Review: Pure Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Pure Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Jessica McClain #5

Jessica arrives back from the Underworld to find her father embroiled in a battle against the Made wolves. She and her crew drop everything to join them.

Once she arrives, the threat is after her. Jessica is lured into danger when her adversary takes something precious from her. With help from an unlikely source, Jessica goes up against her creator in a battle that will decide the path of everyone involved. She must war against a new set of foes, ones who could not only steal her power, but could take her soul as well.

I really love how every book in this series is a guaranteed roller coaster ride. I know when I pick a new one of these books up, I'm in store for nonstop action, and PURE BLOODED was no exception. Jessica, like always has landed herself in a new mess, and it's up to her and her "crew" to stop the current evil. As much as I love the action, honestly it's that crew that really draws me to this series each time. Every single character is so well fleshed out that I can't help falling right into the story with them and cheering on their triumphs as well as shedding tears when they do. I really love a book I can get attached to and this one, as well as the entire series fits the bill.

This was pitched to me by the publisher as the final Jessica McClain book, which I truly hope was a mistake. Things definitely were not settled at all, in fact I'd almost say it was a mild cliffhanger. Unfortunately it colored my reading experience just a bit as I was expecting things to be wrapped up as the final book, so imagine my surprise when the ending surely made it seem like it's not. I know I'll definitely be stalking the author's networks to hear news about a next book as I really do enjoy this series and hope it has a proper send off.

Series ending confusion aside, this was yet another a fun, and fast paced installment that kept me entertained from page one. Jessica never fails to meet (and defeat) a new "big bad" and it's always fun to watch her dig her way out of her latest mess. I recommend these books to anyone who loves Urban Fantasies that are full of great characters and non stop from start to finish.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
     Gizmo's Reviews
     a GREAT read
     Vampire Book Club

Previous Books:
     1. Full Blooded
     2. Hot Blooded
     3. Cold Blooded
     4. Red Blooded

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Review: Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Jessica McClain #4

Jessica is going to Hell.

After settling a fragile truce between the vampires, werewolves and witches, the last thing Jessica wants to do is face the demons head on. But when the Prince of Hell kidnapped her brother, he set into motion a chain of events that even Jessica doesn't have the power to stop.

Now, Jessica must go into battle again. But Hell is a whole new beast -- new rules, more dangerous demons, and an entirely foreign realm. And when Jessica is dropped into the Underworld too soon, without protection or the help of her friends, she must figure out just how powerful she can be... or she will never make it out alive.

This series started out so strong for me, but unfortunately has been mostly mediocre since. I just find the lack of progression frustrating, and despite all the almost frenetic action in each book, I just don't feel like we are getting anywhere. Sure, answers were finally revealed that had been pestering from the start, but frankly the answers seemed almost too pat. The addition of a new character contributed to that, and she was completely predictable, to the point that it was incredibly annoying that the characters couldn't see what was right in front of them. 

Getting back to the frenetic action pacing, while it was exciting and it kept me pretty hooked in the book, it vastly overshadowed character development and interaction. I think it just took more than a bit of the emotion out of things. I've said this several times over the last couple of books, but the romance between Jessica and Roarke is stilted. There's supposed to be so much between them, but there never seems to any real time together to build/show that connection. I guess I just don't feel it, which is a shame. 

I realize this review is mostly negative, but it's just largely frustrations as I feel like this series has so much potential that it's not quite reaching. That being said, due to the high action pacing of this book, I was pretty hooked into the book while reading it. As I said, I'm just looking for something a bit deeper and hopefully the next book will deliver that.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
     Between Dreams and Reality
     The Nocturnal Library
     Gizmo's Reviews

Previous Books:
     1. Full Blooded
     2. Hot Blooded   
     3. Cold Blooded

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Cold Blooded Tour Stop

*Where did you get the inspiration for the Jessica McClain series?

The first scene in FULL BLOODED played out like a movie in my mind and it all went from there. I had been waiting on books from the library and ultimately sat down at my computer to write the kind of story I wanted to read. I continue to do that every day, and feel so lucky I get do it! *How many books do you have planned in this series? Any hints you can give us for what's in store next? There are five slated so far. RED BLOODED is coming out next year and PURE BLOODED will follow. I am hoping to do more, as the story arc doesn’t end with PURE BLOODED. I’d also love to do some spin-offs. The best place to stay tuned to the newest developments is on my author facebook page: www.facebook.com/authoramandacarlson

*If your books were to be made into a movie, who would be your top picks for the cast?

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I’m terrible at this game, as my characters don’t manifest that way in my mind. That said, I do think Tom Hardy or Chris Helmsworth (a little dirtied up) would be delicious as Rourke! Jessica is harder for me, since she’s so complex in my head. I always say a young Catherine Zeta-Jones paired with Jennifer Garner, but it’s a tough one to get right. For the others—pick your favorite actor or actress and I’m sure they’d do it justice.

*Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing?

