title: Merrick's Maiden: Cosmos' Gateway Book 5 (Volume 5)
author:  S. E. Smith 
description: <span>"Honorable heroes, smart women, and an imagination that just won't quit." (Michele Callahan, Author of the Time Walker series)</span>
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  ![cover](cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  Merrick’s Maiden:
  
  
  Cosmos’ Gateway Book 5
  
  
    
  
  
  ![tmp_7c50786bc18b59e13465c8eee018d695_RrUpUC_html_m50b0c35d.jpg](tmp_7c50786bc18b59e13465c8eee018d695_RrUpUC_html_m50b0c35d.jpg)
  
  
    
  
  
  By S. E. Smith
  
  
    
  
  
  Acknowledgments
  
  
  I would like to thank my husband Steve for
  
  
  believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage
  
  
  to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you
  
  
  to my sister and best friend Linda, who not only encouraged me to
  
  
  write but who also read the manuscript. Also to my other friends
  
  
  who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Lisa, Sally, Elizabeth (Beth) and
  
  
  Narelle. The girls that keep me going!
  
  
  —S. E. Smith
  
  
    
  
  
  **A Very Special Note:** This story is for
  
  
  my dad who came down with Spinal Meningitis when he was 12 and woke
  
  
  up to a silent world. He was the best dad a girl could ever have
  
  
  and I miss him very, very much. Thank you, Dad, for being the best
  
  
  father a girl could wish f