One

Angels of Wrath #1

by Paulina Ian-Kane

Michael Caldwell —medical examiner, odd, blood obsessed. His new life in Chicago consists of performing autopsies and eating chips while watching old detective series.

Until…

“He’s suddenly standing in front of me. Leather jacket, washed-out jeans, jet black hair.
His deep, green eyes are so intense on me I can barely breathe.
It’s in his crooked smile, bold flirting and confident—borderline conceited—behavior that I get lost.
The fact that he protects me five minutes later during an attempted robbery only reinforces my crazy-instant attraction toward him, though.

But there are shadows hiding in his gaze. And his apathetic yet possessive attitude confuses me.
Makes me care.
Makes me crave.

But then secrets come out and my life turns into a thriller movie.
Now I’m left wondering how this all started. And when the answer comes, I know I can never go back to my uneventful life. Would I even want to?
Would I be able to leave him?

‘Never again’, he whispers.”

WARNING-This is not a sci-fi angel story, unless you see eager vigilantes with a dark side as angels.
This is an action packed romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an over the top possessive psychopath, and a peculiar medical examiner with a stomach made of steel. There’s violence, torture (only of very bad people), dark humor, amazing side characters and very spicy scenes with blood play. Morality’s grey area is quite stretched in this story.

This is book one in the Angels of Wrath Series. Each book follows a different couple.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Crime, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

I can't remember a time when I wasn't reading a book. Whether it was sci-fi, romance or a detective story didn't matter, because it was the perfect way to escape from reality for a little while. When I wasn't reading, I was imagining my own stories, and after a while I started writing them, hoping to give other people that little escape I still enjoy so much.

My books are full of dark humor, spicy kinky scenes, possessive, obsessed, protective MCs and always have happy endings.

I live in Japan with my two kids and my stinky, super cute Frenchie.

Find me online:
@paulinaiankanebooks on Facebook and Instagram!

Reviews

[hope]

Dnf @ 25%

I wasn’t feeling this one and I didn’t really like the writing style. And I can’t take the pet name “piglet” seriously. The premise is really intriguing and the story line seems interesting so far so I might come back to this in the future.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️

“I’m a monster,” he whispers brokenly. I give him my best cold-blooded smile. “You have no idea what a monster is, piglet.”

I love me a dark romance. This did not deliver. Let me explain why.

Point number one. One heavily reminded me of the Necessary Evils series by Onley James — a found family of crazy brothers who kill bad people. Kind of been there, done that. The writing wasn’t good enough for me to overlook the similarities or to make me believe I’ve never read these tropes before.

Numero dos. The characters weren’t all that likeable.
Raphael is way too over the top Alpha growly man, all mine mine mine, and it just got annoying after a while.
Michael doesn’t have much of a personality at all. Except for the blood kink, we don’t get to know much about him.
They were both very surface-level. I needed more angst, more deep-diving into their past.

Thirdly, the dialogues.
They were trying to come off as banter-y and fun, but to me just seemed overly forced and fake. All the brothers just kind of meshed together in my brain, making them even harder to follow.

My final, and worst for me, point.
The plot pretty much ended by the 60% mark. There was nothing more to look forward to, everything of interest had already happened.
The sex, the i-love-you and the I can’t love cuz *psychopath* but mine, the meeting of the bros, the gasp plot twist, the mini fight that was forgiven after some dicking. Boom, the story is done.
All that was left was the serial killer subplot, which honestly could’ve been intriguing if the author had expanded on it a little, but it was completely overshadowed by all the meaningless dialogues and info-dumping.

I also agree with other reviewers. Piglet is a horrible pet name.

“I named him Mr. Hottie while he chose… piglet?”

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes(spoilers):
- Psychopath “vigilante” MC vs forensic pathologist
- Gore, violence, death & torture
- Mentions of child experimentations
- Self harm
- Insta-lust/insta-obsession
- Blood kink, blood play & knife play
- Biting
- Spit as lube
- Frotting & Rimming
- Strict top/bottom
- Public sex scene

[Romantically Inclined Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry. The nickname Piglet is a crime against humanity.

