posted by Stacy~ at 9/16/2010 06:38:00 AM
| 2 comments
Thursday, September 16, 2010:
Monday, August 23, 2010:
Once again I would like to thank the booksigning gods for being fortunate to live in an area where I can attend these awesome signings. The cool and always interesting Chloe Neill was in Wisconsin this past weekend, and I definitely made it a point of going to at least one of them.
Isn't Chloe just the cutest thing?
Once again I would like to thank the booksigning gods for being fortunate to live in an area where I can attend these awesome signings. The cool and always interesting Chloe Neill was in Wisconsin this past weekend, and I definitely made it a point of going to at least one of them. Isn't Chloe just the cutest thing? Chloe brought the THB, but unfortunately he wasn't talking. Thought maybe we could bribe him for some dirt, but he held strong. Not that we really tried very hard. I'm sure it's overwhelming to be surrounded by a bunch of (mostly) women gushing over the superior skills of Ethan and the smokin' hotness of Catcher. Not that THB has anything to worry about *g*
And though she didn't dish much dirt about the Chicagoland Vampires, Chloe did give us interesting tidbits about how she writes and reassuring us again that she's contacted for 3 more books, for a total of 7! So thrilled to hear this.
Me & Chloe
(I'm always a blur LOL)
For those of you who don't know, Chloe also writes a YA paranormal series called "The Dark Elite", and Hexbound, book 2 is scheduled for a January 2011 release.
Thank you Chloe, for a fun booksigning, and I hope that one day we can get you to a signing in Chicago, where you belong!
Labels: booksignings, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 8/23/2010 07:10:00 AM
| 3 comments
Thursday, August 19, 2010:
Upcoming Chloe Neill booksignings:
Upcoming Chloe Neill booksignings:
Booksigning
Glendale, Wisconsin
2:00 p.m. - Bayshore Mall Barnes & Noble
August 21, 2010
Booksigning
Greenfield, Wisconsin
7:00 p.m. - Barnes & Noble
August 21, 2010
Booksigning
Racine, Wisconsin
1:00 p.m., Barnes & Noble
August 22, 2010
Glendale, Wisconsin
2:00 p.m. - Bayshore Mall Barnes & Noble
August 21, 2010
Booksigning
Greenfield, Wisconsin
7:00 p.m. - Barnes & Noble
August 21, 2010
Booksigning
Racine, Wisconsin
1:00 p.m., Barnes & Noble
August 22, 2010
One of my favorite authors, Chloe Neill, is having multiple booksignings this weekend in Wisconsin. I'm lucky enough to be able to attend all 3 if I really wanted to (and believe me, I'm considering it!). So I thought I would have a contest for a pesonally signed copy of Twice Bitten, the 3rd book in Chloe's Chicagoland Vampires series.
In order to qualify, you have to 2 things:
- You are a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect (see left-hand side of blog)
- You correctly respond to the contest question
Contest will end at 10am CST on Saturday, August 21st. Please be sure in your comment the name you would like Chloe to sign it (i.e. Julie, Karen, Kim, etc.). If possible, I would also ask that you check back here on Saturday between noon & 2pm CST, just to make sure you know you're getting the book, but due to time constraints, I completely understand so it's not a requirement.
Question: Merit has a lot of new abilities as a vampire. Which of her abilities would you wish for most and why?
Good luck!
Labels: blog contests, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 8/19/2010 07:26:00 AM
| 14 comments
Friday, July 09, 2010:
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, Chicago's newest vampire. 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.
Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, 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.
10. Chicago: yes, it's my city, or has been for the last 19 years, and I'm rather attached to this series because we do get to see many parts of the actual places. I have a week's vacation next month and I've decided to check out more of where I live. Been planning this awhile, but now I'm finally going to do it, thanx to the inspiration of books like the Chicagoland Vampires series. (Sidenote: I've started a letter-writing campaign to get Chloe to show up at a signing in CHICAGO - wish me luck!)
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, Chicago's newest vampire. 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.Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, 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.
10. Chicago: yes, it's my city, or has been for the last 19 years, and I'm rather attached to this series because we do get to see many parts of the actual places. I have a week's vacation next month and I've decided to check out more of where I live. Been planning this awhile, but now I'm finally going to do it, thanx to the inspiration of books like the Chicagoland Vampires series. (Sidenote: I've started a letter-writing campaign to get Chloe to show up at a signing in CHICAGO - wish me luck!)
9. Cadogen House: yes, this is totally superficial, but damn, that house sounds incredibly amazing! And I'd love to have a kitchen area ready with food all hours of the night. I wouldn't like to live in it like a dorm room, but I wouldn't mind apartments like the Master has :D
8. The shapeshifters: I love how pack is all about family, and putting that family first. Gabriel, the Alpha in the Chicago area, has had to make some difficult choices, but he does it for all the right reasons. And the dissenters, though I don't always agree with them, have their hearts in the right place most of the time.
