Ruined by Jus Accardo – a Review

Ruined
Eternal Balance – Book #1
by Jus Accardo
Release Date: December 30,2013
Links to order Ruined: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Hell is looking for a way to break loose…

Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world’s first murderer, he’s plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it’s killing him.

After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can’t outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she’s thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she’s been trying to forget.

Sam strains Jax’s control over his darkness, but running isn’t an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge
Review:

Ruined by Jus Accardo is the first book in her new Eternal Balance series.  Lately I have read a lot of stories about Angels and Demons.  Ruined is mostly about demons or tainted (humans and demons sharing the same body), but this story is totally different than most, as the bases of the story revolves around Good & Evil, or Cain and Abel.

We meet our flawed hero Jax, as he returns home to visit his dying uncle. Jax considers himself the unlucky one, cursed with being a descendant of the world’s first murderer, Cain. He lives with another being inside him, a demon named Azirak.  Jax left town a few years back to protect Samantha, the girl he loved, from danger of his fierce anger, that is part of him.  But now that he is back, it all starts again, as he sees Samantha talking to his brother Chase, who is the one everyone loves. 

Before he has a chance to leave town again, Samantha’s life is now in danger, as she has been marked by a demon.  Jax has to fight his feelings for Sam, at the same time find out why and who is targeting her.  Together, he and Sam try to resolve this, and at same time not act on their raging sexual chemistry.  Making things difficult is Jax needs to keep his demon under control and fed.  Easier said then done, especially with the demon side showing interest in Sam.  The other thorn is Chase’s continued interest in Sam, and his ability to create havoc against his brother.

As for Sam, she tries to understand why Jax left originally, but she knows she loves him.  When she begins to understand the truth about demons, and Jax’s violent mood swings; Sam is still determined to find a way to save Jax, at any cost.

When I first started this book, I was not sure if it would keep my attention, as it was a bit  perhaps redundant, with Jax constantly being angry, and talking to his demon or being nasty to Sam.  He wasn’t very likable, and you sort of thought you knew why the town hated him.  I though never liked Chase from the start. But about a third of the way in, the story got very exciting, with lots of action, which kept me anxiously turning the pages.  We learn more about the curse, Jax, his demon, and Sam. 

The ending of this book was revealing with some twists, and just when I was somewhat relieved and starting to relax, Jus Accardo throws us for loop with a damn cliffhanger.  Oh well this is a series, and their will always be good versus evil.  If you like action, suspense, demons, violence, good vs evil, hot sex, heartbreak and a couple that are truly in love, than Ruined is for you

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher