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Abbey of Angels #1
Ardeur
Desperate to evict her demon, Ardeur persuades the Angel of Death to intercede; but the consequences are worse than she realizes. He’s playing for keeps. Her freedom might be the end of Ardeur’s relationship with Brody and a life away from everything she never thought she’d have in the arms of a werewolf with dimples and a charmer’s grin.
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First published August 22, 2010
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February 7, 2011
Ardeur, or Ardy as we get to call our heroine, grew up being feared and disliked by her own family. Most of this has to do with the fact that she can see and communicate with the dead – a natural trait for a necromancer, but not exactly something a parent wishes for their offspring. Even though her parents aren’t that fond of Ardy (this being an extreme understatement), they do manage to use her for one very interesting purpose: money. From a very young age, Ardy is forced to hold séances, summon spirits and practice black magic of the worst kind. Like this wasn’t enough reason to call forth the child protection services; her parents decide they need to take things a bit further and they actually sell Ardy to a bunch of people who are definately up to no good. Not only do they summon the spirit of a demon, Shade, and put him in the young child’s body, but they are also the ones who order said demon to commit a series of gruesome murders. Plagued by the fact her own body is used as a killing machine and is co-inhabitated by a demon who keeps telling her she is useless and no one ever loved her, Ardy swears to get rid of the demon someday and grasp control of her own body again.
A couple of years and a whole lot of murders later, Ardy keeps up to that promise. Pushing the demon to the back of her mind, she takes back control of her own life. But the fight definately isn’t over: still tormented by the demon, chased by her previous kidnappers, and she finally discovers a part of herself she had no clue existed up till now. But more than that, Ardeur is torn between two possible lovers. On the one side, there’s the alpha werewolf Brody – currently without a home – who has loved her ever since he laid his eyes upon her more than ten years ago. But on the other side is Death itself, dark and cruel and capable of unimaginable things. However, the latter might have a touch of goodness and compassion inside of him, and not all things are as they seem, as Ardeur struggles not only with who and what she really is, but also with who she loves – and how far she is willing to go to hold on to that love.
Possession is Nine Tenths: Ardeur was a nice surprise. I had expected this novel to be entertaining, but I hadn’t expected it to focus on so many different things, and actually build a rich and wonderful world where humans and angels, demons, necromancers, etc. live side by side. Ardeur started out quite dark, with the dispatchment of an unwanted child. The parents stroke me as cruel, uncompassionate and uncaring, but throughout the novel it became quite clear that in fact, Ardy’s parents were more freaked out than anything else. They probably feared their own daughter, or atleast it scared them that she was something other than normal. I liked this evolution and explenation, and I could actually relate and understand her parents a little bit as the story continued. It can’t be easy to have a daughter who talks to a dead nanny and plays with the souls of children long gone and is destined to become a full-grown necromancer. Of course that’s no excuse, but I felt relieved that I atleast got to know why her parents disliked Ardeur.
Even from the start, Ardeur is a strong, independent and intelligent young girl, but as she grows up – carefully hidden in her own mind, behind the demon in charge – those qualities only strenghtened. I loved her personality, and the way Danielle Gavan described her fears and paranoia was absolutely spot on. Once freed from Shade, she is determined to live a life on her own, even though that will be difficult if not impossible with her previous kidnappers still looking for her. But no matter how courageous and determined Ardeur is, the first thought that comes to mind when following her through her new found life is ‘lost’. She is still just as lost as she was when her parents sold her to the highest bidder and turned her into a vessel for a vindictive and evil demon.
I loved the strong feelings and topics that were touched throughout this novel: abandonement, love, friendship, courage, independence, fear. I absolutely adored the fact that although Ardeur is always looking for a real home, and a real family, it takes practically till the end of the novel before she finds that. Before she finds a place she can call home, and people she can call family. The relationship between Brody and Ardeur is heart-warming, bittersweet and very touching. I wasn’t completely convinced of the character of Brody at first – he seemed sort of random, and I didn’t like the cliché that he felt some sort of connection with Ardeur and then went to look for her after ten or so years, plus I wasn’t fond of the possible werewolf-necromancer relationship – but he developed into an admirable character.
The story is deep, very deep, especially for a fantasy novel. As I already mentioned, it touches so many sensitive and interesting topics, and waves them into one fast-paced, well-written and highly entertaining story. It’s very dark though, a lot darker than I had at first anticipated, but that’s the part that makes this novel more than ‘just another fantasy story’ and turns it into something a lot more memorable and interesting.
Now here’s the part that I didn’t like about the novel. Caution: there are some minor spoilers in this paragraph. I didn’t understand the way Ardeur reacted to Azrael when she figured out he was actually the one that caused her to be the person she is today, although it was quite clear that without his interference, she would have died. Personally, I think I would have reacted quite differently. For starters, this is the Angel of Death we’re talking about. The Angel of Death who actually breaks a bazillion heavenly rules and turns against everything he stands for to save the life of one human baby. But then Ardeur gets upset because she blames Azrael for her miserable life, the fact that her body got inhabited by a demon for over ten years and the fact that her parents never really loved her. Uhm, hello? Wake up call needed much? In my opinion, the Angel of Death did quite enough. What was he supposed to do? Check up on the baby he already did a lot more for than anyone could expect from him? He was supposed to kill her. He risked everything to save her. But hey, let’s all be angry at the fellow because he didn’t check up on that baby. Let’s blame him for the horrible life she had, and all the horror and tragedies she had to go through. Because that’s totally fair. Didn’t think so. If I was Ardy, I would have been thanking him from the bottom of my heart – because atleast she got to live a life, thanks to him. Saving someone’s life doesn’t mean you are responsible for what happens to them next. It actually dissapointed me that Ardy didn’t figure that one out by now.
Needless to say that up until a couple of chapters from the end, I was actually more a fan of the pairing Azrael/Ardeur than Ardeur/Brody. I still think it would have been a better fit, although it’s quite clear that Ardeur really loves Brody. But oh well, I’m a creative reader, I’m allowed to think about alternative endings.
Putting that aside, I did really enjoy reading Possession is Nine Tenths: Ardeur, and I would recommend it to all fantasy fans. It might be dark and angsty, but it actually has a message to get across: that no matter how tough life is, and no matter if you’re on your own, you have to keep going on. You have to find the courage and determination within yourself to make life work, no matter what. And you should never stop believing in love, because at the moment when you least expect it, or when you need it the most, there will be someone who loves you. That’s a very strong and hopeful message, that perfectly fits with this extraordinary and remarkable novel.
Read the review on my book review blog.
A couple of years and a whole lot of murders later, Ardy keeps up to that promise. Pushing the demon to the back of her mind, she takes back control of her own life. But the fight definately isn’t over: still tormented by the demon, chased by her previous kidnappers, and she finally discovers a part of herself she had no clue existed up till now. But more than that, Ardeur is torn between two possible lovers. On the one side, there’s the alpha werewolf Brody – currently without a home – who has loved her ever since he laid his eyes upon her more than ten years ago. But on the other side is Death itself, dark and cruel and capable of unimaginable things. However, the latter might have a touch of goodness and compassion inside of him, and not all things are as they seem, as Ardeur struggles not only with who and what she really is, but also with who she loves – and how far she is willing to go to hold on to that love.
