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These excerpts contain sexually explicit material. If you are not at least 18 years of age, please leave.
If you are 18 or older and are not offended by such material, please stay and enjoy!
Alexandra's Legacy
Book 1: Legacy
by N.J. Walters
 
Alexandra Riley’s day starts out like any other in her normal, predictable world. Then a tall, dark stranger bursts into her father’s garage and shatters the illusion. In one shocking moment, she discovers why she’s been feeling hot, restless—she’s the half-breed daughter of a legendary werewolf and is a much-sought-after prize.
Joshua Striker, enforcer in charge of protecting the alphas of the Wolf Creek pack, has come to take Alex home. Nothing more, nothing less. From the first moment he sees her, she becomes the one thing he can’t afford—a distraction from his duty. A weakness he doesn’t want—but can’t resist needing.
If only keeping her safe was as simple as fending off males on the hunt for a mate. Through city streets to the mountains of North Carolina, Alex and Joshua have to evade those who don’t want their pure bloodlines tainted with human DNA, as well as bounty hunters who think the only good werewolf is a dead one.
What Joshua and Alex can’t outrun is the passion that flares between them—or the choice Alex must eventually face. Whether to claim her inner wolf, or forfeit her chance to claim Joshua as her own.
 
"The action-packed plot kept me hanging on the edge of my seat with exciting anticipation eager to discover just how the breathtaking story would unfold. I can't wait to get my hands on the next thrilling novel in this series!"
5 Angels & Recommended Read—Contessa, Fallen Angel Reviews
"This book, from the beginning, is intense. It has what every top notch paranormal should have: action, passion, and wolfies, to die for...Alexandra’s Legacy is sizzling paranormal that will knock your socks off! Come cuddle up with NJ Walters' wolfies, and let the adventure begin"
5 Diva Review and a Recommended Read—Deb, Dark Diva Reviews
"N. J. Walters writes with such passion and gives so much to all of these characters. This is one to read more than once and enjoy every time. But don’t be surprised if your fingers blister just a bit; I promise it is worth it in the end."
5 Books—Holly, Long and Short Reviews
"What an awesome story! The characters really drive the plot forward and the author does a great job building their personalities while engaging your attention."
—Lisa Freeman, The Romance Studio
"This is an excellent story...I highly recommend this to paranormal romance lovers. You might want to get a fan - this story isn't just good - it's HOT!"
—Nancy Eriksen, Paranormal Romance Reviews
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Excerpt from Alexandra's Legacy
©2009 N.J. Walters
Her father jerked his head toward the back room. “I’ve got a small bag of coffee out back if you want some.”
“Do I ever. You’re a lifesaver.” Alex licked her lips. The taste she’d had was just enough to make her crave more. She watched as her father opened the brown paper bag and withdrew the muffins she’d picked up. “I’d better start a pot of coffee. Those few mouthfuls won’t hold either one of us for long.”
Leaving his watchful eyes behind, she hurried into the office area and grabbed the empty carafe. Stepping into the small bathroom, she thrust it beneath the water tap, allowing her thoughts to wander as it filled.
Alex was still was no closer to knowing exactly why she was so uneasy. The hair on the back of her neck seemed to be standing permanently on end, and on occasion she experienced a rippling beneath her skin that raised goose bumps on her flesh.
She hadn’t felt like herself for a few weeks now. The changes had been so gradual she hadn’t really noticed them at first. It was if her senses were heightened. Her skin felt too tight and at night it itched, not enough to make her scratch, but just enough to make her squirm.
The worst of it was the heat.
Lying alone in her single bed at night, a warm tingling would start between her thighs, little more than a flutter at first. Gradually the tingle became a deep, pulsing throb that made her writhe on top of her sheets, unable to bear even the light touch of the fabric against her skin.
The warmth grew within her, building rapidly until her skin felt as if it was on fire. Like a living creature, the heat slid over her belly, climbing up her ribs one at a time, until it enveloped her breasts. Her nipples puckered and tightened painfully. The only way to relieve the ache was for her to touch herself.
Only it never really helped, instead it drove the heat and need to higher levels. After the first few times it had happened, she’d learned to hold on tight to the sheets and ride out the painful desires that splintered through her, finally ending her nights sweat-soaked and completely exhausted.
