**A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**ANCHORED was an unexpected treat of a novella. It’s a great take on the guardian angel mythology and it introduces us to a new world and heroine that left me wanting more.Central to this story is the relationship between Susannah Marsh and Jason Delacourt. Susannah is a tough loner, strong and stubborn. She’s a guardian angel charged with protecting the citizens of Biloxi, Mississippi. Susannah likes to work alone but is forced to take on Jason as a partner. He’s a healer, someone who can heal with just a touch. And with a sketchy past of his own, he’s no angel. It’s this partnership that’s one of the more interesting aspects of this world created by Larrieu. On one level, it’s an interesting worldbuilding element. Guardians are powerful but they need a healer to help them maintain their strength and energy as the city and its citizens can be draining on a guardian’s power. This is a new take on the angel mythology and it adds an interesting dynamic to Susannah and Jason’s budding relationship. Healers and guardians tend to have romantic relationships and it begs the question as to whether or not there is a magical element to their chemistry. On a romantic level, the chemistry between Jason and Susannah is off the charts sexy. I loved the back and forth between the two and chuckled at Jason’s complete irreverence for Susannah. No intimidation at all. He ruffles her feathers, so to speak, and it’s fun to watch that happen. My minor quibble with ANCHORED is that this relationship resolves a bit too quickly. I wish it had played out a little more, perhaps even resolving in the next book rather than at the end of the novella. I know I’ve focused a lot on the relationship but the world itself is also interesting - angels anchored to cities, its citizens feeding the energy and strength of the guardians; vampires and, I assume, other supernatural creatures are kept in line by the guardians; the sultry Southern atmosphere of the setting – all these elements added up to a wonderful first introduction to a new world. There’s also some great action and a very cinematic scene where Susannah has to infiltrate a nest of vampires preying on humans in her city. My favorite image is of her sneaking into a hotel room, the heart of the nest, and a female victim who is tied and gagged, sees her. Susannah holds a finger up to her own lips to let the woman know to keep quiet and she then spreads her wings…there’s something eery about that image. The film version…definitely slo-mo, maybe John Woo directed?It wasn’t until I had an impromptu Twitter conversation with the author that I learned that in the next book in the series, Susannah and Jason are side characters in a story that takes place in the same world. Color me intrigued. Though I think these two could definitely carry a full length, in fact, ANCHORED could have easily been a full length, I’m definitely curious to see who and what Larrieu has in store for us next.If you’re interested in a new guardian angel mythology, an interesting world, and a sexy heroine and hero to sink your teeth into, pick up ANCHORED. 4.5 Stars!This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
