Review: Torn by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Torn

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: 7.19.2016

Series: A Wicked Saga #2

Source: eARC from Ink Slinger PR

Buy: Amazon

Rating:  4.5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same. 

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her. 

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him? 

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself. 

Review:

There’s a certain kind of delicious comfort that I experience every time I open a Jennifer L. Armentrout book. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I’ll enjoy it. She’s one of those rare authors that I just love everything she touches with words. Sometimes I just enjoy the ride, other times I am left agape and sometimes I just can’t control my fan-girl flailing freakouts. TORN, the sequel to last year’s Wicked, was one of those agape/OMG-freak-out books.

TORN picks right where Wicked left off with our main girl Ivy having on helluva bomb dropped on her life. The majority of this book is Ivy-driven and watching as she tries to reconcile who she thought she was with who she really is. There’s a beautiful, utterly human sadness as you watch Ivy try to decide between hiding from what she is and confronting it. Yes, the situation is entirely paranormal, but at some point, everyone face that moment: Will you acknowledge and embrace something? Or will you hide it away from everyone and ignore it?

Of course this book is also full of Armentrout-patented hotness in the form of Fae hunter Ren and his relationship with Ivy. Ren is protective and sweet and a little overzealous (props to Ivy for standing firm in her wants and not acquiescing to Ren when he wanted her to stay home or by his side so she was protected), but you can’t help but love him. Their relationship is true with lots of give and take and conflict that isn’t quickly resolved by a quick roll in the sack.

I can’t wait for the next installment next year. This series is definitely one of my favorites by one of my favorite authors. It’s a fun, paranormal take on the New Adult genre (something NA desperately needs more of).  Check this one out ASAP!

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

Review: In His Keeping by Maya Banks

Title: In His Keeping

Author: Maya Banks

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 1.27.2015

Pages: 432

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Series: Slow Burn #2

Source: Finished copy from publicist

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Abandoned as a baby to a young wealthy couple and raised in a world of privilege, Arial has no hint of her past or who she belonged to. Her only link lies in the one thing that sets her apart from everyone else—telekinetic powers. Protected by her adoptive parents and hidden from the public to keep her gift secret, Ari is raised in the lap of luxury, and isolation. That is, until someone begins threatening her life.

Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the strange. As the head of Deveraux Security, he’s more than familiar with the realities of physic powers. So when a family friend approaches him about protecting his daughter, he’s more than ready to jump on board. What Beau isn’t prepared for is the extent of his attraction to his beautiful and powerful client. What began as a simple assignment, just another job, quickly turns personal as Beau discovers he’ll do anything at all to protect Ari. Even if it costs him his life.

Review:

The first thing I noticed when I got my happy hands on this book was the size. Clocking in at over 400 pages, IN HIS KEEPING is more than 100 pages longer than the first book in the Slow Burn series - which is a much needed thing. One of my issues with book 1 was that it wasn't fleshed out enough and felt rushed, so first assumptions on size alone (minds out of the gutter, people!), made me happy.

I didn't get a good feel for Beau in book 1, but I swear I loved him on sight (so it's easy to see why Ari feel so fast and hard). He's rough and tough and hard in all the right ways that make this a fantastic (if not a little cliche) romance.

Ari was a beacon of light in this book. I enjoyed her innocence and softness - a nice contrast to the brashness of Beau, but she also made some ridiculous decisions that made me sigh. Frequently.

The romance may give readers some whiplash because of how fast it happens, but one thing I actually enjoyed was that Maya Banks didn't rely on a lot of sex to sell the romance here. There was one major scene but the rest was teasing innuendos and kinda sweet. It was a nice change and gave more time for the plot line to breathe.

There are subtle little moments that nicely set up book 3 in a few months, and I cannot wait to get my hands on that book. I think Banks fans will already have this on their auto-order list, but if you're new to her books or looking for a light paranormal romance, I definitely recommend the Slow Burn series.

Buy:  Amazon

Review: The Originals - The Rise by Julie Plec

Title: The Originals: The Rise

Author: Julie Plec

Publisher: HQN Books

Publication Date: 1.27.2015

Pages: 352

Genre: TV novelization, Historical, Romance, Paranormal

Series: The Originals #1

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Family is power. The Original vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together always and forever. But even when you're immortal, promises are hard to keep. 

Arriving in New Orleans in 1722, Original vampire siblings Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah Mikaelson believe they've escaped their dangerous past. But the city is lawless, a haven for witches and werewolves unwilling to share territory. The siblings are at their mercy…especially after Klaus meets the beautiful and mysterious Vivianne. Her impending marriage is key to ending the war between the supernatural factions—and Klaus's attraction to her could destroy the uneasy alliance. As Elijah works toward securing a piece of the city for his family, and Rebekah fights her unexpected feelings for a French captain, will Klaus's volatile desires bring their world crashing down—and tear them apart for good?

Review:

A prequel book series to one of my favorite TV series?YES, PLEASE!

I was so excited to see 3 of my favorite Originals getting their own backstory. I mean, we've learned a lot about Elijah, Klaus, and Rebekah from flashbacks in both their namesake show and The Vampire Diaries, but those were always so limited. THE RISE dives into the Mikaelson family rise to power (along with some heartache) in New Orleans their first time around.

Now some may argue that this book is little more than officially sanctioned fan fiction, and to an extent, it is. But what I love is that as a fan of the show I loved the filler this novel provided with more insight into what drives these three immortal creatures. But I can also see how someone with limited to no knowledge of the show could pick up this book and not be completely lost. There is enough detail that this book could be read by someone who has never watched the show.

The other high point of this for me was the romance. It wasn't skimpy and I was surprised at how ... detailed some of the romance scenes were. I mean, this is Harlequin, so by those standards it might be considered tame, but I was still a little surprised, but in a good way.

I can see how readers that are not fans of the show might roll their eyes and cry, "Insta-love!" but they need to understand that this is how these vampires operate. They know how long their lives are (not to mention impulsive) and how short human lives are, so there's little need for pretenses and games with them. They see what they want, they take what they want. The End.

Fans of the show will love reading this, but I'm also excited for non-watchers to engage with these three. I think they'll truly enjoy it.

Purchase The Originals: The Rise

Review: Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock

Title: Willowgrove

Author: Kathleen Peacock

Publisher: Katherine Tegen

Publication Date: 1.6.2015

Pages: 368

Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult, Werewolves

Series: Hemlock #3

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.

Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.

What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.

Review:

LOOK! LOOK! I finished another series! LOOK AT ME GO!

Finishing a trilogy is a monumental feat for me, but once I had a copy of WILLOWGROVE in my hands, there was no stopping me. After everything that had happened in Hemlock and Thornhill, I was desperate for some answers and closure, not unlike our hero, Mac.

It’s hard to get into the particulars of WILLOWGROVE without giving away crucial details for the first two books, but suffice to say Kathleen Peacock wraps up this series wonderfully, tying up all the loose threads and answering long-lingering questions. She stayed true to her characters from book one through book three, and I absolutely adore her for that.

If you’re looking for a paranormal fix with a lot of mystery and suspense (and a couple of seriously hot boys – hands off Kyle, OK? I have dibs!), then I urge you to pick up this series by Peacock. It’s fun, fast, and absolutely fantastic to read.

Hey—I even finished this series, people. We all know how rare that is for me.

Buy Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock

Review: Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Wicked

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: 12.9.2014

Pages: 371

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Series: A Wicked Saga #1

Source: Finished copy from author

Rating: 4 ½ Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans. 

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart. 

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her. 

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

Review:

Sometimes an author I love does something that truly tests me. I’ve said for years that I’ll read anything Jennifer L. Armentrout writes, and what does she write? A novel with faeries in it. And what is my biggest book no-no?

Yes, faeries.

I have yet to find a story with fae in it to love … until now. So yes, Jen Armentrout is actually that good that she managed to get ME to read a novel with a genre I typically shy away from. And not just read it, but enjoy it.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what I liked about this book. Maybe it was that there is finally a book with new adult age characters that are not set in the every day, contemporary world. Ivy is a lovely main character, written with Armentrout’s signature wit and snark with a healthy dose of heart. But it’s absolutely Ren that stole my heart. Ren with his confidence and green eyes and arms and abs and …

Wait. Where am I again?

The end, though … While the twist felt obvious to me, I’m still excited to see where Armentrout takes the rest of this series. The ending, while not an overt cliffhanger does leave the reader with a sense of impending doom and worry. I can’t wait to crawl back into NOLA and hang out with Ren (and I guess) Ivy again!

Buy: Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blog Tour: Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It's no secret that YA is quickly taking over the world, including TV and movies. That being that, here's a dreamcast for the Dark Elements:

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout - she's not only an amazing writer, but also a fantastically witty and fun person to be around. That energy she lives with is infused into her books, her characters, and I think that's why people connect to well to them.

STONE COLD TOUCH picks up where White Hot Kiss left off. Layla is confused and grows more and more torn between Zayne and Roth. I typically establish my OTP ship in a series in book one and it doesn't change, but something about this trio has me unsure. I was firmly Team Roth going into this, but I can't deny the attraction with Zayne. There's a sweetness there and a vulnerability that I don't think Layla has with Roth.

By the end of the book I am completely at a loss for who I want Layla to end up with. So much has happened and been revealed, and truly either guy would complement her. But I guess I need to make up my mind soon since the choice of who Layla ends up with is in the hands of the reader.

In an unprecedented move, Armentrout has opened up the final book and is letting readers vote to determine the fate of Layla's heart. Good luck and choose wisely.

The choice is yours...

Beginning October 21st you’ll have 3 weeks to visit the series website, www.thedarkelementsseries.com, to take a poll and decide which guy Layla should ultimately choose in the final book in the trilogy, EVERY LAST BREATH.

At the end of 3 weeks, we will tally all the votes, and that’s when Jennifer L. Armentrout will start writing EVERY LAST BREATH. The guy who gets the most votes is the one Layla will pick.

To prevent early spoilers, we're not going to reveal who won the poll in advance…you’ll have to wait until EVERY LAST BREATH goes on sale on July 28th, 2015 to find out whether Zayne or Roth wins Layla in the end. We promise the book will be epic and definitely worth the wait!

Who do you want Layla to end up with? Go to www.thedarkelementsseries.com and vote for your choice! 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iTunes

And don’t forget the previous books in The Dark Elements Series…

BITTER SWEET LOVE

WHITE HOT KISS

GIVEAWAY:

One signed print copy of STONE COLD TOUCH for each site to giveaway. US/Canada only Giveaway. Comment below to be entered to win.

About STONE COLD TOUCH:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden.  Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Series Website: http://www.thedarkelementsseries.com

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout

STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17455815-stone-cold-touch?from_search=true

Review: Run To You (1-3) by Clara Kensie

Title: Run To You – Part 1: First Sight

Author: Clara Kensie

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Publication Date: 2/1/2014

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Serial

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Part One in the riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…

Sarah Spencer has a secret: her real name is Tessa Carson, and to stay alive, she can tell no one the truth about her psychically gifted family and the danger they are running from. As the new girl in the latest of countless schools, she also runs from her attraction to Tristan Walker—after all, she can’t even tell him her real name. But Tristan won’t be put off by a few secrets. Not even dangerous ones that might rip Tessa from his arms before they even kiss…

Review:

My first time reading a serial can be described like my first time riding a rollercoaster: I wasn’t too sure what I was getting into. Would it be awesome? Terrifying? Would I vomit? Want to go again? WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

The beginning of FIRST SIGHT was kind of like that slow ascent to the top of the rollercoaster. Painstakingly building momentum, but knowing there would be a massive payout once I rounded the peak. The book slowly climbs, Clara Kensie doing a great job building tension and friction and drama and then ...

And then suddenly I’m in a deliriously delicious freefall, totally along for the ride with no way to get off.

Title: Run To You – Part 2: Second Glance

Author: Clara Kensie

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Publication Date: 2/8/2014

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Serial

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Part Two in the riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…

Tessa Carson has unlocked her heart and her secrets to Tristan Walker—but Tristan has secrets of his own, and his might just mean the end of Tessa’s family. Unaware, Tessa embraces falling in love and being herself for the first time since she was attacked when she was only eight years old. But secrets can’t be run from forever, and sometimes love is too good to be true…

Review:

Let’s all swoon here together, shall we?

3 …. 2 …. 1 …

There we go. I love the romance between Tessa and Tristan. So pure and innocent and everything a girl (or guy) could want. These two slay me and I love watching them confront what’s coming together. It’s refreshing to see a young adult couple that takes a beat to realize they aren’t invincible and they need to play things smart. But, at the end of the day, they’re teenagers and don’t always make the best choices.

But the end. THE END. Oh, Lord, be still my heart.

Title: Run To You – Part 3: Third Charm

Author: Clara Kensie

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Publication Date: 2/15/2014

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Serial

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Part Three in the riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…

Betrayed, heartbroken, and determined to save her family, Tessa Carson refuses to give in to Tristan Walker’s pleas for forgiveness. But her own awakening psychic gift won’t let her rest until she uncovers the truth about her family and her past. And Tristan is the only one who can help her sift through the secrets to find the truth hidden in all the lies…

Review:

OK, slow down! Can a girl get a breather? No? We’re still going?

Whew. All righty then.

THIRD CHARM finds the reader right back in the middle of the action, dealing with a lot of fallout on Tessa’s end and some confusion on Tristan’s. This is easily the most breathless of the three books, thrilling and taut and told with an edge of desperation that sucks the read in fully.

Bravo to Clara Kensie for the first half of this amazing novel. It is a sharp, no-frills story that pulls you in from the jump and doesn’t let go. Thankfully the first half is wrapped up pretty cleanly. There is no massive cliffhanger, but it very much ends on an ominous note that has me clamoring for the rest.

Review: The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz

Title: The Dark World

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: 5.27.2014

Pages: 304

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Series: Dark World #1

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer-and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons-and she might never make it home.

Review:

This is one of those reviews where I'm going to be doing a lot of this:

And maybe some of this:

Because Logan Bradley is ....

Here I go again.

It's no secret that Cara Lynn Shultz is one of my favorite authors ever. She wowed me with her first series and when she assured me I would love Paige and Logan more than ... who was that other couple* in the first series? Well, I had my doubts. But they were quickly smashed because this book is amazing.

Shultz has a fantastic voice for storytelling. Paige is a genuine, authentic teen with a bunch of sass and a heart. Her internal ramblings cracked me up.

This book is full of high energy fun, lots of action, tons of swoony moments, and is one of the best books I've read in months. I feel like I've been waiting years for this book and I can easily read and re-read it until the next one in the series is in my hands.

It's so hard to write this review, because I just can't put into words the warm, glowy feeling this book left me with. I devoured this book. I couldn't put it down if I tried. Not that I wanted to. It's just ... Read it. Feel the magic for yourself.

*Just kidding - Paige & Logan didn't make me forget Emma & Brendan. Just gave me another couple to love.

Buy: Amazon

Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Publication Date: 2.25.2014

Pages: 382

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Series: Dark Elements #1

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

One kiss could be the last 

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Review:

One of these days Jennifer Armentrout is going to disappear and there is a good chance people will find her locked up in my basement with a laptop and endless supply of Jenuine Cupcake's peanut butter frosting so she can write exclusively for me nonstop. I honestly believe anything this woman writes is gold, and White Hot Kiss is no exception.

Armentrout brings her signature wit and flare to bring to life a world of demons and gargoyles right in our own backyard. She seamlessly weaves contemporary with paranormal in an exciting, original and heart-meltingly swoony ride.

Layla is a conflicted girl with a lot of sass and a lot of wounds. She begins guarded and a little emotionally fragile, but evolves into a kick ass heroine with biting snark and a backbone of steel. She's flanked by two of the hottest book boys in the history of book boys - bad boy demon, Roth, who has a lot more simmering under the surface than I originally thought. And also Zayne, Layla's protector and lifelong friend with unwavering loyalty.

This book is a brilliant start to another incredible series by Armentrout. Fans of hers have undoubtedly pre-ordered this one, but if you're new to the Armentrout craze, this is a great way to start a lifelong love of her work.

Buy: Amazon

Review: Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Bitter Sweet Love

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Publication Date: 12.1.2013

Pages: 105

Genre: Novella; Prequel; Paranormal Romance

Series: Dark Elements #0.5

Source: eARC from publisher

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

Review:

I had already read book one in this series, White Hot Kiss, before I had a chance to read Bitter Sweet Love.

What? Don’t judge me. I had it in my hands and devoured it. In a day. But that’s a review for another time.

Bitter Sweet Love is the tantalizing glimpse into the new, incredible world that Jennifer L. Armentrout is creating this time around. With gargoyles. Yes. You read that correctly.

I love paranormal romances, but I get tired of the same werewolves and vampires and angels … Give me something original! I need it! And Armentrout does just that, with her signature steam and snark lighting up every page.

I love love stories where the couple has history, especially one as friends. This crucial connection was so fundamental to Dez and Jas’ romance and made it all the more, well, bittersweet.  I loved watching them find their way back to each other and learning to accept one another for who they were and not just what they had.

Armentrout wastes no time sucking you into this brilliantly imagined world of flying guardians of the night and demons and mystery and seriously hot romance. This is the start to what will be an amazing series.

Buy: Amazon

Review: The Collector by Victoria Scott

Title: The Collector

Author: Victoria Scott

Publisher: Entangled

Publication Date: 4.2.2013

Pages: 352

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Dante Walker #1

Source: Purchased finished copy

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Review:

After going to a book festival and being urged (and by urged I mean ordered) to read The Collector from a group of bloggers I love (Steph, Jen, and Jenn), I decided to give it a try. I mean, Victoria Scott’s debut seemed to be on every blog I visited. People were constantly gushing about D-Dub and his awesomeness and I felt like that kid who wore blue jeans to the prom—I was clearly missing something.

This book is just flat out awesome fun once you muscle through the first chapter of Dante proclaiming his inherit awesomeness. Seriously. The boy declares he’s the man on the first page. Usually characters that are that cocky and arrogant piss me off and never regain my faith.

My boy, Dante, was one of the few who weaseled and cajoled his way back onto my good graces. Maybe because he actually is as amazing as he says he is. But don’t tell him I said that. Boy’s already got a swelled head.

The heart of the book is really in watching Dante shift from this playboy with a who-gives-a-flying-crap attitude to a person with feelings and morals and heart. All of this is thanks to Charlie, a girl who could not have been more his polar opposite. Geeky, awkward, and gangly Charlie who worked her way under Dante’s skin and right into my heart.

Scott blew me away with this debut. She writes her romance and action with the grace and ease of an author with a dozen books under her (or his) belt. There was no faltering or stalling, the plot kept moving along at a quick pace and I can’t wait for the sequel, The Liberator, to come out so I can crawl back into this incredible world she created.

Buy: Amazon