February 25, 2015

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires #11)



It might be cold outside, but I'm warm inside because it's time for me to satisfy my Chicagoland Vampires obsession. DARK DEBT is the eleventh book in the series, due out on March 3. We've got lots of good stuff for you here too. Check out my review, enter to win a fantastic Chicagoland Vampires prize pack, and then hop on over to Chloe Neill's web site and enter to win the grand prize!

Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires #11), by Chloe Neill
To Be Published March 3, 2015
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: e-ARC, provided by NetGalley
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 

Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan's dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don't know whether he's friend or foe. But they'll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs....

The connections to Chicago's Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last....

I love the direction that Chloe Neill has taken her Chicagoland Vampires series. After eleven books, you have to expect the characters to grow and change as they go through different experiences together. And, yet, I always see glimpses of the characters they were in book 1 shining through from time to time. Which is fortunate, because I fell in love with Merit, Ethan, Mallory and the gang from the very beginning.

Ethan is freaking out - in his very controlled Ethan way - because it appears his maker Balthasar is back from the dead. And, he. Is. Pissed. As if a centuries-old cranky vampire isn't enough, now Ethan and Cadogan has a major criminal enterprise gunning for them after they step in to help out Morgan. Just another day at the office. 

Let's face it. I read this series because... METHAN. Ethan and Merit are one of my favorite bookish couples of all time. Especially now that they seem to have finally found their groove. The drama in the Chicagoland Vampires books no longer come from Ethan and Merit's on again, off again relationship. The drama now comes entirely from the situations developing around them as their world continues to adapt to the realization that supernatural beings are real. 

Although relationship drama is good sometimes, to be honest, I'm really liking the lack of it in this series now. The various people and organizations out there vying to take down Cadogan House cause enough danger and peril that I get to read about Ethan in uber-protective mode when it comes to Merit, which is SO much better. Protective, concerned alpha male Ethan is so hot. 

"You're my future wife and the mother of my future child. I will well protect you against any threat, living, dead, or undead, just as I promised in my oath to this house."

Just when Ethan and Merit have conquered the GP debacle and Ethan is starting out in the newly created American Masters group, it seems a new criminal empire called The Circle has cropped up. Even worse, it seems to have sunk its claws into Morgan and Navarre House. Navarre owes a debt they're having a hard time paying. There's been no love lost between Cadogan and Navarre, but that doesn't stop Ethan from offering assistance. 

It was so good to hear from Morgan again. He was a much more prominent character in earlier books, then almost disappeared with only a mention here and there. Morgan is a fascinating character. He's a green Master. He's kind of the "bad boy" Master of the three in Chicago. He's quiet and stoic and he has this weird mental connection with Merit that's never been explained. I was so excited that Morgan was back and that we were going to get to spend some time with him. 

"Look up," he said, tilting my chin upward. "There is always light." Morgan said quietly. "The stars are always shining, even if we can't see them."

Ethan is usually very composed, but when his ruthless maker Balthasar shows up and starts wreaking havoc around Chicago, Ethan kind of loses it a bit. It was good to see him so affected by something. Especially when Balthasar comes after Merit in a way that really violates her. In addition to Merit, Ethan is completely shaken by this, and I really liked seeing him off kilter. 

The usual characters of Mallory, Catcher, Jeff, Chuck, Luc and Lindsay are present in this book too. They all have their roles to play, especially Mallory and Catcher. It's good to see they've gotten past the nasty business Mallory was into a few books back, and relationships have been knitted back together again. 

I will NEVER get tired of the Chicagoland Vampires series. As long as Chloe writes them, I'll read them. 

Enter below to win a Chicagoland Vampires prize pack (US only) that includes:
  • Cadogan House cotton tote bag
  • Cadogan House keychain
  • An autographed international Chicagoland Vampires or Dark Elite novel
  • Swag, including Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks and pens, and Cadogan House lanyards
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter the Dark Debt Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs February 23 through March 6 on Chloe’s web site.

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

  • An engraved Cadogan House medal necklace
  • An Amazon gift card
  • Cadogan House cotton tote bag
  • Cadogan House keychian
  • Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

Visit the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!

Week One

Monday, February 23 – Finding Sanity in Our Crazy Life | Lore Lush Books
Tuesday, February 24 – Star Crossed Book Blog | Little Miss Book Addict’s House of Books
Wednesday, February 25 – Once Upon a Twilight | Krista’s Dust Jacket
Thursday, February 26 – Goldilox and the Three Weres | Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Friday, February 27 – Feeling Fictional | Rabid Reads

Week Two

Monday, March 2 – Booklovers for Life | Bad Bird Reads
Tuesday, March 3 (Release Day) – Saucy Wenches Book Club | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust | Vampire Book Club
Wednesday, March 4 – Ceres Book World | Book Infatuation Reviews
Thursday, March 5 – Consummate Reader
Friday, March 6 – Little Read Riding Hood | Three Chicks After Dark


2 comments:

alena said...

Can't wait for the book, i need more Merit or Ethan, and more about Mallory and Catcher, i miss them in the past books, they need more happiness :)

alena said...

Can't wait for the book, i need more Merit or Ethan, and more about Mallory and Catcher, i miss them in the past books, they need more happiness :)