Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Release Date: First published September 25, 2012 / Audio unabridged edition released by Hachette Digital
Format: Audio CDS
Pages: 502 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 13 hours
Narrator: Eric G. Dove
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: Paranormal / Paranormal Romance
Review Date: December 20, 2013
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they're over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too ...As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover's memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you're trapped in a no-holds-barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels's heart at risk, what in heaven - or in hell - will it take to save them both?
After reporter Mels Carmichael hits a disheveled man with her car outside the local cemetery, she pays a visit to the stranger in the hospital. The only thing he remembers of his past is seeing a name written on a headstone: that of Jim Heron—a fallen angel charged with rescuing souls from the seven deadly sins. Now, as Mels struggles to help this mysterious stranger rediscover himself, Heron himself returns to prepare for a battle between good and evil.
Release Date: First published September 25, 2012 / Audio unabridged edition released by Hachette Digital
Format: Audio CDS
Pages: 502 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 13 hours
Narrator: Eric G. Dove
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: Paranormal / Paranormal Romance
Review Date: December 20, 2013
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Synopsis: Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they're over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too ...As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover's memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you're trapped in a no-holds-barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels's heart at risk, what in heaven - or in hell - will it take to save them both?
After reporter Mels Carmichael hits a disheveled man with her car outside the local cemetery, she pays a visit to the stranger in the hospital. The only thing he remembers of his past is seeing a name written on a headstone: that of Jim Heron—a fallen angel charged with rescuing souls from the seven deadly sins. Now, as Mels struggles to help this mysterious stranger rediscover himself, Heron himself returns to prepare for a battle between good and evil.
This story picks up immediately following Envy. In the battle for souls Jim Heron is winning 2 to 1. He only needs 4 to win. Obviously this makes his opponent Devina enraged and the soul in this round is an important win. Devina won the last round by cheating and has to deal with the consequences of her actions. What would that be? They get a do over. She kept her win, but Mathias is being sent back for a second chance at being redeemed.
Only Ward can make you sympathize for a villain. But in her true style good and evil is never black and white. She's an expert with blurring the lines. Matthias was the spawn of all evil for the last 3 books and now...he's not SO bad. Even though they trained together, with his broken body, for some reason I envisioned him a older than Jim. This book gave me a much clearer understanding of Matthias and what his role was in this whole thing. Matthias is a very complicated guy, but of course all it takes is the love of a good woman (Mels) to pull him back from the brink of evil. That was expected, but still an good component to the story nonetheless. Ward's stories are always involved and somewhat complicated with lots of facets. The characters are very flushed out and I love that.
I like Mels. She's strong, she's smart, she's bold and she won't take any mess of anyone, especially Matthias. Feeling guilty about hitting him with her car she finds him in the hospital and suddenly she's smitten with him. Not in an obvious way, but in a more, she's drawn to him and she doesn't know why. Mels and Matthias are good together. She makes him a better person and he helps her move on from her past.
Of course, there can not be a Fallen Angels review without talking about the devil herself, Devina. She seemed to take a back seat this go around. Probably because she broke so many rules in the last round. Her attempts at getting Matthias to come around to her way of seeing things were weak at best. Her attempts were more directed at Mels, with the hope that her demise will be the undoing of Matthias. Too bad nothing seems to be going her way this round. Not that I minded that, it was just surprising that she didn't try harder with Matthias directly.
I adore Adrian in this book. He's really growing up and has become invaluable to Jim. I like his character more and more. Now..what about Eddie?! Why is the man's dead body in the closet this whole story? When will they bring him back? Seriously, bring the Angel back soon or bury him. Now on to Dog. What about Dog? Well, I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I will say that he is exactly who or what I suspected.
We keep getting glimpses of the BDB world here and there, but it has yet to actually cross over. When is it going to happen? Book 5? I hope so, because I don't like how this is dragging on. I hope that when they do intersect that it will be masterful and I get a huge "Ah ha" moment.
Jim has an Achilles heel and it's become very clear that it's Sissy. I'm not sure about Jim and his obsession over Sissy. His obsession nearly made him lose the round. The fact that this round was won, actually had very little to do with Jim's efforts. I don't know where Ward is going with this, but on the upside I came up with a few speculations. Will Jim and Sissy get the final book? Will Jim be the final soul? There are so many possibilities! I hope this whole Sissy situation doesn't fall flat.
One thing that stands out to me was that I didn't really like the ending. It seemed a little abrupt. I felt like, "That's it?". I don't know what I was expecting, but not that.
I read the BDB series, but I've been listening to this series on audio. I will continue on in audio because I really like the narrator, Eric Dove, he handles both the characters and the dialog well. It's easy listening while driving or working.
While not perfect, Rapture is a very good story. As I said before, this series gets better and better with each installment. I believe this series will be 7 books, as the theme of the "game" implies. I love that there is an end in sight and I can't wait for the finale. I'm sure there is going to be huge twist of some sort. If you love the BDB series and Ward's writing style, then I recommend giving the Fallen Angels series a try.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Check out my reviews of Covet (Fallen Angels #1) | Crave (Fallen Angels #2) | Envy (Fallen Angels #2)
