Whatever for Hire

Magical Romantic Comedies #4

by R.J. Blain

Fetching a cat out of a tree should’ve been a quick, easy fifty bucks in Kanika’s pocket. Instead, following one stray thought, the devil pays her a visit and leaves her with a debt to repay. 

Owing the devil a favor is bad enough, but her life is turned upside down when it’s time to pay the piper. First, she doesn’t want the world’s sexiest firefighting, kitten-rescuing Scot as an unwilling companion. Since that wasn’t bad enough, she doesn’t know who wants him dead or why, but there’s no way in hell she’s going to let someone mar his perfection.

Add in the fact the devil wants an heir, and there’s only one thing she knows for certain: she’s in for one hell of a job.

Warning: This novel contains excessive humor, action, excitement, adventure, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Magic

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2018

About the author

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever for Hire
(Magical Romantic Comedies #4)
by R.J. Blain
This is the first book I've read in the series although I have more and will be reading them soon! It is hilarious, witty, a romantic fantasy with lots of creatures of mythology and more!
A world where shifters, the undead, and the unusual is normal. It has the devil in here but not like you have ever heard of before! Totally different and giggle worthy! Even angels are not held to regular norms.
This was hilarious! This was a stand alone unless it continues with another book but it seems complete. I certainly plan to read more in the series! Lighthearted and fun read!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever for Hire is another stand alone in this series. Up to this point I haven't made any particular mention of religion and religious symbols. Yes, in an earlier book the hero has an angel, a god and the sphinx in his family tree and certainly we've brushed up against the occasional incubus and succubus but nothing that was truly central to the stories. But in this one? Central, really central. So warning! This may violate religious concepts or images you might hold dear!

The story starts with Kanika, the owner and sole employee of her business Whatever for Hire, up a tree trying to rescue a cat for the princely sum of $50. The cat is not cooperating, the tree is not cooperating and the absolutely very last thing she needs is for The Devil to show up. 'The' Devil, not 'a' devil. The real deal, Lucifer, Satan, the Lord of Hell – and he wants a favor.

Skipping past shape shifting, rescuing the cat, falling out of the tree, etc., she refuses the favor but agrees to considering working for him. “If you want me to work for you, you need to pay me. None of this favors bullshit. Fair pay and right of refusal. Refusal means I can say no if I don’t like the job, for those of us who are contractually impaired. By us, I mean you.” Rather disgruntled he does agree "Your hospital fees—all of them for the next six months—will be your retainer. A hundred an hour for your work, including travel time. You can even keep your precious right of refusal if you absolutely must." Turns out the hospital fees are the best part, she spends a lot of time in them.

Since The Devil had just paid for having organs and bones restored to their normal locations and conditions, Kanika is feeling grateful when he asks her to accept the next job offer she gets. Which turns out to be a request to make someone disappear. Careful questioning leads to the statement they just want him out of the way for awhile but she's still getting a 'permanently' vibe so she takes the job, but mentally signs on to act as his bodyguard after she kidnaps him. It doesn't take a lot to figure out he's the hero…

So the kidnapping works, the follow up plans get trashed, she's back in the hospital, the hero sticks around and the devil's plan keeps unfolding. You know what they say, the devil is in the details.

Avoiding specifics, this story involves zombies, mummies, archangels, devils, demons, and whatever the hero and heroine are [it's significant to the story so I won't mention it], along with an attempt to leverage Hell. And there's a dragon, a very hungry one…

Lots of action, lots of humor, and an interesting take on the Devil and the End of Days. I really enjoyed it.

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Favorite Magical Romantic (etcetera)

I love me some MRWABC!!! This one is arguably my favorite, but Hoofin' It comes a close second, withe the rest bunched all together sharing third place.

This series is truly Fun. Filled with magic and mayhem in the best sort of way, the first one I read placed this series FIRMLY in my 'Must save my pennies to purchase every single preorder without fail!' Short list (very short list).

Rescuing a cat out of a tree. Sigh. Well, when you name your business 'Whatever For Hire' you do have to figure 'Whatever ' is going to show up. But, when that snotty feline causes you to owe the devil a favor - how much worse can it get? Right?Right?

