Showing posts with label Yummy Hero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yummy Hero. Show all posts

Review // A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

February 08, 2022

A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

"Ashen is a demon, Lu. If you give your heart to a creature of the shadows, you have to learn how to love the darkness as much as the stars."

────── ♔ ──────


A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

A Heart of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver


The Shadow Realm #2
Release - January 27, 2022
Genre - Paranormal Romance / vamps, demons, angels
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 376 pages
Publisher - Indie

Goodreads * Amazon (FREE with Kindle Unlimited)

An executioner and a bounty. A soldier and a weapon.
The hunter and the prey that won’t go down.


After centuries in hiding, the last of the original sirens took a chance on love.

And it blew up in her face.

Imprisoned by the Shadow Realm, Lu's days now pass in a haze of torture and tears. She's the most ancient vampire siren, the weapon they can't work out. Halfway to a hybrid of immortal creatures, she could be the key to their plans for war against the Realm of Light... if only they could figure out how to finish the transformation.

After a daring escape, Lu finds herself on the run with an unlikely set of allies. Their enemies have a head start in the race to find the oldest vampires, and Lu will stop at nothing to keep them safe from a fate worse than death. If they can't find them in time, it will end in the war of the ultimate superpowers. But every move she makes, Ashen is there. The demon that she trusted. The executioner she loved. The Reaper that poisoned her heart with his betrayal. And as secrets of the Shadow Realm and her own history start to collide, Lu begins to question everything she knows... including the motives of the enigmatic demon she can't seem to escape.

She's promised herself she'll never go back.
She's determined not to fall in love.
If only she knew whom to trust...

My Two Cents

4.5 "There better be more books to this series" stars

When I found this new-to-me author, when I read A Shadow in the Reaping, I knew that she was someone to keep my eye on. She had me hooked to this story and I was willing to give her just about anything to get my hands on the next book. Well here it is and thankfully the wait wasn't that long.

Seriously, if I thought she had the goods in the first book, I KNOW she's got them after reading this one. HANDS DOWN one of THE BEST sequels I have ever read!!

You already know I can't stand a story told from just one perspective, but the author made it work!

Picking up right where the last one left off, this book was full of angst, torture, heartbreak, fighting, bravery, evil, and so much freaking love. So much love!

Lu and Ashen... I cannot get enough of this couple and I'm hoping (I'm looking at you, Mz Author Lady) that there will be another book in this series. It's necessary!!

Reapers are after Lu. Ashen, also a reaper, is determined to keep her safe. Her friends are also there to lend support and their might. And there's the love again. I'm so in love with all the love in this book. And the sexy times between Ash and Lu... Damn, these two were so freaking hot together.

And I want more. The end (yes Queen) was great, but not enough. Not for me. I'm greedy, I've never denied it, and I need more.

The writing... magnifique. The plot... incredible. The characters... stunning. And I want more!!

A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

Excerpt

"Stop," I whisper. Fat tears are still rolling across my skin. He brushes one of them away.

"Stop what?"

"Just stop," I say. I don't know whether I'm talking to Ashen or myself. It felt like a game only this morning. But I can't play and win like this. My gaze falls away from him but I don't move from his touch. "Stop making me want to feel for you what I shouldn't."

Ashen sweeps stray locks of hair from my cheek and holds my face in his palms. I meet his gaze for only an instant and regret it as soon as I do. I'm not the only one hurting. It's all laid bare in his eyes. "Feel what, vampire?"

"Don't." I pull from his grasp and keep my eyes down on the stone beneath my feet. I don't want to be so vulnerable out here in the open. I feel like a tiger without claws. A snake without fangs. My legs feel leaden when I back away and skirt around him to slip into the solitude of night.

"I will tell you one more thing I did not do, vampire," Ashen calls after me. There's a note of anguish so pained in his voice that I stop moving. The silence between us stretches long enough that I turn to look at Ashen where he stands shrouded in the shadows of the tunnel. But I can still see him clearly. I see the tension in his jaw, the way his brows knit together. I see how hard it is for him to gather a breath. "One more thing I did not do, it was the worst thing."

