Waiting on Wednesday (7): Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event held by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick:

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Expected Publication Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Genre: Contemporary, Fanstasy, Romance, YA

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?

My Thoughts

Another Jennifer L. Armentrout book? I'm totally on board here. Her writing style and characters are just so awesome! Really can't wait for this one.

Review: Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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 of. 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.

Review

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first two books in the series.

Being in love with an alien has some nasty repercussions. For Daemon and Katy, their teenage lives are anything but simple. Surprisingly, I'm still in love with this paranormal series. Usually when the whole Paranormal-Human romance goes awry I get sick of the heroine complaining about her life and think, "If you hadn't been so insistent about being with this guy, your life would be a lot simpler." But this book is different. Katy is a strong, independent MC, who isn't afraid to face her enemies alone. You can't even fathom the thought of her being with anyone except Daemon.

With Dawson home, the Black family is once again hole except for one tiny detail. After being caged and tortured by the DOD, Dawson isn't the same happy teenager he used to be, and he's hell-bent on going back and rescuing Beth too. What's more, the Luxen learn a secret DOD organization has been kidnapping Luxen and forcing them to mutate humans to give them Luxen-like powers. Reluctantly partnering up with Blake, they devise a plan to break in to the DOD compound, but nothing is as it seems in this small town. Meanwhile, Katy has to deal with repairing her broken friendship with Dee after Adam's death, and protecting her mom from what's to come.

Wow. Just wow. Without giving too much away, I though this book was a well-done follow-up to Onyx. We learn more about Daemon and Katy's "connection," and gain more insight into the life of they mysterious Dawson. It was so great to see Daemon, Dawson, and Dee back together again; no alien family could be more adorable. And of course it's chock full of the alien action and romance we've all fallen in love with. And the classic Daemon moments :). The ending is...let's just say you'll be shocked. Still, I loved it and am anxious to see what happens in Origin.
 
Overall Rating: ★★★★ 4 stars

Renée

About the Author

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website

#1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia. 
 

All the rumors you heard about her state aren't true. 

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen. 

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins. 

Waiting on Wednesday (3): Be With Me by J. Lynn

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

 

This week's pick:

 

Be With Me (Wait for You #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (J. Lynn)

Expected Publication Date: February 4th, 2014

Publisher: Avon (William Morrow)

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

 

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

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Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone reveled in last night's festivities; speaking of which, a new year means new books to come. In particular this beauty: the second book in the Wait for You series. I simply adored the first book, and I can't wait to see what Jase and Teresa's story is about. Only a month to go!

Renée 

The Friday 56 (2): Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hi! Well Friday has finally arrived, announcing the start of a glorious weekend and another step closer to a new year.
"The Friday 56" is a meme hosted by Freda's Voice. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book

*Turn to page 56, or 56% in your eReader

*Find any sentence (or a few, just don't spoil it!) that grabs you

*Post it

*Comment with your (url) post. Add the post url, not the blog url. It's that simple

This week's book is Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lesa and Carissa had no idea that Adam hadn't really died in a car accident, and we had to keep them in the dark. "She's really not talking to anyone right now." Well, besides Andrew, which was so bizarre I couldn't even think about it.   

Renée

Review: Wait for You (Wait for You #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Some things are worth waiting for…Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgensten 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...
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♥ "He had me at sweetheart" ♥

That quote pretty much sums up the amazingness of this book. Wait for You was my first step into the vast pool that is New Adult romance. I've definitely read my fair share of YA and adult romance, but never once thought there was something in between. Huh. That aside, Wait for You is the type of romance that makes you want to walk around all day with a silly smile on your face (you guys know the one I'm talking about, the lovey-dovey one) and sigh every time you think about the characters. Or one character in particular, Cam Hamilton. The guy every girl dreams of meeting. Before we get sidetracked here, on to the plot. 

Wait for You follows the story of Avery Morgansten, a girl who arrives in West Virginia to start her freshman year of college, and hopefully start a new life far away from her hometown in Texas. We quickly find out Avery is running away from the troubling past, the severity of which we don't learn until later. 
The first day of classes she (literally) runs straight into the dreamy Cameron Hamilton. As luck would have it, Cam and Avery end up being in the same Astronomy class and are assigned star-gazing partners. And so, the romance starts. But with Avery running from her past, and Cam trying to get her out of her shell, there are some bumps along the way. 

First off, Jennifer L. Armentrout really knows how to write swoon-worthy heroes. Cam was the perfect guy in all aspects. Popular, sexy, smart, kind, and caring, not to mention his superb baking skills, he makes up all the aspects of the perfect boyfriend. The way romantic banter he provides is so charming. You can tell Avery's a goner even though she won't admit it herself. Which is what I loved. Romantic buildup with actual substance makes a story so much more satisfying when the characters finally do get together.
While Cam is the cocky, popular guy on campus, he never takes on the jerk attitude. Never. You can see how much he truly loves Avery, and that makes you all the more anxious to see them end up together.

Avery can be considered the stubborn damsel in distress in this story. Yes, it is frustrating that she keeps running away from her problems, but she's such an adorably awkward and sweet character that you can immediately relate to her. Even then, she's a strong-female lead, and proves to be a true fighter in the end. Together, she and Cam make an amazing couple, one that definitely makes my list.

Wait for You is a story about finding strength in others and yourself. Finding that time and love can heal all wounds.
I fell head-over-heels in love with this book and will definitely read the entire series!

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Renée 
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About the Author
Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website

#1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia. 

All the rumors you heard about her state aren't true. 

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen. 

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins. 

Review: Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
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The second installment in the Lux series, this book promises to be amazing and delivers. It picks up where Obsidian left off, where Daemon and Katy are dealing with the aftermath of a recent Arum attack. Katy realizes she shares a "connection" with Daemon after he healed her from a near-death experience with an Arum. Convenient for Katy, a new boy arrives in town: Blake Saunders, and he apparently has the answers to all the weird things that have been happening to Katy. Meanwhile, with the Department of Defense in town, there are rumors that Dawson and Bethany may still be alive, and we get a little closer to uncovering the mysterious "disappearance" of those two.

Katy and Daemon were absolutely brilliant once again. The witty banter and romance between the two was just right. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who wants to swoon every time Daemon's mentioned. It was fun to see them open up to each other after the whole "boy pretends to hate girl" phase was over. This book couple is similar to Will Herondale and Tessa Gray from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series. Unlike that series, no love triangle here.  

What I like the most about Katy is that she's fiercely independent...but that can have a downside too. Since sometimes that translates into reckless behavior that can hurt those closest to her. But from an overall point of view, she's an awesome kick-butt protagonist that doesn't need to rely on only Daemon to get her out of (most) sticky situations.

The book ended on a cliffhanger that pulls on the heartstrings. It seems happy...for now. It should make for an interesting turn of events in the next book.

An awesome sauce rating of 4.5 starts for this one!

Renée