Uhhhhhhhh. Welllllll.........

Said favor requires a 'harmless' little kidnapping, that's all. Just haul him a good distance away. Toss him in a lake. Leave. He can take care of himself from there. Easy peasy, right? He just needs to stay away for a bit - he is the 'black sheep' after all, and the embarrassment factor needs to just die down for a while. Easy. Right.
Right??

Buzzzzzzzzzzzt.

Oopsey.

Fun. Fun. FUN. FUN! Turns out, this isn't just a simple kidnapping, and Malcolm, the mark, is most definately Not what Katinka was expecting!

You have GOT to read this series! It will make you happy, it will THRILL me, because the author will keep writing them, which will make her happy too! SCORE!

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fourth in a series that's mostly related by world rather than characters. Indeed, different locations seem to be involved in each and I haven't seen much, if any, overlap. So feel free to dip and wade in if you like. Personally, I skipped the third (for reasons I don't recall) and that seems to have worked out okay.

I've experienced enough of the other books at this point that I knew what I was getting. The snark and banter were top-form, as usual. I liked the protagonists in this one a lot. Kanika had a lot of endearing sass and I particularly liked that she refused to refer to the Devil (yes, big "the") by his correct name(s). Even her internal musings labeled him "Satin" and "Lucy". I particularly liked that Blain had her use of such alter over time, starting as a kind of fatalistic poke because she felt she had little to lose and at least it was amusing and ending up more nuanced as a relationship developed between them (not that kind of relationship!).

It took a while before we meet Malcolm, but it was worth the wait. I loved how calmly he rolled with Kanika's chaos and how he enjoyed the back-and-forth games as much as she did. They were a great match in every way and the charm came out full-force from the start.

And I personally loved the interactions between Satin, Michael and Gabriel. Yes, with the capital "the" in front. Their sibling relationship was forefront every time they shared page-space and their interactions stole the limelight every time. If you're sensitive with religious/biblical depictions, they might not sit well, though. I don't have a hard time compartmentalizing in my fantasy reading, but I could see others having a difficult time, particularly when Michael gets a bit wrathy.

Anyway, this was a solid four stars, mostly because the plot is a bit rambly and the main throughline obscure with at least one major mystery left unsolved (the curse on the Stewart line remains undiagnosed, though it turns out unimportant in the end). I'll definitely be hitting this series for more later.

A note about chaste: Blain doesn't really do explicit sex scenes, I'm finding. There's enough lead-in on this one that this is a tricky designation this time. I didn't feel it quite got far enough not to be considered chaste, but that's a very close call.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out Loud!!

I am ashamed to tell y’all the truth.... but I snorted. I Laughed. I Giggled. Then I immediately went and bought the next book. Perhaps it’s because I like cats. It could be the snark tho. I really like snark. Ok enough, on to the review.

This book made my morning. It was fun, silly, a bit convoluted, but that just made it a little better. Strong characters ~ I think I might be a little in love with Satin. I’m still trying to imagine how Michael and Gabriel look. I’m also trying to figure out Hagnar. There is something more to him. Guess I’ll find out in book 2.

However, this novel was actually very thought provoking if you can get past the silliness. What is free will? What are good and evil? Who determines the definitions? Can evil love? Can good lead to death and destruction of innocence? Is the road to hell paved with good intentions?

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Julia Red Hatter Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever For Hire is possibly one of the best paranormal books I've read! I've loved this series since it started and each book just seems to get better and better. There is humor, romance, action, A LOT of magical beings, and a lot of magic. Now while I love everything about mythology I have only barely touched Egyptian mythology. RJ Blain always seems to have the traditional myths but with a twist of her own originality thrown in that makes it so much fun!

Kanika is an absolute trip! I love her so much. I still have a TON of questions about her and her heritage, I'm hoping they get answered in a later book. Kanika isn't even sure what she is. She's a human, a Bastet lookalike, a cat, a sphinx, and more. She is a complete badass and I want to be her when I grow up. Malcolm is sexy as sin. Fitting really when Kanika has the unwanted attentions of THE devil. Malcolm keeps me guessing throughout the entire book. He's funny and so smart. Just not smart enough to realize pissing off Kanika is a bad move. These two together could conquer the world if need be.

The story is a fun adventure. I love how I never know what I'll get in these books, yet enjoy them immediately. The writing is different, but a good different. I get lost within the pages quite easily. The characters are aggravating and completely amazing. I loved every single one we met. I also love how much of a survivor Kanika is. She has some tough decisions, but she usually comes out on top.

This is definitely a book in which you will get lost for hours in. One you won't want to put down or end.

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad things happen when the devil is bored, fortunately, Kanika seems to have captured his attention. His unwanted help in rescuing a cat from a tree had been a catalyst, leaving her with a debt and giving him a personal invitation for him to come and manipulate her. He had great plans for her. But she was no fool, she knew better to play with the devil... She had known better. Yet now he was one of her clients, and he had made an offer too tempting to refuse. All she had to do was sign something, without reading it, and accept the first job he sent her way as repayment for a debt. What she didn't expect was things to be so complicated. A kidnapping gone wrong sees her victim turn the tides, but had he not, then they would never have uncovered the undead plague that afflicted the world, a problem that if not reined in could spell the end of days.

The narrative in Whatever for Hire is so brilliant you will struggle to tear yourself away for even a minute. It has a great humour to it, and the first person narrative holds true to Kanika's character perfectly. I enjoyed every minute of this book, from the flippancy of Kanika when dealing with the devil, seeing how far she could push her luck, to her awesome, if somewhat unreliable, shifting abilities. There is a lot to this plot, and it certainly went beyond what I expected. R.J. Blain has written an amazing paranormal romance / urban fantasy where you can't help but will for the characters to get together, this is helped by the fact they are so believable. There are questions about Malcolm that will plague you until the moment of truth, and the added bonus of the mystery surrounding Kanika herself, but all that pales when placed beside a plot which just keeps getting better. Brilliantly written, full of action, mystery, suspense, romance, revenge, and more than a little interference from Heaven and Hell.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

R. J. Blain is a very hit-or-miss author for me. When she's writing about crazy situations that the characters get themselves into, the stories can be hilarious. When she's writing dialogue, they are torturous. And when she tries to explain how the magic works, the contorted explanations don't always make sense. I like the world she's built, and I like the slapstick, crazy-mishaps humor. I HATE the repetitive dialogue. If two characters have a conversation, then one of the characters calls a third character, under no circumstances should the reader be subjected to the first and third character having the exact same conversation the first and second character JUST HAD. The author does this ALL THE TIME. It's infuriating to read. Every time I read a passage where she makes this mistake, I waiver on whether it's really worth it to keep buying and reading the stories in this series. When she does focus on action, they can be really funny, but ONLY when she cuts down on dialogue and focuses on action. Her dialogue is MUCH too repetitive and all the characters have the exact same sense of humor. I'm on the fence.

This one is has a lot of action, so it's one of the better stories in the series. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that I read it already in an anthology, so I ended up buying it twice on accident. This is about a sphinx, Lucifer, a millionaire in a crazy family that takes pranking to new heights, a bunch of zombies, a dragon, and a former fiance that just doesn't know when to quit.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy read

I love a strong heroine and this book definitely has that. The romance is a string of events that come together perfectly. The author has done a good job of making the characters seem human when they most definitely are not. Definitely suggest this book.

[Caitlin Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kanika could never have anticipated that rescuing a cat with a misspelt name would lead to a job offer from Satan. What’s even worse is Satan seems to like her. All Kanika has to do is accept the next job she’s offered through her mercenary business, Whatever for Hire. Kidnapping is a tricky business, but when her target is a smoking hot firefighter with a penchant for rescuing puppies and kittens, Kanika almost believes she’s gotten lucky. Then somebody sends a pyro to kill her and Satan shows up with a friendly wager. Where the Devil is concerned, every gift horse needs to be looked in the mouth.

