House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires)

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.

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.

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:)

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!

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.

This book is another good read in the series. It ends previous stories and sets things up for the future. The book feels like there is too much packed into it. For me it wasn't a big issue because things keep moving.

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!

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.

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.