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bonzaklibo's review against another edition
2.0
So... turns out the angel series spinoffs kind of suck. The idea that belief and a good attitude can heal a disease completely is super toxic.
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
A fun continuation in the Angels of the Dark series from Gena Showalter. Koldo is leading a scarred life as an angel without his wings. He doesn’t say much but he is someone that his fellow angels can depend on in battle. He may fight for good but revenge is clouding his heart. Nicola has decided that she needs to live her life to the fullest for as long as she can. Meeting Koldo was nowhere in her plan but she can’t deny the way he makes her feel. But will the demons from Koldo’s past keep them from the promise of any kind of future? I really enjoyed Koldo’s strong and silent demeanor. Another enjoyable read in a fun series. Can’t wait to continue reading!
angels_gp17's review
5.0
5 Stars! Gena Showalter did it again!
A wingless angel and a girl tormented by demons. Is there redemption?
"BEAUTY AWAKENED" pulled me in from the very first page and consumed me to the last. I'm in love with the Sent Ones “Angels of the Dark”. Gena Showalter is an amazing author and knows how to tell a story that keeps you entertained and intrigued. What we get with “Beauty Awakened” is positive thinking, action, sexual tension and a little humor in this book.
The healing Koldo teaches Nicola and Laila is all about the power of positive thinking and if you think negative thoughts then those thoughts will start to bring you down. “You speak what you believe, and you believe you’re doomed. If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout the years, it’s that what you believe is the impetus for your entire life.”
The sexual tension is just right between the main characters and we get one full on sex scene. It takes a talented author to write a romance book with only one actual sex scene and keep it sexy and Gena nailed it! We also get to see a lot of Axel in this book. While Axel acts extremely immature “he adds the comic relief in this book”, you can't help but laugh at his crazy antics and the absurd things that come out of his mouth. We also get an appearance/snippet of William from the "Lords of the Underworld” series.
A wingless angel and a girl tormented by demons. Is there redemption?
"BEAUTY AWAKENED" pulled me in from the very first page and consumed me to the last. I'm in love with the Sent Ones “Angels of the Dark”. Gena Showalter is an amazing author and knows how to tell a story that keeps you entertained and intrigued. What we get with “Beauty Awakened” is positive thinking, action, sexual tension and a little humor in this book.
The healing Koldo teaches Nicola and Laila is all about the power of positive thinking and if you think negative thoughts then those thoughts will start to bring you down. “You speak what you believe, and you believe you’re doomed. If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout the years, it’s that what you believe is the impetus for your entire life.”
The sexual tension is just right between the main characters and we get one full on sex scene. It takes a talented author to write a romance book with only one actual sex scene and keep it sexy and Gena nailed it! We also get to see a lot of Axel in this book. While Axel acts extremely immature “he adds the comic relief in this book”, you can't help but laugh at his crazy antics and the absurd things that come out of his mouth. We also get an appearance/snippet of William from the "Lords of the Underworld” series.
jgilge's review
4.0
As much as I didn't think I was going to like Koldo's book, I ended up loving it. Not as much as the first book, but it was a good addition.
jamsu's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly I wasn't going to re-read this one. I just was in front of my bookshelf and had to pick a book to bring with me to my sister's and before I know it "Beauty Awakened" was in my hands. I have been thinking this book a lot since I saw Addicted To Romance review it in her blog. I don't own the first book though, so I left the book alone. You can't stop mood reader from picking a book she owns, though.
I felt so bad for our hero in the book. First Koldo had to survive a mother who hated for no reason. Cornelia was kind to everyone but her own son and she could get mad from the littlest things, like him cleaning her room. Koldo just wanted her to love him but instead she abused him when he was a child and told him how she wished she had drowned him when he was too young to fight back. Then she gave him up to his father who was even more evil and abusive than his mother.
I still loved Koldo and Nicola's relationship. I have no idea why I haven't re-read this before but they didn't have as many amazing quotes than I remembered them having. Koldo didn't think he deserved her and wanted to take care of her and her twin. Koldo's so clueless about relationships but he's also possessive of Nicola.