The familiar heat washed over her now. Her nipples stiffened, pressing against the fabric of her cheap cotton bra. Low in her belly, her inner muscles clenched and her panties grew damp. She jerked her hand back as the water spilled over the side of the carafe. Swearing, she hauled it back and gave the tap twist, stopping the water flow.
Pouring out the excess, she strode back into the office. She dumped the water into the coffeemaker and slammed the carafe down onto the burner, wincing at the loud crack. She was damned lucky she hadn’t broken it. Grabbing the small bag of coffee, she opened it. The rich smell of coffee wafted up and she breathed deeply, inhaling the fragrant aroma. She found a spoon and loaded ground coffee into the filter. Flicking on the machine, she prayed it would be quick.
Stepping back to the doorway separating the garage from the office, she leaned against the doorframe and studied her father. He was about six-foot-two. She’d gotten her height from him. At five-foot-ten, she was a tall for a woman. She’d also inherited his strong, lithe build. Her father was deceptively strong. Many larger men had made the mistake of challenging him to a fight, assuming he’d be an easy mark. They quickly figured out their mistake.
They had the same colored hair too—brown, but with just about every shade or variation of that color from amber to mahogany. Her father’s shoulder length hair was tied back in a thong, but it was tinged with silver at the temples, making his appearance even fiercer. Alex kept her hair cut short on the back and sides, longer on the top. Made it easier to take care of. She wasn’t the type of woman to waste money on expensive beauty products or to primp in front of a mirror. Strictly a wash-and-go girl, the style suited her just fine.
Their eyes were very different. Her father’s eyes were a piercing golden-brown while hers were a pale, silvery gray. James Riley’s eyes were always searching, always aware of his surroundings, but when they settled on you it was as if he could see into your very soul.
For about the thousandth time, she wondered why he’d never married. Heck, he’d never even had a steady girlfriend. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that he went out prowling some nights and enjoyed female company, but he never brought any of them home. Did he ever get lonely?
Her mother had been a prostitute who’d tried to go straight and had gotten pregnant. When James Riley had discovered he was the father, he’d taken her into his home and looked after her until she’d had the baby. She’d run off just two days after Alex was born, unable to cope with motherhood. She’d never met the woman, didn’t know if she was even still alive and, truthfully, didn’t care. Having a kid to raise certainly hadn’t helped her father find a woman. Yet, he never once made her feel as though he’d have it any other way.
Raising her hand, she rubbed it over her breastbone. Maybe it was loneliness she was feeling at night as she lay in her bed. Maybe she was lonely. God only knows, she’d felt like a freak growing up. While other girls her age had been boy crazy, all she’d wanted to do was tinker in the garage with her father. She plain just wasn’t interested. She’d been kissed more than once, even engaged in some heavy petting in her teens, but she’d never had sex with a guy. It just hadn’t seemed worth the effort. Now, she wondered.
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Isaiah's Haven
Book 2: Legacy
by N.J. Walters
Isaiah Striker puts family first, the pack a distant second. Which is precisely the reason he’s in noisy, crowded Chicago instead of alone in his beloved woods. One look at the owner of Haven nightclub, however, and a simple favor for his brother turns into something else entirely.
Meredith Cross holds her small pack together with sheer determination. After years on the run, they hide in the glare of the city’s nightlife. Isaiah may heat her blood, but she can’t afford to risk the lives of the outcast half-breeds in her care. Once exposed, every bounty hunter and werewolf purist in smelling distance will hunt them down.
But when their sexual attraction spirals out of control, a moment’s distraction is all it takes to lead danger right to Meredith’s door. For Meredith there’s only one choice: her pack.
But Isaiah knows his mate when he sees her. And he’s not giving up without a fight.
"I love N.J. Walters’ wolves. I fell in love with them in the first book of this series, Alexandra’s Legacy, and Isaiah’s Haven gave me another marvelous reading experience...Ms. Walters brings such vitality to all of her characters, and she kept me on the edge with the fast paced action in this story...A fantastic book for shifter fans -- do yourself a favor and grab a copy of your own."
