Death and the Devil, The Novellas

Death and the Devil #1.2-1.8

by L.J. Hayward

A collection of short stories featuring previously published Death and the Devil novellas taking place between "Where Death Meets the Devil" and "Why the Devil Stalks Death."

Contains the previously published novellas...
"Where Death Meets the Devil: Coda"
"Bargaining with the Devil"
"When the Devil Drives"
"Devil in the Details"

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Military Fiction, Audiobook, LGBT

280 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2018

About the author

L.J. Hayward has been telling stories for most of her life, a good deal of them of the tall variety. She loves reading but doesn’t seem to have enough time between wanting to be a more disciplined writer, being the actual erratic writer she is, and working for dollars in a dungeon laboratory. She also lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but rarely sees a beach and can’t surf, though she thinks living on a houseboat might be fun. At least then she’d have an excuse to get a cat.

Reviews

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5***** stars


Ethan and Jack are pursuing their arrangement of coming together (for sex) whenever they happen to be in the same city. But with each encounter they get closer and their feelings grow. And man, do I love the cover.


"Where Death Meets the Devil: Coda"
This was basically only a bit of talking about what happened at the end of book #1 and a nice round of sex.

"Bargaining with the Devil" (January)
A red bow and a deep feeling of unsafety drives Ethan to almost breaking things off with Jack.


"Devil on His Shoulder" (Febuary)
Ethan secretly trying to prevent an attack on Jack’s life *swoon


"Death of the Party" (March)
Jack on a small assignment at a night club clad in a tight hot devil-outfit, full of glitter and an a bit jealous Ethan watching him, asking:

“If I hadn’t followed you here, would you have been with that angel tonight?”

"When the Devil Drives" (April)
This was exciting. Jack’s first time accompanying Ethan to a race with his precious Victoria (his Aston Martin) and an assassin that forces Jack to chase her in a hot pink Ferrari.


"At Death’s Door" (May)
Jack has a flu and is in a delirious state with fever dreams while Ethan tends to him in a sweet and caring way. Well… and a syringe.


"La Petite Mort" (June)
I guess, the title speaks for itself *smirk It’s the first time we get Ethan’s POV and I must say, even being in his head for once, it is all very ominous. *lol


"Devil in the Details" (Later That Same Day)
Jack feels betrayed by Ethan as he comes to the conclusion that the sex they had earlier only served as a distraction and Ethan didn’t mean to get caught by Jack in his home while he was there.

“You can ask me all you wish to not interfere with your job, Jack, but you cannot ask me to not care about you. If I know you’re walking into a dangerous situation, I will not stand back and let you get hurt.”

And gawd, poor Harry *sniff


"Death Takes a Holiday" (July)
A retreat somewhere in Vietnam, small and big admissions, and an invitation. ♡
Ah yeah, and an unexpected attack.

Ethan smiled. “See you soon.”
“I better.”

As these novellas show a lot of progress on the romance as well as current events I recommend not to skip them on the way from book #1 to book #2. This collection of novellas is available on audio as well.


**************
Death and the Devil Series:

Book 1 - Where Death Meets the Devil - 4.5 stars
Novella Collection - Death and the Devil - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Why the Devil Stalks Death - 4.5 stars
Book 2.5 - Dealing in Death - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - When Death Frees the Devil - 4.0 stars

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed on my 4th re-read, slowly working these books into more and more people’s kindles and because they are just so good. Definitely a fun series to read with friends! Highly recommend.

review Feb 2023
These are must read novellas that really complete the story and include a lot of character and relationship progression. I sometimes skip novellas attached to series if they are all fluff or sickly sweet and these are NOT THAT! There is also tidbits here that probably only come to light after reading future books. They also introduce some key characters and include some impactful things for future storyline’s. Some are lighter than others, it’s a nice mix and I just love getting to know Ethan more. He is a favourite character of mine and just so fascinating.

[Clara's Book Lab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan is my crush but Jack is the LOML. I love their chemistry with a burning passion 🧯💨❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of shorter stories definitely should be read before book 2 - there are enough mentions of events in them in book 2 that I stopped reading and came back to pick up these first. They're all good short episodes, moving us deeper into an understanding of who Ethan is, and of the pressures, experiences, and flaws that motivate Jack.

Sometimes I wanted to smack Jack hard, for his repeated failure to be able to see through Ethan's eyes. But both men become more human, more fleshed out, and more deeply engaged with each other, as they deal with killers and coworkers and the demands of bosses, and pressures from their pasts. I kept going right through this series, very engaging despite my irritation with Jack. His flaws fit who he is, so it's all plausible.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

These really should not have been novellas. If you go from book 1 to book 2 without reading the novellas, you will miss so much plot and relationship development. READ THEM!

Due to the nature of how novellas go, the pacing was weird and didn't read as a normal novel. These two are so freaking frustrating sometimes and I want to lock them in a room together until they just FREAKING TALK TO EACH OTHER! Half of the drama would be over if Ethan and Jack would communicate with one another 🙄 That being said, I do like them, but I hope the next book ends some of this nonsense. I found some of the plot confusing - either I am dumb, or it was hard to follow at times. I loved Harry 😢 Ethan is still a largely mysterious character, so I hope we break down his walls in the next book.

Overall, good but I don't see this shaping up to be one of my favorite romantic suspense series.

ETA: I ended up not finishing the series.

Series:
Book 1: Where Death Meets the Devil → 4 Stars
Book 2: Death and the Devil, The Novellas → 3.5 Stars
Book 3: Why the Devil Stalks Death
Book 4: When Death Frees the Devil

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful.

I loved the character exploration and relationship development that we see in this collection of short novellas. There is so much tentative romance and mutual pining. We even got a brief POV from Ethan. Absolutely recommend.

[Evelyn220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I loved this even more than book one. The author set this up as a collection of novellas but it really feels like a whole book split into large chapters. It’s a definite must-read if you’ve started the series. DO NOT SKIP!
There’s so much angst, woof, I could not put it down. And the spice is top-notch. 🔥

I love Jack and Ethan so much. Especially Ethan, the poor, sweet assassin.

[BeckieLouLou · Rating 5 out of 5]

You must read the novellas, do not skip them! While the first book in this series deals with a lot of the “work” life of the characters, the novellas show us the softer, relationship side of the couple.

The novellas are quite substantial, when added together they are around 350 pages, so that’s a lot of story packed in there. You would be missing out on so much if you skipped these.

[Ariana Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Must reads’ for anyone wanting to continue the series.

A lot happens in these novellas that really fills in the blanks. I usually skip novellas, and would have been peeved had I missed all the information on backstory and scorching scenes these contain.

On to Book 2!

[Mvelase Peppetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immediately jumped into this after the 1st book in the series and it was just as great. The novellas very much focused more on the relationship between Ethan & Jack, rather than pew-pew action stuff. But that was very much still here. Unfortunately, the skin thing was still here as well, which is why it again only got four stars.

[Kassu · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐

I have melted into a puddle on the floor and died. And that's before I read this book. The cover model is Jack? I definitely get why Ethan fell for him now. That's one of the most gorgeous men I've seen in my life.

These novellas continue the story after the first book and lead up directly to #2, so we shouldn't consider these extra stories. One of the novellas is from Ethan's POV, finally. Jack's sort of thick in the head but it suits his character.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed this set of novellas - Bargaining with the Devil, When the Devil Drives and Devil in the Details together, and have given an A- for narration and A- for content collectively. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

Novellas are generally hit and miss for me. So often they’re a bit flimsy, the shorter page count/run time contributing to a feeling that the story and/or characters are underdeveloped, and that there isn’t enough of a story to sustain a full-length novel. There are exceptions to that rule, however, and the novellas that span the gap between books one and two of L.J. Hayward’s fabulous Death and the Devil series are three of them. Unlike many novellas in series, however, you can’t skip them, because if you do you’ll miss out on a lot of really important relationship and character development that takes Jack and Ethan’s relationship to a very different place at the beginning of book two (Why the Devil Stalks Death) to where it was when we left them at the end of  Where Death Meets the Devil . Taken all together, the novellas are a mini-series of action-packed ‘episodes’ boasting interesting, fast-paced plots that form a single story arc (linked back to that of WDMtD) which also start to peel away the layers of these two complex characters and show them forging an even deeper connection.

Note: The books in this series must be listened to in order, so if you haven’t listened to Where Death Meets the Devil first, you’ll probably be a bit lost. There are spoilers for that book in this review.

Bargaining With the Devil

This audiobook includes the Coda to book one, as well as the short stories Bargaining With the Devil, Devil on his Shoulder and Death of the Party.

Coda picks up where WDMtD ends, with Jack waking up to the scent of freshly-brewed tea and the sight of Ethan’s neatly folded clothes in his bedroom. At this point, he’s not sure if Ethan’s there to fuck him or kill him after Jack betrayed him to The Office when they were working together to expose a traitor. Thankfully, it’s not the latter option *wink*, and once the slate is wiped clean, Ethan proposes that they should continue hooking up whenever they’re in the same vicinity. Jack knows it’s an utterly ridiculous idea, but there’s something about Ethan, a strange mix of ruthlessness and innocence combined with the glimpses of vulnerability he’d shown Jack on their trek through the desert, that is so utterly captivating that Jack is prepared to risk it. Plus – Ethan is hot as all hell, which isn’t exactly a deterrent. The stories in Bargaining With the Devil highlight a number of different issues, such as Ethan’s need for security and Jack’s problems with intimacy while also addressing the theme of the boundaries of their relationship when Ethan starts interfering in Jack’s missions.

When the Devil Drives

Includes: When the Devil Drives and At Death’s Door

The stories in When the Devil Drives are a couple of slices of life, a look into Jack and Ethan’s relationship when they’re off the clock, that shows the degree to which their whole “just sex” thing has jumped the tracks and is turning into something else. In the first, Ethan asks Jack to accompany him to the charity race he’s been invited to drive in and Jack is helpless in the face of Ethan’s adorkable geekery about high-performance cars. Of course, this is Jack and Ethan we’re talking about, so a simple weekend away turns out to be anything but simple and it’s Jack who ends up in a high-speed chase at the wheel of a hot-pink Ferrari.

Ethan’s next visit coincides with Jack being laid low with the flu; and all the while Jack is thinking what a disappointment it must be for Ethan, turning up expecting some hot sex and instead getting a hot, sweaty mess of Jack high on meds and running his mouth off, Ethan is there, making sure Jack has enough medication and looking after him. Awww.

To call Devil in the Details a novella is a bit of a misnomer; it clocks in at five and a half hours, which is as long as some books which call themselves novels!

Includes: La Petite Mort, Devil in the Details and Death Takes a Holiday

La Petite Mort is the first time we’ve heard directly from Ethan (in first person narrative – Jack’s PoV is in third), and it’s really just one long scene in which we get to hear just how much Jack and what’s happening between them means to Ethan, and how little be believes he deserves it. He arrives at Jack’s place to plant some vital information relating to the case Jack is working on, knowing Jack will be angry at his interference but needing to do it anyway. He hadn’t banked on Jack coming home from work early, though…

Devil in the Details: Jack doesn’t have time to feel angry and hurt about the fact that Ethan lied to him on his most recent visit as he and his work partner Harry travel to Canberra to follow up on the information Ethan supplied. The stakes are raised considerably when Jack and Harry find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation at the hands of a terrorist group with no back-up – other than one rogue assassin. After all hell breaks loose, Ethan is forced to scramble, meaning he can’t be there for Jack after tragedy strikes and Jack needs him more than ever.

Death Takes a Holiday: Jack doesn’t hear from Ethan for over a month and is beginning to wonder if he’ll ever see him again when he receives a plane ticket in the mail. Still angry at being left hanging for so long, resentful and hurt that Ethan wasn’t there when he needed him, Jack considers not going, but then decides it’s time to define exactly what he and Ethan are doing. This is the final novella before book two, and not only does the author give Jack and Ethan the opportunity to clear the air and talk about where they stand and what they want, she also does a really impressive job of pulling together the various plot threads she’s laid down to reveal the big picture and wrap up this story arc. Plus – bonus Star Wars quotes and THAT moment with Jack and the rocket launcher!

I read this series when it was first published and it’s one of my favourites. Jack and Ethan are such compelling, complicated, damaged characters and I love the way their romantic relationship develops from wary but intense attraction to a much deeper emotional connection. L.J. Hayward does an absolutely brilliant job of actually showing Jack falling in love with Ethan across these stories; so often in romances, we’re told that X is in love with Y and see nothing to back that up, but that’s not the case here, and even when Jack doesn’t realise (or admit) what’s happening or he’s misreading Ethan’s cues, it’s very clear to the listener just how far he’s falling. And for Ethan, something as normal as having a relationship is so far out of his realm of experience that he’s struggling with how to handle all these new emotions and is constantly fighting his instinct to run, but we witness him becoming more comfortable in Jack’s space and the author does an incredible job of portraying Ethan’s feelings for Jack even though we’re very rarely in his head. They get things wrong, they don’t always communicate well (they live at a breakneck pace that doesn’t allow a lot of time to talk!) but the moments of intimacy and tenderness between them are utterly swoonworthy and perfectly in character.

