Book #131 - Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4)

Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4), Chloe Neill
urban fantasy
350 pages
Started 11/27/12
Finished 11/29/12
5 STARS

Seriously? I mean, SERIOUSLY?? By the end of Hard Bitten, Ms. Neill had left me a spineless puddle of goo. My brain was scrambled. Still is, actually.

For Merit, it's pretty much SSDD - some unknown group out there is trying to wreak havoc on the city of Chicago and blame the vampires for it along the way. She and Ethan are enlisted by the mayor to find out what's going on and put a stop to it. Meanwhile, Ethan's boss is in the house breathing down his neck. Which doesn't make Merit's job any easier. Especially since she and Ethan are still trying to wade through the weird relationship waters.

I just don't even know what to say about Hard Bitten. It was an incredible book. Merit was amazing as usual. Ethan was broody as usual. His wooing of her was so sweet. I loved seeing that part of him. The regret and the sadness - it was a nice change.

I really can't say anything more than that. The ending - well, it was unexpected and... unexpected. Although I loved this book, as I have all the others in the series, I'm just not sure where it will go after this one. I haven't started book #5 because I'm afraid the magic will be gone. Stay tuned to find out.

Book #130 - Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1), Jamie McGuire
contemporary romance, new adult
437 pages
Started 11/25/12
Finished 11/26/12
4 STARS

Talk about a roller coaster. Beautiful Disaster was a lot to take on. It was, at times, romantic and sweet, and at other times, scary and bitter. Like I said - roller coaster.

Abby Abernathy escapes to college to get away from her troubled family and past. It's there that she meets Travis Maddox, a tatted up student who likes to fight and has a bad attitude. And, it turns out that Abby and Travis bring out the best - and the worst - in each other. Whether that's a good enough basis for a loving, stable relationship is anyone's guess.

I liked a lot of this book. I was also disturbed by a lot of this book. I was delighted and upset. It was funny and sad. I can't make up my mind exactly what I think. I do know I'm mostly in the positive column on this one. Travis is so complex and interesting. I enjoyed trying to figure him out. What were his motives? Does he really care about Abby or is she just another conquest for him?

And, what was Abby's secretive past about? Could she really stick it out with Travis and see through all the layers of bullcrap?

There were many times when I questioned Travis' sanity. He really seemed mentally unstable and, given his penchant for violence, I was concerned that it was going to go in that direction in his relationship with Abby. Even when things were "good," Travis was seriously co-dependent and controlling. And, Abby seemed largely ok with that, which was equally disturbing.

But, on the other hand, when it was good, it was G-O-O-D.

I am really, really looking forward to Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2). It's the same story from Travis' POV. I'm really looking forward to getting inside this dude's head.  

Book #129 - Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3)

Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
293 pages
Started 11/21/12
Finished 11/24/12
4 STARS

One of my biggest pet peeves in book series happened in Fair Game. It was a bummer, too, because I do really love Patricia Briggs and her werewolf series.

Charles is having a rough time of it, being Bran's master enforcer of the law. To give him a break, Anna and Charles are sent to Boston on a mission. They are asked to work with the FBI to find a serial killer and dispose of him or her. Anna gladly takes the assignment hoping that, if Charles has the opportunity to do away with an honest to goodness bad guy, that it might bring him back from his demons.

So, back to my irritation. Fair Game picks up a few YEARS after the conclusion of the last book. Anna is a very different person. Over the years she has strengthened and come into her own. And, I totally feel gyped. We spent two books seeing Anna and Charles get to know each other and lean on each other, and all of a sudden, everything is different. We, as readers, missed so much of their lives. It's all summed up in a few paragraphs. Not cool.

Other than that, it's a great story. For once, Charles is the one conflicted and Anna is the glue holding them together. The mystery, as always, was really good, as was the cast of supporting characters. And, the ending was a little ca-razy! I think the impacts of the ending will be felt in the last Mercy Thompson book, due out in the spring of 2013. Makes me even more eager for it to be released.

I hope that this isn't something that I see happening in future A&O books or Mercy books. I like reading about these characters' lives as they happen, not a recap later. Take note, Ms. Briggs.