The Road to Hell

September 17, 2007
Kessler's sizzling sequel to paranormal debut Hell's Belles
puts ex-succubus Jezebel— the now-mortal Jesse Harris, a dancer at a strip club—stage center again. For a month after waking up in a hospital, the former 4,000-year-old, fifth-level succubus who used to seduce humans to claim their souls has been living a happy mortal life in New York with a devoted boyfriend, New York vice cop Paul Hamilton. So when Alecto, a Fury from hell, arrives and demands she return to hell to help Alecto's sister, Megaera (Jessie's former best friend who betrayed her), Jesse balks. Much of the rest of the book is spent convincing her to change her mind, with each sexy escapade topping the last, until (among other things) the demons go after Paul, and Jesse has to “pull an Orpheus.” Kessler's raunchy blend of heaven, hell and eros makes for a wild thrill ride, and hot, tough-talking Jesse has gumption and sass.

September 15, 2007
Hell just wont give up on Jesse, formerly a succubus called Jezebel who became mortal in Kesslers previous paranormal romance, Hells Belles (2007). Jessestrue love is Paul, a New York vice cop who wants her to give up the career she loves, working as anexotic dancer. Enticed back to Hell when Lillith kills Paul and takes his innocent soul there, Jesse agrees to help free the Fury Meg, her best friend who is being tortured by the new King of Hell, and to willingly submit to incubus Daun so she can rescue Paul. Getting to Hell is the easy part. Saving Paul and making it out herself is sheer, um, hell. Amazingly enough, this sex-drenched tale filled with grisly torture, disgusting odors, and incredible amounts of bodily fluids is lighthearted and funny. If Anita Blake from the Laurell K. Hamilton novels and Betsy Taylor from the MaryJanice Davidson books could somehow haveoffspring, that progeny would be Jesse.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)