Guarding Angel

Fallen Redemption #1

by S. L. Saboviec

An exasperated guardian angel.
A stubborn human.
A distracting charmer.
An interfering demon.

Heaven and Hell are about to be turned upside down.

I don't hate being a Guardian angel. What's frustrating is being confined to this rank for a millennium while everyone around me has earned their colored wings and gone off to help the humans plan their lives, inspire art, and fight demons. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong!

My latest Ward, a human named Daniel, refuses to listen to anything I whisper in his ear. If he doesn't watch himself, he's going to end up dead—or worse—and I'm going to end up wallowing around with white wings for the rest of my eternal life.

As if that's not enough, a charming fellow Guardian angel has come sauntering into my life, bringing smoldering looks, unbidden feelings, and a demonic ex-lover who decides she has it in for me.

When my—and Daniel's—life starts unraveling, I stumble into a plot that leads not to Hell, but to Heaven, and to a destiny I was apparently created for. I need to answer some questions before my life devolves into chaos. How do I fit into the plan for humanity? What does the Council of Seraphim want from me? And will I be able to stop my rival before she becomes more powerful than any demon before?

Guarding Angel is the first book in the Fallen Redemption trilogy, featuring an angel determined to prove herself, a demonic plot to wrestle power from Heaven, and secrets that will reverberate throughout Earth's history. Fans of Fallen, Fallen Angels, Black Wings, and Hush, Hush will love this fantastic series by science fiction and fantasy author Samantha L. Strong.

Genres: Fantasy

482 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2014

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enael is just trying to guard her wards and move to becoming a Keeper of the Books of Life. That is, until she meets Kaspen, a charismatic Guardian that shows her that there’s more to her existence. She, in turn, realizes that there’s more to Kaspen then meets her eye. She is more drawn to him than anyone before him, but her own past keeps her from letting him in. When Enael is introduced to Yasva, Kaspen’s former lover, she is thrown into a love triangle so dangerous that it is unknown if she and Kaspen will survive. She discovers that she must give up more than she bargained for to save herself and the angel that she loves. Guarding Angel is a wonderful story laced with love, loss, regret and salvation. Your knowledge of Heaven and Hell, Angels and Demons will forever be changed after reading this work. I know I can’t wait for the next one!

[Christine]

Did Not Finish. Got to around 30%

One of the ideas in this book is that humans are reincarnated and before their reincarnation, they choose the path their next life will take. One minor character chooses the path of emotional strife and one of the things she will experience is rape. She chooses to be raped . She not only chooses to be raped but is "adamant that her son be conceived from rape".

That's a big fat nope from me. No one would ever choose to be raped. On the flip side of that that means there is a man that chose, while in Heaven speaking to angels, to rape someone as part of his life path.

It was a minor part, probably inconsequential to the plot as a whole but it was enough to turn me off from the book.

[Rachael Slate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance-spiked fantasy that definitely lives up to its gorgeous cover!

Guarding Angel is a beautifully written, enthralling tale of guardian angel Enael’s struggles to find her own destiny while guiding the lives of the humans she's responsible for. The world-building is fantastic and definitely drew me in from the very beginning. I loved the idea of each person having their own personal guardian, helping them through their lives and the temptations they chose to experience.

When Enael meets Kaspen, and his former lover, Yasva, the truths Enael believed about her role as a guardian angel begin to unravel. The author expertly weaves the story from historical settings in the lives of Enael’s wards, to Enael’s own journey through the twisting maze of hierarchy in Heaven.

I thoroughly enjoyed how this novel explores the notion of free will and the consequences of the choices we make, while at the same time giving us a gripping tale. For the first in a series, the ending was very satisfying and I can’t wait for the next one. A must read!

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Now normally I don't read too many adult books and normally I'm not a fan of angel books, but Guarding Angel has renewed my faith in both. This was such an original and refreshing take on angels. I was sucked in right from the get go.
There are numerous secondary characters in this novel but I fell in love with each and everyone of them regardless if they were a good person or not. My favourite character was Tabitha. Her story really touched me. But again I did love all of the characters.
Guarding Angel is a book that really had me questioning if there is something bigger out there than us as humans. It is just an amazing read with perfect characters. I'm hoping for a second book because I need to know if there is a hidden agenda. I would recommend this novel to both those who love and hate angels. It is so much more than "just an angel book".

[Ken Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from indie author S. L. Saboviec, Guarding Angel is a well-produced piece of literature. Many, if not most, indie works are production nightmares with badly designed covers, poor formatting and prose littered with glaring errors. Not so with Guardian Angel. You can see this is an author who spent time not only in the writing of the book, but also its design and production.

The cover design is flawless; I can honestly say that I have never seen anything quite like it in the indie world so far, and I've read a good amount of indie works. If I saw the cover in a physical store, and read only the blurb, I would purchase the book on appearance alone!

But, we can't always judge a book by its cover, can we? Moving into the prose, I can say that Guardian Angel does not disappoint. The work is well-written and - surprise surprise - there are no grammar errors! Many indie authors elect not to use an editor and that's a shame as it really puts down the overall quality of the book. Guarding Angel does not make this mistake, and as an avid reader and indie fan, I'm very happy with this.

In terms of my genre preference, I'm not typically a romance fan, but Guarding Angel is, at its heart, a fantasy novel, touched by elements of romance and a deep-seated look into the nature of religion and the afterlife.

As a child, I sometimes wondered if the lives we possessed were due to our choices when leaving heaven (back when I believed in such things), and Guarding Angel touches on this concept and expands into original territory, where souls choose their own trials and tribulations with the ultimate goal of personal growth. There is a deep amount of world building; indeed, the novel is set across a number of historical periods, fast-forwarded across the ages, not to mention the vastly different worlds of heaven and hell.

At the centre of it all is Enael, a guardian struggling to keep her charges safe, while at the same time battling her demons (both literally and figuratively). It's a tale of success and failure, a struggle about doubting oneself which, I am certain, will resonate with a number of readers, dipping into harsh truths which can be both illuminating and discomforting, depending on how you look at it.

At the end of the day, Guarding Angel is well worth the read. If you enjoy fantasy and a quick tryst into the realms of heaven and hell, then this is the book for you.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guarding Angel (Fallen Redemption #1) by S L Saboviec

3.5 Stars

‘Humans make their incarnation plans before birth and it is the Guardians sacred duty to ensure nothing interferes with following that plan.’ Enael isn’t a confident guardian angel and continuously doubts her ability to guide Daniel on his chosen path. When he fails to resist the temptation that comes in the form of Miriam, Enael seeks advice from her archangel Rehniah to see what she can do to bond with her charge and help him keep to his chosen plan. Rehniah suggests Enael finds a friend and stops shying away from intimacy, so she seeks help from Kaspen, Miriams guardian.

Enael discovers she is confronted with a temptation of her own, Kaspen, but as the pair get closer Kaspen’s ex love Yasva, who is now a demon, becomes jealous and constantly hounds and taunts the pair while also forging a plan to take over control of Earth.

Though it isn’t unusual to read a book about demons trying to take over the earth and angels trying to stop them, I did find this story quite unique. The angels had the ability to choose how they appear, and they are also kind of genderless which was odd. I found the whole thing really refreshing and unexpected.

Initially I found it difficult to visualise many of the characters, their strange names didn’t give clues to the ‘aspect’ they had chosen for themselves so until the author either, referred to one as a he or a she, or specifically described someone, I was left with nothing to work with, a faceless being who was just a name, and I found that a bit frustrating.

Guarding Angel is a well written book, the plot is intricate and well planned but sometimes we were subjected to too many details which slowed the pace and didn’t move the story along fast enough for me. Overall it was a great read and well worth picking up if this is the genre of your choice.

Copy supplied for review

[Heidi Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. Not my normal read, it is in the genre I like most. From the first page it drew me in and kept me interested because I wanted to know what Enael's secrets were. Where there were times she frustrated me because I could see what the answer to her questions and she could not and I wanted to reach in and shake her, to me that is good writing because it means I am emotionally invested in the characters. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give spoilers, I will say I can't wait for the next book to see what happenes.

