the bottom of a mystery. Eileen quitting him didn’t make sense. However, a chance run-in more than a year after their breakup reveals Eileen’s on the delivery end of a pregnancy. And he thinks he knows exactly who the father is. The evidence is written right on his daughter’s face. His only shot at winning Eileen back is starting from scratch and trying friendship again, but he has to be careful. If Eileen discovers he’s been keeping secrets the same way she has, she’ll cut him off for good, and this time, he has far more at stake than the last. While the Corps’ most infamous couple grapples with their intense collision of pride and passion, brazen brothel owner Zilkat wrestles with a status change of his own. He’s caught the eye of a sophisticated and bookish Terran who, strangely, wants his companionship above all else. But men like Stefan aren’t supposed to fall in love with men like Zilkat. If Zilkat finally lets down his guard and allows his long-repressed emotions to expand, he may land himself a romance. Or…he’ll get punished for wishing for more than he believes he deserves. less