Review: Three and a half stars: A smoldering, tension filled romance with an exciting paranormal mystery.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 17, 2013
Libby isn't exactly thrilled when she is sent to find the culprit behind the string of cat murders occurring in Charleston. Things get worse when she learns that she is paired with her Coven's newest Warlock, Kale. Libby, thanks to her rocky past, has no patience for warlocks, but she is inexplicably drawn to Kale, despite the fact that he is extremely tight lipped when it comes to revealing anything about himself. The pair soon discover there is something much more sinister afoot in Charleston than a few dead cats. They uncover a plot to take down the very foundations of their magical community. They must put a stop to it, but can Libby learn to work with a Warlock, especially one who seems to be keeping plenty of secrets?What I Liked:*The driving force behind this story is the romance. It is one of those romances that takes the entire book to show its true colors, so it moves nice and slow for all of you who detest insta love. However when Libby and Kale first meet, there is an undeniable attraction between the two. Libby, time and time again, tells herself that she will not get involved with a warlock so she attempts to push him away. Her antagonistic behavior back fires and it ends up attracting Kale even more. This is a romance with lots of chemistry and a smoldering attraction underneath all the tension. It builds and builds until it finally explodes into fiery passion. I think all of you who love a hot romance in your urban fantasy will be delighted with the way this one plays out.*I enjoyed Kale and Libby. Libby is a fiery witch who is on the brink of getting kicked out of her coven for rebellious behavior. She is a girl after my own heart as she refuses to follow rules or to be pushed around. I loved watching her take a stand even when confronted by seemingly dire circumstances. Libby doesn't take kindly to strong males telling her what to do either, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her take on the big boys. Aside from her fireball nature, Libby is also a talented witch who cares deeply for those who are close to her. She is willing to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. I thought Libby was a great character. Kale is very mysterious and a bit difficult as he refuses to tell Libby anything about himself. Even though there is strong sexual tension between them, Libby refuses to trust him. I wavered back and forth throughout regarding his true intentions, and in the end he does not disappoint. Kale is a total bad ass as well and I loved watching him in action. The two of them together are sizzling, and I cannot wait to watch them work together in the next book.*I liked the mystery and the suspense. In the beginning, in seems that Libby is out to solve a simple case. As Libby puts together the pieces, she finds that there is something evil lurking. The tension continues to mount as you wonder who is behind the diabolical plot and what Kale is hiding. I was certainly surprised when everything was revealed especially when it comes to Kale. I really liked the twists and surprises.*I was pleased that most of the story lines resolve at the end and there is not a cliffhanger. There are some interesting plots upcoming in book two that I am anxious to continue, and I can't wait for the story to move to New Orleans.And The Not So Much:*The world building was shaky. I actually went back and checked to make sure I was reading the first book because I honestly felt a bit lost. I was thrust into this magical world of witches and warlocks with little background information. I have not read too many witch books so a lot of the ideas and terms were confusing to me, and there was not enough explanation. For instance, who is the Goddess that the witches all serve? What is the sabbat and Battat? What is the Alchemy and what does it do? The same goes for the Coven? If the author would take the time to provide a bit more explanation and detail, and flesh out her story this book would really shine.*Libby has a close friend, Peyton, whom she insists on shielding and protecting. Peyton seems to be a sensitive soul who has been traumatized by some dramatic events in her past. I was frustrated with this relationship because I didn't feel that Peyton's character was developed enough, and I didn't have a clear understanding as to why she was so fragile. There is a brief mention of something that happened in her past that involved the death of a teenager but the whole story isn't revealed. Also there is bit of discussion on the murder of Peyton's murder, but I still wanted more details. I also didn't feel like the friendship was fully defined. Why was Libby so close to Peyton?*I was excited to find that the story was set in Charleston, I was looking forward to traversing the city with Libby and Kale and learning more about this famous city. Unfortunately, the author does not take advantage of the background, and there is practically nothing in regards to the city. I love when authors take the time to make the city a part of the story, and that did not happen here. I am hopeful that in the next installment, Ms. Kennedy will bring New Orleans to us with all its mystery and uniqueness.The Cat's Meow was an entertaining and sexy start to a fun Urban Fantasy series. It has a wonderful romance that takes its sweet time to develop. I enjoyed learning more about witches and warlocks and their abilities. Overall, I liked this book and I look forward to continuing the series. I am hopeful in the next book that the world building will further develop to make this an outstanding series.Favorite Quotations:"Sure, but the need to eat and actually being able to cook are two different things,"I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.Published@Rainy Day Ramblings.