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Taste Test
Taste Test: Archangels Unleashed
If you love your angels and demons sexy and powerful, then Kiernan Kelly's single author Taste Test is the book for you In Earthbound, Archangel Gabriel comes to earth to see if there's anything worth saving before he signals for the Apocalypse. While staying with friends Malak and Cael, Gabriel rescues a young man intent on drowning himself in the sea. The attraction between Gabriel and Tommy is immediate, and before long, Gabriel finds a good bit to deem the earth worthy of survival. In Healing Hands, Archangel Raphael is sent to protect a bullrider named Pistol, who bears a secret that could kill him. With a demon on their heels, hell-bent on Pistol's destruction, Raphael and Pistol race through the countryside, one step ahead of death itself. Finally, in Dominion Quod Obsequium, Archangel Michael is jaded. He needs challenge; as a warrior, he craves it. So when God sends him to earth on a mission to find someone who can indeed challenge him, Michael reluctantly goes. What he finds is not what he ever imagined, but it's something that changes him forever.
70 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2010
What a smart imagination of bringing Archangels to love!! Though they are all short stories and how Gabriel (1st story: Earthbound) and Raphael (2nd story: Healing Hands) fall in love with the human seems too rushed, I still enjoy the story. Plus Malak and Cael made an appearance (and I still love Cael's mouth with his coments *g*) in both stories. Howeever, the third story, Michael's story (Dominion Quod Obsequium) -- well this one is just plain wicked, smart, and imaginative. I'm sure it's going to make few people pissed (those with strong religious belief) about what happened between Michael and his, uhm, Dom *grin* ... but man, when I get to the twist ending, I must raise my hat. It's totally fun read.
January 22, 2021
Archangels Unleashed an anthology by author, Kiernan Kelly contains the following titles Dancing on the Head of a Pin, Healing Hands, and Hell Takes a Holiday. In this review I am going to give you an overview and one review of one title, so I do not spoil anything for ya.
My personal favorite story out of the trilogy is Dancing on the Head of a Pin.
Angel Malak knows he owes demon Cael a debt of gratitude for saving his life at least a millennium ago. He's starting to crack under the pressure of Cael's flirting, which is good because Cael's deadline to stay out of Hell is coming up fast. Still, Malak isn’t sure he wants to share his soul by sleeping with the most beautiful demon he knows. When Cael's old boss shows up to remind him just what's waiting for him back in Hell, Asmodai gloats a little too much and tells Cael the end of days might be coming up a little earlier than planned. Can Cael and Malak find a way to keep Cael on earth and stop the impending apocalypse?
What I loved about this story is the push and pull chemistry of the characters. Malak and Cael are truly meant for each other. I like the angel's aspects and the demon one. I felt that it showed dimension and a really beautiful connection and love. For me, this story had a ton of heart and soul no pun intended. I felt really into this world and ready to read more.
Overall: Archangels Unleashed each story blends into the next one. I love that in anthology form I felt the anthology made sense. There is gorgeous imagery in this story. I like that it goes through the whole fight between Heaven and Hell. Just a very well done and well thought out the anthology. I cannot wait to read more from Kiernan Kelly in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
My personal favorite story out of the trilogy is Dancing on the Head of a Pin.
Angel Malak knows he owes demon Cael a debt of gratitude for saving his life at least a millennium ago. He's starting to crack under the pressure of Cael's flirting, which is good because Cael's deadline to stay out of Hell is coming up fast. Still, Malak isn’t sure he wants to share his soul by sleeping with the most beautiful demon he knows. When Cael's old boss shows up to remind him just what's waiting for him back in Hell, Asmodai gloats a little too much and tells Cael the end of days might be coming up a little earlier than planned. Can Cael and Malak find a way to keep Cael on earth and stop the impending apocalypse?
What I loved about this story is the push and pull chemistry of the characters. Malak and Cael are truly meant for each other. I like the angel's aspects and the demon one. I felt that it showed dimension and a really beautiful connection and love. For me, this story had a ton of heart and soul no pun intended. I felt really into this world and ready to read more.
Overall: Archangels Unleashed each story blends into the next one. I love that in anthology form I felt the anthology made sense. There is gorgeous imagery in this story. I like that it goes through the whole fight between Heaven and Hell. Just a very well done and well thought out the anthology. I cannot wait to read more from Kiernan Kelly in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
August 13, 2009
This is a trio of stories set in Alberta.
1) Set in 1978, Randy works on a dude ranch about 90 min. from Calgary. Every year during the Stampede he hooks up with American cowboy Daryl. This year Daryl is talking about retiring and wonders if there would be a job for him at Randy’s ranch.
2) The second story is a Canadian champion figure skater who comes back to his small Alberta town for Christmas. He couldn’t wait to get away when he was 16 and left behind his friend Alex who was bullied because of his size (Jason because he was a figure skater and gay). Alex comes over and they reconnect when they go to the outdoor rink and despite Jason’s crappy performance at the World’s, Alex has complete faith in him and Jason invites Alex and his girlfriend to come to the championships in Ontario. No love interest with Alex as Jason has a boyfriend – just the value of friendship.
3) Josh, whose boyfriend died of cancer over a year ago has started obsessively taking pictures because he realized he was forgetting things about his life with is lover. He takes hundred of pictures a day of every little thing. On a hike he comes across a guy getting a BJ so takes his picture. When his therapist convinces him to come to a grief group he meets the guy in the picture who’s lover had also died. He realizes he had no right to take the picture and makes a copy for Devon and deletes the file. Devon comes over to talk and ask why and they have coffee and after Josh realizes he never even took any pictures.
To be honest this was kind of a weird mix. Okay, the first one was set in the 70′s and kept referring to a chick with Farrah Fawcett hair. LOL But it was okay. I liked the skating story, I understood Jason’s need to get out of the small town (and I’m not gay or a figure skater) and the value of friendship. But the last one was kind of out there. Why did he print the picture for Devon? Like a guy WANTS to know you were watching him? He’s lucky he didn’t punch him. Let’s just say it wasn’t what I was expecting given the other Taste Tests I’ve read from Torquere. But if you’re looking for something non-traditional it would be a good choice.
1) Set in 1978, Randy works on a dude ranch about 90 min. from Calgary. Every year during the Stampede he hooks up with American cowboy Daryl. This year Daryl is talking about retiring and wonders if there would be a job for him at Randy’s ranch.
2) The second story is a Canadian champion figure skater who comes back to his small Alberta town for Christmas. He couldn’t wait to get away when he was 16 and left behind his friend Alex who was bullied because of his size (Jason because he was a figure skater and gay). Alex comes over and they reconnect when they go to the outdoor rink and despite Jason’s crappy performance at the World’s, Alex has complete faith in him and Jason invites Alex and his girlfriend to come to the championships in Ontario. No love interest with Alex as Jason has a boyfriend – just the value of friendship.
3) Josh, whose boyfriend died of cancer over a year ago has started obsessively taking pictures because he realized he was forgetting things about his life with is lover. He takes hundred of pictures a day of every little thing. On a hike he comes across a guy getting a BJ so takes his picture. When his therapist convinces him to come to a grief group he meets the guy in the picture who’s lover had also died. He realizes he had no right to take the picture and makes a copy for Devon and deletes the file. Devon comes over to talk and ask why and they have coffee and after Josh realizes he never even took any pictures.
To be honest this was kind of a weird mix. Okay, the first one was set in the 70′s and kept referring to a chick with Farrah Fawcett hair. LOL But it was okay. I liked the skating story, I understood Jason’s need to get out of the small town (and I’m not gay or a figure skater) and the value of friendship. But the last one was kind of out there. Why did he print the picture for Devon? Like a guy WANTS to know you were watching him? He’s lucky he didn’t punch him. Let’s just say it wasn’t what I was expecting given the other Taste Tests I’ve read from Torquere. But if you’re looking for something non-traditional it would be a good choice.
April 16, 2010
The first two stories were cute 'fall in love quick' tales that have passed my re-read-ability test :) The characters are well-written and the plots were interesting enough that the fast-track of love goes down more smoothly that it might have otherwise were they written by a less-talented author.
The third story didn't float my boat, purely because BDSM is one of my personal squicks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2009
Although I liked all the stories, the last one (Michael's story) did weirded me out a little bit even for me. What was implied at the end just made me feel uncomfortable as well. Which is why I changed my rating from 5 stars to 4. Other than that little thing, the stories were excellent.
May 23, 2017
I love an author who can think and write outside the box.
December 28, 2014
4* for the first two stories 2* for the third.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews