THE ROAD TO HELL

Author: Jackie Kessler ISBN: 0821781030 11/2007 PARANORMAL Publisher: KENSINGTON

There's Nothing Worse Than A Demon With A Grudge Jesse may no longer be a soul-stealing succubus, but she's got a Hell of a past. She'd love to come clean to her sweet, super-hot boyfriend Paul, but how exactly does a girl start that conversation? There's no name tag that reads: "I Used to Have Sex with Men before Taking Their Souls to the Lake of Fire—Ask Me How!" Just like some people are worth being monogamous for (shudder), some secrets are worth keeping. Like the fact that bad boy incubus Daunuan keeps popping up from the Underworld to put some toe-curling moves on her; that her former associates are trying to strong-arm her back into the fold; and that every supernatural entity on the planet seems to want to have a conversation with her in the bathroom. But someone in the Underworld isn't ready to play nice (go figure), and this time, the stakes are nothing less than Paul's immortal soul. If Hell wants Jesse back so badly, they've got her. But payback's a bitch, and this bitch is about to rock Hell like a hurricane—or lose her soul trying...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

My favorite succubus-turned-human is back! And she's just as jazzy, snappy and in-your-face as she was in HELLE'S BELLES. This is my kind of havoc wrecker, though I must admit being a former Underworld character brings with it a lot of baggage that one just can't seem to get rid of.

So, what's this now human, former succubus to do when some of said baggage plops itself into the middle of her new life and makes off with her one true love? Well, as the cover says, "Hell hath no fury like a succubus scorned..." So go get him, Jesse! And man, does she!

The best parts of THE ROAD TO HELL come when Jesse morphs back into her former demon self and heads back into Hell to rescue Paul, her beloved. (It's so nice to see a male as the helpless one in a story, for once.) While the first few chapters of the story delve into how and why Jesse decides to return (and introduces a few new allies she's acquired in the process), it's here in this second part that she journeys back into an Underworld in turmoil to confront past and new enemies, like that scheming Queen Lillith and a former archangel whose new job of being head of the Underworld isn't exactly his cup of brew. And of course, there's Jesse's former play-toy incubus and supposed ally, Daunuan—just whose side is he really on, anyway? Her's? Hell's? Or his own?

It's also back in Hell where Jesse realizes that her metamorphosis wasn't complete—yes, she's once again a demon, but one with a heart, a soul and leftover vestiges of human emotions, something she hadn't counted upon. It's difficult enough to face your enemies when your powers are limited and you've been out of the demon groove for a bit, but it's even more daunting when those dratted human elements get in the way, and usually at all the wrong times which makes this one internal battle you don't want to miss.

I just loved both HELLE'S BELLES and THE ROAD TO HELL. Both books are hot, steamy, sexy, a little bit gory and a lilttle bit naughty, and both have plenty of humor as well as dramatic bits to keep the storyline rolling at a fast pace. Best of all, though, is that both stories are thoroughly entertaining. Ms. Kessler vividly paints a world most readers have never delved into before, complete with unique and original characters and some of the best dialogue filled with humor, sassiness, and witty comebacks that this reviewer's had the pleasure of reading.

Next up in this sizzling series is HOTTER THAN HELL, Duan's book, and a story I don't plan on missing. Jackie Kessler has a committed fan in this reader, one who's more than anxious to make that return trip to Hell in her own little red wagon, with plenty of room for extra riders. As for THE ROAD TO HELL, no horns, pitchforks or forked tails are required to enjoy this trip, but a tall, cool drink is advised to quench the heat, and a significant other nearby to quench that particular thirst when reading the naughty bits is highly recommended.

Nancy Davis