Synopsis:

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.

Review:

Some Girls Bite is a great blend of suspense, action, emotion, and sci-fi. In the beginning humans have just found out about the existence of vampires, and to some level are informed about their society. The structure of the vampire world was a completely new take that really made the story more interesting to read. The house system reminded me of a sorority or fraternity, you have to take oaths to get in and once you're in the other members become your family. What really surprised me about the house system is that each house is run by a master "Liege", and he/she is the only one who is allowed to turn humans into vampires. The rest of the world was, ironically, realistic. For the exceptions of a few minor things, like the actual time that the vampires came out, the story sucked me in. I could see the world Neill was creating playing out in my head.

The characters in this book blew me away! I loved Merit she's an independent-stubborn- I won't take any crap from anyone-girl. Even though her world has been completely turned upside down she doesn't fall apart, she decides to deal with it...but on her terms. The only issue I had with Merit was that she had trouble letting go of the past, I understand that her life didn't go how she planned but I felt that after the initiation she was somewhat OK with it. An that she just kept bring up that this wasn't what she choose to make some sort of point in her book. As far as Ethan is concerned I'm a little conflicted. I kept altering between loving him and wanting to break a large object over his head. He seems incapable of loosening up, and I felt that he expected Merit to adjust to her new life with no problem. He didn't seem to show much sympathy to her situation, he mostly came off as arrogant and had a "holier than thou" attitude. The other characters of the book were just, if not more, as exciting to read about than the main characters.

My two favorite characters had to be Jeff and Morgan. Jeff was an adorable little horn-dog, he's the character that you can't help but smile when you see his name cross the page. Morgan, on the other hand, seems to be everything Ethan refuses to be. He's loyal, humble, and somewhat stable. My favorite part of the book was when he and Merit are facing off, it was so clever and perfectly played I couldn't help but laugh at how Morgan "diffused" the situation. Unfortunately, I think he's the character that is forever the friend and nothing more.

The story was told from Merit's point of view, which I surprisingly enjoyed. Normally I don't care for first person stories, I feel like I'm being jipped of the other characters point of views. But Neill more than made up for that with great dialogue: witty and sarcastic with a great balance of humor. There was nothing that was drawn out or felt unnecessary in Some Girls Bite, the author never veered away from the story. I love Neill's writing style and I can't wait for book two, Friday Night Bites.

Cover: 3.5

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4

Overall: 4.1

Saw this posted at the romantic scholar's blog. I thought it was a cute idea so I decided to do it as well. Anyone who's interested feel free to give it a try. :)

Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Describe Yourself: Dark Slayer
How do you feel: Dead Until Dark
Describe where you currently live: Hidden Currents
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Lair of the Lion
Your favorite form of transportation: Anchor and Storm
Your best friend is: In Over Her Head
You and your friends are: Companions of the Night
What's the weather like: Shiver
Favorite time of day: Burning Wild
What is life to you: Dark Curse
Your fear: Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress
What is the best advice you have to give: Some Girls Bite
Thought for the Day: Daddy by Surprise
How I would like to die: Murder Game
My soul's present condition: Rapture

Your Life Is a Book was created by: Words For Teens

Vamps in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

I'm currently reading the first book in this series, so I decided to look this one up as well. It sounds like it picks up where Some Girls Bite left off, I'm not usually one to stop reading halfway through the series (especially when the books are about the same character) so I can't wait to see what happens in book two!

Waiting on Wednesdays was created by: Breaking The Spine

Synopsis:

Kat Petroski has a weakness for swoo. That indescribable charm guys from the wilder side have. Not that falling for it has worked out for her, since she-s a twice-divorced mother of two. So she-s got an early-warning swoo alert. Then Jack Treadwell walks into her life.

Between his motorcycle and his adventure-seeking attitude, Jack has all the trappings she can-t resist and should. Still, is that the real Jack? Something tells her he may be more dentist than biker. But is he father material? Because swoo aside, Kat-s a mom first. And the man who wins her heart must first win over her boys.