Possession is Nine Tenths: Ardeur was a nice surprise. I had expected this novel to be entertaining, but I hadn’t expected it to focus on so many different things, and actually build a rich and wonderful world where humans and angels, demons, necromancers, etc. live side by side. Ardeur started out quite dark, with the dispatchment of an unwanted child. The parents stroke me as cruel, uncompassionate and uncaring, but throughout the novel it became quite clear that in fact, Ardy’s parents were more freaked out than anything else. They probably feared their own daughter, or atleast it scared them that she was something other than normal. I liked this evolution and explenation, and I could actually relate and understand her parents a little bit as the story continued. It can’t be easy to have a daughter who talks to a dead nanny and plays with the souls of children long gone and is destined to become a full-grown necromancer. Of course that’s no excuse, but I felt relieved that I atleast got to know why her parents disliked Ardeur.
Even from the start, Ardeur is a strong, independent and intelligent young girl, but as she grows up – carefully hidden in her own mind, behind the demon in charge – those qualities only strenghtened. I loved her personality, and the way Danielle Gavan described her fears and paranoia was absolutely spot on. Once freed from Shade, she is determined to live a life on her own, even though that will be difficult if not impossible with her previous kidnappers still looking for her. But no matter how courageous and determined Ardeur is, the first thought that comes to mind when following her through her new found life is ‘lost’. She is still just as lost as she was when her parents sold her to the highest bidder and turned her into a vessel for a vindictive and evil demon.
I loved the strong feelings and topics that were touched throughout this novel: abandonement, love, friendship, courage, independence, fear. I absolutely adored the fact that although Ardeur is always looking for a real home, and a real family, it takes practically till the end of the novel before she finds that. Before she finds a place she can call home, and people she can call family. The relationship between Brody and Ardeur is heart-warming, bittersweet and very touching. I wasn’t completely convinced of the character of Brody at first – he seemed sort of random, and I didn’t like the cliché that he felt some sort of connection with Ardeur and then went to look for her after ten or so years, plus I wasn’t fond of the possible werewolf-necromancer relationship – but he developed into an admirable character.
The story is deep, very deep, especially for a fantasy novel. As I already mentioned, it touches so many sensitive and interesting topics, and waves them into one fast-paced, well-written and highly entertaining story. It’s very dark though, a lot darker than I had at first anticipated, but that’s the part that makes this novel more than ‘just another fantasy story’ and turns it into something a lot more memorable and interesting.
Now here’s the part that I didn’t like about the novel. Caution: there are some minor spoilers in this paragraph. I didn’t understand the way Ardeur reacted to Azrael when she figured out he was actually the one that caused her to be the person she is today, although it was quite clear that without his interference, she would have died. Personally, I think I would have reacted quite differently. For starters, this is the Angel of Death we’re talking about. The Angel of Death who actually breaks a bazillion heavenly rules and turns against everything he stands for to save the life of one human baby. But then Ardeur gets upset because she blames Azrael for her miserable life, the fact that her body got inhabited by a demon for over ten years and the fact that her parents never really loved her. Uhm, hello? Wake up call needed much? In my opinion, the Angel of Death did quite enough. What was he supposed to do? Check up on the baby he already did a lot more for than anyone could expect from him? He was supposed to kill her. He risked everything to save her. But hey, let’s all be angry at the fellow because he didn’t check up on that baby. Let’s blame him for the horrible life she had, and all the horror and tragedies she had to go through. Because that’s totally fair. Didn’t think so. If I was Ardy, I would have been thanking him from the bottom of my heart – because atleast she got to live a life, thanks to him. Saving someone’s life doesn’t mean you are responsible for what happens to them next. It actually dissapointed me that Ardy didn’t figure that one out by now.
Needless to say that up until a couple of chapters from the end, I was actually more a fan of the pairing Azrael/Ardeur than Ardeur/Brody. I still think it would have been a better fit, although it’s quite clear that Ardeur really loves Brody. But oh well, I’m a creative reader, I’m allowed to think about alternative endings.
Putting that aside, I did really enjoy reading Possession is Nine Tenths: Ardeur, and I would recommend it to all fantasy fans. It might be dark and angsty, but it actually has a message to get across: that no matter how tough life is, and no matter if you’re on your own, you have to keep going on. You have to find the courage and determination within yourself to make life work, no matter what. And you should never stop believing in love, because at the moment when you least expect it, or when you need it the most, there will be someone who loves you. That’s a very strong and hopeful message, that perfectly fits with this extraordinary and remarkable novel.
Read the review on my book review blog.
September 14, 2011
The premise of this book is one I found very original and, considering the extremely large cast of characters, is one that can be sustained throughout a number of books. Ardeur presents an intriguing look into the world of angels and is entertaining and full of memorable characters whose future stories will make for interesting reading. And while I found some issues within this book I still found some enjoyable moments and look forward to what Ms. Gavan has planned for the future of this series.
Ardeur Lisle has had a rough life from the moment she was born and an Angel of Death put a piece of his soul in her to save her life not knowing she was already a Necromancer. Growing up talking to the dead and being possessed by spirits led her to being an outcast, never knowing love or affection, not even from her own parents who sold her into a demonic form of slavery. The only bright spot being the sweet boy Brody Callaghan who became her defender before her 12 year nightmare of demonic possession and assassinations. Once she escapes she finds shelter amongst angels and other paranormal creatures and is reunited with the one person she never thought to see again and never forgot. But just when she and Brody find happiness, a crazed angel named Azrael who is the one who put his soul in her, claims her as his mate and she's once again plunged into a nightmare that only the power of love will save her from.
The character of Ardeur started out strong and I found myself admiring her resilience amidst a horrendous existence. She was brave and sassy and had many qualities that I like from my favorite heroines. Unfortunately, once she found love with Brody she lost some of those qualities and I didn't find her quite as enjoyable. She was almost too lovey-dovey with Brody, especially after so many years of negative touch and emotions. She seemed to fall too quickly into his arms and a sexual relationship considering how skittish she acted at first. I never felt fully invested in their relationship because it seemed to happen so quickly once they reunited and both were too easily accepting of what they both are. Also, the constant reassurances of love did wear thin after awhile. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but the constant reassurances are what led me to see Ardeur as weak and made me not fully committed to her and Brody's relationship.
I enjoyed Brody's character but wish we could've seen more of him, especially where it concerned his werewolf side. In his case the best was definitely saved for last. His final battle with Azrael was exciting and showed a very alpha side to him that was lacking throughout the previous parts of the book. There was also one or two major issues regarding him and his family that occurred off page that was very frustrating to me considering how important they were to him.
As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of characters in this book. At one point I had to write down all the new characters being introduced just to keep everyone straight. Many came and went without much purpose but there were a few I hope to see more of in future books since a few of their storylines were left hanging.
The flow of this book started out very strong with intensely emotional scenes that drew me in. The story became a bit flat in the center part and seemed to meander in its focus before racing to a rather rushed conclusion. This rushed ending did a disservice to the character of Azrael who seemed to completely change in the blink of an eye which not only felt unrealistic but very manufactured. So I'm happy to see his storyline will be continued.
This was a book that I found enjoyable and that kept my attention even through a slow middle section. The Angelic world that we're introduced to in this book is full of promise and I know that I'll be there when the next book is released.
Ardeur Lisle has had a rough life from the moment she was born and an Angel of Death put a piece of his soul in her to save her life not knowing she was already a Necromancer. Growing up talking to the dead and being possessed by spirits led her to being an outcast, never knowing love or affection, not even from her own parents who sold her into a demonic form of slavery. The only bright spot being the sweet boy Brody Callaghan who became her defender before her 12 year nightmare of demonic possession and assassinations. Once she escapes she finds shelter amongst angels and other paranormal creatures and is reunited with the one person she never thought to see again and never forgot. But just when she and Brody find happiness, a crazed angel named Azrael who is the one who put his soul in her, claims her as his mate and she's once again plunged into a nightmare that only the power of love will save her from.
The character of Ardeur started out strong and I found myself admiring her resilience amidst a horrendous existence. She was brave and sassy and had many qualities that I like from my favorite heroines. Unfortunately, once she found love with Brody she lost some of those qualities and I didn't find her quite as enjoyable. She was almost too lovey-dovey with Brody, especially after so many years of negative touch and emotions. She seemed to fall too quickly into his arms and a sexual relationship considering how skittish she acted at first. I never felt fully invested in their relationship because it seemed to happen so quickly once they reunited and both were too easily accepting of what they both are. Also, the constant reassurances of love did wear thin after awhile. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but the constant reassurances are what led me to see Ardeur as weak and made me not fully committed to her and Brody's relationship.
I enjoyed Brody's character but wish we could've seen more of him, especially where it concerned his werewolf side. In his case the best was definitely saved for last. His final battle with Azrael was exciting and showed a very alpha side to him that was lacking throughout the previous parts of the book. There was also one or two major issues regarding him and his family that occurred off page that was very frustrating to me considering how important they were to him.
As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of characters in this book. At one point I had to write down all the new characters being introduced just to keep everyone straight. Many came and went without much purpose but there were a few I hope to see more of in future books since a few of their storylines were left hanging.
The flow of this book started out very strong with intensely emotional scenes that drew me in. The story became a bit flat in the center part and seemed to meander in its focus before racing to a rather rushed conclusion. This rushed ending did a disservice to the character of Azrael who seemed to completely change in the blink of an eye which not only felt unrealistic but very manufactured. So I'm happy to see his storyline will be continued.
This was a book that I found enjoyable and that kept my attention even through a slow middle section. The Angelic world that we're introduced to in this book is full of promise and I know that I'll be there when the next book is released.
October 11, 2011
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
An eBook copy of Ardeur was provided to me by Danielle Gavan for review.
Ardeur by Danielle Gavan is the first book in the Abbey of Angels series and has all of the supernatural beings I have come to enjoy and love - Werewolves, Demons, Angels etc.
Ardeur (Ardy) Lisle was born a necromancer. As a young child, her biological parents knew she was different so they used her for their own evil purposes before selling her to the highest bidder. If that wasn’t bad enough, a demon was summoned to inhabit her body for which she was turned into their personal killing machine.
Ardy is determined to take back her life so set’s her well thought out plan into motion; after evading the men who had held her captive and using mental shields to block her Demon, Shadekar; she ends up on the run which results in her being run down by a car, healed by angels and finally ending up in Mount Angel Abbey - a safe haven for the supernatural. It is here she will be reunited with the person she had always remembered from her childhood, her protector Brody Callaghan.
Brody is an alpha werewolf and has never forgotten the memories he holds of Ardeur as a young girl, when he encounters her on the run and saves her after the accident, he makes it his sole purpose not to lose her again but he may have competition with the Angel of Death himself, Azrael who helps Ardy rid herself of the Demon but as a result is tied to her emotionally; he has strong feelings for Ardy and sees her as his mate but he also holds a secret to her past and one which could jeopardize any feelings she would hold for him.
I liked both of the main characters but felt Ardy seemed to weaken around Brody, she was a feisty and strong heroine from the onset but when she was with him she seemed to lack the qualities I found admirable in the beginning and despite her reservations about being touched etc. she fell all too quickly in lust and love with him without their relationship developing at a realistic pace. I also wasn't so fond of the nickname she had for him - Puppy just didn't do it for me. Despite this, I did enjoy them as a couple.
A number of feelings are evoked in Ardeur which conveys the emotions of the main character perfectly, the life Ardy had to live as a child was heart-breaking, what she had to endure up until she was rid of her demon and even in events which were to follow were horrifying.
I enjoyed the world building in Ardeur, it was interesting and unique and the many paranormal beings worked well together. It is a dark, gritty tale with a number of turns that kept the story flowing nicely and the HEA was quite sweet.
I enjoyed Ms Gavans simplistic writing style and the details she provided on the setting, scenes and locations. The main characters were likeable and you get a glimpse into the fascinating secondary cast as well.
I look forward to reading more books in the Abbey of Angels series.
An eBook copy of Ardeur was provided to me by Danielle Gavan for review.
Ardeur by Danielle Gavan is the first book in the Abbey of Angels series and has all of the supernatural beings I have come to enjoy and love - Werewolves, Demons, Angels etc.
Ardeur (Ardy) Lisle was born a necromancer. As a young child, her biological parents knew she was different so they used her for their own evil purposes before selling her to the highest bidder. If that wasn’t bad enough, a demon was summoned to inhabit her body for which she was turned into their personal killing machine.
Ardy is determined to take back her life so set’s her well thought out plan into motion; after evading the men who had held her captive and using mental shields to block her Demon, Shadekar; she ends up on the run which results in her being run down by a car, healed by angels and finally ending up in Mount Angel Abbey - a safe haven for the supernatural. It is here she will be reunited with the person she had always remembered from her childhood, her protector Brody Callaghan.
Brody is an alpha werewolf and has never forgotten the memories he holds of Ardeur as a young girl, when he encounters her on the run and saves her after the accident, he makes it his sole purpose not to lose her again but he may have competition with the Angel of Death himself, Azrael who helps Ardy rid herself of the Demon but as a result is tied to her emotionally; he has strong feelings for Ardy and sees her as his mate but he also holds a secret to her past and one which could jeopardize any feelings she would hold for him.
I liked both of the main characters but felt Ardy seemed to weaken around Brody, she was a feisty and strong heroine from the onset but when she was with him she seemed to lack the qualities I found admirable in the beginning and despite her reservations about being touched etc. she fell all too quickly in lust and love with him without their relationship developing at a realistic pace. I also wasn't so fond of the nickname she had for him - Puppy just didn't do it for me. Despite this, I did enjoy them as a couple.
A number of feelings are evoked in Ardeur which conveys the emotions of the main character perfectly, the life Ardy had to live as a child was heart-breaking, what she had to endure up until she was rid of her demon and even in events which were to follow were horrifying.
