Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill

House Rules 

by Chloe Neill 

(Chicagoland Vampires #7) 

Published February 5th 2013 by NAL Penguin

Source: From Publisher for honest review

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of 27, 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

REVIEW

This is book 7 in a series, so don't be surprised if I talk about plots in earlier books. If you're not update on the series you may want to come back and read my review once you've read House Rules. 

 "I think Chloe Neill has finally brought the series back around to where I can be excited about it again." - The Book Nympho

#Audiobook Review: A Witch’s Handbook to Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses 

by Molly Harper

(Half Moon Hollow #2) 

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Source: Purchased at Audible.com

Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.

Complication One: Her grandfather was Mr. Wainwright and the artifacts are lost somewhere in what is now Jane Jameson's book shop.

Complication Two: her new neighbor, Jed Trudeau, who keeps turning up half naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn't need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially when he’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard—can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?

REVIEW:

They’re back…. The team of Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi never fails to entertain me. Between Harper’s witty writing and Ronconi’s spot on narration, A Witch’s Handbook to Kisses and Curses is full of flirty fun between an out-of-town witch, Nola Leary and a sexy handyman, Jed Trudeau.

Nola, moved to Ireland from Boston after the death of her father at a young age. So she has an interesting mix of accents (which Ronconi pulls it off beautifully). Nola’s Irish side of the family has been in a feud with Kerrigans (they’re not ice skaters) another witch family for centuries. Because of this feud Nola returns to the States to find 4 magical artifacts that her family was tasked with guarding from the other family. This brings her to Half Moon Hollow, Kentucky. For such a small town it has a rather large supernatural population. There are vampires and werewolves and now a witch. Who knows what other supes could be found in the hollow……

After Nola moves into a rental she meets her sexy and often without a shirt neighbor, Jed. He and a small crew is working on the house they both rent from none other than Dick Chaney (the vampire not the former vice president). One thing leaves to another and the budding friend/romance takes place. But don’t think this is a sweet romance; it’s a Molly Harper book after all. Harper loves putting her characters through some of the most funny and embarrassing situations. Case in point the two meet while Nola climbing Jed like a tree while running from some scary creature in her kitchen cabinets, wearing only her bath towel.

So in true Harper fashion there are funny one-liners about pop culture from the freaky sleeping stalker, Edward Cullen to Black Dagger Brotherhood references and even a tip of the hat to one of Harper’s other series, you know the one about werewolf romance set in Alaska. ;)

Also Jane Jameson series might be done but Jane fans will be delighted to know that her motley crew shows up quite a bit in this newest installment in the Half Moon Hollow series helping Nola in her quest to find the 4 magical items she came to the hollow for.

If you’re looking for a side splitting read/listen you NEED to check out Molly Harper. I highly recommend ALL of her books. Oh in case you are ordering this series could be read in order but I recommend you starting with the Jane Jameson series just so you will have a better understanding of the background on those characters since the pop up throughout this series.

Review: Blood Vine by Amber Belldene

Blood Vine 

by Amber Belldene

(Blood Vine #1)
Source: From author for honest review

In Blood Vine, bites are an inconvenient bliss, exiled vampires are wasting away, and the fate of their kind depends on the perfect PR campaign.

When public relations pro Zoey Porter arrives at an enchanting California winery, she discovers her sexy new client is the almost one-night stand she can’t forget. After her husband’s suicide, Zoey has vowed never to risk her heart again. But can she walk away from the intriguing winemaker a second time?

Driven from Croatia by his ancient foes, vampire Andre Maras has finally made a blood-like wine to cure his fellow refugees. Now he needs Zoey’s PR expertise to reach them. After his wife’s death, Andre has a vow of his own—never to risk another painful blood bond. And one taste of the tempting Zoey would bind him to her eternally.

His secrets stall her PR plans. Her jealousy is stoked by the blissed-out beauties leaving his bedroom. At every turn, he utterly fails to resist her. When she discovers he is a vampire, will she be lost to the golden-eyed Hunters, or lose herself to the emptiness in her heart, before she can help him save his kind?

