Beauty Awakened

Angels of the Dark, Book 2

By: Gena Showalter

Narrated by: Max Bellmore

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author Gena Showalter returns with another captivating Angels of the Dark tale, as a tormented warrior is brought to his knees by the most delicate of humans.

His name is Koldo. He is scarred, powerful, his control legendary - and he lives only for vengeance against the angel who viciously removed his wings. But if he yields to the forces of hatred, he will be eternally damned.

Nicola Lane was born with a defective heart, yet this fragile human shows surprising strength as demons stalk her every move, determined to end her. She is the key to Koldo' deliverance...and his downfall. Though he fights duty, destiny, and his first addictive taste of desire, his toughest battle will be the one for Nicola's life - even if he has to sacrifice his own....

©2013 Gena Showalter (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Awesomelicious - it's happy & sad as good vs bad

If you're not really a fan of the paranormal/romance genre, and you don't like a passion filled plot that has funny one-liners given by some brilliant loveable characters such as the hero - a sexy tortured tormented fragile virgin whose destiny is to fall in love with an equally fragile tormented heroine that's being stalked by death - which has heartbreaking consequences. Or, if you dislike a storyline that's filled with thrills, action and adventure but is also tender, touching and full of personal sacrifice - then go no further and stop reading this review - BUT, for those of you who do.......

Then you're in for a treat as I am sure you're really going to enjoy GS's second fantastical instalment about the lives of an imperfect group of Angels that have been given another chance at redemption of their past sins before they fall from grace. However, in order to be redeemed they must make amends which involves fighting evil in the form of minions, demons and any ungodly creature that GS's talented mind can throw into the mix to give us a good mental visualisation of each of the addictive paranormal encounters.

This could be a stand alone listen (but come on - why deny yourselves), there's sexual chemistry but it only has one mild sex scene in it and the book has a clear message that positive thinking can, and did, work magic.

Worth a credit? It's a YES, yippee and it was a yabberdabberdoo time listen....... and I'm hoping for many many more.

Disappointing Follow-On to Book 1

I am a huge Gena Showalter fan, and I loved book 1 (Wicked Nights) and was very excited to listen to Koldo's story. Koldo is such an amazing character - powerful, scarred, complex, deep, totally HOT. The heroine, Nicola was a total disappointment - weak, pathetic, sickly, fragile. She did not gain any character or interest until the last chapter of the book, and then suddenly she turns into a superhero - NOT believable. There was just no way I could buy that a strong character like Koldo could find any interest in a weak character like Nicola. It totally fell flat and there was NO chemistry between the characters. Also, I'm not sure what Showalter has going on in her personal life, but this book had a lot of religious overtones, and it felt like she was preaching to us in every chapter. It is a total 180 from Lords of the Underworld. Despite this, I'll still listen to the next book in the series.. I just hope it is more like Book 1!

Where can I get an angel robe?

Although I like the LOTU series better, this series is good too. Another tortured soul in need of some loving. I laughed and I cried, I only wished it had better sex scenes but was moved by what Koldo has learns and what he is willing to sacrifice for his woman. I enjoyed watching Nicola learn to be strong and let go of the darkness in her life. Max Bellmore does it again. He has a rich sexy voice that is very easy on the ears. If you like Gena Showalter I recommend reading Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter series and Thea Harrison Elder series.

A + for Gena and Max

Once again G, Showalter does a great job of making us feel for her characters. This book has everything including the ability to make me stop another read to finish this one.

Story of Kaldo and his journey to find love and happiness or rather it finds him. Overcoming so much hate and resentment.


Max Bellmore adds such feeling!

This is well worth the credit!

Nothing exceptional here

After reading Book 1 in this series, I was interested in Coldo's story. However, there was just something lacking in the telling. Parts of the book moved extremely slowly. I was also a little turned off by some of the religious/faith analogies and had a hard time with some of the character development. For instance, the 'heroine' who started out a pitiful, weak mess miraculously, and completely out of nowhere in the final chapter, becomes something resembling an Anita Blake. Sorry, just not buying it. Overall, this is one of those books I put down and will never read or think about again.

really good but...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, i would recommend this series. this is the second book in the series, i really like the action and the characters that gena showalter writes about. I really like the romance...BUT i guess i am so used to the lords of the underworld series being so romantic AND sexy that i felt after all the build up when they main characters finally got together it fell flat. the romance of the characters and the story was very present and i love that, the characters themselves are sexy, the build up is so fun, i just thought compared to the other books it was almost a side note, in this one, the final get together wasn't epic.
i still love the series and the world gena showalter brings to life and will wait anxiously for the next. worth the credit!!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

leaves you anxiously waiting for the next book

Which character – as performed by Max Bellmore – was your favorite?

hard to say, he REALLY does a great job with the male voices!

Loved everything about it

So this is the fourth or fifth book I've read by Gina Showalter at this point can't keep them straight. I was skeptical that she could capture my attention with a second book about angels and demons. I expected the book to have a lot of similarities with the first one even though it was a different character however, I am pleasantly surprised. this book heart connections to the first book but it stood on its own and surprisingly I almost shed a tear at the end. I think I am a lifelong fan at this point and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Also the narrator was fantastic.

Perspective

Its been a while since I've read the first Sent Ones book in the world of the Lords of the Underworld. It is an important perspective in the world since Sent Ones are supernatural humans who know the truth of the spiritual realm that I never saw in the Lords of the Underworld series.

I especially loved the MC's, Nicola and Kildo. Sad back stories as usual, but such amazing characters. I loved the idea of words being powerful and the truth of "reap what you sow" being so literal. I didn't want to stop listening to this story.

This Series Just Gets Better!

I really liked the first book in this series. But this one-- this one rocked. This is Koldo's story. We met the enigmatic and mysterious Koldo in the first book where we found him to be a quiet and tragic character who had suffered greatly in his past. Now Koldo is set to launch a bit of revenge for previous wrongs. Until one trip to the hospital for a simple mission changes everything. The brooding warrior finds himself suddenly in the position of protector and enlightener to twin sisters who have suffered their entire lives.

This story just really impressed me, beginning to end. It had all I expect in a paranormal romance, and delivered even more. Koldo turns out to be a man who shows genuine love in its purest form. It just can't possibly get any more beautiful than that. This well-satisfying story brings all the passion, heat and joy a romance reader wants along with thrills and intrigue, and manages to pull it off without foul language.. Something few authors even attempt these days. Impressive.

Great Story

Up down all around she takes you through an emotional journey in this one. Great