Touch of Power

Healer #1
Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira

Anticipated Publication Date: December 20, 2011

From the publisher:
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

IMO: 
I loved this story!  

I can't wait for the next book to be available!!  

Avry is an endearing character and works hard to use her gift to the best of her ability.  She is self-sacrificing (her skill requires it), caring and courageous.  One thing she isn't is a pushover as Kerrick, the leader of the band of rogues, finds out.  I seem to have an affection for gruff alpha-type heroes who are stumped by the women they grow to care about.
The world building in this story takes up a good portion of the writing but it isn't to the detriment of either the characters or the story line.   I can't wait to see how the war for the 15 realms evolves, and how Avry, Kerrick and their band of brothers contributes to the events as they unfold.

Chasing Seth

J. R. Loveless
Dreamspinner Press

From the Publisher:

Veterinarian Seth Davies comes to Senaka, Wyoming, looking for peace and anonymity, trying to escape his past. He’s always been a target for trouble and pain, and Seth has had more than his share of both. Kasey Whitedove takes one look at Seth and assumes the worst. No white man could love animals the way the mostly Cheyenne population expects, and Kasey makes Seth’s first days in Senaka more than unpleasant.

Then an accident puts Kasey in the uncomfortable position of eating crow—and helplessly desiring Seth—despite the danger of Kasey’s life as a werewolf and Seth’s stressful secrets. Chasing Seth down and keeping him safe from his past has just become Kasey's most important job.

IMO:
This is a really quick read, unfortunately it's not because I couldn't get enough of the characters.  Seth is likeable but bland.  Kasey has his moments of being an absolute jerk and then likeable.  I didn't have a lot vested in the characters which is too bad because I really liked the premise of the story and thought it had more potential than it showed.   I really wish the author had given Seth and Kasey a more fleshed out story-no pun intended.  Oddly, I am hoping that there is a second book as I liked the supporting character Nick and want to see where his situation with his mate goes, as it was unresolved.