Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires Book 4)

This being the fourth in the series I kind of knew the books read a little slow at times and there's never a lot of action. My main reason for reading this was to see if she and Ethan finally worked anything out.

**spoiler alert**

So needless to say I was very disappointed when out of nowhere and in the blink of an eye - he gets staked! Really? And then it was oh so easy for her to stake the vampire that staked Ethan.. this all so powerful female vamp that she feared so much? It was SO anti-climactic and such a disappointment ALL THE WAY AROUND!

I'm left wondering do I even want to keep going? If I spend this much time reading about characters, enjoying them and then.. poof! Where is the action? I mean - if Ethan HAD to get staked - shouldn't that have been a battle? Or at least a page or two worth of anticipation about what was going to happen next? Certainly NOT just - Ethan enters the room, says a word or two and then jumps in front of merit and bam! Stake hits perfectly, poof! Really?!?!?!

Actually, disappointment is a major understatement! I may read one more to see if it gets better but I'm not sure yet.. there are just so many good authors out there whose books I'm NOT disapointed in!.. so we'll see.

Ok, I am so tired of Ethan, I have read these first few books and I am so torn. I really do not hate Merit, I hate Ethan and their relationship, and the fact that everything she does is for Ethan. Merit keeps telling herself that she will not get back into anything with him, and then every choice she makes is because he's there!! "Oh, We fight so good together, I have to stay true to the house and only the house BS," give me a break!! I keep looking for a new guy, but they all turn out bad, or married, it is like she is purposefully making it so Ethan is the only choice that she can have, pushing them together instead of letting something develop naturally. And was I the only one who could see their last night together for what it was? Something to emotionally tie us in, "Aw, he's so sweet for just sleeping and not trying to get into her pants," so that when he bites it we have some emotion besides THANK GOD!!!! I was so giddy that he was finally gone, and then she hint at him coming back with the end, REALLY!?!And one more thing, (Yes it did happen a few books back but while I'm here), Merit whines about wanting someone to like her for her, not what she can be for them, like Morgan was! And then she blows everyone who could like her for who she is off, and goes back to the one person that is for sure using her for his own ends! What a STUPID choice! It got 2 stars because I like that Merit for the most part, but when it comes down to Ethan and her, and her pining I want to scream and throw the damn book! And the fighting, what a joke, she is so good with a sword, but she doesn't really use it, they never kill each other, even when there are CLEAR threats, what is the point? Is it just me, or do these books keep playing more and more like Buffy? True love here but conflict, (Angel/Buffy), True love dead, True love back from dead, and what next book, best friend evil witch?

I would call this a book of change for Merit and the Chicagoland vampires. After three hot hot hot Chicagoland Vampires novels, I feel like Chloe Neill is allowing her audience to breathe a bit with this installment. While it is arguably as action-packed as the previous books, it is very light on the romance side, a bit of a let-down for those of us who've grown accustomed to the steamy suspense between Ethan and Merit. Of course, Merit still kicks ass while supporting her House and the well-being of the vampire community as a whole, and there may be some stirrings of a relationship with Jonah around the corner, but one can't help but feel a little lost without the heat.

As far as the rest of the plot is concerned, old villains haven't quite disappeared and new villains are seemingly minor. Merit's best friend Mallory and her boyfriend Catcher only have ancillary roles. The leader of the North American Central werewolf pack Gabriel only shows up once in the entire novel.

All this being said, the ending of the novel packs enough punch to carry the rest of the book on its coattails.

Spoiler Alert!!!
(Continue reading only if you don't mind spoilers!)

So, yeah.... BIG changes erupt at the end of the book. Such big changes that I didn't see them coming at all. The first huge plot twist is when Merit is told that her father had commissioned Ethan to assault her and turn her into a vampire as a political ploy. Of course, this throws everything that has happened between Merit and Ethan in the previous books into question and dashes hopes that they will ever be happily in love. Even though Ethan is exonerated in the end for not accepting the proposal from Merit's father, we still experience the heartache with Merit and it stings. This is also just further evidence that nothing is ever as it seems and calls into question just who in Merit's life is actually trustworthy.

The second showstopper? Ethan dies! Holy shit, this completely floored me. Whhhyyyy!?!?! I really liked Ethan as a character and was truly hopeful that we would get to see further romancing between him and Merit, but it is just not to be. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I started thinking about this twist from the author's perspective and see that it was probably a necessary move in order to keep the plot moving forward in the series and avoid becoming stale. I mean, the push and pull of Merit and Ethan couldn't go on forever, right? Plus, this now opens the door for many potential plot developments in future books: a real possibility for Merit and the Red Guard, a possible future for Merit and Jonah, the evolution of Cadogan under Malik's lead... who knows?

Regardless, Neill still has a great story on her hands and I'm looking forward to seeing in what direction she decides to take it. The next installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series, Drink Deep, is due out in November 2011!

Well, this is the fourth book in the Chicagoland Vampire series. This one is just as well written as books 1-3. I am hard pressed to call out a favorite so far in the series. They are all so good in their own right. The relationship with Merit and Ethan continues to grow. We don't get a lot of Mallory in this installment, which is kind of nice actually. Much more focus on Merit and Ethan - even though they aren't "working" this one together. She sees alot of his vulnerability, for her and his vampires.

There were quite a few surprises at the end of this one. Major, mind-blowing surprises. In fact, I was quite devastated. My mouth literally fell open at all of them. I didn't see any of that coming - at all! I am glad that Merit was able to find out the truth of the matter though. I hated to think she had been so brutally betrayed by someone who meant so much to her.

I am really wondering how the author will be able to bring the characters together again. How can she possibly create the feelings that lead up to this brutal ending??!! I am skeptical but hopeful.

Chicago's in an uproar over the discovery of vampires living among them. There are riots and protests all over the city. Many people hate the idea of vampires in Chicago and want them to leave. However, many people are intrigued with the idea of vampires and want to be bitten.

There are some rogue vampires taking advantage of the situation. They're hosting raves - leaving humans scared.

The mayor calls in Merit and Ethan to clean up the mess - or he's holding Ethan responsible for them.

This news couldn't come at a worse time as authorities from England are in town to talk about the rising number of problems coming from Chicago.

Merit's pursuing these raves. She needs all her wits about her if she's going to save her house and keep it's reputation in tact while keeping Ethan and therefore the authorities in the dark.

My Thoughts: Another thrilling adventure for Merit - complete with action, danger, secrets from her past, and sparring (romantic and otherwise) between her and Ethan. I love Merit's strength, her wit, her courage, and her compassion. I wished this chapter had more of Mallory because they have an awesome relationship. I love this series!

Chloe Neil has created a character with identifiable character. Merit is who many of us would try to be if we were in her situation. The BFF relationship has finally captured my agreement, I was a little put off in previous books with Merit's behavior, but this clinched it for me. The ending was tear-worthy. I wanted to throw the book and reread it just to make sure I read it right, then throw the book again. Since the book was my computer, I refrained. Enjoy the series everyone. So far it's very good.

It took me awhile to finish this one, not because I don't love this series, I do, it's just the pacing was so slow. Plus I don't know if I can really believe what's going on with that ending. Oh how I hate that. This book of course, starts off sometime (not exactly how long) after the ending of Twice Bitten, Cadogan is in the midst of repair, and of course chaos looms around every corner, and Merit is thrown in the middle. Throw in a bit of Ethan/Merit tension and you have every other book, just with a new crime going on. I didn't know if I wanted to continue with this series until about 3/4 of the way through the book, the action picked up and EVERYTHING changed. The dynamic of book #5 will be interesting, but the ending seemed rushed, hard to believe and I haven't decided how I feel about it yet. The writing is on par with every other book in this series, let's hope we go somewhere new in the next book, otherwise all that change will have been for nothing and it feels like we're just toeing the water of potential.

Merit and Ethan's relationship offers more tension as they try to wade through Shapeshifters and supernatural politics while trying to solve murders. All the while the mayor tells them to get their house together or else. This book was exciting from the beginning to end. Merit is such a strong woman. I love reading her adventures and how infuriating Ethan can be. I can't wait to read the next book.

I was not sure about this book because of some of the reviews. Honestly I thought this is the best book ever and it was a sad note but I know Ethan comes back thank God. Because I am just reading it now just been 5 years ago and many many ever books in the series. It was just so interesting I just could not stop reading it. If you haven't watch the series. You need to buy it . Or check it out in a the library. I wouldn't think you should look at the reviews because some of them are really weird. It was almost like it was a different book that was in the reviewers mind

This is the fourth book in the series, and I can say it just keeps getting better book after book. This book had me flipping from page to page trying to see what happened next. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The character, the details, and story line was just amazing.

Merit a fresh baby vampire, is having the hardest time adapting to being a vampire. On top of that she has to deal with everything her master and lover Ethan has to throw at her, on top of the Mayor, and he worst enemy Celina. She's struggling trying to find and stop whom ever is giving a drug to vampires to make them "true vampires". She's also battling and trying to set limits to Ethan and hers relationship. And top of that having to help and spend time with her friend Mallory.

