Book Review: Cold Blooded

Cold Blooded

By:  Amanda Carlson

Publisher:  Orbit

Publish Date:  October 8, 2013

Format:  eARC (NetGalley), 273pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd in Jessica McClain series; 0.5 Novella ~ Blooded: Jessica McClain, 1st Book ~ Full Blooded, 2nd Book ~ Hot Blooded

Recommendation:  OH MY GODNESS!!! Do I love this series! Dang. Everything in one nice package for everyone. Urban Fantasy Action, Magic, Magical/Mythical Creatures galore, Story!, Characters, Love - of mated, family, and friends.  AMAZING BLEND!

Synopsis:
Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it.  But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked.

On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains.  Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early.

Arriving on the Vampire Queen's doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war.  The vicious skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team.

The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn't realize is just how soon she'll have to cash it in...

First Sentence:
"Get down!" Tallulah Talbot, the most powerful witch in the country, grabbed on to my arm and hurled us both into the bushes.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

**I read this book for an honest review, as I requested from publisher.

My Thoughts and Summary:
***THIS REVIEW IS OF BOOK 3, MIGHT SPOIL PREVIOUS BOOK(S) ENDINGS***

An explosion hits the parking lot - a spell from the Sorcerers sent for Jessica.  On the run yet bond to find her missing best friend, Jessica heads to the heart of the witches coven, with the most powerful witch in the country - Tallulah (Tally) Talbot.  What Jessica learns there sends her on her run to help her father.  Tally has an oracle that sees Jessica and her family and friends - good news and bad news.  Away Jessica goes, hoping for the safety of her best friend Marcy and James and to help her father, while the Sorcerers and Demons follow on her tale working together to find her.  Every Sect is after her.  Jessica runs head first into the Vampires, who want her for their own reasons, looking to barter for protection.

An explosive set of happenings, from action to love, all in one place here!  Each page is full of new information and action.  Jessica is one of a kind, in more ways than one, and draws people of all Sects to her - in one way or another.

We start EXACTLY where Hot Blooded ended!  With Jessica and Tally at Jessica's office, yet in the bushes now.  So much happening here!  But well organized and all is handled by Jessica as she goes.  Much from the first two books lead to here.
   James and Marcy missing
   The Demon court date
   The vampire "party"
   Rourke!! *sigh*
   Every Sect after Jessica
   her powers and what she is
   the Southern pack and her Dad.

All collide right here!

Jessica's been having it rough.  Supes are out to get her, attacking her at about ever turn.  And it's taking all she has to not run off to find and save Rourke, but she knows she has to be prepared and get information first.  There are rumors flying of Jessica and what she is and what she'll do.  Each has more information about the prophecy.  And maybe Jessica is what it says...maybe not?

The supernatural world is all shaken up.  Sects are teaming up with each other, the one thing the DO NOT do, all because of Jessica.  Jessica's group is together because of her.  Others are teaming up, to stop her.  The supernatural world is changing.  Including wolves as someone is messing with them.

We have all our favorite characters once again.  We see them all!  Rourke is just plain amazing.  Wow.  Do he and Jessica finally get their moment?  Well, you'll have to read to see. *giggle*  We still have Tyler and Danny at Jessica's side helping her, along with her mate Rourke.  We have Naomi and Ray as well.  Oh, what we see of Ray.  There is something different about him, Naomi can't control him.  But just wait until you see what happens to/with him.  Yep.  You have to read for Ray.  So, we've been waiting to learn more of Rourke.  What he is, and oh so much more.  Yep.  YOU HAVE TO READ THIS ONE!  Everything we wanted, and much more, from Rourke.

You HAVE to read this series in order.  You don't have to read the Novella, but why not?  It's one of the BEST novella's I've ever read, and I read lots.  The ending is a touch of a hanger.  The story line of this book ends, but there is new adventures started at the end of this one.  Amanda knows how to hook her readers and make them salivate for the next.

This series is high octane.  If you love action packed, fast paced, heart thumping Urban Fantasy reads, this one NEEDS to be the TOP of your list.  ASAP!  There is even a touch of romance as a bonus.  I don't know if I've mentioned it enough in this review (sarcasm) but you need this one. ;)

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Cold Blooded is the third book in the series.

Is AVAILABLE NOW!

Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it. But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked.

On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains. Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early.

Arriving on the Vampire Queen's doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war. The vicious
skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team.

The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn't realize is just how soon she'll have to cash it in...

Blooded (#0.5) Novella

if you would like to start earlier with Jessica, but you don't have too

Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is — she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at age nineteen, the only way she can — in the ring.

When she's brutally attacked right after her fight, is it enough to finally earn her freedom off Compound, or will she be forced to endure the hatred even longer...

Full Blooded (#1)

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.

When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.

Hot Blooded (#2)

It hasn't been the best week for Jessica McClain.

Her mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge --- but Jessica is playing for keeps.

Because she's the only female werewolf in town...it comes with its own set of rules...and powers.

Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.

All in a day's work for a girl.

The second novel in the Jessica McClain series is a full on action adventure featuring one angry Goddess and plenty of monsters, demons, and a few newly risen beasties...

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