Unforsaken

It takes a brave author to sit down nowadays and pen a whole new paranormal romance series in my opinion. This author has done just that so it was with some trepidation that I sat down to read this the first book. With so many readers and indeed authors turning away from this genre it's hard to find something new, original and frankly interesting that doesn't simply rehash others ideas. Yes I've read about guardian Angels and indeed fallen Angels before but I really enjoyed the twist here with Fate seeming to have the upper hand.
Now everyone knows that freewill is what always leads humanity on its merry way so I enjoyed discovering that Angels might not always do what is expected of them. Raven bartered with Fate for a chance to save his brother but for hundreds of years has felt tricked and stuck on the mortal plain. His latest charge is Tayla but the connection Raven has with her is totally screwed up as he struggles to hide that he's slowly losing his faith and he's on a slippery downward slope himself. Tayla hasn't a clue what is going on but one thing she does know and that is that things exist in the world that frankly scare her . So when she has odd dreams about the man who rescues her when she gets lost whilst following a mountain trail can she trust her judgment or perhaps follow her instincts ?
There's a strong feeling of redemption permeating this book which will appeal to many readers. I wanted to like Raven but at times found him weak and thought he let down those who supported him. Tayla I actually wanted to shake at times as no matter what she's told she still goes her own, sweet and often dangerous way ! Yet I stuck with it and in spite of occasionally wanting less navel gazing and more action this story did perk up with supporting characters that clearly have back stories the author is itching to tell. It sets up the world building quite well and as I love a bad boy I'm actually quite interested to find out what happens next because I suspect the fallen have quite a lot more planned.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Unforsaken is the first in the brand new Fallen Guardians series by Cassie Laelyn, who is also a brand new author. And while Fallen Angels may not be a totally new concept; Ms Laelyn’s interpretation is definitely refreshing. As with any PNR story involving conflict, there are good guys, bad guys and the ones that somehow get caught in the middle. This is the story of Raven, the immortal Fallen Guardians leader, and Tayla, who is a mortal Chosen and Raven’s to protect. Then there’s’ Blaine; he’s a bad guy, who just happens to be Raven’s brother and a smartarse to boot!

Ms Laelyn’s world building is wonderful, with realistic descriptions of the elements and terrain, while her plot ensures reader interest and definitely provides a need to know how everything ends flavour. I did find the story a little slow around the middle, but the desire to continue was never an issue. Queue the cast; Raven is troubled by guilt and failure to save not only Blaine, but his closest companions and return them all to the Heavens. Tayla is trying to start life anew, and escape the crippling fear she has harboured since her attack by an unknown evil. Aric is essentially Raven’s second, and has his own personal demons, while EJ is the class clown and go to tech geek of the group. As the story progresses two additions are added to the trio, but there is some serious mystery surrounding River and Raine’s arrival and the underlying reason for their inclusion in the discarded assembly.

Overall, this was a fabulous start to what is sure to be a rather addictive series, and I’m sure there will be more mystery, mayhem and scorching romance to come in future books by MS Laelyn; well I certainly hope there is!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for Cassie Laelyn's newsletter at the end of the story (there's a link to follow) as there is a BONUS epilogue you won't want to miss!

ARC received for review

A great debut book from Ms. Laelyn. A whole new paranormal series with angels and demons (aka Fallen). Make sure you have a box of tissues handy.

The beginning was slow, very slow but it picked up after Raven and Tayla met at about 25%. I enjoyed the interactions between Raven and his team. They are on Earth to save Raven's brother, and can't return to heaven until they do. Raven is assigned to Tayla to protect her, but instead of just protecting her they fall in love. Of course, he takes forever to admit and commit. I keep having to blink the tears out of my eyes near the end, so I could keep reading.

I can't wait to learn more about Aric, EJ, River, Raine, Cole, Gabe and hopefully Blaine.

A bit slow for me and hard to get into. Characters were good and well developed. I just couldn't really connect with the story.

This was one of my first paranormal books I've read! I've read plenty where they dip into it lightly but This was my first deep paranormal. This is Raven and Tayla book, Raven is a guardian assigned to protect his chosen, Tayla is a mortal woman set in the middle of the battle of good and evil! This book was ok for my first in the genre it was filled with action, angst, suspense, heartbreak, and really 🔥🔥🔥! But for me I think I'll just go back to my non paranormal books lol it's not really for me! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

The debut novel by this author has us jumping into the world of angel, fallen angels and Fate. What control do we all have over what happens to us? Well, Fate and her Guardians may have something to say about it.

A bulk of the book is spent on world building. We meet the Guardians, they battle the Fallen and we run across the super baddie himself--Blaine. Mixed up in it all is Tayla. She has been chosen by Fate for a special purpose. The Guardians protect her until that purpose is complete.

Raven has spent hundreds of years on earth, guarded many Chosen but Tayla is something more. She is his soulmate. He fights the connection for a long time, but when he finally gives in, his world and soul are complete.

The book ends with the current story arc complete but it was hard to tell whether Raven and Tayla will continue to be the lead characters in the next book or if the focus will move on to another of the Guardians. No breadcrumbs on that! There is still work to be done. Excited to see where the author will take us!

I am not much of a Paranormal romance reader. I have found that each author has there own mythology that can create confusion for some readers.

Unforsaken starts off painstaking slow because the author wants to introduce all of her characters that will be though her series.

For paranormal romance readers this might be a new author. The story stalls around the middle of the story but it picks up once again towards the end.

The author gives a unique take on the paranormal world that doesn't add up for this reader but others will love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher The Wild Rose Press for a copy of Cassie Laeyn Unforsaken

A new take on the paranormal romance genre. This book is full of world building. The mythology is different than other stories out there, a compelling take on Angel's, Fallen, Fate, Heaven and Hell. Tayla and Raven are great characters and their intense connection and steamy romance is well worth the read. There is so much to delve into in this new series and I can't wait!

Give me good angst and I'm a hot mess. So of course I cried, I won't hold it against you when you cry. Maybe I should back it up and explain...

Unforsaken is about a Guardian and his Chosen. (Think naughty guardian angel! ;) ) It is a constant struggle to do what is right and what ones heart is telling them. The battle is fought with every thing he has. It's admirable and romantic. And it made me lose my battle against my tears. I drowned in the slippery little buggers while fighting and pleading with Raven to hold on.

It's funny how easy it is to slip into the story and feel like a supporting cast member. If only...I totally see myself as a Raine type. Well, in reality it would be minus the death defying heels because I'm a total klutz.

I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the Guardians prevent in the future. And what kind of ever after we will get...

I received an ARC from NetGalley for this and it was the best book i have read so far this year. KUDOS! I hope to develop a nice relationship with these characters. I am reminded of a similar series of books that i cant live without and these are right up there with my new top five favorite authors! A love story involving an angel and his chosen is too good to pass up!

A well delivered and promising first book by Cassie Laelyn. Unforsaken if the first in The Fallen Guardians series with compelling characters and an engaging storyline, I enjoyed this story and will look to explore more in this series and by this author

Tayla is a chosen, a rare mortal created by fate to fulfill an extraordinary destiny, in the end tipping the scales back in fate's favor. She has no idea that she's a chosen or that she's on the path that fate wants her on but the fallen keep coming after her and she's a bit jumpy because of it.

Fallen were angels who chose to fall and live in hell and all they did was find souls like the chosen and lure them to the dark side. Souls that were lured to the dark side tore apart fate's plans.

Raven is the guardian that fate had chosen to keep Tayla alive so she could fulfill her destiny. But because he's been around her so much, he slowly begun to have feelings for her even though he knows he can never act on them.

Raven has been good about keeping his distance even when he has to save her from the fallen that are after her. But when she almost dies again, he makes the decision to bring her to their home and that one decision changes everything for them. She sees him for the first time that she can remember and finds herself very much attracted to him. Which makes it really hard for him to keep a safe distance from her and not get involved with her.

When Tayla's destiny is finally laid out for us, I had no idea that's what it would be but it made sense. I really liked getting to know Raven and the others who lived with him. Getting some back story into some of their lives and how the fallen are created was interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about fate yet, she seems very devious and under handed in the way she handles things and in the deals she makes. Some of their suffering seems very callous on her part and I didn't care for that. But it made for an interesting story and I'm sure that when each of these characters get their own books, well have a better understand as to why fate acts the way she does.

Disclosure: I received this book for free via NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

The debut novel that's this good. Wow.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!
This was a gripping story that quickly had me completely engrossed.

Fallen angels, brooding guardians... yep, gotta request the arc. And yay, I was granted the arc for Unforsaken. The story is a bit slow however, since this is the first in a new series. So Cassie Laelyn needs some time to describe how the guardians Raven, Aric and EJ live on earth to protect chosen ones to reach their destined fate. And all because Raven was punished by fate centuries ago.
And now he is feeling punished again, since he feels a forbidden attraction to his chosen one, Tayla. Since the tragic death of her parents, Tayla lives alone. And when she is being attacked, she feels vulnerable. But then a sexy and brooding man comes to the rescue. But why does he feel so familiar? And why does it feel like Tanya is forgetting something?
When the truth is revealed and Raven and Tanya give in to their mutual attraction, the story keeps twisting and turning. With the arrival of River and Raine, the story gets stranger and stranger. So... you'll end up with more questions than with what you started. But it is a nice ride! Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Out of this world PNR. If you enjoy books by Rebecca Zanetti and Alexandra Ivy. Then you need to pick up a copy of Unforsaken by Cassie Laelyn. This is the first title in The Fallen Guardian series. With captivating characters and a great plot. This new paranormal romance is sure to please any PNR fan. Unforsaken had a nice pace and loads of steamy romance. A wonderful debut to this series. I can’t wait for the second book.

Overall I enjoyed Cassie Laelyn's Unforsaken story. Totally unique and intriguing plot. I liked how the story progressed and the romance.

This book took me awhile to get into, but once I did I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for me

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Great twist to the angel mythology. I'm looking forward to this series. Wonderful alpha characters that can carry their own stories. I can't wait.

Raven, an exiled Guardian, is tasked at protecting Tayla, a mortal who's path is important to Fate.

A good read about good vs. evil. Both Raven and Tayla act outside of their own best interests. The author delves into the world of your prescribed path as determined by Fate along with the concept of free will. Liked the interaction between the main characters, although Tayla acted rashly (and honestly, quite stupidly multiple times for someone who has been attacked). Nice set up to a series that I will continue to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This story was so awesome. It took me a but at first to get into it, (sometimes I hate too much info or background, I'm impatient), but when the story picked up, I couldn't put it down. At one point I actually hated Fate and the Angels. I cried so hard my heart hurt. Whenever I read a story that gives me such strong emotions, I know it's a gr8 story. I recommend this

Hidden deep in the Snowy Mountains, lives a brotherhood of immortal Guardians, banished from the Heavens. After centuries of exile, Head Guardian Raven can taste Hell. One wrong move could destroy his soul. When Fate assigns him a female mortal to protect, his forbidden desire becomes a distraction he can't afford. Giving in to temptation risks plummeting into the fiery pits of Hell, dragging her along with him. Tayla Eason is on the run, escaping a horrific attack on her life. When she lands in the arms of the sexy, alluring man who saved her, the shadows of her past swiftly close in. But when Fate throws a twist, Tayla's forced to choose between saving Raven's soul or fleeing before the creatures strike again. In an ultimate test of love, the two must battle against the almighty Fate. But will it be enough to save them both?
This was a new series by a debut author, so I took it with a grain of salt and wasn’ t sure what to expect. I was very happy I tried it as the author did an excellent job with creating a new world with characters that I really liked. I read through it fairly quickly. I liked both main characters and look forward to reading the books of the side characters we were introduced to. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

New Author for me and first book in “The Fallen Guardians” Series. It was amazing, I couldn’t put it down. Just the kind of Paranormal Romance I’m into. Raven is Banished from the Heavens, is now Head Guardian and tasked with Protecting a Chosen by Fate. Tayla is a mortal who is running from the nightmares that plague her since she was attacked. She is Ravens to protect till she has fulfilled her path.
This book will not disappoint! Their story will melt your heart. Can’t wait forward to book 2!

This book was so much more than I expected. I love the world the author has created and the characters she has populated it with. Raven and Tayla and the rest of the characters are so well conceived they practically leap off the pages. The bad guy is even someone you want to know more about and maybe secretly root for. The tension builds and builds as the story unfolds. I'm totally hooked and can't wait to see what Fate has in store for everyone.

Cassie Laelyn is a new author to me, but I thought I'd give her a try since I'm havi g a hard time finding quality sy-fi/paran romance books at the moment.

The storyline was ok. I didn't feel like this was anything that I've not read before. It was a basic team of fallen angels saving the world, not owe haven't seen before. There was the normal conflicted Hero and Heroine that had no idea until ¾ into the book.

For me this fell flat. I felt that there was missing bits, it was rushed and then just suddenly over. We were introduced to characters that sounded like they might be important, but not given a lot of information on them.

I won't rush out to get the next book, but I could see me picking it up on the cheap.

Every once in a while, I realize that I've locked myself into a reading rut. I stick with the same authors, genres and/or publishers without even realizing it. It's not exactly a comfort zone, I strayed away from that a long time ago. It's more like a force of habit. I have to consciously do a different search when I'm looking for ARCs or new reads. It was during one of those searches that I found the second book in The Fallen Guardians series. On a whim, I checked out the publisher and found out that the first book was also available for review. So... here we are...

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I should probably mention that I'm very happy that I stumbled upon Cassie Lealyn's new series. The world building included a refreshing take on fallen angels with a mythological twist. Even though this was the first book in a new series and there was a lot of background to cover, it wasn't a distraction from Tayla and Raven. Raven's brothers, their connection to the woman he was sworn to protect and other forces just added to the story. The fact that Raven was "broken" and Tayla was the one person who could make him whole. The only problem was, she shouldn't have been.

This story had pretty much everything I love about PNR. The supporting characters were intriguing, not to mention witty. There was enough danger and mystery to keep the pages turning. The take on fallen angels was unique and the romance was both hot and sweet. Unforgotten is next and after meeting Aric in Unforsaken, I can't wait to read what happens next.

Such an amazing story! I was hanging on so many chapters of this book and have several late night reading sessions to find out what happened. They relationship between the two main characters was fateful and intense as they are tethered together in a way that neither of them really understand or can explain.

The full cast of characters bring about a lovely diversity of personalities and attributes that help carry along the plot of the story. But obviously the main focus is on our main couple and their struggles to be honest with each other about the things happening and also to open themselves up to Fate. Let things happen the way it needs to happen and quit fighting so hard to mold an outcome that you think is appropriate.

The underlying spiritual elements of Fate and Destiny in this story were big hooks for me and what kept me mentally engaged along with all the incredibly sexy scenes between our love interests. I've heavily promoted this story on my Instagram and look forward to reading the next installment!

Oh, snap! Can you say FREAKING AMAZING?! Because that’s what this book was!

It’s not often a debut author in this genre does as well as Cassie Laelyn, and I’m not gonna bore you all with repetitions of the plot and whatnot. Just know that the pace was fast and fascinating, the dialogues witty – just the way I like them -, and the tension between the characters – not to mention the steamy scenes – were exactly what the doctor ordered!

I loved almost all the characters – ok, let’s be honest, EJ was the best, but even so, they all did well in my list – and the interactions between them. Raven and Tayla were a great couple – and may I just say, that scene in his kitchen when he first got her to his house was…

Good God, I nearly died from the sexual tension right on the spot!

By the way, there’s something suspicious about River and Raine’s descend to Earth, I’m just sayin’…

Can’t wait to read more of this series! It’s sure to be a blast!

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***