Fallen Angel (Fallen Angel, #1) by Heather Terrell. © 2011 HarperTeen. ISBN 9780061965708. Trade Paperback. Young Adult/Urban Fantasy. 310 pages. Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Synopsis: Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael. Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way … together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

Review: Ellie is a humble but serious girl. Her humanitarian parents have always made sure to make her feel loved and cared for, but that she also always be aware of her place in the world. Her life is pretty uneventful, save for the trips to other countries to help bring sustainable living to third-world nations. At school, she goes unnoticed and has but one close friend, Ruth. However, one day at school she notices a boy—a gorgeous, athletic boy—and he is actually talking to her. Soon the two form a bond and realize they are more alike than they could have ever imagined.

Fallen Angel, while harboring a semi fast-paced plot and good writing, felt very clichéd to me. I know this is Heather Terrell’s YA debut so perhaps that’s why. I haven’t read her adult fiction (though I do own her Brigid of Kildare novel) so I can’t really compare the two genres. Michael entrance was very jarring to me and he comes over a bit pushy, and while my radar was flashing “creeper stalker dude”, Ellie seemed un-phased. Also, I have always had a problem with girls who find a boy and then suddenly forget they have friends, preferring to ditch plans with those who have always been there. So, I immediately disliked Ellie for doing such to Ruth.

What I did really like about the novel, was Heather’s blending of vampire lore into angel lore. It was certainly interesting, and while the book title certainly gives away what sort of creature Ellie and Michael are, you are still kind of left wondering as you read. The revelations discovered at end of the book are quite exciting just wish the beginning and middle were as thrilling.

Overall, an okay story but it wasn’t enough to make me long for the sequel (Eternity will be released this July). 3/5.

Order a Copy!

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

Website - More Posts

Thanks so much for joining us, Christina. I really, really loved Black Wings so I have to say, I am especially excited to be interviewing you.

Thanks so much for having me here! I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the book.

For those who haven’t heard of Black Wings, can you tell us a little about it? (note to readers: you can read my review here)

Maddy Black is an Agent of death. It’s an inherited job with no pay. She’s broke, she’s stressed and she’s got to rent the apartment in her building if she wants to have some income. She takes on a new tenant who winds up bringing a whole host of new supernatural problems with him. She’s also got a very mouthy gargoyle with a bad popcorn habit who loves to express his opinion on everything.

I’m a sucker for angels, demons and nephilim. What drew you into that world?

When I sold Black Wings to Ace (a year and a half ago) there really were not very many angelic books/TV/movies out…although it does seem like there’s been a sudden explosion of angels! I was looking for creatures that had an interesting mythology and were a little different from what was out at the time when I was writing the book.

How much research went into your mythology?

I looked up a few angelic names on Wikipedia, and some basic info on the Grigori and nephilim. I didn’t want to draw too much on existing mythologies – I really wanted to try to create a mythology that is unique to the world of Black Wings.

Beezle. Such an amazingly fantastic character. How’d he develop?

I love to write dialogue so I wanted Maddy to have someone to talk to. When you write in first person there’s a danger that you’ll spend too much time in the character’s head. Having another character on hand for Maddy to bounce ideas off keeps the narrative fresh and prevents Maddy from spending too much time brooding over her problems. Really, how can you brood when you’ve got a hungry gargoyle to feed?

Plus, since Beezle is a home guardian he’s pretty much always around, unlike a roommate or relative who might possibly have a life of one’s own. Beezle’s life is Maddy’s life – he delights in sticking his beak in her business – and everyone else’s business for that matter. This keeps him readily on hand for whatever I might need.

What are your thoughts on the angel invasion we are seeing in today’s entertainment world?

I think that a lot of writers were probably like me – thinking that they wanted to do something a little different from vampires and werewolves. All these books just happened to hit the market at the same time!

Tell us a bit about your writing habits. Do you have a certain ritual or anything?

I always put together a playlist for each book that I write. I start off with an 8-10 song playlist and then I add to it as I get further into the novel until I’ve got about 20-25 songs that I listen to while I write. Every time I sit down at my laptop that playlist brings me right back into the story and the overall emotional arc of Maddy’s character. When I get to a point where the writing feels stuck or stale, I’ll put the playlist on my iPod and just listen to the music while I run errands or bake something in the kitchen. If I let my mind wander while still staying inside Maddy’s world through the music the next piece of the story will usually occur to me.

Which authors inspire you?

I may possibly be Jim Butcher’s biggest fan. I am crazy about the Dresden Files series. I also love Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, Tanya Huff, Lori Handeland, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, China Mieville, Nancy Holzner, Simon R. Green, Joe Hill…it’s actually kind of hard for me to make a short list!

Any books you think we shouldn’t miss?

My favorite book of all time is “Nobody’s Fool” by Richard Russo. It’s not a fantasy novel but it is an absolute masterpiece of characterization.

If a Black Wings movie were made, who do you see as cast members?

I don’t know who would play Maddy. I just think I would hate it if she was played by a super-skinny actress, because Maddy is slightly overweight and I like that about her – it makes her more human and less physically perfect than a lot of heroines. The actress would also need a major attitude, because Maddy’s definitely got a chip on her shoulder! Sandra Bullock totally could have played this role ten years ago but I don’t know who would do it now.

Gabriel could be Michael Fassbender (who was on the British TV show “Hex”, if you’ve ever seen that) or Richard Armitage (who was on the BBC’s “Robin Hood” series). They each have the really strong bone structure and quiet voice that I think of with Gabriel. Plus, it does not hurt that they are both gorgeous and have adorable accents.

Can’t you just see Gerard Butler as J.B.? He doesn’t look exactly the way I describe J.B. in the book but I can see him playing that part really well. Actually, Richard Armitage could do this role also if Michael Fassbender played Gabriel.

Of course, there is no creature in the universe as adorable as Beezle so he would have to be computer-generated.

We have quite a long wait for the sequel (Black Night is due out Autumn 2011) but can you hint at what might happen for Maddy, Gabriel and Beezle?

Quite a few people have asked about J.B. – if he’s going to be around in future books. J.B. is definitely going to play a bigger role in the next book. You also get to meet his mother – he has a cryptic comment about his mom in Black Wings that I never expanded on. His mother is a major player in the world of Black Wings and both J.B. and his mom will be around for the foreseeable future. I can’t tell you too much more than that without giving away some of the twists in the sequel.

Thanks for much for being here, Christina. Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks so much for having me here and I hope your readers enjoy Black Wings!

Christina’s website can be found at http://www.christinahenry.net/ and her Facebook page is located at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Henry/152170358141765.

If you have any comments or questions for Christina, feel free to ask them below.

Giveaway

Thanks to Ace, we have one lovely copy of Black Wings to give away to one lucky follower. US/Canada residents only, no P.O. Boxes, please. Simply be a follower and comment below with your name, email and how you are following us (and it would be lovely if you left a question or comment for Christina as well). On December 30th (contest ends December 31st at 11:59pm central time), I’ll announce the winners.

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

Website - More Posts

Awakened (The Guardian Legacy #1) by Ednah Walters. © 2010 Pill Hill Press. ISBN 9781617060380. Trade Paperback. Fantasy / Paranormal Romance. 272 pages. Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Synopsis: Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she’s a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice.

Review: Awakened centers around the Nephilim–the mythological offspring of angels and humans–and is a welcome addition to the growing trend of angels in YA literature. The Nephilim have always intrigued me, and I even centered my 2009 NaNoWriMo novel around them so I was eager to read this one, and I was not disappointed. Walters is a strong writer, the plot was great and kept my attention and the characters were well-developed (well, Bran didn’t seem as developed as the rest of the cast but I’m hoping that changes in the next book) which is nice because this was an ensemble-heavy read (I do have a soft-spot for Sykes the most though).

I don’t have much I didn’t like–Xenith as the name for where the angels come from was a bit cheesy to me and conjured up aliens rather than angels, and I felt the cast list at the beginning (while handy in some respects) was kind of spoiler-ish, but that’s about it. Awakened was a fun read and I’m really looking forward to the next installment. I’m giving this a 4/5.

Shop Indie Bookstores or Order Online From Amazon

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

Website - More Posts

Today we are joined by Danielle of Romance Book Junkies

Goodreads Blurb:
Ashley Hunter is intent on uncovering the truth about her father’s disappearance. But Ashley realizes she’s in for more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited a decrepit pub, she’s also inherited ghosts and demons. Then Cristian arrives, a mysterious man who insists he only needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing…

As a fallen angel destined for a life of servitude, Cristian Lucius is relegated to protecting earth from unwanted spirits. But he can’t accomplish this daunting task alone. He requires assistance from the very woman who frustrates him as much as she intrigues him. Cristian is determined to ignore his intense attraction for Ashley, and focus on his mission. If they don’t work together, they won’t have a chance in hell of defeating the demon threatening their lives. The problem is getting Ashley to trust him. No easy task, for Cristian is the very man responsible for her father’s disappearance.

Review:
Lori Brighton has published two historical romance novels and this book was her first in the paranormal romance genre. This may be her first in this genre but she doesn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to have found a new and up coming author that does great work.

Ashley inherits an old pub from her aunt and moves there hoping to find out what happened to her dad. She has a gift to be able to see and talk to ghosts. When she was growing up her mother thought she was mentally disturbed when she claimed to see ghosts. So her whole life no one believed her. She even spent time in a hospital for the mentally ill. It’s obvious that these scares run deep in this character.

After she moves in she soon finds out that it is not only haunted but by several different ghost and something else. Then Cristian walks into her life and she’s attracted to him but also hates him. Cristian has special talents of his own and wants to buy the pub from her but she refuses and he ends up renting a room in the pub. Ashley is not happy about being tricked into renting a room to Cristian because now she has to live with him. He not only makes her angry but also makes her hot in a different sense.

The chemistry between the two is really intense even though she is in denial. This book is filled with sexual tension which I love. It takes them a while to come to terms with their feelings for each other making their attraction that much hotter. They eventually end up having to work together to solve both their problems and what an adventure it is.

This book was beautifully written. I never felt bored or overwhelmed by facts. It is full of lust, love, action and suspense. You will fall in love with all the characters in the story. I would highly recommend this book. I think that this is a perfect book to read for Halloween. It’s got ghost, a haunted house, poltergeists and it’s a little creepy. You should really try reading Lori’s book, you will not be disappointed.

4 stars

Giveaway

Thanks to Lori Brighton, one lucky person is going to have the opportunity to win their very own ebook copy of The Ghost Hunter. All you have to do is follow the rules and fill out the form below. Have a very Happy Halloween!

1. Be a follower of Read All Over Reviews (GFC, Facebook, or Twitter)
2. Be a follower of Romance Book Junkies
3. Be a follower of Lori’s blog
4. and then fill out this form

Contest Ends November 6th

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

Website - More Posts