Tag Archives: Heirs of Chicagoland

Cold Curses by Chloe Neill – a Review

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Cold Curses by Chloe Neill – a Review

 

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Description:
Elisa, the only vampire ever born, is hoping all can remain quiet in the City of Chicago in the wake of a destructive attack by an ancient demon who broke the city’s defensive magic. Still, she and her friends, including shifter Connor Keene, know they need to be ready for anything.
 
Everyone is working as hard as they can to repair the city’s wards, but unwelcome creatures are slipping through and Elisa soon finds herself caught in the middle of a magical turf war with roots that go back generations. She knows she will have to take a stand, but retaliating threatens to reveal her deepest secret…

 

 

Review:

Cold Curses by Chloe Neill is the 5th book in her fantastic Heirs of Chicagoland urban fantasy series. I am a fan of Chloe Neill, having read a few of her books. I love this series, and sad to note that this book is the end (hopefully for now), loved both Elisa and Conner.  Refresher:  Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her parents (Ethan & Merit) are the powerful leaders of the vampires that lead Chicagoland.  Connor Keen, our hero, is a werewolf and the heir apparent to the North American Central Pack Apex (Alpha). Connor and Elisa have become a wonderful romantic couple, as the chemistry between them is sizzling.

Elisa and her team, Theo, Petra are called into a demon attack that has broken the city’s defensive magic.  Chicago is now being bombarded with dangerous demons, slipping through the open wards, who think nothing of killing humans.  Everyone is working as hard as they can to repair the city’s wards, and find out who is behind the destruction. Elisa and Theo investigate someone who has taken over as a leader of the demons, with him saying there is another person who is competing against him. Elisa finds herself in the middle of a magical surf war, and early on, she fears the worst, as her bff, Lulu was seriously hurt.  Elisa is determined to get the demon to release the spell on Lulu.

Connor tries to stay close to Elisa, worries about the attacks on her, though she has handled them, despite some injuries.  All of the various groups have joined together to fight the enemies; such as Gwen, Alexei, Petra, Roger, Elisa’s parents (Ethan & Merit), Aunt Mallory, as well as Lulu after her recovery.  Elisa will discover that a surprise person is bent on destroying them all. 

What follows is an exciting action filled adventure, especially in the last half of the book as the danger escalates, with threats escalating. Elisa was a fabulous heroine, and we got a glimpse of the ‘monster’ inside of her, who would help her when the danger escalated, adding more powers to her ability. Only Connor was aware of the monster.  Elisa will need to step up and use ‘monster’ to help save Chicago.

I love how Elisa and Connor were so great together, with both of them always supporting each other, constantly being by their side whenever needed; even though she was a vampire and he was a werewolf.   They were both independent, strong, savvy and very much in love, with awesome chemistry.  I will miss them, if this is the end of Heirs of Chicagoland.

Chloe Neill gives us another fantastic story, with a wonderful couple and awesome secondary characters.  Cold Curses was so very well written by Neill, with exciting, tense, nonstop action, just enough romance, and a fantastic heroine and hero.  If you haven’t read this series, you need to do so now.  Thank you, Chloe Neill for a such a wonderful series, which I do hope we get to see Elisa and Connor again.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill – Review & Excerpt

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Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
As the only vampire ever born, and the daughter of two very powerful Chicago vampires, Elisa Sullivan knew her life was going to be…unusual. But she wanted to make her own way in the world, preferably away from her famous family. Then supernatural politics—and perhaps a bit of destiny—intervened, and Elisa had to steady her nerves and sharpen her steel to fight for the city of Chicago. Luckily, Connor Keene, son of the North American Central Pack’s Apex wolf, is right by her side.

When Elisa and her Ombudsman colleagues agree to escort a troubled sorcereress to Chicago, they inadvertently set in motion a scheme of long-awaited magical vengeance. The city may pay an arcane price it can’t afford unless Elisa and her allies rise to the challenge.

