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Colleen
"Sexy, intriguing, terrifying - Colleen has it all!"
Lacey, a goth introvert with sketchy people skills, befriends Colleen, a dazzlingly beautiful ghost, during a solo Ouija board session. At last, her loneliness comes to an end.
An eclectic pairing indeed, but they form an odd-but-satisfying and far-from-platonic friendship.
When Lacey begins work as a stripper, she and Colleen find themselves with a conspiratorial mystery to solve in the strip club.
Unfortunately, Lacey’s newfound supernatural lover has a secret… or two and isn’t what she seems to be at all.
Colleen is not a ghost at all, but a succubus with an unfortunate habit of killing people.
Accidentally.
It’s not long before the mounting number of deaths occurring around Lacey draws the attention of a tenacious homicide detective…
Can Colleen uncover the shady happenings at the club and keep her beloved Lacey out of jail?
Lacey, a goth introvert with sketchy people skills, befriends Colleen, a dazzlingly beautiful ghost, during a solo Ouija board session. At last, her loneliness comes to an end.
An eclectic pairing indeed, but they form an odd-but-satisfying and far-from-platonic friendship.
When Lacey begins work as a stripper, she and Colleen find themselves with a conspiratorial mystery to solve in the strip club.
Unfortunately, Lacey’s newfound supernatural lover has a secret… or two and isn’t what she seems to be at all.
Colleen is not a ghost at all, but a succubus with an unfortunate habit of killing people.
Accidentally.
It’s not long before the mounting number of deaths occurring around Lacey draws the attention of a tenacious homicide detective…
Can Colleen uncover the shady happenings at the club and keep her beloved Lacey out of jail?
- GenresHorror
236 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2023
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Erin Louis
17 books103 followersI am a former adult entertainer, with a love of books, writing and humor. My job has given me a unique perspective on life. I spent twenty years as a stripper on and off and started writing as a way to shed light on a misunderstood industry and profession. Frustrated with the stereotypes often presented on talk shows, movies, and articles, my goal is to help paint a broader and more accurate picture of the profession. But also, to destigmatize and humanize those who choose to work in the adult entertainment industry.
I am active in the secular community and write and advocate for secular issues. My focus is on the separation of church and state, secular humanism and critical thinking.
My passion for writing began with nonfiction, but I have always loved horror fiction. Stephen King, Lois Duncan, and Clive Barker got me through some tough years growing up. I found an escape through those books along with countless others. My own fiction reflects those influences as well as my love for all things dark and maybe just a bit scary.
I am active in the secular community and write and advocate for secular issues. My focus is on the separation of church and state, secular humanism and critical thinking.
My passion for writing began with nonfiction, but I have always loved horror fiction. Stephen King, Lois Duncan, and Clive Barker got me through some tough years growing up. I found an escape through those books along with countless others. My own fiction reflects those influences as well as my love for all things dark and maybe just a bit scary.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 7, 2023
I would describe this novel as dark, funny, sexy, and surprising. The subtext invokes the mantra of the underestimated: a warning about assumptions and how they lead to misinterpretations. There's even a not-so-subtle jab at conspiracy theories and the unreliability of online information.
The novel opens by establishing the influence of Colleen on our (as yet) unnamed narrator. It's unclear how compelled our protagonist is to acquiesce to Colleen's instruction, but that will soon be revealed.
What is clear is that Colleen is mischievous. She can fully materialize or take on invisibility, at will. Colleen has a great deal of power, yet the dynamic here is friendship, one where one friend has more influence on the other, but friendship just the same. As in all stories like this, the living person has to train themselves not to look like a fool, or even look crazy, like they're talking to themselves, when the other is invisible.
Presently, we learn that our protagonist is Lacey, a goth outsider. Colleen is her non-human best friend, the clingy type who has made Lacey a bit isolated. Colleen's constant presence, commentary, and antics make it impossible for Lacey to have other friends, let alone a boyfriend.
Colleen has fulfilled the partner role for Lacey, too, as they form a bisexual couple, and Lacey has enthusiastically dived into this widened world of experience. She has embraced the closeness, the love, and the mischief, too. Colleen even helps select temporary male partners for Lacey. Considering Colleen's jealousy, this suggests an ulterior motive.
Apparently, Lacey's sense of morality has also adjusted. Colleen has convinced Lacey to commit actual crimes. But, maybe those crimes are not as bad as they seem, at first.
