Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4) by Chloe Neill

It is really, really difficult for me to write a review of Hard Bitten without spoilers but I'm going to try my best. 

Vampires and shifters have been outed to the general public.  Now its time to deal with the repercussions.  To make matters worse, a drug used by vampires is circulating the vampire houses that lowers their inhibitions making them aggressive and dangerous.  Merit needs to calm the natives, find out where the vampire drugs are coming from and decided what to do about Ethan. 

Ethan is the Master of Merit's house.  Their relationship has run hot and cold from the beginning.  As far as Merit is concerned the last time Ethan broke her heart was the last time.  But Ethan is persistent and Merit's resolve is wavering. 

Hard Bitten was excellent.  There was a twist at the end I was not expecting.  I can't wait to read Drink Deep due out November 1st to find out what happens next.

Wendy Lyn Watson's A Parfait Murder

If there's one requirement I have for a cozy mystery...wait for it...it's that it is cozy!  When I read fiction, I usually want an escape from the real world.  I like to know that the protagonist, at the end of it all, will still be that humorous, likeable character and ultimately be just fine.  That being said, I respect an author's desire to have serious moments for their characters in order to allow them more growth in the course of a series.  Wendy Lyn Watson reminded me that this can be done in the right way (even in a cozy mystery) in her 3rd Mystery A La Mode series, A Parfait Murder.  Serving up ice cream and southern charm, Tallulah "Tally" Jones becomes embroiled in another murder mystery, starring her cousin Bree as prime suspect.  Tally faces some difficult and personal revelations throughout the book, but remains a class act character throughout.  In Tally, Watson created a character filled with wit, wisdom, and compassion.  This makes her one of my favorite leading ladies and someone to root for until the end!

Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires #10) by Rachel Caine

ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE??? A vampire run gym opens in Morganville and Shane can't wait to join for martial arts training.   But the more time Shane spends at the gym the weirder he acts.  When Clarie decides to go check things out she discovers that humans are pitted against vampires in mixed martial arts style fighting.  You would think with vampire strength humans would be no match but something isn't right.  Shane is unusually strong and very aggressive.  Is it roid-rage or something else?

Bite Club is not my favorite in the series.  While there is a lot of action and you get a better understanding of Shane it is still missing something.  This makes me sad because I don't think there are many books left in the series. 

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

I have to confess that I am not someone who jumps on the bandwagon of monster bestsellers.  I often find myself disappointed in some of those that get the most hype.  But, in some cases I am just plain wrong (don't get used to that statement).  A Discovery of Witches provided a unique and refreshing look into the world of witches and vampires.  Descended from a long line of powerful witches, Dr. Diana Bishop has rejected magic her whole life.  Instead, Dr. Bishop spent her life entrenched in academia, until one day her research uncovers a magical manuscript.  This discovery holds the potential to unlock answers that could completely disrupt the magical world.  Unfortunately for Bishop, every creature seems to realize what she has found and she finds herself unable to escape her magical identity any longer.  Luckily she seems to have a very powerful friend on her side by way of Matthew Clairmont.  The book is loaded with simple details that bring the story to life, right down to Clarimont's use of a classic Montblanc writing utensil.  Dr. Deborah Harkness did not just write another story about the supernatural; instead she created an intellectual powerhouse of a book.  A Discovery of Witches is historical, scientific, and fantastic.             

New Poll: Favorite TV Show Based on a Book Series

This weekend marks a very exciting occasion.  No, I do not think I will win the lottery or solve world peace.  My announcement is even bigger than that (insert eye roll here).  This weekend marks the start of Season Four of True Blood!  The show is based on the Sookie Stackhouse book series by Charlaine Harris.  This had me thinking, what is your favorite TV show that began as a book series?  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and take the poll to show us what you think.  Leave us a comment if your favorite is not on the list.

Broken (Women of the Otherworld #6) by Kelley Armstrong

Elena is going stir crazy. Why?  Her pack mates won't let her leave their sight.  Elena is the only known female werewolf and she is pregnant.  That can be dangerous in the supernatural world.

However, work must go on and she is needed to retrieve a letter that is believed to be written by Jack the Ripper.  The job seems easy and would provide a much needed distraction.  Who would have thought the letter contains a portal that releases zombies, cholera, typhus and possibly Jack the Ripper himself.  Anything that can go wrong does as the pack attempts to close the portal and set the city of Toronto right.

 Broken is not the best of the Women of the Otherworld series but still worth the read.    

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