Review:

This book started off interesting enough, I liked the characters and storyline. Yet I never felt the love between Jack and Kat, in fact up until the last two chapters of the book they continued to refer to each other as strangers. Neither one viewed the other as "the dream", living up to their expectations. I also had hoped that Kat's sons would have had a bigger role in the story, yet Jack can't stand children? Though the author did a wonderful job showing how much Kat loved her boys it seemed that she was continuously shipping them off to her friends houses.

I love reading stories where both the hero and heroine have shared a past life together, but I didn't like that I didn't know this was going to happen and the author did not announce it at all. I went from reading about how the heroine went to sleep to turning the page reading about a completely different character. It really confused me.

I liked that at the end of the book all the characters worked out all the issues that were holding them back. Jack surprised me the most, I honestly didn't see him coming around the way he did. I really felt that Kat let her ex's walk all over her for no reason, but was glad that at the end she finally stood up for herself. I think this book is for anyone who knows what it's like to grow up in a somewhat dysfunctional family.

Cover: 4

Plot: 3

Characters: 3

Writing: 3.5

Overall: 3.4

Christine Feehan is New York Times #1 bestselling author. She is most well known for her Carpathian novels, Dark Slayer is #20 in the series. I was so grateful for the interview!

RH: First of would you please give a summery of Dark Slayer?

A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer—a woman—who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived a century without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by the habit of the hunt and the custom of the feeding. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women.

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised—and captive—enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other. For as long as they dare to live.

RH: What inspired you to write the Dark series?
CF: The death of my oldest son. I always told him stories of the Carpathians and decided to write them, expanding the theme after his accident. I needed something to bring me back to life because I definitely felt as if I’d lost all the color in my world.

RH: The Carpathian world has expanded so much over the years, and so have the characters. Who, character wise, has touched you the most?
CF: Darius always has a special place in my heart. He was willing to give up everything for his lifemate, to give up what he was and grow old and die with her rather than risk her. Razvan and Ivory from Dark Slayer are my most beloved and magical to me with their courage and unswerving loyalty to one another.

RH: So far it has always been a female psychic who is lifemate to a male Carpathian, can your readers ever look forward to a reverse?
CF: Well it certainly can happen. A female could turn a psychic male, but she can’t bind him to her. Only the male can do that, so it would be interesting!

RH: As the Carpathian world becomes more complex, will you write more about the werewolves and shape shifters?
CH: I had planned to bring in werewolves from the beginning, in fact I almost started with werewolves, but the Carpathians became stronger in my mind. I have no idea if I’ll fully develop that storyline or not. I’ve written a lot of these books and keeping them fresh and exciting is a challenge.

RH: Do you already have the series planned out? Or do some of the turns it takes surprise you?
CF: The threads of the Carpathian culture and society are planned out, along with their troubles as a whole. The individual storylines are always a surprise—and a welcome one. I like the adventure of writing and following the twists and turns just as I would when reading a book.

RH: I've noticed that ever since Dark Celebration the Dark books have been released as hardbacks, is this a permanent change?
CF: Yes, the Dark books will be released in hardcover and the mass market will follow.

RH: About how long does it take you to complete a book? Is it difficult to focus on only writing one? Or do you work on several at once?
CF: I would never write more than one book at a time, but I do have other stories that try to push their way into my mind and I have to be totally disciplined and not allow that. I’ve been writing for many years now and have learned to make the pushy, strong characters wait their turn. I prefer four months to write a book, but have a three month schedule at this time which is tight for me.

RH: What do you consider the best writing atmosphere?
CF: My office, sitting in a recliner with my laptop and my four Maltese all sprawled out around me.

RH: What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment?
CF: Hands down, my children.

RH: What's a question you wish people would ask but never do?
CF: In all honesty, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. My favorite question is what I’m reading, because I love to read all kinds of books and like anyone else, love to share my favorite authors or stories with others. In this case, I’m reading C.L. Wilson’s Queen of Song and Souls which will be out in October.

Here's the link to my review of Dark Slayer: -Review