Showing posts with label Jennifer Armentrout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jennifer Armentrout. Show all posts

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Wait for You by J. Lynn (Jennifer Armentrout)


Wait for You
Wow, just wow.  I love you Jennifer.  If my husband had just let me stay up one more hour (seriously, who needs to sleep?), I would have finished this book in one sitting - I couldn't put it down.  It was infectious.

I know I always say I love each book I review, but maybe, just maybe, its because I'm awesome and pick really good books and authors?  But seriously, this book was amazing.  Have you ever finished a book and sighed because you felt so contented and happy.  That is how I feel right now, because I literally just finished the book.

Wait for You is about a college freshman named Avery who has moved across the country to start a new life in West Virginia.  She needs a clean break from her past in Texas, and wants nothing more than to never be recognized as her past self.  On her first day of school, she literally runs head first into Cameron Hamilton.

"With the unruly dark waves, the luminous true blue eyes, the face and body to covet, Cam was hands down gorgeous.  I doubted there was a single girl on campus who didn't that that.  But he was more than a swoon-worthy hot guy.  Cam was charming, nice, sweet, and funny.  He was the kind of guy you wanted to bring home and show off - the kind of guy that was never single for too long and the one you fell head over in heels in love with."

Cameron Hutchinson is popular guy, loved by the girls and respected by the guys.  He's the all around package.  For that reason, Avery has no doubts he would never be interested in her.  When he actually begins to show an interest, she thinks its a joke.  Her friends think she's crazy and try desperately to change her mind.

""But we're your friends", Jacob sounded so pitiful that I started to feel bad.  He turned to Cam. "We totally support her going out with you."  Okay, I didn't feel bad for him.  "I like your friends, Avery."  Cam grinned at my arched look.  "Oh, we think she should," Jacob said. "Like she should do it right now." "We also told her you weren't a serial killer," Brit interjected. Cam nodded. "That's a glowing recommendation. Hey at least he's not a serial killer.  I'm going to put that on my Facebook profile."

This book deals with some heavy subject matter.  When I was explaining the book to my husband (late, late last night, while he was trying to sleep, as a punishment  for not letting me finish the book) he did understand why I would want to read it in the first place.  I said "Well the book is about a girl who was <spoiler> and then she <spoiler>", and his response was "wow, that sounds like a real downer of a book, why are you reading it?"  I tried to explain to him that even though the book is based on some emotional heavy material, the book is actually uplifting and humerus (I think he fell asleep in the middle of my explanation/punishment).  The reason the book isn't seriously heavy- the characters.  They are so witty and likable that you can't help but fall in love with them.

Like Cam, I couldn't get enough of Cam.  He was overconfident, bordering on arrogant, but his adorable personality totally made up for it.  He really made the book go from good to excellent for me, and he was the reason for every laugh out loud moment for me.

"Cam chuckled softly.  "You really haven't been listening to me at all.  You've been too busy staring at me."  "I have not!"  My entire face burned with that little fib and I hastily focused on where the couple had been.  They were gone now.  He nudged my shoulder.  "Yes, you were."  I screwed up my face.  "You are so beyond the acceptable level of arrogance "  "Arrogant?  I'm just stating the truth."  Cam tossed his notebook on the ground and leaned back on his elbows, eyeing me thorough his lowered lashes.  That damn, insufferable lopsided grin was on his face.  "There's nothing wrong with staring at me.  I like it."

Did I mention this book is hot?  Its a slow burn, but when the fire starts, it's yummy.  Avery and Cam have great chemistry.  Maybe a quote will help.  :-)

"The hand around my neck held me there, raised up on my elbows as his mouth devoured mine.  And that was the only world I could use as accurately explained how he kissed me.  Cam devoured me."

I've read other books by Jennifer Armentrout...her Onyx series is amazing and actually the reason I started writing reviews, but its a YA series so it's different compared to a book like this.  Not to insult Jennifer's YA series, because she can write one hot YA book (probably the hottest out there), but this was just a bit more grown up.  Obviously the subject material helped out, but the characters were a bit older and there weren't the boundaries that go with a YA book.  This book is categorized as New Adult which something relatively new.  I guess it's right in between Adult and YA...so basically young adults who can swear, drink and have sex, lol.  I like this category  it feels real to me.  It's also where many of my favorite books tend to come from - Beautiful Disaster, Easy, Hopeless etc.  It's like an updated version of YA, without the restrictions.  

Wait for You is well worth the read, and I have a feeling, based on the last chapter, that there may be a book or two in the future based on other characters in the book.  So I will say my book prayers and hope for that!  

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Opal (Lux Series # 3)
I first want to state that I absolutely positively loathe cliffhangers.  They are like my kryptonite.  If you ask my husband if there is something I lack, he would say patience.  I have none.  When a book ends in a cliffhanger and the next book in the series doesn't come out for at least six months, I seriously want to hurt someone.  So, I usually avoid books with known cliffhangers until the next book is out.  Its for the greater good of those around me, and my sanity.

Alright, now that I have that out of my system, lets review Opal.  This book was by far the sexiest book in the series.  The Katy/ Daemon saga has been resolved and they are now trying to live their happily ever after, amongst crazy hybrids, aliens and evil doctors.  But you know, everyone has their struggles.  Without giving too much away, I would say this book is frustrating in a certain way...you will understand when you read it.  I mean seriously, how many freaking interruptions can two people possibly have?  But Jennifer doesn't play tease throughout the entire book and I felt much better towards the end.  Not the end-end, I'll talk about THAT later.

This book brings back characters that were previously missing, those who have betrayed and also brings together those who have grown apart.  I liked the family dynamic in this book.  Jennifer focuses on many different aspects of family and how Katy realizes that those you care about are worth any sacrifice.  There is also a importance placed on Katy's transformation from a quiet, push-over type teenager to a fierce, would-do-anything-to-protect-my-family young woman.  She grows up in this book, and it is rewarding to see her blossom into something more confident and in control compared to her previous self.  It doesn't mean she is without mistakes.  She still makes a few mistakes in judgement along the way, but that is part of growing up right?  I'm almost 32 and I make mistakes on a daily basis...red velvet cake at 9:00 last night...bad bad mistake.

This book may have been a bit slower than the others.  Much of the book is based around preparing for something so the action sequences are small but still intense.  The slower pace of the book is forgiven due to all the yummy scenes Jennifer includes.  Even though this is a YA book, the scenes are written in a way that makes you want to turn back the page and read it again.  They are still the fade to black type scenes that YA books usually include but the build up is well written.

Around the 98% point, you experience an WTF moment and then a "No, No, NO!" moment.  And then the huge cliffhanger is dropped and the book ends.  This was a total surprise for me.  The first two books didn't necessary come to a complete close but there was a end to them (cliffhanger free).  So when this shit happened, I literally considered sending her and email demanding the next 10 pages (at least) for my sanity.  But its ok, I've had a day to ponder it and I am now at peace with the ending.  See, I can pretend to have patience.  And I guess the wait will make the next book even sweeter.  That's the mom in me talking....the rest of me is still thinking about sending that email.  :-)


Purchase Opal in paperback on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Purchase Opal for Kindle
Purchase Opal for Nook