Jade Lee

Almost An Angel, by Katherine Greyle

• 
• Publisher: Love Spell
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 0505525488
• Amazon

Another wonderful novel by Greyle. This unusual time travel will have you turning the pages to see if she is or if she isn't...

Katherine Greyle is becoming well known for her wonderful writing, humor, and unusual plots. ALMOST AN ANGEL is no exception, and is her finest work yet.

Carolly died in the Twentieth Century, and just as the back cover blurb says, she has been bounced through time thinking that she is an angel trying to get her wings. In this incarnation she arrives on the scene battered and broken in the 19th Century just before Waterloo. She is rescued by James Northram, The Earl of Traynern and immediately decides that her mission is to not only find a wife for him, but to fix his strained relationship with his young charge Margaret. Unfortunately what she didn't expect was falling in love with the Earl herself!

James and Carolly are wonderful characters. Each have their own pasts to confront and come to terms with before they can "live" again. For James and Carolly this is their second chance at life. Carolly might be dead and hopping from time to time, but as she falls in love with James she begins to transform into Caroline, the identity of the woman she leaped into. James' emotions died with his young friend on the battlefield when he was unable to help the friend break free of his madness, but helping Carolly is his chance to redeem himself. The only problem is that, as Carolly becomes Caroline she begins to lose herself, and James loses the woman he loves.

Although this was a funny book, the middle area is about as dark as you can get. It is only the fact that we as the reader know what happens in the future that keep us rooting for Carolly to find herself and not slip into Caroline's madness. We know Carolly is not mad, but the characters are so well written that at times I almost believed that James was correct and Carolly was crazy to think she was a pre-angel from the 20th Century.

My only complaint with the book was the "tacked on" feel of her sister's plot. I am assuming that Greyle will be writing a book for her, but the way it was cheesily added onto the end made me cringe. Still the book was excellent, and I hope that the next installment will be as interesting as this one.

Bottom Line: Light and dark mingle to create another wonderfully unusual tale by Katherine Greyle.

by Cybil Solyn

"A refreshingly unique "time travel" (loosely speaking) reincarnation romance"

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.

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner

By the time Carolly Hanson arrives in the nineteenth century, she has died three times trying to gain her wings. She is determined to be successful in her latest reincarnation. James Northram, Earl of Traynem, finds her battered, half nude body lying on the road and takes her to his Manor. After listening to the tales of her previous lives, he decides she is an escapee from Bedlam. Thinking her harmless, he allows her to remain in his household. First, Carolly helps his niece learn to enjoy being a child; then she sets out to find a proper wife for James. Although she decides the governess will be the perfect candidate, she can't deny the passion she feels when every James is near. After all, she is a would-be angel with a mission to fulfill. It isn't until Carolly and Margaret visit the village that she learns how much the villager hate James.. Even if you don't believe in reincarnation you'll enjoy ALMOST AN ANGEL. It's light, airy and sometimes deadly serious. Ms Greyle's talent shines as her plot unfolds. Tension is a continuous pattern throughout in this intriguing tale. The stiff-backed nobleman and light hearted heroine make for vivid contrast and create an aura conflict.

MT - From Rendezvous Reviews Online