Obsession
by Jennifer L Armentrout
Published by Entangled Embrace
Standalone in the LUX universe
Hunter is a ruthless killer.
And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he's saddled with something he's never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.
Serena Cross didn't believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something...unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend's murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.
Hunter stirs Serena's temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he's doing the unthinkable breaking the rules he's lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life...or is it Hunter?
RATED: 18+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Steamy #Romance Interesting
Violence #ScienceFiction
Obsession by Jennifer L Armentrout is a stand alone novel set in her LUX universe. It centers on Hunter, a powerful Arum working for the D.O.D, and Serena, a human who witnessed the murder of her best friend at the hands of a Luxen. When the D.O.D order Hunter to protect Serena, and try to find out what information she has, he is annoyed to play babysitter. That is, until he see's her. Curvy, beautiful, and when she gets temperamental? He is enthralled, just as much as she is with him. When Serena's life is in danger not just by the Luxen, but the government, Hunter breaks all the rules to keep her safe.
Obsession has been on my TBR list for over a year now. Honestly, I don't know why I have held off on so long. If you have seen my reviews on the LUX/Origin series, you know I LOVE this series. Like ... love. Obsessed. It was the series that got me into reading again after a slump that lasted a few years. So a book that is set in the same world, has familiar characters, and is adult? Count me in. Obsession was a fun read. It was original, interesting, and the banter and chemistry between Serena and Hunter was great.
I think my only complaint is that Serena and Hunter are very typical of Jennifer's other couples - the cocky, badass male, and the woman who gives as good as she gets. I mean, it's a good formula, and why mess with a good thing? It just was a little too much like Daemon and Katy. One of the things I did love - learning more about the Arum, how they live, and their powers, without the bias from a Luxen's pov.
If you are looking for an action packed, steamy romance, with a side of sexy alien, you will enjoy Obsession. And you don't have to have read any of the LUX/Origin books to enjoy this standalone (but all the easter eggs are fun for LUX fans).
Hunter: "I'm not interested in last speeches. Time to kiss your ass goodbye, Lite Brite."
Hunter: "Are you done acting like a psychotic, cracked-out Muppet baby? Or do you need a couple of minutes to return to sanity? I have all day. And you actually feel kinda good under me, so take your time."
Hunter: "You have a feisty little attitude, don't you?"
Serena: 'You're about to get a feisty little foot up your ass."
Hunter: "You're not going to answer me? Or do I need to repeat myself for a third time? It's okay. I like to hear myself talk."
Serena: "You can't - Get off!"
Hunter: "I can't get off? Oh, I most certainly can get off."
Serena: "Don't you dare smack my -"
A yawn cut her off, totally ruining the level of the threat.
Serena: "You high-handed, arrogant son of a -"
Whamp!
Hunter: "Language, Serena."
What came out of her mouth next almost made me drop her. She got her ass smacked again for that and after the third time, she quieted down. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful, if I didn't count what was going on between my legs. Maybe it was the whole carrying her thing. Maybe it was spanking her ass. Or perhaps it was the fact I was in a permanent state of hardness since she threw a cast-iron pioneer at me. If that was the case, then my attraction was pretty dark.
It was probably the ass-spanking part.
Sin: "What. The. Fuck. Hunter?"
Hunter: "I can't help myself whenever I'm around you. It's like a habit."
Sin: "Well, break the fucking habit, because that hurts. Jesus."
Good to know my ovaries were still functioning like sex was going out of style. Jesus.
Luc: "What brings you here? I hear this 'little fuck' owes you."
Serena: "How old are you?"
Luc: "Old enough to appreciate a good-looking woman."
Luc winked.
Hunter: "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Hunter: "Wait a sec. You're going to give her a car and money to go there?"
Luc blinked innocently. That little fuck.
Luc: "I gave you a piece of opal and a Luxen to nom-nom on."
Luxen were like galactic Pringles in a fucked-up way. Once you popped one, you just couldn't stop - like stop at all.
Hunter: "Want to know a secret?"
Serena: "Depends."
He chuckled.
Hunter: "It's about the moment I knew I wanted you, that you'd be mine. That I'd fall in love with you."
Serena: 'When?"
Hunter: "Sooner than you'd think."
Serena: "When?"
Hunter: "That first day you were in my cabin. When you threw the statue at my head."