Do.Not.Look! I did and you don't want to know what the spoiler is. . I'm still going to try book 1, which is on my nightstand. ;o)

I know, everyone says that so I've tried really hard and been very good ... so far. Fingers crossed I remain that way! So have you read the later books or you haven't started the series yet?

I haven't started the series yet. Some Girls Bite is checked out from the library, but I've been trying to get through other library and TBR pile books. It seems as though Chicagoland Vampires is addictive. LOL

Getting them all from the library as well. And it definitely is - in many ways, it's like one long book, especially since time-wise the next book always picks up right after the former one finished. Because there's no immediate gratification and resolution in one single book regarding Merit and Ethan's relationship, I think that also contributes to the feeling that it's just one story broken up into different books.

You're strong to stay away from all the spoilers.

I'm on hold for number 1 in the series...number 12! my goodness I hope it doesn't take too long lol

Catherine wrote: "You're strong to stay away from all the spoilers."

I've rubber-banded the second half of the book. I think I can hold out, but ... well let's just say, better safe than sorry. ;-)

I loved your comments in your spoiler. Great review!

Michelle R, the Bookshelf Stalking wrote: "I loved your comments in your spoiler. Great review!"

Thanks Michelle! I'm so glad that I was able to resist the spoilers and since I was able to accept The Issue relatively easily (due to my reasoning in the spoiler), it ended up being somewhat of a relief when I found out what it was.

Let's just hope I'm right regarding #3.

I so hope you are right regarding #3. In fact, I have been worrying over it for months now!! Nov is too far.

Great review!

Great review. I wonder where she'll take it from here. I was mad at first, but as I thought about it, I felt that it was genius. What a way to pull people to read the next book.

@Jen: Thanks! If I'm wrong regarding #3, then I'm not reading the series anymore, but many others would have the same reaction, so I really don't see why/how that would happen. And totally agree about the long wait :-(.

@AH: Thanks! I think it helped that I knew something happened, even though I had no idea what it was because I avoided spoilers. So when I found out what the big deal was, my reaction was more of a "Wow, awesome way to end the book with a bang, but there's no way this is not irreversible, so I'm fine in waiting to see who she fixes this."

Agree regarding pulling people in: besides for those who were really offended by the ending and have sworn not to continue the series, there is not a single person who will be able to NOT read the next book, wanting to know what she does next.

I was very angry at the ending but how could I NOT read the next book?? That doesn't make any sense. I want a chance to fix my anger!

Juliana wrote: "@Jen: Thanks! If I'm wrong regarding #3, then I'm not reading the series anymore, but many others would have the same reaction, so I really don't see why/how that would happen. And totally agree ab..."

(view spoiler)[My issue is that they author pulled that crap right at the end. I loathe when authors pull stuff like that at the end. It feels like a hard sell to get me to read the next book and I end up feeling jerked around.

Also, the author has said "trust me" many times, but she has also been hinting about Jonas Jonah as a love interest. I don't see how she could do that when a huge draw for the series has been Ethan and Merit's relationship, but she's hinting at it.

Also, my issue is about how she will fix him. Some people think the other set of green eyes that Merit saw was Ethan coming back in a different body or something. But I don't want a different Ethan. I like this Ethan. (hide spoiler)]

Catherine- As you know since we have rehashed this about 100 times (although we haven't done it in several weeks so that is progress!!) I totally agree with you.

(view spoiler)[But I still want it to be fixed. I am still in my own happy world where she will make Ethan come back as Ethan and Jonas will go far, far away. If I don't stay in that happy place I get verra angry!! (hide spoiler)]

Jen wrote: "Catherine- As you know since we have rehashed this about 100 times (although we haven't done it in several weeks so that is progress!!) I totally agree with you.

[spoilers removed]"

Yes, thank God you were around to vent to! :P

(view spoiler)[I want it fixed too. I'm still unhappy when I think about how this book made me feel, but I'd be willing to forgive (but not forget!) if she can blow me away with the next book.

I'm going into it hopeful but wary. (hide spoiler)]

Catherine wrote: Yes, thank God you were around to vent to! :P


I could say the same to you! Hopefully we will both be happy in Nov. Hopefully.

Jen wrote: "Catherine wrote: Yes, thank God you were around to vent to! :P


I could say the same to you! Hopefully we will both be happy in Nov. Hopefully."

