{SERIES REVIEW} CRUSHED SERAPHIM and BITTERSWEET SERAPHIM (SERAPHIM #1 and 2) by DEBRA ANASTASIA

 

 

Today I am reviewing the Seraphim Series by Debra Anastasia. The series includes Crushed Seraphim and the recently released Bittersweet Seraphim. 

 

 

Series: Seraphim #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: 5/17/11
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 194
Source: Bought

How does a foul-mouthed angel end up as the last hope for all of Heaven and Earth?

When Seraph Emma is maimed and tossed from Heaven by a rogue angel who's taken charge, she fears she'll never be allowed to return. Tasked with the impossible job of showing the self-loathing (and not even human!) Jason his worth, Emma is sure she's doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, having wormed his way into Heaven, the corrupt Everett has trapped God in Hell and has designs on unleashing evil everywhere. Fortunately, if there's one thing Emma can't do (in addition to minding her language), it's give up. Determined to save Jason and get back to Heaven-even if it means going to Hell-Emma's plan is simple yet impossible: trick the Devil to save God.

What she doesn't count on is the devotion and, well, humanity she finds in Jason; the spirit, hidden compassion, and raw sex appeal within the Devil; and the vulnerability of her own heart. With the help of two unlikely allies, she'll wage the battle for Heaven. But will Emma be sidetracked by a new sort of heaven along the way?

What's truly more dangerous?

Falling from Heaven, or falling in love?

 

Series: Seraphim #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: 11/22/12
Format: eARC
Pages: 280
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Suffering is worst when you’re doing it alone. But Emma’s taking Hell like an angel—even though her languishing began with having her seraph wings torn from her back. Now her worst enemy lords his body and his evil desires over her while she tries desperately to remember the words to her favorite prayer.

As Devil, Jack used to have Hell and its women humming like well-oiled machines. Too bad he’s nowhere near the place now. Stuck on Earth as a human, he must work with a ragtag team of exiled minions and half-breeds to save the angel who’s become all that matters.

Rescuing a seraph is the plan, but breaking into Hell means letting evil things out. Once they collide, minions and angels converge in the battle of the ages: good versus evil. But which side is which? Will Jack destroy the world as he fights to save Emma, his true and timeless love, from a damnation he designed?

An action-packed sequel to Crushed Seraphim, this tale reveals—time and again—what happens when the heart’s deepest desires break free. With a story both sizzling and sensual, emotional and enigmatic, Debra Anastasia invites readers to join a battle with nothing less than love on the line.

Not Your Average Angel Story

What an understatement. Having read Debra Anastasia's beautiful story, Poughkeepsie, I was dying for more of her work. Anastasia's stories are unique. Her characters can be sweet, sexy, dangerous, or docile, but they all manage to to have a wicked sense of humor and a "ballsy" (for lack of a better word) charm.

So, were Crushed Seraphim and Bittersweet Seraphim what I expected? Well, yes and no. I got the out-of-the box story that I was hoping for. Seriously. Emma is a an angel who is just as likely to swear and flip the bird as she is to bless someone. An angel who lovingly tends to those in need, and can't help but fall for the Devil, Satan Jack. Jack....wow. I thought I was prepared for his special brand of sexy swagger. Not even close. This man was beautiful, seductive, dangerous, and, dare I say, honorable. Unff. This man was so sexy, he made me hurt. Here's the deal: Imagine Johnny Depp. Yeah. Combine that image with that sexy mouth and that's all it takes to make the ladies, and angels, fall hard for Satan Jack.  Jack and Emma's love story is glorious, but not without tragic road blocks.

I was also surprised (pleasantly) by the elaborate, all-encompassing tale of love, pain, desperation, sacrifice and hope. I expected the Seraphim Series to be primarily about Jack and Emma. It really is, but it is also about the divine and demonic beings that set their journey in motion and the ones they meet along the way.The road these characters, particularly Emma and Jack, must travel is frightening, tragic and ultimately, worth it.

