Angelfire Trilogy Book 1: Falling Star

Angelfire Trilogy, Book 1: Falling Star by Karen Wiesner

---

That she could find him irresistible after all he'd done annoyed her. Nathan Jovanovich was not a hero or a knight in shining armor. He didn't deserve forgiveness for his crimes. What he deserved was to get a slap of reality. And she knew just how to do it. She anticipated his genuine interest and ignorance, and it gave her false courage to continue. The snow came down more heavily now, melting against the increasing heat of her face. His eyebrows came together in confusion. He seemed completely unaware of what was coming, and Rori took satisfaction in that before she laid all her sins out for him.

I take off my clothes for a bunch of horny bastards, and I get paid damn good money for it. Her cigarette burned down to the filter. She stepped around him, careful not to touch him, to toss the butt into the storm drain. Nate turned to face her instinctively yet had no answer when she baited, "Got any more questions, holy man? The look of disbelief on his face could have meant anything. It meant nothing to Rori--not bitterness and not satisfaction.

Still, his expression of disappointment affected her. He had no right to be disappointed in her. He didn't know what she'd been through, what she'd overcome. Nate had made his choices, and she'd made hers despite the few options she'd been given. Telling him had been a mistake, Rori realized too late. Getting a jolt out of him wasn't worth the repercussions her secret might create. Like a juvenile, he'd tell his parents and his parents would tell her father what she did for a living now.

Yeah, it'd be another five years before she came home again. That was smooth, Nate chided himself as Rori disappeared into her father's house. You could apply to snake charming school with a little more practice.

He rarely agreed with his mother, but she'd been right this time. He shouldn't have come out here to try talking to Rori. The last time should have been all the proof he ever needed that they couldn't be friends ever again--they couldn't even have a civil conversation.

See a Problem?

Rori didn't want anything to do with him. But he had to come out here. Since he'd arrived, he'd hoped Rori would show up. His fierce yearning matched how he'd felt after she ran away at sixteen. Every day he hoped she'd come back. Even after he'd tucked that letter into his pocket Bible and told himself he was marrying Jenna, in the deepest part of his heart he'd ached for Rori's return.

Aligning his boot with a print made by Rori's, he shook his head in self-disgust. At twenty-eight, the gawky, star-struck-kid feeling he got around Rori Mason should have been long gone. If she'd stayed the sixteen-year-old girl his mind preserved her as, maybe it would have disappeared. Nate took a deep breath of air so cold his chest burned. True, he was lonely.

Jenna had died over a year ago, and he'd had little opportunity to grieve for her. But this had nothing to do with loneliness or Jenna. Unconsciously he started to slide his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket, searching for something that was no longer there. Whether he'd loved Jenna wasn't up for debate. He'd loved her completely. He didn't feel guilt over seeing Rori again either. Still being attracted to her. As a full-grown woman, her beauty had softened.

Its impact on him had also sharpened. She was all honey blond hair, heavy-lidded ebony eyes, and a mouth so generous and shapely it should have been a crime. And, okay, so her figure was beyond compare. If any question arose whether this man of God was as red-blooded as they came, his reaction to Rori's body removed any doubt.

She looked so small and soft, so lush. Nate let out a breath that created billows of steam in the cold air. No doubt about it. The memory of Rori would slip into his bed like a nymphet when he was alone in the dark. Maybe it would have been better, for both of them, if sexual attraction was all he felt. Fantasies eventually went away--at least most of them did.

But Nate also saw past Rori's beauty, her innate sensuality, her masks. No matter what she'd been through, she was still all bark and no bite. Beneath the anger, the disinterest, the curse words and scandals lurked a tender-hearted innocent who'd been hurt too many times. God knew he'd given her a few scars. The wind picked up. Without hat or gloves, he shivered against the chill and turned back to his parents' house. Besides, his mother was probably gawking out the window, trying to catch Rori in some sin or another.

For the past four days, she'd been chewing Rori up and spitting her at Nate. He could give her a mouthful with Rori's meant-to-shock confession, if he wanted to. He didn't want to. She had enough problems with her father without adding more obstacles. His mother would run over there in a heartbeat if Nate told her. Even the footprints Rori had left a few minutes ago were covered when he finally trudged across the lawn. He'd watched Rori, too, from inside his parents' house, since she pulled up in a truck over an hour ago. He'd watched her come back out and dance on the snow as gracefully as a fairy.

Sometimes he wondered if his unintentional mission in life was to steal her joy. Stepping inside the home he'd grown up in, he shook his head to dislodge some of the fresh-fallen snow. His mother would have a fit if he tracked even a drop of it into the house, so he removed his boots on the mat before he went any further. Down the hall in the living room, he heard the excited chatter of his thirteen-month-old daughter. Nate hung his parka on the coat tree, then followed the voices into the living room. His parents weren't strict about holiday traditions the way Rori's father was.

The four of them had put up a tree the night he and Andrea had arrived in Syracuse. She perched on her grandfather's knee unwrapping an early gift. Enough packages crowded beneath the tree to warrant one a day until Christmas. Shaking his head, unable to prevent a grin, Nate sat in an overstuffed chair. His mother constantly advised him about how he spoiled his little girl, but she and his father were as much to blame. Marilyn Jovanovich was a chronic worrier, to the point where everything that came out of her mouth was a complaint or criticism.

For the most part, her only crime was loving her family too much. She was as harmless as her frail form suggested, but she had the strength of ten men if she was ever called upon to use it. His father had the exact opposite demeanor as his wife. Maybe it meant the two of them complemented each other, maybe it didn't. When all was said and done, they loved each other. Henry was jovial and easy-going; he wouldn't dare tell anyone else how to live. When Marilyn henpecked him to death, he barely noticed, offering teasingly, "Years of practice" if anyone asked how he could stand it.

Andrea tore the wrapping off the gift in little bits. His mother scooped them up, sometimes before they even hit the rug. Andrea's baby fine, black hair was the only trait Jenna had passed on to their daughter. Her tiny face resembled Nate's more and more every day, right down to the dimple in her chin. The glossy storybook from her grandparents was finally unveiled, and she crawled off Papa's lap, running over to Nate with it. Nate touched a finger to her little nose. She rushed back to bestow gratitude on them with gusto.

Watching her, Nate thought what he always did during special occasions, sadly rather than bitterly: You should be here, Jenna. It's Christmas, and you should be sharing it with us.

iTunes is the world's easiest way to organize and add to your digital media collection.

Andrea came back, tucking the new book in the cushion of the chair at his side, then scrambling onto his lap. Getting her to sleep wouldn't take much, Nate knew from experience. She was exhausted from all the excitement of having two sets of grandparents fussing over her. Since they arrived on Monday, Andrea had taken her nap earlier each day. His mother frowned about it, though Nate couldn't imagine why. She was convinced he spoiled his little girl by letting her sleep when she was fainting with exhaustion.

Naps weren't his mother's real concern, Nate had figured out long ago.

To report this review as inappropriate, please complete this short form.

The fact that he was raising his daughter by himself troubled her. As much as Jenna had been loved by his family, the bottom line didn't come down to love for his mother. What was best for Andrea, she thought, was a father and a mother, even if it meant Nate choosing a single woman from his congregation to marry.

Never mind that the few single women among his congregation were all under twenty or over thirty-five. Pastor Mason had remained unmarried after his wife's death and he'd raised his daughter on his own. Nate's mother was certain the Pastor's widower status was the reason Rori had turned out the way she had. In his mother's opinion, a man simply didn't possess the abilities necessary to raise a female child on his own. For the good of both Andrea and himself, Nate listened to his mother without heeding her advice.

He wouldn't marry a woman he didn't love any more than he'd hand his daughter over permanently to someone else to care for her. The two of them were doing just fine on their own. And he knew best that Rori had more incentive to rebel than her father's lack of understanding for her. After tucking the book into the cushion of the chair after he'd read less than five minutes' worth, he carried Andrea into his old bedroom, where his father had set up the handmade crib from Nate's infancy. Andrea hadn't slept in the crib more than a couple nights since they arrived. She didn't like it, she wasn't used to it because this bed wasn't hers.

When he moved to lay her on the mattress, she predictably curled her fingers into his sweater, murmuring sleepily, "Daddy, ho'd you. Nate loved those words. Somehow she'd confused "hold me " with "hold you ", but he wasn't about to correct such an adorable request. The rocking chair his father had brought out of the attic matched the oak crib. Nate sat in it, adjusting Andrea carefully in his arms, though he knew she wouldn't awaken for at least an hour.

Angelfire Trilogy Book 1: Falling Star - Angelfire Trilogy #1

Nate spent so much time watching his little girl, it seemed impossible not to perceive the changes on a daily basis as she grew. She was an angel, so sweet and innocent he could no longer imagine his life without her. Jenna had dreamed about this. Dreamed about first smiles, first giggles, first words, first steps.

Dreamed about the questionably mundane activities, too, like watching their child sleep. We won't lose this one. She'll be the love of our life," she used to say while they lay in bed together, each with a hand on her swollen belly. She'd looked up at him, always with the sheen of tears in her beautiful brown eyes. I can't wait to see you holding her.

Jenna had never held their only child. After five previous miscarriages, that was the cruelest twist of fate. Blaming anyone was pointless. Maybe accepting the loss was easier because he'd held on so tight before it happened. He'd been angry for a while after Jenna got pregnant for the sixth time because she'd lied to him. Five miscarriages, five periods of mourning after so much hope, were enough. Nate had wanted to get a vasectomy. Instead of taking such a drastic step, Jenna had insisted they'd be careful; she'd use birth control and they wouldn't get pregnant again. When she found out she'd conceived again, she'd admitted she lied about taking precautions; she'd never been on the pill.

Four tormented months passed, and Jenna had been doing fine. All of her previous miscarriages had come during the first trimester. Nate had let go of his silent anger--ninety-nine percent fear for Jenna and another baby--and began to hope again that everything would be all right. Jenna would finally have the child she wanted so desperately, and he'd have his wife back and a family that wouldn't get any larger.

He'd planned to go through with the vasectomy after Jenna gave birth, whether she agreed with it or not. She held a neat stack of clothing she'd taken from the dryer. The feelings behind his mother's words were written all over her face, though she could only express them with seeming criticism. He shouldn't be alone, Andrea should have her mother.

His mother had loved Jenna. She'd praised his choice of wife often, but he knew the biggest part of that approval wasn't because of Jenna so much as because it wasn't Rori Mason. She came into the room to put his and Andrea's clean clothes into his suitcase. Stupid question, his mother's tone implied.

Get A Copy

Jenna had talked about babies with anyone who was interested. He and Jenna had had a solid marriage. They'd been close friends all their lives, and talking had come easier to them than attraction had. That came with time. But she'd never talked about why she wanted children. She'd talked about the ache of not having them. Andrea shifted slightly, and Nate glanced down to see her breathing softly.

He hadn't expected his mother's response. Jenna would have said something if she believed another woman held his heart. They'd talked about Rori during the ten years they were married.

Angelfire Trilogy Book 1: Falling Star - Angelfire Trilogy #1 - Read book online for free

He'd always been the one to bring her up; Jenna always ended the discussion. Still, she'd never said anything bad about Rori, even when Nate had told her everything about that relationship. It will then be reviewed by Lulu Staff to determine the next course of action. Identify in sufficient detail the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed upon for example, "The copyrighted work at issue is the image that appears on http: Identify each web page that allegedly contains infringing material.

This requires you to provide the URL for each allegedly infringing result, document or item. I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above as allegedly infringing is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Your digital signature is as legally binding as a physical signature. If you use a digital signature, your signature must exactly match the First and Last names that you specified earlier in this form. This form does not constitute legal advice and nothing that you read or are provided on this web site should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent legal counsel. If someone believes in good faith that a Lulu Account Holder has infringed their copyright, they can request that we take down the infringing material by filing a DMCA Notice. When a clear and valid Notice is received pursuant to the guidelines, we will respond by either taking down the allegedly infringing content or blocking access to it, and we may also contact you for more information.

If you are not the copyright holder or its agent and if the content is clearly infringing the copyright of a well-known work, please select "Infringes a well-known work" from the dropdown menu. Lulu Staff has been notified of a possible violation of the terms of our Membership Agreement.

Our agents will determine if the content reported is inappropriate or not based on the guidelines provided and will then take action where needed. Thank you for notifying us. The page you are attempting to access contains content that is not intended for underage readers. Heaven's promise, desire's flame… There are no scars like those inflicted in childhood, and no love like your first.

A man of God, a fallen angel. Two different worlds, one undying love For the first time in her life, Rori Mason is independent, supporting herself; she has friends who love her, and—most importantly—she respects herself.

She's vowed never to allow a man to hurt her again. Nate Jovanovich broke the heart of a younger, less cynical Rori by marrying her rival. Eleven years later, Nate has lost his wife, gained a child and, at the end of it all, realizes Rori is still the woman of his heart. Wiesner is in it. Brenda Talley for The Romance Studio http: Before even starting, I expected to love this newest series because I look for anything with Wiesner's name on it. And I was definitely not disappointed. Karen Wiesner has done what she does best-write a heart-stopping book with a multi-dimensional plot.

Her characters were so complex. There was a tremendous amount of information given which developed the series even more fully. I felt the story flowed and I, literally, had trouble putting the book down. True to her reputation, she delivered a vibrant storyline with breathtaking events. From the pulpit to the strip club, it was told in such a way to not offend.

It did, however, present a beautiful love story. She always presented controversy with details. The flow of her book was even more compelling. I highly recommend this book. It's a great start to what promises to be a fabulous series. I cannot wait to read more! Dianthus for Long and Short Reviews http: If you enjoy good quality reading, with a great ending and wonderful characters this is a story for you.

Aurora and Nathan are great characters that will pull you in and keep you page turning until you can't wait to pick the next book in this series. Aurora never had it easy in life. With a father that never showed her he loved her and a wild streak and mile wild she never expected to find that she lost her heart to the boy next door, who was in love with God as much as her. One night a kiss is shared and there is no going back.

She gave her heart away and never got it back. When her love was taken away she ran, as far and as fast as she could from the truth, for eleven years she harbored uncertainty and doubt about Nathan. Nathan has loved Aurora all his life it seemed, but after a shared passionate kiss his all-consuming love for her scared him.

• MBA in a Book: Mastering Business with Attitude
• Christmas Oratorio: Intermedium IV - Die drei Weisen Wo ist der neugeborne König
• Green, Greener, Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-Smart Choices a Part of Your Life
• 15 Vocalises for Medium or Low Voice, Op. 12: No. 15
• Death Has a Name (The Brodie Wade Series Book 2)
• Singing Gods Work: The Inspirational Music, People and Stories of the Harlem Gospel Choir