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Review: Wild Things by Chloe Neill


Title:  Wild Things
Author:  Chloe Neill
Series:  Chicagoland Vampires, #9
Publisher:  NAL
Release Date:  February 4, 2013
Pages:  368
Rating:  

 

Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out.

 

You may not be successful. You have powerful enemies. And even if you were--I've already lost you once. I don't wan't to loose you again." His expression softened.

I have to admit the beginning of WILD THINGS didn't go too well for me, I was bored quickly and was waiting for it to pick up like these Chicagoland Vampire books always do. It did pick up, but I went back and forth between boredom and excitement. A very weird pattern. And by the end of this book, it seemed more like one of those filler books that needed to happen to explain what is in store for the future for Cadogan, Ethan, and Merit.

At the end of the previous book, Detective Jacobs comes to warn Ethan that the mayor wants his arrest for the death of that GP member he killed in self-defense and hints that he should stay with the Breckenridges, because he doubts the mayor will be able to touch him. And while they are there the shifters are attacked by harpies and begins another mystery the Merit gang have to solve.

Like I stated in my previous review for Biting Bad, I thought the arrest was ridiculous and in WILD THINGS I feel the same way, I felt like this storyline with the arrest and the harpies attack was just a filler for the book and it was a boring filler. The arrest claim was ridiculous because vampire laws do not pertain to humans. They have no reason to arrest him for killing a vampire in self-defense. Sorry, but I just didn't get that or buy into that, made no sense.

"You're certain?" "That you'll be the only man on my mind?" Especially with the image of him standing there seared into my memory. "Yes. I'm quite certain. Positive, you could say." He smiled a little.

I felt like the real plot was getting to the mysterious prophecy that Gabriel had. Gabe said that he saw someone who had eyes that were Ethan's, but were not Ethan's eyes. We finally get some answers to that prophecy in this book. And Oh.my.god. I don't know how I feel about it, it's pretty cool, but I'd like to hear all the deets from Gabe personally. And there is a big set up for what is in store Ethan and the future of Cadogan. And double Oh. my. freaking. god. I will only tell you it has something to do with Ethan and the GP. You'll just have to read it to find out the what.

But I really felt like this book was basically needed to be written to get to the above secrets I cannot tell you about right now. Gabe's prophecy and Ethan and the GP. And I am more than excited to find out more about both of them. I need the next book, Blood Games now, because I feel like shit is really about to go down in Chicagoland Vampires!



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TV Review: Bitten 1x03: Trespass


Oh, no! Two episodes too soon to tell! Just kidding. The first two episodes of Bitten I loved, but I didn't really like this third episode. It became a little too boring and not exciting enough. So, I was bored much through the episode, but next week will be better.



Elena & Clay are spot on people!


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We leave off with another victim of the mutt on the Danvers property and it's a kid! So the pack is more than ready to find this mutt. We have Elena and Clay going into town into every bar to try to find this mutt. And we do get some short and sweet Clay and Elena scenes. Clay being jealous that Elena has somebody back home. And I feel for you Clay! I would totally choose you over Phillip any day of the week! And also right before Elena goes into the bar Clay says Elena looks perfect.

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In this episode, Elena is still having her problems with being a werewolf. Sometimes I'm at that point where I want to smack her and tell her to get over it. It's like she thinks it just happened. It's been years. I know eventually she'll deal, but I want her to deal now! When she can't deal, she runs away from her problems. Exactly what she did in the end of the episode. I know that eventually that she will come to terms that she is a werewolf and what needs to be done and accept who she is, but I hope it comes soon.

No! I wasn't ready for his death yet!


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I think the best part of this episode was the mutt attack in the club. Starting with Elena threatening the mutt and him beginning to change in the club and the mutt in shifter form attacking everyone. It. was. awesome. unfortunately in this episode, a member of the pack dies. I know it was coming, but that doesn't make that easier to deal with. Pete died and it sucks, because it was such an awesome character. He made me smile a lot! It won't be the same in the pack without him.

Just stop! We have a Phillip storyline?


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Seriously? I have to admit, the Phillip stuff with Elena in the first episode was hot, but now that I have Clay in my life, it's like, no more Phillip! I just want more Clay! The Phillip scenes were alright, there were some that didn't really pertain to the story that I didn't get, like his business deal. But yea, I guess we get more Phillip screen time. And BTW, by-the-way, I DID NOT like Elena coming on and immediately jumping on him. UGH!

Clay, Take it off, baby! Take it off!


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Review: Broken Dove by Kristen Ashley


Title:  Broken Dove
Author:  Kristen Ashley
Series:  Fantasyland, #4
Publisher:  N/A
Release Date:  December 27, 2013
Pages:  kindle edition, 396
Rating:  

 

Far too young, Apollo Ulfr lost Ilsa, his wife, the love of his life and the mother of his two children. The grief of her loss does not settle in his soul, it solders to it. But when he discovers there is a parallel universe where his wife may have a twin, he feels there's hope and sets about bringing her to his world so he can have her back.

But Ilsa Ulfr of our world is married to the parallel universe's twin, Pol, who is not a good man. Not in any way. She's on the run from him and the last thing she wants is to be transported to a fantastical world and be forced to take his side as his wife, even if he is not Pol. And Apollo finds the broken, bitter Ilsa nothing like his beloved and he further wants nothing to do with her.

But darkness is looming and evil is amassing. Apollo must protect his land and keep his family safe, including the new Ilsa

I may attempt to cry. I'm just kidding, no really! I know that all Kristen Ashley's books don't work out for me. I guess it's just the luck of the draw. My issue's with BROKEN DOVE was that it was so incredibly boring and dull. And I have to add that the character connection was so not happening. There was no magic romance connection happening here. Zilch. Nada. None.

The beginning of this book started out wonderfully, but as soon as I got a third into it, it started dragging and I lost interest in a blink of an eye. I felt like nothing really happened. As far as the characters, I was not down with the way that Apollo decided to bring Ilsa back and then after a day or night, he completely abandoned her, because she is nothing like his Ilsa of his world. That really pissed me off. I can go on and on about how messed up that was, but I won't.

Oh, wait! And then his Second-in-Command shows an interest in Ilsa or Maddie as they call her, and suddenly Apollo decides to fight for her and make her his. Like Back off, she's mine. That only sent the message that, since another man showed interest in her he decides he needs to make her his. It was so jackass-like. Apollo did have his moments, but he has nothing on Dax Lahn and Prince Tor. Apollo didn't make me swoon with his utter romantic-ness in this book as much as the other two did in their books.

I do love Kristen Ashley and her books, but some of them just don't end up working out for me. I think some of the books that don't work out for me is because they drag on too much. Hopefully the next one ends up being better.



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TV Review: Bitten 1x02: Prodigal


The second episode of Bitten was a freaking home run. I can say that I am officially addicted. I am a fan! One of my most disappointed scenes of last week was that at Clay and Elena's reunion they didn't use the epic line from the book, they totally did it this week. Yes! Totally tricked us bookish fans! Bring on Episode 3! I'm going to get impatient having to wait til next week!



Elena & Clay are spot on people!


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We get more of the Elena and Clay interaction going on and I love it. Elena is still angry with Clay, those who read the book know why. Clay is totally stalking Elena, a very cute lovesick stalker though. We do get flashback scenes of Clay bringing Elena home to meet his family and sexy times from the past. One thing I am loving is I am seeing the connection between Clay and Elena. And Even though he is not who I pictured as Clay, he is quickly changing my mind. And you gotta love it when he takes his shirt off and shows off that naked butt.

I loved seeing everyone from the pack!


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It is such a great Family. I loved Elena's interactions with Nick. Elena and Jeremy scenes were great as well. I have to say, Loved Nick's ass kicking scene. Love that kid to death! He can be my cutie any day of the week! I liked Logan, Antonio & Peter. I liked hearing some of the back story about the wolves too! I Love the pack as whole. You got real friendships going on there and funny little stuff. They nailed that stuff right on. I can't wait until they dive more into the pack and these relationships!

Let's talk about Jeremy Danvers!


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="221"] Source: triciashelfer[/caption]

I have always loved him as a character and seeing more of him, I can say I really really like his character in this tv series. I can see him as the alpha and a father figure. I love his interactions with Elena and it does feel like the two of them have this father and daughter relationship going. When Jeremy and Elena reunite with each other, I loved that hug! They genuinely have that father and daughter like bond.
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Most Wanted Reads: The Will by Kristen Ashley


Most Wanted Reads is inspired by Waiting on Wednesday hosted/created by Breaking the Spine. I just wanted to personalize it a little bit for me.

 

Early in her life, Josephine Malone learned the hard way that there was only one person she could love and trust: her grandmother, Lydia Malone. Out of necessity, unconsciously and very successfully, Josephine donned a disguise to keep all others at bay. She led a globetrotting lifestyle on the fringes of the fashion and music elite, but she kept herself distant.

While Josephine was trotting the globe, retired boxer Jake Spear was living in the same small town as Lydia. There was nothing disguised about Jake. Including the fact he made a habit of making very bad decisions about who to give his love.

But for Josephine and Jake, there was one person who adored them. One person who knew how to lead them to happiness. And one person who was intent on doing it.

Even if she had to do it as her final wish on this earth.

 

I know absolutely nothing about this book. Only that it is by Kristen Ashley and that it is apart of a new series and that is good enough for me. I hope it blows me away like many others because this is a freaking Kristen Ashley book!



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TV Review: Bitten 1x01: Summons


I have read Bitten by Kelly Armstrong and when I found out this was getting a TV Show I was excited! I didn't get to watch it right away, but after watching the first episode, Summons, I think I may be hooked. First off, I am so happy HBO didn't get this series. I didn't want to face another disaster that was True Blood, with all the sex, sex, sex and phony scenes/acting. I am so glad that Syfy was the one that picked this masterpiece up. Thank god.



Did they cast they right actors?


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I am semi-happy with the casting. I mean, I haven't really seen enough episodes to really say if I am or not. Like other Book to Tv adaptions, I was immediately happy with Vampire Diaries. But with Bitten, almost no one looked how I pictured them. Laura Vandervoort as Elena Michaels? After seeing her, I can work with that. She was perfect. I know her from other TV Shows and I am a fan of her. I can't wait to see more of her portrayal of Elena. I think she has done a fantastic job for just one episode.

