PATIENCE is a virtue....

This is it! Finally the wait is over for PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez! Over the weekend I received this message from Ms. Valdez via her Yahoo Groups Newsletter:

Dearest Readers,

I'm entirely thrilled to confirm that PATIENCE is being released on April 6, 2010!

Thank you all for your patience. Please be sure to read the dedication page of the book before you snuggle up to indulge in Patience and Matthew's romance.

My thanks to all of you,
Lisa

While Ms. Valdez hasn't updated her site, I did see on Amazon that you can pre-order the Kindle edition.

FINALLY!!!!!!!! After five years of waiting, it's time for Matthew's turn in the spotlight. Thank the Gods!!!


PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez

Releases April 6, 2010

A WOMAN CALLED PATIENCE. A DESIRE THAT WOULD PUT HER NAME—AND HER LOVE—TO THE TEST.

Known for her exceptional beauty, Patience Emmalina Dare has been pursued by admirers ever since coming of age. But suitor after suitor fails to inspire her love – or her desire. Certain she will never find a man who touches her deeply, she decides to forgo marriage in favor of pursuing her music. But just when Patience thinks she has her life well in hand, a passionate kiss with her enigmatic brother-in-law awakens a powerful need in her. How will she reconcile her desire for him and her desire for a life that's her own – and what will she do when he shows her a deep and hidden part of herself that she never knew existed?

When the secret of his illegitimate birth pushes Matthew Morgan Hawkmore from his place in society, the darkly handsome half-brother of the Earl of Langley plots his resurrection and his revenge. Betrayed and abandoned by the women he believed loved him, he swears to never again be controlled by love. But despite his vow, he is unable to resist the beautiful Patience, whose strength and self-reliance hide a need that he is perfectly suited to fulfill. Can he have her without loving her? What will he give up to keep her? And will her passionate surrender be the one thing that can stop him from making a tragic mistake that could destroy them both…

Read an Excerpt HERE!

Oh, and if you want to read a great review of PASSION and the interesting aspects of "deep penetration", click HERE!

Review: BEYOND THE RAIN by Jess Granger

Review: BEYOND THE RAIN by Jess Granger

In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…

Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?

Genre: Futuristic Romance - This is the publisher's label, however, I thought that the novel could have easily been classified as fantasy. While Earth and Her inhabitants are mentioned, the entire novel takes place on other planets making me feel it was more fantasy than futuristic. Plus, there really is only one character, who has a very brief appearance, that is human so again my opinion is fantasy but hey, I'm not the one in charge.

Cover Thoughts: I'm likin' the cover. The stripes along the cover model's back is portrayed exactly as the hero is described as having in the novel. However, the model's face is a bit boyish when compared to my mental picture of the hero but still nice to look at. In fact, Barbara and I are feuding over who we think this guy's celebrity twin is. I'm going for Matt Damon while Barbara thinks he looks like Leonardo DiCaprio.



Single Title/Series: BEYOND THE RAIN is a single title novel but there will be a follow-up novel featuring the heroine's brother.

Why I Read It: I can't remember what initially stirred my interest with BEYOND THE RAIN but I do recall that once I read the blurb and excerpt I was sold. "Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade" - I mean come on, what's not to like about that??

My Review:

After completeing and reviewing the dark and controversal - A MERMAID'S RANSOM, BEYOND THE RAIN was like a burst of crisp and refreshing air. The stark contrast between Dante and Soren, the hero of BTR, is shocking and I nearly forgot what makes a hero heroic.

For an indeterminate amount of years, Soren has suffered brutal enslavement at the hands of his captors, the barbaric Garulen. What was once a pure and life-giving biological trait of his people now has been tarnished and sullied into the conduit for a sickening drug trade. When he's rescued by the beautiful Azra warrior, Cyani, and her fox-like scout, Soren swears that he'll do everything in his power to keep his drug induced body from harming her despite the fact that her lushness has his hormones screaming for release. But when rescuing him prevents them both from making it to the transport ship and home, Soren and Cyani must find another way to escape the retched asteroid of Soren's enslavement. Death would be a salvation compared to the torture that most certainly will be inflicted upon a celibate Azralen warrior and a sexual narcotic producing Bryalen if caught since both are priceless on the human trafficking market.