5 Books—Holly, Long and Short Reviews
"The plot is an engrossing one, with hot love scenes and suspenseful action packed moments also. This is one of the best werewolf romances I have read this year."
4.5 Hearts—Maura Frankman,The Romance Studio
"It’s another fast paced, action packed look into the world of werewolves and the hunters who seek to destroy them...The plot is smooth, the emotions passionate and intense and the integration of the secondary characters seamless."
4.5 Nymphs—Mystical Nymph, Literary Nymphs Reviews
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Excerpt from Isaiah's Haven
©2010 N.J. Walters
The city itself was vibrant and alive, filled with many different ethnic groups and economic levels. He’d seen homeless people and folks in limousines, those decked out in jeans and others in diamonds. The food and the nightlife were just as diverse. Maybe that’s what he needed. Some good food and some decent music.
He wandered past a bar and a woman’s voice drifted out on the cool October breeze. He froze, coming to a complete stop in the middle of the sidewalk. A guy bumped into him from behind and started to curse him, but one look at Isaiah’s face and he quickly moved on.
Isaiah felt his entire body clench with need as the woman’s low, sultry voice wrapped around him. Turning slowly, he stared at the outside of the small club. Haven, it was called. It was a typical older, three-story brick building with a business on the bottom and what looked to be apartments above it.
A sense of urgency filled him. An air of expectation swirled around him. Somehow he knew if he went inside this bar his life would be changed forever.
All the more reason to keep walking.
He whirled on one heel and strode in the opposite direction. About twenty feet away, he stopped.
“Fuck!”
The wolf inside him was howling, practically clawing at his skin to be free. His lungs couldn’t take in enough air even though his chest was heaving. He raked his fingers through his hair and swore again.
His instincts would not be denied. Spinning around, he stalked back to the bar. He paused on the doorstep, took a deep breath and crossed over the threshold.
The bouncer on the door nodded at him as he passed. The guy was about six-one and built, his shoulders practically filling the doorway. His blond hair was buzzed off in a crew cut and his pale blue eyes missed nothing as he watched the door and the crowd within.
The light was dim, but that was no problem for Isaiah. With his preternatural sense of sight he could see easily. The smell of liquor and warm bodies mixed with the spice of sexual arousal, creating a heady perfume. He could also smell food, and it reminded him once again that he hadn’t eaten in hours. His fast metabolism required him to eat several times more than a human male and he was running on empty.
He found an empty table for two in the far corner and sat with his back to the wall as he scoped out the place. The woman was no longer singing. No matter. He’d find her before he left here.
The place was crowded for a Thursday night. He could see only one other free table. Several couples were dancing to a bluesy number being played by a four-piece band that managed to fit on a tiny stage at the far end of the place. The bar dominated one wall with plenty of seating surrounding it. The bartender was a big guy who looked up when Isaiah’s eyes landed on him. Their gazes met and held, neither of them backing down. The guy finally looked away when a woman walked up beside him and placed her hand on his arm.
And holy shit, what a woman. Isaiah was ninety years old. Still relatively young given his five-hundred-year lifespan. But in all those years, he’d never seen a woman like this one.
Even from a distance, he could tell she was tall. Long black hair fell like silk over one of her shoulders and didn’t stop until it hit her waist. Her features were more striking than beautiful. Exotic. Strong. Her full lips were painted a deep red that all but begged a man to kiss them.
Isaiah’s cock swelled in agreement, pushing against the zipper of his jeans. He hadn’t been aroused this quickly since he’s been a young male just coming into maturity.
“What can I get you?” He resented the perky female voice that shouted near his ear. He didn’t want to stop staring at the woman standing behind the bar. It wasn’t easy, but he managed to drag his eyes to the waitress standing by his table, tray tucked under her arm as she waited for his order. She was probably in her early twenties with tousled blond curls and an open, friendly smile.
“Beer. Whatever’s on tap.” It didn’t matter to him what it was. His metabolism ensured he couldn’t get drunk on it no matter how much he drank.
“Sure. Anything else?”
He was about to say no when his stomach growled again. “Is the kitchen still open?”