Even though Jack and Ethan end this phase of their story knowing what they want from each other, it’s clear that they still have a long way to go to get there – not only because they’re still working out how to be in a relationship, but also because there are still dastardly plots to foil and bad guys to be dealt with – and when you’ve been one of the world’s top assassins, the people you worked for aren’t going to let go of you without a fight.

Rowan Scott delivered a really strong performance in Where Death Meets the Devil, so I was delighted to see he’d been brought back to complete the series. It’s been three years since book one came out so I re-listened to it before I started the novellas to refresh my memory and was pleased to hear Jack and Ethan portrayed so consistently despite the gap. Mr. Scott’s characterisations are absolutely spot on and he does a great job of fleshing them out – Jack’s lively, force-of-nature personality comes through very strongly as does Ethan’s more reticent one – and in the more tender moments, their growing emotional connection is superbly conveyed. Ethan’s English accent is accurate throughout, and Mr. Scott is really comfortable with his formal way of speaking so it never sounds stilted or awkward – and at times, it’s ridiculously endearing. I like the way he manages to convey so many emotions in just one word – “Jack”. The fairly large secondary cast is portrayed appropriately and clearly differentiated; my only reservation, as before, is that sometimes there’s not enough difference between male and female voices, but given there are so few female characters here it’s not a big problem. Well paced and well acted, it’s another terrific performance that enhances these already gripping stories.

I honestly can’t find enough positive things to say about this series. It’s clever and tightly-plotted, there’s plenty of action, plenty of steam and the two leads are characters who will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. In short, it’s got everything you could possibly want from really good romantic suspense, and the intelligent and engaged performance by Rowan Scott is the cherry on top. Highly recommended.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

And this, folks, is what you call character development and the progression of relationship. These are technically novellas but in my (and many others') opinion it absolutely should be considered required reading for the series. So much happens - internally, externally - and it all shapes how Jack and Ethan are as people and partners, Jack's work, and background characters who makes enormous impacts.

Going forward without this would be so jarring, I think, because we get to see Jack working through what Ethan is to him, and what letting him in is really going to mean. We get to see both of them make themselves vulnerable, fuck up, forgive, learn, and fuck up all over again to the point that on multiple occasions I put down my ereader and covered my hands until the urge to die or kill had passed.

There were moments of reunion that made me want to cry because finally they had each other and were not letting go, moments of peace they found only in each other, moments of acceptance because both of them are a little fucked and still refuse to back away, moments of jealousy that were equal parts entertaining and heartbreaking, moments of happiness and laughter at the strangest of times, moments of words that hit like bullets because emotions are just terrifying. There were so many moments of love in these pages I couldn't count them all, though neither of them have said it out loud yet. But the commitments, the actions, the emotions - it's all there and messy and wrapped in sarcasm and lethal combat and I know the words will come.

I have not forgiven the author for Harry. How fucking dare you, also please don't ever stop breaking my heart. Everything that came from it was poignant and important and actually, no, I'm still upset. Damn, that hurt. But it gave us Venezula, and difficult conversations, and hope and learning.

These books are also absolutely addicting to read. Granted, I've been sick in bed, but I've gone through the first book and 4 novellas that totaled 419 pages in like a day and a half. That's a lot for someone whose brain is currently sludge. And, frankly, all I want right now is the next book, but here I am reviewing instead.

The writing is still great, gripping action scenes that are complex but still written well enough that you can follow along with exactly where everyone is. The suspense is good, and one thing I love is that I have next to no idea what is happening next. Even the characters - I love that half the time I still don't know what the hell Ethan is going to say or do in certain situations even after all this time spent learning his character. Hell, Jack still surprises me, and sometimes surprises himself. It makes it feel very real. People are not perfectly predictable, especially those with the trauma and history of Ethan and Jack, and the only thing I know for sure is "Crazy bastard" will always be followed by "Half right, Jack." And that makes me smile.


APRIL 2023 RE-READ: I can't stop reading these books. This is ridiculous. I finished reading it for the 2nd time in like 2 weeks and immediately went to go find my favourite parts again. I love these two and this world and every breathtaking moment that comes along with it - from heartbreaking to tender to sexy to hilarious to exciting. There's so many wonderful lines I've highlighted and so much growth. There's pain and learning and safety and chaos and solace. Furthermore, that Devil chapter is just something else, holy Hell. Anyway. I fucking love this series and I can't stop ruminating or dreaming or apparently re-reading. Send help. Or don't. Really, I swear, I'm totally fine.

[Tare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome collection of short stories that really progressed Jack & Ethan's relationship.

I particularly loved the last one. The new steps they took and finally seeing them be vulnerable and have some real conversations. It was also filled with some of the sweetest, softest moments of intimacy ❤️❤️

Ethan Blade deserves the entire universe okay?!?! 😎

“Do you need more?” he asked softly, almost sadly. “Do you need to hear me say I’ve been in this thing for much longer? That I’ve been waiting for you, hoping, wishing you’d catch up. Or that I’ve been constantly wondering if I was being naïve and stupid to even think you might want to be with me as more than just casual . . . as occasional . . .”

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

i hate novellas but there really was no way to skip these, so i read them all in one go pretending it was a full fledged book and now am excited to see where the main story will head to

[Gail Overholt · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the TBR Knockout Challenge gave me I got Bargaining with the Devil, I bought this book of the collected novellas because it was cheaper than buying each story separately. The book also includes the short story Where Death Meets the Devil: Coda.

It's been 2 - 2½ or so years since I read the Where Death Meets the Devil and its subsequent "Coda," so it took a bit of effort to get back into the series. To help, I reread "Coda," which I rated 3 stars originally.

⭐⭐⭐ Bargaining with the Devil actually consists of three short stories. Each story is tied to a month, showing how the relationship is growing. Or rather, how Jack feels about the relationship since all the stories are told from his POV. Who the hell knows what Ethan is thinking.

1) Bargaining with the Devil (January): After giving Jack a pleasant surprise, complete with a red bow, Ethan decides to break up with Jack. For all the excuses Ethan gives (Jack's place isn't secure enough, Jack's job, blah blah), Jack provides a solution, and all ends well. ⭐ (I hate the breakup-to-make-the-story-longer trope.)
2) Devil on His Shoulder (February): Jack is on assignment in Singapore with his partner Harry (is Harry a new character?) when they get caught in a car bombing. When the job is done, Ethan shows up at Jack's hotel. I think Ethan had something to do with the bombing? Mainly to keep Jack safe? ⭐⭐⭐
3) Death of the Party (March): Jack goes undercover as a sexy devil waiter at a bachelorette party. A handsome angel waiter propositions Jack in the bathroom (in a nice way), then Ethan shows up as the party's manager. ⭐⭐⭐

With a bit of adventure and a bit more sex as a background, the take-away from these stories is that Jack is starting to fall in love, although I'm not sure he actually realizes it.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2 but giving 3 because I was overall glad I read this.

[Nah, know what? Screw that. It's a 2. Jack drags it down.]

I originally dnf’d this compilation at novella 1.4, when I found out for sure that Jack is and has been hooking up with other people. But I eventually came back to read 1.6 and 1.8, because I love this author’s plotting and storytelling style quite a lot, and because the wonderful @Pauline let me know there’s info and connection that’s important to the rest of the series. She’s right, as usual! Thanks, Pauline. ❤️

Here’s me reading the rest:

Jack: I can’t trust Ethan
Ethan: *saves Jack’s life*
Jack: Ethan isn’t reliable and I still don’t trust him
Ethan *saves Jack’s life again*
Jack: I’m Feeling things and it’s Ethan’s fault. Good thing we aren’t exclusive and I casual-fucked someone else in February after that chapter and before our March chapter.
Ethan: *invites Jack to share in something he loves*
Jack: Oh who’s this asshole who clearly wants in Ethan’s pan—oh look! Hot guy! Should I go watch hot guys at the beach instead of cheering Ethan on because I might be bored just watching him race? Ethan, what do you think?
Ethan: 🥺
Jack: Saves Ethan’s life (finally)
Ethan: *gives Jack information that helps solve a case but ends in tragedy*
Jack: Ethan I need you to be here for me I’m grieving
Ethan: *ghosts*
Jack: Ethan isn’t here for me when I need him
Ethan: *sends Jack a ticket to join him*
Jack: I shouldn’t go because Ethan didn’t come to me when I asked and he always comes to me
Ethan: ...
Jack: Fine I guess I’m going to him even though this isn’t how we do things

Jack is self-centered and almost deliberately oblivious about what Ethan is showing him. He’s disgruntled because Ethan doesn’t tell him when he’ll show up or how long it’ll be before he comes back. Gosh, why doesn’t super-secret-assassin-who-has-many-people-wanting-to-capture-or-kill-him Ethan keep Jack informed about all his movements all the time? Surely he knows what his schedule will be like on a daily basis! Snort.

Jack is constantly butt-hurt over this despite knowing who Ethan is and what he does. Mind boggled.

Ethan has risked his freedom and his life time and again for Jack. Jack has questioned and doubted Ethan, and chosen his job over Ethan (don’t get me wrong, I do admire Jack’s moral code with regard to his work, he is brilliant), though you can tell his gut does trust Ethan even when Ethan’s actions are mysterious. When they’re working together on something, they’re in synch to the point of a beautiful ballet.

But it isn’t an even relationship. And when we find out at the end that Ethan’s been a goner over Jack from the moment they met (19 months ago), while Jack has begrudgingly been in it for “about 6 months” that is actually no more than 5 months—please don’t front me by trying to make it sound longer—and Ethan is there exposing his vulnerable belly and just so damn hopeful he’ll get what he wants even as he’s certain he doesn’t deserve it...I don’t know. Even getting Ethan’s POV for a chapter made me sad. It’s a “he fell both first and harder” situation on Ethan’s part. It sort of felt like Jack’s thinks he’s doing Ethan some big favor by committing to him, but Jack’s still got one foot out the door. That isn’t quite right, but, I was left feeling uneasy, not happy.

I know that isn’t really the dynamic; that’s my messed-up impression because I cannot stand hearing about OM action after MCs have connected, and Jack definitely kept hooking up or thinking about hooking up for far too long. I was primed not to like him like him on that front, and that’s not really his fault, it’s my hang-up. But...he’s also kind of a tool. He’s like that super popular meme with the boyfriend arm-in-arm with his girlfriend but looking over his shoulder at some other hot girl while the girlfriend looks on in dismay.

I wound up admiring Jack’s judgement and skills on the job but not liking Jack personally, loving Ethan, and being completely immersed in all the intrigue and action; this author is a master plotter and story teller. Bottom line? I had a mostly grand time.

So, overall it was a both good and bad reading experience that left me feeling slightly sick. On to the next book.

HFN is reached by the end of all the novellas, with a commitment of exclusivity. Off page OM action happens during the timeline, between two chapters of novella 1.4, and it’s mentioned ad nauseum afterward (okay, twice, but, that’s two times too many for me). I do know it’ll come up for conflict in the next book, so, at least it wasn’t gratuitous. Recommended for the amazing authentic spy-thriller writing, and for Ethan. Terrific nuanced character. (Jack is too, but, I just don’t like him. He stomped all over every petty-bitch nerve I have, and I can be very, very petty.)

I’ve been warned my feelings about Jack may not turn around till book 3. Noted.

[juli✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeah this one is 5 star worthy in my humble opinion!

Death and the Devil, The Novellas really came out of nowhere and took me by surprise! I was expecting them to be simple novellas that were just written for fun to tide readers over until book 2 came out.


why yes little Jenny I am!

Yeah these novellas were fanFREAKINGtasic!! I highly recommend you read these before you read Why the Devil Stalks . There is a ton of character development hiding in these stories and I was not prepared!

Things I learned after finishing Death and the Devil, The Novellas!

1. I LOVE Ethan Blade! My man Ethan needs 1st one giant ass hug! I love that while he is this badass assassin who can kill anyone 10 ways from Sunday he is also so caring and protective of Jack. The ways in which he shows he cares is really sweet and seeing him slowly grow to trust Jack was the best part of these novellas. Also I mean the car racing stuff? Loved it!



2. Jack Reardon! Now does my boy Jack annoy me sometimes? Yes! Anytime he does something that hurts Ethan I just want to smack him upside his head!



However, all that said as he slowly starts to care about Ethan and trust him? Man it is a thing of beauty! You can see him slowly over the course of these novellas falling for the infamous assassin Ethan Blade. And what I like about Jack is that not only is he super patient and understanding of Ethan, he can admit when he's messed up. So yeah even though I just want Jack to just trust Ethan immediately as soon as possible I understand why he was a bit hesitant at first!

3. The action/plot!






this is how I imagine all the action scenes lol

Yeah I was surprised myself about this one! Confession time. . . . When I read these kind of stories with heavy action plots, or detective cop type of storylines I'm not usually here for the plot. I'm here for the relationship development and couldn't give a crap about the plot. However, like the early books in Criminal Intentions: Season 1 I came for the romance/MCs and stayed because of the awesome plot. That is much the case here. I came for the relationship between Ethan and Jack and I stay for them and to see what other mess they can get themselves into! I'm invested what can I say!

These novellas were great and if the first book didn't convince you that this series is amazing then this collection of stories surely will! So go forth and read this series and all the novellas in between! You won't regret it!


yes I know this gif. is very outdated but hey Shia just gets my intensity!

[C.S. Poe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I’m still utterly and wholeheartedly obsessed with the Death and the Devil series, and this collection of novellas was the perfect addition—providing crucial relationship development for Jack and Ethan, as well as a buildup of circumstances that effortlessly leads us into Book 2. Death and the Devil, The Novellas features four previously published shorts, and I always appreciate having this sort of stuff consolidated into this one big edition. The included titles are: Where Death Meets the Devil: Coda, Bargaining with the Devil, When the Devil Drives, and Devil in the Details. I’d go so far as to say they’re required reading in order to appreciate the timeline of this series.

The first novella picks up literally one sentence after the conclusion of Book 1 and has Jack and Ethan discussing the events that transpired at The Office and indulging in some “mutual attraction.” It hits all those buttons after the nonstop chaos of Book 1.

The second provides some insight into how Ethan thinks about the world around him and how he remains safe as a high-level assassin. And it’s his admittance of security concerns that becomes one more link in the chain of the budding relationship between him and Jack. The story also introduces us to Harry, Jack’s new partner at work, and what kind of danger comes about when Ethan inserts himself into Jack’s job, even when it’s for well-meaning purposes.

Novella number three puts our heroes in a situation that should have allowed for some intimate bonding, of which Ethan clearly and desperately wants, while Jack is absolutely unable to admit the same thing to himself, but this series wouldn’t be the killer—pun intended—assassin-action-adventure-suspense masterpiece that it is if everything went according to plan. I really, really loved this one!

The final story is particularly fantastic. It’s everything that I adored about Where Death Meets the Devil: fast-paced and dangerous and sexy and heart-breaking, with simple yet profound moments of growth and depth for the characters and storylines, all the while keeping to the marvelous prose and dialogue and setting descriptions that puts L.J. Hayward a level above the rest.

Do not miss this collection of novellas while you’re busily devouring the main titles!

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio: 5 stars, but at this point we aren't surprised by that rating.

Where Death Meets the Devil: Coda: 4 stars

Read this immediately after book one, it picks up right where it left off. Definitely felt like an epilogue of sorts to book 1.

Bargaining with the Devil: 3.5-4 stars (Out of all of them this is my least favorite.)

Another great addition to the series, these novellas are like little extended epilogues and a glimpse back into Jack and Ethan's "relationship" (or more like situationship haha)

I do wish we got Ethan's POV in the upcoming books, because I want to see what is going on in his head!

When the Devil Drives: 4-4.5 stars

Compared to the last novella, this one was way better! A lot more happened in this than I anticipated. I do wish that one or both of them would get their heads out of their asses and say that they want to be exclusive haha! But even with that annoyance, this was a great addition to the series!

When are we getting Ethan's POV?!!

At Death's Door: 3.5-4 stars

When the flu (or man flu) hits Jack, Ethan was there to help nurse him better in a very Ethan way (syringe lol).

These two boys need to talk things out and get on the same page with their relationship haha! And Ethan I hope your POV comes soon!

Le Petit Mort: 4 stars

Finally in the head of Ethan, but no less confusing haha! It threw me off that it was in 1st person rather than 3rd person which Jack's POV is in. Overall, I hope this means in the next couple books we get more of Ethan's POV!

Devil in the Details: 4-4.5 stars

This might be my new favorite of the novella's but I think I have one more to go.

But this one almost had me in tears at the end (king)... These two need to take a minute to talk!

Devil Takes a Holiday: 4 stars

While conversations were had, not enough to clear up all their issues haha! I still am enjoying the adventures of these two! Now officially on to book 2 haha

You 100% need to read these novella's before reading book two, so you can get the full backstory with what happened between books' 1 and 2.

[Katie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I think these novellas are absolutely VITAL to this series. I wish I’d read them before book two. As book two begins, Jack and Ethan are ready for commitment. They have decided to live together and are making emotional speeches to each other. This seems like quite a leap from the end of book one. The novellas contains all the baby steps they took in between.

Each story balances Jack and Ethan’s growing relationship with a sequence of blistering action. The thriller part of the story takes a backseat, but you soon realize it is all interconnected. This was well done but occasionally jarring, as I was so invested in their love story that I forgot about assassins and terrorists until they came careening onto the page.

Speaking of their love story— Jack is an idiot. His emotional incompetence is really frustrating for a romance reader, and Ethan is only a little bit better. But right when their nonsense comes within an inch of insufferable, one or the other (or even both) get their shit together and stride toward real progress. They say all the sweet things, let themselves be vulnerable, and understand each other in such a beautiful way. They 💕love💕 each other— but they are too insecure to let themselves believe it. Their stumbles and their triumphs build a context for book two that makes it far more believable and precious.

In the end, all the frustration is worth it— except that Jack is right back to being an idiot in book 2. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Just kiss your boyfriend, you moron!!! Anyway, I’m off to read Dealing in Death before I dive into book 3. 😁

[B. Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way better than the first book, and this is just a collection of novellas which, honestly, tell a complete story and could've been an entire book from the very beginning. If I went and logged them all separately I could complete my reading challenge haha.

I really liked this. I liked that the timeline was straightforward and the momentum only increased. Jack and Ethan are both flawed, and sometimes I wanted to tell them both to go to therapy, but I honestly love their story and the domestic scenes. For some reason, I keep being reminded of M. Chandler's Simon and Jeremy - there's a similar dynamic.

I will say, I was upset about Harry. I knew the moment he saw them he would probably be offed. I didn't expect to like a character in a novella so much, especially since he dies so quickly. There were parallels between his niece and Jack's.

I've now bought the sequel and the third, hopefully they're as good as the novella collection.

[dameolga · Rating 5 out of 5]

These novellas MUST be read before reading book #2 Why the Devil Stalks Death. I actually really like that Hayward gave us these stories in novella form because they are quite distinct from the "main" trilogy, only partly because we don't get the same back and forth timelines. These shorter stories make up the history between Jack and Ethan, aside from the events from the first book, of course. There's PLENTY of vital character development here, and this compilation is actually my favorite book in the series.

Because each story is shorter, the compilation is a bit lighter in tone, although the last two stories "When the Devil Drives" and "Devil in the Details" do jerk us back to the dark and gritty realm introduced in the first book.

If you were ever going to, you'd fall in love with Jack and Ethan in these novellas. This is how you write novellas, people!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars for The Novellas

This has all the short stories bundled together. Reading these novellas enhances the arc of the books, and fits in the blanks.
Ever wondered what the story is with Harry and Canberra? Have you wondered about how Ethan came to stay with Jack? These stories are all given, including an exciting passenger seat with Ethan driving the Vanquish.
This book helps fill in the blanks

[Alexooo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swallowed those novellas in one go. I know I should've savoured them, but I'm just so in love with Jack and Ethan!! Those two precious babies just trying to figure love out... I swear, this series has taken over my life at this point and that's bad because I have finals kicking my ass and I really need to study, but instead I'm reading... The story of my life, well. I'm grabbing the next one as we speak❤️

[kait ✰ .ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8★s…

“𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘
𝙞 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙮
𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚
‘𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚
𝙞 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚
‘𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜
𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙢𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚
𝙞𝙛 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚.”

let me preface this by saying i do not like kanye west and i don’t support him but GOD this part of runaway is so ethan and jack . 🤕

[Millie SK · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing read

I can’t believe I’m only reading these novellas now. Ethan and Jack is one of my favorite couples. These story sheds light on their personal journey. The story has great action scenes, but I love that it was more focused on them going from a hookup to a relationship.
Absolutely brilliant.

[Leandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories focus more on the character's romance rather than on a plot per se, and like I mentioned, I didn't like their fling as much as I liked the plot, so it was not as enjoyable. It did; however, make me like them a tad more, so at least that was worth it.

[CAROLINA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the push and pull between Jack and Ethan in these novellas. It's frustrating but so good to see them building up to something more. I'm sure the end result will be worth it, after all.

The narrator of the audio version, Rowan Scott, is amazing and adds a lot to the stories.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.