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The Devil Inside
Mara Dullahan is a devil with a knack for sniffing out corrupt souls.
Taunted for centuries about her lack of devilish wings, Mara has something to prove—and she’s determined to become Hell’s top Sales & Acquisitions devil. But her biggest rival, Kemm, will stop at nothing to steal the coveted top spot, including uncovering her darkest secret.
When Mara meets a handsome angel stuck in a dead-end job, she knows he’s the kind of trouble that could ruin all of her ambitions. After all, rumor has it that Lucifer will rip the wings off any devil who falls for an angel. But Mara’s never been one to play by the rules.
As their affair intensifies, Mara’s secret life gets more and more complicated, especially when Kemm starts to suspect that there might be more than one way to bring his competition down. Cornered, Mara is forced to take drastic measures to protect her secrets—and her angel—before all Hell breaks loose.
Taunted for centuries about her lack of devilish wings, Mara has something to prove—and she’s determined to become Hell’s top Sales & Acquisitions devil. But her biggest rival, Kemm, will stop at nothing to steal the coveted top spot, including uncovering her darkest secret.
When Mara meets a handsome angel stuck in a dead-end job, she knows he’s the kind of trouble that could ruin all of her ambitions. After all, rumor has it that Lucifer will rip the wings off any devil who falls for an angel. But Mara’s never been one to play by the rules.
As their affair intensifies, Mara’s secret life gets more and more complicated, especially when Kemm starts to suspect that there might be more than one way to bring his competition down. Cornered, Mara is forced to take drastic measures to protect her secrets—and her angel—before all Hell breaks loose.
322 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2021
About the author
Susan K. Hamilton
11 books78 followersSusan K. Hamilton is the award-winning author of epic, dark, and urban fantasy books including Shadow King, The Devil Inside, and Darkstar Rising. Her short stories have been featured in the ESCAPE!, DECEPTION!, and Passageways anthologies from Writing Bloc.
Her new novel, Stone Heart, will release on August 30, 2022.
Horse-crazy since she was a little girl, she loves pretty much every furry animal on the planet (other than spiders). She also loves comfy jeans, pizza, and great stand-up comedy. Susan lives near Boston with her husband and a cat who runs the house like a boss.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @RealSKHamilton and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonsusank/
Her new novel, Stone Heart, will release on August 30, 2022.
Horse-crazy since she was a little girl, she loves pretty much every furry animal on the planet (other than spiders). She also loves comfy jeans, pizza, and great stand-up comedy. Susan lives near Boston with her husband and a cat who runs the house like a boss.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @RealSKHamilton and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonsusank/
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 21, 2021
A big thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This book was quite different for me. The characters were interesting and unusual. I mean Mara tries to hide her heritage. She befriends humans and is a devil. Duncan is an angel who cusses (I found that amusing). They defy everyone and fall in love. What's not to like? I found it funny. Enjoyable read. 3.5 stars
May 7, 2021
I loved this book so much! Fantasy and romance is one of my favorite combos and this otherworldy book definitely delivered. Complex characters, female empowerment, and devilish fun made this book one of my favorite reads so far this year. Highly recommend!
June 15, 2021
I received this book as a free ARC in return for an honest, unpaid, review.
I love Susan Hamilton's books. This one in particular really caught my attention. I had never thought of Hell as being a Corporation, with sales and acquisitions, etc.
Mara is a disabled devil. Disabled, and vilified, because she doesn't have wings.
She battles another devil who tries to take the top spot she is striving for in the company, but comes out on the losing end each time, until she meets an underemployed angel.
This book was fun, unusual, and well written. I hope there is a sequel.
I love Susan Hamilton's books. This one in particular really caught my attention. I had never thought of Hell as being a Corporation, with sales and acquisitions, etc.
Mara is a disabled devil. Disabled, and vilified, because she doesn't have wings.
She battles another devil who tries to take the top spot she is striving for in the company, but comes out on the losing end each time, until she meets an underemployed angel.
This book was fun, unusual, and well written. I hope there is a sequel.
July 19, 2021
I have had the pleasure of beta reading and editing for Susan K. Hamilton, but this was my first chance to read her full-length published work. It was nice to sit back and relax with her confident and compulsively readable prose. Susan's work is varied, and I wasn't sure which universe this story would fall into, but I quickly began to understand the world of Immortal Planes Inc. or IPI - Heaven and Hell reimagined as a corporation.
Our protagonist is Mara Dullahan, a top devil, who brings in more than the required quota of souls every quarter. She's a little bit cocky and power-hungry, but she also knows what she's doing. She's also interested in Duncan DeMarco, a sexy angel who's totally forbidden to her. As Mara schemes to find an acceptable way to be with Duncan, she's also being outpaced in quota by another devil, Kamm. Mara's got to navigate the red tape of IPI, get her quota, and make sure she doesn't get killed along the way. And then there are all her secrets...
This is a fun romp, with steamy romance and paranormal intrigue. The sheer humor of the concept keeps the pace moving, too. And within all that, Hamilton finds a way to bring character growth to Mara, too, for those who like heroines in a morally gray zone. Much like the last book I finished, THE LOST GIRLS, the paranormal plot folds in nicely with the romance aspect. I'm looking forward to reading more of Hamilton's work.
Our protagonist is Mara Dullahan, a top devil, who brings in more than the required quota of souls every quarter. She's a little bit cocky and power-hungry, but she also knows what she's doing. She's also interested in Duncan DeMarco, a sexy angel who's totally forbidden to her. As Mara schemes to find an acceptable way to be with Duncan, she's also being outpaced in quota by another devil, Kamm. Mara's got to navigate the red tape of IPI, get her quota, and make sure she doesn't get killed along the way. And then there are all her secrets...
This is a fun romp, with steamy romance and paranormal intrigue. The sheer humor of the concept keeps the pace moving, too. And within all that, Hamilton finds a way to bring character growth to Mara, too, for those who like heroines in a morally gray zone. Much like the last book I finished, THE LOST GIRLS, the paranormal plot folds in nicely with the romance aspect. I'm looking forward to reading more of Hamilton's work.
July 9, 2021
I was initially drawn to The Devil Inside by author Susan K. Hamilton by its cover. It’s fairly simple but I thought it was pretty cool. The blurb seemed interesting: A devil with a knack for sniffing out corrupt souls has something to prove meets an angel stuck in a dead-end job, starts a forbid affair. Simple enough. I wasn’t looking for a heavy read, so I went for it.
Annnd it was a fun quick read. I liked Mara and Duncan’s characters. Duncan’s job didn’t seem so dead-end, although his boss was quite the uptight piece of work. As for Mara’s job, while it didn’t seem very original, the way she handle it was decent. I think the part I found the most interesting is how heaven and hell are portrayed as two divisions of a single corporation. Now that I felt was a curious concept. It certainly gives a reader something to ponder over.
As much as I enjoyed the story, and all the secondary characters, I found it to be a bit predictable. Once it was mentioned Mara had a big secret, I immediately figured out what it was going to be and how it would play out. Still, it made for an adequate read. Not sure if I would grab someone and tell them this is a must-read book, but it is certainly something worth reading if you want something light and entertaining.
Stars: 3
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Annnd it was a fun quick read. I liked Mara and Duncan’s characters. Duncan’s job didn’t seem so dead-end, although his boss was quite the uptight piece of work. As for Mara’s job, while it didn’t seem very original, the way she handle it was decent. I think the part I found the most interesting is how heaven and hell are portrayed as two divisions of a single corporation. Now that I felt was a curious concept. It certainly gives a reader something to ponder over.
As much as I enjoyed the story, and all the secondary characters, I found it to be a bit predictable. Once it was mentioned Mara had a big secret, I immediately figured out what it was going to be and how it would play out. Still, it made for an adequate read. Not sure if I would grab someone and tell them this is a must-read book, but it is certainly something worth reading if you want something light and entertaining.
Stars: 3
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 20, 2021
This was my first time reading this author, but I loved the concept and urban fantasy is right in my sweet zone. I enjoyed this book, I thought this was a solidly good read. There were some good interesting ideas here and I really liked how the two storyline threads twisted together at the end to present some really high stakes.
I did want more pressure/stakes in the build up to the end, it did feel a bit lacking in conflict at times as the MCs went about their jobs and I would have loved more build up and zing in the romance (personal tastes there).
This was good, I liked the characters and the concept and would read this author again.
I did want more pressure/stakes in the build up to the end, it did feel a bit lacking in conflict at times as the MCs went about their jobs and I would have loved more build up and zing in the romance (personal tastes there).
This was good, I liked the characters and the concept and would read this author again.
July 20, 2022
Forget the cute little angel and devil on your shoulder. Instead, imagine the angel and devil lusting for one another with a flaming desire that dances off the page. In “The Devil Inside” Author Susan K. Hamilton crafts a full working organization of angels and devils and the roles they play in our lives in this unforgettable, otherworldly romance.
The universe comprises three planes. The Mortal Plane where we presently live until death, when our soul travels to the Null Plane before going to either Heaven or Hell. We are then eventually sent to the Immortal Plane to live the rest of our forever in either Heaven or Hell. Angels and devils work for the Heaven and Hell divisions of Immortal Planes Incorporated, all reporting to the chairman and CEO, God.
“The Devil Inside” kicks off as Mara Dullahan is approaching year end with a shot of becoming the second all-time sales and acquisitions devil, just behind the King of Hell, Lucifer. She’s got a penchant for closing impressive deals with souls full of tarnish to feed her power. However, Duncan’s charming and boyish good looks may have other plans for Mara’s record as she becomes captivated by the very off-limits angel she begins lusting for. What could possibly go wrong with an angel and devil falling for one another?
Using olfactory senses, the author ties each important character to a scent that is unique to them as the angels and devils travel amongst humans on the Mortal Plane. Hamilton has created a fascinating concept in which the good and bad mortals are tempted with contracts and saves by devils and angels looking for humans to sell their souls. She has truly crafted a thorough and well-developed world within the pages, making corporate Heaven and Hell salespeople into a fascinating construct. Tied in amongst this intriguing corporate world is a steamy and forbidden love. With secrets of her own and a quick-witted tongue, readers will be immediately captivated by Mara’s devilish charm, but is love enough for Mara to give up her win streak?
With heavy themes regarding personal and professional sacrifice, good and evil, forgiveness and greed, “The Devil Inside” is a must read
The universe comprises three planes. The Mortal Plane where we presently live until death, when our soul travels to the Null Plane before going to either Heaven or Hell. We are then eventually sent to the Immortal Plane to live the rest of our forever in either Heaven or Hell. Angels and devils work for the Heaven and Hell divisions of Immortal Planes Incorporated, all reporting to the chairman and CEO, God.
“The Devil Inside” kicks off as Mara Dullahan is approaching year end with a shot of becoming the second all-time sales and acquisitions devil, just behind the King of Hell, Lucifer. She’s got a penchant for closing impressive deals with souls full of tarnish to feed her power. However, Duncan’s charming and boyish good looks may have other plans for Mara’s record as she becomes captivated by the very off-limits angel she begins lusting for. What could possibly go wrong with an angel and devil falling for one another?
Using olfactory senses, the author ties each important character to a scent that is unique to them as the angels and devils travel amongst humans on the Mortal Plane. Hamilton has created a fascinating concept in which the good and bad mortals are tempted with contracts and saves by devils and angels looking for humans to sell their souls. She has truly crafted a thorough and well-developed world within the pages, making corporate Heaven and Hell salespeople into a fascinating construct. Tied in amongst this intriguing corporate world is a steamy and forbidden love. With secrets of her own and a quick-witted tongue, readers will be immediately captivated by Mara’s devilish charm, but is love enough for Mara to give up her win streak?
With heavy themes regarding personal and professional sacrifice, good and evil, forgiveness and greed, “The Devil Inside” is a must read
July 21, 2022
Forget the cute little angel and devil on your shoulder. Instead, imagine the angel and devil lusting for one another with a flaming desire that dances off the page. In “The Devil Inside” Author Susan K. Hamilton crafts a full working organization of angels and devils and the roles they play in our lives in this unforgettable, otherworldly romance.
The universe comprises three planes. The Mortal Plane where we presently live until death, when our soul travels to the Null Plane before going to either Heaven or Hell. We are then eventually sent to the Immortal Plane to live the rest of our forever in either Heaven or Hell. Angels and devils work for the Heaven and Hell divisions of Immortal Planes Incorporated, all reporting to the chairman and CEO, God.
“The Devil Inside” kicks off as Mara Dullahan is approaching year end with a shot of becoming the second all-time sales and acquisitions devil, just behind the King of Hell, Lucifer. She’s got a penchant for closing impressive deals with souls full of tarnish to feed her power. However, Duncan’s charming and boyish good looks may have other plans for Mara’s record as she becomes captivated by the very off-limits angel she begins lusting for. What could possibly go wrong with an angel and devil falling for one another?
Using olfactory senses, the author ties each important character to a scent that is unique to them as the angels and devils travel amongst humans on the Mortal Plane. Hamilton has created a fascinating concept in which the good and bad mortals are tempted with contracts and saves by devils and angels looking for humans to sell their souls. She has truly crafted a thorough and well-developed world within the pages, making corporate Heaven and Hell salespeople into a fascinating construct. Tied in amongst this intriguing corporate world is a steamy and forbidden love. With secrets of her own and a quick-witted tongue, readers will be immediately captivated by Mara’s devilish charm, but is love enough for Mara to give up her win streak?
With heavy themes regarding personal and professional sacrifice, good and evil, forgiveness and greed, “The Devil Inside” is a must read.
The universe comprises three planes. The Mortal Plane where we presently live until death, when our soul travels to the Null Plane before going to either Heaven or Hell. We are then eventually sent to the Immortal Plane to live the rest of our forever in either Heaven or Hell. Angels and devils work for the Heaven and Hell divisions of Immortal Planes Incorporated, all reporting to the chairman and CEO, God.
“The Devil Inside” kicks off as Mara Dullahan is approaching year end with a shot of becoming the second all-time sales and acquisitions devil, just behind the King of Hell, Lucifer. She’s got a penchant for closing impressive deals with souls full of tarnish to feed her power. However, Duncan’s charming and boyish good looks may have other plans for Mara’s record as she becomes captivated by the very off-limits angel she begins lusting for. What could possibly go wrong with an angel and devil falling for one another?
Using olfactory senses, the author ties each important character to a scent that is unique to them as the angels and devils travel amongst humans on the Mortal Plane. Hamilton has created a fascinating concept in which the good and bad mortals are tempted with contracts and saves by devils and angels looking for humans to sell their souls. She has truly crafted a thorough and well-developed world within the pages, making corporate Heaven and Hell salespeople into a fascinating construct. Tied in amongst this intriguing corporate world is a steamy and forbidden love. With secrets of her own and a quick-witted tongue, readers will be immediately captivated by Mara’s devilish charm, but is love enough for Mara to give up her win streak?
With heavy themes regarding personal and professional sacrifice, good and evil, forgiveness and greed, “The Devil Inside” is a must read.
July 30, 2021
I saw a preview of the first chapter, and immediately preordered from the publisher. The first book I read by Hamilton was the urban fantasy, Shadow King, which weaved together the world of the fae with the world of crime for a fun unpredictable romp so I had high expectations.
This time, Hamilton tackles angels and demons. Readers who enjoyed Shadow King will find the same wit, romance, and gritty intrigue that distinguishes her work in an altogether new story filled with fleshed out (and occasionally fleshless) characters. She envisions a world in which angels and devils represent competing corporations vying to save or claim souls on Earth, but the competition is even tighter within their competing realms. While there's moments of intense death and mayhem, Hamilton is more interested in exploring the relationship between the star-crossed lovers at the center of the story.
Though readers spend most of their time amongst angels or devils, Hamilton squeezes in some solid commentary on humanity, and satisfying outcomes for corporate "clients", both good and bad.
That said, it's a fun tantalizing read despite tackling some heavier subject matter.
Great for fans of "Lucifer" and "Supernatural".
This time, Hamilton tackles angels and demons. Readers who enjoyed Shadow King will find the same wit, romance, and gritty intrigue that distinguishes her work in an altogether new story filled with fleshed out (and occasionally fleshless) characters. She envisions a world in which angels and devils represent competing corporations vying to save or claim souls on Earth, but the competition is even tighter within their competing realms. While there's moments of intense death and mayhem, Hamilton is more interested in exploring the relationship between the star-crossed lovers at the center of the story.
Though readers spend most of their time amongst angels or devils, Hamilton squeezes in some solid commentary on humanity, and satisfying outcomes for corporate "clients", both good and bad.
That said, it's a fun tantalizing read despite tackling some heavier subject matter.
Great for fans of "Lucifer" and "Supernatural".
March 4, 2022
This book is absolutely absurd and I love Susan K. Hamilton for having the irreverence to make it a reality. Mara Dullahan, who I surmise is both Irish and boring, is condemned to Hell and happy as a dementor at a funeral. Adept at winning souls for the Prince of Darkness, Mara’s ambitions could only be dulled by the one thing that makes Lucifer turn red(der): love.
I read somewhere “The Devil Inside” is like the movie “Office Space,” but in Hell. I would add a little Romeo & Juliet in there because Mara, a dyed in the wool closer for Satan a lá Glengarry Glen Ross, falls in love with a literal heavenly angel.
It’s Mary Tyler Moore set in the fiery abyss of eternal suffering, and Dullahan thinks she can have it all. But her corporate rival will stop at nothing to displace Mara and shake their boss’s contemptibly wicked cloven hand. Will her ambitions eat love for lunch or can Dullahan make a long distance relationship work? Collect calls to the Kingdom of Heaven don’t come cheap.
I read somewhere “The Devil Inside” is like the movie “Office Space,” but in Hell. I would add a little Romeo & Juliet in there because Mara, a dyed in the wool closer for Satan a lá Glengarry Glen Ross, falls in love with a literal heavenly angel.
It’s Mary Tyler Moore set in the fiery abyss of eternal suffering, and Dullahan thinks she can have it all. But her corporate rival will stop at nothing to displace Mara and shake their boss’s contemptibly wicked cloven hand. Will her ambitions eat love for lunch or can Dullahan make a long distance relationship work? Collect calls to the Kingdom of Heaven don’t come cheap.
June 2, 2025
Mara is a devil in corporate hell. Duncan is an angel in corporate heaven. When the two meet, it's an instant attraction. Can the two navigate this forbidden love without serious consequences? The Devil Inside is a creative paranormal romance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats wanting to know what will happen. The characters are well-developed and complex with realistic strengths and weaknesses. It's an entertaining story with some very interesting twists. Those who enjoy paranormal romance will enjoy this story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews