Monday, August 18, 2014

Ruined (The Eternal Balance #1)

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 Ruined (The Eternal Balance, #1)

Hell is looking for a way to break loose…
Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.
After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.
Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.

Review

****Entangled Publishing, LLC, via NetGalley, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest reivew****
What a way to start a new series and new to me author! I devoured this book and loved every minute. The characters, the story, the twists turns and heartbreak all had me hanging on to every word. Smooth transitions between point of views and strong emotions that came off the page mixed with palpable character chemistry left me ready for book 2 and with a neon blinking 5 stars. Jax is the ceremonious half good half evil struggle in the flesh, but, of course, with a non-figurative twist, he really shares his body with a demon. A very strong character, I relished being a voyeur while he matured and embraced his lot in life and found a way to work with it. The chemistry was copacetic and almost it's own being. The sex was appropriate but very hot. No excessive paranormal world building or outrageous character guidelines, confusing the reader and taking away from the story. This book created an alternative to our daily lives that could be real and you'd never know it, struggles between good and evil the average mortal never would see.The Cain & Abel explanation was a great way to make this fantasy even realer. It's funny how Chase started out essentially the "good brother" but I never liked him, maybe subconsciously there were hints of his character twists all along blended in. Book 2 can't come soon enough!




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