I enjoyed the world building in Ardeur, it was interesting and unique and the many paranormal beings worked well together. It is a dark, gritty tale with a number of turns that kept the story flowing nicely and the HEA was quite sweet.
I enjoyed Ms Gavans simplistic writing style and the details she provided on the setting, scenes and locations. The main characters were likeable and you get a glimpse into the fascinating secondary cast as well.
I look forward to reading more books in the Abbey of Angels series.
September 19, 2011
reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
I think the decription of the book is pretty straight forward so I skip the summary part of my review.
I didn't have any troubles getting right into the story. The plot was interesting and unique. The flow had some ups and downs every once in a while but it wasn't a big issue. There are a LOT of characters in ARDEUR. It took me a little bit to figure out who was who, I got really confused when the names started popping up one right after each other. There is an index in the beginning of the book but since its an e-copy its hard to flip back and forth while your reading. As far as the main characters went. I enjoyed Ardeur and the love interest Brody. They had remembered each other over the years and their love for each other comes out instantly. There was one scene when Ardeur and Brody first found each other again that I found to be written kinda badly. The whole situation was extremely awkward, uncomfortable and just didn't mesh with the characters personalities. With the exception of that one scene I found the other scenes between the two easy to get into. The romance was steamy when it needed to be and I felt their love for each other throughout. I would have liked to see some justice done to the people that originally held Ardeur captive, I think it would have done the things she went through justice but I very much enjoyed the ending of the book. This looks to be one of those series that will have a different set of main characters for each book so I will see which character will be up next to decide if I will continue the series.
I think the decription of the book is pretty straight forward so I skip the summary part of my review.
I didn't have any troubles getting right into the story. The plot was interesting and unique. The flow had some ups and downs every once in a while but it wasn't a big issue. There are a LOT of characters in ARDEUR. It took me a little bit to figure out who was who, I got really confused when the names started popping up one right after each other. There is an index in the beginning of the book but since its an e-copy its hard to flip back and forth while your reading. As far as the main characters went. I enjoyed Ardeur and the love interest Brody. They had remembered each other over the years and their love for each other comes out instantly. There was one scene when Ardeur and Brody first found each other again that I found to be written kinda badly. The whole situation was extremely awkward, uncomfortable and just didn't mesh with the characters personalities. With the exception of that one scene I found the other scenes between the two easy to get into. The romance was steamy when it needed to be and I felt their love for each other throughout. I would have liked to see some justice done to the people that originally held Ardeur captive, I think it would have done the things she went through justice but I very much enjoyed the ending of the book. This looks to be one of those series that will have a different set of main characters for each book so I will see which character will be up next to decide if I will continue the series.
November 1, 2011
Review by Stephanie O: Ardeur really gets the short end of the stick when she is born, not one willing to give up she will do anything and everything she can to find that normal life she has always dreamt about. Using her memories of the one person that was nice to her in her life, Ardeur escapes to her safe place just bidding her time. When the moment of independence arrives Ardeur takes hold of her life and holds on tight, never wanting to return to where she just escaped.
Brody never knew what happen to that angel like girl in his class from when he was 6. Here one day and gone the next, Brody hoped to one day discover just what had happened to her. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that day would come so many years later, in the form of a girl running by him and straight into the path of a speeding BMW.
Now that their paths have crossed, what could be in store for these two?
Oh. My. Goodness.
This book is not for the weak at heart. I seriously had moments that I could feel the tremors whether reading about chill in the air, or the touch from a special someone, right down to the feeling of fear. This book took me by surprise. It was slow going for me in the beginning, but when it took off, I couldn’t get enough of it. To say I loved this book is honestly not enough. There are very few books I could place on a list of I want to read again, and this is one was just added.
Favorite Quote: “Ye can’t treat Louboutin’s like that, Remi. Have ye no respect woman?” (Christian)
Brody never knew what happen to that angel like girl in his class from when he was 6. Here one day and gone the next, Brody hoped to one day discover just what had happened to her. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that day would come so many years later, in the form of a girl running by him and straight into the path of a speeding BMW.
Now that their paths have crossed, what could be in store for these two?
Oh. My. Goodness.
This book is not for the weak at heart. I seriously had moments that I could feel the tremors whether reading about chill in the air, or the touch from a special someone, right down to the feeling of fear. This book took me by surprise. It was slow going for me in the beginning, but when it took off, I couldn’t get enough of it. To say I loved this book is honestly not enough. There are very few books I could place on a list of I want to read again, and this is one was just added.
Favorite Quote: “Ye can’t treat Louboutin’s like that, Remi. Have ye no respect woman?” (Christian)
April 18, 2012
I loved this and recommend you give this series a try, i can't wait for the next one
August 31, 2012
NEW REVIEW! Vampires, shifters, angels, necromancers & demons make for one confusing read. http://edensbookshelf.com/ardeur-by-d...
ARDEUR (ABBEY OF ANGELS, #1) BY DANIELLE GAVAN
Possessed and on the run…
Desperate to evict her demon, Necromancer Ardeur Blais Lisle never dreamed of finding herself in Mount Angel Abbey, or that it would a sanctuary run by angels. It seems to be the perfect solution to her problem when she discovers the key to getting rid of her co-pilot. She persuades the Angel of Death to intercede; but the consequences are direr than expected. He’s playing for keeps.
A promise kept…
Released from military service, Werewolf Brody Callaghan never expected to find the woman he’d sworn to find running down the street towards him, and straight into the path of a speeding BMW. Fate steers him towards the Abbey and will give him what he wants – but he’ll have to fight Death for it, and the angel is playing dirty.
Her freedom might be the end of Ardeur’s relationship with Brody and a life away from everything she never thought she’d have in the arms of a werewolf with dimples and a charmer’s grin. They’ll have to race to save their love, and unborn children, from an off his rocker angel. With the clock ticking they’ll have to figure it out, and fast.
REVIEW
Gosh – where to begin?
This novel has a promising start but falls apart quickly. The writing style in the first few chapters is completely different by the second half of the book. So while the book begins with a polished smoothly written style it transitions to a quirky colloquial southerness. I don’t think this is a tool the author has employed to reflect Ardeur’s transition but rather it speaks to poor editing.
Intersecting story lines run amuck introducing new supernatural creatures and wildly diversive sub plots. Towards the end of the book – I was so confused I just wanted to close the cover. It felt like Gavan was taking every magical creature she had ever heard of and was trying to stuff them into this story.
Which leads us to angels vs. werewolves. Angels are hot right now and Gavan jumps on the bandwagon as Ardeur finds herself given refuge at a supernatural retreat run by angels. Then, she finds out in a major plot point that she herself is an angel! As well as a necromancer and a demon keeper! And not only is she and angel – she is an angel with two powers where most have one. She is an angel of anger & wrath. Yup – all in one little package. All that’s missing is the kitchen sink.
The relationship between werewolves and angels threw me for a loop. In most stories, angels are supremely strong only meeting their equals with a handfull of demons. In Gavan’s story, werewolves are stronger than angels, including being stronger than the angel of death. So – Ardeur’s recently re-connected with lost love – Brody – who happens to be an alpha werewolf – is able to defeat the angel of death with nary an issue.