Crushed Seraphim is a story that I did enjoy, but I also spent a decent portion of my time gaining my bearings. I understood it, but I think I just needed some time to see how the pieces fit together. The story ended up coming together with  great force and left me flying to open Bittersweet Seraphim to discover what happens next.

Bittersweet Seraphim was a delight from beginning to end. It begins with the tragic love story of a minion of hell and a human. I would think that anything less than Emma and Jack would be unsatisfying, but this opening pulled me headfirst within the story. Jack and Emma quickly gain center stage of the book and while Crushed Seraphim seemed to focus more on Emma, Bittersweet Seraphim gives us SO. MUCH. JACK. Though I love awesome Emma, Jack's larger role in this book made it even more awesome than book one.

The Seraphim Series was great. Honestly, the more I sit here and consider, the more I'm loving it. So yes, I did get the lively, entertaining story I was expecting, but I also got so much more. More heartache. More pain. More love. Bittersweet Seraphim had one of the most beautiful endings that I've ever read. An ending that left me with teary eyes and a happy heart. I can safely say that Debra Anastasia and her remarkable stories are truly one of a kind.



Favorite Quotes:

  "As she spoke, her eyes filled with the same gold-colored sheen that had been in her tears. 'Don't listen to him. You're a miracle. If nothing else, I'm so very glad we've met.' "  ~Crushed Seraphim, 18%


  " 'No one knows you're here with me, Emma. Wanting me isn't a sin. I'll give you pleasure, pure and simple.'
  He snapped the second button of her union suit. It clattered to the floor and rolled on its rim, taking some of her virtue with it.
  'Pure.' Her ears were so sensitive, and the deep vibration of his voice drove her wild. He licked her lobe gently, then whispered again. 'And simple.' "  ~Crushed Seraphim, 33%


  "Jack took the cigarette from her and held it in his fingers. He took a drag and blew the smoke in his well-practiced way. It formed a heart-shaped ring. He grabbed a handful of her hair and kissed her solidly, his hands no longer shaking. He held tightly and moved her head to one side, then the other, as he tasted her mouth. She moaned and gave up caring where she was, who she was pledged to."  ~Crushed Seraphim, 80%


  "Jack unzipped his pants and spoke to Jason.  'You might want to have Kate close her eyes if you ever want her to sleep with you, asshole. Because once I take off my pants, you'll always come in second.' "  ~Bittersweet Seraphim, 33%


  "Jack ran a hand through his hair. At twenty-six, he'd had his share of the ladies. Okay, fine. He'd had ten guys' share of the ladies. There was just something about him -- mostly it was in his pants. He was like the pied piper of p***y and loved every g*dd*mn minute of it."  ~ Bittersweet Seraphim, 88%


  " 'It's you.' She started to cry again.
   The lump in his throat made his voice faulty. 'It's you.' "  ~Bittersweet Seraphim, 92%



You can purchase Crushed Seraphim at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


You can purchase Bittersweet Seraphim at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the kids, and their homework. The laundry pile turns into a big, heaping monster. When the clothes finally make it into the washer, it gets unbalanced and puts on an elaborate show before it cuts out. This crazy job that never ends is her first love and her crowning achievement. Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when along with the dogs, cat, kids, and husband, the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway for the plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. In the shower, a twist would take hold and--dripping and frenzied--she'd find somewhere, anywhere to write it down. Debra grew up in New York and got a bachelor's degree in political science at SUNY New Paltz. At the start of her marriage, she moved to southern Maryland with her husband. She still doesn't trust crabs and all their legs, though everyone else in her family thinks they're delicious. Her favorite hobbies include knitting, painting furniture and wall murals, and slapping clowns. Earlier this year Omnific Publishing published her debut novel, Crushed Seraphim, and she's currently pounding out the sequel to angel Emma's adventures. You can visit her website at www.DebraAnastasia.com and find her on twitter @Debra_Anastasia. (taken from GoodReads)