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Willing Victim: Remastered Excellent little book (only 119 pages), if I do say so myself! Usually I don’t get enough from a short story to emotionally connect with the characters, but this one had me riveted. Not because of any action or suspense, but simply because the dynamic between the two main characters captured me. A little bit of the unknown, and an already shy’ish woman takes a huge chance on someone she can’t stop looking at. She approaches him.
The original cover!!
“You asking me out?”
You’ll never see him again in your life if he turns you down. Just say yes.
And he warns her…
“Sorry, but I’ll take a pass.”
The reply stung her ego a moment but she shook it off. “Why not?”
“I’m not your type,”
‘Cause you see, this one’s quite a bit harder then your typical romance… he likes an alternative kind of “love”. She can’t deny that the closer she gets, the more nervous she is, but she can’t walk away.
“Fine.” He tugged a napkin from the table’s dispenser and Laurel dug a pen from her purse. He scribbled an address in South Boston. “Friday and Saturday nights, eight to one. Tell the guy working that Flynn invited you.”
Laurel studied his slanted handwriting. “Okay,” she said, wondering if all of this newfound impulsivity would leave her by the weekend.
“If that doesn’t scare you off,” he said, “you can try asking me out again.”
And it’s the changes they make to accommodate each other and the surprises they encounter along the way, well… that’s where the fun is.
I had actually found this one a few weeks ago, after I read Defying the Odds. I was hungry for another “sexy brooding unbeatable fighter” read and searched (found a few others while I was at it. BTW, if you know of any, send your recommendations my way, please). So I happened upon this one, and the only thing that turned me off was the length of it. The story itself, had me intrigued, and well… if I can judge a book by it’s cover, this one already had a PLUS! I put it in my TBR list, and continued searching.
And then, my Facebook girls started talking about it. To quote Michele in regards to our enjoyment of the “more alternative” stuff… (while referring to Christian Grey) “…He created a Monster.. or two!!” Ummm… Michele? Make that 3.
Jenny: Thanks Michele. … I’ve been on a reading frenzy this weekend. Had to make the most of a quiet weekend lol Finished Willing Victim and liked that one….
and then… after a few of ’em read it:
Michele: OMG! OMG! OMG! YOU DID AMAZING Jenny!!! I LOVED IT!! Flynn is ABSOLUTELY ON MY LIST!!! Thanks for the recommendation!! An underground boxing, dirty talking, ALPHA!!! How could I not LOVE it?!?! LOL. THANKS JENNY!!! 😀
Jenny: Haha Michele you crack me up! Yay! So glad you loved it. Yep Flynn is on my top 10. I loved him. A dirty talking, underground fighting,INKED Alpha at that! Wow you read it as fast as me. I couldn’t put it down! Phew, so glad you liked it x
Michele: Oh yes!! Let’s not forget his Tats!! Lol. Yes I loved him & I didn’ t stop until it was finished! Lol. HOT
Gitte: LOL Michele, mine left the house today as I devoured the whole thing in one day!!! Jenny that was a great recommendation I LOVED Flynn YUM…he was HOT!!!!
Maryse’s Book Blog: waiiiiiit wait wait!!!!! How did I miss an alpha inked undergeround BOXER??? WHAAAAAA??? Help please? Author? …. Oh you know what!! I already had it in my wish list!! Woops! Guess I better get on it! …. Okay downloaded! YAY me. Time to read. Bye!
How could anyone resist that enthusiasm? And they were right! Small book, but big on feeling! Trepidation, excitement, passion, a little bit of fear, and most definitely… connection. BIG on connection. And you’d not really expect that, going into this because…
Flynn, a rough around the edges Boston/Irish underground boxer has specific needs. He needs to fight. And he needs his “love-life” on the rough side. No worries. He makes sure all of his girlfriends are well aware of his needs, and he makes sure that they want it, too… but as one of his girlfriends put it:
“It doesn’t make him a bad person,” Pam said, seeming to study Laurel’s expression. “He gets off on being rough and domineering and cruel, but it’s not who he is.”
And of course, Laurel’s curious to understand the “why’s” of it.
“I’m not real interested in being psychoanalyzed, kiddo. Dissect my rotten soul all you want but keep it to yourself.””
Obviously, with how much we swooned for Flynn, he isn’t a bad guy. In his daily life, he keeps it on the straight and narrow, and keeps to himself (unless he sees a women in distress. Then his alpha-protector side comes out). That’s how we first meet Flynn. And that’s what attracts Laurel. His no-nonsense handling of a situation that, at first, had her real nervous. In walks Flynn. Problem solved.
And when she simply can’t let him walk away she asks him out… he gives her a fair warning… and then let’s her in.
“And what… what do you need from me?” she asked.
He made a face then laughed. “Don’t think a woman’s ever asked me that before… I just need you to be here with good intentions, I guess.”
