The Sensor Series by Susan Illene

Book one of The Sensor Series.Melena Sanders faced her fair share of danger with insurgents and terrorists when she served in the U.S. Army, but now she is about to go up against a new threat. Her best friend, Aniya, has disappeared while on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska—a supernatural haven. Most humans have no idea darker races lurk amongst them. Mel knows better. If she wants to get her friend back, she’s going to have to go in alone—but not unarmed... moreBook one of The Sensor Series.Melena Sanders faced her fair share of danger with insurgents and terrorists when she served in the U.S. Army, but now she is about to go up against a new threat. Her best friend, Aniya, has disappeared while on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska—a supernatural haven. Most humans have no idea darker races lurk amongst them. Mel knows better. If she wants to get her friend back, she’s going to have to go in alone—but not unarmed.Melena has a few special skills the Army didn’t provide, but the odds are still against her. She’s got to come up with a plan fast that doesn’t involve her, or her friend, dying. But danger likes to play it rough. A war for power is about to rise in Fairbanks and if she wants to get Aniya back, she’s going to have to step right into the middle of it. less

Book two of The Sensor Series. Melena Sanders has managed to avoid all things inhuman for most of her life, but after coming to Fairbanks, Alaska to rescue her best friend from supernaturals she hasn't been allowed to leave. That is, until her long-time nemesis comes to collect a favor she owes him. Lucas might be half angel, but he's all bad as far as she's concerned. Paying him back might get her out of town for a while, but her new destination will be anything but enjoyable... moreBook two of The Sensor Series. Melena Sanders has managed to avoid all things inhuman for most of her life, but after coming to Fairbanks, Alaska to rescue her best friend from supernaturals she hasn't been allowed to leave. That is, until her long-time nemesis comes to collect a favor she owes him. Lucas might be half angel, but he's all bad as far as she's concerned. Paying him back might get her out of town for a while, but her new destination will be anything but enjoyable. Mel's got to help the nephilim take care of a demon possession outbreak in Juneau. Although something like this hasn't happened for thousands of years, Lucas is certain Melena's rare abilities are the key to solving the problem. With violence in the capital city growing, she's going to have to figure out how to stop it fast before the trouble spreads to other places. Not only that, but working closely with Lucas is changing the dynamics of their hate-hate relationship-worrying her even more than the demons. Getting back to her captivity in Fairbanks never looked so good. less

The longer a man lives, the greater the chance his actions will cost him in the future. When that man is an immortal nephilim, the misdeeds can really pile up. Lucas has paid for the crimes of his past for centuries, resisting any close relationship that might make his life even more difficult. Until Melena. Only she could begin to melt the ice shielding his heart, but then he was captured by his greatest enemies—angels... moreThe longer a man lives, the greater the chance his actions will cost him in the future. When that man is an immortal nephilim, the misdeeds can really pile up. Lucas has paid for the crimes of his past for centuries, resisting any close relationship that might make his life even more difficult. Until Melena. Only she could begin to melt the ice shielding his heart, but then he was captured by his greatest enemies—angels. Now imprisoned in Purgatory, he’s awaiting trial for his latest crime and knows the verdict will not be in his favor. Lucas is resigned to the fact his life might be over, but fears without his protection Melena may not survive for long. She’s got her own enemies back in Alaska and her mortality makes her easy prey. Whatever happens to him, he must find a way to keep her safe. No matter the cost. Word count: 45,000 Sensor Series reading order: Darkness Haunts Darkness Taunts Chained by Darkness (novella) Tempting the Moon (short story) Darkness Divides Playing with Darkness (novella) Darkness Clashes less

This short story previously appeared in The Stroke of Midnight anthology, but has since been revised and re-released as a new edition. It takes place between books 2.5 and 3 in the Sensor Series. It’s New Year’s Eve and Melena Sanders is hoping she can survive the night without any more trouble in her life. But then her adopted teenage daughter, Emily, confesses to a prank gone wrong. Now her young werewolf admirer is caught in a trap on a full moon... moreThis short story previously appeared in The Stroke of Midnight anthology, but has since been revised and re-released as a new edition. It takes place between books 2.5 and 3 in the Sensor Series. It’s New Year’s Eve and Melena Sanders is hoping she can survive the night without any more trouble in her life. But then her adopted teenage daughter, Emily, confesses to a prank gone wrong. Now her young werewolf admirer is caught in a trap on a full moon. Melena’s got to figure out fast how to rescue him without either of them getting bitten in the process. Of course, nothing ever goes quite how she plans… Word count: 12,000 (approximate) less

THIS ANTHOLOGY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. It's New Year's Eve and the supernatural community is ringing in the New Year with style! Fourteen of your favorite authors have come together to bring you The Stroke of Midnight: A Supernatural New Year's Anthology! The Stroke of Midnight features fourteen urban fantasy/paranormal short stories. Celebrate the turn of the year with all the creatures that go bump in the night!

The blood and violence never ends—it only stops long enough for Melena to relax her guard, to think she might actually survive. For the past year, she’s worked hard to pick up the pieces of her life. The supernaturals in Fairbanks are tolerating her, the angels are shielding her from her enemies, and she’s getting stronger as her body changes into…something else. If not for the man she loves being locked away in Purgatory, she might even believe she could be happy... moreThe blood and violence never ends—it only stops long enough for Melena to relax her guard, to think she might actually survive. For the past year, she’s worked hard to pick up the pieces of her life. The supernaturals in Fairbanks are tolerating her, the angels are shielding her from her enemies, and she’s getting stronger as her body changes into…something else. If not for the man she loves being locked away in Purgatory, she might even believe she could be happy.But for a sensor, peace is always an illusion. A magical explosion is about to rock the earth between Alaska and parts of Canada, bringing with it a new wave of fear. People she cares about will be hurt and she’s going to need answers. Are her enemies trying to flush her out of hiding or are they up to something even more sinister? It will take all of her newfound strength and the help of every ally she’s got to put a stop to their plans. less

There’s no avoiding it. Melena must keep her promise to return the fae device that opens the portal to Purgatory. Except there’s one problem—Kerbasi. How can she go when she has one of heaven’s minions practically attached to her hip? One who will strike fear in the hearts of the fae the moment they realize who he is. When her shape-shifter cat suddenly gets sick, she can’t delay the trip any longer. Only the fae can help get Sable healthy again... moreThere’s no avoiding it. Melena must keep her promise to return the fae device that opens the portal to Purgatory. Except there’s one problem—Kerbasi. How can she go when she has one of heaven’s minions practically attached to her hip? One who will strike fear in the hearts of the fae the moment they realize who he is. When her shape-shifter cat suddenly gets sick, she can’t delay the trip any longer. Only the fae can help get Sable healthy again. And if Kerbasi tries to cause any trouble while they are there, she’ll just have to find creative ways to keep him in line. less

Between her service in the U.S. Army and her new life living with supernaturals in Alaska, Melena Sanders has had her loyalty and duty tested in every possible way.Or so she thought.Tensions among supernatural factions in Fairbanks are growing after the city’s recent attacks and she must pick a side. Her nephilim lover, Lucas, needs her help to search for his missing brother—whose disappearance may not be all it seems... moreBetween her service in the U.S. Army and her new life living with supernaturals in Alaska, Melena Sanders has had her loyalty and duty tested in every possible way.Or so she thought.Tensions among supernatural factions in Fairbanks are growing after the city’s recent attacks and she must pick a side. Her nephilim lover, Lucas, needs her help to search for his missing brother—whose disappearance may not be all it seems. And agents from the Department of Homeland Security are lurking about investigating the suspicious “earthquake” that rocked the region four months ago.It’s not the best time to be planning a trip out of town, but troubles in Fairbanks aren’t her only problem. A greater supernatural plot is developing and only by attending an upcoming ball in New Orleans can she discover more. There’s no way to avoid it. Her loyalty and duty to those she cares for are about to clash.Sensor Series Reading Order:Darkness HauntsDarkness TauntsChained by Darkness (novella)Darkness DividesPlaying with Darkness (novella)Darkness Clashes less

