Almost an Angel [Mass Market Paperback]

Though not totally sure, Carolly Hanson assumes that she must be an angel because she has been reincarnated several times into new lives. Because she feels she must be God's messenger, Carolly tries to help people in whatever reincarnation she finds herself in, but her Good Samaritan efforts are futile failures.

This time Carolly lands in 1815 England where she finds her next target the aristocratic James Northram. James thinks that someone beat Carolly when she lands on Earth though it was her normal reaction when she starts a new life. Still going against his nature he offers her sanctuary. Soon James is attracted to his charming, witty, and crazy guest. He cannot believe that Carolly has no intension of using some sort of lunatic ruse to force him to marry her. Worse, James hates the parade of females she sends his way because nutcase or not his true love is the matchmaking angel that he found mysteriously in his arms.

ALMOST AN ANGEL is a refreshingly unique "time travel" (loosely speaking) reincarnation romance that fans who delight in something rather different will want to read. Carolly is an interesting protagonist, a characterization of Handel's spring, as she has not yet learned why she has been reincarnated several times. James is a great counterpoint struggling to remain a brooding individual, but failing due to the optimism of the woman he cherishes. Katherine Greyle furbishes a unique take that paranormal romance readers will devour.

Harriet Klausner

** spoiler alert ** ALMOST AN ANGEL is a hodge podge of genres and because if this, some may find the story confusing. Carolly Hanson is from the year 2000. When she passed away she had wasted her young life. Believing in second chances, she has died several times and has been reincarnated so she can bring someone true love. In her past lives she could never finish her mission so she dies a violent death and then returns to a new time. Her goal, she thinks, is to redeem herself so she can become an angel. This will complete her days on earth.

It is now 1815 and James Northram, the Earl of Traynem, finds a woman in a field on his lands. She is unconscious, wearing peculiar clothes and looks as though she was beaten. He brings her to his home where she recuperates....and drives him nuts. Her tall tales and peculiar manners both attract and distance him. James doesn't know what to believe but he knows she needs help and he decides he's the man to do this.

James is a former soldier, a confirmed bachelor and guardian to his niece. Because he has no children of his own his cousin Garrett stands to inherit everything on his death. In his 30's he still has a long life and tries to use his monies to help those working his lands. But they are not happy and this causes problems for the Earl.

Carolly thinks she needs to find him a wife, someone he can love. She also tries to make his relationship with his niece better. This is where the story lost one star because she keeps doing stupid things. There are humorous moments that make up for some of her brainlessness but, still, I thought she should have been smarter.

I lowered the rating another star because there was some slow reading. The book pulled me in at the beginning but by the middle I was wondering what happened. Ms. Greyle introduced a new character about 2/3's of the way in to justify some of the nonsense. Instead it just made me think she was introducing this woman's name to patch up some of the confusion. It is about 30 pages too long and I think Ms. Greyle's editor could have done a better job. On the whole, I liked it because it was a different type of romance but I can't recommend it because of the above problems.

If you are looking for a different type of romance and want a five star read try KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Bella Street or BASKET OF WISHES by Rebecca Paisley.

I'm not going to write a lengthy review here - I'll just simply say that this book is fantastic. The characters are extraordinarily well-developed and really interesting. This is time travel....or is it? You'll have to read the book to make up your own mind. I highly reccommend it.