Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville, #5)

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Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville #5)

by Carrie Vaughn (Goodreads Author)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 5,192 ratings · 287 reviews

HONEYMOON IN VEGAS?

Already the alpha pair of Denver's werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding...more

ebook, 324 pages

Published February 1st 2009 by Grand Central Publishing

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Feb 02, 2009 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

I love Kitty. I want to be Kitty...er, without Kitty's problems anyway. If you don't know who Kitty is, then you haven't been reading Carrie Vaughn's series starring werewolf Kitty Norville; and shame on you! This series is hilarious, scary, exciting, and sexy all at the same time. In the four previous books, Kitty's been turned, exiled, outed, hunted, and mated. Now her life continues in book five, "Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand" where she 'tries' to get married.

When all the brouhaha and decisi...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Cameron rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Kitty gets to play with some new kitties! Watch for those claws, and are those boys bunny kicking or...!!!

Kitty's Vegas elopement suffers from quite a bit more than the typical cold feet dilemma: vapid vampires, lusty werecats, mysterious magicians, a gun show with itchy-fingered bounty hunters in her hotel, and the worst - a live televised Midnight Hour. It is the later that proves to be the most character building, the rest felt rather superficial. One thing I love about this series is that Ki...more Kitty gets to play with some new kitties! Watch for those claws, and are those boys bunny kicking or...!!!

Kitty's Vegas elopement suffers from quite a bit more than the typical cold feet dilemma: vapid vampires, lusty werecats, mysterious magicians, a gun show with itchy-fingered bounty hunters in her hotel, and the worst - a live televised Midnight Hour. It is the later that proves to be the most character building, the rest felt rather superficial. One thing I love about this series is that Kitty started on the bottom, and through her growth as a person, she has ascended the pack hierarchy to become strong enough to challenge and defeat her former abusive pack leader. This novel almost felt like a regression, and I am unsure if this is a bad thing or realistic for her character. For one thing, her elopement is a denial of her responsibilities. Almost nowhere in this novel are the dynamics of the change to Ben and Kitty's leadership explicated. Also, Kitty struggles with several situations where her instinct is to submit, and she has to will herself into a dominant posture. It felt like posturing rather than true confidence, as if her assuming Alpha status was a circumstantial act, rather than a skillful one.

Her familial ties were strongly evident in this novel, as her mother and father follow she and Ben to Vegas to celebrate their wedding. Often missing from most urban fantasy is that element of family, so it is wonderful to have that dialogue open, especially given that her family doesn't truly understand, but still offers support to Kitty.

The action of the novel circulates around Kitty, who, being the radio personality she is, tends toward verbal solutions rather than fisticuffs, and a reassuring continuity emerges where Kitty does not suddenly develop Kung Fu fighting prowess, she in fact is still a bit torn over having to use a gun in the last novel.

While suffering from a glut of storylines and characters vying for the spotlight, and providing a picture of Vegas that seemed just a tad off to me both in its description but also because it distracted from what I imagined the next phase of Kitty's werewolf life would be, this fifth installment of Kitty did establish what will hopefully be a more in depth examination of her pack territory and dynamic in the sixth book.(less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, format-kindle, 4-star

This is becoming my go-to series for an enjoyable read with very likable character. I really enjoyed this book start to finish.

If you have not read previous books in series, there are some spoilers ahead. In this 5th entry in the Kitty Norville series, the action picks up after the marriage proposal ending of Kitty and the Silver Bullet.

Kitty's cancer-recovering Mom wanting the big wedding with plenty of sick/recovering-mom guilt pressure. Of course, Ben and Kitty are thinking City Hall--particu...more This is becoming my go-to series for an enjoyable read with very likable character. I really enjoyed this book start to finish.

If you have not read previous books in series, there are some spoilers ahead. In this 5th entry in the Kitty Norville series, the action picks up after the marriage proposal ending of Kitty and the Silver Bullet.

Kitty's cancer-recovering Mom wanting the big wedding with plenty of sick/recovering-mom guilt pressure. Of course, Ben and Kitty are thinking City Hall--particularly after pricing all the big wedding items like photographer (somehow Kitty did not care for Ben's suggestion that a friend do--said friend being the police department's crime scene photographer). The package deals at Las Vegas sounded easier to still give Mom some sort of bigger wedding, then Kitty's station boss thought of a live TV show from Vegas (working during your wedding weekend ... hmmm), the Master Vampire of her city has an errand to his friend the Master Vampire of Las Vegas ... and they are off joined by Kitty's parents.

