Bad to the Bone (WVMP Radio, #2)

May 30, 2010 DarkHeart "Vehngeance" rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, 2010, vampires

I love the world Smith-Ready has created with her vampires, each stuck in their own personal time warp. They are at times hilarious and endearing, some times frightening and disturbing, but always entertaining.

This installment sees Ciara and Shane learning how to make their relationship work - and I must say it had me both laughing and crying. I love that neither of them are simple characters - the each have layers of complexity that come together to form the flawed, but lovable characters that...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, urban-fantasy

Reading Wicked Game was definitely a highlight of my summer reading last year. It easily made my Best of 2008 list and I've been looking forward to the sequel ever since. Ciara's life has changed just a little bit since she first came to WVMP as a part-time marketing intern. She is now, for all intents and purposes, the station owner. What that means is she is on the clock 24/7 taking care of her little flock of vampire DJs, spinning PR as the vamps spin the tunes that are their lifeblood. She's...more Reading Wicked Game was definitely a highlight of my summer reading last year. It easily made my Best of 2008 list and I've been looking forward to the sequel ever since. Ciara's life has changed just a little bit since she first came to WVMP as a part-time marketing intern. She is now, for all intents and purposes, the station owner. What that means is she is on the clock 24/7 taking care of her little flock of vampire DJs, spinning PR as the vamps spin the tunes that are their lifeblood. She's working towards her degree, taking night classes at the local community college. She is also in an increasingly serious relationship with Shane McCallister--the station's resident 90's grunge rock expert. When a group of anti-undead religious fanatics comes to town determined to stop the signal, dismantle the station, and destroy the vamps for good, Ciara and the gang refuse to go gently into that good night.

This series is just so entertaining. I can honestly say I went in not knowing what to expect plotwise, and I finished it feeling like Jeri Smith-Ready took everything and everyone in exactly the direction they needed to go. I felt thoroughly satisfied and, more importantly, I cared about each of them more than before. Even Regina. Though Jim still scares the crap out of me and Shane should not let him anywhere near Ciara ever again no matter what kind of lousy shape he's in. I continue to be extremely fond of Ciara and so it was both heartbreaking and extremely gratifying to watch her deal with her manipulative, ne'er do well father, her growing feelings for Shane, a new undead pet, and finding herself suddenly homeless. And I do have to say that, within the larger UF world, it's nice to find one without a love triangle. I love reading about Ciara and Shane. They're flawed, messed up, in danger of going off the deep end in more ways than one. And despite all of this, they treat each other carefully. How often do you read about a human/vampire couple in which the vampire is the more vulnerable of the two? She takes care of him. She keeps him tethered to the here and now. It's freaking awesome. The good news? Pocket Books bought two more books in this series. The third one will be out sometime next year. (less)

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Jan 09, 2013 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bad to The Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
This is the second in the series of rather unique vampire books. The wealth of vampire books out there makes it difficult to differentiate yourself from the horde. Ms. Smith-Ready does a nice job standing out from the pack. She put together a unique plot with some “civilized” vampires. The “good” vampires are DJ’s living in the basement of an independent radio station. This installment has them facing revenge from some folks who feel they have been wronged by t...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Three Crow Press rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review by OCD Reader

So I was recently wandering around our local Borders, everything is pretty picked over by now, but I found this little beauty. It looked interesting, so I picked it up. I needed a book because I didn’t have one with me at the time, plenty at home, but none with me. Anyway, what a satisfying novel! I just finished it and had a really good time reading this book. I didn’t read the first one, and while I do want to know the backstory to how the characters got to where they are i...more Review by OCD Reader

So I was recently wandering around our local Borders, everything is pretty picked over by now, but I found this little beauty. It looked interesting, so I picked it up. I needed a book because I didn’t have one with me at the time, plenty at home, but none with me. Anyway, what a satisfying novel! I just finished it and had a really good time reading this book. I didn’t read the first one, and while I do want to know the backstory to how the characters got to where they are in Bad to the Bone, it wasn’t necessary. But I am planning on picking up Wicked Game as soon as I can. In this storybook world, vampires get “stuck” in the decade they are changed, as in they never move beyond that time period. Ciara helps run a radio station with vampire DJs who each specialize in their own decade. The older they get, the more OCD and confused vampires can be and they have a harder time understanding and processing new technology or even new songs. The vampire DJs are part of the marketing for the station, they are the “lifeblood of rock and roll” nudge nudge wink wink. Ciara is the PR person for the station, she is dating one of the DJs and she is trying to learn to have a normal, trusting relationship. Her parents were religious charlatans who taught her to grift and to never trust anything or anyone, so this is new and somewhat difficult for her.

