Wicked Nights

By: Gena Showalter

Narrated by: Max Bellmore

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless - and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation - or her ultimate damnation?

©2012 Gena Showalter (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Great start to the series. Great couple! :D

4.5-5 stars

This was a great story. I loved Annabelle and Zacharel and totally enjoyed their story. It was very engaging and I couldn't stop until it was done (and then was disappointed it was over). Hard to believe, but this is the first book I've read by Showalter. Of course I've been meaning to try her "Lords of the Underworld" series for a while but hadn't gotten around to it. I bought this audiobook when it was on special last year through Audible.com and finally got around to listening to it now. My only regret is that I took so long to get around to listening to it!

Annabelle's life changed drastically when she turned 18 years old. Before her birthday she was a sweet and carefree young lady. On her 18th birthday, something happens to Annabelle that changes her so she can see demons...right before a demon kills her parents in front of her eyes. Unfortunately for Annabelle, the police don't believe her claims of a monster killing her parents and she's blamed for the murders (even though there's no way the forensic evidence would indicate she's to blame...the one point in the book I felt I had to suspend disbelief but maybe she just had a really bad lawyer). Annabelle gets thrown in a mental institution for the criminally insane and kept drugged and locked up. For 4 years she has to put up with despicable treatment by the guards and doctors (and even some of the other patients) and to make it all worse, demons keep showing up and trying to hurt her and she has to fight them...problem is that no one can see them but her.

Zacharel is an angel and leads an army of angels that hunt and kill demons. Zacharel and his army aren't in very high favor because of their disregard for human life, frequently allowing collateral damage (killing humans) while fighting demons. They have a years to shape up or they will all get thrown out of heaven. Zacharel is a rather cold angel (both literally and emotionally). He had a twin that died years before but because of how he died, Zacharel blames himself for not being able to save him. When Zacharel lost his brother he gave up his feelings as well and became very cold and unfeeling.

Annabelle is locked up in the institution when Zacharel and his army are given the task of killing all the demons that are surrounding it. The demons come in to try to hurt Annabelle but only 1 or 2 at a time and the rest are flooding the area outside waiting. When Zacharel sees all the demons he wants to know why they are there but not going inside. He does some investigating and finds Annabelle. When Zacharel meets Annabelle it's not an insta-love situation...probably because Zacharel is so closed up in the emotions area. Zacharel is curious about Annabelle but at first he has no plans to free Annabelle. However when he tries to leave he finds that he has trouble leaving her behind and decides to free her. Annabelle was almost afraid to hope for freedom and didn't think it was going to happen. When Zacharel offers to free her, Annabelle just wants to be set free but Zacharel wont have that. He decides that she wont be able to survive on her own with the humans and demons hunting her. He tells her she'll have to stay with him if she wants free and she eventually agrees. It's actually kind of funny to see because Zacharel's emotions are just starting to peak out and he's almost like a little boy, kind of cutely stubborn as he bends logic to fit his wants (her staying with him). Zacharel takes Annabelle to his "cloud" (a home in the heavens made of clouds) where she'll be safe. Annabelle becomes sick the first couple days she's free (due to withdraws from all the drugs they kept her on) and Zacharel ends up nursing her and becomes very worried about her. He considers giving her to someone else to nurse back to health but decides against it because he wouldn't be able to see her when he wanted to and he'd worry about her so he can't bring himself to do it. Fortunately, Annabelle recovers and Zacharel doesn't have to stress about it too long but even once she's better he can't stop wanting to be near her.

Zacharel and Annabelle's relationship is kind of slow going at first. Zacharel has never even desired another woman so he has no clue how to proceed and Annabelle dated a bit before the demon attack but she's also been subjected to abuse by all the men she's encountered since so she's leery of getting too close. Zacharel does manage to get her to agree to kiss him when she feels the need which almost causes some major problems between them but eventually ends up helping them become most comfortable with each other physically and they slowly start exploring each other as they become closer emotionally. During this time they also are trying to figure out what happened to Annabelle that demons seem to be drawn to her and also what her connection is with Zacharel (she has a glow that seems to indicate they have a special connection). There's also the issue that the demon's don't stop chasing her once she's free and Zacharel has to protect her numerous times as demons attack and try to take her. I really liked how things played out...there was a great balance between the action plot and the budding romance between Annabelle and Zacharel. I loved seeing Zacharel and Annabelle get closer and beginning to care about each other while getting some good action as the story progressed. I have to admit I was a bit surprised by who big bad demon ended up being. In the end, there's some major drama as the demon tries to make his move to take out Annabelle and Zacharel. Annabelle ends up being tougher than expected in the final conflict and Zacharel has to deal with some heartache before things are concluded but things do work out. I was very happy with the way things turned out for Zacharel and Annabelle and loved seeing them get their HEA.

This was such a great story. Both Zacharel and Annabelle are great and I loved their banter and how they got along...there's just such a great dynamic between the two. The secondary characters seemed interesting and I'm planning to trying the next book in the series. There were also some cameos in this book of characters from the Lords of the Underworld series which has me wanting to read that series even more. I'd recommend this book. 2 thumbs up! :D

Loved loved loved

Laughed so hard. I will say I wish it was longer I want more zacky.

Great book

This was a really amazing book I enjoyed it the shocker was That Anna was a demon wow.

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

As an admitted paranormal romance SuperFan Wicked Night is definitely going down as one of my faves of the year! I can't say enough good things about this story. You will adore the characters and be instantly intrigued right from the start---so worth a credit and your time, because this was almost a one sitting listen for me!

I bought this after falling in love with all things Gena Showalter/Lords of the Underworld, but then I took forever to listen. Well, shame on me for keeping myself from this beautiful tale! This was about love, faith, sacrifice, forgiveness, and so much more. It was almost like being in Sunday school (angels, deities, and demons, etc.), but every once in awhile sneaking off to indulge in a few carnal pleasures. Although I totally get into a super hot sex scene, and expected as much in this one, instead this book kind of smoldered throughout, and it was steamy without being overtly sexual. Also, Max Bellmore...what a fantastic narrator, he really brings this story to life, his narration truly nails the emotion, tenderness and fierceness of all the characters. Get this book!

Not a fan to dark

Not a fan of this book way to dark, innuendos of rape and abuse, murders just not my type of romance I don’t mind killing but this is just a really weird book to much of it

Loved it

this is the first time I have listened to Gena Showalter and I am glad I did.

this is a great series and I definately would recommend it to anyone who believes in finding your soul mate!!!

the characters are wonderful!!

Ending...what!? Cheated

Entire story full of action, emotions, suspense. Fully engaging the whole time and then...uneventful ending. No not a cliffhanger. Fade past the final piece to soul melding. Completely cheated out of a satisfying ending.

love story love Gena and love max bellmore

I love story love Gena and love max bellmore. I love using audible I live the books and I think it's great I can listen to them when driving

Story was great but the narrator was awful...

I really enjoyed the story but the narrator was so void of emotion that I almost stopped listening and bought the book form instead.

Good story, great romance.

Would you listen to Wicked Nights again? Why?

I would, if you have listen to the Lords for underworld series ( and if you haven't you should) you have been introduced to the characters in this story and their want to be loved yet loyal to their craft draws you in.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Why, Zacharel the lead in the story of course.