Chamtivost

Fallen Angels #1

by J.R. Ward, Jiřina Stárková (Translator)

Sedm smrtelných hříchů. Sedm duší, které musí být zachráněny. Věčný souboj mezi dobrem zlem, mezi spasitelem bez víry a démonem, který chladnokrevně míří za svým cílem a nemá co ztratit.
Jim Heron, příslušník tajných armádních jednotek, jehož profesí je zabíjet na rozkaz svých nadřízených, na vykoupení nevěří a hřích považuje za relativní. Jeho neotřesitelný názor se však změní v okamžiku, kdy se stane padlým andělem a dostane za úkol spasit duši sedmi osob, stravovanou jedním ze sedmi hlavních hříchů. A při svém poslání nesmí selhat.
Vincent diPietro zaprodal svou duši hromadění majetku a peněz už ve svých sedmnácti letech a ze svých nároků nehodlá slevit až do chvíle, kdy se seznámí s jedním ze svých zaměstnanců, drsným, upřímným a samorostlým motorkářem, který se prohlásí za jeho spasitele. Vinův život je pevně spjatý s okouzlující kráskou, kterou se rozhodl požádat o ruku, avšak v kritickém okamžiku se seznamuje s ženou, díky níž zpochybní nejen svůj vytčený cíl, ale i svou volbu a touhu svého srdce a spolu se svým zachráncem se rozhodne zapojit do souboje o osvobození své vlastní duše.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Angels, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Demons

496 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

J.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Slow ride Stars



Spoilers

Okay so I want to start this review by saying that I love J.R. Ward and I think she is a super talented author. That being said this book wasn't like the Black dagger Brotherhood Series that I adore. Don't read this series expecting it to be like BDB at all. Now if I am going to be honest I will say that the reason I am reading this series is because there are rumors that the villain Devina might be crossing over to BDB and I wanted to know about her so I wouldn't be confused. Going into this read I thought it was going to be a romance with some angels in it. I would not label this a romance. I would say it's more of an Urban Fantasy with some romance in it. I also figure that since J.R. Ward wrote it I would love it, but it was just okay for me. The first half of the book had a lot of world building. There was also lot of character development for Jim, who is not the hero but will be in all the books. On top of all that info there was development of the hero Vin, the heroine Marie Therese, the demon Devina, and the plot. I felt like the info dump slowed the book down and at times I got bored.



So there I was thinking of dnfing because I was getting bored, but I pushed on and was surprised to find that I enjoyed the second half. When I finally got the feel of the world, I liked the whole paranormal Demons and Angels side to the story. I was getting into the fight of good vs evil. By the middle of the book I found myself invested in Jim, Vin, and Marie Therese. I really wanted to see what happened next. I liked both Vin and Marie Therese as a couple. I felt their love was instant, but it worked. I did think that Vin accepted Marie Therese's past as a prostitute too easily. Devina was evil, and all that was creepy. Seeing her manipulate and destroy was just so eerie. I have to say that J.R. Ward wrote a great villain. It was Jim though that I really loved. He was such a hero. I kinda hope that in the end of the series he gets his own HEA. Overall I am looking forward to the next book, because I believe it will make or break the series for me.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars – Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Powerful, unadulterated awesomeness! Covet is another a‘Ward’ winning read from the master of paranormal/urban fantasy romance and one of my top favorite books so far this year.

I stayed up until 4:30am to finish reading because I simply couldn’t put it down, and then I was immediately depressed for it to be over. I cursed myself for flying through so quickly and not savoring it more, and I was tempted to flip right back to the beginning when I was done to start reading it all over again...it’s that fantastic! This is a read that stays with you days later and makes a 5 star rating seem inadequate. It also gave me a strong craving to reread all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books to get more of Ward’s clever writing, male bonding and bantering, and dark, snarky humor.

While the Brothers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will always hold a special place in my heart, this impressive, phenomenal debut indicates wondrous possibilities for the future of the Fallen Angels series as well and proves Ward’s boundless potential as a writer. In fact, the love scenes in this were so beautifully written and scorch the pages hot that I couldn’t help but wish that she would make a foray into the erotic romance genre at some point.

The strong characters, fascinating premise, and snarky humor grabbed me from the very first page and the story never let me go, and the complexities of the character development and intricacies of the world building were well crafted and balanced. It encompasses a various mix of genres: paranormal, urban fantasy, suspense, mystery, and horror, but at its heart and center is the romance, which makes the story all the more potent.

In the age-old battle of good vs. evil, Jim Heron, a guilt-ridden, loner, ex-black ops construction worker, is tasked with saving seven souls from seven deadly sins, and if he fails? Well, let’s just say that things won’t bode well for the future of humanity.

Jim is the soul of the story, and I simply adored his character. He’s lived a life full of violence, revenge, and painful solitude, but yet it’s obvious that he has a good heart underneath his gruff, hard persona. I loved the interaction between him and the other male leads, including Vin, Adrian, Eddie, and his faithful, loyal friend “Dog”, and there’s lots of male love/hate friendships and hilarious, sarcastic jesting that had me laughing out loud several times throughout the book. I loved Harley riding, leather wearing, pierced-out-to-the max, badass Adrian and hope we see lots more of him to come in future books! I loved all the great BDB cameos too, especially protective Trez.

Jim’s first assignment is Vin diPietro, an extremely handsome, rich, driven, self-made, successful construction mogul who suffers the sin of greed. He covets the very best of everything that money can buy: the finest clothes, jewelry, gadgets, art, liquor, cars, houses, and even the most beautiful, perfect woman on his arm. But what he can’t buy is love or happiness, and then he meets a woman who makes him question the true value of all those supposedly important, material things and his life and future. Of course, his friendship with Jim helps him wise up a little bit too.

What can I say about Vin? Yum, yum, yum, love, love, love...I went completely gaga for him. Ward has such an amazing talent for making stop-your-heart, swoon-worthy, yet imperfect, flawed, troubled heroes, and Vin is one of my very favorite heroes, ever.

When Vin sees Marie-Terese for the first time, he experiences an intense, ‘struck by lightning, stop your heart’ type of magnetic pull and connection that he simply can’t ignore. Marie-Terese makes such a sympathetic, tragic, soulful, and beautiful heroine. She’s a woman pushed to extreme circumstances by a painful, cruel past, and I found myself rooting so much for Vin to swoop in (on his BMW M6 sans white horse) and be her knight in shining armor. But Vin needs Marie-Terese just as much (if not more) than she needs him. Can their faith, trust, and love for each other save them both? The romance between them is believable, sweet, smokin’ hot, sensual, heartwarming, and deliciously, beautifully erotic. There’s a shower scene that rivals some erotica books I’ve read for hotness...I’m talking turn down the A/C, grab some ice cubes hawt! Every scene with Vin and Marie-Terese together was pure, enchanting, intoxicating magic...I simply couldn’t get enough of them!

There’s a big buildup to an epic showdown ending of good vs. evil, and let’s just say that the baddies in this definitely give a gruesome, horrific edge to the story. Although there is a satisfying climax and the issues are mostly resolved in the end, there were a few things left unexplained. My only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion for the happy couple, or maybe I just wasn’t ready to say good-bye to my beloved Vin and Marie-Terese. I really hope we get to see more of them in future books.

It’s a terrific story with superior writing, wonderful characters that you’ll fall head over heels in love with (I know I did), witty dialogue, snarky humor, and touching, hot romance, and IMO it’s worthy of more than 5 stars...so big 5+ stars from this reader!

For my Vin diPietro casting choice, I kept imagining Vin Diesel in fancy, expensive suits (with sexy, silk black boxer briefs underneath) leaning up against a BMW M6, as I was reading this...YUMTASM!

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minor Spoilers

Most who know me know that I am rarely impressed by the premier book in any series. They seem to have a slower pace due to setting up background stories and introducing characters. Let me tell you, this book is not your usual premier book. I have found a new obsession in The Fallen Angels. What an aaaamazing story! J.R. Ward, affectionaly known as The WARDen, never ceases to amaze me with her imagination and her gift of weaving words into a believable, incredible, unforgettable story.

The characters in Covet are strong people, struggling to do the right thing no matter the cost. I adore them all... well.... ALMOST all of them...

Fans of The Black Dagger Brotherhood will not be disappointed, and we have 2, count 'em... 2 Brother sightings, Phury and Butch, as well as visits to some familiar places... The Iron Mask, St. Patricks Cathedral, the Commodore, just to name a few.

Now, in addition to "needing me some BDB", I also "need me some Fallen Angels."

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay! That was a very interesting book. First of all, I applaud Ms. Ward for trying to do something different and tackle the whole Heaven versus Hell theme. I liked her spin on it, although the unfolding of theology is slightly different from what I'm used to. The reviews are mixed on this one. I can only speak for myself, but I loved it. I did one thing that really helped me to go into this book with no preconceived notions: I didn't look for more Black Dagger Brotherhood. If a reader does that, they will probably be disappointed. Be happy with the cameos, and take it from there. Be open to something different, and I think that will help.

This is a very different kind of story from the BDB. It's pretty ambitious too. Although the WARDen has been accused (maybe for good reason) of abandoning the paranormal format and going into urban fantasy, I really do believe this is urban fantasy with a strong romance. I will concede that the latter BDB books are urban fantasyish, but I still consider them primarily paranormal romance. This is the opposite. This is obvious right away, with the strong narrative focus on Jim Heron, who is the main protagonist, although not the romantic hero. That is Vin diPietro. Personally, I kind of like the hook about a guy recruited by Heaven in the Great Game between Good and Evil. He's got seven souls to save, and his mission starts now. It's fresh and interesting. And I love a story about "G. v. E."

Okay, so what did I like about this story?

First and foremost, I loved the protagonists: Jim and Vin. They are strong characters, both deeply flawed, but good men at heart. They are very similar in the fundamental ways. I liked how they seemed to click as friends. They had an ease between them that transcended their so-called socio-economic dividers. I think that Ms. Ward is great at depicting relationships between men that seem authentic (at least to me). She has tough guys, but they aren't all "I'm too macho for feelings." They are men with dreams, broken and intact, hearts, souls, and feelings. Like real men. I liked that they were both pretty straight-shooters, and had come from traumatic pasts to become who they are when this story starts. Therein lay the connection, I believe.

Vin was a character I loved from first meeting. He made me think of Rehv (who I am crazy about). He's ice cold on the outside (but I always felt like he was a good person at heart). I think he was somewhat remote with Devina, but he seemed to really respect women and treat them well. I like his ethics about not cheating and abusing women. His need for ownership, money and power was fascinating. I could totally see why he had that. It was a sense of false security when he had none growing up. I think there the paranormal elements were obligatory for this story, but it could have worked without him having a demonic influence to make him that way. It was great seeing him get some peace and resolution for his life. I felt so bad for how he had never had those things. Had never known love. I felt his love for Marie-Therese, and why she was what he wanted.

As for Jim, he was the other kind of hero I gravitate to. Sort of the salt of the earth type (despite his past as a lethal assassin). He really had a core of goodness. His way of taking care of Dog endeared him to me and warmed my heart, but I also liked his innate kindness and care for women. I think he found his mission in life, but part of me hopes he'll get a woman of his own one day. I think he is a great choice as the narrative focus for this series.

I also liked Marie-Therese. It was dicey crafting a heroine who turns to prostitution as a lifestyle. For the most part, I think Ms. Ward did it well. She didn't glamorize prostitution, and she didn't make it seem like doing that for a living didn't have an effect on a woman. I definitely believe it does. She didn't make Marie-Therese into too much of a plastic saint. If she was that sainted, she wouldn't have turned to hooking for a living. She even admits that she had options, but she chose that as a quicker way out of her problems (and for another reason that is a spoiler to discuss). I felt for her. I couldn't imagine doing that. We didn't really get offered the opportunity to analyze too many of the other girls, but we do get a glimpse into the other side. Gina is a girl who likes the lifestyle of a sex worker. She's up for it, and has no problem with it. I think there was a little balance there. I'm not sure if I wanted to see more of Marie-Therese, or if I was happy with what I got. I get a strong vibe that this is more of a story about men and their relationships with each other and with the women in their lives. In essence, the male voice is a much stronger focal point in the narrative. Much like the BDB books. But, by and large, I didn't have much of a problem with Marie-Therese. I did see that she was determined not to fall back into the old habit of waiting for her knight-in-shining armor to save her. In this case, he's there, but they will help each other. I could see her attraction for Vin, why he got in her heart. She was afraid that he was the same thing all over again as the man she'd made a mistake over, but I feel that she recognized the essential character of Vin, and that's what drew her to him. I think she was pretty layered. She was a good person, but she had some flaws, and she was passionate and earthy, although that part of her had been suppressed by her troubles in life and current profession. I was happy to see her find Vin (and the promise of future happiness), and I loved seeing her relationship with her son. I think she was too hard on herself, and I hope she learns to forgive herself.

The paranormal elements: I think this was well-done. Her view of angels and demons stays more on the realism side. There aren't wings and halos here. I liked how Jim could tell who was an angel or demon by their lack of a shadow. That was a nice touch. I liked the elements going into the lore and ritual of why Vin was in trouble, and getting him out of his fix. That was well-crafted and intriguing. I think Vin's backstory was fascinating. I'm hoping that he will show up in later books as a resource to the Fallen Angels in their battle. I'd love to see more of him. I liked Adrian and Eddie. I wish I had gotten to know them better. It seemed like I didn't see much of who they were initially, but as the story built, you could see what they were and how they were powerful assets to Jim. I especially liked the role that Eddie played in freeing Vin. I'm intrigued with finding out what Adrian's deal is. What's his power? What happened when he confronted the villain? My hope is that they will have a more prominent part in the forthcoming books.

The romance angle: I'm going to get busted for saying this, but I felt like Vin and Marie-Therese had sex too soon. I'd like to have seen them do more romancing and talking before they got physical. I think this was the tone for their lives prior (although Marie-Therese not by choice). I wanted to see their relationship start in a different manner, setting a new tone from the past. The love scenes were steamy, and I liked that Ms. Ward addressed a crucial issue for them both as far as being safe (considering their pasts). I do feel they had a connection and loved each other, but I probably could have seen a little more courtship outside of the physical, to be honest.

I'm loving Trez. He is the man! Can't wait to read his book! I like the relationship he had with Marie-Therese. He's a good guy. In the prior BDB books, you see him more as a bad MOFO, but he seemed very sweet in this book, although the menace was there when it needed to be.

Oh, can I say I adored Dog? What a sweet baby! He was so cute! I think he was just what lonely Jim needed. :)

The villain was a nasty piece of work. Completely evil and awful. I like to see a genuinely bad female villain, so that was pretty well done. I bet she's going to be up to even more despicableness in the following books. She was also pretty creepy (which I like in a good urban fantasy/horror setting).

What I was kind of 'meh' about: I'm not sure I really bought the execution of who turned out to be Marie-Therese's stalker. It seemed a bit anti-climactic. It played into the story arc very well, but I guess I needed more threads and breadcrumbs to buy his connection with Marie-Therese. It seemed to come a bit out of left field for me.