[Amy Softa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So what motivated me to pick Guarding Angel? I have to confess the concept of a paranormal romance centering around reincarnation is what pulled me in. I am a believer in reincarnation and wanted to see how the author worked it into her story. Angel stories also tend to be one of my favorite branches of paranormal genre, right behind vampires and before werewolves…yes I rank them. So the desire to work more indie authors into my reading rotation and a story that caught my attention it was the right time to give Guarding Angel a shot. If only I wasn’t in such a personal reading slump…

Okay, honesty time let’s get the tough stuff out of the way first. It took me nine days to read this book, and I just couldn’t get excited about it. I did like it, but I thought I would like it better when I agreed to review it. The book was a little slow in the beginning, but it did pick up about half way through and I finished the last 120 pages in one day. I think I might have liked the story better if it was set in the modern era or the angel’s charges were in today’s society. I’ve mentioned before that I am not a huge fan of historical reads and this is one case where it didn’t add to the story for me. The author did a fine job staying true to the time periods and I only found one instance where I know something was not historically accurate (baling of hay did not begin until the mid 1800’s about 100 years after one of the background character’s is moving bales of hay).

I also had a tough time connecting with the two main characters and did not care for their first set of charges at all. I though Enael was a bit too timid and naive and Kaspen was all over the place. Both characters grew and developed throughout the story, but only Enael was able to grow on me and I ended up respecting her by the end. Kaspen never was able to win me over unfortunately. Their romance was very innocent for much of the book, but did develop a bit of heat near the end, but even that remained off page. For those looking for a less graphic read in the sex area this might be a book you would like to check into. There are some sexual situations, but they not anything that would turn off the average reader in my opinion.

So what did work for me? What kept me reading past my 50-100 page dnf cut off. Like I said I enjoyed the story, and perhaps it would have worked better for me at a different time, when I am not in the middle of a reading slump. I did love the reincarnation element that the author based her story around. Much of it was pretty in line with much of the non-fiction reading I’ve done on the subject. It was interesting to see this concept was blended with a more traditional view of heaven/hell and angels/demons. I tend to have a more secular belief on the concept of reincarnation, but for story’s sake this one worked well. I also appreciated the growth Enael experienced throughout the story. In the beginning I wasn’t real sure I could be in her head for 300 some pages, but she surprised me and in the end I did like her. Much of the story is broken into three time periods for three different set of charges for the two main characters. I struggled with the first setting, but the second and third were quite interesting. I almost wish we could have spent more time exploring hell in the book, some of my favorite scenes took place there. I don’t necessarily think that all of the creatures there are as evil as they are classified as just as I don’t think all the angels inhabiting heaven are as pure as they are assumed to be.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical paranormal romance. I am at a loss of other authors to compare this one to, she has a pretty distinctive voice and style compared to others that I’ve read. It was a good first book that finished strong and I expect will continue to gain strength in the next story as the plot develops.

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enael was more human than I expected her to be. Despite being a supernatural being charged with keeping her Wards on track, she suppresses any desire to connect with them. She was more a jailor than guardian in that she refused to really understand who her Wards were. It was plain to see they were more than just a human who chose a path and needed an unseeing guide to ensure they stayed on that path. They were souls reincarnated multiple times whose histories revealed their thought processes, their heart's desires, their needs and wants, their strengths and weaknesses. But Enael couldn't understand any of that until she met Kaspen.

Kaspen was an interesting angel. He wasn't afraid to delve into what his Wards were feeling. He embraced the madness that was human emotions, finding beauty in the outcome of those emotions being acted on. But he wasn't reckless. He was just more willing to connect with his Wards than Enael was with hers because he understood them. He got to know them through their life books. They were like diaries, tracking the reincarnated life of every soul on earth. They were a gold mine of information for the soul's current guardian. Reading them was just words on paper; laying a hand flat on a page transported the guardian into that person's body, giving the guardian first hand experience of what that person experienced. Kaspen used these to books to his advantage; Enael did not until he made her do it.

Kaspen and Enael's relationship was more than interesting. Who knew angels could fall in love with one of their own? Ms. Saboviec's angels do, and that aspect lends a few interesting twists to this story as it develops. Enael's loved before, but he hurt her badly. Kaspen also has loved before, but his love is jealous, alive, and fallen. She's a former muse wrecking havoc on earth as a demon bent on ruling the world. Kaspen and Enael had enough on their plate, individually and as a couple, when it became obvious they were brought together for a reason that was greater than being soul mates. They were predestined to stop Kaspen's ex's plans.

It broke my heart when they fell--Kaspen because he felt unworthy, Enael because she wanted her love back--and it was hard to accept that Heaven would so willingly let them go without a fight. I won't lie; I was angry that Ms. Saboviec created a Heaven where Archangels didn't seem to care about guardians, that those who fell were not worth saving, not worthy of redemption. I kept asking myself, "If their Wards' souls are worth saving, why aren't they?"

Enael's journey from distant to passionate as a guardian was heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and multi-faceted. I wondered at her ability to be a great guardian to her Wards, and questioned her resistance to becoming a better guardian. But I smiled when she fell in love again, and melted when she declared her feelings to Kaspen. My heart jumped out of my chest when he fell, effectively cutting himself off from her and what they had. And, like I said, I was angry at Heaven and the Archangels when Enael sought their help and they refused.

The best books I've read are the ones that make you feel, that demand a reaction to whatever the author has written. This isn't a fast-paced book. This isn't about fire and brimstone raining down on earth. This isn't a battle for one person's soul. This is a well-written, slow-paced story about an angel who wants to understand her true place in Heaven, who falls in love, and who discovers that there is more to her home and superiors than she could ever imagine. It's long, it's slightly wordy, but it was worth reading. The end hinted at another book. Will there be another, Ms. Saboviec? I hope so!

4.5*
***Received from author for an honest review***

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or my review in any way.

The author asked me to review this book before the cover reveal of the second in the series, Reaping Angel. I was a little bias actually, I don't usually judge a book by its cover, but with a book like this you just can't help it - it's so pretty! It sounded like my kind of thing as well, so I said yes. You know what? It was fantastic.

I really loved Enael as a character, she's an angel, but she's also very relatable! She's trying to learn how to be a better guardian angel. Some of the trials she goes through are very similar to what we go through, love and lust for example. She's sweet and innocent, but there's also a fire in her that I can just feel burns with a vengeance. I can just feel she's the type of person you just don't want to cross. I love her strong morals, her sense of right and wrong, I think it's because of this which is why I love her so much. She isn't afraid to help the underdog, even if it makes her unpopular. I love that she doesn't care what others think, she just does it because it's the right thing to do.

The storyline is very believable. Yes, it's a fantasy. It's about angels and fallen angels... but it's so real! Put it this way, it's one of those books that brings up a lot of philosophical questions, and in the right place too. The things this book makes you wonder is just fantastic. For example, I'm left wondering if we really do choose our life plan before we incarnate on this earth. It's a reasonable thing. I believe in God, I'm not afraid to say it. Is it therefore such a huge leap to say we reincarnate many times so we can experience different trials in each life? Each trial is discussed with our guardian angel to see if it'd be too difficult for us at this stage. If we agree that our soul becomes wiser from it, I don't think that's such a huge leap. I actually think that's very reasonable. You now see what I mean by this book bringing up philosophical debates in your mind :) It'd be excellent for a book club!

Guarding Angel is beautifully written, I love the level of description. Emotions are also very well portrayed in this book because it helps angels understand their wards better. I think it's because of the world it's built in that requires this level of detail, but Saboviec really pulled it off! It's wonderful, amazing, and just awe-inspiring. Rather than thinking, "could I believe this world exists?" I'm actually trying to persuade myself it doesn't. That's how good the world-building and description is.

Needless to say the story really touched me. I loved it. The storyline was fantastic and flowed beautifully. You can really feel the struggles in the story, it feels so realistic I had to stop reading a few times because "I had something in my eye", you know?

Another favourite aspect of this book is I was worried it'd be concentrated on Christianity. It isn't. Belief in this book is based on all religions, so long as you pray to somebody (anybody), that's what counts :) It's the belief in something higher than yourself that matters, not the who. I just really liked that, it's one of the smaller touches in the book but I thought it was very well thought out.

I'd definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy. If you believe in angels or have an interest in them - read this book! Seriously, do it. I really can't wait to continue the story in the next book :) 2016 just can't come soon enough.



If you liked my review, please visit my blog: http://www.anovelstart.com

[Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOW what did I just read????

Very in-depth. A lot of story line to grasp. This was a looooong book and not the easiest reads but well worth it. Though at times I did want to stop I"m so very glad that I didn't. The world that the author unfolds is like none I've ever experienced before and probably never will again.