“Absolutely.” She handed him a small menu even as she listed off several items. He ordered two double cheeseburgers and fries to take the edge off his hunger. She nodded and gave him another smile. “No problem. I’ll be right back with your beer.”
Isaiah reached out and snagged her wrist before she could get two steps. The waitress raised her eyebrow in question. He tugged her closer so he wouldn’t have to shout. “Who is the woman behind the bar?”
The waitress glanced over toward the bar and then back at Isaiah. “That’s Meredith. Meredith Cross. She owns the place.”
Meredith. He let her name roll over his tongue as the waitress slipped away. He liked the sound of it.
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Legacy Found
Book 3: Legacy
by N.J. Walters
Shelley is a killer. Never mind that her “crime” freed her from thirty-five years of brutal captivity—the bounty hunters on her trail don’t care. For the first time in her life, she is on her own, free to put the past behind her and explore what it means to be a werewolf.
James Riley is dead tired. After a week untangling legal and financial affairs his brother’s death left behind, he’s feeling every ounce of his new responsibility as Wolf Creek pack alpha. He’s not too tired though, to notice his sexy waitress is a werewolf—one that strangely doesn’t recognize him as one of her own kind.
After his questions rattle her composure and get her fired, Shelley figures the least James can do is drive her to the next town, but he wants more. He wants to take her home. And despite her fear, something inside her is irresistibly drawn to his commanding yet gentle presence.
James is willing to give Shelley all the time she needs to embrace her heritage, her sexuality, and eventually his love. But her past will not be denied...and her secrets demand a price paid in blood.
"I found the romance between Shelley and James to be as emotional and gripping as the subplot regarding the werewolf hunters. I’m looking forward to my next visit to Wolf Creek. Any book from Ms. Walters is an automatic must buy because her characters are always well drawn and her romances powerful and erotic. This is a worthy addition to the series."
5 Blue Ribbons—Claudette, Romance Junkies
"The villainous hunters are present, along with returning supporting characters rounding out the plot nicely and there are a few nice surprises along the way that I won’t reveal but that will wrap up ends I didn’t even know had been left dangling from the previous books. I look forward to the next book in the series."
4.5 Nymphs—Dragon Minx, Literary Nymphs Reviews
"Fans of sizzling paranormal romance will enjoy Legacy Found. The twists and turns will keep you guessing, while the danger ups the ante and keeps things interesting. If you’ve not read this series, be sure to place them on your TBR pile."
4 Cherries—Gladiolus, Long and Short Reviews
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Excerpt from Legacy Found
©2011 N.J. Walters
He paused in the open doorway and removed his sunglasses, tucking them in his shirt pocket as he looked around. The place was crowded, mostly with men, but there were a few women as well. Almost all the tables were filled. The sound of chatter was punctuated with the noise of utensils clanking as they all ate. The coffeepot hissed and the grill sizzled in the kitchen.
Something else permeated the air, but James couldn’t quite place it. Grease, sweat and food all mixed together to dull his preternatural sense of smell. Shrugging it off, he stepped inside and let the door swing shut behind him.
Several men glanced up from their meals and stared, but most ignored him, too intent on finishing their food and getting back on the road. To a trucker, time was money.
James scanned the room and sauntered over to a vacant booth in the far corner. He slid onto the vinyl bench seat and leaned back, trying to fit his large body comfortably into the space.
From his position, he had an unobstructed view of the room and the front door. There was also a window right beside him, which would allow for a quick escape if necessary.
The diner was surprisingly clean but dull. The paint on the walls was chipped, the linoleum on the floor scarred. And the seat cushions had seen better days. But the table gleamed and the condiment bottles were full. He plucked the menu from behind the shiny napkin dispenser and scanned it.
At the far end of the room, which James assumed led to the kitchen, a swinging door popped open. A woman backed into the room carrying a tray laden with plates. She looked like any waitress anywhere—harried and overworked. He went back to studying the menu, but his gaze was drawn again and again to the woman.
Giving up on the menu, he tossed it down on the table and studied her. She appeared to be in her early thirties, but it was hard to tell. She had the look of someone who’d had a hard life. Her hair had been pulled back into a tight bun, giving her face a pinched appearance.