So, my final thoughts: I enjoyed this book a lot. I did mention some things I thought could have been a little better for me. But, overall, I was pretty happy and impressed with this story. I like this concept a lot, and I think that the forthcoming stories will be even stronger. I think that most fans of JR Ward will like this book. If you don't care for the WARDen's hip lingo and brand name dropping, you will probably hurl the book into the corner. I am used to that about her, and I consider it part of her style. The things I love about her writing are here: her detail, her way of putting the emotions and the heart there. The characters I fall in love with, and their complex relations with each other. She doesn't let me down. And, like I said, I love the big stakes battle unfolding in this book. Long story short, Danielle was a happy camper!

[Pepito · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I must admit that I was completely disappointed with this book. I was expecting much more. So many things were wrong with it. it was more than the first book syndrome. First, there was too much background information, but non of it relevant. Moreover, the romance in the book felt fake and forced. You never get to know well the characters, which was the most annoying thing with this book; You had pages and pages of information but nothing really important to understand what was going on.

Leaving the romance apart, nothing really important happens, yes there is a demon trying to mess with Gretchen and Vin, but she never really does anything to harm them. I also wasn't really attracted to any of the characters in the book, not even for one of the secondary characters.
The story was boring most of the time. From the middle of the book I just wanted it to end.

I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed with Ward, she is one of my faves authors and I adore her BDB series, but this new series has too much to improve to be even half as good as the BDB.

[Auntee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab-u-lous!! One of the best books, if not the best book I’ve read all year. I wasn’t sure if JR Ward had another series in her that could rival the best of the BDB series, but this fantastic effort proves she does! Part urban fantasy, part romance (yes, there’s one, and it’s touching and hawt!) part horror, part suspense--this book has it all and then some--and can keep and hold the weakest of all attention spans. I hated to put it down, and when I did, I kept thinking about it, plotting it out in my mind, wondering where it was going to lead, and eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

I won’t get into the plot much (because it would be too easy to let a spoiler slip) except to say that it takes place over the course of three days in Caldwell, NY (home of the BDB, but not exactly connected to that series, and no, you don't have to read that series to enjoy this one)), is about a battle of good vs. evil, big choices are made, and has a big “be careful of what you wish for” theme. It’s wonderfully detailed (including Ward’s trademark “branding” of nearly every inanimate object), has the same wonderfully witty dialogue and male bonding happening (much like the BDB books), is laced with some violent and gruesome scenes, has a romance you can root for, but most importantly has some wonderful characters that the reader can fall in love with. I just loved all of them!

One of the heroes of the book, Jim Heron, is charged with saving seven souls from a life of eternal damnation since each are committing one of the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride). How he got this assignment and how he goes about the "saving' is the basis for this book. Jim, a former Black Ops guy who only seems to know how to live a life based on violence and revenge and whose whole life was affected by a tragic incident in his childhood, ends up at a crossroads in this book and discovers if he has it in him to make the most unselfish sacrifice of his life. I loved this guy and was fascinated by his story. I loved his interactions with the other male characters throughout the book--very “BDB-like”. JR Ward does the whole male POV so well…I just loved getting inside Jim’s head! I even loved his interactions with the scruffy, homeless dog named “Dog”--Jim had a good heart. Just wonderfully told.


So the first "sinner" that Jim has to save is Vincent diPietro, committing the sin of avarice (greed). What can I say about the insanely rich, sexy, general contractor and romantic lead? I adored him, which surprised me a little. His character reminded me a little of Rehvenge (Lover Avenged)--he was sort of an anti-hero at first. Self involved, remote, all about how much he could “acquire”, a shady, less-than-legal past…but somehow Ward, with her tremendous storytelling skills, had me falling for him--fast--as she delved into his background (sooo sad) and portrayed him in a more sympathetic light once she put him in the path of the heroine, Marie-Terese. (Loved the whole “meeting of the eyes” “hit-by-a-thunderbolt” first encounter!) I loved how she developed Vin’s story, and she gave him and Marie-Terese some of the most smokin' hot sex scenes since Zsadist and Bella in Lover Awakened! My God, the whole sequence of scenes that ends up with them in the shower? H-O-T--no doubt about it, and made me realize that Ward could be an outstanding erotic romance writer if she chose to be!

Now Marie Terese, a woman running from a past with a controlling, mobster ex and working as a prostitute? Ward doesn’t take long to reveal the circumstances surrounding that particular choice. At first I thought, ‘okay, I get it…but there has to be another way.’ Other than having it an easy way to have the H/H meet and set the plot in motion, the choice of earning money that she desperately needed that MT made still nagged at me. But later in the book Ward reveals why MT chose to put herself in that situation--and it was a very reasonable explanation--so well done Ms. Ward for putting my questions to rest. I also liked the whole Mary Magdalene comparison--nice touch.

Now the horror aspects of the book? Very Stephen King-like. In fact, Vin has a "gift" that's straight out of The Dead Zone which starts him down the whole “be-careful-what-you-wish-for” path. I don’t want to reveal anything about the “evil” that Jim, Vin, and Marie Terese find themselves battling, except to say as long as you haven’t read any spoilers, it will come as a big, creepy surprise who/what the evil is. And if you’ve read the BDB, this evil may remind you a little of The Omega…Some nice, juicy horror here.

Fans of Ward’s BDB will be tickled by the Phury cameo (can’t miss it), the Butch sighting (pay attention or you’ll miss it), and the other small connections to the BDB series. You’ll be re-introduced to Trez (“Lover Avenged”), recognize local Caldwell landmarks (the Commodore--where’s V & Jane?) and feel like at any moment you could run into one of the “Brothers”. I loved the whole atmosphere--I felt right at home.

The ending? What can I say? Suspenseful, horrific, sad, yet soooo satisfying…although it left me with a few unanswered questions. Suffice to say I can’t wait for the next in the series (and there are six more sins to go!), I hope we see Vin and MT again, and man, I’d like to read this one all over…Ward’s writing skills knock me out--can I give it more than 5 stars?

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Heron, Adrian Vogel, Eddie Blackhawk… hmm.. anybody else sensing a bird-theme?

Rest assured. The new JR Ward series is not about birds, it’s about angels. Sexy, leather-clad, Harley loving angels. And -as cheesy as that all may sound- this series promises to be great!

Covet introduces us to Jim Heron, a carpenter with a secret military background, who gets pinned with the most important job of his life, well... of anybody’s life: he is to help determine whether humanity is good or bad. Seven souls for seven sins and thus seven chances for Jim to decide over the fate of everyone on the planet and the Hereafter.
Poor Jim though has no clue what is laid upon him, but -with a little help from the television and a few hundred volts- he soon finds his first soul: Vin diPietro.

Covet is not a paranormal romance. It reads like a combination of a suspense and urban fantasy novel but it does have strong romantic influences.
The story was wonderfully built, the plot was exciting and intriguing, the romance was both sweet and steamy and there were some comical influences.

The supernatural part of this series is totally different from the BDB. There are angels and demons, but vampires and shadows aren’t known to Jim. In that sense us readers are ahead of him: we know his surroundings as the story takes place in Caldwell. We visit the Iron Mask, catch glimpses of a few brothers and get to see Trez at work. We also get to know Marie-Terese, one of Rehv’s working girls, who turns out to be an engaging heroine.

Jim only gets as much info as is required for that moment. He doesn’t know who to help or who to trust. He doesn’t know why he is chosen and what the possibilities are in the future for his newfound calling.
Same goes for us readers. Questions arise: why has Jim been chosen for this job? How come both sides found him to be an agreeable pawn in the game between good and evil? What exactly did he do in the military?
We know he has done morally arguable stuff in his life, but he doesn’t seem to be a bad person. This indicates we will be seeing more of Jim and chances are, this won’t be pretty. After all: Jim has seven chances to decide the game. And in order for him to play all seven games, he needs to lose once in a while…

This series promises to be really intriguing.

[Buggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening Line: "She wants you." Jim Heron lifted his eyes from his Budweiser."

A PROMISING START ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CALDWELL N.Y

I'm sure most people picking up Covet are fans of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood and my advice to you would be (as hard as it is) to forget about the Brothers (just for a moment) and enjoy this story for what it is. Ward has created a whole new mythology here, that of Angels, Demons and the occult and given us some fantastic new characters to play in it. Her unique writing style makes this story feel familiar from the get go and I loved revisiting the places I've come to know in Caldwell N.Y. through the Brotherhood. Seeing the city in the daylight was especially fun and I revelled in the familiarity of these new yummy characters with their loud music, unique slang and multiple f-bombed banter. Yes, it's good to be back with the WARDen again.

I found writing a synopsis really difficult here without giving too much away so I'll just set the story in motion. Jim Heron, as one of the main characters is no Angel *wink, wink* He's lived his life on both sides of the law and that's what makes him the perfect impartial choice for the angels and demons ultimate end game. Jim has been chosen as the deal breaker in a game of good vs. evil and given the task of saving the souls of seven people from one of seven deadly sins, If he fails so does all of humanity, so it isn't really an option.

The first soul Jim is sent to redeem is that of Vin diPietro, a wealthy and powerful yet dissatisfied business man. He's also Jim's boss. Through circumstances Jim finds himself at the nightclub The Iron Mask (previously ZeroSum) with Vin and his beautiful but mysterious fiancé. This situation is awkward in a host of different ways (no spoilers here) but it allows us to see Trez again and for Vin to see Marie-Therese across a crowded dance floor and not be able to look away. We of course get into Marie-Therese's head and learn the whys and how's of her life as a prostitute (this is not a spoiler, she was in Lover Avenged) And her story is very interesting. We then enter a love triangle of sorts and a serial killer sets his sights on Marie-Therese. Meanwhile Jim adopts a dog and tries to save the world while Vin faces a horrifying ancient evil.

So, these are the four main characters involved in Covet and they all go through some major personality changes during the course of this story. There are also several secondary characters, some of which have been well fleshed out but others like Jim's two Fallen Angel mentors have unfortunately been left a little vague.

This gets 4.5 stars from me and I would recommend it. I become invested in the characters and couldn't put it down, I laughed, I shook my head, shrieked and sighed. The love scenes are amazing and I liked Jim as the hero and his little dog too. Vin and Marie-Therese's evolving romance is captivating and sexy, although those of you looking for a typical romance novel may be somewhat disappointed. I didn't feel as though I'd learned enough (or gotten enough) of the Fallen Angels but the antagonists were well done and even a little scary (albeit they didn't smell like baby powder.) The last 100 pages of Covet are heart pounding and in the end Ward left me wanting more. Do yourself a favour though and don't search for the cameo appearances from the Brothers while you read this, just enjoy the story. They are there but be warned they're very brief. (I will however admit to screaming like a little girl when I found them.)

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you start this book you are thinking it will be a paranormal romance with this Jim guy as the hero, but no. He actually ends up being a side-guy, even though the book is about him. Kinda.
See? I really know how to clear things up.
Jim is given a mission to save seven souls to determine if all of humanity will get to go to heaven and experience its heavenly wonders - I'm thinking a Chocolate Buffet - which by the way, they had on the cruise we went on over Christmas.


This is what I did for Christmas.

Except, the heavenly chocolate buffet will have servers that look like Hemsworths and Skarsgaards.

OR, if he fails, and 4 out of 7 pick the Highway to Hell, all of humanity will burn forever in agony and wear ragged clothing while being poked by pitchforks. All while standing in line for some reason.


You think that's bad, you should see the line for the ladies restroom. The men's restroom doesn't have a line. Some things never change.

This is a description of Jim:
A member of the Spare Club for Men, a guy who never used a word when a nod or a shake of the head could get his point across.

Oh, you mean Southern?
I swear, the men down here act like they would have to give up their guns if they spoke more than three words together.


Those are the three words.

Jim's first mission is to save the soul of a guy named Vin. Vin is about to marry a beautiful model, but then he sees a prostitute and rethinks everything. Because, she's not just a prostitute, y'all. She's a prostitute with a heart of gold who looks like Julia Roberts and really hates her job. I'm thinking, look girl, everyone hates their job. We all have to work with more dicks than we would like, and there's always an asshole boss who makes more money off of your work. But, at least she doesn't have to type. It almost makes up for the raging Syphilis.

So, girlfriend works at Trez's club - you know, the guy with one of the worst books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series? And, guess who else shows up in this book? The guy with the second worse book - Phury. Although, his was a cameo. Trez had an actual side part in this one.

Needless to say, this book had the J.R. Ward feel to it. Tons of references and the lingo that she always uses. I loved this description of a cage-dancer girl at the club, totally cracked me up:

the cages, where a woman was aglow in blue light, writing as if she'd lost a cold penny down the front of her thong and wasn't allowed to use her hands to get it out.

Isn't that the best?

To wrap up my rambling, this book will be fun for lovers of the BDB, but I doubt you will like it if you don't like that series. It has the same feel, but the vampires are not revealed to be there, so you feel like you know a secret that the characters don't know.

[Maria Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué gustazo volver a leer a la Ward! Y más descubrir esta saga de ángeles y demonios. La verdad, no sé qué tiene esta mujer, pero sus historias consiguen atraparte desde el momento cero.

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covet is OK, entertaining but nothing special there.

I think this series is not for me. I am a huge HUGE fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but this book is vastly different and it doesn't work for me.

I am not interested in the romance, I am not interested in the demons versus angels plot, I am not interested in the story line, and I don’t care about the characters. The whole dynamic of the book is completely different to the BDB series and it just doesn't engage me or even grip my attention in any respect. I am so frustrated because I wanted to like it so much but I don’t.

The Fallen Angel Series is of a different hue than The Black Dagger Brotherhood series and not nearly as good. In my opinion is an enormous disillusion.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like....... Whoa !!!! This book was exactly what I expected. I was blown away by the Black Dagger Brotherhood and here I am .... Again .... Doing a JR Ward genuflect ..... This author can tell a story like none other. I have to admit that I was hoping that there would be some brother cameos .....I was tickled pink. First of all....Trez - amazing in this book as he was in Lover Avenged. Mini cameos that you gotta pay attention and be a fan of the BDB series to not miss. The setting : Caldwell NY, scenes....The new " zerosum " .....the Commodore ( wonder if Vin knows his neighbor has a red room of pain lol ) .....but that's not what made this book so good! I loved the characters.......

Jim Heron .....chosen for a special ops mission ....

“You are going to have seven chances. Seven opportunities to influence your fellow man. If you perform as we believe you will, the outcomes shall save the souls in question and we shall prevail over the other side. As long as that win occurs, humanity will continue to thrive and all shall prevail."

“If the Angels won, the entire Earth would be nothing but one giant Christmas frickin’ morning, a choking wave of happiness and warmth and caring and sharing taking over everything. Under that hideous scenario, the Demons would cease to exist not just in the universe, but in the hearts and minds of all of humanity.”



His partners on this stealth mission Eddie Blackhawk and Adrian Vogel .... Yes there is an aviation theme going on because HELLO hot sexy Alpha ANGELS ❤️ .....

