Fallen Angel [Mass Market Paperback]

This book is just not good enough to be a romance and not strong enough or otherworldly enough to be a paranormal. I didn't warm up to the romance and neither did the characters nor did the devil vs angel plot come off for me and I disliked the ghost grandfather that seemed like a silly insert into this already poor tale. The ending was the topper of this bad scenerio, dull, undramatic and completely lacking in romance. It was unsatisfying and did not help me understand the relationship between the hero and heroine. I think this author and her daughter should stick to fantasy and sci fi instead of venturing into a field that they have no understanding. They have obviously never studied or dare I say even read any of the successful paranormal romance novels or they would have created a different scenerio. If you are an avid readeer of paranormal romances as I am, don't bother with this one. You will be very disappointed. To me this doesn't deserve the two stars I gave it but I thought I'd leave some room for those of you who like dull, weak romance plots and are afraid to read real paranormal stories. You might like this one.

Matthew Gallow is an angel, a fallen one, but still considered a heavenly being. A martyr over 1600 years ago. Matthew was thrown out of heaven for his disbelief. Refusing to apologize or ask forgiveness, Matthew has spent his immortal life wandering the Earth and changing careers every so often. His career now is that of `Father' Gallow, exorcist. Of course, he doesn't REALLY exorcise demons, he tricks unsuspecting church followers out of their money. With no faith to believe in Matthew drinks and plans about his next `revival' - until the night he actually does cast out a demon and almost dies in the process. His world in chaos, Matthew has no choice but to follow Natalia Ashley to Las Vegas and the gig she talked him into agreeing to. After all, who better to sin in "sin city" than a FALLEN ANGEL, right?

To band manager Natalia Ashley, her life and career are all about the music. Raised by a hippy grandfather until his death, Natalia grew up on the road following bands. The manager for Cain, a rocker with a passion for the devil, Natalia sees Matthew's latest revival and while she knows without a doubt he is milking the faithful of his audiences out of thousands, she doesn't care. She needs an over-the-top gimmick to keep Cain's fans coming to his concerts since they seem to be tanking and Cain's behavior is getting more out of control daily. She just needs to convince Matthew to go along with it.

Natalie and Matthew have no idea what has really happened to Cain. All too soon, however, they will find out and the results are earth shattering as good battles evil in a battle as old as time.

FALLEN ANGEL starts out with a bang and the action never stops. Seeing the title to this book, I knew I had to read it - especially after the blurb. Matthew Gallow is a fallen angel. A Christian who was put to death so many years ago when it was deadly at times to be a Christian. Like Christianity, Matthew's faith was new to him at his time of death and so once in Heaven, Matthew voiced questions and concerns and had a hard time following the program. His behavior and disbelief got him sent back to Earth as an immortal. Matthew drinks. He plays around with loose women. But most of all he thinks. He thinks about his wife from so long ago. He wonders about what would have happened had he not fallen. And when Natalia Ashley shows up in his life he wonders what his life would be like if a woman as beautiful as she fell in love with him.

Matthew does not have to wait long because Natalia has been fixated upon "Father" Gallow from the first moment she sees his face on the news - she travels across country just to meet him. Despite her infatuation, Natalia still doesn't understand that Matthew's last exorcism was in fact, real. She thinks he is a fake and while she isn't disrespectful to Matthew, I can feel her underlying laughter. Materialistic and realistic at times, Natalia is focused on making money and music. It isn't until they become closer that I see Natalia's true nature. Hidden inside this extremely powerful and intelligent woman is a young girl once more yearning for someone to love her unconditionally like her grandfather used to love her. When she realizes that Matthew is more than what he seems, her faith in him is infallible.

The battle of Good vs. Evil is predominant in FALLEN ANGEL. And even knowing this, I still was on pins and needles wanting to know what was going to happen. I could NOT get enough of this dynamically written story and I feel other readers will love FALLEN ANGEL just as much as I did.

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***

Fallen angel Matthew Gallow has lost his wings but not his immortality. Matthew's existence, which has spanned many mortal lifetimes, weighs heavily upon him. He makes his living continuing to flaunt the rebellion against God which cost him his place in heaven, he is a con-man performing fake exorcisms. The long years have deadened Matthew to sensation and emotion until the day his con takes a turn for the real and he actually exorcises a real demon, only barely managing to survive.

The exoricism is a turning point for Matthew in more ways than one, not only does the brush with death bring Matthew back to 'life' with feelings, tastes and colors reappearing, but the exorcism is witnessed by rock band manager Natalie who sees Matthew's act as just the thing to pump up the ending to her rocker Cain's floundering stage show - Natalie wants Matthew to perform his exorcism on Cain during the big finale number 'Possesion'. But even as Matthew finds himself falling for the vital and attractive Natalie, there are evil forces surrounding Cain and his act. And soon in the ultimate battle between the forces of good and evil, the forces of good are relying on Matthew, an angel with a tarnished halo and long abandoned faith.

Though billed as a fantasy romance, Fallen Angel is not super romancey. There is a relationship between Natalie and Matthew but it is not at the forefront of the action, just a side note. Still there is plenty of action and the plot unfolds nicely building the suspense. Matthew is sympathetic as the con man angel who paradoxically tells the truth and Natalie has such a wonderful attitude about life that the way she revives Matthew's interest in life is totally believable. Also adding a fun side element to the mix is Natalie's ghost hippie grandfather - he adds some humor to the serious goings on.

On the whole I found Fallen Angel to be entertaining, original and a nice change of pace - also appealing is that even though the Weis pair also wrote another angel novel together (Warrior Angel), Fallen Angel is completely stand-alone, but I love the angel theme and hope that they write more.