Beauty Awakened

(Angels of the Dark #2)

by: Gena Showalter

Publishing Date: 2/26/13

Publisher: Harlequin

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Source: Provided by Author

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | BAM | Powell's

Description:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with another captivating Angels of the Dark tale, as a tormented warrior is brought to his knees by the most delicate of humans... 

His name is Koldo. He is scarred, powerful, his control legendary-and he lives only for vengeance, determined to punish the angel who viciously removed his wings. But if he yields to the forces of hatred, he will be kicked from the heavens, eternally damned. 

She is his last hope. Nicola Lane was born with a defective heart, yet this fragile human shows surprising strength as demons stalk her every move, determined to end her. She is the key to Koldo's deliverance...and his downfall. Though he fights duty, destiny and his first addictive taste of desire, his toughest battle will be the one for Nicola's life-even if he has to sacrifice his own....

My Review:

Gena Showalter has done it again, she has made me fall in love with her characters again and fallen in love with a book I had a hard time putting down.  

"Beauty Awakened" is the second installment to the Angels of the Dark series and it definitely was worth every month, day, minute, and second to wait for it.  I literally fell in love with Koldo from the first page and felt for him even though I know he is fictional, but to me, he came to life due to the way Gena writes her stories.

Koldo has literally never been loved.  His mother hated him since the day he was conceived and his father tortured him the minute his mother gave him up to his father.  His mother was the one who took his beautiful wings from him and his father put him situations where he had to do things he was ashamed of.  Ever since his hatred toward both of his parents, he has chosen to take revenge on his mother and hoped he killed his father when he did.  

He has craved to be just like the other Sent Ones, but he believes he has been punished for what he has done in his past thanks to what his parents endured him to do.  

The minute he comes across Nicola, his life is about to change.  He will learn that love does exist and he is capable of positive things.  

Nicola has been suffering with the darkness around her since the beginning.  Her twin, Laila is dying at the hospital and Nicola is not far behind.  When she is given another chance at life and saving her sister's life, she chooses to let the light in, instead of the dark.  She knew something was making her feel sick, but never knew what it was, until she comes across the sexy stranger who she talks to in the elevator.  Koldo chooses to help Nicola because he is intrigued with her.

He will have to teach her about keeping positive and thinking about only things that will heal her, instead of harm her.  

Unfortunately, darkness has it out for Nicola and Laila and they will do everything in their power to have them.

I loved every bit of this book, the minute I read the first page.  How Gena can make you go through so many emotions at once.  The child Koldo to the adult Koldo made me feel so much for him and how I wanted to comfort him and tell him it would be okay.  What he had went through and continued to go through, he stole my heart.  He definitely was destined to meet Nicola and how he could help her as well as she could help him.  

Nicola was such a strong female character as well in the story.  She chose to fight back and not sit and let darkness eat at her.  She chose to help her sister through the darkness, but it had to be Laila that accepted it. Nicola even made me laugh on how she handled Koldo.  She definitely made him realize what love is.

Between what Koldo is dealing with and Nicola, there is also the issue of what is happening with other Sent Ones.  Thane has his background story in this book and what is going with him.  We get more of a taste of Bjorn and Xerxes.  We even get a taste of Axel who happens to be a womanizer....but he seriously had me laughing with his personality.   

Here's one of my fave quotes from Axel:

"Fair enough, since I wasn't really interested.  But I gotta say, I am so proud right now."  Axel flattened his hand over his hear.  "You borrowed my patented move, proving I'm made of more than awesome.  I'm awesalicious.  Is that a word?  It's probably a girl word, but who cares!  Seriously.  Do you see a tear in my eye?  Because I'm pretty sure I feel one."  

Awesalicious...seriously that is my NEW fave word.  =)  

Oh...and if you want a little LOTU action...well...you'll get just a taste.  Another thing I enjoy is how Gena mingles stories together and prepares you for what is next.  She even gives you clues on a certain character that we definitely want to know more about.

If you haven't read any books from Gena Showalter yet, what are you waiting for?  

If you have, then you definitely need to pick up this copy of "Beauty Awakened".  

Gena Showalter does not follow in trends, she makes her mark in her own way.  She dominates the paranormal romance genre and this spin-off series, proves to me that she definitely knows how to take it to the next level. 

She will forever be a FAVE Author of mine and I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series, and even more now the LOTU series.  

Seriously...Gena...you need to be named Queen of Paranormal Romance Genre already. 

You have a fan for life and here's counting down to your next story.  =)

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless -- and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Wicked Nights

(Angels of the Dark #1)

by: Gena Showalter

Publishing Date: 6/26/12

Publisher: Harlequin

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Source: Provided by Author

Buy: Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Description:

From the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld comes a dark, seductive new series featuring angels poised on the brink of destruction....  
Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless-and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions, at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.
Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation-or her ultimate damnation?

 My Review:
Where do I start with this new series that Gena Showalter has created?
First off, we're inside of Zacharel's head in "Wicked Nights".  If you're a huge fan of Gena Showalter's and have read her Lords of the Underworld Series, you know who Zacharel already is.  
In the Wicked Nights, we find out Zacharel has been tasked to run the most powerful angel army in the heavens.  Of course there's a catch though...the angels he leads are on dangerous ground...they're a danger to themselves and everyone around them.  If Zacharel doesn't straighten them out, he may end up losing his wings.  He has to prove to his deity that he can be a leader and help train these ruthless Angels.  If he doesn't...he's punished for what he does, but also what they do wrong.
We're introduced to Annabelle Miller, a human who was accused of a killing her parents at the age of 18, which she didn't do.  Now she's forced to live in the walls of Moffat County Institution where she is being treated.  The doctor who is supposed to be treating her, instead is abusing her mentally and physically.  She also can see things that normal humans can't see.  She has demons tracking her wherever she goes and now they are upon Moffat County Insitution.
Zacharel and his band of Angels are sent to the Moffat County Institution to find out why the demons are attracted to the place and kill them, as long as they aren't humans who are demon-possessed (which they can not kill).  
Zacharel comes upon Annabelle and for the moment he meets her, he knows he's in trouble.  Zacharel is not meant to save Annabelle...but of course everything in his world is about to change because of Annabelle and her past.  It's up to Zacharel to find out why Demons are tracking Annabelle...and also find out what happened to Annabelle and why she can see the demons...etc.
I won't go any further...because this book has so much going on, I don't want to spoil anything.  
My thoughts on "Wicked Nights" of course is that it's a great start to a new series.  In fact it's a great start to a spin-off series of Lords of the Underworld.  =)  I was so excited to find out that Gena was doing a spin off...especially when it includes Angels.  (I'm a sucker for a sexy male Angel)
I fell in love with the stubborn, tough, sexy Zacharel in the LOTU Series.  To be able to find out what makes Zacharel tick...I was definitely onboard to read his book.  Now, after reading it, I'm looking forward to the next books.  It definitely keeps me sane waiting for the next LOTU book and you'll see why when you read "Wicked Nights".  Oh yes...Gena throws in surprises.  I was so giddy reading this book, my hubby was about to send me to the doctor to get checked out.  
I fell in love Annabelle because she's a strong-willed female character who can take care of herself.  I don't know how many times she stood up to Zacharel. (because I lost count)  
I loved the storyline that Gena Showalter created in "Wicked Nights".  She of course threw in extra stuff to prepare you for the next book or books. You'll get to read about the other Angels too in "Wicked Nights".  I don't know if Koldo or Thane is my fave yet, after Zacharel.  I'll have to wait and read their books.  
I'm going to admit again, how addicted I am to Gena's writing style.  She's one of my FAVE Authors and with this spin-off series...she didn't disappoint at all.  I will find myself re-reading this book because I still can't believe what happened and who ended up being the bad guy in this book.  Plus...other reasons I will not discuss on why I want to re-read it.  
If you haven't read any of Gena Showalter's books, what are you waiting for?  
If your thinking about reading this book, but haven't read the LOTU Series, I recommend you read that series first.  You will thank me later.  =)  
I recommend this book to ALL Paranormal Romance Readers out there, and of course die hard Gena Showalter Fans.  If you've read Kresley Cole's IAD Series, you'll love the LOTU and "Wicked Nights" by Gena Showalter. 
Now what are you waiting for buy yourself a copy of "Wicked Nights" and get to reading...
This Book Lovin' Mama is counting down to Gena Showalter's next book...patiently.........(trying to at least)  =)


Now for ALL you lovely Ladies out there...I have a paperback copy of "Dark Taste of Rapture" that is authographed by the fabulous Gena Showalter up for grabs.
Just fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. 
"Dark Taste of Rapture" is from Gena Showalter's other series the "Alien Huntress Series".  
It was released last August.  
Good luck to everyone who enters.  =)