The premise is okay, creative twist on the psychopath family that has become a popular trope but the book needs another pass by an editor and some lube.

And how tf am I supposed to pronounce Rague? Like Ragú the pasta? The names are whack (I know they're angels but it distracted me constantly).

[Lb [worlds longest slump] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I wouldn’t rate something that I DNF’d so early but this one deserves it, I’m sorry. This HAS TO BE satire or else it’s actually offensive this was published.

Time of death: 22% after I had to read this absolute crime against humanity:

(Context, they’ve known each other for 5 minutes)

“Need to stop for a few minutes, Mr. Hottie?” I blurt his nickname out.
I hear the smile in his voice. “This Mr. Hottie has plans for your… piglet-y sexy body.”

PIGLETY…?!

Bruh. I’m out

[Barbara➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread July 2025

Rereading so I can continue the series. The piglet nickname didn’t bother me as much this time but I skipped all the sex. It annoyed me how much there was 🤷‍♀️

Originally read October 2023

I liked the premise: Foster kids turned into vigilantes to control their violent urges. Was it similar to Onley James' Necessary Evil series? Maybe a tiny bit. I wouldn't call it a knockoff. I've said before we can't have too many possessive, obsessive psychopaths. While they were a group of brothers who used their skills to get rid of the dregs of society, the storyline was different. I'd definitely read the next one. So, overall decent enough. I think there's potential there for a good series.

I concur with others though...piglet as a pet name just didn't do it for me.

[Victoria Klahr · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at PIGLET. It’s a no for me. Cheap rip off of Onley James

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh very Onley James esque

[Nat Smithy · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was a tough one to get through. Michael was just written really badly. He really wasn't likable at all. And a manly psychopath (Raphael) wouldn't say things like seed and length when sexy talking. It was cringe and off putting.

[NitaBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed reviews on this one so I wonder what I’m instore for.

Hmm I can definitely see the comparisons towards Onley James and her necessary evils series in that we have a prologue with traumatised children and grey moral compasses . These children are raised as brothers and as millionaire’s. And as vigilantes. There’s six of them not seven . One brother is a genius. Instead of a human Calliope, they have an AI Serena.

RAPHAEL :- Psychopath , brother, possessive

Michael :- Grand View Hospital coroner, only child, fan of detective TV shows,

Raphael and Michael meet in a convenience store and it’s Insta-lust. There’s a bank robbery where Raphael saves the day while Michael sprains his ankle.

“I named him Mr. Hottie while he chose… piglet?”

Poor Michael is getting saddled with the nickname Piglet?! Why, just because he had a piggy back ride?

This guy is not chubby and he is as confused as me. Way to win a guys heart- give him body issues?

“This Mr. Hottie has plans for your… piglet-y sexy body.”

Omg please never say that again Raphael. How Michael isn’t instantly turned off is a mystery.

Good grief, I think the piglet name is staying. Plus ‘Attaboy.’

Raphael’s brothers are intrigued about Michael . Michael is helping the police to catch a serial killer.

Every time I start getting into the story, a piglet or attaboy is said and I just cringe.

Ooh ok plot twist I didn’t see coming.

Raphael tells Michael about his traumatic childhood that was an unauthorized military experimental project on kids and how he was adopted by two women Meg and Linda after the project got buried.

At a family dinner where we get to know Raphael’s brothers more, they discuss the serial killer. Raphael also claims Michael as his boyfriend to everyone’s shock , including Michael.

The family house is a mansion , which is convenient because Raphael and Michael get down to sexy times.

And thank the lord, no piglet name calling which is the only thing you need forgiving from Raphael.

“Raph grabs my wrist. “Whatever happens, Michael, remember. We belong together.”

Meg was at the dinner, but not her wife Linda - who has been basically absent in this book . Meg talks privately to Michael and reveals startling secrets about his childhood.

Michael and Raphael go back to his place where they open up to each other. They also add some blood and knives to their sexy times.

“My insatiable, piglet.”

Ugh piglet is not a sexy nickname! Stop trying to make piglet happen!

Michael had a stuffed pig, I get the significance but it’s criminal to call your lover piglet! Just go
with Babe, that’s a famous pig name that isn’t so cringe inducing.

Raphael and Michael go on a first date which includes some psychological warfare testing.

“I’ll just need to remember to sharpen my claws before going out, then.” I give him a small smile.“You mean your tusks, piglet. And the date has barely started.”

Ooh fun drinking game unlocked - take a shot every time Michael is called Piglet.

Some more literally bloody sexy times in the restaurants toilet. But this is a high class toilet so c’est la vie riche.

Much later on Michael goes to get a drink from a convenience store and is stalked by a disgruntled relative of a deceased person . Raphael and and a brother - Rague- save Michael and take the bad man away.

It’s been a few hours. Raphael is potentially kidnapped as his implant tracker says he’s at an abandoned factory . Apparently it’s time for Michael to learn the family business.

We find out who the rope killer is and his weapon of choice.

Raphael is kinda saved by Michael , his brothers and kinda saves himself too.

“I’m going to show you what we do to people like him.” I take a step toward him, and then another.”

Michael now knows the darks secrets of this vigilante family.

“Sometimes, bad guys make the best good guys,” I say.”


Michael love’s Raphael and Raphael loves him in his own way. He has a family he fits in with. Life is good. Even if he is forever being called Piglet.

“I finally belong. I’m Michael, one of the angels of wrath.

THE END”

[book_reader_addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possessive psychopaths MC🔥 Need I say more? Instalust and sweet love❤️ I really enjoyed the story!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Liza · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was like the Onley James series but bad.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets an extra star because foul-mouthed possessive psycho, obsessed with his boyfriend is just perfection.

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoo boy, I’m a sucker for possessive MCs, especially when the object of their obsession doesn’t actively fight it. Raphael and Michael share an instant and consuming attraction, and Raph just slots himself into Michael’s life and never leaves.

I initially found all the characters introduced confusing, but that’s because I wanted to get right to Michael (let’s get to the juicy bits!).

I will definitely read this story again, it was quick and easy, low angst, and spicy.

I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gemi Star · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope

This book idea was taken from another author. This is pretty much the same but changed around a few things. Why. Why would you do that it's kind of rude and since I've told every group I know about your book maybe you should try to be more original. You have talent just don't take others plots and things would be good.

[Molly Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 star read. The characters and plot were engaging and kept me entertained just not to the levels I couldn't put it down and do something else rather than go back.
The main characters chemistry is undeniable. Rafeals' pocessive streak is a beautiful thing to watch unfold, with Michael along for the ride to see how it all plays out. The mystery aspect kept me wanting to go on to see who was the rope killer.
Definite potential for great books from the rest of the family that I look forward to reading in the future

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars so 3.75 it is. Anyway, I love insta stories when they’re done well and I like how this was done. Since a lot of reviewers are comparing it to Onley James Necessary Evils, here’s my two cents on that: I LOVED book one of the Necessary Evils series so much and this one wasn’t as good. That said, I liked Michael and Raph a lot. Many reviewers seem to have a problem with “piglet” as a pet name and once I learned why, I loved it. I also love possessive and jealous in my stories and there was plenty of it here. I liked that we didn’t know what was going on and why between these two and learning it was a good hook for me. I did a tiny bit of skimming during some of the bloody gruesome killing scenes - that’s not my bag but I get why it’s in the story. Anyway, the siblings were so much fun and that’s why I’ll keep reading the series. I’m interested in their stories.

[Megan (feral hearts club) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. But I’m totally in my “unhinged love” era right now, so that’s to be expected. Excited to see where the rest of this series goes.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice mix of darkness and spice

[kattykatkat · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're going to pay a homage( main character from the family of psychopaths/ vigilantes is clearly a combination of Atticus and Adam, instead of a single father and government support for the project it's two mothers and the government's a bad guy and parentheses to Onley James's necessary evils series then it should at least be as good if not better. The writing was dry and info dumpy but I had to self-eject with the constant use of one of the worst pet names I've ever come across. By 20 something percent in if I had never read the pet named piglet again it will be too soon. To anyone thinking of reading this just either read or reread the necessary evils series it is far better

[m · Rating 3 out of 5]

“His obsession with me isn’t healthy, but I fucking crave it. I want to be owned by him. To belong. And isn’t that unhealthy as well?”