The first mission is to save the souls of two individuals. Vin the sexy and rich as sin and Marie-Therese the broken single mom on the run......I can't go into too much detail here but oh what a tangled web.... Love how their story connected. I was engulfed in flames by their binding love!! Jim's mission is to save them and fight the evil creepy bad guys. In no way is this as convoluted as the Lessers.....I was more captivated by the demon(s) and I didn't skim the creepy bad parts .....like I would normally *gasp!

Bottom line : there's a great story here involving divine characters that curse and swear and throw punches. There is love and plenty of swooning sexy times.....there's also camaraderie building that will have you saying " I feel you ".....the cameos and crossover to the BDB will have you tickled pink ! You will wish you had your besties on hand to message and say..... did you just see Phury? * reread that last paragraph* ......you'll get the giggles when you read " what doing ?" ..... It was very difficult to separate the two worlds but I tried my hardest! It may not be as captivating as the BDB was but it still delivered nail-biting action and plenty of feel good moments !

And as always lovely departing visuals : I can't wait for the next book ❤️

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is hard to rate.. I want to say 3 1/2 stars for all the confusion in the first part of the book it took me a little over 100 pages to put everything together between all the characters.. I'm one I dont like to rack my brain to read a book most people are not like me though. Then I want to say 4 stars just because it did get better..

I really liked Vin and Marie-Terese together. I will be waiting to see how Jim gets to take down Devina..

If your are a big BDB reader dont expect the hot sex
seens this book is totaly different good but not BDB sex.

This is how I would recommend this book. Make sure you make a little more time for the first half of this book you can't go into this in a hurry because It keeps jumping for one character to the other, but remember it will all come together..

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon more thought, I realized that I don't really want to come back to this series. I'll stick with BDB and just be happy there.

Take 2 : Dec. 2014 - on a quest for BDB crossover tidbits while waiting for The Shadows to come out.

Okay, this wasn't bad as I'd been expecting. I'm not sure why I didn't get into the book before. It might very well be that I wouldn't have cared for Covet as much if I wasn't already invested in BDB (for a series trying to stick closer to UF than its original PNR counterpart, this wasn't much of a standout for the genre itself) because half of what kept me interested were the glimpses of Butch, Phury, and the ample amount of Trez time. BUT...the book was readable and I'm okay with moving on to book 2. Crossovers can be fun for that reason alone.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Heron has been recruited. But not by the usual head hunters though, he has been chosen by both Heaven and Hell to either redeem or condemn the whole of mankind. All he has to do is guide seven souls each contaminated in some way by evil, for Heaven to win he has to guide them on to the right path. Jim's first assignment is Vin DiPietro, a man driven by avarice, the need to have more and more better and better. Can Jim save him, and is Marie-Terese the prostitute with the sad eyes his way to Heaven or the road to damnation?

I really liked this book, when I got to the serious business of sitting down and reading it, it had me completely hooked, from the prologue from the demons point of view to Jim being flat on his ass outside the pearly gates with the "Four Lads." This has the WARDen's familiar writing style which seems to have a rhythm and flow all of its own, although I am grateful that she has toned down on all the street slang, I was actually able to read this without once having to reach for an Urban Dictionary! But like I said she has a style all of her own that is both beautiful and earthy and has a tendency to grab you and not let you go until you are done, then stay in your head afterwards.

I have marked this as both an UF and a PNR because it kind of is, although there is a romance and it is the central focus of the book and there is also more to it than that, the story doesn't end when the characters pair up, and although Jim is the "hero" of the story he isn't the one with the HEA. That is another point about this that I like the romance was a product of the plot and not the other way around, with a plot a by-product of a romance. This lead it to having a much stronger story and although this one felt like a warm up till the next one it was still great and kept me interested all the way through.

Although I have seen very mixed reviews about this book, I loved it; it had the typical JR Ward style and a great story with the potential to go in so many different directions that I truly can’t wait to see what happens next.

Favourite Quote

Staring up into his face, she felt a stirring deep down as she realized he was her real life fairy tale: Standing before her, he was willing to do battle for her, on whatever killing field the war took place...He was prepared to accept wounds and make sacrifices for her...He was the dragon slayer she had looked for when she was younger and had lost faith in ever finding as she'd aged

Sept 2012 Reread I stand by everything I said above, and on the second reading I love it just as much, if not more!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started out as a pretty good day for Jim Heron (what could be better than sex with a smoking hot girl on your birthday?) turned into a really, really bad day. One moment he was standing at a jobsite, the next he was dead. Kind of. When he woke up, he had a choice to make...he could become the ultimate pawn between good and evil or he could do nothing and watch humanity be destroyed. Jim's character was an interesting mix between good and evil, with just enough good to tip the scales in favor of saving mankind. Once the decision was made, he was given the task of saving seven souls from the seven deadly sins (an obvious set-up for future books). First up was Vin DiPietro who was guilty of avarice (or greed).

Vin DiPietro had everything a man could want, bundles of money, power, beautiful home (at the Commodore), and a model girlfriend. Nothing was beyond his reach, yet he wasn't happy. His life was at a crossroad, and Jim was charged with pushing him toward the right choice. I don't want to give away the details of that choice, but as Jim soon discovered, the path wasn't clear and Vin wasn't a man who was easily pushed.

Marie-Therese worked as a prostitute at the Iron Mask. Prostitution was something that she never dreamed she would do, but saving her son from a dangerous ex-husband had cost thousands of dollars, money she didn't have. Willing to do anything to keep her son safe and pay back the debt, Marie-Therese did what she had to do. Working as a prostitute was a huge moral struggle for her and it took a tremendous emotional toll. She has an air of vulnerability and innocence in marked contrast to what she does for a living. She has somehow developed the ability to separate herself from the job so that all of the men she's with touch her body, but they're never able to touch her soul.

Vin and Marie-Therese meet when he saves her from two guys in the Iron Mask who think they can force her into a "date" with them. Even though she's a prostitute, she has certain personal rules that she follows, and threesomes don't fit into that rulebook. Vin is immediately taken with Marie-Therese. She has a calming effect on him that he's never experienced with any other woman. He knows that she's a prostitute, but he doesn't judge her. And how could he? Vin's no angel...he has been a really, really bad boy.

I loved Jim and Vin. They both have flaws, but they're good guys at the core. Vin and Marie-Therese made a great couple and I can see how he fell head over heels for her. Their romance did happen a bit too quickly, but as I read the book, I found myself forgetting that only 3 days had passed since they first met. While this book doesn't have as much romance as you'll find in Dark Lover or Lover Eternal, it's still more focused on romance than recent books once you get through the first 100 pages or so of set-up.

There were some unanswered questions and a dangling story line that will probably be addressed in subsequent books.

The setting of this book is Caldwell, NY (the same city for the BDB books). Some familiar faces make an appearance including Trez who owns the Iron Mask, the club where Marie-Therese works. The detective in charge of a murder investigation is De La Cruz. Marie-Therese attends church and bible study regularly, and at one meeting, she runs into (literally) a certain tall, yellow-eyed, beautiful-haired stranger who was there for a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. This didn't have anything to do with the story, but I got really excited about it. lol

[MelissaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covet was a good read that kept my attention and was a decent start to the series. I had a few small problems with it but I think the series has promise. The book didn't have the "magic" of the BDB that draws you in and makes you desperate to continue reading - plus vampires are just more interesting to me than regular people. Another problem: without the huge personalities of the Brothers, the "Ward speak" just started to make me roll my eyes a lot. I think it was even worse in this book or maybe I am just so enthralled with the Brothers that it doesn't seem as bad.

