The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1) by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin


Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.It can.She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.There is.She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.She's wrong.

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**Spoilers have been hidden in white. No need to fret. (just scroll over the white area to see spoiler text)**

I give The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 4/5 stars for being highly suspenseful and very humorous despite the dark overtone of the novel. 

If you read nothing else in my review, read this: I can honestly say, I predicted nothing that happened in this book. 

My feelings on The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: 

I need to start out by explaining that this was a very difficult review to write. It wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the novel, it was very entertaining. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is better read without any spoilers or hints to even what it is about. What makes this novel so enjoyable is because it is a mystery in which the reader takes on a ‘Sherlock Holmes’ role. From the first page to the last, I found myself caught up into a mystery I couldn’t solve myself. It was as if Mara and I were solving things together. This is refreshing  since a good majority of the books I read, the mystery is solved fast (and in my opinion, there is nothing more annoying than waiting for the heroine to catch up on your predications). 

I really felt the title, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, was truly fitting for this novel. The story is essentially about a girl who survived a catastrophic and living changing event and has now entered a self discovering journey. Mara has now found herself fighting to figure out who exactly ‘Mara Dyer’ was before the incident and what has become of her now. 

Mara Dyer: 

Mara Dyer began the novel as a fairly ordinary teenager who came from a good family, had an amazing best friend and a boyfriend of two months. She went to school, had B student grades and was a typical teenager by any one’s standards. However, all this changed the night Mara decided to sneak into an asylum with her friends and boyfriend. Now Mara Dyer has found herself caught in an internal battle to find her true self. Mara now contemplates questions like, “Who exactly is Mara Dyer?” and “Can the girl who survived that asylum really ever be the Mara Dyer she was before?” 

Noah Shaw: 

I was warned about Noah. 

I would be lying if it wasn’t a huge factor in me reading this book to begin with. 

My verdict: I agree. Noah is fairly sexy and rememberable. Noah has all the qualifications I look for in a hero: hot body, great sense of humor, makes caring and badass possible at once, and last but definitely not least sexy as hell. 

However, where as I agree with Noah’s hotness, I can’t agree with his other reputation: Better than Patch (via the Hush, Hush series). Though the two of them have many similarities (especially their motives to get the girl and that sexual humor), Noah, for me, was more of a Patch’s ‘little brother.’ 

My analogy: Patch is sex on wheels where as Noah would need to break out the training wheels. 

Recommend?: 

I would absolutely recommend this book. 


For the people who have read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Here is my reason behind only 4/5 stars: 

(spoiler) After such as amazing build-up to Mara not being mentally unstable (and on the verge of the lonely bin) and actually having paranormal powers, I was sadly disappointed that we never figure out what exactly she was. Since I’m left to wonder myself, I’m thinking all kinds of things such as: alien, mutant, angel, etc . . . (spoiler)

I originally posted this review March 11, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/287222632

Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout


The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

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**Spoilers have been hidden in white. No need to fret. (just scroll over the white area to see spoiler text)

Note: Before reading this novel, I was aware of the Vampire Academy similarities. I read and reviewed this book with as much fairness as possible. I chose to focus solely on the story and characters and remain completely unbiased. 


I have to give Half- Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout 3/5 stars. Having read Half-Blood and Vampire Academy , Half-Blood honestly felt more of the ‘poor man’s version’ of Vampire Academy. 

My feelings on Half-Blood and its prequel, Daimon : 

As I was conversing with one of my friends about Half-Blood , she informed me that it would be in my best interest to begin the series with the prequel (Daimon ). Seeing as how the prequels never mattered before in previous series, I didn’t understand why. From the first line of Half-Blood , the reader is immediately thrust into an epic fight that, for me as well as others, really doesn’t make sense until you read Daimon beforehand. 

My feelings on Half-Blood : 

I absolutely adored the prequel to this series, Daimon . Alex is one of those strong heroines who have a very sarcastic and brave side. If you’re looking for a Mary-Sue, this is not your book; Alex is the kind of girl who believes that ‘violence is the answer to every problem.’ 

Though I will absolutely praise Daimon to every person I meet, I cannot say the same for Half- Blood . My biggest problem with this novel is its EXTREME similarities to another novel called Vampire Academy . Having read as many books in this genre, there comes a time when some books will have the same ideas. However, never have I read two books that had this much in common. It honestly felt that the first 260 pages of Half- Blood was the EXACT replicate of Vampire Academy (even sharing some plot lines ofVampire Academy 4: Blood Promise ). Not only was the story the same but also all of the characters; the heroine, best friend, enemy, even the hero. 

