My Way to Hell by Dakota Cassidy

Title: My Way to Hell
Author: Dakota Cassidy
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23443-3
Pages: 323
Series: Hell #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Marcella Acosta managed to do the one thing forbidden to demons - she defied Lucifer and ended up banished to limbo, a boring shop-free zone which she refers to as Plane Drab. Marcella stood against Lucifer to save her friend Delaney, so when she finds her now ghostly self summoned back to earth by Delaney's brother Kellen all she wants to do is check in on her friend. But Delaney has other ideas and ropes Marcella in to help Kellen with his newfound mediumship abilities. Marcella and Kellen have always clashed, but they're about to discover that beneath the surface they aren't that incompatible after all.

I recently read and enjoyed Kiss & Hell so I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint. If anything I actually enjoyed this more than its predecessor. Marcella and Kellen are more fun than Delaney and Clyde, and the love/hate banter they have throughout the book is hilarious. Marcella is adjusting to being a ghost after being a reluctant demon, and finally all the hints about how someone who would sacrifice themselves for a friend in the last book could end up as a demon are revealed. I also liked how the attraction/repulsion between Marcella and Kellen was carried forward from Kiss & Hell.

The supporting characters are great and become key to the storyline very quickly. Delaney and Clyde return with small roles, as do Mrs Ramirez and Delaney's ghost dog Darwin. Mrs Ramirez's grandson Carlos is a big part of the book as a young medium who is being tormented by demons. I actually liked how this storyline was played out alongside the romance as it really gives the book depth. The storyline also moves a bit faster (though still at quite a leisurely pace) because of this. There's also a new reluctant demon Catalina, who I would love to see in her own book.

The only thing that bugged me a little about the book is that I figured out the connection between Marcella and Carlos quite early on, but I didn't figure out the specifics so I was still a little surprised.

All in all, this is a fun and highly recommended read.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Kiss & Hell by Dakota Cassidy

Title: Kiss & Hell

Author: Dakota Cassidy
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22785-5
Pages: 339
Series: Hell #1
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Delaney Markham is a medium who has turned into a hermit because, well, who actually wants to be friends with someone who thinks they can talk to the dead. She makes ends meet by holding the occasional seance, and it's during one of these that an incredibly annoying ghost appears...and refuses to leave. Turns out this guy Clyde isn't just a ghost, he's actually a trainee demon who has been sent to bring Delaney down to hell for Lucifer. But if Clyde and Lucifer think Delaney is going down with out a fight, they have another thing coming.

This is one of those books that sat on my TBR for ages before I got round to reading it. It wasn't because I wasn't interested in doing so, I just kept getting distracted. I've now finally read it and I have to say I loved it. I'm a big fan of Dakota Cassidy's Accidentally Paranormal series (starting with The Accidental Werewolf) and I love her snarky self-aware style. This is exactly what I was expecting - funny, sweet, romantic and a major page turner.

Delaney is hilarious - from her super-healthy lifestyle to her Ghost Whisperer obsession to her collection of random disabled dogs. I liked her from the start, and her spunky attitude meant I kept liking her throughout the book. Clyde, although I don't really like the name, is a great guy. He seems a little cookie cutter at first - the hot geek, who has no idea how hot he is - but that's literally only for a page or two. He quickly develops into an all around awesome guy: romantic, understanding of Delaney's medium skills and very sweet.

The supporting characters - Delaney's brother Kellen and her demonic best bud Marcella are the leads in the follow up book My Way to Hell. I'm thrilled and can't wait to read it as these two really stood out for me here. As bad as it may sound, I also want to know what happens next with Lucifer as he really comes across as a bit of a maniacal drama queen.

The plot is develops gradually, which isn't a bad thing as it allows the characters to fully develop and so the storyline doesn't take big jumps. The ending is awesome, really bringing the whole book together. The only story threads not completed are those of Kellen and Marcella, but I'm guessing they'll be tied up in the next book.

All in all, this is an awesome funny paranormal romance and I can't wait to read My Way to Hell.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50