Of course the station has her booked into same hotel as a gun convention with a lot of Cormac's werewolf hunting friends ... and just all kinds of craziness throughout the rest of the book like you'd expect from a Kitty book. No Cormac although mentioned; a couple of new female characters in the usual testosterone ooze about Kitty.

I had a few "red flag"/doubt moments before completely into swing of book. First few pages were a bit too sweet to read as a Kitty book (all the rose colored glasses approach to the wedding stuff and how uber wonderful Ben was), a creep scene where someone thought Kitty might actually miss being an abused submissive (did not turn into that 50-over-hyped-thing but worried me very briefly), ... all passed with further reading so the book rated a solid 4 stars for me. It ended on a note I may or may not like depending on next book. (view spoiler)(less)

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Jul 21, 2009 Rita Webb rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolf

After plowing through 4 books in one week, I didn't think I could be disappointed in any of the Kitty books. Oh, there were little things that annoyed me here and there. Mostly related to character development. Some characters seemed flat, but the plot was thick and fast paced. The problems were easy to overlook.

But in Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand, I thought the characters and the development wasn't just a little flat anymore. For one, Kitty and Ben are supposed to be in love. Kitty keeps sayin...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Sheri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kitty and the Dead Man's hand is a suspense filled all night read. Once again Carrie Vaughn pulls off another hit. Kitty is in Las Vegas planning to get married when trouble arises.

With bounty hunters on her tail, an old school magician who may be the "real thing", an animal act leader who lusts for Kitty, and a laid back Vampire leader, Kitty once again does not know who to trust.

Kitty is on a mission to find out what the hidden secrets of "sin city" are all about, as she is in a race for time...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban, fantasy

Fifth in the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series about a werewolf radio talk show host who discusses the supernatural.

My Take
It is pretty funny how wedding-phobic Kitty is and how terrified she is of telling her mother. It just would have been so much safer if she'd stayed in Denver and stuck it out. Sure, Ben wouldn't have learned about his poker skills until later, but they'd both have been so much safer.

What is it with people who think you'll be safer if you don't know anything? I don't get t...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy

Now that Kitty and Ben's lives aren't in immediate danger, they look to the future. Pressure from Kitty's mom catalyzes them to start planning their wedding, figuring that (what with living together, working together, and being mated wolves) they're practially married already anyway. But neither of them has much interest in a big fancy wedding, so instead they elope to Las Vegas, bringing Kitty's parents along for the ride.

It turns out, even getting married in Vegas is a lot more complicated th...more Now that Kitty and Ben's lives aren't in immediate danger, they look to the future. Pressure from Kitty's mom catalyzes them to start planning their wedding, figuring that (what with living together, working together, and being mated wolves) they're practially married already anyway. But neither of them has much interest in a big fancy wedding, so instead they elope to Las Vegas, bringing Kitty's parents along for the ride.

It turns out, even getting married in Vegas is a lot more complicated than they'd hoped. Ben's newfound supernatural abilities give him an edge at the poker table that gets him into trouble, while Kitty's curiousity embroils her in the understated battle between a stage magician (who may be doing real magic) and a group of performing were-cats. And, to top it all off, Kitty attracts the attention of several bounty hunters.

The plot is fun and twisty once it gets started (which takes a little while), but the real attraction in this book are the characters. I've seen Ben called boring elsewhere, but I like him a lot. I like that he comes from a working class family and went to law school to be able to defend his cousins and friends. I like that he's a scruffy dude without pretentions but with skills he's put serious effort into. And I like that generally he's just in the background, being quietly sardonic and supportive, until abruptly he's tough-as-nails, won't-back-down as any alpha male love interest could be. Kitty, meanwhile, is now my favorite urban fantasy gal, thanks to her moral center, courage, and quirky tastes.

My favorite scene: Kitty is in the midst of negotiating with bounty hunters (who are about three seconds from shooting her with silver bullets) when her parents show up. The hunters realize that this fearsome werewolf has chipper, country-club parents who wear pastels, and are completely discombobulated. Love it!

Despite my enjoyment of it, this felt like a placeholder novel, getting the characters into position for the next, hopefully more exciting, installment of the larger plot arc. (less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kitty is getting married and the plans are consuming her life. Wouldn’t it be relaxing if she and Ben could just elope? And if you’re going to Elope, why not do it properly and head for Vegas?