(spoiler)
Alex= Rose
Aiden= Dimitri
Caleb= Mason
Seth= Lissa (The bond thing? Come on!)
Jackson= Aaron/Jesse
Lea= Mia
Deacon= Adrian (I will argue this to the extreme) 

(spoiler)
It got to the point where I was beginning to become bored with Half- Bloodbecause none of the plot points were surprising me since I had read them all before in Vampire Academy. 

I will add, because I want to at least spread some positivity, that even though this book shared MANY similarities with Vampire Academy , the last 20 pages or so really take the story in its own path. Since this is the case, I’m hoping the next book, Pure , brings this series in a whole new directions of its own. However, I have read Vampire Academy 2:Frostbite and I have no desire to see it redone in Pure . 

Recommend?: 

I can’t recommend Half-Blood . As I have stated before, Vampire Academyand Half-Blood have much in common. When it comes down to it, Vampire Academy is by far the superior story of these two.

I originally posted this review February 28, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/274682099

Daimon (Covenant, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout



For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty. 


According to her mother, that’s a good thing. 


But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill. 


The daimons have found her.

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I give Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout 5/5 stars for being so awesome. 

I really liked this short story. Alex is a very likable and extremely funny character. 

I must also add that Daimon gave me MAJOR Vampire Academy deja vu. Alex's world is basically Rose's world. I can even argue that though the two supernatural elements, between the two series, appear to be different, there basically the same concept. Since I adore Vampire Academy, I'm not sure what to make of all the similarities. Should I be happy to read another, perhaps, great series like Vampire Academy or hate on it for being so similar? I'm not quite sure yet what my verdict will be. 

Therefore, for now, I have to read and rate Daimon on how much I like it ONLY. I can say, Daimon was awesome (as I said before). Usually prequels can be read anytime during the series but for this one, I highly recommend reading it before Half- Blood . The end of this short story is the beginning of the first chapter of Half-Blood.

I originally posted this review February 27, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/284795076

Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom, #1) by Devon Monk

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk


Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy-tale, hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o, sparkles and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex, and drugs, gave as good as it got. 

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user - maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster - and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is. 

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune - and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic Offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic. 

Now Allie's out for the truth - and must call upon forces that will challenge everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine ... and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

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I give Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk 4/5 stars. 

The novel, Magic to the Bone, really took me by surprise as well as this review. I had previous planned to write a review every two novels, seeing as how there are around eight books in the series. However, I found myself dying to talk about this novel. 

Magic to the Bone: 

Magic to the Bone takes place in a world that has been deteriorating from over excessive magic use for the past three decades. The heroine, Allison (Allie) Beckstrom, is the daughter of one of the city’s most well known names in the magic industry: Daniel Beckstrom. Since Allie has such a powerful and influential father, life should be fairly easy for her. However, Allie, by no means has any interest in following in her father’s footsteps. Since this is the case, she often finds herself dealing with hard times: hence her recent issue with becoming the main suspect in a murder case. 

Allie Beckstrom: 

I originally began this series because of its similarities to the Kate Daniel’s series (Magic Bites). 


Similarities between Allie and Kate: 

1. They both live in a world dealing with the negative after effects of magic. 
2. Allie and Kate take on cases that are influenced by said destructive magic 
3. They each have their share of massive daddy issues 
4. They have attitudes that match their badass-ness 


Allie is the kind of heroine I love to read about. She is independent, strong, has a great personality and isn’t afraid to fight for what she believes in. Allie lives a hard life. Having split from her father, and his money, seven years ago, Allie now lives in the ‘bad part of town’ taking on hounding jobs to support herself financially. 

However, ‘hounding’ is no easy task. Not to spoil anything, I will only say that every time Allie goes on one of these hounding jobs, she has to deal with the after effects of the magic she is required to use. The consequences? Oh, just mind splitting headaches, temporary blindness/deafness, bruises that could cover your entire body, memory lost, and etc. Despite all of these negative attributes of her job, Allie still continues to do it because it makes her independent and allows her to help people others’ would choose to ignore. 

