Death Angel: A Novel

I have read several Linda Howard books before, so when I stumbled upon this book in the library, I decided to check it out. While it's not perfect, it is a very interesting read.

Andrea Rausseau is a whore. She is a drug lord's mistress, playing the dumb blond. Simon is a hitman. When Simon sees Andrea, she captures his interest, because he directly sees her intelligence, and knows that she is playing Salinas like a string. He is impressed by her act, and attracted to her, so he wants to have her one time. Salinas sells her to the assassin. I will say that that first sex scene left me uncomfortable, but as the scene continued it became better as we understood the characters better.

The experience leaves both protagonists shaken up, but especially Andrea. She realizes just how low she has sunk, by selling herself to the likes of Salinas. So she steals his money in revenge and runs away from him. Salinas calls on the assassin and asks him to take her out. Now Simon didn't give his answer to Salinas, but he did pursue Andrea.

The two things that stopped me from rating this higher were the fact that Simon was the one who caused Andrea's car-wreck, because he had pursued her so she sped up. It would have been much better if Simon didn't have any hand in it. Second, Andrea's death experience didn't make any sense (it would've made much more sense if those details had been left out, or written differently). Also more insight should have been given about Simon we barely know anything about him.

On the other hand, I thought that Simon's last name being "Cross" was a powerful touch in reference to redemption. Those two unlikable characters did need a miracle to bring them back from the precipice of destruction, and that's exactly what they got. The author was clever in that, for most of this book we are watching these two characters reform, so it was easier to care for them.

If you want to read a book about two people falling in love, this is not it, as the two characters are already connected to each other from the beginning; although they only acknowledge it towards the end. This book is about two very lost people, without hope or faith, finding their way to redemption. They also spend a good while apart in this book. Then when they meet again, Simon will do anything to protect Andrea.

The story was slow in several parts. However, all in all, this was an interesting read, that had me riveted from beginning to end.

If you have already read Death Angel you know that miracles refers to a pivotal plot point but it also refers to the fact that I loved this book. I was very reluctant to read it. Nothing on the synopsis really appealed to me. I wasn't much interested in a book about an amoral woman and held on to it for months before reading it. I thought that the hero would be a good guy undercover like an FBI or DEA agent but that would have been the easy way out for Linda and I'm glad she didn't take it. I liked the way she developed both characters and ended up rooting for them to be together, flaws and all. This could have been a typical story with the hero an undercover good guy and the heroine trying to get revenge on Salinas for a perceived wrong (death of a family member or something) and never having really slept with him. But I have to give Linda kudos for not taking the easy path with these characters. Drea is an intelligent woman who has spent the past 15 years using her looks and sex to get what she sees as the important things in life. She has downplayed her intelligence and with Rafael Salinas has in fact gone out of her way to appear slightly stupid. She has the dumb blond act down to a "t" and in fact knows that it is the only thing that has kept her alive for two years with Salinas. Right around the time she has just about decided that it's time to make her move on to the next mark, enter the assassin. No other name is given for him until at least a third of the way through the book and even the first time his name is used it is not clear if it is in fact his real name. Drea and the assassin meet at a critical point in their lives and the impact they have on each other is explosive. I can't really talk about the miracle aspect with out giving the story away but just want to say that it was handled by Linda with ease.

I loved the development of these two characters and their relationship. Even though it doesn't seem like it the time frame is almost a whole year. I like that while the hero/heroine decide that they are going to change they do not become completely different people. Drea is still a woman with a temper who has a difficult time making hard choices. The assassin is still a man who has a hard time opening up and trusting anyone. But Love changes them and makes them both see the value of life.

The details of Drea's attempt at flight and the assassin's ability to find her I found very interesting. If I ever need to hide a large sum of money and/or disappear I might refer back to this book for advice.:)

All in all I did really enjoy this book and found the end very satisfying (just like the two FBI agents) just wished it had been longer. I highly recommend it.

Weirdly compelling! Death Angel is a story of two broken people. He's an assassin for hire and she's a drug dealers mistress. Not because she loved the guy but for what he can buy her. So basically, two people I normally wouldn't buy a book to read about. But somehow, Linda Howard pulls off a redemptive tale of two people living hard lives and putting that aside and finding love. Pretty cool! I highly recommend.

I have developed a sort of love/hate relationship with Linda Howard. I tend to love her earlier works and hate what she has written the past 5 years or so, Cry No More being the exception to that rule. Death Angel was excellent and was more in line with the writing that makes Linda Howard one of the most talented authors on the planet!

This book starts out INTENSELY and EROTICALLY. I was hooked from the beginning page and read this book in one day. Drea Rosseau is a "trophy girlfriend" to a mob boss. She is "happy" with this life, hoping to "take what she can" until he tires of her. When his best "assassin" names sleeping with Drea as his price for service and Salinas agrees, Drea knows that she is a "whore at best" and vows to leave Salinas ASAP. What she doesn't bargain on are the feelings that the assassin brings out in her.

That's all I'm going to say about the plot. The rest you simply must read for yourself. I have been on a Anne Stuart kick lately because she does the "bad boy" hero better than anyone else.....but I had forgotten what a good Linda Howard book can do to itch the "bad boy' scratch. The assassin is one of the darkest men I've read about in a long time....I wish I knew him better by the end of the book, but it definitely adds to his intrigue. Drea was wonderful. She had flaws, but admits them and gets the chance to start again.

Don't miss this one.

After I finished this book the first time I wanted to leave a comment but I waited. I read it again, and it was still as good the second time around. In the beginning chapter I had a few doubts I would finish it. But I kept on reading and I'm so glad I did. This is not a typical love story. I love how this author makes her female characters strong and not stupid. Highly recommend this book. ?

Drea Rousseau hasn't been too impressed with the life she's lived in her youth. Using wit and her body she has spent years manipulating men into getting what she wants. Currently, she is pleased to be arm-candie to a ruthless drug lord/criminal, though she's ready to make a break. Moving suavely and expertly, without tipping the scales too much one way or the other, one day she has her room guards drop her off in town. As she makes her escape, life throws its own punches as the drug lord has found out about a rather hefty theft and pulls some strings to 'deal with her' in a ruthless way.

A wonderful adventure full of action, intrigue, romance and drama that thrills at every turn. Absolutely love the written dynamics by Linda Howard

Great concept of story, just not her best work. Even said that, I'm still adding this to my many romance book collection.

Setting: Modern Times

Drea, short for Andrea, was the girlfriend of a notorious crime lord, who met her true love, Simon, who was an assassin hired by the crime lord who wanted a couple of hours of sex with Drea instead of money for a job he did. After her heart was broken by Simon, Drea put her plans of escape into effect while stealing the 2 million dollars from the crime lord. Simon had been hired to find her and kill her, but while following her-- Drea died in a fatal car accident. Simon watched her die and because of his feelings, he wanted to get her body so he can give her a decent burial, but instead he was shocked to learn that she was alive. Andrea had been given a second chance in life and was given a gift of being a psychic. The best part was the ending where they both declared their love for each other. Simon killed the crime lord to protect Andie (AnDrea) because the FBI wouldn't have succeeded in putting away the villain unless the crime lord killed Andie.

Plot Summary: Drea Rousseau grew up as a poor girl with an ugly name, and her idea of moving up in the world is being the mistress of a powerful, moneyed gangster, Rafael Salinas. She hides her intelligence beneath long, blond, corkscrew curls, designer silks, and shopping binges on QVC. Drea's soft run is up, and she disappears via a well-planned scheme with several millions of the gangster's dough. Rafael dispatches a ruthless assassin-for-hire, who unravels all of her disguises and precautions with masterful skill. His hunt for Drea ends with her death on the side of the road and he reports a successful kill to Rafael. Only, Drea doesn't die, and her second chance at life heralds a new change for this bad girl who always took the easy road.

This novel begins with a stunning surprise, and any reviewer who blows it for the reader should be strung up and beaten with a stick. So, with my hands now tied, I'll continue. I am at a loss how to express my admiration for Howard's unique stories. There are too many romantic suspense novels that read like mutated clones of movies you've already seen. Howard's books may contain elements we're all familiar with -- the gangster, the mistress, the killer -- but in her hands they're unpredictable, like nitroglycerin. The boom will come when you least expect it.

Nobody portrays a girl on the run like Howard (this is not her first effort, and I hope it's not her last either). Drea is like a mouse in the field, and the hawk circling above is going to make its kill. It is only a matter of time. The detailed escape Drea planned out sounded brilliant to me, but the assassin's ability to track her had me doubting whether any corner of our planet is truly invisible anymore.

After Drea's accident, she woke up in a hospital, finally safe from Rafael, but with no purpose in life. Her stolen millions felt tainted so she ignored the money, and started on a new path in life, the right one, the hard one. She starts to realize how truly evil Rafael is, and the idea of letting him piss all over the world unfettered is more than her new spirit can stand. She begins to plot against him when someone unexpected steps in.

I haven't alluded to it yet, but there is a strong romance within this story, and our hero remains a shadowy figure, even through the end. Drea's life is displayed like a watermelon that's been split open, every seed, every soft spot, and every vein is visible. But the man remains an enigma, and it injects his actions with a boogeyman-like fear. In the end, I accept that I never truly knew him, but I did not doubt his devotion to Drea, and that's all that mattered.

I felt at times incredulous, bugged by the heroine, the uninterested and recurring details and too many verbs per 100 words. I've put the book down too many times to count but still went back to it whenever I found my next reading minutes.
But this is how I think I happened to like it: whenever you are in the dark, you're looking for the light and whenever you're in the light you're looking for the dark. This was a classical case of being in the dark and focusing on the hero's actions and redemption - which were nicely done, although brief.
So, if you're up for hours of dated survival skills when you're running from the mafia - plus 3 of 4 scenes that could qualify this book as a romance - than I hope you enjoy it.
I didn't find the book well written and I won't look for something similar - but it was above the average and.. enjoyable.

Drea Rousseau has no illusions about her life. She's living with/sleeping with Rafael Salinas, a crime lord, but she doesn't expect him to pass her services on to a cold-blooded assassin. The betrayal caused Drea to take Rafael's money and flee. Not surprising that he sends the same hitman to hunt her down and kill her. Through an accident, she ends up dying. However, after a trip to the other side, she comes back and is able to start her life over with a new identity.

As if this plot wasn't bizarre enough, the story was weighed down with too much information about money transfers. I also had a hard time believing a stone cold killer has a heart or that the FBI would bait him into killing. After reading BLOOD BORN, my first experience with Linda Howard's books, I felt disappointed with this far-fetched tale.

I don't think I ever read this particular storyline before and I felt myself torn. I didn't love the book or dislike it. It doesn't have much depth but then most romantic/thrillers don't so being entertained is the most I can hope for. Most of the book is about the 2 characters; The Assasin and the Mistress. Could they be redeemable? Perhaps! I think some reviewers have trouble with someone getting away with murder. HE did indicate he never killed anyone in law enforcement or women. The people he killed were evil men involved in the Underworld-Still one has trouble justifying it. Military men kill the enemy-but here it's a moral issue but this is fiction and the whole book takes on a fantasy feeling. I really doubt that Drea had the knowledge to transfer large sums of money to other banks but I saw some amusement in the fact that she did. The Miracle is a bit far out and another reason the story takes on a fantasy feel. It's not badly written and moves along except it does seem to get wordy at times. Simon and Drea are basically the only two characters in the book. Others come and go except for the 2 FBI agents who are very likable characters. In order for you to know the 2 main characters well, the author does need to give us a lot of their thoughts so therefore the excess wordiness. It's not a book I will probably read again but was an interesting change of storyline and though no one else mentions seeing humor in it but the fact it's a "dark" story I still saw an amount of humor to the whole concept. I haven't liked many of Ms. Howards books since the McKenzie's but this one was just enough different to keep my attention. Some reviewers didn't like Simon's character but
I can't see him played any other way. This is one book you will probably dislike strongly or really like it.

This book wowed me! Take one striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord. Until he hands her over for 5 hours to a cold-blooded assassin to do anything he desires as long as he doesn't harm her. For Drea this is the last straw. She makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash and running. Salinas knows she can't hide and he dispatches the assassin to kill her. Which results in a set of tragic events, that not only turns Drea's life upside down, but the assassins. This book has several surprising twists and turns. It also has a very different hero and heroine. I think you will be as surprised and pleased as I was with this different and unusual book.

After being underwhelmed by Howard's recent efforts, I got this one from the library and was pleasantly surprised. Starts with a bang, and I actually found the characters both interesting and likeable - which took some pretty talented writing, given that they're both "bad" people in need of redemption. They way in which they find their redemption was a little over-the-top to me, and the pacing is a bit slow, but otherwise a solid effort. Not giving it 5 stars only because she has definitely written better books - and I'm not putting her back on my "must buy it the day it comes out list" yet - but still it's a huge improvement over other recent titles by Howard.

I remember reading "Cover of Night" and thinking that one of the bad guys - a hitman - was the only interesting part of the story, and that she'd set him up pretty solidly for his own book. I was tempted to go check that one out from the library again and re-read it to see if this is, in fact, the same character - but "Cover of Night" was pretty dreadful, and I just can't make myself do it. Anyone who's read that more recently - does it seem like the same guy? (You can't tell by the names, because this guy uses a lot of aliases.)

I have had similar experiences where a book really hooked me and then took implausible turns for the worst. I stopped reading this paperback at page 256 because the heroine decides to give up found money for the afterlife and 2) start squealing on past acquaintances because of her just conquered but newly revived fear of death??? Plus, she is psychic about danger but doesn't know the guy chasing her is no danger... oi vey.

It amazes me that Howard has taken two people who are truly horrible and made them so likable. The female protagonist is a conniving, manipulative whore and thief. The male protagonist is a freaking hit man, for crying out loud. I enjoy Howard's books a lot, but I don't consider her to be a great writer. The character development in this one is pretty cool, though. The fact that she can make me sympathetic to two really despicable people is pretty amazing.

If you hang out with people who murder for money and exchange sex for goods and services, my apologies. ;-)

When mob moll Drea Rousseau discovers that her lover has betrayed her and given her to a hit man as payment, she knows her days with drug lord Salinas are numbered. What she doesn't count on is an intense connection to Simon the hit man. Simon feels it to, but ever the loner, he sends her packing. With no where to go, she disappears, stealing $2 million from Salinas, who immediately hires Simon to kill her. Having a crisis of conscience, Simon inadvertently causes tragic events to happen and watches her die, only to discover that she survived. After an out of body experience, Drea reinvents herself as Andie and goes on the straight and narrow but the reemergence of Simon in her life as well as the untouched drug money has her wondering if she should put Salinas away for good.

Finally Howard has penned a novel that kept me riveted from cover to cover. While the story was by no means profound, it proved that she's still got "it" - now if she'd just flaunt it more often, since her last several novels have been pretty lackluster. The characters are richly drawn and are reminiscent of some of her more endearing novels. Readers familiar with her work may recognize similarities between Simon and James Diaz, the mercenary with a heart from "Cry No More" and Drea/Andie kind of reminded me of Lily the assassin from "Kiss Me While I Sleep." Howard manages to take a couple pretty flawed characters and make readers care about them despite their unsavory pasts. Now if only Sandra Brown can redeem herself after that last atrocious novel...

CD/Abridged/Romance: For a smart woman, this chick made some bad decisions. First, what I read on the back of the box really was not a synopsis of the storyline.
The story is about a "smart" woman, with emotional scars, who somehow gets to be the girlfriend of a NYC druglord. The o-so-smart woman is biding her time to bankroll her departure. After a tryst with her druglord's boyfriend's assassin, she runs off. Trysty assassin really floated her boat and apparently his (this is HEA, but you have to jump through hoops to get there). Assassin is dispatched by BF to kill thieving girlfriend, but is killed in a car accident with assassin watching her die, taking her ID and computer. Jane Doe miraculously lives and builds a better life for herself as a Jane Doe. My whole thing is, when assassin comes back to find her alive and she sees him, she runs scared. When he says he's not going to harm her, she doesn't ask the most important question, "Can I have back my f-ing computer!" I don't care that it was a WallyMart computer; give me back my laptop!
This may be a better book than abridged CD, but I really don't see it. I'm giving it two stars because it is listenable, I don't recommend it.

I just finished Linda Howard's latest book: "Death Angel". In all honesty I loved it, and I couldn't put it down. And I will tell you why:

The main protagonist characters, that in any sense of reality are beyond redemption, are given a second chance...an unbelievable and fantastic chance that makes you question your own religions views as well as scientific ones.

Christian doctrine claims that "With God all things are possible". Linda pushes this concept to the limit with out attaching to any specific religious affiliation...and without alienating any reader's religious beliefs. She pushes the bounds of known science as well as the bounds of the heart, and the unknown realm of the after life.

She creates relateable characters that are "every person". They have made choices, choices we all make...good or bad. The characters are taken or pushed to the next level...a level that maybe we as readers have considered on occasion in our own lives. Linda is brutally honest with the complexity of the human emotional palate. The first chapter of the female protagonist being "traded" or "sold" explores more than just the standard drama conflict of hate, betrayal and of the pain of women being used and abused. Her emotional thicket of turmoil and the shades of grey morality choices, are woven with suspense and drama.

This is a fantastic read if you like female protagonists that are strong, imperfect and willing to start with themselves to make atonement...Regardless of the odds. If you do, be prepared to not be able to put this down.

Sometimes I just don't get Linda Howard, this book is too weird and yet also too boring for me. Full of very mundane details and thought processes (not engaging!) and then full of just plain strange stuff. This didn't work for me. It's Linda Howard, so not a wall banger, but definitely not a keeper.

Simon is an assassin who gets Drea for 4 hours after he bargains with her mafioso lover for her. I never quite got Drea/Andie, just didn't understand her, why she made the initial choices she had, why we are meant to care for her. Simon was standard LH cipher lover, all alpha and inexplicable. Hmmm.... there are better LH's out here.

Other reviewers have more than adequately detailed what the book is about so I won't be redundant. This will just be what I thought of the book.

As several have pointed out, this book "feels" a lot like "Son of the Morning" and "Cry No More". Not the plots mind you, but the mind-set and intensity of the main characters. It is not a tear-jerker though, more a thought provoker.

I was completely enthralled with the power of Simon and Andie's emotions and their bond. I had no problem at all believing and accepting that these two lost souls connected and together they found a form of redemption they couldn't find alone.

What I didn't like about this book was that it did get a little dry during the first half of the story, but it really grabs you during the second half. Once I got into the second half, I couldn't put it down. I wish there had been more involving Simon and Andie and their developing relationship. I also would have liked to know more of Simon's backstory.

I seem to be the oddball among reviewers here in that I liked "Killing Time", "Cover of Night", and "Up Close and Dangerous" but did not like the Blair Mallory books (couldn't even finish them). But I would have to say I liked this better than the other three.

Death Angel is the latest offering from author, Linda Howard. I've never been fond of the anti-hero books, but this one is largely an exception. Linda Howard has always been one of my favorite authors.

Drea Rousseau is the mistress of a highly successful drug dealer. She is traded off the for the afternoon to an assassin. Howard writes a rape situation and turns into a seduction where Drea pleads with the assassin to take her with him when he walks away. I found this entire scene incredibly distasteful.

So here we have the basis. The man who raped her. The woman who was raped. And they are the love interests. This is the part of the book I found hugely unbelievable, and yes, distasteful.

The rest of it . . . fantastic. I decided to ignore the "how" these two met and just enjoy the story of redemption and love. With her impeccable storytelling style, Howard takes on a journey of a broken man and woman who turn to each other after eschewing completely despicable lifestyles. As she grows into a strong, honorable woman, he grows into a man who would protect her at all costs, and does.

All in all, I liked the story . . . all except for the meeting of these two characters.

The first half of this book was astonishing. Somehow, I started caring about two people who were less than sterling - both lost souls. The second half of the book could have flowed from there with changes taking place in both people as they edged toward their better selves with help from each other.

The "miracle" in the middle of the book just did not fit. Does it really take something unbelievable for people to be redeemed? I hope not. The book would have been much better if the two halves of the book went together. It started falling apart at the miracle. I was glad of the happy ending.

***Minor spoilers included***

Ok, first of all whoever wrote the synopsis that is on the dust-jacket, obviously didn't read the book... The book is 341 pages long and she doesn't go talk to the FBI until page 293! So yeah she never joins forces with them so don't hold your breath like I nearly did.

I actually liked this book.

Was it her old style? Nope.
Was it better than Cover of Night (aka Worst. Book. Ever)? Yes.
Was it a survival manual like Up Close and Dangerous? No (Thank God!)
Did it have card board characters like Killing Time? No!

But don't look for humor. Because you will not find ANY. I would compare it to Cry No More, a darker read - filled with a lot of emotions.

Simon (the Hero - although I use that word hesitantly here - he's an ASSASSIAN for one thing) is a lot like Diaz (the hero from Cry No More.) Strong, very silent type who gets things done and makes no apologies for how he gets them done. But whereas Diaz had the whole "working for the government" thing going for him. Simon is just bad. B.A.D. He was almost to the point of "sociopath crazy man" but luckily when he thinks Drea died he feels remorse and then later is beyond overjoyed to learn she survived (there's a very touching scene that happens)

I feel he redeemed himself as much as he was able to and I like the fact that Linda Howard didn't turn him into a good guy overnight. Simon admits he'll never be like "normal" people but he'll try to be as close to one as possible for Drea. (Unless, you know, she's threatened - then all bets are off and he's pulling out the guns.)

I liked Drea. I didn't want to at first. She was the arm candy of a crime lord after all, but once you learn her background it makes sense that she wants to focus only on herself - avoid meaningful relationships - and have lots and lots of money. When the crime lord does something beyond offending to her, she exacts her revenge. And yay for the fact that Drea is SMART! Not only are we told she's smart but she actually ACTS smart. Sure Simon is proven to be more cunning when it comes to tracking people down, but he's an assassin, that's his job. As a civilian I thought Drea did a good job running, stealing 2 mil from the crime lord and surviving on her own.

Drea and Simon have an instant connection (be prepared to have your eye balls nearly scorched off at around page 10 and I am so not kidding!) I was a little unsure of what my reaction was supposed to be so early on. And I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the beginning. Part confused, with a little bit of an icky feeling thrown in, and a lot of Wow!

Later their connection grows. They don't technically spend a whole lot of time together, but they are constantly thinking of each other. This part of the plot relies heavily on the reader assuming these two are "meant to be together" and I'm so used to that by now it only annoyed me a little bit. But I really did feel a connection between them, in Drea's thoughts and in Simon's actions. Do I think they'll have a HEA forever and ever. Eh maybe. I still think Simon needs counseling.

Drea's death was interesting. And different. Not sure what I was expecting but I went with it. It causes Drea to take a hard look at who she had become and she does a complete 180. Which let's be frank, was definitely for the best.

Then there was a random thing about her having visions, and that plot point went nowhere fast I'm really not even sure why it was included. I'm all for paranormal touches (loved Dream Man and Now You See Her) but really why include something, rarely mention it, and then not even have it effect anything in the plot.

The end was abrupt and very predictable. I was disappointed by how anticlimactic it was (especially given the crappy synopsis on the book flap).

Worth reading IMO but still not near what her books used to be.

I knew when I finished this book that other readers were going to have trouble accepting the fact that Simon was/is a hitman, plain and simple. While reading the book, I kept waiting for more background on him to come out- such as he was secretly working for the gov't. But, nope. Didn't get that info, in fact, there wasn't much on Simon at all. Almost like LH cut him out of a cardboard box and said "You will have amazing eyes but say next to nothing."
Drea, I actually liked her even though many reviewers were calling her a whore. Yes, she was arm candy and slept with a drug lord for the life she wanted, but considering the hardknock life she came from, it's really not that unfeasable.
LH made her characters real with flaws and all and none of the "OMG. What is this person? A saint??" feelings that usually accompany me when I read through a romance.
For all the flaws in this book, I could not put it down.

Drea Rousseau liked the finer things in life; jewelry, designer clothing, unlimited expense accounts. To obtain these things, she became the mistress of Rafael Salinas, a major supplier of illegal drugs. He believes she is a classic bimbo, but Drea is smart enough to conceal from him how much she truly knows about his operation.

One day he assigns a job to the Assassin who in payment says he wants sex with Drea. Salinas accepts the terms. When Drea learns he "pimped" her she is outraged that he treated her as a street hooker. She takes the jewels he gave her and removes two million dollars from her account before leaving. Irate by what he determines is a betrayal; Salinas hires the Assassin to kill Drea. He doesn't get to kill her because she was in a car accident, but after being dead for an hour she returns to life. Drea has a new chance, but must change how she lives. She also believes she must get Salinas off the streets. She knows the Assassin who enabled her to live is the ticket; he has a connection to her just like she feels towards him. If they are to explore that attraction, she believes Salinas must go first.

Neither protagonist is a decent person as he is a vicious professional hitman and she is a hedonistic selfish SOB until they meet. Readers will admire them as they do what they must to survive and even somewhat empathize with the duo; an obvious display of Linda Howard's characterization skills. She has a chance to redeem herself, but he believes for him it is too late but hopes to help her. Ms. Howard has written a terrific tale that is filled with action and two different than usual "heroes" who come from the underbelly of society.

Harriet Klausner

When I first peeked at the back cover/synopsis, I thought "Uh, I'm not too sure about this one." Thank goodness I opened the front and started to read! The plot may be a bit too much for some people; too much sex and an alpha male who is a bona fide killer. Well, that's OK by me. Linda Howard can write about redemption and love even with the most unloving and hardened types (remember Diaz from "Cry No More"?) She accomplishes that and so much more in "Death Angel". Bravo Ms. Howard!

I thought it was very unrealistic. sure drea was like arm candy to rafel but i admired her spunk and guts. I really startede not caring fo the story after she died and She is supposedly a new person. please, so unrealistic. I did not have empathy for any of the main characters either.I just wanted to scram with salinas drea and simon , and tell them please give me abreak.

I just finished reading Death Angel, and I, like the previous reviewer, had a moment where you almost put it down...mine came not to far in as I found myself not finding anything redeemable about the characters. But I persevered and I have to say I absolutely loved this book. I loved the fact that the main characters had faults a plenty and never really had the fake "ding" kind of moment where everything is better and I'm changed etc. Instead you watched them grapple with life and decisions and you found yourself quietly rooting for them. Great book! Definitely pick it up and when you start questioning...remember a second chance makes it all worthwhile!

Recently picked this up at the Library and let me say, I found it to be a really good read. These characters aren't your ordinary hero & heroine, these are two people who've both experienced life from very different perspectives. He discovers he has a 'talent' for killing; she discovers that the school of hard knocks can sometimes all but break one's spirit. I found myself pulling for them both as individuals and as a couple. Haven't read Linda Howard in quite some time...this was a nice way to try her work again. I recommend Death Angel as a nice little side trip to somewhere unexpected in your imagination and un-anticipated in your heart. Enjoy...I did. The positive reviews helped me decide to give this one a try and I am really glad that I did,you will be too.

Fast paced, full of surprises, and characters full of life. Her novels never disappoint, so get things done because you will not be able to put this book down. Thank you for writing such outstanding works of fiction.

Although I agree with the other more detailed positive reviews, one plot point made me crazy: Drea/Andie is a smart, driven woman with a lot of guts, so there is no way someone of that survivalist character is going to do the STUPIDEST THING ON THE PLANET and transfer her ill-gotten gains to a bank in her tiny, childhood hometown! My God - that would be the FIRST thing/place a pursuer would check!! Other than that, I enjoyed it and was glad that Andie & Simon wound up free and together (romantic sucka, I! LOL).

Andie was a brilliant surprise and the thought of "him" chasing after her through the first half of the reading was a nail biter.
Alden, Cotton... great additions to the storyline.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced,well written,"oh my God,what's gonna happen next" read.

This book started out extremely strong. I was shocked how much I enjoyed the book because Linda Howard tends to be hit or miss (usually the latter, but when she has a hit, she does it well). I thought I had discovered one of her elusive hits. Unfortunately, after some great character development of the female protagonist and some very well written and enjoyable plot, this novel lost me.

This novel began its downward spiral during Drea's near death experience. Normally I enjoy supernatural elements novels; unfortunately, not only did it miss the mark supernaturally, it seemed out of place in this novel all together and was poorly written. After that scene, the novel seems rushed and the characters are extremely one dimensional. Even Drea becomes one dimensional after her change of heart.

The ending is anti-climactic at best. I enjoyed the first half of this book but ultimately, I was disappointed.