Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Witness the Beginning...



One night at the town carnival will change Erin’s life forever. What was supposed to be a fun and harmless trip to the mysterious fortune teller, turned out to be something much worse. Unable to handle what the decrepit woman reveals, Erin quickly flees, running headlong into Angelo, a captivating and dangerously attractive carnival employee. When he appears in her dreams later that night, she learns that there just might be more to him than meets the eye. He’s not the only one that is in her dreams though. There is a darkness lurking in the shadows, creeping closer and threatening to destroy her.
Tragedy strikes, leaving Erin devastated and alone, forcing her with no other option to but to trust Angelo. Loyalties are tested and lines of friendship begin to blur as long hidden truths
come to light. Fate begins to bear down upon them all. Everyone has secrets but when
some turn out to be more than heart wrenching, Erin has to decide who she can
trust.
Can Erin deal with the harsh past that Angelo has been hiding or will it prevent her from doing what she was Chosen to do?

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2011

12 people are currently reading
478 people want to read

About the author

Christine James

41 books58 followers
Hmmm so something interesting about myself eh? Well let's see. I live in small town Missouri and I grew up in an even smaller town. I am happily married with two sons. I am the eldest of three as well as the only girl. We are a very tight knit family and my brothers are my best friends. I believe friends are important in life and everyone needs at least one.

I have loved to write for as long as I can remember. I DO NOT write for the money. I write because so many authors over the years have taken me to so many wonderful places; from tropical islands, to swash buckling adventures; from the twisted mind of a psyco, to the magical world of witches, vampires and fairies. My wish is that I can create a world someone can get lost in, if only for just a few hours. I write all types of stories. Paranormal, murder mystery, pirate adventures, and westerns. Most will have some sort of romance in them, but that is usually not the main focus.

While writing is my passion, it is not my only one. I also make and decorate cakes, but my most important accomplishments in my life are my kids and my husband. Without them I would not be able to do what I love to do.

Feel free to contact me i would love to hear from you;

www.facebook.com/christinejames28
christinejames28@ymail.com
www.christinejames28.blogspot.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
88 (50%)
4 stars
50 (28%)
3 stars
31 (17%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Lissette.
Author 27 books104 followers
February 20, 2013
For as long as he can remember, the birth of the 'chosen one' has been foretold. Be it male or female, he or she will put a stop to Lucifer's intended reign. Traveling long and far for centuries, Angelo has done his best to find the one whose birth has been foretold. He knows the 'chosen one's' arrival is imminent. He just doesn't know when the birth will be. Never-the-less, he is determined to fulfill the duty that has been assigned to him.

When he comes across the beautiful Erin, something about her draws his interest. While he can't quite put his finger on what sets her apart, he knows he must do his best to protect her. It soon becomes apparent that she's the one he's been looking for all this time. Sadly, he's not the only who's come to the realization that the 'chosen one' has finally been born.

Lucifer's minions are intent on putting a stop to what the prophecy has portended. They now know Erin is the key. Her safety and security is Angelo's utmost goal, something he will give his very life for in order to achieve. He promised long ago that he'd make sure the duty he was given would be carried out, and now he has the chance to prove himself worthy of that task.

While Erin may not trust him completely, he's delighted to find that she's willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. Granted, she doesn't want to believe that she is what he says she is. If they're to outrun Lucifer and his guards in hopes of putting a stop to his sordid reign, they'll need to set aside their differences, and work together to make that happen, once and for all.

