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In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable plumage, Wren knows one thing for the human woman who saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The demon responsible for his parents' gruesome deaths two decades ago pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren's wing. Wren doesn't expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual talent of her own reveals the location of Wren's father, Wren's isolated world implodes. With the help of the demon protectors he's sworn never to trust again, Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who stalks his and Ginger's every step, and claim his eternity with the most courageous woman he's ever known.

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2011

2 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Purdy Gilman

9 books133 followers
Dramatic Fantasy.
Sensual Romance.
Unique Stories.

Fantasy and paranormal romance reader and author. Survivor of a shattered HEA.

www.sarahpurdyauthor.blogspot.com
www.sarahgilmanbooks.com

I keep company with angels, demons, dragons, and phoenix royalty. Hell yes!

Introducing the Return to Sanctuary series!

In a dark world where fallen archangels join forces with demons in the struggle for survival against human poachers, love awaits and romance takes flight.

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5 stars
91 (34%)
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81 (30%)
3 stars
62 (23%)
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26 (9%)
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7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Stacia (the 2010 club).
1,045 reviews4,102 followers
March 5, 2013
Indeed, an archangel trapped face down in the water would surely drown.

During the 78% of the book which followed the above sentence, I kept having mental images flash through my head of a poor angel stuck in the water, flailing his wings and trying to get out. Maybe these angels should get one of those life alert necklaces, the ones with the slogan : Help, I've fallen and I can't get up! Those things save lives, you know.

Oh wait, I forgot. They can't rely on help from humans because humans are poaching them. Wow, it's a bad time to be an angel.

It's always sort of different when you stumble across paranormal books in which us idiot humans have some sort of knowledge about things outside of our own bubble. I'm not sure if I ever fully got a handle on who exactly knows about the angels and demons. I might have missed that tidbit. From what I gather, there is at least a big enough portion of the population who has this knowledge though.

Can I talk about the cover before continuing on with my book commentary? Because I don't think I'm a fan of the newer cover version.

Let's compare :
Out in Blue (Return to Sanctuary, #1) by Sarah Gilman vs. Out in Blue (Return to Sanctuary, #1) by Sarah Gilman
I get that the half-naked man is sort of the norm for romance-type books, but I liked the pretty little floating feather. So it's not really an angel-wing type of feather, but I liked it because that pic looks better than nakey-man deformed torso. Maybe that's just me though. Truth be told, the second cover leads you to believe that this book is way more sexy than it actually is.

However, I thought the love story was sweet. Everything seemed a little too rushed, but maybe that was for the purpose of fitting in more action at the end. There were still some note-worthy moments on the journey though.
"But if I kiss you once, I won't be able to stop." He paused. "I'd be damning you to an unspeakable hell if I acted on my desires."

She was good for him, that much was clear. He wasn't good for her.

"I shouldn't mean anything to you, Gin."
"But you do." She stepped forward.
"Then you are a very brave, foolish woman."


PNR vs. UF - what is this book? It looks like the book is classified as PNR. Since I can't see how book 2 is going to go (new couple, same couple, etc.), I can only go off how the book reads - and it reads more UF than PNR to me. There are a couple of brief sex scenes but the detail is fast...it's not quite fade to black, but there's definitely a get in, get out, type of deal.

The story starts off with action - right from the start a woman is put in the path of an angel in trouble and she helps rescue him and nurses him back to health. I love when a book grabs hold of you and gets you excited from the get-go.

There was a good mix of action and romance, and the book ended with a great tah-dah, setting things up for future adventures.

The writing was impressive. Nothing about Out in Blue read small pub to me. I am surprised that I hadn't heard of this book before I was approved for the re-release galley (it was originally published a while back) because it reads very much like a big pub book - there was something about Out in Blue which reminded me of the first Guild Hunter book.

In fact, I feel sort of guilty for only giving out 3 stars, when I couldn't really find anything wrong. All I can say is that I wasn't hooked. Everything was good, but nothing stood out. So I'm going with my decent but not special rating.

Overall, this was a good first effort - better than a lot of the first-in-series books for popular UF/PNR, even. I'll keep a look out for book two. From the way the foundation was laid, I think there's some great potential for good things to come.
Profile Image for Lori {Romancing the Dark Side}.
402 reviews270 followers
August 14, 2011
Romancing the Dark Side Review:

Angels and Demons like you've never seen them before!

Living in seclusion in a world where angels are hunted by poachers for their feathers, Wren has managed to evade not only the evil hunters but the demon who betrayed and murdered his parents when he was just a child. He trusts only himself, but when a woman risks her own safety to warn him of the poachers out to hurt him and saves his life when they attack, Wren is faced with trusting Ginger, the human who risked her life for him. Raised by a demon, Guardians of the Archangels, Ginger knows a great deal regarding angels, but nothing could prepare her for the turn of events that follow when she follows her heart and allows an angel into her life.

Angels are usually the protectors and revered by humans in books but the author has put a twist to her story that you don't see coming. In Out In Blue, the roles are dramatically changed, angels are seen as monsters, demons are their protectors and humans are the true villains. This is not your usual good vs. evil plot; I found this world and how the author explores the dark side of humanity that we sometimes try to avoid absolutely fascinating.

The characters in the book all have deep emotions and complex pasts that are revealed throughout the story and make it easy to establish a connection with. Their stories touch you in a way you want to find out more about them individually, this even includes the villains. Gin and Wren have powerful chemistry from their first encounter that goes beyond the physical. Their romance seems to develop quickly but as you're reading you realize these two are the closest thing to soul mates if such a thing does indeed exist. There are a few love scenes between Wren and Gin that heat things up but always in a tasteful manner that leave the rest up to the imagination. Usually, I'd be upset there wasn't enough "action" between the two main characters but that's not the case in this book, their emotional story is enough to engage the reader.

