| Title | : | Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451230647 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451230645 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 355 |
| Publication | : | First published July 1, 2010 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Paranormal Fantasy (2010) |
Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.
Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, #3) Reviews
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Another amazing book in the Chicago Vampire’s series. It’s chalk full of action and excitement. The characters are so diverse, multidimensional, all with their own distinct personalities, full of life.
I really recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal books. I am enjoying this series so much. It got my attention from book one and I’m still enjoying it. Actually I’m not getting much else done lol, but I don’t mind, I just don’t want this series to end.
I don’t know why, but often for me when I read a really long series I can loose interest. Even when it’s really good. I don’t understand why. However this series is quite long, yet I can’t get enough of it. I’m so thankful for all the wonderful Authors who write and share their beautiful gift with us. For me it’s my go to for unwinding, destressing and sometimes just being able to loose myself in a good book. Thank you. -
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!
Dear Ethan Sullivan,
You don't really know me, but suffice it to say I have a standing interest in Merit's Happiness. Not only did you break my heart with your soft words of need, you then tore it out when you threw her away because you finally scored her. (and really, all that bullsh-oney, about duty and wanting to protect the house? Seriously? That's your angle? Pathetic!) You my liege, are a cold,pretentious,manipulative vampire. I'm not sure I can wholly support a liege who harms his house, his sentinel, the women he pines over; and trust me, we ALL know you pine over her. What you did was wrong, and I expect you--No, I demand you, grovel highly at her capable feet. {Although, be careful, I heard she has ballet toes.} That aside, the baseball thing was nice. But bringing the Ice Queen here the day after you dump Merit? Unacceptable my, lord. Unacceptable. You humiliated her in front of the ENTIRE house, I do hope you realize this. I hope she steers clear of you from now, until you learn a valuable lesson about Merit, and about women in general. You need to find your humanity, and your humility my liege.
Regards,
A House Vampire
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Girls, if you ever find yourself asking this question, "Should I sleep with my boss?" The answer is NOOOOOO!!!! Don't do it!! It is a very very bad idea. Even if you happen to get "lucky" enough that it works out, you will always be thought of as the office skank. You get a promotion? "She got to where she is on her back." You break-up? Now, you have the awkwardness of working for your ex. You might as well quit. Just - don't do it! Men are like buses; if you miss one, another one will be along in 20 minutes.
my public service announcement for today.
So, I didn't like Merit as much in this book because she pissed me off to no end. She finally sleeps with Ethan. And, hey, he delivered some major mojo with this line:
"I am beginning to remember what it means to need things. Laughter. Companionship, Love." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. "And I need you, Merit."
I admit that those words are a little swoony, but still. He was not ready.
So, what happens? They sleep together, and almost immediately following that, he dumps her because he can't handle having feelings for her.
yes, and Ethan is the guest-of-honor at the party...
And then!!! And then! The Asshole invites his ex-girlfriend (whom Merit heard Ethan was in love with) over to visit him. In the house that he lives in with Merit! It wasn't even 24 hours later! And, he throws the ex a welcome party that he tells Merit that he expects her to attend. Not only that, but he expects Merit to continue training with him, helping him, and generally spending a lot of time with him.
oh look, Ethan, here's a gift for your Asshole Day party!
But, the thing that really bugged me the most was how Merit put up with all of that crap. He tells her that he's dumping her the day after they sleep together, and she allows him to continue having all of the benefits of her friendship and support? I don't think so, buddy! You screw a girl over like that - you need to pay. Big time! So, I found myself frustrated for over half the book as she was all polite and helpful to this guy who had done her wrong in such a big way. Ugh!
The storyline going on while all of this is happening is that Merit and Ethan are helping the shapeshifters pack leader by providing security at their conference. The leader is a married man who thinks it's okay to call Merit "kitten" for some reason. That's another thing. If my husband called a 20 something girl we just met "kitten" while I was pregnant with his child? I would slap him into next week. On what planet is that okay? It is demeaning to the wife AND the young woman!
So, basically, I spent this book like this:
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*Originally read 7/6/10 - 7/7/10*
I don't exactly know how to review this book. I have such a polarized reaction about it. I loved it, but it absolutely pissed me off. When I got to the end and saw that I'd be left hanging like that, I was absolutely infuriated! I think that if the 4th book was out right now, what happened in the book (and the ending) wouldn't have hit me quite as hard. But it's not out! I closed the book knowing that I'd have to wait a year to read the next one. Noooooooo!
In the beginning of this book Merit and Ethan are still dancing around each other. They seem to be having an easier time not getting on each others nerves, but you can still feel the tension. Merit and Mallory are still not back to best friends. Too much happened in the last book for them to bounce back easily. Ethan once again involves Merit in what she terms "shenanigans." This time they're going to be involved with the shifters.
I loved getting to know the shifters. We got to see a lot more of Jeff too. He's so fun. I love the friendship and banter he and Merit have going on. Gabriel, the Alpha was very interesting. I'm very curious about the remark he made to Merit about being close to family. The way shifters and magic are portrayed in this series is very interesting. I'm interested in seeing what the future holds for the shifters.
I liked the progression of Mallory and Merit's relationship. Because they came into the series as best friends we never got to see them build their relationship. I liked watching them try to make it work even though they both have changed so drastically.
