UnGuarded

Jul 21, 2012 Nicki Markus rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having enjoyed a previous work by Ashley Robertson, I was keen to see what she would come up with this time and I must say that the end result is a fast-paced tale of action and suspense.

Selene is a very sympathetic characters and someone the reader can really get behind. I also liked the supporting cast who were all well realised.

This book launches you into the action straight away and that fast pace remains right through, keeping you turning the pages, eager for more.

The story idea was well co...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, reviews

Guardian angel Selene did the one thing Angels shouldn't do... fall in love with a vampire. Her vampire lover, Cole has been taken and Selene is eager to find him. But to do this it would leave her human charge Caitlyn helpless to any and all attacks. But she has to make some choice. Either lose Cole forever or lose Caitlyn and any hope of becoming an archangel.

Angel, Vampires & Demons, oh my! This was a great read. I loved Cole and Selene's story -- and it was made even more interesting wit...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Ashley (Nose Graze) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-author-4-review, blog-tour

As posted on booknook - Young Adult book reviews

Oh my goodness, Ashley Robertson really starts this story off with a kick! Immediately we are thrown right into the action, with flashbacks, angels, demons, and vampires! UnGuarded was my first book about angels and I absolutely adored it. I loved learning about the angel hierarchy, their duties, and their enemies.

Selene, an angel, is distraught because her vampire lover Cole has been kidnapped, and it's her fault. Now she has to make a choice: she...more As posted on booknook - Young Adult book reviews

Oh my goodness, Ashley Robertson really starts this story off with a kick! Immediately we are thrown right into the action, with flashbacks, angels, demons, and vampires! UnGuarded was my first book about angels and I absolutely adored it. I loved learning about the angel hierarchy, their duties, and their enemies.

Selene, an angel, is distraught because her vampire lover Cole has been kidnapped, and it's her fault. Now she has to make a choice: she can abandon all hopes of rescuing Cole, or she can give up her human charge in exchange for information on how to find him. What does she put first: her duty as an angel, or her love for a vampire?

This book reminded me of those questions that get posted online like, "Would you hurt someone to save your lover?" Those are the kinds of things you think about, but never actually expect to happen. But in UnGuarded, it does happen, and Selene has to make that decision.

If I betrayed Caitlyn for just an hour, Moros would help me save Cole. [...] Was it worth Cole's undead life to give my human charge over to the monsters? [...] Everyone has a choice. After a few grueling moments, I'd made mine.

This book is filled with so much raw emotion that had me getting teary at times. I really sympathized with Selene's position and struggled with her as she made her choices. I could completely understand where she was coming from: she had a strong desire to save her lover, but she also didn't want to throw her human charge to the demons. Not only is she responsible for her charge—Caitlyn—but she also has a friendship and a bond with her. She's basically forced to choose which one will be hurt (or worse). It's really heartbreaking to see Selene go through this struggle and deal with the pain and guilt, and meanwhile, her status as an angel is also at risk. She was so close to becoming an archangel, but ever since she fell in love with a vampire—a creature of darkness—her reputation and powers have been on the decline. And now that she's neglecting her duties as Caitlyn's charge, she's seriously risking becoming a fallen angel.

At first, most of what we know about Cole is through a series of flashbacks. We never actually meet Cole until much later in the book. At first it was difficult to relate to and understand Selene's love for Cole when we never actually met him, but as the memories and flashbacks became more frequent, I began to understand. Their love is forbidden, but beautiful at the same time. They truly care for each other and are willing to risk life itself.

UnGuarded does have a love triangle, but it's done in such a way that I have no idea who to root for. We get to know Cole through the flashbacks, but that's it (until the end of the book). Then there's Luke. Luke is helping Selene rescue Cole. So I was wanting to root for Cole since he's the one Selene already loves, but I found it hard to stay loyal to him when I never actually 'met' him! So part of me wanted Selene to remain loyal to Cole, but then Luke was there in all his sexiness, stealing the spotlight! I think finally I did decide that I'm a Cole fan because Luke has more of the bad boy vibe and that's usually not the kind of guy I like!

(view spoiler)

This is a really beautiful book about star-crossed lovers, guilt, good vs. evil and sacrifice — all wrapped up with action and racey tidbits that will have you screaming for more!(less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Krista rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels-demons, speculative-romance-challenge, review-on-blog, vampires, upper-ya, arc, favorites, indie-author, urban-fantasy

I won’t spend too much time giving the recap of events because the synopsis above gives the most important information already. Mini recap: Selene is a guardian angel. Her job - her existence - is to protect her charges from the darkness that encroaches daily. However, she has found herself loving a vampire, a big no no for those who work for the light. She has already been demoted once and has broken more rules than she can count. But what she doesn’t understand is why loving something – even s...more I won’t spend too much time giving the recap of events because the synopsis above gives the most important information already. Mini recap: Selene is a guardian angel. Her job - her existence - is to protect her charges from the darkness that encroaches daily. However, she has found herself loving a vampire, a big no no for those who work for the light. She has already been demoted once and has broken more rules than she can count. But what she doesn’t understand is why loving something – even something dark – could cause her to fall.

Love her or hate her, Selene is a memorable character. She is moral and selfless and loyal to a fault. Everything she does is for the love of someone else, even if it isn’t exactly “legal” for an angel. However, we see that even though she is full of love, it is a certain type of love has led her astray from what her true calling is. As an angel she is supposed to love everyone, but when she falls in love with one person she starts neglecting her charge. She can’t grasp that even though her love for Cole feels so right that her actions have put someone else in danger. The old adage “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” describes Selene’s actions to a T. Every time she is told to do one thing, to be obedient, she does the exact opposite because she thinks she knows better than anyone else. She takes on a God complex and seems to think that she gets to decide everyone else’s fate because she can’t bear to lose them.

Ashley Robertson has created a world in which angels, demons, and vampires dwell. You don’t see this very often combined together. Usually it is either angels and demons or vampires and other supernaturals. The idea that everyone has both an angel and a demon following them at all times, while similar to the angel/demon on your shoulder, is made more real and that they are not just whispering things in ears, but can affect a person physically. I also liked the fact that there was a hierarchy and that there was a God they were accountable to and one that made the ultimate decisions. Not every angel book does this and I really like the fact that the world was based on the general biblical belief system and not a new mix of various pantheons. The one issue I had was the intermixing of the pronoun ‘him’ in italics. It is used not only for the God figure, but later for Luke or Cole and it was a tad confusing.

The relationships in UnGuarded were fascinating to say the least. I know that Selene loves Cole, but all we really get to see of them is through her memories and a few interactions so it was hard to love them as a couple. I found myself rooting for Luke even though I was never sure of his intentions. But I liked that Selene, though tempted, stayed true to her love for Cole. It is good to see that a female heroine can make a decision and not fall in love at first sight, or more aptly fall in lust. We also see that she never stops fighting or trying to find answers and she never stops to wallows in her own pity.

I would love to read a prequel or short story describing how Selene and Cole fell in love. Maybe then I would feel more for the couple. This is a stand-alone book and the story is wrapped up nicely. The writing is well done and the editing is near flawless. I love books that are not only fun and entertaining, but I also love a book that makes you think and UnGuarded made me ponder the ideas of good vs. evil, heaven vs. hell, and how the choices we make affect others.

For full review visit http://breatheinbooks.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Emily Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

What happens when an Angel falls in love with a Vampire? I didn’t know until I read UnGuarded. It had everything love, lust, death, punishment, remorse, and so much more. I love Ashley’s style of writing, and how she created a world of good and evil, and then blurred the lines. The book kept me up late, and in suspense of what would happen next. There were a few moments where I thought she would go one way, but she stayed true to her characters, and their feelings. Selene wasn’t willing to throw...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Brianna Lee Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arr, reviewed, paranormal, romance, action, contemporary, r2r, supernatural, vampires, ya, angels

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What immediately drew me to this novel was the cover! It’s beautiful – simple, yet stunning. I know I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I will tell you that it definitely caught my attention. It made me want to know more about the girl on the cover, and what the title “UnGuarded” had to do with her.

Selene is a Guardian Angel that was a step away from becoming an Archangel, the most supreme of all beings. But, when she...more I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What immediately drew me to this novel was the cover! It’s beautiful – simple, yet stunning. I know I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I will tell you that it definitely caught my attention. It made me want to know more about the girl on the cover, and what the title “UnGuarded” had to do with her.

Selene is a Guardian Angel that was a step away from becoming an Archangel, the most supreme of all beings. But, when she fell in love with her vampire boyfriend Cole, she lost her chance along with some of her Angel powers. If she doesn’t do everything she is supposed to do then she just might lose her Angel status altogether. But, Selene is willing to take that risk. Her lover Cole was kidnapped when she brought him to Charon, a world beyond Earth. Selene feels responsible for what happened to Cole and will stop at nothing to get him back, even if it means leaving her charge unguarded. Every Human Being has a Guardian Angel and a Demon that follows them at all times. Caitlyn Harris is Selene’s Human charge and very close friend, so when Selene makes the decision to leave Caitlyn unguarded in order to save Cole, it makes it that much harder on her. Selene knows that as soon as she leaves Caitlin alone, the Demons are going to come out and play.

“If anything happened to her, it would be my butt on the line. But if anything bad happened to Cole, it would be my fault” (Kindle 3%, Location 190).

Selene knows that Caitlyn should be her top priority, but no matter what she does her mind is stuck on saving Cole. She has been trying to rationalize the situation to make it better, but nothing helps. Regardless of what Selene does, she is in a state of constant guilt and emotional turmoil.
Saving Cole won’t be easy; Selene knows she can’t do it all by herself if she wants to make it out alive and with her freedom from the Demons. Selene ends up forming an alliance with another vampire, Luke, in order to increase her chance of success with freeing Cole. Will Luke be able to give Selene the help she needs? Will Selene be able to get Cole back without anything happening to Caitlyn? Or is it already too late for both of them? Read “Unguarded” to find out – you will not be disappointed!

I liked Selene’s character in this story. I think that people who have been in love before would relate to Selene and understand her actions more, compared to someone who has never been in love. If you have never been in love, to the point where you would do absolutely ANYTHING for that person, Selene’s character might be hard to relate to. You might wonder why she would abandon her friend for her boyfriend, among other things. But love doesn’t always make people do the smartest things, though nobody ever said love was logical.

I also enjoyed the supporting cast in this story. I found myself liking Luke maybe more than I should. I know I should have been routing for Cole, but I just liked Luke! I admit, I am a sucker for a bad boy…Of course, I wanted Selene to rescue Cole and I wanted him safe…but I just didn’t know too much about him, whereas Luke was active throughout the entire book. I guess I just wouldn’t have minded if Selene had more interest in Luke. I think I felt bad for him! I do appreciate that she stayed strong though. Selene is a solid, female character that I respect. She gave Cole her heart and she isn’t taking it back – she is very loyal to him.

Robertson’s work of Angels and Demons living right among the humans makes me wonder if I have a Guardian Angel and Demon trailing me at all times. It’s kind of crazy to think about actually! As for the romance, the forbidden love between an Angel and a Vampire is exciting! It’s not supposed to happen, so I find myself wanting it to happen! The only thing…yes I will admit there was ONE THING…is that I wish I had a little more background on Selene and Cole. There was a quick moment when I had to double check if there was a book prior to this one. But, I think Ashley Robertson made the flashbacks work, especially as they became more frequent. However, in my opinion it would be absolutely awesome if there was a prequel short story that was primarily focused on Selene and Cole’s relationship and how they met and made their bond so strong. I think it would be good to have a little bit more insight as to why Selene loves Cole so much and would risk EVERYTHING for him.

Round of applause to Ashley Robertson! “Unguarded” was great! I give it 4 STARS, and would definitely recommend her work to fellow readers. I will also definitely read more of her work – I know that I am going to check out her other title “Crimson Groves” right away! I think you should check out her work too :)
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Jul 16, 2012 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

A big motion picture story? Definitely!
It is not the typical vampires versus werewolves and the human lover. Good and evil have joined and twisted this love story to a series of events leaving the reader anxious for the sequel. Each chapter depicts a vivid picture of an angel and a vampire emotionally involved, demons roaming the earth hungry for humans, and humans are victims of a war between heaven and hell.. Unguarded has finally opened the doors to a new and higher level of urban fantasy tha...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Niki rated it 5 of 5 stars

How far will someone go to make things "right" m great book

Selene is a guardian angel that was close to become Archangel and she would have if she hadn't fallen in love with Cole and vampire, one in the dark and not good for an Angel.
When she finds out Cole is in trouble because of a mistake she made, she does everything needed to get him free. Even when it means meeting up with dark ones and worse make deal with them.

When she is on the mission to safe Cole her human she is supposed to protect g...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Asha Pena rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a fun story for me to read. I love reading all types of vampire books and some with angles. So this was a real treat for me to read something new and different then I have ever read before. I really liked Selene a lot in the book, being pulled in so many directions and having to make tuff choices. This book keeps you going from the start from Selene being sent to earth to being Caitlyn’s guardian angel to helping her love Cole.

Cole ends up being kidnapped by demons and taken to Charon,...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Valerie Mcqueen rated it 5 of 5 stars

My review of UnGuarded by Ashley Robertson

Rating 5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review. The opinions voiced here are solely my own and given freely.

Selene was sent to eath to be a guardian angel. Her first responsibly is always her charge Caitlyn, who also happens to be her dear friend. Against the archangel's warning she has been spending way too much time in human form bonding th her charge. These moments have also allowed Selene to-do the un...more My review of UnGuarded by Ashley Robertson

Rating 5*****

This book was provided free from the author in exchange for honest literary review. The opinions voiced here are solely my own and given freely.

Selene was sent to eath to be a guardian angel. Her first responsibly is always her charge Caitlyn, who also happens to be her dear friend. Against the archangel's warning she has been spending way too much time in human form bonding th her charge. These moments have also allowed Selene to-do the unthinkable...fall in love with Cole who is a vampire. Angels of light and never supposed to associate with creatures from the darkness...let alone love them.
Selene's decisions have now brought on cure consequences. First so all she is losing some of her angel powers. Next both Cole and Caitlyn suffer horrible incidents leaving them mortally wounded. The question is just how far will Selene go to make things right once and for all.....
This book was beyond amazing. First of all I loved that it encompassed creatures of both light and darkness. The angels were more humanistic and believable than in any other book I have read. Not just the ordinary angels can do no wrong scenario, but one where angels mimic humans and do have the choice of free will. They experience decisions with consequences and have humanity. The demons are clever and cunning ....some are very likeable while others really do make you despise them. I found Selene to be very endearing, selfless and a joy to share in her story. Almost never in life are the answers easy, and those she faced were far from easy. She was very selfish at times but took responsibility for her actions. Things all of us have done. I was very impressed with this novel and it is a wholehearted must read. I am holing there will be a part two to this because there are a few things she.purposely left the reader hanging over.......On the grammatical front...the novel flowed very well, no grammatical errors I could fine and characters were very well likeable and developed. A book you seriously won't put down. On this one I really don't even have any suggestions about what could be better all I can say here is keep up the awesome work !!!!(less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Phaedra Seabolt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Demons, Angels, and Vampires, OH MY! This is the second book by Ashley Robertson that I have read, and I have to say that I really enjoy her writing style a lot. I had a really tough time putting it down. The story is about an angel named Selene. She is assigned to a human to guard. All guardian angels are given a human that they watch and similarly there is a specific demon that is normally assigned to that human as well. As long as the human doesn't do terrible deeds, they will join the light...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review By Cassie Hoffman for Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews and Editing

