Early Review: Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson
Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson
Jessica McClain #2
It hasn't been the best week for Jessica McClain.
Her mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge --- but Jessica is playing for keeps.
Because she's the only female werewolf in town...it comes with its own set of rules...and powers.
Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.
All in a day's work for a girl.
The second novel in the Jessica McClain series is a full on action adventure featuring one angry Goddess and plenty of monsters, demons, and a few newly risen beasties...
Things haven't been easy for Jessica lately. With the way her life has been turned upside down, it is hard for her to imagine that only a week ago she was still mostly human. Now however, it looks like not only is she the only female werewolf ever known to have exist, but she also just might be the most powerful. And that has caused more than a few ruffled feathers. In fact an angry Immortal Goddess has captured her mate, Roarke, determined to make him her own. Jessica is determined to get him back at all costs, no matter the odds. So she sets out with a few friends and temporary allies to bring down the Goddess once and for all.
I really love Jessica's character! She doesn't let anything stand in her way of her determination to do what she feels is right. But, she is also rather humble considering the circumstances. She's not power hungry, and doesn't want to be put in the middle of all of the conflicts. Quite honestly, she'd be happy to be left alone, but since that isn't in the cards, I do think she handles it quite well considering the circumstances. I also admire her for not shrinking behind her father as it would have been so easy to let her Alpha take over. In fact, she took things a step further, and risked her very place in the pack due to go after her mate. Granted, her father shouldn't have put her in the position of having to choose between her mate and her pack, but in the end, he and Jessica are both doing the best they can with the realization that she doesn't have to follow his orders. In fact, there has been a great deal of growing pains with all of Jessica's friends as they have all had to try and dampen down their protective instincts of her. I have a feeling things will only get more interesting once Roarke's own protective instincts come into play.
One of my biggest pet peeves in Urban Fantasy is when the protagonist has seemingly unlimited power. It just makes it harder to find the threats facing the character to be, well threatening. I mean if they will just miraculously have a new power to overcome every new threat without a whole lot of consequences, then it just doesn't feel real to me. I just think there should be some sort of price involved with great power as it helps to keep them level. Now, I wouldn't say this is quite the case with Jessica, but things do seem to be headed towards that path. I understand that Jessica is supposed to be this wildcard, potentially being the one to unite all of the races, so of course she needs to be incredibly powerful. I just wish that power would come with more of a cost, especially when she's just blundering through things blindly. Then again, I guess when you take a step back to really look at things, while there doesn't seem to be a direct personal cost involved with her powers, the threat to the people she cares about is very real as has already been demonstrated. And while Jessica may seem to be unbeatable, one of these times I have a feeling even that won't be enough to save whoever is at risk. So I guess in the end there's a pretty good checks and balance system after all.
I really enjoyed HOT BLOODED, although I have to admit I would have preferred there to have been a bit more time spent together between Roarke and Jessica. Their total time together has only accounted for a very brief amount of time so far, and I really would like to see things become more developed. Here's to hoping we finally get some smexy time in the next book. Also, just as a forewarning, this one ends in another nasty cliffhanger, just like the first installment. I'll definitely be counting down the days until COLD BLOODED is released in October 2013. A great second installment in the Jessica McClain series, HOT BLOODED is a roller coaster ride from start to finish that is not to be missed!
(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)
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