3.5⭐️ ARC review

This book features an OTT psychopath and a forensic pathologist, knife play, blood play, biting/marking, and all the obsessive/possessive vibes. The characters are great and the smut is hot BUT there was also some really awkward dialogue, a lot of info dumping via character monologues, and some confusing sentences.

I did read an advanced copy so I’m not sure if some of the sentences I found confusing will get cleaned up in the final edit or not but there were enough that I noticed.

Future books will follow the rest of the family of vigilante killers (Raph’s 5 brothers) and they all seem really interesting and unique so I’ll definitely give book 2 a go.

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Piglet Stars

RTC

Angels Of Wrath Series:
1. One - 5,0 stars
Next Rague & Ollie's Story :
2. Six - 5,0 stars
3. Three - Rami & Hunter's Story
Expected Publication 26/09/2024 :
4. Five - Gabe & Lori's Story
WIP:
5. Seven+Four - Sari & Uri's Story

Free Bonus Short:
3,5. Three Extra Epilogue

[MariaR · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this is a book I read. I didn't like it.
At first, it really looked promising, with the very familiar plot from Onley James's Necessary Evils series. And since I loved the Necessary Evils series I thought it was a sure thing and the book will be delicious. Instead, it was super boring.
How to put it. It was a story of the instant lust and sex marathon that was inconveniently (to the annoyance of the main characters) interrupted by the flashes of the plot. Don't get me wrong I love smutty romances, but unless they have a sturdy plot they're just written porn.
And the cliche Raph's phrases...

...Show me what's mine ...
...I'll take what's mine ...
...You hurt what's mine ...
...if you hand't hurt what's mine ...
...If this prick thinks he can touch what's mine ...
...you tried to take what's mine....

(I'm gaging here)

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. The banter, the family, the possessiveness, all of it, was so good. Michael felt an instant connection with Raphael and they both knew that they were it for each other. Turns out, they already met as kids and were separated for over 20 years, no one's fault really, it just happened that way. When they come together, it's a matter of souls. I loved how protective and obssessed Raphael was with Michael and how Michael was all in, no matter what. They had each other's back and what they had, most people wish they had. I just can't wait to read more from these series. I'm so glad I found these series because I wanted something similar Onley James's Necessary Evil and L Eveland's Wayward Sons.

[Ethen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb had great promise, but the book did not deliver.

I saw people cringing on the pet name "piglet" but honestly that wasn't even that bad. I found it kinda cute in an unorthodox, weird, unique way. But man, those people who DNFd it because of the piglet thing, they are the lucky ones.

All the characters were two-dimensional and shallow. Worst of most of all are the SCs.
The seven brothers were just simply a catastrophic big bang. They were so underdeveloped, and uncharacteristic that I had issues with distinguishing them from each other. Except for the computer guy. Cause he was the only computer guy. But I'm not so sure even now. Other than that, I could not understand a thing when all seven of them were together. All the who, where, or what just lost in the ether of the chaos. I just often accepted what happened and just went along like; okay one of them did that. Cool.

The two MCs were madly in love with each other after like 4 days. No wait, I'm sorry.
One of the MCs was madly in love, and the other one felt insane obsessiveness and possession for the body and soul of the other, love cannot describe this feeling, cause he is a *psychopath* and he cannot feel love in a traditional sense. What the actual fck?

While we at least get like 3 sentences of details later on of why Raph aka the psychopath is obsessed with Michael, we don't get any explanation or justification of this insta-love on Michael's part.
He literally does not know anything about Raph, but he's socially weird in a cute way and he looks amazing. so yupp, it's love.

Raph's emotionless internal monologues, nature, and monologues can be easily explained since he's an actual psychopath, but maybe the plot twist I missed is that Michael was also a psychopath. Or maybe that's the plot twist for the next book, but I won't be here for that. I could not understand one action, reaction, or decision of this dude. He went from crying and collapsing to 'Okay, whatever, let's eat cake or boink my psycho bf' in less than 2 minutes.

