BOOK REVIEW ~ RAPTURE BY JR WARD

Title:  Rapture ( The Fallen Angels, Book 4)

Author: JR Ward

Release Date: September 25, 2012

Reviewer purchase own copy of book

Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they're over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too ...As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover's memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you're trapped in a no-holds-barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels's heart at risk, what in heaven - or in hell - will it take to save them both?

After reporter Mels Carmichael hits a disheveled man with her car outside the local cemetery, she pays a visit to the stranger in the hospital. The only thing he remembers of his past is seeing a name written on a headstone: that of Jim Heron—a fallen angel charged with rescuing souls from the seven deadly sins. Now, as Mels struggles to help this mysterious stranger rediscover himself, Heron himself returns to prepare for a battle between good and evil.

Those who know me understand my obsession with the WARDen and the books she writes. It's a no-brainer that I will automatically buy her stories. This woman has the gift for crafting a story that makes me wish I could write like her.

She is some serious heapin' portion of awesomesauce.

That being said, I will ALWAYS give an honest review--and I honestly LURVE this series. It is one of those series that just get better and better as I read. And the WARDen just can't put them out fast enough!  For two days I was lost in Caldwell, NY, spying on Jim Heron and his buddy Adrian. And hoping like hell Devina got her ass kicked real good.

If you have not read this book yet, and follow this series religiously, you might want to skip this review. I know that the hero has remained a big secret-and will be revealed in this post. So, step away now if you don't want to know.

The sexy, yet very evil Devina hasn't been playing very nice. And because of her affinity for rule breaking, a soul that has been damned her wall of souls has been brought back to earth for another chance. You get to see more developmental background info about Devina and what makes her tick. I love the scenes that display her OCD tendencies and visits with her psychiatrist.  

Matthias, Jim's old boss, wakes up naked in a cemetery atop Jim Heron's grave with no memories of his dark past. He has somehow escaped hell and been given another chance to make the right choice. But will he be able to once his memory comes back and he faces all the evil deeds in his past?

A car accident puts Mels life in danger as she falls for the naked man (Matthias) that she hit with her car. She can't explain the pull he has over her, but she finds herself helping Matthias try to gain his memories.

I seriously wondered how WARDen would pull this one off. How do you take a man who has already been shot, rotting in hell and turn him into a character that you can relate to and root for?

Oh, yea of little faith...

I absolutely love these characters: Jim, dog, Adrian, and even Devina...evil bitch that she is...has me absorbing every word and wearing a shit eating grin until the last page. There are huge WTF moments and laugh-out-loud scenes. And my heart breaks for Adrian's loss and how he deals with it. Just when you think you know how these characters will react, WARDen throws a big monkey wrench in there and leaves you completely stunned.

Secrets are revealed that have been driving me crazy. Like the fact that dog is not just a dog. His secret identity will no longer be so secret. But the WARDen also leaves us a new puzzle to be solved. 

I have finally figured out that WARDen's books cannot be skimmed. In fact, her books are like the episodes of LOST...you have to re-read them over and over in case you missed something the first time. I highly recommend listening to the audio of this series--it is superb! 

Rapture simply enraptured me from beginning to end. And as usual, I am salivating until the next one.