Lacey is the perfect target for Colleen: a bit of a loner, seen as an outsider or even a weirdo, an introverted bookish sort, one who loves horror stories. And to be fair, Lacey did invite the spirit world into her life. We learn exactly how she thinks it happened, and how long ago. As Lacey admits, it could have been far worse for her.
The writing remains whimsical throughout, in spite of some of the more horrible reveals. And that is the key to how this novel works. It's so well-balanced. Even the horror is kind of funny.
Colleen eventually gets to briefly speak for herself, which helps the reader understand why she's so mischievous, so attached to Lacey, and so obsessed with sex. There's a lot Lacey doesn't know, and quite frankly, Colleen is a little in the dark herself.
Lacey and Colleen are way too close to keep too many secrets from each other. It is a confluence of unfortunate events which breaks the wall Colleen has put up to protect herself, and which force her to come clean to Lacey.
You'd think this break of trust might end things, but there's so much holding them together. One thing they have in common is the way in which they justify circumstances to themselves. Another thing they have in common is pretty much the worst strategies ever for dealing with the police, or for appearing innocent.
At some point, the way Colleen deals with problems becomes too much for Lacey. The cracks in their relationship begin to expand. Will it be a permanent rift? Is their relationship irretrievable?
There's a satisfying denouement.
In the end, Colleen gets some help from an unlikely source, and Lacey gains the confidence and autonomy she's always wanted and needed. They both learn the benefits of honest communication, of knowing and accepting who you are, and of found family. Sometimes, a step back is an opportunity for growth and reflection.
Thank you to Hellbound Books for providing an early copy of this very fun novel for review.
The novel opens by establishing the influence of Colleen on our (as yet) unnamed narrator. It's unclear how compelled our protagonist is to acquiesce to Colleen's instruction, but that will soon be revealed.
What is clear is that Colleen is mischievous. She can fully materialize or take on invisibility, at will. Colleen has a great deal of power, yet the dynamic here is friendship, one where one friend has more influence on the other, but friendship just the same. As in all stories like this, the living person has to train themselves not to look like a fool, or even look crazy, like they're talking to themselves, when the other is invisible.
Presently, we learn that our protagonist is Lacey, a goth outsider. Colleen is her non-human best friend, the clingy type who has made Lacey a bit isolated. Colleen's constant presence, commentary, and antics make it impossible for Lacey to have other friends, let alone a boyfriend.
Colleen has fulfilled the partner role for Lacey, too, as they form a bisexual couple, and Lacey has enthusiastically dived into this widened world of experience. She has embraced the closeness, the love, and the mischief, too. Colleen even helps select temporary male partners for Lacey. Considering Colleen's jealousy, this suggests an ulterior motive.
Apparently, Lacey's sense of morality has also adjusted. Colleen has convinced Lacey to commit actual crimes. But, maybe those crimes are not as bad as they seem, at first.
Lacey is the perfect target for Colleen: a bit of a loner, seen as an outsider or even a weirdo, an introverted bookish sort, one who loves horror stories. And to be fair, Lacey did invite the spirit world into her life. We learn exactly how she thinks it happened, and how long ago. As Lacey admits, it could have been far worse for her.
The writing remains whimsical throughout, in spite of some of the more horrible reveals. And that is the key to how this novel works. It's so well-balanced. Even the horror is kind of funny.
Colleen eventually gets to briefly speak for herself, which helps the reader understand why she's so mischievous, so attached to Lacey, and so obsessed with sex. There's a lot Lacey doesn't know, and quite frankly, Colleen is a little in the dark herself.
Lacey and Colleen are way too close to keep too many secrets from each other. It is a confluence of unfortunate events which breaks the wall Colleen has put up to protect herself, and which force her to come clean to Lacey.
You'd think this break of trust might end things, but there's so much holding them together. One thing they have in common is the way in which they justify circumstances to themselves. Another thing they have in common is pretty much the worst strategies ever for dealing with the police, or for appearing innocent.
At some point, the way Colleen deals with problems becomes too much for Lacey. The cracks in their relationship begin to expand. Will it be a permanent rift? Is their relationship irretrievable?
There's a satisfying denouement.
In the end, Colleen gets some help from an unlikely source, and Lacey gains the confidence and autonomy she's always wanted and needed. They both learn the benefits of honest communication, of knowing and accepting who you are, and of found family. Sometimes, a step back is an opportunity for growth and reflection.
Thank you to Hellbound Books for providing an early copy of this very fun novel for review.
March 14, 2024
Colleen was such a fun and fantastic read, super fast paced with a solid storyline. Our main character Lacey finds herself with a spectral girlfriend after playing with an Ouija board. Little does she know, Colleen is much more than just a ghost.
When people start dying around her, Lacey starts to get a bit cheesed out, and eventually all things unfold and truth comes to light.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, they were well developed and had a sense of realism and humour to them. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously so it was easy to have fun with it, I really enjoyed this read. Plus, the cover art is fantastic!
When people start dying around her, Lacey starts to get a bit cheesed out, and eventually all things unfold and truth comes to light.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, they were well developed and had a sense of realism and humour to them. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously so it was easy to have fun with it, I really enjoyed this read. Plus, the cover art is fantastic!
January 8, 2024
I was approached by Hellbound Books to check out their new story “Colleen” by Erin Louis & here is my thoughts on it. First of all, it is an incredibly easy fast read. Even non-readers can easily get through it. I finished it in just two days! It’s the type of easy read you can enjoy as a horror enthusiast like the way a middle age mom would enjoy a spicy rom-com on the beach. The story itself surprised me. For being a short novel, it is written well & the story is fully told and told well without leaving anything out. Speaking of the story, it really held my interest and kept me reading to see what wild antics would happen next. It’s not necessarily a deep story, but it’s fun with dark edges & fun humor. It’s definitely spicy, but not so much that it becomes too gratuitous. Plus there’s mystery & murder involved too. It’s a story of a goth stripper and her sex demon girlfriend who, let’s just say, sometimes has questionable outlooks on right & wrong. I also love when the chapter is told from a different character’s pov and this one does it well. It really puts you in the main character’s shoes where you know Colleen is a demon, but you can’t help but love her. Though the ride is wild and pretty surface level, it actually does in the end have sweet sentiments of love, relationships, and acceptance. If you’re looking for something not difficult to read and don’t mind a little supernatural 50 Shades of Grey. I’d recommend you give “Colleen” a try! Thanks again to Hellbound Books for giving me this opportunity to check out this book!
*Just as a trigger warning to some readers, who may be sensitive to these subjects, there are drug references, gore, and lots of sexual situations in the book, including a borderline SA blackmail situation towards the end. Nothing against the book at all for including these elements, I just like to let anyone know who may be bothered by these situations.
*Just as a trigger warning to some readers, who may be sensitive to these subjects, there are drug references, gore, and lots of sexual situations in the book, including a borderline SA blackmail situation towards the end. Nothing against the book at all for including these elements, I just like to let anyone know who may be bothered by these situations.
December 19, 2023
In a very fast paced and enjoyable read we are introduced to the title character when introverted Lacey decides to mess with an Ouija board, a spirit named Colleen appears.
Part of the charm of this book is uncovering that there is much more than that for both Colleen and Lacy.
Equal parts mystery and thriller with a splash of light horror and lots of romantic entanglements (wink wink) this was a fun read.
Looking forward to the next one by Erin Louis.
January 30, 2024
This book was sent to me by Hellbound Books to review
The story follows Lacey, an alternative girl who has just gotten a job as a stripper at Embers nightclub, and her demon partner Colleen. Colleen has no idea how she came to existence but was drawn to Lacey and they have been together since.
Colleen has been trying to find out more about what type of demon she is by conducting her own research, however, there is a trail of accidental deaths following the pair and police begin to get suspicious.
Colleen and Lacey make a funny duo and are both very likeable characters. The story is fun and light-hearted and also shows a glimpse into what it is like working in an adult bar and the dynamics between dancers, other staff members and the customers.
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading but it was very enjoyable. The writing hinted towards any sexual scenes without going into too much detail which I really liked and appreciated (overly descriptive spicy scenes in books don't appeal to me so this was a really nice balance!)
I would definitely recommend to anyone who's looking for something fun to read and likes stories with supernatural elements but not looking for a horror book (and also if you like lesbian demons)
The story follows Lacey, an alternative girl who has just gotten a job as a stripper at Embers nightclub, and her demon partner Colleen. Colleen has no idea how she came to existence but was drawn to Lacey and they have been together since.
Colleen has been trying to find out more about what type of demon she is by conducting her own research, however, there is a trail of accidental deaths following the pair and police begin to get suspicious.
Colleen and Lacey make a funny duo and are both very likeable characters. The story is fun and light-hearted and also shows a glimpse into what it is like working in an adult bar and the dynamics between dancers, other staff members and the customers.
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading but it was very enjoyable. The writing hinted towards any sexual scenes without going into too much detail which I really liked and appreciated (overly descriptive spicy scenes in books don't appeal to me so this was a really nice balance!)
I would definitely recommend to anyone who's looking for something fun to read and likes stories with supernatural elements but not looking for a horror book (and also if you like lesbian demons)
February 19, 2024
This book was sent to me by hellbounds books in exchange for my honest review.
I didn't really know what to expect going into this book and if I'm honest this is not my normal type of read however; I really enjoyed it.
This book is written with duel POVs which I liked alot especially Colleen's sections. Colleen being a succubus who is trying to navigate the human world. This book explores love and friendship between Colleen and her human lover/best friend Lacey.
To summarise book was an easy read, fast paced, dark and funny.
I didn't really know what to expect going into this book and if I'm honest this is not my normal type of read however; I really enjoyed it.
This book is written with duel POVs which I liked alot especially Colleen's sections. Colleen being a succubus who is trying to navigate the human world. This book explores love and friendship between Colleen and her human lover/best friend Lacey.
To summarise book was an easy read, fast paced, dark and funny.
January 25, 2024
I really enjoyed "Colleen" by Erin Louis. It's a fun and humorous story, especially with Colleen, the sex demon, navigating human struggles. The plot, though not too serious, keeps you hooked as Lacey and Colleen find themselves in a tricky situation that catches the law's attention.
The alternating perspectives of Lacey and Colleen add depth, and the story strikes a good balance between humor and mystery. Despite Colleen being a succubus, the spicy moments are there but not overwhelming, which fits well with the overall comedic tone.
"Colleen" is a unique and intriguing blend of supernatural elements, friendship, and mystery. The unexpected bond between Lacey and Colleen leads them on a mission to uncover a conspiracy in a strip club, adding suspense and dark humor. It's a fast-paced and enjoyable read that reveals more layers beyond Lacey's initial encounter with the Ouija board.
The alternating perspectives of Lacey and Colleen add depth, and the story strikes a good balance between humor and mystery. Despite Colleen being a succubus, the spicy moments are there but not overwhelming, which fits well with the overall comedic tone.
"Colleen" is a unique and intriguing blend of supernatural elements, friendship, and mystery. The unexpected bond between Lacey and Colleen leads them on a mission to uncover a conspiracy in a strip club, adding suspense and dark humor. It's a fast-paced and enjoyable read that reveals more layers beyond Lacey's initial encounter with the Ouija board.
January 27, 2024
Horror lovers take note! If you like a dark tale with a pinch of spice and a demon with a good side, take a look. This was my first read from Erin Louis.
In this book: ghost/demon love, protector, fiery situations, exotic dancing, lots of unfortunate “accidents”, Detective investigating, a sparkly blue, double headed “toy”, an incident with pigeons, FF with an added extra and Richard the cat!
I actually found this quite a fun read mainly due to Colleen’s inner monologue during her chapters. She’s loved Lacey for a long time but is still trying to find her place and is unsure as to which world she belongs. All she wants to do is help, though is sometimes misguided but with comical results.
It’s a pretty short read at just under 250 pages. I’d like to thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In this book: ghost/demon love, protector, fiery situations, exotic dancing, lots of unfortunate “accidents”, Detective investigating, a sparkly blue, double headed “toy”, an incident with pigeons, FF with an added extra and Richard the cat!
I actually found this quite a fun read mainly due to Colleen’s inner monologue during her chapters. She’s loved Lacey for a long time but is still trying to find her place and is unsure as to which world she belongs. All she wants to do is help, though is sometimes misguided but with comical results.
It’s a pretty short read at just under 250 pages. I’d like to thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 21, 2024
I didn’t really have any expectations going into this book. I found myself really enjoying it, laughing at the dark humor in it and the fun way Colleen, the sex demon, is written to have some very human struggles of figuring out who she is and how to just exist. The story itself isn’t anything too deep or serious. Our characters do find themselves getting into a situation that gains attention from the law. It’s nice to get both POVs of Lacey and Colleen because you get to read how each character is perceiving their sticky situation. It’s fun to see how much of a mess they get into before figuring a way out of it.
There are some brief spicy moments, but nothing too crazy. Considering how Colleen is a succubus, I expected it to be a little spicier, but I think the spice would’ve taken away from the humor of the story.
Overall, this book was an unexpected joy to read. Thank you to helloboundbooks for reaching out with the opportunity to read something that otherwise probably wouldn’t have been on my radar! Rated 3.5 rounded up to 4.
There are some brief spicy moments, but nothing too crazy. Considering how Colleen is a succubus, I expected it to be a little spicier, but I think the spice would’ve taken away from the humor of the story.
Overall, this book was an unexpected joy to read. Thank you to helloboundbooks for reaching out with the opportunity to read something that otherwise probably wouldn’t have been on my radar! Rated 3.5 rounded up to 4.
January 17, 2024
When Lacey uses a Ouija board for the first time, she believes that she has conjured a a ghost named Colleen. Told through alternating points of view this novel explores themes of friendship and love through a series of wild antics, murder and mayhem. Is Colleen a ghost or something more? Is there a death cult operating at a local strip club? Who is that handsome bouncer? These questions and more will be answered in this fast paced, dark and fun book. Thank you Hellbound Books for this enjoyable read.
May 2, 2024
Smex demon falls for a human girl and helps her land a job at a strep club. All is right with the world until bodies start stacking up around these two but only one of them is being blamed, because only one of them is visible.
I had fun with this quick and easily devoured story. It's a spicy, horror thriller with a smex demon. It's written by someone with experience in the setting which I appreciate.
There are misunderstandings and learning that both have to go through to grow. I enjoyed watching Colleen navigate the human realm and figure things out as she went. Naive at first, maybe, but she grows as a demon 😈.
I had fun with this quick and easily devoured story. It's a spicy, horror thriller with a smex demon. It's written by someone with experience in the setting which I appreciate.
There are misunderstandings and learning that both have to go through to grow. I enjoyed watching Colleen navigate the human realm and figure things out as she went. Naive at first, maybe, but she grows as a demon 😈.
February 11, 2026
This was fun!
It really made you go “what the Hell?!” But that’s what I loved about it!
The characters we lovable, even though one was a murdering sex demon lol
I loved their commitment to each other and the HEA they ended up with!
It really made you go “what the Hell?!” But that’s what I loved about it!
The characters we lovable, even though one was a murdering sex demon lol
I loved their commitment to each other and the HEA they ended up with!
January 6, 2024
For starters, the cover is HOT 🥵 and the book is even hotter. If you’re into reading about super sexy succubus then do yourself a favor and devour this book ASAP. Who knew a sex demon could bring both the horror and the spice. 🌶️ This is a wonderfully written, fast paced, sexy and fun read. There’s elements of humor, sex, horror and relatability. I love the way this is written and the language / words chosen. I know that might sound like an odd compliment but it felt like the convos in the story were convos / language I’d use with my fiends etc. I honestly didn’t want the book to end and would LOVE a sequel to see what happens with Dom. 🤭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 3, 2024
I was interested in this from the first line of the description. An introverted goth girl makes friends with a ghost? Yes please! Thank you to Hellbound books for the eARC.
This book took completely different turns to what I was expecting. I was completely engrossed though and it has great pacing. There were a few things I weren’t sure about at points on the surface (just personal preference) but digging deeper there’s a couple of narratives that were absolutely fascinating. One around the main characters suspicions of a death cult and their nefarious leader and the other the ghost’s (Colleen) own secrets and struggles that she doesn’t want the main character to know about. Colleen’s storyline of trying to understand her nature as a succubus whilst masquerading as a ghost and trying to cover up her accidental killings was both fascinating and quite amusing.
At the heart of this, underneath the strip clubs, spice, murders and villains, there is a really sweet romance between two quite isolated people. I’m always a fan of love stories between people who don’t fit in and manage to find each other. I loved Collin’s dedication to Lacey and how devoted she was.
Go into this expecting a book with a fair amount of spicy content and trigger warnings for drug use and death. Fast paced, lots going on but never confusing or difficult to follow. A good read if you’re looking for something a bit different.
This book took completely different turns to what I was expecting. I was completely engrossed though and it has great pacing. There were a few things I weren’t sure about at points on the surface (just personal preference) but digging deeper there’s a couple of narratives that were absolutely fascinating. One around the main characters suspicions of a death cult and their nefarious leader and the other the ghost’s (Colleen) own secrets and struggles that she doesn’t want the main character to know about. Colleen’s storyline of trying to understand her nature as a succubus whilst masquerading as a ghost and trying to cover up her accidental killings was both fascinating and quite amusing.
At the heart of this, underneath the strip clubs, spice, murders and villains, there is a really sweet romance between two quite isolated people. I’m always a fan of love stories between people who don’t fit in and manage to find each other. I loved Collin’s dedication to Lacey and how devoted she was.
Go into this expecting a book with a fair amount of spicy content and trigger warnings for drug use and death. Fast paced, lots going on but never confusing or difficult to follow. A good read if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews