Book Review: Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance Series
Publisher:  Entangled: Teen (August 27, 2013)

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Links:  Goodreads Amazon

 

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

My Overall Impression of the Book:

Oh Jennifer…you are still amazing.  What can I say about this book?  I liked this book but I did not love it.  It was missing something.  This book did not evoke the same emotion as the first three books in the series did.  If I do not want to want to throw my Kindle across the room at least twice while reading a book, you have failed :-).  I did like the innocent intimacy between Kate and Daemon…who is still awesome by the way!!  This book also had a lot of surprises that I appreciate in this series.  The Origins…now that was a very creative and interesting way to breathe life into the series, keeping things fresh.  One thing I love about the Lux series is that when think you have things figured out, there is always something lurking around the corner!!   This is one of my favorite YA Paranormal Series by far.  I can’t wait for the final book.

Characters

 

Daemon – Love him still!!  There is something about that sexy green eyed alien that makes my toes curl :-).  In this book you get to see a very different side of Daemon.  Don’t get me wrong he is still a jerk and he is still awesome, but he is also very much in love…and you can see this in every action that he makes.  He will do anything, say anything, and destroy anything for Katy.  He was a man on a mission from page one, but this mission is only the beginning.  I can’t wait to see if his love for Katy is strong enough for him to do what’s right in the next book.

Katy – I liked Katy in this book, which is a change from the last book.  In the last book Katy left me royally pissed off, but I think she redeemed herself in this book.  At the end of the day they are all teenagers who are dealing with bad situations, so sometimes there is no right answer.  Her whole life has changed in a matter of a year and she is trying to deal with that.   Can’t wait until the next book to see the kind of woman Katy becomes.  She has some hard choices ahead of her.

Plot and Writing

 

The writing is great as usual.  Ms. Armentrout is a professional.  This is the 4^th installment of the Lux series.  Jennifer has done an excellent job progressing the storyline.  Each book adds something new and fresh about the world of the Lux.   This story was all about sacrifice.  Everyone that was a part of this story sacrificed something for someone else and, I think that was one of the best parts of the book.  The book was also action packed and fast paced.  Yet again we are left with a cliffhanger, but this cliffhanger was not as devastating to me as the last one, but it is still very intense.  I look forward to the final book in the series and the resolution of the Lux and the Origins. 

Book Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher:  Berkley

Publication Date: October 9, 2012
Links:  Amazon   Goodreads

 

 

Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

My Overall Impression of the Book:

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from Tammara Webber, and it will not be the last.  Easy was an exceptional book. I've read many books over the years and this is one of my favorites. The writing and the flow of the story was remarkable and the author kept me engaged during the whole story.  Reading this book gave me a sense of contentment that I have not felt after reading a book in awhile.  This is one of those books that grabs you in the very beginning and never lets you go.

The overall story was powerful because it meant something. They are so many people both young and old that can relate to the situations that happened in this book. The book was empowering and I would suggest it not only to the New Adult crowd, but to anyone. Anyone who is young going off to college or the military should read this book.  The book centers on Jacqueline Wallace who follows her long time boyfriend Kennedy to college only to find out that everything that glitters is not gold, and basing your decisions in life on another person may not be the best idea. 

Caution:  This book deals with sexual assault in a very tasteful manner.  

Lastly, there will not be a sequel to this book.  I am usually disappointed when I love a book and there is not a sequel, but the story is so strong and meaningful that a sequel is not needed and I respect the author’s decision completely.  The plot and writing in this book was spot on.  

 

Characters

 

Lucus – Was the hero and I loved him. I thought I would not find a hero I loved more than Christen Grey and I was so wrong. Lucas was a protector and so selfless. He was such a great character. He was not over powering like a lot of heroes, but he was able to get his point across. He was so caring and attentive but not sappy and annoying. He was wonderful and his back story was so interesting and heartbreaking.

 

Jackie – Is a heroine I really love.  She was not weak (and not a freaking virgin thank goodness :-).  Not that I have anything against virgins, but there are far too many books focused on “innocent virgin” college girls.  She was a strong woman and I loved how she evolved during the story. That is so true of anyone who goes through a break-up with someone they adored for a long period of time.  I loved how she finally realized who she was as a woman, and how she fought for her happiness with Lucas. Usually the hero is doing all the chasing in love stories, but in this story they chased each other.

Book Review: Fated (Dark Protector #1) by Rebecca Zanetti

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance Series
Publisher:  Kensington Books

Publication Date:  March 1, 2011
Links:  Amazon   Goodreads

Star Rating

Marry Me! Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she's used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But "whatever it takes" has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem.

Or Else! Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he's there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he's a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he's had that long to practice. . .

My Overall Impression of the Book:  
 

Fated is the first book in the Dark Protect series by Rebecca Zanetti. The book is about Cara Paulsen and Talen Kayrs. Cara is an enhanced human with special gifts and Talen is the vampire who wants to mate her. I recently finished the Immortals After Dark and Black Daggar Brotherhood series so I was looking for a new group of alpha males to fall in love with. Well I got them. I love the Kayrs brothers. There a lot of mix reviews about Talen and his “run you over like a Mac Truck” approach to Cara and there mating. I do think he is the most barbaric of the bunch and that is okay with me. I loved him personally. Cara was in danger and every action he took (rather you agree or not) was to protect her. Zanetti did a great job with the world building. I was actually more interested in the world she created then some of the characters, a first for me. 

This book was a good start to the series. Now I am hooked!! The books are an easy read. I actually read the first two books in the series over the weekend. Zanetti also writes novellas that focus on the side characters. Although I see her reasoning, I wish she just wrote full novels about the side characters as well. Anyone who loved IAD or BDB will probably enjoy this series as well. One thing I love about this book series is the Dark Protector’s world is so different from other paranormal books I have read, I do not feel like am reading the same story.  Cara was a likeable heroine.  She had to deal with the cards she was dealt, and Talen did not leave her a lot of choice.  Her life was going to change forever one way or another.  She could either go with vampires, or get kidnapped by their enemy…the Kurjans.  No I do not agree with her leaving her daughter for a extended period of time but Talen did not leave her much choice.  I fell in love with Cara’s daughter Janie, and she is a very important part of the series.

Characters

Talen – Is a barbaric old school alpha male…and I absolutely loved it :-).  There was one thing Talen did in the book that I did not like at all (you will know when you read it), but for the most part I love me some him.  Talen is the take charge, kick butt and ask questions later kind of guy

Cara – Cara was a likeable heroine.  She had to deal with the cards she was dealt, and Talen did not leave her a lot of choice.  Her life was going to change forever one way or another.  She could either go with vampires, or get kidnapped by their enemy…the Kurjans.  No I do not agree with her leaving her daughter for a extended period of time but Talen did not leave her much choice.  I fell in love with Cara’s daughter Janie, and she is a very important part of the series.

Plot and Writing: Love the plot of these books.  So the Kayrs brother are basically the royal family, but they act more like soldiers then royalty.  They have a enemy called the Kurjans.  These two factions have been at peace for hundreds of years until both factions find out about Janie, who is a little girl with special abilities.  Cara also has special abilities and these qualities are needed in the mate of both the vampires and the Kurjans.  So the war is between these two factions is back on, and all the other factions in the realm (witches, shifters, deamons, werewolves) will have to pick a side.  The world that Zanetti has built is both fresh (for a paranormal romance) and interesting. 

This series is a must read!! 

Book Review: Opal (Lux Series #3) by Jennifer Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance Series
Publisher:  Entangled: Teen (August 27, 2013)

Publication Date: December 3, 2012

Star Rating:  4/5
Links:  Goodreads  Amazon

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back.  Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

 

My Overall Impression of the Book:

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!!!. Is this really how the book ended???  This is beyond unfair.  I would rather them take Dawson again then Kat (I know that sounds terrible). Oh Daemon, the love of my life.  Well after Christian Gray and Travis Maddox but I love you still.  He is so wonderful and romantic in this book.  I know this is a YA novel, but they could have included a little more spice between Daemon and Kate, but it was still good.  What a cliffhanger, and this is so unfair.  This book was the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers.  Now I have to wait until April 2013 to reader the next book…REALLY!!  I’m going to have dive face first into another series so I will not lose my mind.  Which reminds me, this is the exact reason I usually wait until a series is complete before I start reading it.  I am a impatient woman…what can I say :-).  Opal was a great read and I cannot wait until Origin comes out.  By the way...I am a PNR psycho now because of these books.  Thank you Jennifer L. Armentrout for introducing me to this awesome genre!! And Blake you are beyond a freaking jerk!!

Characters:

Daemon – I love me some him :-).  He is still awesome and I love it.  You see a different side of Daemon with each book and I love that.  I love a characters that evolves.  You never get bored when you are reading about Daemon Black.

Katy – Pissed me off in this book.  Her decision making skills are flawed by the hundredth power.  I wanted to slap her at least twice, which means something if you can get that kind of emotion out of me…so good job Jennifer :-).  I blame Kat for the ending.  As usual she should have listened to Daemon.

Blake – He is a terrible person.  I can’t count how many times I wanted Daemon to just “end him”.  He was beyond a freaking jerk…

Plot and Writing:  The writing is great as usual.  Ms. Armentrout is a professional.  This is the 3^th installment of the Lux series.  Jennifer has done an excellent job progressing the storyline.  Each book adds something new and fresh about the world of the Luxen.  This story was all about sacrifice.  You get more information about the Daedalus organization and the DoD’s role with the Luxen.  You also get introduced to Luc, who I think will be a key player in the rest of the series.  I can’t wait!!