As he watched, she competently served up the food from her tray, distributing plates to various tables, while nimbly sidestepping the roving hands of one of the truckers. His eyes narrowed as a burly driver patted her butt as she passed by. She jerked, but didn’t stop. Head ducked down, she kept going.
Anger began to burn low in his gut. It was none of his business, he told himself. He couldn’t afford to get involved. Not with paranormal bounty hunters searching for him and his daughter. The last thing he wanted to do was bring attention to himself and, through him, to his pack.
Still, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She was dressed in a tacky pink polyester uniform that hung on her slender frame. It was hard to tell her shape. It was mostly hidden by the bulky dress, which was zipped up tight to her neck and fell all the way to her knees. Her legs were bare from her knees to her ankles and she wore white socks inside her battered canvas sneakers.
The woman was continually in motion, pouring coffee and serving food. Even though she worked without stopping, there was almost a fragile air about her, as if she’d been ill recently.
He wasn’t sure that she’d even seen him, but as soon as her tray was empty, she tucked it under her arm and hurried over to his table. “What can I get you?” She pulled an order pad and pen out of her pocket.
James froze in place. All his senses went on full alert. Her scent was ever so faint, almost as if she were masking it somehow. But it was there. “You’re a werewolf,” he whispered. He was so shocked he spoke before he could check his words.
The woman paled and swayed. His hand shot out to steady her, but she quickly pulled away, taking a step backward. “What? What did you say?” Her voice grew steadier with each word she spoke.
The soft tones of her voice skimmed over James like a caress. He was struck with the urge to draw her close to him, lay his head against her stomach and just listen to her talk. But fright still lingered in her dark chocolate-brown eyes in spite of her bravado. Her fingers clenched around the pen she was holding and she took another half-step backward.
“Nothing.” He kept his voice low and as unthreatening as possible. “I didn’t say anything important.”
She relaxed immediately, offering him a tiny smile that brightened her entire face. Up close, he could see that beneath her weariness, there was a beautiful woman. The skin on her heart-shaped face was as fine as a baby’s and appeared to be incredibly smooth. Her chin was slightly pointed, her cheekbones high. And her small nose turned up at the tip. Her eyebrows curved slightly and were the same light brown color as her hair.
He sat up straighter, every muscle in his body pulling tight. Deep within him, he could feel his wolf pacing restlessly.
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Coming February 21st, 2012
Quinn's Quest
Book 4: Legacy
by N.J. Walters
Kidnapped and held in a crazy doctor’s underground laboratory, Bethany Morris only manages to escape because Chrissten, one of her fellow abductees, creates an opportunity—by shifting into a werewolf.
Quinn Lawton’s long, grinding search for his missing twin has turned up nothing…until Bethany rekindles his hope. Something else catches flame too—her heat cycle and a searing attraction branded with the word mate. Yet with so much blood on his hands, any future he might offer is already tainted beyond redemption.
Desperate for Quinn’s touch alone, Bethany has no choice but to take Quinn up on his offer to quell her terrifying need, no strings attached. And hope that as the search for Chrissten intensifies, the battle with their personal demons doesn’t destroy their razor-thin chance at forever.
"Quinn is irresistible, he is torn between keeping his twin as his only focus but his wolf is telling him he has found his mate. This series continues to get better and better, of course having one of my favorite vampires make an appearance is like frosting on the cake."
4.5 Stars—Emily, Sensual Reads
"It is a page-turner that takes you on one heck of a ride. QUINN'S QUEST is packed with action, contains a hint of mystery and a whole lot of heated scenes. It was everything I hoped for and more in a paranormal romance."
4 Blue Ribbons—Pamelalynne, Romance Junkies
"Walters' latest Legacy tale is fiery. The story is compelling as the charcters try to deny the passion between them."
4 Stars—Sabrina Cooper, RT Book Reviews
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Excerpt from Quinn's Quest
©2012 N.J. Walters
The phone rang twice before it occurred to Bethany that the middle of the night might not be the best time to call anyone asking for help, especially not with the crazy story she had to tell. “Damn.” She thought about hanging up but she was committed now. She tightened her hand around the receiver.
