ARC Review: No One's Angel by Kelly Walker

No One’s Angel

Author: Kelly Walker

Publication Date: September 6, 2013

Genre: New Adult

~Synopsis~

Tess used to spend more hours than she'd care to admit playing her favorite computer game, using the nickname Angel. She could pretend her life was different, and she could pretend Arion was just a friend. But a girl needs more to keep her warm at night than pixels, and she traded her virtual heaven for a real-life hell. Now she's on the run from a past she won't talk about, and the only place she has to go is the doorstep of the friend she's never actually met.

When Angel disappeared from their nightly games, it nearly destroyed Arion. He threw himself into work and women, but he can't help knowing the one-night stands will never compare to the angel who haunts his dreams. At first, when she shows up soaking wet and scared-shitless on his doorstep, he thinks his prayers have been answered.

But the more Arion tries to keep Angel close, the more her fear drives her away. If they are ever going to have a chance for a future, they'll first have to deal with the past that hasn't forgotten her any more than she's forgotten it--and Arion will have to learn how to let her go.

CONTENT WARNING: Due to adult sexual situations and language, this novel may not be appropriate for readers under 18.

~Review~

No One’s Angel was a really great new adult read and I enjoyed the fact that it lacked many of the clichés plaguing the new adult genre. Both Angel and Arion had issues that overwhelmed them and caused problems within their relationship. Arion held insecurities about loving and getting close to a woman because of his mother and Angel needed to feel like she had control and independence because of a past relationship.

When Angel shows up on Arion’s doorstep after no contact in over a year, he is stunned and floored. He was devastated when she disappeared and they lost contact. He is clearly still in love with her and once he has her there, he has no intention of losing her again. However, Angel is on the run and she is trying to figure out how to trust again. She has strong feelings for Arion but she needs to get herself together before they can jump into anything.

I really liked both Angel and Arion but I felt like Arion was a little too controlling at times and Angel over-reacted a bit. However, considering their issues it is easy to understand why each of them behaves this way but I wasn’t convinced that they should be in a relationship at first. Angel needs to feel in control and she needs to know that each decision she makes is her own to make. With Arion being so protective and a bit over-bearing, she struggles to hold onto the feeling of control and this causes tension between them. Arion was a good guy and he would never hurt Angel and only wanted to protect her but he was a bit selfish and only thinking about his feelings in the situation. He was blinded to the fact that Angel needed to make it on her own before she could rely on him. Angel is so jaded by her ex, Nick, that she sees some of Arion’s protective actions as controlling when really he just wants to help her and keep her safe.

I enjoyed the way both Angel and Arion grew together from the trials and tribulations of their relationship. They jumped from falling in love without ever meeting to perceivably living together and this caused a lot of strife. No matter how much they knew about each other from the 2 years they spent chatting, they both realized there was so much more to learn. I also enjoyed the balance between romance and steam with the mystery and thrill from Angel’s past. She is running scared and when it catches up to her, I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it would play out.

I also really liked the secondary character, especially Chelsea (not just because of her awesome name). Chelsea doesn’t give off a great first impression but she ends up becoming a really good friend to Angel, which is something she desperately needs. She is Arion’s step-sister and she definitely cares about him and I liked that she was able to talk sense into him when he needed a good shove.

Overall, I felt like No One’s Angel was a well written, easy read and it definitely held my attention from beginning to end. I liked the characters well enough and I found the plot to be interesting and well balanced.

~IPOD Picks~

“I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” by Savage Garden

“I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum

“I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

*An eARC was provided to me by NetGalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.*