Calling All Angels

The Guardian Angel Chronicles #3

by Barbara Ankrum

What if soulmates truly are forever?

Emma James isn’t sure if she’s dead, dreaming, or somewhere in-between after a car accident leaves her hospitalized in a coma. And the gorgeous but grumpy Scot with a sexy brogue claiming to be her “guardian angel” seems to have her confused with someone named Violet. After discovering her “accident” was no accident at all, Emma fears her niece may be in danger. Enlisting her reluctant guardian’s help to solve the mystery takes all her persuasion skills. But alarmingly, she finds herself falling for this centuries-old, grudge-holding immortal.

Connor Montrose instantly recognizes Emma as the woman who betrayed him two centuries ago—Violet MacLeish. Though Emma has no memory of that life, or the love they shared, she’s Violet’s doppelgänger and a pain in his tortured soul. He needs to help her cross over so he can get a long-awaited celestial promotion, but this new version of Violet is even more beguiling and stubborn than before, drawing him deeper into the human world he’d rather forget.

Stuck between life and death, can these two lost souls find common ground?

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2022

About the author

Barbara Ankrum grew up in Upstate New York, training to be a ballerina, but secretly dreaming of being an actress. Her first fangirl crush on Haley Mills led her to practice her British accent on unsuspecting store clerks, and she dreamed of co-starring in the remake of THE MOONSPINNERS. Because she was also a compulsive reader, she discovered that the film was based on a book by the fabulous Mary Stewart, which led to Barbara's lifelong obsession with romantic fiction.

Since Haley Mills was, sadly, not in the market for a co-star, Barbara pursued a degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee. And when that degree, predictably, led to unemployment, she pulled up her socks and moved to Hollywood where she built a career as a successful commercial actress while raising two amazing (now grown) children with her sweet husband.

Writing romance came naturally from all that reading and the down time between auditions. Once she sold her first book, she said farewell to Hollywood-Land and never looked back. In between writing novels, she got her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard and optioned a few screenplays. But her first love is, and always will be, romance.

Barbara's emotional, character driven, adventurous historicals (Wild Western Hearts series), her sexy, romantic suspense for Harlequin and her funny, heartwarming contemporaries for Tule Publishing, offer a little something for everyone. Twice nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award, and her contemporary romance, Holiday Hearts, was made into a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Christmas movie! Today, she lives in Texas with her husband and a scruffy, adorable rescue dog.

Please visit her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara.ankr...
Website: www.barbaraankrum.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BarbaraAnkrum

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc of Calling All Angels in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in Barbara Ankrum’s The Guardian Angel Chronicles series. This book has a bit of fantasy, the paranormal and is a sweet and whimsical second chance romance. As the book begins, Emma James has been in a terrible accident and is in a coma. Her soul is between the present life and the afterlife as she’s told it hasn’t been decided what her fate will be. She is wandering around at the accident site and meets her guardian Angel, Connor Montrose. Connor isn’t too happy to be there as Emma looks like his soulmate Violet from many years prior. He shares that he was the heir to the royal family estate but was killed in a duel. His beloved fiancé went on to marry a scoundrel and carry his children. He knows she betrayed him and is holding this grudge against Emma as he knows she was formerly Violet.

Emma hovers between life and death, her niece Aubrey, her niece’s boyfriend and her employees hold vigil, praying for her recovery. The police investigation of the accident leads them to believe it was intentional. It is also discovered that someone broke into Emma’s house looking for something. As Aubrey was the one who was supposed to be in the car, they wonder if this was intended for her instead of Emma. Emma gets Connor to take her from place to place looking for clues too. He also takes her to Scotland so she can see his family’s home and countryside.and learn more about Violet and his life.

As I was reading the book, I worried about what was going to happen to Emma and her present life as well as her newfound connection with Connor. It was a very romantic story with lots of angst and suspense. The inclusion of the guardian Angel and the rules they follow was very interesting to read about. I am normally not a fan of paranormal or fantasy books. However I loved this book and the whole series. Barbara Ankrum did an amazing job with the story and the inclusion of angels. The characters in this book like the first two were so genuine and likable. I am giving this 5 stars and highly recommend it. This would make a terrific movie.

[Denise Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an accident, Emma is trying to figure out what's happening, only to learn her life is in limbo, and the only one who can see her is her guardian angel, Connor. She will have to fight to live to figure out what's going on with the guidance of the irascible Scot.

Connor sees Emma and is perturbed to see her as a doppelganger to his former love, Violet, which will make his job harder as he seeks an ethereal promotion. His job is to help her move on, but she is resisting and making his work difficult, which only brings up his misplaced feelings from the past with Violet.

Emma is determined to learn the cause of the accident, which appears to be intentional with each piece of evidence uncovered. Her niece is in danger, and Emma will not leave until everything is settled.

Working together, they slowly find each other's charm as they delve for the truth. But there's no way to find forever for these two... Secrets unearthed in the present and in time long ago can change the future for all, if only there is love, trust, and forgiveness.

A wonderfully woven tale which will have you believing in angels.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling All Angels (The Guardian Angel Chronicles #3) by Barbara Ankrum is a story of the past affecting the present. Also the theme of being stuck in a place but needing to move on. While this is one concerning Emma James who is in a coma after an accident, it is one that we can all identify with at one time or another. Sometimes we just feel stuck and unable to help ourselves or others n our lives.

