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Dance with the Devil #4
Dance Only for Me
Jackie is a sorcerer of no small skill, the latest in a long line of renowned sorcerers. He is frequently called upon to track down lost items or deal with paranormals others can't, and those who aren't afraid of his magic fear the alchemist-made revolvers at his hips.
Tired of living several states away from his lover, Roman, Jackie decides to surprise him with a move to Roman's city—only to find himself the victim of an unhappy surprise, and suddenly alone in the city he'd wanted to call home.
Before he can spend much time moping, however, he's unexpectedly hired by a paranormal detective who could use his help, and finds himself dragged into a fight that's been raging since the Civil War.
Tired of living several states away from his lover, Roman, Jackie decides to surprise him with a move to Roman's city—only to find himself the victim of an unhappy surprise, and suddenly alone in the city he'd wanted to call home.
Before he can spend much time moping, however, he's unexpectedly hired by a paranormal detective who could use his help, and finds himself dragged into a fight that's been raging since the Civil War.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2013
29 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
283 books2,935 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
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meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
July 28, 2013
2.5 stars
I don't know is it because I am too excited prior to release, knowing that this story is set in "Dance" world (my most beloved series of Megan Derr), which builds high hope -- but this one falls flat and I am disappointed. There are several things that make this book unsatisfactory for me -- that I can't even rate it 3-stars, my standard okay category.
Here are my reasons:
1) The story feels disjointed. I don't know if it's because it started as serial -- and the less-stellar editing doesn't help, though it's not something that surprises me -- but it feels like it has too many things going on at once and the flow between chapters is choppy. The story itself moves in linear way (unlike Dance with the Devil), but I still get lost in all the subplots and the mention of all the names: Robin, Phoenix, Finn, Firebrand, Marion, Emma, etc, etc. I still wonder who's who by the end of the book.
2) I don't like Jackie -- not that his character is annoying or something, but the whole cowboy set-up is just too much for me. The "howdy", the "Ayah", the "hoss", the "son" ... yeah, I'm not big on cowboy talk like that. He doesn't feel as endearing as Megan Derr's other "Dance" characters
3) The love interest comes too late -- he doesn't appear until about 50% of the book, and even then, there's a little too quick insta-love going on there. Yes, his story is tragic, but I don't have enough 'time' to care for both Jackie and the love interest. In fact, I care more about the kid, Wyatt (he helps the extra 0.5 ratings here). I hope he gets his own story, though must be better than this one.
4) Anti-climatic ending. It happens off page. I mean, after all those tales about the bad guys as indestructible, the (supposed-to-be) climax is non-existent! My only reaction is, "THAT'S IT?!?!" The mastermind is defeated in, like, 1-2 paragraphs?!? I am NOT amused.
So this is one of my less favorite Megan Derr's. Which is sad, since this is part of the series I truly loved. Not even the cameo appearance by Sable, Christian, Rotislav, or Ontoniel (but no Johnnie or Grim) can save it.
PS: I share the same opinion with Arthur and Sasha.
I don't know is it because I am too excited prior to release, knowing that this story is set in "Dance" world (my most beloved series of Megan Derr), which builds high hope -- but this one falls flat and I am disappointed. There are several things that make this book unsatisfactory for me -- that I can't even rate it 3-stars, my standard okay category.
Here are my reasons:
1) The story feels disjointed. I don't know if it's because it started as serial -- and the less-stellar editing doesn't help, though it's not something that surprises me -- but it feels like it has too many things going on at once and the flow between chapters is choppy. The story itself moves in linear way (unlike Dance with the Devil), but I still get lost in all the subplots and the mention of all the names: Robin, Phoenix, Finn, Firebrand, Marion, Emma, etc, etc. I still wonder who's who by the end of the book.
2) I don't like Jackie -- not that his character is annoying or something, but the whole cowboy set-up is just too much for me. The "howdy", the "Ayah", the "hoss", the "son" ... yeah, I'm not big on cowboy talk like that. He doesn't feel as endearing as Megan Derr's other "Dance" characters
3) The love interest comes too late -- he doesn't appear until about 50% of the book, and even then, there's a little too quick insta-love going on there. Yes, his story is tragic, but I don't have enough 'time' to care for both Jackie and the love interest. In fact, I care more about the kid, Wyatt (he helps the extra 0.5 ratings here). I hope he gets his own story, though must be better than this one.
4) Anti-climatic ending. It happens off page. I mean, after all those tales about the bad guys as indestructible, the (supposed-to-be) climax is non-existent! My only reaction is, "THAT'S IT?!?!" The mastermind is defeated in, like, 1-2 paragraphs?!? I am NOT amused.
So this is one of my less favorite Megan Derr's. Which is sad, since this is part of the series I truly loved. Not even the cameo appearance by Sable, Christian, Rotislav, or Ontoniel (but no Johnnie or Grim) can save it.
PS: I share the same opinion with Arthur and Sasha.
July 27, 2013
What I like the most from this series (beside Johnny and Grim from Dance in the Dark) is how Ms. Derr draws element from classic children stories. If the previous books used HC Andersen and Grimm brothers' stories as inspiration, this one is from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Ok, that one is not a children story.)
Unfortunately, the homage went too far that I felt that as if the book itself was the doctor's creature. Too many subplots and characters are thrown in this that I'm not sure if they actually advance the story.
On top of that, I didn't feel the romance strong enough to carry the book. .
It's not bad, just not on par with the previous novel-length books in the series.
Unfortunately, the homage went too far that I felt that as if the book itself was the doctor's creature. Too many subplots and characters are thrown in this that I'm not sure if they actually advance the story.
On top of that, I didn't feel the romance strong enough to carry the book. .
It's not bad, just not on par with the previous novel-length books in the series.
October 10, 2022
Really enjoyed this!
May 7, 2017
3.6 stars. Interesting addition to the 'Dance' universe (one of my absolute favourites which I adore and re-read often), but an essential component was missing here or remained superficial in my opinion. The actual romantic relationship was introduced too late in the plot, after suggesting another possibility in that respect. I am not even sure the term romance applies, or simply an intense physical attraction combined with loneliness and longing to have someone close... The plot and individual characters were quite engaging, yet the story felt only partially developed and I wanted a much more solid love connection for Jackie.
August 14, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I started reading this when it came up earlier this year as a sequel, and around the 40% mark I stopped reading, so I could wait until it was finished. Honestly, I think that I'm just not that good at reading serials unless they're the never-ending kind, because I'm not that good at waiting, and no matter how good the book is I eventually lose interest having to wait. Still, I'm glad that I got to read the beginning of this when I did back in January, because it made me instantly fall in love with Jackie Black, gunslinger and man of charming words ;) And that meant that I was really excited to see how his story ended.
Jackie Black, youngest in the long line of gun-slinging cowboy sorcerers is in love. He's had a rough ride of it in the past, but he thinks that Roman is the one -- enough to move from his long-time home in the country and live in the city. When he surprises Roman after Roman canceled their date to tell him the happy news, that he's househunting closer, he finds a complete surprise that ruins their relationship irreparably. Now, Jackie is alone in a strange city he doesn't know well with nowhere to stay.
But the cowboy Blacks have a way of stumbling across trouble, and they're duty bound as honest men to help in any way they can. So when Jackie meets a old man who is on the hunt after a ruthless woman stealing power he does everything he can to help. What he doesn't know is that by getting to know the old man, he stumbled into an even larger and longer unsolved mystery involving the old man himself, a scarred vampire, and his father, the Black before him (currently off who knows where and not returning his calls). Backing down would be better -- it seems that everyone who has gotten involved over the years has been killed off -- but Jackie's honor won't let him. And maybe a touch of stubbornness that says that whatever impossible creature is picking off the people around him, he hasn't met a sorcerer like Jackie Black yet.
Really, the best thing about this book is Jackie. He's such a great character that you can't help fall in love with him. He's straight out of the old west, honor and stubbornness and all, trying to fit into a modern magical world. He's almost comical at first until you really see his human side, and after that it's so easy to get swept up in his adventure. I must admit that because I read the first bit of this as serial and then stopped I was under the misimpression of who Jackie's love interest in this was. At first, I was a little miffed, but it's only because it had been around 7 months that I'd been thinking he ended up with someone else, and I just hadn't read that part of the story yet. But it didn't take long for me to see that his real love interest here fit him so much better. I only hope that the really interesting character that latches onto him earlier in the book (and isn't, of course, his love interest) will get his book, because I was a little sad that he seemed to disappear a bit after the halfway mark. We didn't get to see him as much, even though I found him really endearing and one of the most interesting characters so far in this series. It makes me wonder if Megan Derr does have plans for him later in the series because he's such a puzzle that never get's solved in this book.
Fans of the series will want to continue and read this book. Honestly, it wasn't my favorite, no matter how much I loved Jackie. I'm finding that even though I've enjoyed the last couple of books in this series I don't have the same feelings as I had about the first three, which I just really loved and have read over and over. I'll always continue to read, because even if Megan Derr's books don't turn out to be ones that I want to buy in paperback and keep as a comfort read, they're still enjoyable, fun and a great escape. They're some of the easiest and most comforting reading for me, and that only makes me even more excited for the next books to come.
I started reading this when it came up earlier this year as a sequel, and around the 40% mark I stopped reading, so I could wait until it was finished. Honestly, I think that I'm just not that good at reading serials unless they're the never-ending kind, because I'm not that good at waiting, and no matter how good the book is I eventually lose interest having to wait. Still, I'm glad that I got to read the beginning of this when I did back in January, because it made me instantly fall in love with Jackie Black, gunslinger and man of charming words ;) And that meant that I was really excited to see how his story ended.
Jackie Black, youngest in the long line of gun-slinging cowboy sorcerers is in love. He's had a rough ride of it in the past, but he thinks that Roman is the one -- enough to move from his long-time home in the country and live in the city. When he surprises Roman after Roman canceled their date to tell him the happy news, that he's househunting closer, he finds a complete surprise that ruins their relationship irreparably. Now, Jackie is alone in a strange city he doesn't know well with nowhere to stay.
But the cowboy Blacks have a way of stumbling across trouble, and they're duty bound as honest men to help in any way they can. So when Jackie meets a old man who is on the hunt after a ruthless woman stealing power he does everything he can to help. What he doesn't know is that by getting to know the old man, he stumbled into an even larger and longer unsolved mystery involving the old man himself, a scarred vampire, and his father, the Black before him (currently off who knows where and not returning his calls). Backing down would be better -- it seems that everyone who has gotten involved over the years has been killed off -- but Jackie's honor won't let him. And maybe a touch of stubbornness that says that whatever impossible creature is picking off the people around him, he hasn't met a sorcerer like Jackie Black yet.
Really, the best thing about this book is Jackie. He's such a great character that you can't help fall in love with him. He's straight out of the old west, honor and stubbornness and all, trying to fit into a modern magical world. He's almost comical at first until you really see his human side, and after that it's so easy to get swept up in his adventure. I must admit that because I read the first bit of this as serial and then stopped I was under the misimpression of who Jackie's love interest in this was. At first, I was a little miffed, but it's only because it had been around 7 months that I'd been thinking he ended up with someone else, and I just hadn't read that part of the story yet. But it didn't take long for me to see that his real love interest here fit him so much better. I only hope that the really interesting character that latches onto him earlier in the book (and isn't, of course, his love interest) will get his book, because I was a little sad that he seemed to disappear a bit after the halfway mark. We didn't get to see him as much, even though I found him really endearing and one of the most interesting characters so far in this series. It makes me wonder if Megan Derr does have plans for him later in the series because he's such a puzzle that never get's solved in this book.
Fans of the series will want to continue and read this book. Honestly, it wasn't my favorite, no matter how much I loved Jackie. I'm finding that even though I've enjoyed the last couple of books in this series I don't have the same feelings as I had about the first three, which I just really loved and have read over and over. I'll always continue to read, because even if Megan Derr's books don't turn out to be ones that I want to buy in paperback and keep as a comfort read, they're still enjoyable, fun and a great escape. They're some of the easiest and most comforting reading for me, and that only makes me even more excited for the next books to come.
