Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Review and Giveaway: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, Book 1)
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Pages: 288
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 1, 2005)
Genre: Fiction / Fantasy / Vampire / Werewolf
Edition: Paperback - many thanks to the publisher (Hachette Book Group) for sending me a copy to review





Perfect for : Personal reading, anyone who likes vampire or werewolf stories

In a nutshell: In Kitty in the Midnight Hour, Carrie Vaughn has cleverly created a wonderfully entertaining start to a very promising new supernatural series (there are currently six books available). In this book, the author weaves a tale of fantasy and adventure as she lays the groundwork for characters and new realities that includes vampires, werewolves, bounty hunters, etc. Carrie Vaughn has created werewolf packs and vampire families in a way that makes the dynamics seem very believable. I've never given a lot of thought to how different members of a pack would treat each other, and exactly how much power the alpha dog/wolf in a pack would have, but these issues and more are explored throughout the book. I picked this book on a whim, wanting to read something new and was very surprised at how much I love the series! I've been reading the books for a few days now and I'm already on book three. If you are looking for something new, and haven't read books like this before, give this one a try - but beware - before you know it, you'll have all six books on your shelves!

Extended Review: Kitty Norville is a night DJ for a local radio station in Denver. One evening, she decides to talk with callers on the air instead of playing the same old songs that are always requested. The next morning, she expects to get fired, and instead, the station manager asks if she can do the show again - and that is how her show "The Midnight Hour" gets its beginnings. Because of her show, she unintentionally brings the reality of vampires and werewolves to the general population's attention, especially as her show catches on in more markets.

While her status as a radio show host grows, so does her confidence in her pack, which starts to change her position in the pack, creating challenging situations for all involved. . . and don't even get me started on the tension between Cormac and Kitty!

Cormac is hired to kill Kitty, and ultimately ends up being one of the few people Kitty trusts enough to call when she needs help. Could this develop into something more? I sure hope so - I've got a soft spot in my heart for this supernatural predator hunter!

Characters: Kitty is a radio dj who is hiding a secret life as a werewolf. Cormac is a werewolf hunter who happens to get hired to kill Kitty. TJ is Kitty's best friend/werewolf support. Carl and Meg are the alphas in the pack that Kitty belongs to. I think the character development in this book has been amazing. As a reader, I was drawn into the dynamics of many of the characters and can't wait to see what they do next.

Story-Line: The story is well-developed with plenty to keep the reader entertained.

Readability: A fun and easy read.

Overall: A fun and fast-paced read that is sure to keep you entertained and coming back for more! I can't wait to see what happens next with Kitty!

From Amazon:
VAMPIRES.
WEREWOLVES.
TALK RADIO.

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station—and a werewolf in the closet. Sick of lame song requests, she accidentally starts "The Midnight Hour," a late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged.

After desperate vampires, werewolves, and witches across the country begin calling in to share their woes, her new show is a raging success. But it’s Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew…

First Paragraph:
I tossed my backpack in the corner of the studio and high-fived Rodney on his way out.

About the Author: (from the publisher's site)
Carrie Vaughn had the nomadic childhood of the typical Air Force brat, with stops in California, Florida, North Dakota, Maryland, and Colorado. She holds a Masters in English Literature and collects hobbies-fencing and sewing are currently high on the list. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please include a link in your comment!

Giveaway Details: (for more detail, visit here)
Comment on this review and you will be entered to win a copy of the book - you CAN leave a comment on all six reviews (one posted each day through March 30th) to earn an entry for each of the books. Please make sure I have a way to contact you in the event that you win!! The GRAND PRIZE winner will be drawn from among the entries on all six reviews!! This giveaway is part of a Hachette Book Group (thank you Hachette!!), and to participate, you must be a resident of the United States or Canada, no PO Boxes.

26 comments:

  1. this looks great- thanks for the review

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  2. I haven't had a chance to read this series but it sounds like something I would love. You can't go wrong with vampires!

    bridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. Great review, the book sounds very intriguing!

    vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

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  4. Great review.
    Sounds like a book that I would love to read.

    ibeeeg(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Please enter me! I've never read any of these and I'd love to start with the first. It sounds like a ton of fun.

    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

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  6. I'm not into werewolves and vampires so I didn't think these books would be for me. Some many of the bloggers whose opinions I respect have really enjoyed them, though, so I've been thinking I should give them a try. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

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  7. I picked this up last year and never read it, now after reading your review and some others I must go back to the library and get it again, unless of course I win it!!!

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  8. Have been hearing about this series, but haven't read any of them. Sounds as if they would be a quick, enjoy but don't necessarily think too much, read.

    clynsg at yahoo.com

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  9. Enter me please. Thanks!

    tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. Excellent! This sounds like a good read, the review was well written as well.

    graveflame{at}gmail{dot}com

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  11. Enter me, please!
    reading_frenzy@yahoo.com

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  12. Loved the review - short & to the point! It makes me want to read this whole series of books.

    Please count me in - Thanks!
    Cheryl
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  13. WOW this looks great. I would love to read it.

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  14. I would love to win this, since it's the first book in the series.

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  15. Please include me.

    graywolf2037[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  16. I have all of these books on my wishlist. Please include me in your giveaway.
    Thanks
    Debbie
    debdesk9@verizon.net

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  17. I'd love to win-have heard great things about these bopoks. Thank you!

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  18. great review! count me in please

    plur268 at yahoo dot com

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  19. OOOOH this looks great. I would love to win this. I love the idea of Kitty working as a DJ. :) Very cool. I am also interested in the pack dynamic.

    :)

    Thanks for the great giveaway, Wendi!

    Kelly

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. I loved this book. It was a great start to a promising new series. I am glad you enjoyed the books, Wendi!

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  21. Just getting into this whole vampire/werewolf paranormal thing. Adds a whole new dimension to a mystery or a romance or a thriller.

    Kitty and the Midnight Hour sounds like a really good read.

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  22. This looks like a fun and interesting series. Werewolves are very neat creatures : ) Count me in the giveaway please.
    Darlene
    wrig9945@charter.net

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  23. This series sounds like a lot of fun. I haven't read any urban fantasy/vampire/werewolf books yet, but would love to try them out. A friend told me about this series a while back. I'd love to be entered.

    Stacy h 204 at hotmail.com

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  24. Please enter me! I would love to read this series. Thanks
    rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net

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  25. I have always wondered what those late night DJ's looked like and were truly hiding. Great review Wendi. This series is on my "To read" list. You gave us a nice taste of what we can look forward to.

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  26. Wendi was wondering is this like the Laurell Hamilton series? What I mean is her books tend to more sex than plot at times. Sounds interesting though. =)

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