Of course, what should have been the simple option quickly becomes much much more complex. First there’s her producer who thinks Vegas would be the perfect opportunity for her to have her first real television show, which takes a lot of preparation

Then she finds out there’s a gun show full of werewolf hunte...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

You'd think that a series about a werewolf with a radio show would start to get a bit stale after a few installments. You'd be wrong.

Carrie Vaughn pulls out all the stops as Kitty and Ben head to Las Vegas so that Kitty can do a live TV broadcast of The Midnight Hour. And they plan to get married. Sounds like a plan, right? Unfortunately, there's a gun show in progress in the very hotel where Kitty will be doing her show. On stage. In front of hundreds of people. And in the midst of the crowd i...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is book 5 in the Kitty Norville series. It was definitely not a strong book in this series. The book really spent more time kind of setting up a new story.

In this book Kitty and Ben decide to go to Las Vegas to get married. Only things start to get complicated. Kitty's boss talks her into doing a televised version of her radio show while she's in Vegas and Rick asks Kitty to deliver a note to the Master vampire of Las Vegas. Things begin to fall apart when Kitty finds out about the local La...more

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Mar 30, 2010 Genie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although I’ve read a number of negative reviews about this book, I found "Kitty & the Dead Man's Hand," to be an enjoyable read. Kitty is given the chance to broadcast her show, The Midnight Hour, live, on television from a studio in Las Vegas. She jumps at the chance for two reasons. First it gives her an opportunity to promote her show in a new market. Second, it makes it possible for her to escape her mother’s grip on her wedding plans. And so Kitty & Ben head out to Las Vegas. Plans...more

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May 26, 2009 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires-weres-witches

Kitty and Ben have been together as a couple for a year and have decided to get married. Not wanting or caring about all the hoo-haa of a big wedding they decide to go to Las Vegas. There, her radio producer puts together a tv show for her instead of her usual radio show, with a live audience. So, the wedding's made even cheaper wit the radio station paying for the hotel and flight. They are booked into a hotel with a big gun show where Ben’s former colleagues, of the monster hunting variety, ar...more

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May 23, 2009 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Kitty the midnight-DJ-werewolf is getting married to her mate, Ben-the-lawyer-werewolf. It's too hard to arrange everything, so they decide to elope to Las Vegas. They invite her mom and dad, the very normal suburban couple.

Her manager arranges a tv show in the town that's all glitter and show. She meets the Master Vampire and is puzzled by him. She meets a magician whose magic is rumored to be real, and then there's the wild animal show that's got lycanthrope smell all over it. The hotel is ru...more

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Apr 25, 2009 Literary Feline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kitty heads out of town again, this time for Las Vegas. She somehow was talked into hosting a live television special in the City of Sin and in delivering a message from Denver’s Master Vampire to the one in Las Vegas. Add to that a wedding, a poker tournament and mobsters; what could be more fitting for the setting of this novel?

Kitty is booked into the same hotel that is hosting a gun show and some of the conference goers are not too keen on her kind. It does not take much to make an enemy of...more Kitty heads out of town again, this time for Las Vegas. She somehow was talked into hosting a live television special in the City of Sin and in delivering a message from Denver’s Master Vampire to the one in Las Vegas. Add to that a wedding, a poker tournament and mobsters; what could be more fitting for the setting of this novel?

Kitty is booked into the same hotel that is hosting a gun show and some of the conference goers are not too keen on her kind. It does not take much to make an enemy of someone who already has it in for you. Where Kitty goes, you can be sure magic and danger will be close behind, and sure enough, Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand has some of both. Las Vegas is the home of many secrets and Kitty quickly finds herself tangled up in the middle of several.

Although I liked Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand, it got off to a slow start. Considering the characters that needed to be introduced for the set up of the various plot threads, including the main one, it probably could not have been done any other way. In addition, I wish the author had gone a little farther with certain threads in the novel, but perhaps that was in part due to the limitations of a first person narrative.

Something I really liked about Kitty in this book is how she used her cell phone to warn her friends when she was about to jump into trouble. Sure, she didn’t stay put like she promised and ran head first into trouble all by herself. But at least she reached out for help, even if a little later than she should have.

