You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch

 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was such a disappointing read for me for numerous reasons, but most of all, I was upset because this is probably the book I was most looking forward to this year. The cover is GORGEOUS, the synopsis is intriguing, and I just knew that I was going to love it. Boy, was I wrong. The characters fell flat, the plot was confusing and silly, and I really didn’t end up feeling any real connection to the book. In one word, this book was a dud.

Above all else, I didn’t finish this book because of the characters. Not only was every single character annoying as hell, but the male characters seemed to be very abusive and dangerous. They didn’t actually DO anything, but it seemed to be implied. The male characters made this book very uncomfortable to read, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect from them. Not only that, but the female characters were ANNOYING! OMG. They were either all over the boys, crying their little eyes out over a broken heart, or just being….weird. You know what? That’s the best word that can describe this book. Weird. The whole damn thing was weird. I made it about 130 pages into this book, and I had no idea what the hell was going on. Confusing much? I needed some kind of bone thrown my way!

The weirdness of this book ties directly into the plot. It’s about Violet who lives with her brother (who seems very unstable and abusive might I add!), and she ends up letting this guy named River live in her guest house. Her parents don’t live with her. Instead, they’re out traveling, leaving their two minor children all alone (not to mention that they’re almost out of money and can’t get ahold of their parents!). There was the first major concern. That is SO unrealistic! In reality, CPS would have been called in a heartbeat. It made absolutely no sense that those kids were left unattended with no complaints or concerns. Anyways, all of a sudden the local children in their town start spouting stuff about devils and they end up camping out at a graveyard holding stakes in anticipation to kill the Devil. News people are called, police are called, parents are called, everyone is called, and STILL the kids won’t leave the graveyard. Are you still with me? If you are, congrats! Cause I’m not even with me. It made. no. sense. I was confused. Hell, I’m still confused. Which is a major reason why I stopped reading this book. I didn’t finish the book. Well, skimmed it, so it might have gotten better! I did read the last little bit at the end, though, and I still couldn’t stand it. Maybe if I would have liked the main characters, Violet and River, then that would have made up for it, but I’m honestly not sure which would I despised more. It was just….bad.

I am so sad that I didn’t like this book. I was willing to beg, borrow, or steal for it….and this is what happened. I’ve talked to some people who liked the book, but I’ve always talked to people who share the exact same opinion as I do. I don’t think that I’ve ever been able to say that I didn’t know what the hell a book was about after reading it, but I sure can now.

 

Pages: 368

Publication Date: August 15th 201

Publisher: Dial

Source: ARC provided by publisher

Rating: :

Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

 

I have been such a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series for years now. It’s one of the most amazing adult paranormal series out there and everyone should read it! I had some problems with the last 3 books in the series. The fifth one was a little boring during the beginning and was amazing during the last half. The 6th and 7th books, though, I just couldn’t get in to. I was starting to worry that maybe I was just done with this series, which was probably one of the worst feelings in the world. I would practically jump someone to get the next book every single time one would be releasing, so it was a horrible feeling to think that maybe I just wasn’t as in love with it anymore. The beginning of Biting Bad was a little boring, I have to admit it, but the last 150 pages?! O.M.G. Pure perfection. It made me remember how amazing Chloe Neill is and how HOT Ethan is! I ended up so sad that the book was over. Now I’m probably going to have to wait like another year before I get my hands on the next book. OF COURSE!

What I loved about this book is that there were so many more Ethan/Merit scenes than there usually are. I still want to see more cutesy moments between them, but I was in love with how much attention was devoted to those two. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ethan. I could just read about him all day.

My one complaint is that, and not just with this book, but the series is getting very serious. Everything is all about protecting the house, honor, and proving to the world that vampires are not horrible people. I need that seriousness to tone down just a little bit because that’s what’s giving this series such a boring quality. I need more humor and sexiness! I need Merit to tone down a bit and to be goofy at times. There were a few moments in Biting Bad that were on the less serious side, but it was very serious almost 100% of the time. And that’s not a bad thing! I honestly get why that seriousness exists, but it just needs to tone down a tiny bit.

