Cosmic Mates Series by Cara Bristol

The only thing they can’t escape is love… After a nano-virus devastates Caradonia, leaving the planet in desperate need of women, leader Krogan launches a last-ditch effort to save their civilization—convince men to accept human brides through Cosmic Mates.Krogan himself has no time or desire for a wife. A driven workaholic, he’s focused on solving his planet’s problems and maintaining peace in the world. But his people look to him to set an example... moreThe only thing they can’t escape is love… After a nano-virus devastates Caradonia, leaving the planet in desperate need of women, leader Krogan launches a last-ditch effort to save their civilization—convince men to accept human brides through Cosmic Mates.Krogan himself has no time or desire for a wife. A driven workaholic, he’s focused on solving his planet’s problems and maintaining peace in the world. But his people look to him to set an example. If he doesn’t take a wife through Cosmic Mates no one else will either. Thankfully, there’s an escape clause, and at the end of the trial period, he intends to use it.Fleeing a horrid and powerful man, Hope Bennett reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience with an alien. The last thing she desires is to be locked into an unwanted union. Been there, almost did that. Fortunately, the escape clause in the contract gives her an out, and when it’s safe, she can go home to Terra Nova.Hope and Krogan promise each other a marriage in name only and vow to separate when the contract provisions are satisfied. But as they let down their guard, they recognize a kindred spirit in each other. Love and passion blossom, and each begins to long for a deeper, permanent union.Just as their secret wishes are about to be fulfilled, violent tensions erupt out of the pandemic, forcing Krogan into a dilemma—to save Hope he must invoke the escape clause of their marriage contract.If he sends her away, will she ever come back? less

They have nothing to lose except their hearts. The only thing keeping widower Larth from succumbing to grief is running the fledgling bakery founded by his late wife. He intends to make the business the biggest, best bakery in all of Caradonia. But he can’t do it alone. Unable to find affordable help, he turns to Cosmic Mates and advertises for a wife in-name-only. It’s a half-baked idea, and he can’t imagine why anyone would accept the position, but he’s desperate... moreThey have nothing to lose except their hearts. The only thing keeping widower Larth from succumbing to grief is running the fledgling bakery founded by his late wife. He intends to make the business the biggest, best bakery in all of Caradonia. But he can’t do it alone. Unable to find affordable help, he turns to Cosmic Mates and advertises for a wife in-name-only. It’s a half-baked idea, and he can’t imagine why anyone would accept the position, but he’s desperate. He can’t let his late wife’s dream fail!After her childhood sweetheart jilts her for another woman on their wedding day, Prudence McKenna is certain she’ll never trust or love again. Worse, everyone in her small village knows the sordid details. When she spots a Cosmic Mates help wanted ad, it seems like the perfect solution to escape the personal and public humiliation. Sure, the position is for a wife, but alien Larth promises it will be a marriage of convenience, a business arrangement. He needs someone to help in his bakery. She has bakery experience. It’s just what she needs.But what starts out on a business footing soon gets…complicated. The human beauty stirs Larth’s affection, passion…and guilt. Prudence is falling for the handsome alien man but fears he’s still in love with his dead wife.Will it take a message from beyond to settle the heartaches of the past and grant them a second chance for love? less

The cyborg assassin and the single mom… Owned by a corporation and forced to work as an assassin, cyborg Mike Fury dreams of freedom and having a woman to call his own, someone to love, who will love him. He plots his escape and seeks asylum on planet Refuge, applying for a wife through the Cosmic Mates interplanetary matchmaking program.When his dream woman arrives, she brings an unpleasant surprise—she is not unencumbered; she has a child... moreThe cyborg assassin and the single mom… Owned by a corporation and forced to work as an assassin, cyborg Mike Fury dreams of freedom and having a woman to call his own, someone to love, who will love him. He plots his escape and seeks asylum on planet Refuge, applying for a wife through the Cosmic Mates interplanetary matchmaking program.When his dream woman arrives, she brings an unpleasant surprise—she is not unencumbered; she has a child. It quickly becomes obvious that she’s more committed to her son than she will ever be to him. It’s within his rights to send her packing, but when he hears of her plight he agrees to continue with the marriage until the end of the probationary period when they can both apply for new spouses.Single mom Verity Vale would do anything to protect her young son, even marry a stranger. When a rich, powerful family threatens to lay claim to her son, she knows the only way to keep him is to get him off Earth as quickly as possible. Figuring a woman with a child seeking a match through Cosmic Mates would send up red flags, she omits mention of her son in her application. She hopes that whoever the man is, he’ll have a heart big enough to accept a package deal.The marriage starts out strained and awkward, but Verity soon recognizes her husband’s innate kindness and goodness. Even more, he’s patient with her son who adores him. Nor does it hurt that he’s smokin’ hot. Their marriage of convenience turns loving and passionate, and both revel in their good fortune.But Fury knows his happiness is doomed. He can’t keep lying to Verity about his past. And when the protective mom learns she married a coldhearted cyborg assassin, it will be the end of his dream.* * * *The Cosmic Mates sci-fi romances are being released in “duets,” a two-book series within a series. Books one and two are a set, books three and four are a different set, etc. Kiss of Steel (Cosmic Mates 3) is the start of a brand-new mini-series. All the Cosmic Mates sci-fi romances can be read as standalones. less