 

 

Review:

Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill is the 5th book in her fantastic Heirs of Chicagoland series.  Refresher:  Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her parents (Ethan & Merit) are the powerful leaders of the vampires that lead Chicagoland.  Connor Keen, our hero, is a werewolf and the heir apparent to the North American Central Pack Apex (Alpha). Connor and Elisa have become a wonderful romantic couple, as the chemistry between them is sizzling.

When Elisa and her Ombudsman colleagues agree to escort a troubled sorcerer to Chicago, they quickly learn that the woman they were trying save was a demon. With the demon loose, Chicago is under siege with chaos wreaking havoc.  The stakes are high, as Elisa tries to find the demon, and stop her from destroying Chicago; Connor always shows up to be by her side throughout.  Things become worse when Elisa’s family home disappears, which includes her mother, father, Connor’s mother, father, and many others we knew from previous books.  Time is of essence, as they only have a few days to stop the demon and save the family.  Connor is also under pressure from an out-of-town pack that plans on taking over his pack and challenging him.

I love how Elisa and Connor were so great together, with both of them always supporting each other, constantly being by their side whenever needed; even though she was a vampire and he was a werewolf.   They were both independent, strong, savvy and very much in love, with awesome chemistry. It was also nice to see many of the recurring characters in this series, such as Lulu, Alexi, Theo, Petra, as well as many of the originals from Chicagoland.

What follows is an exciting action filled adventure, especially in the last half of the book as the danger escalates, with threats are escalated. Devouring Darkness was very well-written by Chole Neill, with lots of action, romance, fun and intense. Once again, I thought Elisa was a fabulous heroine, and we got a glimpse of the monster inside of her, who would help her when the danger escalated, adding the strong element of a berserker. Only Connor was aware of the monster.

Chloe Neill gives us another great story, with a wonderful couple, great secondary characters.  Devouring Darkness was an exciting, tense, nonstop action filled addition to this wonderful series.  I wholly suggest you read this series.  I can’t wait for more.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                             Excerpt

A human approached us-dark skin and dapper suit, trimly fit around a strong body. He smiled tentatively at me, then Lulu. “Lulu Bell?”

“That’s me,” Lulu said. “Hi.”

“I’m Clint Howard,” the man said, offering her a hand.

“Oh my god, sure!” Lulu said brightly, shaking and then gesturing to me. “Elisa, this is Clint. He owns the gallery.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “You’ve got a lovely space here. And . . . an eclectic collection.”

His grin was wide and a little sly. “We’re a space for emerging artists. And speaking of which, I saw your piece on Halsted. I’d love to talk to you about an installation.”

Lulu’s eyes went wide. She was a muralist and specialized in outdoor projects; her brightly colored creations covered at least a dozen brick

 

 

 

 

 

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Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill – a Review

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Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill – a Review

 

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Description:
Elisa Sullivan is the only vampire ever born, and she bears a heavy legacy. After a sojourn with the North American Central Pack of shifters in the wilderness—where she turned a young woman into a vampire to save her life—Elisa returns to Chicago.

But no good deed goes unpunished. The ruling body of vampires, the Assembly of American Masters, is furious that Elisa turned someone without their permission, and they’re out for her blood. When an AAM vampire is found dead, Elisa is the prime suspect. Someone else is stalking Chicago—and Elisa. She’ll need to keep a clear head, and a sharp blade, to survive all the supernatural strife.

 

 

Review:

Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill is the 3rd book in her wonderful Heirs of Chicagoland series.   I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and happy to say Shadowed Steel was equally as good.  I cannot wait to read more of this great series, as I love Elisa, who had become one of my favorite heroines.  Refresher:  Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her parents (Ethan & Merit) are the powerful leaders of the vampires that lead Chicagoland.  Connor Keen, our hero, is a werewolf and the heir apparent to the North American Central Pack Apex (Alpha); in the last book, Connor and Elisa found their friendship becoming more romantic as they were falling for each other, and the chemistry between them is sizzling.

In the last book, Elisa saved the life of a dying young lady, making her a vampire.  Weeks have passed, and now out of nowhere, the AAM (new ruling body of vampires) has come to her threatening her to either bond with a house or she will be arrested.  Elisa refuses, with Connor and friends supporting her, which ignites one of the leaders (Clive) into a major fight to get her and force her to do what they ask.  Elisa, Connor and friends manage to win the battle, with the AAM saying they will be back. Turns out there is also a stalker, who is willing to hurt others to protect her, including hurting Connor.  Elisa needs to find out who is the stalker, as well as find a way out of the AAM threats.

I love Elisa and Connor together, even knowing that she is a vampire and he is a werewolf, and the chemistry between them was amazing.  I also loved the friends (LuLu, Alexei, Theo and of course the devil cat, Eleanor of Aquitaine,etc)  who supported Elisa, who were also great characters created by Neill.  

What follows is an exciting action filled adventure, especially in the last half of the book as the danger escalates, with threats coming from all over. It was great to see her parents show up to help her.

I thought Elisa was a wonderful heroine; strong, smart, sensible and truly likeable. She does have a secret that Connor knows about (he saw the change in her when an episode happened when they were children); she feels the monster inside of her, but when she is in danger, her monster is what will help her fight like a berserker, and she struggles to control it. It was nice to see her accept her other part, and slowly begin to work with it.  I look forward when she will be able to use this more when needed. Connor was very supportive, telling Elisa to use the power from the monster to help her fight.

Chloe Neill gives us another great story, with a wonderful couple, great secondary characters.  Shadowed Steel was an exciting, tense, nonstop action filled addition to this wonderful series that is very well written by Chloe Neill. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill – a Review

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Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill – a Review

 

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Description:
Vampires were made, not born—until Elisa Sullivan came along. As the only vampire child in existence, she grew up with a heavy legacy, and tried to flee her past. Then circumstances drew her back to Chicago, and she stayed to keep it safe. With shifter Connor Keene, the only son of Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, at her side, she faced down a supernatural evil that threatened to destroy Chicago forever.

After the dust from the attack has settled, Elisa is surprised when Connor invites her to a usually private Pack event in the north woods of Minnesota, and by the warm welcome she receives from some of Connor’s family, even though she’s a vampire. But the peace doesn’t last. The shifters tell tales of a monster in the woods, and when the celebration is marred by death, Elisa and Connor find themselves in the middle of a struggle for control that forces Elisa to face her true self—fangs and all.

 

 

Review:

Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill is the 2nd book in her Heirs of Chicagoland series.  I looked forward to reading this book, especially after I loved the first book, Wild Hunger.  I am happy to say Wicked Hour was equally as good as the first book, and I cannot wait to continue reading more of this wonderful series.

Refresher:  Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her parents are the powerful leaders of the American vampires that lead the Chicagoland series.  Connor Keen, our hero, is a werewolf and the heir apparent to the North American Central Pack Apex (Alpha).  Both Connor and Elisa have known each other since childhood, though they did not consider themselves friends,  as their families maintained a peaceful friendship, despite the different species (vampire – werewolf).  In the last book, Connor and Elisa become friends, now that they are no longer children, and the chemistry between them continues to heat up.

In Wicked Hour, Connor needs to go to visit the Minnesota Pack, because of an initiation, and also some concerns.  He convinces Elisa to go with him, as she is very good at reading people, as well as Alexei, another werewolf loyal to Connor and his pack.  What they find is a clan in disarray, with the elders and the younger generation becoming separated, especially after the death of one of the younger females.  Connor and Elisa will also discover that the elders are ignoring signs of a dangerous species that is hurting and killing others.  Both will have to find a way to stand up to the clan, and earn their respect, especially since they do not like a vampire in their mist.  

What follows is an exciting action filled adventure, especially in the last third of the book as the danger escalates with this new species trying to take over, including killing humans. Connor and Elisa will discover how this new mutant is being created by a magical spell, and must find a way to defeat them, as well gain the trust of the clan.   

I thought Elisa was a wonderful heroine; strong, smart, sensible and truly likeable. She does have a secret that Connor knows about; she feels she has a monster inside of her, but when she is in danger, her monster is what will help her fight like a berserker.  As the danger escalates putting their lives in danger, it is Connor who persuades Elisa to use her gift to help save their lives.  It was nice to see her accept her other part, and I look forward when she will be able to use this more when needed.

Chloe Neill gives us another great story, with a wonderful couple, great secondary characters, which include, LuLu, Alexei, Theo and Elisa’s strange cat, Eleanor of Aquitaine.  Wicked Hour was well written by Neill and continues this wonderful Urban Fantasy/Paranormal series, which I can’t wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill – Review & Giveaway

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Wild Hunger by Chloe Neil – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
As the only vampire child ever born, some believed Elisa Sullivan had all the luck. But the magic that helped bring her into the world left her with a dark secret. Shifter Connor Keene, the only son of North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, is the only one she trusts with it. But she’s a vampire and the daughter of a Master and a Sentinel, and he’s prince of the Pack and its future king.

When the assassination of a diplomat brings old feuds to the fore again, Elisa and Connor must choose between love and family, between honor and obligation, before Chicago disappears forever.

 

 

Review:

Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill is the first book in her new Heirs of Chicagoland series, which is a spinoff from her Chicagoland Vampire series.  I have not read the Chicagoland series, but this new series was very easy to start as a standalone.  Though sometime in the future, I think I would enjoy starting that series, as I have been enjoyed another series by her, and I really loved Wild Hunger.

This series picks up years later, Elisa Sullivan, our heroine, is the only vampire child ever born, and her mother and father (Ethan & Merit from the Chicagoland series) are the leaders of the American Vampires.  The American Vampires have been in peace for many years, and now try to bring the European countries to attend a peace treaty, to stop the wars in France and other European countries.  Elisa returns after a couple of years in France, working with their leader on an internship. 

Connor Keene, a shifter & the only son of North American Central Pack leader, Gabriel Keene (also from Chicagoland series), is the heir apparent of the pack.  Connor and Elisa knew each other well as children, surrounded by their families, and they never got along, with the older Connor calling Elisa “brat”.   After many years, both are shocked at how different they are today. In a short time, their disdain for each other will change to a full blown attraction, which stays in the background and I am sure will be explored in future books.  

The focus of the story revolves around the Fae, who have returned and want their lost powers back.  A murder occurs at the party, and all hell will begin to break loose, which will lead to many of the European countries to break up and return home.  Elisa will work with others to help clear a shifter from murder charges, and well and try to stop the Fae from taking over America.

I thought Elisa (Lis) was a wonderful heroine; strong, smart, sensible and truly likeable. She does have a secret that goes back to her childhood when her mother took control of evil being, a power she struggles to control.  She feels she has a monster inside of her, but when she is in danger, her monster is what will help her fight like a berserker and help save the good guys.  The only one who knew about it was Connor, who remembers when she had an episode as a child.  He will try to convince her to accept her power, and learn to control it. It was very sweet to watch how he was always there for her whenever she was in danger.  I loved watching them falling for each other; he was surprised how beautiful and smart, with her unable to not fall for the hot hunky new Connor. 

What follows is an exciting adventure, especially in the last third of the book as the war escalates with the vampires and shifters trying to protect their country and the humans against the dangerous hostile fairies.  Chloe Neill introduces a wonderful new series, with some fantastic characters, which include, Elisa, Connor and LuLu, as well as a romance that has so much potential.  Wild Hunger is a great start to a terrific Urban Fantasy/Paranormal series.   I for one cannot wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Chloe Neill’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy  WILD HUNGER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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