What I didn't like about the book was Laila, Nicola's sister. She didn't believe her sister or what was happening even after everything had happened. Also it was like she didn't want to heal and I just don't get what was the point with her character. Just to show how much Koldo was ready to do for Nicola and how much Nicola loved her sister?
I felt so bad for our hero in the book. First Koldo had to survive a mother who hated for no reason. Cornelia was kind to everyone but her own son and she could get mad from the littlest things, like him cleaning her room. Koldo just wanted her to love him but instead she abused him when he was a child and told him how she wished she had drowned him when he was too young to fight back. Then she gave him up to his father who was even more evil and abusive than his mother.
I still loved Koldo and Nicola's relationship. I have no idea why I haven't re-read this before but they didn't have as many amazing quotes than I remembered them having. Koldo didn't think he deserved her and wanted to take care of her and her twin. Koldo's so clueless about relationships but he's also possessive of Nicola.
What I didn't like about the book was Laila, Nicola's sister. She didn't believe her sister or what was happening even after everything had happened. Also it was like she didn't want to heal and I just don't get what was the point with her character. Just to show how much Koldo was ready to do for Nicola and how much Nicola loved her sister?
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Some good moments but I found the ending rather rushed and the heat level rather low.
desiree_mcl's review
4.0
4 stars.
Let me start off by saying that I am not a huge fan of Gena Showalter's books. I like her books, I enjoy her books, but I'm not frothing at the mouth to get the next new one (usually), there have been a couple I have really wanted to read but for the most part I can get to her novels whenever.
I was pleasantly surprised by Beauty Awakened. When I read some of the reviews I was expecting less than what I got. There were still some problems that I'll address but this was still a very well done story.
Koldo is such a sweetie, despite his horrible past, and I just want to hold him tight and never let him go. He has every right (IMO) to torture his mother for all the evil and cruel things she did to him but hasn't done anything to her except cage her (and at around midway thru the book. I cannot stand Corenlia I want her tortured for centuries, then killed, and then brought back to be tortured all over again. I have no sympathy for her and anything bad that's done to her I'm rooting for more.
Although when it's revealed.
Next, Nicola is ok, I didn't feel a whole lot for her for the whole book. I don't hate her but I don't love her either, she's just kind of there for me. However I did love her protective side when it comes to the people she cares for and she's willing to do anything to save them.
The romance throughout the book is very sweet and tender. Koldo isn't experienced and he also has negative influences from his past making him think he's not good enough for Nicola. Now in Nicola's moments with Koldo that's where I really enjoy Nicola and her conversations and thoughts. She believes Koldo and trusts him almost immediately and she doesn't allow him to feel bad about himself. It's really a nice romance that's built. I wish there was more sensual touches and thoughts between Koldo and Nicola but the romance was very 'aww' worthy.
With the good comes some bad though. There are some minor issues for me, not necessarily problems but some things that might be frustrating to others and despite my enjoyment of the book were frustrating for me too.
One thing is the amount of 'Most High' being mentioned, it's not a huge issue because this is a series about angels and demons and heavenly beings and I expect some of that but I'm at the midway point and I'm starting to sigh with irriation or roll my eyes every time 'Most High' is brought up.
My other issue is the PG-13 feel on anything sex related but the almost R rated violence. From the very beginning we are thrust into a mother being violently cruel to her child. Throughout the book there are violent scenes and threats. But any sex is toned down to where I sometimes don't know what happened. At about the mid point of the novel there had been two sex related scenes (neither with Koldo and Nicola) and both of those moments were vague and muted. Then when we get to Koldo and Nicola making love it's...well it felt like I was looking at it through a fog. I can see a little bit here and there, a kiss here, a thrust there, but not enough to get a clear picture.
However the violence or the threat of violence in this book is more R rated. It doesn't make sense to me that violence can be described in graphic detail but anything sexually oriented is muted and vaguely described to where I have to guess and assume what happened. I don't mind if a book has more of a PG-13 feel or if the sex isn't described, there are a few romance authors I read and love that in general have very little sex described and the books are amazing. If it fits the story I have no problem with it but it irritates me as a consumer and as someone who enjoys Gena Showalter's more adult offerings to have a series that has been advertised as an adult paranormal series and then to get more of a YA offering.