Further – I never fully understood how Ardeur could not overwhelm her demon or vice versa? And since her demon was addicted to porn, I thought he and her captors would attempt to assault her but they never did. In other words – the hierarchical order of beings in this book is arbitrary and confusing but keeping the heroine’s virginity intact is paramount.
There are plenty of smexy parts between Ardeur and Brody but at times they feel cliche and more like filler. And as strange as this may sound – I found myself wondering about the physical dynamics of some of their positions. Could they really do that with their height difference?
Gavan has potential. If she could focus on writing less story lines and more on developing the main arc her novel would be easier to read. Instead of introducing so many characters, why not stick with few and see them through? Lastly – it is crucial to keep the novel’s tone consistent throughout – a simple fix with a strong editor.
ARDEUR (ABBEY OF ANGELS, #1) BY DANIELLE GAVAN
Possessed and on the run…
Desperate to evict her demon, Necromancer Ardeur Blais Lisle never dreamed of finding herself in Mount Angel Abbey, or that it would a sanctuary run by angels. It seems to be the perfect solution to her problem when she discovers the key to getting rid of her co-pilot. She persuades the Angel of Death to intercede; but the consequences are direr than expected. He’s playing for keeps.
A promise kept…
Released from military service, Werewolf Brody Callaghan never expected to find the woman he’d sworn to find running down the street towards him, and straight into the path of a speeding BMW. Fate steers him towards the Abbey and will give him what he wants – but he’ll have to fight Death for it, and the angel is playing dirty.
Her freedom might be the end of Ardeur’s relationship with Brody and a life away from everything she never thought she’d have in the arms of a werewolf with dimples and a charmer’s grin. They’ll have to race to save their love, and unborn children, from an off his rocker angel. With the clock ticking they’ll have to figure it out, and fast.
REVIEW
Gosh – where to begin?
This novel has a promising start but falls apart quickly. The writing style in the first few chapters is completely different by the second half of the book. So while the book begins with a polished smoothly written style it transitions to a quirky colloquial southerness. I don’t think this is a tool the author has employed to reflect Ardeur’s transition but rather it speaks to poor editing.
Intersecting story lines run amuck introducing new supernatural creatures and wildly diversive sub plots. Towards the end of the book – I was so confused I just wanted to close the cover. It felt like Gavan was taking every magical creature she had ever heard of and was trying to stuff them into this story.
Which leads us to angels vs. werewolves. Angels are hot right now and Gavan jumps on the bandwagon as Ardeur finds herself given refuge at a supernatural retreat run by angels. Then, she finds out in a major plot point that she herself is an angel! As well as a necromancer and a demon keeper! And not only is she and angel – she is an angel with two powers where most have one. She is an angel of anger & wrath. Yup – all in one little package. All that’s missing is the kitchen sink.
The relationship between werewolves and angels threw me for a loop. In most stories, angels are supremely strong only meeting their equals with a handfull of demons. In Gavan’s story, werewolves are stronger than angels, including being stronger than the angel of death. So – Ardeur’s recently re-connected with lost love – Brody – who happens to be an alpha werewolf – is able to defeat the angel of death with nary an issue.
Further – I never fully understood how Ardeur could not overwhelm her demon or vice versa? And since her demon was addicted to porn, I thought he and her captors would attempt to assault her but they never did. In other words – the hierarchical order of beings in this book is arbitrary and confusing but keeping the heroine’s virginity intact is paramount.
There are plenty of smexy parts between Ardeur and Brody but at times they feel cliche and more like filler. And as strange as this may sound – I found myself wondering about the physical dynamics of some of their positions. Could they really do that with their height difference?
Gavan has potential. If she could focus on writing less story lines and more on developing the main arc her novel would be easier to read. Instead of introducing so many characters, why not stick with few and see them through? Lastly – it is crucial to keep the novel’s tone consistent throughout – a simple fix with a strong editor.
September 16, 2011
Romancing the Dark Side Review:
Sexy, romantic paranormal romance with a dark side!
As a born necromancer, Ardeur Lisle has had a dark and tragic childhood. At the age of twelve she's handed over to a powerful demon and his goons by her parents, a demon who uses her as his host to do vile and horrible acts that Ardeur endures for years. Throughout the years of pain, she hold on to the memory of Brody, the young and handsome boy that showed her the only kindness she remembers in her life. When Ardeur decides to take her life back from the demon that possesses her, she escapes and crosses paths with the one person she has kept in her heart for years, Brody Callaghan. Now she must find a way to rid herself of the demon who holds her captive which she knows will not be an easy feat. Her search for freedom will lead Ardeur to a sanctuary of angels who eventually confess the truth about her origins, a revelation which will change the course of her life forever.
When I first started reading this story I thought it was a Paranormal YA novel and was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be an adult paranormal romance. Ardeur is a great heroine who has her demons, literally, and is a fighter above all. Although I love her character throughout the book, I feel that when she falls in love she loses that little bit of edge and feistiness which I really liked about her.
Her relationship with Brody, while hot and romantic, develops quickly due to the fast paced story line and I personally would have liked to have seen it grow at a slower pace but understand the author's choice of speeding things up. The one thing that I had a hard time with while reading is Ardeur's nickname for Brody, Puppy, I get it he's a werewolf but really, an Alpha such as him deserves a better name! Brody is a great hero, he's strong, protective and is sensitive to Ardeur and everything she's endured. I loved his character but wished I would have had a little more detail on him and his family that is briefly introduced.
The angels play a significant role and all have unique personalities, some more endearing than others. Rae is the strong and silent type, Tate is sexy and sarcastic, and as the only female, Remielle is a caretaker and grounded. They each contribute to Ardeur's recovery and give her the family structure she's yearned for so long. First impressions can sometimes be deceiving and some of the characters are proof of that, they'll keep you guessing and surprise you with their actions as the story progresses (that's all I'm saying!). I enjoyed the angels and their world immensely, the author's depiction of good vs. evil is boldly expressed, she shows you both the dark side and the light side of her paranormal world and how even a good soul can cross from one side to the other at any given time.
Ardeur is a an emotional journey of a young woman who comes from a very dark place and fights for a chance at freedom and love. The story starts off a little slow but you're quickly immersed into the dangerous world of demons, angels and werewolves that make taking a break from this enthralling book difficult. There are moments of darkness, sadness, joy, romance, betrayal and humor that make for a fantastic read. This is my first Danielle Gavan book and after reading this one it surely won't be my last!
{ebook courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours for review}
Sexy, romantic paranormal romance with a dark side!
As a born necromancer, Ardeur Lisle has had a dark and tragic childhood. At the age of twelve she's handed over to a powerful demon and his goons by her parents, a demon who uses her as his host to do vile and horrible acts that Ardeur endures for years. Throughout the years of pain, she hold on to the memory of Brody, the young and handsome boy that showed her the only kindness she remembers in her life. When Ardeur decides to take her life back from the demon that possesses her, she escapes and crosses paths with the one person she has kept in her heart for years, Brody Callaghan. Now she must find a way to rid herself of the demon who holds her captive which she knows will not be an easy feat. Her search for freedom will lead Ardeur to a sanctuary of angels who eventually confess the truth about her origins, a revelation which will change the course of her life forever.
When I first started reading this story I thought it was a Paranormal YA novel and was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be an adult paranormal romance. Ardeur is a great heroine who has her demons, literally, and is a fighter above all. Although I love her character throughout the book, I feel that when she falls in love she loses that little bit of edge and feistiness which I really liked about her.
Her relationship with Brody, while hot and romantic, develops quickly due to the fast paced story line and I personally would have liked to have seen it grow at a slower pace but understand the author's choice of speeding things up. The one thing that I had a hard time with while reading is Ardeur's nickname for Brody, Puppy, I get it he's a werewolf but really, an Alpha such as him deserves a better name! Brody is a great hero, he's strong, protective and is sensitive to Ardeur and everything she's endured. I loved his character but wished I would have had a little more detail on him and his family that is briefly introduced.
The angels play a significant role and all have unique personalities, some more endearing than others. Rae is the strong and silent type, Tate is sexy and sarcastic, and as the only female, Remielle is a caretaker and grounded. They each contribute to Ardeur's recovery and give her the family structure she's yearned for so long. First impressions can sometimes be deceiving and some of the characters are proof of that, they'll keep you guessing and surprise you with their actions as the story progresses (that's all I'm saying!). I enjoyed the angels and their world immensely, the author's depiction of good vs. evil is boldly expressed, she shows you both the dark side and the light side of her paranormal world and how even a good soul can cross from one side to the other at any given time.
Ardeur is a an emotional journey of a young woman who comes from a very dark place and fights for a chance at freedom and love. The story starts off a little slow but you're quickly immersed into the dangerous world of demons, angels and werewolves that make taking a break from this enthralling book difficult. There are moments of darkness, sadness, joy, romance, betrayal and humor that make for a fantastic read. This is my first Danielle Gavan book and after reading this one it surely won't be my last!
{ebook courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours for review}
June 5, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this book. It seemed like an interesting plotline, plus it was a reunion story which are my favorite. Unfortunately I just didn't like this book. It was just so all over the place. It had a lot of promise but in the end it just fell flat for me. I actually wasn't even able to read it all the way through. It just became too much.
Ardeur Lisle, sees dead people, literally. As a child she would have conversations with them and this caused a lot of problems between her parents and her. They really never cared for her and everyone around her treated her as if she was a problem child. The only person she ever felt a connection with was Brody. Brody was a boy she went to school with and happened to be the only one ever to be nice to her. Years later, after her parents sold her to she still thinks of Brody. She desperately wants to reconnect with him but is unable to get away from the people who have bought her and are using her as a weapon.
Brody has always thought of Ardeur and what has become of her. He desperately wants to find her. When he gets out of the Army it's the first thing on his mind. He hasn't been able to stop thinking about her. When Brody is in an alley and sees a woman get it by a car he immediately tries to save her. Unbeknownst to him at the time, it's actually Ardeur. When he realizes it's her he can barely let her out of his sight.
When Ardeur wakes up from her accident at the Abbey she doesn't know what to think. She's scared and not very trusting towards others. When she meets the Angels of the Abbey and they begin to explain everything to her, and begin to treat her just like anyone else, she immediately opens up to them. This is where I started to have issues with the story. Ardeur spends her entire life not being able to trust anyone, and has pretty much been living out of a backpack for the last few years and for her to suddenly be able to trust them like they were long lost friends was just a bit much for me to believe.
Then walks in Brody. After Ardeur accident he finds the abbey and goes to try and talk to her and find out what's been going on for the last twenty years. Instantly they both connect and become inseparable. And after only a short time together they become engaged. I just did not buy this at all. They briefly knew each other as kids and for them both to instantly fall in love, I'm just not buying it. I get that Ardeur held on to the memory of the one person who was ever nice to her, but I just didn't understand Brody's reasoning. I think if we would have been able to see them grow to love each other, then maybe it would have been believable. I just didn't get that they both instantly fell in love.
There were a lot more issues that I had with this story that finally made me put the book down. I've tried to pick it back up, but I honestly just can't. There was just too much going on with this book and I just found too much of hit hard to follow or believe. It's really sad, because like I said before--this story just had so much potential to be great.
Ardeur Lisle, sees dead people, literally. As a child she would have conversations with them and this caused a lot of problems between her parents and her. They really never cared for her and everyone around her treated her as if she was a problem child. The only person she ever felt a connection with was Brody. Brody was a boy she went to school with and happened to be the only one ever to be nice to her. Years later, after her parents sold her to she still thinks of Brody. She desperately wants to reconnect with him but is unable to get away from the people who have bought her and are using her as a weapon.
Brody has always thought of Ardeur and what has become of her. He desperately wants to find her. When he gets out of the Army it's the first thing on his mind. He hasn't been able to stop thinking about her. When Brody is in an alley and sees a woman get it by a car he immediately tries to save her. Unbeknownst to him at the time, it's actually Ardeur. When he realizes it's her he can barely let her out of his sight.
When Ardeur wakes up from her accident at the Abbey she doesn't know what to think. She's scared and not very trusting towards others. When she meets the Angels of the Abbey and they begin to explain everything to her, and begin to treat her just like anyone else, she immediately opens up to them. This is where I started to have issues with the story. Ardeur spends her entire life not being able to trust anyone, and has pretty much been living out of a backpack for the last few years and for her to suddenly be able to trust them like they were long lost friends was just a bit much for me to believe.
Then walks in Brody. After Ardeur accident he finds the abbey and goes to try and talk to her and find out what's been going on for the last twenty years. Instantly they both connect and become inseparable. And after only a short time together they become engaged. I just did not buy this at all. They briefly knew each other as kids and for them both to instantly fall in love, I'm just not buying it. I get that Ardeur held on to the memory of the one person who was ever nice to her, but I just didn't understand Brody's reasoning. I think if we would have been able to see them grow to love each other, then maybe it would have been believable. I just didn't get that they both instantly fell in love.
There were a lot more issues that I had with this story that finally made me put the book down. I've tried to pick it back up, but I honestly just can't. There was just too much going on with this book and I just found too much of hit hard to follow or believe. It's really sad, because like I said before--this story just had so much potential to be great.
July 25, 2012
All Ardeur Lisle has ever known is pain and heartache. From the moment she turned twelve, both have been constant emotions she can never get rid of. Her tender heart laments that her parents weren't strong enough to love her for who and what she was. They feared the fact that she was different and refused to understand that which made her unique. Part of her never ceases to wonder why they gave her away so long ago, a fact she knows she'll forever ponder.
Joined to a demon against her will, Ardeur has done things she's not proud of. Things that would ruin another person completely. Somehow she's retained the goodness that sets her apart from her captors and those around her, yet she knows its only a matter of time before the demon takes control of her completely. Her heart yearns to be free of it, spurring her desires to make that happen in any way she can.
On the run from those who've kept her prisoner for as long as she can remember, she soon finds herself ensconced within the Abbey of Angels, a sanctuary for Supernatural's and those who are just like her. Ardeur is happy that she's finally free of her tormentors, even if the demon they drew into her body still resides inside of her. She can live with that fact for the time being, though, but is all the more determined to release the entity's grasp over her completely, once and for all.