RJ Blaine’s skill for writing sassy, funny, and sexy Urban Fantasy hits all the right spots in Whatever for Hire, the fourth book of Blaine’s Magical Romantic Comedies. Blaine keeps readers on their toes as the plot evolves with every seemingly random twist and turn advancing the story in unexpected ways. Some of these points come across as being a little contrived, but my main complaint is that at least one concept is introduced that’s never followed up on. There’s a huge focus on physical attractiveness that’s accompanied by mutual sexual objectification between Kanika and Malcolm rather than the mushier brand of romance. It would be excessive if not for a vague satiric undertone. I loved Kanika’s uneasy acquaintance with Satan and the hilarity that usually accompanies their conversations. Although it runs a little long, Whatever for Hire entertains from page one to its fascinating conclusion.

Reviewed for Reader's Favorite

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

I was scrolling through my nook for something to read and found it. I'm assuming it's one I got free and boy am I glad I did. While it's probably classified as a romance, it's also a mystery/adventure/fantasy with a bit of theological questioning thrown in. The humor is wonderful and each character well written. There's always a question about motivation and even species that kept me reading ling after I'd planned to sleep.

Kanika runs her own odd job business although she questions how wise she was to name it Whatever for Hire. She ran from her aunt's care and an arranged marriage and has been wandering ever since. Magic has emerged in the world and while lycanthropes aren't unusual, Kanika is something more. She can shift into 5 forms but considers herself a spinx. Not that she can convince anyone of the fact. She's just been hired to kidnap a hot sexy Scottish fireman and keep him away for 6 months but she's fairly certain his family want to kill him. Add to that, Satan has taken an interest in her and for some reason wants to protect her. All this leads to machinations, morals and mayhem.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better Than I Imagined

This book was just something I had read on Facebook. If came upon a recommendation. I found the summary interesting and funny. Boy was I wrong! It took me 24 hours to read ONLY because I feel asleep at 5 am. This book is hilarious and just an amazing read. It us so funny, sweet, confusing and has a body count. The confusion helps the story along and like most great books, it makes you think. It gives you clues to what is going on and let's you make assumptions.. Then it turns into a completely different direction! My only complaint is that I want more! I want to know what happened to them!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one I totally loved! As always, humorous, plenty of adventure and another relatively happy ending. . . . or is it? Another romp in this world is needed, just to see where else it goes.

Satin is just hilarious .... the one "bad" guy you just love to hate lol. Actually, you kinda feel a bit sorry for him .... just a tinsy bit .... Yes, he's kinda bad, but from the viewpoint that there is both good and bad in the world and champions of a sort of each that balance each other out.

I loved Kanika, interesting, different and definitely not the norm. Malcolm took me a bit to warm up to.

[JV Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balance must be kept.

Whatever for hire begins with a down-on-her-luck Egyptian shifter whose magic only works at random, her job prospects involve acting from rescuing kitties from trees to robbing national museums or kidnapping a puppy rescuing firefighting multi millionaire.

But when The Devil, whom is really picky about how you spell his name, makes her an offer she can't refuse, what's a goddess lookalike to do?

While not as funny as her previous book in this series, Whatever for hire, with Kanika and Malcolm and their crazy brand of love is still a fantastic read.

[Eileen Troemel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blain hit the nail on the head with this one. Kanika is a bastard child with the devil - the actual devil - pestering her. In a deal with the devil, Kanika is hired to kidnap a kitten saving firefighter who is off the scales hot. She lures him in with short shorts and long legs. From there - all goes to hell. In the process, Malcolm decides to keep his kidnapper. The two main characters are in each other's company for most of the book. This book has humor, a complex plot, and sexy antics with irreverent angels. I listened to the audio book during a road trip and enjoyed the reader.

[Kei · Rating 5 out of 5]

The body count might be a bit larger than usual (than in previous books). The main characters are great - unique, complex, and fun. My only complain is that I wish we had more time with them. Learn more about Malcolm, more about Kanika's transformations and origins, more interactions with beings other than Satin and archangels, and so on. Then, there's the fact that the ending is hardly complete and the little details like that we, as readers, missed the parts of which Kanika has no recollection. So I do hope there's some kind of a sequel, because the mix of cultures in these two characters is really interesting and it would be terrific to explore them more.