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Now Clay. I am 100% disappointed. He.is.not.hot. I just wish they picked a guy a little more good-looking, just a tad. But it all boils down to how he interacts with Elena and if I can feel that connection. But it was only one episode and I barely seen much of him, so, we'll see. Almost the same thing with Greg Bryk who plays Jeremy Danvers. I got enough of him where I'm convinced that he's definitely a great Jeremy. But I also pictured him looking different. But, I know that we don't always get who we picture while reading the book.

What worked and what didn't?


Things that I loved. I'm glad we still get a bit of nudity, I like a little bit of sexiness in my tv shows right off the bat. And the violence and blood part of the show was fantastic. Bravo! What I didn't dig so much was the actual wolf transformations or the wolves, I'm not a fan. No surprise, because on TV shows where they have werewolves, I haven't come across one where they did the whole wolf transforming justice.

Oh, and the fact that they totally screwed over Elena & Clay's reunion scene. The book line was epic. “Are you the welcoming committee? Or has Jeremy finally chained you up to the front gate where you belong?” They one they used was, "You’ll have to do better than that if we are tracking a mutt."
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Review: Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban


Title:  Cut & Run
Author:  Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux
Series:  Cut & Run, #1
Publisher:  Dreamspinner
Release Date:  September 1, 2008
Pages:  348
Rating:  

 

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

I wanted to read more M/M Romance books and CUT & RUN pops up everywhere, so of course I had to read it. I admit I had to drop it, because it was hell for me the first time. And I'm not a huge mystery/suspense/cop fan. So, I gave it another go. For my Second go at it, CUT & RUN turned out much better and I can appreciate some Ty and Zane!

“Ty Grady was a rude, insufferable, egotistical, stinking son of a bitch, and Zane was going to figure out how to tune him out. Otherwise, he just might give in to the pressure and kill the bastard, for the good of humanity.”

What I really did enjoy was Ty & Zane's relationship. They both hate each other completely at the beginning of this book. And are always insulting each other and giving each smart remarks. It.was.hilarious. I absolutely love these two. I really can't wait this relationship to develop more.

He turned to look at the door and narrowed his eyes. So, Rule Number One, apparently, was that he wasn’t allowed to crack a smile during foreplay. “Got it.”

What I didn't like was that it was heavy on the "mystery/suspense/cop" stuff to me, or it had seemed like it was. And I'm not a fan of that stuff. I think CUT & RUN was one of those first book syndrome books for me. I'm glad I gave this book a second chance and all because of the possibility of falling in love with an amazing m/m couple.



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Feature & Follow: My Blogger BFF


Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee’s View & Alison Can Read.

The goal is to increase blog followers and make friends. Basically how it works is you follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. So looking forward to making new blogging friends & following blogs!

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Guess what? I'm a feature this week!


I got to be the #FF Feature tonight! So excited! Read below to learn more about me!

When did you start blogging?


So, I started Book Blogging in November of 2010. I had a couple of Goodreads friends that were bloggers and they showed me the ropes and hooked me up with all the information I needed. I had lots of fun right off the bat!

What is your favorite part of book blogging?


I do love getting to read some of my favorite new books early, but then I go nuts waiting for the next one, because I read the previous one so early. What on earth was I thinking? But most of all, I absolutely love meeting new bloggers and readers, so I can gain more bookie friends!

What type of books do you mainly blog about?


When I first started blogging my main focus was on paranormal books. So that includes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance & Young Adult. But recently some friends got me to get into different genres, so I'm reading and reviewing Erotica, Contemporary, Historical Romance & M/M Romance. But my main genre I rave about on the blog are the paranormal books!

What is your favorite book(s)?


Oh, god. Too long a list. Haha! My all-time favorite series is the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. I'm a hardcore fan! I need more Fever books ASAP! Second all-time favorite is Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews. I love that series to death too! Those two series are my loves in the world. But I do love me some Colorado Mountain by Kristen Ashley, Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill, & Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost. Just to name a few. Obviously I have many more favorites.

What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?


I would say that going to bookish events. I have had a couple of book signings here and I didn't really ever think of going or got informed of any until I started blogging and I got to go and meet up with other bloggers too and meet some favorite authors! It was awesome! I hope to go to more of that this year.

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Q: Who is your blogger BFF? Tell us a little bit about him or her?


My blogger BFF has been absent for a while when it comes to blogging, but she is still my blogger BFF. The lovely Miss Vain from Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy. We were/are friends on Goodreads first and we talked constantly on there. And we both ended up blogging with great discussions going back and forth on each other's reviews and fun conversations on Twitter. I love this girlie to death and she will forever be my blogger BFF.

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Ways to follow me


Email: On the right sidebar at the top, you can follow by email.
RSS: I have an icon to follow through feedburner/feedly.
BlogLovin: You can add me through BlogLovin here
Add: You can add my blog yourself to the feed reader you are using.
Linky: And I have Linky Followers too!

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