Connor Montrose is the most intriguing character as a “guardian angel” who is helping someone that he would not have chosen to do so. His conflicting feelings are tantalizing as he works through all of them. There is also a bit of mystery as to whether Emma’s accident was actually an accident or one planned by someone to get rid of her. Are others in danger now and why? How to save them from her fate?

All around interesting read, that is a different kind of contemporary romance with strong elements of mystical fantasy. Check it out today.

An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soulmates finally reunited.

For centuries, guardian angel, Conner has lived with anger and resent towards Violet, his first love, who ended up marrying his brother after Conner’s death. When Conner found Violet again, she had been reincarnated as Emma, the woman Conner was supposed to be escorting to Heaven. Emma was nothing like Violet, she was a strong willed, independent woman. Conner found himself falling for her. But a celestial and a mortal could never be together. Or could they?

This is such an amazing story. The blurb got my attention and I thought it would be a good story. I had no idea how much I would end up loving it. This book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma has been in a serious car accident and finds she is being watched over by Guardian Angel, Connor. This is book 3 in the Guardian Angel series and can be read as a stand alone. After discovering her “accident” was no accident at all, Emma fears her niece may be in danger. Enlisting her reluctant guardian’s help to solve the mystery takes all her persuasion skills. But alarmingly, she finds herself falling for this centuries-old, grudge-holding immortal. He thinks she is reincarnated from his past love Violet who betrayed him. A lot of information on Scotland and a fun way to think about Angels and death. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this time travel romance. Emma has found herself in the hospital fighting for her life after a car accident, when she finds herself in limbo with guardian angel, Connor who is from Scotland. During this limbo period, Emma finds out her car accident was no accident and fears her niece is in danger. She asks Connor for help in solving this mystery. As they work together, a relationship develops even though they are hundred years apart.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Loved the relationship that developed between Emma and Connor, so relieved with the ending. This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

[Laura D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma is in a serious car accident that in reality was no accident. While she clings to life in a coma she meets her guardian angel, Connor. He is there to help her navigate her way back to her body and live or go to heaven. Turns out he is assigned to her because their soul have a past. He remembers her but she does not remember him. The more time they spend together trying to solve the mystery surrounding her death the more Emma falls for him. While she is in between living and dying she can interact with Conner but once she moves on she will have no memory of him. Can they resolve their unfinished business of past generations and move on? Good read.

[Shelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Ankrum’s books are always warm and inviting and that’s certainly the case with Calling All Angels. This beautiful story is emotionally engaging from the start. I loved the premise that a guardian angel could fall in love with the human he’s been assigned to protect. There are so many challenges to be overcome and I thought the way they were addressed was realistic and believable. Emma and Connor are fabulous stars of this show, both so easy to love and care for. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s definitely a five-star read.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read and decidedly engaging novel with a hot guardian angel and his lady charge. Lost and hurtful love across the ages mixes with a hit and run accident that brings Angel Conor and not dead yet but not really alive Emma together. The magic of angel love shines through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this type of romance book is not something I normally read I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This is the third book in the series, and I thought it was a very intriguing, sweet and even romantic. I love the main characters and I thought that their story was very good. I would highly recommend this book. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Donnajo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

The Guardian Angel Chronicles series, Book three. Calling All Angels by Barbara Ankrum.
This book is not my favorite book of the author's books I've read so far but it's still has a well written storyline.

[Louise Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book it was a wonderful read.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sweet with a bit of suspense and I enjoyed it very much. I found Calling All Angels fun and refreshing with a lovely cast of characters. Connor and Emma were a fun pair from the first pages and I enjoyed how their relationship developed into love. The romance aspect grew slowly over the course of the book and while falling in love is the main premise of any romance, this book had other factors that had me engaged and turning the pages swiftly. Of course this is one of the books that might depend on you suspending some of your beliefs. Light on angst, there is a bit of suspense and mystery that will keep you guessing as to who the actual antagonist might be.

The unfolding of the story was so much fun to be a part of and while the ending had me a bit skeptical how things would turn out, I was not at all disappointed. I definitely recommend this light paranormal romance.

While I received an advanced reading copy of Calling All Angels, this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet romance, sometimes love needs a helping hand bringing soul mates together

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all Angels~The Guardian Angel Chronicles#3 by Barbara Ankrum
I have not read the others in this series, yet! this is my first one and I have enjoyed it so much that I purchased the other two.
Emma has an accident one evening on a lonely road, where she could not understand how she got there and why no one spoke to her. Along comes her guardian angel, Conner he is over 100 years old and not happy with this job.
I believe this book needs to be purchased, I also believe it deserves better than a review with spoilers.
Calling all Angels is beautifully written with a great storyline and the characters worked so well together. I fell into the story from the very beginning and felt I too was there. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
Thank you, Barbara, for this amazing story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that totally drew me and kept me engaged until the last page There is a slightly supernatural element in the that main male character is actually a centuries old Guardian Angel but the story is actually more about moving on and letting go of personal baggage

Emma is lying in a comma after an hit and run accident that may have not been an accident at all What she doesn't know is that the guardian angel sent to watch over has his own baggage as she is non other than the reincarnation of his first love Violet a woman who married his brother after his death. Can he get over his ill feelings and can Emma get him to help her solve who and why someone tried to kill her What will happen when an immortal falls in love with a human is there any chance of a future for them. You will have to read to see if they get their HEA