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Extinguish #1
Extinguish
An alternative cover edition of this ASIN can be found here.
One… Two… Three… Four…
I Declare War
Serah always believed the world around her was perfect. As a Power, one of the warrior angels, she has spent her existence defending the innocent from evil. After tragedy strikes, tearing Serah's brother from her life, she's given the task of stopping the approaching apocalypse before it's too late.
Only one thing, though: she has to venture to Hell to do it.
Lucifer—or Luce, as he prefers to be called—has been biding his time in Hell, longing for revenge against those who oh-so-easily cast him into the pit. When the heavenly beauty shows up at his gate, he's just as captivated by her presence as she becomes of him. The attraction between them is palpable, and Serah's willpower slowly slips. How can this charming creature, this scarred Archangel, be the one annihilating the world she so loves?
As the war wages on, the world entwined in chaos, Serah starts questioning everything she ever knew. When the light and dark, hot and cold, finally collide, she has to make a choice—a choice that sets her world on fire, black and white exploding into colorful flames.
Serah has questions. She wants answers.
Luce just wants to play a game.
One… Two… Three… Four…
I Declare War
Serah always believed the world around her was perfect. As a Power, one of the warrior angels, she has spent her existence defending the innocent from evil. After tragedy strikes, tearing Serah's brother from her life, she's given the task of stopping the approaching apocalypse before it's too late.
Only one thing, though: she has to venture to Hell to do it.
Lucifer—or Luce, as he prefers to be called—has been biding his time in Hell, longing for revenge against those who oh-so-easily cast him into the pit. When the heavenly beauty shows up at his gate, he's just as captivated by her presence as she becomes of him. The attraction between them is palpable, and Serah's willpower slowly slips. How can this charming creature, this scarred Archangel, be the one annihilating the world she so loves?
As the war wages on, the world entwined in chaos, Serah starts questioning everything she ever knew. When the light and dark, hot and cold, finally collide, she has to make a choice—a choice that sets her world on fire, black and white exploding into colorful flames.
Serah has questions. She wants answers.
Luce just wants to play a game.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2013
151 people are currently reading
4074 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
December 22, 2014
4.5 stars!!
You know that feeling where you’re reading a book and it just sucks you right in from the start, into the world the author created, and though you tell yourself to slow down, you just can’t stop yourself from flipping the pages fast to see what happens…but at the same time you went to slowly savor it all? Yeah…that’s how I felt while reading this gripping forbidden romance that I just could NOT put down. It’s such a wonderful thing to know that with all the books I have read and gotten easily bored with, there are still gems like this book out there that manage to surprise me. I loved the concept of the story and how controversial the paranormal theme was, and was interested to see how the author would portray Satan as a romantic hero in this story. In the end, I was highly entertained, I was emotionally invested in the angel/devil relationship, and I didn’t want the story to end.
The author had my attention from the very first page. Nothing lures me in faster than a forbidden romance and the relationship here is pretty much the cream of the crop – the Devil himself falling for his enemy, an Angel from Heaven. It’s definitely an unnatural twist on what we’re taught to know but I feel like every reader – regardless of religious affiliation – is able to read this book without being offended. Furthermore, I like that the author had this bold idea to question the known and give the Devil a humane side that most certainly will appeal to every romantic. It’s definitely not all hearts and flowers, but a love with an edge that defies common belief and both of the main characters’ own morals and rules.
The only reason it’s not a full 5 star read is that there are hero/heroine POV switches that were a bit unclear and it threw me off a few times. I’d have to read a good portion of a chapter before realizing that the POV switched so I wished there was a clear marker for that. Other than that, this story was perfect for me. The hero Lucifer was a seductive charmer who I fell for the first time he appeared in the book, the heroine Serah, although a bit naïve, was kind, passionate, and sure was a positive influence on Luce, and together they couldn’t make a better couple. I loved reading about their interactions where gradually titles like Angel and Devil faded away and all that mattered in the end was that they were Serah and Luce, two kindred souls who really connected with each other.
I have to say though, I am SO relieved that I have book 2 downloaded and ready to go because the ending was unexpected and had me biting my nails nervously wondering how the heck things were going to be wrapped up. It hurt my heart, I wanted to cry, and believe me, if I didn’t have the second book already, I’d definitely be pestering the author for the next book.
I know I didn’t talk plot much, but only because the plot is like a domino chain and to reveal one piece would have the whole chain falling down…it’s definitely better for you to read and experience everything as you read. And even though I don’t read much paranormal, don’t let the genre branding of this book hinder you from checking it out. It’s much more than its genre and has a lot to offer in terms of a unique storyline and loveable main characters.
Extinguish is the first book in a 2-book paranormal forbidden romance series, not a standalone, and completely unrelated to this author’s other books. Depending on how invested you are in the characters’ relationship will determine if you see this book’s ending as a cliffhanger. For me, I 20000% love Luce and Serah’s romance so yeah, this was a cliffy for me. Diving right into book 2!
P.S. If you didn't know, BOTH books are free right now, at least on Amazon they are ;)
Extinguish: http://amzn.to/1xyiGcZ
Reignite: http://amzn.to/1DV0Ap3
You know that feeling where you’re reading a book and it just sucks you right in from the start, into the world the author created, and though you tell yourself to slow down, you just can’t stop yourself from flipping the pages fast to see what happens…but at the same time you went to slowly savor it all? Yeah…that’s how I felt while reading this gripping forbidden romance that I just could NOT put down. It’s such a wonderful thing to know that with all the books I have read and gotten easily bored with, there are still gems like this book out there that manage to surprise me. I loved the concept of the story and how controversial the paranormal theme was, and was interested to see how the author would portray Satan as a romantic hero in this story. In the end, I was highly entertained, I was emotionally invested in the angel/devil relationship, and I didn’t want the story to end.
The author had my attention from the very first page. Nothing lures me in faster than a forbidden romance and the relationship here is pretty much the cream of the crop – the Devil himself falling for his enemy, an Angel from Heaven. It’s definitely an unnatural twist on what we’re taught to know but I feel like every reader – regardless of religious affiliation – is able to read this book without being offended. Furthermore, I like that the author had this bold idea to question the known and give the Devil a humane side that most certainly will appeal to every romantic. It’s definitely not all hearts and flowers, but a love with an edge that defies common belief and both of the main characters’ own morals and rules.
The only reason it’s not a full 5 star read is that there are hero/heroine POV switches that were a bit unclear and it threw me off a few times. I’d have to read a good portion of a chapter before realizing that the POV switched so I wished there was a clear marker for that. Other than that, this story was perfect for me. The hero Lucifer was a seductive charmer who I fell for the first time he appeared in the book, the heroine Serah, although a bit naïve, was kind, passionate, and sure was a positive influence on Luce, and together they couldn’t make a better couple. I loved reading about their interactions where gradually titles like Angel and Devil faded away and all that mattered in the end was that they were Serah and Luce, two kindred souls who really connected with each other.
I have to say though, I am SO relieved that I have book 2 downloaded and ready to go because the ending was unexpected and had me biting my nails nervously wondering how the heck things were going to be wrapped up. It hurt my heart, I wanted to cry, and believe me, if I didn’t have the second book already, I’d definitely be pestering the author for the next book.
I know I didn’t talk plot much, but only because the plot is like a domino chain and to reveal one piece would have the whole chain falling down…it’s definitely better for you to read and experience everything as you read. And even though I don’t read much paranormal, don’t let the genre branding of this book hinder you from checking it out. It’s much more than its genre and has a lot to offer in terms of a unique storyline and loveable main characters.
Extinguish is the first book in a 2-book paranormal forbidden romance series, not a standalone, and completely unrelated to this author’s other books. Depending on how invested you are in the characters’ relationship will determine if you see this book’s ending as a cliffhanger. For me, I 20000% love Luce and Serah’s romance so yeah, this was a cliffy for me. Diving right into book 2!
P.S. If you didn't know, BOTH books are free right now, at least on Amazon they are ;)
Extinguish: http://amzn.to/1xyiGcZ
Reignite: http://amzn.to/1DV0Ap3
October 28, 2015
4 Stars!!
There’s no secret that J.M. Darhower is one of my favorite authors. After all, she wrote one of my favorite books of all time. I love her writing style and I love the words she chooses to get me invested in her stories. However I have to admit I was reluctant to read this book simply because PNR is not one of my favorite genres. So to say that I’m surprised that I enjoyed this one would be the understatement of the year. It was my first time reading about angels, demons, Hell…etc. …you got the idea and while I didn’t love it like some of my trusted friends, I really enjoyed it.
Serah is a Power angel. She protects the innocents from evil. She’s also a worrier, but she prefers to spend time between the mortals. What she loves the most is spend time with children, the purest creatures. She believes in goodness, in God and she’s the lover of Archangel Michael. Serah finds out that her brother became a fallen angel and while Michael and other angels tell her to forget about him, that he’s not her brother anymore, she just can’t. She needs to know what happened with him and where he is. Serah’s life change when she finds out that she has a new task. She has to go at the border between “the righteous and the wicked” to establish a truce with Satan (Lucifer).
