Genre: Urban Fantasy

#3 Chicagoland Vampire Series

355 pages

Amazon/Kindle

Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

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.

I heart the Chicagoland vampire series big time. Merit is a kickass sentinel that pretty much makes her own rules and is gaining in strength and power. We begin Twice Bitten at the cusp of a war that could bring down all the vampire houses. Merit is tasked with gaining the trust of the shapeshifters (who calls her Kitten) in hopes that an allegiance can be struck between the two clans that will strengthen the power of Codogan house.

With each new installment of this series I grow to like Merit even more. She’s sassy, independent, and really is her own person. Yeah, Ethan, (her vampire master) is a total hottie who’d like to get the 411 on getting into her pants, but she doesn’t let her attraction to him lesson her own self-worth. I like her attitude of ‘yeah, you want me, but I don’t dance on anyone’s pole just because they want me to’. I think that Neill really pulls this off without making Merit seem caustic or dramatic. She’s charmingly self-assured with a vulnerable side that is a nice juxtaposition against her superhuman warrior strength. Some of the most memorable scenes in the book are her sparing sessions with her uber vampire stud master. My favorite scene has to be when she is sparring with Ethan, while the rest of the Codogan vampires are watching. After overhearing Ethan’s bitchy ex call her ‘common’, she gets right in his face and says ‘I’m just a common solider’ and then proceeds to beat the ever-living crap out of him.  I may have held my kindle high in the air are hooted ‘victory is mine’!

Be warned! There is mad, hot, sexytime between Merit and a person that shall not be named. I couldn’t help but be inspired by the Wold Cup and shouted Goooooooooooooooooooooal, when I read this scene. I know, tacky, but if you knew how rarely I use sports-talk you’d been proud.

Overall, this is a great installment in the series and we do get out hearts ripped out and stomped on the ground a bit, but alas, there is light at the end of the road. And more so, for Merit. Damn, tricksy vampires and their tempestuous ways! Will they never learn! Merit is the shiznit, you don’t throw away quality like that! Anywho, I definitely will be staying tuned to see what happens next.

All you need to know is that Twice Bitten is made of awesome, ‘nough said.

PS. For those of you who finished the book…You had me at ” I give you this baseball”. Couldn’t you just die! Sigh, that made me make stink eyes at Mr. Smokin. Where’s my token of appreciation for our love goddamn you?! Ethan gave Merit a baseball from her childhood and for my birthday I got a lapdesk, so I can use my laptop on what is essentially a glorified pillow.

Other books in Chicagoland Vampire Series

Some Girls Bite #1 Amazon | Friday Night Bites #2-Amazon

Other Reviews:

Wicked Lil Pixie 4/5

Smexybooks 4.5/5

Peace Love and Reviews 5/5

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