I love angel stories and this one that completely enthralled me with it’s premise. The questions it asks is, essentially, “What happens when an angel who is sent to return hope to a human’s life so he can return to grace, falls in love with that human?” It is made clear that the angle’s job should be to help the human, not make him dependent on the angel. Apparently, “The Adversary had fallen from grace for drawing souls to himself instead of returning them to the Most High.”

That is Emmanuel’s problem in a nutshell. Emmanuel is an angel whose job it is to return souls to grace. It looks as if he’s made Cameron fall in love with him, rather than refocus the despondent human on “the Most High”. Only, Emmanuel did not want it to happen, didn’t do it on purpose, and the situation made him desperate enough he went into hiding. Not that this helps, of course, because “the Most High” sends his two angel friends after him to find out what is wrong. Emmanuel is desperate. He knows he has committed the ultimate sin, his heart hurts for Cameron, and he has no idea what to do. He has the toughest choice imaginable: be true to his heritage and return to heaven, hoping Cameron will somehow survive without him, or be honest and face his punishment, hoping he can be with Cameron instead. Not an easy choice, and one that almost tears him apart.

Cameron has reason to be despondent. His ex-wife has cleaned him out financially, he can barely keep his head above water because all his money goes to her for child support, and he has lost the will to paint and, worse, the will to live. Emanuel brings light back into his life, but Cameron has no idea who he really is, and decides to kill himself when he leaves without an explanation.

I totally adore this story about the true meaning of love, and the ultimate message that love takes many forms and may not always be what we expect. If you like stories about angels and their moral dilemmas, and if you’re looking for a touching read that will tear at your heartstrings then you should give this novella a go. It made me cry before putting a smile on my face, and I loved the confirmation of what I believe to be right as much as Ariel Tachna does in this story. ( )

The plot involving an angel who falls in love for his protege is not original, we have seen that in book and movie (above all Wim Wenders), but usually these stories have not an happily ever after.

Instead in Testament to Love, Ariel Tachna has chosen to tell us of a forgiving Lord, who thinks that love, and also physical love, is an expression of Love toward him, and so he allows to Emmanuel, one if his angels, to remain with Cameron, a poor painter.

Emmanuel was sent to Cameron to teach him to see again the beauty around him. Cameron is a good man, but not a successful man. His wife has left him, taking away their daughters, and now he lives only to gain what little money he could to send him to his ex wife. But when Emmanuel enters his life he has another reason to live: the simple days he passes with him, working and chatting. If he can have also sex, it would be perfect, but he contents himself also with the companionship.

But Emmanuel can't stay with him, not forever, and eventually he has to leave; but when he learns that Cameron has tried to commit suicide, he has only one choice left: became a fallen angel...

Another short story, enjoyable and well written. The sex scenes are fresh and somewhat naive, don't miss the erotic wings of Emmanuel...