Satan/Lucifer/Luce is Michael’s brother and the first angel who fallen. He spent many thousands years in Hell. While angels can’t feel everything, Luce can feel human emotions. In a way he’s cursed and the fact that he can’t leave hell made him bitter and angry.
At first Serah is on a mission, but as the story progressed and she starts to know Luce she starts to question everything and to see the real Luce. Spending more and more time with him he grows on her and eventually she falls for him fast and hard.
This was a very entertaining read! I loved the theme of the story and of course I loved the angel/devil relationship concept. The forbidden romance aspect it was done really well here. In some way I wasn’t surprised Serah fell in love with Luce, but I have to say I was surprised that Luce fell so easily for our heroine. Love didn’t change him entirely, but as the story unfolds we definitely see some changes in Luce. Serah and the love for her made him become ‘more human’. We see another side of Luce when Serah is close.
Overall I liked Serah’s character. She’s kind, compassionate, caring. But she also was naïve at times, maybe too naïve. I loved her stubbornness, her beliefs and of course the power she has over Luce.
Luce was as charming as the Devil can be - very charming. He was arrogant at times, selfish and also overconfident, but this didn’t stop me falling for him as much as Serah did. He’s a complex character portrayed not only in a bad way, because after all, like he says, nothing it’s black or white, - which I enjoyed. Their encounters were interesting to say the least and I loved how gradually their interactions and their relationship changed.
I also loved the pace of the story and the beautiful love story between Serah and Luce was really heartwarming. I have to say I was surprised in a very good way by the ending. I have never expected things to progress the way they did. Needless to say I’m looking forward to read the sequel.
All in all, “Extinguish” was a captivating, intense story about a forbidden love that will make your heart melt, with an interesting plot, fascinating dialogue and wonderful, flawless writing.
“There’s a gray area, one we all step into. And that’s okay, I think. We’re not immune to emotions.”
There’s no secret that J.M. Darhower is one of my favorite authors. After all, she wrote one of my favorite books of all time. I love her writing style and I love the words she chooses to get me invested in her stories. However I have to admit I was reluctant to read this book simply because PNR is not one of my favorite genres. So to say that I’m surprised that I enjoyed this one would be the understatement of the year. It was my first time reading about angels, demons, Hell…etc. …you got the idea and while I didn’t love it like some of my trusted friends, I really enjoyed it.
Serah is a Power angel. She protects the innocents from evil. She’s also a worrier, but she prefers to spend time between the mortals. What she loves the most is spend time with children, the purest creatures. She believes in goodness, in God and she’s the lover of Archangel Michael. Serah finds out that her brother became a fallen angel and while Michael and other angels tell her to forget about him, that he’s not her brother anymore, she just can’t. She needs to know what happened with him and where he is. Serah’s life change when she finds out that she has a new task. She has to go at the border between “the righteous and the wicked” to establish a truce with Satan (Lucifer).
“He appeared as if he'd walked through fire, his clothes singed and his bare feet scorched. He was rough and rugged, his voice slightly gritty, like worn sandpaper.(…) Despite his unsettling exterior, he seemed more human than she’d expected him to be, a fact that unnerved her.”
Satan/Lucifer/Luce is Michael’s brother and the first angel who fallen. He spent many thousands years in Hell. While angels can’t feel everything, Luce can feel human emotions. In a way he’s cursed and the fact that he can’t leave hell made him bitter and angry.
At first Serah is on a mission, but as the story progressed and she starts to know Luce she starts to question everything and to see the real Luce. Spending more and more time with him he grows on her and eventually she falls for him fast and hard.
This was a very entertaining read! I loved the theme of the story and of course I loved the angel/devil relationship concept. The forbidden romance aspect it was done really well here. In some way I wasn’t surprised Serah fell in love with Luce, but I have to say I was surprised that Luce fell so easily for our heroine. Love didn’t change him entirely, but as the story unfolds we definitely see some changes in Luce. Serah and the love for her made him become ‘more human’. We see another side of Luce when Serah is close.
Overall I liked Serah’s character. She’s kind, compassionate, caring. But she also was naïve at times, maybe too naïve. I loved her stubbornness, her beliefs and of course the power she has over Luce.
“She found something in me, something no one else could see. She cared, when no one else gave a damn. She tried, when everyone else said it was pointless.”
Luce was as charming as the Devil can be - very charming. He was arrogant at times, selfish and also overconfident, but this didn’t stop me falling for him as much as Serah did. He’s a complex character portrayed not only in a bad way, because after all, like he says, nothing it’s black or white, - which I enjoyed. Their encounters were interesting to say the least and I loved how gradually their interactions and their relationship changed.
“Something jolted inside of her at that moment, something astonishing, something brand-new. She brought a shaky hand up and ran it through his dark hair. Every part of her touching him prickled, pins and needles under her skin, like it was waking up for the very first time.”
I also loved the pace of the story and the beautiful love story between Serah and Luce was really heartwarming. I have to say I was surprised in a very good way by the ending. I have never expected things to progress the way they did. Needless to say I’m looking forward to read the sequel.
All in all, “Extinguish” was a captivating, intense story about a forbidden love that will make your heart melt, with an interesting plot, fascinating dialogue and wonderful, flawless writing.
“…time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.”
October 13, 2014
4.5 Angel/Devil Stars
” Everything I've felt, everything I've been through, doesn't compare to what she gave me." "What's that?" "Love."”
Serah is an angel who is in love with the Arch Angel Michael and has been given a job of establishing a truce with Lucifer. Lucifer is Michael’s brother who has fallen and we all know as the Devil and/or Satan. Serah is a beautiful good angel with kindness and compassion. Her brother Samuel has fallen and she is loaded down with questions while trying to seek the truce with Lucifer.
Lucifer and Serah’s encounters were all exciting and edge of your seat reading. They were very interesting together as was the author’s views on both heaven and hell.
”You expect me to believe you’re the good guy?”
He barked with laughter. “Fuck no. Never think that. I’m not the hero here, angel, and I don’t want to be. But I’m not the bad guy, either.”
“Then who is?”
He shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know Maybe it’s you.”
Serah starts to get to know Lucifer and as you can imagine he is a very complex entity.
The story takes a terrible turn when…
”Without realizing it, she’d freed the monster from his cage.”
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As for the ending, I loved it and am excited to read book two coming October 13th! I'm very interested in what the author has imagined next for our Serah with or without her wings.
July 8, 2013
I truly loved this, definitely the best adult angel/fallen angel story I have ever read! Do not hesitate and read it, you won't regret it.
My Serah and Luce:
Serah is Power angel - she protects the innocent from evil. She believes in goodness and happily serves the God and his purpose. But after her brother becomes fallen angel and she is ordered to establish the truce at the border between "the righteous and the wicked", Serah starts to ask herself questions. Questions about what is good and bad, questions about life and humanity, questions that need answers. And the most important question is - how can you cooperate with the Devil himself?
Yeah, we all know that Satan (or Lucifer as he prefers to be called) is the bad guy. Rebelling against God, bringing people into temptation, etc... But what if there is more into him? What if there is still a little bit of compassion in him? A little bit of goodness that noone else bothered to look for? Seems like Serah may be the only one seeing hope where other see only damnation. But is it wise to trust the Devil?
I have to admit that I was smitten by Luce. He was arrogant, mocking and bitter but never vulgar or disgusting. I knew I should not fall for the Devil himself but I was truly fascinated by him. He was able to push all Sarah's buttons and their banters or discussions made extremely intriguing read out of this book.
I am not going to tell you more since I want to avoid spoiling the story for you. But believe me, once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down! Extinguish is thoughtful story written in brilliant and beautiful writing style which only J.M. Darhower can master. Yeah, I admit it, I have a girl crush on this author and her stories. Everything she writes appeals to me. You simply cannot go wrong with the book by J.M. Darhower! This is her first paranormal story and I loved every single moment of it.
Story is wrapped up nicely by the end, there is no cliffhanger but I have a feeling there may be a sequel coming... Who knows? I definitely know that I would be more than happy to come back to this paranormal world and characters J.M. Darhower created in this story.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
May 16, 2015
***4.5 Angel stars***
Prior to this series, I’ve read only two books from this author but it took one hell of a bad boy to click with her writing, not just any bad boy, the mother-effing king of hell “Lucifer”
We all know the story of him being cast into the pit for the evil in him and waiting for the ultimate revenge. I was kind of reluctant to read the same mythology again but what I read took me by surprise because this is not about the good vs evil or all that stuff from Supernatural season 5 but about a beautiful angel caught up between these two worlds and falling in love with Satan himself.
Serah was the warrior angel the most loyal and patient of all, than serving in the war she prefers to spend time with mortals, particularly the children. Angels do not feel any emotions but being in earth among the living she’s captivated with the human sentiments, never did she thought she will be given the duty to negotiate the war with Lucifer, to stop the apocalypse.