One of the strongest things Kitty has going for her are her friends and how they will stand by her during the worst of moments. Kitty may not be able to tackle the biggest evil in the world on her own, but she is a team player—most of the time—and she is not afraid to stand up for herself no matter how afraid she might be.

Carrie Vaughn has created an interesting storyline which holds a lot of promise in developing further in future books. Although this was not my favorite book in the series, Kitty and her friends continue to keep me entertained and interested in their adventures.
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Apr 09, 2009 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Though I enjoy a good literary read that leaves me with a deeper understanding of the world around me, a fun, mindless read like Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn is still my first love—and Ms. Vaughn delivers two-fold.

Kitty and Ben are Denver’s werewolf pack’s alpha pair. Now their human sides want to get married—and what better way to do it than Vegas-style? But things are never simple. Kitty’s boss wants her to do her popular radio show, The Midnight Hour, on live TV, and she end...more Though I enjoy a good literary read that leaves me with a deeper understanding of the world around me, a fun, mindless read like Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn is still my first love—and Ms. Vaughn delivers two-fold.

Kitty and Ben are Denver’s werewolf pack’s alpha pair. Now their human sides want to get married—and what better way to do it than Vegas-style? But things are never simple. Kitty’s boss wants her to do her popular radio show, The Midnight Hour, on live TV, and she ends up in a hotel packed full of werewolf-hating bounty hunters who are in town attending a gun show. Still, Kitty is determined to relax beside the pool with a frou-frou drink and hopefully marry the love of her life. That is, if she can keep from getting killed first.

Meanwhile, the vampire community of Las Vegas is hiding a dark secret. The star of a suspicious animal act wants to drag Kitty into his world, and a strange magician has a few secrets of his own. Kitty might just have to rely on the enemy to save her life—and her wedding.

It’s been a while since I’ve truly enjoyed a fantasy read involving werewolves and vampires. But the fact that Kitty is so normal and human for a werewolf makes her irresistible. I loved her spunk—and the fact that she has enough sense to be scared in harrowing situations. Still, she doesn’t let it stop her. Instead, she proceeds with caution, not with guns blazing. She’s a very smart chick in my book.

Another thing I liked about Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand is that the bounty hunters are the bad guys. The twist from hunters killing the big, scary monsters to werewolves as the good guys is refreshing—something different to shake up the fantasy genre.

Filled with intrigue and mystery and unusual characters (I especially liked the strange magician), Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand wraps you in an illusion unlike any other, bringing the Vegas strip to unique life and putting you right there in the middle of it. Bright, trendy, and marvelous describes this novel perfectly. I absolutely loved it.

I haven’t read the earlier offerings in the Kitty Norville series, but I now want to go back and pick them up. I also look forward to any future novels from Ms. Vaughn—she’s definitely on my auto-buy list.

Review first appeared in NightsandWeekends.com(less)

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Aug 24, 2011 Sinn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To say that I love the Kitty books would probably be an understatement. First, you have a kick ass heroine, find out she's an English major, she has her own radio show, and she's a werewolf. How could you go wrong with that?

Even though I toyed with the idea of Kitty and Cormac getting together, I knew it could never work. While he had a great understanding of her, there lives were too different. Further, she could never fit into his lifestyle of being a supernatural bounty hunter. When Ben was t...more To say that I love the Kitty books would probably be an understatement. First, you have a kick ass heroine, find out she's an English major, she has her own radio show, and she's a werewolf. How could you go wrong with that?

Even though I toyed with the idea of Kitty and Cormac getting together, I knew it could never work. While he had a great understanding of her, there lives were too different. Further, she could never fit into his lifestyle of being a supernatural bounty hunter. When Ben was turned into a werewolf and Kitty's Wolf viewed him as her mate, I wasn't sure how to take it. However, after reading Kitty Takes a Holiday and Kitty and the Silver Bullet, Vaughn really won be over to the whole idea. While working as her lawyer, you could see a spark between the two that was just amplified once their Wolves made a decision.

In the previous book, I felt Ben really stepped up to the plate and proved himself to be capable of being an alpha. However, it did feel strange him becoming one of the alphas for the Denver pack with so little werewolf experience under his belt. So, I was pretty excited when the couple decided to take the next step. After the Wolves decided they were mated and the two became the head of the Denver pack, the logical next step was to get hitched. And what better place than Las Vegas!

Admittedly, this book was all over the place! But I felt that was Vaughn's intention with this book. Even though things seemed to settle down a little after the vampire/werewolf battle, it couldn't stay that way for long . . . Not with Kitty involved. And, of course, things are bound to get crazy when Ozzie wants Kitty to put on a live show in Vegas!

My problem with the book is that so many things were happening at one time that it was hard to focus. However, I really do think that was a plot device. That being said, I wish there would have been more time spent with the weird troupe of lycanthropes. I imagine, however, that we might get a bit more in the next book, but I'm not sure. Honestly, a lot of the stuff Vaughn introduced in this book could easily be subject matter for later books. The whole weirdness with Dom and the vampires could be explored, Grant and his guardianship, etc.

Even though this book was a little crazy, I really enjoyed it. Honestly, when I got married, I would have rather just gone to Vegas and screw everyone *sheepish grin* So it was nice to see Kitty do that ^_~

Vaughn was able to have a really action packed book while still maintaining a level of humor that I expect from the Kitty books. My favorite conversation in the whole book:

"A werewolf isn't supposed to have parents," Brenda said, grumbling. "They're not supposed to have mothers. How am I supposed to shoot you now, knowing it'll upset that really nice woman?"

"You're not supposed to shoot me at all!" I glared

"Sorry. Figure of speech." (179)

All around, just a fun book! It was a quick read and never bored me. (less)

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Jul 15, 2009 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolves-are-awesome, vampires, fantasy-urban

This is more of a 2.5 book. It's not bad, and like all the Kitty Norville books, it is a quick read. It's fun. It's a beach read, and doesn't pretend to be anything else (thank goodness). The darker tone from Kitty and the Silver Bullet isn't here, and its lack relieves fears that Kitty is going to be an Anita clone. For some reason, however, it is not as good as the others in the series.

First, there is the problem of the title. All the Kitty books have titles that refer to something in the book...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fantasy

What this book brought to the series ...

Yeahs::

* New characters that I can't wait to read more about. Evan and Brenda were a fun bunch. Old hunting buddies of Cormac and Ben. I can see them joining Kitty's pack. After they get over their hatred of werewolves.

* Vegas was a whirl wind of excitement. For this series yes. Rated amongst other books, it was good not great. If you enjoy the other books, you'll like this book too.

Nays::

* This series is definitely plot driven, not character driven. After...more

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Jul 16, 2009 Brownbetty rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having finished the book, I don't think there is a dead man's hand in this book, or at least not one that isn't attached to an only-as-dead-as-usual vampire. A minor quibble, though.

I understand that a lot of people find the Kitty Norville books disappointing since Kitty hooked up with Ben (SPOILER) and those people would certainly not be placated by this one, where Kitty and Ben tie the knot.

To me, Ben and Kitty are an utter failure as a romantic couple, but, after all, I didn't pick this out o...more

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Mar 23, 2009 The_Book_Queen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, paranormal, shapeshifters, romance, vampires, read-in-2009, reviewed

Although I haven't yet read the first four books in this series, I'm pretty sure that Carrie Vaughn's work has managed to catch my attention-- in a good way, of course. A light, quick read, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand is a great option for anyone who likes a bit of adventure and humor in their romance novels. And even though it's technically a paranormal, the para-theme isn't too strong, and I'm sure that even those readers who are not usually drawn to the genre would enjoy the series.

Vaughn...more Although I haven't yet read the first four books in this series, I'm pretty sure that Carrie Vaughn's work has managed to catch my attention-- in a good way, of course. A light, quick read, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand is a great option for anyone who likes a bit of adventure and humor in their romance novels. And even though it's technically a paranormal, the para-theme isn't too strong, and I'm sure that even those readers who are not usually drawn to the genre would enjoy the series.

Vaughn has a way of writing what should be a very complex story line in a simple way-- that is, not to say that her work is simple, as in 'boring/slow', but it's not extremely difficult to follow. Like I said, I jumped into the series more than half way through, and I wasn't lost, although after finishing the book, I knew I wanted to go back and read the first books simply for the enjoyment, not necessarily because I needed to in order to move on to the newest book.

It was a fun read, and I finished it in one sitting. The characters were interesting, and I'd like to read more about Kitty's life-- it seems to be full of all kinds of adventures and troubles. Plus, I'd like to read the next book to see what happens with the mysterious Master Vampire that came into play at the end of this book. The only problem I had was with Ben, her mate. For some reason, I didn't really like him in this book... I don't know if my opinion would be different if I had read the series from book 1 on, and been introduced to him, got to know him, and saw how the two of them connected. Maybe. But it seemed like he was kind of distant in the book, and for being Kitty's mate, he almost seemed to take a backseat in the story, more like a sidekick or minor character instead of being the heroine's mate and therefore more like the story's second hero. Or was this just my imagination?

I almost didn't believe their love, but again, I think this could be because I skipped the first few books, where most of their major connecting would have first occurred. Maybe it's because I'm use to books where the romances is more explicit and, well, there? There wasn't one sex scene between Kitty and Ben in the whole book, and that's not what I usually look for in my romance novels. I'm not saying it had to be a full blown erotic novel, but I do wish it would have had something more to it, both for entertainment and to show their love.

Don't get me wrong-- just because I had a problem with the romance in the book, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand -- I did. But after finishing it, I saw it more as a really light chic lit type of novel, a charming and quick read on a long day. But nothing really deep or romantic, I'm sorry to say. Again, maybe I would have been happier with the romance element in it if I'd read the series in order, I'm not sure, we'll have to see. I do plan on going back to read the first ones, as soon as I get some spare time.

4/5 STARS! A nice read for anyone, whether you are big on paranormal books or not. Charming, entertaining, and unique, I'd love to read more of Vaughn's work. Especially Kitty's novels. After all, life isn't easy for Kitty, and the troubles she experiences along the way will give you a few chuckles and make you realize that no matter how bad you may think your days has been going, it could be much, much worse!
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Sep 10, 2009 Wendi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Perfect for : Personal reading, anyone who likes vampire or werewolf stories

In a nutshell: Book 5 of the Kitty Norville series finds Kitty and Ben the alphas of the Denver pack, and working together with Rick, who is now the Vampire Master of the city. It also finds the pair taking their relationship to the next level - marriage - in Vegas!! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - right? Well, Kitty agrees to do the first real KNOB televised show from Vegas prior to her marriage. When she and Ben...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, wizards, vampires, urban-fantasy, shifters

Audio- Ben and Kitty head to Vegas to get married. They tried to do it the old fashioned way but it drove them crazy, Vegas sounded so easy. Right ? Nothing is easy for Kitty and Ben. First off they are booked into a hotel that has a gun conventions going on. Killers, hunters and other nasties fill the hotel. Then there is the weird magic act, that may not be a simple magic act. there is the Lion/Tiger and Jaguar show that has all of the supes suspicious. Wait there is more, The creepy decor of...more

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May 22, 2012 Hollie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, blog

Kitty and Ben are going to get married and where else but in Las Vegas. While in Vegas her boss decides now would be a great time to do a live televised broadcast. So, we have a wedding and a live show to put on. Easy right...

While in Vegas Kitty needs to find guest for her show. There is the typical Elvis impersonator (that believes he is Elvis reincarnated) and the local congressman who believes that Vampires, werewolves and other paranormal "people" should be banned from the casinos because...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Katherine Pocock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 / 5 Unfortunately this is my least favourite kitty book so far.

I don't know what it was. I still enjoyed the book because in true Kitty fashion anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. A simple wedding in vegas soon becomes a whole lot more trouble when vampires, a multitude of lycanthropes and a even a magician are thrown into the loop. But hey its vegas what did i expect. However I found this book to be more like an opening chapter to a bigger story. A storyline that is going to unfold...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-romance, werewolf-shapeshifter

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting: Las Vegas

Theme: getting married; countering other’s powers;

Characters:
Kitty – this time, she’s reacting – putting on her show on live tv; connecting with potential supernaturals; defending herself and trying to locate Ben.

Ben O’Farrell: Kitty’s other half; entertains self with a poker tournament, which leads to trouble; comes across his compadres from his supernatural fighting days who are at the same hotel for a gun show – and some find out he is were now.

Odysseus Grant: magician; gate...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, fantasy, romance, owned, 2009, done

"It would

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Aug 03, 2009 Yvensong rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Yvensong by: cathepsut

Shelves: bookcrossing, werewolves, vampire, fantasy, werecreatures

In this novel, we follow Kitty and Ben to Las Vegas. The novel starts out a little slower than some of the others, as we spend time meeting new characters (a few that may be continuing?) and the story is set up. Once the action starts, it is pretty non-stop from that moment on.