Out In Blue is an exceptional surprise! It's tame enough to fall under a young adult novel but has the masterful writing of an adult paranormal romance. The story immerses you into the author's alluring world and into the action from the first pages and makes it hard to put down! The secrets revealed and unexpected twists will keep you from guessing how the story ends. Filled with action, suspense and romance, Out In Blue is a unique take on the much explored angel and demon theme that will enthrall you with its emotion and element of surprise!

{Ebook courtesy of author/Bewitching Book Tours for review}
Profile Image for Lacey.
271 reviews76 followers
July 2, 2011
Warning!! Highly addictive, it has been known to keep it's reader up late into the night and cause a melting of heart, where all the reader can do is stare googly eyes at the book...Be warned, once started, there's no going back.

First thoughts: I was curious about this book, I love Angels, have a soft spot for them and so I went into this book thrilled and I wasn't disappointed. Right from the beginning it is packed with action and raw emotions, there are so many deep scenes where you're able to get to know the characters. The plot is exciting, well paced and characters are very likable, none of those annoying characters who you secretly wish dead...come on you know that's thoughts crossed your mind one time or another.

Brief Summary:

Ginger lost her parents when she was only a baby and was raised by a demon named Devin, and unlike most of society Ginger believes and loves Archangles, she would risk her lives for them as is customary for the Demon Guardians. Soon Ginger saves the life of Wren, a half archangel and half human. The two head go to sanctuary, where the guardians live and protect Archangles, or at least the few left. And there is where Ginger learns of Wren's past and how if he loved another woman his one true enemy would kill her in a more painful way than his mother. But even that can't stop the two from drawing to each other. And its a fight for the finish to see what is left after everything is said and done.

Last Thoughts:
Very well written, intriguing and never disappointed me. It has all types of emotions mixed within giving a balance feel. Good for young adults who can appreciate love and all it's costs and gifts. I simply cannot wait till the second book comes out, one thing is for sure, it will be on the top of my to-read list!! Thank you Sarah for creating such a special and amazing book, all of that hard work definately paid off.
Profile Image for Laurie.
616 reviews132 followers
August 17, 2011
This is a uniquely imaginative novel that I think is exceptional. I was hooked almost immediately and became caught up in the lives and adventures of Wren and Ginger. The chemistry between the pair sizzled. The tension escalated throughout until, finally, ignited by a fiery inferno, Wren found his destiny.

I love the way in which the author describes the beautiful, snowy-white wings, and deals with the handicap they can be when Wren is not in flight. The characters are likable, interesting, and complex. The society in which they dwell is harsh and unforgiving. Almost magical writing captures the essence of the magnificent landscape, and the stunning scenery was vividly painted on the canvas of my imagination.

The author delicately weaves a mesmerizing fantasy that is as alluring as it is unusual. I had no difficulty suspending disbelief; embracing this dark, dangerous, secret society of archangels and protective demons that are stalked mercilessly by greedy poachers.

Then, there lives the malignant force that hides itself among the brainwashed masses, coveting what can never be theirs. The evil, unseen enemy wrecks havoc, destroys harmony, leaving only discord and disillusionment in its mysterious wake. This captivating, fast-paced story is a brilliant start to what will be an astounding series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing a digital copy in return for my unbiased review.


Reviewed by Laurie-J

Profile Image for Kathy Martin.
4,159 reviews115 followers
August 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this urban fantasy/paranormal romance. In this world angels fall, are protected by demons, and are hunted by humans for their feathers. Wren watched his family's guardian demon betray them and kill his parents when he was ten years old. He has been on the run from both guardians and humans ever since.

Ginger overhears human poachers discussing the angel that they have located and rushes off to try to rescue him. After all, she was raised by a demon and knows about angels. When the rescue attempt goes awry, Ginger and Wren are both on the run. The poachers do let slip that the father he thought was dead has been the prisoner of the poachers and their rogue demon leader for eighteen years. Wren is determined to rescue him and reluctantly goes to the demons for assistance.

Along the way, Ginger and Wren fall in love. But Wren is afraid to commit to her because the demon who killed and tortured his parents had said that worse would happen to anyone Wren loved. Wren also has an unusual psychic power. He can kill anyone he touches. A previous love interest was afraid of him and feared his power. He is afraid that Ginger won't be able to cope with it either.

The book is filled with interesting mythology about angels and demons. I also very much enjoyed the romance between Ginger and Wren. I recommend this one to readers who like paranormal romance and like angels. I can't wait for more books in the Sanctuary series.
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,676 reviews228 followers
August 19, 2011
I always think it's a little weird to say that I liked a book more than I thought I would because I seem to be implying that I didn't think I would like it. Which isn't true. I expected to enjoy it otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. However, I didn't expect to have a NEW and EXCITING mythology on angels and demons presented to me!

I really loved the idea that the angels are feared and hunted and the demons are the protectors of the angels. That was cool and different and interesting. Wren was a tortured hero. Betrayed, forced to live on the outskirts of society, afraid to trust the people who should be protecting him... he was pretty much the type of character I love to read. For her part, Ginger is determined to help Wren, even though he's wary of her at first. She risks her life to save him and Wren begins to see that not everyone is out to hurt him or profit off of him.

With interesting mythology and strong characters, Out in Blue is a intriguing book that keeps you glued to the pages as you battle through Wren and Ginger's issues. I was impressed with Sarah Gilman's writing and have every intention of seeing where book 2 takes us.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
120 reviews76 followers
August 9, 2011
This copy was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kindle Edition, published July 27th, 2011
Entangled Publishing

When Ginger Magellan overhears poachers talking about going on the hunt for an archangel she is livid. Not many of them are left. To humanity they’re the devil incarnate - their plumage the only valuable thing. Raised by a demon, the archangels self-appointed bodyguards, Ginger isn’t about to let them kill him.
After a trusted Guardian turned against Wren’s family and killed his parents he fled his home and has been living on his own, trying to stay one step ahead, ever since.
The girl that saves him from certain death is unlike anyone he met before. He feels at ease at her side and would do anything to protect her from the demon hellbent on killing not just Wren, but everyone dear to him. Shocking news make him keep his distance from Ginger until they both realize they’re stronger together than apart.

Two of my favorite paranormal creatures introduced early on? It was a good sign. I love angels and demons and was pleased to have them as part of the story. The world building blew me away. What a great idea to have poachers out for the archangel’s plumage and humans believing them and demons to be evil. “...cleansing the earth of the demon and fallen archangel menace.” Loved it! A very interesting economic element fuelled by hatred, I was hooked right away. The paranormal romance even had a contemporary feel to it.
Often the heroine doesn’t know of the existence of the supernatural. How nice this wasn’t the case here. Ginger lived a normal life, but was well aware of these creatures’ real natures. They weren’t monsters at all.
I’m obsessed with the show Supernatural and Out In Blue reminded me of it.
The fact that a demon who was a friend of the family betrayed them was hard for Wren to deal with. He didn’t trust anyone at first. It was difficult to let his guard down. A fantastic aspect of the storyline, that definitely caused a lot of tension in the beginning. Then again, Ginger had already proven herself to him by coming to his rescue. That she was raised by a demon and considered him her dad and best friend made things a little easier. She trusted her father Devin, so Wren took a leap of faith and did, too. Ginger was able to reason with him. Wren needed, and ultimately was able to overcome his suspicions. I would’ve hated for them to eventually put him and Gin in danger. Accepting help is not a show of weakness. It was the smart thing to do. Prepare yourself for a heart-to-heart between him and Ginger’s dad. Touching!
Wren was, no doubt, scarred by what happened to his parents and wanted to do the honorable thing by staying away from Ginger. His intentions were to keep her safe. It made me so happy when he finally realized that it would mean to let the traitor have his way. His parents would’ve wanted for him to find love and happiness.

The daughter of a demon and an archangel with a particularly macabre ability? Savour this in its brilliance. Would love to see it on the big screen one day. A lot of suspense let me dive into the story and twists and turns kept my breathing elevated throughout the whole book.
I took an immediate liking to both main characters and saw them as a couple pretty much from the start. Ginger was brave and had this aura of strength to her she didn’t even notice. I felt like they had a future together. Not just because they clearly loved each other, but also because Gin didn’t feel at home in human society anyway.
Neither demons, nor archangels were immortal and could be killed, which made things all the more interesting. Wren awakened my protective instincts. Basically I wanted to shield him from harm and at the same time have my wicked way with him just to get some cuddling in afterwards.
You’ll love the meaning of an archangel’s wings just as much as I did. “Archangels allow very few to touch their wings.” His flight feathers were an integral part of him - something sensual. Every one of Ginger’s caresses made me sigh. They completed each other. A collective “awwww” please! So very sweet. The longer I read the more turned on I got by Wrens wings.
I’ve mentioned a macabre ability of his, but won’t tell you more, except for that he was concerned about how Ginger would react to it. Fear not! Gotta love this girl!
The secondary characters were great, too. I connected with every single one and am hoping Gilman’s next book will have a certain demon as its hero.
What I didn’t like was that a big deal was made out of the fact that Ginger wasn’t a virgin anymore, but hadn’t kissed anyone until now. This was just too implausible for my taste.
Also, the author could’ve reduced the corny-factor a bit when it came to the whole “taking a mate forever” business.
This paranormal romance came very close to having it all. Let yourself be surprised by one hell of a conclusion and an epilogue making you yearn for more. Highly recommened! 4.5 stars to Out In Blue by Sarah Gilman.

Beware of Spoilers!

A few of my favorite quotes for those of you who are interested:
° “The money people paid for arachangel plumage kept the poachers in business. Religious hysteria gave the murderers a convenient smoke screen.”
° “Her long and delicate fingers brushed across his feathers, relaxing and even soothing him despite the agony that raged from the wound.”
° “Sorry”, he said. “It’s just been a very long time since a woman has been this close to me. Hell, since anyone has been...”
° “...we normally only let our mates preen our wings. It’s a very intimate gesture for us.”
° “It took the knife to my back to make reality sink in.”
Profile Image for Ellen .
779 reviews116 followers
March 4, 2013
Out in Blue is a paranormal romance set in a world where archangels, demons, and humans coexist. Archangels are a rare find, have been portrayed as evil, and have been hunted by poachers almost to the point of extinction. The feathers from an archangel are considered precious and bring an extremely high price. The story begins with Ginger overhearing some poachers talk about an archangel, where he is staying, and how they plan to capture him. Ginger is a human who was taken in and raised by a demon after her parents were killed. Unlike most humans, Ginger knows the truth about archangels and how highly valued they are. Her father, Devin, is a Guardian. Guardians are demons that are sworn to, and live to protect archangels. They live in colonies specially designed for just that purpose. Ginger was raised in one of these colonies. After overhearing the poachers plan, Ginger immediately calls her father, who arranges to send help and warns Ginger not to get involved, fearing for her safety. Ginger, more worried about the safety of the archangel than herself, heads to his location to warn him anyway. She arrives before the poachers, but the archangel isn't there. She hides outside waiting for him to return, desperate to warn him that the poachers are already there. When he does return,she screams warning him, and he takes off in flight. Unfortunately, the poachers grab Ginger instead.

Wren can't believe what he is seeing. He's been on his own since he was 15 years old, forsaking the protection of the Guardians after one of them betrayed his family, killing his mother and father. He cannot figure out why this human is helping him, but when he sees her captured by the poachers, he knows they will kill her if he doesn't do something. He swoops down and saves her, telling her to run, but ends up getting shot himself in the process. Ginger knows she just can't leave him, so she sneaks back to the farmhouse where Wren has been loaded in a van. She manages to steal the van with Wren inside and get them to safety. Ginger thinks Wren is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen and is immediately smitten with him. Wren in turn can't understand his attraction to this human and his need to protect her. She takes care of his injury and nurses him back to help, but their reprieve from the poachers is short-lived. Wren finally agrees to accept help from the Guardians, for Ginger's sake, but things get even more intense. They make it back to Sanctuary, but not without injury. In this place of safety, the battle intensifies, and so does the relationship between Wren and Ginger. They learn that the Guardian who killed Wren's parents is holding someone very dear to Wren, but will Wren be able to save this loved one and protect this woman who has become so dear to his heart?

I really enjoyed Out in Blue. I liked Sarah Gilman's take on archangels and demons, which was original and gets even more creative as the story progresses, with twists and turns I didn't see coming. I really like Wren, he was a broken individual who had lost his ability to trust, something that Ginger was helping to heal and restore in him. I liked Ginger a lot also. She was extremely loyal and willing to do anything she could to protect and help Wren, even if that means leaving. They fall hard for each other, and in the midst of the chaos love perseveres and prevails, as more is revealed about who Ginger really is, who is really behind the threats to Wren and the colony, and just what it means to be willing to give your life for the one you love. Out in Blue is a great paranormal romance that is filled with action, danger, mystery, and of course the hot romance. If you enjoy paranormal romance, angels, and demons, then you will appreciate Sarah Gilman's unique twist on archangels and demons, as well as all the interesting elements that are added into the story and revealed as it progresses, making Out in Blue a very interesting and entertaining read.
Profile Image for Kristen.
245 reviews11 followers
July 5, 2011
The Return to Sanctuary series starts with "Out in Blue" by Sarah Gilman. Where we are in a world where archangels and demons are out and the archangels are poached for their feathers. Ginger was raised by a demon (Devin) in Haven (another sanctuary in Alaska). She knows lots about angels and doesn't think the poaching of angels is right. There is more to Ginger though... When Ginger overhears some poachers talking about getting an archangel - Wren - she can't help but try to prevent the poachers from getting to him. When she manages to save him, they become instantly close. And they feel a pull towards each other. When we learn (early on, so I am not going to consider this a spoiler) that Raphael is in fact still alive, Wren wants to keep away from Ginger to protect her. But, getting Raphael away from Lark is very important too. Wren struggles with trusting the Guardians because of Lark's behavior when he killed Wren' mother and father (or really, kidnapped Raphael).

This is an interesting take on angels and demons. And, without any theology. So, I loved it! Despite the epic world record speed with which our two characters fall in love, it was still a wonderful story. The characters are complicated yet simple. The story is unique and intriguing. So often the first book in a series is all set up - plot and characters - that there isn't any real action. Here, that was not the case. We were introduced to the world and the characters as the plot moved, and it added to the story; it was never the distraction of a flash back but thoughtful and well planned discussions as the characters get to know one another. I would like to know a little more about the Guardians and the history of the world, why the original archangels fell and how the demons came to be Guardians. So, I hope we will get more of that in how many ever stories come next.

My rant about the types of serials that exist, with the last book review (the Forever Twilight series), would apply here too except that this seemed to set up a new world wonderfully, and there was quite an ending to this story (I was on the edge of my seat, saying to myself "I can't believe it" and "how is this going to be the happy-ever-after that's required by this genre", but the author did it and in such an amazing way!)! And, I would rant about epilogues here (because I have an opinion about epilogues and prologues too, but we'll save it for a book that deserves to get slammed because of one - or both!) but it was tasteful, well done, and I can see other installments picking right up from the end and the epilogue won't get in the way. I loved that I got satisfaction out of the end of this installment as well as the epilogue.

The prose wasn't the romantic and poetic prose of authors like Maggie Steifvater but the relationship was believable and the dialogue was realistic. The prose also wasn't the badass macho stuff that is so prominent in the PNR genre. But it was solid and pleasant to read. I didn't find myself skimming or wanting to skip paragraphs. Instead, I wanted to immerse myself in the world and the characters - and that's always a good thing! Despite the fact that on my steaminess scale it rates only about a 1 and 1/2, it was romantic and a nice little read. I am looking forward to more of this world!

The only thing I wonder, is where the title came from, what the reference is to...
Profile Image for Lizzie.
58 reviews8 followers
April 11, 2013
Great Book!!! I cannot wait until the next book comes out in the fall!! Gilman has a novella prequel out, involving the same world but not the same characters, that I already bought so I can at least read that in the mean time. She has created an amazing world. A world that is an add on to ours. Humans are the majority but most hate the Fallen Archangels and demons that want to coexist with them. The humans support poachers who are set on killing demons and archangels and selling their feathers. Flight wings from the archangels have been known to go for millions due to their rarity and softer then silk feel. Humans see them as devils, but really they just want a normal life as any of the humans. The archangels and demons live in sanctuaries deep in forests out of the way of humans.
Ginger, a human, was adopted by a demon named Devin after he found her as a baby next to her dead parents in Alaska. After becoming an adult she moved to the East Coast to try out a normal human life, even though she keeps in that life a little by providing supplies along with her boss to the nearest sanctuary. When at a coffee shop she overhears a conversation between the barista and a poacher. The poacher is proudly announcing he has found an archangel in town without demons. With the way Ginger grew up she couldn’t let that happen, so she races to the place where the angel would be while calling her father for help. Devin tells her that it is most likely Wren, a half archangel half human with wings who no longer trusts demons. Since a demon was responsible for the death of his parents and the attempt on his life 18 years prior. Demons will not be able to arrive for 3 hours, so Ginger needs to warn Wren before it’s too late. Ginger arrives in time to warn Wren but by putting her own life in danger. After a couple turns back and forth saving each other Ginger and Wren escape together with Wren hurt severely. Due to his injuries and already his trust in Ginger, Wren agrees to get help from the demons mainly for Ginger’s sake. When Wren finds out that Lark (the demon who killed his parents) is behind the attempted kidnapping Wren and Ginger start on an adventure to stop Lark, and possibly save Raphael (Wren’s father) who might still be alive but imprisoned. Along the way they found out things about themselves and run into many different twists and turns.
Within the first 10 pages I was hooked. If I had a full day off I would have sat and read this in one sitting. The connection between Wren and Ginger is immediate! The supporting characters are just as good as the main. One of the things I really appreciate about our heroes is that they are straight up with each other, when something is on their mind they voice it instead of it playing around and the subject being danced around for half of the book. Towards the end of the book I kept thinking it was ending but a new twist would come, in a totally great way, but man does it stress you out when it gets that close to the end. I do enjoy how it ends, even though you might tear up a bit. I can’t wait to read more about Wren, Ginger, Devin, and the rest of the group you get to know and love in this book. 100% recommend this book!
Profile Image for Jess the Romanceaholic.
1,033 reviews491 followers
August 23, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: September 5, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.sarahgilmanbooks.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Return to Sanctuary
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm

I really, really wanted to love this book. It started off wonderfully. The universe that Ms. Gilman created was fascinating, with fallen angels and demons exist in full view of the public, and while the public at large is both fearful or and prejudiced against each group, both are protected by law and congregate together in what is similar to our Indian Reservations. Poachers hunt archangels in order to sell their feathers for insanely high prices, and the public looks the other way because of their prejudices. Demons have formed an alliance with the archangels, where the demons protect the archangels as sort of a demonic Secret Service group, and the archangels in turn share their psychic gifts (such as healing) with the demons.

All of this was incredibly intriguing, and the plot itself grabbed hold of me from the opening sentence and simply refused to let go. Add in Wren, the tortured hero whose parents had been brutally betrayed and murdered by the demon Guardian charged with protecting them, and Ginger, the orphaned heroine raised by a demon Guardian, who discovers quite by accident the plan to capture Wren and dashes off to save him, and this should’ve been the most spectacular book that I’ve read all year.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite the case.

This book could’ve been amazing. Instead, while the premise was absolutely fantastic, and I myself fell a bit in love with the characters, the multiple issues with the novel kept it from being a favorite of mine. That said, I did enjoy the storyline, and will almost certainly pick up any sequels simply because I want to know both what has happened to the characters, and as much detail as I can about this world. I also think that with experience, Ms. Gilman has the potential to be an absolutely incredible writer, and I look forward to watching her skill mature as she grows into herself as an author. She’s already proven that her imagination is an incredibly powerful thing, and I think with a few tweaks to her writing style, she will definitely be an author to watch.

For that reason, in the end, I’m going to recommend this one for fans of angels and demons, of revenge plots and betrayal, and of discovering love long after you’d given up on that dream. 3.5/5 Stars.
Profile Image for Margarita.
310 reviews240 followers
February 27, 2013
Sarah Gilman's take on fallen angels and demons is like no other that I have ever read before - this story captured my attention within the first few pages...

The author immediately throws us into Ginger's world where archangels exist - fallen angels, humans think that they are disgusting, evil and don't deserve to live. There aren't many left, but they do exist. Poachers hunt them down for their feathers - feathers softer than silk - and a box full can bring in millions of dollars.

Ginger is minding her own business and having a cup of coffee when she overhears a conversation - a group of poachers have found where an archangel has been hiding and they are planning on waiting for his return to capture him, take his feathers and then kill him.
But Ginger is not your ordinary human, she grew up with the Guardians - Demons whose job is to protect the archangels. And she would be dishonoring her father if she didn't do something to stop these poachers. Her plan gets askew a bit, but in the end, she does end up saving the archangel, known as Wren.

There is an instant connection and attraction between these two, but it was written so well and convincingly, I barely noticed it, and actually liked what was going on between them.
Ginger never showed any weakness, yes there are moments when she worries and was frightened, but she never backed down and always became better and stronger when she stood her ground.
Wren, there are no words to best describe him. His pride was strong and heartening, but even so, he never took shame in his weakest moments and never held back when it came to showing his love.
What I really loved about both Ginger and Wren was their strong bond of family and loyalty. It is rare to find a story where the bonds of family and friends, no matter how they came about, are so strong and heartfelt.

Out In Blue is brilliantly told from two different point-of-views. Both main characters, Ginger and Wren, have such refreshing voices where they spoke their mind and were honest with everyone, especially with each other. Nothing was ever a game to them.
Sarah Gilman's writing is fluent and capturing - she gives us just enough to picture the story in our minds, but not too much, which is something that I love when an author can accomplish this. It gives the reader the freedom to add in the extra small details that they would like to and make it their own.

Even if you're not a fan of angel-type stories, I would still highly recommend this book to you! It is so unique and believable, it will definitely have you looking up to the sky, searching for a fallen star... an archangel.
Profile Image for Devon Ashley.
Author 24 books986 followers
July 1, 2011

When archangel Wren is warned and saved by Ginger from poachers, he finds himself torn between the Sanctuary world he was once a part of and the isolated world he's created for himself. He seeks solitude, forever outrunning the demon, Lark, that killed his parents and who still searches to kill Wren, and anyone Wren comes to care about. Lark was once the protector of Wren's family in Sanctuary, the one place the archangels thought they were safe, where demons give their lives to protect them. So when Ginger becomes a target for saving Wren, he's forced to return to Sanctuary to make sure Ginger receives the necessary protection.

As he does, Wren is taunted by Lark and told that his father was never killed, but imprisoned for the past eighteen years. In order to free his father, Wren must once again trust the demons in Sanctuary with his and his father’s life – and continue to trust Ginger, who holds the key to their success.

I genuinely enjoyed Out in Blue, but I do have two criticisms. First off, I love that Wren and Ginger develop an attraction for one another, but as the timeline for this novel spans the course of about five days, the relationship was rushed. They went from complete strangers to performing a mating ceremony within three days, even with Wren’s anguish of taking a lover knowing Lark would strike her down. I’m sorry, but the only adults that fall rapidly in love and get married that quickly involve alcohol and a Vegas wedding. I really would have preferred this first novel to be learning about Wren, trying to save his father and dealing with Lark and his poachers, and allow his relationship with Ginger to build into something more during the second novel. But, as this novel is already being published, my criticism is moot. Secondly, the subject matter and the characters are mature, yet the romantic dialog between Wren and Ginger was so immature I found myself rolling my eyes on several occasions. Hopefully, Ms. Gilman will address this in future novels because it ruined the romantic moments for me.

Those criticisms aside, I truly loved Out in Blue. The writing was clean and smooth, the story was unique, it kept my attention, and for the first time in a long time, there were twists thrown at me I didn’t see coming (and I’m not talking those twists so far out in left field no one could see coming). This was a great novel and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

http://devonasheywrites.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Valerie.
927 reviews437 followers
January 26, 2013
3 stars - Great angel story with some quick love

Do you not just LOVE that cover? It's the new one out with the paperback that releases January 29th. That cover called to me. I'm in the middle of like four books right now - how does that happen? Well with me, it's usually when I'm not reading the right thing to get stuck in it. I don't think it was the books I was trying to read but the genre. I NEEDED this story right now. And it called to me. I got the email from Entangled that it was on Netgalley and I just wanted to read a little of it, you know? So glad I was auto approved because I had it in minutes and then it was over. I was stuck.

The lore with this Angel story is a little different than a lot of books I've read. Demons guard the fallen Archangels as the humans poach them for their feathers. Ever present wings are hard to hide and they are softer than silk, very sought after. This is the world that Ginger grew up in. Her parents killed when she was very young, she was raised by a demon. She feels the need to protect the Archangels as much as they do. When Wren is in danger, she runs to help him despite having never met him before. It's an interesting combination of loyalty, protectiveness and attraction.

Wren is a broken man. His parents gone and his guardian demon a traitor, he lives on the run from the poachers. He trusts no one. But when Ginger risks her life to help him, he can't help but be curious about her. They fall fast and hard for each other but it's too dangerous for anyone to be close to Wren. His enemies will kill anyone that he loves. But as suddenly as his feeling come, will he have a choice about loving her?

I totally needed this story and literally flew through it (hehe). I had a few issues with it but I was so in need a some paranormal that I overlooked most of them. The insta-love was there. I may have accepted it better than I normally do only because it at least started with a sense of loyalty to the archangels drawing Ginger to Wren. Then the connection between them developed pretty fast. Later in the story, there's a small revelation that maybe makes that connection a little more believable. The bottom line was, I wanted to like this story, so I did. Even though there were a few places where things felt scattered to me and I had to reread and ponder, I was willing to overlook it.

I haven't read an angel story in a while and this one just fit for me. It's not perfect but it's good. Check it out if you need some good paranormal romance!
Profile Image for Bethann.
9 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2011
**some spoilers**

I won "Out in Blue" from First Reads giveaways, and I absolutely love it! This book is very addicting! I read it any time I had a chance, and when I had to put it down, I was disappointed and looking forward to the moment I would be able to get back to it.

It was an interesting concept that Archangels have demons that guard them and their families. The problem is that there are poachers who hunt the Archangels for their feathers, and humans buy them even though it's supposed to be illegal. But there's a twist. Wren's parents were both brutally murdered by Lark, the demon who was sworn to protect them, something that's never happened before. Wren is so angry and hurt by the loss of his parents and the betrayal the demon who swore his life to protect them, that when he's old enought to care for himself he takes off and lives completely secluded from the demon and archangel community.

This is where Wren meets Ginger, a woman raised by a demon who found her alone as a baby after her parents were murdered, overhearing some local poachers talking of catching an archangel they discovered living in an old abandoned home. Ginger feels that she needs to warn him. The bad thing is, the poachers are violent men who don't forget when someone gets in the way of their business. They somehow escape and once get away from them, Wren feels responsible for her. He knows they won't forget that she helped him escape. Over the next couple of days they fall in love. To me it seems to happen a little too fast, but hey, who am I to judge. lol.

There was a lot that I didn't expect to happen in the book, and that's good, because usually I'm pretty good at guessing what will happen next. I was completely thrown off by Lark, and the identity of Ginger's mother. Overall, without telling the entire story (lol), I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading it again in the future. I will definitely recommend it to others I know who enjoy paranormal fiction. I look forward to Book 2, Deep in Crimson, which Sarah Gilman is tentatively scheduled to release in spring!




Profile Image for Christi Snow.
Author 69 books739 followers
March 8, 2013
My Review:
I LOVED everything about this book. From the first page, you are thrown into the action. Immediately it's intense and while you do get a small break in the action partway through the book, the emotional intensity never lets up.

This book sets up an entirely new world and I loved it. In this world, there are fallen archangels, who are hunted for their feathers and their other abilities, and demons (Guardians), who have committed themselves to keeping the archangels safe. Along with their wings, the archangels have special abilities which vary from archangel to archangel.

Wren has been on the run for 18 years, since his family was murdered by their personal Guardian, Lark. For many of those years, he had a safe place to hide. It was completely lonely and solitary, but it was safe. That changed about a year ago and Wren's situation has been dramatically plunging every since. When the book starts, he's attacked by three poachers.

