Another wonderful novel by Greyle. This unusual time travel will have
you turning the pages to see if she is or if she isn't...
by Cybil Solyn
Katherine Greyle is becoming well known for her wonderful writing, humor,
and unusual plots. ALMOST AN ANGEL is no exception, and is her finest work
yet.
Carolly died in the Twentieth Century, and just as the back cover blurb
says, she has been bounced through time thinking that she is an angel trying
to get her wings. In this incarnation she arrives on the scene battered and
broken in the 19th Century just before Waterloo. She is rescued by James
Northram, The Earl of Traynern and immediately decides that her mission is
to not only find a wife for him, but to fix his strained relationship with
his young charge Margaret. Unfortunately what she didn't expect was falling
in love with the Earl herself!
James and Carolly are wonderful characters. Each have their own pasts to
confront and come to terms with before they can "live" again. For James and
Carolly this is their second chance at life. Carolly might be dead and
hopping from time to time, but as she falls in love with James she begins to
transform into Caroline, the identity of the woman she leaped into. James'
emotions died with his young friend on the battlefield when he was unable to
help the friend break free of his madness, but helping Carolly is his chance
to redeem himself. The only problem is that, as Carolly becomes Caroline she
begins to lose herself, and James loses the woman he loves.
Although this was a funny book, the middle area is about as dark as you
can get. It is only the fact that we as the reader know what happens in the
future that keep us rooting for Carolly to find herself and not slip into
Caroline's madness. We know Carolly is not mad, but the characters are so
well written that at times I almost believed that James was correct and
Carolly was crazy to think she was a pre-angel from the 20th Century.
My only complaint with the book was the "tacked on" feel of her sister's
plot. I am assuming that Greyle will be writing a book for her, but the way
it was cheesily added onto the end made me cringe. Still the book was
excellent, and I hope that the next installment will be as interesting as
this one.
Bottom Line: Light and dark mingle to create another wonderfully
unusual tale by Katherine Greyle.
From Rendezvous Reviews Online:
By the time Carolly Hanson arrives in the nineteenth century, she has
died three times trying to gain her wings. She is determined to be
successful in her latest reincarnation. James Northram, Earl of Traynem,
finds her battered, half nude body lying on the road and takes her to his
Manor. After listening to the tales of her previous lives, he decides she is
an escapee from Bedlam. Thinking her harmless, he allows her to remain in
his household. First, Carolly helps his niece learn to enjoy being a child;
then she sets out to find a proper wife for James. Although she decides the
governess will be the perfect candidate, she can't deny the passion she
feels when every James is near. After all, she is a would-be angel with a
mission to fulfill. It isn't until Carolly and Margaret visit the village
that she learns how much the villager hate James.. Even if you don't believe
in reincarnation you'll enjoy ALMOST AN ANGEL. It's light, airy and
sometimes deadly serious. Ms Greyle's talent shines as her plot unfolds.
Tension is a continuous pattern throughout in this intriguing tale. The
stiff-backed nobleman and light hearted heroine make for vivid contrast and
create an aura conflict. MT