Entwined by Lynda La Plante

In the newly liberated streets of Berlin, two women are drawn together by a series of tragic events. A pampered, beautiful Baroness, slowly losing control of her mind, and a fearless wild animal trainer facing the greatest challenge of her career.

No matter how cruelly twins are separated their lives will always be entwined.

Very much enjoyed this thrilling, enthralling tale. 

Blind Faith by Ben Elton

As Trafford Sewell struggles to work through the usual crowds of commuters, he is confronted by the intimidating figure of his Parish Confessor. Why has Trafford not been streaming his every moment of sexual intimacy onto the community website like everybody else? Does he think he's different or special in some way? Better than his fellow man and woman? Does he have something to hide?Imagine a world where everyone knows everything about everybody. Where what a person 'feels' and 'truly believes' is protected under the law, while what is rational, even provable is condemned as heresy. A world where to question ignorance and intolerance is to commit a Crime against Faith. Ben Elton's dark, savagely comic novel imagines a post-apocalyptic society where religious intolerance combines with a confessional sex obsessed, self-centric culture to create a world where nakedness is modesty, ignorance is wisdom and privacy is a dangerous perversion.

An extreme...or maybe not so extreme in some ways...look at the world today. An interesting social commentary.  Not a world I would like to live in.

Carved in Stone by Vickie Taylor

 Six year old Rachel Vandermere didn’t believe in monsters—until she saw one kill her parents. Now all grown up and an INTERPOL investigator, Rachel has quietly amassed an impressive collection of evidence to support the existence of preternatural creatures. But she dares not go public with her beliefs until she can produce a living, breathing abnormal being to show the world—which she is certain she can do if only she can convince the enigmatic Nathan Cross to help her.

Disavowed from the Chicago congregation of Gargoyles, Nathan has given up life as a guardian of mankind for a quieter, more human existence. But when Rachel shows up at his door spouting her crazy theories about monsters, he is thrust into the role of protector once again. For Rachel’s theories aren’t as crazy as some people might think, and her diligent pursuit of the truth might just get them both killed if the wrong people find out what she knows.

With an ancient evil force gathering on the horizon to destroy them, Rachel and Nathan must both come to terms with the secrets of their pasts before it’s too late for them to save their future…together.

Started slow but picked up the further I read. A bit too much of the tortured "I am a monster" hero. 

Bittersweet by Nevada Barr

Set in the American west in the 1800's, Imogene is a school teacher in an exclusive girls school who loses her job and is run out of town when she becomes too close to one of her former students.  She moves to a small mining town to work in a one teacher school.  All goes well for a few years, she settles in well to the town and makes friends.  One  she becomes very close to.  Sarah is married to a very religious man who is much older than her.  She runs to Imogene after a particularly bad beating, her husband disapproves, finds out about Imogene's past and runs her out of town.  Sarah goes with her.  They go further west and end up running a stage coach stop in the middle of the desert.

This was a fantastic book.  Well written with an interesting storyline.

The Lady Is Tempted by Cathy Maxwell

At 27, Deborah's a widow to a man more than 30 years her senior, to whom she was married by her penniless family for practical reasons. Deb suspects there's something to marriage which she has missed out on, but she doesn't think she'll find what she's looking for in Parson Ames, the man the town matchmaker believes she should marry. Enter Anthony Aldercy, the wealthy fifth earl of Burnell, who has been shunned by society for his father's scandalous suicide. Deb meets Anthony in an inn on her way to visit her half-sister, Lizbet, and their instant attraction quickly leads them to bed, despite the fact that Anthony is engaged to London's debutante of the season. Although Anthony is taken with Deb, his honor won't allow him to break his engagement. Instead he offers her a position as his mistress. Insulted, Deb takes off, but the two meet and become intimate again in London only to face the same dilemma as before his honor or their love? 

 A light, enjoyable read. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

It's a perfect world, where everything looks right. But ugly truths lie beneath the surface…

It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in The Community wants for anything. Everyone is provided for. Each Family Unit is entitled to one female and male child. Each member of The Community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders, and they never make a mistake.

Jonas, a sensitive twelve-year-old boy, had never thought there was anything wrong with his Community, until one day. From the moment Jonas is selected as the Receiver of Memory at The Ceremony, his life is never the same. Jonas discovers that The Community is not as perfect as it seems. Although they appear to have everything, they are missing something of great importance. It is up to Jonas, with the help of the Giver, to find what long ago had been lost. And so Jonas embarks on an adventure to save the world as he knows it.

Beautifully and simply written. Loved it. 

Bound By Blood by Amanda Ashley

 Zack Ravenscroft loves women - all women - and they love him. The irresistibly seductive owner of the hottest casino in Nevada, Zack has tasted every wicked pleasure Sin City can offer. But never in his 600 years as a vampire has he seen a morsel as delectable as Kaitlyn Sherrad, the mysterious young newcomer in town. Zack knows nothing about her - except that he craves her. Kaitlyn is half vampire, half human - and all woman. As the cherished daughter of the Carpathian Coven's master, she has been given every luxury a girl could desire. Now her only need is for a prince. But though she's ready to gamble her heart on Zack, a powerful enemy stalks their every move...watches their every kiss...and waits to destroy their undying love.

An OK read.  I wouldn't be bothered reading any more in this series.