Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle (2009, Paperback)

Jayne Castle also writes as Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick. Each author name she uses indicate a certain type of romantic-suspense setting (modern day, historical, or Planet Harmony, a new planet far, far away...). Yet her characters, no matter what their particular gifts, are always interestingly drawn, believable (after one suspends disbelief, as with any good story), and very resourceful when meeting challenges.
She has been writing best-sellers since the late 1970's, and her characters have grown from slightly stock, predictable males and females to real, fallible, sensitive yet strong people (and dust-bunnies!) who are all complex and often surprising, each quite memorable. You can bet on the usual happily ever after endings, but it's always an interesting path for everyone involved.Her plotlines are complex and quite entertaining. She also shows human failings, humor and compassion in her created worlds and people.
In short, her books have realistic, deep, funny and thoughtful dialog, environments, issues, in addition to highly crafted suspense and fun.
Obsidian Prey is a great, fun, fast read. Ms. Castle/Krentz/Quick just keeps on getting better and better. You'll love Vincent the dust-bunny, who, while seemingly mild-mannered and always eating, can become a sleek, fast-moving and loyal defender of the human(s) he chooses to defend.
I am very happy to have this book in my eclectic collection.
The only misleading thing about it is its cover: The hero always looks so vapid, compared to the real one residing in the book's entertaining pages.
One caveat: If you are not a fan of romance/suspense, then this may not be your kind of mind-candy. For me, this book is better than chocolate. And I don't say that lightly.