What do you think?
Rate this book
Bedeviled #1
The Devil You Know
This book has been re-edited and is a re-release. The overarching plot has not changed significantly but there have been some tweaks and changes to the individual stories in the series itself.
Ellery
Once upon a time, I was a dumbass.
I'd be the first to admit when I'd made a mistake.
Okay, maybe like... the third. At least in the top ten.
Marrying Simon Detweiler, cast-out Changeling and my best friend, hadn't been a mistake.
Deciding to leave in the middle of the night while he slept, deciding to keep him as far away from the Demonborn and Witches and their damned Revelation plans? That was a mistake. One I'd regretted every second of the day for years.
When Simon didn't return the divorce papers, I had hope.
Kind of.
I knew we would never be anything more than conveniently married, but the longer it went without him signing those papers, the more that little seed of hope grew into a giant tree of stupidity deep in my heart. We were never supposed to be together, not according to the demon-born and definitely not according to the faerie folk that had raised Simon. But still, I couldn't help but dream...
Maybe if I'd told Simon first that I was ass over teakettle in love with him, that would've helped.
Ellery
Once upon a time, I was a dumbass.
I'd be the first to admit when I'd made a mistake.
Okay, maybe like... the third. At least in the top ten.
Marrying Simon Detweiler, cast-out Changeling and my best friend, hadn't been a mistake.
Deciding to leave in the middle of the night while he slept, deciding to keep him as far away from the Demonborn and Witches and their damned Revelation plans? That was a mistake. One I'd regretted every second of the day for years.
When Simon didn't return the divorce papers, I had hope.
Kind of.
I knew we would never be anything more than conveniently married, but the longer it went without him signing those papers, the more that little seed of hope grew into a giant tree of stupidity deep in my heart. We were never supposed to be together, not according to the demon-born and definitely not according to the faerie folk that had raised Simon. But still, I couldn't help but dream...
Maybe if I'd told Simon first that I was ass over teakettle in love with him, that would've helped.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2020
71 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 10, 2020
I liked Simon and Ellery well enough, but I felt lost most of the book. I ended up skimming as I didn't feel connected to the story. I think I can put this one into my DNF pile as I really skimmed a lot.
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
I am a total sucker for wit and banter - and this is full of that. Give me good dialogue, amusing internal monologuing, and charming idiosyncratic behaviors, and I'm set.
Beyond the amusing bits, there is a more serious tone at times. Simon was cast out of Faerie forever, after having spent most of his life there as a changeling. He misses it desperately & seems to live in a space of limbo, having been close to magic, but not being magic himself outside of Faerie. His sadness and longing felt very real to me and I wished that there were a way to grant him the magic to have for his own. Ellery has a complicated relationship with his family, particularly his mother, and with his place in the Demon-born community, (which is touched on less in this book than Simon's predicament.)
Although Simon and Ellery's relationship is an important driving force of the book, they are also on a sort of mission together, while attending a very odd & extravagant house party for a client of Ellery's brother. There's a "revelation" planned in the future, where magical beings will reveal themselves to humanity, and there are divisions in place, with Witches, different types of Fae & Demons not necessarily all getting along, with Demons being frequently the least liked. Their presence at this party together is related to all of this. There are characters who clearly cannot be trusted, but their motivations are unclear, creating a sense of foreboding whenever Ellery and Simon are with them.
With regard to Ellery and Simon's romance, I did feel that they resolved issues faster than one might have inferred from the blurb or even from their first "reunion" of sorts. I wouldn't have minded more tension. Also, the heat level of the book is on the mild to moderate side - there's a certain amount of fade to black, though that does serve to devote more time to the rest of the story. I enjoyed all of their interactions though & thought they made an adorable couple and it was clear that they would give anything to keep the other out of harm's way.
While I definitely enjoyed the book overall & fully intend to read the next one once it's out, I did find much of the inner workings of the magical divisions confusing at times. I found myself blanking out on who had done or said what, as everyone except Simon & Ellery had possible hidden agendas. I frequently felt a step behind when multiple characters were involved in scenes, especially in the last third of the book when the pace picked up. I went back to the beginning and re-read portions and while it did make more sense, once the next book comes out, I'll be re-reading this one in its entirety.
I have not read this author before, but enjoyed this book enough that not only will I be looking forward to the next in the series, I will be looking for any other works from them.
