Book Review and Arc Giveaway: Demons Like it Hot

This author writes fun characters and crazy plots.

Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed)

by Sidney Ayers

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (December 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402251777
• ISBN-13: 978-1402251771

      Genre:  Paranormal Romance
      My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Series: Demons Unleashed | Publication Date: December 1, 2011
Serah SanGermano runs a successful catering company in a Midwestern town. After she inadvertently helped her friend unleash a legion of demons, she's been trying to hide her own newly discovered powers. Matthias Ambrose, a mysterious demon mercenary sent to protect her, has his own secret- one that will embroil them both in the scandal from hell.

Review: This is a fun story but I think it could have been better.
Serah recently helped her best friend, Lucy, unleash a chestful (plus) of demons (book 1, Demons Prefer Blondes).  During that crisis Serah learned she has some powers she is intent on keeping secret.  She is able to smell evil demons and if her emotions get too intense she can effect things around her even by accident.  The truth is that Serah has even more secrets in her family past and in her own identity that she has yet to learn.

Matthias met Serah during Lucy’s adventure but wiped her memory clean of that previous encounter. Now he has been assigned to protect her as she is a pure blood who could  save the world.  Matthias has tragedy in his past and doesn’t think he would be worthy of someone like Serah. That doesn’t stop him from wanting her.

Serah may not remember their previous kiss but she knows that being around Matthias has a serious effect on her libido. She doesn’t recognize her own beauty and is sure that this hunky bodyguard would never be interested in her.  Right now she is concentrating on her cooking talents and getting ready to be filmed on the reality show, American Chef.

The first third of the book seemed to bounce back and forth between insecurities and fantasies of the hero and heroine as they ogled each other but tried to keep their distance.  I was at a point of “Enough already!  Please get on with the story!”  Finally the author moved into the substance of the plot with the added character element of the American Chef moderator, Daniel, which created some jealousy issues. The plot thickens as it is discovered who the real power behind the show is, Matthias’ history is revealed and there is plenty of action with a battle plan to defeat the threat of the evil demons.

I felt there was too much focus and time spent on the characters’ repressed desires. I had some unresolved questions (like where Serah got her money that she keep spending so easily) and some confusion regarding Serah’s lineage and just how she was to serve to save the world. I think some of this got lost in the effort to make the story sexually interesting which in my opinion was dragged out too long in the early part of the book so it may have distracted me from the plot.  I think a good 50 pages of repetitive feelings could have been cut and would have improved the story. There is craziness and fun in the characters and the plot.  Once I got to the action part of the story it was much more engaging.

I would recommend that you read the first book so you will understand the backstory of the characters otherwise you may feel confused.  If you like the sexual tension and anticipation you may enjoy this story more than I did. As I noted, there is fun in the characters and dialogue and if you press through the beginning the story does become engaging.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 30, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 31. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and Giveaway 2 Copies: Demons Prefer Blondes by Sidney Ayers

Fast, fun, and as the author says “snarky!”
Demons Prefer Blondes by Sidney Ayers

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402251742
• ISBN-13: 978-1402251740

     Genre: Paranormal Romance
     My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

Product Description

A BAD DAY FOR A DEMON

Rafe Deleon is a senior demon and he resents like hell his assignment to Earth to retrieve the Chest of the Damned before it falls into the wrong hands. But then he meets beautiful, intriguing succubus Lucy Gregory and she's just unleashed a whole load of trouble...

REALLY SUCKS FOR A SUCCUBUS

Lucy's chic suburban beauty salon has suddenly become the Underworld's center of mass chaos and destruction. The only good thing in a day going rapidly down the tubes is the arrival of a gorgeous demon who's adamant that he can help her...

But Lucy has quite a few deeply unpleasant--not to mention deadly and hateful--surprises ahead of her, and surely there's never been a worse time to try out a new boyfriend...

Review: This is fast paced - filled with quirky characters and lots of humor.

Sweet Lucy dropped out of med school to open her own beauty salon as she is happier cutting hair than cutting bodies. Her vivacious best friend, Serah, drops by to show off her latest antique find, a dirty chest. Latin coming easily to Lucy and she interprets the inscription to be the “Chest of the Damned.”

Rafe is a demon seeking redemption. He has been ordered to retrieve the Chest even if he’d rather trade places with his friend Dominic who has been given the mission to save Rafe’s sister from Belial, a leader of the bad demons. Rafe knows there is something special when Lucy doesn’t fall under his enchantment and now he needs to protect Lucy as well as the chest.

Lucy manages to open the chest and release chaos in her shop. The chest also releases her own Succubus personality.  Now Lucy’s shop is attracting all sorts of unwanted attention including men attracted to her new pheromones, demons drawn to the spirit activity, and Belial drawn to Lucy’s new powers.

The story is full of interesting characters.  Lucy’s stylists are the dramatic and sashaying, Frank, and the wanna-be model, feather wearing Latino, Geraldo.  Rafe’s crew includes the eccentric Kalli and the odd demon turned chimpanzee, Squeaky.

Both Rafe and Lucy have insecurities that add to the conflict and suspense. Rafe views himself as having failed in prior missions and he struggles to believe he can truly protect Lucy.  Lucy learns surprising things about her own family history.  Although she doesn’t have the training or understand the enemies’ powers, Lucy insists on jumping into the fight.

It bothered me that Rafe spends a lot of time disappearing from protection duty to jump back to meetings in Limbo. Although he pops back just in time for rescues, it really didn’t make plausible sense to me.

The characters are delightfully likeable and fun and the plot concept is full of action, trouble, rescue and some sizzling romance. I just felt that the writing didn’t keep up with the action. There was unnecessary repetition and the characters would keep talking about 'doing' things instead of moving into action. The book gave me the impression of taking a good start but rushing to a sloppy finish. I think the author has marvelous potential and I hope that she and the right editor will work on consistency in the plotline to be more realistic (even in fantasy the behaviors have to make sense). Also there should be more show and less tell in the action scenes. Still - this is worth reading for the fun.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this book for reading and review and for providing two copies for Giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

1. Visit the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting;
This is required for entry.
Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

2. For two extra entries, comment on the Author Interview.

3. For another two entries, complete the Author's sentence at Interview Q10.
4.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

5. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Eight total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on July 8 , 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Q&A Interview with Sidney Ayers, Author of Demons Prefer Blondes

Sidney Ayers, Author of Demons Prefer Blondes,

visits for Q&A at Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf

By the way - I love your website brand “Sinfully Snarky Paranormal Romance”! And scanning your blog entries made me hungry for breakfast. :-)

SA: French Toast sandwiches are evil, huh? But not as evil as the fudge recipes I used to post.

Q1. This a favorite question I ask authors who write series: When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

SA: Each book is stand alone, so I tend to plot each book separately. However, I do have an idea which characters I want to have their “Happily Ever Afters” with.

Q2. I note that you like to use humor in your writing. Do you incorporate that through visual imagery, dialogue or some other special way?

SA: A little of everything. Dialogue, action, and imagery all combined into a huge smorgasbord of snark.

Q3. You write in several genres. Do you have more than one Work in Progress in different genres? Does this ever get confusing?

SA: Right now I am concentrating on the Demons Unleashed series. I do have several WIPs in different genres that I intend to polish and finish up when I have time. I cannot balance projects well, so I do better when working on one at a time. That’s why I have so many unfinished manuscripts.

Q4. Does your voice change when you write in different genres?

SA: For my erotic fantasy, it didn’t really change. It’s still pretty sarcastic and snarky. The historical I was working on does have a different voice. Sarcasm doesn’t translate well in the Regency time. 

Q5. What kind of research have you done for your Demon series? Did you do anything "hands on" or unusual when researching these books?

SA: Sorry, but I’m a little too chicken to actually do anything “hands on” where demons are concerned. *giggles* For research,  I’ve scanned a few demonology books and websites. I also watched a few of those cheesy paranormal investigation shows. Horror movies, like Omen and The Exorcist are great inspiration too.

Q6. In Demons Prefer Blondes what is something your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying?

SA: She wouldn’t be caught dead wearing pointy toe, high heeled shoes. She prefers the comfort of tennis shoes. She calls them torture devices in the book.

Q7. Do you have an ancillary character that you had the most fun with?

SA: Gerardo, all the way. He’s so very flamboyant and fun. Squeaky holds a special place in my heart too.

Q8.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?

SA:  I am a computer tech by trade. It doesn’t affect my writing, but helps me with saving money hiring a web designer. I also find ways to incorporate my craft hobbies into promo. I made bookmark charms from shrink dinks. Talk about channeling your inner child.

Q9. Do you read for pleasure and if so who are your favorite authors to read?

SA: I’ll  read anything that piques my interest. I am one of those people that will pick up a book just from a blurb alone. However, I did thoroughly enjoy Katie MacAlister’s Aisling Grey novels.

Q10. If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be? 

SA:  If I could be any demon, I’d be the demon of…

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about your author life with us.

SA: You’re welcome. It’s been fun!

DEMONS PREFER BLONDES BY SIDNEY AYERS – IN STORES JUNE 2011

A Bad Day For A Demon

Rafe Deleon is a senior demon and he resents like hell his assignment to Earth to retrieve the Chest of the Damned before it falls into the wrong hands. But then he meets beautiful, intriguing succubus Lucy Gregory, and she’s just unleashed a whole load of trouble…

Really Sucks For A Succubus

Lucy’s chic suburban beauty salon has suddenly become the Underworld’s center of mass chaos and destruction. The only good thing in a day going rapidly down the tubes is the arrival of a gorgeous demon who’s adamant that he can help her…

But Lucy has quite a few deeply unpleasant—not to mention deadly and hateful—surprises ahead of her, and surely there’s never been a worse time to try out a new boyfriend…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sidney Ayers writes light paranormal and erotic romance. Her manuscripts have won or placed in the MORWA Gateway to the Best, the Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects, the Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight, the Heart of Denver Molly, and the Finally a Bride contests. She lives in Michigan where she is working on the next book in the Demons Unleashed series, Demons Like it Hot—in stores December 2011. For more information, please visit http://www.sidneyayers.com/.