Review: Dark Angel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 24, 2013
DARK ANGEL is a sumptuous, Gothic-inspired, fairy tale romance. If you like strong heroines, tortured heroes, sizzling romantic tension, and a well-written story, this might be the book for you.I'll admit this right off: I'm not the biggest fan of romance or romantic relationships. I almost always criticize them, because I'm picky. But books published by Entangled have never let me down. DARK ANGEL is no exception.The book's style might take some getting used to, because the author is very descriptive. I like that sort of writing when it's done well, and I thought it was done well here. The lush descriptions help set the scene, as well as build the characters of Catherine and Gerard. I want to say it's almost Victorian in style; I can't say for sure, not having read books written in that era.DARK ANGEL starts off strong and dangerously, with Catherine in a lifeboat in the middle of the sea. Overboard after a disaster, she sees an island, or thinks she does. When she entreats the captain to set sail for the island, he refuses to, for only the dead and dying see it. After the lifeboat turns over, Catherine wakes up to find herself on the shores of that island, and that's where the real story begins....The island, Ynys Nos, is like no other place Catherine has ever seen. And for an English gentlewoman, she's seen quite a lot, having given up her privileged life to help the less fortunate. She was even a nurse in the Crimean War. But even more compelling than the mysterious island is its master, Gerard. Gerard takes Catherine into his home, sparking off an intense battle of wills between the two.There's an immediate attraction between them, but Catherine fights it every step of the way. Gerard does everything he can to make her give in. There is PLENTY of blazing romantic tension, which is something I enjoyed.Gerard is the epitome of a tortured, dark hero, with so many secrets that he needs a vault the size of Fort Knox to keep them all. He's an alpha male, supremely confident in himself and in his ability to seduce Catherine. Usually such confidence and a "you're mine" attitude bugs the heck out of me, but I liked it here. It just fit the overall story. Plus, his vulnerabilities helped balance out the alpha attitude. Beneath the big strong male, there's a little boy who grew up without friends and the weight of the island on his shoulders.DARK ANGEL has a mystery behind the romance, and a few paranormal touches. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, and it also influences the book. Overall, it's a very atmospheric read. I sometimes thought I was on the island, following Catherine as she tried to figure out all the mysteries and gets answers for Gerard's secrets.The ending did leave me wanting a little more, but that was mainly because I didn't want to leave Catherine and Gerard's story. The book does move along a bit slowly, due to the descriptive writing and setting everything up, but that wasn't a con for me. I was too caught up in the mystery of Ynys Nos, as well as the growing relationship between Catherine and Gerard.I'd recommend DARK ANGEL if you like romances, historical fiction, or paranormal. There's a little something for everyone here.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.