Review: Full Blooded (Jessica McClain #1) by Amanda Carlson

Full Blooded (Jessica McClain #!) by Amanda Carlson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Publication date: September 11th 2012
My rating: 4 stars 

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.

When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.

I’ve recently discovered that I love Urban Fantasy reads and Full Blooded had a little of everything I love about them.  Kick ass heroine, fast paced action and danger at every turn, and an interesting supernatural world and creatures.  Of course, I must have some romance in there, too, and this didn’t disappoint!

Jessica McClain is an anomaly in her Pack.  There are no female werewolves but yet here she is, and after years of thinking she would never shift she unexpectedly does, causing havoc and unease.  Shortly after her birth a letter was mailed to the Pack Compound called The Cain Myth claiming that a female werewolf would cause the end to their race. So Jessica’s always been viewed as a threat by some in the Pack. After years of not shifting the fear had died down a bit, but now all that’s changed.  When news gets out an attack comes almost immediately propelling her Alpha father and the Pack into a war with Vampires as well as their own kind.  Danger is around every corner for Jessica. 

Jessica is my type of heroine.  She’s strong without arrogance, has a good moral compass, and without an ounce of whininess.  She seems to have so many things thrown at her but she keeps her head up handling one issue at a time.  She’s trying to figure out and control her wolf, but is in awe of the power it gives her. 

I love shapeshifter stories because of all the pack dynamics and hierarchy.  All the impulses and instincts that come with being part animal are so much fun, as well.  I love the idea of a true mate and the strong connection formed once you find that person.  I’ve found when reading most UF series’ that the first book lays the rules and foundation for the stories to come, and Full Blooded did that without overloading us with an info dump.  There are still a lot of unanswered questions about Jessica, and what she’s capable of, but I suspect we’ll be learning that more as the series goes on.

There is romance, or rather an instant attraction, but it wasn’t a large part of the story.  What was there definitely had me sitting up and paying attention, because it was hot! I’m totally on board for this match up!

One thing I’d mention is that this story just sort of stops.  I’m not sure that I’d call it a cliff, it’s more like a “to be continued…” situation, but you’d definitely want the next book on hand when you finish.  Lucky for me I do!

Full Blooded was a thrilling read, and I plan on diving into Hot Blooded very soon!