Cookbooks & Demons

Culinary Infernal #1

by Megan Mackie

It’s too hot to get out of Hell’s Kitchen.

It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. After inheriting her grandmother's old cookbook, Helena decided to throw a dinner party for the ages, inviting her friends and even her boss! Then everything went wrong. The stove caught fire. The cat stole one of her filets. She even bit her tongue!

And now her dinner plans could not be any more ruined because she’s accidentally summoned a demon. Now everything is going… right? The dinner was amazing, her friends are thrilled, and her boss would like to talk to her about a promotion! And of course, she would never be so foolish as to again summon the demon….

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons, Cozy, Paranormal Romance, Monster Romance

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2024

About the author

Megan Mackie is a writer, actor, and playwright. She started her writing career as an indie author and had such smashing success in her first year with her inaugural book The Finder of the Lucky Devil. She has become a personality at many cons, recognizable by her iconic leather hat and engaging smile.

She is also a contributing writer in the role-playing game Legendlore and Legendlore: Legacies by Onyx Path Publishing and Sirens: Battle of the Bards through Apotheosis Studios. Outside of writing, she likes to play games: board games, RPGs, and video games. She has a regular Pathfinder group who is working their way through Rapanthuk. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children, dog, three cats, and her mother in the apartment upstairs.

Reviews

[ReneeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute demon/monster romance with a slow burn. All of the food descriptions had my stomach growling and heading toward the pantry to find something to eat. I loved the scene where Helena helps Rafferty taste food and I think it was so sensual without being sexy. I thought the story was well told and unique and I really loved Rafferty as a character.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pub Date: 10/18/24

[Chrissy Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars – A Dash of Demon, a Pinch of Plot, and a Whole Lotta Cozy

Okay, so picture this: you’re trying to cook dinner, it’s going terribly (burnt offerings to the kitchen gods), and BAM—you accidentally summon a demon. Honestly? Relatable.

Cookbooks & Demons starts off with a super fun premise: a woman stumbles into summoning a demon through her grandma’s old cookbook, which, let’s be real, is probably how half of my family recipes came into existence. The vibes are cozy, the setting is charming, and it’s got a delicious little mix of magic and mishaps that made me want to curl up with a hot drink and a cinnamon roll.

That said… while the ingredients were all there, the story didn’t quite rise like I hoped. I kept waiting for a little more sizzle, a little more spice—some extra plot development or deeper emotional stakes. The characters were cute, but I never felt fully invested. It's like getting a really pretty cupcake, biting in, and realizing it’s just kinda... okay. Not bad! Just not leaving me craving seconds.

If you’re looking for a cozy, low-stakes magical romp with food, feelings, and a touch of accidental infernal summoning, this will absolutely hit the spot. Just don’t expect a five-alarm plot fire—this one's more of a gentle simmer

[Nikki Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of cooking to summon demons is original and occasionally hilarious, but the story lacks depth and the pacing is uneven. Characters felt underdeveloped, and the stakes never quite landed. Still, it’s a light, imaginative read with some clever moments—just more appetizer than main course.

[Kat van Woerkom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was set on giving this 1 star, but settled on 2 because the last 20-30 pages got a lot more interesting, and the foodie element was pretty decent overall.

However I would not recommend this to anyone. The writing is very clunky and fanfic-y? I felt like I was reading someone’s first attempt at their very first story. There were some unique elements to the story, but overall every character felt very two dimensional and under developed, the main relationship felt rushed and therefore random, and it had some dark/tragic elements happen out of nowhere, but not really seamlessly interwoven with the story so again just all felt very random.

Also it gets very preachy about a number of things, like therapy speak, consent, being bisexual, and calling out toxic behaviors. I don’t take issue with an author trying to make these points, but it didn’t feel like realistic dialogue, more like the author wanted to make sure she got to say her piece on these subjects🤷‍♀️

Long story short, the idea itself has lots of potential but the execution was very poor.

[library.of.sum · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a unique story!!!! I’ve never read anything along these lines before!

