"Personal Demons" by Lisa Desrochers

From Goodreads: "Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them."

While I had seen this book here and there in the blogosphere world for some silly reason I never had any inclination to read it, however when I saw Rachel's (of Fiktshun) glowing review of both it and its sequel a few weeks back I was convinced. And now after having read it, I can only shake my head at my earlier stupidity. This book exceeded all of my expectations and is hands down one of the most satisfying books I have read in quite some time. 

While this book possesses some characteristics that almost always drive me crazy when reading YA paranormal books (ie. love triangles, the female lead constantly playing with both boys hearts, a somewhat slutty best friend, etc.), I did not find that these bothered me one bit. Why? Because Lisa did everything in an entirely unique and un-cliched way. 

Frannie was such a well-developed character (unlike those mindless female leads which seem to pop-up in YA books more than I would like) and could hold her own (seriously, after reading about her kick-buttness I kinda want to study Judo). As for Luc? Well, I think that he is definitely up there with Jace, Dimitri, and Jay (and I must admit that typically I am all over angel-boys, so to like demon-boy more than angel-boy? Inconceivable!) . I love when male leads are unafraid to show their emotions and boy, was he full of them! 

If I had to pick one thing to criticize about this book it would have to be Gabe's personality. While he did have one, I personally didn't feel that it was quite as developed/ in-your-face as Luc's. I just had a bit of difficulties seeing why Frannie was so attracted to him when, in my opinion, he showed so little of himself.

All in all, this is by far the best YA book I have ever read that involves angels (and let me tell you, I have read quite a few. Angel obsession? You bet!). I cannot express to you how much I loved this book. You must read it (and once you start it I guarantee that it will only take you a few hours to finish because you will be unable to put it down!).

Rating: 10/ 10

Memorable lines from the book: 

"If I didn't know any better, I'd swear I feel a trickle of moisture evaporate into a puff of steam from the corner of my eye. What I'm sure I do feel is my brimstone heart break...  (pg. 208)" 

"That's what you are worried about? For the sin of Satan, Frannie, I am a demon" (pg. 237). 

"He thinks I don't know he's following me all the time. Me knows I want my life, and he's trying so hard to let me have it. I don't want to burst his bubble, so I don't say anything, but, really, I like knowing that he's there" (pg. 302).