Scent of Darkness

This satisfying series kickoff finds Ann Smith, an inexperienced, plain-Jane office assistant, dropping off some paperwork at the home of her handsome, successful boss, Jasha Wilder—and hoping to use the opportunity to confess her mad crush on him—when she catches him transforming from wolf to man. It’s just the beginning for the dumbstruck secretary, whose discovery draws her into Jasha’s cursed world—his family’s ancient pact with the devil, the search for their clan relics, a gang of boisterous, unpredictable relatives who share his shape-shifting ability—and onward to her extraordinary destiny. Dodd’s latest is a fast-paced, well-written paranormal, with a full, engaging mythology and a handful of memorable characters. In Ann, she creates the quintessential all-American girl, counterpointing nicely the rich tapestry of Jasha’s family history; the mix shows great promise for future volumes. (July)