Hotter Than Hell is the third book in the Hell on Earth series by Jackie Kessler. This is the story of Daunuan, an Incubus, who is one of the recurring and important characters in the first two books in the series. Daun is a high level Incubus who really loves his work. Pan, the King of Lust, wants Daun to be his second in command and become the Prince of Lust, but first Daun must pass a little test. He must seduce a soul meant for Heaven into an act of lust big enough to condemn the soul to Hell. And it’s not going to be as easy as Daun thinks it should be. On top of that it seems that demons belonging to other Sins (Envy, Covet, etc.) and sent by an unknown adversary are out to kill him.

Ms. Kessler once again shows her skill as a first rate and intelligent author. Daun is an incredibly interesting character. He’s evil, full of himself, and sarcastic. This is a journey of self-discovery for Daun as he deals with unacknowledged feelings for Jesse/Jezebel, fends off unexpected and unexplained attacks by other demons, and figures out how to deal with what he is feeling for the woman he is supposed to damn. And while Ms. Kessler points out in an Author’s Note that this is more of a dark paranormal than a romance (no HEA), I found Daun’s story very moving. In addition to the present day story of the seduction of Virginia, there are some wonderful scenes in this novel that show bits of Daun’s past. As I’ve come to expect the characters are well developed and the story moves at a fast pace. This is a sinfully terrific read. I give 5 Tombstones to Hotter Than Hell.

Book Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1
COITUS INTERRUPTUS
“Anyone in my position would’ve thought the buzzing in my head was anticipation. Five minutes to go, then the client would be eating from my hand. Literally. I had the grapes ready and waiting in the ice bucket, chilling. She liked it when I let the cluster dangle over her lips—she’d poke her tongue out, sinewy and slick against the ripe fruit, darting pink flesh over purple. Sweetness on sweetness, both begging to be sucked. Plucked. My blood pounded through me, boom boom, boom boom, sending happy signals to my brain and my balls, getting my body primed. T-minus five minutes, and counting. Small talk until then—light touches here, knowing smiles there, lying about her job and mine. Thinking about sex. Killing time.
So it sort of wasn’t my fault that I didn’t sense the demon approaching.”

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821781049
• ISBN-13: 978-0821781043

To purchase a print copy of Hotter Than Hell click here.

Books in the Hell on Earth series in the order they should be read:
Hell’s Belles
The Road to Hell
Hotter Than Hell

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

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