Publishing in general has been a dream come true. I’m so thankful I was given a chance at something people work toward their entire lives. The publishing world has definite ups and downs. One of the downs is how long it takes them to take a book from completed ms to getting it in bookstores. I wish that piece took less time. A publishing up? Seeing my books in the bookstores. There’s nothing like it. It’s so much fun.

*What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?


The early Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris are some of my all time favorites. I think they’ll always have a special place in my heart because I read them early on when paranormal was fresh to me. I was so taken with her world and the fact vampires were out and humans knew about them. It was refreshing. I love anything by Kresley Cole. She has an amazing voice you can’t really go wrong. Darynda Jones is wonderful as well. Her Charley Davidson books will leave you laughing and happy. I also love Kristen Painter, Kristen Callihan, and Amanda Bonilla. You can’t really go wrong with any of them.

*If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books, what would that be?

I plan to be around for a while, lol. I have a few more projects in the works, both UF and PNR. I hope readers stick around and check them out because they enjoy my writing style.

*What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?

Wow, I’m not really sure! I’m afraid I live a pretty quiet life, lol. But last year I swam with sharks. Does that count as interesting? I was in a cage three miles out in the ocean. That was pretty insane. Dark blue waters crawling with sharks. I hope that counts as crazy!

*Finish this statement: "You'll like the Jessica McClain series if...

...you love action and adventure mixed with a little sexy in your urban fantasy.”

Thanks so much for hosting me today! COLD BLOODED released on 10/8 and I’m so excited it’s out in the world.


Thanks Amanda!!

Author Info:

I’m a Minnesota girl, born and bred. I started writing stories about teenage girls and their social missteps when I was in high school. I still have the handwritten spiral notebooks to prove it.

I started writing in earnest after my second child was born. After purchasing our first computer, I thought to myself, what better way to spend my time than e-mailing unsuspecting family members super cute stories about my exceptionally darling children? Isn’t that what computers were made for anyway?

The writer in me stretched and gave a defiant shove. I was hooked.

I jumped into writing classes, joined local writing chapters, organized author book signings, joined critique groups and participated in conferences. I had a blast writing a column in a local food & wine publication, and eventually tied together all my parenting stories into one full compilation.

My first fiction attempt was a contemporary romance, but I couldn’t seem to find the story. After my kids starting bringing home YA urban fantasy, I suddenly knew where my passion for fiction writing had been hiding. It was inside the action packed pages of an Urban Fantasy novel. Reading each new series was so much fun, I quickly realized this genre brought something to the storyline I hadn’t really seen before. It brought a hefty shot of adrenaline combined with a side of female kickass, all combined with that element of “other” I found so intriguing.

After reading YA, I picked up every adult UF I could get my hands on and I’ve been fully immersed in this genre ever since. On occasion I still pick up a “regular” book. But for the most part I find them lacking in superpowers and the excitement of the unexpected.

I started FULL BLOODED because kickass heroines rock and I love shifters of all kinds. There aren’t enough warm-blooded girls to go around, in my opinion. I fell into Jessica’s story and had such a great time writing it. I couldn’t imagine writing anything other than urban fantasy now.

When you’re creating a story in this fantastic genre, it can contain almost any elements you can dream up. Creatively, for me, there’s nothing better.

Now I think it’s about time to share it with all of you.

Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a BA in both Speech and Hearing Science & Child Development. She went on to get an A.A.S in Sign Language Interpreting and worked as an interpreter until her first child was born. She enjoys playing Scrabble to an unhealthy degree, shopping trips to Ikea and has a great weakness for tropical beaches. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three kids.

Find Amanda Online:

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Book Info:

Magic, mayhem and madness explode in this third installment in the Jessica McClain series.
Jessica McClain is on the run... again.

Finally reunited with Rourke, Jessica arrives home to find that her best friend has been kidnapped, her father has vanished, and the supernatural Sects -- witches, demons, and sorcerers --- don't even have the courtesy to wait until she is unpacked to attack.

Now, mastering her powers as the sole female werewolf might not be enough to save them. Thrown together in a shaky truce with the Vampire Queen, Jessica must show all the different Sects what the true meaning of "the enemy of my enemy" is or her father will die...

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Early Review: Cold Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Cold Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Jessica McClain #3

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...

Jessica can't catch a break. She's only just returned from saving her mate from a vengeful goddess and finds out her best friend, the niece of the most powerful witch in the country, is missing. Jessica has to save her friend and fast before she has to add yet another supernatural sect to her list of enemies. But it won't be that easy because there is a new threat looming, and this one may just make everything she has faced so far look like child's play. Things are bad when you have to turn to the Vamp Queen for help, but a girl has got to do what she's gotta do.