Zayvion Jones: 

Calmest hero I have ever read about. Seriously. Even in the heart of trouble and chaos, this guy continues to keep his Zen face on. 

I instantly liked Zayvion the minute he appeared in the novel. I do tend to have a weakness for the strong and silent type. 

I can’t really say much about Zayvion. He is a very private person who chooses to keep past and motives a secret. Since this is the case, it took a while for him to really start to let the heroine in and even when he did, I still feel there is more to this guy that meets the eye. He is a mystery; I have found myself desperate to crack. The good thing about this is that Allie finds herself on a mission to crack him too. 

I really liked Allie and Zayvion’s relationship progression in this novel. Though at times, I may have felt it was fast but I have come to realize it’s just there personalities. Allie and Zayvion are very mature people who know what they want in life and aren’t afraid to get it. There is no immature drama between these two. 

Recommend?: 

I would totally recommend Magic to the Bones . Since Allie’s world is very similar to Kate Daniel’s (Magic Bites), I feel those fans would enjoy this book as well. I know I did.

I originally posted this review March 16, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/271784100

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy, #2) by Jennifer Estep

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep 


I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

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I give Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep 4/5 stars because this novel is action packed and filled with all kinds of mystery that left me reading in anticipation for what would happen next. 

My feelings about Kiss of Frost : 

Gwen Frost has once again found herself the target of the infamous Reapers. After the events in book one, Touch of Frost, the Reapers have made it their main goal to kill Gwen by any means necessary. Since this is the case, Gwen, along side her group of friends, have decided it is in her best interest to be prepared for the battle with the Reapers that is sure to come. However, this is easier said then done since Gwen has no fighting skills what-so-ever. 

Logan: 

This guy has the makings of being a stellar love interest. Logan is strong, confident and dangerous as hell (having the ability to pick just about any item and use it in a lethal method.) 

Having said this, I still feel like Logan is a mystery. This could be because Logan is hardly in the books. Yes, he shows up every now and then but Gwen, as well as the reader, hardly ever get to hear him open up and talk. So far, Logan's position has been the hunky guy who trains and saves Gwen from time to time. However, from the end of Kiss of Frost, I pretty sure Logan will have a much more significant role on the next book, Dark Frost. It seems Logan is finally ready to allow Gwen into his life and I couldn't be happier. 

Recommend?: 

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone interested in the series. Kiss of Frost is a fantastic follow up novel and maybe just be the best yet. If you haven't started this series, do so now. :)

I originally posted this review March 5, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10421530-kiss-of-frost

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1) by Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep


My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy—a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. 

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

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(Typing this review up on my phone so I apologize if there are spelling errors. Auto-correct does what it wants.) 

I give Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep 5/5 stars for being highly amusing and winning my heart against the odds. 

My feelings before Touch of Frost : 

I approached this series with very little expectations. From the title I was already able to predict that Touch of Frost would be an academy book. The academy storyline is really overplayed in YA. I was expecting the same repetitive story lines I have seen before. 

The heroine and hero: 

The protagonist, Gwen Frost, is a bonafide comic nerd and professional 'miss nosy.' Gwen is a gypsy and with that identity, she is giving the gift of seeing into peoples deepest, darkest secrets. Aside from that, she is good  hearted and brave. In a school filled with warriors, Gwen stands out. She is terrible at all things athletic and shows no hope of becoming a fierce warrior like everyone else. Having said that, Gwen is by means a Mary-Sue character. She has a silent strength that really helps her succeed in this school. 

As for the hero in the book, all I can say is, there was not nearly enough scenes with him. Logan is a Spartan. What that means is that he is dangerous by default; having the ability to use any object to kill. Other than being the man-whore of the campus, I can't really say much about him as he is still a huge mystery. 

My feelings on the Touch of Frost : 

This novel totally blew me away. Touch of Frost starts off the usually 'academy way;' the protagonist is sent away to an academy to learn more about herself and how to control her powers. Once there, she must learn how to deal with everyday life on campus which consists of: mean girls, a sexy untouchable guy, and death. 

In mystery books, I'm usually able to point out the enemy immediately (tabs there is nothing more annoying then knowing who the enemy is when the protagonist doesn't). In Touch of Frost , it was as if I was putting the clues together along side Gwen. I felt we were both putting the clues together at the same time. Even when it came to the big reveal, I was just as in shock as Gwen. 

Recommend?: 

I would recommend this book to anymore. More specifically, people who have an interest in mythology.

I originally posted this review March 4, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/237470385

First Frost (Mythos Academy, #0.5) by Jennifer Estep

First Frost by Jennifer Estep

I am Gwen Frost, and I have a Gypsy gift.  It's called psychometry - that's a fancy way of saying that I see images in my head and get flashes of other people's memories off almost everything I touch, even guys. 

My gift makes me kind of nosy. Okay, okay, maybe a lot nosy--to the point of obsession sometimes. I want to know everything about everyone around me. But even I don't want to know the secrets my friend Paige is hiding or the terrible loss that will send me to a new school - Mythos Academy, where the teachers aren't preparing us for the SATs, but to battle Reapers of Chaos.  Now I have no friends and no idea how my gift fits in with all these warrior whiz kids.  The only thing I do know is that my life is never, ever going to be the same.  .  .

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I give First Frost by Jennifer Estep 4/5 stars for providing much needed background and more familiarity with the heroine before the first book in the series, Touch of Frost. 

This little short story is a great set-up the first book in the series, Touch of Frost. Though First Frost helped me connect more with the protagonist, I felt it was a bit dry in some areas. There were a lot of lengthy passages filled with details and barely any dialogue. The problem with too little dialogue and a lot of details is that it can become boring. 

Despite the little reservations I have about First Frost, I would still recommend the short story since it does provide more background of the heroines's family that come into play in beginning chapters of Touch of Frost.

I originally posted this review March 2, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/286520269

Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. 

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

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I give Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins 4.5/5 stars. I did decide to round up to 5/5 instead of 4/5 stars. Though I really enjoyed this book, I can’t help but feel something was missing.

**Spoilers have been hidden in white. No need to fret. (just scroll over the white area to see spoiler text)

Spoilers from the two previous books (Hex Hall and Demonglass)  **


Spell Bound: 

In Spell Bound, the new installment in the Hex Hall series, Sophie has returned, alongside her family and friends, to embark on a journey filled with fear, torture, destruction, and death to prevent the Casnoff sisters from progressing with their plans to wreak havoc on the world using the newly uncontrolled and destructive demons.

Having been a few months since I read the first two books in the Hex Hall series ( Hex Hall and Demonglass), I found it very easy to get right back into the world. Rachel Hawkins is very soon becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing is young, witty, and very refreshing. There were so many times that I found myself laughing uncontrollable throughout this entire book. One of the most important factors in any given book, aside from a good story, is good character development. I have to believe the characters are real. I can honestly say that, despite the paranormal element, these characters seem very real to me.


Sophie:

I love Sophie.

I wanted to add a favorite quote for her but I found I couldn’t just choose one. Sophie has the best dialogue by far in this novel. I could share all 22 favorite quotes of mine...but I feel it would ruin the book.

Sophie is the kind of heroine I look for in a novel; she’s independent, strong, has a good sense of humor, and a kind heart. I love that Sophie isn’t afraid to confront her fears for the sake fighting for something she believes in. I also credit Sophie for having such a wonderful personality; even in the threat of danger, she is never without a witty comment (that usually tends to get her in even more trouble.)

My only concern for Sophie (sorry spoiler)  I'm not on board with her being offered the position as the new Head Council. True, she showed true courage in the face of impending doom and saved her peers but Sophie is like 17 years old. As far as I'm concerned, a far cry away from this sort of responsibility. Though I do think Sophie would be a great leader one day, she needs time to grow up and mature. (I'm very glad Sophie sees my point as well). (spoiler)


Archer: 

“I was expecting something like, ‘Oh, Cross, love of my heart, fire of my loins, how I’ve longed—’” 

Archer is back and yes, he’s still as amazing as ever (hence the witty little quote I had to share). I don’t think Sophie ever though it would be possible to find a man that is her perfect match. From their witty humor to their brash bravery, Archer and Sophie are a two-of-a-kind. One of my favorite things about their relationship, it that oh so funny banter between them. Just because they’re in love doesn’t mean they can’t still enjoy the thrills of teasing one another. (spoiler) I’m truly happy these two got their happy ever after moment. After what they went through in the past three books, they deserved it. I wish them luck in the future. :) (spoiler)


Cal: 

I have nothing to say. 

