Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout Review + Excerpt + Giveaway

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout
(The Dark Elements, #0.5)
Release Date: December 1, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen; 105 pages

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...

I've been putting off reading White Hot Kiss because I wanted to read this novella before it. It's released before it and it takes place prior to the book so I wanted to get my start like everyone else. I am so glad I waited because let me tell you, this story gets me really excited for White Hot Kiss. I was excited before but now I'm like . . . drop everything and read this book excited.

I've yet to read a book about gargoyles to say I was intrigued was putting it lightly. I mean, how is this possible? She got my attention when she mentioned this series about gargoyles. Whether it sounded good or not, I wanted to know how this was going to work. Have no fear, it totally works and it's as amazing as it sounds. These characters are a little older than what YA characters are but it's okay because it's basically introducing us to the world and we also meet all the main characters in White Hot Kiss.

I love the whole 'mating' thing in this world. Not that I like that term but most of these 'couples' are put together for repopulating their kind not about love. It's rare that love comes along with the responsibility of keeping their kind alive. But once a male announces his intentions of mating a female, she has seven days to accept or deny the request. It's fascinating. I guess if you don't love your 'mate' you might learn to love them? I can't even imagine it but Jasmine is lucky because the man announcing his intentions is the one man she loved and her best friend. The only problem is he left her three years ago without so much as a goodbye; not calls or emails saying he was okay or why he suddenly left. Then he reappears back in her life and the first he does is make his claim on her. Yeah, I'd be a little pissed off, too. Especially when he's so resistant on telling her why he left.

I love how you slowly see her guard come down around him and how you know exactly when things changed for her. But that's not the most exciting thing about this novella. Though the tension between them is pretty hot I love all the small adventures they go on together and all the types of Demons we meet along the way. Not to mention meeting the half Demon half Warden in Washington, DC, Layla.

You'll want to read this novella when it's released; if you were even slightly considering this series, read this novella and I can guarantee you'll be bouncing in your seat with excitement waiting for White Hot Kiss. And let's be honest, how many books have you read about Gargoyles? Yeah . . . you want to read this. It's fascinating. The characters are great, the story is addicting, the romance is sizzling, the world is different in the best kind of way and it's the beginning of something great.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen for allowing me the chance to read this novella in exchange for an honest review.

Click the picture below to read a special excerpt from Bitter Sweet Love!

Harlequin Teen is also giving away TWENTY ARC's of White Hot Kiss over on goodreads! Click the book cover below to go enter the giveaway! It ends December 20 and is open to all readers in the US & Canada!