Interview with Chloe Neill and Hard Bitten Giveaway

Please welcome Chloe Neill to Fang-tastic Books today for an interview as part of her virtual book tour for Hard Bitten, the 4th book in the Chicagoland Vampires series.

Let's start with learning a little background about the books, what was the inspiration behind the Chicagoland series?

I guess Merit was the inspiration. She was the first character I "met," and I
was trying to figure out what her story might be. I knew she was going to be smart, sarcastic and stubborn. I also knew I wanted to write about vampires, and I was interested in how they might set rules to keep themselves secret from humans--like in Houses. I eventually put the two of those things together.

Is Merit based on anyone in your life?

Nope. We share the same sense of humor, I think. And I wish I had her chocolate drawer!

Are you as big a fan of baseball as Merit?

I'm not a huge sports fan at all right now, mostly because I don't have much
time to keep up. I do enjoy college football, though, when I have the time.

You mention food a lot in the books, what's your favorite Chicago culinary
delight?

I love Crust in Wicker Park for pizza, and you can't beat a lemon ice at Navy
Pier on a summer day.

Speaking of Chicago, how excited are you that the RT convention will be in
Chicago in 2012?

Thrilled! I've never been able to go before, and it's such a great opportunity to meet readers! Yay, Chicago!

OK onto the book, I was um...lets say pretty surprised at the end of Hard Bitten
(don't worry I give no spoilers)-did you plan that ending all along or did it just kinda happen as you wrote the books?

It has been planned since the very beginning--as have the rest of the moments in
that particular part of the story. :)

What does the future hold for Merit, how many more books are planned for the
series?

We'll get to see more of her in action as a Sentinel, and more supernatural
drama, of course! There are currently 7 CV books under contract. I'd like to write more than that, but it will depends on sales!

Thank you Chloe for joining us today at Fang-tastic Books.

Thanks for having me today!

I have a great giveaway today thanks to Rosanne at Penguin

Do you want to win your very own copy of Hard Bitten?

Open to US shipping only

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Review of Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Five Big Pointy Fangs for Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill knows how to rock the fangs.

I think this is the best Chicagoland Vampires Book yet and the best book I have read all year.

The shifters have arrived!

Twice Bitten introduces us to the politics of the shifters...and to the shifters themselves. Before they've always stayed out of the spotlight not wanting humans to know of their existence- so when times got tough they ran and left the vampires to fend for themselves. Which has made vampire- shifter interaction very....uhm...difficult. They lean more towards hating each other than wanting to give each other a hand.

But the shapeshifters have come to Chicago- and as a gesture of peace and goodwill Cadogan House Master Ethan Sullivan (Merit's love interest) offers protection in the form of the Cadogan House Sentinel, Merit. Ethan quite literally throws her to the wolves- but it's not as bad as it sounds because he goes along for the ride of course it is a wild and bumpy ride full of twists and turns and lots of unusual happenings.

The leader of the shifters, Gabriel Keene is an interesting character and I hope to see more of him in future books.

For me, the shape shifters weren't even the best part of the book, though I did enjoy the addition of the furries.

The best part of the book was the interaction between Merit and Ethan. These two have one of the most complicated relationships out of all the urban fantasy/paranormal romance books that I've read.

And a few of the scenes in Twice Bitten were so beautiful, so heart wrenching, so emotional that I felt them. At one point I was on the verge of tears. Okay maybe two times- because there was the scene with Ethan then something about what Merit sees in Gabriel's eyes- that scene grabbed at my heart too.

Chloe Neill has found a way to portray the intensity of their relationship in words which is truly amazing. The complexities of their relationship led to both exhilarating and excruciating interaction that displayed very heartfelt and true emotion, so powerful that I felt it. I felt the catch in my heart when Ethan said certain things, I felt Merit's confliction.

Then after there was the roller coaster of will we, won't we, are we, OMG we are, forget it we're not- WOW. I could totally relate.

And another thing- this book finally reveals Merit's first name. Uh uh uh...I'm not telling, you got to read the book.

Chloe Neill hit the ground running with her Chicagoland Vampires series. The first book out of the gate was superb and she hasn't lost steam at all. In fact I think each book is better than the last. Chloe's writing just keeps getting better and better- and the books are the proof. I can't wait for book four.

Be sure to drop by on Friday July 2 when Chloe will be here for a guest blog.

Oh and if you get a copy of Twice Bitten check out all the review snippets in the front of the book- Fang-tastic Books has a huge review snippet in there. And yes- I totally love this series. I really gushed over the first book and just can't get enough of this series.

A Review of Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Five Fangs for Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill rocks the written word.

Friday Night Bites is the fang-tastic second book in the Chicagoland Vampires Novels and it is as good if not better than the first, Some Girls Bite.

This book is full of action, intrigue, what the hell is going on mystery, and most importantly interaction between Merit and uber yummy Morgan and between Merit and the often cold yet oh so beautiful Ethan.

Who to root for? Who to choose? What a tough decision. While Morgan would possibly be my first choice, he isn't Merit's and possibly for good reason. She wants to want him but can't quite seem to get there. And maybe that's a good thing because even though I kinda root for the darkly sexy Morgan, he's connected to Celina who seems to have it in for Merit. Who knows if Morgan's intentions are truly pure. With vampires you never know.

And Ethan, well he makes it difficult to root for him, but hey we all know cold and icy is usually a cover up for all warm and mushy cream puff underneath, as in we have a guy...vampire, who is afraid of getting too close and getting hurt so he keeps everything and everyone..including the one he so desires...i.e. Merit, at arm's length so he doesn't get hurt. Still, it is so hard to root for him.

Anyway in Friday Night Bites we get to see where Merit comes from and why she was glad to get away from it as Ethan convinces her to go home for political vampire maneuverings so Ethan can get close to Merit's father's connections...and find out why her old flame, Nick, seems to have it in for the vampires.

(Still no clue as to what Merit's real first name is. I was sure something would creep out being with her family. Did I miss it somewhere, or is it still the big secret whatever Merit's first name really is?)

Anyway, this story gets more complicated as it goes with plot on top of subplot on top of deep world layering. Love it. Complicated. Lot's of questions pop up that make you want more of these books...now.

Like why is the mayor infatuated with Merit? How could Merit have missed some interesting things about her childhood boyfriend and his family? Does her father know about these interesting things about his best friend and his friend's family? What's up with the weird and secretive messages Merit keeps receiving? Why is Merit so different from the other vampires and exactly how different is she? And at the end what's up with the weird familiarity the shapeshifter king has with Merit? Almost family? Hmmm...

Questions, questions and more questions without answers...in this book. Got to love uber cliffhangers. I just wish I had the next book now.

Chloe Neill sure can pen a wicked awesome urban fantasy. The Chicagoland Vampires series is now at the top of my must read, must have list.