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mellhay's review
4.0
The story starts right off with Jezebel on the run looking for the witch who can help her become mortal to keep her off the radar of the underworld creatures who will be out to take her back in, one way or another. Jezebel, a succubus who feels is good no great at her job and loves it, now is mortal. What was the horrible thing happened in the underworld to make her feel she has to leave the life she loves so much? Through the book you get hints but in the end you get all the pieces connected together.
The story started off with the action right away. Even though there was movement forward in the book, I had felt it was a little slow moving. But, by the time I hit half way through the book we were of full speed forward. This is a great start to a series. The world is set, both in mortal earth and in hell.
I enjoyed the connection with Jezebel and Paul. The teasing and tension between them was great from the moment they met. There is definitely romance in this story, as Jezebel takes a job as a stripper and with the feel from her and Paul. There are a few great secondary characters added in the book whom could be expanded on greatly in future books and I look forward to seeing more of. There is a complete story here and there are setting planted for the future books. Very nicely done.
However, in the end of the book I felt there was a moral to be seen. I felt there are things we have done in which maybe as a whole we could change and there is hope for us all.
I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see where Jezebel will be and what she will do.
The story started off with the action right away. Even though there was movement forward in the book, I had felt it was a little slow moving. But, by the time I hit half way through the book we were of full speed forward. This is a great start to a series. The world is set, both in mortal earth and in hell.
I enjoyed the connection with Jezebel and Paul. The teasing and tension between them was great from the moment they met. There is definitely romance in this story, as Jezebel takes a job as a stripper and with the feel from her and Paul. There are a few great secondary characters added in the book whom could be expanded on greatly in future books and I look forward to seeing more of. There is a complete story here and there are setting planted for the future books. Very nicely done.
However, in the end of the book I felt there was a moral to be seen. I felt there are things we have done in which maybe as a whole we could change and there is hope for us all.
I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see where Jezebel will be and what she will do.
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
Jezebel is attempting to lay low, working as a stripper. As a succubus currently hiding from the bounty on her head, stripping is an easy way to earn a little money and the wardrobe isn't half bad. But when Paul enters the picture suddenly this demon is struck by cupid's arrow. When her past comes to call can Jezebel not only save her own hide but the man she's fallen in love with? A really sexy, fast paced read!
vikingwolf's review against another edition
1.0
Jezebel is on the run from Hell and decides her only way to escape is to hide amongst the mortals. Being a succubus what better place to work than at a strip club where she can prey on the men?
Yes I had reservations about the plot of this book which sounded like an excuse for non stop sex scenes with no plot and I felt I was proved right in the first few pages. The first sex scene had nothing to do with plot, it was just there for the sake of having a sex scene. I really find it annoying when the author doesn't even bother to set a good plot before the bloody clothes all start coming off. Sex is fine if it is adding something to the plot ie [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276149413s/1421990.jpg|1412415] and other good pieces of UF or PNR. It shouldn't just be there at the expense of a plot or clever writing.
I know lots of people like this kind of book and think 'the hotter the better' and if you like that kind of book you might like this one. Just not for me I'm afraid.
Yes I had reservations about the plot of this book which sounded like an excuse for non stop sex scenes with no plot and I felt I was proved right in the first few pages. The first sex scene had nothing to do with plot, it was just there for the sake of having a sex scene. I really find it annoying when the author doesn't even bother to set a good plot before the bloody clothes all start coming off. Sex is fine if it is adding something to the plot ie [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276149413s/1421990.jpg|1412415] and other good pieces of UF or PNR. It shouldn't just be there at the expense of a plot or clever writing.
I know lots of people like this kind of book and think 'the hotter the better' and if you like that kind of book you might like this one. Just not for me I'm afraid.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
How fun was this book??! I knew I'd probably like it, but didn't realize how much I'd dig it or how fast I'd read it. Jezebel is such a resourceful and funny character who makes her way to the big City to make it, well, big......or at least get herself off of Hell's minion's radar and stay alive.
I could cringe at the way she stole an identity, stole money and credit cards before making her way to NYC, but Jezebel is a succubus, a demon, so this pretty much comes as normal for her, so I could enjoy the ride. That and I could see Jezebel changing and becoming a better person as the book continued. Heck, she made becoming an exotic dancer could be a smart career move. Loved reading the description of feeling the music move through her and using it to keep her body moving for the slavering masses.
I liked seeing her inner thoughts as she conducted business, met Paul (oh, me like...me like a lot!), met the dancers, danced. She never just walks or runs, Jezebel sashayed, undulated,marched. And she more often than not purred instead of just saying something.
I liked Jezebel for all her faults. She tried to be better and she wanted out of Hell. Management was making some changes and Jezebel didn't want anything to do with it.
Five Hell is going to hell and Jezebel is outta here beans....
I could cringe at the way she stole an identity, stole money and credit cards before making her way to NYC, but Jezebel is a succubus, a demon, so this pretty much comes as normal for her, so I could enjoy the ride. That and I could see Jezebel changing and becoming a better person as the book continued. Heck, she made becoming an exotic dancer could be a smart career move. Loved reading the description of feeling the music move through her and using it to keep her body moving for the slavering masses.
I liked seeing her inner thoughts as she conducted business, met Paul (oh, me like...me like a lot!), met the dancers, danced. She never just walks or runs, Jezebel sashayed, undulated,marched. And she more often than not purred instead of just saying something.
I liked Jezebel for all her faults. She tried to be better and she wanted out of Hell. Management was making some changes and Jezebel didn't want anything to do with it.
Five Hell is going to hell and Jezebel is outta here beans....
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review
4.0
There are many reasons to love Hell's Belles by Jackie Kessler (Zebra Books, 2007). One is its heroine, Jezebel, who is literally a cloven-footed demon spawned in the depths of Hell. When Hell undergoes a change in management, succubus Jezebel is forced to give up her career of seducing the souls from mortal men and become a nightmare. Jezebel doesn't adapt well to the change, fleeing the Lake of Fire to become a mortal. And, since mortals have to pay the rent, she becomes a stripper.
Lacking a soul, Jezebel certainly isn't planning on falling in love. Still, when she meets Paul Hamilton, she's more fascinated by him than an ex-demon should be. Paul is beautiful, to be sure, but with his "poet's eyes" and boxer's broken nose, he's also a sweet and sensitive soul.
Other characters in this book are also well-written and interesting. There's Daun, the incubus. He gets his own book, Hotter Than Hell, two more volumes into Kessler's Hell on Earth series. Then there's Lucifer himself, who's given perhaps the most sympathetic and romantic portrayal since Milton's Paradise Lost. I was delightfully surprised by Kessler's reinterpretation of Lucifer.
Another wonderful surprise awaiting readers of Hell's Belles is the music. Kessler animates Jezebel's strip club with with classic Melissa Etheridge, new INXS ("Pretty Vegas," with JD Fortune as lead singer), The Bloodhound Gang and, best of all, a U2 medley with "Desire" and "Mysterious Ways." I wanted to stick a five dollar bill into the paperback to tip the dj.
A fellow reviewer of Hell's Belles found the ending "a bit pat," but I disagree. The ending made me cry, with its poignant blend of sadness and hope. I highly recommend Hell's Belles to all lovers of paranormal and fantasy romance.
Lacking a soul, Jezebel certainly isn't planning on falling in love. Still, when she meets Paul Hamilton, she's more fascinated by him than an ex-demon should be. Paul is beautiful, to be sure, but with his "poet's eyes" and boxer's broken nose, he's also a sweet and sensitive soul.
Other characters in this book are also well-written and interesting. There's Daun, the incubus. He gets his own book, Hotter Than Hell, two more volumes into Kessler's Hell on Earth series. Then there's Lucifer himself, who's given perhaps the most sympathetic and romantic portrayal since Milton's Paradise Lost. I was delightfully surprised by Kessler's reinterpretation of Lucifer.
Another wonderful surprise awaiting readers of Hell's Belles is the music. Kessler animates Jezebel's strip club with with classic Melissa Etheridge, new INXS ("Pretty Vegas," with JD Fortune as lead singer), The Bloodhound Gang and, best of all, a U2 medley with "Desire" and "Mysterious Ways." I wanted to stick a five dollar bill into the paperback to tip the dj.
A fellow reviewer of Hell's Belles found the ending "a bit pat," but I disagree. The ending made me cry, with its poignant blend of sadness and hope. I highly recommend Hell's Belles to all lovers of paranormal and fantasy romance.
hlin13's review against another edition
3.0
Bit torn about this one, it had elements which I really enjoyed but at the same time little bits about the character irritated e.g. over use of the word sweetie!
Got a lot better towards the end and redeemed itself enough to mnake me want to read the next one
Got a lot better towards the end and redeemed itself enough to mnake me want to read the next one
booklvrkat's review against another edition
3.0
Re-Read 3/12/12
I've read this previously, but just got the 2nd in the series and couldn't remember enough of this one to enjoy.
Ok.. finished. And it wasn't as good as I had previously remembered. Started the next in the series, but still not feeling it there.
I've read this previously, but just got the 2nd in the series and couldn't remember enough of this one to enjoy.
Ok.. finished. And it wasn't as good as I had previously remembered. Started the next in the series, but still not feeling it there.
blearywitch's review against another edition
This is extremely bad. Like "Haha, are you fucking kidding me, you think I'm going to read this shit? More like Hell's Nope." I raised a sexy eyebrow and smirked as I say that. STOP IT. It's going in the trash I say in a sing song voice as fire lit up my eyes.
marcyjmf's review against another edition
3.0
This book wasn't a bad read. I think my problem with it was that I have Richelle Mead's Succubus series to compare it to...and it just doesn't compare.
The characters seem shallow and flat, and though the plot is interesting, the characters just don't relate well. I felt no connection to any of them at all. The story was well written, and I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, but the characters turned me off.
The characters seem shallow and flat, and though the plot is interesting, the characters just don't relate well. I felt no connection to any of them at all. The story was well written, and I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, but the characters turned me off.
scorpstar77's review against another edition
3.0
Wow. I don't think I knew entirely what I was getting into with this book, but I enjoyed it all the same. Our heroine is a demon on the run from Hell. She's a creature of Lust, a succubus, whose job for millenia has been to seduce mortal men in order to bring their souls to Hell - not exactly soft and cuddly. But some changes in the management of Hell occur that leave her less than satisfied, and she realizes that she is unique in the demon world because she cares about the mortals, and she runs. She ends up in NYC as an exotic dancer in a mortal body with a horde of demons on her heels. And she falls in love a mortal, and some of her friends from Hell are trying to help her out, but there's still a lot of big, bad uglies after her. It's an interesting story in the chick-lit world, raucous and more than a little naughty, but well-written for all of that. I had fun with it, and while it wouldn't appeal to everyone I know, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wouldn't take it too seriously.