Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781460323670 |
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| Publisher: | Harlequin |
| Publication date: | 12/01/2013 |
| Series: | Dark Elements Series , #1 |
| Sold by: | HARLEQUIN |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Sales rank: | 112,851 |
| File size: | 419 KB |
| Age Range: | 14 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Bitter Sweet Love
4.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
33 reviews.
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OHMYGARGOYLES, this was so good!
What I Loved: When I think of gargoyles, I tend to think of the creepy little pewter statues my husband was so fond of when we first met. Not anymore. Jas and Dez are anything but creepy in this intriguing new series about the ghoulish looking guardians.
Jas has spent the past three years trying to put Dez behind her. They used to be BGFs (Best Gargoyles Forever) and were even supposed to be mated, but then he left and broke her heart. No calls, no texts, no random fly-bys, nothing. When Dez returns and claims Jas as his own, she is not exactly ready to fly off to make little gargoyle babies. Dez will have to prove himself to Jas and he only has seven days to do it.
I loved how the "real" world and the spiritual realm, where evil formerly presided, are combined and we get to see humans interacting with the mythical creatures.
We glimpse a few of the characters from Book One - White Hot Kiss (2/2014), but this novella is a story all it's own.
What Left Me Wanting More: Nothing. It was the perfect segue into the next book.
Final Verdict: Exciting start to a new series! Aliens, Demigods, Nephilim and now Gargoyles...I'm pretty sure Jennifer L. Armentrout could write a book about spiders and find a way to make them swoonworthy. ;)
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ARC received from Harlequin TEEN. There is no bias in this review.
As with the Obsidian and the Covenant series, Jennifer Armentrout's next Young Adult series starts out with a novella featuring a paranormal creature everyone has heard of, but never really thought about. Instead of only being around twenty pages or so, it's slightly over a hundred, which makes it more satisfying. The best part about this, though, is that I can actually write a (kind of) full review instead of a few sentences.
Three years ago, Jas's friend/ love/ boyfriend/ typical romance character disappeared. Because she's an awesome character, she gets over it for the most part. Then, he comes back and wants to become mated with her. I swear, this isn't as dirty as it sounds. They have seven days before Jas has to make a choice between accepting or declining said ma- I can't even type out this word without snickering. She proposes a deal consisting of Dez taking her out to feel human in exchange for considering him.
This novella is possibly my favorite of JLA novellas- not that there are many of them. It sets up the storyline for the next book, White Hot Kiss, perfectly and doesn't give too much away.
As with the rest of her books, Jennifer Armentrout creates a beautifully descriptive world similar to ours. When she adds her awesome characters, it just intensifies the amazingness of it.
There isn't a hugely convoluted plot to this books; it's a simple romance story that puts a smile on your face. There are no strange plot twists or many subplots, so it's a good novella to read when your in a sad mood. It's very predictable, but in a way that automatically makes you happier.
The reason Bitter Sweet Love isn't five stars is because it's too short to reach all the expectations of a five star rating.
If you've never read a book by Jennifer Armentrout, this is a good work to start out with. It's not too complicated and is snarky and basically awesome.
Thank you again, Harlequin Teen, for giving me the opportunity of reading this prequel early. And the first book. Yes, people, I get an ARC of White Hot Kiss. Everyone be jealous of my awesomeness.
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Loved this novella! It was funny, cute, and interesting all wrapped up in one. It's short, but sweet. I loved learning about the world Jasmine and Dez live in, it's very different from other books. I loved the characters, especially Dez; he's everything you come to expect in a JLA character so therefore I loved him right away. Loved the bits we get from Layla, Zayne, and the "unknown" upper level demon. I didn't catch everything the first time I read it so it made me smile knowing everything that happens and now reading it for a second time.
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Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books
--"You will be mated in seven days."
I haven't read any of the blurbs for any of these books yet. If it's a book written by Jennifer L. Armentrout I just buy it no questions asked because she's golden that way. All I knew from following her posts was that it was going to be about gargoyles. I couldn't help but think about how very different that would be and was excited to see how she'd pull that off. Not that I was worried I love everything she writes and she got me to fall in love with a cocky alien for crying out loud! But I had assumed Layla would be human (wrong) and maybe either Zayne or Roth would be as well while the other was a gargoyle (half wrong). So there was a lot that surprised me with this story in the best ways of course. In fact it has me even more excited to get into this series and I already have a few theories. (Don't worry about those I'm generally wrong 98% of the time with my theories!)
--"Nothing in this world is stronger than love. It should always be enough, no matter what."
Dez and Jasmine's story sucked me in immediately. I loved Jasmine and her thirst for freedom and how she's even a bit reckless even though she seems to have everything under control. I liked the way she thought when it came to Dez coming back into her life, don't get me wrong I had my fingers crossed the whole time hoping she'd crack and say yes (once you read it you'll understand better). But still deep down I didn't want her to just give in. Dez had me so intrigued. He was very mysterious and sexy. It drove me crazy not knowing his secrets in the beginning!
--"Herbert bit me."
As with every single one of her books, JLA has this brilliant sense of humor that shines through her writing. I always seem to find myself laughing out loud whenever I read one of her books, and do it often.
--"I'm in this for the long haul."
This book really is bittersweet because while it was a huge slice of perfection, I easily became attached to Dez and Jasmine and they aren't the focus of the series. Though while my heart is a little sad over that and will miss being inside Jasmine's head, I did get to see a brief glimpse of a younger Layla and Zayne and that had me really excited to get into their story. Layla had a piece of my heart from the first moment she meets Jasmine and I felt that hurt twinge because of it. As did Zayne. The way he stood up for her was so swoon worthy. Roth has a lot of work to do if he's going to have any sort of chance to sway me in his direction. The bad boys usually do it for me but I'm not that impressed yet. Intrigued? Yes. Impressed? No. So far...it's Team Zayne for me. Let's see what the next two books have in store. Will I change my mind? Hmm...
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I think this story is set up as a way of explaining a lot of Warden-type traditions and rules within their mating and romance areas before the main show begins. Or at least that’s how it felt to me. However, the emotions behind each of the main characters here, plus Jasmine’s sister, seemed very real and potent to the reader. It definitely wasn’t a filler read. The world Jennifer L. Armentrout is creating this time is as in-depth as her Lux and Covenant universes and I can’t wait to see where it goes. The prequel didn’t impress me that much though, but I do like Dez and Jasmine well enough. Maybe it was because I knew it was only a prequel to the actual real protagonists of the series which put me off. I read this one first, so maybe it should be read in another order. So my rating is 3.5 stars. Sorry JLArmentrout!
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Smvm m
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Jennifer L. Armentrout can do no wrong - give her a speck of dust and she will be able to weave not one story, but billions of stories out of nothing! She has a gift, and definitely knows how to create with it, and share it with us...
This brilliant writer has now given us a world with gargoyles and demons - adorable, smart, witty and sexy - there is no resisting Jasmine and Dez's story...
Jasmine's heart was broken three years ago when Dez took off without saying goodbye, without leaving a note, an explanation - how she ever get over losing the only friend, her best friend? The one that she was just 'mated' to?
Jas goes through the motions and tries to be as independent as she can be. With a heavy heart, she does her best to move on, do what she has to do, and every now and then, sneaks off to spread her wings and look for a way to calm her lonely heart.
Dez comes back.
He comes back just like he left, without any warning. As if he never left. And expects to fit right in as though nothing ever happen.
As hard as it is to say no, Jas has yet to forgive him. And she is determined to at least find out why he left before deciding whether or not he deserves a second chance to be her friend again... let alone, her 'mate'.
The chemistry between Jasmine and Dez is the hottest perfection out in YA right now. There banter and cuteness balances out and creates a wonderful page-turner.
What I love about this prequel - great intro to the series, its characters, surroundings and plot.
Jennifer L. Armentrout is a master at storytelling!
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I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this type of story. Since it’s a bit out of my comfort zone (being about gargoyles and demons and all) I thought it just might not be for me. When I saw there was a novella that I could read before reading book 1 in the series, I was convinced that it was worth a shot. It’s only 105 pages, so if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t continue on with the series.
Guess what… I loved it!! Like really, really loved it! I read it in one sitting and immediately knew I was going to read White Hot Kiss as well. I loved the characters, the writing, and the story line. Though I don’t always enjoy fantasy books, I really enjoyed this one! What a great start to the series. If you’re considering reading this series, definitely start here with Bitter Sweet Love.
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I wanted to read Bitter Sweet Love because first off, I love Jennifer's writting. She never fails to entertain, make me forget the real world, and make me swoon. So of course, a new series, and one about gargoyles, something I have never read about before, makes it even more appealing. I have the first book already on hold at the library and this one was free, so of course, I grabbed it.
Bitter Sweet love gives what I imagine will be very important backstory and context for Jasmine and Dez. He left her and all of the sudden is back in her life. She thinks that he was running from her dad's announcement that they would mate (this is their tradition) and since they have been friends since they were kids and she was in love with him, it would have been great news, except that, he left. For years. And never called, and she thought it was because he didn't love her back. He comes back and says he is ready to mate with her now, and she is so torn and hurt.
While I did get a good sense of their characters and relationship, I was still a bit confused about the world setup and what the gargoyles were all about. I understood some of their traditions and how the world is setup as well as how they fit into the human world, and some of their abilities. But I still can't picture them and their shifts.
I loved their tension, but also her resolve that she deserved an explanation and that it should have come much sooner. So she tries to buy herself time to make her decision (she has 7 days to say no if she wants). So they go on a road trip, and along the way they start talking and opening up. There is also some delicious kisses and tension of the attraction and sexual nature. Loved every moment.
I think that it was long enough to give me a sense of both of the characters and their history without going into the first book with all of their baggage and backstory and needing info before the next story starts. It wrapped up its themes and left me wanting the next book.
Bottom Line: Swoony, fell for the characters.
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Really like this auther.
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JLA makes Gargoyles SEXY
Rating: 4 Stars
Avg. Good Reads Rating: 4.34
Series: The Dark Elements #0.5
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 105
Check it out: Good Reads | Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Good Reads Summary:
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...
My reaction when I found out JLA was starting a new YA Paranormal series:
Now, this is a prequel novella, so it’s not the same main characters as the first book of the series, but you definitely meet them, and that was fun. I really enjoyed this book, as I do with all of JLA’s books. After reading this novella, this is sure to be another wildly successful YA series, that fans of the recently concluded Covenant Series and the soon to be concluded Lux Series will ravenously devour.
If you’re looking for your next fix of sweet yet sexy paranormal romance, look no further. We enter the story when Dez returns after three years of being gone. He and Jasmine already had a relationship. But he broke her heart and didn’t tell her why he was leaving, so she gave up on him. Let’s just say they don’t spend a lot of time getting to know each other since they already have history. And it’s not insta-love either. Dez has seven days to woo Jasmine, lest she turn him down, and lets just say that boy knows how to woo.
There’s some action as well, seeing how there’s a war going on or at least brewing between the Wardens and demons. We didn’t get a ton of information on that, but I’m assuming that will be very clearly explored in the first book, White Hot Kiss. I know, all these titles sound like straight romance novels. I’m sure there will be plenty of that, but knowing JLA, there will be lots of action and fantasy elements as well.
This is a quick read (only about 100 pages). Very well written. If you’re a fan of JLA, you’ve probably already read it and loved it. She never seems to disappoint, and Bitter Sweet Love is a great introduction to a new world that I’m sure will be just as popular as her previous works.
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“For thousands of years, my kind had been thought of as nothing more than the stone sculptures perched upon the rooftops of homes and churches. Aka gargoyles. And technically, that’s what we were – but the depiction of a gargoyle was vastly exaggerated. Even the ugliest of all Wardens didn’t have a bulbous nose or fangs jutting from his mouth. It was rather insulting when you thought about it."
Gargoyles. Yes, you read that right. JLA’s new series is about gargoyles and I am beyond thrilled to tell you that it is incredible. I shouldn’t have ever doubted her. Gargoyles! What a unique concept. I’ll never look at one the same way again.
“I was not happy. I was knee deep in freak out mode.”
When Jasmine’s best friend and first love, Dez, comes back to town after three years to claim her, she should be happy. She loves and misses Dez, but he abandoned her. He broke her heart. It was the betrayal she was never able to get over. Now he wants to pretend like everything is fine? She’s not having it.
“I’ve missed you, Jas. You have no idea,” he continued, reaching toward me again but stopping short of touching me. “I thought about you every damn day. All I wanted was to get back to you and the clan. But mostly you. Always you.”
I loved Dez. I adored Jas. Together they were absolute perfection. Their chemistry was very real and believable. There was heat between them. There was, of course, a bit of angst, but thankfully not nearly as much as you might expect. I had no doubt they belong together and waited with bated breath to see if Jas would come to the same conclusion and be willing to try to start again.
“I wasn’t naïve enough to believe in soul mates or any of that childish nonsense that I had once clung to, but there had always been something tangible between Dez and me, even after his absence, it was still there, stronger than before.”
I am so excited about this series for a number of reasons:
It’s written by JLA and I absolutely love her.
The premise is so different from anything I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to see where the storyline goes.
The characters sucked me into the story! I love Jas and Dez together.
The writing was fantastic and engaging. I couldn’t put this one down.
GARGOYLES!
There was a lot of awesome packed into these 105 pages. I’m so excited about the potential this series has. It’s definitely off to an incredible start.
“Nothing in this world is stronger than love. It should always be enough. No matter what.”
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.
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LOOOVE it!
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Oh no! Fluttershy :( <p> story is awesome though!
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Whooooaaaa <br> that is creepy. Poor Fluttershy. I always thought MLP could use a slightly darker theme....
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