Lucifer has spent nearly six thousand years in hell; though he’s an archangel he’s cursed to feel all human emotions and torment of hell hundred folds more than anybody. He is angry, frustrated and more than anything wants revenge for the punishment he suffered for being a rebel but he has no way of escaping the gates of hell. He is destined to live in dark pit without having to feel the goodness of the word that’s until a beautiful angel walks through the gates of hell.
I’m not going to say how the story follows here after; everything that happens after they meet is something very much fascinating. It’s not that Serah miraculously makes him withdraw from the war or changes his heart but the feelings that Luce stirs in her heart, making her question the credibility of being an angel or following god’s will without doubting it.
On other hand Lucifer wants revenge on his brother Michael, and in doing so he has to use Serah as a pawn. Will he deny the growing feeling towards Serah, the only one to ever see good in him and use her in his wicked game or be the person she sees in him?
“Everything I’ve felt,There is no other author, who will make you fall in love with an ultimate bad boy like J.M Darhower (of course there’s also pepper winters), and you will fall hard alright! This author has my utmost respect for taking such a sensitive subject and making it into a beautiful love story of angel and her forbidden love.
everything I’ve been through,
doesn’t compare to what she gave me.”
“What’s that?”
Love.
“I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means—there are sweeter out there, and you have a few rotten spots—but I'd never have found a juicer apple anywhere in the world."
The very love that was portrayed was pure, compelling and totally heart warming; all the credit goes to the exquisite writing which captivated me from the beginning.
‘Nuff said! You have to read this to feel the power of love, innocence and tragedy.
Rating clarification : There were many characters involved in this story and since it was said from third person’s POV the transition in the scenes were not clear.
P.S : If it wasn't for Feifei's wonderful review, I wouldn't have added it to my TRB in first place. Thank you lovely for giving the link to download this book *hugs and kisses* and to my bestie Eda for finally making me pick it up since this was sitting on my kindle for so long *muahh*-this sure was a winner babe!
June 9, 2013
Have you ever considered whether it is possible for good and evil to find a meeting point? Whether there is such a thing as good and evil. Where does the kindness of the angel end and the ruthlessness of the demon begin. Whether you have a choice in the matter or there's nothing you can do to change anything.
Do you feel as if everything surrounding your choices should be questioned by your heart and intellect or followed blindly, guided by some sense of divine knowledge?
"I was going to say Spider Flower, but that works, too," he said. "They’re opportunistic plants, and that’s exactly why they survive. They’ll grow anywhere—abandoned fields, vacant lots, cracks in concrete. Wherever the seeds fall, they’ll sprout roots." "Amazing, isn’t it?" Serah asked. "Yeah, it’s something, all right," he said. "Our Father offered more freedom to it than he did us. This thing does what it wants with no regard, grows where flowers aren’t supposed to grow, takes over fields and smothers everything else that lives there, killing it, and yet it’s hailed as one of His magnificent creations. A fucking plant is given more leniency than me."
[image error]
Can you deny yourself the chance to experience something deep and soul-wrenching, forbidden but liberating, awakening from the most profound of numbness?
"Tell me you don’t feel it then, the fluttering in your chest; the hair on the nape of your neck rising as your nerve endings stir, your fingers tingling with the need to reach out and caress something." His eyes raked down her form. "Tell me your body doesn’t ache at the mere thought of me between your thighs, on top of you, inside of you, giving you what my brother never could—real feeling, the kind of feeling that makes you scream so loud your throat feels like it’s bleeding. Agonizing pleasure, the kind that torments your every thought, driving you to the brink of insanity only to pull you right back from the edge, over and over and over again. Unbearable pleasure, the kind that makes you beg for it to stop, but the moment it’s over, you feel like nothing but an empty, useless shell—a shell that needs more."
Serah questions. And tiptoes. And plunges into. And laughs. And feels. And craves. And wins. And loses. And falls. For him. For Lucifer.
"It’s not black and white," he said. "If it were, I wouldn’t be here right now, and neither would you. We’re the gray area, angel. We’re the pieces of the puzzle they don’t know what to do with, the pieces that don’t quite fit into their perfect little picture, so they choose to discard us, to keep their image untainted,but we can only be ignored for so long. Because eventually, whether they want to admit it or not, all of their black and white will bleed together, anyway."
Regrets have no place when setting yourself free replaces a constant state of slumber. When a sliver of contentment is not enough. When flames of emotions are only waiting to consume and burn brighter.
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means—there are sweeter out there, and you have a few rotten spots—but I'd never have found a juicer apple anywhere in the world."
"What do you expect from me?" "Nothing anymore." The air around Luce seemed to grow lighter as he spoke. "I expect nothing from anyone. Fighting with you is no longer worth it. Everything I've felt, everything I've been through, doesn't compare to what she gave me." "What's that?" Love.[...]
"I gave you what you wanted," Michael said. "I don't understand. You’d rather she die instead?" "You're fucking right, I would!" Luce looked away from Serah, his eyes meeting Michael’s. "Death would be better than this. Death would be better than remembering me."
Love can be the catalyst. Not the love flaunted in flamboyant speeches. But the love that could perhaps end someone's inner war. The jolt that could perhaps make a heart beat one more time.
When all was clear again, her gaze fell upon the form standing outside of the building. He was dressed in all black, blue eyes intense compared to his dark hair and tanned skin. He stood in the shadows, shielded from her, darkness shrouding him. Serah stared into those piercing eyes, losing herself in them, feeling like she was floating in the clouds, literally swept off her feet. She let out a shaky breath, his name on the tip of her tongue, but it wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard she fought to remember it.
Someday she’d remember, she swore. Someday she’d know his name. Someday she’d know hers. And someday, she’d know why: why he haunted her every thought, why, when she looked into his eyes, she felt like she was home. Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.
Do you feel as if everything surrounding your choices should be questioned by your heart and intellect or followed blindly, guided by some sense of divine knowledge?
"I was going to say Spider Flower, but that works, too," he said. "They’re opportunistic plants, and that’s exactly why they survive. They’ll grow anywhere—abandoned fields, vacant lots, cracks in concrete. Wherever the seeds fall, they’ll sprout roots." "Amazing, isn’t it?" Serah asked. "Yeah, it’s something, all right," he said. "Our Father offered more freedom to it than he did us. This thing does what it wants with no regard, grows where flowers aren’t supposed to grow, takes over fields and smothers everything else that lives there, killing it, and yet it’s hailed as one of His magnificent creations. A fucking plant is given more leniency than me."
[image error]
Can you deny yourself the chance to experience something deep and soul-wrenching, forbidden but liberating, awakening from the most profound of numbness?
"Tell me you don’t feel it then, the fluttering in your chest; the hair on the nape of your neck rising as your nerve endings stir, your fingers tingling with the need to reach out and caress something." His eyes raked down her form. "Tell me your body doesn’t ache at the mere thought of me between your thighs, on top of you, inside of you, giving you what my brother never could—real feeling, the kind of feeling that makes you scream so loud your throat feels like it’s bleeding. Agonizing pleasure, the kind that torments your every thought, driving you to the brink of insanity only to pull you right back from the edge, over and over and over again. Unbearable pleasure, the kind that makes you beg for it to stop, but the moment it’s over, you feel like nothing but an empty, useless shell—a shell that needs more."
Serah questions. And tiptoes. And plunges into. And laughs. And feels. And craves. And wins. And loses. And falls. For him. For Lucifer.
"It’s not black and white," he said. "If it were, I wouldn’t be here right now, and neither would you. We’re the gray area, angel. We’re the pieces of the puzzle they don’t know what to do with, the pieces that don’t quite fit into their perfect little picture, so they choose to discard us, to keep their image untainted,but we can only be ignored for so long. Because eventually, whether they want to admit it or not, all of their black and white will bleed together, anyway."
Regrets have no place when setting yourself free replaces a constant state of slumber. When a sliver of contentment is not enough. When flames of emotions are only waiting to consume and burn brighter.
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means—there are sweeter out there, and you have a few rotten spots—but I'd never have found a juicer apple anywhere in the world."
"What do you expect from me?" "Nothing anymore." The air around Luce seemed to grow lighter as he spoke. "I expect nothing from anyone. Fighting with you is no longer worth it. Everything I've felt, everything I've been through, doesn't compare to what she gave me." "What's that?" Love.[...]
"I gave you what you wanted," Michael said. "I don't understand. You’d rather she die instead?" "You're fucking right, I would!" Luce looked away from Serah, his eyes meeting Michael’s. "Death would be better than this. Death would be better than remembering me."
Love can be the catalyst. Not the love flaunted in flamboyant speeches. But the love that could perhaps end someone's inner war. The jolt that could perhaps make a heart beat one more time.
