Book Review: Messenger's Angel (Lost Angels #2) by Heather Killough-Walden

Messenger's Angel 
(Lost Angels Series, bk #2)
By Heather Killough-Walden

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Blurb: 
Since the beginning of time, the archangels have longed to know true love.

When four female angels were created for the four archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Azrael, a chaos spurred by jealousy erupted, and the archesses were secreted away to Earth. The four favored archangels followed, prompting a search that has lasted millennia…

For hundreds of years, Gabriel has passed himself off as a common Scottish villager. Few know he is the Messenger, a powerful archangel who has secretly scoured the world for the only woman who can complete him. Now, he’s shocked to discover the object of his desire in his own backyard.

Researching her Ph.D. in the Outer Hebrides, Juliette Anderson has always been the rational type—until she looks across a quaint pub into the silver eyes of a stranger. He’s handsome. He’s intense. And he claims her with a searing kiss on the spot.

Every instinct tells her to run. But when a dark force rises, and the truth of her identity is revealed, she must put her faith in the mysterious man who inflames her.

Available for purchase at

      

Viviana's Review:

I really, really liked this one!! Significantly more than the first one! I couldn't put it down. Once it finished, I sat back and tried to figure out why I liked it so much more than the first. Definitely the location. I'm a sucker for Scotland and the fact that Gabriel has the Scottish accent, dreamy! The pace of this one was much better as well. While I understand that there is a lot of explaining that needs to take place in the first book of any new series, but I felt that it was too repetitive in the first. Also, while this is the second book in the series, I believe it can be read as a stand alone as this book does also explain the whole concept. Lots of action and great tension between the heroine and hero.
Juliette is a great heroine. She is strong and independent and handles things extremely well considering the circumstances. You like her from the very beginning and fall in love with her by the end.

Ahhh Gabriel! Swoon and drool worthy! Look up the definition of Alpha Male and his picture should be shown. Yet, he's not the "cave man" alpha. He is still sensitive and tuned into the needs of his love. He woes her! And while, granted both have the whole "love at first site" and the physical attraction is instant, he takes the time to woo her!! And when they do 'get to together' it's hot and intense!

The Adarians (bad guys) are still after the archesses. We do get to learn a bit more about these fallen angels as the story is told from different POV and this includes Kevin's (Abraxos). To some extent, you feel sorry for them and may even understand their motivation, however, they are going about it the wrong way.

Samael was my favorite character in the first book and we only get a glimpse of him in this one. However, we do find out just how powerful he is and I have a feeling that he's not showing all his cards yet.

I mentioned before that there are different POV and I think that added a lot to this story. Gives you a better perspective of what is going on and even allows you to get to know the characters differently.

Narrator Review: Gildart has a great voice and he is able to provide each of the characters with their own unique voice and tone. However, more times than I'd like, he uses the voice of the character that just spoke in the narrative. My biggest issue I have with Gildart narrating this series (this is the only series I've listened to that he narrates) is that he gives all the heroines' a valley girl voice/tone/accent. He did that for Eleanor (heroine in Avenger's Angel, bk 1) and it really didn't make me like the book as much. Granted, I thought it was just his interpretation of the character, however, he did it to every female character in this book as well. It really irked me that he's done this as, well, I'm sorry, it's an annoying tone of voice and while yes a stereo type, the girls don't sound smart. And all the women in this series are smart, both book and street smart. I will say that with Juliette, that valley girl tone was used more in conversations vs. her thoughts, but still.

On a positive note regarding Gildart narration, I did LOVE his Scottish accent! Definitely made me fall for Gabriel! Swoon worthy!! Again Gildart has a wonderful voice that is great for male characters. I truly believe he would be perfect in situations where there are two narrators, one for the female characters and one for the males.

Over all, a great and quick read! Will be getting the third book asap to see what happens!Yeah, the ending of this one leads straight into the next!! 

Rating: 3.5 - I Really, Really Liked It