My Funny Demon Valentine

Hell Bent #1

by Aurora Ascher

Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, just wants to play music. Jazz, specifically.

Unfortunately, he’s a demon, and he’s supposed to be evil. A career as a musician isn’t exactly an option.
And he’s cursed, to top it all off.

Sick of playing by the rules, Ash and his brothers escape Hell in search of freedom on Earth, only to discover it’s harder than they thought to keep their enemies off their tail. The four rogues quickly become the Underworld’s Most Wanted, and if they’re caught…
The consequences will be dire.

Everything changes for Ash when he meets a beautiful violinist who can see through his curse. It must be too good to be true, but he can’t resist the temptation.
No matter the risk, he has to have her.

Evangeline Gregory is just your average human. She works at a jazz bar, plays gigs on weekends…
And, apparently, hallucinates demons.

At least, that’s what she tells herself happens when, moments after she meets the man of her dreams, she sees him shift into a seven-foot-tall, red-skinned monster.

Not believing her own eyes, Eva decides to investigate and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a supernatural clusterf**k of epic proportions. But Ash isn’t the only one keeping secrets, and the search for answers reveals a shocking truth that will change the course of her life forever.

Or maybe just doom it.


My Funny Demon Valentine is a steamy paranormal romance about learning how to love (and what love is in the first place) with an HEA, clothes-ripping-hot love scenes, and a crew of devilish demon brothers who are supposed to be the bad guys.
There’s violence, sex, and too much swearing. You’ve been warned.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romantasy, Demons, Paranormal Romance, Fiction

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2021

About the author

Aurora Ascher is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling fantasy & paranormal romance author. She loves misunderstood monsters, redeemable anti-heroes, and epic happily-ever-afters. A woman of many creative pursuits, Aurora is also a professional musician and visual artist. She currently resides in Montreal with her trusty espresso machine and her endlessly patient husband, whom she sometimes doesn’t see for hours until she emerges from her writing cave like a bear in springtime.

Reviews

[Amber Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a great book. I think I took so long cause I didn’t want it to end. I love the characters and can’t wait for the rest of the books.

[AvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFdhgzLzp...

Don’t let the name deceive you, this book wasn’t some smut with demons on valentines day (like I thought, quite stupidly). They meant serious business and I was 100 percent invested from the first page itself.

This book had it all! It was romantic, steamy, funny, adventurous with a wide range of complex characters with depth. Characterisation was bomb as was the plot and plot twists. I especially loved the equation between the demon brothers. Loyalty was their core strength.

Heroine Eva was bold, brave and a talented musician. She was perfect for our demon hero Asmodeus, Prince of hell and Lust. They had a connection from the beginning. I also loved Eva’s mom Jacqui. She was a wonderful character.

This book is written in multiple POV which is a pet peeve of mine but worked well here. The series is not standalone but it’s worth it.

Safe, KU and recommended.

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - 4.75 stars!

My Funny Demon Valentine is the first book in the Hell Bent series and features Evangeline (Eva) and Asmodeus (Ash). Ash, lover of Jazz and a Prince of Hell, along with his brothers escape Hell and its ironic set of constricting rules to build a better and more free life for themselves. But in doing so, they've put a huge target on their backs and they're on borrowed time until the Hunter/Tracker finds them. Ash, stuck with a curse that dulls the senses, yearns to feel something other than mediocre pleasure and passing glances. It isn't until one night when he meet Eva that everything changes.

Eva is a musician and while playing a gig one weekend she catches the eye of one of the most gorgeous and masculine men she has ever laid eyes on. All her senses go into overdrive and the two of them fall into easy conversation. Eva is enamored by this hunk of a man and Ash is in awe that Eva has noticed him at all despite his curse.

On the night they meet, the club they are at erupts in chaos and Eva sees something she never should have. Completely confused and possibly crazy, Eva needs answers and the only way to get those is to get to know the quiet and delicious man. As the two of them navigate their budding relationship, Eva realizes she has been thrust into a world far bigger than herself and there is more to her than meets the eye. What happens with Eva finds out the truth about Ash...and herself? Can Eva and Ash have a happy ending with Hell after Ash and his brothers and Eva's past?

First off, I'd like to point out that the cover for this is SO cool. Aurora Ascher herself created it and I think it's such a wonderful likeness to Ash's character. Secondly, I've read a lot of PNR and it's refreshing to read a story that is both unique and successfully executed. There were several twists and turns in here that had me on the edge of my seat and the angst/suspense was perfectly balanced with the steaminess (!!!) of Ash and Eva's relationship. I really liked Ash's character although I felt like there is so much about him that I still don't know. Eva was a wonderful character full of spunk and strength. Eva definitely overshadowed Ash as a character but I almost feel like that was intentional considering Ash has spent a long time 'in the background.' Their relationship was everything...sweet but not so sweet your teeth hurt and definitely full of passion and lust.

Ash's brothers were so fun and I loved the banter between all of them. I can't wait for their stories...specifically a demon with a flare for delicious cooking. The only thing that bothered me a little in here was when the story offered the POV of characters other than Ash and Eva. While this didn't happen much, it confused me just a tad but I understand why the author did it.

Lastly, Eva's mother...she wasn't even a main character and I think my heart cracked open for her. I'm hoping that gets resolved in a good way. Overall, if you like steamy PNR with a heavy dose of action and adventure then definitely pick this one up. You won't regret claiming your own demon from Hell.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts:

This was such a fun and entertaining read! This book made me feel tons of emotions. It is about a girl falling for a demon, but she wasn’t quite sure he was one until later on in the book. She had thought they were only hallucinations, but she was wrong. This gave me somewhat of a Twilight feel, which I loved! It’s like Twilight, minus the vampires and werewolves. It’s a demon and angel type of thing going on in this one.

This is filled with romance and spice. It’s dark, but not too dark. It made me giggle and even had me nervous at times! I want to read the 2nd book in this series so bad right now, but I can’t because it’s not out yet. Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating!! I highly recommend this book to anyone that is into a spicy devilish comedy fantasy read!

🔥 Very Spicy
😈😇 Demon and Angel Trope
🤣Comedy and Entertainment
❤️ Romance

Content Warnings:

Explicit sexual content, murder, violence and death.


Notes:

As I am writing this review, I notice that it is free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.

🔻The 2nd book to this Hell Bent Series is set to release on March 25, 2025

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found My Funny Demon Valentine while hunting through GR shelves and I'm glad I did! This was an entertaining, funny, actiony, and steamy read with feels. Ash (H) is a demon prince who has escaped Hell and is in hiding on Earth with his brothers. Due to a curse, Ash is bland as wet cement to women, but Eva (h), a musician performing at a club the brothers go, sees through his curse. The best part of this story for me was actually probably the banter and relationship between the four demons. I ate it up and I'm looking forward to more. The romance between Ash and Eva is also wonderful and surprisingly (given how unfeeling demons are supposed to be in this world) heartfelt and emotional. I was a bit worried that Ash would only be focusing on Eva because of her ability to see through his curse and not for her (also a worry of hers once the info comes out), but that worry quickly dissolved. This is a third person, multi-POV narrative. No ow/om drama, neither are virgins (H is a lust demon so prior to the curse, was very promiscuous), no bc necessary.

In addition to the romance, there's suspense and action as Hell is hunting down the escaped demons, family drama, secrets being kept, and the fun of culture clash between demons and humans. Several side characters popped off the page and hopefully continue in the series. This was a pretty emotional read for me at one part and I did cry. I'm hopeful that particular storyline resolves more through the other books. There's also a fantastic twist at the end that sets up the next book. I'm curious how the other demons' stories will play out and to learn more of their backgrounds. Great first book to draw someone into a new world.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✧

My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher is a paranormal contemporary romance with a surprising amount of depth and heart. It follows Eva, a passionate musician whose life is turned upside down when she meets Ash—a magnetic stranger with secrets she can’t quite name. But as their connection deepens, so does the chaos around her. When she learns that Ash is actually Asmodeus, a cursed Prince of Hell on the run, everything changes. Hunted, haunted, and hopelessly drawn to each other, can their growing love—and music—truly be enough to change fate? 🎶🔥

───♡─────────────

♡ What I loved most:
• The title has a hidden emotional meaning that absolutely melted me once it was revealed 🎀
• I missed books with chapter titles! It made the story feel whimsical and nostalgic 📖
• The multi-POV format brought so much life—it wasn’t just Eva and Ash, but a whole cast of interconnected stories 🌗
• Characterization was so vivid I could see them—Ash, Eva, even the side characters were incredibly fleshed out 🖼️
• The comedic undertone brought so much charm and warmth (without undercutting the emotion!)
• Eva’s parents had their own arc that brought so much heart—Jacqui, her mother, was a standout 💐
• Music and art played a soul-deep role here—it added a layer of tenderness that stuck with me 🎼
• The worldbuilding was both rich and accessible—the author eased us into it gently and cleverly ✨
• The spice was hot but never overwhelming—less than 20%, and it never distracted from the plot 🌶
• The near-end twist was brilliant—just when you think you know what kind of story it is, it deepens 🌀
• Surprisingly emotional in all the best ways—heartbreaking, heartwarming, and full of soul 💔💗
• The ending wrapped things up perfectly while still teasing the next book—and I am so ready 💫
• Also? The special edition is gorgeous 📚

✘ What didn’t work for me:
• Just like the prequel, POV changes aren’t marked—which can be confusing at first, though you eventually adjust 🔄

❀ Overall:
This book completely surprised me—in the best way. I expected a casual, sexy little rom-com with demons… but what I got was something deeply moving, emotionally layered, and gorgeously written. I devoured the second half in one sitting and found myself aching for more of this world. I laughed, I blushed, I even teared up a little. My Funny Demon Valentine gave me everything I didn’t know I needed. 🖤👹🎻

「Hell Bent series」
#0.5 My Demon Romance — 3 ✧
#1 My Funny Demon Valentine — 4.5 ✧
#2 My Demon Hunter — 4.25 ✧
#3 Demon with Benefits — TBR
#4 Guardian Demon — TBR
#5 Beauty and the Demon — TBR

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 1 out of 5]

disrespectfully, no

[ashlyn]

