Finished Hell’s Belles by Jackie Kessler. Jackie won a copy of Hot Mama during one of my contests and was nice enough to suggest we do a book swap. Thanks, Jackie! 😎

This book is about Jezebel, a succubus (demon) who seduces men and steals their souls during sex. But when there’s a major change down in Hell, Jezebel decides to get while the getting is good. But her superiors aren’t about to let her go that easy, and send demons out to search for her and bring her back. With a witch’s reluctant help, Jezebel disguises herself as a human and goes to work as an exotic dancer to escape her pursuers. What she doesn’t count on is falling for Paul Hamilton, a sexy guy with a secret of his own.

I’d heard of this series, but I’d never had a chance to read it until now. This book and especially the character of Jezebel reminded me a lot of MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series. Jezebel is bubbly, full of life, and a little ditzy, just like Betsy Taylor in the Undead books. The book is written in first-person, and Jezebel’s breezy voice really shines.

I like fun characters who don’t take themselves too seriously, and Jezebel was certainly one of those, although she has her difficulties adjusting to being a human. For instance, she can’t understand why people willingly drink milk, which she finds utterly disgusting. But Jezebel loves her first taste of pizza, pastries, and shopping, of course. Especially when she’s charging everything on someone else’s credit card. 

The strip club setting was interesting and rather depressing at the same time. Not because of the writing, but just because strip clubs aren’t the nicest places to work. Especially when you have a creep of a boss like Jezebel does — and her demon friends keep popping into his body.

One thing I do want to mention is the plot doesn’t unfold in a straight line. Whole chapters cut between the action at the strip club and Jezebel’s former life in Hell, slowly revealing why she left in the first place. So, you really have to pay attention and remember what’s going on between the flashbacks. But it all comes together nicely in the end.

Overall, if you’re looking for a lighter, very steamy take on demons, you’ll probably like this book.

So, thumbs up.

Up next: My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon anthology