Check
out the official book blurb and dual review by Steffi and Karla for the first
book in the Big Bad Bite series. Thank you to Jessie Lane for providing an
advanced copy of the book. We are excited about this fun new series!
What
would it be like to live in a world where you are considered abnormal to those
who are above the norm?Jenna O’ Conner has been taught her whole life to hide from everyone. Never to let anyone to close enough to know that she would prefer a shotgun for her birthday over of a bouquet of roses. She’s been smothered by her over protective family so that no one learns what she truly is. Which is not human. Nor, is she considered the norm for the supernatural Other community that is benevolent enough to share this world with the humans.
In a desperate attempt to live her own life away from the small town she was raised in, Jenna obtains her dream job as the newest member on the Wilmington Police Department’s SWAT Team. What she didn’t predict was that she would run into trouble her first day on the job, in the form of a deadly, mouthwatering man named Adam McPhee. Who is also not human, but more like a wolf walking around in human skin. He’s determined to figure out exactly what Jenna is, which unbeknownst to him, could very well put her life in danger. He’s also determined to have her all to himself.
As if that wasn’t enough for Jenna to deal with, bad news blows into town. A group of extremist Shifters who think humans are cattle and factions of Others worldwide should stay within their own species - never to intermingle. Chaos ensues. Jenna has to find a way to shut them down, but in the process of trying to do that, discovers things about herself that even she never thought was possible.
Who said the wolf was what you had to worry about?
Welcome to the real world.
Release date: January 28, 2013
What worked
Karla: The first 30% percent of this book was EXCELLENT! I loved that
Jenna was part of the SWAT team and that she could go toe-to-toe with the men,
she gave as good as she got.
The way Adam
and Jenna find each other, really made for an exciting beginning, and then to
have Kent reveal himself for what he really is, well this was the start of
something good!!
It was very
witty…laugh out loud funny, especially the banter between Jenna and Kent!
The sibling
relationship between Logan and Jenna, even though it was new for both of them,
it was believable and they cracked me up!
Steffi: I cracked up about every 5 pages. The writing is funny and witty
and very charming as well. I also enjoyed that not a single character was
painted in a bad light. They all had something funny, endearing and slightly
crazy about them. The humor actually reminds me a lot of Shelly Laurenston and
her Pride series.
When
Jenna and Adam come together it sizzles and there are some very sensual scenes
with the two of them. All the other male characters are hot and sexy in their
own right and I can’t wait to read their stories.
Lastly, I
especially enjoyed the sub plot that will carry on into the next book. While
Big Bad Bite is a romance, you will also get some action (pun intended) and
suspense. There is something for everyone.
What didn’t
work
Karla: Sometimes the humor felt forced, when it was on it was on, but
there were moments that the humor just felt out of place. I had a love/hate
relationship with Jenna’s snarky kick-ass attitude. I like a strong female
character, but there were times when it was too much.
Kent was
huge part of the story and then he wasn’t, he was such a plus, a fun quirky
character, and his presence was sorely missed in the second half of the book.
The story
strayed away from it’s original foundation. I wish the author would have built
the story around Jenna and Kent's job on the SWAT team, and then continue to
bring Adam in as the bounty hunter, it
was working so well. I didn’t care for this wild goose chase to another country
The story was right there in front of us, and if the author had stuck with it,
it would have been a fantastic read.
Steffi: I felt that the story lost its momentum about halfway through.
The beginning was exciting and thrilling, full of new discoveries but then some
scenes were dragged out and I felt a bit lost while reading. That did change
again towards the end, though.
While I felt
that the humor was one of the strongest points of the book, I have to agree
with Karla and say that the jokes felt a bit repetitive towards the end. It was
still funny but more of a small chuckle than an outright laugh as it was at the
beginning of the book.
Best scenes
Karla: Jenna’s understanding that what she was feeling for Adam was not
love, but that because he was everything she was looking for in a man, they
could build on their feelings for each other and that love would be imminent.
She was so sheltered from this world and when Logan and her had a heart to
heart, it was a beautiful moment.
The first
skin to skin scene with Adam and Jenna. I thought it was sensual, passionate,
and very well written. It was in these
moments where I thought the writing shined!! I could feel the undeniable
chemistry that these two had for each other. Adam was amazing!!
Steffi: The first skin to skin moment with Adam and Jenna was a favorite
of mine as well. I wished for more moments like that throughout the story. I
felt that that scene was one of the strongest points of the book when the
chemistry was off the charts. I also really enjoyed the parts about Jenna’s job
on the SWAT team. They were action packed, exciting and showed a strong side of
her which worked well with the vulnerability she showed with Adam.
Favorite characters
Karla: Adam: Sweet, charming, protective! I thought he was perfect for
Jenna and oh so patient and understanding, just what she needed in a man.
Kent:
Man-whore extraordinaire, witty and someone I want to read more about!
Logan:
Typical younger brother, annoying, but in a cute way. I love when he came in
the bedroom and was staring at Jenna’s neck, so brash! He’s got great potential moving
forward in the series.
Steffi: Adam: I have to admire him for his patience with Jenna. I was
also a bit sad for him sometimes because his mate didn’t know anything about
the shifter world and he often had to stand back and suppress his instincts to
allow Jenna to get used to this new world.
Logan
(Jenna’s brother): He was one of the most hilarious characters. I will never
forget the scene when he bursts in on Jenna and Adam in the bedroom. So funny!
Jenna’s
mother: She only makes a couple of short appearances but she is hilarious and
slightly wacky in her own way.
Overall Thoughts
Karla: I was sucked into this story, the beginning just came at me full
force, and then I felt like it was being mired in descriptive narrative and a
storyline that was over-the-top and not necessary. I wish that the author had
stuck in keeping the story within the SWAT team setting and the initial
surroundings that it started out with. I loved that Jenna met her extended
family, particularly her brother Logan, but some of the other characters just
didn’t quite make much sense to me. Simpler would have been better; Jenna and
Adam’s pairing as the crux of the story, with Kent mixed in for some extra
tension. Jenna finding out why she was so protected all her life, and being
introduced into pack life would have been a great way to introduce this series.
However, I’m impressed enough that I’m looking forward to the next book, and
really, really hoping for the return of Kent!!! 3 ½ Stars!!
Steffi: Overall, Big Bad Bite was a winner for me on all fronts. Yes, the
story fell through a bit in the second half but it picked up again towards the
end and considering how often I laughed and how much fun I had with this book,
that is easily forgivable. If you like funny paranormal romance with crazy but
endearing characters, Big Bad Bite will be for you. I am definitely curious
about yummy shifter Gage, the hero of Walk On The Striped Side (how amazing is
that title?), the second book in the Big Bad Bite series. I hope there will be
more of Jenna and Adam as a couple and of course Kent. How could I forget about
Kent, the man whore? He needs to be taught a lesson and I have a feeling he
will have both hands full with the woman that catches his eye. Hopefully, soon!
4 Stars!
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