Lilly's Angel Review

Lilly's Angel by Charlyne Elizabeth Denney
Book 1 of Fangs and Halos
Published August 20, 2013 by Heavenly Fangs
4.5 Bloody Fangs

"The most original vampire/angel novel I have read in a long time.  And since I have read over four-hundred, that's saying a lot!"



Summary -

Lilly Marchantel entertains her client—a vampire—for a night of paid passion and dies. Or does she? Her madam, the famous Lulu White of Mahogany Hall, throws a lavish funeral for the girl and buries her in St. Louis 1 Cemetery.

During the chaos in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Enforcer angel Sullivan is sent to the cemetery to verify reports of two rogue vampires. How much trouble can an angel get into in New Orleans? What could happen if Sullivan loses his powers?

“Lilly’s Angel” tells the story of Lilly’s discovery of a whole new world with her friends Baron the Cat and the skull she talks to as the pissed off and horny Sullivan struggles against the changes he is experiencing.  (Goodreads)


Review -

Bloody Fangtastic!!!  Denney has proven me so wrong in regards to first books' in a series'.  Usually the first in a good series' is very slow moving, kind of just dragging along in getting to know who the characters are.  Not here.  Not only is the reader able to get to know all of the character's, but they will not be bored doing it.  Denney also isn't shy in the way she writes, not afraid to describe, in detail, what some would take as controversial scenes.

Lilly Marchantel is a woman of color, as she was called in her original time, who works for one of the biggest brothels in New Orleans.  Her fellow "sisters" and Madam made sure she was also an educated woman as well, both in the streets and in the books.  Though Lilly has entertained many clients, there is only one has come to see her night after night, not for sex, but to sit and speak with her.   The vampire, Marcus.  When during one fateful night they finally embrace their passion, only things get a little out of hand. 

Sullivan is an enforcer angel, and has the ego of one...hundred.  When assigned to take on a mission in New Orleans he is faced down by a group of thugs.  Since he's an angel, surely he should be able to take them all on without blinking an eye.  Right?  Well, he gets more than he bargained for, and when left for dead, a beautiful vampire tries to save him.  Though she may have just damned him instead.

In this series' angels are part of a sort of military group charged with keeping the paranaturals in line.  Mostly taking place in New Orleans during the devastating storm of Katrina.  Denney has done her research and it shows in a brilliant way.  What I love most about this novel is that there is no one falling in love just because.  The characters truly get to know one another.  And Lilly doesn't just forgive and forget just because someone swears their undying love to her.  She may be getting used to the new times, but is definitely not new to the world, and some things never change.

Readers be warned, there is a rape scene.  This part may be hard for anyone having gone through rape to read. Me, personally, I loved it.  No, I don't love someone getting raped (been there, done that), it made the story more real.  It showed that this writer isn't afraid to let it all hang out.  And in her debut novel at that!!  That being said, if it is too much for you, just skip that part, you'll know the warning signs that it's about to happen when your read it.  But do not skip this book!  Full of deceit, lust, humor (reader's will LOVE the vampire cat!), brutal violence and blood.  A true must read!

The only thing stopping me from giving it a full 5 fangs is that there are some grammatical errors.  Nothing too big, and nothing that takes away from the story.  And seems to be something I'm seeing more and more of lately even from very well known publishers. 

Vampire lovers, be sure to leap into Lilly's Angel.  You will be very pleased that you did.