As soon as you delve into UnGuarded you are launched into action right off the bat, which I enjoyed, and it keeps with that same pace throughout the whole book. It is filled with angels, demons, vampires and a few immortals. Good versus evil is what this book is all about. What would you do for the love of your life? Would you risk one person for another? Would you risk your life for that of a person you care about? Those are the...more Review By Cassie Hoffman for Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews and Editing

As soon as you delve into UnGuarded you are launched into action right off the bat, which I enjoyed, and it keeps with that same pace throughout the whole book. It is filled with angels, demons, vampires and a few immortals. Good versus evil is what this book is all about. What would you do for the love of your life? Would you risk one person for another? Would you risk your life for that of a person you care about? Those are the questions Selene finds herself facing.

Selene is an angel guardian, whose main priority is to protect and watch over her charge, Caitlyn Harris. Caitlyn is Selene’s responsibility, to watch over and keep safe from demons. Selene was on her way to becoming an archangel, who are the most supreme beings to exist. Every angel strives to become one. Selene was close, but then she fell in love with Cole, a vampire. Angels are not supposed to be with vampires, but Selene loves Cole and that’s all that matters. She has given up being an archangel to be with Cole and some of her powers were stripped, but being punished still will not keep them apart.

Cole ends up being kidnapped by demons and taken to Charon, a realm that has been over taken by demons. Selene has a hard choice to make, to leave her charge, Caitlyn, behind unguarded and without protection, which could leave her open for attack by demons.

Selene chooses and her choice is to find Cole and save him. While trying to find Cole, Selene meets another vampire, Travis, who helps her get Cole back, along with a few other vampires and demons. While teaming up with Travis to get Cole back, there is a bit of tension between the two…don’t you want to find out what kind? (Lol, well I’m not going to tell you! Read the book!)

While Selene is gone and Caitlyn is unguarded, something horrible happens to her, and her future is uncertain. So again Selene finds herself trying to fix what happened to Caitlyn, and she will do absolutely anything to help her charge. Selene goes to Raphael, an archangel and her mentor for help, but there is nothing that can be done. Caitlyn’s future is marked in stone, with only two outcomes, and they are not ones that Selene feels she can live with. Follow Selene on her journey to see how it turns out. Will she triumph…or fail?

I have not read any previous books of Ashley Robertson’s before UnGuarded, and I’m popping my hand for not having before this. She is a great writer and takes her readers into a world that she describes so well and leaves nothing out. You could actually picture yourself being there. I have not read a book like this one before, one that is filled with angels, demons, vampires, fallen angels and some immortals. I’m so glad that I chose this book to read and do a review for, it has opened my reading horizon. I loathe books that have misspelled words, mistakes, and do not have a great flow and happily UnGuarded is not one of those books. She writes so well and I did not find one misspelled word in the whole book, nor did I find myself drifting off into space. Throughout this book you will meet so many different characters, and they are so very likeable. It is full of action, tension, drama and love. You have good versus evil, and evil actually joining forces with the good to help out. The situations Selene finds herself in could be applied to everyday life, if you take out the paranormal aspect. I will definitely check out more books by Ashley Robertson.

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Jul 22, 2012 Lana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Unguarded, I will say, has potential. The plot is intriguing, the drama is thick and runs through the entire novel, and the writing is well done. The chemistry between Luke and Selene was electric, and pulsed right off the page, easily drawing me into the book. Finally! A love story where the girl and/or the guy doesn't immediately fall in love and forget everything else in the world, besides the other member of the relationship! How many times have I whined about that, guys? Seriously.

That bein

...more

Unguarded, I will say, has potential. The plot is intriguing, the drama is thick and runs through the entire novel, and the writing is well done. The chemistry between Luke and Selene was electric, and pulsed right off the page, easily drawing me into the book. Finally! A love story where the girl and/or the guy doesn't immediately fall in love and forget everything else in the world, besides the other member of the relationship! How many times have I whined about that, guys? Seriously.

That being said, the other side of the love triangle miffed me a little. I kind of feel like I missed the first book in this series. Cole and Selene were already together when UnGuarded starts, but you don't see them interact until about...oh, 50% through. But by then, the reader (me, at least) has already seen Selene and Luke semi-flirting and teasing each other, and you see Luke really cares for Selene, and that Selene is confused about her feelings, but as soon as Cole is back in the picture she suddenly doesn't care anymore.

In all honesty, Selene infuriated me until ~86% through. I won't tell you all WHY I liked her near the end, but during the rest I wanted to smack her. Considering she is an angel, and isn't fallen, her number one priority should be her charge, Caitlyn, just by nature (as is in any other angel story I've read, and I have read several). But it's not. Caitlyn almost feels like an afterthought to Selene, and Cole is her entire center. Sound the alarms, you all should know by now I hate when girls, in books or in real life, do this...

