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The Dark Angels #1
With Wings
The lights go down and stage lights up. The Dark Angels have arrived. With his come-hither voice and body made for sin, lead singer Angel Luv draws lovers like a magnet. And when he caresses and taunts shy guitarist Darius Stone on stage, well…it’s an act, right? But every touch lights a fire, and every flirtatious glance chips away at Dare’s certainty that he’s straight. No one else has so captured his imagination.
Temptation beckons. It’s hard not to notice the want in Dare’s eyes, the way he stares when he thinks Angel’s not watching. One wrong move might scare him away, but a work trip to exotic Bali might be the perfect place to let Dare explore his sexuality, with none to be the wiser. But their “friends with benefits” pact has an expiration date, that just might sour their friendship.
Temptation beckons. It’s hard not to notice the want in Dare’s eyes, the way he stares when he thinks Angel’s not watching. One wrong move might scare him away, but a work trip to exotic Bali might be the perfect place to let Dare explore his sexuality, with none to be the wiser. But their “friends with benefits” pact has an expiration date, that just might sour their friendship.
278 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2011
10 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Z. Allora
31 books158 followersZ. believes in soul mates, love at first sight, and overcoming all odds to find happily ever afters. Born in Upstate NY, Z. Allora and partner have spent the last fifteen years together traveling across the United States, the Middle East and Asia. These travels provide the inspiration behind many of the detailed settings and characters throughout Z.'s work. Z. received a Master degree in Psychology and Bachelor degrees in both English and Philosophy. (though Z's editors would probably question the English degree). Z. is both a writer and a huge fan of M/M romance as well as Yaoi. It is said the pen is mightier than the sword. Z. thinks all writers and publishers of M/M are promoting equality, since everyone deserves a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
February 13, 2022
Eh... No.
September 7, 2014
2.5 stars (This review is for the 2nd edition released on 9/5/14)
I’m a sucker for rocker romances: beautiful, talented people making great music and earning fame and fortune, sexy guys strutting their stuff (insert tight, form-fitting leather over hard bodies), and all the angsty drama on and offstage (insert lots of sweaty sex).
Sex and rock ’n roll, it goes together like bread ’n buttah.
In M/M romance, rock bands with one gay musician seem to spawn a flurry of gay players. If you aren’t gay, give it a sec, you’ll be playing for the same team before you know it. With Wings doesn’t disappoint here, nor in following that other well-worn trope: the straight (insert quiet, studious and extremely talented) lead guitarist versus the gay (insert extremely confident, extroverted and sexy) lead singer or front guy. Also insert lots of flirtation, innuendo, and is he/isn’t he?? angst.
The Dark Angels is the band. Darius Stone, the lead guitarist, faces off against Angel Luv, the lead singer. Two guys predestined to hit the sheets… erm, the stage together. As soon as Angel sees Darius (Dare) performing with another band he has to have him. In his band, of course, but, hey, he’ll take whatever else may develop between them too.
I immediately think of one of my favorite rocker series, Heaven Sent (Heaven) by Jet Mykles, about another band made up of randy gay men. That series has a certain charm and the guys are charismatic. What I really like about it is that it doesn’t take itself seriously, it’s good, light and fluffy bubblegum fun. It’s what we daydream the rocker celebrity world should be like… lots of gorg guys, lots of sexy hook-ups, lots of booze and cash to burn. It’s a daydream.
With Wings doesn’t quite get there, though. While Dare and Angel are nice enough guys, I can’t but help feel removed from them as a couple. Dare spends most of the story protesting that he’s straight and Angel just seems to hang around waiting for Dare to ‘get with the program’. Which, of course, he does.
It’s all so easy and pat. The story hops, skips, and jumps ahead as the band has an instant and meteoric rise to success with a first album that rockets them to fame. At which point these two take off by themselves for a dragged out, month-long vacay to Bali to ‘write music’ together for the second album. And we are treated to long sex scenes with lots of toys. (Actually, the most fun is watching Dare try to reconcile all the diddling with his constant ‘but I’m not gay’ insistence even as he slowly falls for Angel.)
Of course, eventually there is the ‘big misunderstanding’, and we watch these two wallow and lose weight and worry their friends and band mates. Until the inevitable make up phase. Other than this, there is no real tension in the story. Problem is, neither does it achieve the light and fluffy bubblegum fun which could have helped.
There are issues in the writing which keep me from cozying up to Dare and Angel too. As mentioned before, there are jumps in time, especially in the beginning of the story. There is also a lot of telling versus showing: “Darius was impressed with Angel’s keen business sense and his intellect. Angel was a talented writer and composer, and was funny as hell when he got going. To top it off, he was one of the nicest guys Darius had ever met.” A lot of that. And as this is the second edition, I would have expected a lot fewer edit errors. Lots of those, too.
But, if you want an easy, fairly tension-free rocker story, then this is the read for you. Dare and Angel have some great loud sex, for sure, on and offstage. But, for me, With Wings makes just a little beep, about a 2.5 on the knock-my-socks-off rocker meter. There isn’t enough here to make them or their story stand apart from all the other rockers out there.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Visit Love Bytes Reviews for this and other great reviews, author interviews, and general fabulousness:
June 25, 2020
I was not totally convinced before I started but I actually liked it. I think I would have preferred if they would have really talked with each other ... but ok
I think I will read at least the third book as well ... I want to see more about Dusty
I think I will read at least the third book as well ... I want to see more about Dusty
September 18, 2011
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.
Starting with music, through hot sex and romance to more music, this story makes you gush and squeal, raises your sugar then makes you beg for more. Seriously, I'm not kidding.