When Brody Callaghan makes an unexpected appearance into her life once more, Ardeur can't help but acknowledge the attraction she feels for him. He's been the driving force behind her getting up each day and has kept her from losing her mind completely to the demon that insists on corrupting her deep within. She's content to find that Brody doesn't care that she's different. He's a werewolf himself, one determined to make her his in every way possible.
Unfortunately, there's something none of them counted on. Rae, the Angel of Death that's loved Ardeur ever since he saved her life so long ago, isn't willing to give up his claim upon the beautiful maiden. In his mind, he loves her with every fiber of his being and Brody is a thorn in his side he can do without. Everyone knows Death doesn't play fair. Most especially when there's something it wants. Rae wants Ardeur and will do everything in his power to make sure she remains his. The question is, how far will he go to in order to achieve an end to his own means?
I so totally enjoyed the beginning of this series. I confess I didn't put this book down until the very end. Even then, I wanted to read more. It's that engrossing!
I can only imagine the thorough research that Danielle put into the planning and writing of this book. Keeping track of all the Angels and their powers is most certainly a heavy task, but I think she did a wonderful job in doing so. It's very apparent that she painstakingly compiled the details surrounding the world she's created for her characters, giving the reader a wonderful experience in getting to know each and every one. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Joined to a demon against her will, Ardeur has done things she's not proud of. Things that would ruin another person completely. Somehow she's retained the goodness that sets her apart from her captors and those around her, yet she knows its only a matter of time before the demon takes control of her completely. Her heart yearns to be free of it, spurring her desires to make that happen in any way she can.
On the run from those who've kept her prisoner for as long as she can remember, she soon finds herself ensconced within the Abbey of Angels, a sanctuary for Supernatural's and those who are just like her. Ardeur is happy that she's finally free of her tormentors, even if the demon they drew into her body still resides inside of her. She can live with that fact for the time being, though, but is all the more determined to release the entity's grasp over her completely, once and for all.
When Brody Callaghan makes an unexpected appearance into her life once more, Ardeur can't help but acknowledge the attraction she feels for him. He's been the driving force behind her getting up each day and has kept her from losing her mind completely to the demon that insists on corrupting her deep within. She's content to find that Brody doesn't care that she's different. He's a werewolf himself, one determined to make her his in every way possible.
Unfortunately, there's something none of them counted on. Rae, the Angel of Death that's loved Ardeur ever since he saved her life so long ago, isn't willing to give up his claim upon the beautiful maiden. In his mind, he loves her with every fiber of his being and Brody is a thorn in his side he can do without. Everyone knows Death doesn't play fair. Most especially when there's something it wants. Rae wants Ardeur and will do everything in his power to make sure she remains his. The question is, how far will he go to in order to achieve an end to his own means?
I so totally enjoyed the beginning of this series. I confess I didn't put this book down until the very end. Even then, I wanted to read more. It's that engrossing!
I can only imagine the thorough research that Danielle put into the planning and writing of this book. Keeping track of all the Angels and their powers is most certainly a heavy task, but I think she did a wonderful job in doing so. It's very apparent that she painstakingly compiled the details surrounding the world she's created for her characters, giving the reader a wonderful experience in getting to know each and every one. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
September 22, 2011
Ardeur Lisle has had a very rough life. She's been able to see the dead since she was an infant, which means she was tormented by some fairly nasty spectors. Her parents neglected her (and that's putting it nicely) before deciding to sell her, at the age of 12, to a terrorist cell who decided to raise a demon and use her body as it's vessel. For seven years, she was forced to endure the abuse and torment from her captures while forced to carry out their ugly deeds. The one bright spot in her otherwise horrible life is the memory of a six year old boy was nice was to her when she was still allowed to attend regular school. It's the memory of his eyes, his smile and his gorgeous dimples that help her devise her escape plan in hopes of finding him.
Brody Callaghan has spent years remember the face of the grade school girl who disappeared one day. It's always been one of his goals to track down Ardeur to find out what happened to her. Her tangerine scent still haunts him. The last place he expected to find her was running past him on the way home from the grocery store. He also wasn't expecting to witness her being hit by a BMW and seriously hurt. After tracking her down at the hospital (and finding her gone) he speaks to a friend of Ardeur's and discovers what she really is. Still determined to get to her, he leaves for the Abbey of Angels.
The story starts to pick up as soon as we get to the Abbey, because Brody finds Ardeur and they begin "courting", but it also picks up a completely different plot line and leaves behind the one that started the story. The Brody element was good (although I find it hard to believe a man has harbored a thing for a little girl he knew in passing as a six year old. Her holding onto him makes sense, him...not so much), but we were taken down a path of the Angel of Death being obsessed with Ardeur and trying to come between her and Brody. What about the people who bought her and made her possessed with the demon? What were they up to? Are they still searching for? Will they find her?
Because of the shift in the plot, I was left wondering what we were supposed to take away from this story. I get that Ardeur finally found her place in the world and have people who love her, but we still have all those questions about why she was taken and who those individuals were, that even her ultimate revenge on Shade didn't close that loop for me.
Brody Callaghan has spent years remember the face of the grade school girl who disappeared one day. It's always been one of his goals to track down Ardeur to find out what happened to her. Her tangerine scent still haunts him. The last place he expected to find her was running past him on the way home from the grocery store. He also wasn't expecting to witness her being hit by a BMW and seriously hurt. After tracking her down at the hospital (and finding her gone) he speaks to a friend of Ardeur's and discovers what she really is. Still determined to get to her, he leaves for the Abbey of Angels.
The story starts to pick up as soon as we get to the Abbey, because Brody finds Ardeur and they begin "courting", but it also picks up a completely different plot line and leaves behind the one that started the story. The Brody element was good (although I find it hard to believe a man has harbored a thing for a little girl he knew in passing as a six year old. Her holding onto him makes sense, him...not so much), but we were taken down a path of the Angel of Death being obsessed with Ardeur and trying to come between her and Brody. What about the people who bought her and made her possessed with the demon? What were they up to? Are they still searching for? Will they find her?
Because of the shift in the plot, I was left wondering what we were supposed to take away from this story. I get that Ardeur finally found her place in the world and have people who love her, but we still have all those questions about why she was taken and who those individuals were, that even her ultimate revenge on Shade didn't close that loop for me.
January 8, 2012
Today's review is on Ardeur by Danielle Gavan
Ardeur Lisle should have died the day she was born, but she did not. Through the help of an Angel she survived, only to live a life full pain, torture, and loneliness.
Everyone has imaginary friends as a child, but Ardeur's were not imaginary. Her friends were ghosts. It was because of this strange ability that she was ridiculed in school by just about everyone except Brody Callaghan, the boy with the beautiful dimples and the roguishly handsome smile.
Her parents, who only provided the basics, pulled her out of school eventually and began teaching her magic spells. They then sold her and never looked back. Those that purchased Ardeur summoned a demon, and that demon made himself at home within her.