7. Merit's Katana: There is just something so sexy and dangerous about an elegant, deadly weapon, and the katana encompasses all of that. I love the history of it, the beauty and pain, the precision and grace of such an instrument. It has a magic all it's own. And speaking of which....
6. Magic! I love the different spells and abilities that Catcher, and hopefully Mallory, have. I've always wanted to be able to wave a hand and move stuff, so magic to me is...well, magical. And though it's unpredictable and surely comes with a price, it fascinates me. I'm curious to find out what Mallory's full abilities are.
5. Jeff Christopher, resident shapeshifter: despite his young age and immense crush on Merit, Jeff is one of those likeable guys that comes through when the chips are down. He may come across as a bit of a dork, but he's infinitely lovable and someone you can depend on to be there for you. And it's cool to see that Jeff might be finding love, a real love he can build on :)
4. Lindsey & Luc: nothing like a love/hate relationship to get a reader all hot and squirmy (at least this reader). The verbal sparring seems to have hit a brick wall in this book, so perhaps we are going to see some action in the (hopefully) near future.
3. Catcher. I just lust after this man. If I had the creative genius Chloe does, I would have made Catcher the hero of this book, and explored his relationship with Mallory more, because I think they belong together. I love Merit to pieces, but Mallory is Catcher's girl. And Catcher has all the irresistible qualities of my kind of leading man: sexy, broody, strong, rebellious, seething with testosterone. I'd love to take him for a spin ;)
2. Merit's quirky but strong friendship with Mallory: these two are so adorable together as besties, and I love their relationship. They're so in sync, and the affection between them is obvious and sweet.
And the #1 reason I loved Twice Bitten..... Chapter 8!!!! I'm not about to spoil it for anyone who has not read the book, but let's just say this was a long time in coming, and you probably already do know what it is that happens in this specific part of the book, but are you sure? Anyway, it gives me tingles just thinking about it....
Rating: **** 1/2 out of *****
Labels: Chloe Neill, review
posted by Stacy~ at 7/09/2010 07:14:00 AM
| 9 comments
Tuesday, June 29, 2010:
Well peeps, I am super excited to have one of the coolest people I've ever met as my special guest today :) The one and only Chloe Neill. Being as busy as she is, I don't think she'll be stopping by, but she did answer my nagging, er, indepth interview questions for inquiring minds who demand to know. So, let's get started....
S~ What was the first vampire story you ever read? Did it have a romantic angle to it?
I recall reading vampire ghost stories as a child--there was one about some sort of vampire dog. Definitely no romantic angle in that one. :) It was some time later that I read Christine Feehan or Sherrilyn Kenyon and fell in love with the vampiric hero.
S~ How different is the Chicagoland Vampire series from when you originally came up with the idea, or has it stayed pretty close to your original version?
VERY different. The original version was pretty (unintentionally) silly. Mallory (or was it Merit?) was in a band and was performing at a club owned by Morgan. Merit was made a vampire in the back of the club by some raging, anti-human vamp. Ethan was completely absent, but Merit's other love interest was a blond named Lucky.
Generally, it was pretty awful. And then I got a mental image of Ethan, standing with his hands on his hips with that superior expression, and the rest is history!!
S ~After reading Firespell,the 1st book in your YA Dark Elite series, I was struck by how mature these teens are, and have a completely different voice than the CV series, not quite as snarky. How easy was it for you to create a world told from the perspective of teenagers without making it silly or too angsty?
Honestly, I didn't try to make them teenagers per se. I just tried to imagine how Lily and Scout would interact given their circumstances. There is, however, definitely a balancing act between good banter and angst, and trying to make the books neither too light nor too dark.
S~ How many books are planned in the DE series? Any possibility of a crossover with the CV series?
There are currently 3 under contract, but there's no possibility of a CV crossover at this point as, while they're both set in Chicago, they are completely different universes.
S~ How extensive was your research on Chicago for each series? Did you base the locale on actual places, or use your own imagination to come up with each individual world?
I'd say its 85% actual locations and 15% made up (but within the context of the neighborhood). Because the books are set in an actual location with a HUGE population, I knew I had to get it right the first time. I can't put Navy Pier in Evanston or ignore the Chicago River, for example. So I did lots of research about Chicago geography and neighborhoods. I now supplement that with location scouting trips to Chicago. But there is still some fudging on my part. For example, Cadogan House is imaginary, but it's set in the very real neighborhood of Hyde Park.
S~ One of my favorite things about your books is the different and complex relationships that exist: best friends, romantic interests, Sire to subject, some of them intertwined. How do you keep the action exciting without skimping on the personal interactions?
