Genre: Paranormal Alternative (MM) Romance Heat Level: 3 Word Count: 25, 220 ISBN: 978-1-77130-719-2 Editor: JS Cook Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Angel's Blade by Erin M. Leaf

Heat Level 3
$3.99
SKU 978-1-77130-719-2
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Angel Shifters, 3

Nathaniel doesn’t want to go Castle Archangel: he’s half-human and can’t fly like the rest of his clan. Even worse, he likes guys and he’s not exactly white. That makes him an interspecies outcast, but he wants to please his dad. Once there, he meets Zeke, the angels’ sexy weapons master. Sadly, Zeke is straight and Nathaniel doesn't hit on men he can’t have.

When Zeke meets Nathaniel, his gut tells him he's met his mate, but he’s never been attracted to a guy before. Despite Nathaniel's wariness and his own fear, Zeke can't help claiming him when instinct takes over.

Unfortunately, Nathaniel isn’t ready to bond, not even when their connection sparks dormant angelic powers. However, when Zeke flies into danger, Nathaniel follows. Demons stalk their people and it will take every angel who can wield a blade to fight the evil that lurks in unexpected places.

Be Warned: m/m sex

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Excerpt:

Nathaniel sensed this wasn’t going to be a quick conversation. He walked closer. When Zeke didn’t object, he sat down on the bed and leaned back. It was cooler here, further from the fire, but Zeke gave off enough heat for the two of them. Nathaniel fought to keep his eyes where they belonged and away from Zeke’s impressive musculature. No need to spook the heterosexual angel, he told himself. “You had a dream?” he asked, prompting Zeke.

The angel rubbed his face. “Yeah, but I can’t remember it. I just remember the feeling I had when I woke up.”

Nathaniel frowned, an inkling of what was going on floating through his mind. Except, that’s impossible, he thought, afraid to hope. He spoke anyway. “You felt like something was wrong. Out of place. Unnatural.” He licked his lips, suddenly nervous. “Didn’t you?”

Zeke stared at him. “Yes.”

Nathaniel stared back, unwilling to back down.

Finally, Zeke continued. “I came to get you. The feeling went away when I stood in front of your door.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Nathaniel didn’t want to mention the way he’d felt when he woke up. He wasn’t sure he believed in coincidences, but it sure as hell was a better explanation than anything else. He certainly didn’t believe in miracles.

Zeke stood up and began to pace. “You think I don’t know that?” he asked angrily. “I’ve spent the last ten years of my life traveling the world, learning. Trying to forget that I lost my family.” He stopped and glared at Nathaniel. “I’m not prone to daydreaming, not anymore. I take things at face value.” He ran a hand over his face. “This, this feeling,” He spat the word out. “It makes no sense.”

Nathaniel stood up. He didn’t know what to say, but he didn’t like the way Zeke was standing, as if he was going to punch something. “It’s gone now,” he offered. “The feeling is gone, right?”

“Sure, it’s gone. But tell me, why do I feel the almost unbearable urge to do this, instead?” Zeke asked, his voice thick with some emotion Nathaniel couldn’t interpret. And then he took two quick steps to the bed, cupped Nathaniel’s face, and kissed him.

Nathaniel froze, stunned. His only coherent thought was, His lips are so soft.

****

Zeke kissed Nathaniel, shocked at what he was doing. Shocked that Nathaniel didn’t rear back and hit him in the face. He thought it would be strange, kissing another man, but instead it felt familiar. Like he’d been missing something all his life until this moment. Nathaniel tasted warm and surprised, so Zeke opened his mouth and let himself sink in, the way his instincts wanted him to. Nathaniel didn’t kiss him back, but he didn’t protest either. Zeke kissed him deeply, then gently moved away, trembling. God, what have I done?

“Whoa,” Nathaniel said, voice shaky. He put a hand up to his mouth. His lips were red and wet.

Zeke stared, heart hammering in his chest. Whoa, indeed. “I’m sorry,” he rasped, voice harsh. He couldn’t look away. Nathaniel was so damn beautiful, especially in the firelight.

Nathaniel laughed. Laughed.

Zeke swallowed, feeling lightheaded.

“Um, I’m not exactly upset here, in case you didn’t notice,” Nathaniel said.

Zeke didn’t know where to put his hands. He tried to take a shaky step back, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. Nathaniel reached out, grabbing his arms and pulling him in roughly. Zeke gasped as the smaller man’s hard-on pressed into his thigh. Jesus. “What’s happening to us?” he asked. “I’ve never felt like this about another man before.”

Nathaniel shook his head. “I don’t know.” He leaned in and rested his forehead on Zeke’s shoulder. “And I really wish I did. You’re hot, and I like you a lot, but I make it a habit to leave straight guys alone.”