So besides all that, the radio station is being targeted by a religious group who interrupts their broadcasts with religious rhetoric. It gets more involved, fire-bombing and kidnapping and then more dangerous from there.

This book sucked me in pretty quickly, no pun intended. Ciara is funny, wry and a little wicked and since it is first person narration, she makes it enjoyable to be in her head. She and Shane have a sweet relationship, he is from the 90s and they are working to get his mind into the next decade. They got together in the first book and are exploring and figuring out their relationship in this one. There is a little bit of relationship angst, but not too much. She does some worrying but doesn’t linger, so you don’t feel bogged down. Ciara’s relationships with her new friends, co-workers and her mother and father take a little while to grasp, since I didn’t have the background from book 1, but I caught on pretty quickly. In fact, her relationships really progress in this book. Because she doesn’t trust easily, it is interesting to see who she allows close to her and why. The vamps are quirky, though they aren’t all “nice”, and even the ones that are, have issues. The dog is great, he added much enjoyment to the story. The mystery of who is targeting the station and why, is well done. The action culminates and the game gets trickier and much more dangerous. Ciara puts herself on the front line and gets her war wounds. She loses some things and gains others and learns a lot more about herself in the process. I will look for the next book, after I finish Wicked Game of course. Four stars.(less)

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Sep 25, 2010 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now that Ciara is for all intents and purposes the station owner, its up to her and her innate abilities to keep the station going. Since she has gone straight, she is working practically around the clock to support her vampires by spinning PR left and right. Just when things are looking up, an anti-vampire religious group starts wreaking havoc. Their attacks start out small at first, but quickly turns into a tailspin of danger. With everything on the line, its up to Ciara and the gang to put a...more Now that Ciara is for all intents and purposes the station owner, its up to her and her innate abilities to keep the station going. Since she has gone straight, she is working practically around the clock to support her vampires by spinning PR left and right. Just when things are looking up, an anti-vampire religious group starts wreaking havoc. Their attacks start out small at first, but quickly turns into a tailspin of danger. With everything on the line, its up to Ciara and the gang to put a stop to the religious nuts before its too late.

Its amazing to see how far Ciara has come from her con-artist days. At the start of the first book, she never really let herself have any real ties, so she could make a break for it at a moments notice. Now, shes got a serious boyfriend and a group of really good friends that depend on her. Having anyone depend on her is an absolutely terrifying concept, but she really is trying to work through her fear and accept it. I loved how Ciara instantly fell for the dog, and was completely attached at once. It was nice to see that "weakness," considering she hasn't jumped to trust or care for anyone that quick before.

I love the dynamic between Ciara and Shane. Now that they are past that initial goo goo eyes stage, they start to have conflicts and struggle to figure out how to work together, just like a real couple. I love how her messiness drives him nuts, as his OCD and leaving her instruction notes makes her go a little "batty" as well. I didn't really care for the slight love triangle aspect with David, but I really do not think anything is going to come of it, so its not really something to worry about.

This series is progressing very well. I love the character development. Everything was very realistic and this book only made me care for the characters more. I look forward to seeing Ciara overcoming her struggles to recover from the con-artist business as well as her relationship with Shane. I cannot wait to read the next book and see how the station and DJs are making out. Very awesome second book in a great series!(less)

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Jul 22, 2009 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

This series is ok, but not as good as her crow series. The thing that keeps me coming back to this series is the quirkiness of the people. The vampires being stuck musically in the era they were changed over, and becoming obessively complusive about different things. How funny is that!! I love that they end up being people that are pretending to be vampires all for the "act" of radio. There really is nothing like hiding in plain sight.