After leading a lonely existence where touch, friendship and family are forbidden, Cyani's only friend has been her scout, Vicca. For five years she's been fighting for the Union and she's tired, tired of seeing death and bringing death. Freeing the prisoners from the Garulen is Cyani's last mission and she's more than ready to leave the world of war but she also despairs of the world that awaits her. Years of endless isolation, white marble and the cunning silence of the sisterhood on Azra will soon be home. But however desolate the future may seem, she must return for the Grand Sister promised that her twin brother, Cyn, would be raised above from the darkness below the canopy of Azra and killed if she doesn't. For her brother, Cyani will do whatever it takes to save him even if it means sacrificing her own life's happiness.

After releasing Soren from his painful bonds, Cyani is wary and very much on her guard. Next to nothing is known about the Byralen other than that their hormones produce a highly prized sexual narcotic and that their eyes can hypnotize. The males of their species are also highly aggressive when cornered and with Soren having recently been released from his torturous prison; Cyani is a little more than scared for her life in the face of his understandable rage. Unfortunately it will soon be Cyani's heart that she's in the most danger of losing.

In the midst of life-or-death circumstances, Soren is touching Cyani as no other being has ever done before. Learning painfully what it takes to be one of the Elite on Azra, Cyani recalls with brutal clarity that she must shun all touch, emotion and claim but no matter how often she voices her discomfort with Soren's closeness, he has an incredibly easy way of reaching out and charming her. It's not long before Soren wiggles his way quickly through to Cyani's shielded heart but she still manages to put up a stubborn fight much to Soren's chagrin.

Having lost so many years of his life, Soren knows that his chances of attracting a mate on his own planet are next to nil. Byra males create beautiful and elaborate gardens to catch a mate after years of cultivating their land both physically and magically. However, by this time, Soren's own land would be overrun by weeds and desolation. But beyond that, Soren also needs a mate fast in order to stop the deterioration of his body from the withdrawals of the hormone simulator that the Garulen pumped into him to extract the sexual narcotic. For years the Garulen have tricked his body into believing it was mated and now without the drugs, Soren can feel himself growing weaker by the hour. He sees his one chance at a peaceful life with a mate through Cyani. He knows that her tough warrior exterior shields a ripe heart that's practically bursting to love someone and it takes little for Soren to plan a seduction of his beautiful Union Captain for in the end, he has absolutely nothing to lose.

BEYOND THE RAIN is action-packed fun with a love story that is very much the core of this futuristic thrill ride. I specifically enjoyed the fact the fantasy elements weren't jarring but instead retained an easy and understandable flow, helping me as a reader to connect with the characters and their plight. However, I did feel that there were some elements in the story that left me with questions especially with regards to the character's appearance.

Cyani's colored hair, flowery tattoos and bluish skin were never explained nor were Soren's black stripes on his back. I suppose that the reader is just meant to accept these traits as their own specific planetary and civilization characteristics but I was still curious for something more definite. In addition, the Union and its mission nor why Cyani was fighting with them was ever explained. While the worldbuilding is subtle and gradual, allowing the author to focus more on the love between Soren and Cyani, I think this method might have allowed some gaps in the delivery of necessary information.

Soren was an amazing and patient hero. Both he and Cyani are incredibly self-sacrificing individuals and that's truly where their core dilemma arises. Soren is unwilling to tie Cyani to him as his mate without giving her a choice that could possibly mean his death. Conversely, Cyani is fighting for the life of her brother and the safety of her family by condemning herself willingly to a life of isolation and loneliness. Both must survive somehow while protecting the life of another.

I was a little disappointed that BTR wasn't as erotic as I was hoping for. It's possible that I'm becoming horribly desensitized but I was looking forward to some hot Bryalen lovin' from Soren and while there are moments that he delivers my reader demand, I just wanted something more explicit. Alright! So I'm a total hussy whore but what can I say? I wanted more.

B


Coming Soon:

BEYOND THE SHADOWS by Jess Granger

Releases May 4, 2010

A man of deception. A woman of justice. Can their fragile trust be strong enough to prevent a war?

Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.

Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.

Read an Excerpt HERE!

Review: A MERMAID'S RANSOM by Joey W. Hill

Review: A MERMAID'S RANSOM by Joey W. Hill

Daughters of Arianne Book Three

Available NOW!

A story of two lovers who could not be more different.

Daughter to an angel and a mermaid, Alexis has grown up in peaceful waters. So when her nightmares begin, the mer-angel has little idea what to make of them. In her dream is the loneliest man Alexis has ever met - and she's strangely drawn to him. Until the night her dream comes true.

Born of a vampire and a Dark One, Dante only knows brutality. And although he's the leader of the underworld, he longs to escape it. How better than to hold for ransom the Prime Legion Commander's daughter? But there's one thing Dante never planned on - the way Alexis steals his heart.

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Cover Thoughts: Stunning. Absolutely stunning. You can't see them very well in this image, but the male model has a pair of the most sensual lips. *shudders* And I love how the artist showed Alexis, the heroine, in her mer-angel form. This has to be one of the most beautiful book cover releases this year. I love it.

Single Title/Series: A MERMAID'S RANSOM is book three in Joey W. Hill's Daughters of Arianne series but can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

Why I Read It: I have literally been panting after this book since I first saw the cover. Plus, I'm beyond in love with the series and this next installment was a must have.

My Review:

A MERMAID'S RANSOM is not an easy read by any means but it is perhaps the lightest of the three series installments in Joey W. Hill's Daughters of Arianne Series. I don't mean that it's light in tone because that's certainly not the case, instead, the lightness I'm describing can be contributed entirely to the heroine, Alexis. She is perhaps the most human of all the series characters and her sarcastic wit isn't acerbic but funny and comforting and therefore she becomes a much needed breath of relief. Like a comical relief moment in a dark drama, Alexis provides a tension release moment where the reader can take a breath and process the dark and gruesome undertone of the novel. In addition, her tangible humanity makes her very easy to relate to and her all encompassing love reaches out to the reader and provides comfort for the rocky journey ahead with these two amazing but radically different characters. In short, Alexis provides a very necessary balance of light to what could have otherwise been a dark and horrifying read.

A rare being known as a mer-angel, Alexis inherited the angel and mermaid traits of her parents, Jonah and Anna, the hero and heroine of series installment one - A MERMAID'S KISS. You can see a beautiful reflection of Alexis's unique form on the novel's cover. In addition, like all the Daughters of Arianne that have come before her, Alexis has the ability to shift from her mer-angel form to human. And while her beauty is an inevitable draw, its Alexis's angelic aura and her undeniable essence of goodness that both draws and repels people making for a lonely existence. Lastly, she's been gifted and cursed with a strong empathic ability that requires learned and fortified filters to keep her from being completely bombarded by the emotions of others. If left unchecked or in moments of great stress, Alexis can be rendered nearly catatonic by the emotional pressure. However, this gift proves invaluable when it comes to the hero who would have otherwise never been given chance.

For sixty some odd years, Dante has been trapped in the gruesome landscape of the Dark One world. Known as a Dark Spawn, Dante's vampire mother was captured, tormented and raped repeatedly by Dark Ones. She conceived, birthed, and guided Dante as best she could, all the while being chained and abused until her mind, crippled from the abuse, gave out and she imparted the last of her soul's memory to Dante. Living his life in fear and as a scavenger, Dante was a repeated mark to torment by the Dark Ones. Beaten and sodomized within an inch of his life on a regular basis, Dante learned that in order to survive one had to do it by any means necessary. The Dark One world revolves around death and destruction where the weak is preyed upon and the strong become powerful through fear and violence. This was the environment that Dante was born in, matured in and eventually, through a will of iron - ruled.

After the epic Mountain Battle, Mina - Dark Spawn and heroine of A WITCH'S BEAUTY - destroyed the rifts that allowed the passage of Dark Ones to Earth and thus eternally closing the window that Dante had to the world he should have been born into. For twenty years he's maimed, killed and learned the magical skills to dominate and rule the Dark One world. Breathing solely to find a way to escape, Dante infiltrates Alexis's dreams and binds her to him with with his vampire nature. Pulling her through a blood-soaked dream portal, Dante captures Alexis with the plan to ransom her for his release from the Dark One world. However, he didn't plan on the impact the little mer-angel would have on a heart he never knew he possessed.

