Customer Reviews

Almost an Angel

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though not totally sure, Carolly Hanson assumes that she must be an angel because she has been reincarnated several times into new lives. Because she feels she must be God's messenger, Carolly tries to help people in whatever reincarnation she finds herself in, but her Good Samaritan efforts are futile failures.

This time Carolly lands in 1815 England where she finds her next target the aristocratic James Northram. James thinks that someone beat Carolly when she lands on Earth though it was her normal reaction when she starts a new life. Still going against his nature he offers her sanctuary. Soon James is attracted to his charming, witty, and crazy guest. He cannot believe that Carolly has no intension of using some sort of lunatic ruse to force him to marry her. Worse, James hates the parade of females she sends his way because nutcase or not his true love is the matchmaking angel that he found mysteriously in his arms.

ALMOST AN ANGEL is a refreshingly unique "time travel" (loosely speaking) reincarnation romance that fans who delight in something rather different will want to read. Carolly is an interesting protagonist, a characterization of Handel's spring, as she has not yet learned why she has been reincarnated several times. James is a great counterpoint struggling to remain a brooding individual, but failing due to the optimism of the woman he cherishes. Katherine Greyle furbishes a unique take that paranormal romance readers will devour.

Harriet Klausner

** spoiler alert ** ALMOST AN ANGEL is a hodge podge of genres and because if this, some may find the story confusing. Carolly Hanson is from the year 2000. When she passed away she had wasted her young life. Believing in second chances, she has died several times and has been reincarnated so she can bring someone true love. In her past lives she could never finish her mission so she dies a violent death and then returns to a new time. Her goal, she thinks, is to redeem herself so she can become an angel. This will complete her days on earth.

It is now 1815 and James Northram, the Earl of Traynem, finds a woman in a field on his lands. She is unconscious, wearing peculiar clothes and looks as though she was beaten. He brings her to his home where she recuperates....and drives him nuts. Her tall tales and peculiar manners both attract and distance him. James doesn't know what to believe but he knows she needs help and he decides he's the man to do this.

James is a former soldier, a confirmed bachelor and guardian to his niece. Because he has no children of his own his cousin Garrett stands to inherit everything on his death. In his 30's he still has a long life and tries to use his monies to help those working his lands. But they are not happy and this causes problems for the Earl.

Carolly thinks she needs to find him a wife, someone he can love. She also tries to make his relationship with his niece better. This is where the story lost one star because she keeps doing stupid things. There are humorous moments that make up for some of her brainlessness but, still, I thought she should have been smarter.

I lowered the rating another star because there was some slow reading. The book started out with a fast intensity but by the middle I was wondering what happened. Ms. Greyle introduces a new character about 2/3's of the way in to justify some of the nonsense. Instead it just made me think she was introducing this woman's name to patch up some of the confusion. It is about 30 pages too long and I think Ms. Greyle's editor could have done a better job. On the whole, I liked it because it was a different type of romance but I can't recommend it because of the above problems.

If you are looking for a different type of romance and want a five star read try KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Bella Street or BASKET OF WISHES by Rebecca Paisley.

I'm not going to write a lengthy review here - I'll just simply say that this book is fantastic. The characters are extraordinarily well-developed and really interesting. This is time travel....or is it? You'll have to read the book to make up your own mind. I highly reccommend it.

This is the first book that I have read from Katherine Greyle, and it was all I thought it would be. The twist and turns that she weaved had me not wanting to put the book down. I had to read it in one day!

This book was funny, heartwarming and very romantic! The one thing that I would like, is to see other books of Katherine Greyle with Carolly as the angel that helps people find love through time, especially since she has indicated that she has had at least 5 reincarnation.

I urge readers that enjoy time travel/reincarnation romance to read this book. It won't leave you disappointed.

For Carolly landing in the 1800's isn't anything new; this is the fifth reincarnation she's had. She is on a mission to become an angel and the only way to do so, Carolly believes is through selfless deeds.

James Northram, Earl of Traynern was quite content with his life until it was turned upside down by a woman who had to have escaped from bedlam. With warm smiles and talk of other lives, James only wants to help Carolly realize she is not living in the now, even as he slowly falls for the woman in his care. But for Carolly, who only wants to find James a wife and get her wings, trying to not fall for James is harder than she, "almost an angel" can even handle.

Ms Greyle has written such a touching story! Carolly has gone from a woman bent on her own pleasure to trying to help others. Even though you don't know much about her first life, you do know that she caused her own accidental death. Now, while some of her decisions will make you shudder with mortification because James thinks she has lost her mind, the pair will have you laughing as Carolly allows him to "to have the final say" in the arguments.

While James has an adamant belief that Carolly was from the mental institution, I thought it odd he defended her so adamantly that she was sane. I wanted to weep when Carolly started to get "better" and I had to cheer when James realized he was falling in love with vivacious woman that she had been, not the woman she was becoming.

I have mixed emotions when it comes to angel and ghost stories; I have a hard time with some of the endings. While I really enjoyed ALMOST AN ANGEL and there is a fantastic climax to the story, I was disappointed with the very, very end of the story (Does Carolly get to stay and love James, or does she get her angel wings and go to heaven?). But, I seem to be in a minority about how people feel about this type of ending. Overall, ALMOST AN ANGEL was a wonderful, heart warming, laugh-out-loud story.

James, the Earl of Trayhern, has no idea what he is letting himself in for when he comes to the aid of a badly beaten young lady. Carolly is unlike anything he has ever encountered. She talks about things that have not happened yet, sings songs that are not yet written, and claims to be an angel, well a pre angel. Carolly has not earned her wings, though she has been trying for several lifetimes. He is sure she must have escaped from Bedlam. Despite this, the pre angel is able to get past the wall around his heart and to connect with the orphaned niece in his care.

Then, Carolly suddenly begins to act truly mad. The memories of her current body begin to take over, superceding those of the modern woman's soul. James has come to love Carolly, and her other self Caroline, but forces on Heaven and earth both might not let him have her in any form. She may have to return to Heaven prematurely, due to murder.

**** Ms. Greyle deftly combines a light Regency with a sweet ghost story, and a hint of danger. Love's transcendant and transforming power shines throughout the plot. Fans of Tina Wainscott's books will find this a treat. I look forward to the sequel. ****

Reviewed by Amanda