Book Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

My Thoughts:  Layla is part demon and part Warden.  A Warden is a gargoyle who hunts demons so you can see how this could be a slight problem.  However, she is taken in at a young age by Abbott, a Warden, and grows up in the clan and Layla definitely considers herself on the Warden's side.  She can see people's souls (or lack thereof) and "tags" demons for the Warden's to take out.  With the exception of some soul cravings here and there, Layla thinks this is working for her.  

Then Layla meets Roth.  Roth is an upper-level demon and oh, so hot!  He saves her from a demon right off the bat and then shows up at her school.  Once Layla meets Roth, she starts to question everything she has grown up thinking she knows.  Are demons really all evil?  Should they all be wiped out by the Wardens?  Are the Wardens all good?  

After Layla finds out the truth about who she is and what she can do, things start to get dangerous and a little exciting (who am I kidding??  Things get A LOT exciting).

I loved Layla immediately.  She is a very strong character and despite the things that she finds out about herself, she doesn't ever feel sorry for herself or have pity parties.  The revelation of who Layla's father was shocked me and I immediately felt for her but she moved on and didn't let it ruin her.  I also really loved how, even though there appears to be a love triangle at first, there really isn't.  Layla knows exactly what she wants and knows that the love she feels for Zayne and Roth are different.  

Zayne was a great guy.  He was a little over protective of Layla and that could get a little annoying.  I also was mad when he wouldn't answer his phone when Layla really needed him and his support.  I felt he put her off and was petty at times but he was a pretty decent guy.  

Roth...I am team Roth all the way, no doubt about it!  From the time he entered the story until the end, I was completely for Roth!  He's hot, he's bad (I mean, he's a demon...how much more bad can you get?) and he can be so sweet to Layla.  He can be totally sarcastic and I loved his sense of humor.  Plus, he has Bambi and Thumper (read the book and you'll find out who Bambi and Thumper are) and that was pretty awesome.  

This book was action packed from page one.  It was full of surprises and the end will make you want to cry or scream!  I hated putting the book down and stayed up late to read it.  I cannot wait to read the second book (comes out in October) and see what happens with Layla, Roth and Zayne.  This book is a definite must read for 2014!