The Redemption Engine by James L Sutter

The Basics:
The Redemption Engine by James L Sutter
Paizo Publishing, LLC
A Pathfinder Tales Book, Sequel to Death's Heretic
Fantasy
Published May 13, 2014
Source: Requested it from author who graciously sent me a copy.
Amazon.ca

Why I picked up this book:

I'm a Pathfinder player and relished the opportunity to read and review a Pathfinder book!

Trusting an Angel by Missy Jane

The Basics:
Trusting an Angel by Missy Jane
Book One of Archangels series
Entangled: Covet
Romance
Published April 28, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca

Why I picked up this book:

Liked the blurb and have a fair amount of curiosity when it comes to books published by Entangled.

Forbidden by Lori Adams

The Basics:
Forbidden by Lori Adams
Flirt
Book One in the Soulkeepers series
New Adult (Young Adult?), Romance
Published April 15, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca

Why I picked up this book:

I was on board for a high school girl moving to a small town with secrets that she's instantly in on, plus being caught between sexy Guardian Angel who wants to resist her and Demo Knight who is actively courting her....

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

The Basics:
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Hachette Book Group, Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Book Two in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series
Fantasy
Published November 6, 2012
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Why I picked up this book:

After reading the first, I had to know what happened next.

Blood Redemption by Vicki Keire

The Basics:
Blood Redemption by Vicki Keire
Curiosity Quills
Book Three in the Angel's Edge series
Paranormal Romance
Published November 11, 2013
Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

Had to know what happened in the end....

Darkness in the Blood by Vicki Keire

The Basics:
Darkness in the Blood by Vicki Keire
Curiosity Quills
Book Two of the Angel's Edge series
Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Published November 11, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

Second in the series, I wanted to know what happened next!

Gifts of the Blood by Vicki Keire

The Basics:

Gifts of the Blood by Vicki Keire

Curiosity Quills

Book One of the Angel's Edge series

Paranormal Romance

Published Nov 19, 2013
Source: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

Angels, paranormal romance, secrets in that paranormal vein... All this is right up my alley.

The Devil's Flower by Lisa Collicutt

The Basics:
The Devil's Flower by Lisa Collicutt
Curiosity Quills
Book One of The Eternal Beings
Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Amazon.ca kobo.com

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Killing isn’t exactly on Rosalie Lockwood’s list of things to do when she runs away from home. But, despite the search for peace, guns and motorcycles become her latest fashion accessories as Divine interference leads her to Steele, co-leader of the Fallen Paladins motorcycle club. 

Leathered and tattooed, Steele’s presence scares off most people he comes in contact with—but not Rosalie. She’s immediately drawn into the dangers of his biker world—and into his heart. 

But Steele guards a secret that if Rosalie knew, could shatter their new love—and destroy the human race. And the truth comes at a price. 

Will Rosalie risk her soul to prove her loyalty to Steele? 

The Dark and Light Realms collide as Rosalie chooses between life, death, and the ever-after to become that which she is fated to destroy.

Why I picked up this book:

I liked the idea of an innocent getting wrapped up in 'the dangers of his biker world.' I was also intrigued by the angel wings alongside the gun on the cover.

My thoughts:

This story revolves around the existence of angels and demons on Earth, locked in battle. Rosalie's looking for a fresh start and inadvertently gets sucked into Steele's orbit, as it were. 

There are some definite highlights to this book - I loved the use of demons and angels. I liked that there's a strong personal component underpinning the conflict between them (that I won't spoil!). I liked that the book stuck with the darker side of grey. The biker gang at the center of the story participates in various illegal and immoral activities, operating in a violent, drug-infested space, and there's not really any attempt to gloss over this. It's happening, Steele and his friends participate in it, it is what it is. 

What didn't work so well for me was how the book started. There's some business about a bear that drives the heroine towards the hero that I thought was kind of silly, to be honest.  There's also some pacing issues - a lot of the action is back and forth between the five main characters. Rosalie spends a lot of time hiding out in Steele's cabin, occasionally going forth for some event only to return to hiding in the cabin. She doesn't have a real confidante nor any real aim in life beyond starting fresh. This made it hard for me to really get into the book. Rosalie's kind of stuck on Steele but without any real motivating factors beyond time and place (okay: he's really hot). HOWEVER, by the time she starts involving herself in the gang's business, getting closer to Steele and uncovering some of his secrets, the book picks up the pace. I was hooked by about halfway.

The second half of the book exceeded my expectations. There was at least two places where I thought the story could end - and was quite pleased that it didn't. The extra action is so much more satisfying than any of those earlier potential stopping points would have been. I was so pleased by the entirety of the story told - kudos to Collicutt for not cutting the story short.

Bottom line:

If you commit to it, and make it through the slow start, I think you'll find this one is worth a read. I'm optimistic that more in the series will benefit from the foundation that this book sets!

3.5 stars
For fans of angels and demons, paranormal romance, biker gangs