Truth or Demon

New Orleans Vampires #5

by Kathy Love

Hot? Hell, Yeah.

If you ask Killian O'Brien, Hell gets a bad rap. True, he's a demon, so he's bound to be a little biased. But he's got great job security, all the women he can handle, a body to die for --literally -- and free reign to do as he likes. Or he did, until teenager Daisy Reed and her two friends got hold of a book of spells and summoned him to do their bidding.

Their demand; find Daisy's older sister, Poppy, a boyfriend. Can't be that difficult, right? It's not like the woman is unattractive. Truth be told, Poppy is irresistible -- and mind-blowingly sexy. Which is exactly why finishing this simple little assignment so he can be sent back where he came from is turning out to be the hardest thing Killian's ever done...

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Demons, Fiction, Supernatural

331 pages, Trade Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Kathy Love has been labeled "a character-driven author, who prefers complex subjects that add an emotional, humorous edge" by Romantic Times. Originally from Maine, she now resides in Maryland with her daughter, Emily, their Boston Terrier, and six cats, all black. And five of which came with her boyfriend. So he's the crazy cat guy.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)romance author

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. I'm not sure. I enjoyed it. Although I expected Killian to be more like a demon, a little harder in personality. I did like that these teenagers were telling him what to do, and when Poppy would mention things he would be confused with what his fake background was.
I'm glad it was a HEA and I knew right away what the sacrifice was going to be.

Spoiler
It would be interesting to see him with a normal job.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you get your hands on a spell book? Would you cast a spell to get what you desire? Or would you leave it alone?

Well Daisy and her friends (while on a sleep-over) decided to use this book of spells. Daisy wanted to cast a spell to find her sister "Poppy" a boyfriend. But I don't think they expected for the spell to actually work because they were shocked and surprised to see a man magically appeared in front of them. And what better way to welcome him, but they throwing hands full of popcorn at him and yelling. LOL. I loved that scene. A bunch of teenagers throwing popcorn at a man they summoned.

So once breaking down to "Killian" (the demon) what he was summoned for. He almost lost it. For goodness sake, he's a demon not a matchmaker. But he had very little choice, because the only way for him to get back to where he came from and his lavish lifestyle is by doing exactly what he was summoned for. So how hard can it be?

Killian is a demon. A sexy hot demon who can be almost too hot to handle. Hot tempered and outspoken he finds himself very much irritated by his new obligations. How can a demon find a human a soul mate? Maybe by them two going out and meeting new people. But what he never expected was these new developing feelings after spending time with Poppy. He was here to find her a soul mate. So why was he having a hard time with that? Is there anyone good enough for her out there?

Poppy isn't a needy kind of girl she's independent, very smart and has been through alot in her life. Such as losing her parents then taking the role of a parent to her teenage sister. Then after taking responsibility for her sister, her boyfriend leaves her too. So she's endured alot of pain but never complains.She loves her sister dearly. But all her little sister wants is for her to be happy again, because she deserves it.

This book made me laugh a few times because of the girls. I mean, what do you expect when you get a group of teenage girls together for a sleep-over? I love that scene with the girls throwing popcorn at him. What kind of damage can you do with that? So anyway you get a sexy hot demon to find your beautiful sister a boyfriend. To me that's a recipe for disaster. I'd rather take the sexy demon and know up front what he's about than take a boyfriend and no nothing about him.

"Truth or Demon" is a very sexy and funny read. So if you like paranormal and sexy books, then this is your book. "Truth or Demon" is fifth in it's series. But it can also be a stand alone book. I never once was lost while reading this book. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and a Good Choice for Reading. Down below is a link to amazon if you'd like to buy.

[Stephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

One minute Killian O'Brien was enjoying his expensive scotch and about to relax after a day of escorting souls into hell when he suddenly finds himself in a strange living room. Killian has been summed by Daisy and her teenage friends to find her older sister a boyfriend. He's not happy being at the mercy of teenage girls but if finding Poppy a boyfriend is what Killian must do, then let the search begin. But things start to get complicated when Killian begins to fall for the smart, pretty, t-shirt and jeans loving Poppy. Suddenly being a demon and all the perks that come with it sounds unappealing and very lonely.

