For full Review see http://scorchingreviews.blogspot.com

Wow, this book was not what I was expecting! I was expecting something light and fluffy, but what I got what a truly dark and heart breaking read. Faith is in untenable situation. Does she want to make a devils bargain? Hell no! She knows that the Devil never makes things simple, that he will look for ways to renege on their deal, but what choice does she have? Her baby boy is dying and his death will not be quick and easy. She makes a choice to “whore” herself out to save her child, and she hates herself every second of it. She can’t help but feel attracted to the delectable Rock star, but she can’t let herself feel pity for the situation in which she puts him. Finn is used to the life he lives. He has women throwing himself at him at every corner, more money than he can spend and a legion of adoring fans. He knows that it will one day end, knows that the Devil will not allow him to live to a ripe old age, but he refuses to allow that day to come anytime soon. When Faith steals his ring he does everything, and I mean everything, that he can to convince her to give it him back (it has to be given to him, not stolen). He knows that to relinquish the ring means certain death. He also knows that whatever the Devil say is twisted to suit his means; can he convince Faith not to trust her soul to such a manipulative creature. It comes down to a choice for the pair of them; Nathan’s life or Finn’s. When they start to feel something towards each other it makes it twice as hard; how can they cause each other pain if they claim to care? I felt so sorry for the pair of them; I completely understood both of their points of view. My opinion was swayed more in the favour of Faith winning the ring (especially when Nathan basically tells her he accepts he will die and I cried!), but I knew that neither outcome would make me happy because I loved them together. It was not a good situation!!

In part’s, this book was a little slow because it was so emotionally heavy, but the overall story, and the fabulously written characters, kept me reading and I finished it one sitting. I loved the tragic love story between Faith and Finn, and I couldn’t see an outcome that would satisfy me. Sammy B Devine (AKA the devil) was my favourite character. He was a grumpy old Angel, but underneath all the hurt and anger, is a lonely man that has been cast out by his family and rejected by the only woman he has ever loved. A tearjerker, with the occasional laugh, this is a twisty, emotional tale that kept me on the edge of my seat. I will be reading more of this series! ( )

I am an Urban Fantasy gal all the way. Every so often I enjoy a little paranormal romance. While I like some romantic tension in my books, I don't necessarily need or enjoy a book that is 25% or more bedroom scenes. Yet there are a few paranormal romances that I fully embrace (Kresley Cole, J.R. Ward, Kerrlyn Sparks). I was not expecting to more than casually enjoy this new book by Terri Garey, "Devil Without A Cause". I liked her Nicki Styx books well enough, in part because I am a sucker for a ghost story. Those books featured the Devil, Sammy Devine in a recurring role. I couldn't stand Sammy in those books. He was cocky and just plain didn't do anything for me. While I was happy to hear the author sold a new series, I wasn't sure I would be interested...an entire series featuring Sammy and no ghosts? Yet I ordered the book last week and started reading it today. And I finished it today.

Needless to say, the book was fantastic. I obsessively read page after page stopping for a couple of bathroom breaks and lunch. The writing was wonderful and the story engaging. Sammy was still the same character from the Nicki Styx series and yet seeing his world from his eyes made him a much more enjoyable character. His sarcasm here was spot on and his personality was a fantastic blend of evil incarnate, and sympathetic fallen angel. His home in Hell was unique and unlike any other Hell I have seen imagined in a novel. Mixing mythology, folklore, and Bilbical elements, many of the names and backstories seem familiar, yet twisted around and made into something unique and entirely the author's creation.

The story is about Sammy's devil's bargain with two people who find their lives suddenly entwined in a battle that could determine if they lose their souls to Sammy. For Faith, her eternal soul's damnation is the least of her worries. She is far more concerned about the life of her four year old son Nathan who has brain cancer. Sammy's bargain involves whether the poor child will live or die. Rock star Finn Payne made a pact with Sammy years ago, selling his soul for fortune and fame. Faith and Finn were both likeable characters from the start and I fell in love with young Nathan. The story never failed to make suprising twists and turns...this is not your standard romance story.

I am going to talk this book up to everyone that will have a lesson because I truly found reading it to be a wonderful way to spend most of my lazy Sunday. I wholeheartedly look forward to visiting Sammy's Hell again, the sooner the better. This book has definitely eased the pain of finding out the Nicki Styx series was concluded. ( )

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A new take on the fall of Satan.

Opening Sentence: “You went to the wedding, didn’t you?”

The Review:

I have a secret. If you promise not to tell anyone else, I will let you in on it. I love books about religious tales, even though I am not religious myself. Why, you ask? I guess it’s because I LOVE it when authors put their own particular twist on well known stories. I will read it just for the joy of seeing something I know through another’s eyes. Devil Without a Cause, though it reminds me of a James Dean movie title, is one such tale. It is a story of the biblical fall of Satan. What were his true motives and feelings of being cast out of Heaven? Can the Devil be redeemable after all? The Archangel Gabriel thinks so.

Gabriel seeks out the Devil, Sammy Devine, to offer him a job; be a guardian angel for Faith MacFarland. He hopes that if Sammy can prove that he has changed for the better, then the One, their father, will accept him back into Heaven. Of course, Sammy chooses to help but on his own terms. Is there redemption for the Devil, or is Gabriel looking at Sammy as he would have him be and not as he is? Does Sammy truly care about returning to his maker’s side, or is he just playing with Gabriel?

Sammy approaches Faith in a hospital chapel while she is praying for her very sick little boy, Nathan. He has cancer and the outlook for him looks grim. The bargain that Sammy offers is this: He cures her son in return for a favor. Being a good mom, she agrees before learning all the details. Remember, the devil is in the details! She must steal a ring from a very sexy rock star, legend Finn Payne, and give it to Sammy, or her son’s cancer will end up killing him. Her needs and the needs of her child are making it hard on Faith. She develops feelings for Finn but believes that her son must always come first. Can she find a middle ground that makes all parties involved happy? Must she sacrifice her own happiness for Nathan to be happy?

Sammy also has a bargain with Finn Payne. Finn has a magical ring, The Ring of Chaos, that aids his musical career, making him a superstar. All he has to do is keep the ring with him and stay sane. The spirit within the ring, Chaos, tends to be hard on its wearer’s mental stability. If he does lose it, his career and life are over and his soul will belong to Sammy. When he is seduced by Faith and realizes that she stole his ring, he is rightly upset. But is he more upset that his ring is gone, or that he started to think that Faith was someone special? He has a weekend to change her mind about giving the ring to the Devil and instead give it back to him. Is he really willing to do whatever it takes to get his ring back, even if it hurts an innocent little boy in the process? Does he dare allow his feelings for Faith and her son take precedent or his life and career? Is love worth it?

Well, that’s the question isn’t it: Is love worth it? Finn and Faith barely know each other but they are willing to defy the Devil, Sammy, for each other. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I do think that love can start with a single glance. But will that be enough to get them off the hook with Sammy? Can love truly conquer all?

Sammy has his own drama going on. Apparently, he has a nine-year-old son named Cain and now is in charge of him. This is the part of the book I really enjoyed: The Great and Mighty Satan, raising a little boy. This side story is what really made the entire book for me. Sammy’s lethargy toward his own existence is the start of his change in his perspective. Losing the mortal he loved, Nikki Styx, to another man has left him wanting a change in his life. This is also the reason Gabriel confronted Sammy in the beginning. With the knowledge of a son, Sammy’s life is about to change, for good or bad, just as any child changes the lives of their parents. Can the Devil learn mercy and forgiveness? Can a little boy’s presence have a good effect on him? Or will he just continue on his selfish path without deviation? Will this new development in his own life affect how he deals with his “bargains?”

Ms. Garey has delivered a compelling story. An interesting take on a well-known literary figure in literature, she strives to humanize a very inhuman being. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys stories about angels and their ilk. I look forward to the rest of The Devil’s Bargain series. Terri Garey is definitely an author I will be keeping my eye on from now on and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I must say that she has allowed me to feel “sympathy for the devil!”

Notable Scene:

“If you’re trying to provoke me, it’s not going to work.”

“Ah. Lost your sense of humor somewhere in the darkness, I suppose. ‘Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused,’ ” Gabriel quoted. “One of the unrecorded Beatitudes.”

Not for anything would he show his amusement, so Sammy turned away, strolling toward another fresco. Gabriel followed, for all the world as though they’d come here to offer their joint opinion on man’s conception of the heavens.

“I never took you for a Catholic,” Gabe said idly, as they perused scenes from the life of Moses. “Yet here you are at the Vatican. Something to confess?”

“Your sarcasm is wasted on me,” Sammy returned, though it wasn’t. “I enjoy beauty in all its forms, whether in be in a chapel, in a field, or in the arms of a woman. You, on the other hand, are limited by the narrowness of tunnel vision. You see everything as black or white, good or evil, with no shades of grey.”

“I am limited by nothing,” Gabriel replied, “save my love for you.”

“Careful, Gabriel,” he mocked. “The church frowns on such things.”

“You know exactly what I mean, and don’t pretend you don’t.”

“Love,” Sammy scoffed, peering into the eyes of a painted saint, virtuous ad pure. “How can you believe in love after all these years?”

“I needn’t experience it physically to know it exists. I see in the wondering eyes of a new mother or the steady, peaceful gaze of a faithful spouse. Surely you remember our early teachings, Samael. ‘And there remain these three: faith, hope, and love… and the greatest of these is love.’ ”

The Devil’s Bargain Series:

1. Devil Without a Cause

2. A Devil Named Desire

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins/Avon provided me with a copy of Devil Without a Cause. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. I get paid only in hugs and kisses from my little boys. ( )

This was a fun fast read that was very entertaining. The characters Faith and Finn are very likeable. Their love is touching as is the story of Faith's son, Nathan. The second story line about the Dark Angel himself, Sammy to his friends, is also very engaging. It made me feel a bit odd to have so much sympathy for the devil, but I did. ( )

The angel Gabriel has given the fallen angel, Samael, a chance to get back in the good graces of God. All he has to do is be a guardian angel to a lost soul. Seeing it has a chance to get his “Ring of Chaos” back and Finn Payne’s soul, Samael immediately takes the job. By presenting the lost soul, Faith McFarland, with what she desires most, her son’s life, he has no problem swaying Faith to seduce and steal the ring from Finn. What Faith didn’t count on was her instant attraction to Finn. Things are about to get more complicated. Finn has his own tribulations. He has to get the ring back otherwise he forfeits his soul to Samael. He too falls instantly in love with Faith but the ring is more important right now.

If anyone can make me fall in lust with Satan, it is Garey. Granted the main story is centered on Faith McFarland and Finn Payne but with Samael pulling the strings and battling his own inner demons it proved to be a riveting read. I will definitely be picking up Garey’s Nicki Styx’s series which features Samael. Must read for paranormal romance readers!! ( )