House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires Book 7)

The tale of Merit; her love, her house, her honor, gets better with each telling. A great combination of mystery, emotional conflict, humor and imagination make Chloe Neill's series a must read. I can hardly wait for the next tale to begin.

Just started it and can't put it down. I love Ethan and Merit and Cadogan House. Chicagoland Vampire series is wonderful! I have laughed, cried, felt joy, hope and loss with these books. I hope Chloe keeps making them so I can keep reading them.

I thought this is one of the best in the series. The story grabs you and holds on till the very end. I really couldn't stop listening to the audible version of the book until I was done. This book was extremely well written, and the story well told.

It seems that after all the trouble and difficult situations Merit has been able to accept what she is now and overcome her insecurities regarding her relationship with Ethan. Hope this will make them stronger to lead their coven through this new face.

This is the 7th in the series and it is such a good story. There is blackmail, deception, betrayal, theft of a priceless object, a clandestine initiation, multiple murders and threats of war in this paranormal community. I love the food descriptions in Chicago and all the colorful characters. The love triangles are compelling and edgy . Merit and Ethan are perfect together. I can't wait for the next story.

I have read this series now three times and it gets better every single time I read it! Chloe becomes more genuine, Ethan gets more frustrating but in the end they are incredibly real and beautiful together.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all learn to just put all of our fears,worries and problems into a lantern, light it and let it go? Oh wait...I do..it's called praying and giving them to God. It works pretty much the same way..lol.
Awesome book you have to try the entire series it is amazing.

OK
So i finshed the book and i have to say
it started great with the relationship between Ethan and Merit in the Library (cute scene) and then crazy things happen
but it wouldnt be Chicagoland if it didnt have its moments
I didn't like Lacey (total Shark)and how she was a snitch, Wish I could have seen her more as a role model BUT then we wouldnt have Merit all jealous and such and standing up for her man and their relationship in a kitchen no less.
and i would have like more Ethan and Merit Scenes....not when they are fighting as a couple more tender sweet moments
Glad we finally find out what Shapeshifter Jeff is!!!!
Overall I am a fan of this Books and i shall remain that way unless Chole breaks up Ethan/Merit again
Enjoy the Book
Cant wait till August 2013 now !!!!!!!!!!

Its never smooth sailing for Merit, once again their relationship takes a hit. Merit's need to do the right thing doesn't sit well with Ethan especially as he has trust issues. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, Chloe Neill you rock:)

Its never smooth sailing for Merit, once again their relationship takes a hit. Merit's need to do the right thing doesn't sit well with Ethan especially as he has trust issues. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, Chloe Neill you rock:)

I waited and waited for this release. I don't think that it was my overall favorite, but the mystery involved was interesting and as always, well written. I can't wait for the next one to see what happens!!! Still love the books overall, this just wasn't THE best of the best. That's why 4 stars. Still highly addicted to Ethan!

I loved this book and read it within hours of getting off work,working 12 hours. It started strong and I was surprised when it ended. I don't like buying kindle books that cost this much but it was worth the price. If u like Karen Chance or Patricia Briggs u will love this author!!!!

Chloe Neill keeps getting better and better. This is her best book to date IMHO. The storyline was intriguing and had just the right amount of Merit snark to make me laugh. I always leave these books hungry -- for Chicago food (and I've never been there!) House Rules Ruled!

I've enjoyed most of the books in this series, but I'm getting tired of waiting for Ethan and Merit to move past the one-liner flirtation stuff. Every interaction seems to be an affirmation that Merit kicks a$$ and that Ethan wants to jump her. OK when it was new and she was uncertain, OK in moderation now. But when all Merit can come up with after careful consideration to show her love and support to someone going through a (presumably) agonizing situation is "let's go for a run," it left me wishing for some more emotional development from her and some growth in their relationship. People who speak only in snappy comebacks can be a little too much over the long haul.

I'm a fan of this series. House Rules mixes vampire politics and a serial killer on the lose. Enjoyed the sleuthing by Merit, Ethan & the gang. This book had me guessing as to who was the murder. Plus loved Darius & Lacey get their butts kicked. Looking forward to Biting Bad

It was definitely better than the last book, but it was not as good as the first few books in the series. I don't know maybe I like my Merit better unhappy and with more conflict. I did enjoy the tension between Jonah and Ethan. I know some readers will disagree with me, but I wish there was more Jonah and less Ethan.

I have read all the books in this series and I am never disappointed with them. I recommend you read this series but you have to read them in order. The first book in the series is " Some Girls Bite" a great read. You will not be able to put it down. You will not be disappointed.

I would recommend reading the series in order. There is always a good mystery and good laugh. The characters are beloved favorites and are fun to see how they have evolved over the series. There is good romance, mild sex scenes and good action.

I absolutely love this series. The last few books have been so incredibly intense this one seemed lacking. Great story, suspense and as always b.a. and sexy but... I'm left unsatisfied. I'll definitely be back for more tho!!! Can't wait!

Mixed feelings on this one, and just to warn you there's a mild rant or two ahead in this review. For the paranormal story line...4 stars. Couple of nice mysteries going on for Merit/Ethan and the Chicago gang to solve and they were interesting enough to hold my attention along with some drama with Lacey Sheridan, that wicked witch..er....vamp... from the west, and Merit's involvement with Jonah and the RG. The way I see it, this series has lost its romance and for the most part is just going paranormal. Which is okay, but it's not what initially drew me to this series. I liked the balance between the action and the romance. For me this series has lost its steam as far the main characters go. Unless CN can drum up something far more interesting with the existing characters only introducing new characters is going to spark any real interest here, and frankly I love the old characters just the way they were. If you're looking for some hot romance, don't look here. Giving this part of the bk 2 stars. Ethan/Merit are like an old boring married couple. For the first 81% of the bk (yes, really...81%!) all you get is a glance, an occasional kiss on the head, a hand held, a face stroked and a Merit that's just too tired from all her adventures to be interested in any sexual play before the sun goes down. Ho-hum, yawn. What I'd like to know is where is the alpha vamp Ethan who had a sex/blood bunnie on the side while lusting hot and heavy for Merit in the first 3 bks? Where is Merit the girl of the hour who had the vamp guys panting after her? No sexy neck biting or ravenously shared blood drinking and where the heck is the love? Ethan freaking died. You'd think he and Merit would be so ever grateful for a 2nd chance they'd be having wild monkey sex every chance they got on every surface imaginable. But N-O-O-O-! Just blah...that is until the 82% mark when Ethan throws down some jealous alpha male "Mine" kinda satisfaction. Not nearly as much as I'd like and not as in as much detail, but satisfaction none the less that the desire is still there and Ethan/Merit do love each other. Whew...worn out I'm tellin' ya just waiting for the good stuff.

This bk would have been a heck of a lot shorter had CN not input a constant re-telling of past events, descriptions and basically the who's who and what was what throughout the bk. Who needed that? What I want to know is who in the heck is just starting this series with bk #7? We already know who these people are and what happened previously, we're fans already, we've read the bks, we need less old news and more new info. Once I got the gist of how things were getting bogged down, I skipped right over all that re-telling. Seemed like every few paragraphs we were thrust back in time making the story drag. Another 2 stars.

Also missing was the witty banter and the fun mixed in with the drama. I loved the snarky comments between Merit/Mallory, for that matter Merit with just about most of the characters here...Catcher, Lyndsey, Luc, Ethan etc. The overall tone here is nothing but serious business with impending doom and gloom. There were really too few parts for all my favorite players to actually play much of a role in this story. I have to hand it to CN for attempting to include them all here, though it just wasn't much more than a brief nod to the favorites. In conclusion, was I glad I read this one? Sure, it's good to be back among the paranormals of Chicagoland, but also a tad bit disappointing too.

Soooo.....with all that....I'll go with an overall 3 stars. Happy reading!

The characters and plots are always diverse and interesting. With Ethan's return it has been one cluster-muck after another. I am so excited to see what Chole has in-store for the next installment of The Chicagoland Vampires

These books are just getting better and better. Typically in these types of books the story does down once the romance has been solidified. Definitely not the case for this series. This one had me nervously chomping on Fritos and reading as fast as I could. Chloe Neill, well done!

Ethan and Merit are officially a couple, Merit hunts down and gets the bad guys. While this book was much better then the previous one, I miss what the first 3 books had but I can't really put my finger on what it is. I feel like I am just done with this series and probably won't read the following ones.

My Review:
Overall: 4.25
Performance: 4.5
Story: 4.0

It's been a couple of years since I read one of the Chicagoland Vampire books, although it is easily one of my favorite urban fantasy series. I decided recently to pick up again via audiobook...and I'm so glad I did. I've missed Merit.

In this book, Cadigan House is on the cusp of the ceremony breaking all their ties with the GP, so nerves are very high. Add to that, there appears to be a vampire serial killer on the loose and Merit still hasn't come clean with Ethan that she's joining the Red Guard. There's a whole lot of stress on Merit...and Ethan.

But with all that going on, I really like where Merit and Ethan are. There's no doubts between them anymore (for the most part) and they are a united front in trying to do what's best for Cadigan House and the vampires in general. It feels like Merit finally has earned the respect she deserves...not only from Ethan, but from the majority of the vampires. Yes, she's still young, but she's strong and willing to do what she needs to that gets the job done. They recognize that in her now...and this series is even better for it.

I also really like where the series is going overall. The separation from the GP for Cadigan House is not going to be easy, but I foresee that creating some great drama in the future. It will be interesting to see what happens with the other two houses in Chicago.

Overall, I just really enjoy this series. This book was action packed and riveting. I listened to it in just two days because I didn't want to step away from the story.

And the best part now...since I took a break, I can devour several books in the series back to back.

With each book in this series I grow to love a few of the characters more and more. Ethan has grown on me for sure but so has Johan. Merit has been a bad-arse since we started so I do adore her. And let's not forget the shifters. Jeff Christopher for one. That boy is full of surprises. (Smirks) And we also get to learn what his shifter side looks like in this book. Let's just say he's one of my favorite kinds.

But the trouble is there! This story revolves around vampire murders, the GP being douche canoes (as usual) and a whole lot of tension between Merit and Lacy Sheridan, who I can't stand. I was hoping Merit would get to give the twinkly little princess the beat down she needed but alas... that didn't happen. She did get put in her place by Ethan, finally, so that made it all the better.

There are a few epic things that happen during this book but I don't want to ruin it for anyone else so I'll just say this: the book is fun, full of some serious "holy shit" moments and a few times I had to stop reading cause I was scared of what was coming next. Lol that's a good thing for me. It never lasted long. I just had to keep going. Can't wait for the next one!

Been a busy weekend/week so I couldn’t devour this addition to Ms. Neill’s series like I did the past few titles, but I did manage to finish the bulk of the book in less than 24 hours. While I liked this book, it didn’t grab me like the others, which is possibly why I didn’t carve out time to read it. I am enjoying how the author has finally decided to just let Merit and Ethan be together, she was still able to create some drama through the reintroduction of the Lacey character who continues to carry a torch for her former master, Ethan. We also had some fun drama as Ethan discovers Merit’s secret and that she is now partnered with Jonah. This led to one scene between Ethan and Jonah that was particularly fun.

Much of this book dealt with house drama as Cadogan house left the protection of the GP, and I say good riddance. Of course the GP couldn’t just let them go and the Cadogan vamps had a pretty stressful few days as they fought to keep their home. Much of that was dealt with behind the scenes and Merit spent much of her time trying to solve some vampire murders taking place in Chicago. An old enemy is back as McKetrick has landed a perverted position for the city that Merit’s Grandfather used to hold. GP’s ass was kicked to the curb, although I bet they will be back, and I so hope that Merit and Ethan tackle the problem of McKetrick and the psycho Mayor soon.

There was some interesting insight to Merit and her father’s history that came to light in this book and I hope we continue to get some back story on that front soon. I am torn though as to if I want Merit to make up or forgive her father. He is kinda an ass, but I have a feeling Ms Neill is going to find a way to redeem him eventually. The character of Mallory progresses in this story as well and she is starting to sound more like her old self. I hope that Merit and her are able to restore their relationship to what it once was. Well off to start the next title. Only going to be able to read the next two before I need to take a break from the series. Will see through, if I am still hooked I might have to find a way to get book 10 before I can borrow it through the library (breaking my book buying ban…)

*Do not read if you haven't read the previous books*

3.5 stars

Last book the house was a bit in turmoil and it still is. Cadogan is preparing their split from the GP and while it seems everything is going smoothly, you never know what the GP has up their sleeves. Vindictive basterds is one way to describe them.

While that is going on in the House, someone is killing vampires on the streets. Not just stake them and you have a nice pile of ash, but it's all very staged. Tes, peeps Chicago has a new serial killer and Merit is on it, kind of. Whomever is doing this is good and leaves almost no clues behind. Merit and her little merry group of supernaturals will definitely need to put on their thinking caps for this one.

On a personal level I feel Merit is not changing much anymore. She has settled very well in her role as Sentinel and performs her duties with splendor. Things between her and Ethan are finally going good, though there is still that part of her being in the Red Guard that might be an issue for him. Even her friendship with Malory is taking the first steps towards healing. So everything is going pretty good for Merit, it's just the things around her that go haywire.

Another good installment in the series and no cliffhanger this time. Though I have to say that the need to know what is coming next has lessened. I still very much enjoy the books and Merit is great, but the urge of needing to read the next book now, is no longer there. This could be of the no cliffhanger , though I also feel I've gotten very comfortable with these characters and their adventures. Meaning it's like checking up on friends once in a while, when I have the time. I feel like something big needs to happen to fully catch my interest again. (I'm still wondering about that child Merit saw in Gabriel's vision.) No idea how many books will be in this series, but I believe we are in no way done.

I loved HOUSE RULES and it was really good. Things are amazing with Merit and Ethan and god, that man makes me swoon. Ethan moved Merit into his apartments so they are moving forward step by step in their relationship. In this installment, we have a killer vampire on the loose, more bulls*** from the GP and Lacey trying to make her way back into Ethan. Quite a lot of things occurred in this book and it all made it awesome!

Ethan and Merit and strong. Lacey makes her way into the picture again. In the last book she appeared in, she seemed like a mature and respected woman, but in HOUSE RULES can we put the term spoiled little brat out there. She was like this little bug that wouldn’t go away. And honestly, I”m embarrased for her. And thank god, by the end Ethan stood up for the Merit and his relationship and kicked her out. Not to say I didn’t have a disappointed in Ethan moment. I did.

Merit is in the RG now with Jonah as her partner, we get a little thrown into that and see what it’s like. And apparently all RG partners are like lovers and its awkward being the only one out when you are so in love with your Master Vampire. I truly believe if there was no Ethan. There would be a Jonah and Merit. I see the potential there for that relationship and I think it would have sparked like crazy. I enjoy Jonah and glad her is apart of this series and Merit’s life.

Ethan and Merit have a little argument about her being a member of the RG. Yup. He finds out, Which leads into an argument about Lacey wanting him, which it totally impossible according to him. What dude, are you blind? And I guess Jonah got thrown into the mix too. Haha! I felt for Merit and I wanted to slap Ethan. I loved the argument, but it was a painful fight to witness. But the makeup made it worth it! I really enjoyed this book a lot. I am really looking forward to the next one!

I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read the first six books in the series so although this will be spoiler free for House Rules it will probably contain spoilers for the earlier books. If you are new to the series it's one I'd highly recommend but please don't read beyond this paragraph because you really do need to read the books in order starting with Some Girls Bite.

After the revelations at the end of Biting Cold I knew things were going to get even more interesting in this book and I wasn't disappointed. Cadogan House have decided to opt out of the Greenwich Presidium and stand alone but as you can imagine the GP aren't going to let them go easily. As the countdown to the split begins the GP make their presence known in Chicago and they really put the pressure on Ethan and the whole of Cadogan House to change their minds. As if that wasn't enough for Merit to worry about she is also asked to investigate the disappearance of two rogue vampires. Cadogan are trying to form alliances with the rogues since they'll all be in the same boat soon so they can't turn down the request for help even though the timing couldn't be worse. Can Merit figure out who is behind the attacks before they move on to targets even closer to home?

There really is so much going on in this book and it had me gripped from beginning to end. The GP are so sneaky in the way they go about things and it isn't going to be easy for Ethan, Merit and the others to find a way to fight them at their own game. They are threatened with losing everything and it looks like their decision to leave the GP could have been a mistake after all since it has earned them some powerful enemies. Neither Ethan nor Merit are the type of characters to back down from a challenge though and they definitely aren't going to be forced into changing their minds due to the GP's underhand tactics. If they can't win by playing fair then they're just going to have to play dirty too and thankfully they have a few tricks of their own up their sleeves. There are also some very interesting developments when it comes to Merit and the Red Guard. I've been fascinated by Jonah since he first appeared in the series so I enjoyed seeing more of him here and I can't wait to see the knock on effects that Merit's choices will have in the future - there are bound to be some unexpected ones!

Merit and Ethan's relationship has never been particularly smooth and there are definitely forces at play trying to keep them apart in House Rules. Thankfully they are both now more secure in their relationship and although they hit a few bumps along the way they managed to deal with them much faster than they would have in the past. We get to see both Merit and Ethan show a little of their jealous sides but we also see them talk things through like adults and actually learning to make compromises together. I never once felt that they wouldn't be able to work through their issues and come out stronger on the other side and it's nice to finally seem them in a better place in their relationship.

I think it was the action I loved most in House Rules, there is just so much going on but it never got confusing. Chloe Neill wove the different plots together brilliantly and gave us a little of everything - mystery, action, romance and of course the humour fans of the series have cone to expect. It was nice to catch up with some of the other side characters too, Jeff and Catcher had a bit more page time in this than they had in the previous book but we also get to spend time with Mallory who is still working for the shapeshifters as she pays her debt to society. I was really pleased with how realistic Mallory's interactions were with both Merit and Catcher. Mallory was Merit's best friend for so many years and she still loves her in spite of the things she has done but that doesn't mean she can trust her. They both want to rebuild their friendship but they also understand that it is going to take time and even then they may never get back to where they were before Mallory went off the rails. I think one of the things I love most about this series is how many layers there are to all of the characters, even the side characters have depths to them and it makes spending time with them even more enjoyable. I'm really happy that this series is still going strong and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Fans of Neill and her Chicagoland Vampire series will be pleased with her latest foray back into her exciting world of vampires, supernatural hijinks and baked meats. After a somewhat disappointing predecessor, Biting Cold, House Rules comes back with a vengeance and sets the arc and characters back on track. The GP (Greenwich Presidium) has sanctioned Cadogan House and Ethan has decided to fight back by seceding from the elitist vampire ruling council rather than taking anymore abuse. While the house is preparing for the secession, rogue vampires are turning up dead. Merit and Ethan once again place their lives on the line as they try to figure out who is killing the vampires and why.

I was pleased by the balance permeating this installment. Action, suspense, drama, romance, and humor all blend together to give us a fast paced adventurous story that hooks you from beginning to end. Merit is in top form with her snarky commentary and patent warrior skills. She has grown much through the series, but in here you get the sense that Merit is finally accepting her fate and is at peace with her turning. Ethan Sullivan, Master vampire, head of Cadogan House, and love of Merit's life, is also more stable in here. Still alpha to the core and demanding complete obedience, he is now willing and able to make concessions. The events in Biting Cold opened eyes to more than just the supernatural political unrest in Chicago. Ethan's sacrifice has drawn him and Merit back together and proven to them that they are much stronger as a pair. This is a much approved situation. While Merit and Ethan's relationship has been a strong amusing aspect of the series, the last two books left me with a bad taste in my mouth as their stubbornness was beginning to take the enjoyment out of it. They are both back and finally in sync with one another, able to adjust and weather out any bumps in their relationship rather than their usual modis operandi of running for the hills.

"So you traded up?" I asked, walking toward the car and opening the door. "Do you treat your relationships in the same way?"
"Yes," Ethan gravely said. "And I spent four hundred years shopping before I met you."

