Till Death by Jennifer L Armentrout February, 28, 2017 William Morrow Books
It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.
First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.
But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.
I love this author. She is my favorite. So, of course I wanted to read this book. But I've seen a few people question whether they will read it because it's not this authors normal fare. And I want to address that concern first.
This book is different. It uses suspense instead of angst to draw two people back together. But at it's core, it's a second chance romance. It's a JLA book with kissing and yumminess. Blended perfectly with that second chance romance is the suspense of what is happening in this small town. Yes, there is a murderer on the loose and the clues are far and wide. It's thoroughly enjoyable to try and piece the clues together trying to figure out who the murderer is. And it's equally as enjoyable to watch Cole become more and more protective of Sasha as they reconnect. If you have enjoyed JLA books in the past, don't miss this one. It's every bit as good as her other books.
Speaking of Cole and Sasha, I love them both. Cole has regretted letting Sasha slip from his life for ten years. That's a mistake he won't be making again and it doesn't matter how many walls she puts up - he's knocking them down. Gorgeous and protective, he is one sexy cop. And Sasha? She's so strong. It's taken her time to start living again after what happened ten years ago but she's not going to stop living this time. I love her willingness to fight, her determination and her trust of Cole. Living, breathing characters, both of them. Just what you'd expect from JLA.
The story is a puzzle with hints and clues dropped along the way. I so enjoyed piecing them all together. I had a list of suspects very quickly and dismissed and added them back as events unfolded. I was pretty sure that I had it figured out about 3/4 way through the book but I still kept looking for clues. What a wonderful puzzle that I enjoyed so much. (Shhh- I did figure it out.) But I had to be sure and I read it almost straight through. And I'd read it again - probably will. That's what I expect from JLA too!
Yeah, it's different from her normal books but that difference doesn't change the JLAness of it. It's well written with great characters and an intriguing story. That's definitely what you expect from any JLA book.
Even if suspense isn't your normal fare, if you love JLA books, then this is one to pick and enjoy!
I'm never not looking forward to new books by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Her books have a common tendency to be wonderful, so I was excited to pick up Till Death. Not only for the fact that it's by JLA, but because the story sounded great. An adult romance full of suspense with a serial killer known as The Groom? I was so in. And man, I am so glad I was because this book was fantastic!
First and foremost, I have to mention the fact that I literally could not put this book down. I started it one day and finished it not long after--at 4am because once I hit a certain point in the novel there was no waiting until the next day to read more. I had to fly through it all because THINGS were happening and I was LOVING it!
Then there were the characters, who wormed their ways into my heart. Sasha went through a terrible traumatic situation years ago and was returning to her hometown where it happened. She struggled a bit, as was to be expected, but overall she was a strong woman working through her fears the best she could, even when odd things were occurring. And Cole was a man who lost Sasha when she left ten years ago, but wasn't letting her slip through his fingers again. He was kind and protective and so devoted, and I absolutely loved him.
The romance was, of course, phenomenal. Jennifer L. Armentrout always writes fabulous romances and Cole and Sasha were no exception. They were given a second chance at the relationship that abruptly ended ten years ago, and they really made it count. It was swoon-worthy, and it was sexy, and I adored these two as a couple!
As I already mentioned, the novel as a whole was unputdownable. The plot was riveting and well-written, never leaving me bored at any point. It was virtually impossible to find a good stopping place because I always wanted to read MORE. The romantic elements had my heart flipping. The mystery elements had my brain working. The suspense kicked it all up a pleasant few notches. And everything combined had me enjoying every single moment of Till Death.
Overall, Till Death was a novel full of romance and mystery that I adored every word of and highly recommend. Whether you're an old fan of JLA and her Wait for You series or a new one looking for some great romantic suspense, Till Death is a novel I have no doubt you'll love. Goodness knows I did!
5 stars - A novel full of suspense and mystery that was impossible to put down!