Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
We’ve had big changes at VBC this year. For starters, we now have multiple reviewers. In addition to me (Chelsea), you see regular posts here from Jo, Candace, Mary, Amanda, Amy, Krista and Amber. So, while last year we broke it out by reviewer for the best books, that would make for a very long list with a lot of repeated books. So, this year it’s curated. Yep, the VBC team put our collective heads... 
Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires #8) Chloe Neill Published: Aug. 6, 2013 (NAL) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Review Source: Publisher provided copy in exchange for an honest review Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars Note: While this review is spoiler free, it does assume you’ve read the previous Chicagoland Vampires books and are familiar with its characters. If that’s not the... ![Round 9: Ryodan vs. Ethan Sullivan [Alpha Showdown 2013]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/VBC-HomeofAlphaShowdown-216x300-28338_200x200.jpg)
Things are advancing in the Alpha Showdown 2013. We’ve hit the second tier of the event. Winners will start battling winners. Expect the stakes to be raised and the smack talk to increase. Ryodan dominated the first round of the Showdown. Taking out Mercy Thompson with the power you’d expect from one of the Nine. How will he fare against the cunning Ethan Sullivan, who already bested stellar assassin... ![Round 2: Secret McQueen vs. Ethan Sullivan [Alpha Showdown 2013]](http://vampirebookclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/VBC-HomeofAlphaShowdown-67822_200x200.jpg)
It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round two brings two lethal badasses to the ring. Ethan may be used to being in charge, but Secret isn’t much for taking... 
At the very beginning of Character Love Letters 2013, we had author Chloe Neill share a love letter from Jeff to Fallon, both from her Chicagoland Vampires series. Then we asked readers to share a love letter to their favorite Chicagoland character. So many of you went with Jonah. We like ’em smart and strong, so I’m not surprised. Jackie from Literary Escapism can’t resist his charm, either. Today we... 
House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires #7) Chloe Neill Published: Feb. 5, 2013 (NAL) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Reviewed by: Chelsea Rating (out of 5): 4 stars Note: I can’t really discuss House Rules without mentioning the ending of Biting Cold. If you aren’t up-to-date on the series, expect spoilers. However, I won’t give away anything about House Rules. Oh, Merit, how I’ve missed you. I don’t... 
Any fan of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series knows there’s more to it than just Merit and Ethan. The full cast of characters make the world come alive. In recent novels we’ve seen Jeff Christopher, shifter and computer whiz, fall for the alpha’s sister Fallon. He may still crush on Merit, but his heart belongs to Fallon. While we’re all antsy for tomorrow’s release of House Rules (expect a review... 
In an effort to help you keep that to-read list updated, I’ve compiled the hot urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases for February 2013. All dates are U.S. and tentative. Also: Click the title of any book to visit the Amazon page for pre-order or purchase goodness. I’ve included genre classification with each book: UF is urban fantasy, PNR is paranormal romance, F is fantasy and YA is young adult....
Like many avid readers, I’ve developed some reading quirks. Most of you have heard about my series anxiety. I get a copy of a much-anticipated book in a favorite series and then let it sit on my coffee table. I don’t want it to disappoint. I have to mentally prepare myself for it. It’s a problem. I know. Eventually, I dive in and devour the pages, coming out the other side as a happier reader. Well, when... 
Every year, I compile the standard year-end best books list—read 2012’s best reads list—and it’s a hard task narrowing things down. What’s harder though is picking the ten heroes from novels published this year to make my annual swoon-worthy list. Last year Eve Silver’s Lokan took top honors and the year before Stacia Kane’s Terrible was causing fevers all over the place. There are returning favorites... 
