What did I think of....
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Description:
Every touch has its price
Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.
But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…
Genre: Paranormal romance
Published on: October 21st, 2014
Pages: 464 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Average rating: 4.5 stars
My rating: 4.2 stars
Genres:
I've read White Hot Kiss, the first installment, twice now. Once by itself about a year ago, and it was good, and a second time a couple of days ago... right before I read this one, Stone Cold Touch. They made each other so much better... and now I can't wait until the next book comes out.
After the huge twist at the end of White Hot Kiss, which left me dead, I was unsure how I felt about starting Stone Cold Touch, but never fear, it was fabulous.
Even though Stone Cold Touch was totally a bridge book, I still really enjoyed it, and thought it better than the first, White Hot Kiss.
You may have also noticed the difference between the two covers...
Featuring: Roth Featuring: Zayn
You may have also noticed, that the cover where Roth and Layla are kissing, it's white hot, and the cover with Zayn and Layla, he's trying to kiss her and she's turning away, and it's stone cold. Mmm-hmm. That being said....
Stone Cold Touch was totally Zayn's book. Roth had a much more minimal (yet constant) presence, and I missed his outrageous flirting. Zayn wasn't nearly as present in White Hot Kiss as he was in Stone Cold Touch, and served as a constant source of hurdling.
Is that a word? What I mean is that I kept wanting to tell him get out of the way! I need Roth! I need Roth! As you can see, I'm a total team Roth, but if you're not... you're going to lose.
That being said... here are the positive comparisons so you can form your own opinion.
VS
GO ROTH (and Bambi)!!
Layla Shaw has always been different, even by supernatural standards. Living with Warden's, the "protectors" of sorts for humankind against demons, she's always felt like an outsider, even though she's more powerful and paranormal than they are. Layla is half-Warden, half-demon, two polar opposites. Each side, demon and warden alike, are caught in a vicious war against each other, caught up in their prejudiced hatred... and poor Layla is caught in the middle.
Living with the Warden's, Layla has always attempted to suppress her demonic side, added with the guilt she feels from her fellow Wardens. But when Layla turns seventeen, her world becomes pretty topsy-turvy. (yes, exactly like the song).
When the Crown Prince of Hell, or Roth, shows up, he causes her to question everything she thought was true, to accept herself (both sides) and to realize that a little bit of evil is necessary.
Roth is back...
Layla's has finally been given a tantalizing taste of what always has been forbidden, but when it backfires big time, there is only one person who's always had her back, even when it seems unlikely. But when a threat on Layla's life comes from someone she's always thought of as family, Layla, Bambi, Caymen and Roth fight to save the city... and Layla's future.
Roth is an Upper Level demon, and unfortunately, he's here on a job. The Boss from downstairs has given him orders, and Roth is here for a reason, a reason not to solve the problem, but take care of it... or her. Problem is, he's fallen on the job and he's risking Hell's wrath to stay fallen.
Layla is not like the usual LJA heroine. She has no self-esteem, is very introverted, and craves attention, but is still super sassy, super cheeky in her own way. Being suppressed her whole life, it was cool to watch her bloom in personality. She also has some super powers, soul-stealing kisses (literally), and others that are spoilers so I will not mention them. However, in Stone Cold Touch, she starts to overcome this a bit; recognizing her individual rights, her worth and realizes that sometimes, a little bit of evil is necessary and sometimes just what the doctor prescribes.
Zayn is Layla's best friend, and her safety cocoon. Not only that, but she crushes on him hard, and he is essentially the only person to ever accept her. But, after a tantalizing taste of something that can never happen, Layla starts to realize that she's not fighting for Zayn because she loves him... but fighting because she doesn't want to lose her rock, the only person she could ever depend on, and the only person who ever truly accepted her. But that acceptance might just be her downfall...
Stone Cold Touch, was a stunningly well crafted story with expertly laid clues that the truth isn't laid until the very end... You know what they say about hindsight, 20/20.
XOXO,
Kat
