HELL'S BELLES

Author: Jackie Kessler ISBN: 0821781022 1/2007 PARANORMAL Publisher: KENSINGTON

Once upon a time, Jezebel was a powerful succubus, capable of seducing men and sucking out their souls. But that was before Hell put a bounty on her head. Now her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death is to live as a mortal, losing herself in a sea of unfamiliar humanity, in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints—a place like Belle's strip club in New York City. Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a former demon who once specialized in sex. Taking money from men? Please. It's like leading lawyers to the Lake of Fire. Plus the lingerie is great. But she hadn't counted on meeting sexy Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Good-bye, succubus; hello, lovestruck. Learning all about how complicated—and pleasurable—love can be, Jezebel thinks she's turned her back on Hell. But Hell hasn't stopped looking for her. The secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all, the kind every demon in the Underworld would do their worst to protect. Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string. But it's her love for Paul that's going to have deadly consequences...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Whew! What a ride that was!

Now, I'm no expert on paranormal romances. As of matter of fact, short of the works of Christine Feehan, I can virtually count on one hand the number of paranormals I've read in the past. But, after reading Jackie Kessler's debut work, HELL'S BELLES, I have to say that if this is just a sample of the originality and creativeness that comprises the world of paranormal romance stories now so popular with reading fans, you can count me in as another avid fan. This book is so hot that it needs to be handled with a pair of tongs! It's erotic without being overly sexually graphic, it's sensual, it's sexy, it's suggestive, and Jezebel, the succubus-turned-human is as sassy and jazzy as they come. Putting HELL'S BELLES down after I'd started it became simply out of the question. I found it just that original and enticing.

One of the best things about HELL'S BELLES is that you won't find out exactly why Jesse (Jezebel) is running away from the Underworld until much later on in the story. Oh, there's bits and pieces and flashbacks as to why she left and who's on her tail, but it doesn't all come together and become fully explained until the end of the book. This, along with characters from her past unexpectedly popping in and out of her new life, helps to keep the suspense quotient on a continued high.

As for Jesse, Kessler has done a magnificent job in emotionally involving her readers in Jesse's changeover from demon to mortal human. Just as Kermit the Frog laments that it's not easy being green, Jezebel learns that it's not easy being human. For a demon who never had a heart or emotions to deal with, their sudden appearance and the trials and tribulations that goes with adjusting and accepting those human traits hits Jesse full in the face. Even more so after she begins to fall in love with Paul, when her struggles between her human and her demon form reach a fever pitch.

Whether you are new to this sub genre or have more experience reading romances set in the world of the paranormal, HELL'S BELLES is sure to rank right up there with the best of them. I've no doubt that Jackie Kessler is an author whose originality, style, and flair for creating such wonderfully devious and intriguingly devilish characters is sure to propel her to the top. I can hardly wait for THE ROAD TO HELL.

Nancy Davis