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Messy, Human, and Chaotic
Hers to Tempt follows a brooding archangel who sees a rebellious and street-smart hacker entangled in a black-market underworld, whom he is instantly attracted to and defies ancient rules to pursue her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Honestly, the heart of Hers to Tempt came from this idea that even the strongest of us can fall. That strength isn’t always about dominance or power, it’s often about surrender. I was fascinated by the concept of an archangel, this divine being bound by duty and ancient laws, coming face-to-face with something messy, human, and chaotic, and choosing that instead. Choosing love. Lust. Chaos. Even failure.
The setup came from wanting to explore what happens when someone who’s meant to be untouchable, created for order, starts questioning everything because of one person. A person who is flawed in more ways than one, their complete opposite, but for whatever reason, is impossible to ignore.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Realism. I needed them to feel human, even Michael. I didn’t want anyone reading this thinking they were watching perfect beings from a distance. I wanted them to see the trauma, the fear, the need. Especially for Lee. Her progression arc was really important to me. She’s sharp and guarded, but you can feel her learning how to trust, and how to want something deeper.
And with Michael, it was about showing how love doesn’t weaken powerful men. It undoes them in the best way. Watching him resist that pull and slowly break? That was the whole point. That kind of emotional vulnerability is where the magic happens.
I thought this story had a unique setup and an interesting premise. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
So, this novella is a spin-off from my debut trilogy, and it takes place right after Book One, LIORA Lost In Heaven’s Touch. I was working with a world that already existed: 2100 London, where the future is thriving, tech-forward, and full of second chances. Michael is on Earth because he chose to help Liora (the FMC from book one, who used to be an angel) adjust to human life, and that decision is what led him to Lee.
In terms of sources, I read a lot of Christian lore and angel mythology, especially on the concept of fallen angels and divine order. But I wanted to flip some of that. Michael’s fall wasn’t about sin or temptation, even if it felt like that to him. It was destined.
In my version of the lore, Lee was meant for him. She was hidden on purpose because her connection to Michael would make him the strongest archangel, and some forces did not want that to happen. So yeah, between the existing trilogy world, angelic lore, and that idea of hidden strength through love… that’s what shaped this story’s foundation.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Even though this specific story came to an end, I left the door cracked open, especially when it comes to Gabriel and Lucifer. There’s a hint of hope there… a sense that maybe soulmates aren’t just for Michael.
I don’t want to talk too soon because I’ve got other projects lined up, but yeah… there’s a real possibility I’ll explore their stories one day. Nothing in my books is coincidental. If the timing’s right, and the characters won’t leave me alone, it’ll happen 🙂
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He wasn’t supposed to feel anything for anyone. He wasn’t supposed to intervene with human affairs. But when he saw her, something ancient stirred.
Now, their worlds collide in a whirlwind of secrets, temptation, and divine defiance.
She’s a thief with a past that refuses to stay buried.
He’s an angel torn between duty and desire.
Hers to Tempt: A Heavenly Sin is a steamy, emotionally charged paranormal romance filled with forbidden desire, slow-burning tension, and a love that defies the heavens. Perfect for fans of morally conflicted angels, sharp-mouthed heroines, and stories where fate has other plans.
Hers to Tempt – A Heavenly Sin
Ava Rouge’s Hers to Tempt is a dark and magnetic blend of supernatural seduction and moral chaos. The story orbits around Michael, a brooding archangel bound by ancient rules, and Lee, a defiant, street-smart hacker entangled in a black-market underworld. Their collision is anything but ordinary. Violence, forbidden desires, and twisted revelations unravel as the two confront secrets that threaten not just their lives but the fragile order of heaven and hell itself. With alternating perspectives, the novel plunges into a murky pool of power, redemption, and the terrifying pull of love.
Honestly, this book threw me for a loop. The writing is raw—almost aggressively so—and I mean that as a compliment. The dialogue snaps with grit, the prose slithers between poetic and profane, and the pacing grips you by the throat. Rouge doesn’t tiptoe around taboos; she waltzes through them in combat boots. The characters are a tangled mess of trauma, lust, and power struggles, and somehow that’s exactly what makes them feel so real. I didn’t always like Michael or Lee, but I believed them every step of the way. Rouge takes big swings with tone and theme, and even when it gets a little wild or melodramatic, it never feels lazy.
Still, there were moments I felt knocked off balance—not by content, but by the emotional whiplash. One chapter will yank your heart out with vulnerability, then the next drowns it in sarcasm or sex. It’s intense. The supernatural mythology is bold and intriguing, though sometimes murky, and the high-stakes plot doesn’t always pause to explain itself. But I’d be lying if I said that stopped me. The book has a pulsing, defiant energy that just works. It’s not perfect—it’s too fierce for that—but it’s unforgettable.
In the end, Hers to Tempt is a bold, visceral ride. If you like your romance tangled with pain, your angels morally compromised, and your heroines sharp enough to cut diamonds, this one’s for you. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for readers who live for the messy, the dark, and the daring.
Pages: 157 | ASIN : B0F3B7ZMVB
LITERARY TITAN 