Zoey Porter is PR executive who is sent to out to Northern California wine country to design a campaign for Andre Maras's new vineyard and new wine. She is young, professional, level headed, straight forward, but lonely, a bit lost and has been morning the death of her husband for the past few years. She had no desire for any permanent attachments, which is clear from the beginning since she is sleeping with her boss, Ethan - who she doesn't really seem to like...at least, that's the vibe I got from the opening scene. But, after working with Andre, she can't deny that there is something happening between them.

Andre Maras is an ancient vampire searching for his long lost people. He has created a wine that gives him and his family members strength, allowing them to feed less often and possibly curing their wasting disease. He wants to reach out to the underground vampire community by marketing his wine just right. He reaches out to the firm Zoey works for, which so happens to be owned by vampire hunters - Ethan and his brother. Ethan, who knows Andre is a vampire, purposely sends Zoey out to the vineyard, hoping to use her to gain inside information on Andre and his family, who plans to attack.

Blood Vine was an extremely interesting book. I enjoyed this twist on vampires. I liked the idea of the wine and Ms. Belldene's take on how vampires are created and live. The loves scenes were nice and steamy and the romance between the main characters developed well.

I gave this book 3 of 5 stars for a couple of reasons. Mainly, I just didn't identify with the heroine. I didn't like how she was emotionally unavailable. I understand, losing her husband was horrible, but she had been morning him for years and selecting to engage in meaningless sexual relationship. She had sworn off love, romance, and shied away from happiness or fear of getting hurt again. Now, I don't usually add spoilers to my reviews, but I have to say this: After she found out Andre is a vampire, she leaves him and calls Ethan and spills everything she learned about him. Ethan then confesses that he is a hunter and tells her he sent her there on purpose, then she goes to to Andre to warn him about Ethan...

Andre, on the other hand, I liked. Then again, I haven't come across a sexy vampire I don't like :) Kos and Bel, Andre's sons were also wonderful characters and hope each gets their own book. However, I do have to add, there were a lot of characters to keep track of.

Overall, this was a good book and solid beginning to a new series. I'm interested see what else Ms. Belldene has in store for her readers.

Review: Bound in Darkness by Cynthia Eden

Bound by Darkness

by Cynthia Eden

Bound #2
eBook, 193 pages

Hunter...

When it comes to killing vampires, werewolf Cade Thain is the best slayer in the Northwest. So when a witch hires him to take out a pureblood vamp, the assassin thinks it will be just business as usual. One less vicious vamp on the streets... one more undead parasite gone from the earth. Then he meets her.

Protector...

Allison Gray isn't the prey that Cade expects. Beautiful, innocent, she stirs a dark desire within him. Allison hasn't transformed fully into a vampire, not yet, and it's Cade's job to make sure that she never does. Allison thinks that he's at her side to keep her safe, but Cade is supposed to pick the right moment --and kill her.

Lover...

Killing Allison is soon the last thing that Cade plans. As she begins the transformation that will turn her into a vampire, her bloodlust and their desire merge in an explosion of need that neither can control. But Allison's enemies are closing in, and the coming battle will take Cade and Allison beyond life, beyond love... and into a deadly darkness that waits to claim them both. Bound in Darkness.

Cade, a werewolf and an assassin, is hired by a witch to kill a pureblood vampire. In this series werewolves and vampires are natural enemies, but Cade really hates vampires - with good reason. So, eliminating one more bloodsucker is just another day's work. Until he meets his mark.

Allison is on the run and searching for the one man she was told could help her. After finding Cade in a seedy bar, she is shocked to learn that her savior was to be her executioner and that she is the same as the creatures that are hunting her - yep, she is a pureblood vampire and doesn't know it.

This was a super fast read, the romance was sweet and hot while the plot was a little too thin for me. I did like how the characters developed, especially Cade. Ms. Eden has a talent for writing sexy, irresistible alpha males and strong, sassy female leads to create a wonderful balance.

Now, there are two reasons why I gave this book 4 stars and not 5. First, Bound in Darkness is the second within the Bound series and even though it can be read as a stand alone, there were some inconsistencies between the first book and this one. Second, I would have liked some more layers to the plot, it seemed a bit flat to me.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite.