Sheridan Phillips has a dead end job, a boss "affectionately" known as the Prince of Darkness, a stack of rejection slips to compliment her would-be writing career, and a serial rapist preying on women in her neighborhood. Life, it seems, can't get much bleaker. One cold winter night, Sheridan takes in a stray cat and names the adorable little guy Nick. She loves the scruffy little thing to distraction but pretty soon things start getting weird. Who is this mysterious creature she's taken into her home, her life, and her bed? Whoever or whatever he is, she only hopes he can save her from the most terrifying danger a woman can face...and bring her the love she so desperately seeks.
Elizabeth Stewart is a certified fine art and antiques appraiser with over 30 years of experience. Based in Santa Barbara County and with a field office on the East Coast, she specializes in 18th- to 20th-century American and European furniture, fine art, and works on paper. Elizabeth holds degrees from Tufts University, the University of San Diego, and a doctorate from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she explored the psychology behind collecting. She appraises for insurance, estate, charitable, and legal purposes and has served as an expert witness in art theft cases. Elizabeth hosts a weekly radio show and writes a popular column for the Santa Barbara News-Press. She is the author of COLLECT VALUE DIVEST: The Savvy Appraiser and travels the country presenting appraisal events for nonprofits. A member of the Appraisers Association of America, she is USPAP-certified and actively continues her professional education. Elizabeth also consults on building collections, determining value, and planning donations or bequests.