Soft dnf😔 I wanted to love this so badly, but I got the ick around chapter 8, and now I feel physically sick trying to push through it. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I get why the bad reviews exist


pre read: i got the arc!!! i’m either going to fall in love with this or despise it, the reviews are making me nervy🥲

[Anne (eggcatsreads) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF this at 16% because I don’t hate myself enough to keep reading. The writing is absolutely terrible and, while the story could use some tweaking, the writing is what made me quit reading. I quite literally stopped in the middle of a chapter, in the middle of a sex scene even, and the writing was such a chore to read that I had no desire to even finish the scene, let alone the chapter. I would encourage literally everyone to read practically anything else and save yourself the effort of trying to read this. Every other sentence feels like it’s in a competition with itself to land in a “Family Guy Funny Moments” video clip, and the other half is spent telling you what’s going on in the story as opposed to writing about what’s going on. Combining these two things made it a herculean effort to even read as far as I did.

The “demons” in this book are nothing more than overly sexy regular looking men, who sometimes have demon forms. Their talking with one another is cheap, vulgar, and the way they talk about women is disgusting - making it even worse that one of them is the main love interest in this book. Not to mention that the main male love interest has a curse that makes “anyone who would be attracted to him not be” and they ignore him - and yet, he’s said he’s had sex with women before, despite them not being attracted to him. Now, I’m no expert, but it really sounds like this book, multiple times mind you, is tiptoeing around him assaulting women for his own pleasure. If not, it doesn’t make it clear enough that that’s not the case.

‘It wasn’t like he’d been celibate since he’d been cursed - he was a demon, thank you very much - but his sexual partners hadn’t exactly been passionate participants.’

‘How to explain the lengths he was willing to go to have sex with a woman who was actually attracted to him?’

I also had difficulty getting into the “lust at first sight” thing, when it’s stated that the main guy is a lust demon, so since Eva can see him then she has practically no option but to be sexually interested in him and finding him hot. It’s not a legitimate connection at all, and it also has some uncomfortable implications for the other demons in this book having sex with women. It makes the reader consider that none of these women are actually saying yes to having sex with these men, only that their demonic traits are so attractive that they have no choice but to be insanely attracted to them and wanting to have sex with them. So…it’s, essentially, not their choice at all.

“She saw through the curse. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“How? What did she say?”
“She told me she was attracted to me.”
“What did she say?”
“She said I was the ‘hottest guy’” - he made little finger quotes - “she’d ever seen. She said she was so attracted to me, she ‘couldn’t keep it in her pants’”
“Damn! She must have really seen you then. But how?”
His brothers could only see him because they weren’t attracted to him. It was only potential sexual partners that looked at him like a piece of old drywall. Except Eva hadn't. Eva was attracted to him.

See, this? THIS made me question whether or not she even was attracted to him. Because this makes it seem like maybe she wouldn’t have been attracted to him, and that that is why she ‘is’! She’s not “seeing through the curse” - the curse is still working as intended, and normally she wouldn’t have been interested. Except now she is. And she doesn’t have a choice about it.

And granted. I KNOW that that’s not the intent. But, this is what I mean when I saw the very nature of them being lust demons sends a potential wrench in things, because I shouldn’t even be worried that the attraction the main woman leads is being coerced from her. And yet, that was my first thought.

We also get to fall into the classic “men are horndogs and women aren’t supposed to be promiscuous or to feel horny, because that’s a ‘man thing.” Yikes. I know this book was originally written a few years ago, but you’d think such poor beliefs and thoughts would have been edited out for a 2025 re-release.

‘Poor Skye was the most impulsive person Eva knew, and she had a sex drive to rival any man’s.’

Also, the word (I use this loosely) “fucknut” is on the literally first page, and it only got worse from there.

“Humans are fragile. Pretty sure they could make themselves sick by thinking too much.”
“He’s not human, idiot.”
“Shut it, fucknut.”
You’re the fucknut, asshole.”
You’re the asshole, fu-”

The main love interest goes by both Asmodeus and Ash, which is fine, but there are many times where both names are used on the same page! As if they’re two different people! Surely this could have been more tightly edited to at least have him using one name during the same situation.

“Damn it,” was Asmodeus’s response.
“Especially you two idiots.” He gestured to Bel and Ash.
Ash rolled his eyes.

ASH AND ASMODEUS ARE THE SAME PERSON. I noticed this because, up until now, Ash was pretty much only going as Ash, and then, after that one time of Asmodeus, he goes BACK to being called Ash within the narrative.

The entire section in the middle where Eva calls her “not a normal mom, I’m a cool mom” parents could have been edited a bit better, as well. As it was, it felt a little off that she not only tells her mom that she thinks she saw a demon, but internally she’s glad her mom wouldn’t suggest something like - oh, I don’t know - seeing a doctor and possibly needing medication. The horror! Eva also calls it “the shrink” in a disparaging way when she asks if she should see someone about her mental health.

‘Leave it to her mom to come up with a semi-reasonable plan to figure out if she was hallucinating or not. Anyone else would have told her to go straight to a shrink and start popping some heavy medication.’

Lovely. I personally adore it when mental health and needing medication is a joke.

Not to mention her mom fearmongering about GMO’s during this conversation, and Eva agreeing that “the chemicals in processed food” could have caused her to hallucinate. That’s not what GMO’s are, but okay.

Finally, this has nothing to do with anything else, but I found it a bit…uncomfortable…that the main woman lead works at a jazz club and yet spends the entire first chapter insulting the music that is playing at the club she performed at - trap music. And I understand, both are very different genres, but when both of those genres originated from black communities in the American South it seems an odd choice to disparage one and venerate the other.

And finally, just two quotes I couldn’t help but include because they fully made me stop and question what the actual hell I was wasting my time with reading. This book, single-handedly, made me change my mind about generally not rating books that I DNF, because the fact that this book has such a high rating makes me lose my mind. I knew we were in a literacy crisis, but I genuinely don’t wish to believe so many people are so illiterate that they would not only be able to finish reading this affront to literature, but then have the desire to rate it highly.

‘Her wild hair, her short, curvy body, and that ridiculously round ass that he wanted to bite so fucking bad…He had to have her. No question.
But first: music.’

But first, coffee! Sigh.

“It looked like a pug crossed with Gollum. A pig crossed with a bat. A monkey crossed with Dobby the House Elf who had bashed its face into a brick wall too many times. It was just ugly in every possible way.”

We could’ve just deleted this entire paragraph and saved me the difficulty of having to read it. That would have been nicer to my eyes, personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this e-ARC.

[Susan Carolynn]

DNF at 73% :( I started this one on the plane a few months ago and don’t have the motivation to continue. While the initial paranormal concept was great, the execution fell flat. I didn’t think the characters had much chemistry, and they felt pretty one dimensional. I feel like the fantasy element could’ve been better developed and made more original. It seemed like the “rules” for the world were made up on the fly. I also would’ve preferred faster pacing and more action.

Thank you so much to Kensington for sending me an ARC of My Funny Demon Valentine. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the premise of this story originally excited me, the author’s execution of it left me with a lot to be desired.

Eva, a musician, meets Ash, a demon, at a Canadian club. The two have insta-lust for one another. There’s just two big problems: Eva has no idea what Ash really is, and Ash isn’t supposed to be on earth. Shenanigans ensue.

I was not a fan of the writing style, the forced yet gaudy conversations, what felt like a largely unedited first draft, and the overall feel of this book. I understand I’m in a minority here based on other reviews I’ve read, but I will not be continuing with the series.

I was slightly uncomfortable with the white author’s presentation of a black female lead.

The plot of the story was not original, nor was it told in any way that felt inspired. Demons gonna demon, right? For me, the four male leads of the story were not well-rounded. Their banter was childish. They did not manage to capture my interest.

All good stories have the mechanics that get them from start to finish. There was little mystery to be found in this book about what would happen next. Everything was too convenient. There were no plot twists, and the end of the story left room for spinoffs, but ultimately did not get me interested in pursuing them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of “My Funny Demon Valentine” in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demons Need Love Too 😌

💘 Bookish Thoughts
My Funny Demon Valentine is such a cute paranormal read! I won’t lie, the first 30% was super slow, and I was very thankful to be listening to the audiobook. But I’m so glad I stuck with it because the back half totally delivered! I’m excited to continue the series.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the book I would have randomly chosen but I did enjoy it more than expected so I am grateful to Between the Books choosing it as February’s book of the month. I should preface this with saying that demon sex is not a thing I’m into. It edges more towards monster for me and doesn’t hold my interest. I did like the demon characters and I get where the author was going with them being demon and yet more but there were still bits that took me out of the story because this just isn’t my thing. I did like the humor quite a bit. The writing wasn’t always the best and I thought the base of the story could have been more with a bit of tweaking. The characters were the biggest strength and the intriguing group of demons who are different than anything I’ve read are interesting and even though this was a book I liked ok, I am interested on future books focusing on the other demons in the group.

[Mia S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monster Smut? No! Are there Demons involved? Yes! But so different! Set in Canada but it has NOLA vibes. Ash and his 3 brothers escaped hell and wanted to live in Earth as they no longer wanted to stay in hell and felt different. His brothers- Bel, Ryan, and Meph are muscular and women immediately attracted, however Ash, Prince of Lust, was cursed by angel Raphael to be invisible to feelings from possible lovers and also is robbed of color and taste. One night in a club a DJ starts playing the violin and Ash is the only one to notice- and is approached by the violinist who is attracted to him- but impossible????? Loooooved this story and yes I will follow the series! Why not 5? Big plot hole that I hope is furthered in series but I think a little more conclusion should have been placed for Dan- just saying….

[Koisty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Love Handles Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

You know when a book title gives you a certain expectation, but then you read the book and realize you were totally off the mark? Yeah… that was this book!!! I went in expecting some kind of Valentine’s Day romance between a girl and a demon, only to end up with two characters bonding over jazz music and a song I’ve never heard of...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
We start with Asmodeus, Belial, Mephistopheles and Raum, who have all escaped from Hell, deciding to try their luck at living like humans. The problem? Asmodeus has been cursed... a curse that robs him of any kind of pleasure or sensation. He can’t taste, smell, feel, or see colour, and to top it off, anyone who might have found him "attractive" now sees him as appealing as mouldy sandpaper. He has lived in isolation, untouched and unnoticed for millennia. One night, they visit a jazz club, and Asmodeus finds himself mesmerized by a violinist on stage. Their eyes meet, and something shifts. That violinist is Evangeline and when she walks over to introduce herself, it sets everything into motion. But here’s the kicker, these demons aren’t supposed to be here, and now that they’ve broken free, they’re being hunted. And when a gargoyle tracks them down, and Evie sees their demon forms... things get complicated.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Evangeline is interesting. She’s badass, but at times, way too chill about what’s happening. Like, girl, you just saw a full-on demon execution and your reaction is… mild concern? She has one brief moment of freaking out, and then she’s fine, which made some of her reactions feel a little too blasé. I would’ve liked a bit more depth to how she processed everything. And her mother's advice... "Maybe you should explore this"... Because apparently, almost witnessing a demon battle to the death is not a reason to run for the hills.

Asmodeus and his demon brothers are adorable. And yes, I just called demons adorable! Asmodeus, in particular, is the least attuned to human norms... probably because, for the last three millennia, no one has paid him any attention. He has no idea how to interact with people, which results in this hilariously HIMBO energy. He’s clueless about basic human customs, norms and technology - especially things like how television works. It was just stupidly cute.

I didn’t expect this to have multiple POVs, but it really added to the story. You can tell Aurora Ascher really did her research on demonology, and while some creative liberties were taken with the characters’ personalities and backstories, a lot of their story is based on traditional biblical lore. And listen, BECAUSE I am obsessed with learning random things from books, I loved going down the rabbit hole of researching who these demons were and what they stood for.

Even though he is not the main MMC in this, Belial might be my favourite. He has zero chill and the worst temper, and when he gets angry, he has "little flame" temper tantrums. It was hilarious and endearing how his brothers and Evie calmed him down. I think that's a big thing that I loved about this book, how strong the bonds were between the brothers! I loved seeing how this ragtag group of escaped demons had become a brotherhood... fiercely protective of each other in a world that didn’t want them to exist.

Now there isn't much plot to this story, but it is a fun ride! The characters carry it, and for me, that was enough. I loved watching Asmodeus and Evangeline bond over something as human as music... Seeing them connect through that, how their shared passion brought them together and changed them, was unexpectedly sweet.

There was one thing that annoyed me... The one demon's name is RIDICULOUS and I HAVE NO CLUE how to pronounce it... Mishetsumephtai. Every time I saw it, I mentally rolled my eyes and just skimmed over it because, honestly, I wasn’t about to butcher it in my head.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨::
▶ DemonXHuman Relationship
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Burn The World for You
▶ Band of Brothers
▶ Hidden Identity
▶ Winged MMC
▶ "Mine"
▶ "More"

Overall, this book wasn’t what I expected, but that ended up being a good thing. I went in blind and got a unique, slow-burn connection between two unlikely characters, bonded by music and shaped by their circumstances. It was fun, it was engaging, and it gave me a demon MMC who had no clue how anything worked, which is always a win. My expectations were completely shattered but in the best way possible.

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing, Netgalley and Aurora Ascher for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Destiny ᥫ᭡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really loved this. It seemed kind a cheesy at first and I wasn’t super fond of the writing style but I LOVE the characters. At times the plot was a little predictable and felt rushed in some parts but it made for a quick read that still got you submersed in the story. This is not an extremely detailed romantasy with in depth world building but it was such a feel good fantasy book, honestly exactly what I needed to get me excited about reading again since I’ve been in a slump. Highly recommend.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Honestly the first half of this book was hard to read. The second half tho was so fun and I really enjoyed it. The writing isn't my favorite. and Eva was incredibly irritating. The romance itself was okay I did like it and they were cute together. The plot and concept are REALLY good but I feel like it could have used more editing. A lot of this book just annoyed me tbh.

Thank You Netgalley and RB Media for the audiobook! all opinions are my own!

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

So freaking adorable

Asmodeus is a demon that has escaped hell and has lived 3000 years under a curse where most of his senses are muted and anyone who would be attracted to him isn’t. Eva is a musician who notices Ash watching her play a set and surprises him by being interested. Chaos of the demon variety ensues.
I’m a sucker for the “learning what love is” and the villain redemption tropes. Ash was so sweet I got a toothache. Eva was the perfect foil for him; a woman that was in tune with her emotions and mentally strong enough to deal with the shit he brought with him.

Spice: 5/5

Triggers: kidnapping, violence/gore

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It actually annoys me how long it took me to finally get around to reading this. Because I absolutely adored this book.

At one point I honestly thought this book was following me, taunting me. It knew that demon romances were my jam and it kept sitting in target, looking at me every time I passed and was like, “Really bro? I have Demon in the title and you aren’t going to pick me up yet? Fake.” So when I finally came across a review on instagram I was like that’s it. I gotta read it now.” And I am so glad I did because this book had me laughing. The reason for the laughter? It’s literally about a Demon learning how to love. HE FAINTS FROM LOVING TO HARD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Like I was in tears at that part it was so funny. Also, the spice?! It was definitely spicinnnnnn🌶️ Like of course it was, it’s a Demon and a human romance, hellllloooo.

So yeah I definitely 1000% recommend this book if you are looking for something on the more light hearted side. I’m not saying it’s all rainbows and unicorns, because it does get a little serious, but it was still a spicy fun read. I will definitely be starting the next one soon and will honestly read the whole series if it is as good as this one!


🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[✰ Liz ✰]

On Deck! Another read-loaded and ready to dive in!!!!


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Kristin Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was a cute, supernatural read that had absolutely nothing to do with Valentine’s Day (so don’t be fooled by the title). It features four, male demons who have escaped Hell and are hiding on Earth, and they’re basically cinnamon rolls. This one specifically features Ash as the MMC and Eva, a human, as the FMC. There’s plenty being hid from her until the very end of the book, and she pretty much can’t trust anyone, except for the four demons. This poor girl doesn’t even really know herself, and spends a ton of time trying to convince herself she’s not just hallucinating supernatural things she’s seen. Was this a spectacular, knock your socks off read??? No. Was it a cute, fluffy, transition to a more intriguing read? Sure.

3🌟
2.5🌶️

[Lauren Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smut Talk Besties May Book Club Book! The physical book is super cute with Cupid & hearts sprayed edges. I loved the brothers! They were so broody yet lovable! I loved Eva’s mom. The love story was really authentic! The plot twist had me gasping! I thought the whole plot & writing was very clever. It was just so fun. Spicy but not lacking story line. It checked all the boxes for me. Cute off kilter romcom.

[Kaiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 but rounded down bc im pouting about this being a letdown for my V-day week read.

i know romance isn’t always held to the same standard of quality as other genres, and that can sometimes be fun, but this was actually just not done well. it could have been a hilarious, charming, sexy book and instead it felt like I’d watched one of those bootleg supernatural romance ads on instagram that want you to pay to see more chapters

the writing style isn’t horrible at a sentence level, and i saw potential for a better book in many spots, but the plot, pacing, worldbuilding, romance, and character development are all absolutely abysmal. the “humor” was veryyyyyy much oversold- don’t expect this book to make you laugh out loud. it’s just white people sorta awkward humor. It was a quick and entertaining book, but it felt like when you watch an off-brand movie on Netflix and don’t regret it, but immediately thumbs down so they never show you something like it again.

the plot: deeply predictable because only like 4 things happened. meet guy. discover secret. attacked by antagonists. big showdown. the reveals were telegraphed from page 1 and frankly I held on for dick only and still managed to be disappointed

exacerbating the shitty plot: the pace is all over the place. they meet and talk “for hours” but it skims over all the actual development to get to the Big First Event. once that happens, it’s just descriptions of phone calls and convenient time jumps until the only real date, which is copied and pasted into their second “date” at the same place doing the same thing. then there’s Second Big Event, and suddenly all hell breaks loose (haha) and there’s nonstop action and exposition. i was in turns bored and overwhelmed by what was on page, because it felt like the author just wanted to rush to the reveal. there was so little build up of anything, both plot-wise and sexual

don’t get me started on world building: there are so few characters and places in this book. The chars all lived in a Coraline-style fake world that just faded into white space between the 5 settings: First Bar (seen once), Second Bar (also her job and their only date location), Ash’s burnt out building, Eva’s apartment, Eva’s parents house. What do the outsides of these buildings look like? what food does Eva eat? Does she brush her teeth? Does she have more than 1 friend? What streets do they walk on? How are we in Montreal, a deeply colorful city i am told, but there are no people watching scenes, outdoor music scenes, public transit rides, restaurants, crowds, convos with strangers, drinks with friends? the book is so focused on the couple that it feels like they’re just standing in a room with different backdrops moving behind them to change the setting. deeply one dimensional and kind of weird considering the author admits to this being based on her experience making music in Montreal. Why make a sexy self-insert and then not insert anything interesting besides a few jazz terms. Even the commitment to music was weak- you have two characters obsessed with jazz and we only saw it live twice…. No flashbacks to Ash’s past with music… nothing

romance and character dev were just more strikes: this goes beyond insta-love and lands square in these people have less chemistry than two male betta fish in the same tank. Music was their connector, but we only see them play together like 3 times, and it’s always just rushed foreplay. The scenes are really repetitive too, so by page 100 i was like “do these people know anything about each other beyond their music skills?”. the sex was alright but given there was very little buildup, i was underwhelmed. like yay, get that dick ig?? I wasn’t rooting for anyone because I wasn’t invested in anyone. At any time in this book you could have switched out one of the demon brothers with Ash and it would still have been the same amount of relationship development. actually, Eva may have bonded more with Belial than the brother she was actually fucking? Otherwise the brothers were entirely flat and relied a LOT on you knowing stuff about demons before coming in. In general this book leans heavily on the reader to fill in the blanks on character motivations, romantic tension, action scenes, magic system - the author gave pretty bare bones details bc this world and its people are not fleshed out at all. they don’t even have races, judging by the avoidance of any racial features beyond “dark skin” and “tan skin”. just really poorly developed all around, like the author just wanted a book about demon sex and threw the rest together to get it published. no shame in that tbh, except you have to like… make it good

one thing i liked: Ash was exactly the sort of slightly dumb but overall well-meaning love interest i like! demon romance can get weird real fast but this managed to be hot without being dark. this is probably the biggest achievement in this book. maybe the only achievement in this book. skye seemed fun, but she had so little screen time.

all in all this book felt a bit cheap and like it just cobbled together a bunch of trends in romance and slapped an (admittedly quite cute) cover on to draw in Cover-first readers and booktok influencers. the fact that the rest of the books are named and have deluxe covers already does not make this series feel any less like a cash grab

[Lori R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy GRAND PIANO, this was so good!

This deliciously devilish demon romance was everything. I had heard so many good things about it and since I’ve been on a paranormal and monster romance kick, I knew I had to give it a try. And I’m SO happy I did!! Not only did I find an amazingly talented new-to-me author to obsess over, but I also found a new series to gobble right up. Because I will be devouring them all.

I’m absolutely giddy at how much I loved these characters! I quickly I fell for them and I fell hard. I was pulled in immediately from the first snarky comment from one of the demon brothers to the very last swoony, heart-melting moment.

I was so dang smitten all the way through. I smiled from beginning to end. Visions of sexy demons and grand pianos danced through my head. (IYKYK) My kindle about burst into flames a few times, and not from one of Belial’s ragey tantrums either. The steamy scenes were FIRE.

Asmodeus (Ash) was so quirky and lovable and sweet, yet protective and powerful …and also musically talented. He couldn’t help but be drawn to gorgeous Eva when she was up on stage playing. Her music was as mesmerizing as she was.

The chemistry between these two was full of sparks and sizzles and I loved them together. Their banter was absolutely adorable. Eva was a strong and sassy heroine who knew how to stand up for herself and take no shit…even from big, scary demons.

This well-written story gave me all the feels. There was plenty of humor, tons of heart, and a delicious amount of passion. I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud and and the amount of time I swooned hard. It was A LOT. If I were to ever have a demon BF, I’d want him to be exactly like Ash. *heart eyes*

Each brother of Ash was equally lovable with their own special quirks. And I can’t wait for their stories!!!

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah another scary looking demon with softest heart??? gimme more. the fact that this dude only wants to make his music and hang out with his brothers + girlfriend... yeah he's cute

“Shut up,” Raum hissed. “You don’t tell your girlfriend’s mom you were the Prince of Lust.”

i loved side characters as much as i loved main couple. this book was hilarious but also has lots of heartwarming moments. i actually cried a little when

“At least I’ll never have to worry about outliving my child. Both my husband and my daughter are going to live forever.” Jacqui and dan broke my heart 😭 jacqui was the sweetest person and i wanna see her more especially with meph because that's the mother-son dynamic ✨ but also i want her to have a happy ending with her hubby 😭

"I concluded that I would like a human pet of my own.”

i was conflicted about reading someone besides brothers but this??!! yeah i need this book now he's so funny

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with demons. Yep, I am a Catholic girl who loves a good demon hero. I'm not ashamed to admit it. There's just something about falling in love with a being you're absolutely not supposed to love that just draws me in like a moth to a flame. The demons in this story are hot, relatable, and just want to be free to live their lives the way they want to. Not to mention the sex - WOW. Aurora Ascher has a true gift, and you all should experience it by reading this book. The writing was flawless, plot was perfectly laid out, and after reading the teaser of the next book, I am convinced that she is a new author for my auto-buy list.

Asmodeus was the Demon of Lust, known for his sex appeal and the many, many lovers he had. Until one fateful day when he was cursed, and now not only can he not see in color or feel much of anything physically, but he is practically invisible to all women. Except one. Eva is a musician, whose music captivates him the moment she steps on stage. When she sees him, she is immediately intrigued by this man who is staring at her, and she goes over to introduce herself. To his shock, she fully appreciates him for the man he is...at least in the human guise she can see. What would she think she saw the real him? Their romantic encounter is cut short when a minion from Hell discovers Asmodeus and his friends at the club and tries to bring them back to Hell. Eva sees what she's not supposed to see but chalks it up as a hallucination. She and Asmodeus begin to see more of each other, and things heat up. The sex is fantastic, he clearly has a thing for her, and she starts to become attached. Which makes it all the more awkward that she is clearly crazy for seeing him with horns and wings...unless she's not so crazy after all.

I. Love. Asmodeus. And Eva, of course, but Asmodeus was just a wonderful specimen of a man...demon. His friends were equally gorgeous, and I had a hard time deciding who would be my next book boyfriend. I landed on Meph, the heavily tattooed demon who just seemed like a misunderstood gem, if you ask me. But back to the main couple - Eva and Ash. Their chemistry was off the charts! I found myself fully engaged in their romance from the very moment they laid eyes on each other, and when the story finished, I was aching for more. Yes, the steam was high, and I think we all will wish we had what they had when all is done. What got me right in the feels though was the raw emotion coming from both of them throughout the story. Ash was more than just a lust demon, he was someone who wanted to live his life in peace, and he found that with Eva. He wanted the life he could see with her, and his protective instincts towards her made my heart flutter with envy. He didn't let anyone stop him from being with her. Eva was a strong woman who could take care of herself, and I loved that she never lost that independent streak. She refused to allow herself to be intimidated, and she accepted Ash for who he was. She was exactly who he needed. And he was hers.

I am so eager for the next book, you have no idea! I was frantically swiping through my Kindle trying to get more pages. Alas, we get a teaser. We must wait.

**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Details
Title: My Funny Demon Valentine
Series: Hell Bent
# in series: 1
Author: Aurora Ascher (She/Her)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes/Keywords: Demon Romance, Cursed MMC, Forced Proximity, Horns, On the Run, Protective MMC, Wings, Musician MCs, Emotionally stunted MMC
Rep: Black FMC
Pages: 360
Main Characters: MMC Asmodeus, AKA Ash. FMC Evangeline Gregory
POV: Mutli POV 3rd person

Synopsis: In the comments

My Thoughts
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Review:

This is my 4th reread of the series and my first physical read via the physical arc I was provided by Kensington and the author. I didn't notice changes to the story from the original indie version, but I think there was an addition to ch20. Overall the story still stands up for me and while not my favorite of the series I love every opportunity to dive into this world. These characters are so full of life that I feel like I know each of them. I'm so glad that more people are going to be able to get to know this world and these characters. I can't wait for the next books in the series to be rereleased.

**Physical ARC provided by the publisher Kensington. All thoughts are my own**

Quotes:
He was trying to be cool about it, but in truth, he was climbing the walls, dying to get close to Eva again.

Her wild hair, her short, curvy body, and that ridiculously round ass that he wanted to bite so fucking bad…

Ash made her feel delicate and feminine. He looked at her the way she looked at chocolate cake, which had to be a good thing.

Ash frowned. What was with her and the whole love thing? Demons couldn’t love, and the way she kept suggesting he loved his brothers was creepy and, frankly, offensive.

“I feel… attached to you. Like I am to my brothers, but different. More.” He scowled, keeping his gaze locked straight ahead. “It’s uncomfortable, and my chest aches all the time, and I fucking hate it.”

CW Down Below
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CW: From the author’s website: Explicit scenes, including sex in demon form. Violence, blood, gore, profanity.

Pregnancy?: No
Babies/Children?: No


-----‐-----------Indie Review Below----------

Title: My Funny Demon Valentine
Series: Hell Bent
# in series: 1
Author: Aurora Ascher
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes/Keywords: Demon Romance, Cursed MMC, Forced Proximity, Horns, On the Run, Protective Hero, Wings, Musician MCs, Emotional stunted MMC
Rep: Black FMC
Pages: 360
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Review:

"The start of a new favorite Paranormal Series.

This hit so many marks for me: Sexy broody hero, strong musician heroine, awkward meet cute, ""I won't admit that I care about you"" family dynamics and so much more. This was a candy read for me, I just wanted more and it gave. The relationship between the main characters and the side characters was so satisfying, I wanted to simultaneously hug his brothers and slap them upside the head on multiple occasions. Cannot wait for the next books in the series!"
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CW/TW: Blood, Gore, Fighting

[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎)]

a demon who wants to be a jazz player?? wtf?? 🤧😭😈🤭

[Carmen Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Funny Demon Valentine, a debut Contemporary Demon Romance by Aurora Ascher, is ALL THAT! Asmodeous and Eva will take you on a wild ride through the streets of Montreal, and you’ll love every minute!
Asmodeous—Ash—is a Duke of Hell—a lust demon, though no one would ever guess. He’s cursed, so no woman can see that long, sexy, black mane or his rippling muscles. Instead, every possible sexual partner looks at Ash and sees the equivalent of a cardboard box.
Until Eva.
She’s feisty and gorgeous and talented. She’s a musician, and music is just about the only thing Ash loves. Can a demon even feel love?
Eva is just a human, though she’s felt different all her life. And when she meets a gorgeous but shy guy at the bar where she gigs, insta-lust is an understatement. But things are not exactly as they seem, for Eva or Ash.
This steamy, hilarious at times, tale of finding the joy in life, is the first book in the Hell Bent Series by Ascher, and once you read it, you’ll be begging her for more. Ash has three demon brothers and they all want love.
This is a five star read! Take the chance, buy the book. You won’t be sorry!

[Opal Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced reader copy.


This book is sooooo well written. The studying that Aurora had to do to know about angels and demons is very clear. As someone who loves the occult I was like YAS so much research.

Now onto the real good stuff about this book:

Firstly, the two main characters their chemistry is immediate and you can tell right away that it'll be sexy. I adore Ash he's so ignorant to the ways of humans and Eva she is so patient with him and just thinks he's a little weird.

Eva wants so badly to pretend what happened didn't happen that she hallucinated what she saw that night. Ash he's thinking only one thing (She sees me) My favorite interaction with them was the music playing and biting of a certain "apple" is all I'm gonna say.

I also adored all the side characters they are so well thought out and I fell in love with all of them right away. I need Belial to get a book and Mish or I may riot.

The sex scenes are steamy af but the story is immaculate.