Obsession - Review

Obsession 

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: May 31, 2013 by Entangled Publishing

275 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux Series You do not need to read a Lux book to read Obsession and vice versa.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

MY REVIEW:
Oh how I have missed the Lux world! With the next Lux book coming out this year I decided now was as good a time as any to read Obsession. This story intertwines some with characters we know and love from the Lux world - namely Luc and a brief glimpse of Daemon. But don't worry - I promise you will not be disappointed with this story!

The Lux series centers around the alien race called Luxen, and so we grow to love their species (most of them anyway) and look at them as "good guys" and we HATE the Arum, a slightly similar alien race. Where Luxen are light and warmth, Arum are darkness, shadows and cold. Arum were created as the natural enemy of the Luxen, to kill them. It's a centuries old battle that started when Luxen tried to dominate the planet where Arum are from and took them captive but then both planets were destroyed and slowly their race began to come to Earth. Although the conflict that existed between their races was so long ago those initially involved are dead, their hatred for one another carried over to Earth. Not all Arum want to take place in this ongoing battle. However, Arum need to feed to stay alive and they gain the most energy from Luxen.

Hunter, an Arum, is one of the strongest of his kind, and he works with the Department of Defense, killing Luxen when he's asked to kill in return for safety and security. He doesn't trust them, but it works, for now. Until he's asked to watch after a human female who a powerful Luxen wants dead.

Serena and Hunter have incredible attraction and chemistry. The problem is that Hunter doesn't feel emotions the same way a human male does - and his need to feed is really strong when he's around Serena. This poses a whole host of problems because he could easily kill her. She should be afraid of him and his true nature. But instead she pushes him, fights with him, mouths off to him, and won't listen to him. Since his kind mostly cares about dominance plus his job of protecting her, this causes significant frustrations with him.

As much as I love the Luxen (well specifically Daemon and Dawson) , I also grew to love Hunter. This book opens your eyes to see that there really isn't a good or bad side between the Luxen and the Arum. There's bad apples on both sides just like there are those who are innately good on both sides. It's what each does that defines their goodness or lack thereof. And Hunter, yeah, he's full of goodness. It just takes a special human female to help him see it.

Oh, and did I mention H-O-T?! This is an adult novel, so be prepared for graphic scenes and language and a ton of steaminess! After all, Serena and Hunter both have some frustrations to work out.

Favorite Quotes:
Nothing made crazy easier than lounge pants and flip-flops.

There was a dead...something on my floor and a whatever standing in front of me.

...the guy was part alien, part human, and part ninja.

But no man should look that good with a sucker.

Final Rating - 4 stars.