Product Description
City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. ... Read more

Product Description
The Angel oj Terror Chapter I
THE hush of the court, which had been broken
when the foreman of the jury returned their
verdict, was intensified as the Judge, with a
quick glance over his pince-nez at the tall
prison er, marshalled his papers 'wi th the precision
and method which old men display in
tense moments such as these. He gathered
them together, white paper and blue and buff
and stacked them in a neat heap on a tiny
ledge to the left of his desk. Then he took
his pen and wrote a few words on a printed
paper before him.
Another breathless pause and he groped
beneath the desk and brought out a small
square of black silk and carefully laid it over
his white wig. Then he spoke:
" J ames Meredith, you have been convicted
after a long and patient trial of the awful crime
of wilful murder. With the verdict of the jury
I am in complete agreement. There is little
doubt, after hearing the evidence of the unfortunate
lady to whom you were engaged, and
vhose evide

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at http://www.forgottenbooks.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Keeps you Intersted
I found this story very enjoyable to read. The plot keeps the reader turning pages to see what will happen next and of course, the author works the characters to make the reader angry at some, frustrated at others. It keeps you going. For a free book I would recommend it to anyone.

An oldie, but oh-so-goodie suspense thriller.
Looks can be deceiving and are in this wonderful suspenseful murder mystery! A young woman whose beauty is comparable to the beauty of angels is such a manipulative, homicidal, psychotic narcissistic (sp) genius and murderer.She is absolutely cold blooded and cold hearted and creates friendships and relationships in order to realize her goals of prestige and wealth.
This book is VERY well written and absolutely timeless; I thought that it was written fairly recently then found that it was first published in 1922!!! I could hardly put it down.I ordered it for my Kindle and realized to share it I needed to purchase the paperback; my mother can hardly wait to read it---I'm sure my father will read it too when she finishes.We have a reading circle consisting of family in two states and we send books around all the time.My Kindle does not leave my side; I may read this book again, in the meantime family can read the paperback version.
Highly recommended to anyone who is a serious mystery fan.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (26)

Great Start
If you are looking to start connecting with your Angels Doreen's book is a great start. She offers information and steps to begin in a confident manner. It is an easy read and offers practical guidance. I have been to many of her workshops and enjoy her work. She has helped me connect with my Angels and my life has become graced with angelic messages each day.

Susan Mavity, Author The Light Within, The Gift of A Rose

Interesting
Have enjoyed listening to this book on tape- would definitely recommend it for anyone interested in exploring thoughts on angels.

How to Hear Your Angels by Doreen Virtue
This is a wonderful audio CD of Doreen Virtue's book with clear examples and instructions to improve receptivity to hear angelic guidance. I love all of Doreen Virtue's work which is always encouraging and positive. Extremely helpful and inspiring. Would recommend to all!

How to hear from your angels
Thank Goodness for this book. Lots of practical advice shared here.Thanks

Meh...
If you look at the beginning of the book you'll see it is actually pieced together by editors that took from other Virtue books.If you already own a lot of other Virtue books, this one really doesn't say anything you don't already know.I find that sort of sad.I was hoping for something new.

Maybe I missed something?I'd never want to misinform anyone, but maybe others can comment.I didn't see anything in this book that I hadn't already read in like four other Virtue books.

Still, I want more.I've had trouble communicating with my angels.Chantel Lysette's "Azrael Loves Chocolate, Michael's a Jock" was HUGELY insightful and a wonderful detour from the norm of angel books.I recommend it over "How to Hear Your Angels", especially if you've already read other Virute books. ... Read more

Product Description

For anyone who has ever wondered about the mysteries that lie beyond everyday experience, or doubted the reality of the afterlife, Angels in My Hair is a moving and deeply inspirational journey into the unseen world.

For as long as she can remember, Lorna Byrne has seen angels. As a young child, she assumed everyone could see the otherworldly beings who always accompanied her. Yet in the eyes of adults, her abnormal behavior was a symptom of mental deficiency. Today, sick and troubled people from around the world are drawn to her for comfort and healing, and even theologians of different faiths seek her guidance. Lorna is trusted for her ability to communicate with spirits and angels—and by sharing her intimate knowledge of the spiritual world she offers a message of hope and love to us all.

Angels in My Hairis an engrossing chronicle of Lorna’s incredible life story. Invoking a wonderful sense of place, she describes growing up poor in Ireland, finding work in Dublin, and marrying the man of her dreams—only to have the marriage cut short by tragedy. Already a bestseller in Ireland, her story gives readers a unique insight into the angelic help that is around us and available to us all the time. As Lorna says, "All you have to do is ask."

In this uplifting autobiography, a modern-day Irish mystic shares her vivid encounters and conversations with the angels and spirits she has known her entire life.

Customer Reviews (38)

Don't Miss this Book
I am not going to write a long review. Read some of the long ones who loved the book and I will just say "ditto". I usually don't buy hardcover books, but this one was well worth the purchase. I was inspired by Lorna's personal story and faith(which would have been interesting by itself), but the fact that she is gifted with the ability to see angels only adds to the impact of the book. I signed up for her newsletter and just received one today stating that her new book will be coming out next year, but her publishers want more people in the U.S. to read her first book before they release the second one here.I am really eager to read her second book, so I really hope that anyone interested in this beautiful story won't let the fact that it is a hardcover edition deter them from buying it. It is money well worth spending.

Deeply courageous, honest and a gift
This book is a n amazing story that reaches so many depths--of self, soul, truth and hope.We need only to ask for the help we need and it will be there.To witness this author's journey is a gift you should give to yourself and share with others.

Believe it or Not - that is the Question
Reading this book brought to mind that I was actually reading two stories.The first story was sincere about growing up,the hardships that come with it and the good times that lighten the load.

The other story is about how Lorna Byrne perceives what the Angels might be like
if they kept a lonely child company and decided to stay for the long run.The
great prohet Elijah I seriously doubt would contact Lorna Byrne with a message
about her future husband.Or Elisha introducing herself to Lorna in the bathroom
to tell her that she will be getting a new job.The mundane and the celestial.
There is something wrong with this picture.

The Angelic realm would never tell a child to keep secrets.Secrets are very
unhealthy for children to carry.It seems that every other page of this text concerns Lorna being told by the Angels and the Prophets to keep a secret.What a burden that would be for a child.Lorna Byrne is actually saying that the Angels
are requiring a child to be duplistic.

Lorna's description of the Angels goes over the top.It reminds me of a cake
made by a child with too much sugar and sticky icing.The Angels sound more
like the author is attempting to describe what she believe the general public
imagines Angels to be like rather then how they actually are.The book
cause me to believe the author has read every book in the library about Angels
but has no firsthand knowledge.

My conclusion is that this book fulfills the needs of many who need reinforcement
that Angels do exist and they are waiting for the reader to acknowledge them.
I think this is an oversimplification about how God and his helpers work.

Angels in my Hair may or not be an autobiography of a child growing up, but it is hardly a work of non fiction where Angels are concerned.

Questioning the author
While I enjoyed reading the book and would like very much to believe that Lorna had these experiences with angels, it was very difficult to fully embrace all the messages.I noticed other reviewers felt the same way.

PROS:
*About angels
*Good at raising awareness of the presence of angels
*Encourages readers to ask for angelic assistance and God's assistance in all things - no matter how seemingly small or petty
*Many positive messages about keeping faith, optimism, prayer and a relationship with God
*Sweet
*Author seems well-intentioned and good at heart
*A message that we shouldn't fight religious wars

CONS:
*Author capitalizes pronouns "him" and "he" when she's talking about Elijah the prophet but not when referencing God
*Never mentions Christ
*References to Mary do not match Christian beliefs about Mary, Catholic or otherwise - Mary did not in any Christian belief system create the angels - they predate her
*Refers to St. Michael as merely Michael
*Mentions that she argues with angels about a few things - this together with the last makes her seem to lack reverence for angels.Why not pray to God instead of argue with angels?
*Portrays angels as mocking her mother and teachers - but if angels obey the will of God and are filled with love, why would they comfort one person at the expense of respect and love for another?
*Author seems to carry unresolved feelings - resentment still? - about how she was treated differently and ignored by adults as a child; I say this because she mentions several times that she or her efforts weren't noticed or acknowledged.This comes off like she's dwelling on it.I'm not sure what her purpose was in mentioning it a few times.I don't think it is an essential part of the message of angels to discuss that people thought she was mentally deficient or different.That just makes me suspect her motive for writing the book - to bring people to God?or to "tell" on those that overlooked her and labeled her so many years ago
*During discussion about her picking out her wedding dress pattern and fabric, author even seems manipulative towards her mother (she claims to have shopped for and decided on her wedding ensemble in advance with a friend; and then allegedly to "honor" her mother's desire to help her pick out her wedding dress, she pretended not to have decided, then wasted her and her mother's entire Saturday on a charade of shopping for her wedding dress items only to finally lead her mother to the items she's picked - why not be honest and tell Mom you think you've found what you want instead of pretending to look at things?She makes it out like she's so sweet to patronize her mother but really she didn't give her mother the true experience of shopping for her wedding dress with her)
*Where she presents being simultaneously in the presence of God and Satan seems to portray the two figures as equal powers - something about this section really irked me

All of this results in my being wary of the author's influence on my personal religious and spiritual views.Clearly, she's experiencing contact with some spiritual beings but, I wonder whether they are angels.While they are kind to her, help her out and tell her some of her future, they don't consistently match my expectations of angels: pure beings of harmony and peace - when they mock others to comfort Lorna

My relative happened to see Lorna speak at a book-signing.She found the author positive and her message comforting and uplifting.
If you can just take that away from this book without being sucked in by some of the new age style assumptions and beliefs, then go for it and read the book.

For a great angel book, I recommend "Angel Power" by Janice T. Connell

Awesome Read!
Since my Mom's pasing in 2001, I have begun a spiritual journey of learning aboutthe angels and how to connect with them.Surprisingly, I have had some awesome experiences with the angels and connecting to them. They have also been a sense a peace since my Mom's passing was extremely devastating since we were so close. This book was such an awesome read that I couldn't put it down.It confirmed my feeling as well as strengthened my beliefs in their powers and abilities. I loaned it to a friend and bought a second copy for myself since I plan to read it again. If you are interested in angels, you will love this book. Now, I am anxiously awaiting to Lorna's second book, Stairways to Heaven, to be available in print soon. I know that will be equally good. ... Read more

Product Description

Cherie Currie, with her signature Bowie haircut and fishnet stockings, was the groundbreaking lead singer of '70s teenage all-girl rock band the Runaways. At the tender age of fifteen, she joined a group of talented girls—Joan Jett and Lita Ford on guitar, Jackie Fox on bass, and Sandy West on drums—who could play rock like no one else.

Customer Reviews (36)

Getting To Know Cherie
I give Cherie alot of credit for telling her story. This book is a must read if your a fan of music or not.

Fascinating
This was one of the best celebrity reads I've come across in a long time.You get a wonderful feel for what it was in Cherie's youth that allowed her to transform into a woman/child at only 15.With all of the coverage of child stars that we get today through trash TV and the internet, it amazes me that Cherie and the Runaways aren't mentioned as predecessors to girls like Taylor Momsen.Likewise, the Runaways' influence on feminism has been completely ignored.The best part of the book is that Cherie always makes the reader feel connected to her - even in her worst times, you want her to pull through.I was rooting for her throughout the book, and still am.Also, her movie Foxes is an awesome time capsule.

Lessons of fame
As a former fan of The Runaways I was interested to read the book about what happened to the band from the point of view of one of the band members.
The book forms the basis for the film The Runaways with the chronology in a slightly different order.
The book itself is quite gripping and details the rise and slow disintegration of the band and then the further slide into heavier drug use of Currie.
It is a warning about the pitfalls of fame, a lesson that is never learned.

Currie could have ended up like some many of rock n rolls legends, tragic dead at a early age but she managed to pull herself out of the steep dive before she crashed totally.

I'm sure if the fame had come at a later stage she would have been more able to cope with it, she was thrust into the limelight at only 15 years old. I don't think many 15 year olds these days would have coped with the workload and stress.

The descent into drugs starts off innocently enough but as the pressure to record an album then tour the country and abroad the drug taking increases to ease the pressures of the road.
The thing I found most shocking was that the drugs were supplied by the very people who were supposed to be their guardians, the bands managers.

It was a whole 10 years before she managed to turn her life around so, the end of the book is uplifting in that Currie has now managed to get her life back in balance, help others and see renewed interest in one of the first all female hard rock bands.
Well worth the read.

Great Book.
If you loved The Runaways Movie then you'll love this book. It was awesome i wished the movie gave as much info as the Book. Great Book and It was shipped Fast. Thanks Amazon :]

Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway
just started to read this bio, it's starting out pretty slow, but im a fan of The Runaways, and at the time there was not much information about the band, except what you find in the rags, im hoping that this read picks up soon or it will be put down ... Read more

Product Description
In the seventh book in the bestselling series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution. Worse, they're trying to convince her that her perfect mate is Dylan, the newest addition to the flock. The problem is that, despite herself, Max is starting to believe it.

Fang travels the country collecting his own gang of evolved humans, but the two separate flocks must unite to defeat a frightening doomsday cult whose motto is Save the Planet: Kill the Humans. And this time, the true heroine, for once, might just be little Angel. ... Read more

Product Description
#1 New York Times-bestselling author Nora Roberts explores the wilds of the Grand Tetons-and the mysteries of love, murder, and madness-in her engrossing and passionate new novel.

Reece Gilmore has come a long way to see the stunning view below her. As the sole survivor of a brutal crime back East, she has been on the run, desperately fighting the nightmares and panic attacks that haunt her. Reece settles in Angel's Fist, Wyoming-temporarily, at least-and takes a job at a local diner. And now she's hiked this mountain all by herself. It was glorious, she thought, as she peered through her binoculars at the Snake River churning below.

Then Reece saw the man and woman on the opposite bank. Arguing. Fighting. And suddenly, the man was on top of the woman, his hands around her throat . . .

Enjoying a moment of solitude a bit farther down the trail is a gruff loner named Brody. But by the time Reece reaches him and brings him to the scene, the pair has vanished. When authorities comb the area where she saw the attack, they find nothing. No signs of struggle. No freshly turned earth. Not even a tire track.

And no one in Angel's Fist seems to believe her. After all, she's a newcomer in town, with a reputation for being jumpy and jittery-maybe even a little fragile. Maybe it's time to run again, to move on . . .

Reece Gilmore knows there's a killer in Angel's Fist, even if Brody, despite his seeming impatience and desire to keep her at arm's length, is the only one willing to believe her. When a series of menacing events makes it clear that someone wants her out of the way, Reece must put her trust in Brody-and herself-to find out if there is a killer in Angel's Fist before it's too late. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (174)

book club buy
I was elated to find such a good price on this book.I was able to afford to purchase all the books as well as the movie for our book club and get free shipping!!!

LOVE NORA ROBERTS!
There's not a book that Nora Roberts has written that I've not liked. This one is no exception.

Fattening
My second Nora Roberts read, Sanctuary was the first.Liked them both, but couldn't understand why my diet was no longer working.Both books describe food in great detail, sending me in search of it.The romance and mystery were neatly balanced.I look forward to reading more of Nora Roberts.

Suspenseful
Angels Falls is a fantastic roller coaster ride, as much as Sanctuary and Montana Sky. These three novels have romance but mostly are suspense mysteries that will have you on the edge of your seat. Nora Roberts is a versatile author.

falls
I writting this eventhough I haven't finish the book yet. I got this book couple of days ago and I'm on chapter 10. So far the book is really good. I can't put the book down sometimes cause I wonder what is going to happen next. I can't wait till I finish it for I can know what happens to Reece ... Read more

Product Description
In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (386)

take the time to get into it.
I had this book for over a year, I would pick it up and read a chapter and not pick it up for another month.I could not get into it. Finally I was on a trip with nothing else to read and decided I was going to finish this book.Well once I got about halfway through it, I was hooked and ordered the whole series.So if you are like me and just keep putting it down.Give it a chance, It took the author too long to develop the characters and I am not a patient person but glad I kept coming back to it.

Maximum Ride Rocks
The Maximum Ride series is AWESOME. They are so funny, and full of action. They are almost never boring. For people who say it's totally unrealistic, I encourage you to keep reading the series. James Patterson talks about real world problems like global warmimg and pollution. Sure, flying bird kids may not be real but it's fun to imagine and I think Patterson makes it sound real. I think thesebooks are amazing ad everyone should read them!!

The Angel Experiment
The Angel Experiment is a quick, light read. It's decently entertaining, and targeted, I'm sure, towards a youngermore reluctant reader. Although I may have been just a little disappointed that my personal view didn't match up with the high ratings from others, I think the series shows promise for the subsequent installments.

The writing was very basic, and not very interesting at all. I'm not sure James Patterson is the kind of author who can right from a 14 year old girl's point of view, especially seeing as he's a 63 year old man (not saying no male author can do this, just saying it didn't work out in this case.) At times, The Angel Experiment lacked substance, and more than once some of the characters came off as bad actors with clearly staged lines, rather than realistic people.

The plot, while adventurous, was predictable and repetitive. The idea is so creative and original, and I can't help but feel that the quality of the writing and the monotonous plot take away from that. The rescue only takes place in the first half of the book. After that it pretty much goes downhill. A big chunk of the book was dedicated to switching back and forth from running from the Erasers, and descriptions of the large quantities of food they ate, without any other plot progression. The ending was a bit abrupt, and the resolution of their goal in the book was very anticlimactic; it was just rushed right through.

Aside from the negatives, I did like the characters; they're probably the only reason I liked the book at all. They show a lot of promise for future books, and are the sole reason I will continue to read the series. I think they all complimented each other well, and I loved the way they interacted with one another. They each had their own distinctive personalities. Max was a motherly type who looked over the flock. She was a strong character, and always looked out for the underdog. I liked Fang a lot too, and I can sense some future romance between him and Max, which I'm really excited for.

While I, personally, may not have enjoyed The Angel Experiment as much as I had expected, I can say it would be a good book for reluctant readers. And I will continue to read the series, if only for the characters and the hope that the series gets better with each new installment.

Reviewed at: [...]

I love this book so much!!!!!
This book is amazing!I don't like the cover as much but that is the least of my concerns.There was no marks on the book which I liked.overall this book was fabulous!

Great, but lacking something...
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was suspenseful, yet written in a young teen's humorous voice. This book was absolutely a page turner, forwards and backwards. What I mean by this is; the plot was full of that "I NEED TO READ MORE", but there were times where you had to flip back a couple pages, and re-read certain things to fully understand.
I did like the characters, but just a warning, there's quite a few, and they may be easy to mix up.
This book was written in the form where the main character is the narrator. But the fun thing about it, is that there were chapters where you were brought into the other characters mind. This helps explain the characters, which in some areas, this book lacked. Only near the end of the book do you find out the character's appearance, which can throw you for a loop.
This book has a lot going on, and for the majority of the book, you felt as if you too were experiencing the stressful days with Max, Fang, Angel, Nudge, Gazzy and Iggy. But certain areas near the end of the book seemed slightly rushed.
The idea of the story, which is young humans with animal DNA ( you have to figure out the rest ) is interesting, uncommon and fuels up a great read.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who respects books with sci-fi, suspense, and flickers of romance and humor. This would be a good book for ages 10 and up. This isn't a personal favourite, but i might consider reading the rest of the series. ... Read more

Product Description

Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.

For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.

Customer Reviews (57)

The McCarthy of Zombie Fiction
Zombies.They're the in thing right now next to glittering non-vampires.They're what really goes bump in the night, because they don't have the motor function or brain activity to avoid objects.They're hungry for your flesh, and filling up our bookshelves and movie screens.And they're scary as hell.

Alden Bell's (a.k.a. Joshua Gaylord) debut genre novel does for zombie fiction what Cormac McCarthy's The Road did for dystopian fiction, or John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In did for vampires:use the clichés of the form to tell a deeply psychological, literary story.The Reapers Are the Angels follows Temple, a teenager born into a world overrun by a zombie plague.She doesn't remember the "good old days," because they ended years before she came into the world; but she remembers an old man who helped her and a younger brother she had tried to protect.Now she wanders the landscape, avoiding the undead and trying to survive in a world reduced to "survival of the fittest" at its most radical.And she's a product of her time:untrusting, ruthless, methodical, and smart-witted.As Temple wanders from place to place, trying to avoid her demons and understand who she is, she encounters a cast of characters that change everything, from Moses, who wants her dead, to Maury, a mentally handicapped man who doesn't understand the world around him.And her journey will show her that there darker things in the world than zombies...

The Reapers Are the Angels is not your typical novel.Its plot is simple and its overall feel is disconnected.But it is also brilliant.People who read this novel for the plot are reading it for the wrong reason.It is about a character (Temple) and her development, about her journey to understand who and what she is, where she belongs, and how to deal with the mistakes of her past in a unforgiving world that is stuck in the dumpster and disinclined towards grieving.A number of reviews of this novel have seemingly ignored this key element, and I suspect it is because many expect a zombie novel to be plot-oriented--never mind that many zombie stories are, in fact, character studies in a zombie-run world.After all, The Reapers Are the Angels is set in a world framed in a way that is likely familiar to the zombie fan, and some of the events that occur throughout the book have happened before.

But the novel is about Temple, not the world, and ignoring how she views the world around her, how she forms her own form of morality without the security we are afforded every day, and how she conceives of her own kind (humanity) are indelible marks of a story that thinks beyond the mundane events of life in a zombie world.The disconnection one feels while reading this novel is brought on by the disconnection Temple feels to the communities and places she visits.She, as indicated earlier, was born into a post-human world.Zombies have always been there for her, and her journey into cities, towns, farms, and so forth are journeys into the unknown.She understands them in the same way we might understand a radically different culture (East vs. West, for example).Even religion plays into this disconnected feeling, because while Temple was raised briefly with a concept of God, she is forced to reconcile her beliefs with the reality surrounding her, without the "support" of scripture, creating a religious framework that seems slightly alien when compared to the religious world we live in now.All of these elements are relayed through Temple's point of view, one of the other strengths of the novel.

Bell's narrative is told in third person present through Temple's eyes.This creates both an intimate connection to the character and to the world, since everything is happening "now" rather than in the past (again, this brings up the problem of the past; namely, that Temple does not want to relive hers and that the world is slowly developing a concept of the past that is progressively present, rather than focused on what once was).One could even read into the use of third person, rather than first person--if disconnection from place and self is a principle element of the novel, then isolating Temple slightly from the reader by avoiding an entirely internal view maintains the disconnection for the reader as well.There is a kind of brilliance at work here, both in the narrative that Bell attempts to create and in the language and style.The language is reflective of Temple's limited experience and the style itself is urgent and fluid, while also being fragmented and to the point.One gets the sense while reading The Reapers Are the Angels that the future is indeterminate and yet always present (always progressing, but going nowhere at the same time), an urgency brought out in Temple's interjections and in the stochastic "plot."

Despite its effective narrative style and display of characters, The Reapers Are the Angels did have one flaw:its ending.On the one hand, the book ends how you might expect (which I will not mention here); on the other, however, there is an enormous shift that pulls the reader too far into disconnection.I found myself wishing the novel had ended at the height of the climax, because then the implied tension in the novel (and the world) would have been maintained at its worst point.But the novel continues beyond the climax, dragging us into a new space that had never been ventured to before.I am intentionally being vague about the specifics, though, because as much as I have issues with the way the novel ends, I still think The Reapers Are the Angels is worth reading.The ending simply reminds one that there are no perfect books.

In the end, The Reapers Are the Angels is simply an extraordinary book.True, it lacks the flare of originality in much the same way as Cormac McCarthy's The Road (a text that contains very little originality in terms of its world content, but makes up for it in its story of an understandably overly cautious father and a naive son), but The Reapers Are the Angels presents a well-written, deeply psychological story that we're not familiar with in a world that we are.It is a kind of cognitive estrangement in that sense (to use Suvin's term).It's the kind of book that zombie fiction fans should love, and a book that readers who are not familiar with the form will find engrossing (as I did).The zombies keep coming, Temple's mind keeps bleeding, and the pages keep turning.What else could you ask for?

An intense zombie adventure
Zombies have been roaming the Earth for twenty five years now. This is the only world that fifteen year old Temple has ever known and she's learned how to survive in it because it's either learn fast or die. She travels around looking for safe havens and moves on once those places cease to be safe. On her travels, she encounters a variety of living situations, from groups of people living in skyscrapers to a rich family hiding in their house oblivious of the crumbing world outside. When staying with the people settled in skyscrapers, she is attacked by a man there and is forced to kill him in self defense. His vengeful brother, Moses Todd, vows to kill her and follows her everywhere she goes. As she tries to evade Moses and zombies, can Temple ever find a place she can stay permanently and find peace?

The world that Temple lives in is different than most zombie novels. The initial outbreak is long past and our protagonist has never even seen the world as we know it. Most novels of this sort focus on the start of the zombie apocalypse. The only other book I can think of that is similar is Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but this book is much more brutal than that. The zombies are a constant threat, but there is also a more unpredictable danger from other people resulting from the breakdown of the government and society in general. In addition, the novel takes place primarily in the south, giving it a distinctive flavor.

The writing in the novel is spot on. It's descriptive enough to give great detail to the world contained in the novel, but not so much that it bogs down the pacing. There are no quotation marks to denote conversation in the entire book, but the writing is such that it's clear who is talking and it ends up not distracting from the novel at all. It just gives the book a little different feeling to read than most books for me. I read this book so fast and couldn't put it down. I was so engaged in the story and the characters that I found myself reading in every moment possible throughout my day.

I really like Temple and her blunt honesty. She may be young, but she can certainly take care of herself. She can't read because she never had a formal education, but she is one of the smartest protagonists I've ever read. In her short life, she has seen a ridiculous amount of violence and it takes a strong person to not just break. Although Temple is tough, her humanity remains intact, as shown with her tolerance and treatment of Maury, a mentally disabled man she meets and takes care of. Her character has many dimensions that are revealed throughout her travels in the novel.

The Reapers Are the Angels is now one of my favorite zombie novels. I like and dislike the ending at the same time. It's realistic and fits the tone of the book, but I wish it didn't have to happen. I would recommend this to any zombie lover.

God is slick.... and so is redemption.
There is so much grotesque horror & emotional depth packed into this short read that your head will be set to spinning. It will keep your eyes wide open and your heart full of achingly empathetic remorse. Because, the truth is, we all have a little bit of Temple, the main character, in us. Sins we can't rectify, memories we no longer want to keep yet cannot refrain from visiting. Regrets that haunt and wounds that won't close, no matter how deftly we may attempt to zipper the gory seam down the middle.

One of my favorite, and there are many, passages from the book:
"And then her mind crowds with other things- a noisy parade of memories that frustrate her because of the way they play themselves out. These memories- it feels like she's back there in the moment, like she has the moment to do over and make different choices than she made. But she can't, because they're just memories and they're set down permanent as if they were chiseled in marble, and so she has to just watch herself do the same things over and over, and it's a condemnation if it's anything."

As you read this story, you will internalize the sorrow that drips from every page. Not just for the sake of the broken little girl that you are following to literary hell and back, but for yourself, the roads you have traveled, the wrongs you can't make right. Hopefully, by the end of the journey, at Temple's expense, you'll come to realize how incredibly futile self condemnation is, how wasteful.

The lesson is obvious; There is redemption to be found aside from the darkness of death. It's a long hard road but you can spot the detours if you're looking for them. Temple's exits were clearly marked but she was blinded by illiteracy, her eyes so clouded with grief that she just kept on driving towards doom.

Do read this book... but don't make the fearless heroine's same mistakes.

Gave me nightmares!!!
The Reapers will terrify you, give you nightmares, and make you flinch when someone approaches from behind. The horror and gore is vivid and near nauseating. The revelations and philosophies will make you question your priorities; re-evaluate your motivations; and invoke an insatiable desire to stare at the stars, feel the grass beneath your bare feet and the shocking cold of rain on your face, to sing out loud, and to wander in wonderment. Temple's world may be sick, but through her thoughts and eyes it is unquestionably precious and awe inspiring.

With a poetic depth, brilliant description, and horrifying exploits, Bell presents a distinctive story. I will keep this book, I will buy the final publication, and I will read this book again and again. This book is a reference to the beautiful world God has created and reminder things could always be worse.

My interpretation:
Temple was born into this zombie infested world. She's never known anything else. Early memories numb her with the brutal reality of losing every person she's ever gotten close to. Hardened and damaged and wandering the countryside lacking purpose, she discovers humans more disturbed than the living dead, situations more horrifying than constantly avoiding the flesh eating "Slugs", yet Temple still notices and revels in the magic, beauty, and wonderment in God's country.
The dead began rising nearly 25 years ago, 10 years before Sarah Mary, or Temple as she calls herself, was born. She doesn't recall her blood family, and isn't really sure she had one. There was a boy, for all purposes he may have been her brother; a mother whom she assumes existed,
"I guess I must of had one," Temple says trying to breathe through her mouth so she doesn't choke on the perfumed air. "That's how it works, don't it?"
And an assumed uncle that taught her the basic skills needed to survive this world before succumbing to the unrest himself.
Temple knows she needs to keep moving to stay ahead of the pressing Zombies. She needs to keep moving to stave off her own personal demons, convinced she is evil because of some of the terrible things she has had to do for self-preservation; things no 15 year old should ever have to see, but "that's just the way this world is." Temple encounters a mentally retarded man that she is compelled to protect, "an innocent that never could hurt no one," and proceeds to travel across the country to see him off to what family she hopes survives. On her journey Temple meets a group of wanderers that journey to see the wonders of this country and tell her of Niagara Falls and how "people would go there for honeymoons and you could lean over a railing and feel the mist on your face and it would take your breath away, the majesty." Temple accidentally kills a man whose brother then vows to end her, tracking her across the states, and in the end determines "she is a princess warrior that sees the world for what it is, not the past, not the future, just the wonder all around her."

Brutal and Transcendent
The Reapers are the Angels is one of my all time favorite books.It is a brutal yet exquisite story of survival and transcendence.Temple is a teenage girl who has survived the end of civilization.She has grown up after and it is all she has ever known.Some people are broken or they have used these circumstances as an excuse to surrender to their most selfish impulses.Other people live unable to face reality or in their dreams of rebuilding a new civilization.Many simply live continually in fear.Temple however is different.She is a true spiritual warrior who sees beauty and God in almost anything. She lives in and accepts the present and the only thing she truly fears is her own capacity for violence. She certainly is not broken and she lives by her own code.She meets a man, Moses Todd, who will become her enemy and hunter and yet they will share the bond of kindred souls.Moses Todd respects and understands her, but will he spare her?Can Temple survive this new brutal world on her own?Can one kill ruthlessly and yet remain at all pure or good?

I will read this book again.It is a story of survival, resiliency, violence and deep spirituality.Alden Bell is brilliant.I'm not sure where this story came from, but I hope he keeps writing more like this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (76)

good start with loads of potential
I have been seeing this series all over the place recently, so decided it was time to read Strange Angels. The story centers around Dru Anderson a hunter off all things evil. She travels around the country with her Dad - Winchester brothers style (If you are a fan of Supernatural you know what I am talking about). Well, in the first chapter or so, Dru's father is turned into a zombie and she is forced to kill him - leaving her completely alone. She quickly befriends a boy her age, Graves, who helps her throughout the book. Soon, they both realize that these creepy creatures are after Dru and they the two of them set out to find out why.


Overall, I enjoyed this introduction to the Strange Angels series. Like a lot of books, the first story featured a lot of story building. The author tried keep the pace quick, while also setting the stage for future events and came up a little short. Although the book's pacing keeps readers interested, it gets confusing at times, because things are not clearly written out. I had to re-read several passages throughout the book to make sure that I understood what was happening. Sometimes, I just would give up and hope the next few pages would clue me in more. Because of this, it took me a while to really become engaged into the story.


Also,I had a hard time warming up to Dru. I found myself getting irritated with her character quite a bit. She supposedly has been trained for this sort of life by her dad, but she seems to freeze up all the time. She never really does anything right, she chokes up under pressure. I like characters who make mistakes, but Dru is simply not self sufficient, and I really hoped she would be. She has to rely on others to drag her out of bad situations. She usually carries a gun and barks commands but she doesn't hardly ever follow through on anything.

However, I did eventually warm up to her and I really enjoyed the other characters in the book. Graves, in particular. He is a loyal character and has his very own coined phrase, "first one's free." I am excited to see where his story progresses. I also love Christophe. He is an extremely interesting character. I like how he is half-vampire (or a 16th vamp, whatever), so he's not your traditional character. This way the author has more of a free reign on him, since readers aren't as familiar with this particular brand of dark and mysterious.


All in all, I think this story has a lot of potential to grow and evolve. I am interested to see how the characters develop and to see if Dru comes into her own in the next book. I would love to see her powers grow and for her to become more self sufficient. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Betrayals.

Amazing, action packed
The beginning of this book had me hooked. I mean, Dru's dad was loading a gun on the freaking kitchen table. And he's all just like "How's life, sweetheart?" What the heck? And Dru is talking about being able to see ghosties and other creepy night crawlers. Total insanity. But that's exactly why I kept reading it, because the entire book was like this. This book had more action than one of those Bruce Willis movies where he lives free or dies hard. Or both.

Dru as a character was great, strong and independent, although there were some parts where I wanted to smack her in the face. Example: She follows this goth kid that she JUST MET to a secluded place behind a mall that offers virtually no escape, after having taken down a zombie who, oh look, just so happens to have been her dad. (By the way, that's not a spoiler, seeing as sit says her dad is a zombie on the back cover.) Hasn't she ever heard of stranger danger? I guess when one hunts the creatures that go bump in the night for a living, one doesn't worry for these things.

Graves was also very well fleshed out. One of the things I loved about his and Dru's relationship is that, you just know that they are eventually going to fall in love- - the potential romance is there, staring you in the face from the very first chapter- - but it's so casually avoided that, as a reader, you don't feel rushed into it or pressured. There just comes a point where you say, "Yep, they're going to be an item" and you're totally cool with it.

Okay, time for the LOVE factor ("love" on my part): Christophe. I drooled over him. I really think that the book would have been a bagillion times better if he had been introduced about 100 pages earlier.There was just something about him that made me instantly take to him, and I was severely disappointed to find he wasn't as involved as I think he should have been. Oh well, here's hoping that the next books will include him heavily.

The cover for Strange Angels is really intriguing. There's so much tension, and I love the look in the model's eyes. It says, "Do you really want to screw around with me? No, I didn't think so." The back cover is also interesting. Zombies? More specifically, dad zombies?

This book is a solid five star. The pros so heavily outweigh the cons that I can't justify rating it anything below five. This is a DEFINITE must read.

Other Books In This Series:
Betrayals (Book 2)
Jealousy (Book 3)
Defiance (Book 4---Released April 19, 2011)

Hopefully it gets better!
I had really high expectations for this book.It sounded great from the summary and I had heard wonderful things about the series.However, it ended up being a disappointment for me.