When all was clear again, her gaze fell upon the form standing outside of the building. He was dressed in all black, blue eyes intense compared to his dark hair and tanned skin. He stood in the shadows, shielded from her, darkness shrouding him. Serah stared into those piercing eyes, losing herself in them, feeling like she was floating in the clouds, literally swept off her feet. She let out a shaky breath, his name on the tip of her tongue, but it wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard she fought to remember it.
Someday she’d remember, she swore. Someday she’d know his name. Someday she’d know hers. And someday, she’d know why: why he haunted her every thought, why, when she looked into his eyes, she felt like she was home. Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.
November 4, 2013
11/4/13 Currently FREE ON Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D614EUW/r...
4.5 stars
I'm not a huge paranormal fan but I loved Sempre so I figured I would give this one a try. I really enjoyed the storyline and the book overall was a nice easy read.
Another J.M. Darhower book!! I can't wait!!!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D614EUW/r...
4.5 stars
I'm not a huge paranormal fan but I loved Sempre so I figured I would give this one a try. I really enjoyed the storyline and the book overall was a nice easy read.
Another J.M. Darhower book!! I can't wait!!!
July 19, 2013
I have a very important question to the author...
Ending a book like that is freaking cruel and i swear it should be illegal.
Is that even considered an 'ending'? Cause J.M Darhower is sure as heck didn't feel like it!
This is a STAND ALONE and nothing was resolved! Absolutely nothing!
"
Serah in an angel that prefers to look after kids and protect people from evil instead of fighting it.
But when her brother -Samuel- falls, she get's assigned a new duty. Go to the gates of hell and try to make Satan end the war he has began over million years ago. To do that she has to comfort the brother of the archangel she loves and make Satan listen.
Lucifer has many different names - Satan, Prince of Darkness (which he is definitely OK with), then there is his actual name -Lucifer, but his most favorite one is his nickname Luce...
The dark haired and blue eyed Lucifer knows the drill with the angels coming for a 'visit'. All they want is for him to stop the war, and all he has to say to that is - "Good luck dude". But when he sees the beauty he wants her to see the real him, he wants her to see that he isn't a monster, that even the greatest kind of darkness has light buried inside.
They are like fire and water - couldn't be more different. But sometimes there in an in-between, wonderful things can happen... or the results can end up deadly.
I extremely liked this short read. It was captivating and had me guessing as to how it will all end from the beginning. I read it in less than 4 hours.
Why not give it 5 stars then?
Well, i found some things lacking, especially the relationship between Serah and Lucifer. I felt like their 'love' was one sided and that all it was really based on was lust. They also didn't spend much time together (except play cards all day). My advice is to add more relationship development and less Serah talking to her best friend and looking after the kids. That didn't interest me one bit.
The characters were likable at their best. As much as i was rooting for and loving Lucifer he was seriously getting on my nerves with all his walking out and leaving Serah when she asked a question he didn't want to answer, and anytime he simply wished to leave.
When he played cards with i was like...
Even though it was predictable ('duhhh'). I can't believe that she didn't realize it sooner.
And when Lucifer so he could get out from hell i was like...
I was angry at Serah for forgiving Lucifer so fast, maybe if she held her own then he might have changed a bit, might have tried harder.
Even though this is a love story there was not a lot of kissing and sex scenes. But those few were definitely considered hot!
Overall, Extinguished was a fantastic read, if it wasn't for the ending and my issues with the relationship this would for sure have 5 stars and go on my 'favorites' shelf. I recommend this to Fallen Angel and romance lovers!
Note to author...
Please write book 2! PLEASE!!!! Or at least write some extra scenes from the ending, or an explanation as to what will happen with Serah and Lucifer!
Ending a book like that is freaking cruel and i swear it should be illegal.
Is that even considered an 'ending'? Cause J.M Darhower is sure as heck didn't feel like it!
This is a STAND ALONE and nothing was resolved! Absolutely nothing!
" Serah in an angel that prefers to look after kids and protect people from evil instead of fighting it.
But when her brother -Samuel- falls, she get's assigned a new duty. Go to the gates of hell and try to make Satan end the war he has began over million years ago. To do that she has to comfort the brother of the archangel she loves and make Satan listen.
Lucifer has many different names - Satan, Prince of Darkness (which he is definitely OK with), then there is his actual name -Lucifer, but his most favorite one is his nickname Luce...
Lust was his favorite sin, without a doubt.
The dark haired and blue eyed Lucifer knows the drill with the angels coming for a 'visit'. All they want is for him to stop the war, and all he has to say to that is - "Good luck dude". But when he sees the beauty he wants her to see the real him, he wants her to see that he isn't a monster, that even the greatest kind of darkness has light buried inside.
They are like fire and water - couldn't be more different. But sometimes there in an in-between, wonderful things can happen... or the results can end up deadly.
I extremely liked this short read. It was captivating and had me guessing as to how it will all end from the beginning. I read it in less than 4 hours.
Why not give it 5 stars then?
Well, i found some things lacking, especially the relationship between Serah and Lucifer. I felt like their 'love' was one sided and that all it was really based on was lust. They also didn't spend much time together (except play cards all day). My advice is to add more relationship development and less Serah talking to her best friend and looking after the kids. That didn't interest me one bit.
The characters were likable at their best. As much as i was rooting for and loving Lucifer he was seriously getting on my nerves with all his walking out and leaving Serah when she asked a question he didn't want to answer, and anytime he simply wished to leave.
When he played cards with i was like...
Even though it was predictable ('duhhh'). I can't believe that she didn't realize it sooner.
And when Lucifer so he could get out from hell i was like...
I was angry at Serah for forgiving Lucifer so fast, maybe if she held her own then he might have changed a bit, might have tried harder.
Even though this is a love story there was not a lot of kissing and sex scenes. But those few were definitely considered hot!
He plunged inside of her, filling her in one hard stroke. The breath caught in Serah's throat (...)
Lucifer's mouth went straight for her neck, licking, and sucking the exposed flesh as he plowed into her, his hips slamming into her thighs. (...)
"Do you like that?" he murmured against her mouth. "Does it feel good to have me inside of you, fucking you?"
"Yes," she panted, a shiver tearing down her spine at his filthy words.
"Not good enough," he growled. (...)
Overall, Extinguished was a fantastic read, if it wasn't for the ending and my issues with the relationship this would for sure have 5 stars and go on my 'favorites' shelf. I recommend this to Fallen Angel and romance lovers!
Note to author...
Please write book 2! PLEASE!!!! Or at least write some extra scenes from the ending, or an explanation as to what will happen with Serah and Lucifer!
June 17, 2013
"One. Two. Three. Four. I declare war."
This was an interesting book about an unconventional, forbidden love
in the ageless war between good and evil. I loved the story of Serah
and Luce
.
I think J.M. Darhower has created a fascinating world that I want to read more of. I wish this book was longer; it went by way too quickly. I need more answers and I need more of Serah and Luce. This was a very good, quick read. I would recommend this one!
"Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil."
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you."
"I see beauty and goodness in everything-even you, Luce. And as long as that's there, I can never turn away from it."
"Everything I've felt, everything I've been through, doesn't compare to what she gave me." "What's that?" "Love."
"And someday, she'd know why: why he haunted her every thought, why, when she looked into his eyes, she felt like she was home. Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never."
This was an interesting book about an unconventional, forbidden love
in the ageless war between good and evil. I loved the story of Serah
and Luce
. I think J.M. Darhower has created a fascinating world that I want to read more of. I wish this book was longer; it went by way too quickly. I need more answers and I need more of Serah and Luce. This was a very good, quick read. I would recommend this one!
"Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil."
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you."
"I see beauty and goodness in everything-even you, Luce. And as long as that's there, I can never turn away from it."
"Everything I've felt, everything I've been through, doesn't compare to what she gave me." "What's that?" "Love."
"And someday, she'd know why: why he haunted her every thought, why, when she looked into his eyes, she felt like she was home. Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never."
October 10, 2014
The world isn’t always black and white. Sometimes, it’s gray, and sometimes that gray explodes into colors you never knew existed before.
Extinguish was amazing. I slept on it and I am still consumed by it. The story and the writing were so intriguing and perfect that I finished it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. It made me feel every emotion possible. I laughed, cried, got mad, had hope, felt touched and betrayed. J.M. Darhower has a way with words and her stories are always so well-crafted, deep, intense and multilayered. I can honestly say I will buy and read anything that woman writes.
There’s a thin line between good and evil. There’s a gray area, one we all step into. And that’s okay, I think. We’re not immune to emotions. Just promise me you won’t ever step past it. You won’t ever let it consume you. That you’ll be careful.
This story made me question a lot of things and here I am still wondering what the hell I read yesterday. What happens when black and white collide? What is good and what is evil? Is there even such a thing?
"Maybe I'm the enemy. Maybe I'm evil. Maybe I am this Satan creature you make me out to be, the one the kids up top call the devil.There are always two sides to every story and no person is one-dimensional. That what we presume to be pure evil, may be influenced by good. That what we presume to be pure good, may be tainted with tiny specks of evil.
But, then again, maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just misunderstood, and you'll never know because you refuse to have an open mind about it."
Serah is one of God’s warrior angels. She is a beautiful soul who sees the beauty in everything, including the ugly. She sees the good in everyone and spends her lifetime protecting the innocent and shielding them from the cruelties of the world. She cares when no one else gives a damn. She tries when everyone else says it’s hopeless. She is hopeful, loving and caring. She never questioned anything until her equally beautiful brother became a fallen angel.
I have you – my brother. As long as I have you, I'd be a fool to ask for more.While she is devastated by this loss, she gets orders from God to go the gates of Hell and try to establish a truce with the Devil. His name is Lucifer, but we can call him Luce. This assignment brings Serah face to face with the creature that’s supposed to want to destroy the world. Soon she sees the good in him too and realizes that there are two sides to him.
There were two sides to him, two vastly different beings somehow coexisting within one body. There was Satan, the red-eyed demon, who lashed out in anger and invoked evil… and then there was Lucifer, making the best of what he'd been given, still finding color in a dark, dark world.
The lines between good and evil get extremely blurred as we witness everything that unfolds between them. It comes to the point where you can’t tell who the bad guy is in this story.
Say what you will about Lucifer, but one thing is undeniable: he was the first to defy destiny. And being the first to do anything takes guts.
Lucifer used to be God’s Archangel before he got locked up in Hell. It makes you wonder what could ever be worth it to give his Archangel status up.
I’d rather endure an eternity of pain by choice than feel nothing forever by force.This story will surprise and shock you. There were many twists that I didn't see coming and the story was intriguing to say the least. The messages were subtly conveyed in an astonishing and beautiful story about love, sacrifice and two extremes that violently collide. Nothing in this world is black and white.
We’re the gray area, angel.
Lucifer's angel
September 21, 2018
This book has great writing, but the plot is just too rushed to rate this higher. I read, and *really* liked Darhower's Ghosted, so I decided to give some of her earlier works a try. I can still see her talent here for building interesting characters and I really enjoyed how she mixed the timeline up so that the backstory of Samuel/Serah is intermingled with Serah's present-day actions. The apocalypse is where things start to go wrong, especially when . I'll read the next book in this duology though because I want to see how/if Luce redeems himself.
So basically, check this out if you want to, but I would recommend you read Ghosted instead if you haven't read this author before because it's REALLY GOOD.
So basically, check this out if you want to, but I would recommend you read Ghosted instead if you haven't read this author before because it's REALLY GOOD.
September 1, 2017
5 Inhumanly beautiful yet frighteningly dark STARS
A mí no me gustan los libros urban fantasy, menos juveniles, mucho menos con ángeles. Es más, creo que este es el segundo libro sobre ángeles que he leído en toda mi vida.
En realidad, solo lo hice por lo mucho que idolatro a la autora.
Y aunque mi amor por J. M. Darhower es inmenso, aun así, me tomo 5 años desde su publicación para animarme a leerlo.
No me arrepiento de no haberlo leído antes, ya que lo leí en el momento perfecto en el que mi vida lo necesitaba.
Una historia cortita, menos de 200 páginas, sencilla, ligera, simple, cliché, pero totalmente hermosa.
Serah, no es como cualquier ángel, ella es un Ángel de Poder, fue creada específicamente para pelear demonios, aunque ella prefiere proteger y cuidar a los niños humanos, le gusta mirarlos y le fascina sus vidas. Tiene un hermano, que no es como sus otros hermanos ángeles, Samuel es su hermano gemelo ya que fueron hechos de la misma estrella, también tiene un novio El arcángel Miguel. Y así vive su vida virtuosa y obediente. Hasta que un día recibe como trabajo ir a hablar con Lucifer y tratar de hacer una tregua para evitar que se desate el apocalipsis.
Y aquí es donde las cosas se ponen buenas, muy muy buenas.
Me gustó mucho la forma en que la autora creo este mundo y las descripciones del cielo el infierno. Su forma de escribir es perfecta.
Pero sin duda lo que más disfruté fue la representación de Lucifer, nos presenta a este ángel caído, hermoso y malo, me gusto que nos muestra todas las caras de Satán, su parte atormentada, su orgullo y vanidad, su maldad, la escena donde tortura a un pecador o cuando va a que un demonio le haga sexo oral. Todo él es perfectamente malvado.
En Conclusión: Muy recomendable, si fuera objetiva le daría 3 0 4 estrellas, pero es J. M. Darhower y ella se merece todas las estrellas del cielo.
A mí no me gustan los libros urban fantasy, menos juveniles, mucho menos con ángeles. Es más, creo que este es el segundo libro sobre ángeles que he leído en toda mi vida.
En realidad, solo lo hice por lo mucho que idolatro a la autora.
Y aunque mi amor por J. M. Darhower es inmenso, aun así, me tomo 5 años desde su publicación para animarme a leerlo.
No me arrepiento de no haberlo leído antes, ya que lo leí en el momento perfecto en el que mi vida lo necesitaba.
Una historia cortita, menos de 200 páginas, sencilla, ligera, simple, cliché, pero totalmente hermosa.
Serah, no es como cualquier ángel, ella es un Ángel de Poder, fue creada específicamente para pelear demonios, aunque ella prefiere proteger y cuidar a los niños humanos, le gusta mirarlos y le fascina sus vidas. Tiene un hermano, que no es como sus otros hermanos ángeles, Samuel es su hermano gemelo ya que fueron hechos de la misma estrella, también tiene un novio El arcángel Miguel. Y así vive su vida virtuosa y obediente. Hasta que un día recibe como trabajo ir a hablar con Lucifer y tratar de hacer una tregua para evitar que se desate el apocalipsis.
Y aquí es donde las cosas se ponen buenas, muy muy buenas.
Me gustó mucho la forma en que la autora creo este mundo y las descripciones del cielo el infierno. Su forma de escribir es perfecta.
Pero sin duda lo que más disfruté fue la representación de Lucifer, nos presenta a este ángel caído, hermoso y malo, me gusto que nos muestra todas las caras de Satán, su parte atormentada, su orgullo y vanidad, su maldad, la escena donde tortura a un pecador o cuando va a que un demonio le haga sexo oral. Todo él es perfectamente malvado.
En Conclusión: Muy recomendable, si fuera objetiva le daría 3 0 4 estrellas, pero es J. M. Darhower y ella se merece todas las estrellas del cielo.
December 15, 2017
Reseña en emojis
😍😭💔💕😍😥😭💔😍😡💕❤
Cuando ví que este libro era de una mis autoras favoritas y luego de paranormal era un SÍ Grecia lo tienes que leer.
Obviamente tiene la pluma de J.M. Darhower, es que ella tiene un no sé que, que sus historias trasmiten tanto y sus personajes son tan entrañables.
Serah es uno de los tantos y diferente ángeles que existen en el cielo y tiene como trabajo eliminar a los demonios que toman el cuerpo de los humanos y le dan como misión ir a los límites de la tierra y el infierno para hablar con Lucifer y poder convencerlo de no desatar la guerra y así poder evitar el Apocalipsis.
Luce es el mismísimo Satanás, lleno de ira, maldad, orgullo, envidia, un arcángel caído oscuro que le dieron el castigo de poder sentir y experimentar todas las cosas que lo humanos pueden hacer y un ángel no.
La descripción del mundo sobre todo del infierno fue bastante bueno y LITERALMENE un infierno y es donde Luce reina, el infierno es diferente para cada persona porque realmente viven atrapados en su propia pesadilla y sus peores temores y para Luce no es diferente.
Cuando empecé a leer y vi de que se trataba pensé que no me iba a gustar en lo personal no me gustan mucho la historias que están muy basadas en la Biblia y que hacen su propia representación, pero realmente este libro me gustó mucho y sobre todo que no es largo, porque creo que traigo algo con los libros extensos.
😍😭💔💕😍😥😭💔😍😡💕❤
Cuando ví que este libro era de una mis autoras favoritas y luego de paranormal era un SÍ Grecia lo tienes que leer.
Obviamente tiene la pluma de J.M. Darhower, es que ella tiene un no sé que, que sus historias trasmiten tanto y sus personajes son tan entrañables.
Serah es uno de los tantos y diferente ángeles que existen en el cielo y tiene como trabajo eliminar a los demonios que toman el cuerpo de los humanos y le dan como misión ir a los límites de la tierra y el infierno para hablar con Lucifer y poder convencerlo de no desatar la guerra y así poder evitar el Apocalipsis.
Luce es el mismísimo Satanás, lleno de ira, maldad, orgullo, envidia, un arcángel caído oscuro que le dieron el castigo de poder sentir y experimentar todas las cosas que lo humanos pueden hacer y un ángel no.