My focus is always on the personal interactions, because that's what I enjoy reading and writing. The action scenes don't come naturally to me, as I really have to work to imagine fights in three dimensions, for example. But these are urban fantasy, so action is inevitable. I try to focus on the stakes of the fight--what a character could win or lose as a result of the battle, which leads back to the personal interaction.
S~ You've talked about who inspired Ethan & Merit (Becks and Jill from the USA show "Royal Pains"). Any actors/actresses inspire the characters for your YA series?
I have Chris Pine in mind as Jason Shepherd, but that's really it. The Dark Elite series is very much about the characters' roles in their magical world, so while I have mental images of the characters, I haven't really worried too much about finding real world counterparts.
S~ Do you currently read any YA books? Any recommendations?
I recently finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and adored it (as I do with all Neil Gaiman). Beyond that, I don't have time to read much fiction at all, unfortunately!
S~ Okay, I just gotta ask: can we expect some intense, hot lovin' between any of your characters in Twice Bitten? How HOT can we anticipate it to get?
No comment. ;) [Luckily I already know the answer, and nope, I'm not telling either *g*]
S~ How do you like to relax? I see you like to bake and exercise. Are there other ways you unwind after a long day working/writing?
I'd say those are the big two. I also take my dogs to the dog park or on walks. I'll also scan the internet checking out interesting design and gadget web sites. You never know where ideas might pop up!
S~ What are some of your guilty pleasures? Favorite beverage? Favorite t.v. shows? Favorite music on your iPod?
Beverage - Hands down, Diet Coke. Always and forever! Xoxo
TV shows - Community, Parks & Rec, 30Rock, Leverage, Burn Notice, Man v. Food, No Reservations, Family Guy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and the list goes on and on and on. :)
S~ What are you reading right now?
I just started reading The Passage by Justin Cronin. Very intriguing so far!
S~ What's the last really good move you saw? What was so memorable about it?
I very rarely watch movies; I'm too much of a multitasker to devote the time to it. In fact, I can't remember the last movie I've watched...
S~ When you're writing about the ancient history of the Chicagoland Vampires, did you study actual history, or use a lot of creative license to describe its origins?
I studied actual history. I have a timeline written for the devleopment of the Greenwich Presidium (and its precursors) and the secret "RG" which sent Merit cards and invitations in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES. Although the histories are unique, I tried to ground them in realistic events--including the French Revolution and witchhunts of the 15th Century.
S~ What are some of your addictions? Twitter? Manicures? The Food Network?
Artsy notebooks created by independent graphic designers. Stiletto heels. Great handbags. Japanese needlepoint pens. Great salsa. Adult Swim.
S~ Which comes first: the character description or the name? Out of all your characters, which one was the hardest to come up with?
They both have to pop up at about the same time. Usually I'll have a loose idea for a character, then I'll scan through a baby name book until his or her name pops out at me. Ethan's name was VERY hard. He was Jason and "Iason" for a while. But when I got to Ethan, it stuck. Unfortunately, I have no memory of how I got to "Merit." Mallory was always Mallory, as were Lily and Scout.
S~ What else is going on in Chloe's world? Are you working on any other creative ideas?
I've got a couple of other series ideas in the works, but no time to write them! At the moment I'm focusing on writing two books a year.
S~ Wll you be going to see Eclipse when it comes out in theatres? If so, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
I probably won't (See movie discussion above). But I'm Team Jacob. :) [Yet another reason to like you ;) ]
S~ Has your writing ever taken you in a direction you weren't expecting? Do you have any hard and fast rules, or is it pretty much anything is possible?
It often takes me in a direction I wasn't expecting--and that's true of outlining as well as writing. The outline for the fourth Chicagoland Vampires book is completely different than its original incarnation, but I really love the direction its taking. The magic in HEXBOUND still awes me, as most of it just flowed out as I was writing the story.
S~ Any gossip you'd like to share with the group? *g*
Nothing that hasn't already been revealed on my Facebook page. ;) Thanks for having me today!
Well peeps, I am super excited to have one of the coolest people I've ever met as my special guest today :) The one and only Chloe Neill. Being as busy as she is, I don't think she'll be stopping by, but she did answer my nagging, er, indepth interview questions for inquiring minds who demand to know. So, let's get started....S~ What was the first vampire story you ever read? Did it have a romantic angle to it?
I recall reading vampire ghost stories as a child--there was one about some sort of vampire dog. Definitely no romantic angle in that one. :) It was some time later that I read Christine Feehan or Sherrilyn Kenyon and fell in love with the vampiric hero.
S~ How different is the Chicagoland Vampire series from when you originally came up with the idea, or has it stayed pretty close to your original version?