There is so much going on behind this world between the witches, weres, vamps, demons, sorcerers, ghosts, strigoi, fae, gods, honestly I could go on and on. It may sound like a lot, and it is, but what sets this series apart from other is the way it is all seamlessly blended together to make a very in depth world with being too much either. Each element has it's own place and back-story that only ads to the overall story. I really liked the addition of the demon threat as it only ratcheted the intensity up another notch. Don't get me wrong, the vamps are a pretty hefty threat on their own, and definitely made this round interesting, but they want something from Jessica, so they could only take things so far without killing her and losing their chance. The Demons however seem to have no qualm about the condition she is in, and that made things a bit more intense. I can't wait until the next book to see where things lead with them, and well everyone else gunning for her as well.

I'm really enjoying seeing how Jessica's uniqueness and predilection to get herself into trouble keeps throwing a wrench into everything around her. Honestly, the poor girl could use a break and would love to be out of the middle of things, but she handles most things well and is always ready to make the touch choices, making her very admirable. I especially enjoy the way she handles Roarke. I'll admit that I had some worry about the two of them since they hadn't gotten any real time together and I had needed more than I was given to "feel" the relationship. I also had worried about his vast age and dominance eclipsing Jessica, making her start to defer to him, which wouldn't have been true to character. However, the events in COLD BLOODED laid my fears to rest, and boy does she give him a run for his money. The poor man is going to have an aneurysm from Jessica constantly putting herself in so much danger and him having to stay out of it. I could just picture the look on his face, and it make me crack up, and enjoy the read all the more.

This book was literally non stop action from beginning to end. I felt like I was on a roller coaster throughout the entire book barely able to catch my breath. It really is impressive how Amanda was able to keep the pacing so incredibly intense without going into unbelievable territory. Granted it ends in yet another cliffhanger, but that seems to be par for course in this series, so it's a matter of grinning and bearing at this point. I know I'll be counting down the days until the next installment is released. Fans of the series will not want to miss this!

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
     a GREAT read
     Welcome to Larissa & Friends' Bookish Life
     Booked & Loaded

Previous Books:
     1. Full Blooded
     2. Hot Blooded

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Early Review: Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson 

Jessica McClain #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...

Things haven't been easy for Jessica lately. With the way her life has been turned upside down, it is hard for her to imagine that only a week ago she was still mostly human. Now however, it looks like not only is she the only female werewolf ever known to have exist, but she also just might be the most powerful. And that has caused more than a few ruffled feathers. In fact an angry Immortal Goddess has captured her mate, Roarke, determined to make him her own. Jessica is determined to get him back at all costs, no matter the odds. So she sets out with a few friends and temporary allies to bring down the Goddess once and for all.

I really love Jessica's character! She doesn't let anything stand in her way of her determination to do what she feels is right. But, she is also rather humble considering the circumstances. She's not power hungry, and doesn't want to be put in the middle of all of the conflicts. Quite honestly, she'd be happy to be left alone, but since that isn't in the cards, I do think she handles it quite well considering the circumstances. I also admire her for not shrinking behind her father as it would have been so easy to let her Alpha take over. In fact, she took things a step further, and risked her very place in the pack due to go after her mate. Granted, her father shouldn't have put her in the position of having to choose between her mate and her pack, but in the end, he and Jessica are both doing the best they can with the realization that she doesn't have to follow his orders. In fact, there has been a great deal of growing pains with all of Jessica's friends as they have all had to try and dampen down their protective instincts of her. I have a feeling things will only get more interesting once Roarke's own protective instincts come into play.

One of my biggest pet peeves in Urban Fantasy is when the protagonist has seemingly unlimited power. It just makes it harder to find the threats facing the character to be, well threatening. I mean if they will just miraculously have a new power to overcome every new threat without a whole lot of consequences, then it just doesn't feel real to me. I just think there should be some sort of price involved with great power as it helps to keep them level. Now, I wouldn't say this is quite the case with Jessica, but things do seem to be headed towards that path. I understand that Jessica is supposed to be this wildcard, potentially being the one to unite all of the races, so of course she needs to be incredibly powerful. I just wish that power would come with more of a cost, especially when she's just blundering through things blindly. Then again, I guess when you take a step back to really look at things, while there doesn't seem to be a direct personal cost involved with her powers, the threat to the people she cares about is very real as has already been demonstrated. And while Jessica may seem to be unbeatable, one of these times I have a feeling even that won't be enough to save whoever is at risk. So I guess in the end there's a pretty good checks and balance system after all.

I really enjoyed HOT BLOODED, although I have to admit I would have preferred there to have been a bit more time spent together between Roarke and Jessica. Their total time together has only accounted for a very brief amount of time so far, and I really would like to see things become more developed. Here's to hoping we finally get some smexy time in the next book. Also, just as a forewarning, this one ends in another nasty cliffhanger, just like the first installment. I'll definitely be counting down the days until COLD BLOODED is released in October 2013. A great second installment in the Jessica McClain series, HOT BLOODED is a roller coaster ride from start to finish that is not to be missed!

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

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Other Reviews:

• Paranormal Cravings

Previous Books:

1. Full Blooded

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