New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

I have received some great e-galleys in the last little bit!

The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder (goodread
The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L Armentrout (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the chance to review The Museum of Heartbreak. Thank you to HarlequinTeen and Inksinger PR for the chance to read The Problem With Forever. Excited to check out both of these amazing sounding titles.

What bookish items made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Every Last Breath Cover Reveal

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for EVERY LAST BREATH, the hotly anticipated conclusion to the Dark Elements trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout!! EVERY LAST BREATH is a Young Adult Paranormal being published by Harlequin Teen and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements Series. It is being released on July 28th, 2015. Pre-order EVERY LAST BREATH and then be sure to read the first books in this amazing series before its release!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** ibooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

EVERY LAST BREATH Synopsis:

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…

“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!”
--New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.” --#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

And we have a surprise for you! The first books in the series have been given a new look too!!

Don't miss the previous titles in The Dark Elements Series-nowwith new covers! Readers interested in downloading the new cover jackets for their previously purchased Dark Elements Series titles, can download them HERE!

For best results when downloading the new cover jackets:

• Print on 8.5x14" (Legal paper)
• Use landscape or horizontal setting = 8.5" tall x 14" wide
• Print at 100% scale or "actual size"
• Print with the image centered on page
• Fold and trim to fit

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** BAM ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** Walmart

WHITE HOT KISS synopsis:

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.

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis:

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…

"Constantly entertaining...the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance." —Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss

And the Prequel Novella, BITTER SWEET LOVE...

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** BAM ** Kobo

BITTER SWEET LOVE Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

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 the 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…

"With her signature flare for combining humor, romance and action, Armentrout weaves a fast-paced read that will have readers' hearts racing in more ways than one. Like Armentrout's previous heroines, Jasmine is fun and full of attitude, while Dez is as snarky as he is sexy. This is a must read for new and old fans alike!" -RT Book Reviews

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio:

# 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. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | EVERY LAST BREATH Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads | WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads | BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads  

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout

Release Date - October 21, 2014

Publisher Website - Harlequin Teen
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 446 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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… 

A tension filled love triangle. A girl caught between two worlds. White Hot Kiss left me eager to continue Layla's journey as she tries to find her place in the dangerous world of wardens and demons. While I didn't love Stone Cold Touch as much as the first novel in the series, I did appreciate what it did to move the story forward.

This feels like a necessary, if drawn out, step to the finale. Things are put into place in this novel that need to have happened to set up whatever is to come in the next installment. The three book format also allows each side of the 'triangle' ample time to have both guys win over your affections.

Jennifer L Armentrout's writing is insanely readable. It allows for you to fly through the pages quickly as she keeps things progressing. You want to keep turning those pages, and finding out what comes next. She's great at setting things up and keeping you invested until the conclusion. I would not consider the writing the strongest element of the story, but it's and addictive read because you cannot stop reading. She's also added plenty of humour into the story which balances the action sequences rather well, and adds a little something to the story that makes the characters shine a little bit brighter. Bambi, in particular, provides plenty of comedic moments through Layla's reactions to her.

The strongest element, and what Jennifer does really well, is characters, and story. She weaves together the story in such a way that it is compelling. She makes you care about her characters. Layla, especially, is so endearing. You want what's best for her. She's the type of character you would be friends with. She's sweet, and you immediately understand why people want to protect her. She really begins to stand up for herself, and starts to truly see what she has to offer. It's a pleasant development from the first novel, and shows she is growing to accept herself, and who she is.

The secondary characters are a rather fun, engaging group. Layla's friends, Danika, and others all have surprising, and important parts to play in this part of Layla's story. Those who did not like Danika may be surprised to see a different side of her and it's a welcome addition to the complicated relationships in the novel.

If the first book was Roth's time to win you over, Stone Cold Touch is definitely all about Zayne. He steps up the sexy in a big way, and proves himself a contender for Layla's affections. At the end of this, I am firmly in the Team Zayne camp because he's just so inherently good.  He's good for Layla, and helps her see the best in herself. Roth sees the other side to her, and accepts it so he's an appealing choice, but ultimately her history with Zayne pushed me over the edge. You buy into their connection, and the fact that she's crushed on him from a distance, and the dizzying realization that perhaps he likes her too is the stuff of friendship crush daydreams.

This triangle is one where it genuinely feels like the girl has feelings for both guys involved. I do find it interesting that the author is not choosing the end result but rather a fan vote is going to decide. I fully admit that this made me less invested in the romance. I couldn't get engaged because I felt like it meant nothing. The vote will be decided based purely on popularity (and I am pretty confident I know who will win) rather than the events that happen between the characters. This novel allows for either outcome of the vote, but it made it an unnecessary part of the story, because it won't be decided by the plot. In a novel that is so focused on the romance, it kept me at a distance. I do think it's nice for the fans to have a say but I am unsure if this is going to work and provide a thoughtful ending to the triangle.

Plenty of twists, turns and surprises await Layla and her friends. The end sets up the rest of the story, and leaves you with a bunch of questions that will make it nearly impossible to not pick up the final installment. Things are only heating up leading into the finale, and the events in this novel certainly change everything for Layla and the people she loves.

A fun, romance filled read that emphasizes the love triangle. Those who loved White Hot Kiss will undoubtedly enjoy this continuation of Layla, Zayne and Roth's story. It's a solid addition to the series, and one that will certainly please Jennifer L Armentrout's fans.

Cover Reveal ...... Stone Cold Touch

 It's Time!! The STONE COLD TOUCH cover is here!

We cannot wait to share the cover for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STONE COLD TOUCH with you all! STONE COLD TOUCH is a young adult paranormal romance by Jennifer L. Armentrout and is the second full-length novel in The Dark Elements Series being published by Harlequin Teen. You'll want to add this to your TBR pile ASAP. Check out this amazing cover!

Isn't it awesome?! You can Pre-order it right now! 

**Amazon** **Barnes And Noble** **iTunes** **Kobo**

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis:

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…

"Constantly entertaining...the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance." —Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss
 

And...Don't forget to check out the first book in The Dark Elements Series, WHITE HOT KISS!
 

ABOUT WHITE HOT KISS:

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.

**Amazon** **Barnes and Noble** **BAM** **iBooks** **IndieBound** **Kobo** **Walmart**

   
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.

The Dark Elements Series Website

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads

STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads

WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout  
Release Date - February 25, 2014
Publisher Website - Harlequin Teen
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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.

White Hot Kiss mixes romance with a twist on the classic 'where do I belong/who am I story'. The very readable writing style of Jennifer Armentrout, and some fun mythology make this one fast paced, page turning read that I couldn't put down.

Layla grew on me immediately. Torn between two different sides of herself, she is a very sympathetic character. Warden or demon. She is both, and yet neither. She flits between the two while fully belonging to neither. This ties in nicely with the overall theme of the novel. You quickly see that good and bad are relative terms. Things are not always how you see them, and you can't generalize a whole group of people (or in this case demons/wardens). It just doesn't work that way, and the grey area is what begins to weigh on Layla as she's pulled deeper into her demon world, and learns secrets she never expected were being kept from her.

The mythology is the driving force of the novel. It's well done, and offers a few twists and turns. The secrets Layla uncovers, and as she begins to learn her ancestry, and what it means for herself, her place, and the world in general, was gripping. It provides a balance to the romance so that the plot is moving forward , and compelling you to keep reading. I can not wait to unravel the rest of the secrets, and find out if all the required elements to bring out the apocalypse will ever be completed.

The sexy Warden she excruciatingly can't kiss, and the irresistible demon who makes her want to be oh so bad. Layla certainly find herself in some deliciously sexy situations. The romance is steamy, and a huge focus of the novel. However, it's smartly tied directly into the plot. What better way to test someone who sucks souls than put two very different guys in front of her and make it so she can touch one but not the other? It instant tension and it works.

Roth is exactly the type of bad boy I've been missing in YA novels. He's the kind of bad boy that makes me nostalgic for a time when the bad boy equaled smoking a cigarette while wearing a leather jacket. In other words, he's more of a rebel than truly bad. We see that Roth has many different sides to him, and while he is a demon, he's also quite caring towards Layla. He proves himself loyal, and more than once puts Layla's safety before his own. Zayne is the obviously choice for Layla (minus that whole 'kiss and she'd take his soul' thing). He's loyal, kind, and all around perfect. This results in a pretty evenly matched triangle with each side on pretty equal footing.

