http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2007-12.html#kitty ( )

Kitty Takes a Holiday
3.5 Stars

In the aftermath of her exposure to the world, talk show host and werewolf, Kitty Norville, takes a much-needed break to lick her wounds and write her memoir in a small cabin in the Colorado mountains. However, Kitty's vacation soon takes a turn for the worse when gruesome animal sacrifices are left on her doorstep. This is only exacerbated by the arrival of bounty hunter Cormac Bennett bearing Kitty's unconscious lawyer, Ben O'Farrell, who has been bitten by a werewolf.

While this is an entertaining series with good world-building and an appealing heroine, there is something missing. It is clear from this installment that that something is the romance, or more importantly, the lack thereof.

Yes, Kitty's chemistry with the enigmatic Cormac was hinted at, but never actually developed into a relationship. Now with Ben becoming Kitty's new love interest, it is clear that any possible romance with Cormac is dead in the water. This would not be an issue if Ben were anything other than a mundane beta, but he is and had absolutely no chemistry with Kitty whatsoever. In fact, it seems that their relationship is nothing other than lycanthropy-induced sex.

The plot itself is engaging with Kitty's mysterious stalker and the attack on local cattle. The eventual explanations are satisfying with some exciting moments. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that Kitty isn't more of a kick-ass heroine. She's a freakin' werewolf for crying out loud, so why doesn't she act like one.

Overall, this series has potential, so I will be reading the next book. Nevertheless, if the romance and character development don't improve, I may have to call it quits. ( )

Kitty keeps growing on me -- just when I start to think, "too much whining" and go to set it down, the plot kicks off and the humor kicks in and it's an interesting ride to the finish. I love the themes of family and pack and collecting people around you. I hope she can continue to do that. I also sympathize with creative burnout, so it's cool to see someone struggle with that and overcome it. ( )

What I loved of this, I really loved. The lawyer bits drove me mad - I really can't stand court procedural - but they were well written, and well executed, so I guess I'll live. Seriously, subject matter I loathe, and I still enjoyed the book. That's hard to pull off. ( )

***WARNING: Spoiler!!!!*** ooooookay so this book totally messed up my favorite couple (kitty/cormac)...but I have to say that i don't hate kitty/ben at all...at the end of the book I even came to like them...so I wasn't too much disappointed with the book but still...only 161 pages...a pity that the plot which was good development was sort of cut short... ( )