Beyond the amusing bits, there is a more serious tone at times. Simon was cast out of Faerie forever, after having spent most of his life there as a changeling. He misses it desperately & seems to live in a space of limbo, having been close to magic, but not being magic himself outside of Faerie. His sadness and longing felt very real to me and I wished that there were a way to grant him the magic to have for his own. Ellery has a complicated relationship with his family, particularly his mother, and with his place in the Demon-born community, (which is touched on less in this book than Simon's predicament.)
Although Simon and Ellery's relationship is an important driving force of the book, they are also on a sort of mission together, while attending a very odd & extravagant house party for a client of Ellery's brother. There's a "revelation" planned in the future, where magical beings will reveal themselves to humanity, and there are divisions in place, with Witches, different types of Fae & Demons not necessarily all getting along, with Demons being frequently the least liked. Their presence at this party together is related to all of this. There are characters who clearly cannot be trusted, but their motivations are unclear, creating a sense of foreboding whenever Ellery and Simon are with them.
With regard to Ellery and Simon's romance, I did feel that they resolved issues faster than one might have inferred from the blurb or even from their first "reunion" of sorts. I wouldn't have minded more tension. Also, the heat level of the book is on the mild to moderate side - there's a certain amount of fade to black, though that does serve to devote more time to the rest of the story. I enjoyed all of their interactions though & thought they made an adorable couple and it was clear that they would give anything to keep the other out of harm's way.
While I definitely enjoyed the book overall & fully intend to read the next one once it's out, I did find much of the inner workings of the magical divisions confusing at times. I found myself blanking out on who had done or said what, as everyone except Simon & Ellery had possible hidden agendas. I frequently felt a step behind when multiple characters were involved in scenes, especially in the last third of the book when the pace picked up. I went back to the beginning and re-read portions and while it did make more sense, once the next book comes out, I'll be re-reading this one in its entirety.
I have not read this author before, but enjoyed this book enough that not only will I be looking forward to the next in the series, I will be looking for any other works from them.
May 14, 2020
3 stars? 3.5 stars? 4 stars? I’m having a very hard time rating this book. The thing is, I kind of loved it. The banter between all characters was top notch, I laughed quite a bit; and any book that has a large cast of various magical beings is always a win in my book. But, and I don’t know if this is a me thing, or a book thing, but I was left feeling confused about a lot of things. I still don’t know what big bad thing the big bad people did, or why, even though it supposedly happened on page. I don’t know if I missed some things that were blatantly stated, or if they were just not clearly explained, but I’m a little lost as to what exactly went on in this story. And yet, I still really liked it? Cue confusion. Oh! There were also quite a few inconsistencies that while overall minor, were a little jarring as they happened pretty close together.
May 8, 2020
You're going to love this book!
The characters were complex.
The plot wove through the human realm and the Faerie realm.
Witches, demons, changelings, and elves work against each other to control the world...except maybe there's another way...
Chicanery meets ambition.
Old beliefs begin to change.
When a changeling marries a demon for purely non-nefarious reasons, it sets into motion a series of events that follow them for years.
Add in some love, some lust and some romance and it ends with a climactic finish!
The characters were complex.
The plot wove through the human realm and the Faerie realm.
Witches, demons, changelings, and elves work against each other to control the world...except maybe there's another way...
Chicanery meets ambition.
Old beliefs begin to change.
When a changeling marries a demon for purely non-nefarious reasons, it sets into motion a series of events that follow them for years.
Add in some love, some lust and some romance and it ends with a climactic finish!
May 26, 2020
Mixing magics
This was a good book that took a bit to truly find its stride at the beginning. It starts from the past, setting up how Ellery and Simon meet and the circumstances of their sham marriage, as well as what made the split not go as planned. Then it skips a bit forward and tells more isn't he current circumstances before skipping up.to present day. In this setup it sort of gets a bit muddled as to some of the happenings of the relationship Simon and Ellery have and what they know of each other. There are odd little asides (after they split did Ellery promise to meet Simon somewhere? What was that about a restaurant? When did Ellery setup his law practice? Where was Ellery before and where was Simon? What city are they actually in now?) which make it a bit of a jumble as to what exactly has happened in the ten years that were skipped through, but it mostly gets smoothed over as the two meet up and work on their plan.
As Simon and Ellery get back together to work on the plans and plots Ellery's mother has made, they find themselves embracing more than the delay they previously had. This is a difficult situation as the machinations they are involved in are about the coming Revelation of the supernatural to the human world, and stakes are running high. Simon has had unfortunate events happen since he and Ellery split that threaten any involvement he has in the magical world. He need to stay under the radar, but Ellery needs him out as a husband. Ellery is still trying to protect Simon from the magical world and the threats it holds despite wanting to keep him.close as well. This back and forth complication takes some clearing up especially as it becomes evident that someone is out for both of their blood.
