Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements)

I enjoyed this story prequel and finished it in a couple hours. It's in interesting start into a world filled with demons and wardens that hunt them. I'm looking forward to reading the series to see where it goes.

Bitter Sweet Love was a great introduction to JLA's world of gargoyles and demons. I loved Jas and Dez's story and wish we got a little more of it. Layla and Zayne were incredibly cute, and it just makes you so interested in their story. Absolutely great writing, and I wouldn't expect anything else from JLA. This is a must read along with the other two books, they will leave you craving Every Last Breath.

A wonderful lovely taste of things to come in this amazing new series! You'll fall in love with the characters and meet new ones that come into it more in the next book White Hot Kiss. You'll LOVE it!!

Jennifer Armentrout is one of my favorite writers and she does not disappoint with this new series. I really enjoyed this intro to The Dark Elements (YA) series. The characters have depth & story is well written. I've already read the read White Hot Kisses & can't wait for what comes next!

The story is about the same as every good paranormal romance. I do wish it had gone a little further with the "adult" parts. It was awesome to read a paranormal concept that hundreds of others have not written about! Anything by Jenn is a food read!

This is a novella to introduce us to Jennifer Armentrout's new series, The Dark Elements. Dez and Jasmine are Wardens which is essentially gargoyles. Dez and Jasmine were promised to each other when Dez disappeared. That was 3 years ago and suddenly he returns and wants to pick up where they left off.

I just can't get into gargoyles. I can do angels, werewolves, demons, vampires, and zombies but gargoyles may be a hard limit. ; )

I also had a hard time with Dez's excuse for disappearing and not telling Jasmine. It was pretty weak.

The first book in the series revolves around Layla who is a character introduced in this book. She is half Warden and half demon. Her character was a bit more interesting.

I love YA paranormal & dystopian. And this book was pretty good. It had good action, love the super powers & the little bit o' romance. All the stuff i love in my books. Was a good prequel to White Hot Kiss. Definitely has my interest piqued.

I have always enjoyed Jennifer's novels! This isn't the first one i have enjoyed either! It was a pretty good book and all but it needs to continue and it isn't all that long, but the story is very sweet and a good read! :)

Bitter sweet love has provided a great start to a new captivating series. Jennifer L. Armentrout has become one of my auto-buy authors. I love everything she writes and can't wait for the Dark Elements series to take off with White hot Kiss.

Beginning to end, this short prequel novella was a fun and sweet read. I love Dez and Jasmine and they are the cutest couple. You don't have to read this book before the others, but I did because I like to do things in order. Y'all absolutely need to read this book, though! Even though it's a novella, the book gives you background and you get to have a first, wonderful glimpse of Roth, Layla, and Zayne.

I usually really enjoy this author. I did not think this was a good paranormal romance. Gargoyles? Come on! There's nothing romantic about that visualization or the notion the author is trying to build about them. I found the book boring and the characters and story flat.

After reading about this couple in ‘White hot kiss’ (the first book of this series) I was really curious about how Dez and Jasmine met and how they became a couple. But that wasn’t the only thing that I was curious about, I wanted to know more about the gargoyles lifestyle and how their woman lived. Because I got the impression that their women lived a very sheltered life and I found my answers in this novella.

Gargoyle Jasmine never had any doubts about her future, she would mate with her best friend Dez and they would have a family together. So when her father announced three years ago that Dez and she would be mated someday, that was the happiest moment of her life, Jasmine didn’t know then that the day after, it would be the worst day of her life when Dez disappeared without a word or a letter. Now, after three years of waiting and mourning Dez, Jasmine has finally accepted that there will be no future with Dez. And just then she gets the news from her father that Dez is back and that he wants to mate her.
Jasmine doesn’t know what to think or feel about this news but mating Dez is definitely the last thing on her mind. He hurt her to much the last time, she won’t risk her heart again. But Dez is equally determined that Jasmine will be his mate. So after a heated conversation they make a deal, Dez will have seven days to meet Jasmine’s conditions and after those seven days Jasmine will decided if she will mate with Dez or not.

This novella is really about Dez and Jasmine. We see a little bit of Layla and Zayne but not much. It was really interesting reading about the gargoyles women and their mating rituals. Because of the fact that there aren’t many female gargoyles, the men are very protective of them. Maybe too protective because the women have almost no freedom. They usually stay in the house and if they go out, they are accompanied by the men for their safety. So Jasmine and her younger sister Danika long for freedom, to see things, to travel, even to fight with a demon. All the things that the men do.
So I found it really smart of Jasmine to make these conditions all about the things that she wanted to do but were ‘forbidden’ for her. And I think it tells a lot about Dez that he goes along with these conditions. I really like Jasmine and Dez. I’m not so sure what to think about the reason why Dez left Jasmine for three years but I will just assume, it’s a gargoyle thing. ‘Bitter sweet love’ was a great story to read. It had a little bit of everything, emotions, action and romance.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Book 0.5 of the Dark Elements series
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: December 1, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

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...

What I Liked:

I will be the first to tell you that novellas are unnecessary and a slight waste of money. Usually, I skip novellas in series, because I think it's a waste of money to pay $2.99 for less than a hundred pages of content - and it's not even printed. Novellas don't continue the plot; their purpose is to give more background or more insight on an event or a character or a mixture of both. And usually, at least one full-length novel will come out before any novellas come out - which is annoying, because many times, novellas are set BEFORE the full-length novels.