Though, I will say, I'm very glad that "God" wasn't a giant WHAP in the jaw for this book. A lot of the angel books I've read mention God so much, and personally, I don't like it. I don't like talking about it and I don't like reading about it, so I'm really glad it wasn't so "GodGodGodGodGod" in this. The matter was obviously mentioned--we are talking angels, here--but Robertson didn't rub it our faces and I was relieved by that.

The world Robertson created has a lovely air about it, though I wasn't blown away, I still think it was a nice little read, and I would most likely pick up a sequel if Ashley were to write one (for the hopes that Luke is given another chance, because...I really like those two.)

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Jul 07, 2012 Kami rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

If any of you reading this have read some of my reviews before this you know I NEVER give out 1/2 stars. I stick to solid numbers. But with this book I find myself unable to stick to my normal, and I have to give it a 1/2 star.

Lori and I were offered this book by the Author to review, and even though Angels are not really my thing, the description captivated me and I really wanted to read this one. This is a solid book, good writing, mostly likable characters, good plot, battle of good...more 3.5 Stars

If any of you reading this have read some of my reviews before this you know I NEVER give out 1/2 stars. I stick to solid numbers. But with this book I find myself unable to stick to my normal, and I have to give it a 1/2 star.

Lori and I were offered this book by the Author to review, and even though Angels are not really my thing, the description captivated me and I really wanted to read this one. This is a solid book, good writing, mostly likable characters, good plot, battle of good an evil, and most of all captivating. I was hooked.

Selene is a Guardian Angel, who was just a few steps away from becomming an Archangel, when she fell in love with a vampire. Along with going against all the rules to be with Cole, she is becomming more careless with her charge Caitlyn. Even though everything she does in this book is in the name of love, I found myself disliking her more and more throughout the book. She is selfish and reckless. I understood her desire to want to help those she loves, but really all the does the whole book is make things worse for everyone, including herself.

In her search for finding Cole, who was kidnapped, she meets a vampire named Luke. I understand that this book is about her love for Cole, but since we didnt get to experience the act of them falling in love, I have stronger feeling towards Luke than I have towards Cole. If I had to pick a team I would be Team Luke right now. If there was a prequel to this book, where we could experience Cole and Selene falling in love then maybe I would be more Team Cole since I would then have that connection. I like Cole, dont get me wrong, but I feel more for Luke.

I liked the twists and turns in this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat and always guessing what would happen next since I really had no idea. Overall I liked this book. I dont think I will read it again, but if there were to be another book following this one, I would read it for sure. It is unclear to me if this is a part of a series or not. The ending seemed a little abrupt to me, and I keep wondeirng what will happen to the other MC, so I am hoping for another book to follow this one. I will be watching this Author and I cant wait to read her other book Crimson Groves.
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Jul 09, 2012 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, must-read, paranormal-adult, ya-paranormal-romance, young-adult

I recieved this book as a gift to review on my blog. Boy am I a happy happy girl. Ashley Robertson is supreme awesomeness folks. No lie. Now to the book.
Unlike Kami I have a thing for angels. This however is different then all the other angel books I have read. Selene is a guardian angel. Not a nephilim. Not a big bad fallen angel. Etc. Etc. She is truly an angel. I found that very refreshing and new and great.
The writing was top of the line. I know there are people out in reading land that hat...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Alishia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review

How many chances is a guardian angel given before they fall from grace? For guardian angel Selene she is extremely close to finding out. Before meeting her vampire boyfriend, Cole, Selene was on the verge of becoming an archangel, but after her forbidden relationship was discovered Selene was stripped of some of her angelic abilities.

While she still has enough guardian abilities to watch over her human charge, Caitlyn, Selene knows that loving Cole comes with a risk – she could become a fallen a...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, hot-vamps, ya, fantasy

UnGuarded is an wonderful love story. It is like West Side Story meets Dracula. The story revolves around Selene, an Angel and Cole, a Vampire. They are in love. Angels and Vampires are banned from interacting. Angels are from “the good side” while Vampires are from “the bad side ”. Yet here we have Selene and Cole defying all odds and falling in love. Selene is told by her Archangel Raphael to stay away from Cole. She is at risk of Falling and loosing everything. This is only the tip of the ice...more UnGuarded is an wonderful love story. It is like West Side Story meets Dracula. The story revolves around Selene, an Angel and Cole, a Vampire. They are in love. Angels and Vampires are banned from interacting. Angels are from “the good side” while Vampires are from “the bad side ”. Yet here we have Selene and Cole defying all odds and falling in love. Selene is told by her Archangel Raphael to stay away from Cole. She is at risk of Falling and loosing everything. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it come to the things that Selene and Cole have to deal with. When Cole is kidnapped by a demon, Selene risks all to get him back. That includes risking the life of her human charge Caitlyn and being blood bound to Vampire Luke. Selene saves Cole but they have to fight to keep the relationship together at the same time Selene is fighting her growing feelings for Luke. Cole is home safe and sound, now Selene has to focus on Caitlyn. Her time is running out and Selene is the only one who can save her. In saving her and herself everything goes awry. In the end Selene finds herself not quite Fallen and with the one she loves. Mrs. Robertson did an awesome job of having different paranormal worlds collide and flow so wonderfully. This story is full of action, love, a little mystery and some good old drama with a love triangle. This story has dimension ad doesn't fall flat. Everything works well together to keep you entertained from beginning to end.
I like the fact that the author puts good and evil as allies. They fight together to rid the world of a common enemy. You see enemies working together all the time but I think I like it more because they are Angels, demons and Vampires. They are the pinnacle of Good and Evil.
I have to say my favorite character is Luke. I have a soft spot for the bad boys. I think that he means well when it comes to Selene but he does play dirty to get close to her. You have to admit though he never would have gotten as far as he did with her if she didn’t have some sort of feelings for him.
Cole is my least favorite. It’s not because I am rooting for Luke but because Cole was a jerk when Selene helped to get him back. Instead of being there for her he was kind of mean because of what happened between Selene and Luke. I mean hello she basically went to hell and back to rescue you. You could be a little more grateful. ( I really get into the books I read. Can’t you tell?)
Overall thoughts: This is Mrs. Robertson’s second paranormal book and I think that she is getting better with each one. I liked that she ended it where there could be a second UnGuarded book, and I hope there is. I look forward to reading more from this author. (less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Athena Nagel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

