The only other supernatural books I've read was from Frank Peretti, which set quite a big standard.

At first, I was not sure about this story, there was a lot going on and a lot of players, humans, demons and angels to keep track off. However, it did pull me in and the ending had me in chills.

I delayed reading this story, but glad I picked this up to see how this battle will continue.

What an amazing story and an incredible, thought-provoking journey. This is an amazing look at the behind the scenes aspect of life. The angelic and demonic world. All of these things go on without our notice, or is more that we choose not to notice/acknowledge them?

Hideous Beauty is an amazing look into the spiritual side of things through a fictional tale that on its own is an amazing journey. Cavanaugh has a gift and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

5 Stars!

This is the first book I've read by Jack Cavanaugh. I found the book interesting. It started off pretty slow and I almost put it down, however it eventually did pick up and I found myself drawn in to the story. It was kind of like a supernatural thriller/battle between good and evil. I'm thinking I'd like to read the next book in the series. This is worth the read.

Thank you to Negalley for the review of this book.

I actually read this one a while ago and forgot to leave my update.

This was great urban fantasy. This book was actually creepy at times. I does have some religious aspects to it. The author does try to use scriptures to show angels, demons, and Nephilim are real. So if you don't like that sort of thing you may not enjoy this. I wasn't aware that this would have scriptures and biblical aspects when I started it but I was an intriguing read for the story.

This book is also a first book in an upcoming series if I am not mistaken.

Hideous Beauty was promising but fell short. I just disliked the content for the most part. Unfortunately, this story is not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand I like the premise. Its supernatural meets West Wing. Actually there was literally an entire season of Supernatural dealing with a not so good President but I digress.

We are following the mishaps of Grant Austin. Pulitzer Prize winning author for his book on the President currently in office. What he doesn't know is he is just a pawn. Forces are in control and he played right into their hands. He apparently is an attractive man with a weird sense of humor. He sounds like someone I would like but he is written in a way that I almost couldn't stand him. Women weren't represented well at first either. I mean the first thing I do when I meet a new female friend is not have a girl power pow wow about our mutual ex and talk about clothes but whatever. Nor do I fly off the handle easily, actually I don't know many women that actually do. But maybe me and my friends are different and other females would get unexplainably jealous and irrational because of a complete misunderstanding.

Moving on, once we know Grant's purpose in this wondrous world it got better. Too bad that was 3/4 of the way into the book. But once we see the whole crazy situation laid out it got way more interesting. I really don't like how Grant handles everything but I was rooting for him in the end. I felt for him. How could someone as insignificant as him be so important in the grande scheme of things. How can a normal guy be so important to the war between good an evil. How can one man change the world? Grant is going to find out.

I liked the book eventually but getting to the better side of Grant took forever. I know he is written to be a sarcastic butt but its a bit much. I will probably read book two because of the ending. So if you like a twisty Good vs Evil book, give it a try. Just be forewarned the main character can be a beating at times.

This is a well written book. It starts out slow, but it picks up and holds your attention. I look forward to reading next book. Thank you Gilead Publishing via NetGalley for the free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Grant Austin discovers his bestselling book on the President of the United States may not be as objective as he believed and that dark forces may be plotting the President's downfall. This leads him on a strange chase where his only clues are hints about angels, demons, and dark secrets about Austin's own past.
As this summary shows, this book lands somewhere between demon-angel adventure stories like "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti and political thrillers like "the Camel Club" by David Baldacci. The good news is that it describes the demon-angel conflicts in a way that feels powerful as opposed to cheesy and it creates a presidential assassination situation that feels new and unusual. The result is a book that sidesteps the easy mistakes those two genres make and comes across as very entertaining.

I guess the best way I can explain this book is that it is kind of a combination of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, in its bringing spiritual warfare to life; Tosca Lee’s Demon, in its telling the history of angels/fallen angels; and maybe even a bit of Joel C. Rosenberg’s works in its adventures in D.C. politics.
It was an relatively engaging read, with plenty of action (more towards the end), interesting enough characters, and an intriguing take on spiritual warfare. However, I unfortunately didn’t feel like it lived up to its blurb. For most of the book, the focus was so much more on the main character, Grant Austin, than on the spiritual battle, that I found my mind wandering while I read, having to go back and re-read to figure out what was going on. And, while I know it’s a work of fiction, I didn’t always agree with the theology presented, so I got frustrated with some of the characters. I also set the book down several times, debating about whether or not I should finish it.
I’m glad I did finish it, because the climactic scene was more compelling than I expected it to be. If the rest of the series keeps up with the level the first book was at near the end, I would definitely read the remaining books when Enclave publishes them.
Many thanks to Enclave Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!

Hideous Beauty is a book that will keep you awake during the night. Although not especially detailed as far as demons’ evil goes, you get chills reading about it. The characters are relatable, and you will find yourself rooting for the characters as they struggle against seemingly impossible odds. Hideous Beauty, in short, is a book that will keep you on your toes, keep your heart rate up, and keep you turning the page.

Normally I'm not a fan of supernatural thrillers, but this book changed everything. Jack Cavanaugh brings forth a wealth of knowledge of Scriptures to back up his plot of angels, demons, and Nephilim, and his characters are so dynamic and interesting that it's easy to get lost in the pages of the story, rather than hung up on the biblical details. Above all, there is nothing preachy about this first book, and in fact the Gospel itself is not presented, but it does introduce the reader to the very real spiritual battle taking place that we cannot see.

This is an entertaining and thought provoking urban fantasy. Though this is part of a series, it has a satisfying ending so it can be read as a stand alone book. It is laced in biblical truths and some deep subjects, but it does not come off as preachy. It is a great suspenseful read and a great start to what promises to be an amazing series.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book, as it’s not my typical read. However, I’m glad I took a chance on it, as I found it extremely engaging.

This book has its basis in the Bible, but it doesn’t come across as preachy. It had more of a suspense angle than I expected, but that was a good thing, as I love a bit of mystery when reading. While labeled as part of a series, the conclusion of this book is satisfying, so it could be read as a standalone. This would be an appropriate read for young adults, as well as adults. The action starts early on to pull the reader in, and the fast pace keeps them engaged throughout. Cavanaugh's story is action-packed, descriptive, and imaginative. I could easily envision this as a movie, as the characters and scenes are well-crafted. I’m very excited for the next book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

An Entertaining and Thought-Provoking Read

The Bible has been the inspiration for a ton of literature, far beyond the realm of religious texts, Some is preachy, some ridiculous, but enough has been truly wonderful to keep me going back for more.

This book is from the last category. It was suspenseful, scary, and even funny in parts. It's part of a series, but is a complete story by itself. The author is a seasoned pro and also a minister, but Hideous Beauty has the depth to be appealing to non-religious readers who just like urban fantasy.

It isn't dumbed-down and angsty like some titles I've read. There are a lot of these aimed for young adults. Angels and demons seem as popular for characters in star-crossed teen romances as vampires and werewolves.

This could easily be read by young adults, but it refers to mature concepts that aren't at all simple or even straightforward. It’s full of action, with more than a dash of political thriller thrown in for even more flavor. I loved it.

An interesting beginning to what will no doubt be a riveting series. Stories about other-world beings walking the planet with us are always engaging and never fail to stimulate the imagination. This book was no exception. The characters -- good and bad -- were well drawn and it was easy to either empathize or despise them. Great pacing of the action, with an enticing ending, enough to have you anxiously awaiting the next installment. Excellent read.