As I mentioned several times before, this is a great story, one I enjoyed a lot but I have to give Gena Showalter some flack about this because it's a similar thing that made me start to give up J.R. Ward. When I expect a certain type or feel to a book/author in a particular genre and it's suddenly not there in her newer offerings I tend to get irritated enough to not buy her new books and just get them from the library and if I like it enough then I'd add it to my collection.
Overall this is a very good read, good characters, and a good romance but there are some issues that might hinder the enjoyment for some.
Let me start off by saying that I am not a huge fan of Gena Showalter's books. I like her books, I enjoy her books, but I'm not frothing at the mouth to get the next new one (usually), there have been a couple I have really wanted to read but for the most part I can get to her novels whenever.
I was pleasantly surprised by Beauty Awakened. When I read some of the reviews I was expecting less than what I got. There were still some problems that I'll address but this was still a very well done story.
Koldo is such a sweetie, despite his horrible past, and I just want to hold him tight and never let him go. He has every right (IMO) to torture his mother for all the evil and cruel things she did to him but hasn't done anything to her except cage her (and at around midway thru the book
Spoiler
cut off her hair, a small price to pay for cutting off her child's wings as a little boy)Although when it's revealed
Spoiler
that she was raped by Nox, which I did suspect, I did, of course, feel sympathy for her. However I still want her tortured for what she did to a child, not just any child, her own child. Ugh, couldn't stand herNext, Nicola is ok, I didn't feel a whole lot for her for the whole book. I don't hate her but I don't love her either, she's just kind of there for me. However I did love her protective side when it comes to the people she cares for and she's willing to do anything to save them.
The romance throughout the book is very sweet and tender. Koldo isn't experienced and he also has negative influences from his past making him think he's not good enough for Nicola. Now in Nicola's moments with Koldo that's where I really enjoy Nicola and her conversations and thoughts. She believes Koldo and trusts him almost immediately and she doesn't allow him to feel bad about himself. It's really a nice romance that's built. I wish there was more sensual touches and thoughts between Koldo and Nicola but the romance was very 'aww' worthy.
With the good comes some bad though. There are some minor issues for me, not necessarily problems but some things that might be frustrating to others and despite my enjoyment of the book were frustrating for me too.
One thing is the amount of 'Most High' being mentioned, it's not a huge issue because this is a series about angels and demons and heavenly beings and I expect some of that but I'm at the midway point and I'm starting to sigh with irriation or roll my eyes every time 'Most High' is brought up.
My other issue is the PG-13 feel on anything sex related but the almost R rated violence. From the very beginning we are thrust into a mother being violently cruel to her child. Throughout the book there are violent scenes and threats. But any sex is toned down to where I sometimes don't know what happened. At about the mid point of the novel there had been two sex related scenes (neither with Koldo and Nicola) and both of those moments were vague and muted. Then when we get to Koldo and Nicola making love it's...well it felt like I was looking at it through a fog. I can see a little bit here and there, a kiss here, a thrust there, but not enough to get a clear picture.
However the violence or the threat of violence in this book is more R rated. It doesn't make sense to me that violence can be described in graphic detail but anything sexually oriented is muted and vaguely described to where I have to guess and assume what happened. I don't mind if a book has more of a PG-13 feel or if the sex isn't described, there are a few romance authors I read and love that in general have very little sex described and the books are amazing. If it fits the story I have no problem with it but it irritates me as a consumer and as someone who enjoys Gena Showalter's more adult offerings to have a series that has been advertised as an adult paranormal series and then to get more of a YA offering.
As I mentioned several times before, this is a great story, one I enjoyed a lot but I have to give Gena Showalter some flack about this because it's a similar thing that made me start to give up J.R. Ward. When I expect a certain type or feel to a book/author in a particular genre and it's suddenly not there in her newer offerings I tend to get irritated enough to not buy her new books and just get them from the library and if I like it enough then I'd add it to my collection.
Overall this is a very good read, good characters, and a good romance but there are some issues that might hinder the enjoyment for some.
dolcezzina21's review
4.0
This was one of my favorites of the Lords of the Underworld/Angels of the Dark series so far!
photogcourt's review
3.0
It was okay. I think I liked it better than the previous book, but it was still just as predictable.