I am not usually a fan of paranormal romance, but it is Christi Barth whose books I usually really enjoy so I took a chance and it is a cute story. Maisy is human and a artist and waitress who finds out she has an uncle she never knew who left her a key and that just the start. She finds out that she has nephilim, a half angel, half man trio of men to help guide her to find out what the key does and why she has it. Still not a fan of all the horrible things from hell that try to keep her from her goal, but Rhys hit the spot with me for being such a grump and curmudgeon, who eventually gets his HEA with Maisy. There are strong secondary characters I liked a lot and hope maybe they get their story. But still not a huge fan of paranormal romance!

This human/nephilim romance reminded me why I constantly reread the Hush Hush series when I was younger - I'm a sucker for a grumpy yet angelic hero.

When Maisy inherited a mysterious key from an even more mysterious uncle, she had no idea the hell she was about to go through. Enter Rhys, a nephilim who doesn't think very highly of humans in general. Until he meets Maisy. And starts falling for her. With the fate of the Gates of Hell on the line, they'll both be put through trials like they've never seen before.

I loved Maisy and Rhys's dynamic. They were both at the extreme ends of the grumpy/sunshine spectrum, but when it came down to it, they were exactly who they needed to be. Maisy was just so unflappable when it came to her goodness and light; we could all probably stand to learn a little from her. I absolutely will be reading the next book in the series - Maisy and Rhys are just too good to not see where their relationship goes from here. And I definitely want to see Maisy coming into her own. IMPERFECT ANGEL basically set up her story, and I know there's a lot more to see when it comes to Maisy.

I admit it has a good premise, but unfortunately the execution doesn't live up to my expectation.

The plot and world building have an interesting concept with the gates of hell having a keeper and supernatural beings living in modern world with humans.
But it feels like we've only scratch the surface. I wish it's a series instead of a standalone because there are still more to be explored.

Maisy's characters is actually nice and I adore how she always find the good even in the worst situation possible.
However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Sometimes, one of them even act out of their character which also feels weird to me.
The romance between the two main character also lack of chemistry and felt too rushed.

The flow of the story felt a bit weird, sometimes the transition between one chapter to the next is too sudden.

At first, I really like the sarcastic and funny jokes in the story but after a while it gets too much and makes the story loses the suspense feeling in precarious situation.

While this is a simple and fun story, sadly it's not for me. This book has a lot of potential but it still needs lots of development.

Some readers might find this one enjoyable if you're looking for a steamy paranormal rom com with grumpy x sunshine trope.

Actual rating: 2.5⭐

I received an advanced review copy for free and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, Entangled Publishing and Christi Barth.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maisy bothered me a lot. I was annoyed with how fast she gave up the key and literally had no questions to why she was given it from her deceased great uncle. Maisy didn't make the best decisions in my opinion. I didn't really like her relationship with Rhys. I never once felt a connection between them. Everything felt really rushed and kind of weird.

Some of the word choices threw me off. "I should've let Zavier come along when I tracked you down. He should've been your bodyguard. Then he could be the one suffering at the crack of ass." I'm sorry what? I've heard the ass crack of dawn but never the crack of ass lol.

I got A touch of darkness vibes from Maisy multiple times with the way she handled things. Persephone never listened to Hades or would do the complete opposite of what she was told. Maisy also was this way and I wanted her to learn her lesson and not just get to keep going on about her day like she didn't just make a bad decision. The baby alone in the alley really annoyed me. Literally could smell the trap from a mile away. She gave me vibes of one of the characters that dies right away in a horror movie because she kept making awful decisions. Never have I wished for bad things to happen to a book character. Oof.

Last quote that bothered me, "Rhys let out the foulest belch of his life. Like vomiting toxic air." Really? I think burping is not attractive to begin with and then the description grossed me out. No thank you.

Bummed that I did not like this book that much. It had a lot of promising qualities but then just kept getting worse and worse.

This was not a book for me. I did read 40% of it but it was too "otherwordly" for my tastes.

I will read another Barth again because I adored Hottie On Her Shelf but this half human/half angel and the Gates of Hell becoming unlocked to send all types of weird demons onto Earth just didn't float my boat.

I found Rhys to be so annoying for a half angel. He felt more 90% human and 10 % angel. I didn't like the romance blossoming out of this weirdness.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book very much! I am not sure where it didn’t jive with me but it was very hard for me to get through it! I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I thought it was too cheesy. But if you like paranormal romances, I think you for sure give this a chance as I think everyone as different tastes and you may love it! 🤍

IMPERFECT ANGEL

Release Date: 10/25/22
Kindle Unlimited: [ ]YES [X]NO
Stand-alone: [X]YES [ ]NO
Author: Christi Barth
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶/5
POV: Dual, third person
Main Characters: Maisy & Rhys
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes: opposites attract; grumpy/sunshine; Nephilim/human; heroine in danger; protector hero

Review:

When Maisy receives a key from the uncle she didn’t even know she had her life changes completely. She didn’t know the key was very important and that she was the guardian. Nephilim Rhys has the mission to protect her and when they start with the wrong foot, everything goes badly and they have to find a way to save Maisy and the whole world.

I guess the line that separates a sassy heroine from an annoying one is really tenuous and Maisy was often tending towards annoying. She was combative and disagreed with everything just on principle. Rhys was not the most patient of creatures, but he was infinitely more patient than I am.

However, both characters have their good side and their journey to find the key having to fight villains and Maisy discovering more about the supernatural world was the most interesting part. I felt that sometimes they lost track of the mission with Maisy being stubborn and that’s why I couldn’t rate it higher.

*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ***

Hoping for a little cash to help with her growing pile of bills, Maisy Norgate inherits more than she expects in the form of a mysterious key. She soon discovers that not only is she the new keeper to one of the keys to Hell but she has to work with a grumpy and strangely attractive Nephilim named Rhys Boyce. In spite of their differences they band together to reclaim the key after it falls into demonic hands.

Imperfect Angel is a stand-alone paranormal romance. I’ve read plenty of paranormal and fantasy romances but this one seems to be lacking in romance. The chemistry between the MCs is so what of an afterthought. They don’t seem to get along at all even after several “encounters”. Romance is definitely not primary to the plot. The plot sounded so interesting but it just didn't work for me.

While this book was not my favorite, I have read other work by this author that I have enjoyed. I will take a look at some of her other contemporary work in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was the first book I’ve read from the author so far and it was really interesting. I liked the plot and the story was unique. It combined my two favorite genres, fantasy and romance and the main characters were perfect for each other. I also loved the banter between them and they had good chemistry. The secondary characters were great as well and it would be really interesting to read about their story as well.

Overall, the book was really good and it’s a perfect Halloween read!

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me, I found the main character Maisy to be really annoying and infuriating which made me not continue on with the book. It might have been the mood at the time of reading so I may pick it up again at some point, but for now it’s a DNF.

Rating three stars because I don't feel right giving it any less as I don't know if it was the book or me so it wouldn't be fair to give it less than that.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for this advanced copy of Imperfect Angel, published October 25.

This paranormal romance was so much fun! This felt like a throwback to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with a hot half angel and steamy romance. Maisy unexpectedly inherits a key that turns out to be for the Gates of Hell. Maisy is so good and kind hearted and also kind of a badass. She calls out misogyny wherever she sees it, including in hell. Rhys is a bodyguard who regularly goes on missions to fight demons with his fellow Nephilim Gideon and Zavier.

The book had lots of mystery and suspense and life and death fights of good and evil. I loved learning along with Maisy about the different kinds of paranormal creatures. And the nod to how prejudice even shows up among various otherworldly beings was quite well done. There was a part of the paranormal world building near the end that I found confusing and would have liked a longer explanation of. But overall, I was completely drawn into Maisy's quest.

And I loved Maisy and Rhys and their great chemistry. I would love to read more books in this world and to see how Gideon and Zavier find love.

This book was good. I did enjoy it. It was a bit slow at times and didn’t hold my attention as well as this author’s other books. I still liked it and definitely finished it. Maisey kind of drove me crazy at times. The world the author created was unique, and I really liked that. I thought Rhys was a great hero. Overall, this book was a fun read! Thanks to Entangled publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review.

Maisy inherits a skeleton key from an uncle she never knew about. She is trying to figure out her peculiar inheritance, when a handsome hunk comes to her door claiming to be a half angel, and tells her that the key she inherited is the key to keep the gates of hell closed, and she is it’s new keeper.
Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. She has no idea how important the key is and has handed it over to a demon. Now they have just 2 weeks to get the key back else it might just be the end of the world.
I think this is my first paranormal romance and I really enjoyed reading it. Maisy and Rhys are completely opposites and their banter is too cute and funny, and their chemistry steamy hot.
I really liked the bond Rhys shares with his friends and Maisy shares with Liss and I hope they all get their stories.
This is a very cute fantasy romance and a quick read, a perfect book to read as your first paranormal romance.

This paranormal romance is interesting and fun. Maísy is a bright, cheerful and optimistic young lady. Rhys is Nephilum, half human and half angel who is a fierce warrior and protector. The plot of the story pits good against evil as Maisy, Rhys and their friends race against time to retrieve the key that will keep the gates of hell closed. They go on escapades that see them fighting demons and struggling to stay alive. They have fiery fights and then feisty makeups. The more time they spend together, the closer they become until they fall deeply in love.

A paranormal grumpy/sunshine… sounds like the perfect October/Halloween read!

I loved Maisy and Rhys story. It was just what I was looking for, to add to my October TBR. I am obviously reading all the fantasy reads this year and I’m so glad I got my hands on this one. I not only loved banter between the two main characters but the dialogue between the secondary characters was on point as well.

This book is good anytime of the year, but I definitely thought it was a perfect October book!

Maisy Norgate inherits a key from an uncle she never knew and has no idea what to do with it. Rhys Boyce is a Nephilim, half angel and half human. He shows up at Maisy’s to see who is the new Keeper of the Key and finds she has no idea what that means. The key is for one of the gates of Hell and they have two weeks to save the world.

I liked the grumpy vs. sunshine characters and the world building is interesting. The two together have banter and eventual steamy times. But for a romance I thought it odd that there would be a kiss than no discussion of what it meant. Also with a two week deadline they seemed to spend time doing mundane things which takes away from the urgency.

I liked the story and can see this it continuing on as a series. I don’t read a lot of paranormal romances so it isn’t a must read for me. But if this is your genre I’m sure you will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maisy becomes the Keeper of the Key (without knowing what the hell that is) and all hell breaks lose.

Oh my god, this book has everything. My fav tropes. Angels. Demons. Supernatural creatures. Witty and quirky characters.

This book had such an interesting premise! The characters were cute, one absolute ray of sunshine and one super duper grump. I'm a sucker for the grumpy vs sunshine trope, and this one got me! I liked the plot and story. It was just really cute, and I freaking love the cover. Cartoon covers are perfection for romcoms and stuff. The off again on again of their feelings gave me whiplash (worse than Edward Cullen whiplash). However, it was still really entertaining, and I recommend it. Perfect for the spooky season if you don't like getting spooked so much!

•“For the sake of the entire world, they need to stay locked up.”


I really liked the whole premise of this book but I didn’t really like some of the elements that went into it.

First, Rhys is fantastic, his dry humor was very funny and seeing him learn what it’s like to feel the human half of his being was really enjoyable to read. Then there’s the trio of handsome Nephilims, which were my favorite part of the whole book. Each with such distinctly different personalities coming together as a formidable team. Every interaction, every piece of dialogue the three had was done so well. Gotta love the bromances lol.

Now Maisy, she had me in the beginning and I thought oh she’s so fun… buuuut that got old when it started to turn into what felt more like immaturity. With a pairing of an older Hero, especially a PNR one where they live longer than humans, I’d prefer a bit more maturity to come through to match the personalities better.

Lastly, the story, while I loved the concept and think overall it was done really well, I wish it would’ve been a bit faster paced. There’s a lot of talk about the “fate of the world” and “time is running out” and then it cuts to them volunteering at an old folks home with a little over a week left?? And this was right after a pretty major event happened that should’ve had everyone scrambling or at least moving a wee bit faster.

All in all, great concept, the writing as a whole was done well but IMO it had some flaws.

Maisy Norgate has been on her own since the horrific car accident that killed her parents....until she receives an inheritance from an uncle she never knew about. How does an old ornate key make up for years of missed birthdays, holidays, and love? What does it even unlock anyway? Rhys Boyce, half angel-half man, knows exactly what it opens, and it isn't pretty. He and his Nephilim brothers have to guide Maisy safely to become the new Keeper of the Key of the Gates of Hell, but she doesn't even believe in Hell. All she knows is this new man in her life is hot as hellfire and just as tempting.

This book was so captivating I devoured it. The grumpy/sunshine romance mixed with the paranormal was delightful and I think it could have done with a bit more detail in the spice - I wanted more! The author did a tremendous job incorporating a whole host of minor paranormal characters that kept this interesting. You never know what or who was going to pop up next! The story progressed and built nicely with a satisfying ending.

This book has an interesting premise but the actual content and execution missed the mark.

The plot had promise, but the pacing was much too slow and full of what felt like filler. The characters, while charming, were flat and the dialogue lacked the natural flow of typical conversations between people. Then there's the romance: it's insta-lovey (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was missing chemistry and relationship development), there's an attempt at grump/sunshine that I can't say was entirely successful, and I ultimately wasn't attached or rooting for Maisy and Rhys in the end.

I think this book could be an entertaining read for some, but unfortunately this wasn't for me.