This was a fascinating book that truly found its niche in the second half, creating a world of magic under the normal, where wonder is alongside the mundane and danger can creep in from.any quarter. The emotions are running high as this world seeks to reach a Revelation, an event that is still brewing and promises further stories to come!
This was a good book that took a bit to truly find its stride at the beginning. It starts from the past, setting up how Ellery and Simon meet and the circumstances of their sham marriage, as well as what made the split not go as planned. Then it skips a bit forward and tells more isn't he current circumstances before skipping up.to present day. In this setup it sort of gets a bit muddled as to some of the happenings of the relationship Simon and Ellery have and what they know of each other. There are odd little asides (after they split did Ellery promise to meet Simon somewhere? What was that about a restaurant? When did Ellery setup his law practice? Where was Ellery before and where was Simon? What city are they actually in now?) which make it a bit of a jumble as to what exactly has happened in the ten years that were skipped through, but it mostly gets smoothed over as the two meet up and work on their plan.
As Simon and Ellery get back together to work on the plans and plots Ellery's mother has made, they find themselves embracing more than the delay they previously had. This is a difficult situation as the machinations they are involved in are about the coming Revelation of the supernatural to the human world, and stakes are running high. Simon has had unfortunate events happen since he and Ellery split that threaten any involvement he has in the magical world. He need to stay under the radar, but Ellery needs him out as a husband. Ellery is still trying to protect Simon from the magical world and the threats it holds despite wanting to keep him.close as well. This back and forth complication takes some clearing up especially as it becomes evident that someone is out for both of their blood.
This was a fascinating book that truly found its niche in the second half, creating a world of magic under the normal, where wonder is alongside the mundane and danger can creep in from.any quarter. The emotions are running high as this world seeks to reach a Revelation, an event that is still brewing and promises further stories to come!
May 13, 2020
A fast-paced paranormal romance based on the fake marriage trope.
Going in, I would have to say 'The Devil you know' ticked all my boxes- paranormal, marriage of convenience -second chance-ish romance of two friends/roommates harbouring both feelings for each other and as well some deep secrets.
Atleast in the case of Ellery -the hot, mysterious law major AKA Demon clan heir.
The initial chapters hooked me on and the plot unfolds to reveal the existence of a world of paranormal entities living in plain sight and an upcoming big revelation - that may not only cause a ripple in Ellery's world but also cause harm to his friend/one he has always loved/husband on paper-Simon.
I loved the snark dialogue and the author's sense of humor. Some parts are a real treat to read and the side characters were great too ( I really wanna read Whit and Rowan's story). Maybe even Zane's.
I personally loved Simon's character- his insecurities, attempts to identify and belong ( also his nerd reactions *LOL*), that were perfectly in contrast with Ellery's confident, mysterious and brooding self.
I know this is part #1 of the series, but I personally would have loved it if the author had elaborated a bit more on the world of faeries, demons, witches and changelings, though there were a few theories cited along the way.
The suspense of the plot was very engaging, though I really looked forward to reading a little extra dose of their romance, them discussing the past, some groveling perhaps, since they seemed to have off- the -charts chemistry in the initial chapters.
Overall, a great start to what I think would make a good paranormal romance series.
P.s: That book cover is awesome. Totally Ellery to a T.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review, thanks to GayRomanceReviews
Going in, I would have to say 'The Devil you know' ticked all my boxes- paranormal, marriage of convenience -second chance-ish romance of two friends/roommates harbouring both feelings for each other and as well some deep secrets.
Atleast in the case of Ellery -the hot, mysterious law major AKA Demon clan heir.
The initial chapters hooked me on and the plot unfolds to reveal the existence of a world of paranormal entities living in plain sight and an upcoming big revelation - that may not only cause a ripple in Ellery's world but also cause harm to his friend/one he has always loved/husband on paper-Simon.
I loved the snark dialogue and the author's sense of humor. Some parts are a real treat to read and the side characters were great too ( I really wanna read Whit and Rowan's story). Maybe even Zane's.
|" Okay, I'm a liar. I know exactly what possessed me, and it was the ghost of bad decisions past and possibly future. And present. Ugh, I was the Ebeneezer Scrooge of hooking up with an ex."|
I personally loved Simon's character- his insecurities, attempts to identify and belong ( also his nerd reactions *LOL*), that were perfectly in contrast with Ellery's confident, mysterious and brooding self.
I know this is part #1 of the series, but I personally would have loved it if the author had elaborated a bit more on the world of faeries, demons, witches and changelings, though there were a few theories cited along the way.
The suspense of the plot was very engaging, though I really looked forward to reading a little extra dose of their romance, them discussing the past, some groveling perhaps, since they seemed to have off- the -charts chemistry in the initial chapters.
Overall, a great start to what I think would make a good paranormal romance series.
P.s: That book cover is awesome. Totally Ellery to a T.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review, thanks to GayRomanceReviews
May 18, 2020
A fun and suspenseful story with engaging MCs, humor and an entertaining breaking the 4th wall vibe.
The MCs, a Demon named Ellery and a human changeling who was raised in the Fae world but then kicked out and disowned, meet as college freshman, are roommates and best friends until Ellery is summoned home after his father dies, leaving without saying a word to Simon. Years later they are reunited when political issues in the magical world force a reunion. Things do not go smoothly.
There is a lot of humor in the story and some clever writing. Ellery and Simon are likeable characters and you want them to reach their HEA. The latter half of the book is taught with friction…there is something going on that the reader just knows isn’t going to good but it’s just out of reach to figure out. The tension really ratchets up until the big crisis moment. The ending is a bit of a let down and anti-climactic really needing more exposition. That was a huge crisis but we don’t get to really see the fallout.
There are some serious editing issues. The ARC I received is a final proof so I’m hoping that the errors were found before publication. I’m not just talking about typos and grammar errors, though there are plenty of those. There are pieces of the story missing. I kept flipping back between pages thinking I somehow missed something but nope. A consequence is repeatedly referred to without the action having taken place. In another part it’s like a key part of the story got skipped over. Either an editor did a slip shod job or there was no editor. It really took my head out of the story in several places and that’s a big no-no for me.
The ending is sweet and I would definitely read the next book in this series.
**I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion.**
The MCs, a Demon named Ellery and a human changeling who was raised in the Fae world but then kicked out and disowned, meet as college freshman, are roommates and best friends until Ellery is summoned home after his father dies, leaving without saying a word to Simon. Years later they are reunited when political issues in the magical world force a reunion. Things do not go smoothly.
There is a lot of humor in the story and some clever writing. Ellery and Simon are likeable characters and you want them to reach their HEA. The latter half of the book is taught with friction…there is something going on that the reader just knows isn’t going to good but it’s just out of reach to figure out. The tension really ratchets up until the big crisis moment. The ending is a bit of a let down and anti-climactic really needing more exposition. That was a huge crisis but we don’t get to really see the fallout.
There are some serious editing issues. The ARC I received is a final proof so I’m hoping that the errors were found before publication. I’m not just talking about typos and grammar errors, though there are plenty of those. There are pieces of the story missing. I kept flipping back between pages thinking I somehow missed something but nope. A consequence is repeatedly referred to without the action having taken place. In another part it’s like a key part of the story got skipped over. Either an editor did a slip shod job or there was no editor. It really took my head out of the story in several places and that’s a big no-no for me.
The ending is sweet and I would definitely read the next book in this series.
**I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion.**
May 18, 2020
This was great! I do love characters with a finely tuned snarky internal voice, and both the main characters (Simon and Ellery) have that in spades.
Good things first: Its well written and generally well paced. The dialogue is snappy and fun, and both Ellery and Simon are likable, funny, and sweet. I was definitely rooting for their happiness!
The world building is inventive and enjoyable - 'our' universe, but a magical society exists alongside it, ready to reveal themselves. The plot is detailed, and sucks you in to know what happened, what's happening, and needing an answer! I read it fairly quickly and enthusiastically. The story is engaging and interesting, and I loved all the side characters (who we will hopefully see more on in the future books).
The negatives: There are some minor typos (easily ignored, thankfully), and some sentences that called for editing. Similarly, the story-line could have been slightly tighter - information is revealed in incomplete snippets across the book, and while I do prefer a show, not tell, approach, some clearer explanations would have been helpful in making it a little more coherent, especially since the pacing for 75% of it was fairly steady, and the ending rushes up on you.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable book! It could benefit from some slightly tighter editing, and while I'm not yet ready to add Spies to my Must Read collection, I will definitely be keen for the sequel to this one!
Good things first: Its well written and generally well paced. The dialogue is snappy and fun, and both Ellery and Simon are likable, funny, and sweet. I was definitely rooting for their happiness!
The world building is inventive and enjoyable - 'our' universe, but a magical society exists alongside it, ready to reveal themselves. The plot is detailed, and sucks you in to know what happened, what's happening, and needing an answer! I read it fairly quickly and enthusiastically. The story is engaging and interesting, and I loved all the side characters (who we will hopefully see more on in the future books).
The negatives: There are some minor typos (easily ignored, thankfully), and some sentences that called for editing. Similarly, the story-line could have been slightly tighter - information is revealed in incomplete snippets across the book, and while I do prefer a show, not tell, approach, some clearer explanations would have been helpful in making it a little more coherent, especially since the pacing for 75% of it was fairly steady, and the ending rushes up on you.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable book! It could benefit from some slightly tighter editing, and while I'm not yet ready to add Spies to my Must Read collection, I will definitely be keen for the sequel to this one!
June 9, 2020
Ellery and Simon was married for 3 years before Ellery disappeared one night, only to show up 6 years later for Simon....
Ellery was a demon born, Simon is human-ish, born human but is also a fae changeling with a few step brother (best friend Zane), but was taken in by a Witch family when he was kicked out of Fae. This story is pretty much about Simon’s past and present with his Demon husband, but also Ellory and how Demons are not on the Council board and they need to be for all magical (no magical) clans to be involved.
There were make out scenes and heavy petting no actual sex scenes. Told in both POVs with a HFN ending. It reads where the next book will bring updates about Ellory and Simon and how their life’s are changing and if there is any new developments coming.
Just a thought with the big saving Unseelie’s King, Jack, Zane’s father, I do so whole heartily say that even though Jack kicked Simon out of his realm that he does hold some respect for Simon even before Simon saved his life. To bad it didn’t get farther stated if that’s the case unless it’s Jack doings that granted Simon to return to visit the realm with Zane... food for thought!
Ellery was a demon born, Simon is human-ish, born human but is also a fae changeling with a few step brother (best friend Zane), but was taken in by a Witch family when he was kicked out of Fae. This story is pretty much about Simon’s past and present with his Demon husband, but also Ellory and how Demons are not on the Council board and they need to be for all magical (no magical) clans to be involved.
There were make out scenes and heavy petting no actual sex scenes. Told in both POVs with a HFN ending. It reads where the next book will bring updates about Ellory and Simon and how their life’s are changing and if there is any new developments coming.
Just a thought with the big saving Unseelie’s King, Jack, Zane’s father, I do so whole heartily say that even though Jack kicked Simon out of his realm that he does hold some respect for Simon even before Simon saved his life. To bad it didn’t get farther stated if that’s the case unless it’s Jack doings that granted Simon to return to visit the realm with Zane... food for thought!
Read
August 7, 2021At 82% of the book, I have no clue what is supposed to be going on and I don't mean in the this-is-supposed-to-be-a-mystery way. I feel like there's a lot of the story that stayed in the author's mind that she thinks everyone should already know or she just wasn't great at realizing we aren't in her head.
There's zero chemistry with the MCs & I have been TOLD a few things but nothing beyond that. There's almost no backstory except for the same vague statement that Simon got kicked out of Faerie for being a changeling human and he was accused of some crime that he didn't do which almost got him killed and now he's really important for, you know, reasons and possibly being set up? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It is the most convoluted, rambling story that I have tried reading in a while. It's really short and with all of the missing information, it's really kind of pointless at the place I am at in the book and I don't know if I want to try and finish. Ugh!!!
There's zero chemistry with the MCs & I have been TOLD a few things but nothing beyond that. There's almost no backstory except for the same vague statement that Simon got kicked out of Faerie for being a changeling human and he was accused of some crime that he didn't do which almost got him killed and now he's really important for, you know, reasons and possibly being set up? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It is the most convoluted, rambling story that I have tried reading in a while. It's really short and with all of the missing information, it's really kind of pointless at the place I am at in the book and I don't know if I want to try and finish. Ugh!!!
May 17, 2020
~3.5 STARS~
I liked both Ellery and Simon, but found this story a bit confusing at times. I also felt like the two forgave each other rather quickly. They did have great chemistry and it showed they cared for each other.
I loved everything about the weekend house party that the two attend and the mystery around what is happening Saturday. Everyone seemed to be hiding something and at times it felt a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what and even when they would all be revealed. The ending wrapped a lot of stuff up nicely.
The story overall was fun and entertaining and though I did get confused a few times I did enjoy it.
I liked both Ellery and Simon, but found this story a bit confusing at times. I also felt like the two forgave each other rather quickly. They did have great chemistry and it showed they cared for each other.
I loved everything about the weekend house party that the two attend and the mystery around what is happening Saturday. Everyone seemed to be hiding something and at times it felt a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what and even when they would all be revealed. The ending wrapped a lot of stuff up nicely.
The story overall was fun and entertaining and though I did get confused a few times I did enjoy it.
May 20, 2020
Paranormal, sort of second chance
I really enjoyed this book.
The author has created an intriguing new world with an interesting twist on the paranormal.
A fake marriage of convenience between them has them both wishing for it to be reality because they both secretly harbor feelings for each other.
Ellery and Simon were adorable.
I loved the humorous banter between them.
I also wanted to knock some sense into them both at various points throughout the book.
Everyone and their mama had an opinion about their relationship and kept sticking their two cents in.
There was plenty of action, drama, magic and just a hint of danger to keep me interested.
I really enjoyed this book.
The author has created an intriguing new world with an interesting twist on the paranormal.
A fake marriage of convenience between them has them both wishing for it to be reality because they both secretly harbor feelings for each other.
Ellery and Simon were adorable.
I loved the humorous banter between them.
I also wanted to knock some sense into them both at various points throughout the book.
Everyone and their mama had an opinion about their relationship and kept sticking their two cents in.
There was plenty of action, drama, magic and just a hint of danger to keep me interested.
May 14, 2020
This author is new to me and I’m always ready to read anything with puns for titles.
So Ellery and Simon’s story was a fun twist on folklore politics. It’s not overwhelmingly about infighting but there’s enough to keep you interested.
Ellery and Simon are hilarious as they try to find their groove again after being separated. There is real love between a demon born and his human.
The plot was fun and easy, very little angst and the romance was the piece de resistance.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I receieved an ARC for my honest review
So Ellery and Simon’s story was a fun twist on folklore politics. It’s not overwhelmingly about infighting but there’s enough to keep you interested.
Ellery and Simon are hilarious as they try to find their groove again after being separated. There is real love between a demon born and his human.
The plot was fun and easy, very little angst and the romance was the piece de resistance.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I receieved an ARC for my honest review
June 21, 2020
I haven’t read any books by Meredith Spies before this one but I will definitely be looking to see if there are more. I so enjoyed this book. It was fun, heartbreaking, funny, heartwarming, sexy, interesting and well written. I am so glad to see that this is to be a series as it has some very interesting and different world building going on. I can’t wait to read about the continuing events that link these books and also to find out what happens with different couples.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 9, 2023
Acknowledging Mistakes . . .
This story focuses on Simon and Ellery. Ellery married Simon Detweiler, a changeling who had been kidnapped and raised by the Fae and then tossed out as part of the political maneuvering. Ellery’s only hope now is that Simon didn't return the divorce papers, which might have indicated he didn’t want them to split up, even if their marriage was only for convenience. But could this offer a second chance at maybe keeping the marriage intact? Or did Simon just not even care enough to bother dealing with it? Is it too late for Ellery to tell him he loves him?
This story focuses on Simon and Ellery. Ellery married Simon Detweiler, a changeling who had been kidnapped and raised by the Fae and then tossed out as part of the political maneuvering. Ellery’s only hope now is that Simon didn't return the divorce papers, which might have indicated he didn’t want them to split up, even if their marriage was only for convenience. But could this offer a second chance at maybe keeping the marriage intact? Or did Simon just not even care enough to bother dealing with it? Is it too late for Ellery to tell him he loves him?
May 13, 2020
While second chance romances are a bit hit or miss for me, this one I liked because of Simon. He's sweet, nerdy, and sometimes his feelings about his lineage and his marriage to Ellery broke my heart, but he was a character I liked from the beginning. I didn't like how Ellery used Simon to marry, ghosted him, but never sought out a divorce once the ruse was finished. But when they met up later in life and their feelings were still strong, I warmed up to Ellery. A good read!
May 13, 2020
Great start to a series! Simon and Ellery hit all my buttons with this unique paranormal Universe mixed with a fun sexy couple. There were so many fun things in this book; the side characters really support the main plot and I want to know more about all of them. Ellery and Simon have a bumpy past and with this second chance you see what they want and who they fight for. Loved the twist and turns and can't wait for the next. I voluntarily reviewed an 'Advance Author’s Copy' of this book.
May 14, 2020
This was great book. I really enjoyed reading it and hope it continues on. The book gives you a couple who go from friends to lovers and actually start to become an actual couple. Though the marriage was one of convenience to start with years later they finally admit they could be more. With a little bit of mystery thrown in there and different supes to go along with that you get a funny heartwarming and intriguing book.
