Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose

NOTHING TO SEE.

NOTHING TO HEAR.

NOTHING TO FEAR.

As director of an inner-city woman’s shelter, Dana Dupinsky safeguards many secrets. Some are new identities; some are new addresses; and some are even hidden truths about herself. Passionately dedicated to Hanover House and the women she protects, Dana has always been reluctant to look for love. But now, just as a case puts her and a child in mortal danger, it seems that love has come looking for her.

Security expert Ethan Buchanan learned to stalk men in the Afghan desert. Now he vows to track down the ruthless woman who kidnapped his godson—and falling for Dana is not in the plan. Yet her very presence seems to chase away the ghosts that haunt him, and her skillful evasion of personal questions raises his hunting instincts. For there’s a deadly new secret at Hanover House. A brutal killer is weaving a web of revenge with a stolen boy at its center. And Dana is the next victim on the list….

My first Karen Rose book, but definitely not my last. Couldn't put it down. 

Darkest at Dawn by Christine Feehan

Dark Secret, the story of a vampire hunter on the scent of a human female; and Dark Hunger, which tells of a caged Carpathian, his thirst for vengeance, and his lust for the woman who will release him. 

Both stories were good additions to the Dark Hunter series. 

Dark Secret had a lot of sex, even for Christine Feehan.

The Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plante

Detective Inspector Anna Travis hasn't worked with DCI James Langton since they teamed up to find a serial killer more than a year earlier. At that time they had a brief fling and parted company unhappily when Langton wouldn't commit to a long-term relationship. When they're thrown together again on a murder case, Anna finds herself reattracted to Langton but vows to keep her feelings hidden. Given the nonstop demands of the case, that's not as difficult as she feared. The body of a beautiful young woman is found, cut in half and drained of blood. The autopsy reveals that the victim was tortured and brutalized before she died, and even the hardened cops on the case are shocked. With the killer still at large, comparisons are quickly made to the never-solved Black Dahlia murder in Los Angeles 50 years earlier, prompting the "Red Dahlia" moniker. When the case finally breaks open, it's the stuff of nightmares. 

Slow to start, but after about 50 pages hard to put down.

The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lillian Jackson Braun

With the opening night of Oscar WIlde's "The Importance of Being Earnes" fast approaching, along with the dedication of the new bookstore in town, good times are ahead for the citizens of Pickax. But the merry atmosphere is dampened by the suspicious death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the recent events by his finicky pal Koko, who's been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to help Quill solve the dual mysteries?

Very slow.  The murder was mentioned about half way through the book, but no investigation of anything happened and nothing was solved.

Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

Beat of Temptation - Tamsyn has known Nate was her mate since she was 15 years-old. But he was 25 and he knew she was too young for them to be together. He insisted that they wait. Now it's been four years and Tammy is at the end of her rope. She is beginning to feel like Nate will never truly want her and it breaks her heart.

Stroke of Enticement - Annie is human and has never completely physically recovered from an accident in her childhood. Her leg was mangled and her flaw has left her a bit cut off from those around her. She never expects to find the kind of connection she makes with Zach, the changeling uncle of one of her students. He recognizes her as his mate right away and works to woo her into his life.

Declaration of Courtship - Cooper is a lieutenant and is the dominant of the group. And he's set his sights on Grace, one of the most submissive wolves in the pack. He knows he'll have to go very slow with her, but she is worth the effort. Grace can't believe Cooper is interested in her and her wolf is thrown by its need to submit. She and Cooper have to work the dance just right to teach her wolf that it's safe to stand up to a man so powerful.

Texture of Intimacy - I was so disappointed when Lara & Walker's mating happened as a side plot in Kiss of Snow! I really wanted to see these two get undivided attention. And now they have it. It picks up the very night of their mating and follows them over the course of weeks as their relationship solidifies.

My favourite story was Declaration of Courtship (perhaps because of the D/s element), very closely followed by Stroke of Enticement. I loved all of them, very unusual for me in a book of novellas.

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship by Chris Priestley

 A series of sea related spooky stories for young adults. A good mixture and a twist at the end. 

 Vampires, demons and ghosts are just a few of the..things...you find in these stories. I enjoyed all of the stories, unusual in a collection of short stories.
All the stories had a twist, as did the storyteller.

The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter

As Lords of the Underworld race their enemies, the Hunters, to uncover the one artifact which can destroy our demon possessed immortal warriors, the warriors discover not another clue to the location of Pandora's box but their enemies' breeding program. In the midst of the rescue, Sabin (possessed by the demon of Doubt) is drawn to the most dangerous of the captives. Gwen's beauty belies the lethality of her immortal harpy heritage, and though she has suffered by witnessing her fellow captives' abuse, no Hunter has been able to approach Gwen to 'bring her into the program'.

Even though Gwen's inner harpy is deadly, `Gwendolyn the timid' is the queen of self-doubt and not your typical bold, brash and `fowl' immortal. Sabin is sure that he can turn Gwen's harpy into a weapon to aid the Lords in their fight against the Hunters, but knowing the deadly effect of his demon's ability to plant self-doubt in the minds of women he has allowed in his bed in the past, Sabin is determined keep the luscious Gwen safely at arm's length. So despite Sabin's growing need to claim Gwen, he must keep their relationship strictly about the war with the Hunters. But... Gwen's harpy has other ideas and Sabin's demon had better watch out.

Another brilliant addition to the series. Now I can't wait for the next.  I liked the passing reference to spanking too.