Author: Leta Blake
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 90 Pages (Kindle)
Category: Fantasy
At a Glance: Once again, as she often does so eloquently, Leta Blake poked me right in the feels, and I’m not even sorry about it.
Reviewed By: Lisa
Blurb: The Archangel Michael is tired. He fought wars and shoved his brother Lucifer out of heaven all before the Dark Ages rolled around. His role as protector of Israel now encompasses all of humanity, and while he performs his job perfectly, there’s little personal joy in it.
Until one night in a bar when he meets Asher.
Michael isn’t sure what it is about the vulnerable, self-deprecating Asher that calls to him, but something about his restrained depths, gentle smiles, and encyclopedic knowledge of flowers tugs at Michael in a way that can’t be denied. Too bad romance isn’t part of his mission.
Facing an eternity of perfect submission to God’s authority, rebellion stirs in Michael. Questions of free will, angelic vocation, and the role of love and lust demand answers that just might cost Michael his place in heaven.
Warnings: this novella contains urban fantasy, wings, angels doing unangelic things, erotic content, and playful blasphemy.
Review: To quote the brilliant Oscar Wilde, “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” Temptation—it’s been excellent fodder for fiction since the serpent tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And seriously, what’s more tempting than forbidden love?
Leta Blake’s Angel Undone is the story of ultimate temptation in the seductive lure of desire and the bonds of a soul-deep connection between the Archangel Michael and a human he’s been sent by the Father to save. Asher Rosenthal is an unhappy man living an unfulfilling life. Middle aged, unemployed, and denying himself the right to be happy, Asher is fighting—and losing—an internal battle. He can’t be gay. It goes against everything his religion has taught him, not to mention his own father, and it’s at the moment that Asher is considering taking his first baby steps into exploring his sexuality that Michael falls into his life.
There is always something so seductive about the corruption of the incorruptible, isn’t there? Which is one of the reasons I adored this story so much. Angels are legion, servants of Heaven and beholden to Him… Until the unthinkable happens and that angel falls in love with a human. I really liked the twist on theology in this story, and the idea that God, in His infinite wisdom and glory, wants love for all mankind and not just those whom society deems acceptable.
And then, obviously, there’s Lucifer. Where would a temptation story be without the Angel of Darkness himself? I couldn’t get enough of him and his deliciously wicked self, and loved the irreverent humor he brings to the story.
The relationship that grows between Asher and Michael is sweet and seductive. There’s no shortage of chemistry between these two men, and no shortage of anticipation in how their story will unfold and then, ultimately, resolve. The idea of freewill versus duty is a major stumbling block on the road to their happily ever after. How could it not be when Michael isn’t in control of his own existence, and Asher has been forced by fear to live his entire adult life in the closet?
Once again, as she often does so eloquently, Leta Blake poked me right in the feels, and I’m not even sorry about it. Angel Undone is one of those stories that’s exactly what you expect it to be, in only the best possible way. It’s romance with a soupçon of angst, sweet with just the right amount of spice, and poignant with exactly the right amount of cheek to keep it from becoming overdramatic.
You can buy Angel Undone here:
[zilla_button url=”http://amzn.to/29HiVx8″ style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon US [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B01I0U4ODU?d” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon Int’l [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel-undone-leta-blake/1124068245?ean=2940158408168″ style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Barnes & Noble [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-angelundone-2064100-351.html” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] All Romance eBooks [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/angel-undone” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Kobo [/zilla_button]