Elisa returns for another adventure. Werewolf Connor invites her to Minnesota to investigate a clan of the pack. ARC from NetGalley.

3.5

Chloe Neill has released another book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. WICKED HOUR continues the fun antics following Elisa Sullivan and her merry crew. I think Neill does a very good job of keeping with the style that so many readers have fallen in love with in this series, so I did enjoy reading about Elisa again.

It was a bit of a slow start for me in the beginning. But I do feel like once we kind of get into the action a bit more, things do pick up more.

Neill pays special attention to the blooming romance between Elisa and Connor. To be honest, it very much reminds me of Elisa’s parents relationship. This is especially true because I feel like Connor is much like Ethan in a lot of ways. So while it is nice to have, sometimes I wished that the author changed things up a bit more in this series.

WICKED HOUR is a fast-paced read once you get into it so I have no doubt that fans will love this book.

The second book in the Heirs series and it's great to see more of both Elisa's and Connor's parents and the original crew while also expanding the cast of new generation. This one is a little slow to start but really picked up about 1/3 in. The mystery was good and had a few twists and the setting, outside the city and away from home was creepy. I really like the developing relationship between Connor and Elisa, and their path to figuring out how they fit not only together but into the world and their roles in it. Thoroughly looking forward to book 3!

Chloe Neill has released another book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. WICKED HOUR continues the fun antics following Elisa Sullivan and her merry crew. I think Neill does a very good job of keeping with the style that so many readers have fallen in love with in this series, so I did enjoy reading about Elisa again.

It was a bit of a slow start for me in the beginning. But I do feel like once we kind of get into the action a bit more, things do pick up more.

Neill pays special attention to the blooming romance between Elisa and Connor. To be honest, it very much reminds me of Elisa’s parents relationship. This is especially true because I feel like Connor is much like Ethan in a lot of ways. So while it is nice to have, sometimes I wished that the author changed things up a bit more in this series.

WICKED HOUR is a fast-paced read once you get into it so I have no doubt that fans will love this book.

I enjoyed WICKED HOUR, and returning the characters and world that I love. The tension between Elisa and Connor was as delicious as ever. Admittedly I was a little bit frustrated with the slow burn pacing between them, but they do say good things come to those who wait. There's something about the pair of them that just says the end result will be absolute fireworks, and I can't wait to see it.

However, as great as the characters, and overall world were, I felt the pacing of this book slumped a bit. Don't get me wrong, a good bit happens in this book, but it just didn't feel to have quite the intensity or stakes I've come to expect from this world. The plotline almost meanders, and didn't really feel to provide any momentum to an overarching world plot. It was an enjoyable read, but almost felt like a side story at times, while waiting to get back to the main action. This may be unfair as perhaps it's too early in the series for an overarching plot other than the romance, but it still felt like something was almost missing. I look forward to seeing what the next book brings.

All in all, while not quite the book I was hoping for. WICKED HOUR is an enjoyable foray back into the Chicagoland world.

I'm so glad Chloe Neill returned to her Chicagoland Vampires world, as these are some of her best books yet. Plenty of action, supernatural intrigue and romance, with a great dose of her unique style of humor.

Neill is thrown us back into the world of vampires and werewolves with the kids have grown up and are making a name for themselves. Ethan and Merit Sullivan's daughter, Elisa, finds herself in the thick of things even after trying to escape the burden of the family name on her shoulders. With the Connor, the Pack's heir, by her side, the two of them go to visit Connor's family and stumble upon a mystery. Here, Elisa lets her inner vampire out and I'm all for it! The love match with Connor and Elisa was teasing us forever but its finally here! Great read!

Wicked Hour includes information from the past Chicagoland Vampires series, so don't start here readers!

I didn't think that I could fall in love with this series anymore than I already had. Turns out, I was wrong. The second generation of my beloved Chicagoland series is steadfastly approaching topping it's predecessor of my favorite series of all-time charts. The stories are jam-packed with action, teases of romance, and throwbacks to Merit and Ethan. Love, love, LOVE this series.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series which is a series that is best read in order if at all possible. I had fun with this book from the very start and found it became more entertaining as I worked my way through the story. I found this to be a very solid entry into a promising series.

This book takes Connor and Elisa on a trip. Connor needs to attend an initiation in Minnesota and asks Elisa to come along. This is not the kind of event that vampires are usually allowed to attend so Elisa takes the opportunity. There is also the little issue of Connor and Elisa's budding relationship to deal with. Things get exciting just as soon as Connor and Elisa make it to the Pack's home. There are some strange things going on including a few deaths. Connor and Elisa have a lot to figure out before they can head for home.

I thought that this story was quite exciting. There was a nice combination of mystery, action, politics, and romance to really keep things moving. The overall mystery was pretty complex and I couldn't figure out who the responsible party was until it was revealed. I also really enjoyed the progress that was made in Connor and Elisa's relationship. I think that these two have a lot of chemistry and really do fit together well.

I thought that the characters in this book were very well done. Elisa and Connor are both really strong characters and I like the fact that they seem to have each other's back at every turn. There were some really great characters that were introduced in this installment and a few from the previous book that we got to know a little better.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a really strong installment in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. This book was filled with wonderful characters, plenty of excitement, and a few swoony moments. I can't wait to read more from Chloe Neill!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

The second in Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland welcomes us back into the lives of the children of the two most powerful families on chi town's supernatural landscape-Elisa Sullivan and Connor Keene. Once again Elisa and Connor are drawn into supernatural politics; only this time it's the Pack that is the problem. Action-packed with a welcoming vein of humor as Neill continues to evolve Elisa and Conner as individuals and as a couple. Cameos from the parent series entertains and offers valuable insight into the trials and tribulations of the prince of the pack, his vampire princess, and their small but intrepid group of allies.

Wicked Hour is the second book in Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland series which focuses on Merit and Ethan's daughter Elisa. As the only born vampire in existence there is a lot that Elisa doesn't know about herself and her abilities and she has nobody else to ask either so she's forging her own path. Her biggest struggle is controlling the darkness inside and it's a battle she's been fighting alone because she doesn't want to worry her parents.

The only person who knows the full extent of her trouble is Connor, her childhood frenemy and the future Pack Apex. Her relationship with Connor has changed a lot in recent months so she is surprised but pleased when he invites her to accompany him to a secret pack ceremony in Minnesota. It's a perfect opportunity for them to spend time together and decide what kind of future they might have but Elisa knows that members of the pack are unlikely to be pleased with the appearance of a vampire at a sacred werewolf ritual.

I'm always impressed with how easy Chloe Neill makes it for readers to step back into this world, I've loved the original series for such a long time now and it looks like I'm going to enjoy the spin off just as much. Elisa is a great character, she's had a pretty privileged upbringing as the pampered princess of Cadogan House but she's worked hard to gain her own independence and spent years living away from her parents. She's worked hard to train as a warrior just like her mother did but she has no plans on working for her parents as she'd rather make her own way. I find the idea of her inner monster really interesting and I'm enjoying watching her fight for control as she tries to figure out how to stop the darkness from taking over.

I really love the banter between Elisa and Connor, they've known each other for their entire lives and spent most of their childhood teasing and fighting each other. They have no secrets and often bicker like the children they once were but at the same time they're building a strong friendship now where they always have each other's backs. The slowly building romance between them has been spot on so far and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the pair of them.

This story was interesting because we got to spend more time outside of Chicago and learn more about life in a werewolf pack. The Minnesota wolves live a fairly simple life but there are definitely different factions building as the older and younger members have very different ideas about how they want the Pack's future to look. Add in the mystery of a killer monster on the loose and things get very interesting for Elisa and Connor.

This series has definitely been added to my auto-buy list and I'm already looking forward to reading more about these characters in the future.

Not long after I finished reading the first book in the series, I decided to read up the second. Wicked Hour picks up soon after the previous book leaves off. Elisa, the vampire born to vampire parents, finds herself at loose ends. She isn’t sure what her place is and exactly what she wants to do. For the time being, she is working with the Ombudsman’s office, but even that is not proving to be very satisfying. She is not sure what to make of shifter Connor Keene’s offer to accompany him to a private pack celebration. Is it personal or business? Probably a little of both. Connor wants Elisa there for her insight and to have someone extra he can trust on his side. Not to mention, it is an opportunity to start introducing his love interest to the pack he one day hopes to lead.

Upon arrival in Minnesota, it becomes clear that the situation there is somewhat volatile. The elders and the younger shapeshifters are on uneasy ground, one wanting to hold on to tradition and the other seeking change with the times. In addition, there appears to be a monster in the woods that is preying on the shifters.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wicked Hour and another visit into Neill’s world, this time in the north forest among the shapeshifters. Politics can be contentious at best, and it was interesting to delve more into pack politics, as well as get to know an outside faction of vampires. Connor and Elisa’s relationship continues to heat up in this second installment, but they are still taking in somewhat slow, feeling each other out. A lot takes place in Wicked Hour. Like the book before, it is high in action, and we see some familiar characters return. By the end, the reader gets an idea of what direction the series will take from here, and I am eager to find out what Elisa and Connor get up to next.

I enjoyed this second book in the Chicagoland spin off series. However, Elisa is not yet as engaging as her mother, Merit nor her father Ethan. I want more to develop with the stories as the main characters mature.

Chloe Neill continues the Heirs of Chicagoland in Wicked Hour. Elisa Sullivan, the only vampire born child, is getting out of Chicago with Connor Keene, the wolf shifter, heir of the Pack Apex, the ruler of American wolf shifters. Will they become romantic partners? Will they resolve the problems of the country pack they visit? Can Elisa control her inner monster? Fast moving, intriguing good paranormal read.

5 Hearts, Recommended Read
SJ, Romance Junkies

WICKED HOUR is the second book in Chloe Neill’s Heirs of Chicagoland series. You don’t have to read the first book to understand this one, but reading WILD HUNGER first gives you a better sense of who the characters are.

Elisa Sullivan, the only born vampire and heir to the Cadogan House in Chicago, accompanies her romantic interest, Connor Keene, shifter and son of the Pack Apex (alpha) to Minnesota. Connor invites her to attend an initiation ceremony—a private pack event. But once there, the peace is fractured. Something is killing shifters, and the struggled for control of the Minnesota pack isn’t helped by Connor’s arrival. Especially not with a vampire in tow.

Elisa and Connor work together to figure out who is hurting the shifters and why the pack seems so disjointed. In the doing, they run into obstacles in their relationship, pack/vampire politics, and Elisa must learn how to handle her secrets before they start to handle her.

The action is fast-paced, the world building consistent and rich, and the hero and heroine wonderfully suited to each other. The blossoming romance between vampire and shifter continues to deepen, and I can’t wait to see where author Chloe Neill takes the series. I’m happy to be along for the ride!

Recommended Read

Wicked Hour is the second book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. We've moved on from Merit and Ethan and now follow there daughter Elisa. In Wicked Hour, we've moved out of Chicago and into the woods of Minnesota. It really helps to establish Elisa as her own character, apart from Cadogan House.

Connor Keene, son of the Apex of the North American Central Pack, has grown out of his young wild ways and is preparing to become Alpha. The trip to Minnesota is kind of a way of establishing his power. The trip is to welcome an addition to the pack, but is also to investigate a clan that is having a lot of trouble between the elders and the younger generation. Connor thinks Elisa would be the perfect person to help him really grasp what is going on there. He may also have other reasons to bring her along. The budding romance is nice to see. It was anticipated from the previous series that these two would come together, so it really isn't much of a surprise. But it will be interesting to see how her being a vampire and him being a shifter will affect their relationship.

The politics and the magical mystery are right up Elisa's alley. I love our eventual discovery, it was fascinating to see what the magic did to the shifters. Elisa also makes a big step in this installment and I think we get some good growth in her character as well as the romantic relationship. I enjoyed Wicked Hour and am excited to see how Elisa progresses in the next book!

lisa Sullivan is finding her way in the vampire world. She’s unique, in that she was born rather than made, and her parents are the rulers of Cadogan House. Meanwhile, Connor Keene is the son of the North American Central Pack’s Apex and is in line to be Apex himself one day. The budding relationship between Elisa and Connor is unusual, but Connor defies expectations and invites Elisa to a generally private pack initiation in Minnesota. Unfortunately, things in Minnesota quickly deteriorate when a shifter dies and rumors abound about the Beast of Owatonna. Elisa and Connor are on their own as they face enemies on several fronts even as Elisa struggles with her own inner battle.

I love Elisa and Connor! I was saddened when the Chicagoland series ended but Chloe Neill has more than satisfied my need to revisit those characters with the glimpses we see in the Heirs of Chicagoland series! WICKED HOUR is the second book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. While it can be read independently from Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland series (although I can’t imagine why anyone would skip that incredible series!), WICKED HOUR is probably best read in the context of the Heirs of Chicagoland series due to some of the ongoing story lines, such as the growing romance between Elisa and Gabriel and Elisa’s own inner battle with what she has dubbed the “monster”.

Chloe Neill has a knack for putting her main characters in some sticky situations and WICKED HOUR has more than just a few. We learn quite a few shifter rules as the tension surrounding Elisa and Connor’s relationship is heating up. Connor’s role as the future Apex means others are gunning for Elisa. No spoilers but Elisa and Connor make some risky decisions that had me on the edge of my seat worrying about how things would turn out.

Chloe Neill delivers yet another phenomenal urban fantasy tale with WICKED HOUR. The twist involving the Beast of Owatonna adds an intriguing dimension to the overall world building, but it is once again the characters who make Chloe Neill’s tale shine. Chloe Neill is a must-read author for urban fantasy fans and the Heirs of Chicagoland series is an excellent place for new readers to dive in!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2019/12/06/wicked-hour-by-chloe-neill/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/204973-heirs-of-chicagoland" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Heirs of Chicagoland</strong></em></a>  series continues with a new adventure where we get Connor and Elisa spending a lot more time together on a trip out of town.  Connor is going to a Pack event and takes her along as his date.  They haven't spent much time, even as friends as adults so an out-of-town trip seems odd.

The previous book, <strong>Wild Hunger</strong>, was Elisa just back in Chicago and she jumps in to investigate a bad situation when not really connected to any group. It brings us up-to-date on old friends from the original series and introduces us to the new generation. Since then, Elisa has taken a position at the Ombudsman office.

In <strong>Wicked Hour</strong>, we have the conflicts of the elders with the younger generation, and the vampire vs shifter unease, along with the brief beginnings of a relationship between Connor and Elisa.  I enjoyed this adventure much more than the last book; it is more like a murder mystery with battles and just a touch of romantic elements.  The conflicts and unease in this small community are somewhat a reflection of the national issues.

The entire story is set outside of Chicago so we get limited connection to their home base. An Ombudsman and Elisa's bff Lulu show up to provide backup and intel support when people start dying. I'm not really connected to them yet and I find Lulu boring and other than a few pithy comments on personal level, she isn't very involved in anything.

Connor's role in life is clear and he's developing skills and experience by going out to small communities to improve things overall.  Elisa hasn't really decided what she's doing and seems sort of in limbo. I look forward to watching their professional and personal roles progress as the series continues.

I was a big fan of the first series starring Elisa’s parents. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this series even after really liking the first one. With this second one, I know I’m going to love it! Elisa is such a strong, confident main character. She doesn’t need protection, but she doesn’t get upset if people try to protect her because she understands the need to protect. Not only that, I loved the mystery, the handling of the mystery, and even how it ended. I also love how Elisa is still figuring out who she is and how Connor is going to fit in all that. And, I love the sexiness without the sex (and the romance is good, too!). This is a great book, and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves the Chicagoland series or urban fantasy in general. I was provided a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Wicked Hour is the Second installment in author Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland series. 23-year old Elisa Sullivan is an unaffiliated rogue born vampire living in the city of Chicago where Houses are everything. She lives with her best friend Lulu Bell who has refused to use any of her witch powers as live normally. Elisa works for the Ombudsman office where her grandfather once worked but the work is quite boring. Also, Elisa as the first vampire born not made is keeping a dark secret that she struggles with every single day of her life. Only one person knows her secret.

Connor Keene, Prince of the Wolves, childhood nemesis, and someone who helped Elisa win the day in the first installment. Connor asks Elisa to travel with him to Minnesota where a shifter pack is to initiate a new member. Elisa will be the first vampire to witness a pack's initiation and that smells like trouble. Connor has already been warned by his father, Gabriel, that Elisa's safety is paramount to the future of supernatural relations. So, taking her into the den of the pack probably isn't the best idea for a date or time away from Chicago.

Elisa and Connor are joined by Alexei Breckenridge who is supposed to hate Elisa and her family. Upon arrival, it is discovered that a young shifter was killed. The younger pack members are not fans of the packs leaders Cash, Loren, or Everett. Then Loren is found savaged and things in the pack begin to spin quickly out of control. Who better to blame than a vampire, Elisa, or a shifter, Conner, who is the son of a powerful Apex? Not everyone is a fan of a vampire and a shifter being together. Especially Miranda who wants to be Apex one day.

Unfortunately, I don't think the author has any plans of getting rid of Miranda any time soon which is a damn shame. I want to see Elisa take her down quickly and bloody. Just like her mother Merit would have done to her enemies. For those who are itching to know about Merit and Ethan, they make brief appearances and then go away which I'm absolutely Ok with. This is Elisa and Connor's story. Merit and Ethan had a fantastic ride. Let them retire.

Elisa's monster is one hell of an interesting part of this story. I really want Elisa to accept the monster so that she stops trying to hide. There are now several more people who know about her monster, and her berserker powers. I enjoy the banter between Elisa and Connor. I enjoy that Lulu isn't trying to be like her mother or father, or has decided to choose her own path as a painter instead. I like that Elisa and Alexei actually got along in this book. I think that's a good sign for future alliances and shenanigans with Connor and Lulu and Theo and Petra. I liked that this book took a step away from Chicago to another area even though it was a run down former resort where the pack lives. I also absolutely agree with Lulu that Elisa needs to find something outside her comfort zone. She's good at solving paranormal issues. Why not make that a center piece of future books?