THE SINNER (Angels and Demons #1) by EMMA SCOTT

“I don’t need to drink. I don’t need to sleep. There is nothing on This Side that I need.” He raised his eyes to mine. “Except you.”

It’s been too long since we’ve lost ourselves in one of our favourite themes – a paranormal romance featuring angels and demons. They’re our catnip, so, imagine our excitement when we saw one of our favourite authors was dipping her toe into the paranormal realm in The Sinner!

“Years of loneliness. Years – no, lifetimes of it. Wanting you. Waiting for you. You were taken from me and I’m not going to give you up again.”

We were beside ourselves, but also a little apprehensive, wondering how this author was going to pull off her foray into one of our favourite genres. Well, we needn’t have worried because Emma Scott absolutely nailed it! Although pure fantasy, it’s essential to build the world and have the reader believe it. We already know we must suspend reality, but we must ‘believe’ the world the author is taking us into, and you know what? We absolutely did! This book was amazing!

“I’d like to think that even in Oblivion, there will be a part of me that remembers loving you, and I’ll know peace at last.”

Set in the present with flashbacks through history, Emma Scott created a forbidden and achingly believable soulmate love that spoke to our hearts on every level. Weaving the theme of reincarnation gave us much comfort and food for thought, in a love story that transcended time. The vivid details and imagery – the love, the pain, and the horror were so incredibly detailed and researched, we felt as though Lucy and Casziel’s love story unfolded before our eyes.

“I’ve loved you for a hundred lifetimes, Lucy.”

Lucy Dennings is a shy woman, lacking in confidence, living quite the solitary life – watching from the periphery – forever feeling as though something is missing in her life, and believing those little voices in her head that constantly berate her about being unworthy. Little did Lucy know exactly what or who was missing and she was about to learn things about herself she would never believe.

We fell instantly in love with Casziel Abisare. Emma Scott wrote this character to perfection.  A man who had paid the price for the soul aching love and lonely existence. Cas’s cutting sarcastic wit, his impatience, and his intolerance of humans gave us both a good giggle. He encapsulated everything we love about the fallen angel/demon character. And his love for Lucy? Swoon!!!

“I’ve loved you too long and too hard to give you up. But I tried. For your sake and mine, I tried.”

We were totally captivated by The Sinner. Emma Scott fed all our desires and more. The romance, passion, suspense, and imagination had us gripped from page one. What a brilliant and versatile author to deliver such a clever and captivating story on her first PNR attempt! The first of many we hope!

“Do you believe in second chances, Lucy Dennings? For even the worst sinners?”

Now, you’re probably thinking ‘if they loved it that much, why not a 5 star?’ Our only gripe in an otherwise perfect story was the second epilogue. We felt it was unnecessary, and for us, a part of it negated an aspect of the story that was so important. It won’t bother some people, but it did affect us and had us questioning a part of the theme of the story. However, there’s no doubt, we LOVED THIS BOOK!

“Grief is not love. Grief is penance for living after love has died.”