Forced to commit horrible acts, Ardeur begins to plan her escape. Once she does, she is forced to live on the run until she is hit by an SUV. Fortunately, the boy who pledged that he would always protect her had finally found her. His love for her never faltering.
He's not the only one who's in love with Ardeur however. It seems that the very Angel that saved her life as an infant is in love with her also. But when she doesn't fall in love with him all hell breaks loose.
After nineteen years of sorrow, Ardeur is on the brink of happiness with a man who loves her and whom she loves back. Now if they can only survive the wrath of Death.
Ardeur was a very good book, though there were quite a bit of mistakes. The story line was quite unique and kept me engaged throughout it's pages. I am looking forward to the next installment so that I may see Ms. Gavan grow as a writer.
3 of 5 stars
Ardeur Lisle should have died the day she was born, but she did not. Through the help of an Angel she survived, only to live a life full pain, torture, and loneliness.
Everyone has imaginary friends as a child, but Ardeur's were not imaginary. Her friends were ghosts. It was because of this strange ability that she was ridiculed in school by just about everyone except Brody Callaghan, the boy with the beautiful dimples and the roguishly handsome smile.
Her parents, who only provided the basics, pulled her out of school eventually and began teaching her magic spells. They then sold her and never looked back. Those that purchased Ardeur summoned a demon, and that demon made himself at home within her.
Forced to commit horrible acts, Ardeur begins to plan her escape. Once she does, she is forced to live on the run until she is hit by an SUV. Fortunately, the boy who pledged that he would always protect her had finally found her. His love for her never faltering.
He's not the only one who's in love with Ardeur however. It seems that the very Angel that saved her life as an infant is in love with her also. But when she doesn't fall in love with him all hell breaks loose.
After nineteen years of sorrow, Ardeur is on the brink of happiness with a man who loves her and whom she loves back. Now if they can only survive the wrath of Death.
Ardeur was a very good book, though there were quite a bit of mistakes. The story line was quite unique and kept me engaged throughout it's pages. I am looking forward to the next installment so that I may see Ms. Gavan grow as a writer.
3 of 5 stars
April 21, 2011
Overall I found this story to be great for readers who expect something different and more from a Urban fantasy novel. Readers who also like their Urban Fantasy dark. The beginning of this story draws you in with a necromancer child (Ardeur) that is caught up in cruelty. This story pulls at your feelings from the get go. I found myself running through every emotion. There were parts of this story I felt a strong urge to reach in and do serious damage to someone. Another part I was completely wrapped up in the touching Relationship our heroine has with a werewolf (Brody). The world and setting were rich, and original. The characters were great. You’ll just love the heroine Ardeur’s personality and the strength she holds. The plot and storyline was well written and fast paced, Using so many different topics, strong feelings, and one hell of a created world. I would recommend you give this book a serious try. It was a great read. definitely something different and original.
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http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com
Read More of my reviews, Come by for Author Giveaways, Chat With Authors, and so much more!
http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com
April 4, 2012
'Ardeur' starts off pretty dark. The main character (Arduer)is a necromancer who is sold off by her neglectful parents in order to have a demon placed inside her. Ardy (as she called during much of the book) grows up into adulthood hearing the voice of the demon inside her head and having him take over to complete atrocious acts. The only light in Ardy's life is remembering Brody, a boy from her childhood. First of all let me say that Brody is hot! He's also a werewolf (one of my fav types of supes!). He's remembered Ardy since childhood and has dedicated his life to finding her again. When that does eventually happen, they fall into a very intense and passionate relationship. I could tell that the author also writes erotica, because the sex scenes were very well written and hot with a capital 'H'. My only real criticism of the book was all the different names! When they end up at the abbey, there are lots of different characters and each character also has a nick-name which at times got confusing. However, this is only a small point and didn't detract from the story. I'm aware there is a sequel and it's definitely one I'll be looking out for!
July 15, 2012
I was surprised to find that I really liked Ardeur. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with it but it reminded me of the Supernatural episodes containing the demons. I liked Ardeur’s character even though she was put through hell she still came out strong. I liked that it was a supernatural buffet of different creatures and wasn’t just about the angels. I love Brody and Ardeur together they are so cute and I just loved every scene that had them. I liked the different angels and how they were all different from each other I found it gave more to the story. I wasn’t able to foresee where the story was going which I really enjoyed because when something new came up it was always a shocker.
There is a lot of sex in the last half of the book so it isn’t suitable for younger readers
There is a lot of sex in the last half of the book so it isn’t suitable for younger readers
October 12, 2010
Love this book! The first in a series from a new author. One of my favorite things is that it is written in both the first person, the lead character Ardeur, and the third person for all of the other characters. It's great, you get the intimacy of that one person without loosing out on what is going on with the other characters.
Ladies - there is a really hot werewolf in this one that is not a teenager so you get to read it without feeling guilty and trying to count his age in dog years to make yourself feel better about it. Not to mention really hot angels who have wings!
The story is complex and exciting with a sweet romance as well, what more can you ask for?
Ladies - there is a really hot werewolf in this one that is not a teenager so you get to read it without feeling guilty and trying to count his age in dog years to make yourself feel better about it. Not to mention really hot angels who have wings!
The story is complex and exciting with a sweet romance as well, what more can you ask for?
January 19, 2012
Danielle takes the subject of angels and gives it a great new spin that I have yet to encounter. Her interaction of those characters and their place in the world is something that I didn't expect and was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the characters given the book isn't a full length novel.
The characters are so much fun and the dialogue is witty and full of back and forth banter that had me literally laughing out loud several times.
The infusion of werewolves, demons, and fairies into the mix makes the world that much more exciting and rich.
I am looking forward to reading the next in this series and cannot wait for it to be released!!
The characters are so much fun and the dialogue is witty and full of back and forth banter that had me literally laughing out loud several times.
The infusion of werewolves, demons, and fairies into the mix makes the world that much more exciting and rich.
I am looking forward to reading the next in this series and cannot wait for it to be released!!
March 20, 2016
Love this book! From the start up to the last, I can't put it own. Ardeur and Brody's story made me fall in love! This book is exciting and intense! It's also full of surprises that you did not see coming! Loved it!
October 9, 2013
I got to 30% and I just couldn't get into it, so I'm giving it up as a DNF.
I wasn't pulled into the story and wanting to know what was going to happen. I felt nothing for the characters and the sudden changing of years passing had me confused.
Not for me, I'm afraid.
I wasn't pulled into the story and wanting to know what was going to happen. I felt nothing for the characters and the sudden changing of years passing had me confused.
Not for me, I'm afraid.
shellfish
April 11, 2012One would think "Ardeur" would be a title to avoid, all things considered. It's a little...familiar.
September 27, 2011
Review Posted on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...
July 23, 2012
Interesting concept, but a little too predictable for me. I will consider carrying on with the next in the series.
April 25, 2012
This is a very good book. It has you wanting to know what happens next. I like strong female characters and I wasn't disapointed.
March 29, 2013
Ardeur has done things that she was not proud of and live to see another day. And somehow live to see another day and to keep her goodness from the demon within.
nice read....
nice read....
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