[Ilene G> · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and entertaining paranormal book.

I like the variety of paranormal creatures. Kanika is a spynx. She is strong and has great come back lines. She takes on a kidnapping assignment and meets Malcolm. She is attracted to him. She gets into dangerous and humorous situations with many creatures, including the devil. I give this four stars, because Zanika did not ask Malcolm two important questions. One: she never asked him what kind of paranormal creature he was. She often wondered but never asked. Two: The one who hired told her to do something to Malcolm. I kept wondering why he told her it. I felt it was something someone who took on such jobs should be asking. That is my on!I complaint about this story.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly have no idea what I just read.
Can I use vapid and insipid in the same review? I mean they essentially mean the same thing but this book deserves both words.
I'm trying to think of something good to say and honestly I can't...it has a high rating on goodreads so there are plenty of people who liked it. I guess that's good.

[Maberan Potato · Rating 1 out of 5]

FUCK THIS BOOK. IT'S A PIECE OF FLAMING, STINKING SHIT. I LOST PART OF MYSELF TRYING TO COPE WITH THIS THING'S EXISTENCE.

FUCK IT, FUCK THE AUTHOR AND FUCK ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY LIKES THIS.
YOUR DISGUSTINGLY SHIT STANDARDS ARE RUINING THIS INDUSTRY.

FUCK OFF.

This is fucking vapid. There's no plot, the writing sucks ass, the characters are all Mary Sues and the pacing is nonexistent.

So just like the author's talent. /yes I'm going to insult them every chance I get bc they had me pay and read through this shit without any consideration to prior condition like a tendency to shit on terrible books.

It's just one big waste of time. Let's look at the pacing, shall we? Because it's the worst I've ever stumbled on. Little definition before we continue, the pacing is the rhythm of the story. Usually, it goes like this:



Pretty fucking basic. You tell us about the characters and the world before introducing the conflict, the characters make their way to the climax and then the aftermath and ending. Easy peachy. Every story can be fit on this thing- although some might have more than one climax, like series or stories with several plot lines.

Let's see how Whatever for hire does it's exposition! So Chapter 1, no title as always.

I never should've named my mercenary gig Whatever for Hire. People took the name literally, which explained why I was stuck in a tree fetching a cat.

Not a bad opening. Something's happening, we have a comment on that edgy service name and its consequences.

If I'd been thinking, I would've refused Miss Angorra's fifty dollars, leaving her precious kitty Mistoffelees to fend for herself and climb down without my help.

This second half of the paragraph is obsolete; we could already tell Kanika- that's the heroine- doesn't really want to climb that tree. The cat's name is also a dead herring- it's clearly had some work done to make it fit a cat, making it important.

Instead of taking her money, I should've told her to learn how to spell before hightailing it out of town. Mephistopheles really didn't like when people screwed with his name. Call him the devil, call him Satan, or call him Lucifer; he didn't care as long as you spelled his name right. Nothing pissed off the Lord of Hell quite as much as someone calling him Satin.

I swear this is the following paragraph guys, the author is just that bad . So... Kanika seems to know Satan pretty well. Is this due to her magical nature, or is this a world where demons and witches are common? Because then it raises the question of how Miss Angorra didn't know that, and if this is such a big deal, why didn't you hightail it out of there? Did the Lord of Hell's wrath really lost to 50$? Must not be so epic then.

It happened. I'd been there when an idiot had thought it'd be funny to invoke Satan's name as graffiti. It hadn't ended well for him. Mephistopheles had appeared, wrapped the poor sod up in satin, and lit him on fire, screaming something in German about the importance of education while I'd watched, my mouth gaping open like an idiot.

