Cover Reveal: The Offering by Kimberly Derting

The Offering
by Kimberly Derting
♦ December 31, 2013 ♦

    

True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.

Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

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Review: Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

Title:  Biting Bad
Author:  Chloe Neill
Series:  Chicagoland Vampires, #8
Publisher:  NAL
Release Date:  August 6, 2013
Pages:  368
Rating:  

 

Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

 

BITING BAD was another good installment in the Chicagoland Vampires Series, but it did have that filler book vibe to me in a way, maybe I felt like the plot wasn't all that this time around, but I still enjoyed it like always. Merit and Ethan are planning to celebrate Valentine's day, but so much crap is going on again that they have to put it on pause, like riots all relating to vampires, and Merit and Ethan having to visit Merit's family for dinner.

With the plot this time with the riots, a couple of chapters in I had already figured out all of who was involved, so I didn't like that it ended up being that obvious only a short time into the book. Anyway, in BITING BAD we get to get to know the Grey House a little bit more. I have been a big fan of that House since we got introduced to Jonah and I wanted to know more about him and Grey House and I'm glad we got that. I loved learning a little bit more about the Vampire Master of Grey House, Scott as well!

We still have cute Merit and Ethan moments. GP drama, which I hope in the next couple of book that the GP nonsense ends, it's getting a little old that centuries old vampire acting like spoiled little brats. And I just really enjoyed all main and side characters a like. I especially love the Ethan. Gabriel. And the car bit. Men and their cars.

But I have a major rant here! Ethan battles a vampire that he ends up killing in battle and the CPD aka Humans come to arrest him?! Seriously?! You can't arrest a vampire! If the other guy killed Ethan he wouldn't be charged with anything, But seriously Humans! Vampire Rule is different and has nothing to do with humans! I'm just saying that was the dumbest ending ever. I'm disappointed in the ending. Other than the ridiculous excuse for a cliffhanger ending the rest was really good. Looking forward to see what transpires next.

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Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill

Title:  House Rules
Author:  Chloe Neill
Series:  Chicagoland Vampires, #7
Publisher:  NAL
Release Date:  February 5, 2013
Pages:  352
Rating:  

 

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of twenty-seven, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal—tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

 

He stepped forward to keep our bodies aligned, and took my chin in his hand. "I will have you. Body, mind, and soul. And I won't share you with anyone else.”

I loved HOUSE RULES and it was really good. Things are amazing with Merit and Ethan and god, that man makes me swoon. Ethan moved Merit into his apartments so they are moving forward step by step in their relationship. In this installment, we have a killer vampire on the loose, more bullshit from the GP and Lacey trying to make her way back into Ethan. Quite a lot of things occurred in this book and it all made it awesome!

Ethan and Merit and strong. Lacey makes her way into the picture again. In the last book she appeared in, she seemed like a mature and respected woman, but in HOUSE RULES can we put the term spoiled little brat out there. She was like this little bug that wouldn't go away. And honestly, I"m embarrased for her. And thank god, by the end Ethan stood up for the Merit and his relationship and kicked her out. Not to say I didn't have a disappointed in Ethan moment. I did.

“I looked at Jonah. “I’m still learning who you are. And you’re my partner, so I appreciate that you’re willing to take a punch for me.” I walked to Ethan and glared up at him. “But you know better than this, Ethan Sullivan.”

Merit is in the RG now with Jonah as her partner, we get a little thrown into that and see what it's like. And apparently all RG partners are like lovers and its awkward being the only one out when you are so in love with your Master Vampire. I truly believe if there was no Ethan. There would be a Jonah and Merit. I see the potential there for that relationship and I think it would have sparked like crazy. I enjoy Jonah and glad her is apart of this series and Merit's life.

Ethan and Merit have a little argument about her being a member of the RG. Yup. He finds out, Which leads into an argument about Lacey wanting him, which it totally impossible according to him. What dude, are you blind? And I guess Jonah got thrown into the mix too. Haha! I felt for Merit and I wanted to slap Ethan. I loved the argument, but it was a painful fight to witness. But the makeup made it worth it! I really enjoyed this book a lot. I am really looking forward to the next one!

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Cover Reveal: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

“Tahereh Mafi’s bold, inventive prose crackles with raw emotion. A thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love."

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew—about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam—was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

    

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