When Dru's Father takes off for another hunt, he doesn't come back.She is worried and scared about him which is understandable.They hunt things that go bump in the night, and things that most people think are not real.When her Father does return though, she finds he has been turned into a zombie.After he attacks her, Dru is forced to shoot and kill her father.She finds herself hiding out with a boy from school named Graves.He quickly finds out that Dru is not like other girls when a werewolf attacks and he is bitten.Instead of him turning though-and forcing Dru to kill him- he ends up only half changing.Together they try to figure out what is going on, while another boy named Christophe tried to convince them that he is there to help as well.

This book had more description than actual dialogue.It went overboard in the supernatural to the point of enough already.While I loved the character of Graves-even when he was whiny and scared- Christophe came off as a jerk, while Dru came off as a stuck up ditz.She is suppose to be trained in this stuff growing up with a father who hunts.At times, she couldn't even take the safety off a gun!There were many filler scenes and pages with no actual reason to be in there.A lot of repetitive story with no substance and progression.By the time I neared the end of this book, I didn't really care what happened to anyone in the story.

That being said, the story could have potential in the rest of the series.If the books following Strange Angels would put its focus on the characters and their interaction more than the dialogue of useless information, then the plot of the story could really take off and make it work. The basis of the plot is the only reason I am giving this a 2 star rating instead of a 1 star rating.I still might give the next book a try, but I don't have the excitement in the series as others might have.

Great fun but don't bother with sequels
Strange Angels is great fun. Dru is a really strong girl character; we all need more of those after wimpy Bella!

If you like Supernatural, Buffy etc, there's a really strong chance you'll like this.

Don't bother with the sequels though. Sappy, mopey developments for a strong girl taking most of the fun out of her. I felt like the commissioning editors asked St Crow to make it more Gossip Girl crowd appealing - check the covers. I doubt that bunch would approve of Dru's shopping strategies, but... urgh shopping? Did we have to go there? The sequels are repetitive and annoying. Stick to Strange Angels and you'll have a rollicking read.

Anxious Packed and Awesome.
I really enjoyed reading this one! It was action packed and just held your attention. It was really well written, especially the most emotional scenes. The plot has all sorts of twists and turns, some you definately don't expect. Dru was a really strong main character, while being realistic in the sense that she has her flaws. I love Christophe too, he was a really well written character. From the first page he was introduced, he really just caught my attention.
... Read more

Product Description
A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all.

Amazon.com Review
A coming of age tale for young adults set in the trenches of theVietnam War in the late 1960s, Fallen Angels is the story of Perry, aHarlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attendingcollege falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon comeface-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violenceand death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue inhimself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the mostdangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is there at all. Fallen Angelswon the 1989 Coretta Scott King Award. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (297)

I can't comment of the book, but I can comment on smokymtnbooks
Fallen Angels is on my high school summer reading list and from the way it's going I'll probably be reading it in the fall. I ordered the book from smokymtnbooks on May 23rd, today is June 24th and I am still waiting for it to be delivered. Yesterday I received a reply to an email I sent to them and was advised, in a polite way, to be "patient." A few weeks before I had sent them another email asking about the delivery and didn't receive a reply to that email.

Thankfully the suppliers of my other books have kept their promises and I received the books ordered from them as expected, so I have plenty of reading to do while I wait and wait for smokymtnbooks to keep their promise.

Required reading for 9th Grqade English
My son had to read this book and enjoyed reading it however, I believe it was inappropriate for a 14 year old.

Poor shipping of product
This book though used was fine but the shipping was so slow that I had to go and buy the book before it got here for a project.I would never buy from this vendor again!

Falling for Fallen Angels
Fallen Angel by Walter Dean Myers is an intriguing novel retelling the story of Vietnam from the point of view of a soldier. Occurring near the ending of the war this novel tells the life of young Richie Perry who has left college to join the army, leaving behind his mother, brother and his education.
Violence is evident in most chapters; however it is not so descriptive that one can't read it without cringing. The specific detail is enough to depict the scene and give the reader a clear idea to what was happening without kicking in your gag reflex. This quality makes this book so much easier to read for all people.
The small stories of the attacks that are within the book are great glimpse of what people once saw on news. The real story is what happens behind the cameras, in the barracks and such. The connections between the soldiers and the amount of unreported deaths are huge. Whenever Meyers brought up the barracks, a brawl or deep conversation would occur between the soldiers. These were the real stories of Vietnam. It was interesting to read about what soldiers really felt about the war, and some of the stories for why they went to the war. It was constant changing of barracks and new people that kept me reading.
Every few chapters or so the scenes would change and new characters would come in and disrupt the precious friendships or thoughts of the soldiers. This caused drama throughout the whole book. It was like a bunch of young school boys taken out of their comfort zone; this idea connected me with the book since as a high-schooler I live in drama.
Overall, if you enjoy war books, historical events or enjoy reading about other people's drama, this book is great. You will not want to put it down even as lives are lost and friends are gained.

EXCELLENT BOOK
"Fallen Angels" was a GREAT book. It was extremely interesting, and not only is it entertaining, but I also learned some very valuable and important lessons and things about the Vietnam War. ... Read more

Product Description
Forty-four divination cards, each with a unique Victorian-Style or OldMaster-Style angel picture on one side and a positive, healing message on the other side.A small instruction booklet is also included, which explains the full meaning of eachcard, and includes angel messages about healing from various life challenges. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

Excellent for beginners
This is the second oracle card set by Doreen Virtue that I have, and I must say that for being so simple, it is quite accurate as far as the meanings go for the cards that I draw. These cards are very sturdy and the pictures dont peel when I shuffle (my Archangel Micheal cards peel all the time, and the gold around the edges have worn off, even though I bought these products a week apart they look a year older!) The artwork is pleasing to the eye and the accompanying booklet gives you alot of possibilities to the meaning of your card so that its easy to see how it coincides with whatever you are asking about. I hope that Doreen goes back to making decks like this one.

Happy with my Angels
This Oracle is excellent to increase your intuition and your psychic abilities.
You will feel quickly in relation with the world of your Angels and understand a better way their messages.
The images are absolutely beautiful and powerfully positive!.

Best angel cards
I am a big Doreen Virtue fan. I bought these because it had the best reviews. I am so happy with them, I use them daily. They are so accurate. The art work on them is beautiful. I highly recommend them.

These are an extremely helpful tool for guidance
A freind of mine introduced these to me and I love them! I use them whenever I need support - could be in a moment of crisis or stress or even just a good day too.They give you just the right message at just the right time. They have been so meaningful and become a good comfort in my life. The cards are so pretty too.They are also useful to use with a group of freinds to share the angels wisdom on life questions each of us have.I would highly reccommend them!

Love These Angel Cards!
I've purchased several of these cards and they make great gifts.
I highly recommend them. A GREAT way to start your day. ... Read more

Product Description
After winning the most dangerous case of his career, prosecutor Penn Cage decides to remain in his Southern hometown to raise his young daughter in a safe haven. But nowhere is truly safe -- not from long-buried secrets, or murder....When the nude body of prep school student Kate Townsend is found near the Mississippi River, Penn's best friend, Drew Elliott, is desperate for his counsel. An esteemed family physician, Drew makes a shocking confession that could put him on death row. Penn will do all he can to exonerate Drew, but in a town where the gaze of a landmark cemetery statue -- the Turning Angel -- never looks away, Penn finds himself caught on the jagged edge of blackmail, betrayal, and deadly violence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (156)

turning angel
I have read all of the Penn Cage mysteries and it is important to read them in order.
As are all of his books this one ranks a 5 ! He is the best mystery writer we have today.

Greg Iles has a hard-on for teenage girls
Or his protagonist Penn Cage does. And his tragic hero Dr. Elliott does. And the high school coach does. The doctor and the coach actually have sexual affairs with high school girls. Penn Cage proves his moral superiority by not going past first base.

Don't worry, though. As the coach and the doctor's wife assure Cage and the reader, these girls aren't like the girls we grew up with. Uh-huh. At one point a character justifies the doctor's extramarital affair with a high-schooler by pointing out, "The bright women in this town of that age [30 - 40] are married or divorced. ... To start fresh, he almost had to go with someone as young as Kate." The married doctor couldn't conduct an affair with a divorced woman. Divorced women aren't fresh!

Sexual ickiness aside, there is plenty more to find offensive in Turning Angel. I entirely agree with the people who objected to Iles' depiction of black people as stereotypically racist. The general black population is portrayed as shiftless and violent. The major black characters in Turning Angel are a corrupt D.A., a drug dealer, and a fallen civil rights hero. The black D.A. suppresses evidence to convict the (white!) doctor to further the D.A.'s political career. The biggest drug dealer in town is, of course, black and without conscience. Even the once great black civil rights lawyer who agrees to defend the doctor is now an ambulance chaser. The lawyer Quentin Avery, who won civil rights cases before the Supreme Court, now wins "record-breaking punitive damages awards, most of them based on the prejudices of the African-Americans who fill[] the jury boxes each week."

Finally, the mystery sucked. The book details the doctor's sexytime with the murdered girl, details the D.A.'s machinations to frame the doctor, and then perfunctorily reveals who is the killer. The killer is an obvious choice, not a subtle or mind-blowing one.

Great Read!
Of the many great books by Greg Iles, this one is at the top of the list.Definitely worth your time...

good book but not Iles' best
Having read several of Iles' books, I started this book with great anticipation.It was a slow start, taking me a few chapters to really get into the storyline.Unlike the author's other books, this one had no surprises, no twists and the ending was anti-climactic.Once again Iles paints Natchez as a small town with a seemingly very very high rate of crime.I know this is fiction, but as with other books, I wonder what Natchez has ever done to Iles!Compared to other books, this is a decent read, but it is most certainly not one of Iles' best effots.

Not a page turner
I have been working my way back from Greg Iles most recent book "The Devil's Punchbowl" which was pretty engaging.This was not.The book was too long, the plot rambling, and the characters undeveloped foils to Penn Cage's ego.Less is more in many things, a rule that should have been applied to the overabundant description of explicit sexual exploits.Iles has strong beliefs about politics and social issues but has not yet figured out how to smoothly weave them into a story. ... Read more

Product Description
From the masters of paranormal romance, three brand-new tales of seduction…

The Darkest Angel by Gena Showalter

A Lords of the Underworld tale

An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation….

Love Me to Death by Maggie Shayne

Twenty-two years ago four teenage boys were convicted of a young girl's murder. Now, in the form of a beautiful woman, the "victim" is seeking vengeance. And only one man dares to dig into the past to uncover its secrets… and set her free.

Lady of the Nile by Susan Krinard

Lady Tameri believes herself to be the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian princess, and Leo Erskine has set out to prove her wrong…never dreaming that the twoof them are about to discover a prophecy that will bind them together forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Typical Gena- Funny, witty and hot as hell
I know I'm a bad bad Book Lover but I only read Gena's story in this anthology, so this review is only for The Darkest Angel.

I'm a total Gena Showalter addict so I was really thrilled to find this book on netgalley in January. Why did it take me sooo long to read then you ask yourself? Bad case of being unable to remember netgalley even exists. You know, it's not like a my real life bookshelf that taunts me every day with my huge Mount TBR but that is beside the fact and has nothing to do with the book. LOL

As all Gena Showalter books The Darkest Angel is an hilarious wild ride with an appropriate (bad choice of word I know *wink*) amount of steam. I always love how Gena creates these witty and funny conversations between her characters and their actions, in this case Bianka's, often leave me speechless but laughing really hard.

Lysander is a demon-killing angel with a new goal: he HAS to make Bianka into a decent person. Problem is: she's a harpy and that's coming with a few limitations she just can't break. For once she can only eat what she earned or stole. And you can imagine which way she chooses. She's driving him crazy. But why only this harpy and not all the other creatures that go bump in the night? She seems to be his only temptation. He wants to touch her and you can't imagine what that means to an angel. I loved the way he struggled with his desires. And his thoughts are hilarious. How long can a man wonder how it would feel to touch the skin of a woman without doing so? I wanted to scream: "Do it! Be a man and just start the touching!" But he really took his time. He loves to be an angel and the last thing on his mind is falling and he is afraid that will happen if he gives in to her temptation.

Bianka is hard to explain. She is strong, witty, funny and a girl you don't want to mess with. And if you do be aware that she really knows how to pay you back. She made me cry from laughter with her stubbornness and big mouth. She's a force of nature and brings total chaos into Lysander's life. At first she just wants to get her will and have fun while doing it (she really knows how do make it Fun) but after a bit of time with Lysander she sees what he really is- a really hot piece of cake.

The relationship between this two is stormy from the start and I loved the way it developed. The back and forth was entertaining and when they finally got to the point it was unbelievable hot. These two are really made for each other. I love when our couple of interest knows exactly how to push the buttons of each other.

I loved reading this story and this story alone is reason enough to buy this book. Gena again created a story that made me laugh and brought perhaps a small tear to my eyes. Highly recommended to sweeten up a lonely Sunday afternoon. This book will totally make your day.

Angel and Harpy
I bought this book only really caring about Gena Showalter's story, Darkest Angel, so that's the only story I can reasonably review. I was fairly pleased with it.

For an approximately 140 page long story in manages to accomplish a lot. The premise is that Lysander, who belongs to a high class of angels, identifies Bianka, a harpy, as his one temptation. He chooses to try to deal with this by kidnapping her and teaching her to be like him--good in every way. She in turn tries to seduce him.

I can't really say the characters were deep or well developed. But they were likeable enough. And I feel this book will tie in well with the next full novel. It introduces the angel Olivia, the next leading lady, and comments a lot on the rules and duties of the angels. I really wish the story had been a bit longer, so that more developement could take place. But, I think that if you are a fan of the Lords of the Underworld series, you should make an effort to read this story.

don't buy
Like the other reviewers, I got this book for the Showalter story, "Darkest Angel". It wasn't bad, but hardly worth the price of the book. It takes up the story of the Lords of the Underworld with a secondary character, the harpy sister of the wife of one of the lords. It doesn't further that storyline at all, but is another romance. This time it is between a harpy and an angel, Lysander. While Lysander talks about the fear of being corrupted by a possibly evil being (the harpy), he doesn't seem to be particularly saintly or even a very bright bulb. He has no problem with unsanctified sexual activity, kidnapping, or even crime, as long as it's committed against bad people, so one wonders what is particularly angelic about him. The biggest barrier to their relationship is his embarrassment at being attracted to a harpy - but there didn't seem to be much difference in values between them. Much ado about nothing.
"Love Me To Death" has a good plot - four boys accidentally killing a girl in a house fire, only to have her turn up again 22 years later. The boys were interesting characters, and if there was more space for development, I could have gotten very involved with them. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space. So in addition to shortchanging some good characters, the girl in the story made no sense at all. Everything is so rushed, there's no development, so she comes across as a rather dull wack job instead of a young girl capable of attracting a 38 year old man.
"Lady of the Nile" was just awful. Trying to figure out what was going on with these ancient Egyptians was hard enough. When it finally was clear, the story seemed ridiculous and the dialogue embarrassing rather than moving. The basic idea is that Egyptian gods are battling for power over thousands of years by using reincarnation to keep fighting to the death, only to be reborn again. The people in the story are the reincarnation of characters who have been dead for thousands of years who were the reincarnation of the gods, and all three versions of their consciousness show up at various times. The modern day people seem to accept the situation with admirable acceptance ( "you are really the goddess Isis, NOT the duchess?" Oh I see . . . .).
If you want a book to kill time while in a waiting room or something, you might want to take this one out of the library or borrow it from someone. Don't bother to buy it though.

Only purchased for Darkest Angel.....
I loved the Darkest Angel story. I am an avid fan of Gena Showalter, especially her Lord of the Underworld series. I wish she would've written this as it's own full length book-but it worked regardless. Alone I would give the story a 4-5 rating.

Love Me to Death was a good story, well written and kept you interested. I would rate this story at 3 stars.
However, as I got to reading the third story (Lady of the Nile) I couldn't really wait to be done with the book, I came very close to not even finishing the story. It was confusing, and not very well written. I'm sure you don't have to ask what rating I would give this one! (sorry)

My personal opinion is authors like Gena Showalter need to be kept with writers of the same level (at the very least) and somewhere, someone needs to be honest and speak up when the story doesn't make much sense. Preferably, before the story is published. Save the poor writer (and readers) some bad reviews!

The Darkest Angel
To be honest, I've read only The Darkest Angel by Gena Showalter, since she is one of the authors I follow. AND I must say it was a somewhat light, but passionate read.
I never expect a lot reading short stories, but this one singed the pages.
It was hot, funny and managed to pull me in.
The only problem I've had was with Lysander's childish reasoning (oh, and the whole stealing from the wicked is acceptable thing). But I guess considering his inexperience, it is understandable.
I don't know about other stories, but if you like passionate and hot, GS The Darkest Angel is just the thing for you.
... Read more

Product Description

HBO Films will present Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols from Tony Kushner’s own adaptation of his Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. The remarkable cast features Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, Patrick Wilson, James Cromwell, Michael Gambon and Simon Callow.

Angels in America is one of the most remarkable and celebrated plays of our time. Over 350,000 copies have been sold in paperback since their original publication in 1993.

Praise for the play:

"Angels in America is the broadest, deepest, most searching American play of our time."—Jack Kroll, Newsweek

"A vast, miraculous play . . . provocative, witty and deeply upsetting . . . a searching and radical rethinking of Ameri-can political drama."—Frank Rich, The New York Times

"Something rare, dangerous and harrowing…a roman candle hurled into a drawing room . . . "—Nicholas de Jongh, London Evening Standard

"Playful and profound, extravagantly theatrical and deeply spiritual, witty, and compassionate, furious and incredibly smart . . . It’s impossible to imagine anyone captivated by the beginning not wanting—needing—to go back for the end."—Linda Winer, Newsday

"An enormously impressive work of the imagination and intellect, a towering example of what theatre stretched to its full potential can achieve."—Clifford A. Ridley, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Perestroika is a masterpiece."—John Lahr, New Yorker

But such a summary does not do justice to Kushner's grand plan, whichmixes magical realism with political speeches, high comedy withpainful tragedy, and stitches it all together with a daring sense ofirony and a moral vision that demands respect and attention. On onelevel, the play is an indictment of the government led by RonaldReagan, from the blatant disregard for the AIDS crisis to the flagrantpolitical corruption. But beneath the acute sense of political andmoral outrage lies a meditation on what it means to live and die--ofAIDS, or anything else--in a society that cares less and less abouthuman life and basic decency. The play's breadth and internal drive ismatched by its beautiful writing and unbridled compassion. Winner oftwo Tony Awards and the 1991 PulitzerPrize for drama, Angels in America is one of the mostoutstanding plays of the American theater. --Michael Bronski ... Read more

Customer Reviews (52)

Accurate and on-time
The product was received in wonderful condition on the outside and in. So much so, in fact, that I was beginning to believe that there weren't any markings in it at all until I finally came across some sections of pencil underlines. I was pleased by this because it was part of why I chose to purchase a used copy. I recommend this seller. :)

A National Treasure
Is it possible to add anything to all of the accolades> I doubt it. Tony Kusher gives us a wonderful drama that is beautifully written. You owe to yourself to read this.

Trashy peice of work
Absolutely worst play I have ever read; religiously blasphemous trash in which an angel has sex with a gay man. I wouldn't recommend this book to my worst enemy. I was forced to read it in college and I wish I was never imposed upon with such a horrific task.

I consider myself a fairly literary tolerant person but this was horrible even by my standards. Anyone who is more Christian than I am will be utterly insulted by this text

Amazing!
A breakthrough in theater. Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA needs to be read and to be seen on stage (not the tv/movie version). It is groundbreaking, highly theatrical, moving, beautiful. - Robin Rice Lichtig (playwright, NYC, [...])

An Honor to Read
I am in awe of Tony Kushner and these plays. Particularly loved reading Kushner's notes. ... Read more

Product Description
A memorable, mesmerizing heroine

Jennifer -- brilliant, beautiful, an attorney on the way up until the Mafia's schemes win her the hatred of an implacable enemy -- and a love more destructive than hate.

A dangerous, dramatic world

The Dark Arena of organized crime and flashbulb lit courtrooms where ambitious prosecutors begin their climb to political power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (117)

Sidney Sheldon is a brilliant writer but...
I love Sidney Sheldon and I always will but after reading Rage of Angels; I was just gutted!

One of the reviewers mentioned the bit about the paternity suit and I must agree, that was kind of a stretch and wasn't it wrong of them to use the maple syrup on the kid?

The worst part of this book in my opinion was Joshua (in order not to add a spoiler); I did not appreciate Sidney Sheldon's take on Joshua's character, thats all I'm going to say.

And then what the heck is up with the ending? I do infact agree that Sidney rushed the ending of this book like he was on a tight schedule or something; I mean we weren't told who carried out the act on Thomas Colfax, Mary Beth should have been dealt with and then Ken Bailey, he (Sidney) just sort of forgot about them.

And then there's the situation with Adam Warner, its just d*mn depressing its p*ssing me off now to be honest.

How is it also possible that her child could have been kept a secret from the paparazzi, as popular as she was? All areas in the novel that Sidney failed to dwell on properly.

After reading his amazing work in IF TOMORROW COMES and MASTER OF THE GAME (though not as brilliant as the former but a good read), I was really looking forward to this one, however, it wont stop me from buying more of his books but this was a sad, bitter and gut-wrenching disappointment.

AMAZING!!!!!!!
This book was AWESOME from start to finish.I wanted more when it ended. This book was jam packed with interesting things. So many emotions to deal with. I am so happy I purchased this.I got it because it was a Sidney Sheldon because I never read any of his books. So glad I did. I want more.

awsome
This book was one of my all time favorite. The story brought out every one of my emotions,I felt like I really knew the main characters. I would highly reccomend this book. It was a real page turner from begining to end.

Very good, alittle slow starting
This the first Sidney Sheldon book I have read and I was alittle hestitant when I first started reading the book because I don't care for trail books, but it really took off.It was a good book, there were times when it was hard to put down.I will read another one of his books soon.

He was a beautiful, exciting animal
I remember watching the miniseries of Rage of Angels starring Jaclyn Smith, Ken Howard, and Armand Assante back in 1983 and loving it. Now, reading this book all these years later, I'm amazed how much of the story I recognized from that miniseries. Happily, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel at all (although I did tend to hear Jennifer Parker's dialogue in Jaclyn Smith's voice). This book is pure entertainment. Sheldon has a keen eye for detail and a gift for building suspense. I might quibble a bit with the number of Jennifer Parker's cases we delve into--a few times the story felt like it was bogging down in too many unrelated legal details. And occasionally, the story turned into a travelogue--as if Sheldon needed to justify travel expenses to the IRS or something. Another knock might be that Jennifer Parker and Adam Warner sometimes felt a bit too perfect. Jennifer, especially, always seemed to know exactly what to do with every specific case--however outlandish or unconventional. And I don't know of too many Senators who get to test pilot bomber prototypes, like Adam Warner does. But I like the way Sheldon shows Jennifer being seduced--both professionally and personally--by Michael Moretti. And although I didn't quite understand how she was able to justify some of her actions to herself, I could understand her fascination with Moretti and found him to be a much more interesting character than Warner. Overall, this is an excellent read that I gulped down in just a few sittings. ... Read more

Product Description
In possibly the craziest Angel volume yet, we find out what happened to Gunn, Drusilla, Angel, and Spike in the aftermath of the Fall, which includes comas, insane asylums, a comic con, and even Angel's movie adaptation. With stories by fan-favorite writer Brian Lynch and a two-issue arc co-written by Drusilla herself, Juliet Landau, this collection shows you just how insane Angel's world can get. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Spike (magicked into becoming Angel): "First we should walk in a line. Slow, proud, sullen, important. I will take the lead."
After the epic glum and gloomy that was the After the Fall arc, things lighten up quite a bit. A patch of temporal reset, thanks to sly trickeration on Angel's part, and Los Angeles is back from being consigned to Hell. The twist now is that Los Angelinos remember what had happened, and they now regard Angel as their hometown savior. They treat him as a big celeb. This being Hollywood, there's even a big budget motion picture in the works, with Nicolas Cage tapped to play the brooding vampire with a soul (and, in the movie, Spike is a girl).

ANGEL Vol. 6: LAST ANGEL IN HELL collects ANGEL #23-27 and the ANGEL: LAST ANGEL IN HELL Annual. The opening story concerns a de-vamped Gunn recovering in the hospital and squirming around in a huge bed of guilt and remorse. Because of his vile acts in the hell dimension, Gunn has become a target for a slew of cheesed-off demons. Not that Gunn is defenseless, not with Illyria covering his back. This sets the stage for the Gunn/Illyria-centric "Only Human" arc. Note that this is, frankly, the only story that's truly relevant in terms of continuity in the Angelverse. The rest of the trade feels pretty much like filler.

Comes then a tale featuring Drusilla, that peculiar and unhinged vampiress. I'm not a big Drusilla fan; it's probably why I wasn't as enthused by her confusing misadventures in the insane asylum. Juliet Landau - who played Drusilla in the Buffy television series - co-writes the thing.

"Boys and Their Toys" is next, and it's probably the funniest Angel story since "Smile Time." Angel and Spike attend a sci-fi convention, and if that premise doesn't prep your funny bone, I don't know what will. There's some bit about Angel's search for a missing flaming sword which is supposed to be up for auction somewhere in the con (this is the same sword that killed him during the After the Fall arc, so you can see why he'd want to keep tabs on it).

Lifting a plot device from the "Halloween" episode from BUFFY (Season 2), a magic spell is cast which causes the con's attendants to become whatever costumes they're wearing. Now here's the inspired bit: Spike, for reasons explained in the story, has disguised himself as Angel. Writer Brian Lynch indulges in mass fan boy skewering in this one, gleefully mines the comedy out of this situation. If you think Spike's made fun of Angel in the past, wait 'til you get a load of him being all Angel-y and broody and martyr-like, all the while the real Angel (who didn't dress up as anything) stands around, being all bemused and peevish. It's hilarious! And can I just mention how awesome Groosalugg is? Also, Spike is reunited with his pal Jeremy (from the SPIKE: AFTER THE FALL mini-series).

Lastly, the ANGEL annual presents the comic book adaptation of the Angel movie. It's all very meta. It's also not very good. Brian Lynch, in some interview, maintains that the changes in the comic book adaptation are those that would've been made were the After the Fall arc actually made into a real film. Whatever. I thought this story was tired. And Rotten Tomatoes probably would cop a squat over that movie. Probably because it'd be directed by Uwe Boll.

Good news is that I've finally gotten used to Franco Urru's artwork. If I squint really hard, the figures on page somewhat resemble the television characters. I will say that Spike, more than anyone, always looks recognizable. Now who the hell is this Stephen Mooney artist guy? (Because he's actually not bad.)

great follow on from angel's TV demise
Yet another strong storyline in graphic novel form that extends the story from the end of series 5, where the TV show left off.This is a great product and a must have collectable for any fan of Buffy or Angel.

Comedic interlude
This volume of Angel is like one of those comedic/light hearted episodes that Joss Whedon liked to throw in during a season. The Angel/Spike adventure was very funny but the Drusilla story just didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure what it added to the character and I've no real idea where Drusilla now stands in the Angelverse. The first story sets up the Gunn/Illyria Only Human book. The final story is a Hollywood version of After the Fall. It's funny but not as much as it could be. Finally I'm not sure what this volume did for the overall series. It didn't seem to follow up on the previous volume but as I said it was more a standalone lighthearted break.

Return to form
After the extreme disaster that was Angel Volume 5, this is a welcome return to form. The book consists of 4 stories.

1: Gunna and Illyria doing some soul searching--4 stars. The artworks leaves something to be desired in that it doesn't convey the story all the clearly. The writing is very well done, however.

2: Drusilla (slightly before "the fall")--5 stars. Juliet Landau captures the character perfectly with her writing. The art is pretty good too. One of the two main highlights of this volume.

3: Angel and Spike at a comic/sci-fi convention--5 stars. If you enjoy Spike making fun of Angel (with a twist in this story), you'll love this story. The artwork is pretty good, the writing is superb. In my opinion, the funniest Angel story since Smile Time.

4: Last Angel in Hell (an extremely bastardized version of Angel's after the fall storyline as it might be revamped by Hollywood).--4 stars. Don't expect to see any of the regular gang here, as this is what Angel's story might look like after a team of idiotic Hollywood producers put their imprint on it. Pretty funny.

For any discouraged after volume 5 (very understandable), rest assured that none of Armstrong's writing from that story line has any serious impact on this set.

Very funny, but what was the point?
The story arc presented in volume 5 was no where present in this volume. Instead we get a bunch of random side quests with no real connection to each other. The first part is just a build up for Angel: Only Human. The next part is a crazy Drusilla story that confused the hell out of me. The last 2 do share one thing in common and that is the movie adaption of the first 4 volumes. One being just a quick scene from it at a comic con and the final short story was the final act of the movie. None of these move the arc forward started in volume 5. Only one out of the 4 have Angel in it. Even though I was disappointed that this stalled the story I am giving this 4 stars because it entertained me through out. The dialog was witty and had me busting a gut at some parts. The comic con was my favorite because it introduces us to the movie that stars nick cage as Angel, Hurly as gun and Spike is Angel's female love interest. Also it brought back the device that turns you into what ever custume your dressed in. Spike's transformation is worth the price of this graphic novel alone. I thought the movie was really funny but by the end I could not help thinking "what was the point". In closing you should get this knowing that it's a collection of random short stories which are very funny but does not move the plot forward. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (39)

Wondeful Overview
Doreen guides you gracefully through who the angels are and how to contact them. The stories about contact with angels I found very helpful and inspiring. She gives concert advice on how to contact the angelic realm and what many of the colors and numbers mean. It is a practical guide for anyone wishing to begin the journey.

Inspiring
I consider myself a spiritual seeker, but all too often I get wrapped up in the demands of our everyday 'Western' existence. After watching a TV show that features an angelic character, I felt an urge to read about angels further.

This book is a great place to start. I didn't know much about Doreen Virtue before, but I have to say that I found the tone of her writing to be pure, loving and all-inclusive.

I asked my angels for a sign one night before bed, specifically for their names. That night I dreamed of a certain pattern of letters, which I still don't understand, but which felt significant to me. The next night, I asked for a sign that this was real and that my angels were around me. Well, lo and behold, I woke up abruptly in the middle of the night, and as I always do, checked the clock. It was exactly 4:44 on my digital display (one of the numbers Doreen claims the meaning of is that the angels are assisting you). Of course, my mind tries to tell me this is all coincidence, and it could be, but something about it just felt right.

This book is an inspiring read and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a succint introduction to our angelic friends.

A concise and gently loving introduction to angels and archangels.
This has been an easy to understand yet comprehensive guide to the different ways that these Celestial Beings help humans.The book states how one can ask assistance in one of the chapters.The rest of the chapters deal with the many aspects that Angels can help one with.Throughout the book, there are inspiring anecdotes that will raise anyone's vibrational level.When invoking their help, I find that it is of particular importance to know how to pronounce each of their names correctly.I tried the recommendation of praying to someone else's Guardian Angel and it worked.My dad is a difficult person, and so I prayed to his Guardian Angel with incredible results.Not only was he in a good mood but I also noticed that I was in a state of peacefullness that I rarely manage around him.

Awsome!
Book arrived in timely manner and condition stated by seller. Thank you for your honesty. This book is the most elemental way of understanding angel stories/ways.

Very good basic information on Angels
I enjoyed this very much, I have been studying Angels for away so I found a lot of the information to be basic....I'm sure that's why it's titled Angels 101.Having said that, I still learned a few new things.I thought the information was excellent and a great place to start.

For those who are more advanced in their understanding...The Best of Doreen Virtue is wonderful too. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times best-selling author Joan Wester Anderson offers us her latest collection of true-life accounts of guardian angels and heavenly intervention.

Extraordinary stories of angelic appearances in the lives of ordinary people abound. Author Joan Wester Anderson brings together some of the most compelling true stories from the past five years in her latestcollection, In the Arms of Angels. Whether they center on seemingly mundane events or national tragedies, the stories in this book reveal that angels accompany humans on their daily journeys and influence their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Pleasantly Surprised
I just got this book in the mail yesterday, and I am so impressed.I am relieved that the author takes a "hands on" approach, adopting the tales of real life people across the country.I am choosing to read it slowly so that I can keep the inspiration of each story clear in my mind.I lost a dear relative recently, and this collection gives me hope ... I believed that the angels were there in her final days, and now I am even more sure of it.

Inspiring, eye opening!
It is really nice to discover that there really are Angels amongst us, that they touch our lives when we need them the most. This book makes us think twice about doubting God and His Workers. I have always believed in Angels, but now even more, and for someone who spent her life asking 'why have these things happened to me?', it makes me believe even more that everything happens for a reason, even if I still don't understand mine I'd rather they hadn't happened. But this makes me have hope for the future, and that if I pray hard enough my Angels will come to my rescue.
I recommend this book to everyone!

real life miracles with angelic interventions!!
"In the Arms of Angels" is a masterpiece of true life angelic interventions! Whether you beleive in angels or not, this book proves they are real! Joan's books are easy to read,and so inspirartional, filling the reader with Hope and feeling God's love for His Children by sending His angelic helpers..a MUST READ for all ages!

In The Arms of Angels:True Stories of Heavenly Guardians
This book was jam packed with incredible, true short stories, filled with Faith.Looking forward to Joan Wester Andersons next book!Very easy reading.If you don't believe in Angels, this book will restore your Faith!

In the Arms of Angels by Joan Wester Anderson
This is an amazing book. It is especially nice to send to people who are going through a tough time. It is helpful to those who are dying as it reminds them of God's great love, calms their spirit and gives them a sense of peace.
My children love to gather on our bed and listen to one of the stories.I give it my highest rating. Anything this author has written is worth keeping by my bedside. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

item review
Great product.It did take a few more days to arrive than I expected, but thats okay.

think positive
I knew the first time a friend showed me the deck that I could use the picture cards for my benefit.Additionally, the prayers and commentary are succinct and pointed.

These work as well as the phrase, I will think about NOW, to keep me in the present and living fully each day.

enlightening

myyounger sister bought this 3 yrs ago when she came for a visitto chicago, from england.when she went back to england , she keeps on saying her ANGELS have guided her, are guiding her & will be guiding her , so she is fine. that baffled me, so i asked her, what she was talking about. she answered, she has her ANGELS that she got from chicago. after a lot of questioning, i got the answer.

earlier this year my friend keeps on asking about the angels my sister is talking about. i called up my sister & she gave me the title. so i got 2: for the 2 friends i have. they like it.

Angel card deck
I use this in the morinings for my messages of the day. This is a great card deck too!

AMAZING!
Truly amazing and accurate reading; i asked a few questions and the answers i received were those that i already knew but just needed some reassurance. Felt as if Angel's love and support was all around me as i was doing the reading. ... Read more