Kelly Walker (1)

I just finished reading No One's Angel by Kelly Walker which I received through the Librarything Member giveaway program. I have to admit that being pretty new to the NA genre I didn't really know what to expect. The storyline was completely different than anything I usually read, so I didn't have anything to compare it to.

No One's Angel is the story of two teens who meet through an online video game. Tess (screen name Angel) and Axel (screen name Arion) develop a friendship of sorts and look forward to their daily interactions with each other through the game. Arion knows that he is falling for Angel even though they have never met, but Angel doesn't take the attraction that seriously. One day Angel disappears from the game without even saying goodbye. Arion is crushed. Then a year later, a terrified Angel turns up on his doorstep, 2000 miles from home. She is running away from an abusive relationship and and feels that she has nowhere else to go. I really appreciated the fact that Arion was so dedicated to Angel and he did everything he could to make her feel protected and safe. He was by far my favorite of the two.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the beautiful narrative between the two teens. Kelly Walker's writing is fluid and practically poetic, and there were so many quotes that I know someday I will use to fill the pages of my journal as they are so beautifully written.

Overall I thought this was a good story. Not exactly the type of book I would go out and buy for myself, but I'm glad that I did get to review it - I would've missed the tenderly written narrative that I enjoyed so much.

I received this book in return for an honest review. I actually think this book is more like 3.75 stars.… (mere)

Tess has runaway from her life. Her real life that is. Her fantasy life as Angel has finally become her reality and showing up on Axel's doorstep in the pouring rain, sends her down a spiral she don't know if she can ever break away from. Axel, or Arion in the gaming world, fell apart when Angel suddenly disappeared from their make believe world a year ago. And now she's shown up at his doorstep, he's not letting her go again. But Tess/Angel has a past that is quickly catching up to her and Axel may not want to be a part of it.… (mere)

I received a copy through Netgalley.

A fairly enjoyable fantasy read. I actually finished this one! (The last few epic fantasy type novels I've requested through Netgalley were rather disappointing so this one was a nice breath of fresh air).

I read first 20% or so reasonably quickly, but admittedly it was a while before I read some more and then again before I finished. The writing was okay, the plot was okay, everything seemed a little middle of the road.

I did find the main character likable enough but a little naive. As a Princess she was very unshakable in her belief in her kingdom, but then when she ventured out - and turns out the commoners don't hold the Crown in the same high respect she does and she's affronted by this. She just can't understand why. I found that a little annoying.

Though in the second half of the book (once I got past 53%) I found the plot really picked up. The main character gets some hard knocks and resolve to do something about it. Which made her more likable. There were some very moving scenes of hard to deal with grief which were quite emotional and well written. And gives the Princess the kick she needs.

She had always been a little high strung (in my opinion) but really pulls herself together for the good of her people, she makes some tough decisions to hope to improve the situation for her kingdom.

An enjoyable read, and while I might not have much of an interest in more of this series I would certainly be interested in more from this author.

So thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting my request to view the title.




… (mere)

I’m not really into computer games.

I’m much more in tune with the PlayStation and Nintendo and Xbox consoles. Something with a separate controller that I can stretch out across my bed or the floor with and control my character through worlds I can only wish was real. I can’t stand to play a game on a keyboard. It is tedious and I haven’t the patience for it. And when I’m fighting with the Companions, trying not to become a fucking vampire for the thousandth time, I don’t wanna hit “esc” or “F1” and wipe out all my progress. (And maybe that’s not how it works. I’ve only played Fate on a desktop, and I became frustrated too quickly and ended it. Maybe they have controllers now. I don’t know).

But nevertheless, I understand how online roleplaying games work. You form a group, a guild, and get shit done.

So when Tess, aka Angel, mentioned she played an online game, I was fully committed to reading this. (Actually, I first thought of that recent episode of Catfish where that girl meets that dude she played that online game with and he was a complete prick just trying to brush up on his game and I thought Nev was gunna knock the shit out of him).

But anyways, video games are a fairly important part of my life, and I don’t read many books that have an element of them somewhere in it. So No One’s Angel was a sudden interest and complete surprise.

Angel is a very broken girl running from some heavy stuff. Why wouldn’t you run straight into the arms of your sexy as hell online guild member? (Unless he turns out like that Catfish guy, that’s why).

But he doesn’t and he is sexy and almost as damaged as she is.

I like a guy who can manage a business and be completely professional, but also doesn’t mind getting his boots dirty and running a farm. MAN. That’s all man. Also, a man that would take you on top of the kitchen counter. Yeah. Meet Axel aka Arion.

Oh, Arion. Baby. You’re some kinda trouble that I wouldn’t mind getting myself into.

He is oh so sweet and protective to Angel, and sometimes I feel like she mistakes that for possessiveness. Considering her past, some of her wariness is understandable, but she is a rollercoaster of emotions. And yeah, he makes it a point to let her know that she is his and he wants her. But she verbally shoots that down multiple times, while in her heart, she knows full well she needs him.

Woman. You just flew across the country to be with him. You wouldn’t have gone if you didn’t want him in some way, shape, or form. Please, relax.

Also, when she freaks out after she finds out he looked into her past. If you had some strange person show up on your doorstep and sleep in your bed and drink your fancy coffee, wouldn’t you like to know what their shady past consists of?

That’s about my only frustration with this book. The back and forth thing they go on when I knew exactly how it would eventually end.

Overall, a very sexy, emotionally real book. Something worth checking out.… (mere)