The mystery is well defined and the plotlines flow steady. Engaging characters and sustainable relationships remains a strong aspect in the overall enjoyment of this series. The dialogue alone, sharp and witty, will keep you laughing and fist pumping at the most inappropriate times. Old and new enemies come into play as Merit and Ethan work to stay one step ahead of the GP and figure out who is killing their kind. We see many old friends and get a small look at how their lives are progressing. Mallory's present and paying for her `lapse in judgment' by working with the shapeshifters. I like that she and Merit are slowly rebuilding the friendship they lost.

Catcher makes an appearance and we see that he and Mallory are trying to get back to where they were before. No promises are made but I have a good feeling about them. We also see a major step taken concerning Merit's relationship with the Red Guard, which in turn affects Ethan.

All in all, House Rules is a story of hope, redemption, and new beginnings. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a dark humorous Urban Fantasy with plenty of action, romance, and snark. This is not a standalone though and I do not recommend starting the series here. This is a convoluted series that builds upon itself with each new book. The arc is long reaching with minor recapping. Characters evolve and bleed over into to each new story with no real pauses in between.

Overall Rating: B

This is the seventh book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. The eighth book will be titled Biting Bad and is scheduled for an August 2013 release. This book was a bit of a transition book again and not as engaging as previous books.

Cadogan House is finally, formally breaking away from the GP. This will make them the first House to claim Rogue vampire status. Things are uncomfortable to say the least. Then a rash of vampire murders start happening and Merit is called to help figure out who is killing these vamps. To add to the complexity Merit is finally called in to formally join the Red Guard.

This was an okay installment in this series. Basically this is the book about Cadogan House breaking away from the GP. A lot of time is spent trying to find legal loop-holes and in the original contract with the GP in order to ensure that Cadogan can break away from the house cleanly. Things get complicated when Dorian tries to make a grab for the house in a power play. Additional complications arise when Ethan invites his ex, Lacey, over to smooth things out with Dorian.

I did like that Merit was finally inducted into the Red Guard. I also liked that she ended up coming clean with all her secrets to Ethan. Having Lacey there to throw Merit and Ethan's relationship into turmoil was obnoxious and made me roll my eyes a bit. Still I was impressed with how much Ethan and Merit have grown as characters and how reasonable they were about everything.

The vampire murders added a heavy investigative bent to the story. It seemed like a very interesting plot line, but I felt the way it was all resolved felt a bit anti-climatic and contrived.

Mallory was in the story a bit, she is making progress in dealing with her addiction to black magic. Still she is far from the entertaining and bubbly person we meet early in the series. She isn't in the story much but when she is the tone is tentatively hopeful.

While this book was an okay read, but I felt like nothing all that interesting happened. This felt like another transition novel for me and I am beginning to wonder exactly where this series is going. I feel like after the whole Mallory/Tate storylines were resolved this series lost a lot of momentum that it has yet to pick up.

Overall an okay addition to the series. The whole plot around Cadogan House leaving the GP felt like something that had to be done, but wasn't all that interesting to read about. It was nice to see Ethan and Merit acting like mature adults, but I felt like a lot of the heat between them was missing. I did enjoy that Merit was finally and formally inducted to the Red Guard. I am curious to see what will happen to Cadogan house as it tries to stand on its own.

The last couple books in this series have been somewhat disappointing to me. I will probably read one more book in this series before I decide whether or not to stop reading it completely. I tentatively recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy featuring vampires...the first four or five books in the series are very good.

I just love reading more in this series and book 7, House Rules, did not disappoint!! There was so much conspiracy, action and vampire politics to have me eagerly flicking the pages. There was no shortage of drama between Merit and Ethan either. It was a fantastic read and I am keen to see how things progress for the Cadogan Vampires now.

As you may have read from the blurb, two rogues have been murdered and it falls to Merit to find the killer. I enjoyed this sside of the storyline, unravelling the clues and hunting the killer. But there was a major political event that occurred at the end of the previous book that followed through into House Rules that I enjoyed too, as it has changed the way the Cadogan Vampires operate. It was intense and a major power play that is changing the Vampire world. I cannot wait to see how they all cope with it now.

Merit is a character that I really like. She is close to one of my favourite heroine’s for sure. She may not have become a vampire by choice, but she is doing everything in her power to be the best damn Vampire, Sentinal and Girlfriend she can possibly be. Every decision she makes is because of her House and her position, and her choices come under scrutiny in this instalment. I was totally backing her choices and was glad she stuck to her guns. It certainly doesn’t help when Lacey comes back and manipulates things… She is one girl I just want to shake! It shows how much Merit has grown as a person because she didn’t do that, she is not as impulsive as she once was.

There is so much I want to tell you about House Rules, but you simply must read it for yourself. There are so many things that the author has hinted on along the way and I am keen to see these things play out! Chloe Neill continues to amaze me with each new instalment in the journey. The Chicagoland Vampires is a gripping series that I am thrilled to continue.

I loved HOUSE RULES and it was really good. Things are amazing with Merit and Ethan and god, that man makes me swoon. Ethan moved Merit into his apartments so they are moving forward step by step in their relationship. In this installment, we have a killer vampire on the loose, more bulls*** from the GP and Lacey trying to make her way back into Ethan. Quite a lot of things occurred in this book and it all made it awesome!

Ethan and Merit and strong. Lacey makes her way into the picture again. In the last book she appeared in, she seemed like a mature and respected woman, but in HOUSE RULES can we put the term spoiled little brat out there. She was like this little bug that wouldn’t go away. And honestly, I”m embarrased for her. And thank god, by the end Ethan stood up for the Merit and his relationship and kicked her out. Not to say I didn’t have a disappointed in Ethan moment. I did.

Merit is in the RG now with Jonah as her partner, we get a little thrown into that and see what it’s like. And apparently all RG partners are like lovers and its awkward being the only one out when you are so in love with your Master Vampire. I truly believe if there was no Ethan. There would be a Jonah and Merit. I see the potential there for that relationship and I think it would have sparked like crazy. I enjoy Jonah and glad her is apart of this series and Merit’s life.

Ethan and Merit have a little argument about her being a member of the RG. Yup. He finds out, Which leads into an argument about Lacey wanting him, which it totally impossible according to him. What dude, are you blind? And I guess Jonah got thrown into the mix too. Haha! I felt for Merit and I wanted to slap Ethan. I loved the argument, but it was a painful fight to witness. But the makeup made it worth it! I really enjoyed this book a lot. I am really looking forward to the next one!

I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read the first six books in the series so although this will be spoiler free for House Rules it will probably contain spoilers for the earlier books. If you are new to the series it's one I'd highly recommend but please don't read beyond this paragraph because you really do need to read the books in order starting with Some Girls Bite.

After the revelations at the end of Biting Cold I knew things were going to get even more interesting in this book and I wasn't disappointed. Cadogan House have decided to opt out of the Greenwich Presidium and stand alone but as you can imagine the GP aren't going to let them go easily. As the countdown to the split begins the GP make their presence known in Chicago and they really put the pressure on Ethan and the whole of Cadogan House to change their minds. As if that wasn't enough for Merit to worry about she is also asked to investigate the disappearance of two rogue vampires. Cadogan are trying to form alliances with the rogues since they'll all be in the same boat soon so they can't turn down the request for help even though the timing couldn't be worse. Can Merit figure out who is behind the attacks before they move on to targets even closer to home?

There really is so much going on in this book and it had me gripped from beginning to end. The GP are so sneaky in the way they go about things and it isn't going to be easy for Ethan, Merit and the others to find a way to fight them at their own game. They are threatened with losing everything and it looks like their decision to leave the GP could have been a mistake after all since it has earned them some powerful enemies. Neither Ethan nor Merit are the type of characters to back down from a challenge though and they definitely aren't going to be forced into changing their minds due to the GP's underhand tactics. If they can't win by playing fair then they're just going to have to play dirty too and thankfully they have a few tricks of their own up their sleeves. There are also some very interesting developments when it comes to Merit and the Red Guard. I've been fascinated by Jonah since he first appeared in the series so I enjoyed seeing more of him here and I can't wait to see the knock on effects that Merit's choices will have in the future - there are bound to be some unexpected ones!

Merit and Ethan's relationship has never been particularly smooth and there are definitely forces at play trying to keep them apart in House Rules. Thankfully they are both now more secure in their relationship and although they hit a few bumps along the way they managed to deal with them much faster than they would have in the past. We get to see both Merit and Ethan show a little of their jealous sides but we also see them talk things through like adults and actually learning to make compromises together. I never once felt that they wouldn't be able to work through their issues and come out stronger on the other side and it's nice to finally seem them in a better place in their relationship.

I think it was the action I loved most in House Rules, there is just so much going on but it never got confusing. Chloe Neill wove the different plots together brilliantly and gave us a little of everything - mystery, action, romance and of course the humour fans of the series have cone to expect. It was nice to catch up with some of the other side characters too, Jeff and Catcher had a bit more page time in this than they had in the previous book but we also get to spend time with Mallory who is still working for the shapeshifters as she pays her debt to society. I was really pleased with how realistic Mallory's interactions were with both Merit and Catcher. Mallory was Merit's best friend for so many years and she still loves her in spite of the things she has done but that doesn't mean she can trust her. They both want to rebuild their friendship but they also understand that it is going to take time and even then they may never get back to where they were before Mallory went off the rails. I think one of the things I love most about this series is how many layers there are to all of the characters, even the side characters have depths to them and it makes spending time with them even more enjoyable. I'm really happy that this series is still going strong and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Fans of Neill and her Chicagoland Vampire series will be pleased with her latest foray back into her exciting world of vampires, supernatural hijinks and baked meats. After a somewhat disappointing predecessor, Biting Cold, House Rules comes back with a vengeance and sets the arc and characters back on track. The GP (Greenwich Presidium) has sanctioned Cadogan House and Ethan has decided to fight back by seceding from the elitist vampire ruling council rather than taking anymore abuse. While the house is preparing for the secession, rogue vampires are turning up dead. Merit and Ethan once again place their lives on the line as they try to figure out who is killing the vampires and why.

