Thursday, May 10, 2012

Review: Dark Kiss

Book: Dark Kiss
Author: Michelle Rowan
Series: Nightwatchers #2
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 348
Source: Kismet Book Tours (Thank you so much!!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 4/5
I don't do dangerous. 

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me... something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing and I don't know if I can get it back. 

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me...

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

(summary taken from Goodreads
MY THOUGHTS:  

You have to admit it: This gorgeously dark cover is probably the first thing that piqued your interest. But even though I've been burned by stunning covers before, I'm happy to report that Dark Kiss isn't a deceiving one! :)  

In Dark Kiss, two angels and two demons are sent down to Earth to work together on a mission to get rid of the grays (soulless beings who can drain the souls out of others through kisses). This is one of those books that blurs the line between good and bad. Whether you go to heaven or hell is really like a lottery with 50/50 odds and that makes it so much harder to know who to trust and who to push under the bus!

Sam may seem like your regular girl on the surface but she has a heart of gold underneath. Even though she's far from perfect, she's also incredibly determined, loyal, and admirably brave with the way she deals with the meddling angel/demon team. I only wish we'd gotten to know the characters more not just Sam, but the angels, demons, and her best friend Carly as well. 

Bishop isn't your average angel! Dark and brooding, he harbors a mysterious past that only makes him even more alluring. And even though there's no love triangle in this book, trust me when I say that this is one where you actually want one! Kraven, one of the demons on the four-man team, is the snarky, rude, and totally inappropriate character that adds hilarious commentary at the perfect times. I alternated between the urge to smack him and kiss him.

With Michelle's fantastic writing style, a sweet romance, and the original and intriguing angel/demon lore, Dark Kiss is the first book I've ever read by Michelle Rowan but it definitely won't be the last! She's a one-sit kind of author, that's for sure! :)

BUY or BORROW?: I'm probably biased since I'm buying a copy just to have this gorgeous cover on my shelf, but I think that this book is well worth the read and buy! ;) 

-Mimi

38 comments:

  1. nd even though there's no love triangle in this book, trust me when I say that this is one where you actually want one!

    Oh My God Mimi, that's EXACTLY what I said in my review! I loved this book, and I loved Kraven and everything. :D
    Although I don't agree with you about the cover, it actually made me wary. I thought it's another dark paranormal with brooding characters and insta-love. So happy I was wrong!

    Great review as always, darling. ^^
    Agnieszka @ Nook of Books

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  2. EEEEE MIMI! I think I've seen this book before and am so excited to read it although I haven't actually read any reviews of Dark Kiss! Yours is probably the first! ;) I love how the sound of this book! DEFINITELY INTRIGUED!

    Awesome review, Mimi! <3 Glad you enjoyed it!

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  3. No love triangle but I felt like one is coming with what Kraven said at the end. He was really hilarious! Bishop was sweet though and I was very surprised and intrigued by their history together. Can't wait to find out more about them. I hate Carly most of the time but was shocked with what she did at the end. This is a great cover.
    She's a one-sit kind of author, that's for sure! :)
    Definitely! Her writing is addicting! I always read everything in one night. If you enjoyed this you should definitely pick up her Demon Princess series. I think I love it even more but that also might be because I have read more books from it so I'm more attached to the characters. Her adult stuff rocks too.

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  4. Now I want to read this book even more, Mimi! :) Your fab reviews always do it to me :)))

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  5. Ooohh I'm SOOOOOO excited to read this now!!!! Hahaaa, you know, as much as I LOVE the cover, when I first saw it, I thought this was an ADULT novel/EROTICA but after some clarification, I became intrigued :) After reading your AMAZING review of it, I'm EVEN MORE intrigued by this<3 OMGGGG I totally understand what you mean with the love triangle! As much as I despise love triangles...there are books out there where it's non-existent BUT I ACTUALLY WANT IT!!!! Gahhh I WANTTTT! Can't wait for this to be released in Australia! I.NEED.TO.READ.IT.NOW!!!!

    LOVEEEEE your review, Mimi!!! Glad you loved it so much :)

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  6. Great review, very honest and insightful, Mimi! It's hard to believe but I hadn't heard of this series before now, so thanks for introducing me to it! I really want to pick up the first book now!