Overall this book is amazing. You must read the first two to understand what's going on in this one, this book leaves off right when the last one ends. This book will have you loving, laughing, and you'll have a list of your favorite characters before the middle of the book.

Two thumbs up to the author, amazing job!

HARD BITTEN was a raw, action packed, suspense filled, emotional roller coaster. What a hot mess the vampires are in with the city of Chicago. Chicago does not want them around and they are not going anywhere. On top of all that Cadagon house is rebuilding their house after the big fight in book 3 TWICE BITTEN. Merit is also trying to deal with her "relationship" with Ethan, she doesn't know how to let him back in but she knows she wants him in her life. I have so many theories floating around in my head I want to talk about but so little I can say without giving away major spoilers. Just know there is a ton of twists and turns and your head will be spinning. The ending was truely the biggest surprise of all, I have NO clue what Chloe Neill is planning for Merit in the future But I am so there for the ride.

I absolutely love this series and I love the world that Chloe Neill has created. I have been eagerly anticipating this book for months and couldn't be happier upon it's release. This book picks up a couple months after the ending of Twice Bitten. Things in the house are tense and things around Chicago are looking bleak for the vampires.

I really don't want to give too much away, but I want to make sure that everyone knows how good this book is. Chloe Neill's writting really shines with this insallment. Every little detail of the book is nicely written. All the threads come together nicely in the end in regards to the main mystery of the story.

If you are familiar already with the series there are a lot of questions answered that readers have been wondering about since the beginning. I will say though that even though there are many questions answered we still get more unsolved plotlines started. I almost think it's an even trade. I think it's easier to say that with the 5th book Drink Deep coming out in November. If we had to wait any longer I'm sure I would be more distressed.

Whatever you've heard about events that take place in the story, it's all true. The story is very fast paced and it all ends up in one moment towards the end that will leave readers shouting WTF!!! Please, please, please don't be discouraged. I was surprisingly hopefuly by the last page of the book which I find a wonderful feat in and of itself from Chloe Neill. I have complete faith in her writing and the story the she has plotted out and I look forward to being there for the ride.

This book really isn't a standalone in my opinion. You would benefit very much by starting at the beginning with Some Girls Bite. The character development in this story will be much more appreciated. Happy Reading!

I have been a fan of this series from day one! Especially the chemistry between Merit and Ethan. Reading each book and keeping my fingers crossed that all will end as I would like it to. I could not wait to get my hands on Hard Bitten, just to see what lies ahead for these two. Everything was going acording to plan and more. But just as it is in life, the last pages brought me back to earth. I hate the ending! Hate, hate, hate it! Ms Neill asks us to trust her, and with tears dripping down my face, I will try to. But know this! The next book better be worth it and it better be released before the end of this year, for I wont be able to wait too long. I need to know what happens next. Fans of the series will not be thrilled with this book's ending. But just like me they will be begging for more!

Hard Bitten is the fourth book in Chloe Niell's the Chicagoland Vampire series and I was admittedly at a slight disadvantage trying to pull backstory from what was written. Amazingly, this was still a really fun read even though I didn't know all the details. Chloe Neill knows how to tell a story and even if her subject material is nothing incredibly innovative, she still manages to keep things moving and make things interesting.

Merit, she goes by her last name, is a good-looking, trash talking, ass-kicking vampire who lives in Chicago. She was involuntarily made into a vampire after being attacked and nearly dying anyway. That is a plus in my book because she valued her humanity. Merit is also the daughter of a wealthy business man and politically tied in to the city of Chicago. To top it all off, she is romantically involved with the head vampire of the "House" that she belongs to. This is all pretty well covered ground in the Urban Fantasy genre.

The Cadogen House, where Merit lives, has been the center point of a lot of violence and turmoil. Much of that has been instigated by the leader of another vampire house and Merit and her off-again boyfriend, Ethan Sullivan, are trying to keep things from getting even further out of control. In order to do that, Merit is drawn into the investigation of the murder of humans by out of control vampires. The threat being that if she doesn't get it figured out her House will be shut down.

This is all good stuff. I like the way that Niell tells the story even if she uses some terms a little too often. Merit is a good heroine and the supporting cast are all pretty well developed, even the bad guy vampires. The best part of Neill's writing is that she is not afraid to kill important characters!! I absolutely love the fact that she is not so in love with her characters that she can't bear to write one out of the story. I love it!!! For me, what was an otherwise decent, but common, Urban Fantasy novel became something much better because the author has the guts to make things hurt.

I adore this series and I truly enjoy being in Merit's head! Her perspective is so real and honest that I can't get enough of her. There are moments of great strength and great vulnerability for Merit in this book and she has some hard decisions and truths to come to terms with here. Ethan is just as vivid a character and there were some moments between he and Merit that had my heart melting. Just like Merit, he's grown and changed in a very real way as the series has gone on. Their banter is just as sexy as always but there's some new honesty and deeper emotion to it as they both try to figure out what their next step will be.

As with the rest of the series, the supporting characters are also a complete joy to read and the action is fast-paced and exciting. As many people are probably aware, the book takes some MAJOR twists and turns at the end which throw the whole series into new territory. My jaw was on the ground and I kept re-reading the same passages to make sure the words on the page said what I thought they did! I have full confidence in Chloe Neill that she knows what she's doing and she did provide a bit of a clue at the end of the book to suggest that things aren't resolved. I won't say more since it would be a shame to ruin the surprise for those who haven't finished it yet.

Overall, this is another amazing installment in a fabulous series!! If you haven't started the Chicagoland Vampires then when are you waiting for??

Don't read this until Drink Deep comes out November 1...cause although the ending isn't a cliffhanger, you'll want to keep reading to see if somehow what you read previously was wrong. Despite the WTH ending, the book was a fast, well paced book. Merit had just enough snark, and just enough kickass action, and Ethan was the intense, awesome leader that he is.

I also enjoyed Merit's sort of new love interest.Don't worry diehard Ethan lovers, It's just another admirer.

To everyone pissed at the ending, I still have high hopes that it's not permanent. I'm going to trust Miss Neill. If things aren't cleared up by the next book, then yeah I'll just self-destruct.

Vampire violence is escalating throughout the city of Chicago, and the mayor has Ethan's a$$ in a sling. As the longest standing Master vampire in the city the responsibility of cleaning up this newest vampire mess falls on Ethans shoulders but with the GP looking over his shoulder and demanding he not do anything about this newest issue Ethan's hands are tied or he could lose his house. Good things he has the rebellious Merit who doesn't much care if she pisses off the GP, her top priorities are her house, her Master and her City. With humans and vampires alike in danger Merit is determined to get to the bottom of this violence even if she has to put herself on the line.

Hard Bitten to the bitter end. Literally.

Merit super sentinel of Cadogan House is back and busy solving mysteries. Violent raves are going down in Chicagoland, and the mayor is threatening Master Vamp Ethan to put a stop to it or be arrested. Not what Cadogan needs right now with the head of the European Council visiting and itching for a way to dismantle the house that Ethan built. Unfortunately unrest is brewing among the humans who are getting more and more organized as well as aggressive. The deliciously growing tension between Merit and Ethan is getting a third wheel in the form of a certain Red Guard member from Grey House. Throughout the book you'll be wondering will she or won't she give Ethan another chance. And then there's "The End". Or I like to call it "The Disappointment".

Well. Anyway. Except for the end, I really enjoyed this book. As always Neill has a great cast of supporting characters, Merit and her appetite for Chi-Town's unique cuisine is endearing. Hard Bitten was a well written good solid read, with complex storylines that either resolved well here or lead into the next installment with much anticipation.

Non-stop action and plots at every turn. Merit is a kick butt heroine that you want to be your BFF. Great writing and outstanding storyline. This one just might put a tear in your eye. Happy reading.

First, let me say that I think Chloe Neill is a great writer. I cannot ever put down one of her books until it is finished. Second, Merit has become one of my favorite vampires. I cannot wait until November to see where she is taking this series.
From the begining I have been drawn in by the sacarsm in her books. I love to laugh when I read, but I also like it to have some substance to it. I get it all with this series. Now, I know a lot of people have been very upset about the ending of this book. I say let the author finish taking us on the journey. While I may not necessarily like what has transpired, I do respect the authors right to do what she will with her characters. So, I am going to trust her, and know that she has Merit's best intrests at heart and I will most assuradly be buying the next book, and however many more there are in the series. Give her a break. They are her characters, she is an awesome writer and really? do you always have to have a happy ending to end a book. Me, I prefer they take us on the ride and along the unexpected dips and turns and when we are done we can say what a ride!

I didn't get through Hard Bitten nearly as quickly as the previous books in the series. It was fine, although I missed the great characters like Jeff and Mallory--they have disappeared while the author sets up the next book. I really hate it when a "middle book" just seems to be a placeholder for another book in the series, rather than moving things along. What about the shifters? They were in the book for like 2 sentences. And developments with Mayor Tate and Celina seemed thrown in just at the last minute. And what the heck happened in the last pages? Seriously? Is book 5 the end or is going to take more than that many books to "fix" what just happened in book 4?

5 out of 5 stars!!! ::::WARNING----THIS BOOK HAD ME IN TEARS BY THE END OF IT:::: I loved Merit as always! Her relationship with Ethan takes some major turns ... some I loved and some I royally hated especially since I really want them to end up together in the end. And WOW .... the ending has a twist I NEVER expected! I am soooo curious now about what Merit's "future vision" she had in Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 3) means. Since what I thought was going to happen doesn't look like it'll happen anymore. =0(

Reviewed By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
(read more of this review and a teaser on my blog)

I gotten into Chicago vampire novels since book 1 and this one hooked me up from page one. Picking up from the fall out of Cadogan House we have Mayor Tate deciding to step in after the new V drug on the streets results in a triple murder that races across the front pages of the newspapers. Threatening Ethan with jail he and Merit start to investigate the drug which lead them to Celina who has dipomatic immunity among vampires as far as the GP is concern as well as other middle men drug dealers. The drug V (whose Latin name means truth) makes vampires act like true vampires as far as Celina is concern. The monsters of human nightmares that has caused protesters to gather among the vampire houses. In this case Merit finds her witch friend Mallory spelled not to talk about what the magic users are up to and very concern with what is going on as well Mayor Tate hiding stuff from Merit's grandpa and his organization to mediate politics between human and supernatural communities. Merit also find some dark secrets about her dad and the events that happened to her in book one. Merit will do whatever it takes to protect Chicago and her house even if it means challenging the GP. Etan stand by her side all the way as this book focus heavy on their relationship through the book.

Warning: Hard Bitten is not the book you want to pick up if you are new to this series. You really need to start with Some Girls Bite and read the series in order to truly appreciate this story.

That being said, Hard Bitten is the best installment yet of the Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill. There are so many elements in this book that collaborate together to make this story the most exciting story in the series. The novel affords, mystery, love, politics, a secret vampire society, friendship and, sadly, heartbreak. These elements are evident in the previous books; but, they are combined in this tale in a more arresting elocution. The reader will have to hold onto his/her chair as Chloe Neill takes the reader on a harrowing roller coaster ride through the life and times of Merit, the heroine.

The most frustrating situation, for me, is waiting for next book, Drink Deep, to be released November 1, 2011. I am definitely pre-ordering Drink Deep when it becomes available on the store.

Happy Reading from Bona Fide Reflections!!

What I've always liked best about the Chicagoland Vamps series is the character development. Unlike the Sookies and Cats that dominate the world of vampire fiction, Merit is actually relatable to the average English-lit bookworm, and the conflicted romance that developed between her and Ethan is so much the hotter for the fact that its ups and downs are rooted more in the way Ms. Neill imagines and reveals the characters than in the supernatural twists and turns of the plot.

Sadly, whatever you think about Hard Bitten's ending (and I think it's not, let's say, as 'over' as it seems), this book highlights a weakness that started to peek through in Twice Bitten: Ms. Neill simply isn't very good at plotting mysteries. This series was at its best when the author focused on Merit's day-to-day development as a new vampire, figuring out her own conflicts and coming into her powers, with a clear villain as foil. The developments at the end of the book involve far too many Scooby-Doo plot twists for my taste - it's similar to the 'oops! my bro betrayed me!' reversal that soured the shifter plot a bit for me in Twice Bitten.

Anyone who finishes the book will notice that the stage is now well cleared for an entirely new cast of characters to come into the series ... here's hoping that Ms. Neill uses the blank slate wisely. I'll be reading, but to quote Merit in this book, "I'm afraid."

So, I have read the reviews on the store and people seem to either love it or hate it because of the ending.

We continue on with the adventures of Merit the newly minted Vampire named as Sentinel for the House of Cardogan. She takes no prisoners facing the challenges of protecting her house and also protecting the City [Chicago] that she loves. The Author opens up the world giving tidbits and clues on the future and the present colliding in a couple of moments.

Well - for me, I think the Author does an excellent job simply because of the surprise ending and the disbelief as the reader tries to figure out how the Series can possibly go on. This is the mark of a great writer taking a chance with her story line. And the fact that she already has the next book written out for release in November - I believe that there is more to come.

Yes - it may be disheartening to get to the end but breathe in and breathe out and remember the most important thing was the fact you couldn't put the book down.

A toast To book 5. We'll be waiting.

***** Warning - slight spoilers, but no major plot details ********

When I'm really into a series, I sometimes check other reader reviews when the next book is first released so I kind of know what to expect before I read it and possibly avoid getting a horrible surprise. I immediately saw that some people were already up in arms over Ms. Neill's latest twist in Merit's world. I, for one, would like to encourage all her faithful readers to HOLD ON until we see what happens next in "Drink Deep" coming out in November.

At the moment, I have little doubt that Merit's world will right itself in the future - here's why I'm not worried (yet):

* There have been couples in other series with unsettling twists that have worked themselves out (think Cat and Bones from the Night Huntress series, think Dante and Japh in the Dante Valentine series, think Sin and Con as well as Gem and Kynan from the Daemonica series, etc.) - so have faith!

* Not so long ago, a writer of a well-known and long running series (and most of you will know what I am about to refer to) completely jumped the shark with her long-awaited couple's book and what a disaster that was! Readers returned their books for a refund (I was one of them) and the message boards and blogs lit up with a mob mentality. The writer "chose" to go on hiatus and just recently released the final book in that series to very low reader ratings. I am sure the publisher lost a HUGE amount of money in hardback and projected paperback sales. No publishing house can afford for a guaranteed cash cow series to get trashed like that. That was a literary fiasco of such a big scale that I am sure every romance/paranormal romance publisher had meetings telling their editors (under threat of being fired and maybe even bodily harm) that it was their job to make sure their writers didn't make such a colossal mistake and alienate the readers.

As for my actual review of "Hard Bitten" - overall, I think Ms. Neill did another great job telling Merit's story. I am very glad I took some of the other readers' advice and read the ending first. I was better able to focus on possible clues/forecasting in the rest of the book once I was no longer anticipating some great shock.

I recently took the time to read "Hard Bitten" again and now find myself being even more open to the way this latest twist has opened up the story. For one thing, I really found myself paying more attention to the Jonah aspect of the story. I think I might actually like to see that go a little further - I was intrigued by his growing role in all of this and what that could mean for Merit. Ultimately, I still hope/expect to get the HEA we all think Ms. Neill has been building towards - but maybe there is room for Merit to experience something different until we get there (even if that means waiting beyond "Drink Deep").

I'm so confused with the ending of this book. Though the story line was rather predictable the ending was shocking, but after reading the first three book, let say I had high expectations for the this one....eye roll.

You'll be breathless and speechless when you read this new novel called Hard Bitten!

Most of the series attraction and tension between the characters depend on the developments happened in the previous books. A large draw for the Chicagoland Vampires -series is Ethan and Merit and their connection.

Merit is a character you just can't help but like. She's a fighter - strong, vulnerable, human, protector, friend and lover. I was aching with her at the end of this book, the revelations that were shown. She's grown a lot with each book, and I'm eagerly waiting to see how she copes with everything in the next book.

The fourth Chicagoland Vampires (Hard Bitten) is a fast-paced action as the lead vamps and the Mayor Tate face the new challenges in Chicago's supernatural community. Chloe Neill has again written a superb and thrilling urban vampire fantasy novel.

*****SPOILERS BELOW*****

I finished this book yesterday, & I've been thinking about it ever since. The more I think about it, the less I understand what is going on with this series. I have enjoyed the previous books, but I was hoping that Merit & Ethan would be able to get it together & GET together in this book. Boy, was I unplesantly surprised. But I'll get to that later.

It feels like CN has changed some basic facts about the series. In the previous books, Mayor Tate was kind of sleazy, but he was a basic human politician kind of sleazy. Now all of a sudden he's some kind of evil supernatural creature who can control a super powerful vampire? How did that happen? The first 3 books Celina was incredibly powerful, but now she's just a puppet for Tate, again, how did that happen? Even his plot was kind of stupid, creating a problem so he could solve it. Why? In all the books he's a very popular mayor, why come up with this stupid idea all of a sudden? I felt like I was watching Dr. Evil from an Austin Power movie, the whole thing just doesn't make sense.

Another thing I don't understand is this whole story with her dead sister with the same name. First, she's just dropping this now? For three books we've had to wonder why Merit made people call her by her last name, now at the very end of the book we find out her father gave her her dead sisters name. Who does that? And we still dont really know why she won't be called Caroline, is it just because her sister is dead? Is it because she wants her own name? Why did she decide on Merit, why not another name? Of course this is nothing compared to the fact that her father tried to pay someone to turn her into a vampire, & that Celina tried to kill her (and DID kill girls that looked like her) because she was mad that her father asked Ethan to turn her instead of Celina. Another stupid idea. I still don't understand why her father wanted her to be immortal, & what about her sister Charlotte?, he's OK if she dies, or was he going to get to her later? The whole thing felt like CN just tacked in on the end to complicate the plot.

And now we come to the big change. Ethan gets dead(er). WTF???? I'm sure she's going to find a way to bring him back, but it's going to be stupid. I don't want to even think about where they're going to get a body to put him in, but he won't look like Ethan anymore. The only reason I can think of for his death is that Merit wouldn't be with him while he's a house master. So he was killed off to be brought back so they can be a couple. Now Merit will probably hook up with Jonah, & will feel CONFLICTED when Ethan magically appears. Such crap.

I'm just disappointed with all these strange changes to the books. There's no reason for them, the basic facts were fine the way they were. I've seen some people wondering if Merit is pregnant. Since food has no affect on a vampire's body, I can't imagine how she could get pregnant, but if she does, I will be really, really pissed. I hope the next book get the storyline back on track.

I still like the series. It's not as funny as Books 1 & 2 but there still is humor. You're not gonna like the end of this book so much so make sure you've got Drink Deep ready to go. This is still worth reading though and I personally like this series a lot. There's just a major incident we have to get through. I do believe all will be well by the end of Drink Deep, so my friends have promised....

I devoured the previous three books. This one just didn't hold my interest. I got bored and started skipping around. **Small spoiler coming up** Wow really Celina a freaking gain?? Would we watch Spiderman 1-3 if he battled Doc Oc in every movie? There wasn't alot of action, and I missed her friendships. Her interaction with friends and family make her likeable. The ending scene with her father, she showed no emotion? After the previous three books where she anguished over the loss of her humanity? I was so annoyed and baffled. As for her relationship with Ethan? It was boring, made me want her to meet some new hot shifter or something? Just not my fav at all...Want a series that just gets better and better.. Try Eileen Wilks World of the Lupi.

The highly anticipated 4th novel of the Chicagoland Vampire Series, Hard Bitten, totally changes the game. This book focused a great deal more on the politics side of things. The vampires have been out, and now the shapeshifters follow. That's naturally going to be alarming for normal humans, so they have been protesting against all supernaturals--that they know of that least. To complicate matters even further, three women have gone missing after a secret vampire bloodletting soirée turns violent. It's up to Ethan and Merit to get to the bottom of it because the higher ups (namely the Mayor) don't plan to stand for it.

She teams up with Jonah, a Red Guard member (from an organization that wants to recruit Merit), and together they discover a new drug that's out on the streets affecting the vampires. This is the last thing the vampire community needs as it will validate human fears. Merit faces a lot of danger as she digs deeper to discover the root of the problem and who's causing it. Who can she trust?

I know that a lot of readers are split on how they felt about this book, but it wasn't the end that lost me. It never had me to begin with. I feel like I'm experiencing a delayed reaction; everything I found irritating this time around has pretty much always been there. So I guess it's not Neill, it's me.

I'm really picky about my vampires (as if my screen name wasn't an obvious indication), so I sort of felt like you could have taken the vampire aspect out of this book and everything would virtually be the same. Ethan doesn't feel that badass to me. We know he is old and strong, but he never really exudes the maturity I would expect from a supernatural being that's lived for centuries. He talks the talk, but he just doesn't have that swagger. I realize my opinion probably goes against the grain, but I'm being honest.

And of course Merit and Ethan's relationship was a bit confusing, if not annoying. In the previous book they're together, then he breaks it off until the end where I thought that they reconciled. Turns out that wasn't quite the case in this book and it's Merit that has the problem. She obviously loves him, and he realized his mistake, so what's the big deal? Just be together and make that one less complication to deal with since they have plenty of them. I prefer Morgan anyway (at least from the first book) because I found their interactions fun and sexy, but I digress.

There were times that Merit came off as a dormitory RA rather than a sentinel for me. The action sequences are few and far in-between and it took too long to get to the point. The Cadogan setting with everybody living the dorm life is just a bit ridiculous to me now. They're adults, some even over 100 years old. Am I supposed to believe that they're content with 4 tiny walls as their residence for years on end? I couldn't WAIT to move into a decent suite in college and that was after two years. I'm younger than Merit and not far removed from college myself.

I tend to like when series have an end in sight and now I'm hearing that this one will be ongoing. I don't want to be stuck with another Hollows (though now we know when it will end), or even worse, Anita Blake. This book is way too light to really be categorized as either since it's borderline young-adult. With that said, I still found a lot of enjoyment in the first book. It's just that its sequels haven't been able to recapture that same magic for me, which could be due in part to my desire for the style to evolve and mature as Merit supposedly is. It's kind of like how I find the premise of the Vampire Diaries show so ridiculous; the cast is in their 20s-30s and still try to pass off as high schoolers, especially Damon's character who frequents their school functions. Creeper much?

I am pretty indifferent about reading the next book, and this one leaves off definitely making you wonder what's going to happen next, so that's a sign that this series is no longer for me. I can imagine it will be agony for its fans. I wish this series well, and while I'm likely to at least read general spoilers about the next book, I'll be stopping here on Merit's journey.

There is only so much build up that is allowed before excitement turns to apathy. Once again, the author pulls Merit & ethan apart and by book 4 it is beyond annoying, not to mention how the author decided to handle Ethan's character. Fans of this romance are very disappointed. Hard not to just stick with the first three books and pretend this madness never happened...if Drink Deep does not right this obvious wrong then I will not be buying it. now was the book well written. Yes, very much so.

First let me say I am a 100% Fan of the Chicagoland Vampire Series....but...this book was different. It was OK over all but the story seemed to drag. There was not enough interaction with Merit and the other characters. This book seemed to lack the sarcastic banter we have come to know and love.
I am more interested in Merit's relationships than anything else. Vampire/Human politics have its place...but Merit's Relationships is why I read these books. I understand laying the foundation of future books, showing Merit's growth, and un-earthling secrets, but this book seemed to depart from the emotional depth and basic storylines that made this series so endearing. There was just too much going on in this book, and it was all warped up too quickly. And the ending...I cried like so many others did. The dream ripped my heart out. When does Merit catch a break?
Wow...I feel like a traitor because I am so emotionally invested in this series. Don't get me wrong I LOVE this series, and it is worth reading. I just hope that Ms. Neill works some magic and gets back to the original formula that worked so well before.

I Loved the first three books. This one was a big disappointment! The author is great at pithy dialogue. Apparently, she isn't as good with complex plots. The big events in this book were not connected by strong threads of logic.

Before I got to the ending, I was disappointed with the mediocre story. The ending was terrible!

The fifth book will probably involved a contrived deus ex machina to bring back the missing character. I'm afraid that the brand has suffered permanent damage!

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
[...]

If TWICE BITTEN was about the flash and bang of giving into attraction for the first time, HARD BITTEN is about the chemistry and conflict of evaluating a long term relationship. Half way through this book, I was struck by how much I've grown to love series. Not just for the characters and the action within, but also for the decisions Chloe Neill has made as an author. Neill takes the long view, just as her immortal heroine Merit is learning to do, and never is that so apparent as in HARD BITTEN. Neill doesn't pick the spikes and crashes of sugar-high romance, but rather writes the worries and growth of complex, interesting characters.

Though I had had a less passionate response to previous Chicagoland Vampire novels, HARD BITTEN clicked with me right from the get go. Merit and Ethan's relationship discussions are nuanced and emotionally intelligent, making it both interesting and enjoyable to read their interactions. As for the action, the Chicago populace is up in arms against vampires, and I loved how something as mundane and recognizable as fear and prejudice (and picket lines) drew all of my favorite supporting characters together against a gathering storm. Around all of these circumstances was the menace of Celina and the not so benign neglect of the Presidium, but it is definitely the day to day that held my focus.

My mid-book musings turned out to be truer than I knew. The ending of HARD BITTEN was a risk I never would have expected to see, one that makes it very difficult to write a review that doesn't consist of me typing "holy cow" over and over and over (because seriously, Holy Cow). This book has a dramatic ending in the best of ways, and it is the cruelest of pleasures to wait for DRINK DEEP in November.

Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.

I ADORE both Chole Neill and the first three books in this series. However, this one left me sad, angry, and utterly dissapointed. I cried just about all of the last chapter or two. Not that I don't like I good cry, I just can't imagine how Neill is going to recover after this explosive ending. I think it is going to totally ruin the future story line, however, I will read the next one just to see how things go.
Heart Broken In Louisiana

I was such a big fan of the series, but most of this book was slow. No action. Then the end felt like it hit me with a truck! What the hell was that? I had to reread it to be sure. I am not sure how I feel about continuing the series. I am sure there will be a fix in future books, but if the course continues this way I will definitely no longer be reading. In fact, is there is a fix planned it seems like it would be highly unbelievable.

4,5 stars
[spoiler free]

To say I'm a little bit shocked right now after finishing the book would be an understatement. So forgive me any incoherency or emotional breakdowns in this really subjective review.
I love the Chicagoland Vampire Series. I could never quite pin down why that is. Maybe it's the fascinating main and secondary characters, maybe the interesting world-building or maybe the quick and easy dialouge. But mainly, I think, it is because the whole package is ... believable. The decisions the characters make, their believes and actions, all of it is reasonable.
That's why I was a sobbing mess reading the last pages while two voices in my head were going all "Wait, what? No, noo, that's not happening!!" and "But that's what it says right here, stupid, suck it up." I believed it. And that's where Chloe Neill does a really good job, in my opinion.
That being said; I now don't believe it's over, the last two pages hinted at more, I think. But maybe that's just me in denial.

Looking beyond the ending (which I hate, but can't help to admit is really well done), it's a solid installment. There's a little too much politics involved, for my taste, and the secondary character don't make enough appearance, but it's as usual well written with witty banter, some nice plot twists (besides the obvious) and good character development. People experience loss, love, regret, fear and anger. There is some serious betrayal going on, more hypocrisy and shattering trust.

It's an awesome book. And I say that while I still want to cry and kick something. You'll probably hate the ending, but you'll enjoy it if you stubbornly believe in a HEA like me.

First of all, you need to read the other books in the series. I read this book having an idea of how it was going to end, even though, it was still a shocking turn of events. I generally enjoyed the book but the ending is not sitting well for me. I have an idea of where the author is going with the story but at this point I am not sure how she is going to pull it off and keep it feeling plausible. (and yes, I know it's a fantasy with vampires, magic etc.) I like the day to day interactions and personalities of the characters. One thing that bothers me in all the books is always referring to the men in the book as boys, having "boy" trouble, needing to talk about "boys". It sounds like high school, and a few hundred year old alpha macho vampire should not be called a "boy" I like my men to be men, and called "men".
I enjoyed all the other books in the series, so I am sure I will read the next one and this one was generally entertaining even with the unsatisfying ending.

I was so excited to read this book because it's one of my favorite series. And all I can say is that I am left heartbroken, angry and confused. I don't want to give anymore spoilers than there already are, so I'll keep it short. I gave it only 3 stars because of the ending. Period. I wasn't prepared for it nor was there any big, grandiose fight scene to justify this type of ending. It just happened and all I could think at the time was "what?" and then "what?" again.

I love all of the characters in this book, new and old, but I believe that the reason that we all have loved this series is because of Merit and Ethan. And even though I am not happy with this ending, I have to believe that this ending is not what it seems.

There are a few conversations (clues maybe?) between Ethan and Merit that lead me to believe that their story is not over. These conversations are about a kiss and that when this kiss happens, the next time they touch it will be because Merit will ask him of her own will. Well the kiss happened, and then the ending happened. (what?)

And then there's the fact that Merit hears him screaming her name at the end of the book, which she thinks is a dream. But is it really just a dream?

I am a huge fan of Ms. Neill's writing and am hoping that she will come through in the next book with a tall, sexy, green eyed surprise jumping out of a cake at the Cadogen house! Sigh... Til November :)

Ok I love romances supernatural and everything out there, this Book is disappointing, given that the story needs both Ethan and Merit and yet the ending of this book was like cutting off an arm and saying don't worry there is a reason. Its coming coming?....... I feel let down, the story was intense merit being a sentinal for her house, you can feel the dedication, every line was intense you could feel yourself following the story but the end is like a bucket of ICE!!!!! and throws you out of sync. i don't write reviews but i felt it was necessary to write this I HOPE the author has a logical continuation to this story, cause right now it has left a bad taste in my mouth , I don't even want to read this book again. And I love rereading books just to catch the little details one misses the first time around.

Chloe Neill does not disappoint! She keeps the series going strong and gives you exactly what you DO NOT expect! Characters are still as strong and interesting as the first book and am glad she went in the direction she did! I did not and could not put this book down until it was done. Was worth every second of lost sleep and money spent.

Okay, I just finished this book and I'm still in disbelief! The ending totally sucks! I've been reading this series since the beginning and have throughly enjoyed all the books. Chloe Neill has a real talent for developing characters more than the plot. For me, the book dragged in some parts but I enjoy the character development. Then WHAM, the ending wraps up in the last 15 pages or so. The way Hard Bitten ended, it felt like the ending was not completely flushed out and it was just a quick way to end the book. I hope her next book has a better ending.....

Unlike the majority of reviews regarding this book, I absolutely LOVED the ending, and I will get to why in a second.

First, a brief synopsis. The Vampire houses of Chicago are experiencing the fallout from the events of the previous book. Vampire haters are coming out of the wood works to protest the presence of vampires in their city. The mayor is breathing down Ethan Sullivan's neck, and now the GP is in town to add to the pile of bureaucratic crap being heaped onto House Cadogen. To make matters worse, Merit is tasked with investigating the emergence of a new form of "raves" where vampires are becoming increasingly bloodthirsty and violent.

Up until this point, I've enjoyed the author's early books since Merit was not your typical damsel in distress. But by book 4 I was seriously growing tired of the formula. It always starts the same way. Some crisis or event occurs in the supernatural community. Merit is called in to investigate. Throw in clever quips about Buffy, Chicago food, girly BFF bonding, dressing up in sexy gowns to attend glamorous parties. Add a dose of brooding vampire men with sculpted torsos and deep penetrating eyes (all of whom are dying to get into Merit's pants of course). Then through some sort of special skill or innate strength that Merit possesses (even though in her human life she was a lit geek)-the situation gets diffused.

That being said I found myself rolling my eyes throughout this book. I was able to tell how the characters would react or what they would say BEFORE they actually did it-which is NEVER a good thing for a reader. Heading into the ending, I was all but resigned to giving this book a 2 star review.

Then it ALL-GOES-TO-HELL! In a good way! A series of shocking events happen that seriously had me pinching myself. I found it hard to believe that an author churning out factory-line vampire novels would have the balls to do something this audacious but Chloe Neill certainly did. It was as if she realized that her series was getting stale and said to the readers "you know what? you think you know what's going to happen? you think you have my plot lines pegged for the next 20 books? well check this out."

By the time I turned the last page, I was buzzing with excitement again, anticipating the next book in the series. Well played Ms Neill, well played. Now there are a few ways the series can go from here.

The absolute worst thing the author can do is to find a magical loophole or solution that somehow "fixes" everything in the next book. I would not only feel cheated, but lose all respect for the author. I want to feel the aftermath of this ending. I want to savor what comes next. And for God's sake, I don't want to be able to predict where the storyline will go. Please Chloe Neill, make this happen!

I give Hard Bitten 4 stars. One deducted for the formulaic drivel that came before, but 4 stars for the gutsy and unbelievable finale. Hopefully this signals a darker turn for the series where the characters will have to face some hard decisions and make some serious sacrifices. I'll certainly be along for the journey!

Rating this book was extremely hard. The writing itself was good. Neill's books are still a cut above the rest, however, the plot was thin and the ending was a huge let down. Having read all of the author's previous book's in the series i can honestly say this one is not as good as the rest. BE WARNED THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD...I had two main issues with the book and those problems were big enough that I just did not feel it deserved anything above two stars. My first big problem was the actual plot. The plot was thin, maybe if the "villains" had acted less out of character it would have been slightly more acceptable. Throughout the entire series we knew the mayor was somehow more. However, when all was said and done what he did felt so out of character ,I just could not even take it seriously. I mean come one, someone who is clearly smart and politically savvy and has been for three books is going to do something so ridiculous and make such a basic mistake.It felt odd. I had an even bigger issue with how the powerful and old Celina was written off in such a weak and almost too easy way. My biggest issue-- the absolutely bad ending. Why was it bad? Lets be real...she did it for shock value because after all the storyline she has invested in their relationship, which I always considered to be awesome, she cannot just get rid of him and expect faithful fans to be happy. If she can't actually get rid of him, why do it? I'm so afraid she will do something ridiculous like bring him back with some magical excuse that will feel like a betrayal. This book felt like she had to ensure people would need to read the next one. Her books and especially this series are good enough that the last bit was unnecessary. I'm going to "trust" her but I'm worried she'll go the way of many authors and just have random magical things happen that are convenient, exclusive only to some characters, and unexplained.

The author strings us out through four books of romance angst, and then does this!!??? Ms. Neill, leaving your readers angry and in tears is not the way to win their loyalty.

These books are not high art. Escapism doesn't work if you are escaping into a more painful and frustrating world. The author gives us this, and says "stick with me." The ending of this book ensures precisely the opposite.

I love this series, it is one of my favorites, and I really wanted to like this book...unfortunately I could not. I gave this story 2 1/2 stars because it was well written and interesting, for the most part. However, I would be lying if I said that the ending was not a huge disappointment, I do not like unsatisfactory endings, and to call this one that is an understatement. Furthermore, the plot was little tired, and quite frankly a little silly. part of the reason I originally picked up this series is because it was unique. Now I feel as if it is headed down a completely different direction than it started in, that left me with an ok book but not great like the ones that came before this one in the series.

Humans used to at least tolerate the vampires which among them, but ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against all supernaturals. Caroline "Merit" has not been a vampire long. She is still learning to be the best vampire soldier she is capable of being. Merit had been dying when the sexy Mast of Cadogan House, Ethan Sullivan, found and turned her into a vampire. Merit is now a Sentinel of Cadogan House and she takes her guard duties very seriously. Then the mayor of Chicago calls Ethan and Merit to a meeting and informs them about a violent vamp attack against humans. Mayor Seth Tate gets his message across: Do something to stop the psycho-vampires or else.

Merit is given the task of finding out what is really going on. Having to deal with humans picketing outside of Cadogan House, a mayor who is threatening Ethan's House, and violent raves where insane vampires are slaughtering humans, the last thing Merit needs is for Darius West to arrive. West is the head of the Greenwich Presidium "G.P." It is headquartered near London. Ethan may be Master of his House, but West is Master of all Houses. So Darius's arrival in Chicago could not portend anything good. To top it all off, some kind of G.I. Joe-wannabe organization, led by a man named McKetrick, has decided to make themselves known. And McKetrick's people will not rest until all vampires have left Chicago. Merit needs help in order to get to the bottom of the psycho-vamps and their bloody raves, but she cannot tell who is on her side. So Merit secretly calls in a favor from Jonah and his underground vamp group. Unless Merit can halt the escalating events quickly, things will devolve until humans become less than cattle to all vampires and the Chicaco streets run red.

**** FOUR STARS! The author has done a terrific job of ensuring that a new reader does not feel lost or confused. (I know this for a fact because I am new to this series.) However, readers that have read the previous titles of the series are in for a major shock! I can state little about the event without giving away spoilers; however, I feel safe in saying that this shocking event may change Cadogan House forever.

Merit's story comes across as an undead version of a television show involving homicide detectives, but with a supernatural flavor. The case (raves and violent psycho-vamps) begins and mostly ends here. However, a few strings are left dangling so that they may be woven into the next story. Even so, I am not left with the feeling of being cheated. Chloe Neill's writing style is much like Laurell K. Hamilton's, smooth and with a dark touch. A terrific addition to the Chicagoland series. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

** spoiler alert ** OH MY GOD......i cant beleive it. Why did you end it that way??? im so sad. Im hoping that in the next book drink deep that he will come back in some way to be with her.... Was the shout at the end by him her imagaination or was it him reachin to her from somewhere?????

As anti-vampire protesters picket Cadogen House, three women go missing. Chicago Mayor Tate warns Master vampire Ethan Sullivan head of the Cadogen House that he will go to jail or worse if he fails to catch and hand over the serial killer of humans. Ethan assigns his young Sentinel Merit to investigate the homicides.

To keep her master from spending time in prison, Merit and the underground vampires team up to find the killer. However, Merit knows she must watch her back with the underground who have their own objectives. She is unprepared as to the direction the clues lead at the same time humans demand she and her associates mind their own business or else.

The fourth Chicagoland Vampires (see Twice Bitten and Friday Night Bites) is an exhilarating entry as the lead vamps and the Mayor face difficult issues. The story line is fast-paced with a sort of amateur sleuth feel to the plot as the heroine explores the human and paranormal species links while hot heads from both sides want her staked. With a great stunning late twist Chloe Neill continues to rock the urban fantasy sub-genre with her strong thrillers.

Harriet Klausner

I did not read any reviews till I finished the book. I WOWed the end-thinking what a chance she was taking, but I am glad she did! Who would have thought an author would go that that way but OHHH !!! I can't wait to see where Ms.Neill goes with the series. With all the Series out there-whether shifters or vampires- get to be predictable as the series progress-or they start to get flat and boring (as in Book 11 of another author) -- this was NOT -- and I am looking forward to what happens now.

I love this series!Although, the way this one ended, I am hoping not to lose interest in the next book. Without giving to much away, a character is killed. A character we have all fallen for ourselves. I actually cried..ugh. I am hoping this person comes back in another form or something. I feel so attached. This book is true heartbreak. I am looking forward to seeing what the "Ponytail Avenger" is up to next...or who she turns to dust.

(Spoiler Alert)

If you don't want to know anything about this novel, then don't read this review. First of all, after all the time and heart invested in this author and in this novel series, I cannot fathom the reason or the why the author choose to betray the fans this way, but what I can say is that this is the worst novel, worst ending that I have ever experienced in all my decades of reading.

Ethan, Master of Cadogan House, is killed at the end of this novel. After book after book of attempting to get Merit and Ethan together and to work things out and finally make a go at a real life and relationship, the author chooses to kill off Merits master and the ultimate love of her life. This is absolutely the worst possible plot manipulation an author can attempt.

I can't even fathom how a master vampire such as Ethan could have been so slow, so inept as to step in front of a stake and get himself killed; when as a master vampire he should have been more than skilled enough, more than fast enough, more than EVERYTHING enough to save Merit while remaining alive.

I have lost faith and love for Chloe Neill and I won't be buying the next novel until I read the ending and find out whether or not Ethan is back alive and with Merit and the author has fixed this very grievous mistake on her part. I read books to be entertained and to escape real life and as another reviewer stated, actually several stated, not just one, this ending is too much like real life for my and OUR taste.

Chloe Neill you have lost fans with this one and broken faith with your loyal readers. You have better fix this; otherwise you are going to find yourself reading your books alone, because all of us who have stuck by you shall go elsewhere to an author who shall remain as loyal to us and we are of the author.

Shame on you!

The author strings us out through four books of romance angst, and then does this!!??? Ms. Neill, leaving your readers angry and in tears is not the way to win their loyalty.

These books are not high art. Escapism doesn't work if you are escaping into a more painful and frustrating world. The author gives us this, and says "stick with me." The ending of this book ensures precisely the opposite.

I love this series, it is one of my favorites, and I really wanted to like this book...unfortunately I could not. I gave this story 2 1/2 stars because it was well written and interesting, for the most part. However, I would be lying if I said that the ending was not a huge disappointment, I do not like unsatisfactory endings, and to call this one that is an understatement. Furthermore, the plot was little tired, and quite frankly a little silly. part of the reason I originally picked up this series is because it was unique. Now I feel as if it is headed down a completely different direction than it started in, that left me with an ok book but not great like the ones that came before this one in the series.

Humans used to at least tolerate the vampires which among them, but ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against all supernaturals. Caroline "Merit" has not been a vampire long. She is still learning to be the best vampire soldier she is capable of being. Merit had been dying when the sexy Mast of Cadogan House, Ethan Sullivan, found and turned her into a vampire. Merit is now a Sentinel of Cadogan House and she takes her guard duties very seriously. Then the mayor of Chicago calls Ethan and Merit to a meeting and informs them about a violent vamp attack against humans. Mayor Seth Tate gets his message across: Do something to stop the psycho-vampires or else.

Merit is given the task of finding out what is really going on. Having to deal with humans picketing outside of Cadogan House, a mayor who is threatening Ethan's House, and violent raves where insane vampires are slaughtering humans, the last thing Merit needs is for Darius West to arrive. West is the head of the Greenwich Presidium "G.P." It is headquartered near London. Ethan may be Master of his House, but West is Master of all Houses. So Darius's arrival in Chicago could not portend anything good. To top it all off, some kind of G.I. Joe-wannabe organization, led by a man named McKetrick, has decided to make themselves known. And McKetrick's people will not rest until all vampires have left Chicago. Merit needs help in order to get to the bottom of the psycho-vamps and their bloody raves, but she cannot tell who is on her side. So Merit secretly calls in a favor from Jonah and his underground vamp group. Unless Merit can halt the escalating events quickly, things will devolve until humans become less than cattle to all vampires and the Chicaco streets run red.

**** FOUR STARS! The author has done a terrific job of ensuring that a new reader does not feel lost or confused. (I know this for a fact because I am new to this series.) However, readers that have read the previous titles of the series are in for a major shock! I can state little about the event without giving away spoilers; however, I feel safe in saying that this shocking event may change Cadogan House forever.

Merit's story comes across as an undead version of a television show involving homicide detectives, but with a supernatural flavor. The case (raves and violent psycho-vamps) begins and mostly ends here. However, a few strings are left dangling so that they may be woven into the next story. Even so, I am not left with the feeling of being cheated. Chloe Neill's writing style is much like Laurell K. Hamilton's, smooth and with a dark touch. A terrific addition to the Chicagoland series. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

** spoiler alert ** OH MY GOD......i cant beleive it. Why did you end it that way??? im so sad. Im hoping that in the next book drink deep that he will come back in some way to be with her.... Was the shout at the end by him her imagaination or was it him reachin to her from somewhere?????

As anti-vampire protesters picket Cadogen House, three women go missing. Chicago Mayor Tate warns Master vampire Ethan Sullivan head of the Cadogen House that he will go to jail or worse if he fails to catch and hand over the serial killer of humans. Ethan assigns his young Sentinel Merit to investigate the homicides.

