This review is also post on Book Reviews & More by Kathy.

Laura Lee’s Angel is a thought provoking faith-based male/male romance. It is a realistic and emotional story that is quite compelling and full of emotions. It will challenge the reader to contemplate how many religions handle the subject of homosexuality in both their clergy and their congregation. It will also raise questions about how your own personal beliefs fit in with your church’s stance and teachings.

In the aftermath of his beloved wife’s death, Paul Tobin’s passion for his ministry has waned and he is basically going through the motions as he performs his religious duties. But his chance meeting with the much younger Ian Finnerty proves to be life altering in many ways. Ian is an alcoholic gay man whose life is dramatically different from Paul’s. Ian has no faith and he drinks his way from one night stand to another. In helping Ian conquer his addiction to alcohol, Paul finds the inspiration he has lost. But it is his attraction to Ian that brings the most changes to his life. Paul must reconcile his newfound sexuality with his own lifelong beliefs as well as those of his church and his congregation.

Angel is a very contemplative and spiritual novel. It is a little slow moving in the beginning, but it gains momentum once Ian and Paul begin their relationship. There is an emotional intimacy between Paul and Ian that initially brings the two men together and their transition from friends to lovers is unhurried. While Angel is a romance, it is not an erotic romance, and their sex scenes are not graphic.

Ian and Paul’s theological discussions are quite detailed and informative. It is through these talks that Paul finds a renewed zeal for his ministry and Ian gains a better understanding of religion. Paul is often at odds with his own convictions and he struggles with his emerging sexual attraction and love for Ian.

Angel by Laura Lee is an insightful view into the intricacies of religion and homosexuality. This beautifully written and moving work of literary fiction challenges the reader to examine what it means to be a Christian.

I received a complimentary copy for review. ( )

Angel by Laura Lee

I really enjoyed this novel, Laura’s writing flows extremely well, the character descriptions and plot are easy to read and her words make you sit back and think. This is a male/male romance novel but I will say not a typical romance novel and the ending is not what I expected.

This is a story about a man who has lost his wife 6 years ago and suddenly finds himself attracted to another male. Oh before I forget to mention he is a Minister of his church and believes that his Church and religion is his calling. This story isn’t just about two men in a relationship this is a story of Christianity and one’s beliefs and dives into acceptance of yourself even when your church or people tell you something is wrong. It touches you and makes you think about acceptance.

Ian and Paul start off with a friendship and they help each other out with their own individual problems and how when you fall in love with a person it’s not always about sex or orientation sometimes is just about falling in love with that individual person.

This is a well written novel, I found myself very caught up in this story waiting to see what was going to happen and how Paul was going to reconcile his religion and his love of another man.

This is must read book, and I recommend anyone and everyone to sit down and pick up a copy of Angel. Don’t get me wrong though this is a male/male romance novel (which by the way is still one of my favorite genres) and there is some sexual content, but everyone should take a chance and read it.

I have rated it a 4 star rating for the story and for Laura Lee’s writing.
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This book brings to light the many miracles in our lives that people believe just happen. Most people think of these incidents as unusual or odd but rarely realize that we all have angels with us to help guide us in our everyday lives.

The author did a wonderful job of writing a beautiful story of two men falling in love. It was well written and the story line was excellent. I am looking forward to reading other books from this author.

The situations in which these characters meet are pretty unique. The settings and conflicts for this story do not come off as simplistic for the dramatic way in which they're presented. Detail, inner dialogue and action are richly described by succinct, so I'm impressed with this author's ability to write a great short story! Laura Lee, you have a special gift of writing. ( )

While presenting a beautiful and enticing story to read, the author also forces you to re-evaluate and examine everything, as you get to see Paul and his journey of discovery. Paul is forced to examine his beliefs after realizing that the angelic man who he stumbled upon in the narthex was occupying his head and his heart in a way nothing had before. Contrasting what he now feels and knows, against the proclamations of his church, and the disapproval of his congregation; one crisis in Paul’s life is being replaced with another that will adjust his entire view on the world forevermore.

To simply label this book Christian Fiction, Christian Romance, GBLT Erotica, General Erotica and Religion & Spirituality Romance, as well as Contemporary Romance does not acknowledge the emotional impact of the story, nor do the writer justice. It truly is literary fiction, with multiple influences, great impact and a message for love being present in many ways, and from many sources.

This is not a GBLT erotic novel – the sex is not detailed, and although there is a love between two men, the more graphic and impactful scenes are brought by the poetic writing and descriptions of the emotional intimacy achieved between the two characters. However, it seems to be a need of publishers and readers to narrowly define genres, and most books with M/M intimate relationships seem to carry this marker.

What emerges is a surprisingly complex novel, able to incite discussion and evoke thought. The placement of excerpts, some theological others from historic texts but all focusing on mountains: their meaning and religious significance as the story progresses, subtly indicate the content and impact of each chapter as the story progresses to reach an inevitable climax.

I was provided a copy of the book by the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility. ( )

(I was given a free copy in exchange for a non-biased review)

A forty-two year old minister, Paul Tobit, is bereaved of his wife Sally. He is kind, gentle, overall likable and sympathetic. He crosses paths with twenty-four year old Ian, a gay man with a drinking problem. And so unfolds redemption, love, romance, add in opprobrium from his church family and religious issues. I think you can already guess what happens. And it ends exactly the way you think it will. The prologue hints it strongly.

I was strongly drawn to the spiritual, contemplative tone of the prologue. And the relationship between Paul and Ian is for the most part sweet and life-affirming. The book dealt with Paul coming to grips with his desire in a realistic way. However, the book misses the mark in a few ways for me.

The book strives to balance a contemplative tone with its discourses on spirituality and a simple love story. I didn’t think the balancing worked too well, as I thought the romance was too simply and too plainly executed.

The dialogues on religion and homosexuality, I found, to be cliched. For those familiar with gay literature, these dialogues are a dime a dozen. For those not familiar with gay literature, it might come off as preachy.

The more damning problem with the book was the pacing. After the relationship’s consummation, which happens halfway the story, the book dragged from then on. I dreaded reading the cutesy couple moments and relationship gushiness because the sad ending was like a sword of Damocles over my neck. I had to force my way through to the end.

When the book was unabashedly literary, I enjoyed it. I liked the constant use of the mountain metaphor. I enjoyed the theological digressions, for example Paul’s thoughts on the Eucharist were very interesting. The opening paragraphs on spirituality were also very enjoyable.

That said, I would urge you to give the book a try. It’s a quick, easy, fairly comfortable read. I would rate this a solid three stars.