One of the best new characters introduced in this book is Dex...more

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May 15, 2009 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
Urban Fantasy- May 16th, 2009
4 stars

Bad to the Bone will delight vampire readers as well as dark fantasy lovers. While many romance books glamorize the vampire, Jeri Smith-Ready characterizations are realistic and edgy. She explores the scarier and more serious aspects of being a vampire. In her world there is no black or white.. As a result her series makes for exciting and fascinating reading that is unexpected as well as chilling.

Ciara works at a radio stati...more Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
Urban Fantasy- May 16th, 2009
4 stars

Bad to the Bone will delight vampire readers as well as dark fantasy lovers. While many romance books glamorize the vampire, Jeri Smith-Ready characterizations are realistic and edgy. She explores the scarier and more serious aspects of being a vampire. In her world there is no black or white.. As a result her series makes for exciting and fascinating reading that is unexpected as well as chilling.

Ciara works at a radio station where the big secret is that all the DJ are vampires. The radio station is under Control a secret agency aimed at integrating vampires into society safely. And this is important because these vampires are: volatile, compulsive and unpredictable. Because they are harder to control, which makes working around them very hazardous. These vampires are stuck in the period they are turned they are unable to evolve and grow emotionally or psychologically. And it gets worse as they get older. But having vampire DJs from each era musical era is the perfect ‘time warp’ for listeners. And a ‘safe’ haven for vampires who can’t adapt to an every changing new world.

Ciara’s life is difficult as she leads a double life, tries to market the radio station and protect the vampires and society from each other. Plus Ciara’s relationship with the vampire Shane is a complication that only makes her life more confusing.. When she gets pulled into a cult that reviles vampires things only get more perilous.

Jeri Smith-Ready’s novels are always thought provoking and complex as I wondered how Ciara can navigate her life with so many difficulties. The main question in my upper most mind was how Ciara will end up long term in her rocky relationship with the enigmatic, yet earnest and charismatic Shane. He can’t be ‘alive’ and she doesn’t want to become a vampire. It will be interesting to find out if or how the author resolves this dilemma. Jeri Smith-Ready also introduces the fascinating canine vampire which I hope will play a larger role in her next book as well as delving deeper into, David (my new favorite!) another fascinating character that I would love to read more about. This is a deep book that shows all points of view, not just the main characters. And that makes it more real and emotionally charged for the reader. If you haven't read her books before you must try this series, I highly recommend it!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
(less)

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Jun 13, 2011 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

WVMP is being air blocked IF they are playing female singers OR when Regina (the only female Vampire DJ) is on air. Further investigation by Ciara -- helped by her boyfriend, Shane, her boss David, her best-friend Lori bring them to another threat: a group of anti-vampire people called "The Fortress".

By the second book, I definitely have warmed up to Ciara and the Vampire DJs on WVMP Radio. I love the quirks of vampires in the WVMP world: their manic OCDs are just loveable (I couldn't help to gi...more

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May 06, 2013 Suz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Better than the first book. It's an interesting take on the vampire lore and the radio station is a better vehicle for the stories than I at first thought it would be.

The heroine is not stupid by a long shot, which I like, but she's also got some growing to do and is certainly not infallible. In terms of the growth we can expect from the heroine, or hope for, I think this book maintained and developed the baggage we already saw, not really advancing any kind of personal growth but certainly giv...more

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May 15, 2009 Brooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Game, the first book in the WVMP Vampires series, was one of my absolute favorite Urban Fantasy books of 2008. Waiting for Bad to the Bone to come out was torture! I needed more of these vampires (especially Shane) ASAP! The best part is that I didn't end up disappointed after all the waiting and hype I had built up for it. Each character, that Smith-Ready has created, has their own distinct personality with quirks, issues, and history. Making her vamps a taste of fresh blood in this genr...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, vampires

Synopsis: If you’re just joining us, welcome to radio station WVMP, “The Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” Con artist turned Marketing Manager/Promotions Manager and part time student Ciara Griffin manages an on-air staff of off-the-wall DJs including her new boyfriend Shane McAllister who really sink their teeth into the music of their ‘Life Time” (the era in which they became vampires). It’s Ciara’s job to keep the undead rocking, the ratings rolling, and the fan base alive—without missing a beat.

F...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Tez rated it 4 of 5 stars

The only radio station with real vampires pretending to be real vampires returns for a second adventure in Jeri Smith-Ready's Bad to the Bone.

When misogynists hijack WVMP Radio's broadcasts, the station staff investigates, and finds a vampire dog tied to a cross and due to die when the sun rises. So who's behind the Family Action Network, the Fortress, the Citadel, and who really is or isn't part of the Control? And what does any of this have to do with she of the human anti-holy blood, Ciara Gr...more The only radio station with real vampires pretending to be real vampires returns for a second adventure in Jeri Smith-Ready's Bad to the Bone.

When misogynists hijack WVMP Radio's broadcasts, the station staff investigates, and finds a vampire dog tied to a cross and due to die when the sun rises. So who's behind the Family Action Network, the Fortress, the Citadel, and who really is or isn't part of the Control? And what does any of this have to do with she of the human anti-holy blood, Ciara Griffin?

Like the masses of bloodsucker books of late, this series does skew to romance, and the love interest is a brooding sort who lacks a sense of humour. A pretentious snob, Shane is also quite the bitch. Within the walls of the station is a blood-written - I'm not kidding - sign, stating: Absolutely No Foo Fighters. I don't have any of the band's songs, but "The Pretender" is particularly awesome, and it's a shame that Shane won't admit that. Also: He cringes as he examines it. "Def Leppard. Poison. Warrant..." That's right, readers; he just dissed my happy music! The songs that make me smile when I'm feeling low. Because Shane doesn't want me to be happy. He doesn't want you to be happy, either. He's such a buzz-killing feckwit that...well, I just don't like him. But a strong negative reaction like mine is better than a meh reaction, right?

But though Shane is a nob, his author clearly has more humour that she lends to other characters: "Being a vampire is not like being from Finland...They're metaphysically different creatures." Other redeeming features include David ('nough said), and some really creepy scenes that don't include him.

There is, however, a particularly suitable song overlooked for the book's official playlist. When the protagonist's surname is Griffin, and the FCC plays a sizeable role in the plot...it's kind of disgraceful that "The Freaking FCC" song from Family Guy is absent ;-)

Still, less cliché and more originality make Jeri Smith-Ready's Bad to the Bone a unique read.(less)

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Jun 24, 2009 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, urban, romance, paranormal, series-reminder, dogs, read-in-2009, vampire, twitter-author

Another terrific book by Jeri Smith-Ready. I love the vamps of WVMP. The author walks an interesting line with these guys. They are not the heroes of romance novels and they're not the killers in horror tales. Or maybe they're both. Just like Ciara isn't the normal heroine, she's full of flaws and often as confused by her life as a real person would be. But she's still brave and tough. And Shane (her vamp) is still romantic and sweet, despite the inherent violence of his condition and his often...more

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May 03, 2009 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormalfiction

Please note: I received an ARC of this book, which comes out on May 14.
Ciara Griffin, who grew up in a family of con artists,works for the radio station WVMP, where all of the DJs are vampires. Each vampire is mentally "stuck" in the era they were turned, but this has been turned to their advantage, as their shows revolve around the music of that time. However, their broadcasts, particularly those hosted by the sole female DJ or any songs by female artists, have begun to be preempted in favor of...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Alex L rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 11, 2009 Krys rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: medium-length-book, vampires, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, first-person-narrative, con-artists-thieves, series-i-love, own, series

The sequel to Smith-Ready's fun and quirky "Wicked Game" starts out with a bang. Someone is pirating the air on WVMP's frequency. It doesn't take long for Ciara and co. to figure out that it's only during Regina's sets, or any songs with female vocalists. They must do something before they lose all of their sponsorships. Enter a emo-loving musical journalist from Rolling Stone named Jeremy, a sexual tension plotline between David/Shane/Ciara, and enough turns and twists to wreck a car on and you...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Joelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am so loving this series I new twist and something new and fresh. The author draws you in and you can't help but, fall in love with all her dysfunctional characters.The main characters Ciara and Shane create such a spark together and they both are learning to live as one for the first time together is so cute and endearing as she has been learning patience as Shane is someone with OCD and it is a funny new twist. Ciara is different and we are not sure How her special talent came about being ab...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Daffodil rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

JSR does a wonderful job of creating characters that are complex and realistic. It's easy to believe they have a life off the page and don't just exist for the scenes they are written into. She's gifted the vampires of WVMP radio with complete personalities and quirks all their own.

In this book we learn a little more about the history of The Control. I love JSR's imagination; the experimentation with vampirism carried out by this group is unique but exactly what you would expect from this type o...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book starts up right were Wicked Game left off-Shane and Ciara are dating and there is some serous doubt added to their relationship. Can a vampire and a human be in a long term relationship ? Ciara finds her feeling confused a bit when she dreams of a human man. Meanwhile the radio station Dj's are under attack from a religious anti-vampire group, one that seems to hate women. The local pub is fire bombed after a vamp party and it's just beginning to get "hot" for the vamps. Threats and da...more

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Sep 14, 2010 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

Jeri Smith-Ready's greatest strength in her WVMP series is the often ugly truth she brings to her writing and characters. Jeri's vampires are just as damaged and screwed-up as the humans. But that strength is also her greatest weakness.

I think I've figured out what it is about this series that keeps it firmly in the good-but-not-great camp: It's kind of depressing. Urban fantasy in rarely full of happy skippy sunshine, but there is usually som...more Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

Jeri Smith-Ready's greatest strength in her WVMP series is the often ugly truth she brings to her writing and characters. Jeri's vampires are just as damaged and screwed-up as the humans. But that strength is also her greatest weakness.

I think I've figured out what it is about this series that keeps it firmly in the good-but-not-great camp: It's kind of depressing. Urban fantasy in rarely full of happy skippy sunshine, but there is usually some tiny sliver of hope, some small moment of genuine happiness, something that keeps the protagonist--and the reader--from taking a bath with her hairdryer. In the WVMP series, not so much.

In BAD TO THE BONE, all of the vampires are slowly Fading. They are unable to acclimate to the changing times and grow increasingly neurotic, agitated, and compulsive until they can no longer survive in society. Even Shane starts showing his decline through his increasing OCD and the cold, hard fact that he and Ciara are just going to grow further apart. He's trying, but it's not going to be enough.
Then there's Ciara herself, the recovering con-artist with all the emotional maturity of a toaster. She panics at the first sign of intimacy then tries to hide her fear with her dry bravado, but she can't hide from herself. Ciara knows the inevitable screw-up is coming, and so do we. Again, depressing.

BAD TO THE BONE is solidly written, and I have to once again give Jeri Smith-Ready credit for creating vampires who are utterly believable. If vampires truly existed, they would probably be a lot like the WVMP vamps. But even the little happy moments are tempered by the knowledge of that it's fleeting. Ciara makes a comment in BAD TO THE BONE where she wishes she could go back in time to when she first met Shane and stop herself from ever caring about him because its too late now. I know exactly how she feels since I already have the 3rd WVMP book, Bring on the Night, just waiting to be read

Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality. A couple semi graphic sex scenes. A m/m/f sex fantasy.(less)

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Oct 13, 2012 Teresa Mary Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, re-readable-books, adult, paranormal

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

Addictive…. that is the best word to describe this series. You could also use words like hysterical, fast-paced, steamy, and sweet. Bad to the Bone was a great follow up to Wicked Game. The characters continue to be great and the plot was once again captivating. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book and I had a very hard time putting it down, so I didn’t.

Ciara (keer-ah) is a kickass heroine. She is the kind of character that is...more More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

Addictive…. that is the best word to describe this series. You could also use words like hysterical, fast-paced, steamy, and sweet. Bad to the Bone was a great follow up to Wicked Game. The characters continue to be great and the plot was once again captivating. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book and I had a very hard time putting it down, so I didn’t.

Ciara (keer-ah) is a kickass heroine. She is the kind of character that is perfectly capable of taking care of herself and does not put up with anyone’s crap. She is capable of delivering sarcastic comments even in the most dire of circumstances. She is trying to move beyond her con-artist past, but every now and then it pops back up. However, now she uses her con-artist powers for good rather than evil. She is not perfect, she has her flaws, but she also does her best to try and move beyond those flaws. She has commitment issues and the thought of being tied down frightens her. However, she knows this and she works to move past that and learns to put her trust in others that are worthy.

Shane has skyrocketed his way to the tippy top of my book boyfriend list. I love everything about him: from his flannel shirts to his guitar playing to his obsessive compulsive behavior to his music snobbery to his 90s slang, there is just something incredibly endearing about him. He is super sweet and protective without being overbearing and jealous like a lot of other male vampire love interests out there. Simply put, I adore him. For the past few days, everyone I come in contact with gets an earful of Shane McAllister. I have always had a soft spot for vampires, but Shane is better than most others out there. Actually, I would say he is better than all other vampires out there. I. WANT. ONE.

Shane and Ciara make a great couple. They complement each other nicely and it is clear that they are madly in love with each other. Also they make for some really great steamy scenes. While they struggle through the complications of a vampire-human relationship, they somehow manage to make it work. Ciara trusts him more than she trusts some humans. I also loved the addition of Dexter to this book. Dexter is a part lab, part Great Dane vampire dog. As someone who once had two Great Danes, Dexter was one of my favorite parts of the book. I love Ciara’s love for dogs because it mirrors mine very closely.

Bad to the Bone continues this very original take on vampires. I love the way Jeri has crafted these vampires and I love the way each time period is represented. Also, the way they compensate for time moving forward with their obsessive compulsive behaviors is just brilliant. I loved the way Shane was constantly organizing everything in the apartment and I especially loved the list he left Ciara on the proper way to load the dishwasher. Bad to the Bone mixes the paranormal with mystery and romance seamlessly. All of these aspects flow together to create a truly great read.

Overall, Bad to the Bone is a book paranormal and urban fantasy fans really need to pick up. Fans of Sookie Stackhouse are sure to enjoy this series. Personally I think it is better. But anyway, my point is if you like books along those lines then you are sure to love this one.(less)

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Jul 05, 2011 Jacki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ciara Griffin manages a staff of vampire DJ's at the radio station WVMP, "The Lifeblood of Rockn'Roll." While she tries to keep the station's ratings up and her vamps happy, religious zealots overtake their airwaves.

Ciara must now protect the station's ratings, her new vampire dog, and her DJ's, who include her hot undead boyfriend. Of course, this means her life is on the line.

Second in a series, I have not yet read the first book so there is much I missed and likely contributed to a rating of...more

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Jul 27, 2009 marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

i adore the entire premise of these books. the vampires are stuck in the era that they lived. add to that the fact that they are all amazing music buffs an i cant be any happier of a clam.

in this one we saw the relationship is ciera and shane progress. bringing a member of the media into the somewhat inner circle is a great idea. this can keep the radio station getting good publicity as well as keeping the vultures at bay.

i adored this one as much as the first. once again my cd collection and...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: Midnyte Reader

A solid second installment in the Ciara Griffin series with yes, more surprises & cast additions (love Dexter, a "special needs" dog rescued by Ciara. More doggie derring-do please!). This book could serve as a wrap-up to the vampire DJ story arc, although there is another book following Ciara into her next set of on-the-strangest-job challenges. Good writing and character shading by Jeri Smith-Ready, who can write bloody action, family disfunction, romantic angst and steamy sex scenes very...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 104-in-2011

See my review for book 1, Wicked Game, to hear my thoughts on the series as a whole. This'll just be a short one for my thoughts on BTTB.

Bad to the Bone was my favorite in the series. Second books can either be a bit boring or really great. This one was really great because it built perfectly on the characters and situations developed in book one. Certain characters were more prevalent, relationships developed and changed (for the good and the bad) and there is the addition of a vampire DOG! How...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, paranormal, favourites

After finishing 'Wicked Game' I was desperate to get my hands on the sequel. I wanted to know exactly what happened to Ciara and the vampire gang next. 'Bad to the Bone' was equally as exciting and packed full of adventure. I loved it!

It’s hard enough trying to live a normal life in the company of 6 vampire DJs, but Ciara Griffin’s life could not be more complicated. Caught up in the vampire world, Ciara has a pretty neat existence: A marketing job that seems to be an extension of herself, fabul...more After finishing 'Wicked Game' I was desperate to get my hands on the sequel. I wanted to know exactly what happened to Ciara and the vampire gang next. 'Bad to the Bone' was equally as exciting and packed full of adventure. I loved it!

It’s hard enough trying to live a normal life in the company of 6 vampire DJs, but Ciara Griffin’s life could not be more complicated. Caught up in the vampire world, Ciara has a pretty neat existence: A marketing job that seems to be an extension of herself, fabulous friends and a fantastic boyfriend who is crazy about her. But when a religious sect hijacks WVMP’s wave length to run anti-vampire segments, Ciara has to find a way to get her station back on track. It’s no surprise that when vampires pop up, religion is not far behind: the evils of blood sucking and living forever. I really enjoyed seeing this play out in ‘Bad to the Bone.’ Jeri Smith-Ready’s vampires follow some of the ‘traditional’ vampire myths and restrictions – such as sunlight and stakes to the heart – but they also face troubles with religious objects and holy water, so it was interesting to see the holy/religious take on their ‘fake’ existence. We get to see Ciara’s struggle with her own ideas on religion too, which helps us understand her a bit more – unravelling another layer of Ciara, because she has so many!

But it’s not just religious sects the vampires have to deal with in this book. There is a secret government organisation that is proving to be more trouble than help. The Control is not new to this series, but their history and involvement in the story can’t be overlooked. Like the rest of the DJs, The Control does not want the truth about vampires leaked; any chances of exposure could mean the death of a vampire or at least their detainment. I still have mixed feelings about The Control. For the most part, they seem to be trying to contain threats and protect vampires, but they’re sneaky and withhold information. I’m curious to find out more about their involvement in the supernatural world.

While not the biggest storyline for the book, I wanted to mention again that I love how unique Jeri’s stories are. Not only are there normal vampires in ‘Bad to the Bone’ but we’re introduced to animal vampires! Seriously, who would have thought anything like that could happen? Not me. It was a super cool concept, and Dexter the Dog is awesome.

Fantastic sequel to ‘Wicked Game’. Very exciting and action-packed; a really fun read!

5/5 stars
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Feb 28, 2013 Vivian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 3-stars, reviewed

Bad to the Bone pretty much picks up right where Wicked Game leaves off. I like how it starts off with a pretty eventful party and although it cools off for awhile, the ending was intense and entertaining. So far, I’d say I’m content with this series. There’s enough to keep me reading, but it’s not over-the-top fantastic where I can’t stop reading it. Music is still a big theme in this book, but I felt like everything was played down and there was more descriptions and less action. There wasn’t...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Roberta R. (Offbeat YA) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, adult

Rated 3.5 really.

Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.

Pros: Original take on the overused vampire theme. Interesting, mostly tridimensional characters. Radio station and music play a big role (if you love them passionately, that's a real bonus). Plenty of action in this one.
Cons: Can get a bit confusing at times, with all the twists and turns. A couple of graphic sex scenes (if you aren't into the stuff). Gorier than the first.
Will appeal to: Those who liked Wicked Game bu...more Rated 3.5 really.

Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.

Pros: Original take on the overused vampire theme. Interesting, mostly tridimensional characters. Radio station and music play a big role (if you love them passionately, that's a real bonus). Plenty of action in this one.
Cons: Can get a bit confusing at times, with all the twists and turns. A couple of graphic sex scenes (if you aren't into the stuff). Gorier than the first.
Will appeal to: Those who liked Wicked Game but are thirsty for more action.

