Challenge Review: Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

CHALLENGE: MONTH EIGHT

  PERSONAL DEMON BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG

Title: Personal Demon

Series: Women of the Otherworld #8 
Author: Kelley Armstrong 
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction 
Elements: Demons, Sorcerers, Witches, Werewolves 
Publisher: Bantam Books, Random House Inc. 
Format: mass Market Paperback, 523 Pages 
ISBN: 978-0-553-58820-0 
Release Date: October 2008 
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library 
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Tabloid reporter Hope Adams appears to live the life of an ordinary working girl. But in addition to possessing the beauty of a Bollywood princess, Hope has other unique traits. For she is a half-demon--a human fathered by a demon. And she's inherited a hunger for chaos. Naturally, when she's chosen by a very dangerous group for a very dangerous mission that will take her through Miami's hot spots, she jumps at the chance. But Hope is a little too good at this job. And soon she's in a little too deep. To save herself, she'll have to unleash her most primal instincts--and open herself, mind and body, to everything she most fears...and desires.

Review: 

Being an Expisco half-demon, Hope Adams feels a pull toward chaos. She usually works for the Council to get her fix, but when Benicio Cortez presents her with an undercover job, she can't turn it down. The Cortez Cabal has been having trouble with a local gang of supernaturals and it's Hope's job to infiltrate and gather information on their plans.

When Karl Marsten learns that Hope is in Miami, he pays Lucas Cortez a visit, inquiring about what she's doing there. He had a deal with Benicio that he would call Karl first if he was calling in their debt, and Benicio never contacted him, using the fact that Hope and Karl are fighting to get Hope to do the job alone. So Karl travels to Miami to get Hope out before things get out of control.

But when two gang members are kidnapped, events quickly go down hill, and the Cabal is the number one suspect. But there is more to the kidnapping than anyone ever thought possible.

I loved reading Hope's story. We get deeper insight into her need (?), addiction (?) to chaos. We see her complicated relationship with werewolf jewel thief, Karl Marsten. And her struggle to be more than what her demon makes her.

To be honest, when we met Hope in No Humans Involved, I didn't really like her. She seemed too eager and tag-along-puppy-like, although by the end, a puppy with a potentially vicious side. But when I read Personal Demon, that behavior made more sense to me and I really grew to like Hope very much.

The same went for Karl. We met Karl in the very first book in this series, Bitten, as a member of the rogue group trying to take down the Pack. I didn't like how Karl just stood by and watched as Clay was being beaten. He was too self-absorbed and selfish then, but we see a very different side of him in Personal Demon.

Karl feels no attachment to anyone but Hope, not even the Pack, which he is now a member of. I never thought I'd see Karl Marsten unsure of himself, but when it comes to Hope he feels things he once laughed at others for feeling. The fact the he's feeling the mating instinct doesn't help matters.

Aside from his feelings for Hope, we also see how Karl felt about the Pack as he was growing up. Karl had actually wanted to be a part of the Pack, but his father forbade it. It also turns out that his father was killed by Jeremy's father, Malcolm. So he has mixed feelings about now being a part of the Pack.

Personal Demon actually has two POVs--one is Hope and the other is Lucas Cortez. Because Hope works for the Council and is doing a job for Benicio, Paige and Lucas were brought in as well. This gives insight into the Cortez family and the inner workings of the Cabal.

A family tragedy causes Lucas to be put in charge of the Cabal and the investigation--and, boy, is he good at it. Paige can sense that a change is going to come and I really loved how she reassured Lucas that she wasn't going to leave: "Whatever happens, whatever you decide, now, later...I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, Cortez."

And finally there is the gang Hope investigates. They are totally anti-Cabal and basically do anything and everything to undermine its authority. I can't say much about the gang without giving something away, but I will say that I really liked the members of the gang. As Hope became attached to them, so did I. I was shocked by the cause of the gang's downfall. It was totally unexpected.

The next book, Living with the Dead, is from the POV of Robyn Peltier, a human, and Hope's BFF. So we'll get to see more of Hope and Karl, and meet a new character in the Women of the Otherworld series.

Book Trailer: 

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Follow Friday (#25): To-Die-For Book Crush

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read--a great way to discover new amazing blogs and new friends!

Q: Activity! Who is your to-die-for book crush? What do you think they look like? Add an image to make us all happy.

Answer: Tod Hudson from the Soul Screamers series. I fell in love with Tod during If I Die, and no one has taken his place in my heart yet, although Daemon Black from the Lux series came very close to stealing it. 

 

A Favorite Tod Quote from If I Die (only one of many):

“Only two years dead, and it was getting harder for me to feel…anything. I was starting to slip into the darkness. The numbness. And the worst part is that it wasn’t even scary. I was losing myself, and I didn’t even care. Then I met you, and at first I didn’t understand what had happened. What had changed. All I knew was that I wanted to be near you. Then you helped me with Addison, even though it nearly got you killed—I nearly got you killed—and I started to understand how special you are. But by then, you were getting serious with Nash. With my brother—one of few people in the whole world I still gave a damn about. So I tried to stay away. I tried so hard.” His voice cracked on the last word, and my heart cracked with it. Tears stood in my eyes, but I was afraid to let them fall. I was afraid to even breathe for fear of missing a single word. "But you kept pulling me back. You’re the brightest thing I’ve ever seen, Kaylee. You’re this beautiful ball of fire spitting sparks out at the world, burning fiercely, holding back the dark by sheer will. And I always knew that if I reached out—if I tried to touch you—I’d get burned. Because you’re not mine. I’m not supposed to feel the fire. I’m not supposed to want it. But I do. I want you, Kaylee, like I’ve never wanted anything. Ever. I want the fire. I want the heat, and the light, and I want the burn.”

How to follow: 

With my new blog design there is a gray bar on the side of the page that pops out when you put the computer mouse over it. The GFC is under my profile button. Linky is unavailable at the moment, but I'll have it posted at a later date.

2013 Sexy Showalter Reading Challenge {Sign Up}

The 2013 Sexy Showalter Reading Challenge is hosted by Under the Covers!!

Here’s the rundown:

1. The Sexy Showalter Reading Challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. You can join at anytime from now and throughout the year. This is a 2013 challenge, so books read before January 1 will not count to your progress.

2. You pick your goal by picking a category! Read as many books as you’d like.

3. Re-reads are acceptable.

4. Books chosen can be of any genre (like we said, she writes a lot!)

5. To participate, copy and paste this post on your blog along with the challenge button. We ask that you provide a link back to the sign-up page in case others wish to participate.

6. Readers without blogs can still participate! Keep track of your progress with Goodreads, Shelfari or LibraryThing.

To sign up:

1.  Make a sign up post announcement, listing the category you’ve chosen and a list of books you plan to read.  If you don’t have a blog, post on GoodReads or another site as a thread where we can access your list of books.  Be sure to take the image code above.

2.  Come back here and using the list below, add your entry with a link directly to that post so we can see what you’ll be reading.

You’re done!  Every month during 2013 we will make a challenge update post where you can come and updates us on how you’re doing with your challenge.

Category 1: Gena Who?

1-4 books OR 1 Series completed

If we say Lords of the Underworld and you wonder if Peter Jackson is directing a new film whilst keeping your fingers crossed that Aragorn will be (nekkid) in it, then this is the category for you! You just need to dip your toe in the Showalter pond and try out 1-4 of her books OR alternatively complete just one of her series, easy peasy for all Gena Beginners!

Catetgory 2: Sampling Showalter

5-8 books OR 2 Series completed

You’ve done the Goodreads search, checked the prizes on Amazon; you are now fully prepared for Gena to take you to the next level, did you know she did some YA and contemporary as well….

Category 3: Gaga for Gena

9-12 books OR 3 Series completed

She has you hooked. You can’t help but reach for another book, just one more….and then another one!

Catergory 4: Sexy for Showalter

13-18 books OR 4 Series completed

You know your Lords from your pleasure slaves; your aliens from your nymph kings; demons, vampires, dragons, genies you love them all and aren’t afraid to wear your “Sexy for Showalter” t-shirt to prove it!

Catergory 5: Gena’s Number One Fan!

EVERY SINGLE BOOK!

*awed silence* You have read EVERY book Gena has written, and although she might still have that restraining order out on you for sniffing her unmentionables that won’t stop you from being her NUMBER ONE FAN!

My goal is:  Catergory 4: Sexy for Showalter (13-18 Books)

Books I'd Like to Read During the Challenge:

Lords of the Underworld (6 Books)

 The Darkest Passion

The Darkest Lie

The Darkest Secret

The Darkest Surrender

The Darkest Seduction

The Darkest Craving

Alien Huntress (5 Books)

Awaken Me Darkly
Enslave Me Sweetly
Savor Me Slowly
Seduce the Darkness
Ecstasy in Darkness 

Intertwined (1 Book) 

Twisted 

White Rabbit Chronicles (1 Book) 

Alice in Zombieland 

Otherworld Assassin (1 Book) 

Last Kiss Goodnight 

Tales of an Extraordinary Girl (2 Books) 

Playing with Fire
Twice as Hot

Happy Reading!

Promotional Event: Kiss Me by Jillian Dodd

Title:  Kiss Me 

Series: The Keatyn Chronicles: Book Two

Genre: Romance, Mature Young Adult

Author: Jillian Dodd

Release date: Wednesday, November 28^th 2012

I've always written scripts for my perfect life.
But no way could I have ever scripted this.
My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.
All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.
I can’t see my family.
I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.
The most popular girl already hates me.
But there’s this boy.
This hot, sweet, sexy boy.
So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.
Because who knows how long I have left.

STALK ME (book #1) will be on sale for .99 the week of Nov. 26 – Dec. 1. It will return to its normal price of $2.99 on Dec. 2. 

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16073993-kiss-me




About this Author:

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy.

She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series. 

Jillian Dodd | Facebook | Twitter

Additional social media links:

Pinterest
Goodreads  
Amazon Author Page
KeatynChronicles Fan Page 
KeatynChronicles on Twitter

 

Excerpt

He tells everyone we’re tired and drags me into the house.

Then I think his hormones kick into overdrive.

He kisses me, like, fast, hard, long, intensely deep kisses. He pushes me up against the counter in the kitchen, holding my hips tightly in his hands. He kisses hard down my neck and then strips off my shirt and tosses it on the floor.

Then he walks me backward through the house while still kissing me, quickly working his way back to the bedroom. He pushes me against a wall in the hallway, where he pulls his own shirt off, then unties my bikini top, his warm, naked chest pressing against me as he shoves his tongue deeply into my mouth. I suck on it recklessly.

We finally get to the bedroom, where he quickly shuts and locks the door, then pushes me up against it. He’s kissing me and, like, ravishing me. I feel like I’m living a hot romance novel. And this is the kind of thing I have always pictured.

Always dreamed of.

A boy who wants me so bad he can barely stand it.

A boy who pushes me hard against the door and kisses me like he means it. A boy who takes my wrists and holds them above my head, pinning me to the door as he sucks his way down my chest. A boy who kisses me so deeply it makes my head spin. A boy whose one free hand feels like ten because it is everywhere on my body.

Instead he whispers, “Just because sex is good with someone, doesn't mean you’re destined to be with them. Imagine what it will be like with the guy you’re really supposed to be with. Your true love.”

When he speaks, his lips graze my neck a few times.

“You’re touching my neck. With your lips,” I say raggedly. I can barely breathe when he’s this close to me.

“I’m talking. Not kissing. It doesn’t count.”

And I don't know where this comes from—not from rational thought, obviously—but I make a little breathless moan and say, “Talk some more.”

I feel his mouth form a smile on my neck.

“Remember what I told you? In French. Your lips are my bliss?”

Then he speaks it in French. His lips grazing my neck with each syllable.

I forget who I am.

I forget where I am.

I have but one solitary thought.

Those lips must be on me.

GIVEAWAY:

(1) Kindle or Nook copy of STALK ME (Keatyn Chronicles, Book One). – Open International. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gossip Girl meets Hollywood in this steamy new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.  

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.

Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.

Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.

It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.

And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.

A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.

And she's crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony. 

But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.

Buy links for STALK ME: Amazon // B&N // Kobo // (Also available through iTunes)