For some reason going into this - I thought it was a standalone….. even though it says book one 🫣 silly me! So when the cliffhanger came at the end I was slightly surprised.

There were a couple of heavy topics throughout the book but I do feel like they were written quite well. I felt like in these moments it was really easy to resonate with the characters and the struggles they were going through.

There were a couple of sections that I felt maybe needed to be explained slightly more thoroughly. There was a point that Helena was having a serious conversation with her boss and it seemed really bizarre and I couldn’t make a lot of sense of it.

Unfortunately I didn’t find myself particularly invested in either main characters. I didn’t inherently dislike either of them but I was hoping to LOVE Raffie but just couldn’t quite get there. However maybe I will in the next book!

It was the slowest of slow burns with grumpyxsunshine, so if that’s your cup of tea (it’s definitely mine) I’d recommend as a quick easy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly not bad at all! It’s very tropey in what to expect from the story- a woman who doesn’t know how to cook accidentally summons a demon and then falls in love with him. But, the demon lore was surprisingly well fleshed out, wasn’t expecting it at all from an airport page turner.

Please be warned- It deals with heavy topics like a suicide attempt (I was quite blindsided by it). Hope you won’t be after reading this review!

[Paige Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a creative and fun story! I enjoyed reading it. It was the perfect palate cleanser that I never knew I needed. I’ve never read any of the “cozy” romance genre books until this one and it didn’t disappoint!

Cookbooks and Demons follows Helena as she’s trying to entertain her coworkers at a dinner party she decided to throw. The dinner is an utter disaster and she finds herself in quite the predicament; she’s accidentally summoned a demon in the midst of the chaos. The demon, Lares, saves the day and prepares a lovely dinner leaving her coworkers impressed and possibly a promotion.

As I continued reading this story, it was really fun to watch Helena and Lares relationship turn into friendship and then something more altogether. Lares is also constantly referred to as Rafferty. That’s Helena’s nickname for him. I don’t want to give anything away but if you love paranormal romance then this story will be a win for you! I love a good paranormal romance story and this one delivered imo. I’ll definitely read the next book when it comes out and I’ll be looking into more books from this author!

The character development was done well and the storyline was filled with chemistry and compelling from start to finish. I enjoyed reading Helena and Rafferty’s story and look forward to the next book.

Thank you to BookSirens and Megan Mackie for this ARC. Cookbooks and Demons releases October 18, 2024.

[Lisa Ann D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Don’t worry. This isn’t going to cost your soul. Maybe just a blood sacrifice.” His eyes roved over the kitchen disaster. He blew out a foul-smelling breath. “I don’t know. We’ll figure it out later,” he said as if she knew at all what he was talking about
😈

Cookbooks and Demons (Culinary Infernal #1)
𝗯𝘆 Megan Mackie

😈
𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗡
𝗖𝗢𝗭𝗬
𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧
𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥- 𝖲𝗈𝗆𝖾 very 𝗆𝗂𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝗉𝗂𝖼𝖾
𝖲𝖤𝖷𝖸 𝖢𝖮𝖮𝖪𝖨𝖭𝖦
𝖲𝖬𝖠𝖱𝖳
𝖰𝖴𝖨𝖱𝖪𝖸
𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗔 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗙𝗨𝗟


😈😈😈😈

Completely on point. No complaints worth voicing. This was a great lil novel beginning to end… and let’s face it - isn’t all cooking a form of witchcraft?!💜
And, bonus points for the True Detective quote at the start of the book… be still my twisted heart.

💟

If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward, then, brother, that person is a piece of shit. - Rust Cohle, True Detective

😈

★•*´¨`*•★• Happy reading ┊┊┊┊ ➶

[Kellie Nylund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fantastic read. It’s a cute cozy paranormal romance about cooking that I didn’t know that I needed to read. I’m so glad I did and I loved it so much. The world building was amazing and the characters both main and side were written well.