As I said before, the last 150 pages are what made this book. I don’t know exactly how it switched from boring to amazing, but it did. All of a sudden, I couldn’t take my eyes off the page….and God help anyone who tried to talk to or bother me while I was finishing up my book. And the ending…gasssssssssssssssssssp! I need the next book STAT! Also, there was some crazzzzy good and unexpected action scenes in this book! Got to give it up to Chloe Neill…normally the action scenes are there…but woahhhhh! Even my mouth dropped.

Haven’t picked up the Chicagoland Vampires series? Shame on you! Go to the store right now and get the first book! Hell, pick up the whole series just so you don’t go into withdrawals. You will LOVE this series!

 

Pages: 368

Publication Date: August 6th, 2013

Publisher: NAL Penguin

Rating: :

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

 

I’ve been itching for another adult series ever since the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong ended last year. It’s not too hard to please me with adult books. I love most that I read. For years, I’ve heard how awesome and popular the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is, so I gave it a shot! The series is about this band of brothers…who aren’t really brothers….who are vampires. This particular book focuses on the King of the brothers, Wrath, and his love interest, Beth. It took me probably about 75 pages to start enjoying the book. Up till then it was bland and boring…and I honestly considered putting down the book. I had to reach out to people on our Facebook page to see if it was worth continuing. Most of them said yes, so I did….I continued the book. I ended up really enjoying it. I didn’t fall in LOVE with it…but I liked it [=

My biggest issue with this book were the main characters. I'm sorry ladies....but Wrath just didn't cut it for me. I found him oversensitive, overprotective, a bit of a cry baby, unreasonable, and he just wasn't very attractive by the end of the book. Likewise, I didn't like Beth either. That probably means they were perfect for each other. It was a bit difficult to thoroughly enjoy a book when I didn't like either of the characters.

Now here comes the part where all the Black Dagger Brotherhood fans are probably going to want to skin me alive. I skimmed....a little bit. I didn't skim the parts with Beth and Wrath!....well.....at least not until the end when they're emotions and annoyingness got amped up. But...I HATED all of the multiple POV's...and I HATED the characters who were in the POVS. I don't remember all of characters names, and since I already returned this book I can't look them up..so here goes. Mr. X's POV was disturbing and disgusting. He gave me the creeps and I wasn't reading about him. The cop...Butch? I hated him. He seemed like a creepy serial killer slash rapist. And if he said "baby" one more time in his creepy little voice....uh uh. No. I was NOT reading about him. And then finally there was another girl...who....I can't remember her name. She belonged to Wrath in the beginning. I didn't even know WHY she had her own POV? Why the hell was she important? I skimmed through her pages because she didn't belong in the story. So there were way too many POV's (5, I think?) and three of them really didn't need to be in the story. It was like J.R. Ward ran out of things to say and included other POV's to make it longer...or to meet her deadline. Others are going to disagree, and that's fine, but it was my one major complaint in this book.

On a more positive note, I did really enjoy the concept of the book. There were some really, really, REALLY hot scenes! Won't complain about that [; I also really enjoyed some of the other brothers. Not all of them, but some. I really want to read Z's story! I bet that one is going to be really good. The whole idea behind this book was awesome...and some of the story was really addicting and well written. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I did finish it.

When it comes to the other books in the series, I will read them....eventually. I didn't fall in love with this series, and I don't think that's going to change. Some of the writing was very confusing, and I think that's more to do with J.R. Ward than the actual book itself. But I'll eventually finish!

 

Now that you Black Dagger Brotherhood fans are probably itching to smack me....tell me...what is YOUR favorite book in the series? And who's your favorite brother???

 

If you like this book, you should read:

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

 

Pages: 393

Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Publication Date: September 6th, 2005

Source: Library

Rating: :

 

Teaser Quote: “Whoa. Fangs. She had fangs.

She leaned in, prodded them a little. Eating with those puppies was going to take some getting used to, she thought.

On impulse, she brought up her hands, turned her fingers into claws. Hissed.

Cool.”