Book Review: Young Love Murder by April Brookshire

Book Stats: 
Young Love Murder by April Brookshire
(Book #1 of Young Assassins) 
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 8/24/2011
Reading Level: Mature YA (17+)
Genre: Suspense, Contemporary, Romance 

Goodreads Summary: First love’s a killer, but so is seventeen-year-old Annabelle Blanc. The teenager was raised to be an assassin and taught to never fall in love. She lives for the job until she meets Gabriel Sanchez, the son of her latest target. Wealthy, spoiled and self-indulgent, Gabriel Sanchez is a teenage playboy. Setting his sights on the beautiful Annabelle, he's drawn to the mysterious new girl who's playing hard to get.Gabriel also finds himself drawn into a world of deception, violence and murder. Off-centered for the first time in her life, Annabelle struggles to fight her doomed attraction for the handsome Gabriel. In this gritty, mature YA novel, you'll follow Annabelle and Gabriel in an intense, funny, angry, crazy, rocky and passionate romance. As two worlds collide and they're repeatedly thrown together and pulled apart by fate, will Annabelle and Gabriel overcome betrayals, revenge and heartbreak to find a lasting love?

I should have known that from reading the synopsis, that this was far from a fluffy read. It took me into a really frustrating yet thrilling roller coaster ride of emotions. I probably haven't been this frustrated but  so dead-set rooting for a couple since reading Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens. So, we have Annabelle Blanc. If you got an inner bad girl, then all should go along well with you. But if you're questioning her motives like me, you might not get the full experience of her being an "assassin". I mean, I like that she's a bad-ass but I don't necessarily get the "I'm not a murderer" thing of the story. She does admit she's the necessary evil though. I jus't don't see it as any different as being a killer but hey, I don't know the meaning of the vague word, "justice" either so what the hell?

On the other hand, I adored Gabriel. He's just like a kid after a toy but when he actually gets the toy, he treats her just like treasure instead. He is precious, cocky, annoying but overall, I cannot not swoon over a playboy turned lovesick puppy. Now, these two have great moments together, although most of them turn into psychotic circumstances. I didn't really feel the budding romance at first. As I said, if you think about morals and motives, then you probably won't feel it too. Because their relationship was built on a lie and it developed within a lie. But I can't lie, the sexual tension? It's so there.

But as the story progresses, they also grow up to settle their differences in a manner only THEY understand and they love each other along the way. They are such a volatile couple. It's like they're made for each other but they only destroy each other more and more. This was an angsty type of love. Very much comaparable to relationships like Travis & Abby (Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire) or Kellan & Kiera (Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens). Despite all of the moments I wanted to pull my hair out and smack some sense into both of them. There were a lot of funny and witty banter going on, It makes you forget the "dark" part of the story.

I was thankful for that. It balanced it out. I really laughed out loud at some! I loved Anna's brother, Jackson. The boy was a natural born "brother" who annoys the hell out of his sister but I love how he's protective of her. I can't wait to read his story on the second book. This is the type of romance where the characters go through an emotional adventure, to be lost and to be found. It's a story of revenge and redemption. It's beautiful, if you think beyond the bad. Although I didn't necessarily love this one, I was hooked on to it. I recommend it to anyone who's looking to spice up their YA/Romance/Contemporary shelf!

★★★★

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