Dante is a highly unconventional hero. Hell, it can even be argued that he isn't a hero at all. He's a deep dark festering pit of rage and violence. A being of no morals and no idea of right verses wrong. There is only survival and it's key for the reader to be reminded time and again of the environment that he was born into for it has molded his soul almost exclusively with darkness. Alexis, the only being that can truly sense the state of Dante's emotions, is his only champion. Deep within him she glimpses a flame of light that has surprisingly been nourished and protected with little to no guidance. Alexis sees his potential and she also feels very strongly a deep-seeded bond that resonates within her own soul as well as Dante's. This light is the only thing that saves Dante not only from Alexis's powerful family but from reader rejection as well. Dante is not a good person and he proves this time and again but with the help of Alexis, the reader finds the desire to believe along with her that Dante can be good. That he has all the tools to better himself, he just needs a guide.

In all honesty, Dante will not be for everyone. His sociopathic tendencies and deadly quick temper could put a damper on reader enjoyment. In my opinion, Hill did an excellent job reminding the reader on a consistent basis that Dante's life has been unconventional to say the least. The reader can't necessarily expect him to know and understand morals and values that we take for granted while living in our modern and civilized society. It's also very evident that Dante's road to his soul's salvation is no where near complete by the end of the novel. While he knows that Alexis loves him, he can't say with all honesty that he loves her. He wants to love her very desperately but he hasn't yet come to fully understand the concept. He's never known love so how can he be able recognize it within his own heart?

This novel would never have worked without Alexis. She's a pure and loving soul and was probably a joy to write because she's so forthcoming. Her heart is worn boldly on her sleeve and she's incredibly strong in both mind and spirit. It's because of this that I fear that like Jonah, her father, I can't necessarily say that Dante deserved her but I'm happy he has her. He'd certainly be lost without her and more than likely dead. Thankfully that was a lesson that Dante did learn. He knows that Alexis deserves more and I truly think he'll strive his damnedest to provide for her exactly what she needs.

I'll admit that I grappled endlessly with my rating of this novel. Dante's evolution from a violent murderer and kidnapper to a being of workable restraint was amazing but his journey is no where near complete. The crimes that he has been called to pay for are horrendously steep and it's very possible that he'll never atone for the wrongs he's committed. Knowing all this, I couldn't shake the feeling that the Happily Ever After was bittersweet and more than a little heartbreaking. So much growth is still needed that I feel the ending was more of a beginning for Dante and Alexis with an outcome that may never be attained. However, after reading the end again I feel that there really can be no other way. That to change anything would have been a great disservice to all the progress made thus far and I've therefore come to respect and ultimately appreciate Hill's end decision.

A MERMAID'S RANSOM is a controversial read in more ways then one. Some will hate it and others will love it with few in between. With regards to my own personal experience, I happened to love it.

A-

Review: A WITCH'S BEAUTY by Joey W. Hill

Review: A WITCH'S BEAUTY by Joey W. Hill

Daughters of Arianne Book Two

Mina is Dark Spawn, half-mermaid, half Dark One. A sea witch who lives in the shadows, she is shunned by the merpeople. She seeks no friendships, however, no lasting relationships. Every day is about surviving, fighting the call of the dark blood within her, which demands she submit her ever-increasing powers to their cause. But Mina submits to no one. Until she meets David.

At thirty, David is one of the youngest angels in the Dark Legion, the angelic host dedicated to eliminating Dark Ones. Unlike many of his fellow angels who feel Mina’s death is inevitable, he believes her power can be used for good. When he entreats his commander to be assigned as her guardian against the Dark Ones, he also finds himself cast in the reluctant role of her executioner, if she turns to their cause.

The only problem is he is falling in love with the prickly sea witch. Which means he might risk the universe itself to turn her away from the darkness, and into his arms.

