Review: Crave

Reviewed by Jen
 

Crave is book 2 in JR Ward’s Fallen Angel series. And if you’re on the fence about whether to continue with the series after Covet, then listen up.  This book is definitely a step in the right direction.

Here’s a quick recap on the premise of the series:  Angels and demons are battling for ultimate supremacy on earth. But instead of a war for the ages, they’ve agreed to whittle the fight down to just seven souls. Whichever team tips a simple majority of the seven in its favor, wins world domination. Only one man is supposed to be able to influence those chosen seven. Jim Heron is a fallen angel and ex-military man with a dark past.  He didn’t choose his place in this fight. He was drafted. But now that he’s in it, he wants to play for the angels and help lead the souls to the right path.

As the book begins, Jim is heading to Boston to help out an old friend from his military days, Isaac. Before Jim died and became an angel, his old boss, Matthias had ordered Jim to kill Isaac. But now Jim believes saving Isaac is his next mission.

Isaac is just trying to get out of the XOps organization that Matthias leads. He tries to earn some quick cash cage fighting, but the fight gets busted by the cops.  The beautiful Grier is his public defender. She takes a special interest in Isaac and uses her own money to spring him on bail. She tries her best to save him; stop him from running from his past. They fall for each other quickly.

Of course, Matthias hasn’t given up the idea of killing Isaac. And once he realizes that Isaac has developed feelings for Grier, he realizes he can use that to his advantage. Adding more fuel to the fire, Grier’s father is an XOps man too, also trying to break out of the organization.  But his attempts have only led to the death of Grier’s brother, who now comes to her as a ghost.

Our nasty demon, Devina, from Covet is back. And she is as twisted as ever. She’s got her hands squarely involved in this battle. She has some serious mental health issues. And now, it seems, she has a thing for Jim.

I enjoyed this book leaps and bounds over the last one.  I really enjoyed the romance as it bloomed between Isaac and Grier. Both characters were sympathetic and I wanted happiness for them both. And the bedroom scenes were very, very hot (in true JR Ward fashion).  There was also a twist toward the end, that turned everything on its ear.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for Jim and his comrades; Whether Devina will be punished for breaking the rules; And what will happen with Jim and Sissy (It feels like more is going to develop there, but maybe I am reading too much into it.) I have no doubt I will be reading Envy in September to find out.  4 1/2 stars.

Crave 

by JR Ward

Release Date: October 5, 2010

Publisher: Signet