Dare and Angel are members of a band, The Dark Angels. While they haven't been on the scene very long, they are burning the road in front of them with killer lyrics and unique style. The drop dead gorgeous lead singer, Angel, and his wicked seductive ways are certainly not doing any harm and Dare, the lead guitarist, is the first one to confirm it.
You see, Angel is bisexual, a fact he doesn't hide. Instead he uses every chance he can to touch, kiss or be near Dare, on stage and off. None of it makes Dare any less straight, not the hard on in his pants nor the lust filled gaze reserved exclusively for Angel. Dare is just not gay.
Then Angel organizes a trip for him and Dare, a bit of peace on Bali to work on their next album, and while Dare isn't exactly sure why he should say no, he knows that trip is about to test and push through his thinly threaded limits.
First half of this book was not a five star for me. It needed a bit of polish when it came to writing and a bit more introduction into the characters would have been welcomed. With a four in mind, I read through Dare's repetitive and, I admit, annoying statements about his sexuality, but there was a point in the book when things just flipped and a four became a brilliant five.
I could say it was the sex that won me over, because there were things in there I've read about for the first time. Dare certainly let loose and Angel never really gave me the impression of being an angel. That man is so wicked he makes you squirm in your seat. But while there was abundance of sex introduced, it was the little things that got to me – touches, statements, even looks. They felt magical and by the last couple of chapters, I was a true fan contemplating who will be the stars of the next book.
I can't guarantee others will share my enthusiasm, but I do know this story is up there with the Conquest and Heaven series. In my opinion it is not something you want to miss.
Starting with music, through hot sex and romance to more music, this story makes you gush and squeal, raises your sugar then makes you beg for more. Seriously, I'm not kidding.
Dare and Angel are members of a band, The Dark Angels. While they haven't been on the scene very long, they are burning the road in front of them with killer lyrics and unique style. The drop dead gorgeous lead singer, Angel, and his wicked seductive ways are certainly not doing any harm and Dare, the lead guitarist, is the first one to confirm it.
You see, Angel is bisexual, a fact he doesn't hide. Instead he uses every chance he can to touch, kiss or be near Dare, on stage and off. None of it makes Dare any less straight, not the hard on in his pants nor the lust filled gaze reserved exclusively for Angel. Dare is just not gay.
Then Angel organizes a trip for him and Dare, a bit of peace on Bali to work on their next album, and while Dare isn't exactly sure why he should say no, he knows that trip is about to test and push through his thinly threaded limits.
First half of this book was not a five star for me. It needed a bit of polish when it came to writing and a bit more introduction into the characters would have been welcomed. With a four in mind, I read through Dare's repetitive and, I admit, annoying statements about his sexuality, but there was a point in the book when things just flipped and a four became a brilliant five.
I could say it was the sex that won me over, because there were things in there I've read about for the first time. Dare certainly let loose and Angel never really gave me the impression of being an angel. That man is so wicked he makes you squirm in your seat. But while there was abundance of sex introduced, it was the little things that got to me – touches, statements, even looks. They felt magical and by the last couple of chapters, I was a true fan contemplating who will be the stars of the next book.
I can't guarantee others will share my enthusiasm, but I do know this story is up there with the Conquest and Heaven series. In my opinion it is not something you want to miss.
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December 9, 2015
Loved it. Crushed my heart a little.
February 11, 2018
krotko tresciwie bez zbednego dramatu..ale i tak fajnie. fajna krotka lekko sprosna historyjka:) ale na pewno do niej wroce:D
November 16, 2011
Very hot! I really enjoyed how naughty Angel was in teasing Dare, whether it was kissing and touching him on stage or constantly being naked around him while they were in Bali. He was relentless in getting Dare to come over to the dark side so it was only a matter of time before Dare gave in to temptation. And once he did, they were insatiable. There was a ton of sex in this book, but the fact that Dare was new to gay sex and the inventive ways Angel found to introduce him to various activities kept things moving right along. It was really sweet to see how tender and romantic Angel was with Dare too. It was obvious there were deeper feelings there for both of them. So why did Angel even make such a bonehead comment to bandmate Dusty on the phone about Dare just being a warm body? It crushed Dare and had consequences that only ended up hurting Angel too. You could really feel their angst and misery after they returned from Bali. But thanks to the help of their other bandmates (and a beautiful public declaration by Dare of his true feelings for Angel), these gorgeous hot rockers were able to find their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, which hopefully has a little better editing ;)
September 13, 2011
3.5 stars
Aargh! I loved the plot and characters in this novel but for some reason that I can't quite put a finger on, the writing style just didn't gel for me.
It struck me at times that 3rd person POV was too obviously just that (all right, I know it doesn't make sense but..) - as I felt very distant from the scenes, almost as if the author was merely content to describe a scene, rather than attempting to draw the reader in. This sense of distance seemed to fluctuate through out the novel as I was jarred anew when the distancing effect came back into play. Unfortunately, the overall effect was that I remained fairly disconnected from the characters and that's a real shame as far as I'm concerned. It may be, of course, just a quibble of mine, but it did reduce my overall enjoyment of this novel. Hopefully, this won't be a problem as the series continues, because I truly did like the story.
Aargh! I loved the plot and characters in this novel but for some reason that I can't quite put a finger on, the writing style just didn't gel for me.
It struck me at times that 3rd person POV was too obviously just that (all right, I know it doesn't make sense but..) - as I felt very distant from the scenes, almost as if the author was merely content to describe a scene, rather than attempting to draw the reader in. This sense of distance seemed to fluctuate through out the novel as I was jarred anew when the distancing effect came back into play. Unfortunately, the overall effect was that I remained fairly disconnected from the characters and that's a real shame as far as I'm concerned. It may be, of course, just a quibble of mine, but it did reduce my overall enjoyment of this novel. Hopefully, this won't be a problem as the series continues, because I truly did like the story.