The premise of this story captures the reader's attention from the get-go. I've read quite a good many stories about angels/fallen angels, but nothing like what Christine has put together for us. It was honestly a very nice read. I did encounter a couple spots where typos were present along with some missing punctuation, but I didn't let that detract from reading. The ending was a nice little cliffhanger that certainly keeps the reader guessing as to what happens next. Looking forward to book two.
Profile Image for Joan (official heroine hater).
276 reviews39 followers
April 24, 2012
I don't understand all the high ratings for this book-did I read the same book?? This was just awful from beginning to end. The writing was bad (and I had a re-edited version-still had a ton of mistakes), the story totally unoriginal, and the characters were lame. The main protagonist needed a serious smack upside the head-what an idiot. She spent most of her time "sobbing" or screaming. Just plain bad...
1 review
October 11, 2013
This was an excellent book about fallen angels, demons and nephilium. It grabbed my attention and kept it during the first chapter. It had the all the elements to keep me riveted- intrigue, mystery, humor and most importantly a great love triangle. I highly recommend this book! ~KellyAnn, Great Books
Profile Image for Sarah Carey.
1 review1 follower
September 22, 2013
I loved this book. It got me hooked from the very start. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. Too bad I have to wait until Jan. I recommend it to everyone. Try it, I promise you'll love it! I plan on reading it again right before the next book comes out. Thanks Christine James!
Profile Image for Sandra Love.
Author 11 books276 followers
October 11, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Erin meets Angelo at the carnival. After that she feels like she's being watched. Yes that would creep me out as well. I liked them. Together. This is a great book between angels and demons. I can't wait for more. Loved it so much. I highly recommend this book. :-)
Profile Image for Shealynn.
111 reviews16 followers
August 11, 2011
This book was great! Drew me in so fast and I couldn't put it down!
Profile Image for Kristin Campbell.
Author 8 books180 followers
January 12, 2013
I could not put this book down! I love angel stories. This book was filled with betrayal, love triangle, heartache, sorrow. Loved every minute of it. Just wish there was more buildup.
Profile Image for Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books.
523 reviews143 followers
September 12, 2012
This review is also at my blog, check it out, I have an expert there too for you to enjoy. Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books

(No Spoilers)
Wow, what can I say, I loved this book, has a great story, about fallen angels, and a chosen one that comes from the bloodlines of Archangel Michael. It’s quite different than any other fallen angel books I had read. Its fast paced and easy to read. I read the Re-edited version, and it’s very well done, very few minor mistakes that really don’t matter is all I seen. I was caught up in the story of Erin and Angelo, that I didn’t care anyway. It’s not all about them, there is a great story here, so it’s got the romance too, but it’s not just about the romance, which I found refreshing. The best part in a way, not huge cliffhanger, doesn’t end like you’re in the middle of a chapter, I really hate when authors do that, so I loved that. I am still ready and anxious to read the next one, but in a way that I don’t feel forced to, to see what happens in the climax that ended before done. You know what I mean; we don’t have that torture here.

I found the romance between Angelo and Erin very steamy, when they were not fighting their feelings for each other. I didn’t love Erin right away, but she grew on me, and thinking about what she had been through, I could not really blame her for anything she did.

I will say, in the beginning there is a part when Angelo was looking for the chosen one, when he found her many Greats-grand-dad, he mentioned the violet eyes (eyes that are the same as Erin) then, that this man was not really the father to the baby that carries the “chosen” ones line (his wife). I thought there had to be a mistake, but it gets explained so when you get to that, just keep reading, it all gets explained and makes sense.

I like how this story takes place over time, not just Angelo trying to find the chosen one over time, but when he finds her, Erin, the time from then, to the end, is at least several months I believe. Meaning it made it more believable in this world, her being trained, and their attraction turns to love, not just because of the “link” they have. (they are meant to be together, like soul mates) They don’t just instantly fall into bed, but they did want too, lol, but that’s ok, it was fun to read, and pulls you into the story.

I won’t say more on this just that, it’s a great book, written very well. I really look forward to the next 2 books, called Risen and The Final Redemption I hope I get a chance to review these for Christine, they are defiantly books I want to read. In this first book at least, I am happy to see there isn’t your usual “love triangle” I mean there is a small part that happens with someone else, after Angelo keeps pushing Erin away, but there never was a threat of him losing her, as their “link” is strong.

I only have one thing to say that I don’t like, it’s the cover. I think a better done cover would help a lot. But give it a chance, I highly recommend this book. It’s not YA either, more New Adult (Erin is just turning 21, lives on her own) There is some sexual content and some fighting type violence, 17 up should be ok, and adults will enjoy this too.
5 out of 5 stars for my rating.

Here are a few teasers for you below to enjoy.

“You will find her,” he gasped. “She is in my blood.” The boy coughed and sucked in one last sharp breath. As that breath hissed out between his lips, his head lolled to the side. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and dropped onto the already bloody grass. He was gone.
Angelo sat back on his haunches. “It’s a girl?” he mused out loud. A girl was going to save his kind, as well as the human race. He stared down at the boy.


