YA book review: Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements 0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

By -

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements 0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
YA paranormal romance
eBook, 105 pages
Published December 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen (first published January 1st 2013)

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 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...


Jennifer L. Armentrout has a way of immediately hooking her readers and keeping them invested in her characters, conflicts, and dramas. White Hot Kiss cemented my loyalty as a fan and this prequel novella in The Dark Elements series is a fast-paced, utterly romantic, and thrilling read.

I'm enthralled by this new world the author has created. Gargoyle wardens battling all types of demons from disgusting to dastardly combine together for plenty of surprise twists and various action scenes. Jasmine is incredibly likable. I understood her frustration over her close friend, Dez, suddenly leaving unexpectedly and how his return years later made things worse. How can one hate another or stay angry at them for hurting them when your own body betrays you by longing for this very person? This is the situation Jas finds herself in. Dez has returned for a reason and now he has to convince Jas his intentions are true. He says he loves her and wants her. Can she believe him? 

Or will he run away again? In order to accept him, she compiles a list of things he has to do with her--like a bucket list before she marries and settles down--before she'll even consider taking him back. But the reader already knows what Jas will do simply by seeing how she responds whenever Dez is near. When it comes to love, the heart can tell the outcome faster than the brain.

Bitter Sweet Love wonderfully expresses the full meaning of its title every time Jas and Dez get together. Their scenes are filled with delicious tension, seductive looks and nods, igniting touches, and I'll admit I enjoyed every single second reading them. Armentrout is a fantastic treasure to readers. She always knows how to create awesome characters, employs the perfect voice, infuses her scenes with the right combo of emotions while the action keeps readers riveted. This may be paranormal but her worlds are rooted in realism, allowing readers to always wonder "What if?" Loved it! 

Rating: 4

Cover comment:
I'm not sold on the covers in this series. I wish they had some more color and something more to keep me visually interested. I find them boring.

Book source:
Purchased.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

By -
Image
What time is it? Since it's St. Patrick's Day, it's also time for the 4th Annual   Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop ! This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader and co-hosted by Books Complete Me . The hops runs today, March 17th, through midnight on March 24th. Find the complete listing of all the participating blogs HERE   or below. What are we giving away? Well, since spring is ALMOST here and we know many from around our country are tired of dealing with or seeing snow on the ground (as much as I love snow, this season has been one of the toughest ), we thought we would celebrate Spring . Reader Girls is offering our winner their choice of an upcoming spring release--paperback or hardcover, YA, NA or adult--up to $15. If your choice costs more, we can send you a $15 Amazon gift card which you can apply to purchasing your top spring read. We will share our top  two  most anticipated Spring reads.  They are: Let's celebrate ...
Read more

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

By -
Image
It's time for another hop! This one is the Spring Fling Giveaway Hop which is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and  Eve’s Fan Garden  and runs from now through midnight on May 7th.  We are giving away one ARC of Thorn Abbey by Nancy Ohlin. Our giveaway is open internationally. Here's the book: Thorn Abbey by Nancy Ohlin YA retelling/paranormal*Hardcover/eBook, 304 pages Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Simon Pulse Nothing is as it seems in this darkly romantic tale of infatuation and possession, inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Becca was the perfect girlfriend: smart, gorgeous, and loved by everyone at New England’s premier boarding school, Thorn Abbey. But Becca’s dead. And her boyfriend, Max, can’t get over his loss. Then Tess transfers to Thorn Abbey. She’s shy, insecure, and ordinary—everything that Becca wasn’t. And despite her roommate’s warnings, she falls for brooding Max. Now Max finally has a reason to ...
Read more

The Devouring #2: Soulstice by Simon Holt

By -
Image
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2009) Book summary: The terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing sequel to The Devouring.  It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.  The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality. My Review: Soulstice was the first book I finished for the new year. Holt has created a gripping, realistic horroriffic fantasy with likable characters, a female heroine we can root for, and a truly evil protagonist. I realized this is the first YA horror series I've read and totally enjoyed. Reggie is back, wondering what the Vours are doing in the quiet time since the incident with Quinn and her rescue of brother Henry six months earlier. The peaceful break d...
Read more