Rapture is the 4th book in Ward’s Fallen Angel series – a series focused on good fighting evil, a devil versus an angel. Jim Heron must save the souls of 7 people to save the world. Being that this is the 4th book, Jim Heron and the devil Devina is battling for the 4th soul, Matthias. The man we readers have been taught is an evil, cold blooded killer. Walking into Matthias’ mysterious life is female reporter Mels Carmichael – a tough, smart, relentless woman who knows how to handle a gun and a knife.
Oh where to even begin with the review…?? In my head this book is all over the place for me. Did I stay up all night to finish it? Yes. Did I love it? No. That’s tough for me to say when it comes to a J.R. Ward book. I’ve read every single one of her books, including every book written under her real name, Jessica Bird. Every one! Some of them I’m probably up to 10 re-reads. With Rapture, I’m all over the map so I’m going to break it down:
What I loved:
Matthias has a great sense of humor that I was very surprised to see but I really enjoyed. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. I definitely enjoyed the heroine, Mels Carmichael. Ward’s books could use more heroine’s like her. I am happy to report Ward is no longer stringing us along as to what is up with Dog. Adrian has a heart of gold, and he continues to be one of my favorite Ward characters. We get more back story on Jim Heron’s past which was nice – some chapters in people’s lives need to close before they can move on. Devina is an OCD mess, and I find her therapy sessions hilarious. There’s a great scene on the street where the BDB walked by. Be on the lookout for it. If someone figures out where Jim and Adrian are living at the end of the book, let me know. I keep thinking it’s possibly the house that Michael from Story of Son lived in with his mother?
What I didn’t love:
In the book there is mention that Jim Heron has been dead for two weeks. I’m confused. Only 2 weeks? How is that possible? Was that a mistake? Someone let me know if they understand. Devina is such a hot mess, and Jim is pretty rock solid at this point. How could she really beat Jim and Adrian at this game? Matthias has a sad peen. A very sad peen. And that means this is one of the less sexy books Ward has written. Not that you got to have happy peen to have a sexy good time (hello Rehvenge), but I think you get my point. Was there sexy chemistry between Matthias and Mels, and did Matthias come across as sexy? Yes. But still – sad peen. I’m not sure how much longer I can take of of poor Adrian being in pain and taking on everyone else’s pain. Adrian needs some love and a HEA. Enough with Jim and his Sissy being trapped in hell. I mean, come on, really! At this point if that girl ever gets out of there her mental state is going to be beyond repair. Ward either needs to get her out of there in the next book or end it for her. It’s not fair to Sissy, Jim, or us readers at this point. Jim and Devina’s sexual relationship makes me nervous. If somewhere down the line Devina somehow ends up being a “saved soul” and her and Jim are each other’s HEA, my head will explode.
It took me the first 100 pages of Rapture to really get going with it. I think what I enjoyed most was Matthias’ personality and the interaction between Matthias and Adrian. I almost wished somehow Matthias would have joined Jim and Adrian on their team of Fallen Angels. That would have made for some interesting books in the future. But overall the book lacked oomph for me. At this point there are 3 books left in the series, and my hopes are that 1 of those is a HEA for Adrian and one is a HEA for Jim – or is Ward going to string us out to a book 8 and 9 for that? But they have to get an HEA right? She wouldn’t not give them one and do that to us would she?
Favorite Quote
Adrian: “Do all of you guys have the same brain?”
Matthias: “I had a very specific recruiting strategy and type.”
Adrian: “And what was that?”
Matthias: Matthias focused on the man beside him. “You. Without the metal in your face.”
Adrian: “I do believe I’m blushing.”
Rating: C
Rapture by J.R. Ward
September 25th 2012 by NAL
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About FV Samantha
Oh no! A sad peen? I hate sad peens.
If Devina ends up being Jim’s HEA my head will explode too. I may not even read it if that happens.
I can’t seem to get into this series so I’m probably just going to skip this one and give up.
I haven’t read any of the Jessica Bird books yet but I think it’s funny that they now say J.R. WARD in even bigger print over the Jessica pen name
I really enjoyed many of her Jessica Bird books and actually like that they are getting re-released with the JR Ward name on them in hopes more people will read them. The last one she wrote has 2 brothers that NEED to have their story told and their HEA! Okay, well maybe I need it.
In fact, I would have rather have seen her write those two books then give us the Fallen Angels series.
Ok which Jessica Bird books do I need to read?
I saw the revamped covers. Jessica Bird is in tiny Font and JR WARD is huge lol.
I totally agree with your review, I have been disappointed with Wards Angel series. At the last book signing she stated that it’s the BOB (Band of Bastards) that walk by. I also think you are right about their new mansion.
Oh, BOB never crossed my mind! Thanks for filling us in on that!
I’ve never been able to figure out why this series does not appeal to me the way BDB does. Or at all for that matter. I would love to have another series by Ward to read.
I feel the same way. I forced my self through the first book and have not read anymore since then. At first I thought it was unappealing because I started the first as an audio book and hated the narrator but then I switched to reading the second half and was still not hooked.
I actually really liked the last book and thought, “Ok, this is it! We’re finally getting somewhere!” That feeling vanished with this book.
lol at the sad peen. If Davina is Jim’s HEA then forget it. Ward has made a lot of things work for me but this won’t fly. What about Eddie? Where was he??
I mean other than being buried somewhere. Was he mentioned otherwise?
Eddie is still dead and appears to be locked in a room where JIm and Ad were living. And sometimes DOG watches over him.
Yeah, I picked up on the not-so-subtle references to “it’s been two weeks since Jim died!” that the Warden kept sprinkling throughout. Clearly she knew that readers were confused about the series timeline so gave us a refresher. I was stumped too. I don’t know why, but I always know where I am in the BDB series and can orientate myself but with ‘Fallen Angels’ (maybe because the series has dragged in general?) I thought we were a good 6 months into the timeline. Go figure.
I think I really needed Sissy to finally get out of hell and into Jim’s life in this book. That was the *one* aspect of this series that kept me reading – Sissy & Jim. And I’m *still* waiting for it. You’re 100% right, it’s not fair to the characters or readers. The Warden keeps building Sissy up in Jim’s mind – he has her on such a HIGH pedestal now, that it’s pretty much guaranteed that when fans do finally meet her, she’ll be a complete Mary-Sue let-down.
Badly played all round on the Warden’s part.
EXACTLY!! This is what I keep thinking about her too.
How are all these characters falling for eachother so fast?
Yeah, im pretty tired of their love hate sex relationship. Its creepy