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Cover Thoughts: My hats off to the publisher and the artist for really taking the time to present the hero and heroine of A WITCH'S BEAUTY properly. While I don't find the male model very attractive, the look of his clothes and weapons ring very true with hero that's within the pages. While it would have been very hard to portray Mina, the heroine, in her exact likeness, I thought that they utilized what the could to perfection. Her black cloak and two black tentacles are all Mina. Very well done. In addition, the turbulence of the sea, weather and the emotion brought forth by the models conveys very nicely the tone and feel of the journey between the book's covers.

Single Title/Series: A WITCH'S BEAUTY is book two in Joey W. Hill's Daughters of Arianne series but it can also be very easily read as a stand alone novel.

Why I read It: Hello? It's Joey W. Hill. It'd be a crime not to read it! But all joking aside, I love this author and I truly can't miss an opportunity to read another one of her novels.

My Review:

A WITCH'S BEAUTY is a volatile and an emotionally dark rollercoaster of a read. The heroine, Mina, is an anti-heroine and an extremely dark character not only with regards to her nature but by genetics as well. The trials and tribulations she faces on a day-to-day basis would make the stark reality of most people's lives appear as a quiet picnic verses the raging chaos of Mina's hellish existence. Barely clinging to her sanity, Mina is pulled back and forth like the tides of a storm-tossed ocean between her mermaid half and her Dark One half. Light verses dark, with the constant need to maintain an exact balance between them both or an explosion of consequences will be the result.

The Dark Ones are an evil race of beings, a plague really that preys upon the humans of Earth. Since the dawn of our existence, the angles have guarded us from Dark One attack and are shown no quarter, just death. Mina, known as a Dark Spawn, is shunned alike by her fellow merpeople and the angels above with the stigma that all Dark Spawn eventually become like their Dark One sires after succumbing to their inherent evil. Unfortunately, after recently garnering the undivided attention of both the angels and the Dark Ones with her powerful sorceress abilities wielded in the epic Canyon Battle a few months previous, Mina is finding herself wrestling more and more with her Dark One half especially when a certain angel takes a personal interest in her.

One of the few human-born angels, David sees a woman within Mina verses the Dark Spawn that everyone else does. Currently, the seawitch's fate is very delicate causing the angels to believe that her safety from Dark Ones is paramount. Mina's magical abilities are like nothing ever seen and without knowing which side she'll ultimately fight for, the angels take a course of action to prevent her from making the wrong choice. David's request to be Mina's personal guard doesn't necessarily stem from gallantry but rather a deep seeded desire for her that can at times make him careless. Using his supremely dominant nature against Mina, he quickly dissolves her control but this in turn reveals that her Dark One half is much closer to the surface than any of his fellow angels could have ever imagined.

Mistaking Mina's darkness as a sickness rather than her blood and her undeniable nature, David attempts to eradicate what he assumes is a learned condition. He knows that she uses her darkness to shield herself from others around her and protect her inner self but what he doesn't understand is that the light he glimpses within her has a tenuous hold on her Dark One half and that balance is needed in order to not tip her soul into the evil that beckons her so strongly. With an iron will, Mina contains and controls her Dark One half but David's constant light and his attempts to demolish what is in fact her intrinsic nature nearly has catastrophic affects.

David of course has his own inner demons but unlike Mina, he's had the benefit of healing and acceptance from his angel brethren. Mina has never been offered any support by her people or her mother who abandoned her for death when Mina was nine. Someone to champion her is an unknown luxury and David's initial attempts to win Mina's trust is met with fierce resistance. If you've never experienced love or friendship then having it offered to you is something you'll resist because having it and then inevitably losing it (for life has taught Mina time and again that happiness is never lasting) will surely make life go from unbearable to intolerable. The whole concept of rather having love and loss than no love at all is not an experience Mina wishes to learn. Better to have no love at all. Fortunately David is persistent and he's determined to prove to Mina that there's nothing she can do, that no amount of her darkness can push him from his willingness to love her unconditionally.