My heart plummets. Fingers of ice trace my spine. I don't think I can handle some deadly admission right now. But I guess that makes it the perfect time to strike. I steel myself for something awful but my voice comes out weary rather than strong. "What?"

Ashen comes forward from the shadows. Every step is careful, like I might run, or combust, or simply disappear. "I never told you how I felt. You asked me, in your ways, and I never answered."

He stops in front of me. The light of a nearby streetlamp casts his face in a haunting glow.

Ashen's eyes search mine, probably finding all the evidence of fear and distrust and confusion that lurk within them. Centuries of loneliness seem to surface in Ashen when he finds it, and he takes a steadying breath. "I never told you how the lifetimes I have spent taking souls have eroded my own. I did not tell you about everything I have lost over decades of time. I should have told you then, how every moment spent with you brought me out of the shadows. How being with you was like landing on a paradise shore after swimming through a sea of grief. How being apart from you is like being cast into a cold and merciless darkness." Ashen's fingers trace my cheek and I close my eyes. I want to lean into his touch. I want to fall into his words. I fight myself with every heartbeat. "I tried to stay away and could not. I tried to push you away and failed. I tried to protect you and failed at that too."

Ashen steps closer. His palms warm my cheeks. His breath heats my skin. He places a gentle, careful kiss to one closed eye, then the other.

"Look at me, Lu. Please," he whispers. And I do. He looks back at me with such determination and longing that I know without any doubt that what I see is true. "The worst thing was that I never told you I love you, Lu."


About the Author

Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.

She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).

Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.

When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.

The Diviner is her debut novel.

Find Brynne Weaver here:
Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon

Review // Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

January 27, 2022

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

“People frequently bore me, sometimes amuse me, most often irritate me, but rarely intrigue me.” - Vlad

────── ♔ ──────


Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost


Night Prince #1
Release - June 26, 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance / vamps
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library / I own a copy
Length - 223 pages
Publisher - Avon


She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

My Two Cents

3.5 "Not sure what y'all are talking about" stars

I was very interested in reading Vlad's story after meeting him in the Night Rebel trilogy. I wanted to know more about the firestarter who was also fireproof. And I'm so glad I got to read this book because not only was he cold, deadly, and extremely hard to kill, he was someone who had really lived, suffered, and survived.

However, I couldn't really get into this story because of Leila. She was a hard pill to swallow. While reading this book, I kept thinking about all the people who told me that I would love Vlad's story more than Ian's. You were wrong! Leila was no Veritas. There's just no comparison. And we all know how much I absolutely hate single perspective stories, but they're easier to enjoy if I enjoy the voice telling the story. I didn't enjoy Leila's voice.

Here's the thing... single perspectives are like listening to someone tell you a long story in a monotone. There's no inflection, no variety, no excitement. At least most of the time. That's what Leila's voice was like. A solid hum that I wanted to silence so badly!

Even Leila's 'super powers' didn't give me enough. She was delusional, irrational, immature, and I hate saying this... but she was unworthy of someone like Vlad. It also didn't help that I felt absolutely no chemistry between them.

I wish I could get Vlad's side. It would make such a difference. And since the bad guy wasn't caught in this book, I'll be reading the next one, hoping beyond hope that I'll get something different.

Excerpt


About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, and the new Night Rebel series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. In addition to being a writer, Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Visit https://www.jeanienefrost.com/ for more information

Review // Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost

January 21, 2022

Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost

“Are you incapable of being afraid?” I asked with admiring exasperation.

“No.” Now his tone was clipped. “When you vanished with Phanes, and every prophetic feeling I had screamed that you’d die if I didn’t find you, I was terrified.”

────── ♔ ──────


Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost

Wicked All Night by Jeaniene Frost


Night Rebel #3
Release - February 23, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy / vamps, demons, lesser gods
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / one real scene
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 364 pages
Publisher - Avon


Set in the Night Huntress World, ancient deities are poised to wreck havoc, unless vampires Veritas and Ian can stop them!

