The Angel

By Carla Neggers

Inside an ancient ruin, Keira discovers the mythic stone angel she seeks—but also senses a malevolent presence…just before the ruins collapse around her.

Search-and-rescue veteran Simon Cahill finds Keira in the rubble just as she's about to free herself. Simon holds no stock in myths or magic, so he isn't surprised that there's no trace of her stone angel.

But there is evidence of startling violence and—whatever the source—the danger to Keira is quite real. The long-forgotten legend that captivated her has also aroused a killer…a calculating predator who will follow them back to Boston, determined to kill again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Jan 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781408970232

Carla Neggers

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy-five novels, including her popular Sharpe & Donovan and Swift River Valley series. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and sold in over thirty-five countries. Carla is a founding member of the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America and has served as vice president of International Thriller Writers and president of Novelists, Inc. She has received multiple awards for her writing and is a recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for romantic suspense. She and her husband divide their time between Boston, home to their two grown children and three young grandchildren, and their hilltop home in Vermont.

Reviews for The Angel

[lycomayflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The sequel to The Siren. Not as compelling or as interestingly crafted, but still an entertaining and emotionally smart read. Soren doesn't sit quite right with me as a character--everything he does feels slightly "wait? what?" without ever reading as over the top. I don't know if this is me just not "getting" him or if he hasn't been well developed, but this reaction made the Soren sections of the book hard going for me. It would help to see some more of what makes him tick, I think. He's a devout Catholic priest in a long-term, sado-masochistic relationship with a woman--I don't find that particularly shocking or implausible, but it is a situation full of contradiction and potential internal conflict, none of which do we get to see. The story starts at a point where he's already made his peace with those contradictions, but not knowing anything about that process turns him into a giant question mark of a character. The rest of the book felt like it was on more solid ground, and given that it deals with a (legally able to consent) teenager and his much older lovers, it's clear Reisz can handle emotionally complex character stuff. I intend to carry on with the series, and I hope Soren becomes less unsatisfyingly enigmatic, because he's super important to the other characters in the books.

[herewithoutyou_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don’t think I’ve ever been in love with another female main character as much as Nora. There aren’t enough words to describe all her facets and I’m not even going to try.

Not only do I love Nora, but the whole book with almost every single character in it, except Søren and I’ll never budge on that either. I really wish I could turn the tables on him just once. I still don’t have a problem with him being a sadist – being a priest, taking vows and then breaking them is what makes me hate him, SO much. Maybe it’s just that I associate him with church and I can’t t stand their holier than thou acts while their priests dish out more evil than some men and woman sitting behind bars and somehow they always fucking manage to talk themselves out it.

You see, I have issues with them, I admit it. Sorry for the rant guys, I can seem to help myself. And no matter how much more I’ll know about Søren, I will never be able to like him for that fact alone.

There’s no way to say whom I adore most though: Wes, Griffin or Michael. They all have something great going for them and I love their interactions with Nora who hasn’t lost one bit of her humor and quirkiness. The characters are unique and I can’t get my fill of them.

I’m still so fascinated with the author’s ability to weave multiple plots and timelines together seamlessly without confusing me a bit. The writing is just as awesome as it was in the first book and nobody could get me away from this book – no classes, no friends, no prof.

I also freely admit that I might be a tad bit obsessed with this series and I absolutely love Tiffany Reisz for the ending she wrote. I was jumping with joy (Really, at some point people around me will declare me utterly mad and buy me straightjackets). I’m suffering withdrawls, I need more Nora!

[mlsimmons-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh. My. God. I just love Tiffany Reisz. This book was WONDERFUL. I love all the characters, though Soren still scares the crap out of me. This book is extremely intense and is probably too much for some people. Tiffany is the biggest mind f*ck ever. Just when I think I know what is going on, she throws something at me.

I'm at work with only 4 hours of sleep (that I had to force on myself). I just wanted to keep reading. I'm glad the wait for the next book isn't very long. Patience isn't really my thing.

[fishgirl182 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Tiffany Reisz continues to impress me with her ability to write original and emotional character driven stories. She continues to push the envelope while still remaining accessible to all readers (as long as you’re not afraid to try something new). When I read a Tiffany Reisz novel, I go through the gamut of emotions – joy, lust, rage, sadness, frustration, fear – and that’s just in the first few pages. The Angel takes us deeper into Nora’s world and explores old relationships as well as new ones. It picks up about a year after the events of The Siren, and Nora finds that she must leave town when a journalist comes poking around Søren’s congregation. Nora holes up at the estate of Griffin Fiske, a friend and fellow Dom. She takes with her Michael Dimir, the damaged young man that we met in The Angel. Michael is Nora’s protégé for the summer and Nora plans to teach him everything she knows. Before reading The Angel, I was on the fence about Søren. I wasn’t his biggest fan after the last book but the Angel sheds a lot of light on his past and now I can see why Nora fell in love with him. He is an extremely compelling character with a very dark past. There’s so much that makes up Søren and I think we’ve only scratched the surface. The other half of the book focuses on Michael, aka The Angel. Michael is struggling to figure out who he is and to accept himself. I loved that Nora and Griffin encouraged him to be himself. Under their tutelage, he sheds his painfully shy exterior and lets out the confident, funny, and thoughtful young man inside. Ultimately I think Michael’s story is one of healing and acceptance. One summer with Nora isn’t going to cure all his problems, but he is getting there. I have to say that I fell in love with both Michael and Griffin. They were the cutest couple and it was fun watching them both try not to fall in love and failing miserably. I know that the age difference (Michael is 17) might bother some people, but I did not feel that at all. Age is never an issue as they are well matched in personality and maturity. With each book, I fall deeper into the rabbit hole that Tiffany Reisz has created. Well written, sensual, emotional, and unapologetic, The Original Sinners series is one that you won’t soon forget. I cannot wait to read The Prince, which will give us more insight into Søren and Kingsley’s relationship. I have a feeling it’s going to be the best one yet!*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[robynbachar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Before I get into spoilery discussion territory (there will be ample warning, don't panic), I want to say that I continue to love this series and I loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and I stayed up past midnight two nights in a row to read it. I proudly read my print copy on the bus, and I usually only read e-books on the bus.