Well, I really, really like this novella, for many reasons. I love the background information provided, I love Dez and Jasmine's story, and I love the role and placement of this novella. Armentrout does an amazing job of introducing this new world and series to readers in this novella. She also shows us the progression of Dez and Jasmine's relationship, which is exciting and beautiful. Finally, this novella is made available BEFORE any of the full-length novels are out, which is a really great thing.

This novella provided a wealth of information about the world that Armentrout has created. The author does a brilliant job of describing the world, the characters, the paranormal creatures she has created, the rules of society, and so on. I found like, zero plot holes, and when I had questions, they were gradually answered as I kept reading. The world-building is very well-done, as is the character development. Novellas a difficult to write, because you have to cram a ton of world-building, character development, and a plot into a story that should be like, three to four times smaller than a full length novel. That's not easy! But Armentrout did a really fantastic job with this novella.

Dez and Jasmine's relationship is so near-perfect, in my opinion. Not their relationship, but the manner in which the relationship exists is near-perfect. Dez and Jasmine have a past they have to work through, but they have a present that is steamy and meaningful, and a future that is (hopefully) amazing. Armentrout always has the right amount of hawtness in her books, and this novella is no exception. But I loved how the romance is worked into the plot of this novella. This story is really all about Dez and Jasmine, but Armentrout subtly slips in bits and pieces that foreshadow what is to come in book one. Bravo!

The role of this novella is superb! I usually hate how novellas come out AFTER the first full-length novel comes out. There is no point! I mean, I totally respect every author's work, but like, novellas usually are not necessary to read, to understand the rest of the series. And they always come after the first full-length novel comes out. Which is annoying. What I like about this novella is that it comes out BEFORE the first full-length novel. Therefore, it is actually somewhat necessary to the series. If you read this novella, you get a lot of information concerning gargoyles and gargoyle customs and whatnot. A lot of things will make sense even BEFORE you even read the first book. Which I like!

Basically, this novella is the exception to all of my opinions about novellas. And, as a story, it is a GREAT novella. I enjoyed the story, and I would highly recommend reading this book, especially before the first book comes out. Armentrout does not disappoint!

What I Did Not Like:

I have nothing to say in this section! No work of literature is perfect, but I can't think of anything I didn't like about this novella.

Would I Recommend It:

DEFINITELY! I usually dislike the roles of novellas (I think they're a little unnecessary), but this novella had an interesting role to it. For one, it came out BEFORE any of the full-length novels in this series, which like, never happens. This made its purpose different, because it really is giving us background about the gargoyle world, before reading the actual novels. I like that!

And I actually have White Hot Kiss - I got it before I got Bitter Sweet Love - but I'm really glad I read this novella before I read the first book (I have yet to read it). So, I highly recommend you pick up this novella, before reading book one. I was sure I'd never say that, but, I did!

Rating:

5 stars. This novella is totally worth $2.51 (or however much you will pay for it). Run, don't walk!

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Rate: 5 stars

Review:

I never read a gargoyle book, but I don't care. The Dark Element series are my favorite gargoyle book! I don't think I've ever enjoyed so much a novella and be so sad when it was over. I think Jennifer L. Armentrout not only writes breath-taking and amazing stories, but she simply creates magical stories, because when you end her books you are aching for more, need more and regret to finish the books so early. And Bitter Sweet Love was no exception.
Sometimes when you read a novella you know when it would be best to read it, before or after reading the first book. But with Bitter Sweet Love I'm not sure.
The Dark Elements novella tells us the story of Dez, a hot gargoyle Warden, and Jasmine, a female gargoyle who Dez broke her heart three years ago. They have an unbreakable bond together, because they met when they were kids and lived together until Dez left. And not only that, they were going to be mated! So you can see who deep their feelings for each other were and still are, although Jasmine doesn't want to forgive him so easily.
While knowing how these two end up together and become the admired couple that Layla likes so much, you get a glimpse of Zayne and Layla when they were kids. You get a different perspective and view, from Jasmine's eyes, about their relationship and you kind of admire Zayne and can help but like Layla.
That's one of the main reasons I don't know if this novella should be read before or after reading White Hot Kiss. It doesn't matter that you have not read the first book. You can easily follow the story, since this is only Jasmine and Dez's story and you get a perfect idea of what's going on in The Dark Elements "world". What makes me doubt is the glimpse of Zayne and Layla that you read in this book that may affect your judgement when you try to decide if you are team Roth or team Zayne. I have to confess that Zayne won extra points after this novella.
Jennifer L. Armentrout created, once again, a creative paranormal story with all the supernatural touch that only she can bring to a story, without losing the epic and unforgettable romance between two gargoyles. And letting us see Layla and Zayne when they were kids is simply amazing. You can understand more their relationship and get to see these two when they were innocent kids.
I never thought I could love a series so much, but The Dark Element series simply blowed my mind to the level of creating a crazy fan here.
I truly and honestly loved Bitter Sweet Love and that's one of the main reasons I'm highly recommending this book and giving it five gorjuss dolls. You cannot miss this refreshing new series. Or any series written by Jennifer L. Armentrout!
Thank you so much to Lisa from Harlequin Teen for offering the opportunity to read this book and for letting me enter this new world of gargoyles and demons. And to Jennifer L. Armentrout for creating such amazing stories and making us readers be insatiable!

Funnily enough, I read White Hot Kiss before Bitter Sweet Love so I was pretty familiar with the characters that came out in this book, but that did not stop me from enjoying and getting to know them even more. And I would just like to say how perfect the title of this book is because Dez and Jasmine's journey towards reconciliation was bitter, sweet and had a whole lotta lovin'.

When Jasmine's first love, Dez, comes back from a three year absence (he left right after her father announced that they were to be mated... ouch) claiming that he wants be mated to her, what else could a scorned girl do but take advantage of the situation? Jasmine's dream has always been to be released from the double standards of the Warden that women only belong at home, taking care of the kids and to be free. Free to fly, explore and be herself without feeling shackled by her father's rules. I really admired Jasmine's tenacity and drive to be someone different from who everyone expected her to be, a docile and compliant mate but nooo, she proved them all wrong. Jasmine is a little firecracker and you will absolutely love spending time with her and seeing her mature throughout the book. She knows that she needs to make a big decision, to take Dez's hand in mate-riage (see what I did there?) or not? (I say, Y-E-S because that boy, I mean-- man, is yuuum.)

Oh, how Dez makes my insides quiver. And it's not just because of his deliciousness that makes him so appealing, it's his personality and attitude towards things. Sure he's got the mysterious thing down (we still don't really know what he did during that three year lapse) and he's also pretty confident but all that goes down when he's with Jasmine... but yeah, he still manages to stuff his ego into the room, anyway. The fact that he willingly made that compromise with Jasmine, to allow her to do her travel and do other crazy stuff, knowing that there would be a 99.9% chance she would say "no" to his mate-riage proposal, that's got to take some serious balls. To lay himself on the line like that for her is just commendable. (Just say "YES", Jasmine!)

The chemistry between Jasmine and Dez is craaaaay. It's like JLA took all of the elements in the Periodic Table and combined them all to create a perfect bond for Jasmine and Dez because they just stabilize and fit each other so well. The little quips and wisecracks they have for each other never fail to make me giggle... and snort. You will root for these two, and Dez because he's the one trying to convince the girl to get with him. (You can do it, man!)

Man, oh, man. I love all the secondary characters in this book! Even Danika who I wasn't a particular fan of in White Hot Kiss (you'll see why). You get to meet Layla as a kid (the protag of WHK) and you'll see how spunky and adorable she is. And there's Zayne who everyone seemed to love (I did too but I've already met Roth so I've technically met the best. LOL). And Herbert! Who could forget Herbert the pukwudgie? I want one of them, seriously. And trust me, there's a lot more people to meet (Trust. Me.) so order your copy ASAP if you want to get in on the BSL action and while you're at it, order White Hot Kiss to because you'll need it once you read BSL. And awesomely enough, you get to familiarize yourself with the Wardens and see their complete badassery first hand. Complete with the wings, granite hard and colored skin and all that.

While Bitter Sweet Love may just be a novella, it did not seem lacking or not satisfying enough, Jennifer L. Armentrout serves you more than you even knew you wanted because this book just brims with so much personality and depth that you won't be able to stop yourself from falling in love with it. I always have high standards when it comes to JLA and her books because I know that no matter how high I raise the bar, she's always just leap over it and set it even higher. JLA never disappoints and she hasn't broken her streak yet.

Rating: 5/5

Official blog post: [...]

What a great prequel and teaser for White Hot Kiss. I was so engrossed in Jasmine and Dez' story that I forgot Layla, Zayne and Roth are actually the main characters in this series. I loved both Jasmine and Dez, and I could completely appreciate Jasmine's desire to live a more normal life. She is feisty and has that "act first and ask questions later" attitude that makes for an entertaining plot.

Jasmine and Dez have great chemistry and really are perfect for each other. I thought her seven-day plan was clever, but his condition was also pretty smart. It was sweet how Dez went along Jasmine's wishes to make her happy even though he knew she would probably say no to mating with him. That is love, and I'm relieved he finally told her the truth about why he left. I'm glad we will be seeing more of them in the rest of the series.

JLA is great at world-building in her books, and this one was no exception. I have no idea where she gets her inspiration, but a world full of gargoyles (wardens) and demons is quite an original idea. Layla's character in particular is very intriguing. I hope we get to find out how she ended up being part-gargoyle and part-demon and how she and Zayne became so close.

Oh, and what a love triangle it is going to be with her, Zayne and Roth. You can tell from their introduction to us that Layla and Zayne are crazy about each other, but White Hot Kiss begins several years after Bitter Sweet Love. It will be interesting to see how their relationship has progressed. I can't wait to find out more about Roth as well and see his interactions with Layla. The anticipation is definitely building for White Hot Kiss!

4 Stars... A world filled with Wardens and Demons is introduced in this captivating novella...We journey with Dez and Jasmine as they rediscover their lost love and the true meaning of forever... With a nice mix of action and romance, this novella held my attention from the beginning while also providing a slight backstory to the MC's of the trilogy (Layla, Zayne, and Roth) giving me small morsels of enticement... I look forward to delving more into their story and witnessing the details of this world unfold:)

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.

Reviewed by Jessica @ Step Into Fiction

When Dez walked away from Jasmine without a word he broke her heart so when he comes waltzing back into her life after three years with no word she isn't about to forgive him easily. Dez seems to expect her to welcome him back with open arms and for them to pick up their relationship where it left off but Jas has no intention of letting him into her heart for a second time. She has no idea where he has been or what he was doing and until she understands his actions she will never be able to trust him not to desert her all over again. When he asks her to be his mate she has seven days to make her decision so she decides to set him a series of tasks to see if he can win her heart and regain her trust. If nothing else having Dez on her side will allow her to get away from the clan and have an adventure.

Bitter Sweet Love is the prequel novella to Jennifer L. Armentrout's Dark Elements series and it introduces readers to a world of gargoyles who protect humans from the demons who walk unseen amongst us. The gargoyle society is quite old fashioned with the men becoming Wardens who fight to protect both the clan and the human population while the women are expected to stay safely at home raising the children. This is something that Jasmine has been fighting against her whole life, she doesn't want to just be a wife and mother, she wants the freedom to explore the world and to be allowed to do her part in the war against the demons. Dez broke her heart by leaving and she has no reason to trust him but when he agrees to spend the next week helping her achieve her dreams she agrees to spend time with him. If it means she'll be able to leave the clan and get to travel even a tiny bit then it is worth having Dez around for a week.

I really enjoyed learning about the world the author has created, I've read a few gargoyle books now but they are still fairly uncommon in the paranormal romance genre so stories about them always feel slightly different to anything I've read before. I have to admit I'm not a fan of the old fashioned way the gargoyles view gender roles but since that is something that Jas is fighting against it didn't bother me as much as it would have done otherwise. I enjoy seeing characters who rise up against what they were raised to believe in so that actually turned into a plus point for me.

The romance between Jas and Dez was well handled, they had fantastic chemistry (yes, gargoyles CAN be sexy!) but Jas wasn't about to let Dez off the hook lightly for the disappearing act he had done on her. I was glad that she made him work at earning her trust and that made their relationship much more believable. It helped that Dez had reasons for what he had done, they weren't necessarily reasons that either Jas or I agreed with but he hadn't walked away because he didn't care about her. He spent every day proving how much he loved her and trying to win her back and I felt he'd earned her trust by the end of the week.

Jas and Dez aren't the main characters in the rest of the series, although I expect they'll make further appearances, but this story does introduce us to Layla and Zayne who are going to be the main focus. We don't spend a huge amount of time with them but we found out a little of their back stories and they were very easy to like. I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with them both in White Hot Kiss.

EEEEP EEEEEP EEEEEEEP!!!!!! This is the first fantasy novel of JLA that I’ve read and can I just say… WOW. Just WOW.

It is the prequel to White Hot Kiss and Armentrout did a pretty great job introducing WHK in this novella. I’ve never read anything about gargoyles, Wardens, demons and I’m glad I decided to give this one a try. JLA has this amazing way with words that allows you to widen your imagination and take it up a notch.

I know that this book is all about the fantasy and all other things supernatural, but there was something so likeable and relatable in Jas and Dez’s story that I can’t stop myself from reading every single page of this (and I blame myself for reading this ONLY NOW). When Dez suddenly disappeared for three years without any explanation, Jas was certain that he did not feel the same way about her and she already lost hope that he would come back one day….. But then *poof* HE DID COME BACK.

I love Jas’ reaction to the sudden re-appearance of Dez, she was still so cautious yet I know that deep inside, she was happy, even if it was just a little part of her feeling that. And another thing that I like about her – she fights for what she believes in, even if that means bending or breaking some of the rules of her father. See, in the Warden world, women are not allowed to learn how to fight and they were expected to be at home or “do anything other than pop out babies”, but Jas is not afraid to be different. Even if she knows that going out of the house was dangerous, she still went out anyway and explored the world.

Dez oh Dez… Where do I even begin?! Of course I hated the fact that he left without saying goodbye, let alone a note telling Jas that he had to leave and do something. He just disappeared, that’s it. Who wouldn’t be mad at that? But I have to give him credit for doing everything he can so that he can win Jasmine back. He returned, and I love that he tried winning the trust of Jas back. He even fulfilled her wishes to do some insane, and sometimes reckless, things without a single question and believe me, she deserved that. Oh, and his hotness is definitely a plus too! *winks*

The chemistry of Dez and Jas is BUUUUURNING!!!! I am literally smiling right now just thinking of those moments when they were together. *happy sigh* AND I WANT MORE OF THEEEEEM! JLA, more, more, more!!!! White Hot Kiss will be about Layla, Zayne and Roth but I can’t just let this go for now though I am really interested in what’ll happen there because Layla sounds awesome! Hooray for half demon, half gargoyles!

Bitter Sweet Love is a heart pounding, action-packed and romance filled novella that will make you see gargoyle Wardens and demons in a different light.

“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.

Jasmine and Dez were always meant to be. As Gargoyle Wardens, they have been officially paired to mate, as long as she accepts the proposal. But when he disappears the day after the announcement is made, Jasmine is sure she’ll never be the same without him. Now, three years later, he waltzes back into her life expecting to pick up where they left off. Good luck, buddy. Jasmine is beyond pissed off because she has spent the last three years grieving the loss of him and isn’t sure she can ever trust him again. How do you trust someone who just walked out of you? How can you truly believe that he’ll never do that again? She agrees to give him a chance to prove he’s back for good within the seven days she is allowed to deliberate over whether to accept the proposal to mate or not, using him shamelessly to experience things that she would never be allowed to do on her own. Things like traveling to New York or learning to drive. Can he convince her to trust him again?

I’ll be completely honest, when I got the email requesting I read and review this, my answer was immediate. You’re with Harlequin Teen and you want me personally to read and review a novel from your publishing house? Yes, I’d love too. Oh, it’s about Gargoyles? Even better. Oh, it’s by Jennifer L Armentrout? Gimme gimme gimme…I mean, ::coughs:: I would be delighted to review this for you. To say I was overjoyed at this opportunity was a massive understatement. I could post a hundred flailing happy gifs and it still wouldn’t equal my level of excitement. But, instead of doing that, let’s get down to the review, shall we?

Jasmine’s character is one I could immediately sympathize with. She just wants to be free, but the antiquated views of the male Wardens (aka gargoyles) keep her caged in the mansion she calls home. They believe that whole women are the weaker sex and must be protected at all costs. The idea that maybe if they trained them to fight then they would constantly be the causalities of demon attacks is preposterous. No, it’s better to hide them away and homeschool them until they are old enough to be “mated” and then keep them barefoot and pregnant. Jasmine is about as irritated with this idea as I am. The only upside in this is that there are so few females that they get their pick of any male. The males make an offer and the female gets 7 days to make a decision, yes or no. If she says no, the male must accept it and move on. The downside, beyond the chauvinist outlook, is that virtually none of the mated couples are love matches. Jasmine is a romantic, so that’s very disheartening.

Holy crap. I just realized part of why I loved this so much (apart from JLA’s typical awesomeness) while I was writing that. It’s just like a freaking historical romance novel: sheltered women, men running society, lack of love matches. Seriously, I’m a bit mind blown at the similarities. I didn’t think I could fall in love with this anymore, but I was wrong.

Dez, our leading male, was cocky, lovable, and oddly vulnerable. I think Jennifer really has writing swoon-worthy males down to a science. Amazing body? Just the right amount of witty banter? Cocky, but not annoyingly so? Completely head over heels for our heroine? And tada! There you have it, a swoon-worthy male. I was a bit unsure about him in the beginning, but his obvious devotion to Jasmine won me over. It’s clear that he’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. I almost wish this had been just a tinsy bit longer just to draw out their relationship a bit.

You get a peak of Layla, Zayne, and Roth, the stars of this series. Dez and Jasmine are secondary characters. I’m a little sad about them not being the main love birds, but I can understand why their story is in the background. Once they get over this little issue, I think they won’t have any major conflicts and conflicts are the center of all novels. Layla is definitely going to be an interesting character to follow and I’m already so in love with Roth that I’m foaming at the mouth for me. Smartass demon who bucks the rules? YES PLEASE!

The writing is exactly what you’d expect from Jennifer. She has that amazing ability to write a wholly believable story, even when it’s a preposterous concept. The Warden lure, though only briefly explained, is fascinating. I’m really excited about reading more of this particular supernatural being we don’t see often (or ever) in YA. It’s probably the most original idea for a young adult novel that I’ve read all year.

There is no question that this is a novella everyone will enjoy. It has romance, a bit of action, a little suspense, and a whole bunch of JLA awesomeness. It’s a new spin of a supernatural creature that doesn’t get much attention these days. Grab your copy December 1st so you can experience this breath-taking story for yourself.

****A huge thank you to Lisa Wray at Harlequin Teen for giving me the opportunity to read this and for providing me with an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you just doesn’t seem strong enough, but it’s all I can say, so from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank you!****

Bitter Sweet Love is definitely the beginning of an amazing series. I read another Gargoyle book this year and I immediately fell in love with the amazing supernatural creatures all over again since I did watch the show Gargoyles. When I found out JLA was writing a book about Gargoyles I was sooo freaking excited. There are so few books about Gargoyles I mean who wouldn’t be excited?

Gargoyles, demons, and loads of sexual tension….okay maybe not loads but it was there. Dez has been gone for three years and when he comes back saying he’s finally ready to be mated to Jasmine, Jasmine is so not happy. (I mean seriously dude three years no word? WTF!?!) Anyway Jasmine says that she’ll make her decision to be mated to him after he approves to her before mated bucket list.

Jasmine is so awesome. She kicks major bootay and I love that she never lets Dez off the hook until he finally tells her what’s what. Dez is super-de-duper swoon worthy. No Demon mind you but Dez definitely has all the yummy parts like abs and the absolute benefit of being written by the amazing JLA.

Bitter Sweet Love totally reminds me of the Firelight Series by Sophie Jordan. There were some major differences but they were also very similar. Jacinda Dragon than can turn human, arranged marriages, patriarchal society, lack of interaction with human world, a younger sister. Yup a lot like the Firelight Series which if you don’t know is one of my favorite series.

All in all I loved Bitter Sweet Love. Dez is all kinds of yummy!!! I wish I could have heard this story from his perspective too or read about his three year trip. That would be cool, or both would be awesome. Jasmine was an awesome character too, fierce and always doing what she feels is right for her even when all she wants to do is give in to her feelings.

Definitely cannot wait until White Hot Kiss is released!!!!

Specially thank you to Vi from Deity Island and Confessions of a Vi3ttbabe for the copy of Bitter Sweet Love!!!

Favorite Quote:
"I loved you the night yo ubrought me pudding and stayed with me until I fell asleep. That was eleven years ago and my love for you has never faded, Jas. Not for one second."

Oh Dez you are so romantic!

Steph's Thoughts:

Really, Jen is just the master at writing novellas and short books. All her prequels and all her novellas are as compelling as her full length novels, and she does not disappoint. They are just a little sample of all the things she's best at: nerve-rocking action, mind-blowing romance, and cunning humor, all strewn together at just the right pitches.

Just days after Jasmine's mating announcement with Dez, he disappears without a word, text, call--or a goodbye. She loved him for basically forever, and her future seemed so sparkling clear until it all shattered into tiny bits and pieces. But after three years with zero contact, Dez is back at the northern Warden clan so much different, yet so alike to the old Dez, ready to proceed with the mating ceremony three years off schedule. But Jas doesn't plan on letting him off the hook so easily--he has seven days to complete an array of seemingly impossible conditions to win back her hand.

At first, I didn't really get how this prequel was going to tie-in with White Hot Kiss, which centers around Layla, Zayne, and Roth and not Dez and Jas. The first half focuses solely on a brief introduction to the Dark Elements world of terrifying demons and mystical gargoyles, and of course, the tumultuous love affair between Jas and Dez. Don't get me wrong, their story is awesome. It's like a crash course of JLA style romance. Later in the book though, I realized how this was going to set up for Layla's story. I am also assuming that this is set several years prior to the start of White Hot Kiss, since Jas does mention at some point that Layla in BSL looked to be only around 13 years old.

Let's talk boys. Jen said Roth and Zayne were her hottest two boys, and also threw in that our Daemon Black was based of Roth. Now, in BSL we catch a glimpse or two of Roth and Zayne, and yes they were hot hot hot. But it was only a few fleeting glances at them. Then there's Dez, and just saying. If Dez somehow didn't make Jen's "top boys" list, then I have no idea what to expect when she reveals the true colors of Zayne and Roth. Dez, that boy is swoony from the tips of his auburn waves down to the edges of his toes. From what I'm reading so far...Zayne may be like an Aiden (but better--if possible?) and Roth might be like a Seth or Daemon. Or a mash up of both of them (or again, even better!) This is getting me really excited. A bit too excited. *Hyperventilates*

Bitter Sweet Love isn't just some romantic escapade either. We get some up close scenes of how exactly a Warden fights in there true form of granite-solid skin and sweeping black wings. We catch glimpses of the nasty discrimination against the Wardens--who have newly revealed themselves to the human eye. We also get a run in with a...pukwudgie...named Herbert... (don't ask me! Oh, and happy teaser).

Dez shot me a look. “We can’t just let it go.”
The pukwudgie glanced at Dez and stuck out its tongue, making a very human raspberry sound.
I laughed. “Oh, I like this little guy. If we can’t let him go, can I keep him?”
“Uh, no.”
“I shall name him Herbert,” I announced, ignoring Dez. “Do you like the name, little puke-wedgie?”
--pg. 69, Bitter Sweet Love (ebook edition)

Honestly, on Jen can come up with stuff that like. It's what magic is made out of.

If you are planning to read Dark Elements, which should be everyone I say, Bitter Sweet Love is a must read. Jas and Dez WILL be showing up again throughout the series, so it's good to know their story as well. This is fully entertaining, and won't leave you bored for a moment! Can't wait for White Hot Kiss next February!

My Thoughts:

I am beyond thrilled that Ms. Armentrout has given us a spectacular and colorful new series filled with vivid imagery, magic, passion, excitement, and adventure! Bitter Sweet Love, is a prequel in the Dark Elements Series. This little novella hooked me from the very first page of the story, and took me on an unbelievable ride. Jas, is a warden (similar to the gargoyles of urban legend), which were created by Alphas (Angels) to protect humans from the dangerous and sinister actions of demons. Dez, a gorgeous and sexy warden, comes to live with Jas' clan, when his parents, and clan are brutally murdered by a powerful, and upper level demon. Dez is completely disturbed and devastated by what occurred. He refuses to eat, talk, or let anyone near him. Jas finds a way to break down Dez' walls, and they become inseparable. The two fall madly in love, but one day Dez just disappears, leaving Jas completely heartbroken. Three years later, Dez returns, and tells Dez' father that he wants her for his mate, and Dez has seven days to decide if she will accept or deny him.

As a female warden, Dez doesn't have any freedom. She is constantly monitored, and protected. Females are not trained to fight, and are only expected to give birth. Unfortunately, many female wardens die in childbirth. Dez has a very adventurous spirit, and gives Dez a list of conditions that he must complete in order for her to consider his proposal, but she has no intention of accepting it. She still loves Dez, but doesn't trust him to not leave her, and break her heart all over again.

Bitter Sweet Love was a fast paced, and addicting read! The world building was amazing. The descriptions were vivid, and brought the whole story to life. I experienced flying, looking down at the city, the rush, and sense of freedom, right along with Jas. I quickly learned of various demons, what they looked like, their abilities, and ranking. I repeatedly swooned over Dez, and felt the intoxicating intensity, and anticipation of every moment that Jas and Dez were together. This story was unique, imaginative, magical, and and seductive. I loved it, and am highly anticipating, White Hot Kiss. I am so excited to find a fresh, and unique new paranormal series, by the queen of swoon!

My Rating:

I highly recommend, Bitter Sweet Love, by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Ms. Armentrout never ceases to amaze me. She has made gargoyles sexy, in this new series, the same way that she made aliens sexy in her Lux Series. I'm not into reading about gargoyles (or aliens), but make an exception to that rule, when I see that the author is the talented Ms. Armentrout. She consistently takes my breath away with the beautiful, sexy, and addictive romances she seamlessly creates. I give, Bitter Sweet Love, 4.5 Intoxicating, Seductive, and Swoon Worthy Stars!

My Favorite Quote:

"Nothing in this world is stronger than love. It should always be enough, no matter what." (eARC, Loc. 1532)

*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape!

Gargoyles!!! JLA’s new series is about gargoyles!

I honestly believe that JLA can write about anything and everything and still make it good. And she made gargoyles good. It’s so easy and fun to read JLA’s writing, and I had no trouble reading about gargoyles. The world of The Dark Elements series–with gargoyles and demons and god-knows-what–is fascinating and so smoothly written. And… the gargoyles are HOT!

The gargoyles are known as Wardens, and they fight against demons. The heroine, Jasmine, is a gargoyle, but since she’s a female, she doesn’t really get to fight. What she really wants, though, is to see the world. Jasmine never gets to leave home, and she’s been lonely ever since her best friend and crush, Dez, left for no reason three years ago. Plus, Dez left the day after he and Jasmine were announced to be mated. So, obviously, she is not elated with joy to see him again when he reappears out of the blue after three years. Jasmine still has feelings for Dez, of course, but she’s still pretty pissed. Especially when they’re announced to be mated again.

Jasmine has seven days to decide whether to accept the mating with Dez or not. And she has conditions. Jasmine wants to go places and see things, but even after those conditions are met, she’s still not sure if she can accept the mating. But Dez won’t give up. He know’s they’re meant to be together, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make her believe in him again.

This book was so. much. FUN! There’s JLA’s classic humor, a swoony book boyfriend, and lots of kissing! Be excited for this novella and new series. It’s going to be amaze-balls.

We also get introduced to the main characters from the first full novel of the series, White Hot Kiss (coming out the day after my birthday! AH!!). Jasmine meets the half demon, half gargoyle Layla, Zayne (the guy Layla’s crushing on), and the mysterious demon Roth. They don’t play a huge part in the novella, and they’re younger than they are in White Hot Kiss, but it was nice to see them for the first time before their book comes out (which I’m SO excited for!).

This was fantastic for a novella. The characters were fully fleshed out, the story kept me riveted, and the romance was so sweet (not bittersweet!). It’s only a hundred pages or so, and you can read it in one sitting, like I did. So if you’re a JLA fan, don’t miss this! It’s another brilliant addition to her YA books. And even if you’re not a JLA fan, you must give her a try, and why not with a shorter book of hers?

4/5! SO good.

Who knew gargoyle's could be so HOT!?! Jennifer L Armentrout has done it again. She's written another book that is hot, addicting, and makes waiting for White Hot Kiss that much more of a challenge. I want the next story like now. I'm so impatient when comes to waiting on Jennifer's next book. After you read this book, you'll know why.

There are very few YA books that I've read that are centered around gargoyles. The ones I've read I've really enjoyed, but this book was down right captivating. This prequel introduces readers to The Dark Elements world, the upcoming series who's first book, White Hot Kiss hits shelves in a mere few weeks. In it we're introduced to the world of the Wardens (the gargoyles), and the Demons. While Jennifer introduces the White Hot Kiss characters, Layla, Roth and Zayne, this story centers on Jasmine and Dez.

In true Jennifer fashion, the character chemistry ignites the pages. Okay not literally, since this is an ebook, but if it wash an actual book I'm pretty the pages would be smoldering. Dez and Jasmine have an undeniable attraction to one another. Really their chemistry together is smoking. That mixed with their long standing history together makes their relationship inevitable. Together they're just plain hot. I enjoyed reading about them as well as getting a glimpse into their enticing world. While I loved that this story centered on them, I am now totally 100 % intrigued by Mr Snarky High and Mighty hot demon boy whom I am assuming is Roth, that Dez and Jasmine meet at the end of their story.

Fans of Jennifer Armentrout's will definitely download this e-novella of hotness! After reading this book I'm even more impatient about getting my hands on White Hot Kiss. It's a fabulous introduction into the upcoming release's world and characters.

This novella was meant to introduce the reader to the series. Gargoyle Wardens and demons being the main characters. This book shows us Dez and Jasmine. Two Wardens. The plot isn't amazing nor will it blow your mind. Dez left when Jas's father announced they were to mate. Without a goodbye. He comes back three years later and still thinks he can just mate with Jasmine. She has some conditions that he has to fulfil even though she thinks she is going to tell him no. As the seven days go by, she falls even more in love with him and tells him yes. He finally tells her the real reason he left and they get to meet Layla, Roth, and Zayne.

It was a sweet romance story that was very very predictable but enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend buying it, but maybe borrowing from the library like I did. It's worth reading just to see Roth.

Did I mention Roth already? Well then, Team Roth!

4.5 Stars

This is another of Jennifer’s series that I have been meaning to start for some time and I am glad that I did. Because come on, Gargoyles!! Who wouldn’t want to learn about them! Bitter Sweet was a fantastic beginning to the series, and I look forward to reading more.

Jas was heartbroken over the sudden departure of Dez three years ago. So when he suddenly returns, she is determined to keep him at arm’s length and make him work for her forgiveness. When she gives her ultimatum, he is determined to see it through.

It was sweet to see Jas and Dez together. They have a deep connection that was formed after Dez’s world was shattered when they were both young. I learned all their secrets and why they are hesitant, but it was great to see them come back to each other.

I enjoyed this first instalment of the series. I was able to get an understanding of the world, how the characters live, their lifestyles and how they shift into Gargoyles. It is very exciting and although this novella was not full of action, it opened my eyes to this new world. There were a few side characters that I liked too and I look forward to seeing more of them in upcoming books.

Sexy Gargoyles, what? Oh yes! I think JLA has taken the supernatural to an all new level with her new series about Gargoyles and Demons. Jasmine has a huge decision to make about her life. She doesn't want to be taken care of by someone else, she want to be independent and adventurous but that is not how life is in the Clan of Wardens, also it is time for her to be claimed for a mate and the one she has been pining over for the three years since he left without a word is back and doing the claiming. Dez has had demons of his own to fight, quite literally and now he is back to claim her. Jas has seven days to accept his claim and she is going to get her adventure, little does she or Dez know what is to come.

I loved Jas and Dez, they were lovable and believable, take away their stone like exterior and wings they were just a normal young adult couple trying to find their way back to each other but also have otherworldly duties to protect the world from the ever growing demon population.

Bitter Sweet Love was well written and vividly descriptive, I could picture in my mind the way Dez was sleeping in the corner with complete clarity. JLA has a way with words and phrases and I love reading all of her works whether it be Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal or Romance. I am really looking forward to White Hot Kiss, the 2nd book in The Dark Elements Series, expected publication February 25, 2014.

Bitter Sweet Kiss was given to me as an Advanced Reader Copy provided by the publisher.

[...]

Bitter Sweet Love was a good introduction into JLA's newest series. The Dark Elements series shows it's going to have a ton of potential and definitely continue in the success of all previous books written by JLA.

Bitter Sweet Love as I mention is a good way to open the door to this series, you are introduced to the Wardens and what their purpose is which is getting rid of Demons. And when I say Demons, all sorts of different ranking/type of Demons that live among the humans. It's not a pretty job but someone has to do it.

Jasmine is the main characters in this prequel, she is shocked when her ex just appears back in her life again, after disappearing for 3 years. Dez just fell off the face of the earth from her life with no explanation or letter, Jaz gave up hope and becamed destroyed by that. So imagine how she feels when Dez is back and her dad decided they will be mated, like if nothing ever happen and he wasn't missing and hasn't even explained why he disappeared.

Jaz decided she will give him 7 days to try and win her over without any grantees of mating him and she asked for some crazy conditions that normally wouldn't fly. Even her dad allows her and Dez to try and accomplish some of these conditions. Of course don't expect everything to run smoothly, when your out in the real world there is always the possibility of running into those pesky Demons.

Great starter book, read it before White Hot Kiss comes out March 1st 2014 - Yara

To be honest, when this book series was first announced I was like, `Gargoyles?!! Why would anyone write about gargoyles?' Then I remembered that this is Jennifer L. Armentrout that is writing these books! I shouldn't question her for writing about gargoyles, I should just trust the knowledge that we all know: Jennifer L. Armentrout writes the most swoon-worthy male characters EVER. After that realization I started to get excited!

One day Jasmine's father has announced his wishes for Jasmine and Dez to Mate, the next Dez has up and left without a word to Jasmine. It's kind of hard to not take that personally. Especially seeing as Jas had spent the last 8 years of her life in love with him. So for 3 years, Jasmine mourns the loss of Dez and then one day He comes back and lays claim to Jasmine.

Oh, but Jasmine is NOT HAPPY. She's just spent the last 3 years of her life wondering what she did to make him leave and now he's back all of the sudden and wants to mate? Oh no, Jasmine is not having any of that. Jasmine has seven days to say yes or no to Dez's claim. Instead of saying `NO' right off the bat, she comes up with conditions and she makes him work for that `Yes.'

We get a brief introduction to Layla (half demon & half gargoyle teen girl being raised by the DC Warden Clan.), Zayne (A Warden from the Clan that's raised Layla and whom she's had a crush on forever!), and for a very brief second, Roth (An Upper Level Demon). These 3 Characters are who we will get to know better in White Hot Kiss, the next installment from the Dark Elements, and the first full length novel in the series.

This novella was amazing and JEN DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.. Dez was smoking hot and very sweet. She had me swooning over him the minute he appears in this book. I almost wish I could have gotten a bit more time with him and Jasmine, but what time we did get with them was BEAUTIFUL.

We have yet to learn more about Zayne, as he only got but a brief introduction in this book, but he most definitely has swoon potential!

Thanks to JLA for the sweet introduction to her new world. A world where Gargoyles have had to out themselves to the Mortal world in order to keep doing what they were put on this Earth for. Something big is happening and I can't wait to read White Hot Kiss to see what's going on. I mean, what's happening that made the Wardens come out? Is Layla the reason behind what's happening? Are we going to fall in love with Zayne? Or is Roth going to come and collect our hearts? We shall see come February!

You can find the original review here:
[...]

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.