Sleeping with the Jersey Devil

The Evolved #3

by Jude Stephens

For 275 years Leeds lived in seclusion in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey letting very few people into his solitary life. He learned the hard way that humans are not to be trusted. As a young boy, he trusted his family to care for him but when they found out he was different, they turned his back on him. As a young man, he trusted a woman with his heart and was handed the ultimate betrayal.
When he finds a beautiful woman left for dead he really wants to walk away but when he discovers she is a Chinthe, one of the Evolved species, he decides to help her hoping she may in turn help him relieve his pent up sexual tension.
It doesn’t take long for Leeds to realize he’s in too deep. Mya Tun is being hunted by the Chinese Mafia for stealing the world’s largest diamond. But far worse, he finds himself caught in a web of sexual pleasure that he’s not sure he wants to escape.

Genres: Paranormal

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2012

About the author

I have always had a great love for what people today call paranormal but growing up we just called scary. Raised on Bram Stokers Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein I knew from an early age I wanted to give people goose bumps. Combine that with my love of romance and I began writing stories I wanted to read.
I live in Eastern Pennsylvania and love the East Coast.

Reviews

[Dani Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to score an advance copy of SLEEPING WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL, and I found it to be a fabulously well-written and very entertaining erotica read. The hero, Leeds, is most certainly the best thing about this book and is meltingly sexy with his long black hair, startling amber eyes and, of course, lovely scaly wings. Perhaps I'm a freak, but wings are SUCH a turn on!
The chemistry between Leeds and his lovely Asian squeeze, Mya, was definitely of the sizzling kind; the sex scenes were luscious and oh so explicit. The only downside of this story for me was the whole Chinese Mafia and Mya stealing the "world's largest diamond" scenario--for me personally, this seemed kind of cheesy, somewhat like aspects of a bad action flick plot injected into a good paranormal romance. However, this story was a refreshing change admidst the "same old" vampire and werewolf fare that I find so tawdry and overdone nowadays--such outside-the-mainstream writing is welcome in my library, especially with a hero as luscious as Leeds.

This is a fun quick read...some nice guilty escapism. Kudos!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Leeds. I can't wait for the story to continue. I would love Roberto to find love and peace.

[Grammy 1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Jude Stephens’s series of The Evolved. Scent of a Vampire was her first novel, beginning with an innocent vacation to Atlantic City by Olivia, inspired by her BFF Janel. This campy, sexy romp was our introduction to the authors’ world. Our girls learn about ‘other beings’ that exist in our world by meeting up with Alex and Roberto, who they quickly find are vampires, and then Olivia learns that she might be an ‘Evolved’.


The second novel, Touch of a Vampire, gives us more incite into Olivia’s discovering who she is, and where her roots are. This book introduces us to her meeting the ever sexy and delicious Cheve, Orenda’s “Sensay Trainer”. These two light up the book with sensual and delicious sparks. Book two is also where we met Leeds while Orenda and friends visit with him and then continue travel to Cat Island. As they leave Leeds’ home in the pine barren swamps, one is left asking “who does Leeds have tied up in the Basement?”


Sleeping With the Jersey Devil, answers that question and more! Leeds takes a prominent role in this third story. Ms. Stephens temporarily moves away from Olivia now Orenda, (Wren for short) and her focus here is Leeds with his POV for this story. We go deeper into who he is and what he was. We learn he had all the wealth and the lifestyle that went with it, and then traded it for who he is now. He is haunted by his past and is so insecure inside. He has been alone, away from society, living in a cabin in the swamps alone for years. He ventures out only at dark, feeling safer from probing eyes. This is where he finds Mya who is running from the Chinese Mafia. I did not like her character too much; she was spoiled, arrogant and mean spirited. I wanted more for Leeds. The ‘voice’ of this book is completely different from the others, and while it might deter others, I found it a refreshing change.



The gang meets up on Cat Island for the big finale. It is fun to see them all working together. It is also good to see that Mya the snob learns what is really important in life. Louis Vuitton does not keep you warm in bed at night. I look forward as always for Jude Stephens to keep us posted about her family of characters that I have found so fun and endearing....


Review by Gloria Lakritz

Review Chairperson

Paranormal Romance Guild