This was a great spin on the classic tale of forbidden love. And how can you not fall for Luke – I liked him the second he entered the scene in the story. Selene is the main character in this story and she is a Guardian Angel. Selene strikes me as naive – she never quite sees the full picture. She is very impulsive and falls for the quick fix. I know lives are at stake but she just doesn’t seem to “get it”. The author has developed a really good story line but the reader is whipped through so ma...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Melissa Simmons rated it 3 of 5 stars

UnGuarded, I will say, has potential. The plot is intriguing, the drama is thick and runs through the entire novel, and the writing is well done. I also very much enjoyed the chemistry between Luke and Selene; when it was the two of them, I was sucked in to the story, watching these two visibly pulse with electricity. It was very fun for me! Finally! A love story where the girl/guy doesn't immediately fall in love and forget everything else in the world just because their animalistic urges spoke...more UnGuarded, I will say, has potential. The plot is intriguing, the drama is thick and runs through the entire novel, and the writing is well done. I also very much enjoyed the chemistry between Luke and Selene; when it was the two of them, I was sucked in to the story, watching these two visibly pulse with electricity. It was very fun for me! Finally! A love story where the girl/guy doesn't immediately fall in love and forget everything else in the world just because their animalistic urges spoke up... How long have I been looking for this? And even when Selene had a flashback of a moment with Cole, it was adorable and easy to see they were in love.

However. The main character frustrates me beyond belief. As she is an angel, her one care and priority should be Caitlyn, her charge-- this isn't just my opinion, it is in every story with an angel in it I have read, and even some lore --and all Selene cares about is Cole. Now, maybe if you'd met Cole before you hit the half-way mark of the book, or if their was a book before UnGuarded where you saw Selene having to make that decision to not become an archangel, to stay with Cole, then I might be able to deal with her easier. But honestly! She mentions several times how she is willing to die for Cole, because he's worth it, but when the same idea is offered to save her charge's life, she isn't sure. This made me blink and wander off a few times, just because I needed a break from Selene's strangeness. I love angel stories, so I... wasn't thrilled with this change.

Though, I will say, I did like how God wasn't a major WHAP in the jaw for this book. Obviously the matter was mentioned; we are talking angels after all (even though Selene didn't seem like an angel to me and more like a teenage girl, but), but there wasn't a big attempt to rub everything religious in your face. Personally I can't stand that crap, and I'm very glad it wasn't here.

The world crafted here has a lovely little air about it, and though it didn't blow me away, I do think it was a nice little read (even if the characters made me angry, they at least made me feel something, right?). I enjoyed it.~Lana(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 C.V. Hunt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ashley Robertson has created another fantastic world with a collection of every creature you could imagine. Vampires, angels, demons, sirens, and shadow sliders all take center stage in Unguarded.

Selene is an angel with a dilemma; she’s in love with a vampire. Her ranking as an angel has been demoted after the revealing of her love affair, and she has been warned to stay away from any dark ones. When her lover, Cole, is suddenly taken hostage, there are few places to turn. The angel is willing...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

What happens when an angel falls in love with a vampire? That's unexpected in itself right?

Selene a guardian angel finds herself head over heels for a vampire Cole. Cole is taken by some evil demons and all Selene can think about is how to get him back. Not only does she love Cole, but she finds herself having feelings for a second vampire Luke.

She is tempted, distracted, determined and leaves her charge unattended. Doing so allows the demons to come and disaster for Caitlin, Selene's charge...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Cassie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unguarded by Ashley Robertson: Review by Cassie Hoffman

As soon as you delve into UnGuarded you are launched into action right off the bat, which I enjoyed, and it keeps with that same pace throughout the whole book. It is filled with angels, demons, vampires and a few immortals. Good versus evil is what this book is all about. What would you do for the love of your life? Would you risk one person for another? Would you risk your life for that of a person you care about? Those are the questions S...more Unguarded by Ashley Robertson: Review by Cassie Hoffman

As soon as you delve into UnGuarded you are launched into action right off the bat, which I enjoyed, and it keeps with that same pace throughout the whole book. It is filled with angels, demons, vampires and a few immortals. Good versus evil is what this book is all about. What would you do for the love of your life? Would you risk one person for another? Would you risk your life for that of a person you care about? Those are the questions Selene finds herself facing.