The heroine not only wants a normal life, but strives for one. This is an unusual direction for the paranormal genre, and glad that an author has been willing to take the challenge. It's refreshing to have a character atte...more

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May 10, 2012 Dotti Elrick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After looking into the cost of a big wedding, Kitty and Ben, the Alpha werewolves of Denver, decide to elope to Vegas. The producer of Kitty's radio show, always one to take advantage of a situation, sets up a live T.V. brodcast of her show. Also the newly crowned Master of the City of Denver, Rick, asks Kitty to deliver a message to the Master of Vegas. When they arrive at the hotel, they also discover that there is a gun show going on the same weekend they are there. And who frequents gun show...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Vannessa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-summer-2011, kindle-books

I loved this book - it was the best one so far in the series I think.

Kitty and Ben head out to Las Vegas for this book to get married. At the same time Kitty is asked by her producer, Ozzie, to do a live TV version of her Midnight Hour radio show. Everything is getting organised, but when they arrive at the hotel, they find that a gun show is also being held in the same hotel. A gun show which involved lots of people with guns and bullets. People with silver bullets too, who are associates of Be...more I loved this book - it was the best one so far in the series I think.

Kitty and Ben head out to Las Vegas for this book to get married. At the same time Kitty is asked by her producer, Ozzie, to do a live TV version of her Midnight Hour radio show. Everything is getting organised, but when they arrive at the hotel, they find that a gun show is also being held in the same hotel. A gun show which involved lots of people with guns and bullets. People with silver bullets too, who are associates of Ben and Cormac. Quite inevitably Kitty doesn't feel very safe around these kind of people.

Kitty meets the local vampire master, Dom. She also checks out the local talent, a magician whose magic seems to be real and a troupe of were-shifters performing a rather seductive act. Kitty is intrigued by both acts and tries to convince them to come on her show.

Her show goes rather well. The wedding is all ready. Ben has won a poker game in a Texas Hold 'Em competition and Kitty manages to get some time next to the pool drinking a froufrou drink - just like she wanted. What could possibly go wrong?! Oh how could I ask such a daft question?! Of course something has to go wrong. The book would be pretty boring if it didn't!

So anyways...Ben gets kidnapped after complaining that there's some cheating going on in the next round of the poker game. Cue Kitty on the hunt trying to find him. the wedding has to be cancelled obviously as there's no groom and Kitty finds herself in a very dangerous situation, only to be saved by the very last people she expected.

I loved how Kitty would do anything for Ben, even though she knew she was walking straight into a trap, although it wasn't quite the trap she was expecting. Ben managed to get himself out of where he was being held, the bad guys were arrested or killed and finally Ben and Kitty get married in a white, convertible Cadillac by Elvis! Sounds like my kind of wedding - no stress of organising there!

But there's not a completely happy ending - someone tracks Kitty down back to Denver and gives her a little reminder of who she pissed off in Las Vegas. (less)

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Jan 11, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I loved the first few books in the Kitty series, but the recent installments just don't stack up. I don't particularly like Ben, and most of Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand seems to be about couple discussing things. Kitty is talking about dresses and planners and wedding stuff for awhile, then she is watching shows and talking to boring vampires. There was too much fluff in this book and not enough substance. It feels like a short story rather than a fully developed novel. When something bad does...more

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About Carrie Vaughn

Vaughn was born into a military family and has lived all over the U.S. She received a BA from Occidental College, after which she went on to work too many jobs to count until she went back to school to receive her MA from University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently lives in Boulder, CO.

More about Carrie Vaughn...

Books by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, #1)

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, #4)

Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty Norville, #2)

Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, #3)

Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, #7)

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Quotes from Kitty and the Dead Man...

“I grinned at him. 'Jealous?'
He grinned right back. 'That's a trick question. If I say yes you'll accuse me of being paranoid and unreasonable, and if I say no you'll make some defensive crack about how I don't think you're worth getting jealous over.'
This is what I got for hooking up with a lawyer.” — 17 people liked it

“It doesn’t bother you that your canine brethren are being paraded around show rings like slaves?”
“My canine brethren?” I said. “I don’thave any canine brethren.”
“How can you say that! You’re a werewolf.”
“That’s right. I’m a werewolf, not a poodle. What makes you think I have any kinship with dogs?” — 8 people liked it

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Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville #5)

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