Ginger is a human who was raised by a Guardian. Unlike most humans, she believes in the archangels rights so when she overhears the poacher's plans, she's determined to help the archangel. He ends up shot, but Ginger gets him away from the poachers and the story is set-up from there. I love how she just dives in to save him with little thought to her own safety...sign of an amazing heroine right there.

Wren is an amazing character. He was ten years old when his mother and father were murdered in front of him. He knew the life of a loved and cared for person. Since then he's had virtually NO contact with people. He desperately misses that emotional and physical bond with others so when Ginger begins to doctor his very sensitive wings, he has an immediate response to her. LOVED that!

(I finished reading this story while at my daughter's ballet class and I'll admit to tearing up several times over the final pages...not a good thing to do when reading in public...LOL. But yeah, that's always the sign of a good book for me when I'm moved to tears.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Aubrie Dionne.
Author 37 books569 followers
June 29, 2011
An intriguing new world of angel and demon mythology…

Ginger’s life changes the day she overhears a poacher boast of pursing an archangel in Vermont. She’s the adopted daughter of a demon, the guardians of archangels, and she knows how rare and pure they are. She rushes to warn him, placing herself in great danger. Her actions make her and the archangel, Wren, runaways, and they seek shelter in a place called the Sanctuary.

Wren has lived a cursed life. His parents were murdered by a guardian betrayer, and he’s fled from safe houses to barns, to abandoned buildings his whole life. Lark, the guardian that killed his parents is after him, and has sworn to kill any family Wren produces. For this reason, Wren can never fall in love. But he’s drawn to Ginger, the woman who’s risked everything to save him. He knows being with her could lead to her death.

Out in Blue is a fantastic paranormal romance, and much more. This book puts a face to the harm caused by poachers, and it hits home when the slaughtered innocents resemble humans. The people who buy the archangels feathers are enablers, giving the poachers reason to murder. The same is going on today with elephants, and as a society we must stop it.

The romance between Wren and Ginger simmers nicely into a fiery flame, and I love the way Wren is described: so masculine and exotic. Their pasts explain so much of the reasons why they are drawn to one another, and their romance delves deeper than mere attraction, although the physical magnetism is definitely there. They are truly made for one another, and that fact makes the romance delicious. I ate it up.

Continuous action kept me on the edge of my seat, making it hard to put down with the end of each chapter. The world that Gilman creates is a well thought out and fully realized mythology, complex and enthralling with twist and turns throughout.
Profile Image for Tishia (Paperback Opinion).
345 reviews27 followers
August 2, 2011
Out in Blue is a beautiful love story about a young woman falling in love with an archangel. Having been raised by a demon that she loves like a father, Ginger is unable to “fit in” with the human world she tries to live in after becoming an adult. When she hears that an archangel is in danger, she feels compelled to help. Many poachers are after archangels to get rich off of their feathers. Ginger grew up in a world where demons guard archangels to keep this from happening, so it's natural instinct for her to want to help.

After Ginger saves Wren's life, she takes him somewhere safe where she can tend to him and keep him protected. Wren is an archangel that has been living on his own for several years, because a demon betrayed his family and killed his parents. He hasn't been able to trust anyone since. He hasn't been around anyone for a very long time, but feels oddly comfortable with Ginger.

This is definitely an original story. How many times have you read about demons protecting angels? I thought it was wonderfully written and you could feel the various emotions all the way through – from various characters, not just the main character. These characters are wonderful, they are deep and have stories you want to know more about. Ginger and Wren have amazing chemistry. There are all these swoon-worthy and heart-melting moments. The relationship between Ginger and Wren happens quite quickly, but it just seems right. There are a couple of love-making scenes but they are beautifully and tastefully done. I would still recommend this book to young adult readers as well as adult readers. It looks like this is book #1 in a series, so I will be anxiously awaiting the next!
Profile Image for Keelie Howard.
64 reviews9 followers
March 6, 2013
This was an amazing book. I absolutely could not put it down once I started it. I like the new approach that Sarah Gilman brought in regards to angels and demons. Normally they are enemies but in this book the demons protect the angels from humans that are called poachers. Fallen Angels have been hunted almost to extinction by humans because their feathers are extremely valuable. The story in centered around a angel named Wren and a demons adopted daughter named Ginger.

Wren's parents were killed by a demons close to them named Lark and Wren escaped the angel/demon colony called Sanctuary. He has held a grudge against demons ever since and vows to never accept their help in any way because he thinks that they cannot be trusted.

Wren meets Ginger when she comes to warn him that poachers are waiting for him in the house that he has been hiding in ready to kill him. In warning him Ginger came under fire from the poachers and was put into danger for that reason. Wren felt responsible for her because she tried to help him by warning him. Along the way Ginger and Wren fall in love. There are a lot of twists and turns and secrets reveled. Wren has to decide if he loves Ginger enough to be with her and if she will turn away from him when she finds out his secret ability. Ginger finds some surprising things about herself along this journey also. If you love stories about angles and demons or if you just like paranormal stories you will love this story. I am hoping that she continues with this series and we get to hear more about Wren and Ginger's story and find what happens to them in their future and hopefully meet some more amazing angles and demons along the way.
Profile Image for Kristin .
1,185 reviews166 followers
August 6, 2011
The book starts off running. On page one, Ginger is in a coffee shop when a poacher comes in and starts talking about a new angel that he is about to take down. Ginger, being raised in the paranormal world by her adopted father who just happens to be a demon, cannot just sit by when she knows that an angel is in danger. So she rushes out to warn the archangel that there are poachers after him.

The story was jam packed with action from start to finish. There wasn't a chapter where the characters just sat around drinking a cup of tea and discussing politics. This book had more twist and turns than a ride at Disney World but it worked in this story. Ginger and Wren are on the run and their attacker seems to always know where they are and how to find them. Typically, I can call what is going to happen at the beginning if not middle of the story but the whole villain really did surprise me.

Aside from the action that takes place there is also romance. The connection between Ginger and Wren is pretty much instantaneous. What starts out as trust, quickly turns into lust and then love. Yes, their relationship blossomed really fast but they also went through a lot together. I thought that their relationship was sweet considering that he never thought he would find someone to love him due to his ability to kill with just a touch. However, Ginger isn't even phased by this and instead asks is she can stay with him.

Mixing the romance with the action kept the pages turning at a fast rate.

For more reviews check out Book Sniffers Anonymous
Profile Image for Kim.
Author 15 books246 followers
March 4, 2013
I love this series and I loved this book! This is the first book in the series, following Wings of Redemption, a novella that introduces us to the world the author has created. Archangels are hunted by humans for their feathers, and viewed as evil. Demons and archangels are bonded together, living in colonies away from human society, struggling to survive in a world that abhors them. Relationships with humans are generally tenuous at best; trusting them is difficult to do. For Wren, trust itself is an issue, as the very demon who was sworn as Guardian to his family betrayed them by murdering his parents. Ginger has her own history and secrets and all obstacles stand between them.

Things to love about Out In Blue...

---Wren. His story was so tragic that you just wanted to hug him and make everything all better!
---The twists and turns. I loved that the entire story line was completely unpredictable. I never knew where it was going and was surprised every time I found out.
---Jett. This is a character with some serious mystery and history. He's a combination of badass and wounded soul. We will learn more about him in the next book!

My recommendation: A definite must read! You can read this without having read Wings of Redemption, but I would definitely recommend reading that one, too. The next book, Deep in Crimson, comes out in September 2013.
382 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2011
I requested this book from NetGalley, and was extremely pleased when I was allowed to read it. The new look on angels and demons really interested me and I couldn't wait ti start reading.

Overall, the book was extremely well written, and I found myself very engrossed in the story. My only real complaint was how the story started. Readers are dumped right into the middle of a story and I would have liked to have a bit more of a build up, but even that did not distract me from the story.

Despite how fast the two main characters fell in love, and even though it didn't seem natural, it didn't feel forced, either. It just was and I actually found myself enjoying that.

I was a little worried about starting this book when I saw it was the first in a series, however this book can stand on it's own, even as a set-up for the rest of the books. It was it's own story and simply laid in place the elements necessary for the rest of the series. I loved the end of the book, and while I'm excited to read what's next, I know this story is finished and it felt that way.

I greatly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what comes next for these characters.
Profile Image for Beckey.
1,466 reviews115 followers
January 31, 2013
Ginger was raised by a demon after she was found when she was an infant. She has an unknown history of and about her family but someone does…
Ginger lives in a violent world where angels are hunted for their valuable feathers. She over hears a poacher talking about hunt and an angel and takes it upon herself to save this creature.
What she doesn’t realize is the angel that they are hunting is the one that went missing several years back, Wren.
The book takes the reader on a whirlwind of twists and turns that I personally enjoyed and was surprised to the very end. I also personally enjoyed that the author completed one part of the story without leaving much of cliff hanger ending. The ending to me was just to enough to make the book a single read but also enough of a crack in the preverbal doorway to the next book. (A big kudos to author on that one…)
The book is a paranormal contemporary romance with elements suspense and mystery…
Profile Image for Emily (Mrs B's Books).
1,727 reviews83 followers
March 18, 2013
**Provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an honest review**

This book grips you from the very first page.

I was so completely drawn into the story that i stayed up late just to finish the book to know what happened. The author brings a new twist into the world of angels and demons, which with the many books out there in this genre is surprising.

The romance between Wren and Ginger was lovely and the book offers the idea of sex without all the ins-and-outs of it like a lot of other adult books, which was a refreshing surprise.

The book is crammed full of mystery, thrills, danger and love and never leaves you feeling like your missing out until you reach the end of the book, where your clamouring for the next.

Definitely a book to recommend and i will be following this series and this author.
Profile Image for Nina.
Author 24 books137 followers
October 14, 2012
What's not to love about Sarah Gilman's debut novel? Who knew in the forest of Vermont there was a world of archangels guarded by demaons and human poachers looking to make money on angel feathers and a love story unfolding that'll have you smiling in joy even as your heart breaks as dark forces pull the new lovers apart?

Yeah, this story has it all. Ms. Gilman's world-building is wonderful, her writing--steller and her storytelling--masterful.

I can't wait to read the next story in this series.
Profile Image for Lisa Dess.
590 reviews23 followers
February 12, 2013
I really loved this book. I loved the strength and determination of Ginger. I feel all the characters in this book are quite strong and well defined. The story was well paced and kept me glued to the pages. I won't spoil it for anyone with specifics but towards the end my heart plummeted and I was like "NOOOO" but after reading the next chapter my heart was back where it should be.

I also enjoyed this new tale of the demons and archangels being in the open. It brought some realistic issues into the paranormal realm.
Profile Image for Jeanne Haskin.
Author 20 books20 followers
June 21, 2013
Years before, I had the pleasure of reading author Sarah Gilman’s Out in Blue during the stages of its infancy. I was struck then by how deeply her characters moved me with their indomitable spirits and unselfish devotion. The grace they breathed into the story remained a gift in memory. Today, when I finally read the ending, I discovered that the story is beautiful in its entirety. It is about love and rescue, family, and forgiveness, lost lives and new ones. As a romance of epic proportions, it is in short transcendent.
Profile Image for Debra Anastasia.
Author 42 books3,807 followers
June 20, 2012
What a gorgeous story! Ms. Gilman is a master at describing the stunning beauty of the archangels. Ginger is just such a fantastic character. You will fall for her and this author will make sure to deliver a wonderful roller coaster ride for your enjoyment. Treat your kindle to this awesome story. Well done!
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