I was pleased by the balance permeating this installment. Action, suspense, drama, romance, and humor all blend together to give us a fast paced adventurous story that hooks you from beginning to end. Merit is in top form with her snarky commentary and patent warrior skills. She has grown much through the series, but in here you get the sense that Merit is finally accepting her fate and is at peace with her turning. Ethan Sullivan, Master vampire, head of Cadogan House, and love of Merit's life, is also more stable in here. Still alpha to the core and demanding complete obedience, he is now willing and able to make concessions. The events in Biting Cold opened eyes to more than just the supernatural political unrest in Chicago. Ethan's sacrifice has drawn him and Merit back together and proven to them that they are much stronger as a pair. This is a much approved situation. While Merit and Ethan's relationship has been a strong amusing aspect of the series, the last two books left me with a bad taste in my mouth as their stubbornness was beginning to take the enjoyment out of it. They are both back and finally in sync with one another, able to adjust and weather out any bumps in their relationship rather than their usual modis operandi of running for the hills.

"So you traded up?" I asked, walking toward the car and opening the door. "Do you treat your relationships in the same way?"
"Yes," Ethan gravely said. "And I spent four hundred years shopping before I met you."

The mystery is well defined and the plotlines flow steady. Engaging characters and sustainable relationships remains a strong aspect in the overall enjoyment of this series. The dialogue alone, sharp and witty, will keep you laughing and fist pumping at the most inappropriate times. Old and new enemies come into play as Merit and Ethan work to stay one step ahead of the GP and figure out who is killing their kind. We see many old friends and get a small look at how their lives are progressing. Mallory's present and paying for her `lapse in judgment' by working with the shapeshifters. I like that she and Merit are slowly rebuilding the friendship they lost.

Catcher makes an appearance and we see that he and Mallory are trying to get back to where they were before. No promises are made but I have a good feeling about them. We also see a major step taken concerning Merit's relationship with the Red Guard, which in turn affects Ethan.

All in all, House Rules is a story of hope, redemption, and new beginnings. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a dark humorous Urban Fantasy with plenty of action, romance, and snark. This is not a standalone though and I do not recommend starting the series here. This is a convoluted series that builds upon itself with each new book. The arc is long reaching with minor recapping. Characters evolve and bleed over into to each new story with no real pauses in between.

Overall Rating: B

This is the seventh book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. The eighth book will be titled Biting Bad and is scheduled for an August 2013 release. This book was a bit of a transition book again and not as engaging as previous books.

Cadogan House is finally, formally breaking away from the GP. This will make them the first House to claim Rogue vampire status. Things are uncomfortable to say the least. Then a rash of vampire murders start happening and Merit is called to help figure out who is killing these vamps. To add to the complexity Merit is finally called in to formally join the Red Guard.

This was an okay installment in this series. Basically this is the book about Cadogan House breaking away from the GP. A lot of time is spent trying to find legal loop-holes and in the original contract with the GP in order to ensure that Cadogan can break away from the house cleanly. Things get complicated when Dorian tries to make a grab for the house in a power play. Additional complications arise when Ethan invites his ex, Lacey, over to smooth things out with Dorian.

I did like that Merit was finally inducted into the Red Guard. I also liked that she ended up coming clean with all her secrets to Ethan. Having Lacey there to throw Merit and Ethan's relationship into turmoil was obnoxious and made me roll my eyes a bit. Still I was impressed with how much Ethan and Merit have grown as characters and how reasonable they were about everything.

The vampire murders added a heavy investigative bent to the story. It seemed like a very interesting plot line, but I felt the way it was all resolved felt a bit anti-climatic and contrived.

Mallory was in the story a bit, she is making progress in dealing with her addiction to black magic. Still she is far from the entertaining and bubbly person we meet early in the series. She isn't in the story much but when she is the tone is tentatively hopeful.

While this book was an okay read, but I felt like nothing all that interesting happened. This felt like another transition novel for me and I am beginning to wonder exactly where this series is going. I feel like after the whole Mallory/Tate storylines were resolved this series lost a lot of momentum that it has yet to pick up.

Overall an okay addition to the series. The whole plot around Cadogan House leaving the GP felt like something that had to be done, but wasn't all that interesting to read about. It was nice to see Ethan and Merit acting like mature adults, but I felt like a lot of the heat between them was missing. I did enjoy that Merit was finally and formally inducted to the Red Guard. I am curious to see what will happen to Cadogan house as it tries to stand on its own.

The last couple books in this series have been somewhat disappointing to me. I will probably read one more book in this series before I decide whether or not to stop reading it completely. I tentatively recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy featuring vampires...the first four or five books in the series are very good.

I just love reading more in this series and book 7, House Rules, did not disappoint!! There was so much conspiracy, action and vampire politics to have me eagerly flicking the pages. There was no shortage of drama between Merit and Ethan either. It was a fantastic read and I am keen to see how things progress for the Cadogan Vampires now.

As you may have read from the blurb, two rogues have been murdered and it falls to Merit to find the killer. I enjoyed this sside of the storyline, unravelling the clues and hunting the killer. But there was a major political event that occurred at the end of the previous book that followed through into House Rules that I enjoyed too, as it has changed the way the Cadogan Vampires operate. It was intense and a major power play that is changing the Vampire world. I cannot wait to see how they all cope with it now.

Merit is a character that I really like. She is close to one of my favourite heroine’s for sure. She may not have become a vampire by choice, but she is doing everything in her power to be the best damn Vampire, Sentinal and Girlfriend she can possibly be. Every decision she makes is because of her House and her position, and her choices come under scrutiny in this instalment. I was totally backing her choices and was glad she stuck to her guns. It certainly doesn’t help when Lacey comes back and manipulates things… She is one girl I just want to shake! It shows how much Merit has grown as a person because she didn’t do that, she is not as impulsive as she once was.

There is so much I want to tell you about House Rules, but you simply must read it for yourself. There are so many things that the author has hinted on along the way and I am keen to see these things play out! Chloe Neill continues to amaze me with each new instalment in the journey. The Chicagoland Vampires is a gripping series that I am thrilled to continue.

Merit and the rest of her fellow Cadogan House vampires lives are about to be forever changed as they prepare to formally break from the GP and their oppressive reign. But despite all their preparations they know they can't possibly predict everything, so their is a cloud of worry hanging over their heads. They've taken steps towards making peace with the rogues of Chicago, but that relationship is fragile at best. So when two rogues go missing, Merit and Ethan both know they have to provide all assistance possible despite their own House turmoil. With everything crumbling around them, Merit and Ethan will have to rely on one another more than ever if they are to have any hope at saving their House and the vampires of Chicago.

Merit and Ethan have come leaps and bounds in their relationship. Before whenever they were tested, one or the other one would panic and run. There was so much push and pull, I was starting to get whiplash. So, when some nasty issues of betrayal and the green jealousy monster reared its head I instinctively braced myself for impact. Much to my surprise, they seemed to have broken that pattern and didn't immediately run for the hills. Not that I'm saying their behavior, nor the way they lashed out at one another was exactly healthy, but at least they stuck through the rough times. I still think they have a very long way to go to build their relationship to the point where they can fully trust one another. Of course, Merit would have to get over a whole lot of her insecurities first, and Ethan, well he'd have to stop being such a meat-head at times. Hopefully these bumps along the way will only serve to strengthen them. That being said, I absolutely love the chemistry between them and really think they are perfect for one another.

One of the most impressive things about these books is that while each one has a clear and concise plot, there also are other things going on as well to further the overall plot, or set things up for the next book. In HOUSE RULES there are actually two main plots, one being the murders, and the other being the separation from the GP. I will say that the GP issue had me much more on the edge of my seat as I figured out the identity of the murderer rather early on, so the suspense just wasn't there. There are times where I really hate my ability to see plot twists coming as it can sometimes make it hard to catch me off guard, and I don't get the full effect of some parts of the book. But getting back to the GP issue, even though I knew they weren't going to let Cadogan House get away scott free, I just didn't expect them to go as far as they did. Be prepared for some pretty major shock and awe as their actions left both the characters and myself reeling. Speaking of shockers, we finally find out what Jeff's animal form, and let me just say that he only became more awesome in my eyes. I love that boy something fierce and I hope he gets his own happy ever after!

I'm an incredibly huge fan of this series, so much so that I've given each book five stars across the board. So, when I realized that I couldn't give HOUSE RULES that same rating, there was a whole lot of internal debating going on since I hated to have to find fault in this series. Unlike the previous installments, I just felt a bit disjointed from the characters as I just didn't get sucked into the world like I normally do. Don't get me wrong, the book was still very good, it's just that it didn't have the all consuming nature that I have come to expect from this series. Perhaps a lot of that had to do with my worry over whether or not Merit and Ethan's relationship woes would wind up in a repetition of history, and also the fact that I missed out on the suspense of the murders, so I think it's more of a personal issue rather than any real fault on the book itself. So, in the end, minus my slight issues, overall the book was a very good read in one of my all time favorite Urban Fantasy series. A delight for fans of the series, HOUSE RULES is not to be missed!

While Cadagon house is busy deflecting from the Greenwich Presidium rogue vampires start showing up dead. As usual a very busy Merit is on the case. We have a great array of all of our favorite characters playing a role in HOUSE RULES. We also have some we don't quite care for like Lacey who is back for to provide support to Ethan while trying to get back into his bed. While dealing with everything else its also time for Merit to be officially Sworn into the Red Guard. Merit believes whole heartedly that it is the right thing to do but Ethan's feelings are in the back of her mind and she has a bit of trouble with that. As usual we cant go one book without some sort of conflict between Ethan and Merit. Thankfully they are evolving and adapting and are able to work through things a bit better than before. They very much compliment each other and we see just how much with each book. I loved some of the thoughts Merit was having about their future which coincides with some of Gabriel's past remarks.

There are plenty of surprises, humor, and secrets revealed in HOUSE RULES that makes it another great addition to the Chicagoland Vampire series. It is a must read and the series remains one of my favorites. Book 8 BITING BAD is set to release in August thankfully so we don't have long to wait until the next installment.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

After the cataclysmic events of BITING COLD, HOUSE RULES starts in the eye of the storm. The Chicago government remains hostile to supernaturals, Cadogan House is one the eve of succeeding from the Greenwich Presidium, and a pair of young Rogue vampires go missing. The ominous building of events had me twisting in my seat, so much so that it was a relief when the dominoes began to fall.

And oh is there a lot to fall. Malice, politics, and love triangles, Merits life is dramatic on multiple levels. I still find the general douchebaggery of Chicago's mayor and the GP beyond frustrating, to the point where Lacey's zealous pursuit of Ethan seemed almost pure by comparison. However much delusion and self-righteousness goes into Lacey's efforts, compared to the underhanded self-interest and politicking of Merits more deadly enemies, I'd pick Lacey any day. That worked out well in HARD BITTEN, because while most of the story focuses on Merit working her network and pounding the pavement, Lacey is the villain that gets the most page time.

Beyond the murders and politics, the most interesting and nuanced issue facing Merit is her membership in the Red Guard. It's impossible to divorce Merit's relationship with Ethan from the power and politics of their environment. Merit truly believes in the mission of the Red Guard, but keeping secrets in any new relationship is a recipe for disaster. Caught between the earnest value of her membership in the Red Guard and an oath of secrecy that leaves Ethan on the outside, I enjoyed Merits efforts to be honest and effective in her roles as Red Guard, Sentinel, and girlfriend.

And as ever, don't pick up a Chicagoland Vampires book while you're hungry. I could argue that Chicago's cuisine is the actual third wheel in Merit and Ethan's relationship, and that's one love triangle I'd never want to see end.

Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.

HOUSE RULES is the newest, fiercest addition to the Chicagoland Vampire series. If you're a veteran of the series, order this book, NOW. You won't be disappointed- If you haven't begun this series yet, you're missing out and you need to hop on the Merit & Ethan bandwagon. Nothing will stop you from flipping the pages once you've begun. HOUSE RULES is stacked with action, wit and plot twists - an urban fantasy reader's dream.

I'll be honest, the last couple books seemed a little trite and weren't as compelling as the first few. I didn't have high hopes for HOUSE RULES as I was slowly losing interest in the series. I am SO GLAD I stuck it out and picked up HOUSE RULES. I am back on the edge of my seat, waiting for more. Ethan and Merit are solid and kicking ass. Also, I know I've said this before, but Neill really is excellent at keeping you up to speed without seeming redundant.

The best part of HOUSE RULES is the evolution of Merit and Ethan and the obstacles that their relationship endures. I love the drama. Serial killers. Stubborn (awesome) Merit. This is an absolutely gripping, fast paced novel and I simply loved it. Hoping that Merit and Ethan continue to get more and more serious and Neill has lots more mystery and adventure in the upcoming novels!!

Reviewed by Guest Reviewer/Sharon & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

¡°The difference in this book was that I felt many things came together and solidified¡¦finally.¡± ~Under the Covers

This is definitely not going to be the most objective review seeing as how I¡¯m a total Ethan fan. As long as Ethan¡¯s in the book (and even when he¡¯s not), I¡¯ve loved the book. I just love Ethan and Merit together and I¡¯ve loved seeing them through all their trials and tribulations. The difference in this book was that I felt many things came together and solidified¡¦finally.

The Cadogan house is breaking its ties with the GP and while there¡¯s lots of uncertainly, the house vampires have really come together. They are also having lots of support from the Rogue vampires, the Shifters and Merit¡¯s grandfather¡¯s group. But the GP has some moves up their sleeves and causes some problems. (I loved when Merit found the ¡®object¡¯ but I¡¯m a little sad about the fairies.)

Ethan and Merit finally have a bit of down time for their relationship but of course, there has to be trouble and her name is Lacey. Yep, that wicked witch is back in the picture. Unfortunately, she is not the only problem¡¦just the catalyst. Even though there was tension, I enjoyed seeing Ethan and Merit work through things and I think they¡¯ve come out stronger because of it. (I loved when Ethan and Jonah was sparring!)

Naturally, there has to be some mystery and that starts with two vampires being killed in a type of ritualistic set up. I was really intrigued by how everything came together and was surprised at who the killer actually was. I love how CN sets up all the puzzle pieces and seeing the light click on for Merit.

Things are also coming together with/for Mallory. She¡¯s not out of the woods yet but I¡¯m happy that her and Merit are mending their fences. I wish there would¡¯ve been more of her and Catcher but maybe next time.

There were lots of interesting new things that came out especially the one about the Tiger. I quite enjoyed that one as well as the Shifters poker game!

Overall, I really enjoyed it though I wish we had a more detailed account (or even some details!) of Merit and Ethan¡¯s smexy times¡¦I almost feel cheated about that. And even though I liked the ending, the end crept up on me!

Favorite quotes:

¢¾ ¡°So you traded up?¡± I asked, walking toward the car and opening the door. ¡°Do you treat your relationships in the same way?¡±

¡°Yes,¡± Ethan gravely said. ¡°And I spent four hundred years shopping before I met you.¡±

¢¾ ¡°You may begin impressing me now.¡±

¢¾ ¡°I walked into his arms, and he embraced me with relief, as if the act of touching me removed the weight from his shoulders. That might have been the most flattering compliment I¡¯d ever received from him, nonverbal as it was.¡±

♦ ¡°ETHAN EATS TOAST WITH A FORK.

It took a moment before she responded. DARTH SULLIVAN = PRETENTIOUS HOTTIE, she responded.¡±

¢¾ ¡°You are mine and mine alone, and it appears you need reminding. I suggest you return to our apartment; otherwise you¡¯ll be ravished here and now where you stand, and the door is open.¡±

¢¾ ¡°I will have you. Body, mind, and soul. And I won¡¯t share you with anyone else.¡±

*ARC provided by publisher

I must say I enjoyed this book a lot more then the last one. The new story line is just exciting and new. And of coarse in the beginning of this book I was in love with the way Ethan was being all flirtatious and sweet to Merit. I thought they really needed that after everything. But of coarse that happy bubble can not last. Not only because of the house drama like they are separating from the GP and that mess but because a certain someone comes in and causes a lot of drama.

Merit has so much to deal with in this book. The troubles of separating from the GP without The House losing everything, trying to lead her double life as an RG member, trying to catch a serial killer before he kills anyone else and also that pesky person I mentioned above. With so much going on though something is going to slip and when it does do things get tense. Her loyalty is questioned and one of her relationships is put into jeopardy.

I won't lie there in the middle I wanted to scream my head off. There was this little part of the story I couldn't deal with. Luckily it was not dragged out or else it would have made this book hard to read. Its not fun but its over pretty fast, so when you get to this spot, hang in there it'll be over soon.

I am really excited with the progress House Rules has made to the series. It feels like we are moving towards something and maybe even coming to a close soon. I am hoping after this book Ethan and Merit will have everything together and not let little things come between them. House Rules was an action packed book with never a dull moment, and it had more romantic scenes then before (happy dance)! This book is definitely one for the Chicagoland Vampire fans to get their hands on.

This is going to be more on the line of some random musings than a formal review since I am so late to the game on reading this...

I liked House Rules, it kept rolling along but I had the same problem with this one that I did with the last one - I just didn't come out at the end dying to jump right into the next one even though I was reading House Rules in preparation for the release of Biting Bad.

I had issues: I am not a huge Ethan fan, so that doesn't help me - although those who are will be happy for more "Methan" time. I am starting to resign myself to the fact that the high hopes I had for the Red Guard is just not going to come to fruition - they are just another resource for Merit in solving the mystery d'jour. And again the big conflict, this time the serial killer who is murdering vamps is easily resolved.

What I did like though was seeing Jeff in all of his awesomeness and putting his prowess as geeky gamer extraordinaire to good use as well as seeing him just as impressive when he goes all furry.

So bottom line is House Rules was entertaining but not blood stirring and at the trade pb price for these, I am going to wait a bit until I can get a used copy of Biting Bad at a reduced price before going back for more of Merit.

House Rules is the seventh installment of author Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. I've enjoyed this series a great deal thus far but House Rules came at a perfect time to give the series the push it needed to keep fans invested. So much happened in this book! It's not just a paranormal mystery with some Merit/Ethan relationship components...no, it's themed with past commitments and fresh starts. This theme filters into the relationship dynamics of Ethan and Cadogan House, Merit and Ethan, Merit and Malory, Merit and the Red Guard, and Cadogan House and the Greenwich Presidium. The mystery element is very interesting as well and kept me in suspense.

My favorite quote:
“Mallory turned to Berna. 'I’m taking fifteen, and we’re moving this discussion upstairs.' 'You can have here! I will not listen.' 'You will listen,' Mallory said, 'and you’ll tell your book club exactly what you heard.' 'But is like Twilight in real life!' Berna protested. 'Sparkles!' But Mallory had already grabbed my hand and was pulling me toward the door. 'Ignore the half-naked shifters,' she said."

"House Rules" signals the official return to greatness for the series. While I enjoyed "Biting Cold," it was more of a transition book and due to its road trip nature I felt that things were missing. Book 7 brought us back on track. "House Rules" is a lot like the first few books in the series, but that doesn't mean it's repetitive or unvaried. Merit and Ethan have entered a whole new world. Not only in their political/vampire life, but also in their on and off romance.

Everything sort of speeds up in this book. We know where everyone stands and no stone is left unturned. That's what I enjoyed most about this book. Chloe Neill is not going to drag storylines on and on, spreading them thin until we roll our eyes from the monotony. The RG storyline plays a major role in this novel and I was glad to finally get there. From the first moment the RG was brought up, Merit has been straddling the line. She was kind of an RG member, but not. In this book it all comes to a head and it was as entertaining and stressful a situation for me, as it was for the characters.

"House Rules" is a huge success for Ms. Neill, because she will once again ensnare her readers. I promised myself that I was not reading these books because I still cared, but because I just wanted to see the ending. Wrong. I very much care about the characters in this series. I want them all to have HEA. It gets to the point where I am inwardly arguing with Merit on her choices. Whenever she does something that I feel will threaten her relationship with Ethan, I go insane. The reason? I want Merit with Ethan badly, because when Merit is with Ethan, I am with Ethan! :-)

In terms of the investigation, I am glad for any reason for Merit to interact with Jeff and Catcher, who are some of my fave characters. When the investigation started, I didn't really care. It was sad to me, but in the way that news reports are sad. By the end, the investigation evolved to the point where I was screaming for the killer's head!

Honestly, this book is not to be missed. If you gave up on the series after "Hard Bitten," it's time to come home. If you were resistant to reading this series, because of the fandom's devastation, you can now safely pick up the books. "House Rules," is filled with intrigue, action, romance and enough witty banter to fill a house. It's well written, takes you places you have been waiting a long time to go and reminds you why you fell in love with this series in the first place. A must read.

I absolutely love this series. There is always so much action, yet also great down moments that give us more of an insight into our characters. This book dealt with a few things that had been building up over the last few books, the return of Lacey, and a murder mystery that was a tad bit creepy. Merit definitely had her hands full and I don't know how she hasn't become completely overwhelmed during her brief time as a vampire.

In the midst of the danger and the heartache, we got to see many of our old favorites like Luc and Lindsey and Jeff and Catcher. We also got to spend time with Gabriel and the shifters and to see Mallory in her new environment. It's nice to see Merit and Mallory working on their issues as well as learning that Mallory and Catcher are working on theirs. Although I'm always excited to read the next book, the situations in this book make me even more excited for Biting Bad and once again I get a lovely birthday present from Chloe Neill (Biting Bad comes out the day after my birthday). I can't wait!

With most Book Sevens, I am usually checking release schedules and making all kinds of martyred noises about how series should quit while they're ahead. By that point, authors are usually stuck on rules they've set for how the relationships play out, or they're having trouble coming up with new problems without changing the nature of certain characters.

That's not the case with Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires, however. This series shows no signs of slowing down or relying on tired, recycled story lines or forced conflict to move the action forward. In this particular installment, the vampires' Cadogan House is in a state of flux as its status among the other Houses is called into question. On top of that, vampires are disappearing--and a face from the past comes back to make trouble for Merit and Ethan.

The series' trademark humor, great action sequences, and complicated political intrigue are all here, in ways that feel familiar and yet still fresh. I love that Merit is such a kickass character, but who still struggles with her vulnerability. The question of doing what is honorable comes up again and again in this series, particularly in this installment as she's faced with a new allegiance she's made with the Red Guard that may threaten her standing as Sentinel and protector of her House. I love that Ethan is true to the character we've come to know, and proves again what an admirable Master he is, as well as a good match for Merit. I love that we get to see Jonah, albeit all too briefly--someday he really must get a spinoff series, I think! And I love that awkward Jeff gets some cool moments as well.

There are also some, um, pretty hot scenes in this book. Vampires eyes' get silver when they get angry or excited and let's just say there is a LOT of silvering of eyes and pouncing in this one. :D

If I had to quibble about anything, I'd say that I do wish the author didn't feel the need to use so many of her characters in every single book. While I appreciate the sprawling and memorable cast of characters, as well as how easily she works back story into the narrative, having to explain so much does slow down the momentum of the beginning of each book. And please, let's have these vampires suck a little more blood!

But those are minor points when I enjoy so much about these books--somehow the Chicagoland Vamps just work for me every single time. I'd recommend this series to: anyone who enjoys adult urban fantasies, or to YA readers who want to try out books with a similar feel but more adult conflicts. Chicagoland's Merit is actually a lot like Vampire Academy's Rose, actually. Both strong, principled characters who get into all kinds of trouble, but have a hell of a time fighting--and reasoning--their out of it.

An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review.

I have loved Merit from the beginning. She is headstrong, and tries to do the best that she can for her house. In the latest Chicagoland book, things can a little complicated for Merit. The GP is coming to Cadogan House to sever ties, and of course those evil jerks have something up their sleeves. Vampires are turning up missing, and dead...and Cadogan again takes the lead to find out why. Also throwing a wrench in things is an old visitor, who is determined to ruin Merit's life. Just another day at Cadogan House.
While I won't say the action was non-stop...I did like the pacing on this one. It was steady and intruiging more than anything. Plenty of ASSumptions all around.
I think that this latest book was a great addition to the series, and can't wait to read more!

Cadogan goes ROGUE. Did I ever think this day would come? Wellll....possibly, but let me tell you...this series never ceases to entertain me. I've been a loyal Chicagoland Vampires fan for a long time. Well before I started blogging. In fact, this is my first formal review for any book in the series. But, as I said, despite the fact that we're now in book 7 in the series, Merit and crew still make me quite happy.

For those of you that don't know Merit, she is a somewhat recently turned vampire. She was minding her own business one night on campus, when she was attacked and turned into a vampire. Never fear, sexy Ethan Sullivan was there to help her through. Even though Ethan isn't the vamp that sired her, he welcomed her into his home, Cadogan. See...there are vampire houses set up around the world. Three of which are in Chicago and one is run by our blond hero, Ethan. So, bringing you up to speed (which of course there is loads of drama in between), Merit is the Sentinel of the Cadogan House. She is the sole protector of the Master of the House and is able to make decisions for the House's safety. Nice gig, right? Anyway, in HOUSE RULES, Merit has to find out who is killing rogue vamps in the city AND help Cadogan keep their House and break away from the GP. Heavy stuff. Yes, this book is action packed, but don't you worry...we get plenty of Ethan and Merit love. *sigh*

If you follow my reviews, you know that I love it when I can connect to the characters. Well Merit is not only a heroine that I've connected with, but admire as well. She sure has made mistakes, but she is fearless and takes ownership when she's wrong. Now, I happen to think that Ethan is the perfect compliment for Merit. I've always thought he was sexy, but once they really started to fall in love...I fell hard for him. He continues to deliver some truly swoony lines. Not only do I love Merit and Ethan, but I love the supporting characters as well (Especially Catcher and Gabriel). They all add value and entertainment to the series.

Ok, here's the thing, this series is one of my all-time favorite Urban Fantasy series. I will follow Merit and Ethan to the end. And, despite their personal ups and downs as a couple, I have faith that they will make it last in the long run. As well as, keeping the peace in Chicagoland among all the supes and humans. Do I want you to get this series? Yes. Yes, you must! Chloe Neill has developed a truly spectacular series. I've become so intensely involved in these characters lives. I'm so glad that I found this series years ago. I highly recommend it.

*This series is in the adult age group and there are some mature scenes. However, they are not graphic and in my opinion, a mature late-teen reader could handle it.*

Quotes:
~"So you traded up?" I asked, walking toward the car and opening the door. "Do you treat your relationships in the same way?"
"Yes," Ethan gravely said. "And I spent four hundred years shopping before I met you."
It was comments like that that kept me around, even when Ethan was being otherwise insufferable. He popped them into conversation just often enough to make my heart melt.-pg 31

~A burst of pride filled my chest. The man was walking power and confidence, and he was all mine.
"Seriously," Lindsey whispered, "well done."
"I know, right?"-pg 110

~I glanced back, the House glowing gold in the darkness of Hyde Park, three stories of stone and blood and memories.
A GP issue we hadn't been able to fix.
Four murders we hadn't been able to solve.
A relationship I'd broken.-pg 259

Chloe Neill and her Chicagoland Vampires are certainly firing on all cylinders in this 7th installment! And that's saying something considering that I was all but ready to give-up on this series after the last couple of novels. House Rules is the book that keeps on giving with lightning fast pacing, a masterful web of plot lines and a steadfast heroine who refuses to give up.

To say that Merit has her hands full in this installment would be the understatement of the year. Pick your poison, take a number and get in line behind: a killer on the lose, a love sick master vampire moving in on her turf, Cadogan's upcoming excommunication from the GP, allies turned enemies and RG secrets. The fact that all of these events unravel over the course of a mere 72 hours is extraordinary. It's been a while since I've stayed up late into the night to finish a book but House Rules was simply impossible to put down.

Ethan and Merit's relationship has been a point of contention for me since Drink Deep and when trust issues surface between them I couldn't help but roll my eyes and think "here we go again". With so much going on in this book I found it difficult to understand why Neill chose to go there. Again. I was really hoping for a drama free installment but this time around their relationship woes actually added to my overall enjoyment of the story. It's sad that it's taken them 7 books to reach their happy place but I guess even vampires aren't perfect.

I've always loved Merit as a character and House Rules was her moment to shine. I've never witnessed a heroine stick to her guns as adamantly as she does in this book. She finds herself forced to choose between her House and the well-being of all vampire kind while at the same time trying to make Ethan understand that she's actually picking both. The resulting argument plants doubt in Merit's mind but despite her internal struggle she makes the right call, consequences be damned. That a girl!

My love/hate feelings towards these books have officially been put to rest thanks to House Rules. For the first time in a long time I'm actually looking forward to the next Chicagoland Vampires installment.

With Cadogan House on the verge of leaving the GP, vampires start vanishing. It starts with a couple rogues, but then House vampires also disappear. It's up to Merit, along with Ethan and her Red Guards partner, Jonah, to figure out who's behind the disappearances and why.

As usual, the other houses in Chicago, leave it to Merit to figure out what's happening to the vampires in Chicago. As if dealing with the GP and their threat of taking everything that Cadogan House is isn't enough stress, they also are tasked with who or what is behind the disappearances. It's this investigation that gets us back to what I love about the Chicagoland Vampire series. It's Merit doing what she needs to in order to ensure the safety of her vampire brethren...no matter their affiliation.

But what I loved most about this book was Ethan and Merit. Since Ethan's "return" he's more human (for lack of a better word). While Ethan may have appreciated Merit before, he now expresses himself more. He's flirty, he's affection and when he needs to be he goes into full on alpha mode to make sure everyone knows that Merit is his. He makes sure Merit realizes that she is the one that he's waited centuries for. And no matter how mad he gets at her, she'll always be it for him.

Merit's grown as her relationship with Ethan becomes more settled. She's more confident in her role within the house and the vampire community at large. She's confident in her decision to join the Red Guard. And remarkably, she's making strides with her family.

I've run the gamut of emotions with the Chicagoland Vampire series, but I think with House Rules we've finally gotten to a place where things are making sense again. No weird books or split angels. Just a battle between good and evil.

I can't wait for the next installment in the series and I am now on a quest to go back through the other six CV books to find just when Gabriel talked about the vision he saw for Merit (which she mentions in the last chapter of the book). I'm on pins and needles for #8.

I read the other books in this series as soon as they came out. After two really bad books & one so-so book, I was hesitant to even read this one at all. I'm glad I did, because after 3 books of the series being screwed up, FINALLY! the story is finally back. No evil twins, no angels, no crazy sorceresses, no people coming back from death wearing the same clothes they died in, just vampires, shifters, fairies, & an occasional river nymph.

There are two main plots (three if you count Lacey) going on at the same time, & both are interesting & kept me reading. Ethan & Merit stay together (even though they fight), & we hear a little bit about Merit's family too. The story even finally addresses why Merit doesn't use her first name & why her father wanted her turned. I have been waiting for the explanation for 3 books, & it's about time.

I am looking forward to Biting Bad, & as long a they are as good as this one, I hope for many more books after that.

A generous four stars, mostly because I still love Ethan and his way with words. Other than that, I felt there were too many things going on in this book, from Merit's involvement with the Red Guard to the Greenwich Presidium to the vampire murders, then toss in the personal drama between Merit and Ethan. In the end it felt like all the individual plot points were shortchanged. This is also the third book in a row where the ending felt rushed, as though the deadline was looming so the author had to hurry the ending.

Seventh in the Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. In my opinion, this is written to an early teen audience.

My Take
This series started out so well. And book by book, it's falling into an abyss---no disrespect intended to teens. My first inclination was to agree with earlier reviewers that Neill is allowing her most vocal audience to dictate the writing. My next thought was to not allow others to dictate what I was thinking. I struggled. Neill simply kept providing the ammunition that made me want to put this into a Young Adult category. That isn't fair to young adults because they're so much more intelligent than this.

Neill is riding the positive waves of the much earlier stories in this series, and her readers are purchasing her books because of that earlier promise. I can understand wanting to know what happens with the GP. How Cadogan House survives. Or not. But don't bother buying this installment to find out. Get on a waiting list at the library. Your money is more valuable than wasting it on this.

The negatives? Oh, let me count the ways. Merit and Ethan's interactions before and after the betrayal, the way in which they act apart are at a maturity level somewhere between middle school and high school. Puh-lease, Ethan's reaction when he learns Merit's deep dark secret is so lame. He's so supposed to be so white-hot as a strategist, and he can't grasp the usefulness of what Merit chose? Neill has portrayed him---in the past---as more intelligent than this. Merit is terrified that Lacey is gonna spill the beans. What beans?? Hullo, she's investigating a murder and Jonah is a source. Spin it, ya idjit. What? Neill couldn't be bothered to work at this?? All her teeny-bopper advisers couldn't see past their middle school angst?

Oh, please, what is the big deal about a dance in front of Cadogan House vamps and Rogues? Merit's impatience with the doorman. I understand her frustration, but her approach is awkward and heavy-handed.

Oh, no!! I just realized what Neill forgot!! Oh, tragedy...gag...she missed out on putting in a hair-pulling scene between Lacey and Merit. I mean, that is the level to which Neill has sunk. I don't understand why Merit falls for Lacey's words. How old is Merit again? Fifteen? Oh, wait, she's in her late twenties. I just keep forgetting...

P O S S I B L E
S P O I L E R S
A H E A D
People are murdered, an item of value is stolen and what's their reaction? They mope. Not until the last minute does anyone think hmmm, maybe we should check the video surveillance. Navarre House uses biometrics. Does anyone think to check the House database to see who is registered? Or how the biometrics register? No. They mope. Until the last minute. God knows ya gotta dredge up the drama from somewhere. I have to admit, I skimmed chunks of the text as I was too nauseated and in too much of a hurry to get it over with. Thank you god that I borrowed this claptrap from the library.

When investigating the first pair of murders and Merit finds the evidence that could point to McKetrick, whatcha gonna do? Yup, dive right into assuming it must be McKetrick and then beard the idiot in his den. What purpose does that serve? It was a lame, immature move. On the other hand, I gotta hand it to Neill for consistency.

Part of my irritation is the lack of action. All these events are happening and mostly everyone sits around moping and whining. Neill spends more time on silly nicknames and whiny arguments than actual detecting.

There is a nice bit of backstory about Peter Cadogan and the fairy princess he fell in love with. It explains the value of the egg.

What was with the scene at Navarre House when Ethan throws down the owe-me card? I keep reading that one over and over, and without going back and re-reading the previous six books, I'm clueless. I can see Ethan's point in the now, when the other two Houses aren't stepping up to help, but the reference to the past is beyond me.

Someone explain to me why one would send one's butler a birthday card? Merit's father is a major jerk. Ethan refused, so he paid Celina to turn his own daughter into a vampire. Because the first daughter named Caroline Evelyn Merit died. This Merit is the replacement and he didn't want her to die. Oh, yeah, that's what I'd do... Who is this guy? Does his wife, Merit's mother, have any idea what he did? And he has the nerve to tell Merit that she's selfish for having wanted to have a say in her new life??

Well that meeting with the GP mole went well. All that set-up to hear the same thing Merit's already heard.

The Story
This is it. The end. Unless Cadogan House buckles under to the Greenwich Presidium's authority. The GP is an underhanded bunch, supreme in their belief that they are in the right. But then the Cadogan vampires can, eventually, outthink those who are caught up in the old way of thinking.

The Characters
Merit is Sentinel for Cadogan House. She holds a master's degree and was going for her doctorate when she was forcibly turned into a vampire. So, she's obviously at least book smart, if nothing else. Since Ethan Sullivan came back from the dead, he is operating as a co-Master of the House until they do a formal handover.

Malik is the current Master and can't wait to hand it back to Ethan; Aaliyah is his wife. Delia is a doctor friend of Aaliyah's. Luc is the former captain of Cadogan's guards, the current Second, and Lindsey's lover. Kelley is filling in as captain while Luc is playing Second. Margot is still the House cook. Paige Martin is a sorceress Merit and Ethan met in Biting Cold who adores a good library...and it seems the Cadogan librarian. Michael Donovan is a vampire security analyst hired to vamp up the House's security. Helen is still the concierge for the House.

Lacey Sheridan was sired by Ethan and is still in love with him. She's coming to Chicago to suck up to Darius, hopefully, to deter him from being too nasty to the Cadogans. She is master of Sheridan House in San Diego.

Noah Beck, sort of, leads the Rogues in Chicago; he's also part of the Red Guard (RG). Rose is both Eve's and Noah's Rogue friend. Alan and Beth and Eve and Oliver are Rogue couples. Morgan Greer is the current Master of Navarre and Nadia is his Second; Scott Grey leads Grey House. Jonah is captain of the Grey House guards and is secretly Merit's partner in the RG. Horace is another member, a Civil War veteran who still dresses in the era in which he began.

Merit's grandfather, Chuck Merit, may be fired officially as the Ombudsman, but he's set up an unofficial office in his home. His staff simply followed him there: Jeff Christopher is a tiger shifter and does the computer magic. Catcher Bell is a disavowed sorcerer and Mallory's maybe boyfriend. Mallory has a lot of kissing up to do. Marjorie is his admin. Detective Jacobs is a friend of Chuck's.

Mallory Carmichael is a sorceress who went bad; she was Merit's best friend until she betrayed her and all of Chicago. She's currently under a sort of house arrest working for the Chicago shifters at Berna's bar, Little Red. Gabriel Keene is "the head of the Apex of the North American Central Pack of shifters" and only willing to go so far in backing up Ethan. Fallon is Gabriel's sister, and she's in a relationship, sometimes, with Jeff. Other siblings include Ben, Christopher, and Derek---Adam was ousted for his efforts.

Diane Kowalcyzk is Chicago's new clueless mayor, who hates vampires. Enough to appoint the murderous McKetrick to an official post as head liaison in the Office of Human Liaisons---to protect humans hurt by supernaturals. Because obviously, all supernaturals are evil. Joshua is Merit's father---we'll assume Merit's mom has a name, she just doesn't seem to merit being mentioned by it; Robert and Charlotte are her siblings. Carlos Anthony Martinez was a naughty vampire who stepped outside his bounds; one whom Celine, the bad Master of Navarre, sired. Stephen Caniglia is one of the vampires Carlos sired.

Darius West leads the Greenwich Presidium (GP), which is the central authority for all vampire Houses. GP members who arrive in Chicago with him include Harold Monmouth, Danica, Diego Castillo (represents Mexico), and Lakshmi Rao. Rogue vampires are those not affiliated with a House. The Red Guard is a secret organization of vampires who vow to protect against the GP and bad Masters. There are twelve Houses: Navarre*, McDonald, Cabot, Cadogan*, Taylor, Lincoln, Washington, Heart, Lassiter, Grey*, Murphy, and Sheridan.

* Houses located in Chicago.

The Cover
The cover is dark in shades of black and gray with Merit clad in black leather pants and a red tank top, standing with her back to us as she holds open the door to Cadogan House, glancing back over her shoulder in question, her katana held down by her side.

The title can be interpreted in several ways, and my first impression when I heard it was of the rules by which the GP and Cadogan House abided. After reading it, I'd say that it's a triumph and, dude! Cadogan House RULES.

Much better than the last book. Glad to see Merit and her gang are back on track doing what they do best. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this (or I've been oblivious to something that's been right under my nose), but for the first time I saw a direct correlation between how Chicago treats vampires and how Germany treated the Jews at the beginning of WWII. I wonder if Neill is keeping this in the back of her mind and we will be seeing more similarities in future books.

In this installment Merit and Ethan get any and all secrets out in the open and become trusting of one another again. This moves them closer and makes them a better team. Cadogan House takes a stand for its own freedom and wins! This book is great! Fast paced and full of danger to handle. I loved it and am ready for the next one.....

Merit and Ethan are back and trying to get out from the GP. Rogue vamps are being killed. Merit & Ethan are living in his apartment , and are a couple.
Celina is back and helping with the discussions. Matt is the security expert and helping the house gets its info together. Jonah is back too , and her partner for the Red Guard. Merit & Ethan are working on their issues as a couple, but the whole house feels out of whack when they are disagreeing.

We do see Catcher/Jeff/ Mallory/Morgan in the book. Merit is working on her friendship with Mallory. Merit is the Nancy drew about town trying to solve the murders of the rogue vamps. There is a big bad baddie , and yes they solve it.

This book was a make or break with me with the series. This book did have sexy times, and true relationship squabbles. There was less mention of food, and it did seem to come back to its roots with snarky comments. But as a whole I have been disappointed in the last two books, and even the holdout on the vision wouldn't be enough for me to read on. So Not too sure.

This series reminds me of the scooby gang with vamps, shifters, and fairies. I was glad that this book was more adult and loved the many conversations in their room. I guess I am still at a crossroad with the series. I love that the series will recap for those readers who haven't been with it ( Not). I have been with this series since the beginning, so I might be harsher than other readers. This book was better , but after 2 misfires what is a reader to do. I did really miss Catcher & Jeff & Gabe & Jonah at times more than Merit.

I do think that its time that I break up with you book series. I can't handle all the drawing out of this relationship . Glad that this series is back to its roots , but as a fan I have been invested in the last 7 and now time to bid you adieu .

Another great book in a great series. I have been hooked on this series since book #1 and although I have fallen a little behind in the releases, that makes it better for reading (I don't have to wait for the next one).... I will most definitely be picking up the next in the series very soon, and can't wait to continue the adventure.

Just loved it as I have all the books in this series! Merit is just a great strong character and truly believes in loyalty and duty and in Ethan. I love how his faith and love for her has grown in every book...even though she sure knows how to test him! I was relieved he was able to accept her decision * no spoiler*
Can't wait for the next book....see where Chloe takes us :-)

Still love the series. It was a bit slow to get started and I would have liked more about Jeff and the Pack and more about Mallory. It seemed earlier books were more bombastic. For lack of better word. More magic stuff I guess.

I cant wait to read the next one.

** read March 2013

Chloe Neill did it again, she was able to woo me with her books once again. however this one wasn't as exciting as the others, but it was more deep than the others between, the relationship with merit and Ethan, the partnership between merit and Jonah. and the stuff going on the with the house and the GR.

This book was okay. I enjoyed parts of it but still skimmed parts. I'm still not a fan of Ethan and I don't think this book helped it any. I just don't see the passion between them.

Read from March 16 to 17, 2013

I love this series and can't wait for the next book. I love not far from Chicago and love the fact that the story takes place there and it's familiar. The love story of Ethan and Merit has always made my heart race. Chloe Neill knows how to write an amazing story!

Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires novels have been brain-candy reading for me for a few years now. The books are quick reads that don't require a lot of thinking but provide action, romance, humor, and occasional pathos. But, sad to say, I think I'm breaking up with this series.

I had high hopes at the beginning of this seventh book, House Rules. Neill introduces a mystery: two rogue vampires have gone missing, last seen at one of the vampire registration offices the new mayor has set up. In the other main plot, Cadogan House has voted to secede from the Greenwich Presidium, and that would surely shake things up a bit.

The series, however, has fallen into the same trap that Neill's Dark Elite series did for me. The plot often seems secondary to immature bickering among the characters. It's not funny enough to work as comic relief; it's just sniping. An example here is the cattiness between Merit and Ethan's ex, Lacey Sheridan. The tension of the major conflicts gets lost in the shuffle when there's too much of this.

Chapters 11 and 12 of House Rules were the final straws. Both Ethan and Merit come across as incredibly stupid here. SPOILER How did Ethan not realize the GP wouldn't let Cadogan leave without a fight? How did Merit not realize Lacey suspected her of cheating on Ethan, not of joining the Red Guard? These things are both painfully obvious to the reader. And then when Lacey tattled on Merit, how had she not thought up a better story to keep from blowing Jonah's cover? END SPOILER The answer to all these questions, of course, is that the plot required it. I hate it when characters have to be stupid for the plot to work. It makes me lose respect for them, and since it's so out of character, it also shatters the suspension of disbelief because it's too obviously a plot device.

I don't want to see Merit and Ethan, who were both established as smart characters, act stupid. I don't want to watch them continually have relationship drama even after weathering Ethan's death and resurrection. And I don't want to get sidetracked by characters sniping all the time. I want Merit to kick butt and solve mysteries.

I think I'll just tell myself this series ends with Drink Deep. Ethan came back to life, and then Merit and Ethan lived happily ever after and killed lots of bad things and ate lots of deep dish pizza. The End.

I've read all of this series from the beginning, and it has just lost it's shine for me. This one was very hard to get interested in, even though I went out and purchased it the first day. I was so excited to read it, then it just seemed to drag. The characters seem to be stagnant, and bringing back Lacey was really annoying. To be the head of the house Ethan can be very dumb at times. It's like all the characters are there, but that's about it. They just aren't intriguing at all. So many things with this story seem so juvenile, that I can't look at it, as the serious type of read that I'm looking for. Time for me to move on.

How does she manage it? Pulling us in so totally and completely in to their lives that we feel like we were there, in their joys and sorrow!
PLEASE tell me there will be more of Ethan and especially Merit??!!!!

From Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

At A Glance
I had a love/hate relationship with House Rules. I loved the concept but I often put the book down. It took sometime for me to really get into it.

The Good
Let me start off by saying I really do love this series. I like how the vampires in this world aren't creepy or scary. They are normal like you and me, but they just have some special powers. They are relatable and in essence live normal lives except for a few vampire type problems. I can't think of any other vampire series like this one. That being said, though House Rules didn't have the pizazz as the previous books in the series, it was still very much enjoyable.

I think many fans have been dying to see what happens next after Ethan and his House of vamps decided to finally leave the horrible GP, the ruling group of vampires who make all the rules. It's an understatement to say the GP are no longer out for the good of all vampires. They are out for themselves only. As they say, absolute power, corrupts absolutely. And though I am proud of Ethan for finally removing his House from under their thumb, it was hard to see the lengths the GP would go to bring down these innocent vampires. If it wasn't obvious in the past couple books, the GP have no limits, no reservations in their cruelty. And to add more crap to an already ceiling high crap pile, some psycho is going around killing vampires. And of course it falls to Merit to find the killer before his list of victims grows any bigger.

Merit had so many obstacles in this book it's hard to keep count. I truly don't know how she can stay sane dealing with everything she has on her plate. I think she did a pretty good job of keeping it together. I love how Merit always takes the initiative. She makes the hard decisions when no one else can. She is the kind of person that would do anything, even take a stake to the heart, to save a friend. And with her and Ethan finally starting to build a life together, I can see Merit opening up, becoming whole. Not that she needed Ethan to make herself whole, she just needed someone to finally love her for her, not her connections. When the inevitable fight came, I was so worried that we would see the same Merit and Ethan as before. They still frustrated me in many ways, with Merit's insecurities and Ethan's pig-headedness, but I also saw a change in them. They didn't break-up right away, they let each other have space while they figured out what was the right thing for them as a couple.

I do love where the series as a whole is going. Now, with Cadogan House free from the GP, I hope their relationship with the Rogue vampires becomes even stronger because they need allies. I am still pissed off at the other Houses for using Cadogan's House as their personal helpers but never returning the favor in fear of GP's reprisal. But I see a change coming, and I can only hope things get better from here.

The writing was well done and the side characters were, as always, entertaining in their own ways. It's nice to see Mallory doing better as well. Though I feel like Merit in that it's hard to forgive what Mallory did, I am finding myself warming to her more and more. Mallory use to be one of my favorite secondary characters ever. I hope I feel that about her again sometime soon.

The Bad
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get into this book for the longest time. It was too slow and the whole Merit being a detective thing just wasn't working for me. I know she is often investigating crimes in each book, but this time around I didn't find it engaging.

Ethan annoyed the crap out of me in House Rules. His attitude in past books has bothered me before so I wasn't really surprised when it happened this time, too. He really knows how to act like a baby when he doesn't get his way. It's so weird how he can come across so pompous and "mature" as the Master of the House, then act like a child when Merit doesn't follow his every command or reveal every single aspect of her life.

The Snuggly
It's nice to see Ethan and Merit finally together. They don't have much time together because of all the chaos, but the few stolen moments they get are both sweet and sexy. And we actually get a semi-sex scene that I just loved. Ethan can be so naughty and flirty. I love that side of him.

Final Thoughts
House Rules is not the best book in the series, but for fans, it is a must read. The Cadogan vampires are making huge progress in their bid for freedom. I am dying to see what is going to happen next. Recommended for fans of the series.

Quotes
Ethan grinned and crooked a finger at me.

"I don't perform on command," I reminded him.

He unsnapped the top button on his jeans.

My eyes widened. "Sneaky Bastard."

*****

"Yo," Jeff answered, his voice ringing through the Bentley's impeccable stereo system.

"Hey, it's Merit."

"Merit. Have you finally decided to ditch the zero and get with the hero?"

Ethan cleared his throat--loudly--while I bit back a smile. I didn't see anything wrong with reminding Ethan that I had other options, even if they were slightly goofy options I'd never actually take advantage of.

"Jeff, you're on speakerphone in Ethan's car. He's driving."

There was an awkward pause.

"And by 'zero,'" Jeff quickly corrected, "I meant, you know, you should...um...start liking the White Sox. Go, Sox," he weakly added.

This book read like a 6th graders first attempt at fanfiction. The dialogue, mystery, and plots holes were extremely juvenile.

I don't understand how this authors work gets progressively worse. I don't remember her writing being this awful when I first began this series.

This series is a good series to begin with. I love Merit and her character. This book as well as the rest in the series always kept me hooked so that I found it hard to put the book down. Looking forward to the next chapter in the Cadogan House Vampires new lives

When two rogue vampires disappear a mystery begins in Chicago. Merit and Ethan are then pulled into the defense of their house from the ever threatening GP as they try and take away everything from them, including something so precious that Merit will fight everything to keep. When they discover the truth it is a secret that may cost them their lives, not to mention the very vampires they seek to protect. I love this series so much and I can't seem to stop reading it. Chloe Neill knows how to weave her story as the adventures of Vampire Merit continues. Merit is a strong yet young vampire who fights anyone who stands to hurt her house or her Master and boyfriend. I love the battles between Ethan and Merit. I can't wait to read the next book; Biting Bad. This is one series I could read again and again.