Archangel of Mercy

by Christina Ashcroft

Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation--and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn... When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she's determined not to fall at his feet--despite the desire she feels whenever they're together. After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal. As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection--one that threatens to consume them.

• ISBN10: 042525349X
• ISBN13: 9780425253496
• Publish Date: 4 December 2012 (first published 1 December 2012)
• Publish Status: Temporarily Withdrawn
• Out of Print: 11 March 2015
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 353
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cocktails and Books]

I loved this cover when I received the book from the publisher. I figured my love of the cover would equate to my love of the book. WRONG! I could only get myself to read 128 pages of this book and that was forcing myself to get to that point. I hated both of these characters. Gabe, the Archangel Gabriel, was the biggest ass I have ever met in a book (and I generally like the guys with the worst attitudes because they generally have the soft squishy centers). He used woman (human and otherwise) as his play things and moved on. He may have had a crap attitude before he found himself on top of Aurora Robinson in the middle of an Irish field, but he was downright unlikable with Aurora. He saw her as a lesser being and felt he could order her around like a pet. When she balked at his commands, he got even surlier (if that's even possible). His whole demeanor was a turn off...even when he was attempting to do the right thing.

Then there was Aurora. She's trying to help her mother when she finds herself with a god-like, Gabe on top of her. From the moment she meets him, she's attracted to him. She flip flops gawking over his supreme hotness and being mad at the way he treats her. He constantly belittles her and reminds her of how superior he is to her, while he holds her captive at his home. She's mad out of his sight, but as soon as he's near she's in all out lust. If all this wasn't bad enough (and believe me, Gabe was borderline abusive up to his point), there are the events at the demon club which results in Gabe forcing himself on Aurora. She's half fighting for him to get off her and half to finish the job. This was beyond annoying and disturbing. And it was at this point that I had to make the decision not to finish the book.

Gabe and Aurora may redeem themselves in the remaining pages of this story, but I cannot get myself to move on, which is unfortunate since this book has been said to appeal to the BDB (which I love).

If you enjoy angel stories with a bit of Sci-Fi mixed in, this may be for you. Unfortunately, it just wasn't one for me.