VERY different. The original version was pretty (unintentionally) silly. Mallory (or was it Merit?) was in a band and was performing at a club owned by Morgan. Merit was made a vampire in the back of the club by some raging, anti-human vamp. Ethan was completely absent, but Merit's other love interest was a blond named Lucky.
Generally, it was pretty awful. And then I got a mental image of Ethan, standing with his hands on his hips with that superior expression, and the rest is history!!
S ~After reading Firespell,the 1st book in your YA Dark Elite series, I was struck by how mature these teens are, and have a completely different voice than the CV series, not quite as snarky. How easy was it for you to create a world told from the perspective of teenagers without making it silly or too angsty?
Honestly, I didn't try to make them teenagers per se. I just tried to imagine how Lily and Scout would interact given their circumstances. There is, however, definitely a balancing act between good banter and angst, and trying to make the books neither too light nor too dark.
S~ How many books are planned in the DE series? Any possibility of a crossover with the CV series?
There are currently 3 under contract, but there's no possibility of a CV crossover at this point as, while they're both set in Chicago, they are completely different universes.
S~ How extensive was your research on Chicago for each series? Did you base the locale on actual places, or use your own imagination to come up with each individual world?
I'd say its 85% actual locations and 15% made up (but within the context of the neighborhood). Because the books are set in an actual location with a HUGE population, I knew I had to get it right the first time. I can't put Navy Pier in Evanston or ignore the Chicago River, for example. So I did lots of research about Chicago geography and neighborhoods. I now supplement that with location scouting trips to Chicago. But there is still some fudging on my part. For example, Cadogan House is imaginary, but it's set in the very real neighborhood of Hyde Park.
S~ One of my favorite things about your books is the different and complex relationships that exist: best friends, romantic interests, Sire to subject, some of them intertwined. How do you keep the action exciting without skimping on the personal interactions?
My focus is always on the personal interactions, because that's what I enjoy reading and writing. The action scenes don't come naturally to me, as I really have to work to imagine fights in three dimensions, for example. But these are urban fantasy, so action is inevitable. I try to focus on the stakes of the fight--what a character could win or lose as a result of the battle, which leads back to the personal interaction.
S~ You've talked about who inspired Ethan & Merit (Becks and Jill from the USA show "Royal Pains"). Any actors/actresses inspire the characters for your YA series?
I have Chris Pine in mind as Jason Shepherd, but that's really it. The Dark Elite series is very much about the characters' roles in their magical world, so while I have mental images of the characters, I haven't really worried too much about finding real world counterparts.
S~ Do you currently read any YA books? Any recommendations?
I recently finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and adored it (as I do with all Neil Gaiman). Beyond that, I don't have time to read much fiction at all, unfortunately!
S~ Okay, I just gotta ask: can we expect some intense, hot lovin' between any of your characters in Twice Bitten? How HOT can we anticipate it to get?
No comment. ;) [Luckily I already know the answer, and nope, I'm not telling either *g*]
S~ How do you like to relax? I see you like to bake and exercise. Are there other ways you unwind after a long day working/writing?
I'd say those are the big two. I also take my dogs to the dog park or on walks. I'll also scan the internet checking out interesting design and gadget web sites. You never know where ideas might pop up!
S~ What are some of your guilty pleasures? Favorite beverage? Favorite t.v. shows? Favorite music on your iPod?
Beverage - Hands down, Diet Coke. Always and forever! Xoxo
TV shows - Community, Parks & Rec, 30Rock, Leverage, Burn Notice, Man v. Food, No Reservations, Family Guy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and the list goes on and on and on. :)
S~ What are you reading right now?
I just started reading The Passage by Justin Cronin. Very intriguing so far!
S~ What's the last really good move you saw? What was so memorable about it?
I very rarely watch movies; I'm too much of a multitasker to devote the time to it. In fact, I can't remember the last movie I've watched...
S~ When you're writing about the ancient history of the Chicagoland Vampires, did you study actual history, or use a lot of creative license to describe its origins?
I studied actual history. I have a timeline written for the devleopment of the Greenwich Presidium (and its precursors) and the secret "RG" which sent Merit cards and invitations in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES. Although the histories are unique, I tried to ground them in realistic events--including the French Revolution and witchhunts of the 15th Century.
S~ What are some of your addictions? Twitter? Manicures? The Food Network?
Artsy notebooks created by independent graphic designers. Stiletto heels. Great handbags. Japanese needlepoint pens. Great salsa. Adult Swim.
S~ Which comes first: the character description or the name? Out of all your characters, which one was the hardest to come up with?
They both have to pop up at about the same time. Usually I'll have a loose idea for a character, then I'll scan through a baby name book until his or her name pops out at me. Ethan's name was VERY hard. He was Jason and "Iason" for a while. But when I got to Ethan, it stuck. Unfortunately, I have no memory of how I got to "Merit." Mallory was always Mallory, as were Lily and Scout.
S~ What else is going on in Chloe's world? Are you working on any other creative ideas?
I've got a couple of other series ideas in the works, but no time to write them! At the moment I'm focusing on writing two books a year.
S~ Wll you be going to see Eclipse when it comes out in theatres? If so, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
I probably won't (See movie discussion above). But I'm Team Jacob. :) [Yet another reason to like you ;) ]
S~ Has your writing ever taken you in a direction you weren't expecting? Do you have any hard and fast rules, or is it pretty much anything is possible?
It often takes me in a direction I wasn't expecting--and that's true of outlining as well as writing. The outline for the fourth Chicagoland Vampires book is completely different than its original incarnation, but I really love the direction its taking. The magic in HEXBOUND still awes me, as most of it just flowed out as I was writing the story.
S~ Any gossip you'd like to share with the group? *g*
Nothing that hasn't already been revealed on my Facebook page. ;) Thanks for having me today!
S ~ As always Chloe, it's awesome having you here :)
And to my wonderful visitors, stay tuned later this afternoon for your chance to win a copy of Twice Bitten, the 3rd book in Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampire series!
Labels: author interviews, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 6/29/2010 07:10:00 AM
| 6 comments
Wednesday, April 14, 2010:
posted by Stacy~ at 4/14/2010 07:38:00 AM
| 2 comments
Wednesday, February 17, 2010:
The story of a young heiress's initiation into the dark society of the Chicagoland Vampires continues...
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...
This is book #2 in Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series, and let me tell you, I think it's almost better than the first installment. Chloe continues to develop the story in an engaging and fun way, with humor, drama, and tons of sexual tension that has a reader, such as myself, squirming in my chair, wanting more, more, more.
It's been two months now since that fateful day Merit became a vampire, and she's still getting acclimated to her new lifestyle. She's decided to move into Cadogan House in order to be closer to her Liege and therefore better able to serve as Sentinel. But her choice isn't an easy one, and puts much tension on her friendship with BFF Mallory, who is going through her own adjustment period after having discovered around the same time she has the makings of a powerful witch. Mallory is reluctant to explore this new side of herself, yet her "I'm so sexy I should be illegal" boyfriend Catcher won't let her ignore her newfound powers, going as far as to train her himself.
But Merit's got problems of her own. Someone is trying to threaten the family member of an old friend and is pointing the blame at vampires, so this brings Merit back into, well, the Merit fold. She's not exactly thrilled with returning to the pomp and circumstance of that world, one she willingly walked away from, but this has become House business, and Merit must put aside her feelings in order to deal with a new threat against the vampires, most especially the one she protects: Ethan Sullivan, the painfully gorgeous bane of her existence.
To make matters worse, she's torn between Morgan Greer, the fairly new head of Navarre House and Ethan, Mr. Bane of My Existence. Though she likes Morgan a whole heck of a lot, there's something about her feelings for Ethan that won't let herself become more involved with Morgan. Even though Ethan himself pushed her to the other vampire, even though he isn't thrilled by his intense attraction for her, even though many times he treats her with condescension, she still cannot stop wanting him. Still, she tries to give Morgan a chance, because he really is a great guy, and they have fun together, plus he really seems to care for her. Morgan is the guy she should want.
So between BFF drama, family drama, vamp drama, and boy drama, Merit's got a lot of...drama on her plate. Will she be able to find and neutralize the threat before her time is up and a battle is waged between vampires, shifters, and humans? Or will the unknown danger - and her own closely guarded secret - prove to be too much to avoid the possibly inevitable war?
My thoughts:
I admit, I can be cynical sometimes, and I wasn't sure if this 2nd installment would hold my interest as much as the first. I figured my crush had worn off. Between the snarky comebacks and eye-rolling, I was almost sure of it. But you know what, the last laugh is on Chloe because I absolutely loved this book!
Admittedly, the story started off a little slow, probably because there was so much I wanted to see happen, but then before I knew it, I was totally engrossed in the goings-on of Merit, Ethan, Morgan, Catcher and Mallory. I was hoping for more glimpses of Luc and Lindsey, because I love the tension between the two of them and seriously want that to move along in the direction of the bedroom (or any supportable surface, really), but there was enough going on that I could handle their delayed gratification...for now.
As I've told Chloe, I love seeing Merit struggling with her training and trying to acclimate to being a vampire. I think it makes the story much more interesting to know she doesn't come by her skills 100% naturally, that she has to constantly work at it. Plus, she's had to make several sacrifices, and it doesn't look like that will end anytime soon. Her once solid relationships are experiencing rough spots, and she's not sure what the outcome will be when all is said and done. I can't help but feel for Merit in that regard. She's suffering growing pains in multiples ways, and though becoming a vampire may have saved her life, it also ended many things for her that she will never get back.
Probably my one area of contention, and this is me, not you Chloe, is that I'm torn between Morgan and Ethan now. In the beginning, I was Ethan all the way. And it's pretty much a given that Merit, deep down, feels the same way. But their relationship in some way reminds me of the adult version of Bella and Edward (Twilight) with Morgan as the dependable Jacob. Though Merit and Ethan have this deep, irresistible attraction, there are times when it just seems so unhealthy, and I don't always like the person Merit is because of it. Morgan comes across as the supportive, caring friend that Merit just doesn't feel "that way" for. Now I know Chloe is doing this to mess with my head, because there's got to be several secrets Morgan has that haven't been revealed yet, so right now I'm rather enjoying my indecision. Does that sound strange?
All I know is I'm having a blast reading these books, and am more impatient than ever to read Twice Bitten. And....I haven't completely decided, but I do have the first 2 books in the series, signed by Chloe from last month's signing, that I might be giving away here. Or...I might give them away at the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell event. Not sure. Either way, there will be one happy reader out there :)
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Chloe Neill, review
posted by Stacy~ at 2/17/2010 06:56:00 AM
| 5 comments
Monday, January 25, 2010:
In case you haven't been around my blog here in the last week or so, I had finally decided to attend the Chloe Neill signing in Wisconsin this past weekend. Once I figured out where it was, it was only about a 45-minute drive from home, so despite the icky weather, I was determined to go.
In case you haven't been around my blog here in the last week or so, I had finally decided to attend the Chloe Neill signing in Wisconsin this past weekend. Once I figured out where it was, it was only about a 45-minute drive from home, so despite the icky weather, I was determined to go.In fact, I ended up attending both signings, and met some really cool people there too. That's one of the fun things about attending these events.
The first signing, at the Barnes & Noble in Racine, was already in progress by the time I got there. Yes, I had gotten there about an hour early, but I went to go eat and got to the store right at 1pm.
Chloe spent some time talking, then took questions. I love this part, and even felt comfortable enough to ask a question of my own: what type of music did she listen to while writing the Chicago vampires (Nine Inch Nails, and she also watched a lot of Bones & NCIS). She then signed books and chatted with us. Very informal, and we learned that she has not been invited to Chicago by any of the bookstores. Gasp! Well that is something I plan on working on. Another fan, who lives not to far from me, is intending to contact our local Barnes & Noble to set up a signing here. I think that should be mandatory!
Originally I hadn't intended to go to the 2nd booksigning in Greenfield, but then I found out from the store that it was only about 20 miles away and very easy to get to, so of course I decided it would be worth it. I headed over to the mall, and since I had time, grabbed something to eat and scoped out the nearby Borders. Then I headed over to the B&N, where the setting was a little more intimate, and it was even more fun because we got to sit down and chat and just enjoy spending time as a group. Krista, the one who lives not to far away, is another fan, and she gave me some great recs.
We also learned more about Chloe and the series that I didn't know about, such as:
* Chloe Neill is a pen name.
* Ethan was inspired by David Beckham. Catcher by Paul Walker (yum). And Chloe had Zoey Deschanel in mind for Merit, as well as Jill Flint from the USA Network show "Royal Pains"
* She listened to "Alone" off the Glee soundtrack, like, A LOT, as well as the song "Possiblity" from the New Moon soundtrack and the band Muse. She mentioned Imogen Heap as well.
* She's read and enjoyed the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward and Kim Harrison
* Chloe also reads a lot of travel logs and nonfiction by A. J. Jacobs
* She raves about writer Neil Gaiman
* Chloe chose Chicago for her vampire series because New York, L.A. and New Orleans have been done before, and Chicago has a rich and dark history
* She has 3 books under contract so far for her Dark Elite series (and we hope for more)
* Never say never, but chances are she might not write a stand-alone book. She really likes the character development of a series.
* ...and last but not least, we did not get ANY good gossip on Merit or Ethan! Bummer!
But hey I'm not complaining (much) because I got the chance to meet a favorite new author, and I got my books signed. I also bought the first 2 in the Chicagoland Vampire series that I also had signed and need to figure out what kind of contest I'm going to have. Hmmm....
Now for those of you who would love to meet Chloe and want her to come to your hometown, one thing that might be helpful is to contact your local bookstore(s) and request that they invite her in for a signing. I know she's very receptive to the idea, so give it a try. Let them know you'd love to have a favorite author come to their store. Really, it's so easy, and it's a win/win situation: the reader gets to meet a fun and interesting person, the writer gets their name out there and sells some books, and the booksellers are making a profit without really having to spend much money to promote said author. And if the booksellers are savvy, they've figured out that readers, especially romance readers, buy in bulk. It's very unlikely that we stop at one (see previous post about my 16-book shopping spree!