There’s something supernatural lurking under the mistletoe this year. Get ready for a twist on the holiday season with paranormal tales from six fantasy authors: "The Grandfather Paradox: An UltraSecurity Christmas Story" by J. T. Bock A Billionaire, a Christmas Dinner, and the Grandfather Paradox Nobody has time for this, especially UltraAgent TimeTrap... moreThere’s something supernatural lurking under the mistletoe this year. Get ready for a twist on the holiday season with paranormal tales from six fantasy authors: "The Grandfather Paradox: An UltraSecurity Christmas Story" by J. T. Bock A Billionaire, a Christmas Dinner, and the Grandfather Paradox Nobody has time for this, especially UltraAgent TimeTrap. Between holiday drinks with friends, visiting long-lost family, and her mother's reality show special, TimeTrap's time is limited—even for an alt-jumper like her who can travel through space and time. Another alt-jumper is messing with her mojo and her timeline. UltraAgents are missing. Her bosses have disappeared. Now she has to protect the next target, a hot CEO of a large defense company. Is there enough time to save the day and Christmas and enjoy a holiday cocktail with a special someone? "The Naughty List" by Debra Dunbar Samantha Martin is an Imp, on holiday with her angelic main-squeeze, Gregory. What better place to show an angel the true meaning of Christmas than a small Alpine resort town? But it’s hard to keep up the impish good cheer when people are being murdered for their sinful ways. Could the killer be. . . Santa? "The Biting Cold" by Mark Henwick Detroit. A bitter winter. A city coming apart and a woman holding on to her rapidly ebbing life. Psychiatrist Dr. Amanda Lloyd is focused only on living long enough to give her testimony in court and put a vicious criminal away. The defense lawyers are fighting for a postponement she can’t afford and digging into her own mental problems in an attempt to discredit her. She can’t spare time for the patient who claims to be a vampire. Unless what he offers her is exactly what she needs. "Facing the Darkness" by Susan Illene Kerbasi, a former guardian of Purgatory, has resisted every effort to help him find his humanity. After forty-five hundred years of tending to his prisoners in the cruelest of ways he feels he's above the petty concerns of mankind. But what's he to do when he's charged with bringing comfort to a boy sick with cancer during the holiday season? This is one child who just might break through that impervious wall he's wrapped around his heart. "Cat and Moused" by J.C. Mells Moused Thurman was sure there had to be better ways to spend Christmas Eve than being held hostage in an elevator by a sexy, sassy, vampire-assassin. But for the life of him, he couldn't think of one. "A Christmas Feral" by Connie Suttle Cassie is running from the man who forced her to become his fiancée. Parke is stepping into his father's shoes as Chancellor of everything paranormal. The two are on a collision course with unpredictable results. What should you do when a Truth Demon marries a Fire Demon? Get the hell out of Seattle. less

Winter has come to Alaska and it’s about to be joined by death.Since moving to Fairbanks, Melena Sanders has watched too many of her friends die because she couldn’t react fast enough. When a mysterious illness comes along targeting only supernatural races she’s determined to stop it. But as the death toll climbs she realizes finding a cure is more complicated than she thought... moreWinter has come to Alaska and it’s about to be joined by death.Since moving to Fairbanks, Melena Sanders has watched too many of her friends die because she couldn’t react fast enough. When a mysterious illness comes along targeting only supernatural races she’s determined to stop it. But as the death toll climbs she realizes finding a cure is more complicated than she thought. Melena might have to give in to plans to reveal the existence of supernaturals to the human world—as it may be the only way to save them.Word count: 96,000 (approximate) less

Book 6 of the Sensor Series. Melena Sanders is locked away in Purgatory, which is no vacation, but she'll soon be returning to Alaska where troubles are mounting once again. Suspicious fires are breaking out, supernaturals are being attacked, and there's an enemy lurking out there waiting for his chance to strike. Her lover, Lucas, is managing to hold their home together during her absence, but he's more than ready for her to return... moreBook 6 of the Sensor Series. Melena Sanders is locked away in Purgatory, which is no vacation, but she'll soon be returning to Alaska where troubles are mounting once again. Suspicious fires are breaking out, supernaturals are being attacked, and there's an enemy lurking out there waiting for his chance to strike. Her lover, Lucas, is managing to hold their home together during her absence, but he's more than ready for her to return. It will take the two of them working together, along with friends and family, to overcome the darkness that is about to unleash. less