December 18, 2013
Rockstars = Deliciousness! (and it was GFY..lord help me!)
This book was picked for me to read for a challenge in the M/M group. Had it not been for this challenge I probably woulda moved right on past this book even tho it has all the makings of a perfect book for me.
It was your typical Rockstar/Musician story but the characters gave it it's own spin. Dare is straight or so he keeps telling us. Angel is whatever he wants to be..gay, straight, bi...it doesn't matter to him what you call it so long as he's enjoying himself.
If you're looking for something totally different, I don't think you'll find it here. However, you'll meet 2 amazing men and go on this adventure with them. There are definitely a few emotional bumps along the way..it surely shows how these two feel about each other.
Last stage performance.. AMAZING!
This book was picked for me to read for a challenge in the M/M group. Had it not been for this challenge I probably woulda moved right on past this book even tho it has all the makings of a perfect book for me.
It was your typical Rockstar/Musician story but the characters gave it it's own spin. Dare is straight or so he keeps telling us. Angel is whatever he wants to be..gay, straight, bi...it doesn't matter to him what you call it so long as he's enjoying himself.
If you're looking for something totally different, I don't think you'll find it here. However, you'll meet 2 amazing men and go on this adventure with them. There are definitely a few emotional bumps along the way..it surely shows how these two feel about each other.
Last stage performance.. AMAZING!
April 27, 2015
I didn't read this book; I devoured it. The sex scenes were extremely hot, and though it was a happy ending, I was crying. The story is about a guitar player named Dare who believes he is straight but realizes he is lusting over the lead singer of their band who happens to be a guy. I generally dislike the rock star types, so the lead singer Angel was not initially appealing to me, but when he comes out of his rock star outer shell, he is so very hot. The virgin sex was so sweet and the romance was amazing. I've been reading a lot of m/m recently, but this might be the first book I've read that is categorized as yaoi. So, I am certainly a fan now and definitely a fan of this author.
June 29, 2012
I'd been holding off reading this book, because I thought it contained actual angels (the paranormal species that is my LEAST favorite), but I decided to give it ago last night. Well, I blame Z. Allora for me being tired today because I couldn't put it down until it was finished!
There are no actual angels in this. It's a contemporary romance, NOT a paranormal romance. The rockers are gorgeous and I fell in love with their love.
Definitely recommend this one.
There are no actual angels in this. It's a contemporary romance, NOT a paranormal romance. The rockers are gorgeous and I fell in love with their love.
Definitely recommend this one.
October 6, 2015
Very close to 4 Stars. Allow me to join the chorus of readers who feel that Dare clings to his supposed hetero orientation a wee bit too long. Or maybe we were just very eager to get to the good stuff. The book was enjoyable from start to finish, but the ubiquitous "Big Misunderstanding that almost ruins everything" was predictable. Still, if you like the rockstar trope with hot guys doing even hotter things, this was a very enjoyable to spend a few hours.
March 24, 2013
What a hot little book that was! There were definitely things wrong with this story and the writing was confusing at times but it didn't matter. This was a wonderful read that I enjoyed very much. If there wasn't so many editing issues, it would have been a 5 star for sure.
August 9, 2011
A beautifully written book Z.Allora has made a fan of me, and I want more.
September 5, 2015
Wonderful! Can't wait to read the rest of this series :) thank you Z, I adore you :-)
August 31, 2011
Pure, sexy, rock star yuminess!
February 20, 2015
These boys are so hot.
January 28, 2020
So...I wanted to like this more than I actually did like it. There were a lot of things that I felt I had to overlook. Sometimes the characters acted and sounded their age, and sometimes, they really didn't. There were some strange...maybe contrived scenarios, but I can overlook that. having said that, I still like these guys okay and even though I fell like the series is so-so, I will keep reading it.
November 29, 2013
De-Nile, clearly not just a river in Egypt… Yeah, ok over used and bad pun aside, I have never seen a case of such forced denial EVER! Gah, you’re all I think about, but you’re guy and I’m not gay so it couldn’t really be. :-p While the record on repeat got a little obnoxious I did enjoy this book, fun characters and a rock band. Good mix if you ask me.
Darius Stone is proud to be the guitarist for the Dark Angels. Their band is on the rise and it’s completely crazy to be able to sell out stadiums and see that wave of screaming fans. Besides his band mates have become his best friends and you couldn’t ask for a better group of guys. Of course it helps that their lead singer, Angel Luv, is drop dead gorgeous. Dare may be straight, but he can acknowledge a simple fact. Only one thing is stressing him out a little bit. The increased sexuality that their fans have been clamoring for on stage and that he’s agreed to for the show that night. It’s just a kiss, just an act, even if he enjoys it it doesn’t make him gay.
Angel Luv knows what he wants. And so far he’s gotten everything he could ever dream. His band is climbing the charts and he’s got an amazing group of guys to work with. Only one thing is missing at this point, he’s really not that interested in the groupie hookups anymore. Angel wants a real relationship. The only problem is that the man he wants is most decidedly straight. Still he’s got a vacation in Bali planned for just the two of them. Hopefully the work vacation idea is enough to get Dare to go along with it.
Ok first of all, Dare, sweetheart, if all you can think about is I guy, I’m sorry honey, but at least for him, you’re gay! I absolutely understand the reluctance of the character to admit it to himself, but the sheer stubbornness of holding to that one thought on repeat ad naseum got a bit too redundant for me. Otherwise I really enjoyed Dare’s character. I liked his insecurities with Angel and how when he finally agreed to give into the friend’s with benefits idea he complimented Angel well.
Angel, at least as we see him through Darius’ eyes was great. I liked that even though we’re never shown things from his perspective I knew how he really felt about Dare from the beginning. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy thing for his friend to accept, but he was head over heels for the man and he was going to take his shot. The romantic setting and plots and plans were exactly what he needed to do to get Dare out of his head and letting his body do the thinking for him. I also really liked his rules for hookups. He doesn’t kiss and he doesn’t take it himself. It made those things special with Dare even if Dare didn’t understand it all at first.
I enjoyed this story a lot, but there was something that kept me from getting pulled in and falling head over heels for these guys. I’m not even sure what it really was. The author’s style is good, but maybe not fantastic. It lacks a certain depth of emotion that would have had me with tears in my eyes at Dare’s miss understanding. In fact I felt more for the torturous torment that Josh and Robin are dealing with and it’s not even their story. That ending though makes me almost desperate to read their story though! OMG!!! You could feel the want and need denied between those two every time they were on the page. I can’t wait to see how that all works out.
Nothing here seemed super out of place, but I did feel like Dare’s ending was a little too over the top for his character. I liked him singing his song at the show to Angel, but the public displays got a bit out of hand for someone who isn’t completely comfortable with his sexuality. I think I would have enjoyed it more if some of that emotional bit got dealt with off stage and just between the two of them, not with 50,000 screaming fans watching.
Still all in all I really liked this story. It’s very pwp-ish and if you’re not in the mood for a lot of very hot sex and sexual innuendo maybe put this aside for another day. But if you want some red hot craving you style sex, well then slide on up to the bar folks this one’s for you. While what little plot there is doesn’t have much going on it’s got a fun vacation backdrop and gorgeous rockstars. One can’t complain about the scenery. ;)
Darius Stone is proud to be the guitarist for the Dark Angels. Their band is on the rise and it’s completely crazy to be able to sell out stadiums and see that wave of screaming fans. Besides his band mates have become his best friends and you couldn’t ask for a better group of guys. Of course it helps that their lead singer, Angel Luv, is drop dead gorgeous. Dare may be straight, but he can acknowledge a simple fact. Only one thing is stressing him out a little bit. The increased sexuality that their fans have been clamoring for on stage and that he’s agreed to for the show that night. It’s just a kiss, just an act, even if he enjoys it it doesn’t make him gay.
Angel Luv knows what he wants. And so far he’s gotten everything he could ever dream. His band is climbing the charts and he’s got an amazing group of guys to work with. Only one thing is missing at this point, he’s really not that interested in the groupie hookups anymore. Angel wants a real relationship. The only problem is that the man he wants is most decidedly straight. Still he’s got a vacation in Bali planned for just the two of them. Hopefully the work vacation idea is enough to get Dare to go along with it.
Ok first of all, Dare, sweetheart, if all you can think about is I guy, I’m sorry honey, but at least for him, you’re gay! I absolutely understand the reluctance of the character to admit it to himself, but the sheer stubbornness of holding to that one thought on repeat ad naseum got a bit too redundant for me. Otherwise I really enjoyed Dare’s character. I liked his insecurities with Angel and how when he finally agreed to give into the friend’s with benefits idea he complimented Angel well.
Angel, at least as we see him through Darius’ eyes was great. I liked that even though we’re never shown things from his perspective I knew how he really felt about Dare from the beginning. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy thing for his friend to accept, but he was head over heels for the man and he was going to take his shot. The romantic setting and plots and plans were exactly what he needed to do to get Dare out of his head and letting his body do the thinking for him. I also really liked his rules for hookups. He doesn’t kiss and he doesn’t take it himself. It made those things special with Dare even if Dare didn’t understand it all at first.
I enjoyed this story a lot, but there was something that kept me from getting pulled in and falling head over heels for these guys. I’m not even sure what it really was. The author’s style is good, but maybe not fantastic. It lacks a certain depth of emotion that would have had me with tears in my eyes at Dare’s miss understanding. In fact I felt more for the torturous torment that Josh and Robin are dealing with and it’s not even their story. That ending though makes me almost desperate to read their story though! OMG!!! You could feel the want and need denied between those two every time they were on the page. I can’t wait to see how that all works out.
Nothing here seemed super out of place, but I did feel like Dare’s ending was a little too over the top for his character. I liked him singing his song at the show to Angel, but the public displays got a bit out of hand for someone who isn’t completely comfortable with his sexuality. I think I would have enjoyed it more if some of that emotional bit got dealt with off stage and just between the two of them, not with 50,000 screaming fans watching.
Still all in all I really liked this story. It’s very pwp-ish and if you’re not in the mood for a lot of very hot sex and sexual innuendo maybe put this aside for another day. But if you want some red hot craving you style sex, well then slide on up to the bar folks this one’s for you. While what little plot there is doesn’t have much going on it’s got a fun vacation backdrop and gorgeous rockstars. One can’t complain about the scenery. ;)
September 17, 2014
Lust is the drug and sex becomes the addiction in Z. Allora’s With Wings, a tale of rock n’ roll love in an exotic paradise.
Darius Stone is the guitar player who catches singer Angel Luv’s eye, and from the moment these two men make eye contact, the author dials up the heat of their attraction to each other. The only problem with the chemistry and spark that flows between them is that Dare is one seriously straight guy. Or at least that’s the line he keeps trying to sell—the gentleman doth protest too much, methinks—but in all fairness, Dare did believe he was straight until he met Angel, and that’s when he began to feel things he’d never felt before for any other man.