*fingers crossed*

@Jen and Catherine: So glad I'm reading it after most everyone else has, because now I can rehash it with you all ;-)

(view spoiler)[Woah, I had not heard anything about her interviews or her hinting about Jonah. Okay, if that ends up happening, then I'm not reading the series anymore and I will definitely be joining the ranks of angry readers!!! I will be PISSED!! Merit was very adamant in her not liking the idea that Jonah might be interested in her, so by the end I was convinced there was no threat there, whether he wished there were or not.

The Green Eyes: So that's what you think it is?!?! I have been assuming since book 3 that it was referring to a kid they have together, which seemed to fit because of how she says, her reaction the first time, Gabriel tells it to her he's also talking about his kid, etc. However, they are not biologically reproductive, so I wasn't sure how that would go down (BUT, again, it's paranormal, so the author can make anything happen).

Hmmm, that's interesting. Even if he came back in another body though, it would be him coming back, so Ethan would be the same, just another body. And knowing Neill, this one will also have lovely cheekbones, beautiful hair, and a wonderful body, like all of her guys do.

I think that was definitely him calling her at the end of the dream, when there's the Merit! and she wakes up all of a sudden. It was the telepathic link and I think he was calling to her from ... I don't know? The vampire beyond? Not sure about how the vampire after-life works.

And, because they had the ceremony by the lake and the next book has crap happening with the lake, I think it is somehow involved in how Ethan is able to come back - or something.

Re Cliffhanger: I see your point, Catherine, about being annoyed that this is used as a ploy to get people to buy the next book. If that's the case, it has definitely backfired, because there are plenty of people who have now sworn they will NOT read it. I guess I didn't see it as that, because everyone has loved the series so much so far, that everyone will be buying the next book regardless, so since that's the case, I saw it more as just a twist she was giving us. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ The strongest theory I had heard about him not being dead is in relation to his medal. Didn't he tell Merit that she should always wear it and consider it her dogtag. (she asking: "In case I get lost?" and him replying: "In case you're fried to ash and that sliver of gold is all that is left of you".........Merit has never mentioned him not wearing his medal.....so where was it when he turned to ash? It should have been there, right....?

As for the Jonas thing- Mandi (smexy) has a list of boyrfriends on her blog and Ethan is listed as one of them. She had told me that right after she got her ARC of Hard Bitten Neill had written, in the comments section, "Jonah :)". That kind of disturbed both of us. Why would Neill say anything about Jonah.

Neill did also say in an interview "Folks - I saw this on an Amazon review, and just for the record:
Gabriel's prophecy is NOT a hint that I would bring Ethan back as a "zombie" or other soulless/mindless creature. (That is not the meaning of eyes that look like Ethan's "but aren't.")
The prophecy has a definite meaning, but "zombie" ain't it. I don't know if that helps any.

And then in another interview in April (before HB release) she said that the reason for 2 books this year was that herself and her editor wanted to give us another book after "the loss that occurs in Hard Bitten". And she sounded a bit snippy when someone mentioned Ethan, and she said, "Why do people think Ethan is the only one for Merit". I kid you not. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Re: Medal
But Celina was also wearing her medal - remember she got another one from Morgan - so wouldn't the same rule apply. Although you're right that there's no mention of either of the medals in Tate's office, just the ashes. But then wouldn't all House vampires be able to come back, since all of them almost always wear their medals?

Re: A non-Ethan hero
Jen wrote: "And she sounded a bit snippy when someone mentioned Ethan, and she said, "Why do people think Ethan is the only one for Merit". I kid you not."

*GASP*GASP*GASP* Okay, well my ENTIRE positive reaction is based on Ethan and Merit being together and Ethan coming back in the next one. If that does NOT happen ... yeah, I'm done with the series. She's the author, so obviously it's her choice what she wants to do with her characters, but we're the readers, so it's our choice to not read it if it's going in a direction we don't like.

If she does do that though, she'll ruin it in my mind. I won't even be able to appreciate the other books as rereads, because I'll know that she's screwing us over in the end.

Re: "Jonah :)" signature
Agreed! That is very disturbing. Maybe it wasn't meant as anything, or maybe it was a joke because both Jonah and Ethan are now the main guys pursuing Merit. I don't know; not really sure what reasoning to come up with for that.

Re: Different green eyes
When it was first mentioned in book 3, I don't know why, but my immediate assumption was that he was talking about her and Ethan's child (although thinking of Merit as a mother freaks me out). He's saying it to her, while talking about his own kid, and they're green but different, so they're inherited from Ethan ... However, they can't have babies, right? Vampires don't reproduce. Even knowing that though, that was the only thing I could think of, but your idea that he comes back in another body totally fits with that prophecy - and makes more sense. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, good. Layla has excellent theories on this whole thing too. She is brilliant when it comes to reasoning it out. I think you talked me off the wall several times! :)

How in the WORLD can she say that things were wrapped up at the end of HB. 10 pages does not make a wrap up. Obtuse is putting it mildly.