Now, the part that pissed me off... It was Ethan and Merit's relationship progress. Everything seemed like it was going well, and then it got great! But then it went in reverse. I thought this would be the book where Ethan and Merit finally got together. I love their slow building tension, but I want them to be together too. I want some resolution!
I thought maybe things would be salvaged before the end, but it wasn't. It ended on a hopeful note, with a really sweet gesture from Ethan, but nothing was settled. I ended the book horrified that I would have to wait a whole year to see what happens!
Even thought I wasn't pleased with what happened to them, I still liked the fact that we got to know Ethan so much better. I could totally see his side of things, but I could see Merit's side too. The fact that he made that decision, even though Merit warned him of the consequences...I know that had to hurt. I really liked that she was so mature about it. She wasn't the one constantly trying to talk it to death. But I want her and Ethan to be together! How can you resist a man that touches you and tells you he is undone? Sexy, but so romantic too.
I loved the book, but I just want more. I think I'll be first in line next year when the next book is released. -
I'm glad Ethan was such a jerk. Merit is entirely too kick-ass for him. I hope Neill sets up a new love interest for her in the next story and Ethan is out of his mind with jealousy. Take that Darth Sullivan!
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3.5
I enjoyed the first book in the series so much I figured it would turn into a new favorite, but the second let me down a little. The third continues what the second did, worth reading but not worth overly praising.
Like many books, it started weaker and kept growing stronger, but took awhile to build up to an arresting point. Most of the things that plagued the second continue here, namely not enough tension in the plot. Once the story took off, we're gifted with a well-done ending, battle, and surprising betrayal.
Characters don't come across fully dimensional, and Merit is unrealistically gifted with too many talents and appeals. She doesn't have enough problems pushing against that. The thing with Ethan...well, it didn't do anything for me and just felt awkward, kind of thing that had to be there because the series was leading up to it.
On the plus side, finally she and Mal made up, love that girl.
There was a certain decision she was weighing for most of the book. How could she even have considered joining in the first place? I found that betraying and didn't sit well with me either, but she made the right choice, which helped save the book.
I enjoyed the shapeshifter convocation and events more than anything with the vampires. I have the fourth to read, and will see from that one if I'll bother continuing the series. -
Where would we be in a Chicagoland Vampires book without Merritt in some awesome clothes having to navigate crazy vamp/shifter politics while completely uncertain what’s really going on between her and Ethan? This one was extra fun because things Between that, going out to bars, and trouble with the shifters, who could ask for more?
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. -
Perfection! There's not much more I can say, just get a copy and read! Actually, get all three books, they really need to be read in order. :)
If anyone from marketing takes a look at goodreads...I want the original Merit back on the cover for book 4!!! -
Right up there with the Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson series for me so far. Maybe a smidge behind, as I tend to love the humor that comes with those. But Merit is one kick ass chick, and the other characters are winning me over. Ethan...not sure what to think about his wishy washy, uber powerful ass, but I'm definitely along for the ride.
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4.5 stars
This is definitely my favorite of the series so far!! I absolutely loved it - loved it, loved it, loved it! Cannot wait to read the next one, which is apparently drama-ridden and has created such chaos among readers. For anyone who hasn't started the series, while this is the best book so far, these are definitely not stand-alones and should be read in order.
{ Merit, Whom I For Once Did Not Want to Kill }
I was finally able to actually enjoy Merit, instead of constantly wishing someone would bash her over the head (was that just me?). She was still her "fun" and snarky self, but we actually got to see a human (no pun intended) side to her. What annoyed me in the first two books was that she came off as too sure of herself, too confident, too much of a know-it-all. I love strong heroines, but I need to be shown some vulnerability, otherwise their "strength" just ends up looking like pigheadedness. Here, we finally get that! We see Merit's uncertainty, doubt, and vulnerability - and I loved her all the more for it. The one thing that does continue to bug me is Merit is constantly harping on and admiring anew Ethan's unbelievable beauty when she sees him. I get he's hot, but it's overkill.
{ Ethan, Ethan, My Love - Call Me!! }
Photos of Alexander Skarsgård are at the end of this review. I always picture him as Ethan: break me off a piece of that! (Complete objectification of men and utterly horrible, I know - I'm officially ashamed)
The main attraction remains Ethan ... ::sigh:: Oh, Ethan. Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. Wherefore art thou, Ethan? Okay, so now an attempt at coherence and complete sentences: He's fabulous and becomes more so with every book. I was a fan of his from the beginning, but this was really a turning point for me ... and him and our nonexistent relationship because he's a fake character who does not really exist (trying to remind myself).
I'm new to PNR, so it's taken me awhile to acclimate, but with this series - and this book especially - I feel like something clicked. Ethan's behavior is not the a**hole behavior of the HR or CR jerk heroes whom we love despite ourselves. The guy has lived almost 400 years! After that, you've got to be exhausted. Of course people begin to seem insignificant; things are no longer measured in time or with urgency. Of course you're wary, cynical, and don't trust easily. Of course you're suspicious of others, of yourself, and of any and all emotions. And when all of this clicked for me, it made me see Ethan in a whole new light. He was no longer one of those a**hole heroes that I hated-to-love. Instead, he became, for lack of a better word and honestly no pun intended, human to me.