And I enjoyed the ride. Oh sure. I grimaced a few times… his “passionate” side is not so passionate and a little more *eeeeeeeeek*!! I crinkled my nose a few times and found myself thinking… really? Reeaally? Like THAT? But you know what? There are safe words. An understanding… everything is clearly laid out, so they both know what to expect. *shrug* It was good. She was good. He was good. I was good. We were all good. You know, the whole “whatever floats your boat” and all that…
And really, the reader quickly discovers, it’s not just “about that” anyway. There’s a whole other level to Flynn, and the fun is in discovering it. Surprises. I love surprises! 😉
Admittedly, this one isn’t gonna be for everyone. But I highly recommend it to those who are at ease with alternative romance novels. Not really BDSM per se, but again, his needs are… you know. Different.
A few of my Facebook friends went crazy over these books. I hear book #1 ends on a serious cliffhanger, but the trilogy is complete, so devour away!! 😀
Michele: “I just finished Existence & really liked it!! 🙂 I can’t wait to read the second one.”
Sandra: “As for Existence lol really big cliffhanger. Im not giving anything away, but Abbi Im dying for book two.”
Sandra: I still have to read Predestined… Existence ended with OMG…
Amy: I remember reading the whole Existence series in just a few days.
About book #1:
What happens when you’re stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.
Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he’s dead.
Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with, is not a soul at all.
He is Death and he’s about to break all the rules.
Obsidian (A Lux Novel Book 1)
Yep. Squee-worthy. You all already know I *squee’d* from the last post. 😉 This one will, for sure, (I already know this) make my best of 2012 list. It had everything (well… almost everything considering it’s YA) that I love in a book. YA or not, though, this one doesn’t hold back in the romantic tension (and a few super *steamy* moments). There was so much of everything else to keep me enthralled, that I didn’t “miss” what normally comes after all of that pent-up emotion. And the connections, the reluctant friendships, even the game-playing (and there is a lot of that)…. believable.
As I mentioned to Tina:
Maryse: “…the writing was good, and funny, and I could so relate to the girl. In YA like this, she had the tension all right and the steamy was steamy enough for me to keep me believing it. I dunno – there’s just something about an arrogant guy who is totally not into you… and yet pokes at you and tugs on your pigtails like he is… ignores you, and yet can’t stop staring at you…”
Tina: agreed
I felt an urgent need to read it when I started receiving recommendation after recommendation. Everything on my TBR list got pushed down by one…
Tess: “Have you read Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout? I think you’d LOVE it. Daemon, the main character, is all kinds of arrogant and all kinds of hot. :)”
(Yep. He was absolutely infuriating, and yet sooooooo irresistible.)
Tina: “Obsidian was good. I enjoyed it. It kept my attention… I think you’d enjoy it. There was a lot of sexual tension”
(boy, she wasn’t kidding there…)
Sandra: “You are going to love Obsidian…I can’t wait till you finish reading it. And Maryse dare I say I think it’s squee worthy…”
Yeah.. you all were EXACTLY right.
I love when it doesn’t come easy, and these characters gave each other a serious hard time, but in a way that didn’t make me roll my eyes (okay sure, there were a few *eyerolls* but they were in good fun). Mostly, I giggled with glee, and often gasped, appalled at Daemon’s audacity.
My Facebook reactions as I read the book:
Maryse: Omg! Almost halfway in and Daemon is STILL an ass! Grrrrrrrrr!
Maryse: That whole cafeteria scene. Blew. My. Mind.
Maryse: Ohhhh you girls know me wayyyyyy too well..
Maryse: And then… It gets worse. Love it! I’m FURIOUS!!
And the book is so funny, but it’s not necessarily… comedy. The “funny” is in the internal dialogue, and the witty, yet VERY sarcastic interactions between the two main characters. Their love/hate relationship takes the reader on an emotional thrill-ride, but the emotions are not necessarily angst. Sure, there’s some of that, but what’s prevalent is the butterflies, the “crushing”, the anger, the disappointment. The fun. The intensity of the attraction. Lots and lots of that!
So I’ve been asked. Is it Paranormal?
It is, I suppose. Yep. And basically, here’s how the story starts:
Katy moves from Florida to West Virginia with her mom after her dad dies. She’s a blogger/book reviewer (I adored her already and chuckled as I read her “blogging” issues). She has neighbors (twins) that are her age. Kat goes over to introduce herself, and Daemon’s first impression doesn’t impress. Oh sure, he’s undeniably perfect. HOT. Gorgeous. But OMG his attitude and arrogant demeanor are so over the top that Kat walks away absolutely stunned.
For a moment all I could do was stare at him. He was probably the hottest guy I’d ever seen in real life, and he was a total douche. Go figure. “You know, all I wanted was directions. This is obviously a bad time.”
One side of his lip curled up. “Anytime is a bad time for you to come knocking on my door, kid.”
But over the course of the summer, she befriends his sister “Dee” (best friends actually), while doing her best to avoid Daemon. Except Daemon won’t leave her alone. No… not because he’s trying to win her affection. Ohhhhh noooo. Nothing like that (at first). Daemon’s doing his best to repel her and is insistent that she stop hanging around with his sister. Why? she wonders. What’s so wrong with her, that he hates her that much?
