This is book three in the Jessica McClain series and we still have yet to have any meaning plot or character development. Cold Blooded shifted back and forth between battle scenes and Jessica and Rourke either having sex, or angsting about their desire to have sex. If you are into action scenes, this might be your thing but at this point in a series, I expect to know more about the characters involved.
We are told that Marcy is her best friend ad nausem but because Marcy had been kidnapped we don't really get to see her interact with Jessica very much. The rest of the people Jessica is close to she spends issuing orders throughout the novel. Despite being a newborn Lycan, she never doubts herself, no matter the situation and you guessed it - everything always works out in her favor. I suppose it has to because it's the chosen one but it makes the book read as though Jessica is just working through a series of tasks.
This series is predicated on Jessica being the only female werewolf and therefore is either feared, desired or hated. These motivations most of her interactions. Unfortunately, Jessica continues to deal with this by developing some new Lycan ability on cue. She is literally the chosen one and these meme is simply played out in this genre. I have yet to see Jessica use reason in any confrontation that she is in; however, she is more than willing to suddenly decide to challenge a demon lord. I suppose that was meant to come off has daring but it read as stupidity to me.
Jessica's insta-love with Rourke has been established be virtue of woo woo. It feels like a cheap short cut. These two don't really have to bother to get to know each other or develop any kind of friendship. Rourke and Jessica simply need to have sex and it's I love you forever. Carlson also dips into the paranormal romance shtick when she has Rouke and Jessica fighting for their lives and yet setting off pheromones everywhere and feeling a desire for each other. Who becomes horny when they are fighting for their lives? This just pulled me out of the story and irritated me.
This is book three and so beyond the token Latina neighbour in previous books who appeared for the sole purpose of comedic relief, this series is absolutely erased. It was particularly irritating given that Carlson keeps adding new supernatural creatures to this world. Why is it so hard to add diversity to this story? I will however say that I enjoyed witches using spelled machine guns to take on demon lords. That was a nice touch.
Cold Blooded, just like its predecessor, ended on a cliff hanger. I can forgive it once but a third time is asking too much. It just feels a device by the author to encourage readers to grab the next book in the series. If Carlson had bothered to do some character building and make the reader believe in the relationships she's created this wouldn't be necessary.
There is nothing about Cold Blooded to make it stand out in this genre whatsoever. Its plot lines and super special protagonist reads like far too many books in this genre, making it feel like a book which was written by the numbers. I wasn't bored reading Cold Blooded but I am getting tired of the absolute lack of originality and good storytelling. Introducing a new and more powerful antagonist for Jessica to fight continually feels like a short cut doing the hard work - making the characters real and entertaining. If you are not the type of reader who enjoys reading fight scene after fight scene with little character or plot development, at best, Cold Blooded is something to past the time with while waiting for a doctor's appointment.
