Happily Ever Endings... Forgiven by Jana Oliver

Happily Ever Endings... was born out of sheer frustration. You know how when you read a series and you love it but the last book takes a little while to come out and then you sort of forget parts of the novel? That's what these posts are going to serve to remedy. Happily Ever Ending... is a short post about what happened at the ending of each book that is going to be in a series for people who need a quick reminder of what happened in the previous installment. I hope this saves someone else the frustration that I went through!

Forgiven by Jana Oliver

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

Click "Read more" to read the ending of Forgiven so you'll be ready for the next installment of the series!

Riley goes by Mort's house to say goodbye to her father before practicing Latin with Mort. Her father doesn't seem to know what's going on but she says her goodbyes anyway and proceeds to study words until she goes cross-eyed. That night, she knows she should go to sleep but she can't so she walks out to the stairs. Beck finds her and they talk about how things used to be. Beck tells her how much the cookies Riley and her mother made for him while he was in the army meant to him and asks if Riley would make him some if they both make it tomorrow. Riley promises and before they go to bed, he calls her "woman" instead of "girl".

The next day, Mort, Aryden and Riley head into the graveyard to do their spell while the Trappers and Hunters set up around the cemetary. Riley realizes that she really might not make it out alive and makes eye contact with Beck. They met and tell each other how they feel and share a kiss. After a stolen minute together, Riley follows Aryden and Mort to the spot where they are going to do the spell. She finds a letter from her father in the family mausoleum in which he asks her to "forgive him". She puts the letter in her shirt and begins the spell with Mort and Aryden's help. The first one she gets easily but the demons come during the next one. All manner of Hellspawn turn up from Grades 3-5 and like the others, when they are killed, they begin to walk like zombies and they are allowed on Hallowed Ground. Riley stumbles with the second spell but manages though it isn't strong enough to break Ozy's spell.

Aryden and Mort goes after Ozy, who is in the graveyard working his own spell, when the other archangel Sartael comes down. Riley sees that the Hunters and Trappers are not going to be able to hold back the demons and can't figure out what to do. Ori calls to her and says if she pledges her soul to him, he will fight the other arch angel off. Earlier Martha, the angel who helped Simon, told her that Ori is the most trustworthy of angels. Riley agrees to give up her soul but only if Ori never trades it and doesn't touch her again. They agree and she releases him. He fights towards Sartael and they take their fight to the air. They harm each other but can't best each other. Lucifer shows up and punishes Sartael. Ori sustains a major injury and Riley fears he will die. Before she can know, he is zapped away by Lucifer. Meanwhile, Ozy jumps out of his protection bubble and Riley's dad jumps in to finish the spell that will make the demons go back to regular though it destroys him. Ozy says her Dad wanted it that way and he is truly sorry. Heaven finally makes its move and Heaven's Army comes down.

Riley steps in the middle and tells the angels that humankind deserves another chance. Lucifer agrees with Riley and Heaven's army leaves reluctantly. Lucifer leaves as well and everyone is left to pick up their dead and wounded. During this time, Riley keeps to herself and Martha comes over to her as Simon approaches and tells Simon that she saved his life and made a deal with Heaven. This shocks Simon but Riley doesn't have the strength to think about too much. Martha also tells her that her father earned his place in Heaven. Beck sees her home and she wakes up several days later. Riley is on her way to Beck's house with cookies but Justine beats her there. Beck opens the door to tell Justine to leave but Justine says she uncovered his dirty secret and is going to expose him. It is eluded that it has something to do with when he was 15. Riley pulls up as Justine is leaving and Beck tells Riley to get the heck away because he isn't good enough for her. Riley goes but vows not to give up on Beck.

Did I miss anything? What did you all think of the ending and that this trilogy turned into a saga so we get to see Beck's story?