I had fun reading this book, I’d read more of this world but it’s not a perfect book and it won’t be for everyone. It’s a good solidly readable romantic urban fantasy though.
The main character is a likable woman but does suffer a bit from being a special snowflake (the details would be a spoiler). She has great friends but they all seem to be pretty powerful and handily capable of whatever help she needs in the moment. The obvious love interest is hot, rich, capable of lavishing gifts which have of course been perfectly thought out and he’s good in bed.
However the story is fast paced and an entertaining bit of fluff. I’ll read book two happily enough and if you want a bit of escapist fluff you’ll have a fun afternoon with this book.
The author warns you but I think it deserves repeating that the main character is a rape survivor and there is trauma there though not super explicit. It might be too much for some readers.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB BOOKSTORE & BAR (Book 1 of the Sam Quinn Urban Fantasy Series) by Seana Kelly in exchange for an honest review. Imagine an alcohol-serving bookstore built into the side of a cliff; it’s underwater with a glass wall facing the surging water. The business has entries by air, land, and sea. Now imagine the proprietor built the business as refuge from her own kind; she survived being kidnapped, tortured, and raped only to be forever changed. In addition to having the physical, mental, and emotional scars from her trauma, Sam Quinn was infected with lycanthropy. When someone begins dropping the bodies of other female werewolves into the water by her bar, and when the deceased all bear the same scars as Sam’s, Sam realizes she never truly escaped her past. Sam, along with the assistance of a dragon or two, a couple of demons, and the city’s master vampire, seeks the answers that will help her stop the monster from her past before she again falls under his control.

I liked this book and look forward to the next tale in the series. I recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. Trigger warning - there is discussion of rape, and the main character is still suffering from the trauma of being raped.

#TheSlaughteredLambBookstoreandBar #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I sped through this one. It grabbed me from the start, I flew through it, and wanted more when I was done. Those are all the hallmarks of a good book in my opinion. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, it’s well worth the read and I’m looking forward to the next installment.

#TheSlaughteredLambBookstoreandBar #NetGalley

Trigger Warning: The heroine is a rape survivor, and this is a significant feature in the book.

This author did a phenomenal job in her depiction of a rape survivor coming to terms with her attack. The fear, the need for isolation, overcoming and learning to live again. The character development for Sam was some of the best I read. The supporting cast is entertaining, and I can't wait to discover more. 

The slaughtered lamb is definitely a bar that I would love to go to. Who wouldn't love to watch the ocean as you enjoy your drink of choice and having a fully stocked bookstore at your fingertips? 

The action is intense, and Sam seems to be a magnet for danger, the scenes are descriptive, which could be a turnoff for some, but I found it necessary to tell the complete story. This is one of the best urban fantasy novels I have read this year. 

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't remember where I saw the recommendation for this book, but I put it on my shelf and when I discovered it at Netgalley I just had to have it!

Sam is the owner of 'The slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar'. Seven years ago she was horribly attacked and turned into a werewolf, and after she started the bookstore/bar, overlooking the water and with supernatural guests (and crew). One day the body of a woman (a werewolf) floats near her bar and after that Sam is attacked constantly (and I mean, constantly!). Fortunately she has the help of handsome vampire master Clive and her friends and together they try to uncover Sam's past and how it is connected to the attempts on her life.

I read this book in one long night and had to keep on reading. I loved Sam, how she is trying to overcome the past and the developing romance between her and Clive.
Fortunately there are - at least - 2 books following this one and I can't wait to get my grabby hands on them.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book!

As an adult fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, I was quickly sucked into Sam's world.

The characters are sympathetic, mysterious and fun - I cannot wait for the next book to see how they develop.

I the mystery of Sam's family brings trouble to her life and place of business. It's difficult to say who is for or friend.

I highly recommend this book - it is a mystery, romance, a diversity lesson with humor that is a quick, fun read.

Thank you Netgalley. Based on the title of this book I really thought I would like it. No surprise I did! Quirky, humor, strong characters and just plain fun. . Different story line that I have seen before. Will definitely look for sequels!

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Sam is a book nerd extraordinaire and owner of the Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar...she's also a werewolf. For the last seven years she's been happily hiding in her hobbit hole, serving drinks and slinging books to the weird and wonderful otherworldy creatures who inhabit San Francisco. However, something has changed lately, all of a sudden Sam can't keep out of trouble. She has threats on her life coming from all angles and is staring death in the face more often than not, and this just isn't great for business. Along with the help of her Demon cook, her Wicche bartender and the sexy Master of the City vampire patron, Sam is out to find out who has a mark on her head. Can she find them before they take her down? And is this connected to her attack from seven years ago?

Oh wow. What an absolute BREATH OF FRESH AIR! I love urban fantasy, I really do, it's the genre that got me back into reading when I was around eighteen after having been on a reading hiatus for around seven years. But as another reviewer of this book said, Urban Fantasy has a tendency to get very samey. Sometimes it feels like if you've read one, you've read them all, and that doesn't make for fun reading times. Something about this book just made me HAVE to request it. I'm not sure if it was that kickarse simple yet effective cover, the blurb of a sassy lone wolf with a scarred past, or if it was just the title that drew me in, I honestly can't tell you, mainly because I don't remember, but hey, lets go with a mixture of all three, hey?

So! We have Sam who is a lone wolf living in San Francisco who for the past seven years has been trying to move past a horrific attack that has left her incredibly scarred (inside and out). She runs an awesomely named bar and bookstore, and I was just totally here for her character. She's got sass, she has deep seated issues, which anyone could understand because of what has happened to her, and about now is where I'm going to insert the trigger warnings for remembering a rape and torture. I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything as we learn super early on what happened to Sam that lead her to being where she is now. While she has a lot of trouble trying to work through the past, I feel like she really grew as a character simply in this first installment. We have a woman who has been beaten and broken down and was left on her own to survive or die, and she's just trying her best. I feel like Kelly really handled the sensitivity of Sam's situation extremely tastefully, well and with a lot of care. I really felt for Sam, and I honestly wish that she was real so I could go and visit her fine establishment and hang out. I feel like I could be friends with her and I love a beautifully flawed character who is trying to work through their issues who just seems so real. We are introduced to quite a few characters, seeing as the main setting is a bar, but the main ones that carried through the story who we got to see the most were all fantastically written in supporting roles with their own distinct voices and personalities. I absolutely ADORE her Cook. I didn't feel too much for Mr. Master of the City - Clive - at first, but I started to come around to him by the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop in future books.

The story line was incredibly well thought out and executed and just kept me glued to the page the whole time. This was one of those books where you were reading, and flying through the pages, but you didn't feel like you had read much. The narrative just flowed so well and it really felt like I was living in the story each time I picked it up. A book that can make you forget you're reading it deserves ALL the marks in my opinion.

The mystery was well thought out though I figured out one of the culprits rather early on, and I can't honestly tell you how or why. Nothing gave it away as such, I just had this feeling that this person was responsible for some things that had happened, and it turned out that I was right. However, the revelation of the other culprit involved was hinted to through dialogue between a couple of characters, but you still didn't quite know who was responsible or why. So in the end the mystery of the story was handled well and I quite enjoyed it. It kept me going, the need to know what the hell was going to happen to Sam next just had me staying up past my bedtime.

I feel that this is a very character driven novel and what will be a series, which works quite well for me because I've always found that I enjoy a character driven story so much more. Something about the way these stories are written just makes the characters seem even more real to me and never fails to have me sneaking in some reading time when I should be doing other things.

All in all, this was an incredibly promising start to what I believe is going to be a kick arse series. If you love a character driven story with well developed characters full of sass, then give this one a go, you won't be disappointed!

The first in the Sam Quinn series by Seana Kelly is off to a promising start. Sam is a werewolf bookstore/bar owner. She caters to all the supernaturals in San Francisco. I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into the story at first, but it finally sunk its hooks into me. I couldn’t get enough of Sam, Clive the sexy vampire, Dave the demon, and Owen the wicche! Unique storyline with some fun characters. I want more!

*ARC Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Sam has had a difficult life. She is a survivor, but has been living in fear and hides herself. Sam's character develops throughout the novel, breaking out of her shell. Sam is a werewolf, but not by choice and she is also something else. Sam had her friends at the bar, Owen and Dave, both supernaturals, who support her. Then there is the sexy vampire Clive, who becomes Sam's protector after she gets attacked. But the attacks do not stop coming. Clive becomes more of a presence in Sam's life and is patient with her. Clive comes when Sam gets into trouble, which is a common occurrence as of recently. But Sam has enemies and she has no idea who they are, for she is just your neighborhood somewhat friendly bar and bookstore owner. Sam and her friends work together to solve the mystery of the attacks on Sam and it leads to an even greater conspiracy.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so good I stayed up till one in the morning reading it and I am normally in bed by nine. I can’t wait for more books in this series I feel attached to all the people in it they are all very interesting. I just love a book with dragons,demons, witches, vampires And wear wolves. I wish I could go into the bookstore bar it sounds amazing.

This was an absolute gem of a story! I loved it so much. The romance, the mystery, and the strength that Sam has was amazing. The story revolves around Sam, a werewolf rape survivor, and owner of a bookstore and bar who suddenly finds herself facing attacks against her life and dead bodies showing up with the same scars she has. The story deals heavily with Sam dealing with her trauma and how she is working through it. I found her strength to be wonderful and how she grew despite all the hardships that kept coming her way. She was a badass, take no shit, kind of girl and I found her to be lovable. The romance interest was great and the chemistry between them was swoonworthy. The care that Clive has towards Sam is sweet and the gentleness he shows is endearing. Their bond that grows was such a pleasure to read. The friendships that Sam has with Owen and Dave were also a fun read! Overall I really loved this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series! I adored the characters and the action packed story! Seriously thank you so much netgalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was really cute in some ways and frustrating in others. It had that "indie published?" feeling with choppy exposition, and I found myself increasingly frustrated when listening to Sam's many sidelines rants about her trauma- it was very show don't tell, and felt like it was constantly interrupting the actual story. The characters were adorable and charming and I do like the world that was created very much. Sadly, this is not a book I have a lot to say about, as it was a very run of the mill read for me.

Sam, a lone wolf, running a fantastic bar and bookstore had endured a pretty horrific past that left her scarred and turned into a werewolf when we join her. It is easy to understand why she avoids wolves and why she's overly cautious in general. Sadly for her, dead women start turning up with wounds similar to the ones she survived. As she's attacked, repeatedly, the connections have to be questioned. I really enjoyed watching Sam grow through the story as she found her feet, with the help of a great cast of supernatural characters who are true friends. Clive being my favorite, I do have a weak spot for vampires.

The plot moves at a nice pace with a good balance of mystery, action, and a dash of romance. There is some humor thrown in that makes Sam even more likable and the interactions help add light to the story. The setting was really fun as well, with great details that made the shop unique and loads of fun. By the end of the story I was throughly invested and really look forward to coming back for more when the series continues.

Taken as a whole, this was a decent read with the potential to become a memorable urban fantasy series.

It is very much an introductory book. The characters and their friendships are appealing, with some humorous moments but there is need for further development. There is definitely room for more in depth interactions and better developed back stories with a more complex plot.

The main character, Sam, is very likeable especially in the face of nonstop attempts on her life. She tries valiantly to overcome her fears, to be "fearsome and not fearful."

On a side note, spelling "witch" as "wicche" was very distracting and pretentious. I have no idea why the author chose to do so.

I received a free ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

Sam is a lone Wolf running a bookstore and bar. She’s been living in San Francisco for the past seven years following a savage attack that left her traumatised and forever changed. Sam bares scars both inside and out keeping others away but when dead women start turning up outside her bar she recognises familiar wounds that echo her own. Suddenly Sam is constantly being attacked both physically and indeed mentally. She may have kept others at bay but Clive the Vampire Master of the City won’t allow anyone to hurt the broken Wolf who has nursed herself back to health. The trouble is with suddenly so many attack’s just how many enemies does Sam really have and just what is so special about her ?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its slight undercurrent of romance and really fun supporting characters. I do have a couple of quibbles though, firstly Clive whilst obviously confident and decisive just didn’t have that certain something that other Alpha heroes have. I loved that he would happily go as slow as possible to earn Sams trust but when I compared him to say Ilona Andrews Curran or even Thea Harrison’s Dragos he just didn’t feel as dynamic and powerful. My second niggle was just how often Sam was attacked and honestly I could feel myself rolling eyes thinking oh no not again !
Sam however is a joy to read about as she slowly embraces the fact that she can be fearsome and not just fearful. She has a good heart, can be snarky and witty but most of all she truly grows into her own skin as this story progresses which was a joy to read. I will say that the explanation about female Werewolves and how that affects Sam came pretty late in the book and felt as if the author had suddenly realised that she hadn’t explained it so needed to info drop because yes it would have worked better if readers knew that particular nugget much sooner.
So all in all I did enjoy this story and there is closure of a sort here but Sam and Clive clearly still have battles to fight which I very much look forward to. If you enjoy urban fantasy or even paranormal romance then this book should certainly see you whiling away a few very happy hours reading , enjoy !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar was a fun and engaging book. The plot was well written and kept me on my toes, which is a bonus. I also found several of the characters had depth to them and I especially liked the protagonist and her vampire boyfriend. The book also deals with the aftermath of rape in a well-written manner.