Helena and Raffie are so adorable. Their dynamic was so wholesome and so cute. This book also made me hungry every time the food was brought up because it sounded so good.

I highly recommend checking this out if you’re in the mood for some cozy paranormal reads. I’m very excited to read book two when it comes out!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How else could life be but bittersweet?"

The writing was a bit clunky at the beginning, but once you get into a flow of the writing style, the storyline is quite wholesome.

My heart just melted when they ate together for the first time. And both the main characters were so emotionally raw! I really enjoyed this book and I loved how unique it was for a romantasy. Throughout, it just made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I read an Advanced Reader Copy. I would encourage you to buy this book in October.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had such a cute setting that I simply couldn't resist. Our FMC uses her grandma’s cookbook for a dinner she invited her friends and coworkers, including her boss, for and once everything … somewhat goes to hell (pun absolutely intended), she somehow, accidentally summons a demon. Luckily, the demon she summons can cook and saves the day – for now, because his payment is still up in the air.

The main character and her love interest have such a cute dynamic, the wholesome moments truly made up the book for me and I could have just lived with that, to be honest, because it was just such a home-y feeling following them both through the early stages of what started as a deal with a demon and somehow turned into something else entirely.

There were a few moments that had me go “what now?” and not in a plot-twisty kind of way but in a “huh, what did I miss now” kind of way. I’m not entirely sure if I just overread some things or if they were not as clear as the author maybe had hoped, but it didn’t really sour the enjoyment of the read for me so I didn’t mind to much.

Coming to an end, with this review and the book simultaneously, the vibes were a lot more hectic and I would have wished for some scenes to go a little deeper.

All in all, I had fun reading this and what more could you want from a cozy demon cookbook disaster? Clear recommendation for the fall days to cuddle up with this and have a good time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute and fun! When she accidentally summons a demon to cook her dinner, things spiral out of hand very quickly for Helena. When she keeps summoning him, she realizes quickly that the costs for demon magic are very strange. While the demon learns that he doesn't have to constantly serve to be happy.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book was truly amazing and once I had time I could not put it down! Honestly the ending through me off and I’m stoked for the second book! I honestly can’t say more cause I can’t continue without spoiling it!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read. It’s heavy with the cozy vibe? But the under lying emotional trauma / heartache is real throughout.
Really enjoyed the character developments, and watching them navigate the frustrating task of how could these two remarkable people (person and demon?😅) actually be in a realm together.
Also the food? The food p0rn was real reading this, and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the sequel Baking and Angels.
Making a deal with demons comes with high costs… or can it also cost you love?

[Megan Hallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, easy read.

[Ritu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely have never read anything like this before.

The writing is relatively clunky, and I really do not think it needed to be as long as it was. Overall, I did enjoy the story and the cliffhanger at the end does make me want to read the second book.

I don't feel I was necessarily the target audience for this, but I didn't dislike it. Helena and Rafferty's relationship was cute, although perhaps a little rushed? Perhaps a plot hole where she kept telling trying to tell him that she could actually taste the food 5x better when eating with him but that wasn't really touched on again - and I don't remember her ever telling him.

I understand the demon's self depreciation but....... like chill Raffie. Interesting story. Kinda curious to read the rest but would want the writing to flow better. Very watt-pad.
~2.5/5, but goodreads wont let me halfsies.

[Franjessca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will always enjoy reading Paranormal Romance and haven’t read much Cozy Paranormal Romance. When I came across Megan Mackie’s Culinary Infernal series, I knew I had to pick it up. The first book, Cookbooks & Demons, had an interesting storyline, and I was hooked at the beginning, but it didn’t keep me engaged at times, especially in the middle. It’s labeled as a cozy paranormal romance but has darker emotional themes that may be triggering for some readers, so check the CW before reading.

Brief Storyline: The FMC, Helena, ends up summoning a demon in her kitchen after she reads a spell from the cookbook she inherited from her grandmother. The demon, Rafferty, keeps telling her the consequences of summoning him, but Helena can’t help it, especially when she starts forming an attraction for him. The issue is that the more she summons him, the more she is at risk of that debt getting bigger and more dangerous. She’ll also find out she’s not the only one at risk of summoning Rafferty each time.

My Thoughts: I liked both characters in this book. Helena is determined to help Rafferty, especially after learning why he became a demon. I could tell she wanted to be helpful, especially after it’s mentioned what she was like when she was younger and what she did to a girl. She truly was trying to be a better person. I always love grumpy characters, and Rafferty was that grumpy character, and he was very upfront with Helena, trying to warn her about demons like him. He eventually falls for Helena too, and I love how protective he becomes of her, even if it was from him at times.

It was inevitable Helena and Rafferty were going to end up together in the end. I love the parts where Helena helped Rafferty taste the dishes he made because he couldn’t due to his punishment. (You’ll have to read the story to find out more about Rafferty and what happened to him.) Their attraction is forbidden but a slow burn with mild heat, so if you expect a spicy book, this one won’t have it.

My main issue with the book was the pacing. The first part hooked me, but the middle felt like filler and dragged at times. It eventually picked up toward the end. The middle mainly deals with Helena’s job and her search for a caterer. I already knew what was going to happen toward the end because of where the story was going. Then Helena realizes the consequences of summoning Rafferty, which affect her friends and boss. (No spoilers from me on this one.) This part was all over the place at times, which pulled me out of the story.

This is also where the Cozy Paranormal Romance got a little heavier than I expected to read with the heavy topics and dark emotional themes, so read the CW before reading.

Overall, this was an okay read for me, and I give it 3 stars. Even with this rating, it doesn’t mean I won’t pick up the second book. I’m invested in Helena and Rafferty’s storyline and need to know what happens next after the cliffhanger.

P.S. I’m not afraid to admit this book made me hungry with all the food mentioned. I would love to have the opera cake (Rafferty’s version) recipe he makes at the end. It sounded delicious on paper.

POV: Third Person

Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you enjoy Cozy Paranormal Romance that has a slow-burn romance between a human and a demon she accidentally summons, then check out this book by Megan Mackie.

What to Expect:
🩷Cozy Paranormal Romance
🩷Demon + Human
🩷Forbidden Love
🩷Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷Accidental Demon Summoning
🩷Slow Burn

[Adeselna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Cookbooks & Demons” is the first book in the Culinary Infernal duology. In it, we meet Helen, an event planner looking for a promotion who just burnt the food for her dinner with co-workers, and Rafferty, a demon who can be summoned to cook excellent food and the payment is to be discussed later in demon terms. Making deals with demons is never a good idea, but Helen is in a tight spot, so she asks Rafferty for help, and what ensues is a truly culinary wonder.

Rafferty is truly devilish when cooking but since he cannot taste anything, Helen offers him to take her memories of her enjoying the food so he can taste what he has created. These little moments of them tasting the food are the most warming parts. Megan Mackie does a wonderful job describing the courses and all the meals Rafferty and Helen share, especially the cheese scene was beautifully written. 

Rafferty’s character is very easy to enjoy, he seeks nothing but to serve the person who summons him, but as soon as he realises that Helen is trying to be a good person to him, he is honest and open about himself. He is not a good person, hence why he is a demon, and we learn his past actions that led to his demise. 

Helen, however, is also not a great person, not due to her past, but I don’t think she has evolved that much. She summons Rafferty to help her a lot and only once to be with him, it felt she used him a little bit because she knew he would help her and she would succeed. I felt that Helen needed to fail and face some consequences. Rafferty helps her throughout the book with her job and she dismisses it as it’s kind of “his job”. Her thoughts sometimes rubbed me the wrong way. This is very personal but when she told him she did not give him permission for him to touch her - not a spoiler - I felt genuinely sad for him, like lady, that is not how you talk to people who just saved your butt! I felt that Rafferty would do everything for her but I felt that Helen never had to hit rock bottom and get a grip to save her career.

Their relationship is a slow burn (no pun with cooking) and while there is a more intimate scene, the focus is not the main aspect of their relationship and that is fine. I appreciate their kind of foreplay with the meal tasting and found that sexier than possibly a mouth full of clichés. Since this is book one, the plot twist in the end led me to believe the second book will be more focused on deepening their bond and relationship.

“Cookbook & demons” is a cosy yet sombre paranormal romance that will leave foodies charmed. I expect to read “Baking & Angels” by next year to see how Helen and Rafferty’s story unfolds.

[Kinley]

Cookbooks and Demons: A Cozy Paranormal Romance by Megan Mackie
Rating: DNF @ 73%
Format: eBook Arc
Would I recommend: for a select population
Review:

Cookbooks and Demons is a story about a young woman just trying to make it through life and impress her boss. Hence, inviting said boss over for a dinner. Only there is one problem, Helena isn’t a fantastic cook like her grandmother before her. After accidentally summoning a demon who can cook incredible food, Helena and Rafferty begin an… odd adventure.
There were lots of elements of this book that I enjoyed. The premise itself was fun, I mean, a scary looking demon who can change his look to a handsome man, and who can scramble an egg and bake a cake like no other??? Sure, sign me up. I think my issue with this book was some of the execution and dialogue between our two main characters.
Whilst the premise of the story in the beginning is seemingly Helena trying to propel herself in her work, her work kind of takes a back-burner throughout the novel unless it concerns workplace drama that truly has no place in the story. I also didn't love the romance between Helena and Rafferty. I think that the cozy romance aspect was missing, because the two characters ended up having several more serious conversations and bonding through that, rather than some lighthearted banter or flirting, which is more of my cup of tea. I also just didn’t quite find how Helena immediately is able to express her feelings and open up to this demon quite believable (I know, I know, this story is about a baking demon, what is supposed to be believable)? There was just a lot more trauma dumping than I expected, especially between two strangers, one of which was not even human. And there really was just a lot more drama & trauma than a book advertised as cozy should have, in my personality. I think the author struggled to find which side of this story she wanted to be on and couldn’t execute. Is it serious and dramatic, with deep conversations and ethical questioning, or is it cupcake sampling and holding hands walking through the winter streets?
Overall, this book had a lot going for it and the writing was pretty good, I think it just truly wasn’t my cup of tea and really began to deteriorate and fly off the rails after the halfway mark. I wanted to finish it, but after a particular scene I just couldn’t.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alejandrart07 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Cookbooks and Demon by Megan Mackie
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)

Cookbooks and Demon takes you on a wild ride that’s part Food Network, part Supernatural. Helena’s innocent attempt at throwing a memorable dinner party goes completely off the rails when she accidentally summons a demon from her grandmother’s cookbook. What follows is a fun mix of culinary chaos, demon bargains, and some unexpected consequences.

Helena’s summoning starts off amusing, with the demon actually helping her salvage the evening, impressing her boss, and earning her a promotion. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that her pact with the demon has far more serious and long-term repercussions. This book is more than just a light paranormal romance—it explores deeper themes of guilt, the costs of power, and the fallout of seemingly simple actions. While there is a romantic element between Helena and the demon, it’s very much a slow burn and definitely takes a backseat to the broader narrative. The romance is minimal, with just a peek into their growing connection, but the dynamic between them is intriguing.

The world-building was fantastic, especially the concepts surrounding demons and their powers. I’m excited to see how these ideas will be explored further in the series. The ending, however, left me a bit confused. It’s unclear if Helena truly learns from her experiences or if she’s still caught in the consequences of her choices. While the ambiguity adds an unsettling twist, it also left me with more questions than answers.

As for the romantic side, it’s mostly a closed-door, slow-burn situation with very little spice. There is one brief scene, but it’s more amusing than steamy, with euphemisms like ‘pearl of pleasure’ adding some humor to the moment.

Final Thoughts: Cookbooks and Demon is a quirky, enjoyable mix of food, magic, and demon lore. If you enjoy a paranormal story that dives into deeper themes while keeping things light and fun, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the next installment—I need more of this world!

Special thanks to Megan Mackie and BookSirens for letting me be part of the ARC.

[Simran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting take on demons and the price of using magic. We’ve all read stories about how messing with magic is dangerous and always comes with a cost, and even though everyone knows that, people still do it anyway. This book reminded me a bit of the TV show Lucifer: Lucifer's magic and charm were just to get people to put their guards dow,n and ultimately, he gave people what they truly desired, just not in the way they expected.

Overall, I thought this was a great read. I really liked how every character was shown to have their own skeletons in the closet, and how the story explored the “sins” or bad things they’d done and how they dealt with them. As cliché as it sounds, those sayings exist for a reason: we always want things we don’t have. In this story, that desire (helped along by demon magic) comes true, but at the cost of not knowing how it will actually show up in your life. What happened to the doctor and to the gay couple are perfect examples of this: they got their heart’s truest desire, just not in the form they wanted or expected.

The last chapter (especially the part before the epilogue) really worked for me. Without getting to woo-woo as people say, the idea that fully accepting yourself (the good, the bad, and the ugly) is the only real way out of hell was powerful. Maybe hell isn’t just a place, but all our regrets and what we see as our own failures. Maybe we condemn ourselves by deciding we don’t deserve good things. In that sense, hell is something we create through the limits and rules we place on ourselves - by ignoring the parts of who we are that we don’t want to face, while chasing only the parts we wish were pure and true.

I enjoyed the writing overall, though there were a few spots where the pacing felt a little strange. Still, I’m really looking forward to the next book.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy fantasy that starts off strong, pulling readers into a world where the mundane and the supernatural collide in unexpected ways. The protagonist, Helena, is an interesting character who is careful and intent on not making mistakes. Her attempt to host a dinner party turns chaotic when she accidentally summons a demon 😈, leading to a series of strange and oddly humorous events.

The demon character is particularly well-crafted and heart-wrenching 💔. His backstory reveals a life of suffering, all stemming from a single mistake he made when he was young. It's a tragic reminder of how much people can be punished for youthful errors, making his plight both relatable and sorrowful. His struggles evoke sympathy, making him one of the most memorable aspects of the book.

While the writing style is engaging ✍️ and the initial setup is promising, the story does fall short in some areas. Certain chapters feel disjointed, with sudden developments that lack proper context or explanation. This lack of coherence detracts from the overall experience, leaving the reader wanting more in terms of story development. However, despite these flaws, the book remains an enjoyable read 📚, especially for fans of cozy fantasy with a touch of the supernatural.

If you’re a fan of these tropes, you’ll likely enjoy this book:
😈 Accidental Summoning
❤️‍🩹 Demons with a Heart of Gold
🍽️ Dinner Party Gone Wrong​
✨ Redemption Arc
🔮 Supernatural Help in Everyday Life
🕰️ Mistakes from the Past Haunting the Present
😢 Sympathetic Villains

A big thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Moonburst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helena is excited to use her grandmother's infamous cookbook to make dinner for a special dinner party. But everything goes wrong, and when the smoke and chaos has settled, she realizes that she's managed to summon a demon. With the demon's help, the dinner party goes off without a hitch, and Helena's boss even gives her a promotion. Even though she agrees to never summon a demon again, Helena can't help but wonder about the demon. As she finds more excuses to spend time with the demon, the long term effects of her dinner party start to come to light, forcing her to try to mitigate the damage.

Cookbooks and Demon seems like it's going to be a straightforward paranormal romance. However, the book quickly delves into deeper waters as it explores themes of guilt, cost, and long term effects of actions. It made for a fascinating read, however, the romantic elements are minimal and really secondary to the greater story of the fallout from Helena's initial bargain and her desire to save the demon from his situation. The ending is a bit unexpected, and without spoiling it, it is unclear if Helena truly learned anything or grew from her experiences, which made for a slightly unsettling ending. As this is the first book of the series, these themes and lessons may be further explored in the next book.

Overall, this is an interesting book that delves deeply in heavier themes than most paranormal romances. If you are expecting a light-hearted monster romance style book, you may be disappointed. However, if you want some thing different and intriguing, this story is very worth reading.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have been close to summoning a demon when I cook a time or two. lol. I got a kick out of how Helena summoned the demon in this book. A chef demon.

She's not the most graceful in the kitchen, and it was a bit of an accident while using her grandmother's cookbook.

Now, demons are known of by the people. One can get into great trouble by summoning a demon. So, Helena needs to keep this secret. After the big dinner with her friends and boss she gets to sit down with the demon and learn a few details of payment.

Helena learns that Rafferty, a wonderful chef, is not able to taste his cooking. Or any food. It all tastes like ash. Except, they learn that he can take her memory of food and taste it if they eat at the same time, touching. Feeling for the demon, Helena offers to let him take a vacation here with her as she goes to taste foods for a fundraising dinner her boss now has Helena in charge of.

A demon is near, and things are getting strange for her friends. It's interesting to see how this is all connected.

Helena doesn't realize what she's doing but she's grown fond of Rafferty and wants him around, even after he returns to his home.

Helena's warned by Rafferty about summoning him, but things are getting complicated and she misses talking with him. Or is there another reason?

The ending had me curious. That was neat how things ended, and are to lead us into book two! :)

This was a fun, light read for me with Helena as a sweet person and worries about others.

[Purple S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafferty you demon you!

This book is interesting to say the least. Our FMC Helena, is a sunshine girl with a whole lot of emotional depth as to how she became this way (check TW's). Rafferty is a demon, like straight from Hell, lives in Hell until summoned, demon.

Helena, lucky (trust me lucky) Helena, got her grandmothers cookbook when she passed and she's so excited that she's throwing a dinner party for her closest friends and her boss. Amazing right? Not quite, everything goes to shit and she's spiraling before guests arrive, she flips through her grandmothers cookbook and finds written on the back what she thinks is a 'poem' for hard times.

She's ruined nearly all the food, split her tongue so she recites the poem thinking it'll bring her closer to her grandmother and let her know what she should do. She did not expect that the 'poem' was actually the words to summon a demon, until one appears in her kitchen and 100% takesover this disaster meal fixing everything and kind of opening the door for her to have everything she wants in life.

This is cozy, cute, slowburn ish, and eventful. Like holy cow can't say more without spoiling. There are a lot of things happening and I was upset with some of them but very happy when I saw there was a second book which I will be reading immediately because I need a lot of loose ends tied. I wouldn't say this book ends on a cliffhanger persay....but it does sort of make you say wtf?

[neus.dreamybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal romance were the FMC summons accidentally a demon is not like others books with this same plot, I was very surprised because the demon really tries to be the villain and not get attached to Helena.

Helena is trying to make a feast for dinner because she has invited her boss and some friends but because she is a bit clumsy and thanks to her cat, her kitchen seems to be a war zone and nothing can be served, so using her grandmother's recipe book she tries the words written in the last page by the title "only in case of emergency". What she didn't suspect is that she'll summon a cooking demon who will cook an entire meal for them and serve it as a human caterer.

In this world summoning a demon isn't unheard of but it's illegal because it's dangerous and the FBI has a whole branch just to investigate possible summonings. So Helena will be scared but because of a promotion at work she will keep summoning "Rafie" to help her find the right catering company for the ball she is organizing.

Because of something of her past, Helena can't help herself trying to help Rafie feel more alive when he is with her so when he is in Hell it won't be as bad as she things. This is a slow burn and it's the first in the series so we doesn't get their HEA here, we'll have to wait for it.

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Megan Mackie and BookSirens for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

If you've ever related to the vibes of "LOL, accidentally summoned a demon", this is probably a book cooked exactly to your liking! This was a cute and fun (with a liberal dash of "oh damn, there are demons in this book and they aren't the cute and fun kind") paranormal medium-burn romance that pairs the relatable millennial drama of trying to succeed at work while also maintaining a meaningful relationship with your friends with the otherworldly consequences of opening up a portal to hell in your kitchen on an increasingly regular basis.

I would caution that there are definitely some adult topics here - specifically, light descriptions of violence, suicide, and infidelity - if these are triggering topics, tread with care, but otherwise I found these themes to be dealt with in a caring matter by the author and overall the vibes of the book remain "cozy romance with somewhat expected demon shenanigans".

This book to me felt like making my favorite cookie recipe - it's a comforting and familiar treat, I generally know what I've signed up for with the occasional twist and/or shock (great for the book, terrible for me as a baker), and I definitely want more once I'm done. Lucky for readers, there is a sequel in the works!

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mess up a recipe, accidentally summon a demon, live with the consequences…

Cookbooks and Demons by MEGAN. MCCUE is a quirky romantic dramedy about deals with a demon while not losing your soul…but possibly losing your heart in the process…

Helena is an event planner and amateur chef prepping for a dinner party when a few verbal curses and spilled ingredients sees a demon pop out of nowhere…one friendly enough to clean up her mess and help with a delicious meal service…

Fortunately the demon…Lares aka Rafferty…is decent enough and only requires a simple blood sacrifice for the dinner…as this is a world where demon summoning can accidentally happen (though it’s more likely due to a secret recipe book that Helena’s grandmother had)…

As Helena’s career starts to improve, she also finds herself drawn to this helpful demon…one attempting not to take advantage of her and not take more than needed to satisfy the relatively simple elements of their contract…

But as things get more serious and Helena sees that their association might be affecting others, Helena has to decide if this amazing cooking demon can be helped…and what she has to do to save him without losing herself…

Interesting World and story…

Also a condom will not prevent demonic pregnancy due to the powerful demon magic FYI…at least in this world lord…

[Wandering Seal · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my mouth was watering for a not insignificant portion of this book. The cheese board scene? I want those cheeses. I would totally sit in bed and let a demon feed me delicious cheeses.

Beyond the food, this is a really sweet romance. Helena and Rafferty make for an adorable couple. I want to think of this as a cosy romance, but its really not - our MCs have some very serious conversations, and the things that happen to side characters get very dark. Trauma informs a lot of the character development, which doesn't feel very cosy to me (but all the eating scenes absolutely did).

I didn't quite get the relationship our FMC Helena has with her boss - or at least, the relationship felt strangely changeable as story progressed. There is a scene before the big point of action towards the end of the book between the two of them which just confused me as it felt like the personality of the boss completely changed for no good reason. I was enjoying the story enough to keep going, but it felt weird.

This is book one, and while the story doesn't end on a cliffhanger there is a LOT to tidy up into the next book and I'm interested to see where Megan Mackie takes this story next. I hope there's more food.

I read an advance copy of this book, my thoughts are very much my own.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: This book and the opening interaction between the two main characters evokes to me one of my favorite text memes: "The demon stands amid your destroyed kitchen screaming, "How? How were you able to summon me?!" You're standing in the corner flipping through your grandma's cookbook as fast as you can, screaming back, "I don't know!! You were supposed to be chicken soup!" So when I read how these two meet I was HOWLING with laughter. The setting is perfectly quirky and cozy for me, I love how folks know about demons but there's also still a bit of a taboo about their summoning which adds some fun tension to the story. “I knew a guy from high school who apparently summoned a demon so he could get a promotion at work,” Charlie said to which Chris laughed. “It’s not funny. He went to jail and everything just for attempting to summon one.” “Yeah, but that’s like going to jail for maríju@n@ use or something. I mean, sure it’s illegal, but everyone does it, right? I mean, in college?” another office worker asked."

This story is tons of fun and good pacing. Much more on the cozy and clean side rather than spicy but I absolutely loved it. 5/5 Stars

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.