Wednesday, October 21, 2009

2-for-1 Reviews! Some Girls Bite & Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill [+ Giveaway!]

Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, book 1)
Chloe Neill
NAL Trade
April 7, 2009
ISBN-10: 0451226259
  
First in a brand new series about a Chicago graduate student’s introduction into a society of vampires.

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.


Some Girls Bite is the debut novel by Chloe Neill about a grad student who suddenly finds herself a vampire and well, it is GOOD.  Merit, the main character, was attacked by a rogue vampire and next thing she knows, she's ankle-deep into vampire politics. Most importantly, she's now part of House Cadogan and has to "service" the Master: Ethan Sullivan.

But it's not as dirty as I make it sound. Unfortunately.  It means that she owes her loyalty to him and to the House and has to do anything and everything to defend them. But having to deal with Ethan, their growing attraction and having a new life as a vampire is nothing compared to the fact that someone is still out to get her. Could it be the vampire who first tried to murder her? Or a vampire from a rival House?

Merit doesn't know but she has to found out before someone else dies.

Like I first mentioned, Some Girls Bite is incredibly awesome. I was very impressed, the plot is tight and consistent, the character development absolutely compelling. I must say that the first thing I look for in a good book is character development and Neill more than delivered. I loved every character - even the "bad guys"! - especially Morgan. He's second to the Navarre House and just sounds yummy! And Jeff, the twenty-one year old computer genius. Can I please have him? I just fell in love with ever character and from the beginning, I loved Merit and her story.

Neill has created a fabulous new world where vampires mingle with humans, nymphs fight over the Chicago river, and shape-shifters who are incredibly hot and funny (Jeff. Seriously - Can I have him?) The book has great, funny characters, hot sexual tension and more than enough action. I absolutely loved reading Some Girls Bite and I can't wait to start Friday Night Bites, the second book in the Chicagoland Vampires series.

***

Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, book 2)
Chloe Neill
NAL Trade
October 6, 2009 
ISBN-10: 045122793X

The story of a young heiress's initiation into the dark society of the Chicagoland Vampires continues...

Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge... 


Friday Night Bites is the second book in the Chicagoland Vampires series and the awesomeness just continues! Merit has only been a vampire for about two months now but in that time she has risen in power and status in the Cadogan House, the house of vampires in which she belongs to. Something I love about this character is how she's not perfect, the fact that she's now pretty high in the upper echelon of the vampire politics hasn't gone to her head. She's adapting but still struggling with her new life and trying to balance her human and vampire sides and when Ethan Sullivan, the master of Cadogan and her boss, orders her to reconnect with her old human family in order to found more information and try to keep the raves out of the human eye, she doesn't have much choice but to accept.

Merit is also trying to deal with her love life. She's being courted by Morgan, the new Master of the Navarre House but she also has feelings for Ethan, which isn't good because from the beginning, he's put vampire politics before anything that could happen with her, and on top of that, it seems that he doesn't necessarily trust her. It definitely annoyed me whenever Ethan sort of played with her. He would once second kind of flirt and open up and next thing you know he's shutting the metaphysically door right in Merit's face! Needless to say, I liked Morgan way more but there's just something about Ethan I love too and I hope they somehow manage to make it work.

My other favorite characters are back! Jeff, the twenty-one year old genius shifter, Mallory, Merit's best friend and Catcher, Mallory's boyfriend, Merit's trainer and fourth-grade sorcerer. They're all such great secondary characters and make the story even more entertaining and fun to read.

Throughout the book, there's hints about what the next book is about and of course, I'm itching to read more! Friday Night Bites is a fabulously well-written, sexy and funny story and this series has quickly become one of my favorites yet!


Now - time for the giveaway! I have some Cadogan swag for a lucky winner; including a bookmark of Chloe's up-coming YA debut book called Firespell (Out in January) which I can't wait to read! (It sounds so good!) The bookmarks are super cute and I also added a handful of other different ones.


Stupid Flash.

So! To enter, leave a comment and I'll choose a winner Sunday night, and the goodies will go out on Monday! And also, don't forget to check out Chloe's Chicagoland Vampires books, they're awesome!

19 comments:

Enchanted by Books said...

Hi Wendy!
Great reviews! Chloe Neill's books sound so good. I need to check them out. Now you made me want to read them even more!

Sara said...

I cannot wait until FIRESPELL comes out! And I definitely have to pick up FRIDAY NIGHT BITES!

Sara (The Hiding Spot)

brizmus said...

Wow - thse Chicagoland Vampire books look fantastic!
I like how they are about a girl grad student aged.

And enter me - zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

Unknown said...

DO NOT ENTER ME IN CONTEST.
Just wanted to say I loved your reviews.
Thanks for sharing,
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Great reviews.I loved these books.Please count me in for the giveaway
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

MrsMixx said...

I loved Some Girls Bite and i'm soon going to read Friday Night Bites, for now i'm petting my copy of the book like a crazy girl ;)
I read the first chapter of Firespell and i can't wait for it to be released *sigh* it's so far away ;)

My favorite secondary character is Jeff he's so funny i love him

Mel (He Followed Me Home) said...

ohh, these sound so good :) I think you're going to have to learn to share Jeff though ;)

and count me in! (is Jeff on one of the bookmarks, lol)

Tales of Whimsy said...

No need to enter me just wanted to tell you: cool reviews :)

cait045 said...

Count me in. I loved Some Girls Bite and would love my own copy.

Rex Robot Reviews said...

Count me in for the giveaway- your reviews are great! I need to check these books out!

throuthehaze said...

Great reviews! Count me in please

Throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Ellz said...

LOOOOVee Chloe Neill's Chicagoland series. I am part way through Friday Night Bites (had to stop for Book Tour review). I would love to win some swag. I am so excited for Firespell, Chloe is so talented. I reviewed Some Girls Bite at my blog.
Elie (Ellz Readz)
I just started following you!

Ina said...

Hi Wendy :)
your post makes me so curious - thank you!
ui, the bookmarks are cute :) (but no need to enter me in the contest - thanks!)
Hugs

Anonymous said...

Hi Wendy!

Excellent reviews! I have been wanting to get these books but every time I go to order books I forget to pick them up. Thanks to your fabulous reviews I now have them firmly placed in my cart at the Book Depository (which you introduced me to). Can't wait to see your review of Firespell also - even though it is a YA. ;)

kalynnick said...

Enter me in please:)

kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

Sophia (FV) said...

Great reviews! :) So looking forward to these.

Llehn said...

I've been hearing good things about Chloe Neill. I've put her on my tbr list!

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Donna said...

I love reading about others falling for the Chicagoland Vampires series, it's one of my favorites too. I haven't read Friday Night Bites yet, but I will in the couple of weeks after schedule settles down a bit. It's sitting on my shelves looking so lonely, waiting on me...

Don't enter me for the contest. I just want to stop in. Enjoyed your reviews. :)

SusiSunshine said...

These books sound so good. And how can I resist when you seem to want every character in these books. LOL
Great reviews hon!

He can Chapter-32 me anytime!

Bones is Mine