Killian is a demon and proud of it. He enjoys having expensive things, power and he doesn't even mind his job of escorting souls to hell. It's all he's even known really. When Daisy and her friends summon him, he's not pleased. Hell may be, well Hell, but it's nothing compared to being forced to do what 3 teenage girls tell him to. I laughed a few time just at this image alone. Killian's first attempts to find Poppy a boyfriend fail because he is rude and doesn't really think that what he says is offensive. Seeing how this is getting him no closer to returning home, Killian decides getting to know Poppy is the best way to figure out what man would be best for her. The more he gets to know Poppy the more he wants to keep her for himself and for the rest of the book he goes back and forth on how he feels about her. Nothing I haven't read before.

You pretty much know what's going to happen between them but I still thought the story was cute. Poppy is a little dorky and is more cute than gorgeous. She gave up the career she really wanted for something that provided a more dependable pay check in order to take care of her sister after their parents died. She is the type of character I'd love to know in real life. I did have two issues with her though. One, her sister and friends kept coming up with ridiculous stories as to who Killian is and Poppy knew something was off but that was about it. The second thing is how insecure Poppy was at times. I understand that Killian is model handsome but one minute she would be confident and the next she would have herself believing she wasn't good enough to even be near him. It got a little old.

Truth and Demon was an entertaining read. There is a lot of humor with a few slightly dramatic and emotional scenes woven into the story and a few steamy moments to top it all off. It also has one of my favorite kind of scenes in it where a character gets back at your ex and the cheap floozy he left her for. I'm not the only one who enjoys those moments right?

-Stephanie

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of teens give a twist to that old slumber party game 'truth or dare' when Daisy and her best buds summon a demon to find a boyfriend for Daisy's dedicated older sister Poppy.

The setup sounds odd but I actually really enjoyed Truth or Demon. The demon, Killian O'Brien, is bound to obey and can't return home until he finds the match for the sister which puts him at a disadvantage and the fact that a demon from "H,E, double-toothpicks" is completely managed by a gaggle of teenagers is pretty funny. While the humor adds a nice touch, the romance was really well done. And as Killian transitions from not evil - but definitely not nice - to a pretty decent leading man, the tension between Poppy and Killian make for a satisfyingly steamy read.

Even though Love's latest offering is labeled New Orleans #5, it is completely stand-a-lone from the earlier books in the series.

[Mirabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was great with some hilarious scenes, I couldn't stop reading. But then it went downhill, some sexual scenes were thrown in which didn't keep my interest so I skimmed them. I was still curious of how the big reveal to h that H was a demon would pass off, but was disappointed. The end felt rushed and a little boring. I liked the H but wished he would have had more demonical characteristics. I mean he came from hell by a spell, but apart from that he could have been any ordinary human man, he looked and acted like one, he had nothing demonical about him at all.

[Rosanna Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a great time reading this book. Ms. Love has crafted a fun heroine, such a sexy hero and secondary characters that made me laugh so hard. I love the idea of the demon from hell being plagued by a trio of teenage girls. It is just a wonderful, all-around good read...and has a very memorable rooftop love scene!

[Stacy Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth or Demon is a quirky paranormal romance that blends humor, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of emotional tension. Kathy Love’s writing style is light and engaging, making the book a relatively easy read for fans of the genre. The concept of a demon tangled in mortal affairs with a romantic twist is intriguing and provides some fun, unexpected moments.

However, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some scenes dragging while others rush through important plot points. The character development, especially for the protagonist, feels surface-level, and certain emotional arcs could have benefited from deeper exploration. The humor, while entertaining, occasionally veers into the cliché, making parts of the dialogue feel repetitive.

