Otherworld Secrets by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong captivated readers with her Women of the Otherworld series of supernatural thrillers. Now her characters return in this gripping anthology. 

The collection begins with anovella featuring werewolf Karl Marsden and half-demon Hope, in what might be Karl's last heist. Meanwhile Elena and Clay are trapped in a wintry small town with a killer on the loose, in the fast-paced and atmospheric novella 'Forbidden'.

In 'Angelic', former black witch and part-time angel Eve is sent on a dangerous mission by the Fates, while necromancer Jaime tackles a ghost with a seriously bad attitude in 'The Ungrateful Dead'. Zoe Takano is forced to defend her territory in the hugely entertaining 'Zen and the Art of Vampirism'. And in the final novella, 'Counterfeit Magic', Paige Winterbourne and Lucas Cortez take on a troubling case that will change the couple for ever.

I enjoyed all the stories in this book, unusual for a collection of short stories. My favourite were; Life After Theft and Zen and the Art of Vampirism.

Twisted 26 by Janet Evanovich

This isn't just another case. This is family.

Grandma Mazur has decided to get married again - this time to a local gangster named Jimmy Rosolli. If Stephanie has her doubts about this marriage, she doesn't have to worry for long, because the groom drops dead of a heart attack 45 minutes after saying, "I do."

A sad day for Grandma Mazur turns into something far more dangerous when Jimmy's former "business partners" are convinced that his new widow is keeping the keys to a financial windfall all to herself. But the one thing these wise guys didn't count on was the widow's bounty hunter granddaughter, who'll do anything to save her.

Another excellent, entertaining instalment in this series.  I wish Ranger and Morelli would just agree to share Stephanie.  That would be HOT!

Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr Nick trout

ell Me Where it Hurts focuses on a day in the life of veterinarian Dr Nick Trout. With a wry and winning tone, he takes you on a fascinating behind-the-scenes journey to get to know his patients and offers up sometimes hilarious, at times sad, but always delightful anecdotes about cuddly (or not-so-cuddly) pets and their variously zany, desperate and demanding owners.

You'll meet Sage, a critically ill German shepherd, and his owner, a recent widower who relies on his dog for comfort; a chihuahua who is more Hannibal Lecter than cuddly pooch; baying beagles and snapping schnauzers; and a long-haired cat called Snowball who eats more than cat food.

Written with wisdom and humour, a nice insight into the life of a vet.  He gets a bit off topic at times and diverts into another story before getting back to where he started.

The Recovery of Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold. 

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar. 

After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes. 

Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she's forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score. 

Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling... 

And she's waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

A very twisted tale of revenge.  Neither mother or daughter were very likeable characters.  I didn't see how the Rose Gold would get revenge on her mother. She was much more evil than I anticipated.

Looking Down by Frances Fyfield

Richard Beaumont hoped to see rare birds on the Dover cliffs. Instead he sees a young woman falling to her death. No-one recognises her, no-one has reported her missing, and Richard returns, shaken, to his new young wife, but instead of finding solace in Lilian's company, he and obsessively paints the scene of the woman's broken body on the rocks. His cool behaviour towards her takes Lilian to the flat below and the wordly-wise company of Sarah Fortune. But Sarah, once Richard's lover, is awkward with her and is also preoccupied with her brother's unbreakable habit of cat-burglary, and the suspicious traffic to the penthouse at the top of the mansion block. Unable to forget what he witnessed, Richard returns to the coast and is befriended by the local police surgeon. Recently widowed, John is depressed, not so much by his wife's death but by the realisation that his marriage had been a loveless void. Recognising the symptoms, Richard introduces him to Sarah, so that she can no longer ignore the Beaumonts' troubles and is drawn into helping to trace where the dead girl came from and in so doing reveals a trade which is both breath-takingly lucrative and chillingly cruel.

A very English murder mystery. Solved by polite chats over tea and caused by the possibility of the victim disturbing the nest of a rare bird.

Smoke by Dan Vyleta

Welcome to a Victorian England unlike any other you have experienced before. Here, wicked thoughts (both harmless and hate-filled) appear in the air as telltale wisps of Smoke.

Young Thomas Argyle, a son of aristocracy, has been sent to an elite boarding school. Here he will be purged of Wickedness, for the wealthy do not Smoke. When he resists a sadistic headboy's temptations to Smoke, a much larger struggle beyond the school walls is revealed. Shortly thereafter, on a trip to London, Thomas and his best friend witness events that make them begin to question everything they have been taught about Smoke. 

Interesting characters and a thought provoking read. I liked the ending when Livia decided she didn't want to chose between Thomas and Charlie. She kept them both.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Parents behaving badly ... a tragic accident ... or murder? What isn't in doubt is that someone is dead. 

I really enjoyed this book.  You know someone has died, but I was surprised who died....and who killed him.  

I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author.