Enael is a guarding angel or Guardian. She is assigned "Wards" to watch over from conception to death. Where she returns their souls to Heaven for reincarnation. It's during one of those assignments that she meets Kaspen, a Guardian over the soon to be mistress of Enael's ward. She is furious that she cannot control her wards the way Kaspen can and is helpless to sit back and watch as Kaspen's ward seduces hers.

Ok this part confused me at first. They can travel from earth, heaven and hell. But there are several layers of each. it is in one of these places in Heaven called the garden that she first meets Yasva. A beautiful Muse angel that you could say was an old flame to Kaspen. She is bitter for punishment the council has provoked upon her and revokes her place in heaven. She is immediately stripped of her wings and connection to the source and sent to Hell to live out eternity as a demon.

As an angel Yasva was evil. As a demon she is evil incarnate. And she is J E A L O U S of Enael and makes it her mission to make Kaspen suffer.

They get assigned new wards to guard together and that is when you get to meet Tabitha, I actually cried for her and her tragic story. Yasva does the unthinkable and the results make Kaspen fall..right into the clutches of Yasva.

Enael is determined to save Kaspen and put a stop to Yasva but the only one that can do this is Kaspen himself. But he might be too lost to come back to her.

"I understand you're Kaspen's new plaything." says Yasva
"Says the discarded toy." The words slipped out before I could stop them, and Kaspen's eyes went wide.

This is one of those books that I have a special shelf for called "ones I wish to read again". It's like watching your favorite movie..it only gets better the more you watch it.
I wish there would have been as a little more intimacy with Enael and Kaspen. As well as at times my head spun from the skips in time. (years sometimes decades) That being said I would recommend this to all of my paranormal fans. But just note this will not be a book that you can approach lightly. The amount of time and research that the author put into it is truly amazing. I think the readers could greatly benefit from a glossary of all the terms in the back.
Again thank you Samantha for letting me have the opportunity to read such a magical book.

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more reviews, please visit my site.

I loved the idea of this novel; the way that Saboviec has blended traditional ideas of heaven and hell in the Christian sense and mixed them with religions from all over the world. She has taken all the ideas of angels and woven them into a tapestry that blends in perfectly to the story. I loved the way that the angels were ranked, giving new life to old terms such as Seraphim, Nephilim, Archangels, Cherubs, Muses and Guardians, and giving new stations to angels that would be essential to the running of the heaven system. In this book, everyone goes to heaven unless they choose not to, and here humans are reincarnated into other lives to enrich their souls. This makes sense of the feeling of purpose we try to have in our lives. I also liked the fact that hell still exists in this version of life and death, but here the lines are blurred; demons are not always evil. It added another dimension to the book and helped with the overall story, especially the idea of the fearlings.

Enael and Kaspen were very interesting characters. As much as I liked them and understood them, I never really loved them. Maybe they were too far removed from my human state at first, because they both seemed to go through human lives without honestly caring, and their emotions worked in a very different way to my own. However, I did like them more when they began to take control of their own destinies and made their own decisions. Perhaps that is why I felt much more drawn to Yasva. I completely understood her motives, her actions and her words. Everything about her just made sense to me, and she felt like a much more real character.

Another point to make is the romance. Angels seem to love differently to humans and therefore it was a slow, steady kind of relationship. This is fine; I liked that there was no insta-love, and I liked the way the feelings came slowly. However, I never truly saw any spark. Their love was tentative and to be honest, it was more of a companionship than a relationship.

Guarding Angel is a nice read, but I thought it might have been more suitable for me as a holiday book due to the languorous style of the writing. The style was good, but the pacing was slow, even the end, which got slightly more into the action. I can see a lot of potential for the second book, with the biggest focus being on the structure of heaven and control over Earth's plan.

The cliffhanger wasn't so huge that you were gobsmacked. In fact, I expected it. You could see the end coming and you kind of knew what would happen in the end. However, the way the climax weaved its-self into historical events was very well executed; it really lent a sense of place and time, which I felt was missing earlier in the book. I do wonder what will happen during the inevitable struggle in the second Fallen Redemption book, and with Voctic yet to make an appearance, my guess is that it's something to so with his tea shop in Asia.

