ARC Review and Giveaway: Lucky Break by Chloe Neill

Saucy Reader, did you know that one of my two favorite series is Chicagoland Vampires? I know it's a well-kept secret around here, provided you've only just joined us. Otherwise, one click on the CLV tag shows you how much several Wenches adore Chloe Neill and her creations, so it's always with much squeeing and happy dancing that we receive an early copy of a CLV book, and novellas are no exception.

Tomorrow a CLV novella that focuses on Merit and Ethan's much-needed and well-deserved vacation, Lucky Break, will hit your e-readers and we've already read it. For you, Saucy Reader. We do it all for you!

Does Lucky Break live up to the outstanding Chicagoland Vamps hype? Click through to find out what I thought of this third novella in an already amazing series. Oh, and be sure to scroll all the way down. We're gifting one lucky reader with a Kindle or Nook copy of Lucky Break!

Merit and Ethan are in desperate need of some alone time, far from the worries of Cadogan House, but trouble tends to follow wherever they go. Their attempt at a romantic getaway is quickly interrupted when one of Ethan's vampire friends shows up at their door--covered in blood and accused of killing her shifter husband.

 Merit and her Master soon discover their vacation spot is far less idyllic than it appears. A centuries old quarrel between local vampires and shifters has made the town a perpetual supernatural battle zone, and this fresh blood has stirred the already volatile pot. Now, Merit and Ethan must put their passion on pause to figure out who's really responsible for the murder before all hell breaks loose... ~~From Goodreads

Ethan's had enough of your stupid
feud shit.

The murder mystery was great, grabbing from the beginning and keeping me turning pages to find out whodunit. It was ultimately a timeless lesson with a version of the cautionary tale that's been repeated in fiction and history books since forever. In the end, Merit and Ethan ended up solving the current mystery as well as the one that started it all, which was a really satisfying conclusion. But this felt less like a Methan story than it did a story about some vamps and shifters we had just met. Merit and Ethan were there to give some crime-solving expertise, and some chiding, telling our new friends to stop acting like petulant children since their tantrums clearly have dire consequences. They certainly didn't get that much-needed, well-deserved vacation they were hoping for, and they didn't get much alone time, either. Poor Merit. Maybe next time. Perhaps we'll get to go with them to their Scottish estate at some point.

Damien can visit
anytime!

Since we were dealing with a feud between unHoused vamps and NAC shifters, Gabe showed up and blustered a bit, as he does. I'm kind of over Gabe and his bluster, to be honest. It was fun and interesting at the beginning, but seeing him bluster without actually doing much for several books, and Jeff's novella...well. It's getting old. I'm more that ready to see Gabe actually do something. He did bring Damien along, which is always delightful. We could definitely do with more Damien Garza, especially when he's cooking for our always-hungry heroine, or rescuing kittens, or pining for a woman he needs to just go after already. Yes, indeed, Damien can come help solve mysteries any old time.

All in all a fun interlude between CLV installments, without all of the layers, possibilities, and history that we have in the main novels, making this a quicker, easier, less weighty read.

Wench Rating:

Now it's your turn, Saucy Reader! One lucky reader will win a Nook or Kindle book of Lucky Break, by entering below!