La descripción del mundo sobre todo del infierno fue bastante bueno y LITERALMENE un infierno y es donde Luce reina, el infierno es diferente para cada persona porque realmente viven atrapados en su propia pesadilla y sus peores temores y para Luce no es diferente.
Cuando empecé a leer y vi de que se trataba pensé que no me iba a gustar en lo personal no me gustan mucho la historias que están muy basadas en la Biblia y que hacen su propia representación, pero realmente este libro me gustó mucho y sobre todo que no es largo, porque creo que traigo algo con los libros extensos.
January 8, 2019
Me in 2019, looking at the bright side of things : 🙂🙂🙂 well 266 pages makes for a long-ass prologue for sure but I'd like to read the actual story now-
January 20, 2015
3.5...Good VS Evil Stars!
I admit I am a sucker for a good Angel book! Add in some fallen souls and the biggest baddest Angel of all and I am settling in for a good one!
This is the age old tale of heaven and hell, good versus evil, God and Satan...only with a modern twist and taboo romance attached to it.
Serah is an angel full of Grace. She is intimately attached to the Arch Angel Michael and newly tasked to spend her time trying to convince the dark, dangerous Lucifer to come to a truce and stop the evil.
Both Serah and "Luce" are unprepared for their easy connection. Both irk the other, yet stir their minds and make them question their own beliefs. Can a good Angel want more? Is Free Will so wrong? Can a selfish man feel something more than his own needs? OH THE DRAMA!
“It’s not black and white," he said. "If it were, I wouldn’t be here right now, and neither would you. We’re the gray area, angel.
What a great start to get you into the whys, hows, and the whats of this fantasy read! I really liked the dynamic between Michael, Serah and Luce. I was caught up in the tale overall and really hope to see when there goes as Im hoping to see if Luce is more than his moniker...to see what happens with Serah...to see if the world ends????!
I admit I am a sucker for a good Angel book! Add in some fallen souls and the biggest baddest Angel of all and I am settling in for a good one!
This is the age old tale of heaven and hell, good versus evil, God and Satan...only with a modern twist and taboo romance attached to it.
Serah is an angel full of Grace. She is intimately attached to the Arch Angel Michael and newly tasked to spend her time trying to convince the dark, dangerous Lucifer to come to a truce and stop the evil.
Both Serah and "Luce" are unprepared for their easy connection. Both irk the other, yet stir their minds and make them question their own beliefs. Can a good Angel want more? Is Free Will so wrong? Can a selfish man feel something more than his own needs? OH THE DRAMA!
“It’s not black and white," he said. "If it were, I wouldn’t be here right now, and neither would you. We’re the gray area, angel.
What a great start to get you into the whys, hows, and the whats of this fantasy read! I really liked the dynamic between Michael, Serah and Luce. I was caught up in the tale overall and really hope to see when there goes as Im hoping to see if Luce is more than his moniker...to see what happens with Serah...to see if the world ends????!
August 26, 2013
Fantastic read! Well deserved 5 stars!
Another amazing read from J.M Darhower. Very different from authors first book, but still just as good.
This story is about good vs evil, and oh-so-good grey place in-between :-D.
After reading this book hell doesn't sound so bad, actually it sounds like a place I would like to visit (WHAT?). Yep! :).
This story is about an angel, Serah, that is send to hell to negotiate with Lucifer and convince him to stop the madness. They first meeting didn't go very well. The thing is, Serah is kind of with Michael, and he is Lucifer's brother (we all know the story), they have a looooong history together :).
In the beginning it gets you wondering. Why her? There are more capable angels in Gods army. She herself is confused, but being a good little angel that she is, doesn't question the authority. So why would He send her? Apparently, god used up all his tricks and decided to play dirty. It's never said in the book, but you can't shake the feeling that He knew all along what He was doing :).
Serah is not sure what she have to do or how she suppose to convince Lucifer to bend, but it's clear from the start that she won't be the one running the show. If you are in Lucifer's territory, you play by his rules. Oh, and about the rules, there aren't any! He is the king og his "castle" and he does what ever the f@ck he wants. It includes corrupting good little angels ;-).
What can I say about Luce. He is one twisted character. If you think he has any redeeming qualities, think again. He is satan for crying out loud! By the way, don't call him that, he really hates it :).
He has a very "healthy" attitude towards the world:
Lucifer, that sun of a gun, plays dirty. He is not about to give in. He's not planning to just bend over and let gods good little angels have their way with him. He has a plan of his own. Which he executes brilliantly. I wish I could hate him for it, he is such an evil creature, but I couldn't. I loved games that he played with Serah. poor thing didn't see it coming :-(.
So, every time she comes down to hell, he pulls her in with his mind games. Serah is not stupid, but neither is Lucifer :). He stars mind@cking her like nobodies business :).
The moment comes and she caves. And what a glorious moment that is :-D.
But the story doesn't revolve just around them. Her brother fell. Serah doesn't know neither why or how, but she discovers more and more as she talks to Lucifer. She has a feeling that there is something he's not telling, and she is right.
It's a very intense and passioned story. There is not much sex in the story, but the conversations between Serah and Lucifer are very seductive and fascinating :). Which often leaves her completely confused, because she isn't suppose to doubt gods word. Luce knows how to play that game :-).
I would go as far as calling this story a little bit controversial, because it can easily strike a nerve in those who are hardcore believers :).
The epilogue was a bit of a shocker. It left me with "WTF?" It was brilliant, but I'm still not sure if it was an open ending or a cliffhanger. I hope there will be a sequel.
Amazing, loved it!
Another amazing read from J.M Darhower. Very different from authors first book, but still just as good.
This story is about good vs evil, and oh-so-good grey place in-between :-D.
After reading this book hell doesn't sound so bad, actually it sounds like a place I would like to visit (WHAT?). Yep! :).
This story is about an angel, Serah, that is send to hell to negotiate with Lucifer and convince him to stop the madness. They first meeting didn't go very well. The thing is, Serah is kind of with Michael, and he is Lucifer's brother (we all know the story), they have a looooong history together :).
"You want to talk to me angel? You want to have that conversation? Come back when you don't stik so fucking much."Apparently she smelled like Michael :).
As hastily as he'd emerged, he vaporized, disappearing back into the blackness, leaving her alone.
"No, tell me," he continued. "I want to know how your, uh, extracurricular activities with Mikey haven't landed you right down here with me. Last time I checked, sweetheart, lust was still a sin."Good question, right :)?
In the beginning it gets you wondering. Why her? There are more capable angels in Gods army. She herself is confused, but being a good little angel that she is, doesn't question the authority. So why would He send her? Apparently, god used up all his tricks and decided to play dirty. It's never said in the book, but you can't shake the feeling that He knew all along what He was doing :).
Serah is not sure what she have to do or how she suppose to convince Lucifer to bend, but it's clear from the start that she won't be the one running the show. If you are in Lucifer's territory, you play by his rules. Oh, and about the rules, there aren't any! He is the king og his "castle" and he does what ever the f@ck he wants. It includes corrupting good little angels ;-).
What can I say about Luce. He is one twisted character. If you think he has any redeeming qualities, think again. He is satan for crying out loud! By the way, don't call him that, he really hates it :).
He has a very "healthy" attitude towards the world:
Lucifer, that sun of a gun, plays dirty. He is not about to give in. He's not planning to just bend over and let gods good little angels have their way with him. He has a plan of his own. Which he executes brilliantly. I wish I could hate him for it, he is such an evil creature, but I couldn't. I loved games that he played with Serah. poor thing didn't see it coming :-(.
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, savoring the sensation that swarmed his body.
Lust was his favorite sin, without a doubt.
So, every time she comes down to hell, he pulls her in with his mind games. Serah is not stupid, but neither is Lucifer :). He stars mind@cking her like nobodies business :).
"Do you know what it's like to want something so badly, to need it, to feel like you can't go without it, only to have it dangled right in a front of your face? That torture, that mental torment, is worse than any physical pain you may perceive, angel, stronger than any fucking tingle my brother may bestow upon you when you take your dress off for him."She didn't know. But if you were her, wouldn't you want to find out, especially after he put it that way ;-)?
The moment comes and she caves. And what a glorious moment that is :-D.
"Tell me your body doesn't ache at the thought of me between your thighs, on top of you, inside of you, giving you what my brother never could-real feeling, the kind of feeling that makes you scream loud your throat feels like it's bleeding. Agonizing pleasure, the kind that torments your every thought, driving you to the brink of insanity only to pull you right back from the edge, over and over and over again. Unbearable pleasure, the kind that makes you beg for it to stop, but the moment it's over, you feel like nothing but empty, useless shell-a shell that needs more."Bastard, right :-)?
But the story doesn't revolve just around them. Her brother fell. Serah doesn't know neither why or how, but she discovers more and more as she talks to Lucifer. She has a feeling that there is something he's not telling, and she is right.
It's a very intense and passioned story. There is not much sex in the story, but the conversations between Serah and Lucifer are very seductive and fascinating :). Which often leaves her completely confused, because she isn't suppose to doubt gods word. Luce knows how to play that game :-).
I would go as far as calling this story a little bit controversial, because it can easily strike a nerve in those who are hardcore believers :).
The epilogue was a bit of a shocker. It left me with "WTF?" It was brilliant, but I'm still not sure if it was an open ending or a cliffhanger. I hope there will be a sequel.
Amazing, loved it!
October 12, 2014
4.5 Stars!
Starting the next one right away after that ending...
Full review to come.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
November 7, 2014
“It’s not black and white," he said. "If it were, I wouldn’t be here right now, and neither would you. We’re the gray area, angel. We’re the pieces of the puzzle they don’t know what to do with, the pieces that don’t quite fit into their perfect little picture, so they choose to discard us, to keep their image untainted,but we can only be ignored for so long.”
Hell, it is a paranormal romance!
Of course I was going to like it, there was no doubt about that.
But, wow. Just, WOW.
Here's the story:
Serah is a sweet power Angel and the lover of Archangel Michael . She is fascinated by the humans, especially children, and spends most of her time looking after them in every way.
The day her brother, Samuel , becomes a fallen angel, God gives her a brand new mission: She is to go to the threshold - the gates of hell, in order to talk the devil himself, Lucifer , into putting an end to the war and the evil.
Lucifer is the king of the underworld. He is trapped inside Hell by his father, God, and his brother, who is non other than the Archangel Michael. He hates being called "Satan" and thinks he is "not dark, but perhaps gray".
When Serah begins coming to the gates of Hell, the mission of persuading him to change his ways turns into a means of getting to know him. The real him, that nobody else seems to want to see. As days turn to weeks, as Serah spends more time with Lucifer, aka Luce, he grows on her more and more, to the point that she finds herself in love with him.
Well, of course I imagined Luce as this blue-eyed handsome devilish man, who is just the perfect male protagonist! Just like Serah, I knew he was the goddamn devil but yet I couldn't stop myself from falling for his archangel beginnings peeking it's head once in awhile...He has this devilish wit and charm, that impoisons you beyond realization! I couldn't even feel mad at him after what he did (which I won't be sharing with you folks to avoid huge spoilers. You're welcome.)!
I mean everyone knows I can't say no to a broken alpha male!
*cough cough*
The epilogue was heartbreaking. I won't be ashamed to admit that I even cried a little.
“Someday she’d remember, she swore. Someday she’d know his name. Someday she’d know hers. And someday, she’d know why: why he haunted her every thought, why, when she looked into his eyes, she felt like she was home. Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.”
April 4, 2014
5 Beautiful, Devastating, Riveting, Humorous, Emotional, and Brilliant stars!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what I've read. This book was absolutely fantastic!
I can only hope my review can give it the justice it deserves.
There is a war waging between good and evil. Serah, a Power angel is sent to the front line to establish a truce with Lucifer after one of her own has fallen.
Serah, not having a choice in the matter meets with Luce and discovers there more to him then what she first imagined.
Or is there?
I love the banter and chemistry between these two characters and I have to admit I fell instantly in love with the scarred angel.
While Serah tries to dissuade Luce from his war she is also finding herself drawn to him, but there are those that will stand in the way.
I'll stop there because I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I'll just say this. Every word on every page was excellent. I was completely riveted form the very first page to the last.
The writing
The dialogue
The story
The characters
Everything about this book was amazing to me. There are so many twists and turns I could barely keep up. I'm so grateful I read this in a buddy read so I could share my vents, frustrations, and humor with others.
This is a must read for PRN fans. Loved it!!!
"You shouldn't judge a flower by who picked it."
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what I've read. This book was absolutely fantastic!
I can only hope my review can give it the justice it deserves.
There is a war waging between good and evil. Serah, a Power angel is sent to the front line to establish a truce with Lucifer after one of her own has fallen.
Serah, not having a choice in the matter meets with Luce and discovers there more to him then what she first imagined.
Or is there?
I love the banter and chemistry between these two characters and I have to admit I fell instantly in love with the scarred angel.
While Serah tries to dissuade Luce from his war she is also finding herself drawn to him, but there are those that will stand in the way.
I'll stop there because I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I'll just say this. Every word on every page was excellent. I was completely riveted form the very first page to the last.
The writing
The dialogue
The story
The characters
Everything about this book was amazing to me. There are so many twists and turns I could barely keep up. I'm so grateful I read this in a buddy read so I could share my vents, frustrations, and humor with others.
This is a must read for PRN fans. Loved it!!!
"You shouldn't judge a flower by who picked it."
November 27, 2014
Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. -J.M. Darhower
It's been almost a year and a half since I read a book by J.M. Darhower, and only because there wasn't one to read. I found out about this book Extinguish that was scheduled to be released by Darhower, and despite my concerns about her journey in to the supernatural, my inner fan girl wouldn't let me resist!
It only took a few pages for me to settle in to this story, and I quickly found that Darhower has the ability to cross genres effortlessly. The writing is beautiful, and the story telling is superb! Darhower gives the reader the perfect amount of detail without being over done, and beautifully written.
"War is a game of chance. It's all the luck of the draw, no more calculated than the spin of a gun barrel in Russian roulette." -Lucifer
Serah, an angel who has watched over the children has been reassigned to the gates of Hell to demand a cease-fire of Satan (Lucifer). To stop the apocalypse.If only it were that simple, the war would have been long over. Along the way Serah has questions that only Lucifer is willing to answer, but at what price? Serah must play Lucifer's game to get the answers she craves about her brother Samuel, who has fallen. Lucifer creates even more questions for Serah and she begins to reflect on her past with her brother Samuel in search for truth to the things Lucifer tells her. As Serah comes to know Lucifer, she discovers that he may not be the all encompassing evil that she always believed him to be. But can Serah resist the seductive charms of the Devil himself?
"I know you feel it, deep inside of you, screaming out to be acknowledged, to be satiated," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "I can sense it, clawing underneath your skin, begging to be let loose, begging to be invited out to play." - Lucifer
Oh Luce!
I can certainly understand Serah's struggle in falling for him, because I certainly fell for the Devil! I really loved the characters in this story. Serah is feisty and brave. Archangel Michael became the character I loved hating. And Luce.... well he's a sly Devil who's heart maybe isn't so black after all.
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. " I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means-there are sweeter out there , and you have a few rotten spots-but I'd never found a juicer apple anywhere in the world." -Serah
This was a terriffic read! I was quickly captivated, and it is just what I would expect from Darhower. Beautiful writing, passionate storytelling, and a love for her characters that shines!
Thank you to J.M. Darhower for the opportunity!
February 6, 2015
Yes ..... Please ❤️
January 13, 2015
This a quick read for me and I don't felt like is 266 pages length, more like 100+. Anyway, for a freebie, I think it packed a punch and totally worth my time.
We have Lucifer aka Satan trying to start a war. And Serah, an angel who was tasked to 'negotiate' with him to cease fire. Serah is such a gentle soul, while Lucifer is an archangel full of hatred. There is no couple more different than them.
What fascinate me the most is Lucifer's character. He is the evil, the Satan. When we first met him, he is cruel and a total abomination. Then we slowly begin to learn more about this complicated archangel that is neither good nor evil. I keep wondering the real reason he end up imprisoned in Hell. And what is he willing to do in order to free himself once and for all?
I like it, but not totally in love with it. I think there is a lot of things that was left unanswered and the love between Serah and Lucifer progress a tad too suddenly. All they did was conversed through numerous card games with Serah slowly starts to question the things she was told about the Satan. Before long, they become so much more to each other. I think it was more about 'fate' and 'destiny' instead of progression of love. The only reason that I don't mind it that much is because I thought this is a novella and being a PNR. I'm eager to read Book 2 though because Lucifer deserve to have his HEA.
We have Lucifer aka Satan trying to start a war. And Serah, an angel who was tasked to 'negotiate' with him to cease fire. Serah is such a gentle soul, while Lucifer is an archangel full of hatred. There is no couple more different than them.
What fascinate me the most is Lucifer's character. He is the evil, the Satan. When we first met him, he is cruel and a total abomination. Then we slowly begin to learn more about this complicated archangel that is neither good nor evil. I keep wondering the real reason he end up imprisoned in Hell. And what is he willing to do in order to free himself once and for all?
I like it, but not totally in love with it. I think there is a lot of things that was left unanswered and the love between Serah and Lucifer progress a tad too suddenly. All they did was conversed through numerous card games with Serah slowly starts to question the things she was told about the Satan. Before long, they become so much more to each other. I think it was more about 'fate' and 'destiny' instead of progression of love. The only reason that I don't mind it that much is because I thought this is a novella and being a PNR. I'm eager to read Book 2 though because Lucifer deserve to have his HEA.
December 30, 2015
Full review to come with book 2 ♥
September 20, 2015
Extinguish is one of my favorite books of 2013!!