That being said, the book was still fun to read and was a very entertaining way to spend a few hours. I hope we learn a little more about the "fallen angel" stuff because we are just as in the dark as Jim is currently. So I guess we will keep getting clues as the series progresses.

I enjoyed Vin and Marie-Theresa (aka Gretchen). Though I must say that in some ways Vin felt like a watered down version of the Rheverend (only without the cool fangs and barb). Also, I was a little freaked out by the fact that Marie-Theresa was a prostitute at first. I think I would have felt better about the love scenes if I could have seen a blood test from both Vin and MT, then I wouldn't have cringed a bit during the stuff that was supposed to be hot. I did not feel like the love scenes were anywhere near as hot as the scenes in the BDB but hopefully the next books will amp up the steam level.

Vin and MT/Gretchen's love story was very fast-moving but I did like them together, as I am a sucker for the "two wounded souls healing each other" theme. I felt like Gretchen's kid sort of appeared and disappeared pretty conveniently - that must be one amazing babysitting service. I wouldn't have minded a bit more closure at the end of the story but I was pretty convinced of their love for each other.

Jim, Dog and his Harley-lovin' Fallen Angel buddies Eddie and Adrian are apparently going to be a team in the coming books. I do like Jim and will enjoy learning more about him and his mysterious background. I hope Ward is able to balance future stories out so we still get a romance as we watch Jim perform his quest.

So overall - Covet was a good, entertaining read that kept my attention but had a few slight blips - mainly that it wasn't as engrossing and awesome as the BDB and the Wardisms were out of control and a bit ridiculous at times. I will be reading whatever else Ward puts out in this series because she knows how to write in an attention-grabbing way that keeps me sucked in and excited to see what happens next.

[Kathrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this kickoff into a new series, Fallen Angels, by J.R. Ward. The beginning was confusing at times, but as I continued reading, I realized the author's intent must have been just that because it was like putting a puzzle together--one piece at a time. Once or twice, I felt that I'd missed something, but as I continued on things cleared up nicely.

This was NOT a romance. I felt it leaned more toward general fiction/horror. More horror because in my thoughts anytime there are decaying corpses, gruesome rituals, etc., well that's horror. The couple that was trying to get together was NOT the main focal point of this story and it doesn't end all neat and pretty; although, there are endings to certain plots, but not all.

Thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the author's sense of humor. For those that are familiar with the author's Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series, one of the main characters in Covet--Jim--reminded me a lot of Butch with traces of Vishous from the BDB.

The main characters are: Jim Heron, still on active duty, but taking a leave of absence; Vin DiPietro, Marie-Teresa and Devina. Two angels come in and out of the story, Adrian and Eddie.

Thought the way the author described crossroads on page 182 and death toward the ending was right on. A few quotes:

While getting reading to take the Harley's out for a spin, Jim says he's going to go get his helmet. One of the angels says:

"But you gotta think about the wind in your hair, my man."

Jim says, "Or the electrical plugs that'll keep you alive afterward."

Instead of writing that a character was laying on his back, she writes, "... spreadout, belly to the heavens."

"Christ knew that adding a set of jailbars to this equation was not going to make things easier."

"...but hopefully a side order of here's-an-idea would come with the meal."

"...sitting across from a huge no-no in a cashmere sweater."

"As if on que, because this shit storm clearly needed another tornado in the mix, his cell phone went off."

[Beanbag Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, solid beginning to a new series by JR Ward. Taking place in some classic locations for readers of Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, there's a lot that's familiar in this story and also something new.

For one thing, the paranormal elements are different. We do see cameos of characters from the Brotherhood world, which means vampires, but the story doesn't really hinge on them. So, we're being introduced to a new mythology, containing black magic, angels and demons. She's created a pretty good lore. Some things are left to be explained as we go along, but it's fairly easy to understand and the background left to be filled in isn't missed within the story.

Jim Heron is the main character of the series, although it seems there will be a romantic story line to each book. This one dealt with Vin and Marie-Therese (who was introduced in the BDB book, Lover Avenged). We basically had two main stories woven together with Jim learning his mission/destiny and the lovers finding and falling for each other. The two stories work really well together and the suspense, particularly toward the end, was fairly intense. With Jim still hazy on what expectations are being placed on him as well as trying to learn the tools he can depend on, I anticipate another two-story weave for the next book, as well.

My one complaint is that Ward is beginning to remind me of a singer who has a very strong instrument and a marvelous trill but doesn't know when to let a single note simply carry the moment. She's great at giving inner thoughts, philosophizing and creating analogies for the current action. In fact she's quite strong in that area. But there are moments that might be better served by just telling the story in a straight-forward manner. Just like the singer with the fabulous, skillful trill would better serve the song with a less-is-more approach, simply laying out events as they're happening might better serve the story being told. At times I felt the narrative was cluttered. But not by bad writing. Too much of a good thing that should really be used as a decorative effect. The story is strong enough to survive without the gingerbread.

Now that I've metaphored the heck out of that criticism, I can say that I did really like this book and I recommend it.

One extra thing -- I strongly implore Ms Ward to get a couple of beta readers. Continuity errors are riddled throughout and it's a problem that's also become prevalent in the BDB series. This is exactly the kind of thing that causes an audience not to commit to an author. You never know when a guy is going to drive off in the same car his girlfriend just drove off in an hour or so ago. She's got fans on her site that would do it for free. Either no editor is actually reading this or she's deciding to leave fixable errors in. Either way, she's too big an author to keep getting away with it.

[Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

^^I HAVE BEEN COVETED^^

The Warden is back and just as good as ever. This book is an introduction to the other side of Caldwell. Vampires aren’t the only kind that stalks the street. J. R Ward introduces us to her fallen angels and the struggles of the everyday person.

We meet Jim Heron, a recluse who doesn’t say much, but by looking at him you know that he has lived a pretty sordid life. One night at a club he meets a woman with sad eyes, who was looking for comfort, and he offers it with his body. Working at a construction site, is the job he has now before he moves on, changes his name, and become someone else. Just so happens the woman from last night is his boss’s woman and the shock of it all leads Jim to have an onsite accident, which cost him his life, and a revelation that will save the world.

Jim wakes up from his accident in an unfamiliar place with four very inhumanly beautiful men. What they ask him to do, leaves Jim laughing, obviously this has to be a dream. There is no way these guys are saying that he has to save the world. He realizes this is no joke and the faith of man survival depends on him, kind of like that children’s Christian song “He’s got the whole world in his hands”. He shall have seven chances to save the world and he must not fail, because the one person he loved most in this world, her life would have been for naught. Jim wakes up in real time in a hospital bed to find that not only is his boss at his bedside but it seems he’s his first assignment and how the hell is he going to save this guys soul.

Vin diPietro grew up on the wrong side of the tracks with parents that he could have lived without. To make matters worse he has psychic visions and no one wanted to be around that weird kid who knew when and how you were going die. So he grew up the loner, he decides that he wants to rid himself of his curse and live a normal life, the decisions he makes create a foundation that will cost him his very soul. With money to burn and living on top, Vin realizes that his life might be missing the important things but it could be a little too late for him. Marie- Terese lives as a lady of the night, running from a past filled with violence, never staying in one place for too long. She wants out of her life, and she sees a man that makes her want to find a stopping place. It seems someone is killing men she’s come in contact with and she has no choice but to move on. Life has other plans and she’s dragged into some serious sh*t that she never thought existed.

