Cat in the Mist

From RomanceJunkies.com

Paranormal/Futuristic
Cat in the Mist
By Maria Shaink
Feb 23, 2008 - 8:24:07 AM

Having just lost her friend and employer, Karma is grieving for him when Blake shows up. She doesn't like that her employer's nephew, who didn't even attend the funeral, is now invading the home that she shared as Henry's live-in nurse. His mysterious and secretive ways are getting on her nerves too, but since he agrees with her suspicions that Henry did not die of natural causes, and since he is a private investigator by trade, she's willing to help him investigate and to share her living space. Blake is surprised to find his grandfather's nurse still living in the house, but as long as she stays out of his affairs, he's content to let her be. She seems not to know his and Henry’s secret, the truth about their people, but he knows he must work fast to keep that secret.

As Blake investigates Henry's death, he feels a strong attraction to Karma. He admires her strength, knowing she struck out on her own after ending an abusive relationship to start over. The beast within him is attracted to her as well. As their attraction to one another grows, so does the danger to Karma. Blake has been told in no uncertain terms to keep her in the dark about the shape-shifter community, even if it means killing her. Blake comes to realize that nothing in the world could make him hurt Karma, and Karma's strength and bravery prove her worth while giving Blake the strength to defy his people and keep Karma safe.

CAT IN THE MIST is a good adventure story with some nice suspense and romance. The characters seem tinged with a bit of destiny, and the reader sees each of them step up to the conflict swirling around them. I like the inner strength Karma displays, and found her to be a good heroine for the story. Blake is also a very interesting character. Although at first I didn't like him at all, as the story unfolded I understood his initial aloof manner. All of this plays into the gradual relationship that he and Karma ease into. The scenic descriptions of California and the orange groves are well done and communicate the setting vividly. The author keeps a lot of secrets and mysteries from the reader until the last moment, and I really enjoyed that sense of suspense, of not giving away everything at once. If you are in the mood for a short story packed with mystery and shape-shifters, CAT IN THE MIST will give your brain a fix.