Overall, this was a good read, suitable for people who prefer smoothly flowing books and different takes on heaven, hell and the afterlife. A must read for someone who loves books about angels.

[Nowick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fantasy genre is one I have not read widely in, so you can take my comments with a grain of salt. That said, any work of fiction needs to hang together and engage the reader on its own merits, genre conventions notwithstanding.

My response to Guarding Angel is mixed. On the positive side:
• The prose is clean and well crafted.
• The created worlds of Earth, Heaven and Hell are reasonably convincing, to varying degrees. Earth wins this prize, with its scenes and characters alive on the page.
• The characters (humans, angels and demons) are well defined and their interactions make for a coherent plot narrative.
• The story flows consistently around its themes of desire and conflict and reaches a satisfying conclusion that sets the stage for the sequel.

On the negative side:
• Originality of imagery and scene often gives way to stock cliches. Heaven with its robes and quills, Hell with its vague sulphurous caves; and rather arbitrary transitions between them.
• The middle of the plot drags through repetitive scenarios and dialogue; for example the obligatory teasing kiss shared by Enael and Kaspen, with its ever-delayed consummation.
• While in fantasy all things are possible, here too many shortcuts appear, more than once with the voiced excuse, “I don’t know how this works, it just does.”
The latter phrase might summarize the book as a whole. The vision is vast and well conceived, if sketchy at times. The themes are wide and deep: destiny on a personal and historical level; conflict between personal attractions and duty to others; free will in the context of karmic choices and life lessons.

The real strength of the book is the ingenious way in which the passions and needs of the naturalistic human characters parallel the interpersonal dynamics of their “Guarding Angels” - chiefly the main characters Enael and Kaspen. At its best the book compares favorably to Poul Anderson’s epic The Boat of a Million Years,” with its cycling of immortal souls through innumerable lifetimes, each depicted in turn through history, and encountering other reincarnated characters along the way. The drawback of this plot model is its episodic nature, causing the reader to become invested in one set of characters and scenes, only to have it go “poof” (like one of the imaginary creatures of the dark in this novel, the Fearlings) when the director calls “cut.” On the other hand, isn’t that what happens to us in life?

[We Said It: Literary Reviews w/ Ts Blogging · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: A Publisher’s Read
“Guarding Angel” by S. L. Saboviec

Reviewed by B. Smart
3/19/16
9:07 p.m.

Guardian angel Enael’s world is shaken to the core when she meets Kaspen, a charming and mysterious angel who completely alters the way she perceives the human race. Unlike her, he empathizes with his wards, influencing them easily, and she slowly finds herself falling for him; not knowing the reason for their inescapable attraction to one another. All is well until Yasva, Kaspen’s malevolent ex-lover, renounces her place in Heaven and becomes a vengeful demon that is hell-bent on keeping the two apart. Enael has to choose between what matters to her more—the love that she has for Kaspen or her loyalty to Heaven and the humans she serves.

Author S. L. Saboviec’s novel is erotic, sensual, thrilling, and romantic. Love triangles are as old as time, but this story’s is told in an original, creative, and thought-provoking way due to its dedication to the main characters’ motivations, the supporting cast’s actions, and every individual’s choices. The relationships in the novel have catastrophic consequences for not only those involved, but the entire world. As a result, Saboviec’s captivating characters keep the reader hooked for the novel’s entirety, and her exquisitely crafted world makes one feel as if they are actually a part of the battle of good versus evil.

Guarding Angel is a satisfyingly paced, fast read with well-rounded characters and a beautifully devised plotline. There is a good balance of descriptions and dialogue which makes the story harmonious and intriguing. Featuring a courageous heroine who is willing to die for the one she loves, this novel is one that has the reader engrossed from cover to cover.

I highly recommend this to fans of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate.

This is a Publisher’s Read!

I give “Guarding Angel” 5 out of 5 stars.

Cheers,

B. Smart
www.mcwpub.blogspot.com

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guarding Angel is a very interesting read. Enael is a guardian angel who is responsible for guiding humans through the paths they have chosen as souls. Enael finds it difficult to understand or properly guide her charges, until she encounters Kaspen, a fellow guardian who is responsible for her current charge's temptation. Fascinated with Kaspen and his ways, she becomes embroiled in the plots of a newly fallen angel to rule the world.

This book is fascinating. The world building is fairly good, the arguments of free will versus predetermination are well handled and it's very well written. There are a couple of missteps in the narrative but I found the book to be a fairly gripping, swift read.

I found Enael to be an fascinating character, complex and slightly dismissive of her charges, she goes through a great deal in this novel and emerges a lot stronger than she does at the beginning.

Kaspen is interesting but he needed a little more fleshing out. I thought his emotions flip flopped a little more than necessary.

In the negative, I found the Kaspen/Enael romance to be fairly bland and without much spark. Even though the author tried hard not to do 'insta-love' it still felt under-developed and feeble. Their sensual scenes were extremely tame in contrast to other scenes within the book. In a book where you're supposed to root for such an obvious pairing, it's kind of strange that the hottest scene in the entire book is between two enemies. Well for me it was and I would have loved the author to have actually explored that angle a little further.

I will certainly read the next book in the series and I definitely recommend this book.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I loved the premise–a book from the perspective of Guardian Angels isn’t something you come across every day, so I was excited to start reading. I LIKED the book (it kept me sane during a week-long stay in a hotel with a two-year-old): I liked the world-building, I liked the characters, and I loved the discord. I had a few small issues with, you know, ALL of the main characters burning off their wings and heading to Hell just when things got a little tense, but I guess I understand. I’d say things took a turn for the Charmed (you know, that series with the Who’s The Boss? girl once she grew up and got gorgeous?) after I realized angels and demons (and the other not-quite-human folk who populate Saboviec’s world) could switch sides at will, but I suppose that’s what makes a book like this work–unpredictability.

Um. Except that I sort of already knew what was going to happen, ohhhh, about a third of the way through. And, though I know the choice Enael and Kaspen have to make at the end of the book is supposed to be a cliff-hanger, I’m pretty sure Saboviec’s going to have to jump the shark to surprise me.

Would I recommend it: Yeah, why not? It might not be the *most* original story line out there, but it’s the only book I’ve read where guardian angels get to be protagonists. Give it a whirl!

As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

http://everyfreechance.com/2014/06/re...

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from LoP (Lovers of Paranormal)*

I absolutely love to read books that are about angels! In Guarding Angel we are thrust into the life of an angel named Enael. She is a guardian angel who desperately wants to be promoted to the job level of Keeper. She doesn't seem to connect with the humans she guards and that seems to obstruct her plans. She looks down upon the humans because she doesn't quite understand them. When she meets another guardian angel named Kaspen who seems to be in-sync with his Ward she immediately becomes jealous of him. She doesn't understand how it is so effortless for him to connect with his Ward. She begins spending time with Kaspen and they both grow feelings for the other. When Enael witnesses another angel Fall she is very put off. This fallen angel is no ordinary one, though. Yasva grows in power as a demon and manipulates her Kaspen, who she used to have a relationship with. When the obstacles begin to mount for Kaspen and Enael will their love survive Hell? This book stretched literal lifetimes, but it was a satisfying read. I did find myself getting frustrated with Kaspen quite a lot because he just used his love of Yasva as an excuse too much. I just didn't find it quite right. I loved how Enael got stronger throughout the story and stood up for her love. Overall, this was a good read, and I would recommend this book to those who are at all interested.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces you to Enael, Guarding Angel for difficult Wards. She meets Kaspen, a fellow Guarding Angel she can't get out of her head. Thanks to his former lover and her jealousy, her world is turned upside down.

With Guarding Angel, S. L. Saboviec has created an immensely thrilling fantasy story with local flair. The story comprises a broad variety of characters with sufficient depth, expertly woven situations and interesting interactions on Earth, in Heaven and in Hell. I had an exciting time reading Guarding Angel - it is a very compelling read. I was drawn into the story, far away enough from Enael to stay out of harm's way. Enael is a very complex and stubborn character, one just has to admire how she evolves. This is for you if you like (stubborn and determined) female protagonists, angels and demons, increasing suspense and history.

A very suspenseful book to read again.

Recommended.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Please be warned: mild spoilers lie ahead.) :)

Books about angels and demons aren't normally my cup of tea, but with a blurb like this, I couldn't resist. The book starts off following Enael, who is struggling to help her Ward, Daniel, adhere to his Incarnation Plan. I was surprised when Daniel's life ended but the book didn't, but since he's not the main character, I guess I shouldn't have been. Though not exactly a likable guy, Daniel was intriguing, and by the time Enael had moved on to guarding her next Ward, I couldn't put the book down.

The rest of the characters are equally fascinating. I love the way Enael's relationship with Kaspen grows throughout the book. I love the structure of the story, how the author is able to tell such a complex and multi-layered tale without making it confusing. I love that it made me think, and reconsider some of the things I thought about life, love, and everything in between.

[Alia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The full review will be posted on my blog soon. But for now, here's a tidbit of my thoughts about the novel:

I was given a digital copy by the author in exchange of an honest review

The ‘angels-versus-demons’ theme is not unusual when it comes to novels that involves these heavenly beings, but that’s where the similarity stops between Guarding Angel and the other novels. What makes it apart is its intriguing plot and interesting world-building around the angels, humans, and demons.

Guarding Angel is a must read indie novel, a refreshing read for those who want to take a quick adventure between heaven and hell. The ending was simple and lovely, and with the next novel just around the corner, I couldn’t wait to get engrossed yet again in the world of Enael.

[Sharon Hatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavens trials!
Enter a world of angels and their charges centering on an angel named Enael as she struggles with keeping her human charges in line, and finding her own place in the universe. Seeking guidance to more effectively help her charge she ironically finds herself tempted by the guardian (Kaspen) bonded to the charge temping hers. As Enael becomes closer to Kaspen, everything starts to change for her and she starts to question everything she once believed. Exciting start to not only a new series but a promising author as well! I loved the fluidity of the characters; how they can change appearance, perceived gender, and which side to fight on (angel or demon). The story was definitely unique with a well thought out plot, world development, and characters. Truly a treat!

[Drew Osburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on this book that kept it from being a fill 5 star read. To start off I really enjoyed the story as a whole and I think the world building was very interesting.
I think relationship between our main character and the love interest was underdeveloped. It just felt choppy, as did the characters development in general. I especially felt like Kaspen's arc could have been much smoother. In general I was not a fan of his character.
The other thing that kept this from being a full 5 star read is the implications on human choices. The idea that humans choose their suffering just made me feel weird.
Overall the story was entertaining and I mostly enjoyed it and plan on reading the next in the trilogy.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Premise.
I thought that the author's premise for the book was great. That being said though even though the writing was technically very good, great editing, the execution of the story just fell very flat for me. I like the characters, but found myself bored while reading several times, and really was unable to get into the story. I guess this one is just not for me. The only reason I did not DNF this book is because I physically can't. I do appreciate the authors inventive premise and the characters which is the only reason I'm giving this book 3 & 1/2 stars. I was generously given a complimentary copy of this book from the R2R program with LoP.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story, if a little slow and ponderous in pacing at times.

Enael is on a journey of growth. Kaspen seems to be on the opposite path. And although their connection to each other was tangible, it was frustrating that a true relationship seemed just out of reach.

But. Given the events which unfold as the story goes on, how many of their choices are really their own, or just as a result of the scheming machinations of the hierarchy?

Manipulation, power,suspense and faith, all come together in a reasonable series opener.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored GUARDING ANGEL: it was addicting and interesting and tickled my fancies in the just the right way. The world-building, characters, and the characters' development were so spot on: Enael was very relatable and Saboviec outlined all her struggles so well that I kept rooting for her throughout the story, never becoming impatient for her realize such-and-such already. The adventure is epic; the lovers, true; the sadness and joy, real. I recommend this not only to all fantasy and history fans, but to all human beings.

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually I too read this. I found it interesting reading. It was so good I read from the beginning to the end in one day. That happens. I read something that's really good and I lose track of time. It was a great tale, in my opinion.

[Mikeh392 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. The character journeys are engaging and kept me turning the pages well into the night. I found the author's descriptions to be robust, transporting the reader across time and through the realms. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Karie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the series. It did take me a while to get into it. It read somewhat slow to me, but I continued on. Very detailed on the ins and outs of heaven and hell. Looking forward to continuing on to book 2.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts to come