Masked by Moonlight

Gideon kicks off a paranormal romance series with intriguing characters and zippy action. Det. Charlotte Caissie has spent years working homicides for the New Orleans PD. She links a savagely mutilated murder victim to crime boss Jimmy Legere, and suspects Legere’s enforcer, Max Savoie, might know more than he’s telling about the attack. Max has lusted after Charlotte for years, and after Max saves her from would-be rapists and reveals he’s the hero who once rescued her from kidnappers, Charlotte starts to share his feelings. Despite Max’s monstrous shape-shifting abilities and probable involvement in her case, they soon surrender to mutual attraction. Charlotte walks a razor-fine line with her professional ethics and romantic life, but Gideon deftly avoids writing herself into corners and masters the tension required to keep her complex and engaging story moving. (June)