The Hellhound's Mate: An MM Romance with Brimstone

by Delaney Rain

Ambrose Augustine buys a house surrounded by cemeteries and inherits an active gate to hell and the hellhound that guards it. Apparently, not everyone can see damned souls trying to escape their prison or the hellhound who sends them back, but Ambrose can. And he likes what he sees.

Saphrax Sableclaw has lived a long life in service to hell by never allowing a soul to escape. The last human who could see him treated him like a servant and pet, but Ambrose is different. He sees Saph as unique, beautiful, and desirous—and he's not afraid to go after what he wants either.

But while learning about each other's desires and realizing they're mates, Saph and Ambrose also discover that a necromancer has escaped hell and is coming their way with an army of bespelled ghouls. Can they resist the magic that could pit them against each other and defeat their enemy?

This novella features a hellhound full of hellfire who sends damned souls back to hell, a painter with a fetish for fear and fur, a bad guy who doesn't understand the power of love, smexy times in cemeteries, basements, and mausoleums, and friends who're willing to hold the line when asked.

Content hell, death, damned souls, ghouls and reanimated corpses, knotting, anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, instalust and instalove, and enslavement.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Romance, Novella, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, LGBT

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2025

About the author

Emerging author of gay erotic paranormal romances featuring monsters and the men who love them.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone noticed at the 45% mark that maybe they should put some story into this porn fest *snigger*. I'm very honest :D there is a lot of smut in this, VERY much smut, also im VERY impressed that this book is on Amazon KU because Saph's only human trait is that he can walk on two legs, the rest is all very... wolf..ish.. *coughs* the sudden story is quite messy, that its kinda cute, because its just... over the top dramatic and fast paced, it was cute.
The smut was very nice tho :D so *snigger* yeah.

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun, filthy fluff 🤣

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I bought this on sale, and I enjoyed it for the most part--the actions and setting, the helpless attraction, the fight at the end. I would have enjoyed it more with a bit less explaining of feelings, but I know how to skim. And I can't really speak to most of the sex scenes since I skimmed them, but I did appreciate how the chase fun is used again. :) I'm pleased I took a chance on it.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun :)

[NightOwlz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I’m always impressed when shorter stories such as this can include a compelling plot with spice, and this book does that excellently! Ambrose and Saph were so sweet together, and I enjoyed all the side characters as well! There were even a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments. I would love to see another story set in this world. Perhaps involving a member of the coven or Diego’s crew!

[Tris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

The first third of this book was quite good. A real 5/5 plot and writing and the introduction to Saph and Ambrose was written so well to make me want to see them get together. But I feel like once they met they got together too fast. I was hoping for this storyline to be stretched a bit more before they got together. For example, Ambrose wrote a note to Saph and left it in a pot plant for Saph to find and yet this line was not explored and I felt this was such a missed chance for them to get to know each other via anonymous notes - a trope I kinda like.

After they got together it was fun to read but after the halfway mark the story kinda lost interest to me.

So overall a halfway rating for this book.

[MyDoRyS · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reviews are my own. If you liked this book, I’m glad you enjoyed it. If not, I respect your opinion.  This is merely my opinion, so let's keep it courteous.

I think the story felt rushed because it is quite short; that said, it was properly written. I wish the author had made it a bit longer because the plot and story were exciting. I skipped over the sex parts, so I can't provide feedback on those, but I wish that the "romance" part were better developed. I'm not crazy about insta-lust/love. Less sex, more relationship would have made it perfect.  This is my first book from this author, so I will definitely give others a go!

On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love paranormal romance, especially when it involves shifters. I really love it when it's hellhounds. This wasn't quite that. Yes, it's a paranormal romance novella with the insta-love/lust we've come to expect and yes it's a hellhound, but it's not a shifter story, because ........ he doesn't. And that's where I struggled. Yes he can walk on two feet and hold a conversation, but ..... ultimately he's a dog. This weirded me out more than I can say, which is a little strange as I have no problems with demons ...

For a novella the plot was good, the story well written and if you like this kind of thing, good on you. Just not for me I'm afraid. 3*

[Elana Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Ambrose buys a house on land that has a gate to hell on it. He first discovers it by chance when he hears it open and sees Saph send the soul back to hell. Eventually Ambrose meets Saph and they quickly fall in love. But that love is tested when a necromancer Saph has fought before comes back. This was such a good story with excellent pacing, suspense, heartache, and love. I always wish these shorter stories were longer. This had all of the best things, possessive and protective male leads, knotting, primal play, and insta love. Spice level: 4

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beastly love

A mating between two characters who rather instantly become connected but have some issues to overcome related to species (one half literally being a hellhound with no other form) and some past demons (actually a necromancer). The connection has some insta-love, there are some really 'big surprise' reveals at the big fight, and there is some reverse beauty and the beast wants with not wanting the beast to change forms. Most of it felt a bit formulaic with a couple interesting pops with other characters, but mostly it was just an insta-love mating read.

[Letizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

It wasn’t my favorite work from this author, but i still really enjoyed the story

I’d have preferred if it was set in a world where the supernatural was more known, ‘cause the whole endgame-like scene with the witches and fighters was a bit too cheesy, and if people knew of hell and angels and stuff it would have made more sense imo?

But all in all, an enjoyable monsterfucker read!

[Bunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like calling this romance would be like calling Jerry Springer a comedy. Technically it’s incorrect but it’s also not wrong. The first 50% of this book is pure porn no romance. It feels like a poor choice to introduce all the character building at the same time as the plot conflict but that was the choice made.

[Nicholas Cimato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Well written with well developed characters. The writing is tight and the story flows Seamlessly. The hellhounds in this story are not shifters, they have a hybrid form akin to that of a classic werewolf. It is a fun afternoon read for a lazy day.

[Rissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet! I like Saph and Ambrose! ☺️

A very different take on a hellhound! Shy but so serious when it comes to the job! I would totally read more about hellhounds like Saph and Oisian, just saying, lol.

[Brianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 35% - Listen. If you want to write furry porn, just write it. Advertise it as such. I promise you’ll have a large fan base. Regardless of anything, this is still a DNF. Not cause of the nonhuman character, cause of the writing style.

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was a fast or instant developing romance. In general a satisfying story, but with a to much sex in it.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly sex, with very little plot. Good thing it was short because it wasn’t the reading diversion I was hoping for

[Alexandra Prather · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute and furry

I love how open and accepting Ambrose is. Not to mention his friends…
Saph is adorable, deadly, and a little naive. They are great for each other!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, it was fun and erotic. I enjoyed the characters, Ambrose and Saph were well developed. Recommend reading.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghouls, damned souls, necromancer, oh my! Smexy times in the basement! Queer and women witches, motorcycle riders, getting things done!

[Jenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an odd yet enjoyable read.

[c · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5)

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a grumpy hellhound 💀💀

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading this author, this is just pure monster fucking smut and I loved it. If you’re looking for no angst knotty good time…. Here you go.