Some exciting news:
Chloe Neill night be coming back to the area in July, when the 3rd Chicagoland Vampire book is released! I've already marked it down on my calendar to attend. And just maybe she'll have a signing in the Windy City!
So far Chloe doesn't have any plans to attend the conferences throughout the year, but I'm hoping she'll consider attending the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell gathering in June. Definitely an inexpensive and fun way to interact with readers and other authors. We'll see just how persuasive I can be *g*
I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I used my phone, which doesn't take the best pictures but it's quick and easy and fun to play with and allowed me to take notes and Google some of what Chloe was talking about. I've bookmarked some new tunes and websites to check out, based on some of her comments.
A huge "thank you" to Chloe for doing the signing so close to where I live, and it was a pleasure to listen to her talk about books and answer our questions. It makes me even more impatient for the next book!
Any booksignings in your future?
Labels: booksignings, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 1/25/2010 07:25:00 AM
| 13 comments
Saturday, January 23, 2010:
First off, thank YOU for all the amazing recs for the hot 'n sexy m/m romance stories I was looking for. For those who don't know, "The Assignment" by Evangeline Anderson was my first m/m romance, and it set the tone for the type of stories that appealed to me the most, specifically the heterosexual angle. It's not that I don't appreciate or want to read about two gay men falling in love, because I have read some wonderful stories along those lines and enjoyed them very much, it's just that at this particular time, I wanted the more forbidden aspect. Yes you've discovered one of my dirty girl secrets *g*
In about an hour or so, I'll be heading up north - Racine, Wisconsin to be specific - for the Chloe Neill booksigning. I'm soooo excited! I don't know if anyone else is going, but I'd love to meet you if you are :) A HUGE shout-out to Mandi from Smexy Books for having talked up Chloe's books and having her as a guest at the Smexy blog. Mandi is among one of my most favorite book pimps, and I appreciate how she brings us the latest and greatest. I may not love the Killers like she does (I'm more a Nickelback kinda girl) but that doesn't mean she doesn't have fabulous taste in books *g*
I'll do my best to take and perhaps tweet pictures, and if I learn any good dirt, I'll post it here. Enjoy your day, lovelies :)
What's on your agenda today?
Labels: booksignings, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 1/23/2010 08:57:00 AM
| 5 comments
Tuesday, November 03, 2009:
When I came up with my spotlight idea several months ago, I had no idea who I was going to spotlight for the letter "N". That is, until Miss Chloe Neill came along. Now I am a completly enamored reader of her books, and much like Mandi from Smexybooks, I wish to share that with my fellow readers.
When I came up with my spotlight idea several months ago, I had no idea who I was going to spotlight for the letter "N". That is, until Miss Chloe Neill came along. Now I am a completly enamored reader of her books, and much like Mandi from Smexybooks, I wish to share that with my fellow readers.See, I am not the biggest paranormal reader, despite recent evidence to the contrary, and the idea of yet another vampire series really didn't thrill me. But this one was set in Chicago, which I liked, so that piqued my interest. Then one day I was in the bookstore and I came across it on the shelves and when I read the synopsis, it really appealed to me.
It wasn't until I actually started reading the book though, that I became infatuated. Merit is an incredibly likable heroine. She's stubborn, and a bit of a smartmouth, but she's got a big heart, is loyal to those she loves, and lives by her own moral code. Merit doesn't just simply follow the crowd, even when it doesn't make her all that popular. She's a great heroine.
Plus, I really love that we get to see the mythology in action. Yes, Merit is a vampire, but a newbie at it, and there's a lot for her to learn. While some of it is instinctual, she still has to train and prepare and educate herself on her new lifestyle. It's not always easy for her to adjust to what she's become.
So I've read "Some Girls Bite" twice, and already Chloe is an auto-buy author for me. "Friday Nite Bites" is in the bag I carry to work with me, but I'm not quite ready to start it yet because it's soooo long until the next one.
Something kinda fun: before I actually "knew" of Chloe, she did a fun post at my former review site, Romance Novel TV. Here's her post.
What do you think of female vampires?
Why do you think it might be cool to be one?
Labels: Chloe Neill, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 11/03/2009 06:44:00 AM
| 9 comments
Tuesday, October 27, 2009:
Is this cover gorgeous or what?? If I were Chloe, I'd be so thrilled by this vision for her 3rd book, which will be out July 2010. Of course it's totally on my TBB list. (Click here to go to Chloe's blog and click to see enlarged version).