Another sexy page turner from Jennifer Armentrout. Fans of her addictive writing will devour this, and immediately want the sequel. It's fun, breezy, and entertaining. The only question left is Team Roth or Team Zane, and luckily we have two other books to make that decision.

Wait For You by J Lynn

Wait For You by J Lynn (Jennifer L Armentrout)
Release Date – September 3, 2013
Publisher Website –  Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages -  384 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**borrowed from a fellow blogger**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Some things are worth waiting for...

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago--an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe--please God--make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing...

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that's just so... so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet...

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she's has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for...

My journey into this New Adult category has been a rocky one. There were a few novels I really enjoyed, but just as many that lacked any substance. Wait For You is one of the good ones. It doesn't sacrifice the plot for the sake of fluff, and instead, weaves it into the story.

I've read previous Jennifer Armentrout books, and I don't think this is her best writing. It's not off putting, but nothing really stands out. It's simplistic and direct. It will appeal to a lot of people, and for someone who is new to the entire New Adult category, it's perfect for that. It's addictive, and completely engrossing, but it's because of other factors.

The characters are what stands out in this novel. Each of them immediately wins the reader over, and makes you care about them and their story. They are what pulls you in. Avery, especially, is a character I really enjoyed. She's just an average college student who is trying to put herself back together after something horrible happens. She made the story feel more personal because she felt recognizable.

This novel looks at what happened to Avery in a very realistic light. Her reaction to what happened, and the events that came after it, felt so honest. She's broken, and trying to cope, but isn't really doing a very good job. She's existing but not really living. The truth about what happened to Avery is something that unravels throughout the novel, and there are a few little surprises in store. I thought I knew what happened early on, and it ended up being even worse than I expected. Jennifer handles this topic with a realism and honesty that allows you to feel Avery's pain.

The overall message of standing up for yourself, and learning how to cope things instead of letting them define you was one I loved. Avery goes through her journey for herself. Yes, Cam is there to help and support her, but she does it for herself. She wants to get herself to a better place because of what that will mean for her. It shows that you can have support to help find the strength within, but that it is in you after all. This type of story lends itself to this message, and the way Avery's progress comes about feels earned.

I am pretty sure every single review is going to mention how swoon worthy Cam is. I've often lamented the decline of the 'bad boy'. We've gone from the 'tame bad boy' who isn't really all that bad, to characters who are harmful to the character they claim to love. Cam is a throwback to that my favourite kind of bad boy. He's known as a womanizer. He is a massive flirt. He uses his charm to his advantage. Yet he is one of the sweetest guys I've come across in novel. He bakes her cookies! His patience, charm, and support of Avery makes him a contender for top book boyfriend, and the cookies just cement his status.

Wait For You is what I expected New Adult to be. It mixes the sexier nature these novels have with an actual plot. It merges them together so that the story is the focus, instead of the usual other way around. This is a story about finding your voice, learning to cope, and the strength that can be found in healing. If you're curious about New Adult, it's a pretty good place to start.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Harper Collins Canada sent me some spicy books to heat up this cold winter! Looking forward to starting these. Endless Love will be a book club read for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bookclub!

Be With Me by J Lynn (Goodreads)
Between The Covers by Various (Goodreads)
Endless Love by Scott Spencer (Goodreads)

Hope you had a fantastic book haul this week too! Link me in the comments so I can come visit.

Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L Armentrout

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L Armentrout
Release Date – December 1, 2013
Publisher Website –  Harlequin Teen
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages - 105 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**received from publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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...

Bitter Sweet Love does exactly what it promises. It teases. It offers up action, romance, and a brief glimpse at the world of the Warden. It's the perfect start to Jennifer Armentrout's sizzling new series that focuses on forgiveness, duty, and following your heart.

Dez and Jas' story is sweet, and angst filled. It's also a forgone conclusion. Very little stakes as the end is crystal clear (even if it isn't for our characters). It made the novella enjoyable, but predictable. The payoff comes at the end where the set up for White Hot Kiss left me dying to continue the story.

