Fallen Angel [Kindle Edition]

Mona Ingram (Author)

Book Description

Laura MacLeod doesn't need an intervention to know she's in trouble. A paediatric nurse on an oncology ward, she has seen her share of suffering, but when tragedy touches her personally, she falls apart and accepts help in the form of pain killers. She becomes rapidly addicted, and her downward spiral is humiliating as well as life-changing. Fresh from rehab, she travels to the Okanagan Valley, where she has agreed to perform menial work at a winery for several months.
F-18 fighter pilot Bradley Jamieson has witnessed the horrors of war in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of his ability to speak. Weary from the aftermath of war, he accepts his friend's invitation to visit his winery. Unable to understand how a beautiful woman like Laura could throw away her life by taking drugs, he is determined to avoid her. But the more he sees of this gentle woman, the more he's attracted to her.
The summer sun isn't the only thing generating heat in the valley. Laura and Bradley battle their growing attraction for one another while fighting their inner demons. Can these two troubled souls find the peace they desire, or will reality bring them crashing back down to earth?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The romance between them was good, no stupid misunderstandings that got in the way - I get tired of those. The book had me smiling in places, and wanting to cry in others. That's a good sign for me."

"I liked this story. The two primary characters were well developed - likeable, and down-to-earth with baggage that could belong to anyone you know. I especially liked the way the author took the time to give enough background for the reader to see just how easy it is to fall into the grips of addiction or depression."

"Mona Ingram writes a beautiful tale of love and redemption. I started this book and couldn't stop reading until I finished. I found myself falling in love with both main characters. Ingram does a superb job of creating two imperfect people the reader cannot help but care about. The story is well-crafted, the writing clean, the descriptions of the countryside absolutely perfect. I want to visit that winery! I've been a fan of Ingram for some time, but I will definitely be reading more of her work."

From the Author

  In this story, the Okanagan Valley becomes one of the characters. A lot of the valley is devoted to wineries producing world class vintages, something we're all proud of. After visiting several wineries in the region I realized that a winery would be an ideal setting for a romance novel. Thus, Fallen Angel was born.
  By the way...we really do have lakes hidden up in the hills. A breathtaking and welcome sight after a day of hiking.
  I hope you enjoy reading Fallen Angel as much as I enjoyed writing it.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 336 KB
• Print Length: 159 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006GEQ1AC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,982 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, light romance December 21, 2011

By teacher mom

Format:Kindle Edition

Laura is a pediatric oncology nurse whose life is altered when a patient dies. What began as a way to cope with a personal tragedy has now become a debilitating addiction, and her family and friends have staged an intervention. As she enters rehab, we meet Bradley, a former fighter pilot who lost the use of his voice when a missile he launches kills NATO forces. Although an investigation reveals it was not Bradley's fault, he cannot forgive himself for the tragedy.

Bradley and Laura meet when they both find work at a winery. Their attraction is instant, but their communication is somewhat hindered due to their mutual reluctance to discuss the past and Bradley's use of a BlackBerry to communicate. Just when things begin to fall into place for the couple, tragedy strikes again. This time, it could keep them apart forever....

I enjoyed the format of the story. It's told from alternate points of view, so we get inside the heads of both characters. The story line is predictable (as are most romances), but enjoyable nonetheless. It's also a very unique twist in that both characters are extremely damaged. There is a damsel-in-distress scene, which I could have done without. Laura becomes such a strong character and overcomes her addictions and past failures, and I would have liked to see her rescue herself in the end. However, there is a happily ever after, which is the way all romances should end.

There are sex scenes, but they aren't too graphic. (This is not erotic literature, despite the misleading cover.) My only complaint is with the dialogue. There's no witty or flirty dialogue between Bradley and Laura. Sometimes, the dialogue is awkward, even. In parts, it appears the characters are speaking to let the reader know what's happening, not really interacting with other characters. With a different cover and some revised dialogue, this book would be much more enjoyable. As it is, it is a sweet romance with no real surprises, but it's a pleasant afternoon read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story with good lessons January 18, 2012

By JoJo431

Format:Kindle Edition

I liked this story. The two primary characters were well developed - likeable, and down-to-earth with baggage that could belong to anyone you know. I especially liked the way the author took the time to give enough background for the reader to see just how easy it is to fall into the grips of addiction or depression. And, I liked the storyline about the vinyard giving jobs and fresh starts to recovering addicts - of all addictions. My one wish about the story is that after carefully sculpting this lovely story, it almost seems as if the author got tired of writing and gave the story's ending a bum's rush. The bad guy came and went in very few pages and both of the primary characters wound up happily ever after in the same amount of pages. I would have liked to see the resolution come a little slower so as to provide an example for others who are looking for their own light at the end of a tunnel. I would definitely read other work by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fallen Angel January 14, 2012

By loves to read

Format:Kindle Edition

I liked the story, it has romance, over coming adversity and going forward with your life. Laura was a nurse untill she got addicted to prescription drugs, after some things happened on her job. Her boss and family do an intervention and she goes to rehab, towards the end of her stay she finds out about a job at a winery/restuarant/hotel. Laura goes to work there and this is when she meets Bradley who was a fighter pilot in Afganistan, something tramtic happens to him and he loses his voice. Sparks fly between them. This is a good story easy to read and enjoyable. The main charecters are believable and could be your friend or neighbors. I was given a free copy of this book in order to review it....By Loves to read

More About the Author

Mona Ingram was born in Ontario, Canada. Her family moved to British Columbia when she was twelve, and she can't imagine living anywhere else. In recent years she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and on Vancouver Island. In addition to reading and writing, traveling and bird watching are among Mona's favorite pastimes.
Mona's first five books were published in hard cover by Avalon Books, which was purchased by Amazon in 2012. Those books are now available under Amazon's Montlake imprint in hard cover, soft cover and e-book format, along with her many (twelve at last count) self-published novels.
Mona writes contemporary romance novels and takes great delight in creating unexpected twists and turns in her story lines. She sets her books in areas which are familiar to her, immersing the reader in the setting. One reader recently commented that "after reading Fixing Freddie, I felt as though I'd been on a trip to Vancouver".
Website: http://monaingram.com
E-mail: [e-mail]
Blog: http://monaingram.blogspot.com