The Warden creates a world filled with angels who come in the form of humans, things that are evil and comes in pretty packages. Magic so dark that it makes a blackout, seem bright and sunny. A love story so beautiful and powerful, that it will lead to the healing and rebuilding of their lives. Ward manages to write a intricately woven story with characters that are relatable. Every scene and character was well balanced, and the bad guys crazy and psychotic. Who doesn’t love a messed up mean guy/girl. There was small cameos by the brothers and I am glad they were small anything bigger would have overshadowed the overall story. Don’t get me wrong I love my brothers, but I got to focus on this brand new wicked series more. On the pants losing scale I give this a 4 only because Vin and Marie were sexy together and the love they had for each other pretty much came off the page and slapped me in my face. Such a good book, and a new take on angels and evil things that go bump in the night. Check it out.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the 'Fallen Angels' series by J.R. Ward. Unfortunately, this book just didn't grab my attention quite like the 'Black Dagger Brotherhood', although the two series are supposed to be intertwined. I say "supposed to be" because I didn't catch the references to characters from the BDB series. However, I'm sure it is just because it's been quite a while since I've read any of those books and the details are a bit hazy. I'm sure they were there and I just missed it. In any event, I liked this book, but it didn't make me fall in love with the story or leave me wanting more. In fact, it seemed to drag on and on at times.

When Jim, a construction worker with a deadly past, gets electrocuted on the worksite, he is recruited to fight alongside fallen angels in the war of good vs. evil. He is fighting for his soul and all of mankind. Faced with the opportunity to help people choose the right path, avoiding the seven deadly sins, Jim must steer them toward good. If he succeeds, good prevails. If not, evil wins. He is the agreed upon tiebreaker and his actions will determine the outcome of the age-old war.

His first trial revolves around his boss, Vin, a man that only seems to value his wealth and material possessions. As the owner of the construction site that Jim was injured on, Jim is able to use his injury to his advantage, in order to get closer to Vin. The men soon become friends and Jim discovers that Vin is a man at a crossroads. Should he propose to his beautiful girlfriend, or not? Initially thinking that his job is to nudge Vin into the proposal, Jim begins to question his initial assumptions after seeing Vin's reaction to Marie Therese, a prostitute working out of a local club.

As the story progresses, the relationship between Vin and Marie Therese grows more intimate. She is running from her own ghosts. Vin's past also comes back to haunt him. All the while, Jim is discovering a whole new world where demons do exist and things like black magic impact his reality. Eventually, it comes to a head with the first showdown between good and evil I this series that promises many more to come.

I listened to the Audible version of this book. It was well-narrated. That being said, I would not listen to the audiobook version of this story if I had it to do over. There were so many characters and story lines going right from the beginning, that it was pretty confusing. I had to rewind a few times to try and figure out who was who. Granted, I do tend to listen to audiobooks when driving or doing housework, etc., so I can't give my full attention to the audiobook. For that reason, I try to pick "lighter", less complex audiobooks. If I had read the Kindle version, I might have gotten more enjoyment from this story.

For me, it was good but not great. I might continue the series at some point, but am not dying to dive into the next book right away.

[Tanu Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story, but a lot of typos.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covet is the first book in J. R. Ward's Fallen Angels series. I think that this book was great, if a little bit hard to get into at first. Covet didn't grab me quite as soon as the Black Dagger Brotherhood books did. I liked it from the beginning, but I didn't really get into it until after Jim died and was sent back by the angels. Then it all started getting super interesting because he became more involved with Vin (who's my favorite character, by the way).

Vin diPietro has to be one of the sexiest characters I've ever read about. He knows how to treat a woman. He's honest and loving. He didn't stay mad at Jim for sleeping with Devina. He chose to believe Marie-Terese over Devina when Devina lied about Marie-Terese and Jim being together. He's got a fantastic body and a sense of humor. And, of course, he's a great lover. I loved Vin from the first time he showed up in Covet, when he was buying that engagement ring for Devina. My appreciation for him just grew continually throughout the novel, especially the times he was with Marie-Terese, because in those times he was open, vulnerable; he let her see inside to the real him and his past. I was completely pissed off when he was arrested because Devina claimed he beat her up. The bitch! I was so glad when Eddie was able to get her out of Vin's soul. She was totally screwing him up and I was smiling like a fool when she was pulled out of him and couldn't get to him anymore.

Marie-Terese is a familiar character to anyone who has read the BDB books. She was the professional who was "in charge" of all the other working girls in the VIP section at ZeroSum. In Covet, she is working at the Iron Mask because this book seems to take place during the time when everyone thought Rehvenge was dead. In light of that fact, Trez (I love him!) owns the Iron Mask and is Marie-Terese's boss. I loved seeing her son, Robbie, in this book. He was mentioned in one of the BDB books, but he was never shown because Marie-Terese was never a major player. He was so adorable. I felt for everything Marie-Terese had to go through with her ex-husband and the fact that she was "in hiding" from Mark and his associates. I was glad when she quit working at the Iron Mask, and the only sad part about that, for me, was that there would most likely be no more Trez in the novel, which proved to be basically true. I loved her and Vin together, though. They meshed together so well, and their ending was so cute, especially with Robbie acting like the man of the house.

Jim was an interesting character for me. At first, I didn't really like him, especially after I found out he'd slept with Vin's girlfriend. Once he warmed up to Vin, though, I started to warm up to him. By the end of the book I loved him and was glad that he was there for Vin through everything, with the help of Adrian and Eddie, who I absolutely adore, by the way. I was sad when Jim died again at the end, but it didn't last very long because I knew that he had to come back to help the next six people.

The crazy guy who was obsessed with Marie-Terese freaked me out. He was my least favorite POV to read. At first, I thought it was her ex-husband and I kind of wished it was so that Vin or Jim would have the chance to kill him, but no go. I'm glad the guy ended up dead, and I was practically cheering Vin on when he was shooting the guy.

One of my favorite things about reading this book was picking out all the things from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books and her novella, The Story of Son. The Iron Mask and Trez were the first things and I cannot tell you how excited I got. Trez is one of my favorite BDB characters and so I was ecstatic to see him in Covet. I don't really like Phury, but when Marie-Terese ran into him when the NA meeting was coming in, I couldn't help but react to that, too. Then she saw Butch in the church. Mick Rhodes, Vin's lawyer, was from The Story of Son. I think Jose de la Cruz was who I was most looking forward to seeing, though. I'd heard he shows up in here and I was really looking forward to seeing him. So I was a little sad that he shows up only once and it was towards the end of the book at that. There was just a bunch of things and it was really fun to pick them out.

Despite the fact that it took me a little while to get into the book, I loved practically every minute of it. I cannot wait for Crave, the second book in the Fallen Angels series; it can't come out a moment too soon.

[Debra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covet by J.R. Ward
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
5 Stars

This is going to be a very short review.

I read this book back in April of 2015.

I went into it with no expectations. I had just discovered J.R. Ward's BDB about 6 months previously and I was waiting to get my greedy hands on the next in the series when I ran into this book.

I had loved everything I had read so far of hers & this looked different and intriguing. So I grabbed it.
Then I gobbled it up!

Totally different than the BDB series.

This one is Fallen Angels & Demons.
Good vs Evil.
Redemption of the soul.
And Love conquers all. (When you work for it)

While you true Main character is Jim Heron, he is not the love interest. Nor his two fallen angel sidekicks sent to help him.
So I guess you can say this story has 4 mc's. Jim, who is sent on a mission to help save a soul or two & the souls in question, Vin diPietro & Marie Therese. Then the demon, Devina makes the 4th mc.

With all those characters you could get either a convoluted mess or a great story.
This was a great story!
It got me intrigued with Jim's character from the start.
Then it hooked me and kept me in raptured to the very end.

I loved it so much I went looking to grab every book in the series.

[~ Becs ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chained to all the places that he never wished to stay
Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say
As he faced the sun he cast no shadow
-Noel Gallagher


So I started this book riding on the crest of the Lover Reborn wave – looking for something to break up with barren WARDenless wasteland before the next BDB book arrives and didn’t have massively high expectations. I should have known better to doubt the WARDen though and can happily report that it’s a totally new approach to the ages old battle of good vs evil and is a great read.
So this is a novel of Fallen Angels and our main celestial being is Jim Heron – a man with a shady past now working a construction site with Adrian Vogel and Eddie Blackhawk. Are we noticing a theme here of the avian variety??

They all work for Vin diPietro, self-made self-assured millionaire who we first seeing buying the perfect engagement from a top jewellers for his perfect woman, Devina Avale, to complete his perfect life. But all is not rosy. Vin doesn’t really love this woman, he just believes she would make him the picture perfect wife. At first I didn’t like Vin but quickly we learn there’s a lot to love about him. He came from very humble beginnings and has dragged himself up in the world and now has a 2 story apartment in the Commodore – isn’t the Penthouse occupied by Rehvenge on one side and Vishous’s playroom on the other?

So back to Jim – he has a one-night stand with a beautiful woman in a blue dress and the very next day his boss, Vin, comes to the construction site to visit with his woman on his arm who is none other than the devil in the blue dress from the night before. Jim turns sharply, falls into a puddle with a live cable and is electrocuted.

Drifting, unconscious, Jim wakes up on the edge of Heaven which is a manicured croquet lawn outside of an English castle with 4 upper crust English dudes named Tarquin, Bertie, Colin and Nigel. They tell Jim that he is going to save the world by saving 7 souls who are at a crossroads in their lives and he must guide them on the correct path. He’s also warned to watch out for Team Demon who is attempting to guide these souls on the path to hell.

He regains consciousness in hospital and wakes up to Vin who is standing in front of the TV screen with a red arrow pointing right at his head. He is the SOS – his mission. Jim takes him to the Iron Mask that night where Vin sees and develops instant deep feelings for Marie Terese, a prostitute we met back in Lover Avenged. It’s soon apparent to Jim that Marie Terese is Vin’s redemption and Devina is the wrong turn.

As in all good stories, the course of true love never did run smooth and Marie Terese also has a past she is hiding and it’s a tough road ahead for her and Vin. Vin takes her back to where he grew up and they sit there together in the dusty house and I thought these scenes were really well written. You could truly feel the strong but repressed feelings the two of them held for each other without being able to express them until their passion explodes and they can no longer deny their attraction.

Before we can go all Pretty Woman, it’s all about to go seriously Pete Tong for Vin as Team Demon ups the ante when they suspect that Team Angel is forging ahead and he is arrested for assault and there are a few more bumps in the road before all is revealed.

It’s a highly enjoyable novel and yet another series to wait all bloody year for the next instalment but, hey ho, such is the life of a J.R. Ward fangirl!

4 stars urban fantasy romance

This is how I see the Castle at the entrance to heaven.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting new series by J.R. Ward, but not quite as captivating as her BDB series. However if you’re a die-hard fan of this author, I think The Fallen Angels series will keep you entertained as you wait for the release of the next BDB book.

Covet did suffer from a slow start, and I had a little issue with the setting and surrounding characters paralleling the BDB universe. I would have preferred for this series to stand on its own in that respect.

In addition, I’ve never been a huge fan of the whole fallen angels concept, but then again, I’ve only tried the YA attempts and the two that I’ve read were pretty much disappointing, so the reason I gave this one a try??? Well to be honest, I’m waiting for Lover Unleashed, so in the mean time, I’m looking for a distraction with the same appeal.

The concept of this book takes a while to grasp and digest and the characters aren’t anything extraordinary or squee-worthy really, but in the end, you have to admit it was slightly entertaining.

I liked Jim, but not as a MC, so we’ll see if I decide to go along with him on his journey as he’s chosen for possessing two halves, both good and bad in equal measure, and is presented with seven chances to influence his fellow man; and if he performs as the ‘good’ angels believe he will, the outcome shall save the souls in question and they shall prevail over the other side of life, ultimately allowing humanity to continue to thrive.

Seems like a far stretch, but overall you get caught up in the lives of those Jim is trying to influence, so the story eventually falls into place. Interesting and better in terms of other stories I’ve read on fallen angels, but still not high on my rating scale.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just this minute finished reading this gem and thought I'd strike whilst the iron was hot so to speak. Worth More than 5 Stars.

This book is awesome and whilst I feel as though I should write a synopsis of the story I expect many others have already done so, so I'm not going to repeat. I will say that everything about this book is wonderful the characters, the sub plots, everything! If you are a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books and enjoy the way J R Ward brings her intricate and intriguing world together then you're sure to love this too. The plot is straight forward but where the story shines is the way JR Ward ties in all the other stuff big and small, and leaves you with an overall story that is Romance, mystery, crime, horror/paranormal. Her characters are well developed, even the male stalker, who in the hands of a less accomplished author would feel like an add on, is a real,living, being. Her words create an atmosphere that involves the reader fully, these are people you'd like to know, and they all soon become very familiar, so that you'd know what they'd like to eat and drink if they dropped by your house. The stories surrounding each character were well explained and detailed enough that I knew exactly why Marie-terese was who she was, and why Jim was chosen for his role.

For me this book is a fantastic first book of the series. Read it poeple,read it!

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling, entertaining, surprising and addictive...

I honestly only read this book because of JR Ward's BDB series, that and the fact a friend said they were really good... I was also a little worried that this series would dampen my feelings of my favourite author!!! However...

I was thrilled to be granted a few snippets of my recent favourite brothers... Trez, mentions of ZeroSum, Red Sox hat in a church, SUV's passing by and of course last, but not least, Marie Terese... the few small pickings that had me remembering what was going on in the streets of Caldwell where this story was taking place had me smiling... But, this story was one in it's very own....

I adore paranormal and Jim, an ordinary human, made everything so believable... I loved the plot and the laughter that combined together took me on a journey that I hadn't anticipated...

Covet is so different to my gorgeous BDB books but one that will settle on my favourites shelf... I can't wait to take a ride with Crave and see where Jim and dog are lead... I have to say, that although this book is different to BDB, I have no doubt in my mind that this series will impact on me with just as much awe... I highly recommend this book, but only to be read AFTER BDB...

I am so excited to start the next installation!!!!

[Mrs. Badass · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 Stars
This book started out with many points of view and differing story lines. I had a hard time with the back and forths, it makes it harder to develop a relationship with the characters. At first I found it confusing, trying to figure out who was the Angel and who was to be saved.

I also think there was a lot of filler. I don't want to go into what I felt could have been deleted because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. There was a lot of information that I felt wasn't necessary and just added to the confusion overall.

I liked Vin and Marie Therese together. I felt there growing love was well done,even if they say I love you 3 days after they meet. I like Jim. Adrian and Eddie I didn't feel attached to. I like Trez and was happy to see him at the Iron Mask.
I laughed when Phury made an appearance (she doesn't tell us it's Phury, but what other god of a man has multi colored golden hair and attends NA?
Overall, the book was Decent. Not great, but it is worth a read.

[Jessica {Litnoob} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super into this book guys and I wasn’t sure where I would land here so it makes me super happy. It wasn’t BDB but it didn’t need to be to be awesome. It kept the best parts of Wards writing style (minus shit kickers, I hate that damn term lol) and have us the “human” side of Caldwell. We get these small flashes of some familiar faces and some who worked with the human population without it ever feeling like it was being taken over by her other series. Add to that that we get angels and demons without serious theological debate and it’s the best of all worlds. I can’t wait to continue on in the series.