First off, so many things happen in around 400 pocket-format pages, it's difficult to keep up with them all at times. The core of the novel is the threat posed to the station by an alleged cult, that turns out to be a schismatic leg of the Control - an organization that is busy protecting humans from vampires and vice versa (see book 1). But the truth isn't so simple - the final revelation (or not so much, if you follow a certain clue) opens a whole new can of worms, though the two things are closely linked. Also, we have Ciara's dad who could be in league with the bad guys or not, given his con artist status and his recent treachery (again, see book 1), plus his usual double-dealing attitude. Luckily, the station gained two more allies lately, though one of them will meet a sad fate at the end of this novel. Also, Ciara's anti-holy blood (discovered in book 1) comes into the equation a couple of times, with life-changing results both for her and some of her friends; one could say its discovery will actually boot the next installment in the series. You want more? One of the vamps get dangerous (guess who? it was hinted in the previous novel, though I'm not sure Smith-Ready had meant to take this thing so far right from the start)...and oh my, I was forgetting this very small detail...Ciara and Shane take the next step in their relationship, sharing a flat and parenting a...vampire dog (or maybe he's parenting them!). Plus Ciara's friend Lori gets a taste of the vamp side of love. But wait, there's more...like weird and/or sweet family reunions, red hot sex and lots of blood - this time. So this book is packed with everything you ever dreamed of and more, especially action-wise...though, like I said, all this stuff can confuse the hell out of you, especially when reading it for the first time. So, basically, this second installment is more exciting than the first, but watch out for a bad case of vertigo! [...]

Whole review here.
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Feb 05, 2013 Shandy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, reviews-2013

I want a dog like Dexter! He seems so sweet and big and goofy, I just fell in love with him. Ok now that, that's out of my system.
This was a great installment to the WVMP series. Ciara's wit, the intrigue, romance and emotional roll-a-coaster combine to make this a great read. Ms Smith-Ready has created a world turning the Vampire mythos so that it works for her characters. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but the OCD's of the older vampires remind me of the legend of how people would...more I want a dog like Dexter! He seems so sweet and big and goofy, I just fell in love with him. Ok now that, that's out of my system.
This was a great installment to the WVMP series. Ciara's wit, the intrigue, romance and emotional roll-a-coaster combine to make this a great read. Ms Smith-Ready has created a world turning the Vampire mythos so that it works for her characters. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but the OCD's of the older vampires remind me of the legend of how people would toss, rice or wheat on the ground in front of doorways because it was said that vampires would be compelled to pick them up or count them keeping them away until sunrise. I had to wonder if maybe that was the inspiration for the vampire OCD.
Anyway the book follows Ciara through the holiday season, as she infiltrates a vampire hating cult and tries to balance her love life with one of the undead.
So here's the thing I'm not a Shane fan, I think he's unjustifiably hard on Ciara for her past. I feel their relationship is unhealthy, not just because he's a vampire and she's human. So when Ciara started to have feelings for David, I found myself routing for David. I wanted Ciara to have a "normal" life, but then that wouldn't make a good book. I also thought that maybe Ciara was being a bit of a hypocrite when it came to Lori and Travis relationship. So Travis might have tried to eat her, it wasn't his fault exactly... I mean he was just turned and didn't know what he was doing. Ciara's dating a vampire, isn't that a bit of the pot calling the kettle silver. What my kettle's silver and so are my pots.
There were some interesting twists throughout the book. I kept reading to find out about the anti-vampire sect and their mission. What Ciara was going to do with her relationships. Ciara's "anti-holy" powers, which were revealed in the end of book 1, are examined, but not fully explained. This and some other tidbits left me needing to read book 3 in order to put my mind and curiosity to rest.

How I got it: Received a copy from the publisher.(less)

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Dec 08, 2012 Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin Ichimaru rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, august-december-reading-challenge, romance, vamps, urban-fantasy, awesome-heroines, hawt-heroes, supernatural

This was a nice follow-up to the first book. Ciara's back in all of her former con artist glory along with her crew of vampire DJs and a few humans that are also in the know. Things seem to be tapering off for the the WVMP radio station and Ciara's wondering how to keep ratings up. A reporter for the Rolling Stone comes around wanting the know more about the vampires, so Ciara decides to use this to the station's advantage. Throw in some guys spewing religious rhetoric about vampires and hell, a...more

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Bad to the Bone (WVMP Radio #2)

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