“I don’t feel straight right now. I feel all twisted up.” Zeke put a tentative hand on Nathaniel’s neck. Something prickled under his fingers, like static. He looked down just in time to see marks sliding under Nathaniel’s lovely caramel skin, like ink that couldn’t decide where to settle. He pushed him away, breathing hard, but didn’t lift his hand. The marks moved like magic beneath his touch.

Nathaniel’s fingers tightened on his biceps and he swayed. “God, what’s happening?” He sounded drunk.

Suddenly, Zeke knew. “Jesus,” he said, stunned. “We’re bonding.” This was even more shocking than finding himself attracted to a member of the same sex.

Nathaniel shook his head. “No, no, that’s impossible. I’m only half-angel. I can’t fly. I can’t do anything. My genetics are too mixed up.”

Zeke stared at Nathaniel’s shoulder. The ink was darkening to a slate-grey as it came to the surface of his skin. The lines moved like a blooming flower, full of potential and beauty.

“Nathaniel, look,” he managed to say, sliding his hand down the smaller angel’s arms and lifting them.

Nathaniel had his eyes closed. “I feel really fucking weird,” he said.

“Open your eyes,” Zeke told him. He was hard and flushed and so fucking aroused he could barely think, but he knew one thing. Nathaniel had to open his eyes to understand what was going on. The marks moved under his hands like electric wire, zapping him with energy before settling into the familiar angelic pattern. Nathaniel swayed as if he’d been drinking and Zeke tightened his hold. “Open your eyes, Nathaniel.” He shook him a little.

Nathaniel’s eyes snapped open. When his eyes fell onto their clasped arms, he went perfectly, utterly still.

Product Reviews

Score: 5 out of 5 (based on 2 ratings)
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5/5
Rainbow Book Reviews
Written by Serena Yates on 23rd Oct 2014

In this installment of the angel shifter world, where angels have two forms: a human one and an angelic one, the focus is on Zeke, an angel who lost his family and drifted for years, and Nathaniel, an angel/human hybrid who doesn’t feel he belongs in either world. And where Zeke carries the marks of the long-lost art of an angelic weapons master, Nathaniel doesn’t even have any markings at all, nor does he have wings to fly. Nathaniel is less than enthusiastic about having to ravel to Castle Archangel, where Gabriel and Raphael (from book one) are beginning to pull the angels back together so they can fight the demonic forces that have begun to emerge. Nathaniel has faced prejudice and discrimination all his life and is certain there is nothing he can do to help. His father insists, and what Nathaniel finds when he arrives is confusing, scary, and downright dangerous to his mental and emotional well-being. Zeke has been traveling for ten years after the rest of his family “went into the mist”, wanting a home for so long, but not certain he is welcome. Gabriel is his cousin though, so Zeke figures he should give it a try. Of course he is welcomed with open arms, and while he cannot make angelic weapons, it appears he is the only weapons master left. Nathaniel’s arrival confronts him with a sudden attraction to a man, where he thought he was straight, but it also enables him to use his powers in ways he has never dreamed of before. Neither Zeke nor Nathaniel are ready for the fate awaiting them, but neither of them has any real choice in the matter. If you like stories about angels who have been lost, only to rediscover the light in a most unexpected way, if the idea of two angels having to learn to work together if they want to be victorious over a very real evil in their midst, and if you’re looking for another installment of a supernatural adventure set in a creative and imaginative world of angels with a purpose, then you will probably enjoy this novella.

4/5
The Romance Reviews
Written by undefined on 23rd Feb 2014

When two lonely hearts collide, sparks fly! Zeke has spent the last decade alone. Ever since his parents faded into the mist, he has been wandering the world searching for purpose. He sees himself as a failure--a weapons master who can only craft blades that shatter. His heart's desire is for a family connection, so when he hears that his cousin, Gabriel, is the new Alpha, he decides to travel to Castle Archangel and beg for sanctuary. Nathaniel doesn't feel like he's ever fit in. His father is the angelic clan leader but his mother was human, making him an angel/human hybrid. He has never manifested angelic talents and is looked down upon by his clan. The fact that he's gay makes this bad situation worse. Time has gifted him with patience and self-confidence, but the constant rejection still hurts. When Zeke and Nathaniel meet for the first time, sparks fly and the instant attraction stuns both men. As surprised as they are to have found the mate neither man ever expected to have, it's nothing compared to what happens next. Be prepared for a shock of epic proportions! The third in Erin M. Leaf's Angel Shifter series, ANGEL'S BLADE is a fast paced romance with steamy love scenes and high drama. The characters are well developed, emotionally intense, and sure to please fans of M/M romance & paranormal genres alike. Overall, I found this book to be highly entertaining. It is not necessary to read the series in order but characters from the previous books are mentioned, which is fun to see. This is a series I will be sure to follow in the future! Four stars due to minor editorial errors including punctuation, spacing and an occasionally misused word. Those errors, on their own, do not significantly detract from the overall reading experience. Unfortunately, I also found the storytelling to be a bit choppy at times due to sudden changes from one character's perspective to another.

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