To keep her master from spending time in prison, Merit and the underground vampires team up to find the killer. However, Merit knows she must watch her back with the underground who have their own objectives. She is unprepared as to the direction the clues lead at the same time humans demand she and her associates mind their own business or else.

The fourth Chicagoland Vampires (see Twice Bitten and Friday Night Bites) is an exhilarating entry as the lead vamps and the Mayor face difficult issues. The story line is fast-paced with a sort of amateur sleuth feel to the plot as the heroine explores the human and paranormal species links while hot heads from both sides want her staked. With a great stunning late twist Chloe Neill continues to rock the urban fantasy sub-genre with her strong thrillers.

Harriet Klausner

I did not read any reviews till I finished the book. I WOWed the end-thinking what a chance she was taking, but I am glad she did! Who would have thought an author would go that that way but OHHH !!! I can't wait to see where Ms.Neill goes with the series. With all the Series out there-whether shifters or vampires- get to be predictable as the series progress-or they start to get flat and boring (as in Book 11 of another author) -- this was NOT -- and I am looking forward to what happens now.

I love this series!Although, the way this one ended, I am hoping not to lose interest in the next book. Without giving to much away, a character is killed. A character we have all fallen for ourselves. I actually cried..ugh. I am hoping this person comes back in another form or something. I feel so attached. This book is true heartbreak. I am looking forward to seeing what the "Ponytail Avenger" is up to next...or who she turns to dust.

(Spoiler Alert)

If you don't want to know anything about this novel, then don't read this review. First of all, after all the time and heart invested in this author and in this novel series, I cannot fathom the reason or the why the author choose to betray the fans this way, but what I can say is that this is the worst novel, worst ending that I have ever experienced in all my decades of reading.

Ethan, Master of Cadogan House, is killed at the end of this novel. After book after book of attempting to get Merit and Ethan together and to work things out and finally make a go at a real life and relationship, the author chooses to kill off Merits master and the ultimate love of her life. This is absolutely the worst possible plot manipulation an author can attempt.

I can't even fathom how a master vampire such as Ethan could have been so slow, so inept as to step in front of a stake and get himself killed; when as a master vampire he should have been more than skilled enough, more than fast enough, more than EVERYTHING enough to save Merit while remaining alive.

I have lost faith and love for Chloe Neill and I won't be buying the next novel until I read the ending and find out whether or not Ethan is back alive and with Merit and the author has fixed this very grievous mistake on her part. I read books to be entertained and to escape real life and as another reviewer stated, actually several stated, not just one, this ending is too much like real life for my and OUR taste.

Chloe Neill you have lost fans with this one and broken faith with your loyal readers. You have better fix this; otherwise you are going to find yourself reading your books alone, because all of us who have stuck by you shall go elsewhere to an author who shall remain as loyal to us and we are of the author.

Shame on you!

Not crazy about this series, and I really wanted to be. The vampires are wimps. They have no power, no magic, and even when people are trying to kill them, they don't kill. This series is so G rated, it's a little boring. C'mon, a little violence is good, especially when defending one's self. The direction the romance between Merit and Ethan was not very realistic and was unsatisfying for me. I thought Ms. Neill developed her other characters fairly well, but she seemed to falter when it came to developing her first person character, Merit. My sisters are reading this series and everyone is up in arms over Ethan's fate.

I was really sorry to see Ms. Neill go down the Message in a Bottle and Nights in Rodanthe road. At least she has time to rectify this. I don't understand the draw for this particular plot twist. In my opinion it is totally uncalled for. I had thoroughly enjoyed the series up to this last installment. I guess I'll wait for #5 and #6.

I've been waiting for this book for months and finished it in one sitting. I did enjoy reading this but I enjoyed the past three installments more. There seems to be some items left hanging such as an explanation of Mallory's power and it seems that interactions with other characters such as Catcher or Jeff are a bit lacking or purely for housekeeping purposes, just to help work through some aspects of the story.

What really blew me was the ending. I'm still in shock... what happened was really unexpected and the twist in the story is really something else... I'm still trying to process the why's...

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the next one. I'm itching to find out what's in store for my favorite Cadogan vampire-Merit.

It is about time the unthinkable happened! We get so complacent into believing characters we love are invincible -- that the author would never dare to kill one off! I am glad Chloe did! Although I am heartbroken over the loss, so is our main character. We feel what she feels. Isn't that part of the point with good stories - they move the reader, force us to understand how the characters are feeling. I can't wait to find out what happens next -

I am a huge reader of all things vampire and supernatural. I read the reviews about the Chicagoland Vampire and knew that I had to read it. I'm so addicted to these novels and Hard Bitten just left me wanting more. I can't wait til November for the next installment. I love the smart and witty characters. I love Merit. I wasn't sure How I felt about Ethan though until I got into the 3rd and 4th book, I really fell in love with him as well. I know there just has to be more to what happened then the way Chloe left the 4th book. It can't just end like that, and yes I did cry. I just couldn't believe what happened. I already pre-ordered Drink Deep and I am impatiently waiting... Keep up the great work Chloe!

well, can i just say that what happened was a really extreme way for Merit to start rehashing all her feelings and decisions about Sullivan. And really Ms Neill? Did you have to take it that far? It was unnatural, over the top. it's almost drama for drama's sake. very daytime soap. i find myself still chuckling a little about the ridiculousness of the whole situation. and ofcourse a miracle will be pulled out of the hat come november so i'm not distressed about the plot twist. i assume mallory's intensive training will come into play here.
still, i give it 3 stars. i might have found the story telling a bit dragging at times but the humorous and witty repartee was still the saving grace.
worth reading, imho, but not ms neill's strongest work.

Hard Bitten picks up a few months after Twice Bitten leaves off - Cadogan House has been attacked and the vamps are slowly rebuilding. Of course, things can't just stay quiet, and Merit and Ethan are called into the Mayor's office to discuss a possible vampire attack: Apparently vampires are having "raves" and the violence is escalating. The Mayor wants it handled or he's going to arrest Ethan. Merit starts investigating, and calls in a favor from a friend - Jonah, a vamp from Grey House, and a member of the Red Guard (sort of a secret vampire police). With a little luck, they manage to get into a rave, and witness the evening transform from a quiet interlude into a testosterone-filled frenzy - and they can't figure out why.

After a night at the local vampire bar, and another vampire free-for-all, things start adding up: someone's making and selling vampire drugs. Add to that the fact that one of the elite vampire leaders from Europe is visiting Cadogan House to check on things and potentially appoint a replacement for Ethan, and Merit is under a lot of pressure to put an end to the problem.

My thoughts: O.O *blinks* O.O

Hard Bitten blew me away! Although it's a 350 page book, it felt like a short story: I couldn't put it down - I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Let's just get right to it:

Merit and Ethan were hot, hot, hot. I adore Ethan and he really worked at getting Merit back:

"No. I will never be far behind you." He tipped up my chin so that I could do nothing else but look back into his eyes. "Do the things you need to do. Learn to be a vampire, to be a warrior, to be the soldier you are capable of being. But consider the possibility that I made a mistake I regret-and that I'll continue to regret that mistake and try to convince you to give me another chance until the earth stops moving."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead, my heart melting even as my more rational side harbored suspicions.

"No one said love was easy, Sentinel."
~Hard Bitten, page 88

*sighs* How can you not love him?

We also get plenty of Catcher/Mallory, Jeff, Grampa Chuck, and Lindsey. I was trying to figure out who was my favorite character, but really, I can't choose. Ms. Neill writes fabulous characters that are so well defined that I feel like they're my own friends. There may be a little wrinkle in Catcher and Mallory's world in the form of her magic tutor, Simon; I definitely sensed some tension there. Merit's conversation with her Morgan had me throwing my fist in the air :) I liked getting to know Jonah a little bit better. As the story progressed I liked Jonah more and more, although it seems like his feelings towards Merit may be getting... complicated.

We also meet a new adversary, McKettrick. With his "special-ops" team and his desire to get rid of the vampires, I don't think his work is done and I think we'll be seeing him again. He has the potential to be a bad, bad man...

I thought the drug storyline was a fresh twist to the vampire genre. I don't think I've seen that used in a vampire story before, and now that I've seen it, I don't know why it hasn't been done before - it's brilliant and potentially terrifying for the humans in Merit's world. I couldn't figure out why they were doing it, so the culprit surprised me. I liked the way the mystery wrapped up in that the bad guy has been outed and justice will be served (I assume). "The reveal" was *a bit* overshadowed by "the event", but I never liked this person and am hoping it's the last we see of the character...

And now, for the elephant in the room: The events on page 335/336 left me with my mouth hanging open and gasping for air. I will say this about Ms. Neill - she doesn't shy away from taking risks with her characters! The reason I decided that for me this was a 5-star read? The fact that the author was able to bring such a gut-wrenching reaction from me over the actions of her characters says a lot to me about the book. I was disappointed in the actual "event" itself, but have high hopes that the author knows what she's doing. The last page left me hopeful for Merit's future.

In summary, Hard Bitten is another fabulous installment to the Chicago Vampires series. I cannot imagine where Ms. Neil is going to take us next, but I can't wait to find out!

While I think you would enjoy Hard Bitten as a stand-alone I wouldn't recommend it. There is so much back story that you're missing out on, and the emotional punch is tenfold if you've got all the pertinent info.

I couldn't wait to read "Hard Bitten" and was really excited when it finally came out. Then, when I got to the ending, it just made me so sad and angry. Yes, the author says "trust me", but still, it was not easy to read that ending. I was hoping Merrit and Ethan would finally work things out. It just sort of ruined the series for me. I will probably get the 5th book from the library, read the end first, and decide then whether or not to read it and/ or buy it. I am not going to spend money on a book with an awful ending. I am tired of cliff-hangers! I read to escape from real life, and to relax. Having what happened to Ethan happen, well, too much real life for me, and certainly not fun. Boo to Chloe Neill. (even though I loved your other books) This was a dirty trick to play on your fans!

WOW!!!!! I love, love, love this series. I am not even going to pretend that I liked the fact that Ethan is dead (is he really?) but I do trust you Chloe. I hope you don't let me down....and yes I cried like a baby at the ending!!

SPOILERRRRRRRRR:

I'm heartbroken... but I know that this will not be the last of Ethan Sullivan. Atleast I hope not. Though Mallory and Catcher were shown to a minimum in this book, I believe they will have key roles in the next. I can't wait for "Drink Deep", I have faith in Chloe Neill that she will bring him back. In some form or another.

****spoiler alert****

Mrs.Neill and I were completely cool until the end of this book. So Ethan is murdered suddenly by Celina and Merit is over it in a week? Ridiculous.

To be clear I find the killing off of Ethan to be HEINOUS but let's just say for the sake of argument that this somehow helps to significantly develop the plot, Merit is over him in a week??? Terrible!

****spoilers****

I have become quite invested in the Chicagoland Vampire series. From the early pages of book one, I fell in love with Merit's snark, her strength and her on and off again relationship with the Master of Cadogan House, Ethan Sullivan. Combined with wonderful supporting characters (Mallory, Catcher and Jeff are three of my favorites!) I greatly anticipate these books.

Hard Bitten focuses on the fallout of the attack on Cadogan house in the previous book. Although vampires have been known to the public for some time, their novelty is wearing off and many have taken to protesting in front of the houses, no longer thrilled with the idea of vampires living side by side with them. The houses are on lock down, and the mayor is putting pressure on the Masters to keep their vampires under control. To make matters worse, violent vampire raves are breaking out. As Merit investigates further, she discovers these raves are not just a blood party -but something or someone is causing vampires to turn aggressive. With both the mayor and the head of the council breathing down Ethan's neck, everything around Cadogan and Chicago become very tense.

This review is really, really hard for me to write. I have said that in the past but I really mean it this time! I say that because something happens at the end - the very, very end that is big. Huge. Enormous. I read it, and then I rubbed my eyes, and read it again. And then I called a friend and said, what in the world just happened. Until this point I would give this book a solid B. I like the conflict with the rave parties and the political pressure Ethan has to put up with brings nice tension to the story. Being a romance fan, I have been frustrated with Ethan and Merit's relationship through all the books. They had a very "up" moment in book three, only to be down in love in this book. There is something fishy going on with Mallory. We get little hints throughout the book about her progress to becoming a sorceress and I think there is definitely more than meets the eye. I'm intrigued. But none the less, this is an enjoyable book.

Until the end. Honestly, I'm upset. I'm not happy. I am angry.

I feel like what happened does not fit this series at all. It feels out of place. I get that it will be resolved in a future book somehow, but even then I don't know if I like it. Chloe Neill has stated to "trust her"." I'm trying! But I am having a hard time coming up with a resolution that will make me happy. Hopefully something happens in Drink Deep that blows my mind and I will come back to this review and say - why was I so upset? I've read some reviews that love the ending - so I'm interested to read reviews as more read this book.

I actually don't think I can rate this book. I gave it a three just to give it something. I almost can't rate this book, until I read Drink Deep out this fall. Once I get my question answered, I can come back and rate this one. Because my rating depends on one very, very big thing. And I'm scared of what the answer will be.

Although i enjoy reading the series, i felt so sad when reading the end. It was so heartbreaking that i even shed tears. I have no clue how Ms. Neill is going to fix what happened next book!! all i gotta say is that i wished i wouldve read this book days before book 5 came out so i wouldnt wait months to read it!

Still, i encourage people to read and the series and have faith that Ms. Neill is going to make the books even better :)
Regardless, i give it 4 stars for entretaining me for 4 hours!:)

Don't read it!!!!!! Oh my goodness I can never think about this series the same...ruined. I don't think I'll read book 5 even though I hear it is supposed to be "resolved." But zombie-vamp Ethan just doesn't sound as attractive. He is a crucial part to the popularity of this series. Ah poor Merit, the things she goes through. I say bad move on Neill's part with the ending. Sorry :(

I loved this series from the start! I know I will read the fifth book but if the ending of the fourth book is not resolved, I will definitely move on to another author! I have never been so disappointed in the ending of a book as I was this one...

Please find a way to rectify the unacceptable situation you created on Kindle Location 4950 of this book ASAP, so that all can be right with the world again. November can't come fast enough.

Your loyal fan,
Kristi

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so disgusted by the ending of this book. After working towards a relationship for four books, to change course seems inconceivable. I don't care how good the author writes, I read to be entertained and I was not entertained at all by this book. I felt Merritt acted out of character and the ending has to be a plot device. I am so angry that I spent money on this when the author feels she can destroy characters and relationships on a whim. At least if his death had meant something I would be ok. But not like this. Very poor.

I have been addicted to the Chloe Neill books. I waited months in anticipation of Hard Bitten. I thought the plot line was predicatable and boring throughout the majority of the book. Ethan chases Merit. Merit chases Celina, but the inrigue and humor of the early books is gone. Not to give this away, but Chloe Neill RUINED THE ENTIRE SERIES with the ending to this book. It made no sense and gives her no where to go in the next book. I have to say I will never buy another one of her books again.

I was so upset about Ethan death just when she was breaking him in. Then she kills him off. I was done but after reading the reviews I am going to hold off judgement and read the next book before I call it a day.Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 4)

Great, intense action and suspense all the way to the end and then a shattering blow to a great relationship. What's up with that? I didn't see that coming. Sniff. It's still a good read, though. Sniff.

This is my first ever review but I feel compelled to write to say I loved this book. I've read the whole series, thoroughly enjoyed them all, and thought this was a stunning addition. The plot line is great, the characters develop, new characters enter the fray, and the denouement is breathtaking - with that hint in the final few pages of what's to come. I applaud Chloe Neill for moving her plot forward, shaking it up and giving her heroine new challenges. I can't wait to read Drink Deep.

Chloe Neil has created a character with identifiable character. Merit is who many of us would try to be if we were in her situation. The BFF relationship has finally captured my agreement, I was a little put off in previous books with Merit's behavior, but this clinched it for me. The ending was tear-worthy. I wanted to throw the book and reread it just to make sure I read it right, then throw the book again. Since the book was my computer, I refrained. Enjoy the series everyone. So far it's very good.

Merit and Ethan's relationship offers more tension as they try to wade through Shapeshifters and supernatural politics while trying to solve murders. All the while the mayor tells them to get their house together or else. This book was exciting from the beginning to end. Merit is such a strong woman. I love reading her adventures and how infuriating Ethan can be. I can't wait to read the next book.

You'll be breathless and speechless when you read this new novel called Hard Bitten!

Most of the series attraction and tension between the characters depend on the developments happened in the previous books. A large draw for the Chicagoland Vampires -series is Ethan and Merit and their connection.

Merit is a character you just can't help but like. She's a fighter - strong, vulnerable, human, protector, friend and lover. I was aching with her at the end of this book, the revelations that were shown. She's grown a lot with each book, and I'm eagerly waiting to see how she copes with everything in the next book.

The fourth Chicagoland Vampires (Hard Bitten) is a fast-paced action as the lead vamps and the Mayor Tate face the new challenges in Chicago's supernatural community. Chloe Neill has again written a superb and thrilling urban vampire fantasy novel.

I ADORE both Chole Neill and the first three books in this series. However, this one left me sad, angry, and utterly dissapointed. I cried just about all of the last chapter or two. Not that I don't like I good cry, I just can't imagine how Neill is going to recover after this explosive ending. I think it is going to totally ruin the future story line, however, I will read the next one just to see how things go.
Heart Broken In Louisiana

This series has grabbed me and completely pulled me in. I’ve been 100% on board with Ethan and Merit from the beginning. I never thought I’d find another book series that I would enjoy as much as Southern Vampire Mysteries (although it ended poorly). Knowing how much SVM let me down I had to bring up Wikipedia for a brief glimpse at these two so I could decide if my heart could continue on after this book. Thankful I’ll be starting it now instead of sleeping like I should!