I hope the author got sponsored for all the brand names featured in this book. I don't really care about brand names (in books at least) and I find it just a lazy way. There are hundreds of ways to describe one's clothing or things by saying expensive looking, perfectly fitting, or distinguished, or anything other than using brand names. It comes off as so shallow.

The actions of the characters were often inconsistent, saying one thing, and then doing another for no reason.

I feel like the poorly executed plot was pretty much finished around 60 to 65% and then we got some filling chapters until the underwhelming finale/secondary plot of revealing the serial killer's identity.
The main plot lacked depth and details, and there was zero trauma processing or anything.
The subplot was also lame. We have a serial killer, but get no details or clues almost at all. I was waiting for breadcrumbs and a suspect list, but they piece together everything AFTER the dude exposes himself.

It was supposed to be a dark rom-com.
It was somewhat dark.
Lacked romance.
The only comedy is really the joke on me for not DNF-ing it earlier and ignoring all the red flags.

[Brey (lil Sebastian)]

DNF at 39%. I was really not feeling this one. The premise sounded great, and it started well, but there were so many misspelled words, and it was insta love by like 5%. Not that I don’t like insta love, but I needed more tension and buildup.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piglet as a pet name was a choice. I immediately associated it with Piglet from Winnie the Pooh cartoons (specially since Raph describes our MC’s skin “pink and pale”). This led me to picturing everything Michael said in Piglet’s voice and with his mannerisms. It made the sex and blood scenes jarring to read.

Apart from the awful pet name, I found this book a little confusing to read. Too many of the brothers were introduced at once. In some parts, I had no idea who was speaking. The texts conversations between the brothers lacked clarity and weren’t really funny or psychotic. It reminded me of the Necessary Evils text chats, but done without their dark humor and snark.

I like instalove in my dark romances and really hate when the object of obsession fights against the bond, but for some reason, I didn’t like how insta the “romance” was here. I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe because we went from 0-100 without room for chasing or hunting the love interest? There was no predator and prey psychopathic dynamic? Too much sex talk? Too many side characters interrupting the relationship growth with their presence on page?

Overall, it’s not a bad read. It just has first book in a series syndrome with too many side characters’ introductions…not very well executed . Some of them peaked my interest though and I am looking forward to their books which I guess was the goal.

3.5 Stars 😈🔪🩸

[Lori Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this one, my actual rating would be 4.5 stars if Goodreads allowed such a thing. I really loved Raph and really really loved Michael. I hated when Raph called Michael Piglet, but I had a feeling there was a reason behind that name. I think they both were cute together and I love what their family business was. I have Six, so I will be reading that one next.

[Mercedes · Rating 3 out of 5]

the “nickname” Piglet just kinda ruined it. but hot psychopathic MMC ? sigh, yes pls.

[fran :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

la cantidad de sexo que habia me aburrio en sobremanera, me costo terminarlo

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paulina has pretty much become a one-click author for me. She writes these OTT, insta-ish, almost-fluff, incredibly sexy love stories that are superb in keeping my attention and delivering some solid entertainment. One is the first from her new dark(ish) series.

ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴋɪꜱꜱ, ʙɪᴛᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴜᴀʟ ᴛʜʀᴜꜱᴛ, ʜᴇ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇ. ꜱᴏᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟᴇꜰᴛ. ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴘᴇʟᴇꜱꜱʟʏ ʜɪꜱ.

Raphael is a wealthy, restless playboy with psychopathic tendencies. His whole family is “special.” (If you’re getting Necessary Evil vibes, indeed, BUT IT’S NOT THE SAME.)

Michael is the young coroner at a local hospital who is so much more than you think at first. His character arc is SO GOOD!

But the whole point of this book is the blatant and sexy OBSESSION Raph has for Michael. Wowee, that’s some delicious chemistry.

Feral. Primal. Passionate. Hot asf.

But it’s also the safety and completeness Michael feels with Raph. He’s his anchor and their relationship is goals.

There was some editing mistakes that took my attention away, thus the .5 points being removed from my rating, but I LOVED this book and can’t wait for more from the Bear-Stone clan!

POV: 1st, Dual
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
ANGST: Mild; very little relationship drama, mostly emotions