Extinguish is unlike anything I have ever read! This dark and twisty romance will keep you on your toes. It messed with my mind like Luce messed with Serah's, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I read Darhower's Sempre last year after seeing all the rave reviews and loved it. Her writing style is very fluid and her character development is flawless. When I heard she was releasing a paranormal romance, I got so excited. I love a good romance with supernatural elements. I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. Lately, I've been shying away from reading the synopses of authors' books I love. You guys, the prologue of Extinguish hooked me. The last few lines I was all, "Whaaaaaaat?? Can she does that? Is she going there? OMG she's going there." She went there, and she went there HARD. This book is an absolute must read if you're a fan of angel stories. Hell (heehee), even if you're not a fan of angel stories, READ THIS!
"Everything changes eventually, not necessarily for the bad, but not always for the good either...The world isn't always black and white. Sometimes, it's gray, and sometimes that gray explodes into colors you never knew existed before."
This is so much I want to say. Where to begin? Serah is a an angel, a Power, in charge of protecting the innocent from evil. She spends her days with Hannah, a Guardian, on a swingset watching children play. She has spent her existence watching over mortals. I found this to be very interesting. Presumably, she has to protect thousands (and probably more) of humans, but she fixates on this one family for years. She and her twin brother, Samuel, follow this family from their first day through their life. She is also in a relationship with Michael, the Archangel. Scandalous!
"She'd watched thousands - millions - of humans fall in love, watched as emotion consumed every ounce of them, controlling their every thought and altering their very being. To know such passion would be glorious."
The story flows seamless through the past and the present. Darhower reveals Serah's close relationship with her brother, Samuel through flashbacks. In these flashbacks, you get to know Samuel and how different he was from other angels. He seems to be always dancing on the edge of good. He's a boundary pusher, something that makes Serah uncomfortable.
The Dominion assigns Serah to a new task - to negotiate with the Devil and convince him put an end to this war and prevent the apocalypse. Obviously, this is not an easy task because Satan does what he wants. Over the course of several weeks, Serah travels to Hell to talk with Luce on an almost daily basis.
Luce was a very interesting character. He's everything you would expect the Devil to be - self-absorbed, manipulative, and masochistic. But, Luce, the Satan Darhower creates, is vulnerable and complex. As Serah and Luce get to know each other, he reveals things about himself that no one else knows. He's tortured. He can literally feel the pain and anguish of everyone in Hell. While Serah cannot feel or smell anything. At first, she didn't mind but after talking with Luce, she begins to want more than what being an angel can offer her.
"I'd rather endure an eternity of pain by choice than feel nothing forever by force."
"Not only was I forced to remember, but I was cursed with something that made it all much, much worse - empathy....That torture, that mental torment, is worse than any physical pain you may perceive, angel, stronger than any fucking tingle my brother may bestow upon you when you take your dress off for him."
The conversations between Serah and Luce deal with some heavy topics. What is good? What is evil? Their interactions are filled with tension and this weightiness that I couldn't get enough of. There was this wicked chemistry between them that emanated from all of their
I love it when writer makes me fall in love with the most unlikely couple. Serah and Luce are probably one of the most shocking couples in a book I have ever read due to what they are. Each of them stand for polar opposites. Part of what made these two work as a couple was Luce's vulnerability and Serah's skewed view of him. She sees the beauty in everything, even in the most desolate and dark things. Even in Luce. Admittedly, I felt super dirty for rooting for the devil. I mean, come on, he's like the ultimate BAD GUY. And that's why this book is so great. You root for the devil...I mean...Luce. It's all so messed up!
This story could easy offend people with its suggestion that angels withhold the true from other angels and that Satan isn't all that bad. However, I see this simply as a story - a story I enjoyed immensely. The ending of this book is not a cliffhanger. It could easily work as a standalone, but MY GOODNESS it was intense. As I got closer to the end, I kept wondering where she was going to go with this. What was going to happen to Serah and Luce? ARE they going to work out? Read and you'll get your answer.
I am really hoping that Darhower continues Luce and Serah's story. I would devour it immediately.
*I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
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June 17, 2013
Not everything is black and white. There are truly many shades of gray. When it comes to heaven and hell, our race as a whole believes it is simply black and white.
But.........
Can love exist in a place of evil? Can malice exist in the divine afterlife? Extinguish will challenge your thoughts and perceptions about good vs. evil.
Oh my god J.M. Darhower has done it again! This author has seriously rocked my world!!! Extinguish was wonderfully good and wicked!!! I'm seriously gushing over this book. It took me to my happy book place that few authors have been able to achieve.
Serah is an angel. She believes in doing god's work by protecting the innocent from the devil's evil. She has a special love for children as their souls are still pure.
After tragedy strikes and Serah's brother Samuel is gone, she is sent on a new mission. Her mission is to stop the impending war between heaven and hell. To accomplish this task, Serah must travel to the gates of hell to confront the devil himself.
The devil has many names: Lucifer, Satan, the Prince of Darkness..... This Satan prefers to be called by his nickname, Luce....
Luce is the devil, but in this story he is misunderstood. He is more than just the sinister monster we all believe him to be. There is more to him than just evil in carnet.
When the two meet, an undeniable attraction and force develops that has both Luce and Serah questioning everything they ever knew.
Extinguish was a brilliant story written in a beautiful writing style only J.M. Darhower can achieve. One of my favorite things about this book was the dialogue between Lucifer and Serah. Both of these of characters are incredibly well developed. I laughed, cried, became angry, rooted for and fell in love with these two characters and their improbable romance. I don't want to give too much away but this story knocked my socks off! So many unexpected surprises with a truly unique storyline.
The story wraps up nicely but leaves room for more if the author ever decides to write a sequel. I'm hoping she does because Extinguish made it to my all time favorites shelf. 5++++ stars from this very picky book snob.
GIFSoup
February 6, 2017
"Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil. -Friedrich Nietzsche.
I actually enjoyed this book so much! I've waited so long and I finally ordered it. The second one should be coming along soon. :)
"Ring-a-round a rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down."
5/5 stars. :)
I actually enjoyed this book so much! I've waited so long and I finally ordered it. The second one should be coming along soon. :)
"Ring-a-round a rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down."
5/5 stars. :)
freebie
December 20, 2014It's FREE AGAIN!!!!
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June 2, 2015
What an interesting read. It's definitely something we are not used to seeing from J.M. Darhower.
Want to read
January 4, 2020
December 21, 2020
4,20 Stars
PROS
*Nice story + Good Story-telling + Good world-building
*Adorable heroine and adorable name, love love love Serah
*A loveable hero: Good portrayal of Lucifer aka Satan
*Love Triangle-ish but not really
*Liked the twist
*Lovable side characters: Sam (Serah's brother) + Michael (second man, yes the Angel one)
*Serah's first time discovering her passion
*Great chemistry between Luce and Serah
*Likable God portrayal
*I sincerely like that the angels weren't perfect, and indeed flawed.
* AND Everything about Luce and Serah's relationship (Maybe not objective but sorry love this couple)
HMMS
*The story is promising, BUT Something is missing.
*There are some points like, Okay, Why? If You Say So, Whatever,... (Like sometimes the story felt incomplete)
*I wanted more of the love-triangle drama. I wanted more of that angst. GOD, Why am I such a sucker for drama??
*Luce (Lucifer) fell for Sarah really hard, but I couldn't completely feel it.
*AND I wanted to feel more love from Michael's side too.
*Yes, I am greedy alright... I only would've liked to see the CRYSTAL CLEAR LOVE/ADORATION of the two men for Serah.
CHARACTERS
Serah: Brown hair, brown eyes; Angel like Angel, nice, genuine, humanist. Fighter of the Innocents.
Lucifer: Blue(red and black) eyes, dark hair; Satan, He is the rebel, He is neither a bad or good man, He has his reasons. He has a good heart.
Michael: Blonde hair, blue eyes. Complete Believer. Follower of God's way. Always play by the Rule. BUT, He is also a grey character. His role/part isn't so big anyway.
OVERALL
*I think this book was supposed to be a STANDALONE but later another book is published. The story continues where it ended in that one, but this book also ends in a way. The grey end I might say. Open-ended...
*It is indeed a nice book. I actually enjoyed it and loved it. BUT All I can say is that: there were sparks but they didn't fly too high.
*Normally when the book is too long, I kinda get frustrated but surprisingly I find this book too short. It was too fast-paced and rushed. Was someone behind to catch you Miss Darhower? (Lame joke, I know)
*I think It would've perfectly worked as a standalone, If It has consisted of the givens below:
More angst/drama,
More romance,
Definitely more detailed developments (character and story base),
Maybe more sexy scenes,
And for sure an epilogue with HEA.
*BUT Of course, I will read the second book right away.
PS: Some quotes have affected me soo deeply. My Heart... Ahh sometimes I am a total romantic...
"I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means—there are sweeter out there, and you have a few rotten spots—but I'd never have found a juicer apple anywhere in the world."
''Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.''
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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