Devil May Care: A Paranormal Demon Romance

by Jessie Ellis

From the author of the Cursed in Clayton series, comes a new paranormal romance full of mystery and magic, suspense and spice.

Beatrix Duncan is a witch in a world where her kind is rarer than rubies. And a dark mage hungry for the power running through her veins is coming to claim her as his bride… unless she’s married before the week is out.

With exactly zero suitors lined up on bended knee, Beatrix performs a last-ditch love spell. And comes up with something far more charming and chiseled than expected: a demon named Christophe Levasseur. But there’s no time to marvel over her spellcasting slip-up—not his eyes like sin or his smile like trouble or the way her blood heats like hellfire at his command. Because time’s running out and only one question remains: Will Beatrix be dragged down the aisle by evil incarnate… or will she say ‘I do’ to a devil who dares to care?

DEVIL MAY CARE is a full-length standalone novel. Happily-ever-after guaranteed.

Author’s note: Although this book contains humor and heart, it is also dark. Content warnings for parental death, child abandonment, trauma, violence, swearing, plenty of adult content, and general spookiness that could have you jumping at shadows.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2024

About the author

Jessie Ellis is a romance author who lives in a tiny French village with her husband and three children, surrounded by woods, rivers, and farmland.

She's always loved reading thrillers, horror, and romance, thanks to sneaking books from her parents' shelves when she was too young to be reading them. Now she can't help but combine elements of those genres into the dark, gritty, and emotional tales she pens... always with a happily ever after.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil May Care by Jessie Ellis is a spicy, paranormal romance that lovers of this genre will enjoy. We follow Beatrix who is the victim of a family curse that requires she get married by age 21. At age 20, she hasn’t found Mr. Right, so she chooses to try a love spell on a guy she respects but doesn’t have the hots for. Unfortunately, the love spell summons a demon, a hot, protective, sexy demon who is overly protective of Beatrix. We follow their story as Beatrix learns more about her family’s curse and her powers as a witch, as well as the budding relationship between her and the demon. I liked the writing style in this story. The prose was well crafted and the imagery and descriptions drew me in. Beatrix is definitely the young, inexperienced maiden, while Christophe, the demon, is very experienced. If you like that trope in romance, this might be for you. The tension and spice between the two characters was well written. I like how the author wove so many interesting paranormal elements into the narrative also. My own criticism is that I couldn’t picture Christophe as a demon. Maybe he should’ve been introduced a different way? When I think of demons I imagine something g far different than a sexy immortal who wants to protect his woman.

[Ray Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil May Care (by Jessie Ellis) is a supernatural romance that delivers the hot-and-bothered goods, plus a hefty dose of creepiness. Who wouldn’t want to find out what kind of sparks fly when a beautiful young and virginal woman with an angelic soul (and a family history of witchcraft) gets it on with a charming stud of a demon accidently released from hell? Of course, the demon was once a handsome young 18th-century French aristocratic rake who hasn’t lost his former flair for the pleasures of the flesh. The author is a hugely imaginative and nuanced storyteller, though perhaps a bit too nuanced at times, since the reader is made privy to what seems like every conceivable introspective (and tirelessly longing or regretful) thought both characters could possibly have (sometimes a little less is indeed more). Yet thoughts as well as actions flow readily with the lively, conversational writing style. And look out. Her demonic Mr. Right isn’t the only guy from hell who’s after the hot chick with magic in her blood. So if you’re into steamy romance with some real magic (of the telekinetic, telepathic, etc. varieties), and you love to luxuriate in the descriptive details, and (like all fans of horror) you find the creepy stuff titillating too, then reading this one will be well worth your while.

[Charlotte Brough · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only one week left until her birthday, young witch Beatrix Duncan is running out of time to escape a family curse by getting married before she turns twenty-one. If she fails, a half-demon mage will claim her as his own. As there are no romantic prospects on the horizon, she heads to the woods to perform a love spell. Little does she realize the blood she spills for the spell is soaking right into a gate of Hell…

When devastatingly handsome demon Christophe Levasseur gets a taste of her blood, he is released from Hell with only one thing on his mind - to make Beatrix his. Despite knowing his true nature, Beatrix finds herself drawn to Christophe, unable to think of anything else. He vows to help her vanquish the shadow that’s stalked her family once and for all, but as her birthday draws closer, unearthed secrets could deliver her straight into evil’s arms.

This is an enjoyable read with some great worldbuilding and engaging characters. The spicy scenes are done well and tie-in with the story, so feel organic and not gratuitous. Although it wasn’t too hard to guess one of the antagonists, it was an interesting reveal, with enough twists and turns to keep you wondering. I would have liked a little more information about Beatrix’s magic, but as she doesn’t know much about it herself, this isn’t a big issue. Worth a read for fans of paranormal romance.

[Caroline Hurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinful Chemistry and Spellbinding Romance
Devil May Care, an electrifying paranormal romance, is as enchanting as it is fiery. Jessie Ellis combines dark magic, sizzling chemistry, and high stakes.
Beatrix Duncan’s character is captivating and relatable. She’s a witch with rare powers, racing against time to avoid a sinister fate.
Her desperate love spell accidentally summons Christophe Levasseur, a dashing demon with a tantalizing mix of arrogance, charm, and vulnerability. Their relationship dynamic crackles with tension, humor, and undeniable heat.
Ellis skillfully balances the sinister with the sensual as Beatrix’s sharp wit and determination offsets Christophe’s brooding allure, creating a fated and fraught partnership.
The richly detailed worldbuilding immerses you in a realm of curses, spells, and forbidden desires, while the fast-paced plot keeps you turning the pages.
The tasteful spicy scenes heighten the stakes and deepen the characters' connection. Beyond the romance, the book also delves into trust, trauma, and self-discovery themes, making it a layered and fulfilling read.
Devil May Care delivers on every promise: suspense, spice, and a happily-ever-after with a devilish twist. It’s a book that lingers long after the last page.

[Hayleigh Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy paranormal witch-demon romance:
Author Jessie Ellis delivers a sexy paranormal love story that’s both suspenseful and easy to read. From the moment Beatrix accidentally summoned demon Christophe, I was hooked, eager to see what would happen next.
Beatrix’s struggle against her cursed destiny was both relatable and, particularly in the climactic pages, gripping. Christophe’s blend of naughty demon tendencies (manipulating malleable humans to work for him) and genuine care for Beatrix made him a perfectly flawed book boyfriend. The chemistry between these two was there from the beginning and I enjoyed seeing Beatrix’s spicy side emerge despite her seeming innocence. This story had the right amount of heat mixed with happily-ever-after.
Jessie Ellis did an excellent job with character and world building with some unexpected plot twists along the way. This was my first book by this author and I’ll be looking for others. The writing was on-point, characters were interesting, and the story one you should read!

[DoctorCopper · Rating 1 out of 5]

WTH???
Well this was a load of dung. This was so awful I can’t believe this made it to publishing. And I was feeling this way 35% of the way into the book. And all the way to the end.
The premise was what caught my attention, a witch needing to marry by 21, a demon summoned. But then this story took a sharp nosedive into absolute nonsensical territory. This demon, Christophe, who she does not even know him a day, knows he lies to her and then suddenly she is “falling in love with a demon”.
Why??? Because he is paying attention to her? Or because she is a virgin and wants to get laid??? Because she needs to get married to save herself yet that doesn’t excuse this pitiful excuse of a story.
And having the MMC be a demon just seems to be an excuse to not properly spend time to develop an actual story or any character. He’s a demon, so he can suddenly: get a great job, buy & drive a car, make his way in a world he hasn’t been in for hundreds of years.
This was so completely ridiculous.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Devil May Care” by Jessie Ellis is a dark, spicy, paranormal romance. The book tells the tale of Beatrix Duncan, a witch without a coven. As a child, Beatrix’s mother and grandmother warn her of a family curse: a dangerous, evil man will possess her unless she is married by her 21st birthday. Unfortunately, both Beatrix’s mother and grandmother are brutally murdered before they can properly instruct her in witchcraft. As her 21st birthday nears, Beatrix attempts to cast a spell to summon her future husband; instead, she inadvertently invokes a handsome 300-year-old demon named Christophe Levasseur. Will this enigmatic entity, who admonishes her to never make the mistake of believing he cares about anyone, save her from the family curse? The tale is enhanced by the author’s skillful writing and held my interest from the opening pages until the fiery ending. I believe fans of the genre are certain to enjoy this engaging story!

[Chris Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Devil May Care: A Paranormal Demon Romance" by Jessie Ellis is a fun read that hits all the high notes of the vampire romance without taking itself too seriously. Jessie is a skilled writer whose quick wit shines through the dialogue. The conversations are believable and help to keep the story moving along at a brisk pace: "You have old scars on your soul that you've never avenged. But there are also fresh bruises." -p.82. The characters are well-developed; though the main vampire, Christophe, was quite unlikeable throughout. Christophe seemed to make a lot of not-so-subtle references to violence which I found to be a little unsettling. I don't usually read this genre though, and I am assuming that this is part of the territory. I really enjoyed this short piece of poetry towards the end of the book: "Thoughts be shrouded in thickest mist, hide my fear, my dream, my wish. Wrap my mind inside a scroll, and lock the secrets of my soul." - p.208

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this pretty blind. I saw someone talking about it in a book group and decided to give it a shot because of my love for the Forythe series by them. I LOVED this book. I read it in two days. These characters immediately stole my heart. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I felt like each character really brought so much depth to the story and emotion. I won’t lie, I cried at one point. I laughed with them. I loved their banter and wit. Even their fights had me invested. I definitely recommend this book. If you enjoy the push and pull and reward at the end, this is definitely for you!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Puisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little haphazard but after that, the story unfolded very well. A lot of mystery behind what Beatrix’s mother and grandmother did, how they died and why she needed to get married before turning 21. I liked how both Christophe and Beatrix had to work together to figure out what’s going on and how they slowly but surely realized they care for each other. The ending was good and it was definitely worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !!! love Beatrix and Christophe...this is their story... a fast paced drama...
Beatrix's family is cursed.. she must marry before her 21st birthday or...she is a very powerful witch but, she doesn't know how to control her powers... she casts a love spell and poof !! a demon named Christophe appears ... can she convince him to marry her asap ? or is all lost ? so good !!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Sweet, naive Beatrix needs to find her mate and marry by her 21st birthday to avoid a family curse. With a week to go and no wedding planned, she casts a spell. Unfortunately for her, she didn't quite cast the happy love spell she intended. Demon Christophe is summoned during her spell. The unlikely pair have a sweet HEA.

[Summer Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful read! I loved it and couldn't put it down! Devoured every word and will definitely check out more works by Ellis.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamee hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! With plenty of spiciness and darkness! I read it in one setting. I definitely recommend reading this book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read. The beginning was a little hazardous and all over the place but it was a great read and definitely worth reading more from Jessie Ellis.

[Smutty Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started off a bit choppy, but the story quickly became clear and interesting. The concept was very nice, and the spice was also very good. Definitely recommended!