That was an excellent email. I still have it if either of you want it. She put some serious work into it!

(view spoiler)[ Re: the medal- I think the "theory" is that maybe since they (Celina and Ethan) are not really dead that is the reason we did not see the medal left behind. Just speculation that I have heard but Ethan and Merit have a strong enough connection for her to hear him, at certain times, from where he is.

Or that could all just be bunk and Neill has made him dead for real. :( There were crazy theories in the weeks after HB was released. All kinds of things flew around. (hide spoiler)]

All these theories are so very interesting. It reminds me of the Shadowfever speculation. Weren't we all wrong about that one?

AH wrote: "All these theories are so very interesting. It reminds me of the Shadowfever speculation. Weren't we all wrong about that one?"

I don't think I have ever been more wrong about anything in my life than I was with my Shadowfever speculation. That was some crazy stuff.

(view spoiler)[My friend suggested that he might come back through Mal's emerging black magic, and I thought that was a likely theory. Good point about the medal and "changed" eyes, although I always assumed that the change was internal, as in a changed man. I thought the shout in her dream was a hint too.

I don't know what I think of Jonah and Merit. Jonah's great, but I don't really care for another dalliance like Morgan. But maybe she learns about herself because of the relationship or maybe Neill can swing it some way. I would like to see Ethan back and with her now that he's gone to so much trouble to prove himself. It was a little anticlimactic the way he was offed, huh? Just poof. I'm glad to see whatshername, the villain, finally gone. She's like a roach. (hide spoiler)]

Can't wait to see Gabriel and the cast again! I love the politics/Houses in these books too!

Good theories, NU. (view spoiler)[ Hard to kill roaches, lol. There's always another one hiding somewhere. (hide spoiler)]

The Houses and politics make these books so intriguing. I can't wait for the next one.

@Layla: WOAH! Neill said that wasn't a cliffhanger?! (view spoiler)[The only way that would be NOT be a cliffhanger was if Ethan wasn't coming back. ... And then I'm stopping the series and going to go cry in a corner. How horrible. She makes us absolutely love this character and then offs him in this completely anti-climactic manner. And agree that getting rid of Celina too doesn't seem like it is permanent. (hide spoiler)]

@AH: I haven't read Shadowfever yet; is that series good?

@nu: I think that totally makes sense, because Mallory's entire story line still has not really had impact on the overall story arc. There was "the fight" between she and Merit in book 3, but other than that, she and her abilities haven't been used in the plots. (view spoiler)[Gives a good reason for why Neill would write in the entire section about black magic. And I like Jonah too, but not for Merit. I went into this series and continued it with the expectation that they're fated and the series will follow them going back and forth in their relationship. He sacrifices his LIFE (!!!) and Neill is just going to leave it at that?! (hide spoiler)]

Also, (view spoiler)[every book so far has started within days or weeks of the previous one; I think HB is the exception, it was about 2 months later wasn't it? If she follows this pattern, then there's no way she can give Merit another romance and get away with it so soon after Ethan's death. I don't know about other readers and Ethan fans, but I would riot. (hide spoiler)]

The Fever series is loved/hated by large groups of readers. It's 5 books and the heroine is kind of like a Barbie doll in the first couple of books, an American abroad for the first time - just not getting why Dublin is not like her hometown. Books 3,4, and 5 is where the action is and the cliffhangers at the end of book 3 and 4 are monumental. I loved the series.

I will second the love for the Fever series. It is one of the best 5 books I have read. Together, that is.

And boy do I adore Barrons.

Layla wrote: "I'll third the love for the Fever series. I really envy anyone who now gets to read this series all in one go. The waiting between books was torturous."

But the speculation and theories were a lot of fun.

I know I didn't get a single thing right in my guesses. Did anyone else?

Nope. But it was fun, wasn't it?

Sure was! I wish we could all unread them and do it over.

Layla- I never even saw that one coming. I looked like a fish with my mouth gaping when I read that.

I'd do it again too. I loved it - I loved reading it for the first time. Have you read her Highlander series?

Start them from book 4 - Kiss of the Highlander. They are better written than the first 3. Pretty formulaic - young virgin meets hunky highlander, some time travel, some fae mischief, some hot loving, and a happily ever after. They are light summer reading.

Juliana wrote: "@Jen and Catherine: So glad I'm reading it after most everyone else has, because now I can rehash it with you all ;-)"

(view spoiler)[No, that's not my theory about the green eyes. I honestly have no theory. I'm just reporting all the other theories and tidbits I've heard.

Unfortunately, Ethan being in another body or reincarnated or whatever would not be satisfying to me. I like this Ethan in this body. I don't want some lame psuedo-Ethan.

I'm just tired of authors doing this. Throwing in catastrophic events or cliffhangers at the end and then leaving the readers to twist in the wind until the next book comes out. (hide spoiler)]

@Jen, comment 20 :

(I'd hit just hit reply instead of labeling it that way, but for some reason it's not showing part of the spoilers in the reply section)

(view spoiler)[Hmmm, I like that theory about the medal. I hadn't heard that one yet.

And I can't believe the author would sound snippy about something like that. Did she think readers wouldn't get attached? Why else would we care about their relationship and interactions unless we wanted them to end up together? I know it's not a romance, but I didn't invest my time in 4 books of buildup only for her to pull the rug out from under my feet. (hide spoiler)]

Jen wrote: "That was an excellent email. I still have it if either of you want it. She put some serious work into it!

[spoilers removed]"

I want it!

AH wrote: "Start them from book 4 - Kiss of the Highlander. They are better written than the first 3. Pretty formulaic - young virgin meets hunky highlander, some time travel, some fae mischief,..."

Agreed. One through three aren't that impressive. From book four on they get fun.

Catherine- If you want to PM me your email address I will send it to you.

Layla- Exactly what AH and Catherine said. Once you get to book 4 you see people that were in the Fever series. Dageus, Drustan and Adam Black and Cian. (view spoiler)[Remember the dude they had try to carry the book? That was Dageus and he is The Dark Highlander. (hide spoiler)] And Adam's book totally plays out to the Fever books. It is kind of interesting to watch.

Adam Black also appears in book 1 and book3. But Adam's book is really good.

(view spoiler)[Celina's end was anticlimactic -climaxes not Neill's strong point- but I believe permanent. One hopes. She's tedious. I think she was just convinced to take the drug so that the sorcerer could control her, IIRC. I never remember anything a day after I read a book, LOL.

And that's true, Juliana. He sacrificed his life for her. Who else would do that?! Not every Joe Schmo, that's for sure. She owes him some nookie, LOL! And that's a good point. Neill can't possibly introduce another relationship immediately after Ethan's passing if she was so heartbroken, right? Then again, maybe Jonah "comforts" her. LOL. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, I'm sold - am checking out the Fever series!

You know, I haven't even started reading this one yet, about to, and because I can't help but read spoilers wherever I can, I know what happens. What is so disturbing about this is, I am already dreaming about what the ending means and while in the shower this morning I was thinking about what could happen next and how etc. I am so in love with Ethan and am in mourning already and I haven't even gotten past the first page yet. Sigh. I think this series has taken over my life :D How do I continue the rest if my life before the November release I ask you?

Jodie wrote: "You know, I haven't even started reading this one yet, about to, and because I can't help but read spoilers wherever I can, I know what happens. What is so disturbing about this is, I am already dr..."

LOLOLOL!! Yeah, I'm hung up pretty bad on him as well. All I have to say is my reasoning better be right or I'm going to be PISSED!

You meant that you hadn't read this book, right? Not haven't read the series yet?

There are a few romances coming out in the fall that I'm doing an anxious countdown for - this is definitely one of them!!

Juliana wrote: "Jodie wrote: "You know, I haven't even started reading this one yet, about to, and because I can't help but read spoilers wherever I can, I know what happens. What is so disturbing about this is, I..."

Which ones are you looking forward to?

Catherine wrote: "Which ones are you looking forward to? "

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Only recently started this list, so only have a few on it as of now. At this point, the two I'm most waiting for (in this order) are:
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

What about you?

P.S. I love how all but one of them already have ratings, even though they're not released (and only one or two are available as ARCs at this point).

I always find that weird.

I don't have a little shelf like that. I just have a Google calendar with the release dates for the books I'm looking forward to marked. What month are you curious about? lol.

I put them all in my Google Calendar and then made the shelf so I could keep track of the ones that I was really excited about. It always bowls me over because when they're all lined up like that in Google one sees those real blockbuster Tuesdays. I wish they spaced them out more!

Just realized both of those come out on November 1 ... cannot wait!