“She’s not welcome in our house,” Daemon snapped, turning to his sister. “Seriously.”
Surprised by the venom in his words, I took a step back.
Dee, however, did not. Her delicate hands balled into fists. “I was thinking we could work on the flower bed, which is outside – not inside – the last time I checked.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want her over there.”
“Daemon, don’t do this,” Dee whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Please. I like her.”
The remarkable happened. His face softened.
Except that everyone in awhile, Daemon eases up on his apparent aversion of her, and it is in those moments that Kat’s little teeny tiny butterfly inducing crush on him begins to grow.
…his intense stare sent any coherent thought scattering.
Confusion flashed in his eyes as he leaned forward, his lips parting slightly. “I think I understand now.”
“Understand what?” I whispered.
“I like to watch you blush.” His voice barely a murmur as his thumb traced circles on my cheek.
But never fear, Daemon does his best to crush that crush right out of her. They can NEVER be.
“Happy?”
Daemon lost his smile and stared. “I’m never happy around you.”
“What did you say?” My eyes narrowed on his blank expression. He did not say what I thought he did.
“Nothing…”
Because you see, Dameon, his sister and a few in their entourage are… special. Different (no not vampires!!! But… something 😉 you’ll see, and it’s SO good!). And sure they are all physically perfect, but mostly, most of them, for the most part are… very unfriendly. They all sit together in the high school cafeteria while pretty much keeping to themselves, and with their haughty attitude, easily dissuading anyone from approaching.
I also knew there was something not normal about him.
About all of them.
Except Dee (Daemon’s sister) is sick of that, and wants to be friends with the other high school girls. Especially Kat. Which causes Kat a whole load of trouble (of the Daemon kind, his friends, and the paranormal world that she unwittingly finds herself mixed up in).
Okay I’m going to admit something (and by doing this, I may suddenly have fallen into a “cliché” if you will). I did have a few *flashbacks* to another book that I absolutely adored to death, as I read this one. And as I explain this story in it’s “basic” sense to those who haven’t read it, of course, some may recognize a few similarities and raise an eyebrow at me. BUT NO!!! It’s not necessarily like that (although, if you ask me, those similar parts are what I LOVE in these kinds of stories, so I’m was totally good with it). But, okay I grudgingly say… maybe sorta in regards to those similarities, but only on a basic level.
And not everyone agrees with me. As one of my friends who has read this, pointed out:
“Yeah – but wasn’t that a classic formula for romance? The instant hate attraction?”
True. And it seems to be what sucks me into these books… so again. I’m good with that formula.
And anyway… the characters themselves, well they are I dunno… older feeling? More relatable? Sexier? It’s less “dreamy” and more “grrrrrrrr!!!” This has an older YA feel to it. A slightly more “gritty” vibe to it? But as I told my friend who asked if it was like… ?
I said:
The rhythm, and the action and the comedy (it’s not a “comedy” per se… but it’s funny and super-witty). Different enough to stand completely on it’s own. I dunno. Better? As good? Super steamy, too. This girl… has spunk, and made me laugh. And the guy… he thinks ALOT of himself and struts it. This one… well. It’s different enough to love. You’ll notice the similarities, I’m sure. But again, it was perfectly fine, because the writing was awesome. I connected to them 100%. Loved it!
Believe me, the main characters. No resemblance at all. Nope. Their energy, their banter, even their relationship (their “frenemy” status, and even the closer then they care to admit stuff) – totally it’s own thing. Totally different. Not sappy (don’t get me wrong, I love sappy) but THIS is not really sappy. NO. Nope. Daemon… not such a romantic. Nope. And yet… *sigh* (oh and… DON’T ask him if he sparkles).
Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.
Heh. You just gotta read it, and you’ll see where I’m coming from.
So many in our crew LOVE this author (me too!!!) and especially LOVE this series!
Jennifer: I’m in Jennifer L Armentrout heaven…. Finished Deity last week… finished Elixir yesterday…I just LOVE her series!”
Rebecca: Yes to the Covenant series, by JLA!! I’m currently on book #3, Deity. Love Love Love!!
Amy: I LOVE hearing when others love the Covenant series! It’s one of my *rare* re-reads. Such an unexpected ending to the series, but I think that’s what I loved about it.
Fabi: Yup Amy, and I’ll never forget one of the greatest series ever was your rec of The Covenant Series.
Cristina: Amy – The Covenant series is a rare re-read for me too. I just LOVED the greek Gods and myths storyline. I had that series read in about a week! Lots of late nights during that series.
About the series (as per the author): “The short and dirty version: Butt kicking girl, a forbidden guy, a fate and aether starved creatures. And kissing.”
About book #1:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi—pure-bloods—have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals—well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.
Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.
Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem—staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Willing Victim: Remastered
4 stars!
So many in our crew LOVE this author (me too!!!) and especially LOVE this series!