The second time around will be double or nothing…Getting over the death of her husband has been a long, slow process for pottery artist Faith Hammond. But five years have passed, and she’s making a new life for herself, moving from Earth to planet Terra Nova and opening up a pottery shop. She’s finally finding the calm and focus she’s been seeking.Until there’s a knock at her cottage door.Standing there is her very much alive husband, Mark.John Bragg is Mark Hammond’s clone... moreThe second time around will be double or nothing…Getting over the death of her husband has been a long, slow process for pottery artist Faith Hammond. But five years have passed, and she’s making a new life for herself, moving from Earth to planet Terra Nova and opening up a pottery shop. She’s finally finding the calm and focus she’s been seeking.Until there’s a knock at her cottage door.Standing there is her very much alive husband, Mark.John Bragg is Mark Hammond’s clone. After the Dark Ops agent dies, Bragg takes his place, assuming all aspects of his life, except for one—his marriage. Faith is deemed off limits. But in studying his progenitor to impersonate him, Bragg has fallen for the man’s wife.He resigns himself to unrequited love until he hears Faith is looking to remarry—she has joined the interplanetary matchmaking service, Cosmic Mates.He can’t bear to lose her again. He goes AWOL from Dark Ops in a last-ditch effort to claim the woman he desperately loves.But can Bragg convince Faith he’s a clone? And if he can, will she be able to see him as a unique individual—or will he never be more than a dead ringer for her late husband? less

Love and survival collide when trust is the ultimate gamble…Marshall Clark III never meant to hurt Amity Landers. But the clone indentured to Dark Ops couldn’t allow his attraction to a beautiful woman destroy his sole chance for freedom. Having inadvertently put her life in danger, he’s willing to marry her so she can gain sanctuary on planet Refuge.But is she grateful? No. Instead, the formerly sweet, enchanting woman has turned bitter and angry and seems intent on making his life miserable... moreLove and survival collide when trust is the ultimate gamble…Marshall Clark III never meant to hurt Amity Landers. But the clone indentured to Dark Ops couldn’t allow his attraction to a beautiful woman destroy his sole chance for freedom. Having inadvertently put her life in danger, he’s willing to marry her so she can gain sanctuary on planet Refuge.But is she grateful? No. Instead, the formerly sweet, enchanting woman has turned bitter and angry and seems intent on making his life miserable. Fortunately, the Cosmic Mates marriage contract provides an escape clause. However, he’s locked in for a year until he can regain his freedom.Terminally unlucky in love, Amity Landers still had high hopes when she met the handsome, charming Marshall Clark. But after a magical first date that swept her off her feet, she’s crushed when she discovers the Dark Ops agent used her, faking interest to obtain the information he wanted. And worse, contact with him jeopardized her life. The only recourse is to accept his grudging offer of marriage, which will enable her to get asylum. But she’ll be counting the days until she can break free of her fake, pity marriage.When even friendship seems out of reach, can two people in a fake marriage who hate each other find true love before time runs out?* * * *All Cosmic Mates sci-fi romances can be read as standalones. The series novellas are released in duets, each two-book set being its own mini-series. Books 1 & 2 are a set, books 3 & 4 are a new set, and books 5 and 6 are different set. Double Bind (Cosmic Mates 6) is the second book of the duet. (Double Take is the first book). less