I’m totally and unbelievably disappointed. 

Though, I am happy Cal was able to find happiness at the end, even though I’m still upset about how it all went down. 


Recommend?: 

Absolutely! 



A little bit of banter to end a nice review, I think:

“What happened to the promise of making out in castles?” I asked as Archer and I pulled back for a breather. I was leaning back against one of the shelves, my hands clutching Archer’s waist. Over his shoulder, there was a jar of eyeballs staring at me, and I nodded toward it. “Because, see, things like that? Kind of a mood killer.”
He glanced at the jar and then turned back to me, waggling his eyebrows. “Really? I find it has the opposite effect.”
Giggling, I elbowed him in the stomach and pushed myself off the shelf. “You’re sick.”
He smiled and ducked his head to kiss me again, but I skirted around him. “Come on, Cross, we came down here for a reason, and it wasn’t fooling around.”
Smirking, Archer folded his arms over his chest. “May not have been your reason, but—”
I cut him off. “No. Don’t distract me with your sexy talk. We need to search this place . . .
The smirk disappeared from Archer’s face, and he actually looked kind of sullen.
“Are you honestly that bummed about not hooking up right now?” I teased.

I originally posted this review March 18, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/231643275

Review for Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill

  

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker-and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.


Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her 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 her gratitude- and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood.

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Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill


Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge...


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Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill


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, Chicago's newest vampire. 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. 

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, 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.


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Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill


Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit--vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house--is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition-reducing drug is circulating through the community.

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I decided to read this series because someone mentioned that it was very similar to the Night Huntress series, which I absolutely adore.

Um, kinda...sorta.. maybe?


- Vampires? Check.
- Feisty heroine? Check.
- Humor? Check.
- Sexy yet dangerous hero? Check.
- Sexy vampire loving? Maybe check…let’s just say Ethan doesn’t bring the same heat into the bedroom as Bones. I’m not trying to bash Ethan or anything but Bones is VERY hard to compete with. Sorry Ethan.


Chicagoland Vampire is a very action packed series about a girl named Merit who is forced to become a vampire against her will. Along with her best friend Mallory, who ends up not being so normal herself, they both begin a crazy journey to figuring out where they fit in this new found world.


Typically, when I read a book, I tend to only focus on the main characters. With this series, I found myself, liking the background characters just as much. Merit and her friends are quite a quirky little bunch. Many times, I found myself laughing aloud at the conversations between them because they reminded so much of the things I have said to my friends. Despite the paranormal element, the characters were very realistic.


Even though this series is very much about the mystery of this new world Merit has found herself in, it also has some romance. Ethan is by far the most difficult, controlling, stubborn, condescending, and sexy hero I have read about. Literally, there were parts in this series I truly wished I could slap Ethan. Slap him and then run away that is because seriously the guy is strong...he’d like kill me or something. Merit is in by no means innocent in this scenario either. I wanted to slap her too. Nonetheless, they prove to me quite a team.


I really enjoyed this series but as a warning, book four (Hard Bitten) has quite the cliffy so be prepared. November 1 seems very far away.

I give the entire series 4.5/5 stars!




I originally posted this review in June, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/176784549

If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent

 If I Die by Rachel Vincent: 


The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies. 

But the next scream might be for Kaylee. 

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either. 

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I give If I Die by Rachel Vincent a 5/5 rating. 

This novel deserves to be read WITHOUT spoilers. Believe me, if there is ever a book you want to experience with every page, it is this one. 

As with every other one of Rachel Vincent’s novels, “IF I Die” is fast moving and quite the emotional rollercoaster. Straight from the beginning, Vincent is already setting up the drama. Not even one chapter in and the Kaylee has already dealt with death and learns she only has six days to live. How does Kaylee deal with her impending death? Oh, she involves herself in everyone else’s impending death. Unlike every other person who may desire to live life’s greatest experiences, such as: sky diving, rock climbing, and traveling to various other countries, Kaylee wants to spend her remaining days ridding the world of the sex-craved incubus now employed at her high school. Seems easy enough, right? Well, no. Not only does Kaylee have serious issues, with you know, future death, she also learns that her personal life isn’t so perfect either. 

Even though, I am unhappy with the ending and many events leading up to it, this book derives a 5 out 5 rating because it is just that awesome. 

I originally posted this review September 2011 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/184903954