Rapture by J.R. Ward (The Fallen Angels #4)
Released: September 25, 2012
Paranormal Romance
Berkley

Reviewed by Mandi

Please Note: The hero of this book has been kept pretty hush hush. If you want to go into the book with a totally clean slate, please don’t read this review.

Rapture is book four in JR Ward’s Fallen Angel series. I wasn’t a big fan of the first two, but the last book was an enjoyable read. Rapture falls down the middle. It is an okay book, slow at times, but continuing this battle between good and evil.

Matthias wakes up on top of a grave completely naked, and he has no memories of anything. He can’t remember, but as the reader if you are current with this series, you know he died and spent some time in hell, thanks to the ‘lovely’ Devina. But hell spit him back out, as it was decided he was to be a player in this game again. Matthias is the creator of the XOps, a very secretive group of assassins, and he hasn’t lived a very saintly life. But now with a clean slate of sorts, he kind of has a chance at redeeming himself. Or at least Jim Heron hopes so. Jim has been tasked by the Maker himself, to save the souls of seven people, hopefully meaning the good guys win and the world will continue to spin. Currently, the good guys have won two and lost one.

Confused, injured and just all around in bad shape, Matthias starts wandering around trying to find help. Instead, he wanders in a street and gets hit by a car. The driver, Mels Carmichael is frantic, as he just came out of nowhere. Mel is a reporter, and ends up investigating a few of the murders that Devina causes. Devina sets out to murder blonde haired women, hoping to remind Jim that his beloved blond hair girl, Sissy, is still writhing in Devina’s hell. With no money or friends, Matthias turns to Mels to help him figure out who he really is. Jim and Adrian get involved, knowing Matthias is the soul they must keep safe, if they are to win this war.

This book is on the slower side for me.  Mels worked pretty well for me as a heroine and that is saying a lot because I’m not always a fan of Ward’s heroines. Matthias’s journey discovering himself all over again and dealing with some horrific memories when they do surface was interesting to watch. Their romance is a very slow one and one that frustrated me. Matthias physically can’t perform in the bedroom (he can’t get it up y’all!), so that hinders things for a long while. I’ve read every book JR Ward has written, and this is one of the least dirty/smutty. (boo!)  But we are all holding out for Qhuay, right? *wink* (I can’t help myself)

Anyway! Jim is still plodding along, trying to win this war. We get a lot with Devina in this book. She is seeing a shrink and has a massive OCD issue. She confused me at some points. I mean, yes she is the evil one – the devil – but I feel like she outwits Jim and Adrian more than she should. She has never come across as super smart, and I don’t understand why she can get away with what she does. She isn’t a favorite character of mine for sure.

Speaking of Adrian, oh Adrian. Still so torn up over Eddie’s death. He goes to some dark places in this book. I wish we had gotten a lot more from him. I really like his character.

This book doesn’t necessarily have the ‘oomph’ factor I was expecting. It is slower with a romance that I wish had been bigger.

Rating: C

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