Some Girls Bite ~ Chloe Neill

What I look for in a book … Well, it’s pretty simple. Paranormal, helps. Amazing characters, a huge plus. But the main thing is when an author can pull you in with the the 1st chapter, as in you are hooked & want to keep reading til you reach the end. If they have that talent, you will find the rest of the book to be simply one of the best reads you come across. Now that being said, on with my review

(<--linked to GoodReads)

I don’t like to give out parts of the book. But this is one of my favorite in this book:
”Luc raised his gaze to mine. “I assume you looked though the Web site last night and can take us through the C-41 subsets?”
I swallowed down the keen sense of panic. It was like living a nightmare – the one where you were unprepared for an exam & you showed up to the test completely naked? Here I was, nicely dressed, but still about to be humiliated in front of the the squad of Cadogan guards. I might as well have skipped the wardrobe upgrade.
I open my mouth to spit out some kind of response – an apology, a couple of lame sentences about the importance of House security in the days of dueling alliances (& Ethan said I never listened!) – when Luc was hit, square in the face, with a flying piece of jerky.”

I about died reading this in the middle of a vampire guard meeting! Yep, it was a meeting of the Cadogan Guards. (Thankfully my inhaler was close by.)

Now that being put out there. This book had pretty much all of what I love to read. Smart-arses, paranormal/supernatural, characters of all types (good, bad & the WTF “where did you come from”), little mystery, some murder (well not my favorite but it adds to the “why”), some minor sexual “scenes” (not graphic or hard core) … oh I can go on, but I will save you from my long lists

I loved reading about how a Merit when from graduate student to vampire. How she felt about the change, how her family reacted, and how she came to accept what happened to her. It was not an easy task for her to come to terms with, but the manner in which she handled it was pretty good. Not always complete mature, but in that situation, you really didn’t expect it to “I am an adult, I can handle this like an adult” type of response. She handled it in a way that was many probably would have handle it.

Ms. Neill (authors site) created a world where Vampire’s have pretty much come out of the closet in Chicago. Where they have chosen stop hiding from humans, and try to work into society.
But even they have their laws, which must be abided. A lesson that Merit much learn. By reading the “Canon of the North American Houses, Desk Reference,” Merit is able to get the general idea of other supernatural, and the laws of the Vampires. Even though she does screw up a few times, here & there … but who doesn’t?

Merit isn’t going through this alone. She has her friends & her grandfather (who is more than expected). Mallory is discovered to be a sorceress. Catch is one as well, but he is also her combat trainer. Jeff, who is love sick over all females, is a great friend. Luc, he’s the head of the guards. Ethan is the Master of the Cadogan House plus a bit of a “tight ass.” Lindsey, guard but good friend. Amber is one of those you really won’t trust turning your back on type of individuals. Malik is 2nd in command over the house.

If you like series or paranormal/supernatural, this is a definite book to read. I can’t wait to get started on book two.

LiveJournal Tags: Merit,Cadogan House,Chloe Neill,Luc,Cadogan Guards,Sential,Ethan,Jeff,Catch,Mallory,Canon of North American Houses Desk Reference,Lindsey,Amber,Malik,paranormal,supernatural

The Asylum Interviews: Bronx ~ Jocelynn Drake

Short & sweet. Just the basic about how Gage & Bronx go to know each other. Alcohol, tat, potion & lots of effort to put a stop to a incubus problem.

What happens when a human & an incubus try to keep an exclusive relationship? Having a night out with your friend, who you drug, and then decide to get a tat that will “increase” your lovers touch. Hoping it will stop you from starving to death.

And that is where it all goes wrong. Potions can be tricky things, but more so when you put them on any supernatural.

I loved this book. I though it was amazing how Gage & Bronx actually met. But you could tell they were gonna be great friends.

Angel’s Ink ~ Jocelynn Drake

Love when the story draws you in. That lets you know you have found a great read. I love the entire tale, from start to finish. Warlocks/Witches, elves, trolls, vamps, shifters & normal humans wrapped up in a world recovering from the 'Great War.'
But like in any world, you are bound to find the arses that screw everything up. You always need some decent individuals to balance it out. Ms. Drake has created some great characters, negative & positive, to keep you reading & wanting to know more about them.

Gage is a “student-in-training” warlock, who left the Ivory Towers. He refused to be a murder like many of the Warlocks & Witches. The deal with the Council is that he can only use Defensive Magic. (Not an easy thing when he can feel the magic pretty much calling him.)
In walks a lady, who is dying of cancer & was referred to Asylum Ink. Well, she was specifically told to get Gage to do the tat she wanted. Simple tat, Angel Wings covering her entire back. Setting up an appointment for later, she leaves. Gage wants to help her out, so he looks at the supplies he has in his basement. He choose a Lily & Angel Feather … not really a smart thing to do, since NO ONE knows exactly what the feather will do.

Gage completes the tat with the potion. His next unlikely visitor is a Grim Reaper. One who is a little annoyed that he cannot collect the soul, because Gage made the woman immortal. No one on this world is immortal, all can die.

To fix this mess, he hunts down his mentor, the one who taught him all about tat’s & potions. He is attacked by his old Warlock teacher, after discovering his mentors shop has been closed for ages. Barely surviving, he transports himself back to Asylum Ink. From there he uses some magic, the type he’s not suppose to use, to locate his old mentor.

From that point, things go down hill. With a few positives. Gage is forced to correct the tat or loose his own soul. His old Warlock teacher is out for ending Gage’s life, and using anything or anyone he can to complete this “task.” Trixie & Bronx are doing what they can to help Gage, but it’s not all too easy. Especially when you are a warlock in hiding.

Well, thinks that’s all I am gonna provide for this review. I don’t like giving much of the story, I feel it destroys the read.