Series: That Old Black Magic
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 13, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon*
| * affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through this link. Blurb from goodreads:
There are two certainties in life soul collector and hellhound Jericho Stryker knows too well—Death never takes a holiday, and women are typically more trouble than they’re worth. That goes double for his personal nemesis and regular pain in his backside, Lola McKenna. Sure, the luscious little hellcat gets his blood boiling in more ways than one, but some scratches are best left un-itched. That determination is strained to the max when a botched soul acquisition job lands him on the same case as Lola.
Fetching a stubborn soul from a haunted bordello should be a piece of cake. Unfortunately for Lola, she has to deal with Jericho horning in on her bounty. Attempting to keep her cool and her wits around her sinfully sexy adversary? Easier said than done. Especially when she finds herself locked overnight with Jericho. Not strangling him before sunrise? A faint possibility. Ignoring the lusty, depraved sexual fantasies he awakens in her? A snowball’s chance in hell of happening. But worse of all is the very real possibility that he could steal the one thing she most fears losing to him—her heart.
Bea's Thoughts:
Take one horny, ornery, hell hound, capable of both and human hound form; add one sexy, sometimes sensitive hellcat, also capable of dual forms; stir in some misbehaving ghosts, and you get a fun, steamy romance.
Jericho and Lola work in Hell, catching wayward souls for bounties. They're competitors with very different methods who find themselves forced to work together. While working together they find themselves attracted and with the help of the bordello's ghost madam, they come together. And boy, do they come! :P Redford writes some hot scenes * fans self*
Although the story is set in the world of her Old Black Magic books, the world building was on the light side. I still have questions about soul retrieval, hell hounds and hellcats. The love between Jericho and Lola was quick to happen but they had known each other for a while so they didn't begin their affair as strangers. There's a fated mate trope going on for Lola, but not Jericho, which was interesting. The story could maybe have been fleshed but it's a fun, steamy escape from reality that will make you laugh and smile.
His three goon buddies nodded. The ugliest of the bunch spat on the floor. "I'm gonna personally enjoy ripping your tonsils out through yer nose.:
Jericho crouched low, assuming a wrestler's stance. "Hate to break it to you, but I had them removed a long time ago."
The ghost looked crestfallen and mildly confused. "Well shit. What am I 'sposed to rip out now?"
Spook number four patted his pal on the back. "Don't worry, Meryl. You'll think of somethin'."
*******************
Excerpt:
The sofa and subdued antique furnishings of Dahlia’s apartment had vanished. In fact, he wasn’t even certain they were in her suite anymore. Across from them stood an enormous canopy bed. In addition to the sinful depictions of erotic sex acts carved into the bed posts there were velvet ropes that he suspected had nothing to do with tying back the curtains. The nearby night table held an intriguing assortment of bottled oils, dildos, and a feather tickler. He panned his attention back to Lola and noticed she was also gaping at the accoutrements. Her cheeks adopting a pretty rosy-pink hue, she peeked at him before quickly looking away.
He stalked to the bed and poked at the lace spread covering it. “Where in the damn hell are we?”
“My guess—one of the bordello rooms.”
Yeah, he suspected as much too. Still didn’t explain how they got there. Okay, maybe he didn’t know precisely how, but he sure as shit knew who was responsible for the change of scenery. “I’m going to wring that fucking ghost’s neck.”
He waited for Lola to add her agreement to that plan. When she remained mute he turned his head to see why she was giving him the silent treatment. He nearly swallowed his tongue at the vision greeting him.
She stood stock still in front of him, gaping down at the eye-popping carnal red corset and garter set adorning her mouthwatering body.
A strangled sound attempted to make its way from his throat but croaked out as a “Gah” instead.
Lola’s head jerked up and she stared at him. “I have no idea how she did this.”
That made two of them. Though truthfully, he was feeling infinitely more charitable toward Dahlia than he had a moment ago. “That color looks good on you.”
She double blinked. “What?”
He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m just sayin’, she picked the right outfit for you.”
Lola’s mouth twitched. “I guess she would know. Being an expert and all. I wonder why she didn’t do anything with your clothes though?”
“I’m a guy.”
“So? A nice pair of leather assless chaps would fit right in here.” She waved to their erotic surroundings.
He grimaced. “Don’t say that out loud.”
She chuckled. “Worried Dahlia might overhear?”
“Hell yes.”
Lola pivoted and sashayed toward the door. His eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as he took in the seductive jiggle of her heart-shaped ass. Day-um, mama had back and then some. His hound salivating, Jericho imagined massaging those gorgeous globes while he rode her from behind. Cock thickening in his briefs, he wiped the drool from his chin.
Lola tried the door again before sighing in defeat. “I don’t think we have any option but to teleport.”
He arched his brows. “You’re going to go ghosthunting in that getup?”
“Trust me, not my first choice,” she replied wryly.
He certainly wasn’t against the idea of getting to see her prance around in her wicked skimpies, but he didn’t want to subject her to any embarrassment or a chill. Plus there was the small fact that he’d be a walking boner advertisement every time he looked at her. He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. She accepted the garment with obvious surprise and a dazzling smile.
He had a moment to mourn the lost view of her knockout tits before she tugged the jacket in place and grabbed his hand, twining her fingers with his. Recalling the unsteadying turbulence she’d experienced on their last flight, he wrapped an arm around her waist. His hand ghosted to the small of her back, tucking her closer to him. His fingers rested in the dip of her tailbone, barely brushing the top of her bikini bottoms. Sticky sweat rolled down his back. They stared at each other, their ragged breaths mingling. Several seconds ticked by. She licked her lips and he tracked the motion with rapt interest.
She swallowed hard. “Nothing’s happening.”
Not entirely true. Something was definitely happening behind the fly of his jeans, and his hound was whining to be let out to play as a result.
“I-I think she somehow disabled our teleport links.”
He nodded. “Told ya ghosts are nothing but pains-in-the-asses.”
“We need to find another way out of here.”
He nodded again. “Fuck yeah we do.”
“That portal isn’t going to close itself.”
“Nope.” He shivered a little bit when Lola curled her arm around his neck and sifted her fingers through his hair.
She bit her lip. “We should—”
“Fuck.” He spit out the word, both as a curse and a desperate suggestion, right before he crushed her mouth under his.
*******************
At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven't improved much,
but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more
heat.
She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star.
When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.
Find Jodi Oline:
LOL that's quite the cover. Looks like a fun one :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds like a hot one! I don't mind when a relationship develops quickly between two characters who have known each other for awhile and I like the idea of a ghost madam! I'll definitely have to look for this one!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book as it is from a series that I just love. It is through That Old Black Magic that I got introduced to her work and have gotten an aweome friend as a bonus.
ReplyDelete