With Wings is not only some smoking hot etorica, but it’s also an exploration of labels, or, rather, our obsession with compartmentalizing sexuality into neat little categories when, in fact, it’s often far more complex than simply being gay, straight, or bisexual. Z. Allora brings Dare to the eventual realization that he doesn’t have to be anything but Angel-sexual, and does so in a romantic setting that, as the story unfolds, it quickly becomes obvious the author has some personal experience with. The Bali locale is the perfect place for Angel to seduce and for Dare to succumb, though it doesn’t happen as complication-free as the agreement to keep this a vacation-with-benefits arrangement dictates it should be.
There’s a lot of body language being spoken between Angel and Darius in this story but not much meaningful communication of the verbal sort going on, which provides for the tension and the conflict as the plot builds to its climactic arc, where misunderstandings are allowed to fester in the face of fear of rejection, and the deal that allowed Darius to explore his needs without exploring the whys of them becomes the wedge between the two men when they return from their nirvana, a dilemma you can see coming from miles away yet know it has to happen because it’s the only way they’ll ever have the chance to get things out in the open.
This book is filled with romantic gestures, the sort that scream actions speak louder than words, but reading between the lines is something Angel and Darius aren’t good at. The grandest gesture of all, however, comes at the end and provides for the perfectly romantic setup to the beginning of a committed relationship for these bandmates and lovers. It’s sensual and sentimental and begs the reader let go and simply believe there is a place of unconditional acceptance which embraces the idea that love is love.
There are several side characters for whom Z. Allora has offered hints that they’ll be getting their own stories as this series moves forward, which I’ll most definitely be watching for. If I had any one niggle, it would be that I felt one more proofreading would’ve made this a more fluid read—there were some instances where I had to read things more than once to make sense of them, which interrupted the flow of the story, but overall, I can say if you love your rock gods with a heaping side of sweet and sexy, With Wings is exactly that.
Darius Stone is the guitar player who catches singer Angel Luv’s eye, and from the moment these two men make eye contact, the author dials up the heat of their attraction to each other. The only problem with the chemistry and spark that flows between them is that Dare is one seriously straight guy. Or at least that’s the line he keeps trying to sell—the gentleman doth protest too much, methinks—but in all fairness, Dare did believe he was straight until he met Angel, and that’s when he began to feel things he’d never felt before for any other man.
With Wings is not only some smoking hot etorica, but it’s also an exploration of labels, or, rather, our obsession with compartmentalizing sexuality into neat little categories when, in fact, it’s often far more complex than simply being gay, straight, or bisexual. Z. Allora brings Dare to the eventual realization that he doesn’t have to be anything but Angel-sexual, and does so in a romantic setting that, as the story unfolds, it quickly becomes obvious the author has some personal experience with. The Bali locale is the perfect place for Angel to seduce and for Dare to succumb, though it doesn’t happen as complication-free as the agreement to keep this a vacation-with-benefits arrangement dictates it should be.
There’s a lot of body language being spoken between Angel and Darius in this story but not much meaningful communication of the verbal sort going on, which provides for the tension and the conflict as the plot builds to its climactic arc, where misunderstandings are allowed to fester in the face of fear of rejection, and the deal that allowed Darius to explore his needs without exploring the whys of them becomes the wedge between the two men when they return from their nirvana, a dilemma you can see coming from miles away yet know it has to happen because it’s the only way they’ll ever have the chance to get things out in the open.
This book is filled with romantic gestures, the sort that scream actions speak louder than words, but reading between the lines is something Angel and Darius aren’t good at. The grandest gesture of all, however, comes at the end and provides for the perfectly romantic setup to the beginning of a committed relationship for these bandmates and lovers. It’s sensual and sentimental and begs the reader let go and simply believe there is a place of unconditional acceptance which embraces the idea that love is love.
There are several side characters for whom Z. Allora has offered hints that they’ll be getting their own stories as this series moves forward, which I’ll most definitely be watching for. If I had any one niggle, it would be that I felt one more proofreading would’ve made this a more fluid read—there were some instances where I had to read things more than once to make sense of them, which interrupted the flow of the story, but overall, I can say if you love your rock gods with a heaping side of sweet and sexy, With Wings is exactly that.
April 2, 2015
I received a copy of this book at no charge from the author in exchange for my honest review. Review rounded up from 3 1/2 stars. Review first appeared on Nautical Star books.
In With Wings (The Dark Angels) by Z. Allora we first meet Darius Stone, who is playing guitar with a less than stellar band while he waits for his big break in the music business. His big break turns out to be a sexy and mysterious guy in the audience by the name of Angel Luv. Angel is the lead singer in The Dark Angels, an up and coming rock band in need of a great guitarist. Darius is definitely interested in joining the band but the chemistry he feels with Angel is confusing seeing as he has never once been interested in a guy sexually before. Despite his ‘straight vs gay’ issues, Dare finds himself drawn to Angel as the band climbs the charts and stardom overwhelms them. When the brand takes a break in their tour to work on new material, Dare and Angel head to Bali to work on some new songs. Dare finally stops fighting his attraction to Angel and the two fall into a passionate ‘vacation only’ fling. However, love sneaks in and refuses to be squashed just because vacation is over.
I really enjoyed both of these characters. I liked that they had a nice balance of ‘rock God’ and ‘real guy’. The interaction between the various band members seemed realistic and genuine. The secondary characters were intriguing and hopefully we see more of them in coming books. Angel comes off as drop dead sexy and flirtatious, both on and off the stage. On the Bali journey, the reader gets to see a sweeter, lighter and more romantic side which I enjoyed. I do think some of the on stage antics may have been over the top but I haven’t been to many concerts so maybe that is the norm nowadays.
Dare’s confusion over his attraction to Angel is evident from the very beginning and it took him a long time to get over the whole ‘I am straight’ concept. He isn’t used to taking a submissive role in a relationship and his confusion and insecurity comes through quite a bit. A bit too much, I think. There is a lot of internal dialogue and mental struggle regarding his sexuality and while I get that it is a hard fence to jump over, I think too much of it was put on the page to read. I found myself getting annoyed at his insecurity rather than being compassionate about it.
I liked that these two really got to know each other before the sex comes into play. When it finally does enter the story, it is hot and sexy and well written. The two characters really connect and there is quite a bit of heat involved.
What really made With Wings slow going for me was that I needed more of a conflict, plot or side story to break up the relationship development. This is a long story and it is very well written but there is only so much about a relationship and characters that I want to read about before I get a bit bored. Some sort of mystery or drama to break up the character angst would have really made this a 5 star book for me.
I loved the detail that the author put into With Wings…there are tidbits about Bali that I found truly fascinating. The characters are interesting and well written and the chemistry is hot. But, I think a bit more conflict and less internal meandering would have made me turn the pages faster.
In With Wings (The Dark Angels) by Z. Allora we first meet Darius Stone, who is playing guitar with a less than stellar band while he waits for his big break in the music business. His big break turns out to be a sexy and mysterious guy in the audience by the name of Angel Luv. Angel is the lead singer in The Dark Angels, an up and coming rock band in need of a great guitarist. Darius is definitely interested in joining the band but the chemistry he feels with Angel is confusing seeing as he has never once been interested in a guy sexually before. Despite his ‘straight vs gay’ issues, Dare finds himself drawn to Angel as the band climbs the charts and stardom overwhelms them. When the brand takes a break in their tour to work on new material, Dare and Angel head to Bali to work on some new songs. Dare finally stops fighting his attraction to Angel and the two fall into a passionate ‘vacation only’ fling. However, love sneaks in and refuses to be squashed just because vacation is over.
I really enjoyed both of these characters. I liked that they had a nice balance of ‘rock God’ and ‘real guy’. The interaction between the various band members seemed realistic and genuine. The secondary characters were intriguing and hopefully we see more of them in coming books. Angel comes off as drop dead sexy and flirtatious, both on and off the stage. On the Bali journey, the reader gets to see a sweeter, lighter and more romantic side which I enjoyed. I do think some of the on stage antics may have been over the top but I haven’t been to many concerts so maybe that is the norm nowadays.
Dare’s confusion over his attraction to Angel is evident from the very beginning and it took him a long time to get over the whole ‘I am straight’ concept. He isn’t used to taking a submissive role in a relationship and his confusion and insecurity comes through quite a bit. A bit too much, I think. There is a lot of internal dialogue and mental struggle regarding his sexuality and while I get that it is a hard fence to jump over, I think too much of it was put on the page to read. I found myself getting annoyed at his insecurity rather than being compassionate about it.
I liked that these two really got to know each other before the sex comes into play. When it finally does enter the story, it is hot and sexy and well written. The two characters really connect and there is quite a bit of heat involved.
What really made With Wings slow going for me was that I needed more of a conflict, plot or side story to break up the relationship development. This is a long story and it is very well written but there is only so much about a relationship and characters that I want to read about before I get a bit bored. Some sort of mystery or drama to break up the character angst would have really made this a 5 star book for me.
I loved the detail that the author put into With Wings…there are tidbits about Bali that I found truly fascinating. The characters are interesting and well written and the chemistry is hot. But, I think a bit more conflict and less internal meandering would have made me turn the pages faster.
June 23, 2015
With Wings (The Dark Angels #1) by Z Allora was a wonderful introduction to the band The Dark Angels and the lives they lead. While this story was focused primarily on Angel and Dare, there was enough information given about Dusty, Robin and Josh as to make this reader very curious to read their stories as well.
Both Angel and Dare are very complex characters, for surprisingly similar reasons. For Angel, there is that public persona, the rock god with his nails painted and his eyes lined, who is charismatic and engaging. At first this is the only side to him that is really visible, until the time he spends with Dare in Bali. As he starts to relax, unwind and talk to Dare about things other than just the music they’re working on, a second side, a more private side, of Angel begins to emerge. We see his insecurities, his hopes and dreams for himself, not just the band.
Similarly, in that time halfway around the world from everything he’s ever known, as well as the father who has never supported his love of playing guitar, Dare learns how to be honest with himself, and open about the things he wants and desires.
The trip to Bali proved to not only be a wonderful chance for them to collaborate and prepare some new songs for the band, but also for their friendship to grow and deepen as they learned more about one another.
Watching these two trying to navigate the choppy waters between friendships, emotional connections, and concern over the working relationship of the band really held me captivated, hoping for a good outcome for all of them. It’s easy to appreciate the strange family dynamic of the band and how very much each of them care about one other as well as how much what they’ve created means to them. It isn’t just about a means of making money or even doing something they love, it is a way to be who they are, without anyone or anything getting in the way.
The steamy scenes between Angel and Dare nearly fogged up my computer screen, but what really showed through was the emotions that each was able to bring out of one another. I really felt as if With Wings was a journey of personal growth for both Dare and Angel. Want to know how it all turns out? Go give it a read. You won’t regret it.
September 9, 2014
4.5 marbles, rounded up for GR because smiles
This is the second edition of The Dark Angels: With Wings. No idea what the first edition looked like or if this is substantially different, but let me say this: Second Edition Rocks!
Here we have a yaoi-flavored out-for-you story, where Dare isn’t sure at first just what the draw is to this crazy guy who keeps showing up at his little tribute band’s gigs. Angel thinks Dare’s the best guitarist for the Dark Angels, and finds him pretty hot as well. Dare’s slow to warm up to the notion: he has a fair share of the attractive and limber female fans who throw keys, panties, and themselves at the band.
If you want to get all sniffy about ladybits, get over it. There are a couple brief but important to the story sections where a girl’s involved—gay and bi guys very often do have encounters with the opposite sex in RL and in stories too. Dare has to sort out his feelings toward Angel, and Angel’s giving more mixed signals than a drunk traffic cop.
There’s lots of hawtsex between the guys, but their real question is what else is there, and can they keep from wrecking the band while they figure it out. An extended song-writing vacation in Bali takes them away from the familiar things to let them bask in new and different surroundings, and new and different ways of being together. Going halfway around the world for a little solitude seems contrived, but hey, yaoi.
Besides, the author clearly knows and loves that part of the world, and lets her characters explore and learn this exotic location while exploring the equally foreign landscapes of each other. It’s a great way to have them step away from all that’s familiar, and I challenge everyone to show me any other m/m romance that has a slow loris or even a fast loris in it.
Eventually—and oh I bit my fingernails while they were getting there—some heads get pulled out of asses and some truths shared, and the guys make some great music. Together. ;) The Dark Angels have some more stories coming, which is great, because I spotted some loose ends and I want an encore.
Copy of second edition provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second edition of The Dark Angels: With Wings. No idea what the first edition looked like or if this is substantially different, but let me say this: Second Edition Rocks!
Here we have a yaoi-flavored out-for-you story, where Dare isn’t sure at first just what the draw is to this crazy guy who keeps showing up at his little tribute band’s gigs. Angel thinks Dare’s the best guitarist for the Dark Angels, and finds him pretty hot as well. Dare’s slow to warm up to the notion: he has a fair share of the attractive and limber female fans who throw keys, panties, and themselves at the band.
If you want to get all sniffy about ladybits, get over it. There are a couple brief but important to the story sections where a girl’s involved—gay and bi guys very often do have encounters with the opposite sex in RL and in stories too. Dare has to sort out his feelings toward Angel, and Angel’s giving more mixed signals than a drunk traffic cop.
There’s lots of hawtsex between the guys, but their real question is what else is there, and can they keep from wrecking the band while they figure it out. An extended song-writing vacation in Bali takes them away from the familiar things to let them bask in new and different surroundings, and new and different ways of being together. Going halfway around the world for a little solitude seems contrived, but hey, yaoi.
Besides, the author clearly knows and loves that part of the world, and lets her characters explore and learn this exotic location while exploring the equally foreign landscapes of each other. It’s a great way to have them step away from all that’s familiar, and I challenge everyone to show me any other m/m romance that has a slow loris or even a fast loris in it.
Eventually—and oh I bit my fingernails while they were getting there—some heads get pulled out of asses and some truths shared, and the guys make some great music. Together. ;) The Dark Angels have some more stories coming, which is great, because I spotted some loose ends and I want an encore.
Copy of second edition provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2016
This was a reread, but of a newer, expanded edition, which I hadn't read before. There were a few changes, the book starts differently, and I thought the writing was a bit smoother, showing definite growth on the writer's part. Whereas the original book started while the band was already well on the rise to stardom, the new edition starts earlier, with Dare playing in another band, and Angel finding him. I have a feeling I've read that scene before, maybe on the author's blog or something, but it fit nicely here. What didn't fit so well was the timeline now. It made it so that only about six months passed during which Dare joined the Dark Angels, they cut their first album, had several hits, and were now selling sold out shows. Felt a bit rushed.
Then there were the frustrating parts of the story. While GFY remains one of my favorite tropes, I lost patience with Dare's angsting about wanting Angel. Six months of wanting but telling himself he wasn't gay, that it was wrong, that he couldn't want him this way. I don't like when an always straight guy just jumps right in with no second thoughts, I also don't like when they waste SO much time doubting their own feelings.
But once the sex started, boy was it hot. For a bit there, there was almost TOO much sex, but it was hot, and sweet. But then the Big Misunderstanding happened, which broke Dare's heart (and mine!), but it was all resolved beautifully in the end. (although I can't help but wonder if the band's shows wouldn't have them up on indecency charges in many places!)
I did like the changes to the writing, and I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the expanded versions of the other books in this series.
Then there were the frustrating parts of the story. While GFY remains one of my favorite tropes, I lost patience with Dare's angsting about wanting Angel. Six months of wanting but telling himself he wasn't gay, that it was wrong, that he couldn't want him this way. I don't like when an always straight guy just jumps right in with no second thoughts, I also don't like when they waste SO much time doubting their own feelings.
But once the sex started, boy was it hot. For a bit there, there was almost TOO much sex, but it was hot, and sweet. But then the Big Misunderstanding happened, which broke Dare's heart (and mine!), but it was all resolved beautifully in the end. (although I can't help but wonder if the band's shows wouldn't have them up on indecency charges in many places!)
I did like the changes to the writing, and I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the expanded versions of the other books in this series.
December 9, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
With Wings is the first book in Z. Allora’s Dark Angels series and I think it is off to a nice start. I am a sucker for a good rock star romance and this one has a great bad boy rocker in Angel, all swivel hipped and alluring. I love that he comes across kind of shallow and sex obsessed at first, but as the story goes on we see Angel is a lot deeper than he first appears. He is sweet and sensitive and oh so very sexy. In fact, this book is full of incredibly sexy scenes, making it a great story when you are looking for something fun and super hot.
I liked Darius a lot too as a guy who is just trying to figure out what he wants. Darius has never been into guys, but he is hot for Angel in a big way and just can’t quite bring himself to accept it. The book did go too long into the “He’s hot and I can’t stop thinking about him, but wait, I’m not gay” loop for me. It comes with the territory in an OFY kind of romance, but still I felt like we spent a lot of time with Darius totally into Angel but insisting he is not gay. This is a long book and it just became kind of repetitive to me at times.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
With Wings is the first book in Z. Allora’s Dark Angels series and I think it is off to a nice start. I am a sucker for a good rock star romance and this one has a great bad boy rocker in Angel, all swivel hipped and alluring. I love that he comes across kind of shallow and sex obsessed at first, but as the story goes on we see Angel is a lot deeper than he first appears. He is sweet and sensitive and oh so very sexy. In fact, this book is full of incredibly sexy scenes, making it a great story when you are looking for something fun and super hot.
I liked Darius a lot too as a guy who is just trying to figure out what he wants. Darius has never been into guys, but he is hot for Angel in a big way and just can’t quite bring himself to accept it. The book did go too long into the “He’s hot and I can’t stop thinking about him, but wait, I’m not gay” loop for me. It comes with the territory in an OFY kind of romance, but still I felt like we spent a lot of time with Darius totally into Angel but insisting he is not gay. This is a long book and it just became kind of repetitive to me at times.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
September 8, 2016
3.5 stars
I'm a big fan of Yaoi "man-love" books and the covers are quite sexy.
I found this story stated off a bit weak. Darius is the guitarist of a crappy cover band and all of a sudden he gets an offer to meet up with the sexy stranger that's been checking him out at his shows.
Then we fast-forward and their band "The Dark Angels" is super popular and they are on tour...WTF
There is undeniable attraction between the singer Angel and Dare but of course...he's straight (UGH!, so frustrating when guys cling to this notion even though they have feelings for a guy).
It's gets way better when Angel takes Darius to Mali so they can complete the songs for their new album. It's gets really steamy here and I love it. Darius finally comes to the realisation that his feelings for Angel are real.
Didn't care for the whole "mis-understanding" thing but it all ended well. There also a good setup for the next book about Robin and Josh.
I'm a big fan of Yaoi "man-love" books and the covers are quite sexy.
I found this story stated off a bit weak. Darius is the guitarist of a crappy cover band and all of a sudden he gets an offer to meet up with the sexy stranger that's been checking him out at his shows.
Then we fast-forward and their band "The Dark Angels" is super popular and they are on tour...WTF
There is undeniable attraction between the singer Angel and Dare but of course...he's straight (UGH!, so frustrating when guys cling to this notion even though they have feelings for a guy).
It's gets way better when Angel takes Darius to Mali so they can complete the songs for their new album. It's gets really steamy here and I love it. Darius finally comes to the realisation that his feelings for Angel are real.
Didn't care for the whole "mis-understanding" thing but it all ended well. There also a good setup for the next book about Robin and Josh.
June 30, 2012
I started reading to pass some waiting time, then blew off my other chores for the day to rush home and continue Dare and Angel's tale. With my ADHD and limited amount of reading time, it's very rare that I can devour a book in one sitting. I did with Dark Angels.
A lovely, slowly building, very romantic journey that I wouldn't say is "gay for you" but more of a case of simply falling for a person, not a gender. The two men bond over their shared love of music, and are very much kindred spirits. I love friends to lovers stories.
The "toy" scene is one of the most erotic I've ever seen! Dare and Angel burn up the pages.
Highly satisfying first book in a series. Now I can't wait to see the other members of the Dark Angels get their HEA!
A lovely, slowly building, very romantic journey that I wouldn't say is "gay for you" but more of a case of simply falling for a person, not a gender. The two men bond over their shared love of music, and are very much kindred spirits. I love friends to lovers stories.
The "toy" scene is one of the most erotic I've ever seen! Dare and Angel burn up the pages.
Highly satisfying first book in a series. Now I can't wait to see the other members of the Dark Angels get their HEA!
September 6, 2012
3.5 stars
I DID enjoy this story, but for some reason it just didn't make the 4 star grade and I can't pinpoint why. I love rocker plots; the characters were appealing; the grammar was pretty good; only a few editing mistakes. And I will definitely continue the series. I guess it just didn't fully engage me. It was completely written from only Dare's perspective and I have to admit, I would have loved to have Angel's thoughts laid out a couple of times.
One interesting point (I thought) was that the MC in denial (GFY) was the smaller, much less dominant man; it was almost a role-reversal from the other GFY storylines I've read lately.
I DID enjoy this story, but for some reason it just didn't make the 4 star grade and I can't pinpoint why. I love rocker plots; the characters were appealing; the grammar was pretty good; only a few editing mistakes. And I will definitely continue the series. I guess it just didn't fully engage me. It was completely written from only Dare's perspective and I have to admit, I would have loved to have Angel's thoughts laid out a couple of times.
One interesting point (I thought) was that the MC in denial (GFY) was the smaller, much less dominant man; it was almost a role-reversal from the other GFY storylines I've read lately.
July 10, 2015
I was given a copy of this book by the author Z. Allora and immediately started to read it. I fell in love with the characters and the relationship that developed between Angel and Dare. It was a story of self discovery and breaking down walls that the two of them had erected. With each new wall coming down, Dare and Angel's love shown through and could be felt by the reader. The sex was beyond HOTHOTHOT!!! In addition Z.Allora took the reader to an exotic place most would never get to visit and showed us with beautiful writing and description what is was to be there. I now have another great author added to my favorites!
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