The introduction of Layla, Zayne and Roth is where this novella gets interesting. I am already intrigued by all of them. Layla is going to garner sympathy for the way she's shunned and merely 'tolerated'. Her isolation from the rest of the Wardens immediately invokes sympathy. Roth's presence and what his agenda is already has me dying to read more. Zayne seems like a sweet, supportive guy who is incredibly kind to Layla. In this short novella, that doesn't even focus on them, Jennifer managed to make me care enough that White Hot Kiss is a MUST read for me.

The Wardens and their mythology is captivating. Jennifer Armentrout has managed to make gargoyles fascinating, and sexy. This novella gives the reader a crash coarse into their purpose, and how they work. I was unsure that I would be able to fall completely into the story, but it's set up more than accomplishes pulling the reader in. The threat of demons, the sense of duty, and the 'pack' mentality are all going to have ramifications for the characters that will present some delicious storylines.

Bitter Sweet Love offers an intriguing concept, a delicious tease, and fantastic set up. It does exactly what the author, publisher, and ultimately reader, want it to. It makes not picking up White Hot Kiss impossible. I can't wait to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Wardens, and the fall out from the events in this scorchingly hot novella.

Bitter Sweet Love Release Day!

Jennifer L. Armentrout's amazing novella in her new The Dark Elements Series, BITTER SWEET LOVE, is out and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. BITTER SWEET LOVE is the Prequel Novella for The Dark Elements Series and is full of Wardens, fantasy, and romance. The first novel in the series, WHITE HOT KISS, will be released February 25, 2014. Check out what we have for you today! There's also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out below!

EXCERPT:

Moving lightning fast, Dez shifted and I was suddenly underneath him. His arms were on either side of my head, caging me in. Our bodies didn’t touch, but I felt him to the tips of my toes anyway.

             The teasing grin disappeared when I dragged in a deep breath and my chest brushed his. Everything changed in an instant. The playful mood faded, replaced by primal heaviness. Our gazes collided and locked. Neither of us moved. His closeness sent a series of shivers skittering across my skin and made it hard to take slow, even breaths. My body tensed when his gaze dropped to my mouth.

             He tilted his head to the side. “I… I honestly have no idea what we were talking about.”

              “Good. Neither do I.”

             He shifted his weight onto one arm, bring him closer. “Have you enjoyed your trip so far?”

             “Yes.” I felt as if I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs.

             “Good.” He lowered his head. His breath was minty as it moved across my cheek and then my lips. “I’m glad.”

             I wasn’t really following the conversation and I wasn’t sure that he was fully aware of what was coming out of his mouth. I searched my hazy brain for something to say and wet my lips.

             The sound that came out of Dez’s chest rumbled through me. A stuttered heartbeat passed and then his lips were on mine. There was nothing slow about this kiss. It scorched my skin and caused my body to stretch tight like a bowstring. The kiss deepened, spinning my senses. I shuddered when his hand curved over my shoulder and drifted down to my waist, his long fingers spreading out under the hem of my shirt, grazing the bare skin of my stomach.

             I gasped, floored by the raw sensations pounding through my blood. My skin felt as if I was about to phase. Maybe I was.

                “Jasmine,” he whispered, the word falling against my lips, and then his body was pressing mine into the mattress, heavy, sweet and hard.

*Amazon*     *Barnes and Noble*     *iTunes*

ABOUT BITTER SWEET LOVE (The Dark Elements #.5):

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

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 the 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…

Don't miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES 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:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads

WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads

Jennifer L. Armentrout Amazon

WHITE HOT KISS Buy Links:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

iTUNES

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

A smaller week than usual, but totally needed with how packed the last 2 weeks have been.

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L Armentrout (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Harlequin Teen for the chance to read and review this e-novella prequel to White Hot Kiss. The big release date is TODAY so be sure to order your copy! Also stop by on December 2nd when I will have my review, and other release celebration goodies!

Hope you had a fantastic book haul this week too!

Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

Bitter Sweet Love Sneak Peek!

Are you eagerly anticipating the release of Jennifer L Armentrout's White Hot Kiss? If so, you'll want to check out the e-novella prequel Bitter Sweet Love when it releases on December 1!

There is a sneak peek available for those of you who just can't wait (and is that not ALL of us?!). Click on the sneak peek image below to be taken to the teaser sampler of Bitter Sweet Love!

After you've devoured that you can pre-order Bitter Sweet Love from Kobo, or Amazon.

There is also a Goodreads contest to win an advance reader copy of White Hot Kiss, so be sure to enter.

Are you dying to get your hands on Jennifer's new series? What did you think of the sneak peek? Let me know in the comments!

Don't Look Back Cover Reveal

I am thrilled to be helping reveal the cover for  Jennifer L. Armentrout's newest novel.

Here is a little about the novel before we look at the pretty!

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Sounds creepy right? Well the cover is just as creepy....take a look....

If you want to pre-order this it's up on Amazon and Barnes and Noble already.

 Author Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES 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.

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

You can find Jennifer by visiting her Website and Twitter or Facebook

So let me know what you think of this cover in the comments!

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout
Release Date – November 23, 2011
Publisher Website -  Entangled
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  361 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**borrowed from fellow blogger**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Starting over sucks

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

I resisted reading anything by Jennifer L Armentrout for a long time. I figured there was no way the book could live up to the hype. I was terrified of being the only one to not LOVE this book. Luckily, my fears were unfounded. Obsidian is a fun, page turning read that left me wanting more.

Jennifer Armentrout's storytelling is addictive. There are some books that you simply can not stop reading, and Obsidian has this. It's the narrative, and the way the story comes together more than the writing. It's a tried and true formula that captivates and pulls you in. The story itself compels and overtakes the writing, but you're so engrossed in what's happening that the pages fly by.

Daemon and Katy's banter is electric. You feel the sexual tension. It was refreshing to have this be a sexual attraction/lust type of connection. Katy sure isn't thinking love, and Daemon is barely civil to her most of the time. This type of rude bad boy normally isn't appealing but mixing Daemon's obvious softer underneath with Katy's ability to dish it right back made for an interesting dynamic. Their fun, snappy dialog provided some humorous moments, and plenty of quotable lines for fans to freak out over.

I instantly liked Katy. I could relate to Katy. She's very much a typical girl. She's resourceful, fun, and stands up for herself. She doesn't back down, even against the prettiest, meanest girl in school. There was something about her that was 'every gir'. I think part of her appeal is it's so easy to 'walk in her shoes'. The only part of her that sometimes felt forced was the fact that she was a book blogger. I loved the cute little nods to bloggers, but felt non bloggers may not get them, and it didn't mesh with her personality some of the time.

Daemon's a fascinating character. He has secrets and these secrets cause him to push way people. He uses the familiar tactic of rudeness and hurtful words to drive the wedge. Katy claws her way in, even if she isn't realizing she's doing it. The reader can see those walls slowly starting to come down, but Katy often remains clueless. Daemon's relationship with his sister shines a little bit of light on the true Daemon. He's fiercely protective, and will do anything to keep her safe. It's noble, and rather endearing. He made me want to discover all his secrets, and what's behind that cocky, infuriating grin.

The alien mythology is just started to be unraveled. I didn't get as much information about them as I would have liked, but it works for this series. I sense that we are going to unravel it slowly, and allow the alien backstory to take center stage in the plot. I can accept this if the answers are coming, and it would appear that they will be given.

Exceptionally addictive storytelling combined with some entertaining characters made this a quick read that I can easily see becoming an obsession. I am eager to dive into the subsequent novels in this series, and dive further into the alien mythology. If you've held off on reading this like I did... it's time to finally give in.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews). 


A few borrowed books this week and some ebooks for review!

Endless by Jessica Shirvington (Goodreads)
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows (Goodreads)
Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout (Goodreads)

I also snagged this via ebook after the news broke

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (AKA JK ROWLING!!!!) (Goodreads)

So if you missed the news JK Rowling has written a crime novel under a pen name that released in April of this year. It was announced late Saturday (or that's when I stumbled upon the news) that she is indeed the writer. I can't wait to read this.

I am also going to be part of the Endless blog tour. Super excited to read this as I've enjoyed the previous installments of this series. Huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the chance to review.

Big thank you to Ciara (from Lost At Midnight) for lending me Incarnate and Onyx. After Obsidian, I am dying to read Onyx and will hopefully be starting it soon.

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!