December 1, 2013
“Dance only for me” is the 6th installment in the “Dance with the Devil” series and somehow comes full circle, bringing us back to Sable Brennus’ territory. Besides the fact that the series’ got a very rich lore that was built and explored in all the former books, a great part of the appeal is in the guest appearances of characters met in “Dance with the Devil”; so I recommend reading the books in order even though each one could be read as a stand-alone. Familiarity is enjoyable if not absolutely necessary.
Allow me a little flashback before getting down to the review.
Ever since I encountered her for the first time with “Prisonner”, I got into the habit of going to Megan Derr when I want to be ‘fluffed’ without being bored to death.
This author has a way of casually scattering creative details throughout her fantasy worlds that often had me shaking my head and smiling at her fertile imagination. Her stories are lively and entertaining, her settings are imaginative (I insist) and even when I’ve felt a little bit underwhelmed, I’ve always ended up liking them, if only for the undercurrent joy and enthusiasm. They are quite potent charms, I assure you; it’s a bit like sprinkling the books with dusts of contentment. Truth be told, I have high suspicions that Megan Derr is a fairy…
This time however, I was bored. I shook my kindle...Not one speck of fairy dust.
After building a demonic Las Vegas, giving her take on fairy tales, zombie love and dragon shifters, Megan Derr introduced us to country music.
Very well. Jackie is a gunslinger and I’m not at all opposed to the gruff, lanky, narrow-eyed type with a golden heart who always gets into trouble for a just cause. But Jackie is a pale gunslinger. His characterization is flat and all the “howdy ma’am” were more evocative of Woody in Toy Story than Clint Eastwood. Jacky is neither sexy nor intense and alas! He was supposed to be. That’s my first niggle.
His romance with I-won’t-tell-who is rushed and I didn’t feel the intense anguish the other character was loaded with, nor the intensity inherent of their relationship. That’s my second niggle.
Jackie plows through the story resolving small mysteries while the main plot line is developed, gathering up in passing his dream team of secondary characters. I barely followed the mysteries because my mind went gallivanting all around, the running joke didn’t amuse me that much, and I didn’t feel horrified when it would have been convenient that I did. To top it all, the resolution happened off scene. Nth niggles, I lost count.
All in all and in short, it’s a miss. I am pouting intensely (it’s a sore point, yes).
I’m not giving up on fairy dust that easily though. I will keep on reading my way through Derr’s huge backlist, and despite my disappointment with this story, I recommend giving a go to this author’s work
originally posted at http://sidlove.com/
Allow me a little flashback before getting down to the review.
Ever since I encountered her for the first time with “Prisonner”, I got into the habit of going to Megan Derr when I want to be ‘fluffed’ without being bored to death.
This author has a way of casually scattering creative details throughout her fantasy worlds that often had me shaking my head and smiling at her fertile imagination. Her stories are lively and entertaining, her settings are imaginative (I insist) and even when I’ve felt a little bit underwhelmed, I’ve always ended up liking them, if only for the undercurrent joy and enthusiasm. They are quite potent charms, I assure you; it’s a bit like sprinkling the books with dusts of contentment. Truth be told, I have high suspicions that Megan Derr is a fairy…
This time however, I was bored. I shook my kindle...Not one speck of fairy dust.
After building a demonic Las Vegas, giving her take on fairy tales, zombie love and dragon shifters, Megan Derr introduced us to country music.
Very well. Jackie is a gunslinger and I’m not at all opposed to the gruff, lanky, narrow-eyed type with a golden heart who always gets into trouble for a just cause. But Jackie is a pale gunslinger. His characterization is flat and all the “howdy ma’am” were more evocative of Woody in Toy Story than Clint Eastwood. Jacky is neither sexy nor intense and alas! He was supposed to be. That’s my first niggle.
His romance with I-won’t-tell-who is rushed and I didn’t feel the intense anguish the other character was loaded with, nor the intensity inherent of their relationship. That’s my second niggle.
Jackie plows through the story resolving small mysteries while the main plot line is developed, gathering up in passing his dream team of secondary characters. I barely followed the mysteries because my mind went gallivanting all around, the running joke didn’t amuse me that much, and I didn’t feel horrified when it would have been convenient that I did. To top it all, the resolution happened off scene. Nth niggles, I lost count.
All in all and in short, it’s a miss. I am pouting intensely (it’s a sore point, yes).
I’m not giving up on fairy dust that easily though. I will keep on reading my way through Derr’s huge backlist, and despite my disappointment with this story, I recommend giving a go to this author’s work
originally posted at http://sidlove.com/
October 20, 2015
I love this series and this book is no exception! Jackie is funny and sweet, he has been just not very lucky, when falling in love. All of his lovers cheated on him and since he is a private detective and hasn't had a clou about his own lovers cheating, that just added insult to injury. After his last break up, when he caught his lover cheating, after Jackie moved to the same city as his lover to be close to him, he has decided enough is enough and wanted to give up dating all together. It's not like his work wasn't demanding enough of his time. A new case brings out old demons, literary and a centuries old case, one his father had tried to solve, has opened up again.
While Jackie might want to work alone there is a young Alchemist, that follows him around, an angel that he has rescued and of course his personal demon, Ned, that has become his shadow. Ned has some dark secrets however, secrets that are all tied up in Jackies case.
First of all, I loved Jackie! The southern accent was really cute. The story is all about one case and I got to see Chris and Brennus again as well as Amr and Ken and it's always nice to visit some of my favorite characters. This case was quite gruesome and I felt sorry for Ned, who had to suffer so much, I wish the focus would have been more on their relationship, but in this series, the cases are always more the center of the stories. Still this was a very engaging story and I hope the next book might feature Wyatt and his dragon knight!
While Jackie might want to work alone there is a young Alchemist, that follows him around, an angel that he has rescued and of course his personal demon, Ned, that has become his shadow. Ned has some dark secrets however, secrets that are all tied up in Jackies case.
First of all, I loved Jackie! The southern accent was really cute. The story is all about one case and I got to see Chris and Brennus again as well as Amr and Ken and it's always nice to visit some of my favorite characters. This case was quite gruesome and I felt sorry for Ned, who had to suffer so much, I wish the focus would have been more on their relationship, but in this series, the cases are always more the center of the stories. Still this was a very engaging story and I hope the next book might feature Wyatt and his dragon knight!
May 3, 2019
4.5 stars
September 1, 2013
Review posted on World of Diversity Fiction Reviews
3.75 Stars
This is book #6 in Megan Derr’s Dance With the Devil series, having only read the first book I wondered if I’d be lost in this one but thankfully that wasn’t the case, this can easily be read as a standalone but I’ll definitely be looking to read the others in the series.
Jackie Black, a cowboy and a sorcerer is a gun for hire otherwise known as a gunslinger or is he a bounty hunter? I’m not really sure what to call him but in the world of Vampires, Demons, Witches and a awry of other paranormal characters if you’re in need of help he’s your man. I really loved everything about this character he was by far my favorite, followed closely by Wyatt who charmed me to no end. I loved the way Jackie talked, his good ole boy ‘slang’, the easy going way he has about him, his fierce need to make things safe but mostly I loved how underneath all that he was so sweet but a tad bit sad. Jackie seems to have trouble with his relationships so he tries to leave that behind and concentrates on helping those in need.
Jackie takes on a case which is the main mystery of this book but it breaks off into smaller mysteries that need solving. It does all come together, I never felt lost or confused the author did an excellent job of keeping the story flowing until the end. Part of that I’m sure was because of her secondary characters in the story, all were fascinating to me and all had very distinct personalities. Wyatt was such a lovable character, he was smart, funny and sweet. Jackie kept calling him kid throughout the story because he appeared to be so young but appearances can be deceiving, there was so much more to him, as everyone soon found out.
I don’t mean to sound evasive but this is one of those stories that if I write too much about the plot I’ll give away what happens. With it being a mystery it needs to be read without too much information before hand so you can be drawn into the mystery along with the characters.
This is another of those books that isn’t an m/m romance, its focus is definitely the mystery but there is a romance that gives this book a bit of what romantics look for. A combination of a western and paranormal that worked really well together but I attribute that to Ms. Derr it’s not an easy combination to make work, at least in my opinion. Megan Derr has created a wonderful world with great characters and an interesting storyline. A really good read for paranormal fans.
February 28, 2023
December 2022 - Audio
Took a while to get into the voice. Not quite how I imagined Jackie to be. I had him deeper with a twang, same as Dixie. Compared to Jackie, Ned sounded normal. I was a fun revisit. Definitely one of my faves in the series.
December 2020 - Kindle
Re-read. Looks like this one has become another go to pick when I can’t think of what to read. Now that I’ve read through the series and learnt more about Deacon and Wyatt, the father and son relationship between Jackie and Wyatt feels a little more special. I still love the gunslinger thing, which is what caught my attention in the first place. I like everything about Jackie. The drawl, the guns and how he doesn’t take a step back. I felt sorry for Ned, but they go so well together.
June 2018 - Kindle
Slower in the romance department than the others. This one has western elements because Jackie has special alchemy guns. Despite how kickass he is, his luck with men sucks. I liked the running sheriff gag and how his relationships build from scratch in this one. Would like to see more of Wyatt and what he really is. Has similarities to the second book and appearances from the first two. There’s a lot more that could happen. I’d say this is my second favourite of the series.
Took a while to get into the voice. Not quite how I imagined Jackie to be. I had him deeper with a twang, same as Dixie. Compared to Jackie, Ned sounded normal. I was a fun revisit. Definitely one of my faves in the series.
December 2020 - Kindle
Re-read. Looks like this one has become another go to pick when I can’t think of what to read. Now that I’ve read through the series and learnt more about Deacon and Wyatt, the father and son relationship between Jackie and Wyatt feels a little more special. I still love the gunslinger thing, which is what caught my attention in the first place. I like everything about Jackie. The drawl, the guns and how he doesn’t take a step back. I felt sorry for Ned, but they go so well together.
June 2018 - Kindle
Slower in the romance department than the others. This one has western elements because Jackie has special alchemy guns. Despite how kickass he is, his luck with men sucks. I liked the running sheriff gag and how his relationships build from scratch in this one. Would like to see more of Wyatt and what he really is. Has similarities to the second book and appearances from the first two. There’s a lot more that could happen. I’d say this is my second favourite of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
I really enjoy spending time in Megan Derr's worlds.
This time I got to stay in the present but with a real Cowboy from the past. I loved Jackie and his easy drawl lol.
I admit I was wrong on the pairing in this one. But this way worked out better.
Plenty of chemistry and emotion for me to get mt teeth into.
The whole mystery story line, while a little too complicated for me was brilliantly done. A few too many names I couldn't quite keep track of but in the end a very satisfying conclusion.
My favorite part about Megan Derr is the way she does not draw out the climax like so many do.
Hope we get to see more of this world. Now it's time for me to catch up on the earlier books.
ETA Still as exciting as the first time. I just hope one day we get to read Wyatts book. I also need to know what happened with Firebrand.
ETA See above
ETA Same as above
This time I got to stay in the present but with a real Cowboy from the past. I loved Jackie and his easy drawl lol.
I admit I was wrong on the pairing in this one. But this way worked out better.
Plenty of chemistry and emotion for me to get mt teeth into.
The whole mystery story line, while a little too complicated for me was brilliantly done. A few too many names I couldn't quite keep track of but in the end a very satisfying conclusion.
My favorite part about Megan Derr is the way she does not draw out the climax like so many do.
Hope we get to see more of this world. Now it's time for me to catch up on the earlier books.
ETA Still as exciting as the first time. I just hope one day we get to read Wyatts book. I also need to know what happened with Firebrand.
ETA See above
ETA Same as above
July 21, 2013
This was the first of the "Dance" stories I've read, and makes me eager to see more from this really complex and interesting paranormal universe. Jackie is a real cowboy for sure, but quickly endeared himself to me both with his manners and his real drive for justice. He had a quick-tempered, stubborn personality but somehow managed to be a real charmer, too, drawing in so many of those around him. Lots of fascinating concepts, intriguing mysteries, and fantastical devices made this a consistently interesting, suspenseful story from the start. There were some genuinely surprising twists along the way, and I love getting wrapped up in a story where I can't quite figure out the ending until we get there. I think about the only thing I could have asked for was by the end, he'd gathered himself quite a cadre, and we didn't really get to see them in action for a final showdown. Though in my opinion, the finale we got wrapped everything up satisfactorily enough.
July 26, 2013
I can't decide if my expectations were too high or if I really was that underwhelmed. Dance in the Dark is one of my favorite books of all time, I love this world the author created. Maybe it was because Johnnie and Grim didn't make an appearance. I couldn't get into Jackie, he was just too out there, too far removed from anything I can imagine.
October 22, 2022
Audio Review
I liked the narrator - I think he did a good job.
While listening I was remembering that this was one that wasn't a favourite of mine and I couldn't remember why as I was enjoying it but then we got to the last 40 mins and it all became clear. The Story itself was let down by the ending. It felt rushed and how we had worked our way to a big showdown with the baddie for it all to happen off screen felt lazy on the authors behalf.
The review from the ebook read stands for audio as well.
I’m finding it hard to rate this book.
On one hand I really enjoyed it, but on the other hand the ending left me wondering just what happened.
I thought it was great that this book seemed to be like a full circle, the case involved bring Jackie’s friends (from previous books) or put in him contact with the guys from the previous books. I loved seeing them again and it was interesting how they all interwove
I loved Jackie. I loved his annoyance and direct action in relation to his cheating partner. No questions just kicked to the curb.
Wyatt is a cutie and I hope he appears in later books, as there is definitely more of a story to him.
Ned – I liked Ned but there were more questions than answers with his character. I don’t need all of the gory details of what happened to him, but one has to question how he was captured? Demons in the other books are the top of the food chain, so how did they get a demon and his consort?
The ending was what let this book down. The whole book set up the big showdown between Jackie and his merry band and the bad guys, yet when it happened, it happened off page. What happened to Jackie’s dad while he was captured? Did the guys let him out or did he escape on his own? He is mentioned in passing but we never really find out anything.
There were so many questions still left unanswered. The first 80% had me well and truly engaged but it was like the author just got to a point and decided to wrap it up quickly, and this really let the whole book down.
Hoping there is still more to this series, and yes I will read it.
I liked the narrator - I think he did a good job.
While listening I was remembering that this was one that wasn't a favourite of mine and I couldn't remember why as I was enjoying it but then we got to the last 40 mins and it all became clear. The Story itself was let down by the ending. It felt rushed and how we had worked our way to a big showdown with the baddie for it all to happen off screen felt lazy on the authors behalf.
The review from the ebook read stands for audio as well.
I’m finding it hard to rate this book.
On one hand I really enjoyed it, but on the other hand the ending left me wondering just what happened.
I thought it was great that this book seemed to be like a full circle, the case involved bring Jackie’s friends (from previous books) or put in him contact with the guys from the previous books. I loved seeing them again and it was interesting how they all interwove
I loved Jackie. I loved his annoyance and direct action in relation to his cheating partner. No questions just kicked to the curb.
Wyatt is a cutie and I hope he appears in later books, as there is definitely more of a story to him.
Ned – I liked Ned but there were more questions than answers with his character. I don’t need all of the gory details of what happened to him, but one has to question how he was captured? Demons in the other books are the top of the food chain, so how did they get a demon and his consort?
The ending was what let this book down. The whole book set up the big showdown between Jackie and his merry band and the bad guys, yet when it happened, it happened off page. What happened to Jackie’s dad while he was captured? Did the guys let him out or did he escape on his own? He is mentioned in passing but we never really find out anything.
There were so many questions still left unanswered. The first 80% had me well and truly engaged but it was like the author just got to a point and decided to wrap it up quickly, and this really let the whole book down.
Hoping there is still more to this series, and yes I will read it.
February 20, 2025
“Sleep well, partner. Ride on to happier trails” -modern cowboy witch man MC to a dead rando he met an hour ago, and then spends hundreds of pages risking the lives of himself and everyone he meets to get justice for his old friend (who he met an hour ago).
Dude is so cowboy he calls his ex “Hoss” while breaking up with him.
Not as strong as the first three; the complex mystery was interesting but there were a ton of side characters and callbacks taking up time and space, and the romance element was minimal and came late in the story.
Dude is so cowboy he calls his ex “Hoss” while breaking up with him.
Not as strong as the first three; the complex mystery was interesting but there were a ton of side characters and callbacks taking up time and space, and the romance element was minimal and came late in the story.
July 24, 2013
As always, I enjoyed Megan Derr's book.
I love the whole series, and this 6th book was no exception.
The MC, Jackie Black, is a great character.
He had me smiling throughout. Here's an example of his home-spun wisdom:
"...How can people be so old but so dumb?"
"There ain't enough hours in creation to answer that question," Jackie said.
Indeed there aren't, Jackie.
And the final words we get from this down-to-earth philosopher?
"Shut up, demon. Ain't nobody want to see my ass up on a pole."
I can empathise with that, Jackie, I really can.
All I need to say to end this review is: write more, please, Megan. Just write more.
I love the whole series, and this 6th book was no exception.
The MC, Jackie Black, is a great character.
He had me smiling throughout. Here's an example of his home-spun wisdom:
"...How can people be so old but so dumb?"
"There ain't enough hours in creation to answer that question," Jackie said.
Indeed there aren't, Jackie.
And the final words we get from this down-to-earth philosopher?
"Shut up, demon. Ain't nobody want to see my ass up on a pole."
I can empathise with that, Jackie, I really can.
All I need to say to end this review is: write more, please, Megan. Just write more.
August 9, 2013
My favorite Megan Derr universe, but this story was marred by poor copy editing and a rushed ending.
Want to read
October 30, 2012So fricken excited. Not sure how an online serial works but I don't care. Another Dance book. /squeal.
March 1, 2019
3.5*
I had JUST read a super emotional cheating/abuse book, so this book stabbed my already sore heart.
I think if i hadn't just read that other book, it may not have hit me as hard as it did. While cheating is not OK, they seem to be written at different levels. This one wasn't as bad because I was not invested into Roman, where-as the other one was almost halfway through the book and I was already rooting for the couple.
Anyways, I love the Dance with the Devil series. While it is a series, it can be read out of order.
I didn't even know this was a book (4) and I have already read 7! lol oops!
It works because it doesn't necessarily follow a time line, but the characters seem to be spread out randomly. This one features briefly Sable from book 1 and it mentions characters from another book.
I adore Jackie and its "fool ass" and how he ends up with a random "posse" of misfits.
For a moment I thought it was going to be about Jackie and Wyatt and i was a little disappointed for a second... but then Jackie kept calling him "son" and that disappointment faded real quick.
I listened to the audio and normally i ADORE Michael Stellman.. This time though, it wasn't my all time favorite. I don't think he does a Southerner very well, and once he gets into it, he kind of holds the same tone for all the characters. But i still enjoyed it none-the-less.
I had JUST read a super emotional cheating/abuse book, so this book stabbed my already sore heart.
I think if i hadn't just read that other book, it may not have hit me as hard as it did. While cheating is not OK, they seem to be written at different levels. This one wasn't as bad because I was not invested into Roman, where-as the other one was almost halfway through the book and I was already rooting for the couple.
Anyways, I love the Dance with the Devil series. While it is a series, it can be read out of order.
I didn't even know this was a book (4) and I have already read 7! lol oops!
It works because it doesn't necessarily follow a time line, but the characters seem to be spread out randomly. This one features briefly Sable from book 1 and it mentions characters from another book.
I adore Jackie and its "fool ass" and how he ends up with a random "posse" of misfits.
For a moment I thought it was going to be about Jackie and Wyatt and i was a little disappointed for a second... but then Jackie kept calling him "son" and that disappointment faded real quick.
I listened to the audio and normally i ADORE Michael Stellman.. This time though, it wasn't my all time favorite. I don't think he does a Southerner very well, and once he gets into it, he kind of holds the same tone for all the characters. But i still enjoyed it none-the-less.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2021
I really love this series. The characters are all so interesting and the plot is unique and keeps you guessing. This one might be my favorite so far. The romance takes a little bit of a backseat but is still prominent enough that I was happy. The hunt for answers to the bad guy kept me whipping through the pages to see what would happen. The secondary characters in this one were so great! I would love to read another book with "the team". You end up with a sorcerer, and alchemist, an angel, a necromancer and a demon and they all just fit together. I had so much fun reading this one and I truly didn't want it to end!
February 19, 2024
Almost all of this one is good, but that final bit was too easy and I know exactly how it could've been improved--it would've taken a single reference. Oh well. On to 4.5. :)
July 30, 2019
Hmmm. I'm wondering why this has such a low number of reviews...
...and, I will venture to say price and packaging are partly to blame. It has been more than a year since Megan Derr last released a book in this series. Whatever her reasons, it really didn't impact my decision to purchase the entire series as i am a rather new fan, and only recently learned of the treasures hidden within her very laid back, unpretentious book covers. I purchased the entire series after reading the first two about Chris & Sable, the sexy detective and his very distracting and beautiful demon lord, then Johnnie & Bergrin's quite intriguing trysts and interactions. I didn't even hesitate to buy the rest of the collection (as well as a few of her others (Blood Prince series, Engineered Throne, etc.) when they popped up on the search page) and kept reading them all in a weekend marathon. Now, in my humble opinion, one of Derr's $6.99 novels are worth fifty of the trite, brightly colored publications that almost always display muscle bound men and near-naked females who are sinners, sex fiends, or ride motorcycles and regurgitate , in varying degrees of ability and actual talent, stories that seem to follow an unseen outline passed around by their writers. The difference between those publications and Megan Derr's works is more than price and packaging -- her stories have imagination, creativity and twists that grab, hold, and keep your attention beyond the length of the book. I was left with a desire for more, and never got the same thing twice. I usually include notes as I read because I can't stand mistakes and poor grammar, so I'll correct it as I'm reading so it settles my mind (especially when I reread the book, which I have done with many of Derr's books). I noticed right away I make minor changes to Ms. Derr's books, while others get up to two dozen or more notes, depending on how long it is, though the cheap ninety - nine cent books aren't longer than a couple hundred pages. In addition, I've stopped buying them, selecting the "read free" feature when possible, and while I do spend way too much money on books, I try to keep purchases to certain writers, or to ones I really like that I've borrowed.
Anyway, this book deserves more than a dozen reviews! It is a very well thought out story, filled with magic and a completely different yet very charming main character named Jackson "Jackie" Black, an intriguing blend of magic and Texas grit, determination and sass. It took me a few chapters to really appreciate him and fall in serious like with his soft heart and tendency to find trouble, but the storyline, plot detours, and twists/turns kept it interesting and thrilling. The book cover doesn't tell you much or reveal much of its contents, almost as if she's offering a puzzle. Jackie falls headlong into magical mayhem when a new friend turns up dead, and Jackie is embroiled up to his ears trying to discover who and why this friend was killed. He meets a young alchemist with almost as much talent for getting in trouble as Jackie when Jackie "drops in" on his lover. Both he and Wyatt (the young alchemist) decide Roman is best left in the past tense; however, Jackie's now committed to finding Robin's killer, and soon takes Wyatt on as his assistant/apprentice once he keeps turning up at Jackie's every turn. Jackie tangles with a scarred vampire, a necromancer, s sorcerer, a demon who seems bent on saving him rather than killing him each time they meet up, and even an angel. Never a dull moment or page with Jackie!
Megan Derr tells stories with superb word selection and her unique panache. As with her other books, I would gladly award thrice times five stars for Dance Only for Me. It was special and well worth the money.
...and, I will venture to say price and packaging are partly to blame. It has been more than a year since Megan Derr last released a book in this series. Whatever her reasons, it really didn't impact my decision to purchase the entire series as i am a rather new fan, and only recently learned of the treasures hidden within her very laid back, unpretentious book covers. I purchased the entire series after reading the first two about Chris & Sable, the sexy detective and his very distracting and beautiful demon lord, then Johnnie & Bergrin's quite intriguing trysts and interactions. I didn't even hesitate to buy the rest of the collection (as well as a few of her others (Blood Prince series, Engineered Throne, etc.) when they popped up on the search page) and kept reading them all in a weekend marathon. Now, in my humble opinion, one of Derr's $6.99 novels are worth fifty of the trite, brightly colored publications that almost always display muscle bound men and near-naked females who are sinners, sex fiends, or ride motorcycles and regurgitate , in varying degrees of ability and actual talent, stories that seem to follow an unseen outline passed around by their writers. The difference between those publications and Megan Derr's works is more than price and packaging -- her stories have imagination, creativity and twists that grab, hold, and keep your attention beyond the length of the book. I was left with a desire for more, and never got the same thing twice. I usually include notes as I read because I can't stand mistakes and poor grammar, so I'll correct it as I'm reading so it settles my mind (especially when I reread the book, which I have done with many of Derr's books). I noticed right away I make minor changes to Ms. Derr's books, while others get up to two dozen or more notes, depending on how long it is, though the cheap ninety - nine cent books aren't longer than a couple hundred pages. In addition, I've stopped buying them, selecting the "read free" feature when possible, and while I do spend way too much money on books, I try to keep purchases to certain writers, or to ones I really like that I've borrowed.
Anyway, this book deserves more than a dozen reviews! It is a very well thought out story, filled with magic and a completely different yet very charming main character named Jackson "Jackie" Black, an intriguing blend of magic and Texas grit, determination and sass. It took me a few chapters to really appreciate him and fall in serious like with his soft heart and tendency to find trouble, but the storyline, plot detours, and twists/turns kept it interesting and thrilling. The book cover doesn't tell you much or reveal much of its contents, almost as if she's offering a puzzle. Jackie falls headlong into magical mayhem when a new friend turns up dead, and Jackie is embroiled up to his ears trying to discover who and why this friend was killed. He meets a young alchemist with almost as much talent for getting in trouble as Jackie when Jackie "drops in" on his lover. Both he and Wyatt (the young alchemist) decide Roman is best left in the past tense; however, Jackie's now committed to finding Robin's killer, and soon takes Wyatt on as his assistant/apprentice once he keeps turning up at Jackie's every turn. Jackie tangles with a scarred vampire, a necromancer, s sorcerer, a demon who seems bent on saving him rather than killing him each time they meet up, and even an angel. Never a dull moment or page with Jackie!
Megan Derr tells stories with superb word selection and her unique panache. As with her other books, I would gladly award thrice times five stars for Dance Only for Me. It was special and well worth the money.
Read
July 26, 2020Rating Notes: I skimmed this book way more than I read it so I'm just going to not make value judgements about it.
1. Here's the thing; I absolutely adore the second book in the series (which is basically spoiled adopted son of master vampire solves curse-adjacent cases) so I keep trying to capture the feel of that with the other books but am inevitably disappointed.
2. The adoption subplot is pretty cool. The man moves out of place he's grown up in to go to big bad city and live above a strip club thing is also cool, because the man is gay and there isn't any skeevy stuff and I appreciate the ladies getting sketched out a little. But then comes the main plot and there just so much worldbuilding I don't give a solitary flying fuck about and a romance that comes out of nowhere and ugh.
3. I don't even know what this book was about it was chaotic af. By I do admit that I might just be seeing at the lack of family-centric plots. I know by now that Dance in the Dark was an outlier and not the norm for this series but that doesn't make me any less upset. I thought maybe this book would be better because it didn't feature a romance starring a territory head but it was still more worldbuilding-y than I was looking for.
4. Yes yes I know all my compliants are based on bias it's a large part of why the book remains unrated. But it's also why it's going to remain effectively unread. I have no fucking clue what happened in the demonish subplot and I have no interest in knowing it. I would have preferred more time spent with our budding serial killer kid.
1. Here's the thing; I absolutely adore the second book in the series (which is basically spoiled adopted son of master vampire solves curse-adjacent cases) so I keep trying to capture the feel of that with the other books but am inevitably disappointed.
2. The adoption subplot is pretty cool. The man moves out of place he's grown up in to go to big bad city and live above a strip club thing is also cool, because the man is gay and there isn't any skeevy stuff and I appreciate the ladies getting sketched out a little. But then comes the main plot and there just so much worldbuilding I don't give a solitary flying fuck about and a romance that comes out of nowhere and ugh.
3. I don't even know what this book was about it was chaotic af. By I do admit that I might just be seeing at the lack of family-centric plots. I know by now that Dance in the Dark was an outlier and not the norm for this series but that doesn't make me any less upset. I thought maybe this book would be better because it didn't feature a romance starring a territory head but it was still more worldbuilding-y than I was looking for.
4. Yes yes I know all my compliants are based on bias it's a large part of why the book remains unrated. But it's also why it's going to remain effectively unread. I have no fucking clue what happened in the demonish subplot and I have no interest in knowing it. I would have preferred more time spent with our budding serial killer kid.
May 11, 2016
I’m finding it hard to rate this book.
On one hand I really enjoyed it, but on the other hand the ending left me wondering just what happened.
I thought it was great that this book seemed to be like a full circle, the case involved bring Jackie’s friends (from previous books) or put in him contact with the guys from the previous books. I loved seeing them again and it was interesting how they all interwove
I loved Jackie. I loved his annoyance and direct action in relation to his cheating partner. No questions just kicked to the curb.
Wyatt is a cutie and I hope he appears in later books, as there is definitely more of a story to him.
Ned – I liked Ned but there were more questions than answers with his character. I don’t need all of the gory details of what happened to him, but one has to question how he was captured? Demons in the other books are the top of the food chain, so how did they get a demon and his consort?
The ending was what let this book down. The whole book set up the big showdown between Jackie and his merry band and the bad guys, yet when it happened, it happened off page. What happened to Jackie’s dad while he was captured? Did the guys let him out or did he escape on his own? He is mentioned in passing but we never really find out anything.
There were so many questions still left unanswered. The first 80% had me well and truly engaged but it was like the author just got to a point and decided to wrap it up quickly, and this really let the whole book down.
Hoping there is still more to this series, and yes I will read it.
On one hand I really enjoyed it, but on the other hand the ending left me wondering just what happened.
I thought it was great that this book seemed to be like a full circle, the case involved bring Jackie’s friends (from previous books) or put in him contact with the guys from the previous books. I loved seeing them again and it was interesting how they all interwove
I loved Jackie. I loved his annoyance and direct action in relation to his cheating partner. No questions just kicked to the curb.
Wyatt is a cutie and I hope he appears in later books, as there is definitely more of a story to him.
Ned – I liked Ned but there were more questions than answers with his character. I don’t need all of the gory details of what happened to him, but one has to question how he was captured? Demons in the other books are the top of the food chain, so how did they get a demon and his consort?
The ending was what let this book down. The whole book set up the big showdown between Jackie and his merry band and the bad guys, yet when it happened, it happened off page. What happened to Jackie’s dad while he was captured? Did the guys let him out or did he escape on his own? He is mentioned in passing but we never really find out anything.
There were so many questions still left unanswered. The first 80% had me well and truly engaged but it was like the author just got to a point and decided to wrap it up quickly, and this really let the whole book down.
Hoping there is still more to this series, and yes I will read it.
January 22, 2015
Pretty solid story and I might have loved it except for a few nagging things which SERIOUSLY frustrated me.
1) "Ayah." .... Um. No. I live in the south. No one says this. Maybe "Yep" or "Yup" but not "Ayah". Well, maybe if they're trying to drive cattle in a field. Seriously though, every time I read this, I pictured a ninja popping out and the song 'Everybody's Kung-fu Fighting' started playing in my head. Funny the first 2 or 3 times. After that, not so much.
2) Where I grew up, if you referred to someone as "hoss" to their face you'd better be one of two things - either the person's best buddy or close friend or ready to fight. Calling a stranger "hoss" means you think they're as fat as a horse. As in "Good lord, Ned! Did you just see that hoss walking into the Burger Barn over there? He better lay off the French fries!" Most strangers would be insulted. Then again, maybe I'm way off here. I don't live in Texas. Maybe the term is used to refer to everyone they meet there whether they know the person or not.
On the bright side, I was never so relieved when I got about halfway through the story and a love interest appeared. I spent the first half with the mantra 'please don't let him hook up with Wyatt' running nonstop through my head. That would have been gross since he constantly referred to him as 'boy'. This would also be considered an insult where I'm from, BTW, to refer to a 21 year old as 'boy' (or anyone over the age of 12 for that matter).
1) "Ayah." .... Um. No. I live in the south. No one says this. Maybe "Yep" or "Yup" but not "Ayah". Well, maybe if they're trying to drive cattle in a field. Seriously though, every time I read this, I pictured a ninja popping out and the song 'Everybody's Kung-fu Fighting' started playing in my head. Funny the first 2 or 3 times. After that, not so much.
2) Where I grew up, if you referred to someone as "hoss" to their face you'd better be one of two things - either the person's best buddy or close friend or ready to fight. Calling a stranger "hoss" means you think they're as fat as a horse. As in "Good lord, Ned! Did you just see that hoss walking into the Burger Barn over there? He better lay off the French fries!" Most strangers would be insulted. Then again, maybe I'm way off here. I don't live in Texas. Maybe the term is used to refer to everyone they meet there whether they know the person or not.
On the bright side, I was never so relieved when I got about halfway through the story and a love interest appeared. I spent the first half with the mantra 'please don't let him hook up with Wyatt' running nonstop through my head. That would have been gross since he constantly referred to him as 'boy'. This would also be considered an insult where I'm from, BTW, to refer to a 21 year old as 'boy' (or anyone over the age of 12 for that matter).
July 11, 2016
I was so put off by the sheer number of spelling/grammatical and structural errors that I almost DNFd the book about 50%. Missing words, misspelled words, extra words. I liked the "bones" of the story (and the series) so I kept reading. Good grief, a good mid-level administrative assistant would have caught every one of those errors if the author didn't want to use a professional editor. There's nothing quite like getting pulled out a story every few pages to have to reread a sentence to make sense of it.
And OMG, could the author not find the time to write the final big confrontation for her readers? We had to make do with a short synopsis after our protagonist wakes up from yet another beating? Just...stunning.
This was a substandard product. And it pisses me off that I actually paid for it. Sorry for the rant, but I just had to say it.
And OMG, could the author not find the time to write the final big confrontation for her readers? We had to make do with a short synopsis after our protagonist wakes up from yet another beating? Just...stunning.
This was a substandard product. And it pisses me off that I actually paid for it. Sorry for the rant, but I just had to say it.
June 17, 2014
Definitely one of my favorites in this series. Jackie is a gunslinger and a sorcerer straight from the old west. Calling everybody "hoss" and being as polite as the old westerns would like us to believe everybody was at that time. Very old fashioned MC but he is very charming and has nice no-nonsense attitude that fits him well.
The story is mix of couple of smaller PI cases and the big one that extends through the whole book. The main mystery was well done. The bad guys stayed hidden until the very end and there was enough happening to keep me interested but not over whelmed.
Enjoyable read.
The story is mix of couple of smaller PI cases and the big one that extends through the whole book. The main mystery was well done. The bad guys stayed hidden until the very end and there was enough happening to keep me interested but not over whelmed.
Enjoyable read.
May 1, 2017
Sigh. I was still eager to finish it, but I agree with many of the other reviewers here. I LOVE the other books and characters in this series, and this installment couldn't hold a candle up to them.
I repeat: sigh.
I repeat: sigh.
September 18, 2014
3.5 stars
This is an awesome series and while this wasn't my favorite of the stories I did enjoy it.
This is an awesome series and while this wasn't my favorite of the stories I did enjoy it.
August 30, 2014
Enjoyed this quite a bit, loved seeing more of the world building all put together but the old west accent was grating as anything. Also pacing all over was wonky.
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