I must admit that I dreaded the end of AWB not because I didn't want it to end but rather that I feared the hell that Joey W. Hill would inevitably wreak upon David and Mina. That may be why it took me so long to get through the novel for I feared the worst and the worst was definitely brought upon the seawitch and her angel lover. The foreshadowing was consistent not only with purpose but with darkness as well giving fair warning that the end would not be easy. That the lessons needed to be learned, by Mina especially, would not go down lightly. The proof David had to deliver to Mina that his love was unbreakable was beyond difficult to read and I did feel a measure of anger at Mina while understanding that there was a lot needed to break through the fortified walls of her highly guarded heart and soul. There was also the gratification that she felt incredible regret but I was surprised by what it took for her to finally open her eyes. In addition, her decision to remain away from David after the cataclysmic ending didn't help her cause in my opinion but she does eventually give up a hefty part of herself to save David when he most needed it and thus proving her capacity to love and that she deserved his love in return.

In my opinion, A WITCH'S BEAUTY was truly Mina's story with David, her hero, maintaining more of a supportive role although no less valuable. They both shoulder their own demons with the major exception being that David's range of acceptance far surpasses Mina's, whose evil is held closely and protectively to her heart. A dark anti-heroine isn't common in the romance genre and I found that it's not my favorite reading experience but I whole-heartily accept this type of heroine and admire her for her differences. I believe it's a mark of a talented author to showcase such humanity in a being that would have otherwise been rejected. Hill's love for Mina is very evident and she wasn't afraid to take her characters through the extreme to wrench open Mina's heart.

Mina is also highly unconventional in her appearance, something that I found to be both extremely daring and admirable. Again, it's a mark of Hill's talent that she was able to pull off Mina's appearance so effortlessly and in such a way that she's easily accepted by the reader. I don't wish to go into detail regarding Mina's appearance because for one I couldn't do her justice nor would I be able to convey the broad and over-reaching reasons for it. Mina's outward appearance is a direct mirror of her inner self and when the reader reaches the end of AWB, we see how Mina is able to come full circle with not only her outer beauty but her inner as well. Magical really.

A WITCH'S BEAUTY is very character driven. There are still Good vs. Evil concepts like its predecessor, A MERMAID'S KISS, but the concepts are condensed more specifically within Mina and David verses one race against another and the need to choose a side. Again, it is a testament of talent and I willingly give any author abundant respect for trying to tackle so bravely such a difficult, and at times, unclear and elusive concept.

This series is truly amazing and if it wasn't for my own personal hang-ups with Mina being an anti-heroine, I would have easily given this book an A.

B+

Coming Soon:

VAMPIRE MISTRESS by Joey W. Hill

The Vampire Queen Series Book Five

Releases May 2010

Gideon Green is a hardcore vampire hunter. But in the past year, his only family, his little brother, became a vampire queen’s servant – and then a vampire himself, giving Gideon a different view of the vampire world. Since Gideon’s sole purpose for over a decade has been killing vampires, the violence that has scarred his soul now haunts his conscience.

Then he crosses paths with a sexy BDSM night club owner, Mistress Anwyn. Their connection is immediate and intense, but she has a silent partner--the vampire Daegan Rei. When Anwyn is viciously attacked and turned by a rogue vampire, Gideon and Daegan join to protect her through a dangerous transition. As the bonds between the three of them draw tighter, Gideon faces an unbelievable truth...that the path to meaning in his life may be found in surrendering to the desires and needs of two vampires.

Review: SOME GIRLS BITE by Chloe Neill

Review: SOME GIRLS BITE by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires: Book One

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world-and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker... and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four hundred year old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude-and servitude. Right...

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood...

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Thoughts: The cover is spot on with the heroine's physical looks, facial expression and clothing. In addition, the Gothic mansion behind her is also how I pictured Cadogan House so I, of course, love this cover. It was a reference that I could turn to time and again and it really solidified Merit, the heroine, in my mind's eye. Oh, and in case you're interested, this cover was designed by Tony Mauro. Click HERE to check out his portfolio. Nalini Singh also interviewed him HERE.

Singel Title/Series: SOME GIRLS BITE is book one in Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series and I'd strongly suggest that you read them in order.

Why I read it: I was offered a review copy by Chloe Neill.

My Review:

After seeing plenty of positive reviews around the Blogsphere, I pounced on the opportunity to finally get my hands on the series everyone was talking about when Chloe Neill contacted me for a review. When the time came for me to read SGB, I sat down with the book and literally didn't - couldn't - let it go. Immediately I was swept on a non-stop, action-packed ride with an ending that left me absolutely begging for more.

Merit, our reluctant and newly turned vampire heroine, was human just three days ago. Happily immersed in her graduate work in English literature, the last thing she ever wanted to be was immortal but when she's brutally attacked, her rescuers were apparently left with no choice but to turn her without her consent (something not usually done). Thus Merit awakens to find that her life has been totally altered and she's a little more than pissed about it.

Eight months ago, vampires revealed their existence to the human population. After the rioting, humans - along with their fear - have since developed a perverse curiosity with all things vampire. Merit, having mocked society's macabre fascination with the immortals, finds herself forced into their ranks despite the obvious fact that without their intervention she'd be dead. Merit is now determined to make the road to her submission as rough as possible starting with a challenge for Ethan Sullivan, Master of Cadogan House.

Challenging a four hundred year old master vampire for release from Cadogan House probably isn't the smartest course for a newly turned vampire even if it was against Merit's will. Immediately she incurs the wrath of the House from her flagrant disobedience but she also discovers something of incredible value within herself. Merit is strong, fast and amazingly agile for the newly turned. Even Ethan is surprised by Merit's strength.

Ethan Sullivan remained an enigma, but a very sexy enigma, from beginning to end. He's gorgeous of course but also kind of a pretty boy in that the man has probably never worn an outfit with wrinkles in his long life. He's also a politician which means he cannot be trusted and he proves that pretty much time and again throughout SGB. But there's just one giant problem, Merit and Ethan share a primitive and primal hunger for one another. This desire is frustrating for both for it poses a precarious situation. In Merit's mind, it's bad enough that Cadogan House demands her submission and servitude to its master, who is Ethan, but to have added feelings for its master chafes hard. For Ethan, it's like falling for the lowest of the low. Merit is newly turned, a child to his four hundred years but despite their uncomfortableness with their mutual desire for one another, they can't avoid or deny it making for great sexual tension.

Chloe Neill does a great job reinventing the vampire myth with an added aristocratic flair. The vampires of Neill's world are more human than most by retaining the need and ability to eat human food but they still have the ever present weakness with regards to sunlight and the necessity of drinking blood. Theirs is a strict hierarchy reminiscent of the feudal system. This system poses great stricture on a woman who's vastly independent lending tons of tension to Merit's journey. But Neill's world isn't limited to vampires as Merit soon discovers. There are shifters, water nymphs, magic users and more. I found that while discovering this with Merit, that there was a bit of drastic infoormation dumping that left my mind spinning a bit.

There are still many secrets not only with the world but Merit as well that were left uncovered. Merit's choice of name is very interesting in that it's her last name and her first is never spoken nor is her reason for not using it though I imagine the reasoning to be highly important and revealing. These very secrets have me clamoring for more in hopes of learning them and thus making me love and admire this aspect of Neill's writing.

The first person narrative is flowing and consistent making Merit's journey very easy to connect with. I did perceive Merit as being a bit egotistical but this trait became a necessity not only for her developing confidence but also with her eventual high placement within Cadogan's ranks.

I really only had one major issue with SOME GIRLS BITE and that's with the fact that everyone, I mean everyone, is breathtakingly beautiful. It made what could have been a believable alternate reality become, at times, an irritating fantasy. I'm not a big fan of everyone being supremely attractive and I found myself cringing with each new character introduction as Merit describes their inevitable captivating beauty. There's also a lot of brand name dropping that I could do without. I really don't understand how people know what brand you're wearing unless is printed somewhere obvious otherwise I guess Merit's just a fashion expert. It's possible given how little we know about her and her past.

I chose not to reveal much about Merit's jouney in this review. Each new chapter uncovered a mystery that's best left to each reader's personal exploration. Trust me, this book will leave you aching for more.

B+

Next in the Series:

FRIDAY NIGHT BITES by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires: Book Two

Available NOW!

Vamps in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

Coming Soon:

TWICE BITTEN by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires: Book Three

Releases July 6, 2010

Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.