The phone rang twice before it occurred to Bethany that the middle of the night might not be the best time to call anyone asking for help, especially not with the crazy story she had to tell. “Damn.” She thought about hanging up but she was committed now. She tightened her hand around the receiver.
“Yeah.” The voice was male and hoarse with sleep.
She cleared her throat. “Is this Quinn Lawton?” She prayed she’d remembered the number right. She didn’t know what she’d do next if this wasn’t Chrissten’s brother.
There was some rustling in the background and the voice was more alert this time. “No.” Bethany’s heart sunk. Maybe she’d dialed the number wrong. Before she could apologize and hang up, the man was speaking again. “Just give me a second and I’ll get him.”
Hope surged inside her. She hadn’t failed. The phone number was the right one. Her knees threatened to buckle so she sank into the chair that Margaret had vacated. Her stomach felt queasy and she was still very weak. She could still hang up the phone and let the police handle this. All she’d have to do is tell them she was kidnapped. No need to tell them about the rest of it. Quinn Lawton would never be able to find her. There was no way to trace the call back to the shelter.
She clutched the receiver in her hand and took a deep breath, knowing she could never do that. She was committed now. No turning back. Footsteps sounded through the receiver and she knew the man who’d answered was taking the phone to Chrissten’s brother, who was a half-breed werewolf just like Chrissten. Just like she was.
Bethany still couldn’t quite wrap her head around that one, but she was trying to understand it. She hoped Quinn had answers for her.
“Yeah.” The voice was low and gruff and masculine. Every cell in Bethany’s body reacted to the sound. The fine hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Her nipples contracted. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Who is this?” The voice was more demanding now, all trace of sleepiness gone.
Bethany forced herself to speak. “Is this Quinn Lawton?”
“Who wants to know?” She almost hung up on him. His impatience and arrogance bled through the phone line. But she’d promised her friend.
“Do you have a sister named Chrissten?”
“Where is she? Who are you? Where are you?”
Bethany was so startled by the angry outburst she dropped the receiver. She could hear Quinn yelling at her through the line. She grabbed the phone and hung up, panting hard for breath. He was one scary man.
She sat there for about thirty seconds before she grabbed the phone and punched in the number again.
“Hello. Are you there?” he demanded.
“I’m here.” This was for Chrissten, she reminded herself. And for yourself, a little voice in the back of her head said. You want to know more about who you are. What you are.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” His low tones made her shiver and she wasn’t sure she believed him. Even his apology was short. A voice in the background was urging him to stay calm. She recognized it as the man who’d originally answered the phone. She was beginning to wish she’d talked to him instead.
“Umm, I need to talk to you about your sister.” She had to do this face-to-face. This wasn’t something you talked about over the phone. “Where are you?”
“I’m in Chicago. Where are you?”
Bethany was shocked to find out that help was close at hand. She hadn’t expected that, but would take it as a good sign that maybe her luck was changing. “Where in Chicago? I want to meet you.”
“Tell me about my sister.” His frustration was palpable and she almost blurted out everything she knew. But she had to meet him in person. She’d promised Chrissten she’d get help and that meant more than simply making a phone call. Plus, she was curious about him, about what he was. What she was.
“Where shall I meet you?” Bethany could be just as stubborn as he was.
“There’s a bar in Wicker Park. It’s called Haven. Meet me there.”
“When?” Bethany glanced at the clock over Margaret’s desk. It was half past four in the morning.
“Now. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I don’t have any money to pay for a cab.” It was demoralizing to admit she needed him to pay for her to get there. She couldn’t walk, as she had no idea where she was going. Even if she wanted to take public transit she still had no idea where to find this particular bar.
“Just get here. I’ll take care of the cab fare.”
She sucked in a breath and said, “Okay,” as she exhaled. The quicker she did this the better for her peace of mind.
“What’s your name?” The urgency in his tone brought home just how desperate he was for news of his sister.
“Bethany. My name is Bethany. As of less than a day ago your sister was alive. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
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Coming 2012
Finding Chrissten
Book 5: Legacy
by N.J. Walters
Blurb Coming Soon!
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Excerpt from Finding Chrissten
©2012 N.J. Walters
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