And yes, I will admit that I totally have a reader crush on her and her amazing books, but that's all Smexy's fault. I'm not ashamed to admit it (my crush or that it's Smexy's fault LOL). But Chloe has nothing to fear. Shiloh Walker has experienced similar behavior from me, and I've even met her in person and managed not to need police intervention. I'm obsessive, but not psychotic. I can behave in public. Just admiring the pretty picture.....
What do you think of the cover?
Labels: bookcovers, Chloe Neill
posted by Stacy~ at 10/27/2009 06:17:00 PM
| 6 comments
Tuesday, October 20, 2009:
They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.
Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my 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 my gratitude-and servitude. Right...
My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood...
They killed me. They healed me. They changed me. Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced theirexistence to the world-and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker... and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.
Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my 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 my gratitude-and servitude. Right...
But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?
My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood...
Of course I have to give a shout-out to Mandi from Smexy Books for bringing this one to my attention. I admit I was feeling rather vamped out, but I'm ever so glad I decided to listen to her and read "Some Girls Bite". The girl knows what she's talking about.
10. The Setting. I love reading books set in Chicago, so check, this one fits the bill. Makes me want to visit each and every spot, even if it is all made up in Chloe Neill's head.
9. The Heroine. I love strong, funny heroines who don't take themselves too seriously, and Merit is all that and more. It's interesting getting her perspective on becoming a vampire against her will, and adjusting to all the changes and rules.
8. The Best friend. Mallory is not just Merit's roommate, they are also the best of best friends, as close as sisters, and she always has Merit's back. She's not just a sidekick; she's got a life and gig of her own. She's sassy, uber smart, and dealing with her own revelations.
7. The Mythology. Being somewhat of a purist, I like it when the history stays close to the original (i.e. Bram Stoker's Dracula is my reference guide here). So there are some elements of the vamp world that are very much in line with the granddaddy of all fangbangers. But that doesn't mean I don't allow for some variety. Chloe mixes it up here and makes it interesting, moreso than those damn BDB chaps. Chloe doesn't have designer everything, and she's got issues that make her interesting. Totally dig that.
6. The Mentor. OMG from the minute Catcher Bell came on the scene, wearing that Public Enemy Number 1 t-shirt, I was in lust. Damn, that boy is fine, and I want me some of that. He's my kinda bad boy, wearing jeans, oozing sex appeal. His woman is a LUCKY woman, and if I didn't like her, I'd seriously hate her. Plus, there's that whole mysterious thing going on. Just WHO is Catcher Bell???
5. The Family. Between the heartless Richies that are mortified by Merit's new situation yet have no compunction trying to use it to their advantage, and the blue-collar grandpa who thinks of Merit as the apple of his eye, Merit's got her hands full with familial responsibilities. At least her grandfather loves her unconditionally and offers a safe haven from her parents.
4. The Weapons. Okay so I tend to be fascinated by the gratuitious violence in vamp novels, and nothing says I want to chop your head off quite like a shiny, sharp sword. But Merit has to learn how to use it first. And that's when Catcher comes in. It's all about honor....
3. Shapshifters and Witches and Nymphs, oh my. In addition to the vamps who have recently come out of the coffins, Chicago is beset with a whole lot of additional otherworldly characters who each have their own individual personalities and unique quirks, and Merit's head is spinning with all this new-found knowledge.
2. The Wealth. Okay, despite Merit wanting to live life on her own terms, she can't possibly deny the perks of being a part of Cadogan House and the idea of living in such luxurious accommodations. Rich, lush, tasteful, the massive and classy pile of bricks is tempting to even the most resistant of principles, so even Merit's impressed it doesn't resemble a Vegas brothel with heavy goth overtones. The Liege has got taste.
1. The Hero. Yum. Granted, Ethan Sullivan isn't exactly hitting all my hot buttons, but the guy is mega rich, incredibly experienced, and sexy in a lithe, panther-like manner, so I figure it's only a matter of time before I succumb to his predator-like chamrs. With the need for a Mr. Darcy-like personality adjustment, and a sensuality that lights Merit's fire, she's got her hands full trying to keep her hands off of her Liege. Yet despite all of Merit's good points, he isn't too happy about the fact he is massively attracted to her against his will, and this could present a big problem for their future. Still, Ethan is the top dog, and his appeal cannot be denied. Like I said, yum.
**Honorable mention**: Morgan. Vamp from a competing house who has the hots for Merit and she most likely also has the hots for him. Didn't like him none too much by the end of the book, but I hear that change is a'comin'. Can't wait for Morgan to persuade me otherwise....
So???? What are you waiting for? Grab your copy today and find out what all the fuss is about.
Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Chloe Neill, vampires
posted by Stacy~ at 10/20/2009 07:45:00 AM
| 11 comments
