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Black No. 1
Some women find their self-confidence in a box of hair dye. In Black No. 1, Erin Bruha finds a soul stealing demon from hell. Erin has hit rock bottom when she offers her soul for a new life. Homeless, jobless, half drunk and clad in Hello Kitty pajamas at two in the morning, changing her stars seems impossible. Changing her hair on the other hand may be the quick fix she desperately needs.
Black No. 1 transforms Erin from an ordinary dishwater blonde into a groovy Goth girl. It also ties her to Petrus, a celibate incubus with a hero complex sent to retrieve her soul. What starts as an otherworldly business transaction becomes much more complicated as Erin falls for her reluctant demon, and Petrus becomes determined to save her from a contract with hell. To make matters worse, Petrus’s boss has no intention of giving Erin up and a group of demon hunters wants Petrus dead. A happy ending for the dye-tied pair is something even the Devil can’t guarantee.
Before her color fades Erin must decide to save her demon soulmate....or just to save her soul.
Black No. 1 transforms Erin from an ordinary dishwater blonde into a groovy Goth girl. It also ties her to Petrus, a celibate incubus with a hero complex sent to retrieve her soul. What starts as an otherworldly business transaction becomes much more complicated as Erin falls for her reluctant demon, and Petrus becomes determined to save her from a contract with hell. To make matters worse, Petrus’s boss has no intention of giving Erin up and a group of demon hunters wants Petrus dead. A happy ending for the dye-tied pair is something even the Devil can’t guarantee.
Before her color fades Erin must decide to save her demon soulmate....or just to save her soul.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 25, 2024
In “Black No. 1” by JL Watts, we meet protagonist, Erin, when she is being assaulted by her lecherous boss after having encountered him in a nightclub. (Trigger warnings for rape and grisly deaths.) After fighting off her boss, Erin is fired. In her frustration, she makes a flippant comment about selling her soul, and somewhere in Hell, a demon hears her thoughtless statement and goes into action.
A demon named Petrus is assigned to find Erin and convince her to give up her soul. His method is to give her 2 weeks of bliss in which all of her wishes are granted; after such treatment, few people can resist the offer. But Petrus is not pleased to for the directive to deliver Erin’s soul; unlike most of the wretched people he deals with, Erin is a decent person; so he can find no satisfaction in corrupting her. Meanwhile, we meet Dmitri, who is doing his part to destroy demons who are wreaking havoc in society. Might he intervene before Erin’s doom is set?
I found the story refreshingly different and the writing clever. It’s a fun plot with plenty of twists. I recommend this book to enthusiasts of dark fantasy.
A demon named Petrus is assigned to find Erin and convince her to give up her soul. His method is to give her 2 weeks of bliss in which all of her wishes are granted; after such treatment, few people can resist the offer. But Petrus is not pleased to for the directive to deliver Erin’s soul; unlike most of the wretched people he deals with, Erin is a decent person; so he can find no satisfaction in corrupting her. Meanwhile, we meet Dmitri, who is doing his part to destroy demons who are wreaking havoc in society. Might he intervene before Erin’s doom is set?
I found the story refreshingly different and the writing clever. It’s a fun plot with plenty of twists. I recommend this book to enthusiasts of dark fantasy.
August 18, 2024
In Black No. 1 by JL Watts, twenty-six-year-old Erin Bruha decides she is due for a change. After a disastrous night followed by finding not only an overdue credit card bill, but also an eviction notice and college rejection letter in the mail, she starts at the top, by dying her hair in the shade, Black No. 1. She should have suspected something was off when the clerk charges her $6.66.
The story is told from several points of view, including Erin, the demon love interest, Petrus, Petrus’s boss, Astaroth and Dimitri Resnikov aka Cerberus. The banter between Erin and Petrus is clever and fun. I’m not normally a big fan of spicy romances, but relationship develops in a believable manner and the sex scenes are well-written.
I enjoyed the scenes that took place in Hell, which is run like a business and a woman Satan heads it. I found Petrus’s back story intriguing.
There are several interesting plot twists and a satisfying ending to the story. Overall, I think
Black No. 1 is a solid first book in a spicy paranormal romance series.
The story is told from several points of view, including Erin, the demon love interest, Petrus, Petrus’s boss, Astaroth and Dimitri Resnikov aka Cerberus. The banter between Erin and Petrus is clever and fun. I’m not normally a big fan of spicy romances, but relationship develops in a believable manner and the sex scenes are well-written.
I enjoyed the scenes that took place in Hell, which is run like a business and a woman Satan heads it. I found Petrus’s back story intriguing.
There are several interesting plot twists and a satisfying ending to the story. Overall, I think
Black No. 1 is a solid first book in a spicy paranormal romance series.
May 7, 2026
Faith
3.75 stars
There was more going on here than a battle gift a soul. It was also about faith, and politics between heaven and Hell. Balancing good and evil.
Erin has experienced so much trauma in her life that she has lost her faith. Even when a demon shows up, she doesn't believe what he tells her about souls and Hell.
The romance is a little slow and there is light heat. The negative references about rap music was a little offensive so, the -.25 star.
3.75 stars
There was more going on here than a battle gift a soul. It was also about faith, and politics between heaven and Hell. Balancing good and evil.
Erin has experienced so much trauma in her life that she has lost her faith. Even when a demon shows up, she doesn't believe what he tells her about souls and Hell.
The romance is a little slow and there is light heat. The negative references about rap music was a little offensive so, the -.25 star.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews