Genre: Romance
Description:
"Heir to a powerful Las Vegas crime
family, D’Angelo Mariani’s survival depends on his ability to prove his value
to his father. Forced out of the technology lab and into the underworld, Angel
is on the brink of pulling off the impossible when he runs into a captivating
humanitarian who changes everything.
Markie Davis is all about compassion,
service, and the ultimate adrenaline rush. After a year-long stint volunteering
in an African orphanage, she’s in Vegas to check up on her wayward little
sister. Markie never anticipated meeting someone like Angel.
Everyone knows Angel's family is dangerous, but the secrets Markie's been keeping might just be fatal… "
Everyone knows Angel's family is dangerous, but the secrets Markie's been keeping might just be fatal… "
Author:
"Amanda Washington first put her dreams to paper in
1999. Making Angel is the first book
in her new adult mafia fiction series, but she's also written dystopian and
young adult novels. When she's not writing, she's busy living out her real
adventure in southwest Washington with her husband and their five boys." For more information visit Amazon's
Amanda Washington Page.
Appraisal:
This is a hybrid of a novel. From the description, and the beginning
of the book, a reader would expect a story about a mafia family with a love story
thrown in but in fact it is a love story with a mafia family thrown in. The
lovers are Angel Mariani and Markie (known simply as Markie). Angel is the son
of a powerful mafia leader, expected to follow his father into the family
business but Angel is only interested in technology. His life is complicated by
the fact that he would do almost anything to please his father.
Angel dislikes and disagrees with violence but even so, he does what
he has to do to carry out his father's wishes. His constant companion is called
"Bones", his best friend since childhood but also his bodyguard. They
meet Markie in the airport where she is waiting for her sister to pick her up.
She is just back from working in an orphanage in Zambia. Bones suspects Markie
of having a secret and is worried about his friend's attraction to her.
I like the way the book is written in sections; some from Angel's
point of view and some from Markie's.
Markie is a soft, gentle, naive, innocent girl. Angel thinks:
There was
something different about Markie, though. Her dimples. Her perfect lips. The
innocence in her bright blue eyes . . . Her long blonde curls cascaded down her
back and, as she slipped a rogue lock behind her
ear . . .
However, this description would appear to make her ordinary, not
different at all; it's a description of a doll. The same goes for Angel
himself. Markie thinks:
Barely
older than me, he worked the sexy Italian look like a movie star. His tailored
suit might as well have had moneybags taped to it . . .
This makes both
of them stereotypes of the romantic novel.
Bones,
Angel's bodyguard is an interesting character - loyal, devoted and loving yet
not in an inferior way; he is a complete, clever, competent person and fun to
read about.
The narrative
doesn't quite flow but is more like a series of set pieces or scenes, like the
game with the children, the journey to San Diego, or being on the High Roller.
However the writing is good and the dialogue natural and believable. The pace
and shape of the book are very good as well, and it has been well edited and
proofed.
The prologue
isn't necessary and is too short in any case.
The last quarter of the book is both melodramatic and improbable and,
in fact, might be morally questionable.
The story as a whole is slow and gentle and should be enjoyed by
readers who like a little mystery with their romance.
FYI:
Some graphic violence
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues
Rating:
**** Four Stars
Reviewed
by: Joan Slowey
Approximate
word count: 85-90,000 words
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