Let's take that in parts, shall we. Ok, so a guy misspelled Satan's name and bam! dead. So... why hasn't that happened to Miss Angorra? Like, that cat's a cat, not a kitten. She must've named him a time ago. Is it only when it's misspelled, not misspoken, then? But in that case, why was Kanika so freaked by the cat's name then? Like I doubt Miss Angorra wrote her a letter with the cat's name- no, she called her and said Mistoffelees is stuck in a tree. So misspeaking it is also a death sentence? Then... why isn't Miss Angorra dead and gone? That raises the question of how Kanika can spell the cat's name, too. Like you could hear the difference, but the 2 Fs are kind of extreme for just guessing. So Miss Angorra either wrote Mistoffelees' name for Kanika's sake, for some god-forsaken reason, or Kanika has epic spelling powers... and yet Satan didn't show up.

I'm really feeling the threat here. Totally understand Kanika wanting to LEAVE TOWN.

Are we ever going to learn more about that meeting? Like what the fuck were you doing with that guy? Was he an acquaintance? I doubt it thanks to the uncaring language (idiot, poor sod). How lucky were you then, to stumble on that scene? Also, you can speak German now? Why German? Satan isn't fucking German. Was that guy German? Are you in Germany? What the fuck's going on? You were climbing a tree a second ago and now you're talking about Satan! Pick a subject ffs!

This is what I mean with shit pacing. You don't set up a situation, i. e, climbing a tree to go get a cat, and then ramble on about unrelated shit, especially not in your first chapter. Introversion like that needs a quiet, static moment that fits with the theme. In fact, first chapters should never have introspection in them. They're supposed to set up the world (description) the characters (actions) and the plot (actions). You get into introspection later on, when the readers have a good grasp of your character through the actions they made.

I'd learned an important lesson that day: forget summoning circles. If I wanted a quick chat with the devil, all I needed to do was get some glitter and write his name in it- spelled wrong. He'd light my ass on fire, but he'd probably let me live to tell the tale so others would learn form my mistake.

I'm sorry, what? I've never seen a retcon happen so fast. Why the fuck to you think he'd let you live? Or even chat with you? He wrapped that guy in satin and set him in fucking fire! I think that's a pretty clear message! And you mean to say that this isn't public knowledge? Because I'm starting to think that this a world where everyone knows magical shit is a thing, and in that case I would think that Satan running around setting people on fire for misspelling his name would be flashed across news reports every Monday!

For some reason I couldn't fathom, the devil liked me.

Wait wait what? When did that happen? As far as I know, you saw him once set a guy on fire. Where did that come from, seriously? Are you telling me that after that you went on a date or something? Didn't think you should mention it to the readers or anything?

Mistofefelees mewed, and I was willing to bet my soul the eight pound ball of white fluff was scolding me for not getting her out of tree faster. Cats. Couldn't live with them, and no, not matter what people liked to say, I could easily live without them.

I agree with the cat you poorly-written bitch. Get off that tree before you fall back into flashback-land. Remember she doesn't like cats alright.

"Oh, Mistoffelees," Miss Angorra wailed. "Come home to Mommy.

No Satan? Ok then.

The cat hissed, and I didn't blame her one bit. No sane being wanted to be named- incorrectly- after the devil. It courted trouble.

Oh, the trouble I've been debunking since you began your tirade? That trouble?

Ok so I'm skipping a bunch, it's basically just Kanika talking to the cat for half a page and spouting meaningless threats about Satan showing up.

[...] Mistoffelees rejected my generous offer and ascended to the parts of the pine I couldn't reach, not while human. Damn it. I didn't want to strip and shift. The resulting disaster, which involved two cats stuck in a tree, would either make me a laughingstock or a prime target for Miss Angorra, who probably hoarded cats and deluded herself into believing they liked her.

Ignoring the random jab to Miss Angorra, you... can shift? Ok. I like shapeshifting. But... you have to strip for it... I'm not a prude or anything, but Sigils and Spells is so full of random-ass sexual content that I now have PTSD triggers alright. Just... move on.

There's a paragraph explaining the Kanika can't control what she transforms into and some backstory- her mom is Egyptian and her dad is Ruska Roma, so the magics contradict each other. I have nothing against that. It's cool.

Most often that not, I ended up a sex kitten with killer six-inch heels, gypsy bells, a deep diving, too tight blouse, and a satin sari skirt that accommodated my furry tail.

Just when we were talking about random-ass sexual content. Wtf is a sex kitten? Why is it called that? Stop.

So Kanika tells us she also has a sphinx form with wings and that she wants that bc she can fly. Can't argue with that logic, let's see-

[...] Closing my eyes, I sighed and contemplated summoning His Most Indignant Majesty, Lord Satin of Hell. Shit, Satan. Lord Satan of Hell. It didn't count if I didn't write it down, did it?

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Is he a threat or no??? WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME??? I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

Ok so I think that's enough of a spork, you get the basics of how shit this is. For those interested, she transform into a sex kitten, Satan shows up, doesn't set anyone on fire and after 10 pages hires Kanika for a job.

There's also the wonderful 50+ pages spent planning a kidnapping- with Kanika drooling over the guy and saying every 2 paragraphs how good the sex's gonna be-

yes she expects the guy she's gonna KIDNAP is going to want to fuck her-

and no this isn't the lowest she gets-

(she does assassinations but doesn't have people pay for them bc 'there are limits')

and she goes to this guys who explains in great detail everything she's buying, from a tamperer to bracelets and weapons and this better be important later-

BOOM EVERYTHING GOES UP IN FLAMES

Then the kidnapping also becomes useless bc now the guy wants to stay and she wants to leave and they go to a costume party and Kanika wants to be a sphinx and she is but then she turns into a human bc that's what the guy wants but he also helps her transform back into a sphinx and please can I order some logic around here

Also she becomes Satan's heir bc of course she does and of course it's Michael and Gabriel who always show up and no they don't give a shit about Satan being right there and she can also raise mummies and king Tut himself obeys her like she's royal when she's fucking not

And then it becomes about a company that takes souls but turns the people undead so they don't get to die or something and it's really important but never explained ??? I was so lost things happen and are brought up 20 pages late it's destroying me help

And then they go attack the company and wake a dragon who destroys 3 city blocks and then Kanika and the guy leave for their honeymoon like it's a job well done when I have no fucking idea of what happened and what was accomplished

Also the guy out-bargains the devil and NOPE do you need anymore proofs these assholes are they Suest Sues who have ever Sued I am done this is shit the author needs to be banned from writing

There were 2 things I liked but I'm not gonna mention them bc this author doesn't deserve it she published shit that never should've been seen by anyone but the person who wrote it and made me pay for it 0/10 fuck you shove this box set up your butt

[H.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story

I really enjoyed this story. It was filled with humor and snark, and I laughed throughout it. I have two complaints, however. One, the story had a lot of parts that were confusing to me. And two, the author didn’t describe the scenery or the characters. I don’t know what any of them look like. That said, it was an enjoyable story and I plan on continuing it.

Edit: it appears that this book is number four. I don’t like when I miss the first few books, but it’s been happening a lot lately... I will need to read the other books now!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I would have really loved some of Malcolm's point of view in this story. Especially considering there's a long period where Kanika is under the influence of pixie dust and doesn't remember what happened. Considering this book is solely in her point of view the reader doesn't know what happened then either. Additionally there are quite a few lose ends here. One we never learned the Stewart secret and as of the end of the book the curse is unbroken. If it is broken we're not aware of it. Two who are Keneka's biological parents and how did she end up with her abilities? Why were there so many men trying to buy her when no one was aware of those abilities? If Malcolm is long lived does that mean Kaneka is too? So many, many questions I'd still like answered. I also felt like we geared up for this big confrontation that happened entirely off page or didn't happen at all which definitely left me a bit disappointed. One thing I did like is Keneka doesn't claim to be in love and outright said she doesn't believe in love at first sight and isn't sure she believes in love at all. Overall I really enjoyed the story and look forward to more works by Blain. I apologize if I have names spelled wrong, I listened to this one almost entirely on audible.

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and storyline. I just wish there was a sequel with the same characters. There could be so much more to tell with these characters, like who are the heroine's biological parents. How Satin intends to go forward. And the angels are a real kick! I need more. Do not get me wrong. This is a stand alone with a solid ending. I just love the characters and want to see them again.

[David St. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful read!

R J Blain knows how to populate a story with delightful characters. I loved the dialog and the interplay of her character's personalities This book was satisfying on so many different levels! I really can't wait to read her next book.

R J, keep up the good work!

[Lyssa Sue Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best giggle

Comedy for the sheer fun of it. I'm in love with Kanika! She rocks no matter which of her 5 forms she takes.

This book is the perfect antidote for snark deficiency syndrome. Intriguing, witty, well paced, well characterized and completely unique.

PS - I want a print of Malcolm with the kittens and puppies..

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever For Hire is the fourth book in the Magical Romantic Comedy (With a body count) series by R. J. Blain.

I did not expect to like this installment in the series. I suppose you could say the last book may have soured the series a little bit. Take into account the lackluster synopsis supplied for us, and I was drastically underwhelmed and holding no expectations for what Blain’s next work had to offer. Keeping my expectations low, worked out for me in allowing my mind to be utterly annihilated. I’ve partook in many Lucy has a favorite almost human novels of the supernatural literature persuasion. Although I do tend enjoy them I was starting to become unsurprised by their content.

Kanika pulled me back in. Interesting does not even begin to describe her character. I still have so many questions, and I’m rather disappointed they were left unanswered. Has the curse been broken? What exactly is she, in the most detail please? I was slightly mollified in my unrest due to these mysteries left unattended.

I truthfully did not expect Malcolm Findlay Stewart’s genealogy and magical classification. I was not aware these beings were demons, I thought they were more fae in nature.

So many crazy experiences in so few words, and I am beyond myself trying to properly relay its contents and surprises to you in a way that does it justice. So go forth! And read it yourself, because I’m lazy.

[Natalie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manic in a good way.

So much going on with so many wacky characters. Favourite character was Hagnar, although I loved the way the devil was portrayed along with his brothers. As always contains very little morals with a lot of murder in mind.

So read for the second time coz I’d rather read something magical and funny, than sci-fi illegal experiments. Just as good the second time around. I love this series. Having said that the beginning interaction with the devil is just plain creepy.

Read for a third time, I think. Could be more. So this one is clearly one of my favourites in the series, the same as Playing with fire. I’m likely to pick this one because it’s a standalone. I like how each book somehow gives an inkling into the life of the devil and his family. After A chip on her shoulder, I was expecting a bit more interaction between Darlene and Kannika. It’s interesting reading them through and seeing little details in the big picture. The ass groping still creeps me out. Knowing he’s her adoptive father, it’s ugh for me. Grave humour next.

[Jeanie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the story very much; loved Kanika, especially when we learn that not only is she a shifter with 3 forms but the Devil has been watching over her. Liked when she meets Malcolm in the course of her kidnapping him and liked their HEA. The only issue is, what happens next? The author didn't leave us with cliffhangers and says there's no sequel planned but there should be! Does Kanika get pregnant and do they go on to live in his empty house filled with their family? Is Malcolm's family curse lifted? Why didn't his Stewart family know how he was different from them?

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

These RJ Blaine books are so weird. I absolutely enjoy reading them. This one had me scratching my head. The original story premise did not come to fruition. And the story flow in no way went to where I thought it was going. No one was who they were suggested they would be. It was a what the heck the entire book. And I loved every page. Going to go read serial killer princess right now. Cannot wait!!!!

Oh boy did this book actually make me laugh

[Crystine Fujimoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has a large body count

I'm not sure why I didn't use my usual 5 stars for one of Blain's books. I think because I was able to walk away from this book 1/4 of the way through and not come back to it for a few months.
As usual, this story had well developed and interesting characters and a good plot.

[Cory Cravens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by an awesome author.

Great! I absolutely love the world in which this book takes place. This book improves all the way to the ending. I never thought I would like Lucifer like I like her version!