A gift from the gods…

Veritas and Ian have finally defeated their worst enemy, but the power it took to pierce through to the netherworld has unexpected consequences. Soon, Veritas is forced to rely on the last person she trusts—a golden deity named Phanes, who seeks far more than a temporary alliance with the beautiful vampire.

Can unleash hell…

But an escape from the netherworld soon pits Veritas and Ian against supernatural beings seeking to rule over mortals once again. Now, they must rally friends and foes alike—if the vampire council doesn’t execute Veritas first. Plus, a wedge between Veritas and Ian threatens to destroy their love. Can they stand together against the unearthly powers about to be unleashed? Or does their love—and humanity—not stand a chance?

My Two Cents

4 "Not the ending I was hoping for" stars

I don't think I have to tell you how much I've enjoyed the three books that make up the epic love that existed between Ian and Veritas. I don't have to... but I will!

At the end of the last book, Ian and Veritas finally took down the baddest of the bad. At least as far as they knew. No one (not even I) could guess that things could get so much worse. I'm talking the apocalypse is coming worse.

A self-important, arrogant, evil, and kinda had to go demon was bad enough. Having to hide her true nature was bad enough. Worrying about losing Ian was bad enough. But when Veritas unwittingly lets free three lesser known gods to wreak havoc on the world... yeah, no one was prepared for that.

So I loved these books. I loved Ian. I loved Veritas. I loved their friends and family. I loved the plots. I love the worlds that were created. I loved the author's words. I'm just really feeling the love right now. And while I didn't exactly love the way this particular book ended (I'm greedy and needed more of a happy ending), I'm in love so it doesn't change a thing.

I'm in love with the lengths Ian and Veritas would go to keep each other safe. Their love is everything in these stories, even if the plot is what takes up most of the space. It's their feelings, their emotions, the fact that they were each other's first... THAT'S what kept me going.

And don't even get me started on the side characters. I'm told most of them had their stories told already and I cannot wait to dive into them! Can someone tell me if there will be more for V's brother, Ashael? I want to see him again and again and again. I also hope this isn't the last time I see Ian and Veritas. They need to make several appearances in the future. And please... someone please... can we get a petition started for their dad's story? I'm intrigued by this male. Seriously, I'm desperate for him to get a story. The way he talked about how their kind loves... yeah, I need all of that.

Excerpt

Two hard knocks on the door woke me. I hadn’t intended to fall asleep after Ian made good on his promise to fuck me into a state of temporary muteness, but I had. Then again, I’d done a lot of things I hadn’t intended to do over the past two days. What was that saying about making the gods laugh? All you had to do was tell them your plans?

“Sod off, whoever you are,” Ian said without opening his eyes.

The door burst open in a shower of wood, revealing Cat.

Ian cursed as he leapt up from the bed. “Really, Reaper? Kicking the door in? This isn’t even your house.”

“I know, but this news is important and I drew the short straw, so I’m here and Spade isn’t,” Cat replied, looking anywhere except at Ian. “Figured it was the best time to interrupt since the horses finally quit stomping up their stalls from all the racket. Unless that banging around was you two and not the horses? Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”

I got out of bed, too. Now Cat was almost staring at the ceiling to avoid looking at our nakedness. How silly.

“We don’t have anything you haven’t seen before,” I said before adding dryly, “even if I am Death’s direct descendant.”

“It’s not you,” Cat said, her strained tone proving that, if she were human, she’d be blushing. “It’s his, um…you know.”

“You barged in for a reason, so spare us your Puritan modesty and get to it,” Ian said impatiently. “Besides, you must have seen a cock piercing before, and if you haven’t, Crispin owes you an apology for being such an unimaginative lover.”

“Fine, let’s get this over with,” Cat muttered, and dropped her gaze below Ian’s waist.

“Wow,” she said after a stunned moment. “Really jammed that thing right in there, didn’t you?” Then, her head tilted to the side. “Is that one single bar straight through the tip? Or are there two different piercings on either side-?”

“Focus, Reaper,” Ian interrupted.

“Right,” Cat said, shaking her head as if to clear it. “What did I come in here for again? Oh, yeah. We’re all in deep shit.”

About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, and the new Night Rebel series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. In addition to being a writer, Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Visit https://www.jeanienefrost.com/ for more information

Review // Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

January 19, 2022

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

“Whether you’re Veritas the Law Guardian, Ariel the vampire-witch, or Death’s scary demigod daughter. Doesn’t matter. In all your forms, in every manifestation of yourself, I love you.” ~ Ian

────── ♔ ──────


Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost


Night Rebel #2
Release - January 28, 2020
Genre - Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy / vamps, demons, demigods
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / one real scene
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 387 pages
Publisher - Avon


Some promises are meant to be broken...

Veritas spent most of her life as a vampire Law Guardian. Now, she's about to break every rule by secretly hunting down the dark souls that were freed in order to save Ian. But the risks are high. For if she gets caught, she could lose her job. And catching the sinister creatures might cost Veritas her own life.

Some vows are forever...

Ian's memories might be fragmented, but this master vampire isn't about to be left behind by the woman who entranced him, bound herself to him, and then disappeared. So what if demons, other Law Guardians, and dangerous, otherworldly forces stand against them? Come hell or high water, Ian intends to remind Veritas of the burning passion between them, because she is the only person seared on his mind--and his soul...

My Two Cents

5 "I laugh in the face of danger" stars

I'm starting off by saying that this series is AMAZING!! Seriously, if and when you meet Ian, you'll be so freaking thrilled. Add Veritas to the mix... non-stop excitement!

Seriously, if you haven't started this series yet, why not? What is stopping you???

While I'd love nothing more than to tell you everything that popped off in this book, to tell you all of the things I loved, I can't. No spoilers, right?

So here are some of my favorite things...

🪄 Ian, of course. This vampire is a constant surprise. His sarcasm, his wit, his charm, his fearlessness, his bravery, his honor, his passion... what is there not to love?
🪄 Veritas was also catching me off guard. When we left off, she sacrificed her own happiness for Ian's. Could her heart be any more true? And then when he does whatever it takes, pissing people off along the way, how was she supposed to resist him? And then her powers? Only gets better. Oh and her family gets bigger *hint hint*
🪄 the magic is always fun. When they both go against Dagon (again), I was blown away by how much I enjoyed those scenes.
🪄 everything. Seriously, there wasn't a moment of boredom, annoyance, frustration, or the like. I was engaged, entertained, and in love!

The ending of this one introduces some new drama for the next one and I can't wait to find out how it all unfolds. As long as these two remain together, I'm good.

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

Excerpt

You can find the first three chapters here: https://www.jeanienefrost.com/night-rebel-series/wicked-bite/

About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, and the new Night Rebel series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. In addition to being a writer, Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Visit https://www.jeanienefrost.com/ for more information

Review // Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

January 07, 2022

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“I, Astaroth, Crown Prince of Hell, am in love with you, Layla Shaw. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. A hundred decades from now, I will still be in love with you, and it will be as fierce today as it will be a decade later.”

────── ♔ ──────


Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout


The Dark Elements #3
Release - July 28, 2015
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 1 out of 5 / fade to black / very vague
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 288 pages
Publisher - Harlequin Teen

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Find your copy of Every Last Breath here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

4 "How my feelings have changed" stars

I am so glad I stuck with this trilogy!

Every Last Breath gave me everything I was looking for from the beginning. Not only was there a bump in action (mannnnnn that Lilin ain't a joke), but Layla did a lot of growing up. Not once did she aggravate me. NOT ONCE!

After that cliffhanger in Stone Cold Touch, I had no clue how the story would resolve itself. Who lives? Who dies? No one is safe! And JLA kept me on the edge of my toes for all of it!

Roth was just as delicious as always. Actually, I think he was more scrumptious in this book. When a demon finds his heart...

“You are so beautiful, Layla. And if I could pick one thing I could stare at for the rest of eternity, it would be you.”

As much as I learned to appreciate Layla and as much as I loved Zayne (he's an amazing guy and I hope he finds true happiness), Roth was the true showstopper of this series. He permeated every bit of this story, even the scenes he wasn't a part of.

I'm here at the end and my mind is full of questions, such as:

1. Will Zayne find his mate? And who will it be? Is it Stacey?

2. What is Cayman? I know there's more to this demon. And will he appear again?

3. Will all of the gargoyles get a story?

4. Seriously... who or what is Morris?

5. And... will Layla and Roth show up somewhere?


I definitely recommend these books, if for nothing else, so you can fall in love with Roth too!

Excerpt

Cayman gathered up the slices of bacon, spreading them out on our plates before joining me at the island. If someone told me a year ago I'd be eating scrambled eggs and bacon made by a demon, I would've laughed in their face and told them that crack was whack.

Times had most definitely changed. I picked up a piece of bacon.

"What's going on with you and Zayne?"

I nearly choked on the bacon. My eyes watered as I grabbed the OJ and took a huge swallow. "Excuse me?" I croaked.

A half smile formed as he forked up some eggs. "You and Zayne, the gorgeous gargoyle. What's going on there?"

"How do you know something's going on?"

Cayman rolled his eyes. "Honey-child, a blind person could see there's major tension. What's the scoop?"

Heat blasted across my cheeks. Well then. "I…" I had no idea how to answer that question, because I wasn't even sure myself. "I don't know."

He sent me a long look. "Ah, I think you totally know, but you're just not ready to put it into words."

Shoving another slice of bacon into my mouth, I eyed him. "Oh, do you now?"

"Yeah. Your stuff is complicated. I got you, but I know what's really going on there, so I'm about to go all come to Jesus with you." Setting his fork down, he leaned over and whispered the "truth" in my ear.

I jerked back, his words echoing—no, actually taunting me—and anger rose in me swiftly. I glared at him, my hand tight on the fork. Something about what he said was so true I wanted to kick it back in his face. "I don't want to talk to you about this."

He chuckled. "Whatever floats your boat."

Ignoring him, I devoured the rest of my breakfast, then I got up and dumped the plate and silverware in the dishwasher. When I faced him, he was still grinning. I scowled. "Where's Roth?"

"He's out."

I waited and there was no answer. "Doing what?"

"Things," he replied. "Demon duties."

Sighing, I leaned against the counter. "You're real helpful."

Winking, he held up his empty plate between two fingers. Air crackled, and then flames sparked off the tip of his fingers, climbing the plate. My eyes widened as I watched the fire completely obliterate the plate. The fork went up in flames next.

"Well, that's one way to clean up," I murmured.

Cayman popped off the bar stool, all smiles. "Let's stop playing around, my own personal Beanie Baby. Zayne's in love with you. Roth's in love with you."

I inhaled sharply, but the air caught in my throat.

"Both would do anything for you—live, breathe and die for you, but you can't have both of them, Layla."

My hands fell to my thighs and I whispered, "I know that."

"And you know which one is the real deal," he continued, eyeing me intently. "You know, the forever kind of love, so why are you dragging this out?"

"I'm not dragging anything out," I protested. "I was kind of out of it, you know, what with the whole being held pris­oner and then nearly killed by my own clan thing. Then I was holed up here recovering, and then yesterday happened." Frustrated, I stalked around the island. "And maybe I don't think it's the right time for me to be with either of them. Did you ever think about that?"

Cayman cocked his head to the side. "When is there ever a right time to fully give your heart to another? There are always going to be obstacles. You just have to decide which ones are worth it."

"Whatever." I crossed my arms.

He mimicked my stance. "Don't be a coward."

"Excuse me?"

"A. Coward," he repeated, and I briefly considered picking up the vase in the center of the island and throwing it at him. "Not making a choice is the coward's way out. You love both of them. I get that. But you don't feel the same kind of love for both of them, and the sooner you accept that, the better…"

About the Author

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, 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, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

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 Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Visit https://jenniferlarmentrout.com for more information

Review // Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

December 04, 2021

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Love is a strange creature one thinks one has a grasp on and understanding of, only to discover later that it was only the barest taste of the real thing.

────── ♔ ──────


Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout


The Dark Elements #2
Release - October 21, 2014
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal / love triangle
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 1 out of 5 / heroine blushes at a bare chest
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 453 pages
Publisher - Harlequin Teen

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…

Find your copy of Stone Cold Touch here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

3 "I can see... Can you?" stars

If you read my review of White Hot Kiss, you're probably wondering if I feel the same way.

I do.

I went in thinking to myself that I needed to be more patient. More tolerant.
She's a teenager and teenagers can be ridiculous. Remember you were one once.
The problem is... I grew up.
And I don't mean in years.
I mean, when things happened, I learned from them.
I evolved.
Sadly, Layla did not!

Our heroes won the battle, but not the war in the last book. Stone Cold Touch deals with the repercussions of all that happened before. Although Layla lacked self-awareness, it was easy to see what and who and where and why and everything else. All I had to do was observe and I understood. That doesn't mean the ending didn't still leave me shook, because it did. And again, despite how much I can't stand Layla... I'll be reading the next book.

I know, I know. I'm not making sense.

The author writes in a way that no matter how I feel about one character, there's still so much to enjoy. Like the hotness of Roth. Or the sweetness of Zayne. I believe both men deserve far more than they've gotten. And I'm not enjoying the love triangle that is going on here. One, it lacks real chemistry. Actually, the chemistry is all one-sided. The guys are giving and Layla isn't cutting it. I'm telling you, the endless blushing needs to stop. GROW UP!! And two... Well, these guys would be the perfect friends IMO. The only thing stopping them (aside from being natural born enemies) is Layla and what they believe they feel for her.

I honestly wish this wasn't categorized as any kind of romance. If it was just about a girl who is coming into her own, who happens to have powerful friends who are men, I'd be happier lol. Or maybe not. Maybe I would always find Layla to be terrible.

Okay, I'm off to read the next book. Wish me luck!

About the Author

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, 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, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

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 Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Visit https://jenniferlarmentrout.com for more information

Review // White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

November 30, 2021

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for.

────── ♔ ──────


White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout


The Dark Elements #1
Release - February 25, 2014
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 1 out of 5 / please save me from this
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 388 pages
Publisher - Harlequin Teen

Layla just wants to fit in at school and go on a date with Zayne, whom she's crushed on since forever. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister--and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla's kiss will kill anything with a soul--including him.

Then she meets Roth--a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it's tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she's the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

Find your copy of White Hot Kiss here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

3 "Give. Me. A. Freaking. Break!!" stars

After being bombarded by so many five star reviews for this book, I expected to be blown away by how fantastic and irresistible and unputdownable it would be.

I wasn't.

I was less than thrilled by the heroine and found that the story suffered by being told solely from her point of view.

I know, I'm the worst. Heroines don't stand a chance with me. I'm so picky. Blah, blah-di-blah.

It's just that Layla was pretty much everything I don't like about teenagers. Whiney. Pathetic. Defiant (without cause). Ridiculous. Immature. I really could go on here.

And I swear, if she blushed one more time over a guy looking at her, asking her questions, casually touching her, or almost kissing her... I honestly don't know what I would do.

She was completely lackluster until the one scene at the end. Finally... finally she contributed something.

Why did everything center around her when she was absolutely no help to herself or others?

And why did she constantly do the one thing a heroine should never do? This chick was constantly calling out a man's name when he's trying to keep the demon's from killing her. Ummm... do you know anything about not distracting a hero when he's got his hands full?

All three stars go to Roth (who was utterly scrumptious), Zayne (who was magically delicious), and the plot and characters that filled up this story. They gave me enough to keep on going.

Yes, you read that right. I plan to read the next book.

We'll see how I feel about Layla then. I'm all for a redemption arc.

About the Author


# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, 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, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

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 Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Visit https://jenniferlarmentrout.com for more information