Out in Blue blog tour: Scavenger Hunt, review & giveaway

It's Monday and we are today's stop on the Out In Blur blog tour presented by Entangled Publishing. Out In Blue is a paranormal novel written by Sarah Gilman and it has a fascinating take on angels and demons. We have a piece of the Scavenger Hunt for those partaking in the hunt, our review, and there's a tour-wide contest and another special contest which begins on February 26th to win a Nook. For that contest, simply click on the Blue in the Wild Contest link below.

Blue in the Wild Contest: 

Find Wren and Ginger to Win a Nook!

Out in Blue (Return to Sanctuary, #1) by Sarah Gilman

Paranormal*Paperback/ebook, 352 pages

Release Date: February 2013*Entangled Select

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable plumage, Wren knows one thing for certain: the human woman who saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The demon responsible for his parents’ gruesome deaths two decades ago pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren’s wing.

Wren doesn’t expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual talent of her own reveals the location of Wren’s father, Wren’s isolated world implodes. With the help of the demon protectors he’s sworn never to trust again, Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who stalks his and Ginger’s every step, and claim his eternity with the most courageous woman he’s ever known. 

Excerpt for Scavenger Hunt

She climbed the stairs to the third level, testing each step before shifting her weight. At the top, she opened the first door on her right. No furniture occupied the large room, but blankets and a tattered pillow lay on the floor. Apples he must have snatched from the orchard and a pile of paperbacks sat nearby. A white down feather longer than her hand lay on the floorboards. 

Curiosity took over, and she picked up the feather. She ran her fingers along the edge, the texture sublime enough to put silk to shame. Acid rose in her throat and she let the feather drift to the floor. The money people paid for archangel plumage kept the poachers in business. Religious hysteria gave the murderers a convenient smoke screen.

“Greed knows no boundaries,” she said to herself.

Ginger checked the other rooms, found nothing, and left the house. She hurried around to the back of the property and found a spot to sit where she could see the balcony, which had been stripped of railings. Cold dew on the grass soaked her jeans. Her heart pounded as she strained to see the sky through the lingering fog. What would he look like? If archangels were as breathtaking in person as they were in photos…

Three poachers emerged from the woods and crossed the lawn to the front porch, their gruesome tattoos covered by black jackets, an arsenal of guns and knives strapped to their hips. Ginger crouched lower in the grass, her palms sweating, her mouth dry and sticky. She was damned lucky they hadn’t seen her, that she hadn’t been trapped in the house.

Minutes passed and Ginger stayed still. The poachers didn’t come out. No sound carried from the house. After an agonizing eternity, the last remnants of the fog thinned, and movement drew her attention.

The archangel, moving swiftly, flew in low over the treetops. Wings blurred as he landed on the balcony. The resulting breeze fanned her skin.

About the author:

Website | Twitter

Sarah Gilman started her first novel in third grade. She never finished that story, but never gave up the dream. Her fascination with wings also began at that age, when images of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis captured her imagination and never let go. Now a paranormal romance writer, she employs her love of writing to bring the allure of winged creatures to the pages of her novels. Sarah lives in Vermont with her supportive husband and two spoiled cats.

Out In Blue offers paranormal fans an intriguing new world of fallen angels and demons. In this first book in the series, Wren is a halfling, the son of a fallen angel, Raphael, and human mother, Kora. When a human woman, Ginger, saves him from poachers, risking her own life, he takes notice. When her own safety is threatened, Wren returns the favor by saving her and from then on they're thrust together on the run from an evil poacher and his gang. Along the way, these two learn they share some common traits, such as losing their parents at a young age and never fitting in. He's an angel, she's the daughter of a Guardian, a demon who protects angels. Wren and Ginger develop feelings for each other. He doesn't think he is worthy of love, especially with a deadly ability to contend, with but then he's never met a woman like Ginger before.

This novel begins with an exciting opening scene, introducing us to the way Ginger is, selfless and caring. Wren is a loner, he renounced his Guardian after his parents were killed by one, and he doesn't like seeking help from anyone. I liked the fantasy world author Sarah Gilman has created here. Angels with demon Guardians living in a sanctuary to keep poachers away. Humans don't trust these supernatural beings and poachers kill angels for sport, clipping their wings to sell for cash. The halflings and full blooded angels have an interesting lore and the humans who hunt them provided a creepy factor to the story. There was plenty of action and twists and surprise events to keep any reader invested in this exciting story. 

My favorite characters were Wren and Ginger. Though they developed feelings for each other quickly, their loneliness was believable so their instant attraction was plausible. They made a wonderful couple even if if took a while for them to actually get together. There were some nice surprises along the way and I particularly liked the special abilities they had, especially Ginger's. The pace was fast, the situations intense, characters had depth and with a large cast I never felt lost or bored. With each chapter I wondered what would happen next.

Fans of archangel stories with demons looking for an exciting new series need to read Out In Blue. I eagerly await book two, Deep in Crimson, and wonder if I'll get to see more of Jett.

Rating: 3.5 I liked it

1/2

Cover comment: I would have liked to have seen more of Wren's face and his black-tipped wings.

Book source: I received a promotional copy from the publisher in return for my honest review.

Giveaway

There is a tour-wide giveaway for 4 paperback copies of Out in Blue. Enter below.

 Out in Blue Giveaway