Not Always an Angel
By Christi Barth
Unlocking His Heart Book 3

Sometimes you try hard to like a book and it just doesn't work out but then again I also didn't read the previous 2 books so with that in mind I gave the book a 3.8 star rating. But I highly recommend you read the first two so that you aren't lost in the plot as I was.

Liss Jemison's has always felt left out now that her two best friends have found their fated mates but as hard as she tries she can't get Nephilim warrior, Zavier Carranza to notice her. When demons start being released from Hell they will all have all work together to save the world from the Titan's being released from their prison.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read Not Always an Angel .

A demon crashed Liss' roomate's party and now her world is filled with half-angels, demons and threats of apocalypse. Zavier, nephilium warrior, must work with her to protect her and save the world together....

Love the snark and fun. Liss is terrific and Zavier is funny. Love the entire book. Laughed so much while reading it. very fast-paced and much better if you have read the first 2 books.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

It's a fun book in an end of the world way. I gave it 3.5 stars.

I think it's a fast-paced read that has plenty of action. I think at times I wasn't super connected to the characters, especially the relationship between Liss and her bestie, Maisy seemed pretty juvenile especially when they're talking about their feelings. Some of the banter also felt very immature and I didn't vibe with it 100%. I also think at a certain point I get bogged down with a Main character continually repeating the same feelings or reasoning over and over - like Zavier thinking and feeling he deserves nothing good, etc. At some point, I need some change.

I can see how some people have said is reads YA at some point, and I can agree with that.

I definitely wanted more from the world as well. But I still liked this enough to read it and finish it. I think if you're in for a serious read, this isn't it. For an easier read, a palate cleanser if you will, this could be a great one for that.

Thank you to Entangled and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*

I agree with what a lot of other people are saying. I didn’t know (or completely just missed this information all together cause I’m a hot mess lol) that’s it’s the 3rd book in a series. While you can read it as a standalone, it’s probably best to read the first two to really understand this better. I thought I could just dive into, nah. So I can’t judge my rating based off missing some information because I didn’t read the other two, that’s on me. It was cute, quirky and fun. It does have YA undertones with the banter, vibes and dialogue but with more mature nature if that makes sense. I don’t mind a YA book, it just seemed mixed. It’s funny to think it’s the end of the world yet they are in Zumba class and shopping at the mall haha you get the vibe. It has all the mystical things, angels, witches, unicorns, relics and even certain places/realms. There is a lot happening which got a little overwhelming at times. They literally throw everything at you.

I give it a 3 stars. I enjoyed it, it was fun. That’s about it haha. Hope whomever reads this enjoys it too! Perfect for people who want complex storylines but funny banter/bickering and sexy tension. Thanks so much for letting me arc this! I appreciate it :)

Not Always an Angel by Christi Barth is a captivating paranormal romance that immediately drew me in and kept me eagerly turning the pages, even pulling an all-nighter just to discover how it would conclude. The novel is fast-paced and features lively banter between the main characters, adding an extra layer of excitement to the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Grumpy Nephilism? ✅
Banter? ✅
Tension? ✅ 🌶️

I loved this book. It was a cute and quick read. It’s about Liss (human) and Zavier (Neph) who is trying to protect her all while avoiding his feelings. Demons are attacking her and he blames himself. The Banter was great between the two characters. This book is somewhat a standalone but might have to read the other books to catch up a little bit.

⭐️ Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity for the chance to read the ARC and letting me leave my review ⭐️

Whew. That was… a ride. Not Always an Angel brings chaos, kisses, and apocalyptic stakes, and while it didn’t totally work for me, I can see why the series has its fans.

This book throws you right into the action—literally the edge of the apocalypse—with Liss, a snarky, supposedly powerless human, and Zavier, a brooding Nephilim with a hero complex and a serious case of repressed feelings. Their dynamic is built on banter, tension, and constant danger, and the chemistry? It’s there, no doubt. If you like your romance forbidden and your stakes sky-high (read: Heaven and Hell are hanging in the balance), this definitely delivers on that front.

Where it stumbled for me was in the tone. The writing reads very YA—cutesy, quippy, and sometimes overly simplified—but the themes and romance are aimed at an older audience. That mismatch threw me off. I love YA when it leans into what it is, but this felt like it was trying to straddle two lanes and ended up feeling a bit off-kilter.

Also, fair warning: while these books are marketed as interconnected standalones, jumping in with this one (book three) left me playing catch-up. You can read it on its own, but you’ll miss a lot of context that makes the worldbuilding and side character dynamics easier to follow.

Still, it’s a fast-paced read with spunky dialogue, a strong female lead who’s more than she seems, and a lot of demon-fueled drama. If you’re already invested in the series, Not Always an Angel will probably hit the mark. If not, maybe start at book one and see if the vibe is for you.

3.5⭐️ welp, that wasn’t at all what I was expecting and not just because it was the third book in the series and I was diving in for the first time.

I’m going to come back in the morning for finish. This way I can also digest this a bit because right now I’m a bit flummoxed. I did round up to a 4 ⭐️ as the series obviously has its following but it just wasn’t for particularly because of the juvenile prose.

Well I’m awake now and unfortunately time did not make things better. But i think maybe it’s a “me” thing. The cutesy fantasy trying to be real word with a romance just isn’t for me.
You know what it is? It reads like a young YA book with its prose but it’s not. Now I love YA but when that’s not its intent things get messy.

I’ll mention that while these are supposed to be interconnected stand alone books, each focusing on a different couple, I 100% suggest you read the others first. You do get some context from the past books but there is enough missing that it makes it harder to read.

That being said it’s fairly fast paced and has spunky banter between main characters. If you liked the others in the series I think you’ll like this for sure!

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Entangled Publishing to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Chaos, kissing, and the literal end of the world—I'm in.

Liss is just an average human... until demons prevent her from going about her everyday life, like bad exes at a party. Now, she is just trying to survive dealing with the supernatural while avoiding evil, all while being babysat by Zavier—a grumpy, brooding Nephilim warrior who keeps trying to convince her that he isn't into her but is also way too good at this "forbidden attraction" thing.

The banter? Perfect. Tension? Sizzling. Stakes? Just the fate of Heaven and Hell, no pressure. Add some twisty secrets, some demons bending the rules, a miracle or two, and a heroine who isn't as powerless as she seems to be, and you've got a fun, fast-paced, kiss-or-die-trying read. If you love your angels messy, your romance filled with angst, and your plots full of action and attitude, this is for you!