Selene is an angel guardian, whose main priority is to protect and watch over her charge, Caitlyn Harris. Caitlyn is Selene’s responsibility, to watch over and keep safe from demons. Selene was on her way to becoming an archangel, who are the most supreme beings to exist. Every angel strives to become one. Selene was close, but then she fell in love with Cole, a vampire. Angels are not supposed to be with vampires, but Selene loves Cole and that’s all that matters. She has given up being an archangel to be with Cole and some of her powers were stripped, but being punished still will not keep them apart.

Cole ends up being kidnapped by demons and taken to Charon, a realm that has been over taken by demons. Selene has a hard choice to make, to leave her charge, Caitlyn, behind unguarded and without protection, which could leave her open for attack by demons.

Selene chooses and her choice is to find Cole and save him. While trying to find Cole, Selene meets another vampire, Travis, who helps her get Cole back, along with a few other vampires and demons. While teaming up with Travis to get Cole back, there is a bit of tension between the two…don’t you want to find out what kind? (Lol, well I’m not going to tell you! Read the book!)

While Selene is gone and Caitlyn is unguarded, something horrible happens to her, and her future is uncertain. So again Selene finds herself trying to fix what happened to Caitlyn, and she will do absolutely anything to help her charge. Selene goes to Raphael, an archangel and her mentor for help, but there is nothing that can be done. Caitlyn’s future is marked in stone, with only two outcomes, and they are not ones that Selene feels she can live with. Follow Selene on her journey to see how it turns out. Will she triumph…or fail?

I have not read any previous books of Ashley Robertson’s before UnGuarded, and I’m popping my hand for not having before this. She is a great writer and takes her readers into a world that she describes so well and leaves nothing out. You could actually picture yourself being there. I have not read a book like this one before, one that is filled with angels, demons, vampires, fallen angels and some immortals. I’m so glad that I chose this book to read and do a review for, it has opened my reading horizon. I loathe books that have misspelled words, mistakes, and do not have a great flow and happily UnGuarded is not one of those books. She writes so well and I did not find one misspelled word in the whole book, nor did I find myself drifting off into space. Throughout this book you will meet so many different characters, and they are so very likeable. It is full of action, tension, drama and love. You have good versus evil, and evil actually joining forces with the good to help out. The situations Selene finds herself in could be applied to everyday life, if you take out the paranormal aspect. I will definitely check out more books by Ashley Robertson.

REVIEWED FOR CYNTHIA SHEPP BOOK REVIEWS AND EDITING. GO CHECK OUT MORE REVIEWS @ WWW.http://cynthiashepp.wordpress.com/ AND VISIT ON FACEBOOK @ CYNTHIA SHEPP BOOK REVIEWS AND EDITING.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Captivated rated it 4 of 5 stars

UnGuarded was a book so fantastically different from any other that I've read. Seriously. I am floored by how much originality this book contains.

Who ever heard of coming at a love story, half-way through? I certainly haven't. Who would've thought that it'd work?! OHMYGOODESNESS, does it work!

From the moment I read the first page of UnGuarded I was in it. There was no stopping me. Not my kids. Not my husband. Nada. I couldn't wait to get "just one more page" (YEAH RIGHT!) in before I had to put...more UnGuarded was a book so fantastically different from any other that I've read. Seriously. I am floored by how much originality this book contains.

Who ever heard of coming at a love story, half-way through? I certainly haven't. Who would've thought that it'd work?! OHMYGOODESNESS, does it work!

From the moment I read the first page of UnGuarded I was in it. There was no stopping me. Not my kids. Not my husband. Nada. I couldn't wait to get "just one more page" (YEAH RIGHT!) in before I had to put it down.

Selene is so extremely awesome. The poor thing seemed to be in a state of perpetual guilt-ridden angst, but she always had the best of intentions. Well, most of the time. SOME of her actions, I may have considered, uh, "questionable", but wouldn't you act questionably for YOUR love, too? Even if you WERE a guardian angel?

What is most important, is that Selene was willing to give up ANYTHING for her vampire love, Cole.

When we start the story, Cole is already knee-deep in trouble. He got kidnapped. Now, Selene has to save him. Trouble is, she's got a job to do. A very important job. But, well, she doesn't let that stop her.

This is what I mean, though. At first, all we get are little flashbacks of Selene and Cole--as Cole is otherise "engaged". But, it doesn't matter! The flashbacks are enough to make the reader squirm in anticipation for a reunion between these two. From the very beginning Ms. Robertson is in no way lacking at her job of getting the reader to understand Selene's love for Cole or even Cole's love for Selene.

Although, saving Cole doesn't come easy. Selene DOES get help, however, in the form of ANOTHER (HOT) vampire, Luke. Seriously, what does this girl need with ANOTHER hot vampire?! Lucky, girl.

SO, there is a bit of a triangle. A bit of some of that misunderstanding-who-do-I-love business. Let me be clear, however. UnGuarded was never boring. It was never cliché. All I could think of was how in the WORLD would everything get turned around? How would Selene POSSIBLY get her happy ending.

Well, you need to read it to figure that out. It is So. Beyond. Worth it.

Christy @ Captivated Reading (less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Samantha Weck rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Storyline…

This book was so exciting! I was sucked it from the very beginning. I loved getting to see all the flashbacks and memories. It really helped me understand the story more, and make it seem more real to me. I felt like I was actually there. Sometimes though I felt a little confused and lost. Also some parts kind of dragged on for me.

The Characters…

Selene made a lot of mistakes but she did everything she could to fix them and save the people she loves. She was such a strong female lea...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Lisa {Silverlight} {Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Reviews} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bb-book-tours, booktour-review

Selene is an angel destined to become an archangel, who oversees and protects her human charge, Caitlyn. Selene has fallen in love with a vampire named Cole. Angels and vamps are not allowed to be together, but that doesn't stop these two. With so much at stake we learn the ramifications of falling for a forbidden love. Selene is at risk within her kind and may never become an archangel. Cole is captured by a demon and now Selene may put everyone at risk including her human Caitlyn, by teaming u...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Natasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural, vampires

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review.

An action packed story with plenty of the supernatural and an unusual love triangle.

The story starts off with Selene already in love with Cole. There are flashbacks throughout the story and of course plenty of interaction throughout the book, but we never do learn how they met or fell in love. I would love to read a book about how the two fell in love. I don't usually compare books in reviews, but I found myself comparing...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Angels and fallen angels are a hot topic in the young adult genre right now. What I really liked about Unguarded was how the author blended other paranormal beings into the mix. Instead of being a book about fallen angels being in love with a human, she brings demons and vampires along for the ride. The main character, Selene, who just happens to be an angel, falls in love with Cole - a vampire. I liked how the normal storyline was spiced up with the added supernatural creatures - I felt that it...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Elyse rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received this book from a drawing on a blog; that included one of the authors stops in her book tour, and I was very excited to read it.

What initially drew me to this book was the beautiful cover, but after reading the blurb I was very excited. An angel falling in love with a vampire? I've never heard of such a thing. In the beginning my heart absolutely ached for Selene and her missing lover. But then I found myself getting frustrated with her, because she was ignoring an angels most importa...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Check out the first couple chapters on Ashley's blog for FREE:
http://www.ashleyrobertsonbooks.com/b...

Source: Review copy was given to random jendsmit by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In a nut shell: good story, pace was a little slow, connected more with Luke than anyone else… Selene was ok though

My Rating: 3.5/5

Details:
I really liked this story idea. Guardian Angel falls in love with a Vampire… good loves bad… forbidden love… yep it is all of that – everything we love, right?!...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, demons, angels, fallen-angels, my-reviews, paranormal-romance, vampires

A gripping tale of forbidden love and sacrifice!

For a guardian angel, there is no higher status than becoming an archangel. Just when Selene was about to reach that honor, she meets the handsome vampire Cole and falls in love, ruining her chances of every being an archangel. Selene has resigned her place as an archangel and is content looking after her charge Caitlyn, while spending time with Cole. When Selene learns her boyfriend Cole has been kidnapped, her world is torn upside down as she str...more A gripping tale of forbidden love and sacrifice!

For a guardian angel, there is no higher status than becoming an archangel. Just when Selene was about to reach that honor, she meets the handsome vampire Cole and falls in love, ruining her chances of every being an archangel. Selene has resigned her place as an archangel and is content looking after her charge Caitlyn, while spending time with Cole. When Selene learns her boyfriend Cole has been kidnapped, her world is torn upside down as she struggles between her duty and her heart. To make matters worse, she meets an unlikely ally that is willing to help her find Cole but who stirs up feelings in Selene that are sure to cause this angel fall from grace.

UnGuarded kicks off with an intriguing premise of angels, demons and vampires all tied into a story of forbidden love. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had a few bones to pick with our angel heroine Selene. We're introduced to her romance with Cole from the very start through her thoughts and emotions, but I had a hard time really believing her undying devotion to him and connection, most likely because there was little interaction between their characters up until halfway through the story. Her connection with Luke was stronger for me and part of me wanted her to forget about her "true love" and give into him (I know...I know...she loves Cole). Selene is a tortured heroine who as an angel is torn between protecting her charge and following her heart, I get that, but as a guardian angel I feel her priority was often Cole and not her charge Caitlyn, which I found a little disheartening. All that being said, I guess any heroine that stirs up all these emotions in me is worthy of a second chance, I just expected her character to be a little stronger when it came to her duty.

The fast paced plot and a creative new paranormal world of good and evil Ms. Robertson has written is entertaining and thought provoking. Although set in a paranormal world, the characters are faced with dilemmas we can all identify with. An unexpected love triangle and forbidden romance play a key role in UnGuarded, the story lacks the steamy romance expected but there's a delicious chemistry between Selene and Luke that make up for the lack of bedroom action. I'll be keeping my eyes opened for a sequel and can officially say I'm on TEAM LUKE!

{ebook coutesty of BB Book Tours for review.}

Original Romancing the Darkside Review:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....(less)

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