Overall, Truth or Demon is enjoyable for readers seeking a playful supernatural romp with romantic elements, but it may not fully satisfy those looking for depth or a tightly woven plot. A decent weekend read that’s entertaining, if not particularly memorable.

[Samarpan Barua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow Killian and Poppy in this romantic story where they struggle with love and heartbreak. However, there is a twist! Killian is a demon working directly for the Satan and Poppy is a lovely girl in Boston. Killian has been summoned to the mortal realm by Poppy's sister Daisy to find a good match for Poppy and he cannot leave unless the task is completed. While trying to find a suitor for Poppy, Killian himself begins to develop feelings for Poppy but can he as a demon find love? It was a fun and light reading and quite enjoyable. Nevertheless, the pace of the story is a bit slow and there isn't much of a plot. Still, if you are a fan of romance novels, you should definitely give it a try.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It was cute, I'm really glad I got it from the library though. I did find myself skimming some parts throughout.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find that I enjoy Love's books the most when I'm emotionally drained. That's usually the time that I want a low drama book that will still hold my attention. Love is pretty good for this, yet I almost always end up criticizing her for having too little drama. So... I'm a bit of a hypocrite. Especially, since the near zero drama going on in this story was one of main complaints.

With that said, the plot. Killian is a demon minding his own business down in hell when suddenly he finds himself standing in the middle of a girls' slumber party. The girls in question had been messing around with a spell that would summon a demon to grant the caster's wish. The wish was that Daisy's older sister, Poppy, would find a boyfriend. If Killian ever wants to return home, he has to grant this wish. Only problem is that Poppy doesn't seem too interested in dating and there's another demon breathing down Killian's neck about him being MIA for so long.

This was a really light and humorous story, but there's not much going on. A couple of minor issues pop up over the course of the book but they're dealt with fairly quick. For instance, Poppy's ex-boyfriend? No prob, everyone will just sit down to a nice dinner where Poppy can feel better about herself. Demon with a vendetta against Killian? Meh, the will take Devil take care of him off screen.

With the little problems like those two, I didn't mind that they were resolved rather quietly. But I did mind when the biggest issue of the story was handled with the same quiet fizzling out. I mean come on. Killian is a demon and Poppy doesn't know it. Yet they start a relationship. So I'm sitting there expecting some kind of blow out to eventually happen. When Poppy finds out what Killian is, I'm expecting her to flip out and feel betrayed, scared, or seriously confused. What happens though? Nothing. She just automatically accepts everything. There's no freaking out that he works for the Devil. There's no turmoil over the fact that she probably can't trust what he's been telling her. Or even the fact that her little sister summoned a demon. I mean come on! Your little sister is practicing witch craft and it worked! How does that not cause some sort of reaction? Instead, Killian returns from hell... because her little sister did another spell. And she falls into his arms, they profess their love. The End. This was just way too neat of a wrap up for the story. I mean I know its supposed to be a light paranormal, but still.

My only other problem was how "average joe" Killian was. That really bothered me considering that Killian is supposed to be a demon. Because really if you remove his mild psychic abilities, Killian is just some large dude.

With all my negative comments though, Love has an easy and light writing style that sucks you in. And in all fairness I'll probably eventually pick up the other novel by her I have sitting on my TBR pile. I would recommend this to someone looking for a really light and really fluffy paranormal.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmmm - this would have made a good short story - but just too drawn out...

Setting: Boston – condo, places around town reputed to have ghosts; erotic art gallery, fairy art gallery;

Theme:
Demon finding his soul with a perfect woman; the perfect woman seeing herself in a new way; falling in love; fantastic sex;

Characters:
Killion O’Brien: demon from the First Circle of Hell; his job is to escort souls into hell – a job he does efficiently, without thought of the individuals, with charm to get them to go where they need to be with a minimum of fuss; has great digs, has women whenever he wants;

Poppy Reed: has been raising her sister since their parents death (she is 8 years older than her); her fiancé left her when her parents died - not willing to take on the responsibility; artistic, dreamed of being a children’s book author/illustrator; became a technical editor, where can work from home, and support self and sister; average; boring;

Daisy Reed: 16 year old sister; wants her sister to find her soul mate and be happy; with 2 best friends, and based on conjuring spell in a teen demon book, they summon a demon to grant them a wish; set up some silly stories to explain Killion’s presence to her sister and to get her to cooperate with him (he’s from Sweden, he is ghost hunter host/show; his fiancé left him at the altar with the minister;

Madison / Emma: Daisy’s friends, and part of the Killion conspiracy;

Vepar: fellow demon that wants Killion’s job, so is sabotaging him, and tattling on him to Satan;

Summary:

What happens when you match innocent, sexy goodness with a sexy demon… bit by bit Killion gives in to him impulses to please Poppy – to seduce Poppy – to fall in love with Poppy.

When both finally admit to being in love, he is zapped back to hell… and Poppy has figured things out, confirming them with Daisy… and Daisy and friends find a new spell in new book, call Killion back, and he can stay if he sacrifices something big… which in a moment he does – he would die for her – giving up his immortality… ahhh

[Amy Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy has had to grow up fast when her parents die. She has to take care of her younger sister, Daisy, and pushes her own dreams aside to raise her. After a bad break-up, she has also given up on ever finding love. So Daisy decides to take matters into her own hands and summon a Demon to find Poppy's soul mate. Little did Daisy and her fellow teen friends know, Killian O'Brien could be just what they are looking for instead of just a Demon to do their bidding.


I absolutely adored this book! The characters were fun, amusing and felt real. Killian was so much more than a Demon in this book. You almost forget that he is actually a Demon from Hell! He has charm, when he attempts to use it, sexiness, and the patience to deal with young teens that believe in true love. The only problem I had with this book was how naive Poppy was. She believed everything that the young teens told her without much questioning.


I loved how Poppy had self esteem issues to work through after her previous boyfriend ditched her. What woman doesn't feel frumpy and mousy at some point? While Poppy knows she could never be supermodel gorgeous, she does want someone to love her as is. At first Killian doesn't know how he is going to find a soul mate for such a mousy and plain human, but he eventually realizes that there is so much beauty in Poppy that he wants her for himself. The only problem is Killian is a Demon from Hell with no chance of being with a human.


Personally, I can't wait for the next book in this series by this author. I loved everything about this book and who wouldn't want a man like Killian? Perfect to read as part of the series, but can easily be read as a stand alone book. Sexy, fun and full of spunk! A great read from a great author!

[Cyber Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Killian meets Poppy

Poppy's young sister Daisy, and her best friends, Emma and Madison, find a spell in a fiction book to summon and demand a wish from a demon. They wished a demon who could find a boyfriend for Poppy, who has dedicated her life to raise Daisy, and who deserves happiness.

Well, their wish is granted, they got their demon, straight from The First Circle of Hell. Killian, who happens to be the nicest demon I ever read about. He is handsome, kind, understanding, charming and a true gentleman.

What follows is a nice romance between Poppy and Killian. Who is forbidden to become the needed boyfriend, he has to find someone perfect for Poppy. Of course, during his matchmaking adventure he falls for Poppy.

If you have been reading heavy emotional books and you need a laughter, this is the book which would come to the rescue. I enjoy it very much. During the first chapters I have to stop a few times to laugh.

However, this is not a paranormal. I mean, the hero might be a demon and there are a few extrasensory elements in it, but don't expect your usual paranormal. Is a romantic comedy with young adult and woman's fiction elements. The sex scenes might be too erotic for young adults, but are not as explicit as in erotic romance.

Anyway, I love the book, I wish it would have had a more complex plot line, but maybe wouldn't have been as funny. It's the kind of book I would give away to friends or even read twice. I don't re-read many books, but this one is a keeper.

[Kristin - *Nocturnal Bites* · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book at the local bookstore not too long ago and was immediately smitten with the cover. Not too shabby, right? Truth or Demon is a light-hearted read about a sexy demon that falls in love with an average girl.

Killian is beautiful, confident, and eager to get back to his lair. First, however, Killian must find Poppy a soul mate. This task seems like a piece of cake at first, but as Killian gets to know Poppy, he finds he doesn't want to let her go. Although I really enjoyed Killian's character, I did have some issues with Poppy. For one thing, I found her to be way too nice... Anything Killian wants, she pretty much does, no questions asked. I also did not like her agreeing to be Killian's "friend with benefits." Having casual sex with a guy your clearly head over heals for is a big "No-No." DUHH!!

The first hundred pages of Truth or Demon is a bit slow.With that said, I found myself skipping ahead to the romance scenes, which, by the way, were HAWT! Kudos to Kathy Love for the Bedroom action! The second half of the book picks up in pace, although there are no big surprises, plot twists, etc, so the fairytale ending is pretty much predictible.

My favorite scene involves a drunk Poppy getting indecent in an elevator. Yes, very embarrassing! Props to Killian though for waking up early to remedy Poppy's hangover blues. Very sweet! Anywho, Truth and Demon is a good read. Not great, but definitely enjoyable. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted romance with a fairy tale ending.


Overall Rating: 2.25 out of 5

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked this story I have to rant about something...this book is labeled #5 in the New Orleans Vampires series. I have enjoyed reading the previous books and looked forward to seeing some of the previous books, but this book did not have any of those characters or even was in New Orleans, it was in Boston.

Ok, rant off, and now on to the book. You can just imagine all the high jinx's that will happen when 3 teens girls summon a demon to fulfill a wish. So what does a trio of teens wish for...a boyfriend/soul mate for the sister, who is the mother figure of one of the girls. What is not to love about that.

Enter Killian, who is one hot demon. The girls end up creating this absurd back story for Killian that is funny because it helps cover up this demon's short comings.

Poppy, not sure what to make of this "cousin" does her best to help him out, all the while Killian is hanging around. Because Poppy is clueless there is much craziness that ensues.

There is an attraction between the 2 of them that they try to fight, but we all know that how that works. Seeing Killian fall like the big demon he is was funny.

I also loved what the girls did at the end. Someone needed to do something and we all know teen girls think they know it all.

[Becca Moree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I think this has become my favorite in this series!

What's not to love? A sexy as all get out demon is summoned by a group of teenage girls....and now he has to do WHATEVER they say?!? Let me just make this clear...this book is HILARIOUS!

No worries though, between the bouts of humor there is plenty of steamy romance and wven a few scandalous sex scenes!

I love that this book has a realistic timeline on the romance, instead of the two just automatically jumping into bed as so many romance books do. I find it more appealing that this happened in a way that seems realistic, to a chick that is just your run of the mill girl next door single mom.

There is enough action and mystery to keep you on your toes and yet the story line never seemed to hit a drag or a lull in my opinion.

I greatly enjoyed this book from the time I started to the very last word. I simply wasn't ready for the story to end!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killian is a demon who has been summoned by three young teens to find a boyfriend for the older sister of one of them.

When I first heard about this at the end of the previous book, I thought it sounded a little too cutesy, but it wasn't too bad. It’s an interesting story, but other than Killian being a demon it’s not much different from any other romance.

Both Killain and Poppy are too gullible and trusting and the teens have too active imaginations. In fact, there’s a lot of details that are just too weird. Makes the story seem childish and silly and ends up like ‘A Comedy of Errors’. But it made for a quick fun read.

Gina is a real piece of work. In fact most of the women in this are awful.

Quick Thoughts: 1) I loved the cat.

2) Compared to the rest of the story the art show was too raunchy.