    Stephanie
    My latest post: From the Review Pile (1)

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  7. Oh wow! I cant wait to read this book Mimi. I have this book for awhile now and I am hoping to dive into it very soon. Great review Mimi <3

    Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷFICBOOKREVIEWSƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ

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  8. Although I feel like angels are getting a tad bit overdone, The lore in this book sounds delicious! Haha.

    Great review, Mimi :D

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  9. Awesome sauce review, Mimi! :D I got this off Netgalley and I tried reading it but it just didn't feel like it was for me. :( Your review kind of makes me want to try again :3 <33

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts~ xoxo

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  10. I am a HUGE sucker for books with angels. I can't help it. LOL Unfortunately I don't always like them though. Or I get turned off by multiple bad reviews before I can pick up a copy. I am so very glad you liked this one! I definitely will be picking up a copy of this! And omg the soulless sound like dementors!! Love it! Great review Mimi!!!

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  11. As I have said in my comment in GR, great review as always Mimi! I'm so getting fond reading your reviews, they make me really crave for the books! Haha! Anyway, it's been a long time since I last read an angel book and this sounds great, the characters seems to be really interesting too! I'm so gonna read this soon. :))

    Eunice @ Book Overdose

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  12. There's a dark and brooding hottie AND a snarky, rude demon in this book? EPIC WIN!!! Clearly this book is for me so I need to get my hands on it immediately. I can't say I've ever actually craved a love triangle before, but I can see how I might with this book. Awesome review Mimi!!!

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  13. I really enjoyed this one as well! I thought the story was really unique and the mythology behind it was interesting. I absolutely loved Kraven, he was definitely my favorite character. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Great review :)

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  14. Ummm heck yes I'll take that cover on my shelf any day! ;) I'm not big on angel and demons, as I've probably mentioned before, but I like the fact that this one has a sweet romance and NO LOVE TRIANGLE! Thank the Lord. The characters sound great and it has a fascinating story line...we shall see if I read it someday! Great review Mimi! :D <3

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  15. I have this coming up soon. Glad that it doesn't have a love triangle! Big bonus points in my book. I am excited to read about angels, demons and a sweet romance. Then I will have to come back and compare reviews! I am glad you liked it, Mimi!

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  16. Yay! I'm on this tour too. So glad because you have made me super excited about the book. I hate being burned by gorgeous covers so I'm glad that that's not the case here!

    Kraven sounds like perfect bb material. :)

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  17. Dear Mimi,

    You rock. This review rocks. Your reviews always rock. This cover rocks. And if you say so, then I'm sure that this book will rock too! (x <333333333

    God, Mimi, I am dying for a chance to read this book!! I've read six angel books in the past month and they were all only lukewarm, so I think that this is the one I've been looking for! Awesome characters? Blurry line between good and bad? Great writing? Two awesome boys who may not be a part of a love triangle but hopefully will be? Check, check, and HELL to the check! You passed the Mimi Checklist of Awesome again! Why am I not surprised? (:

    Fantabulous review, Mimi!

    Love, Kaylee

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  18. Yaaaaay! I have to read Dark Kiss (after I finish with Gilt), but your review made me want to get started on it RIGHT NOW! I've also never read anything written by the author, but I do have some of her books on my wishlist.

    Demons and angles, uhm... I just finished a book with this theme, and I'm already craving more! :D I love how you made the main character sound. I want to meet her straight away! And gosh, you wanted there to be a love triangle? Then that is seriously something. I'll have to keep an eye on the boys *--*

    Wonderful review, Mimi! I hope I can read it soon and enjoy it as much as you did ♥

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  19. Hahaha, know who to trust and who to push under the bus! Have I mentioned I love you lately? :) OOOH and a not-love triangle that you wish WAS? And oh my, I need to meet Kraven. I LOVEHATE those guys you want to simultaneously smack and kiss! You have totally, absolutely, 100% convinced me to grab myself a copy when this released in Australia. The cover alone was enough to make me go "OOOOOH" but your review? WANT THE BOOK. WANT THE BOOK. WANT THE BOOK!

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  20. Ok I'm having a super crappy evening right now, which is why coming to your blog right now was so important!
    YOU ALWAYS MAKE me smile, seriously I adore you! I loved this Review so much I can't even tell you!

    Aren't those two boys the cutest? And you described them wonderfully and perfect! And I agree, here you one actually wants a Triangle.. Kraven was awesome!

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  21. Another angel book to add to my ever growing list! How have I not heard of this one before? It sounds perfect for beating my reading slump at the moment. I love that this book tries to blur the lines between heaven and hell.

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  22. Yay!! I pre-ordered this one like a month ago XD cant wait to read it! great review my sweet ^.^ Im glad you liked it! =) and I LOVE angels!! woohoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  23. Kraven sounds like mykind of character. Snark and sensitivity get me every time. I haven't read too many angel books and this one sounds like a good one to try and get my feet wet with. I'm intrigued about the angel/demon team upand how that all worked.

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  24. Sounds awesome and Kraven really does sound like my kind of character too. Makes me think of Dick in the Nice Girls series by Molly Harper (I recommend those by the way). Thanks for the review.

    -Lauren

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  25. I really like the sound of Sam-honestly she kind of reminds me of me! You always find the coolest angel books, Mimi! Ones that push the genre and try out new things to please us picky YA readers.

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  27. I'll be honest, I wasn't actually expecting this book to be any good. I guess I'm just worn out on all these angel books and they've started to blend together. So I'm REALLY glad to hear awesome things being said about it! I might actually give it a go after all. Brilliant review as always, Mimi. :D

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  28. I like the sound of this book but I'm wary of the romance part. hehehe

    Talk Supe

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  29. Love this quote from you, Mimi: "... harder to know who to trust and who to push under the bus!"

    I love books where you the characters aren't perfectly good or bad but somewhere in the middle. I have this one for review but knew absolutely nothing about it before I clicked the request button so it's good to know that the writing and characters are fantastic.

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  30. I seriously cannot wait to meet this 4 angels & demons! They sound so interesting :D I'll definitely have to buy this for myself soon! Unfortunately no review copies in Australia haha. Great review!

    Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

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  31. If you say that it's possible for me to WISH for a love triangle, I'm ready to believe you. I've heard so much about Bishop, and I'm glad that Kraven makes things more interesting. Demon or not, a comic relief character is always welcome, and you made him sound like Adrian from VA a little bit. I'm almost ready to read this just because of him. For whatever reason, I've been staying away from this book, but I might have to reconsider.
    Wonderful review, Mimi!

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  32. I love books that blur the lines between good and bad! So glad to hear this ones a winner!

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  33. Great review, Mimi! As per usual! I think I'm going to give it a go for sure. :) I just felt like dropping by and saying hi! *Grins like a lunatic and then runs to give Mimi a hug*


    -Riya The Teen Book Guru

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  34. I LOVE THE COVER TOO. And wow, you definitely have me wanting to meet Kraven :D XD I love that this book explores the shades of gray. Sounds so awesome. Thanks for the extremely sweet review, Mimi ♥♥

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  35. Good God, Mimi! You make me want to pick this book up right now! I was checking on you while you were reading it on goodreads and I was already hooked! But this? SOON. I promise to read this book soon ;) ;) Awesome review Mimi!! <3 <3

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  36. Okay, I saw you comment on someone's review that you were in love with Kraven, so I just had to pop over here to let out some of my crazed fangirling. Okay here we go..

    Bishop is okay, definitely hot too, but come on! Kraven is so funny and sassy and I just love the way he and Sam banter! I have always prefered the romances that come on slowly and start with dislike (like in Obsidian, for example). With Bishop it was just way too instalove for my taste. And I think there is hope for Team Kraven! Remember near the end when Kraven was like "Who says I was trying to save him?" <3 There must be hope! And in Rowen's Demon Princess series it started out with a for-sure romance with one guy and them boom now she's totally going to end up with the over guy.

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Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts! I love hearing what you have to say, and I always try to comment on one of your blog posts in return! :)

It's really nice to meet you!