I feel as if Carlson's writing has improved by leaps and bounds over the course of this series. I enjoyed this book far more than the preceding two. The action was tighter and the stakes seemed more desperate. I enjoyed the new characters introduced and the information about existing characters that was revealed. I'm especially interested in the outcome of Jessica's deal with Eudoxia.

(Provided by publisher) ( )

Gripping read with non-stop action packed adventure!

I enjoy the "Jessica McClain" series by Amanda Carlson. I was hooked just from her novella "Blooded" and have enjoyed the books that have come after. I like a strong herein and Jessica is that. She does not give up and keeps fighting for herself and thous she loves.

Wow is all I can say! My god what an amazing book. Non-stop action, so many twists and turns, and the emphasis on humor. I could not put "Cold Blooded" done. I was drawn in and went along for an amazing ride.
Jessica is such a great character and I love the world Amanda creates. I was GLAD to see Rourke and Jessica got to have there time together! It was great to finally learn what type of shifter Rourke is. I also loved the cliff hanger ending.

I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens next with Jessica and everyone. If you have not picked up this series I highly recommend it. You get so much action and adventure you don't know what to expect next. ( )

Jessica arrives back in town after rescuing her mate Rourke only to discover that her best friend Marcy has been kidnapped. Marcy's powerful witch aunt Tally wants answers. It's not long before they are all attacked by sorcerers and are forced to flee. After Jessica learns of a vision from a seer that she must head to New Orleans to save her father and find Marcy, she on the road again. It's not long before Jessica finds herself fighting against the forces of the underworld and trying to strike a bargain with the wily vampire queen.

This is book three in the Jessica McClain series and we still have yet to have any meaning plot or character development. Cold Blooded shifted back and forth between battle scenes and Jessica and Rourke either having sex, or angsting about their desire to have sex. If you are into action scenes, this might be your thing but at this point in a series, I expect to know more about the characters involved.

We are told that Marcy is her best friend ad nausem but because Marcy had been kidnapped we don't really get to see her interact with Jessica very much. The rest of the people Jessica is close to she spends issuing orders throughout the novel. Despite being a newborn Lycan, she never doubts herself, no matter the situation and you guessed it - everything always works out in her favor. I suppose it has to because it's the chosen one but it makes the book read as though Jessica is just working through a series of tasks.

This series is predicated on Jessica being the only female werewolf and therefore is either feared, desired or hated. These motivations most of her interactions. Unfortunately, Jessica continues to deal with this by developing some new Lycan ability on cue. She is literally the chosen one and these meme is simply played out in this genre. I have yet to see Jessica use reason in any confrontation that she is in; however, she is more than willing to suddenly decide to challenge a demon lord. I suppose that was meant to come off has daring but it read as stupidity to me.

Jessica's insta-love with Rourke has been established be virtue of woo woo. It feels like a cheap short cut. These two don't really have to bother to get to know each other or develop any kind of friendship. Rourke and Jessica simply need to have sex and it's I love you forever. Carlson also dips into the paranormal romance shtick when she has Rouke and Jessica fighting for their lives and yet setting off pheromones everywhere and feeling a desire for each other. Who becomes horny when they are fighting for their lives? This just pulled me out of the story and irritated me.

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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: An incredibly action-packed urban fantasy.

Opening Sentence: “Get down!” Tallulah Talbot, the most powerful witch in the country, grabbed on to my arm and hurled us both into the bushes.

The Review:

I will try to review this novel without giving away too many spoilers from previous novels. The events for this novel were set up at the end of the previous novel, Hot Blooded. Cold Blooded picks up immediately after the events of Hot Blooded with Jessica realizing that her witch friend Marcy is missing. Amanda Carlson wastes no time getting Jess into action as she and her friends are under attack by sorcerers. Jess goes to the only place that she can think of to get away from the battle, to the witches. The witches offer up a little help but a prophetic vision sends Jess away to the one place she doesn’t want to go, the vampires in New Orleans.

The vampires want Jess for some unknown reason but it seems that every supernatural wants Jess dead or as a pawn. There are so many reasons for Jess not to go to New Orleans but it is the biggest, most powerful reason that makes her take that journey and since Jess has a standing order to meet with the vampires in the near future she decides to go before the scheduled time.

I can’t really talk to much more about the events in this novel because there would be too many spoilers with everything that is going on. This novel is non-stop action with Jess moving from one problem to another without much time to barely stop and take a breath, even if she does get a “down time” she uses it to its fullest. The events of this novel go so quick that I barely even think a few days pass and Jess only gets a few shut eyes in a moving vehicle.

Jessica McClain is one tough cookie. Whenever it appears she has a weakness, it is quickly overcome, but not without an inner battle or a confusing conversation. I really liked Jess in past books but there was just something about her always having to escape a dangerous situation because people don’t like the fact that she is a female werewolf that just annoys me. Nobody can just talk or figure things out. They are just helping make Jess’s prophecy true. I feel like the actual layout of the novel is action, long discussion, action, more discussion and this just keeps going until everyone stops to discuss what is going to happen in the next book after the final fight and revelations of this step in Jessica’s non-stop journey.

Overall, Cold Blooded was a non-stop action-packed urban fantasy. I really enjoyed the action but I did have some annoyance towards Jess’s constant confusing conversations in between everything, whether she was arguing with someone or just arguing with herself or her inner wolf. I don’t mind books wrapping up the events at the end but I’m not really a huge fan of the complete wind down while discussing the plans for what’s going to happen next and then just ending. I always feel a little let down at the end. I do anticipate the next book, Red Blooded, and I hope I’m in a better place mentally to really enjoy it.

Notable Scene:

The Suburban, with Nick at the wheel, rounded the corner, going up on two wheels. There was a loud explosion and an Orb flew over the trees, coming at us like a heat-seeking missile.

Rourke leaned over and threw open my door, yelling, “Go! I’m right behind you.”

I sprang from the car and took off at a dead run. The Orb exploded behind me, taking out the Porsche.

Car doors slammed and Tyler, Danny, and Nick joined us as we ran for the huge stone wall surrounding the mansion.

“Let me go first. If I get through, follow me,” I called over my shoulder, clearing the massive height in one leap. Nothing kicked me back, but a strange pulse of energy whipped through my body as I crossed the boundary line. Thank goodness it wasn’t warded.

I landed easily and kept running. I was up the steps to the front door, happy that nothing exploded behind me, before I took my next breath. I slid to a stop just short of kicking in the door, which would be considered bad manners for a visiting guest. I turned and glanced back for the first time and realized no one was behind me.

I watched as each of them tried to clear the wall again and was repelled backward.

Damn.

It was warded. I just hadn’t been affected by it.

FTC Advisory: Orbit provided me with a copy of Cold Blooded. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

4 ½ Stars

Cold Blooded is the third book in the Jessica McClain series by Amanda Carlson.

What can I say? When you expect that a series can’t hold you captive and waiting FOR MONTHS (yep! I am still dealing with the fact that I have to wait a MONTHS to know what’s going to happen… Not cool Mrs. Carlson, not cool), you find this one!

We started this series with Jessica completely out of touch with her real persona, and is nice to see her evolving into a confident Alpha! (Well she runs on hope in some parts, but I guess that is part of being a leader).

In this book Jessica is finally spending time with her mate, and well, what can I say about Rourke. This guy is so freaking awesome, he is a badass and a sweetheart, and definitely the perfect compliment for Jessica. He is such a key piece in her life that for romantics like me will have you saying awwww! more than a good couple of times (important, if you live in a house filled with testosterone like mine, you should find a spot away from the guys, unless you like being look at as if you were having some kind of hormonal crisis… Well you might feel like it at the end of the book. Yes! spoiler alert: it ends on a cliffhanger! That will give you some Anger! Oh, and did I mention you will have
to wait months for the next book?).

Anyway, you still get the characters from past books, and some new ones. I love Danny, he has the kind of sense of humor that I appreciate, and he will not let you down in this book, as well as Jessica’s brother, Tyler, he kind of reminds me of my sister (@BookaholicCat), he tries to trust her, and let her evolve and grow into what she is, but at the same time he will give his life to make sure she is safe and happy.
Jessica’s dad is still awesome. Callum is always taking care of his pack and his family and going the extra mile to protect them.

On the new characters… Well some you will love, others you will hate! For example there is one particular witch that I guess we’ll be hearing about her again, that is the typical … B**, or mean girl if you feel more comfortable calling her “mean”, but I think she could become an interesting character. So on the witches side, there will be interesting things, some which will let you wondering, I am sure that a good couple of characters that are introduced in this book, will take a big part in the future. Oh! And talking about wondering, you will get to know some information on the Vamp’s Queen history… Shocking! There will even be the introduction to some of her family members and origins! You will have a mixture of she is a horrible being and some that you will try to “understand her” (she is still a “mean” one).

And off course as if Jessica didn’t have enough with figuring out the whole truth about her, a new relationship, a pack of wolves that still doesn’t fully accept her, a weird relationship with the witches, and a crazy “mean” vamp queen… Well we now have the underworld coming to fill her agenda!

There isn’t much more I can say without spoiling it for you. Just that be ready to be wanting more.
As I said as soon as I finished this book… Mrs. Carlson was “Cold blooded” to leave us hanging like this. (I wasn’t available to start reading anything for a good couple of days… Book hungover?), but none the less it is worth it.

Review by Juanita. ( )