How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon: A Paranormal Romantic Comedy

by Trista Ricketts

⭐ Reader Reactions💬 “Laugh-out-loud funny with witty, slightly unhinged banter.”
💬 “Lighthearted and gritty with twists I didn’t see coming.”
💬 “Perfect rom-com energy with just enough spice.”
💬 “If you love the TV show Lucifer vibes, this absolutely delivers.”

She went to adopt a K-9 partner.
She did not mean to adopt a demon.

Officer Kelly “Chuck” Charles thought choosing her new K-9 would be straightforward.
Obedient. Loyal. Not possessed by ancient evil.

She was wrong.

Her new K-9 partner growls in dead languages, smirks like he’s plotting world domination, and reacts to holy water like it personally insulted his ancestors.

Because Malachi isn’t just a dog.
He’s a centuries-old demon trapped in a canine body — morally black, dangerously clever, and very annoyed about it.

The problem?
Chuck doesn’t know any of that yet.

She’s just a cop trying to survive long shifts, bad coffee, and a partner who may or may not be judging her soul.
She definitely doesn’t know she’s part angel.
And she absolutely isn’t prepared for the supernatural chaos headed straight for her life.

When a well-meaning witch gives Malachi his body back, everything goes from “weird dog behavior” to full-blown celestial disaster.

Redeem him.
Banish him.
Or fall for the demon who was never meant to have a heart.

How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon is a laugh-out-loud paranormal romantic comedy packed demon adoptionSnarky banter and slow-burn tensionA morally black demon with opinionsA strong female cop who didn’t sign up for destinyCelestial HijinksIf you love paranormal rom-coms with heart, humor, and just enough hellfire — this book will have you laughing, swooning, and side-eyeing every dog you meet.

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 6, 2026

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was much cuter then I thought it would be. Police officer meets a demon stuck in a k-9 body. Only she doesn't know he is a demon. She does know there is something different about him. I don't want to post any spoilers. So ill just leave it at this. Cute rom-com with witty banter and mystery. Small amounts of spice added into the story

[SANDRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh, laugh, laugh. It was a fun read. It's probably how every dog owner must have imagined what their dog would say if it could talk. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the author for sharing this amazing book.

[Rebecca Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*thank you to Trista Ricketts for allowing me to review this arc*

Malachi a shelter pooch meets Chuck a police officer. Malachi is a demon being punished in a Malinois body. Chuck is a fearless cop surviving grief of her father who was murdered a year ago. There’s also Jaxson, another cop friend who came to the shelter with Chuck. These 3 are so much fun in the story. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but what I got was a beautiful rom-com full of laughs and a light hearted, easy read.

Go along on the journey to solve the whodunit and watch a demon find his soul. Through love all is possible.

As an owner of a SD shepherd, this just was so funny & endearing. Totally got the shepherd vibes right & I loved that in public that the dog didn’t have to be perfect. Shepherds are so “human like” in personality that it’s not hard to imagine one being a demon shifter with the best of intentions but still sowing minor chaos.

Everything about this story was amazing and I appreciate the opportunity being able to be an arc reader for this story. It truly was a light read that was a lot of fun! The spice level was extremely mild compared to my normal romantasies. But, it wasn’t missed. If a hallmark story met a paranormal romance this would be the IT story!

PS: if you like the show Lucifer, this gives those fun, snarky vibes..

And I am not sure if there will be spin offs of the other characters but I’d be here for it! There’s definitely been left an opening to see more stories in this universe!

[Jenna H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: How to Tell Your K-9 Is a Demon by Trista Ricketts

If you’re in the mood for a fluffy, laugh-out-loud supernatural romcom, How to Tell Your K-9 Is a Demon is absolutely your sign. This book delivers jokes, chaos, romance, and one truly unhinged chuglet with a burning passion for reality TV. Yes—that kind of book.

No shoe is safe. No household item is spared. Our spiteful little demon puppy is equal parts adorable and destructive, and honestly? I’d still take him home from the pound without hesitation. Add in hot demons (because of course), a fun mystery, lovable friends, and just the right amount of romance, and you’ve got a story that keeps things fast, funny, and charmingly ridiculous.

Trista Ricketts does an excellent job balancing humor with heart, making this a cozy yet chaotic read that never takes itself too seriously. By the end, you won’t just be rooting for the characters—you’ll be wondering where you can adopt your own demonic pet.

Final verdict: Hot demons bring all the girls to the yard, and this book brings all the fun. Highly recommend for anyone who likes their romance paranormal and their puppies just a little bit evil. 🐶🔥

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️

**ARC review**

❣️Girls furry best friend 🐶 meets Lucifer Morningstar 😈
❣️Touch her and 🔪
❣️“A demon with a bondage fetish and a half-angel police officer. What a pair we are.” - Chuck

I knew I would love this book just from the title and the blurb, but this was so much better than I thought! It really does give Lucifer (tv show) vibes! It will have you laughing and kicking your feet with a giant smile on your face. Kelly “Chuck” Charles is such a funny and badass FMC, I wish I could read more of her. When she goes to adopt a new K-9 partner she is expecting to find a rescue dog.. not a rescue demon (not that she knows that). I LOVE the fact that they are supposed to be sworn enemies- light vs dark, demon vs ..police officer, and somehow they still end up friends. I love a book with dogs, and not only do we get Malachi the (loveable?) K-9, but my girl Re-Re is a STAR. Reena the Chugglet is the real FMC of the series. ✨The humans are good too- wait until you meet Evan. Now that’s an MMC. 🤤❤️‍🔥 I don’t give out 5🌟often, but this adorable supernatural romcom truly deserves it! Thank you Trista Ricketts for the ARC, it was wonderful!

[Chantelle Midwinter-Toyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked a lot of things about this book.

I liked the FMC not suddenly forgetting she was a cop or suddenly losing common sense because a hot dude fluttered his eyelashes.

I liked the MMC not just sliding into a dominant role, just because.

The plot had potential... like a lot of potential. There was so much opportunity for a big climatic ending, or to lay the ground work for a series.

I loved the concept. Like a buddy cop/ turner and hooch sort of set up with a twist, enemies to friends to lovers.
Unfortunately, it just didn't hit with me. It was light, it was fun. 

But..

The banter would just stop and morph into googly eyes, the tension didn't tension and, the ending felt anticlimactic. Also the FMCs romantic interest in the dog, before she knew he was not a dog, was not something I am interested in. I was a little weirded out by the amount of "good/bad dog" references in a spicy way.

[Bookish_Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute, funny, and an absolute joy from start to finish and I loved every second of it. I went in not fully knowing what to expect, but the title and cover alone were enough to hook me, and I’m so glad they did. Malachi and Kelly are the perfect definition of opposites with one an angel, the other a demon. Their relationship begins as K-9 and officer and slowly grows into a genuine friendship… and then something more, as they start uncovering the truth about who the other really is. The banter between them is witty and sharp, and I loved how fiercely they fought for one another. This story was a rom-com in all the best ways: charming, funny, heartfelt, and completely entertaining. If you’re looking for something lighthearted with great chemistry and laughs along the way, this one delivers.

[Michelle Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy s**t! This book is sheer paranormal humor perfection. As someone who is in the law enforcement field and having trained dogs for over a decade, I loved every minute. The plot moves fast enough that the story grabs you with demon horns and doesn't let go. The relationship between Kelly and Malachi was so good with working together to catch the bad guys and working together at home. Forewarning, the spice is super slow burn between the two main characters, but the banter and the literal burn leading up to it is so worth it. Malachi is a demon dream come true and that little plot twist at the end was the best part. I was so hoping for a HEA and I'm so happy with how the book ended.

[Miranda Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this rom-com. It was the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud moments and just enough spice to keep things interesting. The plot is something I never would have come up with myself, but somehow it worked perfectly and I loved every second of it. If you’re a fan of Lucifer, this definitely gives off those same witty, charming, slightly unhinged vibes. I would 100% read this as a series and happily sign up for more.

[Rose Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely love this book!! it has plenty of funny parts that had me giggling a lot (I got some weird looks from co workers in the break room) Malachi is so sweet but also mischievous and funny. there are a couple plot twists I didn't expect within the book. Trista Ricketts did a phenomenal job writing this book and I'm so happy she chose me as her ARC reader.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of hilarious moments, especially between the MMC and anyone not the FMC. The story kept me on my toes, with twists I didn't see coming. This was both lighthearted and gritty. Basically this book hit the mark for me. Absolutely recommend this book.