And here is another one

Angelo’s hair was pulled back tightly and secured at the nape of his neck. It was hard to tell, but it looked to be black as coal. The flashing lights seemed to make it shimmer. His cheekbones were high and hidden beneath dark stubble. Normally, she wouldn’t have found that attractive, but for some reason, it was immensely appealing at that moment. Dark eyebrows sat neatly above light gray eyes. Huh? she thought. She could have sworn they were dark gray earlier, but as she looked at them again, they seemed to grow lighter before her eyes. They were the exact shade of a new nickel. His eyes were fringed by thick black lashes, the type of lashes most women dreamed about having. Damn, he’s flawless.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review.


Profile Image for Lorinda Cockrell.
108 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2019
This book captured my full attention from the beginning. Erin and Angelo fighting what lies deep within them, while fighting the evil that has come to destroy her.

This book and the series are a must read! You will not be disappointed!
85 reviews
July 12, 2021
Great

Read this book years ago and loved it then, reread it now and it is amazing. I will not reread the second book as I remember not liking it and it making me sad but this book is an amazing read!
Profile Image for Celeste.
690 reviews42 followers
October 6, 2012
This was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup here .

**This book was submitted to The Book Hookup but that did not influence the review**

My review: I love books with angels so I was pretty excited to start this, not to mention the cover is wicked cool.

The story:
The heroine, Erin, lives in a very small town and knows everyone who lives there. After a night at the annual carnival she meets someone she has never seen before: Angelo. Of course he is gorgeous, and has sliver grey eyes that are sometimes light, and sometimes dark. For whatever reason Erin has an attraction to him, and as much as she tries to ignore the attraction she physically can’t. I know, right? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

It doesn’t take Erin long to know something is “not normal”, and luckily Angelo begins to give her details. This story is told in just the right way, with just the right amount of clues being given out so the story can build slowly. I won’t say any more about the plot since I don’t want to spoil. You’ll just have to read to see where the story goes. ;)

The characters:

Erin: I liked her immediately. She is honest with her feelings and someone I’d want to be friends with.
Angelo: A sexy hero; perfect face, perfect body, and who can forget he has silver eyes?
Anna: Your typical bff. Fun and giggly.
Blaze: Angelo’s best friend and I have 2 words for him: raw sex. Come on guys, just give in to passion! lol
Angie: Bitchy and sexy, but I think she and Erin will end up becoming friends.

The romance:
Well, there is definitely a hot physical attraction on both sides. I loved how they mentally talked to each other. My teensy gripe here is that they were a little too “in love”, followed by breaking up, then back to forgiveness all so quickly. However, Erin and Angelo are linked to be mates which means they have an undeniable attraction on both a physical and emotional level that isn’t normal to begin with. So, on that note, I tried to make peace with the relationship that didn’t happen quite naturally in my mind. I also prefer a slow buildup and lots of angst rather than just going at it. However, it was still enjoyable if you catch my drift *fans self*.

Plot twist:
Didn’t see that coming! I was surprised at the development of learning who killed Erin’s mother. I was totally not expecting that. Or that. Ha! I would tell you but then it would spoil! The book went from really enjoyable and semi-predictable to ooooooh, I like this twist even though I’m biting my nails.

The ending:
Typical in the way there was a big battle scene, but it’s scenes like this where we learn many truths, people’s loyalties and true potential of powers. The book ended on a great note without a cliffhanger and a nice happily ever after. However, there’s still danger lurking as the main bad guy will probably regroup and try once again to rule the earth.

Rec it?
Yes! It’s a great quick read and a romance. Not for the younger crowd.
Profile Image for BookHookup.
1,403 reviews108 followers
October 6, 2012
This was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup here .

**This book was submitted to The Book Hookup but that did not influence the review**

Celeste’s review: I love books with angels so I was pretty excited to start this, not to mention the cover is wicked cool.

The story:
The heroine, Erin, lives in a very small town and knows everyone who lives there. After a night at the annual carnival she meets someone she has never seen before: Angelo. Of course he is gorgeous, and has sliver grey eyes that are sometimes light, and sometimes dark. For whatever reason Erin has an attraction to him, and as much as she tries to ignore the attraction she physically can’t. I know, right? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

It doesn’t take Erin long to know something is “not normal”, and luckily Angelo begins to give her details. This story is told in just the right way, with just the right amount of clues being given out so the story can build slowly. I won’t say any more about the plot since I don’t want to spoil. You’ll just have to read to see where the story goes. ;)

The characters:

Erin: I liked her immediately. She is honest with her feelings and someone I’d want to be friends with.
Angelo: A sexy hero; perfect face, perfect body, and who can forget he has silver eyes?
Anna: Your typical bff. Fun and giggly.
Blaze: Angelo’s best friend and I have 2 words for him: raw sex. Come on guys, just give in to passion! lol
Angie: Bitchy and sexy, but I think she and Erin will end up becoming friends.

The romance:
Well, there is definitely a hot physical attraction on both sides. I loved how they mentally talked to each other. My teensy gripe here is that they were a little too “in love”, followed by breaking up, then back to forgiveness all so quickly. However, Erin and Angelo are linked to be mates which means they have an undeniable attraction on both a physical and emotional level that isn’t normal to begin with. So, on that note, I tried to make peace with the relationship that didn’t happen quite naturally in my mind. I also prefer a slow buildup and lots of angst rather than just going at it. However, it was still enjoyable if you catch my drift *fans self*.

Plot twist:
Didn’t see that coming! I was surprised at the development of learning who killed Erin’s mother. I was totally not expecting that. Or that. Ha! I would tell you but then it would spoil! The book went from really enjoyable and semi-predictable to ooooooh, I like this twist even though I’m biting my nails.

The ending:
Typical in the way there was a big battle scene, but it’s scenes like this where we learn many truths, people’s loyalties and true potential of powers. The book ended on a great note without a cliffhanger and a nice happily ever after. However, there’s still danger lurking as the main bad guy will probably regroup and try once again to rule the earth.

Rec it?
Yes! It’s a great quick read and a romance. Not for the younger crowd.
Profile Image for Amy Freese.
81 reviews15 followers
October 17, 2013
I received this book, digital version, in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been a reader, and I have enjoyed many genres. From time to time when I start a new book, I like the thrill of just jumping in head first. Rather like taking on a blind date, a sense of not knowing what to expect. That is how I chose to approach this book, with not much idea of what it dealt with. I am very glad I did!! The ride of twists and questions waiting for answers was so much better for me!

The Chosen Chronicles: Risen has an intriguing back history for its main characters. I do not believe in giving spoilers, so "Angels" is all I will mention about it. At first I was riddled with questions, wondering what the point was for certain things. Part of this for me, was just due to adjusting to the style of the author. Both main characters, Angelo and Erin, became very real to me. The author, Christine James, did a very good job helping me get to know them, their personalities. As I was brought farther into the Angel world, the suspense became more tangible and understandable. There are real world troubles for them that anyone could relate to. Since Angelo and Erin are not fully human, there are non-human struggles to overcome as well. Even those issues felt real for me. I found that I "grew" with Erin in the story. The Erin I first met in the story is very changed by the end, in ways Angelo is too. The supporting characters are just as defined, just as easy to see. I have to say that I found Blaze to be a rather brilliant and refreshing add!

In order to be up front, only a couple things were distracting within the reading. I did come across some edit issues. That has become a rather "regular" thing with some ebooks, so I can say they were minor in comparison to some. The only other thing is more of a personal one. Christine James uses the phrase "wife beater" in relating to clothing, more than once. That is not a phrase used where I am from, it took some time for me to follow her meaning. Plus the mental image that term did create for me contrasted greatly to the reading...it was a bit distracting. Again that is a personal thing, anyone familiar with the term may not even have noticed.

I thoroughly DID enjoy this tale, I liked her creativity and how she brought it all together. In some ways I would have loved MORE depth or background at points. Given how the authors style with enlightenment flowed, I am holding out hope for that MORE to be in the next book. 4 stars :)
Profile Image for Briar.
477 reviews82 followers
November 16, 2011
I really, really want to give this book 4 stars, but I can't. The basic concept of the story was very good, but it seems like this book was rushed. Maybe it's just my copy, or maybe it's been edited more since I bought my copy, but there were a lot of typos in this book. To me, the number of misused words (not that this is an example from the book, but what I mean by "misused" is something like "they're" versus "their" or "there"), repeated phrases within the same sentence (such as something like "she held out her she held out her hand"), and terms that were used constantly took this down a star. I probably would have given it 4 stars, but I think it needs more editing. Overall, it was a pretty good story about angels and demons, love, and of course a "chosen one" (what kind of fantasy would be complete without one?) who can save the world.


I think that with a few days of editing (to make sure everything reads well), this book would be great.


**Once again I must add that the examples I gave are not taken from the actual book, they are examples I made up to demonstrate my point.
Profile Image for S.j..
Author 9 books236 followers
May 28, 2013
Risen is about Erin, a young woman with no family, only one friend, and has horrible nightmares. One night she meets Angelo at a carnival and feels instantly connected him. After meeting him her nightmares become worse. She also begins to experience strange/uncomfortable feelings of someone watching her. An attempt on Erin's life causes Angelo to reveal that he is really an angel and has been watching over her entire family line for hundreds of years. Angelo takes her to a place where he can watch over her, protect her, and train her to defend herself against the demons chasing after her.
I don't want to say/give away too much more than that. This book was great! The chemistry between the characters is amazing. You can feel the zing between them as you read. The plot is solid and well done. The story is also paced well. If you enjoy paranormal/fantasy romances you will really enjoy this one. I will definitely be picking up more from Ms. James.
Profile Image for Bookmark Barbie.
37 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2013
5 stars! I absolutely loved everything about Risen! I read it in one sitting! I refused to put this book down because frankly I didn't want to! It was just that great! I fell in love with the characters and caught myself secretly wishing they were real :) (shh don't tell) I felt the love and passion between Angelo and Erin. They kept teasing me because every time I would think they were going to be intimate something would happen and I wanted to just slap them both and throw them in bed together! Lol the connection they had was so powerful that it just left me in total awe! Wow! I'm still experiencing the after effects of this book! I would definitely recommend this book. It has the great battle between angels and demons plus an intense love story and many friendships. I am honestly in love with these characters and I can't wait to read Bloodlines! Thank you Christine for allowing me to read this addicting story!
Profile Image for Patti Snyder.
55 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2014
I love paranormal/romance books. Risen was my first experience reading about fallen angels. This book drew me in right from the start. I was so intrigued that I had a hard time putting this book down to eat and sleep. It has everything I love in the books I read. a strong female, a hot, sexy male,romance, heartbreak and a villain. I know it is a good book when I not only laugh and weep but I talk back to the characters sometimes. Christine Jame accomplished all of that. I am surely looking forward to reading the next two books in the Chosen Chronicle series.
Profile Image for Nola Arganbright.
1,592 reviews32 followers
December 5, 2013
One of the best written Paranormal Romances that I have read. This is a story of Good vs Evil. The characters are descendents of Angels. The good Angel and the Fallen Angel.
I was so amazed at the easy flow of the story throughout all of the action and character building. There is heat and strong chemistry between Angelo and Erin the main characters. The story line is strong and the writing excellent!
Profile Image for Gare Bear.
122 reviews7 followers
February 10, 2014
This book had a little bit of everything in it. It has a great story and Christine really knows how to draw the reader in. The only issue I had was a little bit of the editing, but overall it's an amazing book and a great start to the series. I couldn't put the book down. The supernatural elements were handled really well, and the attraction the characters have are really well played out. I was so engrossed that by the end, I had to start the second book. Very much worth the read.
Profile Image for Penny Harmon.
Author 17 books89 followers
April 10, 2016
While I normally stick to contemporary romance, I can honestly say that Christine James has completely turned things around for me.

From the moment I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. The characters come to life right from the beginning when Erin first meets Angelo. The sexual tension between the two characters is extremely well written and pulls you right in.

I can honestly say that I will definitely be reading more work by Christine James.
Profile Image for Melissa.
87 reviews4 followers
June 22, 2013
This was awesome. I've read only 1 other series about Nephilim/Angles but I am hooked after reading Risen. There are those books that you just can't put down, this is one, I fiished it in 2 days and I plan on reading it again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, you will not be disappointed. Can't wait to read more from Christine James!
1 review1 follower
July 9, 2013


Awesome book. It is one of those books that you start reading and your world stops until you finish the book. My sister read the entire book 2 days after I read it and we can't wait for the author, Christine James to release the next book. Great job Christine!!!!
Profile Image for Meredith Joshua.
3 reviews
June 22, 2013
Amazing book! Was hooked from the beginning and couldn't wait to read the next book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.