I completely understand his internal conflict regarding Merit and I think it's far more realistic than if he had pulled a Bones and was 1000% committed from the beginning (not to slam Bones, whom I adore). Also, not only does Ethan have the aforementioned issues / reservations, but he is responsible for 300 other vampires and it reflects very well on him that he worries about having his personal interests conflict with carrying out his responsibilities and duties. These same things also make it understandable that what he treasures in Merit is that she doesn't bow and acquiesce (far from it). She treats him as Ethan, the man, the individual, and he needs that.
While yes, all of this puts Merit - and him - through the ringer, I think it shows the unbelievable strength of feeling he has for her and makes the glimpses and snapshots (and hopefully soon ... I don't know - exhibitions? home videos? galleries? museums? not sure where to take this metaphor) of his love for her all the sweeter and more meaningful. Basically girls, he's just so dreamy! The sweet parts of this book were flutter-your-heart perfect and the fact that we get so little of this from Ethan, it made them that much more precious.
{ Other }
The book's main plot/mystery was engaging and well-done; like everything else, I thought it was the best out of the three books. I loved the returning secondary characters, as well as the new ones, and cannot wait to see what happens next.
{ Favorite Quotes }
Ethan is a dreamboat in this book, so there are a lot to choose from. The best ones are so sweet and wonderful that I know I would not have wanted to read them for the first time in a review; they are best enjoyed when read in context as you soak in the story, so I've put those in spoiler tags for people who have already read the book. I only left one visible - if you haven't read the book, don't read the others!He nodded, a blush [you read that right, Ethan actually blushed!!] creeping across his perfectly sculpted cheekbones. I gnawed the edge of my lip, the protectiveness in his eyes curling something deep in my abdomen. He didn't speak, but he nodded, as if admitting the emotion in his eyes.
(p. 91)
My Ethan is Alexander Skarsgård:
{ For the Enjoyment of my GR Friends, Because I'm Ridiculous }
I write long romance book reviews. I am very aware of this. I have a lot of trouble editing myself and being concise - especially when my feelings about a book are at either end of the spectrum. I've had a few attempts recently where I promised I was going to write short reviews, and ... yeah. No comment. I plead the 5th. So, what was originally the beginning of this review? You got it:So here it is ladies and gentleman: I will finally write a review that is barely a blip on the radar. It will be short - minuscule even! Famous last words. If this paragraph is still here and you're reading it, that means I amazingly (somehow!) succeeded.
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A. Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B. Bite me! ~sigh~
C. Catcher
D. Drama
E. ETHAN !!
F. fighting, fighting and more fighting
G. Gabriel
H. hurtful
I. IDIOT!!
J. Jeff :D
K. Katana
L. Love
M. Merit (& Mallory)
N. Nick
O. O-positive
P. Pizza
Q. Questioning
R. RG
S. SEX ~ finally!!
T. Trouble
U. Unity
V. Victory
W. Wishing
X. marks the spot!
Y. Young
Z. Zsnarky (ok i cheated!)
This book was soooo great. I CANNOT wait for the next one. There were too many funny things and sweet things and romantic things and emotional things. GREAT BOOK!! -
This is a review of books 1 - 3.
I don't really know why I read these books besides the fact that I really needed some fluff after some recent happenings - and I also wanted to explore the urban fantasy I so often make fun of. These books certainly fulfilled both needs. I'm not going to review these three books on my blog because, honestly, it's not worth it. While the characters are likable, the story is pathetically predictable. The characters fill every urban fantasy cliche in existence from the tough-as-nails protagonist to the vampire that is hotter-than-holy-hell and everything in between, topped with a nice dash of overly-prolonged sexual tension. I guess that sort of thing works though, as there are tons of urban fantasy fans out there.
One thing I will say is that you can skip every back-cover-blurb on any of these books and realize that this series isn't about vampires, humans and shifters but about eyebrows. I've never read a book full of more lifted and raised brows or skeptically quirked "perfectly sculpted" eyebrows. It got to the point where I was guessing how many time's I'd be honored to read about "eyebrows" on each page. While Neill does try to make this part of the plot, it's a pathetic attempt at best and does nothing to excuse this absolutely annoying eyebrow infatuation. I don't know if she has an eyebrow obsession in real life, or what, but please.... PLEASE choose another body part to write about. -
The author has developed a compelling paranormal world which quite an interesting theme, that of vampires that have been “outed” and how they try to live openly amongst the human race.
One of the things I found annoying in the first two books was Merit. I found her a bit immature and silly a lot of the times and I wondered if I would ever connect with her. Also the tension and slow build-up between her and Ethan drove me crazy……..in between all her flirting with this one or that one. I even began thinking that these two would never get it together.
So when I began Twice Bitten, the 3rd installment in the Chicagoland Vampires Series, my thinking was…..what next with Merit & Ethan??? Wow…chemistry between these two has never been hotter!!!! Sparks fly….check the training exercises between Merit & Ethan….sizzling and ever so sexy!!!
Well, progress at last!!!!
I have always liked Ethan Sullivan, sexy, mysterious and uber cool Master Vampire
and here we get to see another side to this gorgeous man..oops..Vampire!!!!“You undo me, Merit. Wholly and completely. You don’t take me at my word. You challenge me at every opportunity. And that means when I’m with you, I am less than the head of this House…and I am more than the head of this House. I am a man.” He stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. “In my very, very long life, I need you more than I have ever needed anything.”
And Merit…let’s just say that she’s become so much more interesting and fun and likeable!!!!
More romance….yeah!!! Great storyline – a look at the world of the shape shifters…who are still living in secret from the human race. Actions, twists and turns, and romance of course…more on my favorite characters and some new and interesting ones too.
Overall this was a much better book than the previous ones and I am really eager to continue with this series.
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Sorry, guys!
I'm too addicted to write a review for this right now!
Must... Read... The... Next... One... -
Arguably my favourite in the series for many reasons. Super happy fun naked times being one of them.
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⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Ah man*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Re-read: 30.01.2018
Love the ending. However, it seems like my love for this series has diminished. Maybe I have become too picky and annoying. I don't know, but what I do know is that I hate myself for no longer loving it. It's not bad though. BUT - yes a huge but - I somehow started picturing what this series could've been if Ethan was merely a love interest, but her soul-mate was Gabriel... Wouldn't that be something? God I'm going mad. I'm going to bed now.
The characters:
— Caroline ‘Merit’ ‘Mer’ ‘Kitten’ (Gabriel's nickname for her) Merit (becomes vampire at 27, but is 28 in years), Sentinel of the Cadogan House.
— Ethan ‘Liege’ ‘Darth Sullivan’ Sullivan (394, though became a vampire at 30), master of the Cadogan House.
—Mallory ‘Mal’ Delancey Carmichael (27), Merit's bestfriend and a fourth-class sorcerer, a master of the First Key; power.
— Charles ‘Chuck’ Merit, Merit's grandfather is the Ombudsman; a ‘liaison’ between the regulars and the sups.
— Chuck's team: his secretary, Marjorie (50) (though we haven't met her), the computer prodigy and a shape-shifter, Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Christopher (21), and a fourth-class sorcerer and a master of the Second Key; weapons, Catcher Bell (29). There's also a Housed vampire who works for him that not even his colleagues knows about.
— Joshua Merit, Merit's dad sucky dad.
— guard of the Cadogan House, Lindsey (115) and who is also a psychic, and a good friend to Merit.
— Lucas ‘Luc’, the Captain of the Cadogan House guards.
— Malik, Second, House Cadogan.
— Morgan Greer, now Master of Navarre House, (72, though looks 28) who's a love interest to Merit.
— Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Keene, Apex of the Central North American, Jeff's pack leader.
— Darius West, the head of the Greenwich Presidium, the Western European council (haven't met yet, though mentioned).
— Seth Tate (36), the mayor of Chicago.
— Scott Grey, Master of Grey House.
— Noah Beck, the leader of Chicago’s independent vampires and a Red Guard ‘RG’ (a vampire Secret Service, of sorts)
— Jonah, the Guard Captain, Grey House.“You undo me, Merit. Wholly and completely. You don't take me at my word. You challenge me at every opportunity. And that means when I'm with you, I am less than the head of this House...and I am more than the head of this House. I am a man.” He stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. “In my very, very long life, I need you more than I have ever needed anything.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance.
Series: - Series, Book Three.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Ethan ‘Liege’ ‘Darth Sullivan’ Sullivan.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Yes?
New Rating - 3.5 stars.
First read review:
Ethan. 'nough said.
4.5 stars! -
This is my first 5 stars rating for a vampire's book.
Guess you want to know why, right?
As I wrote before, Merit is such a likeable heroine that she created what I called a big sister effect on me : that's enough rare to be said, so, listen carefully : I totally and absolutely root for her. Her and only her.
✭ What does it mean? ✭
Basically, she can choose what she wants, I. Don't. Care.
Would she want to screw Ethan? I'm okay with that.
Would she want to forgive him? I'm okay with that.
Would she want to stand Sentinel and forget about her love? I'm okay with that.
Would she... Well, I guess you get the point, right?
What did she do to ensure a so complete support from me?
✔ She never ever complains about what she has to go through while seriously, she'd be in her right to do so.
✔ She is proud - in a good way, as an opposite of a let's kiss his ass way of acting - and her decisions are brave and - how can I say that - smart? Thoughtful? Devoid of any submission crap?
✔ Of course, of course, she's a total kick-ass and that moment she brought Ethan down? That was so good. Yes, I'm Evil, and I take full responsibility for it.
✔ Whatever happens in her oh so not calm vampire's life, she never loses her ability to throw snarky comments. Let's just say : I love that.
❝ Coming?"
Without waiting, I walked inside.
Now that, my friends, is what we vampires call a good exit. ❞
Okay, so let's get straight : That blond-haired vampire - yes, I need to point that again - played me throughout this book. To sum up : I adored him, then hated him, then loved him, then wanted to slap him, then wanted to hug him, then... Find it exhausting? You don't even know how tired I am right now.
*whisper* I think I am in a love/hate relationship here. Seriously.
Of course I was mad at him several times - like, really mad. I mean, hey, that man is infuriating. But you know what? In what Merit calls his moments, he's so adorable and breathtaking that...
Oh, well.
Guess I love him. For better or for worst.
❝ But that's not enough?"
"It's too much. You think I haven't thought about what it might be like to return to my rooms at the end of the night and find you there - to find you in my bed, to have your body and your laugh and your mind? To look across a room and know that you were mine - that I'd claimed you. Me. ❞
Do you know why I love this series so much? Because Chloe Neill succeeds perfectly in offering us a plot which is never boring, from the sexual tension between Ethan and Merit to the unexpected twists and betrayals, via the delicious and funny interactions between the characters - and I must say, I'm not able to find one character who didn't capture my interest. No. One. I made clear earlier that I never was keen on urban fantasy - and that's an understatement.
Therefore, when I say that I was hooked from the beginning, take my word : This series is awesome.
Well, that was expected. What can I say? Not disappointed.
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"You undo me, Merit. Wholly and completely. You don't take me at my word. You challenge me at every opportunity. And that means when I'm with you, I am less than the head of this House...and I am more than the head of this House. I am a man." He stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. "In my very, very long life, I need you more than I have ever needed anything."
Eeeeeeep finally! That's all I'll say on that note.
The sexual tension, the angst, the battles, the jealousy-boy oh boy was I in my element. There isn't much to say on my end that hasn't been said, but I sure do love to try.
Wow, this book. It's been a long time since I've felt butterflies since book one in such a long series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it's been a long time since I've had this intense of a bout of butterflies so consistently. But in this installment, we finally got to see, shall we say, some of the goods. And this time....they were all for Merit. *whispers creepily* and us....
"On the other hand, they're the ones creating this pec-tacle."
I slid her a glance, arching an eyebrow. "Pec-tacle?"
"You know, like spectacle"-she paused to point at her breasts-"but with more dude nipples. Do you disagree?"
But it would be so sad to claim that was all this book had going for it-there's so much more. Underneath all this sexual anxiety is a hidden story where Merit is just a girl trying to find (and keep) her place in this new world. She defends those in her house and stands behind the person that made her-despite all the sexually unresolved....occurrences....she knows that her goal is to, ultimately, keep Ethan safe. And she takes her job seriously. No doubt about it. And that's why I love these books.
Love was very definitely a bitch.
They don't need only a boy and a girl circling each other to fuel the events of the book-there's always a mystery, always a need to save or protect or serve the house. And Merit even has friends. Yes, that was plural. So when I think of this story, it doesn't wholly revolve around Ethan and Merit *lies lies lies*. Okay, I might have jumped the gun a bit. Let me rephrase-While I am in love with the build-up of something much, much larger between these two stubborn vampires, I'm also very aware of the other characters and the mystery that surrounds each and every page.
He shook his head. "You are a wonder of vampiric strength, yet you treasure your humanity and care greatly about those who were in your life before your change. Stay that way," he said. "Stay just the way you are."
Ethan was, for a lack of a better word, adorable in this one. I finally got the last in my long wishlist of Ethan wants and needs-protectiveness. I loooooove that. I love when he is protective of her. And, I'm not going to lie, it was short-lived and didn't occur regularly....but it was there. As was possession, obsession, jealousy....Just....sigh. Yum.
"I am beginning to remember-" He stopped, shook his head, then started again. "I am beginning to remember what it means to need things. Laughter. Companionship. Love." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. "And I need you, Merit."
So to say this wasn't my favorite one would sound a bit odd, but, I think it's a tie between this one and book two. Book two was still building onto this fierce attraction and this one was avoiding the inevitable repeat....so they both had their perks while still annoying the shit out of me. But I'm not annoyed, not really. I want there to be tension and angst and retribution. I want him to obsess and win her. I want her to resist and ultimately fall. I'm on book four and I just love their dynamic-I really do. And I can't wait 'til the day when all his earlier idiosyncrasies become ever present and indisposable because he loves her so much. I can't wait-but I also want this series to stay excellent. So, I'll wait. And for once....I'm being patient about it.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
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“We know the sorcerers are beginning to see things, that prophecies are beginning to bubble up. Prophecies of war. Of coming battles.”
Finally we find out what the RG on the mysterious cards Merit has been receiving means, and who has been sending them to her.
In this book we got to spend a lot more time with the shapeshifters. There’s so much bad history between the vampires and the shapeshifters, because of the previous war in which the shapeshifters just left the vampires to fight the war on their won. It was quite interesting to see whether this time would be different, whether they would stay for the war that is coming. I also loved that the adorable Jeff was more present in this book. He is definitely one of my favorite characters.
And another ex of Ethan made an appearance in this book. Lacey Sheridan, a previous girlfriend, who he had loved. I must say Ethan sure does have a thing for bitchy women, and I disliked Lacey intensely. I did however like how he stood up for Merit when Lacey called her common soldier.
Luckily Merit also got her backbone back in this book, and I loved the way she acted exactly like the meek and respectful vampire Ethan always wanted her to be, and how mad it made him. It was a brilliant method of revenge. Well done, Merit :-D
Also for once Ethan acting like an ass, had some benefits. It made Merit realise that she needed her friends, and that they were right, and it made her make up with Mallory, for which I’m very thankful. I also loved Merit’s fellow vampire members, especially Lindsey and the other women who supported Merit after Ethan acted like a jerk again.
“I am beginning to remember—” He stopped, shook his head, then started again. “I am beginning to remember what it means to need things. Laughter. Companionship. Love.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. “And I need you, Merit.”
