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Hell to Pay #3
Flame Unleashed
When Civil War nurse Ruth Blackstone sacrificed her soul to save her husband's life, he utterly betrayed her trust. Now, 150 years later, she's still stuck killing depraved souls to feed her devil of a boss, Jerahmeel. She's never been one for hair-brained schemes or sweet-talking flirts. That is, until she meets Cajun rogue Odie Pierre-Noir.Odie has the research and the war plan to overthrow Jerahmeel and win freedom for all Indebteds. There's just one he needs Ruth to act as bait. With charm on his side, he shows Ruth an intense passion she's never experienced before.Now Ruth must make the hardest decision of her long, damned continue in relative safety as an Indebted with Odie as her lover, or risk their eternal souls for one chance to break the curse. Will she choose the lesser evil?Sensuality Sensual
- GenresParanormal Romance
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2015
5 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
Jillian David
27 books476 followersSign up for my newsletter here: https://www.jilliandavid.net/newslett...
To hear about deals, freebies, and new releases from Jillian, click FOLLOW on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jilli...
Award-winning and bestselling author and physician Jillian David quickly writes then slowly edits medical romance, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense books. She loves to use medical situations and characters to drive drama in her books. Her favorite cell is the platelet and her least-favorite organ is the pancreas. She fully believes that curse words, when appropriately deployed during surgery, are hemostatic. Which also explains why no book of hers will ever bleed out...
According to multiple starred reviews, Jillian's books cause sleep deprivation and a drop in productivity, as well as visceral responses from her vivid descriptions -- side effects which might qualify as a breach of her Hippocratic Oath to 'do no harm.'
Here's what readers are saying:
- "You will not want to start this book right before bed like I did because you won’t want to go to sleep."
- "...a highly original, paranormal, second chance, romantic suspense novel on steroids, and it kept me turning pages until dawn, and it gets 5 bleary-eyed stars from this reader."
- "I started this incredible paranormal suspense filled love story and couldn't put it down. I stayed up the entire night reading it."
- "Such an awesome read. As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. I even stayed home from the gym just to be able to finish this in the same day."
- "(T)his author sure knows how to write torture scenes and make you feel the physical abuse the characters are going through!"
- "(T)his (writer) can make you twist around in your seat in an effort to not pee yourself from fear."
- "Jillian writes incredibly interesting characters in situations that keep you reading late into the night, even if you have to work the next morning."
- "Just read the 4-book story (The Cowboys of Copper River series) to the end, started yesterday afternoon! Couldn't put it down, except for 3 hours when I fell asleep early this morning."
YUKON VALLEY, ALASKA (medical romance)
1) Dr. Alaska
2) Paging Dr. Breakup
3) Five Alarm Love
HELL TO PAY (paranormal romance)
1) Immortal Flame
2) Relentless Flame
3) Flame Unleashed
4) Flame's Dawn
HELL'S VALLEY (paranormal western romance)
1) Legacy of Lies
2) Legacy Lost
3) Legacy of Danger
4) Legacy Found
PROJECT MORPHEUS (military romantic suspense)
1) Fallen Comrade
2) Hidden Comrade
3) Silent Comrade
Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for Jillian's newsletter here: https://www.jilliandavid.net/newslett...
To hear about deals, freebies, and new releases from Jillian, click FOLLOW on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jilli...
Award-winning and bestselling author and physician Jillian David quickly writes then slowly edits medical romance, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense books. She loves to use medical situations and characters to drive drama in her books. Her favorite cell is the platelet and her least-favorite organ is the pancreas. She fully believes that curse words, when appropriately deployed during surgery, are hemostatic. Which also explains why no book of hers will ever bleed out...
According to multiple starred reviews, Jillian's books cause sleep deprivation and a drop in productivity, as well as visceral responses from her vivid descriptions -- side effects which might qualify as a breach of her Hippocratic Oath to 'do no harm.'
Here's what readers are saying:
- "You will not want to start this book right before bed like I did because you won’t want to go to sleep."
- "...a highly original, paranormal, second chance, romantic suspense novel on steroids, and it kept me turning pages until dawn, and it gets 5 bleary-eyed stars from this reader."
- "I started this incredible paranormal suspense filled love story and couldn't put it down. I stayed up the entire night reading it."
- "Such an awesome read. As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. I even stayed home from the gym just to be able to finish this in the same day."
- "(T)his author sure knows how to write torture scenes and make you feel the physical abuse the characters are going through!"
- "(T)his (writer) can make you twist around in your seat in an effort to not pee yourself from fear."
- "Jillian writes incredibly interesting characters in situations that keep you reading late into the night, even if you have to work the next morning."
- "Just read the 4-book story (The Cowboys of Copper River series) to the end, started yesterday afternoon! Couldn't put it down, except for 3 hours when I fell asleep early this morning."
YUKON VALLEY, ALASKA (medical romance)
1) Dr. Alaska
2) Paging Dr. Breakup
3) Five Alarm Love
HELL TO PAY (paranormal romance)
1) Immortal Flame
2) Relentless Flame
3) Flame Unleashed
4) Flame's Dawn
HELL'S VALLEY (paranormal western romance)
1) Legacy of Lies
2) Legacy Lost
3) Legacy of Danger
4) Legacy Found
PROJECT MORPHEUS (military romantic suspense)
1) Fallen Comrade
2) Hidden Comrade
3) Silent Comrade
Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for Jillian's newsletter here: https://www.jilliandavid.net/newslett...
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September 14, 2015
Flame Unleashed is the third and final book in the Hell To Pay trilogy by Jillian David. I have loved this series from the start and this last book was amazing. This book was generously provided to me by the author for an honest review.
We got to meet Ruth Blackstone in the previous book as our beloved Barnaby’s nurse. But we didn’t get to know her at all. She was always a quiet and prim and proper care giver. But that was only one part of what Ruth Blackstone was. Ruth is also an indebted. As you get to know her, you can’t help but care for her, love her even. When she finally revealed the story as to how she became an indebted, my heart broke for her. Her love for Barnaby is apparent from the start. She not only is his caregiver, she truly loves him as a father figure. But as an indebted, she must hunt and kill the lowest of humans that walk amongst us to feed her knife. When Ruth hunts, she wears a disguise and becomes someone else. So who is the real Ruth Blackstone? Maybe she doesn’t even know anymore.
An indebted is someone that has signed a contract and given their soul over to Jerahmeel who is Satan in human form. When an indebted kills someone evil, their evil essence is drawn in to the knife and feeds the black soul of Jerahmeel. He has many indebted that continue to keep him strong and an indebted cannot fight the need to kill.
Odilon Pierre-Noir or Odie, lives in New Orleans and is an old friend of Barnaby so Barnaby and Ruth are visiting him. The first time Odie and Ruth meet, the attraction is there, the spark of electricity when they touch. But Ruth cannot allow herself to ever trust a man again after the betrayal of her husband when she became indebted. Odie has been researching and planning for his entire existence to find a way to end Jerahmeel and to free himself and other indebted. When he meets Ruth, he knows that he needs her to help him to carry out his plan. At first I didn’t like Odie much as I felt like he was going to use Ruth. But I couldn’t help but to fall for him as time went on. How could I not love this sexy Frenchman?
Jerahmeel for some reason is fixated on Ruth. He keeps showing up at her kills, propositioning her. Ruth does have a special ability she has kept secret but I’m still not sure if Jerahmeel figured it out and wanted her for that or if he just wanted Ruth because she was beautiful. Odie sees this, though, as the perfect way to use Ruth as bait to finally kill Jerahmeel.
“He had to have her. Not any woman. This woman.”
I really did love this book. As Odie and Ruth spend time together, I loved watching them gravitate to each other, as much as neither of them wanted it. We also get to spend time with Peter and Allie and their beautiful new baby, and Dante and Hannah from the second book. The chemistry was sizzling between Odie and Ruth and the sexy scenes were steamy and perfect. And the build up to the final showdown was intense and crazy. This was a perfect final book to this trilogy and Jillian David did a fantastic job bringing everything to it’s big finale.
You could probably read this book as a stand alone but it would be so much better to start at the beginning of this series and read Immortal Flame and then Relentless Flame so you can meet the other two couples and get to know everyone’s history. That will help you enjoy this book even more. Great job, Jillian David, with this fantastic series. I truly enjoyed it.
We got to meet Ruth Blackstone in the previous book as our beloved Barnaby’s nurse. But we didn’t get to know her at all. She was always a quiet and prim and proper care giver. But that was only one part of what Ruth Blackstone was. Ruth is also an indebted. As you get to know her, you can’t help but care for her, love her even. When she finally revealed the story as to how she became an indebted, my heart broke for her. Her love for Barnaby is apparent from the start. She not only is his caregiver, she truly loves him as a father figure. But as an indebted, she must hunt and kill the lowest of humans that walk amongst us to feed her knife. When Ruth hunts, she wears a disguise and becomes someone else. So who is the real Ruth Blackstone? Maybe she doesn’t even know anymore.
An indebted is someone that has signed a contract and given their soul over to Jerahmeel who is Satan in human form. When an indebted kills someone evil, their evil essence is drawn in to the knife and feeds the black soul of Jerahmeel. He has many indebted that continue to keep him strong and an indebted cannot fight the need to kill.
Odilon Pierre-Noir or Odie, lives in New Orleans and is an old friend of Barnaby so Barnaby and Ruth are visiting him. The first time Odie and Ruth meet, the attraction is there, the spark of electricity when they touch. But Ruth cannot allow herself to ever trust a man again after the betrayal of her husband when she became indebted. Odie has been researching and planning for his entire existence to find a way to end Jerahmeel and to free himself and other indebted. When he meets Ruth, he knows that he needs her to help him to carry out his plan. At first I didn’t like Odie much as I felt like he was going to use Ruth. But I couldn’t help but to fall for him as time went on. How could I not love this sexy Frenchman?
Jerahmeel for some reason is fixated on Ruth. He keeps showing up at her kills, propositioning her. Ruth does have a special ability she has kept secret but I’m still not sure if Jerahmeel figured it out and wanted her for that or if he just wanted Ruth because she was beautiful. Odie sees this, though, as the perfect way to use Ruth as bait to finally kill Jerahmeel.
“He had to have her. Not any woman. This woman.”
I really did love this book. As Odie and Ruth spend time together, I loved watching them gravitate to each other, as much as neither of them wanted it. We also get to spend time with Peter and Allie and their beautiful new baby, and Dante and Hannah from the second book. The chemistry was sizzling between Odie and Ruth and the sexy scenes were steamy and perfect. And the build up to the final showdown was intense and crazy. This was a perfect final book to this trilogy and Jillian David did a fantastic job bringing everything to it’s big finale.
You could probably read this book as a stand alone but it would be so much better to start at the beginning of this series and read Immortal Flame and then Relentless Flame so you can meet the other two couples and get to know everyone’s history. That will help you enjoy this book even more. Great job, Jillian David, with this fantastic series. I truly enjoyed it.
January 22, 2021
Feels like I'm giving all books 4 stars today, but been in a good reading flow! I haven't read the rest of the books in the series. Wasn't specified on my app so I just picked one. But I highly enjoyed the story anywho. Liked that the heroine was a supernatural as well and liked that badassness of the characters! Great deal of fun, will definitely read the rest of the series
August 16, 2015
4.5 Is this the end? Stars
Well we have gone through 3 books now and I have to ask myself and Ms David if this is the end of the road for our Indebted.
If so, it is kinda depressing that we will have no more minions, the boss man and Barnaby.
Over the months, I have grown to know and love this family of Indebted and feel each time one of them needs to find his/her meaningful kill...I am cheering them on to figure out how to accomplish that.
We have gone through Peter and Dante...now it is Ruth's turn...and she doesn't just find a mortal to fall in love with, she finds herself another Indebted. Hmmm....I bet the sex between the two sets the sheets on fire!
This is another book I enjoyed by Ms. David and I hope she continues to write books and series that will have me anticipating when the next one in the series is being released!
Well we have gone through 3 books now and I have to ask myself and Ms David if this is the end of the road for our Indebted.
If so, it is kinda depressing that we will have no more minions, the boss man and Barnaby.
Over the months, I have grown to know and love this family of Indebted and feel each time one of them needs to find his/her meaningful kill...I am cheering them on to figure out how to accomplish that.
We have gone through Peter and Dante...now it is Ruth's turn...and she doesn't just find a mortal to fall in love with, she finds herself another Indebted. Hmmm....I bet the sex between the two sets the sheets on fire!
This is another book I enjoyed by Ms. David and I hope she continues to write books and series that will have me anticipating when the next one in the series is being released!
August 30, 2015
Wow! What a conclusion to David’s latest series! She drew me in with her intriguing characters and kept me captive with the intricately crafted plot. Suspense, action, and the unknown fill the pages of this intriguing novel. She creates her world in an intricate manner, without losing the forward flow of the story. Each aspect of the world is so vibrant, even with the dark undertones of the tale.
David creates the type of characters that I could connect with. I enjoyed getting to know them. Their lives and tales were so different from my own, yet their actions and reactions were so natural. I wanted to know them, to become part of their lives, if only for the pages of the novel. Their motives and actions weren’t always apparent, or if they were, they were sometimes suspect. This made things so interesting for me.
David has definitely created a novel that will catch your attention. Her attention to detail brings each aspect to life while her natural storytelling abilities allow her to craft a well written, endlessly enjoyable story.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
David creates the type of characters that I could connect with. I enjoyed getting to know them. Their lives and tales were so different from my own, yet their actions and reactions were so natural. I wanted to know them, to become part of their lives, if only for the pages of the novel. Their motives and actions weren’t always apparent, or if they were, they were sometimes suspect. This made things so interesting for me.
David has definitely created a novel that will catch your attention. Her attention to detail brings each aspect to life while her natural storytelling abilities allow her to craft a well written, endlessly enjoyable story.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2015
Hard to imagine that Jerahmeel’s indebted ones are actually getting their souls back after decades of service to his evilness. During the Civil War when Ruth became indebted to him, it was to save her husband’s life, the very man who turned around and betrayed her, soul deep. Since that fateful day, she has been at the beck and call of the demon, feeding him with the evil of her cursed blade. Serious and very cautious, her heart has never healed and when a flirty Cajun rogue tries his sweet-talking moves on her, she is surprised to find there is something about this indebted that is awakening her dead heart. Have these two found a reason to risk their eternal souls for a chance at true love?
Odie is a rebel, he has long planned to break free of his bond with Jerameel, but when he meets Ruth, a caregiver for one of the lucky ones who had earned his freedom from the demon, the sparks fly and wheels of hope begin to turn.
Talk about a grand finale to Jillian David’s Hell to Pay Trilogy! Flame Unleashed is proof positive that even a demon is no match for a woman on a mission for love. The serious side of Ruth is well-played off the cock-sure attitude of Odie, who oozed Cajun charm. Jillian David has truly made a great match here, not necessarily a match made in heaven, but surely one to keep readers, chuckling, sighing and rooting for these two. Do they have what it takes to earn their freedom? Is it possible they can do even more?
With Jillian David’s creative pen, anything can and just may happen in this rousing conclusion to her trilogy. Once again, she has concocted a blend of humor, heart and heat, and I don’t mean from the depths of hell.
I received an ARC edition from Jillian David in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Hell to Pay - Book 3
Publication Date: September 14, 2015
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: PNR
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Odie is a rebel, he has long planned to break free of his bond with Jerameel, but when he meets Ruth, a caregiver for one of the lucky ones who had earned his freedom from the demon, the sparks fly and wheels of hope begin to turn.
Talk about a grand finale to Jillian David’s Hell to Pay Trilogy! Flame Unleashed is proof positive that even a demon is no match for a woman on a mission for love. The serious side of Ruth is well-played off the cock-sure attitude of Odie, who oozed Cajun charm. Jillian David has truly made a great match here, not necessarily a match made in heaven, but surely one to keep readers, chuckling, sighing and rooting for these two. Do they have what it takes to earn their freedom? Is it possible they can do even more?
With Jillian David’s creative pen, anything can and just may happen in this rousing conclusion to her trilogy. Once again, she has concocted a blend of humor, heart and heat, and I don’t mean from the depths of hell.
I received an ARC edition from Jillian David in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Hell to Pay - Book 3
Publication Date: September 14, 2015
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: PNR
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 11, 2016
“There’s nothing I want more in this world than you in my life. Every day. I love you more than my own life!” – Odilon Pierre-Noir
The final book of the trilogy, and boy, what a finale! I'm still shocked at how good it was and how awesomely Mrs. David tied the whole thing up!
So, remember Nurse Ratched from Dante's book? Well, her name is Ruth Blackstone, and, you guessed it right, she's also an Indebted. Ruth is a little special apart from being a female cursed feeder for The Evil One - Jerahmeel has an odd fascination with her, bordering on obsession. So of course he starts acting up when Odie Pierre-Noir, an old friend of Barnaby's, starts spending more time with her than he would have liked. Ruth is caught between her demonic boss whom she very much wants to avoid for all eternity, and the attractive guy who seems interested in her but also has an agenda of his own. After getting hurt and betrayed once in her life, will she risk it all again? Especially if the price this time is eternal existence as the Devil's mistress?
I seriously loved this final installment of the series! Maybe more than I did the other two. With Peter, it was that excitement of something unique and new. With Dante, it was personal, because I was drooling for the man and died a happy fangirl death every time he so much as breathed. But with Ruth? Aaah, with Ruth it was like pure perfection, satisfaction I didn't even know I was expecting!
The love story was not what we haven't seen before. A guy wants to use a woman he might have the hots for. Eventually he falls - and hard. Ah, no, that much we knew we had it coming. What was really refreshing, though, was that, until the very last moment, Ruth refused to be used. Have I told you guys how much I love heroines who stay true to their word and don't act like indecisive brats? Who have spunk and self-respect and know how to kick ass and look AWESOME while doing it? Because I do!
Apart from that, the writer, always an expert with plot twists delivered like sucker punches, managed to make me gasp, once again, and fly off my chair. Just when you think there's nothing left for her to use, she goes and surprises you in the least expected moment of the story, and she does so unapologetically and quite fabulously - Like. A. Freaking. Boss!
I certainly recommend reading this series to anyone looking for a hot, fast-paced, shiver-inducing story. The characters, the plot turns, the build up, they're all worth a try. I may miss those six - and boy, I wouldn't mind a little more something on that hot Spaniard holding Emma at the hospital - but I'm sure glad I got to read their stories and reached the end. It was an experience much appreciated!
***I was given a review copy via Reeading Alley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
The final book of the trilogy, and boy, what a finale! I'm still shocked at how good it was and how awesomely Mrs. David tied the whole thing up!
So, remember Nurse Ratched from Dante's book? Well, her name is Ruth Blackstone, and, you guessed it right, she's also an Indebted. Ruth is a little special apart from being a female cursed feeder for The Evil One - Jerahmeel has an odd fascination with her, bordering on obsession. So of course he starts acting up when Odie Pierre-Noir, an old friend of Barnaby's, starts spending more time with her than he would have liked. Ruth is caught between her demonic boss whom she very much wants to avoid for all eternity, and the attractive guy who seems interested in her but also has an agenda of his own. After getting hurt and betrayed once in her life, will she risk it all again? Especially if the price this time is eternal existence as the Devil's mistress?
I seriously loved this final installment of the series! Maybe more than I did the other two. With Peter, it was that excitement of something unique and new. With Dante, it was personal, because I was drooling for the man and died a happy fangirl death every time he so much as breathed. But with Ruth? Aaah, with Ruth it was like pure perfection, satisfaction I didn't even know I was expecting!
The love story was not what we haven't seen before. A guy wants to use a woman he might have the hots for. Eventually he falls - and hard. Ah, no, that much we knew we had it coming. What was really refreshing, though, was that, until the very last moment, Ruth refused to be used. Have I told you guys how much I love heroines who stay true to their word and don't act like indecisive brats? Who have spunk and self-respect and know how to kick ass and look AWESOME while doing it? Because I do!
Apart from that, the writer, always an expert with plot twists delivered like sucker punches, managed to make me gasp, once again, and fly off my chair. Just when you think there's nothing left for her to use, she goes and surprises you in the least expected moment of the story, and she does so unapologetically and quite fabulously - Like. A. Freaking. Boss!
I certainly recommend reading this series to anyone looking for a hot, fast-paced, shiver-inducing story. The characters, the plot turns, the build up, they're all worth a try. I may miss those six - and boy, I wouldn't mind a little more something on that hot Spaniard holding Emma at the hospital - but I'm sure glad I got to read their stories and reached the end. It was an experience much appreciated!
***I was given a review copy via Reeading Alley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
August 29, 2016
Review originally posted at Ruby's Books
*Disclaimer: Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
The last book in the Hell To Pay series was a pretty intense one, and definitely not how I pictured it would be
The last book in the Hell To Pay series was a pretty intense one, and definitely not how I pictured it would be. Actually the entire story was surprising and different than what I imagined at first.
You have Odie, an older Indebted, who, I'll be honest, wasn't my favorite in the beginning. I let my feelings be a little bit influenced by Ruth's reluctance to let him in, to be honest. But besides Ruth, I kept wondering what was his angle. I knew he showed his cards from the very beginning, and he was pretty honest from the get go about what his plan was and what he wanted, but a part of me wondered if he wasn't more than just the guy who wanted to end Jerahmeel forever, that maybe he wanted more. Then as the story progressed, I started liking him, especially after he shared his story, which is rather heartbreaking. I liked his dedication and his willingness to do whatever it took to free his brothers and sisters from their boss.
Then there's Ruth. Ruth was also a very different heroine than Allie and Hannah. Reading the book, I kept having this impression that she's much more than a nurse and a killer, like those were just masks. I liked the power struggle that went on between her and Jerahmeel. It was an intriguing aspect of the story. I am happy with how the story ended for her, especially with what she found out about her human family, because she really deserved it.
We finally find out more about Jerahmeel, and his story was not what I expected. Of course, knowing him and knowing what he did to Peter and Dante, I have to question some parts of his story. I also wonder if the ending of the book really meant the end of Jerahmeel. I know this is the last book in the series, but you know me, I'm always craving some drama in my books.
The pacing was great, not different from the other two books. I feel like the ending was a little rushed, especially since I still have some questions about this world. Also Jerahmeel's story kind of brought up more questions. It answered a few, but it certainly opened up a whole bunch of others, for me at least. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely be checking Jillian David's books in the future.
*Disclaimer: Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
The last book in the Hell To Pay series was a pretty intense one, and definitely not how I pictured it would be
The last book in the Hell To Pay series was a pretty intense one, and definitely not how I pictured it would be. Actually the entire story was surprising and different than what I imagined at first.
You have Odie, an older Indebted, who, I'll be honest, wasn't my favorite in the beginning. I let my feelings be a little bit influenced by Ruth's reluctance to let him in, to be honest. But besides Ruth, I kept wondering what was his angle. I knew he showed his cards from the very beginning, and he was pretty honest from the get go about what his plan was and what he wanted, but a part of me wondered if he wasn't more than just the guy who wanted to end Jerahmeel forever, that maybe he wanted more. Then as the story progressed, I started liking him, especially after he shared his story, which is rather heartbreaking. I liked his dedication and his willingness to do whatever it took to free his brothers and sisters from their boss.
Then there's Ruth. Ruth was also a very different heroine than Allie and Hannah. Reading the book, I kept having this impression that she's much more than a nurse and a killer, like those were just masks. I liked the power struggle that went on between her and Jerahmeel. It was an intriguing aspect of the story. I am happy with how the story ended for her, especially with what she found out about her human family, because she really deserved it.
We finally find out more about Jerahmeel, and his story was not what I expected. Of course, knowing him and knowing what he did to Peter and Dante, I have to question some parts of his story. I also wonder if the ending of the book really meant the end of Jerahmeel. I know this is the last book in the series, but you know me, I'm always craving some drama in my books.
The pacing was great, not different from the other two books. I feel like the ending was a little rushed, especially since I still have some questions about this world. Also Jerahmeel's story kind of brought up more questions. It answered a few, but it certainly opened up a whole bunch of others, for me at least. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely be checking Jillian David's books in the future.
July 31, 2018
“There’s nothing I want more in this world than you in my life. Every day. I love you more than my own life!” – Odilon Pierre-Noir
The final book of the trilogy, and boy, what a finale! I'm still shocked at how good it was and how awesomely Mrs. David tied the whole thing up!
So, remember Nurse Ratched from Dante's book? Well, her name is Ruth Blackstone, and, you guessed it right, she's also an Indebted. Ruth is a little special apart from being a female cursed feeder for The Evil One - Jerahmeel has an odd fascination with her, bordering on obsession. So of course he starts acting up when Odie Pierre-Noir, an old friend of Barnaby's, starts spending more time with her than he would have liked. Ruth is caught between her demonic boss whom she very much wants to avoid for all eternity, and the attractive guy who seems interested in her but also has an agenda of his own. After getting hurt and betrayed once in her life, will she risk it all again? Especially if the price this time is eternal existence as the Devil's mistress?
I seriously loved this final installment of the series! Maybe more than I did the other two. With Peter, it was that excitement of something unique and new. With Dante, it was personal, because I was drooling for the man and died a happy fangirl death every time he so much as breathed. But with Ruth? Aaah, with Ruth it was like pure perfection, satisfaction I didn't even know I was expecting!
The love story was not what we haven't seen before. A guy wants to use a woman he might have the hots for. Eventually he falls - and hard. Ah, no, that much we knew we had it coming. What was really refreshing, though, was that, until the very last moment, Ruth refused to be used. Have I told you guys how much I love heroines who stay true to their word and don't act like indecisive brats? Who have spunk and self-respect and know how to kick ass and look AWESOME while doing it? Because I do!
Apart from that, the writer, always an expert with plot twists delivered like sucker punches, managed to make me gasp, once again, and fly off my chair. Just when you think there's nothing left for her to use, she goes and surprises you in the least expected moment of the story, and she does so unapologetically and quite fabulously - Like. A. Freaking. Boss!
I certainly recommend reading this series to anyone looking for a hot, fast-paced, shiver-inducing story. The characters, the plot turns, the build up, they're all worth a try. I may miss those six - and boy, I wouldn't mind a little more something on that hot Spaniard holding Emma at the hospital - but I'm sure glad I got to read their stories and reached the end. It was an experience much appreciated!
***I was given a review copy via Reeading Alley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at:
https://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress....
The final book of the trilogy, and boy, what a finale! I'm still shocked at how good it was and how awesomely Mrs. David tied the whole thing up!
So, remember Nurse Ratched from Dante's book? Well, her name is Ruth Blackstone, and, you guessed it right, she's also an Indebted. Ruth is a little special apart from being a female cursed feeder for The Evil One - Jerahmeel has an odd fascination with her, bordering on obsession. So of course he starts acting up when Odie Pierre-Noir, an old friend of Barnaby's, starts spending more time with her than he would have liked. Ruth is caught between her demonic boss whom she very much wants to avoid for all eternity, and the attractive guy who seems interested in her but also has an agenda of his own. After getting hurt and betrayed once in her life, will she risk it all again? Especially if the price this time is eternal existence as the Devil's mistress?
I seriously loved this final installment of the series! Maybe more than I did the other two. With Peter, it was that excitement of something unique and new. With Dante, it was personal, because I was drooling for the man and died a happy fangirl death every time he so much as breathed. But with Ruth? Aaah, with Ruth it was like pure perfection, satisfaction I didn't even know I was expecting!
The love story was not what we haven't seen before. A guy wants to use a woman he might have the hots for. Eventually he falls - and hard. Ah, no, that much we knew we had it coming. What was really refreshing, though, was that, until the very last moment, Ruth refused to be used. Have I told you guys how much I love heroines who stay true to their word and don't act like indecisive brats? Who have spunk and self-respect and know how to kick ass and look AWESOME while doing it? Because I do!
Apart from that, the writer, always an expert with plot twists delivered like sucker punches, managed to make me gasp, once again, and fly off my chair. Just when you think there's nothing left for her to use, she goes and surprises you in the least expected moment of the story, and she does so unapologetically and quite fabulously - Like. A. Freaking. Boss!
I certainly recommend reading this series to anyone looking for a hot, fast-paced, shiver-inducing story. The characters, the plot turns, the build up, they're all worth a try. I may miss those six - and boy, I wouldn't mind a little more something on that hot Spaniard holding Emma at the hospital - but I'm sure glad I got to read their stories and reached the end. It was an experience much appreciated!
***I was given a review copy via Reeading Alley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at:
https://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress....
August 31, 2019
Reviewed by Angela
Book provided by the publisher
This is the first book that I have read by Jillian David and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. Recently I have found myself shying away from paranormal stories but I was pulled right into this one. The story leads in more like it is going to be a murder mystery and I think that is the part that grabbed my attention.
The first character that we meet is Ruth. She is the female lead and boy is she headstrong and set in her ways. But you quickly learn that underneath that tuff exterior is an amazing heart. In walk Odie, the male lead. Both Ruth and Odie have had a horrid past over the last century and have their own fair share of walls built up to protect themselves. They learn fast through that there is something that they can't deny between them. An attraction that they can't fight.
The writing is fast passed and kept me on my toes. She is very detailed and I found that the stories between the main characters and the sub characters flowed without any issues. This is the third book in the Hell to Pay series and I had no problem picking up this book and jumping right in. I feel very comfortable in saying that you can read the books in order or as stand alone novels.
A wonderful read full of action and romance. I give this book a 4 rose rating.
Book provided by the publisher
This is the first book that I have read by Jillian David and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. Recently I have found myself shying away from paranormal stories but I was pulled right into this one. The story leads in more like it is going to be a murder mystery and I think that is the part that grabbed my attention.
The first character that we meet is Ruth. She is the female lead and boy is she headstrong and set in her ways. But you quickly learn that underneath that tuff exterior is an amazing heart. In walk Odie, the male lead. Both Ruth and Odie have had a horrid past over the last century and have their own fair share of walls built up to protect themselves. They learn fast through that there is something that they can't deny between them. An attraction that they can't fight.
The writing is fast passed and kept me on my toes. She is very detailed and I found that the stories between the main characters and the sub characters flowed without any issues. This is the third book in the Hell to Pay series and I had no problem picking up this book and jumping right in. I feel very comfortable in saying that you can read the books in order or as stand alone novels.
A wonderful read full of action and romance. I give this book a 4 rose rating.
January 30, 2019
This is a very well written original series, with excellent character and world-building.
November 3, 2015
* I received this book for free from Crimson Romance in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
* Originally published on my book blog, Will Read for Feels.
When you know that a book is the final one in a series, it sets quite a few expectations, whether or not you’ve read the previous books. It was no different for book 3 in Jillian David’s Hell to Pay series, Flame Unleashed. The series features the Indebted, folks who sold their souls to a being who feeds on the deaths of evildoers—the darker the taint on the soul, the yummier, apparently—in moments of need and who are doomed to spend eternity murdering baddies unless they can achieve what’s called the Meaningful Kill, something that’s different for every person.
I won’t talk about what happened in the previous books, although if you want to read my review of Relentless Flame (Hell to Pay #2), you are certainly free to do so. What I did observe, though, was that this book was more intense than its predecessors; beyond having a more vital main plot line, the relationship between the two main characters, Ruth and Odie, is also way more fired up right off the bat. It was also more action-packed.I’m afraid I’m a little conflicted about the main plot line that revolves around Ruth and Odie’s path to redemption. On one hand, I really appreciated that the author seemed to adopt a go-big-or-go-home attitude toward writing in the finale of her series. On the other hand, I felt like the mission was so big that I would have liked to see more buildup or foreshadowing of it in the previous books. Sure, the absence of such makes this much more accessible to new readers, but loyal readers may feel a little like some of the things have pretty much come from left field. As a result, I felt like the culmination of the story (and of the series) would definitely have been more satisfying had the author laid more breadcrumbs to it in previous books.
That’s pretty much my biggest beef with this story, actually. I enjoyed the slickness of Cajun Indebted warrior Odie Pierre-Noir’s character and how he strips all of that away for the main character, Ruth. On the other hand, I also really enjoyed Ruth herself and the way she is both a butt-kicker and a woman whose hurts and regrets delve deep into the soul. And finally, I loved learning more about the oh-so-hateworthy Jerahmeel. I may have missed some of the humor injected into Book #2, but I quickly determined that it would have seemed out of place in this book.
Flame Unleashed delivered on its unspoken promise to be better than either of the books that preceded it. Better yet, even if you haven’t read the previous books, I feel as though this would work very, very well as a standalone novel, even if you don’t get pretty nostalgic during the reunion sequence, something loyal readers will likely enjoy. Meanwhile, if you have read the other books in the series, you’ll be pleased to learn the whys and wherefores of both the Indebted and of Jerahmeel himself. And while this book may be the end for this particular series, I am looking forward to the stories the author decides to tell next—not to mention the great and detailed world-building Ms. David has exhibited in this trilogy.
* Originally published on my book blog, Will Read for Feels.
When you know that a book is the final one in a series, it sets quite a few expectations, whether or not you’ve read the previous books. It was no different for book 3 in Jillian David’s Hell to Pay series, Flame Unleashed. The series features the Indebted, folks who sold their souls to a being who feeds on the deaths of evildoers—the darker the taint on the soul, the yummier, apparently—in moments of need and who are doomed to spend eternity murdering baddies unless they can achieve what’s called the Meaningful Kill, something that’s different for every person.
I won’t talk about what happened in the previous books, although if you want to read my review of Relentless Flame (Hell to Pay #2), you are certainly free to do so. What I did observe, though, was that this book was more intense than its predecessors; beyond having a more vital main plot line, the relationship between the two main characters, Ruth and Odie, is also way more fired up right off the bat. It was also more action-packed.I’m afraid I’m a little conflicted about the main plot line that revolves around Ruth and Odie’s path to redemption. On one hand, I really appreciated that the author seemed to adopt a go-big-or-go-home attitude toward writing in the finale of her series. On the other hand, I felt like the mission was so big that I would have liked to see more buildup or foreshadowing of it in the previous books. Sure, the absence of such makes this much more accessible to new readers, but loyal readers may feel a little like some of the things have pretty much come from left field. As a result, I felt like the culmination of the story (and of the series) would definitely have been more satisfying had the author laid more breadcrumbs to it in previous books.
That’s pretty much my biggest beef with this story, actually. I enjoyed the slickness of Cajun Indebted warrior Odie Pierre-Noir’s character and how he strips all of that away for the main character, Ruth. On the other hand, I also really enjoyed Ruth herself and the way she is both a butt-kicker and a woman whose hurts and regrets delve deep into the soul. And finally, I loved learning more about the oh-so-hateworthy Jerahmeel. I may have missed some of the humor injected into Book #2, but I quickly determined that it would have seemed out of place in this book.
Flame Unleashed delivered on its unspoken promise to be better than either of the books that preceded it. Better yet, even if you haven’t read the previous books, I feel as though this would work very, very well as a standalone novel, even if you don’t get pretty nostalgic during the reunion sequence, something loyal readers will likely enjoy. Meanwhile, if you have read the other books in the series, you’ll be pleased to learn the whys and wherefores of both the Indebted and of Jerahmeel himself. And while this book may be the end for this particular series, I am looking forward to the stories the author decides to tell next—not to mention the great and detailed world-building Ms. David has exhibited in this trilogy.
September 16, 2015
I loved the first two books in this series, I didn’t think it would get any better……
Flame Unleashed is the third and final book in the Hell To Pay trilogy by Jillian David. To be honest you could read it as a stand alone, but as we meet both the couples from the previous books, it would probably help. I enjoyed reading all three together.
We first met Ruth in the previous book. She was playing a part of a nurse, we don’t get much on her character, she seemed a quiet person, but I also got the impression that she was a very caring person. But Ruth isn’t an ordinary person, she is an indebted. An immortal assassin, chained by the devil, she kills evil with her specially given dagger, hoping one day to repay the debt and be free.
(An indebted is someone that has signed a contract and given their soul over to Jerahmeel who is Satan in human form. When an indebted kills someone evil, their evil essence is drawn in to the knife and feeds Jerahmeel, and an indebted cannot fight the need to kill.)
As the story evolves, we find out how Ruth became an indebted, it’s a sad tale of betrayal and deceit. When she is given a task, Ruth wears a disguise, she becomes a totally different person, is this to help her, or does it shield the real Ruth, if her soul is a caring person, wouldn’t this slowly destroy her? Does Ruth even know the real person anymore?
The first time Odie and Ruth meet, the attraction is there, there spark of electricity when they touched. But Ruth cannot allow herself to ever trust a man again after the betrayal of her husband, so she does all she can to convince Odie she doesn’t like him.
Odie has been researching and planning for his entire existence to find a way to end Jerahmeel and to free himself and other indebted. When he meets Ruth, he knows that he needs her to help him to carry out his plan.
I wasn’t too keen on our hero at first, I got the impression that he was out to use Ruth. He notices that his boss Jerahmeel has a fascination for Ruth, if she’s on a mission, he will pop up and make her uncomfortable. He seems fascinated with her; does he have feelings for her ? Odie sees this, as the perfect way to use Ruth as bait to finally kill Jerahmeel.
But he happily proved me wrong. When they FINALLY decide to be together, the connection they have to each other was great to read. They care about each other deeply. The chemistry was sizzling between Odie and Ruth.
We also get to spend time with Peter and Allie and their beautiful new baby, (hero and heroine from book one) and Dante and Hannah (they were the main characters from the second book.)
And the build up to the final showdown was intense and crazy. I’m not going to give anything away, but it could go either way. Does Odie’s plan work? Will their boss discover their plan and make them pay?
I’m sad that the series has ended, but I’ve enjoyed the ride.
Flame Unleashed is the third and final book in the Hell To Pay trilogy by Jillian David. To be honest you could read it as a stand alone, but as we meet both the couples from the previous books, it would probably help. I enjoyed reading all three together.
We first met Ruth in the previous book. She was playing a part of a nurse, we don’t get much on her character, she seemed a quiet person, but I also got the impression that she was a very caring person. But Ruth isn’t an ordinary person, she is an indebted. An immortal assassin, chained by the devil, she kills evil with her specially given dagger, hoping one day to repay the debt and be free.
(An indebted is someone that has signed a contract and given their soul over to Jerahmeel who is Satan in human form. When an indebted kills someone evil, their evil essence is drawn in to the knife and feeds Jerahmeel, and an indebted cannot fight the need to kill.)
As the story evolves, we find out how Ruth became an indebted, it’s a sad tale of betrayal and deceit. When she is given a task, Ruth wears a disguise, she becomes a totally different person, is this to help her, or does it shield the real Ruth, if her soul is a caring person, wouldn’t this slowly destroy her? Does Ruth even know the real person anymore?
The first time Odie and Ruth meet, the attraction is there, there spark of electricity when they touched. But Ruth cannot allow herself to ever trust a man again after the betrayal of her husband, so she does all she can to convince Odie she doesn’t like him.
Odie has been researching and planning for his entire existence to find a way to end Jerahmeel and to free himself and other indebted. When he meets Ruth, he knows that he needs her to help him to carry out his plan.
I wasn’t too keen on our hero at first, I got the impression that he was out to use Ruth. He notices that his boss Jerahmeel has a fascination for Ruth, if she’s on a mission, he will pop up and make her uncomfortable. He seems fascinated with her; does he have feelings for her ? Odie sees this, as the perfect way to use Ruth as bait to finally kill Jerahmeel.
But he happily proved me wrong. When they FINALLY decide to be together, the connection they have to each other was great to read. They care about each other deeply. The chemistry was sizzling between Odie and Ruth.
We also get to spend time with Peter and Allie and their beautiful new baby, (hero and heroine from book one) and Dante and Hannah (they were the main characters from the second book.)
And the build up to the final showdown was intense and crazy. I’m not going to give anything away, but it could go either way. Does Odie’s plan work? Will their boss discover their plan and make them pay?
I’m sad that the series has ended, but I’ve enjoyed the ride.
October 8, 2015
This review was originally posted at
chapterfive.wix.com/chapter5
Rate: 4.5
My thoughts:
Ok, seriously, this book has me HOOKED!! Like woah hooked! I feel like I could easily devour ten of these books in a weekend! Im totally and completely in love!!
This is the story of Ruth and Odie two Indebteds. The story is alluded to Jerahmeel and it described bits here and there. We get to know how Odie and Ruth became part of Jerahmeel killing squad and why they aren’t free of their contract with them. Jerahmeel is Hades the god of the underworld kind of. And he has a crush on Ruth and wants her as his lover but Ruth only wants to get away of this pointless life.
Odie I loved him, hot, sweet, funny, kind, sexy, mysterious, with an easy smile that melts panties.
He literally just falls hard and fast for Ruth. It’s mutual and just seriously swoony and hot. But in their world or the thing that Jerahmeel wants her makes it all more difficult and the fact that Odie wants her to help him to get to that monster makes it even harder. And at some point he’s so smitten with her that doesn’t want to risk her for anything.
As the story progressed, my heart started to clench up and the anticipation built because I knew where it was heading. I was so lost in the action and their relationship, I didn’t want anything to happen to them, and they were just too perfect together. You know that feeling you get sometimes when you just want to pluck a couple out of their nightmares and throw them on a happy little island together forever, yeah, I totally got that here.
It was heartbreaking to watch this two fight hard to get a chance to be kind of normal again.
The ending left me totally hanging and desperately for more!! But don’t worry it’s such a good book.
chapterfive.wix.com/chapter5
Rate: 4.5
My thoughts:
Ok, seriously, this book has me HOOKED!! Like woah hooked! I feel like I could easily devour ten of these books in a weekend! Im totally and completely in love!!
This is the story of Ruth and Odie two Indebteds. The story is alluded to Jerahmeel and it described bits here and there. We get to know how Odie and Ruth became part of Jerahmeel killing squad and why they aren’t free of their contract with them. Jerahmeel is Hades the god of the underworld kind of. And he has a crush on Ruth and wants her as his lover but Ruth only wants to get away of this pointless life.
Odie I loved him, hot, sweet, funny, kind, sexy, mysterious, with an easy smile that melts panties.
He literally just falls hard and fast for Ruth. It’s mutual and just seriously swoony and hot. But in their world or the thing that Jerahmeel wants her makes it all more difficult and the fact that Odie wants her to help him to get to that monster makes it even harder. And at some point he’s so smitten with her that doesn’t want to risk her for anything.
As the story progressed, my heart started to clench up and the anticipation built because I knew where it was heading. I was so lost in the action and their relationship, I didn’t want anything to happen to them, and they were just too perfect together. You know that feeling you get sometimes when you just want to pluck a couple out of their nightmares and throw them on a happy little island together forever, yeah, I totally got that here.
It was heartbreaking to watch this two fight hard to get a chance to be kind of normal again.
The ending left me totally hanging and desperately for more!! But don’t worry it’s such a good book.
August 25, 2015
Oooooo. Will this be the last of the series? Will there be more? I'm greedy, I want more!! It's another awesome spine-tingling suspense filled action packed adventure from what is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
As always, the characters are so real and just leap off the page into my imagination to become part of the ever-growing family of fictional people I wish I really knew! Her writing keeps you turning pages. This book's excitement and suspense surpasses all of the others even. Definitely the best of the series, but the only one I don't recommend reading out of order.
As an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock, I have to give Jillian David herself five fangs dripping with pleasure and the book another five! A must read for paranormal fans.
As always, the characters are so real and just leap off the page into my imagination to become part of the ever-growing family of fictional people I wish I really knew! Her writing keeps you turning pages. This book's excitement and suspense surpasses all of the others even. Definitely the best of the series, but the only one I don't recommend reading out of order.
As an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock, I have to give Jillian David herself five fangs dripping with pleasure and the book another five! A must read for paranormal fans.
September 21, 2015
Just when I thought I had the general idea of how this series would go, Ms. David swerved it in another direction. Wow was this a good read. Ice queen, Ruth, was not so ice queen after all, and I loved finding out how she'd gotten to this point. The hero seemed kind of overly rakish and manipulative until it was revealed what made him tick. Then I fell in love with him and would like a guy like that in my life. The sex was smoking hot though I wish there was a little more of it. And the end, OMFG, I cannot spill but I so want to. Let's say that I couldn't stop reading and my heart was pounding for the last few chapters. I can't believe that's the end of the series. I did not want the roller coaster to end.
February 6, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads first-reads giveaway.
Interesting and unique concept for the plot. Great characters with intriguing backstory and chemistry. The romance grows and opens up the character. Lots of suspension and tension. Satisfying ending.
Interesting and unique concept for the plot. Great characters with intriguing backstory and chemistry. The romance grows and opens up the character. Lots of suspension and tension. Satisfying ending.
February 14, 2016
4.5/5.0
This concluding edition to the Hell to Pay series stands alone, although reading the series in order will give one a better understanding of the characters and their roles as Indebteds.
Read full review in the 2016 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
This concluding edition to the Hell to Pay series stands alone, although reading the series in order will give one a better understanding of the characters and their roles as Indebteds.
Read full review in the 2016 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 14, 2016
This book is imaginative and interesting. Very easy to follow writing made comfortable, relaxing reading. Included are some danger and suspense and a satisfying ending. Good book from a talented author. It is book three in a series and even though I have not read the first two books I followed it easily.
January 22, 2017
I found this book to be fairly good. I like the characters and the plot and, even though I haven't read the two preceding books, I did follow the story with ease. This was a reading experience that was enjoyable.
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
April 24, 2017
I won this book via Goodreads giveaway from the author. I thought it was a good, quick book to read. The plot was decent and easy to follow. As a fan of paranormal reads, this one fell a bit short on the excitement meter. It started out great, and I had high hopes, but the ending was lacking. I have not read the other 2 books, so even though it was the last book in the trilogy, it can be read as a standalone.
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