Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Liv Warren is a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood. She also has the ability to track people by using their name, but that ability is not as strong as her bloodhound skill. Years ago, she and her friends inadvertently created a bond between them and now, one of her friends has need of her help. Denying her friend will not break the bond and will only cause Liv pain.

Liv is a freelance tracker, but she also is bound to Ruben Cavazos, a skilled crime syndicate leader who controls more than half the city. Until her contract with him is complete, she is his to use. He does allow her to take on other clients in her free time though, so her friend Anne's for her to execute the party responsible for murdering her husband takes top priority.

Cam Caballero wanted to marry Liv and live happily ever after. So he was devastated when she suddenly dumped him before he could propose. Now, he is helping Anne by offering his services to partner Liv in her investigation to find the murderer who killed Anne's husband. Convinced Liv is freelance, as he doesn't see any binding rings on her arms, he can't wait to get her in his arms again. Cam works for, and is bound to, Jake Tower, another skilled crime syndicate leader who controls the other half of the city.

Liv and Cam find the murderer, but that is only the tip of the investigation. Anne's daughter is soon kidnapped, and they know they must hurry to find her before it's too late. But if Cam finds out that Liv is bound to his syndicate's enemy, he will have to take her in. Even though Liv finds she still loves Cam, she knows she can't risk their love...or their lives.

Suspense, romance and a unique paranormal world set the scene for the first installment in this new trilogy. Rachel Vincent is a master storyteller whose finely crafted characters and treacherous world energize every page. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the next installment!