I really liked Merit and Ethan in this book, and even when Ethan acted like a jerk, I could understand why and I it didn’t really upset me. If it wasn’t for what he did in the first book I would have loved him.
This time, when he looked at me, there was sadness in his eyes. “I don’t want to see you become cold, Merit.”
This is definitely my favorite book in the series so far. Merit is a kickass heroine, her friends are fantastic, Ethan is very slowly growing on me, and this world is very captivating. A must read for all UF fans.
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OMG!!!!...what an awesome book!!!...ABSOLUTELY THE BEST OF THE BUNCH SO FAR!!!! It had everything in it that made me fall in love with the first book!!..the suspense, the action, some very funny dialogue, the drama!...oh...the drama!!!!..and the romance...~sigh~Ethan~sigh~FROM BEGINNING TO END....it was ALL there..there was NO slow first half for me this time...just constant thrill and excitement! I will admit though that there was a point in this book that had me full of doubt...and DEPRESSION, but THANK YOU CHLOE NEILL!!!...she pulled me right out of that funk and now i am now so thrilled i can't even see straight!!
This series, and because of this book in particular, has definitely earned a spot on my keeper shelf!! What fabulous characters and what a fabulous storyline. For those of you who haven't read these..YOU MUST..you will NOT be disappointed! The next book will be coming out in May..and it can't come soon enough!!! I can't wait!!! :) -
OMG! just OMG! I love this series so much.
I'm not describing the book because most of my goodreads friends already read it and that's not what I do on my reviews anyway. I'm just gonna say what I think about it.
This series is freaking fantastic, there's just something about it that totally compels me to keep reading it. There's romance, there's friendship, there's adventure and so much more. It's not possible not to love it.
But more than anything else, there is a terrific heroine. You just can't help to admire Merit. She just does what it has to be done, always thinking in others before herself. She just knows how to kick ass without bragging about it.I like a lot that with every book she is a bit more powerful.
And then there's Ethan. OMG Ethan! I just LOVE Ethan! LOVE him.Was I clear enough or do I need to repeat myself?lol. I know most of you were frustrated with him because of his actions in this book but I really wasn't, well not at the end at least. I really do understand the reasons of his actions and I believe he totally redeem himself at the end. He's just too good to be true.
But, Chloe Neill, know that if in the next book I don't get more romance than this I will be extremely pissed. It was enough playing for now. Let's get to the real thing. It is possible to let them be in love and together and keep us happy. Look at Cat and Bones, they have been together for 4 books and we love them and still can't get enough. So we better get much, much, much more Ethan in book 4. I won't rate with 5 stars the next book if this is not the case. My patience has it's limits, you know?lol. -
Der dritte Band von "Chicagoland Vampires" konnte mich wieder genauso überzeugen wie der erste Teil. Die Handlung ist diesmal deutlich actionreicher als in den Vorgängerbänden. Da einen das zweite Buch mit einem Cliffhanger zurücklässt, geht es direkt spannend weiter. Darüber habe ich mich sehr gefreut. Trotzdem bleiben die witzigen Dialoge und die romantischen Augenblicke zwischen den Charakteren nicht auf der Strecke. Chloe Neill haucht ihren Charaktere wirklich Leben ein. Während ich ihre Bücher lese, kann ich mir alle Charaktere bildlich vorstellen. Von Band zu Band taucht man etwas tiefer in die geheimnisvolle Welt der Chicagoer Vampire ein. Man will unbedingt wissen, wie es mit den Protagonisten weitergeht. Das schafft nicht jeder Autor.
Merit zeigt sich in dieser Geschichte noch selbstbewusster als sonst. Sie entwickelt sich langsam zu einer richtig starken Persönlichkeit, der man erst einmal Paroli bieten muss. Die Nebendarsteller spielen immer noch eine große Rolle. Das mag ich an dieser Buchserie besonders. Manche von ihnen treten zwar zeitweise etwas in den Hintergrund, dafür kommen aber immer wieder neue dazu. Vor allem die vielen verschiedenen Gestaltwandler bringen frischen Wind ins Geschehen. Das man von Mallory und Catcher nicht noch etwas mehr erfährt finde ich allerdings schade. Diese zwei Nebencharaktere finde ich so interessant, dass ich gerne ihre komplette Geschichte kennenlernen möchte. Ich würde auch gerne lesen was sie so treiben wenn sie nicht gerade eine Rolle in Merits Leben einnehmen. Sonst habe ich eigentlich nichts auszusetzen.
Ich freue mich schon auf den vierten Teil! -
Reasons why I love this book:
- Well developed paranormal world
- Intelligent, no-nonsense, highly sarcastic characters with great dynamics
- Vampire / shifter related storyline with mystery, suspense and lots of action
- LONG-AWAITED HOOK UP BETWEEN MAIN CHARACTERS!! WOOHOO!!!
Yes, we are back with Merit the Vampire. She has now settled into her role as Sentinel of Cadogan House, and her life as one of the undead. She is still as snarky and sarcastic as ever, and I loved that we are thrown straight back into her world.
Shifters are gathering in Chicago to debate whether they will return to their homeland in Alaska, or whether they will remain in the cities and fight in the looming supernatural war. When Ethan, Cadogan House Master Vampire assigns Merit to protect the Alpha shifter, the two of them are drawn into the unfolding drama that is peppered with threats, violence, murder, and a vicious plot that will hit very close to home for them.
It’s exciting and action-packed, but even with all of that going on, it is the Merit / Ethan hook that, for me, is the most exciting thing to happen in this book. It’s been building since book 1, and it happens when you least expect it, but OMG it’s epic!Golden hair falling around his face, he half smiled at me, victory in his expression. He caught my wrists in his hands, raised them above my head, and pressed them to the wood behind us.
“You are caught, Sentinel.” His voice was rough.
I looked up at him through my own half-hooded eyes. “I wasn’t trying to escape, Sullivan.”
Two strong, stubborn personalities coming together, lots of heat and passion, and some surprisingly swoony declarations from the vampire Master had me bouncing up and down in my chair with glee.“I am beginning to remember what it means to need things. Laughter. Companionship. Love.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. “And I need you, Merit.”
…
“You undo me, Merit. Wholly and completely. You don’t take me at my word. You challenge me at every opportunity. And that means when I’m with you, I am less than the head of this House…and I am more than the head of this House. I am a man.” He stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. “In my very, very long life, I need you more than I have ever needed anything.”
But sadly, it’s not all rainbows, lollipops and endless sex. Instead, it’s a brief shining light before we’re back to frustration and angst, but this particular storyline is far from over and the sexual tension continues to sizzle. I’m so looking forward to seeing what happens next between these two.
The characters from the previous books all make an appearance, and I love the smaller storylines that continue to develop. These books each contain their own story, but the overarching world, and the relationships within it, are all ongoing, and I love that we get to see all of that.
I am really enjoying this series, and can’t wait to see what happens next.
4 stars.
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Oh my God.... Oh..My..God... I mean OH.MY.GOD!!!
How much did I love this book!!! My emotions were tugged at, yanked, thrown about and then mushed up into little love drops... wow!!!
Ethan... what have you done to me???? Hot or not he turned into a complete ass in this book but then somehow whirled me around to put him on that pedestal all over again, boy am I in vampire love!!!
Morgan... gone!!! I washed him out of my system!!!
Mallory... love this girl and of course her guy Catcher, I am dying to see how much power this girl wields!!!
Helllloooo Gabriel... I know I met you before but I'm heating up to the shifter in this book... and talking of shifters, well done Jeff!!!!
Merit finds herself with decisions to make in more than one area here and boy does my heart go out to her... but she is Sentinal and she deserves her name, more so at the end of this book than ever before!!! I just fricken love this chick!!!!
I simply can't/won't write more... I have the next book to dig into and I am off to do that right now!!!! -
I actually started to like Merit in this one. She has grown a lot as a character and isn't as whiny about her circumstances. Ethan on the other hand pissed me off. I know he had his good moments and is learning, but I'm not so enamored by him that I wasn't annoyed and angered by his behavior. I see so many readers gushing about how sweet he became at moments in this and how he opened up, and although I liked that as well, that doesn't change the fact he acted like a jerk. I know he probably didn't even realize that he was acting like a jerk, but he better make it up to her! I'm proud she didn't give into him so easily at the end, although it was a sweet gesture. Anyway this series is getting much more interesting!
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Full review to come. -
a lot better this time around five stars all the way
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After reading
Some Girls Bite and it's follow-up
Friday Night Bites, I've come to adore Chloe Neill's new urban fantasy series. Not only does Twice Bitten continue the Chicagoland Vampires series's winning streak, it ups the ante.
Picking up directly where the second book left off, it's two months after Merit made the change from human to vampire and became the Sentinel of her new house, Cadogan. Although she still struggles - with lust as well as the fighting - during her physical training sessions with House Master Ethan Sullivan, we she her beginning to come into her own. Merit's learning to balance her duties, adjusting to her new life and forming solid relationships with her fellow novitiate (initiated) vampires. She's put her angst over her new-found vampirism aside and seems to be accepting her lot. Her growing level of comfort and her increasing loyalty to her house makes her even more likable - not only for us readers, but also for those novitiates other than her guard co-workers with whom her relations were formerly distant. Despite all of this, Merit still harbors some doubts - doubts that lead to a huge decision that she faces in this installment.
Neill does a great job of showing growth in Merit here. Her overall development as a character lends a dose of realism to this paranormal tale, particularly when it comes to her efforts at learning to fight. Urban fantasy series often provide us with heroines that come ready-made to kick ass. It's refreshing to see a heroine make the transition from normal post-grad student to vampire protector. Seeing her succeed is all the more of a reward because of this. In addition, we also witness a wealth of personal growth within Merit. She's more open and honest with herself and others about her feelings, especially those pertaining to Ethan and her unresolved issues with her best friend, Mallory.
Ethan too shows some significant growth. It appears as if Merit has tempered his ego and helped him be more forthright emotionally. I came to like Ethan a lot more this time around. Neill managed to make him more sympathetic without straying to far from what we've known of him as a character. I didn't always agree with his decisions or behavior in this book, but I gained a great deal more respect for him. The sexual tension that has simmered between him and Merit since the start jumps off the charts here. Neill takes their relationship in a new direction and I, for one, was surprised at where it went. It provides some lovely conflicts along the way too, and not just between Ethan and Merit. Their relationship issues inevitably spill over into business and are only compounded upon when certain new and returning characters are present in a scene...
Visit my blog, The Eclectic Book Lover, to continue reading this review. -
I think Ms. Neill is my kindred author. Or maybe it's that Merit is my kindred protagonist. ^_^ Either way, the Chicagoland Vampires series is definitely at the very top of my "autobuy" list. Not only that, I also find myself obsessed with Merit and her merry band of characters.
For a while though, I was feeling like something was missing from Merit's usual spunky sassiness. Until I realized that it was because for a while, there was no Mallory! They make such a great pair of pals, and bring out the best (and most interesting bits) of each other.
The other great pair is of course Merit and Ethan. Sometimes the "will they, won't they" is maddening ^_^...but it sure does keep me glued to the pages. And there are a lot of Ethan-Merit shenanigans in this installment.
This book was about three (or maybe 2.5) things. One was the increasing human threat to vampire- (and paranormal-) kind; another is the debate among shifters as to whether to involve themselves in this human threat by continuing to live in secret amongst the population, versus retreating into the Alaskan wilderness. The third theme revolves around Merit's complex feelings and loyalties toward Ethan, and by extension to her house.
A couple of my absolute favorite aspects of Neill's storytelling are how comfy her dialogue is and how easy her character interactions are. I swear I loathe having to leave her world behind whenever I finish a book (or even set the book down in-between sessions), and this is in no small part because of how natural everything feels. Paranormal and completely natural, hows about that?
Okay, I'd better stop this Chloe Neill-Merit love fest. Just read the book. ^_^ And be aware that you'll likely be itching for the next book immediately upon finishing this one. You've been forewarned. -
fus·ty /ˈfʌsti/ [fuhs-tee]
–adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est.
1. having a stale smell; moldy; musty: fusty rooms that were in need of a good airing.
2. old-fashioned or out-of-date, as architecture, furnishings, or the like: They still live in that fusty, gingerbread house.
3. stubbornly conservative or old-fashioned; fogyish.
Number of times I've encountered the word fusty in my 19 years of schooling and 27 years of life: ZERO
Number of times I've encountered the word fusty in the first three books of this series: NO LESS THAN TWELVE.
Nevertheless, enjoyment to the max. -
**3.5ish?**
I‘m going against the crowd with this one.
Not fully against, since I do admit that Neill is skilled and that the story is one I'll keep following. However, Twice Bitten (the third book of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series) did not grab me from the get-go. Firstly, too much time was spent on preparations for the shifter convention, leeching away a lot of the adrenaline and tension that should have held center court. Apart from ConPack, the focus rested mainly on character emotions and political maneuverings--most of which were either slow to develop, repetitive, or just not engaging enough to hold my interest.
Merit can certainly kick ass. She also possesses empathy, plus she can quickly assess a precarious situation down to its component parts and swiftly offer a strategic solution (where she became a master strategist, who knows). In Twice Bitten, she uses these skills to prove herself a valuable asset in diplomatic relations between Cadogan House and the Pack leaders. I like this aspect of her, even if she seems a little too golden-tongued at times.
When it comes to her personal life, she's a mess. Her relationship with Ethan is still topsy-turvy and frustrating. At this point, it would benefit from a clear resolution. Maintaining the tension between them led to several exchanges that seemed forced, lessening my desire to see them together once and for all. That said, I did enjoy her handling of oh Lord and Master, Liege of all. She holds her ground and proves she’s not willing to be screwed around.
Speaking of that pretty-boy Liege, Ethan seemed off. Granted, he’s emotionally conflicted throughout most of the book so we’re seeing a side of him we haven’t been privy to before. He’s understandably all over the place. However, even his speech patterns varied too widely; several times I read a line I thought belonged to Merit, only to realize it was actually Ethan's comment. The inconsistency in character voice went beyond the normal conversational quirks generally attributed to centuries-old vampires. It irked me and even snatched me out of the flow of the story.
Moving along. A lot has been made of Merit and Mallory’s friendship in this series. In the first book, I liked Mal. A sassy friend with her own transformation to bear, she provided a nice touchstone to the human life Merit had to leave behind. Then she got a man, the friends had a fight, and Merit and Mal pushed away from each other. As Twice Bitten began and Merit lamented the damage to their friendship, I suddenly realized something: I didn’t care about their drama. I didn’t give a damn if they ever kissed and made up. When they finally did (at Merit’s convenience), I cared even less. The friendship has moved from a realistic portrayal to one that adds little to the overall story. I hope that Mal’s unique powers come into play further down the road. Otherwise, she’s just someone for Merit to bitch at and have issues with. If that’s the only role Mal is going to play, I’d much rather her friend responsibilities be transferred to Lindsey.
With all of this in mind, I was set to assign Twice Bitten a three (entertaining, but flawed/irksome enough that I wouldn’t rush to shove it into friends’ hands). Then the last hundred pages happened. All of a sudden, there was action, suspense, trepidation, miscommunication, and even some conflagration! What was meh became exciting! Don’t you hate when that happens?
The revelations of the final chapters and the groundwork they establish for future installments were quite thrilling. They got me keyed up and I’ll be sure to pick up book four of the series. Hopefully, next time around, it won’t take so many pages for Neill to engage me. She’s got fabulous ideas and interesting characters; she just needs to step up her game and make the whole of the story match the thrill of her resolutions.