But, I didn't love it as much as The Siren. Not because of any flaw in the book; it's awesome, it's just a different flavor of awesome. As a writer The Siren spoke to me on a personal level that The Angel didn't, but I was still fascinated by Nora and her world. It's mesmerizing. I'm already dying to read the next installment.

Okay, that said, it's spoiler time.

As a member of Team Sheridan, I was excited that she got a shout-out and then sad that she never showed up. Thankfully I'm also on Team Kingsley, and though I would've loved it if he had more screentime, holy cow is there a lot of OMG in the time he does have. For example, the end of Chapter 18, with the "It was mine." I think I actually said a shocked expletive out loud when that was explained (and I scared my cat, who gave me the stink eye and was all "woman, enough reading smut, go to sleep already"). I love Kingsley. He's very swoon-worthy.

Many people have been all "Oh this is the book where I learned to love Soren." Not me. Still hate him. He got more interesting with his "Flowers in the Attic" backstory. Which, I must say, I knew he'd have a messed up past. Not because he's a sadist, because this is literary fiction, and really it's required that every major character have a backstory of something along the lines of "OMG SO MUCH DOOM! A PLAGUE! LOCUSTS! LIGHTNING STRUCK MY PUPPY AND I WAS NEVER THE SAME!" But the nice thing with the Original Sinners is that you get all the doom of literary fiction with the scorching hot, fabulous sex of erotica.

So yes, my hate for Soren continues. It did put me on Team Griffin, though. In fact, I know the exact moment I joined Team Griffin. It was this moment:

"Let's just say we have an ongoing difference of opinion. My opinion is that he's a pretentious arrogant prick, and he disagrees with that."

I wanted to hug him. His storyline with Michael was so good. Seriously, people. Especially the bit at the end where they confront Michael's jerk father. Love it.

I have a lot more to say about this book. Like I also hated Suzanne and hope she never shows up again. Or how I'm curious about the Wesley of it all and wondering where that's going. Or how Griffin's butler cracked me up. Or how every time Kingsley asks "Have you ever had sex in the back of a Rolls Royce?" I'm all "I am intrigued, please do go on." (But not with Suzanne! Dammit!)

Can't wait for the next book. :)

[rosetyper9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Well, I saw Michael's outcome from the beginning but it didn't make it any less awesome. I loved the storyline and could have been perfectly fine with just Michael and Griffin. But....Ms Reisz gives us Nora, Soren, Wes, and all the sinners we love.

I wanted more Wes in this book but...I know he is in The Prince. I though this book was tamer than the last one but Ms. Reisz has no problems wounding, maiming, and otherwise debauching her characters. The background on Soren was good but I am still trying to balance how he can be what he is with where he came from and what he grew up with.

It was great, on to The Prince.

[bwsmith816-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it. -Song of Solomon 8:7 I don't even know where to start. This series is phenomenal. The story lines are compelling. The characters are beautifully flawed and complex. And the writing is simply exquisite. When a reporter takes an interest in Søren, Nora goes into hiding with the young and beautiful Michael. Nora and Michael head to Griffin Fiske's country estate, where Nora begins Michael training. Regardless of the entertaining company, Nora still finds her mind plagued with thoughts of Søren and the other man who holds part of her heart."Would she ever know what love without pain felt like? Did such a thing even exist." After the first book, I wasn't sure how I felt about Søren, but I am definitely feeling the love now. Nothing is black or white. Learning about his past helped put things in perspective for me. Is he terrifying, yes. But, his feelings for Nora feel very genuine and true.“Michael, Eleanor is without a doubt the most beautiful woman who has ever or will ever live. If you could take a nighttime thunderstorm and turn it into a woman, you would have a very good idea what she looks like. And a fairly good idea how she behaves as well.” One of my favorite things about this series so far, is that I have no idea what I want to happen! All I do know is, I adore Nora.

[ssperson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book much better than the first book in the series. I loved Griffin and Michael, and Nora and Søren didn't bug me as much in this book. I still don't think Nora is someone I'd be able to be friends with, but no one is asking me to.

There were some editing problems in the book, but they are probably only problematic to people, like me, who can't turn off their damned internal editor. :)

(Yes, Cyndy, you can say "I told you so" now.)

[christineellei · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A small stone angel, the primary figure in a Irish legend may be real, and may be the reason people in Boston are being killed. This book held potential when I read the back cover, and it was a light entertaining read. Nothing I would overwhelmingly recommend.

[glenajo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As the second in Negger's FBI series, this book provides several hours of interesting diversion. Keira travels to Ireland to discover more about her roots and learn about the land of her father, whom she has never met. Keira stumbles across a stone angel and a new love interest as she attempts to unravel an old Irish tale and the occurrences of today..

[dianaleez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An airport read? This is extemely predictable with pretty much stock characters. But sometimes that's what one wants. It was my last Neggers buy - which is sad since she can do so much better than she is at the moment.