May 17, 2020
This is a first read for me by Meredith and certainly won’t be my last. Demons and faeries, good versus evil, witty dialogue, some twists which I loved, quirky characters and Simon is sweet and adorable, Ellery I wasn’t sure about at first but learnt to love him, hot sensual scenes.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I definitely recommend this book and can’t wait for the next in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I definitely recommend this book and can’t wait for the next in this series.
June 1, 2020
This is the first book in The Bedeviled Series. A sensational book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters wonderful. The characters were developed and thought out. Ellery and Simon are the MC’s of this book. I would like the world building aspect to be cleaner and more clear but other than that I can recommend good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
A bit confused because of the terminology user that isn't explained. Each author has their own world created in their books so as a reader (or rather me) it can be a challenge to understand every aspect of the story.
The story was well written, loved a bit more sarcasm but that is my default mode. I would love to read more about the main characters, it felt like there was a bit too much going on so the story lost focus of the relationship between Simon and Ellery.
The story was well written, loved a bit more sarcasm but that is my default mode. I would love to read more about the main characters, it felt like there was a bit too much going on so the story lost focus of the relationship between Simon and Ellery.
December 12, 2022
This is book two on Amazon. I had no trouble following it, or book one Devil May Care. This story is about the middle brother, a lawyer, and his husband who was a Changeling, kidnapped by the Fae. And set adrift in the modern world because of changing Sidhe politics.
A second chance for love story. The action in this book actually seems mostly before Devil May Care. Which might be where the sequencing difference comes from. A fun, quick read.
A second chance for love story. The action in this book actually seems mostly before Devil May Care. Which might be where the sequencing difference comes from. A fun, quick read.
May 7, 2020
The Devil You Know by Meredith Spies is the first book in the Bedeviled series. This paranormal m/m novel had me under its spell. I was hooked on the story and characters. The story had violence, heat, humor, drama and magic. The characters were fun and entertaining. This is a fantastic start to a new series - definitely hooks the reader.
May 12, 2020
This happily for now romance was fun and sweet. Simon and Ellery's marriage of convenience was deeper than either wanted to admit at the time, but as they waded through the elements that brought them back together, they both realized they wanted to make it work. A fun read with devious plot twists and a family of demon-born sons who need to be paired off makes for a great first book in a series.
May 19, 2020
Great book
This was a funny, sweet read.
I quite liked Ellery and Simon. They were both very funny and good people.
I liked their relationship, this kind of mix of friends to lovers and second chance. It was sweet, fast paced and hot.
The plot and story were interesting. I liked the world setting of the paranormal they live in.
Very good story
This was a funny, sweet read.
I quite liked Ellery and Simon. They were both very funny and good people.
I liked their relationship, this kind of mix of friends to lovers and second chance. It was sweet, fast paced and hot.
The plot and story were interesting. I liked the world setting of the paranormal they live in.
Very good story
June 24, 2020
FR- Alors alors…. alors je ne sais pas trop quoi dire sur ce roman… déjà j’espère qu’il s’agissait d’une version non corrigée parce qu’il y avait plein de fautes.. dont une qui m’a fait mourir de rire…
La plume de l’auteure est… disons que le roman est un peu fouillis et qu’à des moments je me suis dit qu’il devait me manquer des bouts. Pour autant, c’est un roman que j’ai lu très rapidement et qui m’a beaucoup intriguée. On sent clairement que c’est un premier tome et que l’auteure pose son univers et son intrigue mais je pense qu’il y a trop d’informations en trop peu de pages.
L’histoire d’amour entre Ellery et Simon est mignonne mais là aussi, il y a des gros manque…. Notamment le fait qu’ils passent de meilleurs amis à amants sans se poser de questions.. ok ils étaient secrètement amoureux l’un de l’autre pendant des années mais à aucun moment ils ne s’avouent ne serait ce que ce point et s’embrassent et couchent ensemble comme si c’était évident.. aucune gene, aucune hésitation… bref, là aussi ça méritait d’être développé.
Je n’ai pas tout compris aux différents personnages surnaturels que l’auteure nous propose et je ne sais pas si ça sera mieux expliqué dans les autres tomes mais en tout cas, ça sera sans moi.
C’est dommage car l’auteure tenait là un bon sujet,malheureusement mal exploité.
ENG- So well well well… well I don’t really know what to say about this novel … already I hope it was an uncorrected version because there were lots of mistakes .. including one that made me laugh …
The author’s pen is … let’s say that the novel is a bit messy and that at times I said to myself that I must be missing bits. However, it is a novel that I read very quickly and that intrigued me a lot. We clearly feel that this is a first volume and that the author poses her universe and her intrigue but I think that there is too much information in too few pages.
The love story between Ellery and Simon is cute but there too, there are big gaps …. In particular the fact that they pass from best friends to lovers without asking questions .. ok they were secretly in love each other for years but at no time do they confess even this point and kiss and sleep together as if it was obvious .. no gene, no hesitation … in short, there too it deserved to be developed.
I did not understand everything about the different supernatural characters that the author offers us and I do not know if it will be better explained in the other volumes but in any case, it will be without me.
It’s a shame because the author had a good subject there, unfortunately badly exploited.
La plume de l’auteure est… disons que le roman est un peu fouillis et qu’à des moments je me suis dit qu’il devait me manquer des bouts. Pour autant, c’est un roman que j’ai lu très rapidement et qui m’a beaucoup intriguée. On sent clairement que c’est un premier tome et que l’auteure pose son univers et son intrigue mais je pense qu’il y a trop d’informations en trop peu de pages.
L’histoire d’amour entre Ellery et Simon est mignonne mais là aussi, il y a des gros manque…. Notamment le fait qu’ils passent de meilleurs amis à amants sans se poser de questions.. ok ils étaient secrètement amoureux l’un de l’autre pendant des années mais à aucun moment ils ne s’avouent ne serait ce que ce point et s’embrassent et couchent ensemble comme si c’était évident.. aucune gene, aucune hésitation… bref, là aussi ça méritait d’être développé.
Je n’ai pas tout compris aux différents personnages surnaturels que l’auteure nous propose et je ne sais pas si ça sera mieux expliqué dans les autres tomes mais en tout cas, ça sera sans moi.
C’est dommage car l’auteure tenait là un bon sujet,malheureusement mal exploité.
ENG- So well well well… well I don’t really know what to say about this novel … already I hope it was an uncorrected version because there were lots of mistakes .. including one that made me laugh …
The author’s pen is … let’s say that the novel is a bit messy and that at times I said to myself that I must be missing bits. However, it is a novel that I read very quickly and that intrigued me a lot. We clearly feel that this is a first volume and that the author poses her universe and her intrigue but I think that there is too much information in too few pages.
The love story between Ellery and Simon is cute but there too, there are big gaps …. In particular the fact that they pass from best friends to lovers without asking questions .. ok they were secretly in love each other for years but at no time do they confess even this point and kiss and sleep together as if it was obvious .. no gene, no hesitation … in short, there too it deserved to be developed.
I did not understand everything about the different supernatural characters that the author offers us and I do not know if it will be better explained in the other volumes but in any case, it will be without me.
It’s a shame because the author had a good subject there, unfortunately badly exploited.
October 1, 2020
Great Romantic Urban Fantasy
I enjoyed this story a lot. The author seems to have a great sense of humor, and it reflects in the dialogue and inner monologue if the characters. The steamy scenes are mild compared to some, but that's okay. They are enough to add a romantic element to an otherwise great Urban Fantasy.
I enjoyed this story a lot. The author seems to have a great sense of humor, and it reflects in the dialogue and inner monologue if the characters. The steamy scenes are mild compared to some, but that's okay. They are enough to add a romantic element to an otherwise great Urban Fantasy.
December 20, 2020
Simon & Ellery are sweet together. I liked that Ellery had to work a little to convince Simon to give their relationship another chance. The reason I gave it four stars is that I felt there could have been more... more magic, more sex, more display of powers. It's very light reading and low-angst. It isn't overly long so I say it's a great book for when your time may be a little short.
May 12, 2020
This was one of those books, I really wanted to like but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
Simon and Ellery made me laugh. I enjoyed the banter, lust and humour between them.
There was a lot of info thrown in, all at once, and at times, it became overwhelming. I got confused on multiple occasions where I had to go back and re-read sections, just to get back on track. This process became tiring and exhausting.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Simon and Ellery made me laugh. I enjoyed the banter, lust and humour between them.
There was a lot of info thrown in, all at once, and at times, it became overwhelming. I got confused on multiple occasions where I had to go back and re-read sections, just to get back on track. This process became tiring and exhausting.
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
May 14, 2020
Interesting start to a new series. The story is paranormal MM, with demon-born, witches, fae (“good” and “bad”), plus the human changelings. Ellory and Simon met in college, became roommates and then became husbands of convenience when Ellory’s demon father cuts off his school funding. They each have feelings for the other, but never act on them, and then Ellory ghosts Simon. A decade later the MC’s secrets are discovered and they are forced to attend a weekend “party” where they not only find their feelings never diminished, but that their very lives might be in danger. The mystery is who really wants to do them harm and will they succeed? Looking forward to more answers coming in book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews