Hell's Belles
by Jackie Kessler
Hell on Earth series #1

Book Review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


“A former succubus on the run from hell, turned mortal stripper in The Big Apple”. Jackie Kessler’s premise for her new book, Hell’s Belles, caught my attention and totally perked my interest.

Reading the book in just one day, first of the new year at that, it tells the tale of Jesse, former sex demon whose job was to seduce men and take their souls, who is now, due to some major management changes in Hell, AWOL from the fiery depths. Turning to a witch for help, she gets herself changed to a mortal, and with nothing but desperation and her inherent skill sets, ventureds towards the Big Apple. On the train she meets Paul, a hunky mortal who makes her want to get back into the seducing business. So what does a former succubus do in the big city? Becomes a stripper., of course.

Now, plagued with mortal problems like financial issues and love dilemmas, Jesse also has to hide from bounty hunters from hell, an irate demon queen, and an incubus friend who has the “hots” for her. Jesse’s earthly adventure couldn’t be more filled with humor and danger.


Told through Jesse’s point of view, I got totally sucked into this book, and couldn’t put it down. Written in a light, humorous manner, complete with silly clichéd expression that somehow added to its charm, I found myself rooting for the main character, as she navigates her escape from hell and her hiding out in Earth.

Kessler’s vivid description of Hell is ingenious and picturesque. I also like her use of “corporate business” terms as her metaphor for its management issues. Her demoness with a heart was an endearing heroine, and the plot was fast-paced enough to keep my attention. And that incubus Daun intrigued me so much, that I can't wait to read his book, which is the third in the series. The ending is a little pat for my taste, although it did reveal more on why Jesse did run away.


If you like paranormal books that are funny and a little bit raunchy, pick up Hell’s Belles for a fun ride in hell.

DVD Review: Wedding Date (2005)

DVD Review:

Wedding Date (2005)

A successful New Yorker pilfers money from her 401K to hire a professional male escort as her date to her sister’s wedding in order to make her ex, the best man, jealous.

With a slightly clichéd plot line, and with the handsome Dermot Mulroney as the male lead, I thought I will give this DVD a spin, considering how much I enjoy watching romantic comedies.

The movie starts simple enough. It shows Kat Ellis, played by Will and Grace Debra Messing, hurriedly packing for her London trip, while nervously wondering if she made the right decision. She finally meets her hired escort on the plane, who is romance-novel gorgeous, complete with cryptic philosophical sayings like, “Every woman has the exact love life she wants.”

As the movie progresses, we get introduced to Kat’s family and all the other guests in the wedding. Amidst the merrymaking of pre-wedding activities, Kat discovers that her ex, who seemed to have no redeeming factor at all, was actually sleeping with her sister during the time they were a couple. Now that information, not only shatters Kat, but also damming information to the groom, wen he realizes that his bride-to-be used to have sex with his bestfriend. Throughout all this dramatic revelations, Kat and her hired escort, Nick, somehow fall in love with each other.

I really tried to like the movie, but I couldn't . Kat, despite her heartfelt emotions, confused me. It seemed like she isn’t even sure of what she really wants. Nick, was obviously, a one-dimensional character, the male equivalent of the stereotype hooker with a heart of gold. Also, for the life of me, I couldn't see how these two ended up having feelings with each other. The director just sort of assumed that we can read these two people’s hearts because I didn't really see much character development of Nick and Kat in the movie.

Furthermore, none of the family members were that memorable. In fact, most of them were quite obnoxious, most especially the sister and the ex. However, it seemed that in this story, even if you did horrible things, in the end, things were easily forgiven and forgotten.

Wedding Date is supposed to be a romantic comedy. However, instead of laughing, I found myself wincing several times in this movie. The only redeeming factor I could think of is the soundtrack, and the chance to ogle Mulroney. Beyond that, if you are looking for a light movie to snuggle in, I recommend that you pick something else.

Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann

Audio Book review:

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann

Troubleshooters Book no: 13

Although I didn’t read this series from the beginning, having started at Force of Nature and then back tracking to Into the Storm, I had enough background to appreciate the characters in this book. There are many POV in this book, in fact, some would say, it might be too distracting and probably took away ample attention from the main hero and heroine. Still just having recently discovered this author, I thoroughly enjoy her writing style.

The main story is about a couple that has been friends, Vinh and Hannah, until their lives were shattered by the death of his wife and her bestfriend, Angelina. The story picked up many years, both characters changed dramatically by that life-altering event. Now, Vinh is the main suspect of the death of Tim Ebersole, the Freedom Fighter’s leader, the group responsible for Angelina’s death. Together with Hannah, Vinh is searching for the truth on whether he is the killer or not, putting their lives back into the Freedom Fighter’s attention and into danger. While on this journey, they also have the opportunity to see each other again, and redefine who and what exactly are they to each other.

I find the story heartbreaking, and the grief quite real, so if you are looking for something sweet and light, this is not the book for you. There are other stories intertwined in the book, as the triangle between Sophia/Dave/Decker continues to grow more complex, the growing mystery on the strange actions of Jim Nash, and also the side story of Izzy Zanella’s complicated relationship to his child bride, Eden Gillman.

I give the book 5 stars because I enjoyed it, even though I have to step away once in a while, because it can get too emotional. Also, if you haven’t read any of the books in Brockmann’s Troubleshooter’s series, I would not recommend you starting with this.

Kiss of Fire: A Dragonfire Novel by Deborah Cooke

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


A world of shape-shifting dragon warriors. A self-reliant loner blacksmith. A bookstore-owner ace accountant. A fated meeting that can change the course of destiny.

I picked Kiss of Fire from the library because I was intrigued with the idea of shape-shifting dragons, and I’m always on the look-out for a new paranormal series to read. Furthermore, with the second book besides it, Kiss of Fury, it guarantees me the chance to read the next one if I like the first.

Kiss of Fire is about Sara Keegan, an ace accountant who now runs a New Age bookstore she inherited from her recently deceased aunt. After nearly killed by a mysterious stranger, she was saved by what she thought was a dragon. Truth be told, it was Quinn Tyrell, a Pyr, a race of beings that can shape-shift into dragons. He is also the Smith with power over metals, and according to prophecy Sara, unknown to her is the Seer. Fated by destiny and the advent of “firestorm”, a mating signal that pulls them to each unequivocably, Sara was drawn into the magical world of the Pyr, and the man who claims to be her mate and protector. Meanwhile, Quinn has to confront his own misconceptions of his past, learn to trust and work with his fellow Pyr, and follow what his heart wants.

I enjoyed the book. Deborah Cooke’s prose is pretty simple and very readable. There is almost a childlike quality to the words, that makes the story just flow. What I love most is her descriptions of the dragons, most especially the focus on their colors. The fight scenes among the Pyr was also well done, and I can actually close my eyes and see them battling in the skies.

I also like the hero and the heroine, although the attraction between them seem to happen just too fast. I guess, the fated element is in play here, so there is not much struggling on their part on being together. There is also the introduction of the other Pyrs who obviously will be playing lead roles in the next books I assume. I’m sure she will expand more on the world she has created for the Pyr and the Slayers in the next stories to come.

Overall, I would recommend this book with some reservation. Some readers might find the romance a little too simplistic, but for a quick, light read with some magic and fantasy meld in, Kiss of Fire is not a bad choice


View all my reviews.

Book Review: Parallel Seduction by Deidre Knight

Book Review:

Parallel Seduction by Deidre Knight

Midnight Warriors series #3

I cannot believe how much I enjoy reading this series. Since I rarely read sci-fi romance, I was slightly unsure whether I would like these books when I picked the first two books in the library. However, when I settled down and started reading, I was hooked. The writing was beautiful, the characters highly sympathetic, and the plot is extremely complex but woven so expertly, it keeps me hanging and guessing.

Parallel Seduction is the third book in the series, and it’s the story of FBI linguist Hope Harper and the Refarian’s second in command Lt. Scott Dillon, characters that were introduced in the previous books. As a side note, to really get the full experience of the storyline, I would recommend to read the series in order.

Now we have Hope in the Refarian’s camp, plagued with haunting dreams of the gorgeous alien Scott Dillon and a future as his pregnant wife, while he recuperates from his injuries in the previous battle mentioned in the second book. Enter Jake Tierney, a mysterious time traveler with his own agenda and an inexplicable attraction towards Hope. Hope, turned between these two men, must allow her heart to choose while fighting her impending blindness, her weakening health and a kidnapping from their alien enemies.

Once again, Deidre Knight’s weave a story that leaves me enthralled, as I try to second-guess what would happen. She brings back other characters, most especially Jared and Kelsey, with their own challenges, and leaves me with an ending that satisfies, but at the same time, makes me crave for the next book just to see what happens next.

Audio Book Review

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse Series Book 1

I picked this book because I have heard it mentioned so many times in almost all the paranormal groups I’ve been a part of. Furthermore, after the release of the HBO True Blood series, the talk got more incessant, that I finally have to satisfy my curiosity and pick the book.

I actually ended with an audio book, pleasantly narrated by Johanna Parker, I was immediately captivated by the chatter of Sookie’s mind. A bar waitress with a psychic “disability” of reading other people’s thoughts, she was pleased to meet the new vampire in town, Bill, that can give her the relaxing quiet of a mind that is immune to her power.

After saving each other from a vicious couple that tried to drain Bill of his vampiric blood, Sookie and Bill started to form a romantic relationship. Their union is challenge by a recent slate of murders where either Bill and Sookie’s brother became top suspect. When it became clear that Sookie is the next intended victim, the plot starts to really thickens, as she learns more about her vampire lover and the political structure of their society, as she dealt with prejudice from her town folks, and learn secrets from people she thought she knew already.

I enjoyed the book, laughing at Sookie’s crazy monologue and her sometimes ditzy but oddly profound observation of life. The reader's voice is so appropriate, and I feel her performance made the experience more enjoyable. I’m eager to know what happened more, and is waiting for the next book to arrive at my doorstep.

If you like vampires, some southern humor, an interesting heroine, you might like to check this series.