Fave Scenes: 1) the demon on the carpet, clothes shopping, the brunette at the bar and the fantasy art gallery.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not read any of the other books in this series but that want a problem. This was a really quick read for me. There were a few times that I thought that it was a bit slow, that I wished the two main characters would just talk and stop assuming what the other was thinking or feeling. But really, overall, it want a bad book. It's not a book that will be winning any big literary awards for its complexity. But I've read much, much worse.
In a nutshell, he book is about this teen, Daisy, who has lived with her sister since their parents died. The sister, Poppy, hasn't dated much so when Daisy and her friends find a book containing a spell for summoning demons to grant a wish, Daisy thought it would be a great thing to summon a demon and ask him to find her sister's soul mate.
I may check out the other books in the series...not sure yet. I give this book 3.5 stars.

[Yulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book.

Killian and Poppy.
I love they too)

lives a demon, gives soul to hell, and quite happy with his life and then ...
his is caused by three girls, who have found a spell in a children's book. and he can't leave until he fulfill their desire - to find a soul mate for her sister. think of nothing. find a guy and all, but what if, instead of them to woo her, he drives away their fury?
what is wrong with him?
because it is simple human woman, but why he so responsive to her touch?

[Darkand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love LOVE Kathy Love's books. This tale, which is listed as #5 of the New Orleans Vampire series is no exception, although, I do wonder why it was included within this series since it has nary a vampire in it, nor is it set anywhere even close to New Orleans. Poppy was a wonderful heroine and the 3 teenage mousekateers were wonderful secondary characters. Killian was, of course, suitably hot, being a demon and all. The pairing of Poppy and Killian was definitely enjoyable. Now, if I could just find that "Jenny Bell" book so I could conjure up my own Killian, I'd be in business!

[♥The Kat's Meow♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Love gives her larger-than-life hero an earthy quality. Which is practically an oxymoron considering that this larger-than-life hero happens to be a demon. Kathy breaths into her protagonist’s simple truths, warm hearts, and interesting quirks.

I'm looking forward to the next installment of the New Orleans Vampires.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth or Demon is a cute read. Poppy's sister and her friends conjured the demon Killian and ordered him to find Poppy's soul mate. The love story between Poppy and Killian was hot. I loved Poppy's sister and her friends and Killian's response to them. I did not like Truth or Demon as much as the earlier New Orlean's Vampires books or the Young brothers books that Kathy Love wrote. All in all Truth or Demon is a fun read with likable main characters.

[Georgik Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I love this woman's books... and now I've just finished her last one and I'm having a weird feeling of desperation... like I said.. weird. I couldn't find another author that can give me the same peace of mind and spirit like she does. Anyway, great book, great love story, just like all the others Kathy Love wrote. Can't wait for a her next novels... I hope they will be many.

[Luvs2dance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice enough read, though I found it hard to stay interested long enough to finish the book. Some of the conversation induced eye-rolls and I found it hard to believe how naive (plain dumb?) the heroine, Poppy, was portrayed a lot of the time. Lots of angst, a poorly developed bad guy thrown in just for kicks, and a rushed, anti-climactic ending that's disappointingly ... blah.

[Emoore0916]

Started and couldn't get past chp 1 after finding out the GIRLS are teenagers and not preteens who summoned the demon......eek. The way they were interacting I thought they were maybe 10/11.....total turn off.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Kathy Love book I read and it won't be the last! I loved the story and found myself laughing out loud at some points. I would definitely recommend this one and I am looking forward to reading more of Kathy's books.

[April-DAwn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the first I have read of this series and now I have to go back. It was Hilarious! I dont recommend reading it in public unless you are ready to get some odd looks. I know I got them from the other side of the couch. Love it! Not your typical Demon/Romance.

[M Flowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was ok as far as being a part of a series it failed none of the previous characters were involved only one was mentioned and that was because she was the author of the book involved I was very disappointed!!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

idk why theres so many bad reviews for this book i thought it was awesome ! had me laughing and squealing the whole time ! so sweet and nice and come onnnn DEMONS ! ahhhh i do so love my demon men <3 great book