The Demon Kiss

Of Witches and Warlocks #2

by Lacey Weatherford

Can someone else's past come back to bite you?
After being drained of nearly all the blood in her body, novice witch, Portia Mullins, wakes up to find that her warlock boyfriend, Vance Mangum, has fled in search of his demon father. Determined to keep him from facing the evil alone Portia follows after him, unknowingly setting herself on the path of a new adventure that will take her, Vance, and their coven over international borders, into a foreign place where they will discover that the black magic which awaits them is far worse than they ever imagined. Portia finds herself tangled up in a web of lies and deceit in another's quest for demonic power in the excitingly romantic second paranormal novel in the Of Witches and Warlocks Series, The Demon Kiss.

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Witches, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Magic

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2010

About the author

Lacey Weatherford was born in Ft. Meade Maryland while her father was serving in the military. She has been a life long resident of Arizona, spending most of her time growing up in the small rural town of Clay Springs.

It was while she was attending the small country school in Clay Springs, that she read her first "big" book at the age of eight. It was a Nancy Drew novel and Lacey was instantly hooked. She read every book that she could find in the series and decided that she wanted to write stories too.

Lacey spent a lot of time at the library from that time forward, even volunteering in her later teen years and early twenties. She would don a crazy clown outfit for the Friends of the Library fundraisers in an effort to help get the new town library built.

When she and her husband moved away from the area, Lacey took the opportunity to take some creative writing classes at the local college to help further along her interests. Several years later, they were blessed with the opportunity to move back to Clay Springs with their family. The town had finally succeeded in building their library and Lacey had the opportunity to be President of the Friends of the Library for a very short time, before relocating.

Lacey and her family still live in the White Mountains of Arizona, where she continues to write young adult novels that have a fantasy/fairytale or paranormal bent to them, as well as being sure to include a great romantic storyline!

Reviews

[Crystal _ Reading Between the Wines Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - Good

Following the events from The Trouble with Spells, the young witch Portia Mullins embarks on a journey with her two best friends, searching for her warlock boyfriend Vance Mangum who disappeared after nearly killing Portia. Vance is hunting down his evil warlock father, Damien, to take him down for good so he will no longer be a threat to those he loves. But Portia easily catches up to him and with a lot of determination convinces Vance to accept their help and the help of their coven.
Following a paper trail to Mexico they find Vance’s father and uncover his evil plans, which are even more terrifying then imagined…

The action is amped up in this exciting tale of magic and romance. I definitely enjoyed The Demon Kiss more then its predecessor, The Trouble with Spells. I really adore author, Lacey Weatherford, straight and to the point writing style. The plot moved quickly and consistently, the characters are more fleshed out here and a complexity is added to Portia and Vance’s relationship that was missing in the first novel.
There were times when I forgot that Portia was only sixteen because of the maturity shown in many areas but there was a lot more drama here in The Demon Kiss and in some scenes between Portia and Vance, Portia would go off on an emotional rant that quickly reminded me of her young age and even seemed a bit Twilight-esk. But thankfully, these scenes were few. There was also some cringe-worthy scenes when Vance and Portia openly talked about sex with her father and Portia would be seen leaving Vance's room in the morning . It’s an incredibly romantic story but as in the first novel, the adult/mother in me kept rearing her head to say ‘Yeah right!’
Vance receives a whole new dimension in The Demon Kiss and an intriguing dark side that I hope to see more of in future installments. Brad and Shelly have developed a more decisive role as well, and their humorous dialogues added key elements to the story. Surprising twists were interweaved with the additional action and really pushed this novel forward.

Action, romance, tension and espionage makes The Demon Kiss an exciting paranormal romance for young adult readers.

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romancing the Dark Side Review:

An emotional journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation!

The Demon Kiss picks up right where The Trouble With Spells left off. After overcoming a near demon conversion, Vance Mangum has left his girlfriend Portia and his coven in search of his now demon father. Not one to sit around, Portia enlists the help of her friends Shelly and Brad to join her in finding Vance. What starts off as a simple mission to retrieve Vance, soon turns into an unexpected battle against evil that will test the power of love between Portia and Vance once again.

This book was a whirlwind of emotions! As Vance and Portia embark on their journey to find his father, their bond becomes stronger than ever. Vance is still dealing with his withdrawals from his blood lust and while he tries to keep his distance from Portia, she is determined to stand by his side and help him through this difficult time by using her magical powers to heal him. It's great to see their romance blossoming with each chapter and how protective they are of each other. We finally get to see more of Vance's father Damien in this story and he is quite the villain! He's ruthless, devious and probably the only character you love to hate. There are tender moments, moments of suspense and a cliffhanger I didn't see coming!

Lacey Weatherford has created a great love story with fascinating characters that will have you addicted to the series in no time. There was a lot more action in this installment which made it more exciting to read. The storytelling draws you in to the point of becoming emotionally invested in the main characters and wishing for a happy ending. I was fond of Vance while reading The Trouble With Spells but I completely fell in love with him in this book...he's one dreamy warlock! This is truly a story that will tug on your heart strings whether you're 16 or 36 and I am highly anticipating the next chapter in this magical romance!

{ebook courtesy of author/Bookish Snob Promotions for review}

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Lines “I’m wearing happy memories,”

“I’ll never disappear from you, Vance,” I replied, “Not as long as there is breath in my body would I ever leave you.”

“You can’t blame a guy for spreading a little cheese every now and then.”

“I’m not wasting anything. I want you to be well more than anything in the world. I would even sacrifice my own life if it would accomplish that for you.”

“You never know what life is going to throw at you, so grab the one thing that makes you happier than anything else and run with it.”

“I mean that I have everything I want right here at my fingertips.” He reached out to rub his fingers over my hand before he continued. “And everything out there in the world is threatening to take it all away from me.”

“Kiss me,” he said when he was finished, looking down at me tenderly.
“Why? So you can steal my powers now?” I teased back, albeit badly.
“No, just your heart,” he replied, seriously.
“You can’t steal what already belongs to you,”

Just wow! Portia and Vance are back together again (thank god) and this time it's them who are hunting for his father. The find out he's not only stealing power through blood but, now he's performing a ritual that completely drains the witch of power. A Demon Kiss!
When the coven finds him they spend there time watching and trying to fibre out what to do next. Then he takes Portia, Vance will do whatever needs to be done to get her back. The time finally comes when he will face off with his father. I of course will NOT TELL you what happens but, it's OMG epic!
This author once again does it! She made you fall in love with the characters in book 1 but by book 2 you ready to fight for them!
Fantabulous book!

FIVE DEMON KISS FAIRIES

[Elizabeth Emily Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It hurts to be away from you, but I think it might hurt more to be with you."

I really enjoyed this. It was a quick, light and easy read and it felt familiar as I have read the first book but it was a very long time ago. The only reason I haven't read this sooner is purely because I have so many books to get through and not enough hours in a day.

Portia didn't seem half as feisty as I remember she seemed more obsessed with sacrificing her self every few pages. It's obvious that Vance means the world to her and that she would rather die than be without him This book was all about Vance and trying to find Damien's father so they could finally put a stop to all the witches and warlocks that he was killing and taking there powers.

I can't wait to get on to the next book, which I'm off to do now!

[Lyndsey O'Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I had finished The Trouble with Spells, I instantly picked up this book. I was so happy that I had the sequel waiting because I wouldn’t have wanted to be made to wait to find out what was going to happen next. If possible, The Demon Kiss was much more addictive.

Portia really grows a lot in this instalment of the series. I loved her in the first book and The Demon Kiss didn’t do anything to change that. If anything, I ended up loving her more. Although she is still able to show how much she cares for Vance and those around her, she also shows a completely different side. Portia has grown into an extremely strong main female character due to the outcomes of ‘The Trouble with Spells’. I really enjoyed how she wasn’t about to let Vance get away with what he did and took it upon herself to go and sort things out. This only intensified the passion in their relationship because Portia wasn’t afraid to show that she would go to any length to save what she has with Vance.

Just when I thought Vance couldn’t get any hotter, he does. The passion and chemistry between him and Portia was outstanding throughout and I could really feel what they were. There is so much that I don’t know about Vance and that is part of the attraction. There was always the thoughts in the back of my mind that he could be truly evil, even though that isn’t how he is portrayed. Due to how the first book ended, anything could happen with Vance and it’s the not knowing that makes him so interesting. Bad boys are supposed to be surrounded by mystery and Vance certainly has that going for him. I loved that I got to see some new sides to Vance’s character that I wasn’t expecting. I knew form the first book that he truly loved Portia and felt so much for her but this is expanded upon a lot more this time around which resulted in my sighing lovingly so many times because he was so adorable.

Portia’s best friend, Shelly, and her boyfriend Brad get a much bigger role in this book which was fantastic to see. We saw glimpses of them both in ‘The Trouble with Spells’ and I really wanted to find out more about them. Shelly and Brad brought a lot of humour to the book, especially when it came to voicing their opinions on Portia and Vance’s relationship and how they acted around other people. Not only are these two characters funny but they are brave and prepared to do anything to help their friends. I guess I wouldn’t say no to a road trip to Mexico either though.

The fact that we see quite a few different settings made this book exciting and fast paced. There never seemed to be much time where something wasn’t happening, even when the characters are stuck in one place for quite a long amount of time. Each time the story moved to a different location, the characters found new and scary situations to deal with and I liked seeing how everyone coped in different ways.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding Vance’s Dad (Damien) and what he is really up to and I was glad to see that this wasn’t revealed until fairly far into the story. I was kept guessing about his intentions throughout and could never really tell what was going to happen. It was also interesting to see how Damien’s actions were going to affect everyone else in the book and what the bigger picture was. As a villain, Damien really freaked me out. If he was my boyfriends’ Dad, I would probably run for miles.

Lacey Weatherford has totally upped her game with this amazing sequel. The romance, the action and the mystery are all upped a couple of notches, making The Demon Kiss a thoroughly enjoyable book. Enjoyable isn’t a strong enough word really though because I was even more in love with it as I was with The Trouble with Spells. With the third book in the series being released in a few months, I imagine things are only going to get a whole lot more exciting.

[The Fairytale Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review at The Fairytale Nerd.

LOCATION/SETTING:
This books begins right where book one ends. Vance left Portia to look for his father. So Portia, together with her friends went after Vance in order to bring him home. The first chapters of the book takes place in Arizona, but the characters stayed most of the time in Mexico.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Like in the first book, Portia is the narrator. Here, she becomes more familiar with her powers, and becomes more comfortable with her heritage. Her relationship with Vance is getting more serious, and the two are actually thinking long term already. As for Vance, he is still very much in love with Portia, however he is having a hard time controlling his evil side. It was especially difficult for him as he was constantly craving for Portia's blood. With this, he is having attacks/seizures as he is going through some kind of withdrawal.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
Portia wakes up with Vance missing. She found out that he went searching for his father. Because of the intense connection between Vance and Portia, it was physically painful to away from Vance. So she decided to look for him and bring him back home. With the help of Brad and Shelly, she found Vance. But she didn't get the reunion she desired as Vance wanted her to leave. But it was so hard for Vance because he can feel Portia's grief. Eventually, the two made up and made out. (In this book, their relationship becomes more serious, and they find themselves thinking of their future together already.) Anyway, Their small group continued their search for Vance's father, and found out that he is in Mexico, and is actually importing witches and warlocks in order to drain them of their powers. Vance is determined to stop, and kill his father, so the coven went to Mexico, where they spied on Vance's father. Then one day, Portia was taken by Vance's father to use her as bait to get Vance to join him. Now, Vance must save Portia as he cannot bear the thought of his father killing the girl he loves.

LOVE:
In the first book, I loved Portia and Vance's relationship. It was intense and sweet at the same time. Here, their relationship became deeper and more serious despite their age. I really don't want to give anything away. Their romance became bittersweet, and their coupling is still one of my favorites in the YA world.

NO LOVE:
Well... honestly, I didn't like the parts of the book where Vance was absent.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
I actually liked Portia's father in this book. He does not react to teen relationships like a normal father would. He was very understanding (or maybe the proper word is helpless) of Vance and Portia's displays of affection. Nevertheless, I like him because I think that he is a unique character in the world of YA books.

FAVORITE LINE:
You never know what life is going to throw at you, so grab the one thing that makes you happier than anything else and run with it.

MUSINGS:
When I started this second book, I was secretly hoping it won't be like New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, where the love interest was absent for the most part of the book. It's good that I was not disappointed. Vance had sufficient airtime.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so grateful to be done with this book. I started this back in March and took a 4-month break from it because I couldn’t stand the weirdness of it all. It was also extremely boring. I couldn’t stand it. I also forgot that Brad and Shelly weren’t beings with magical powers. I was starting to wonder at some point why Shelly was being so clingy to Portia, but then I was like… oh, yeah, she's her high school best friend.

Originally, I felt compelled to read this book because I wanted Portia and Vance to be together again, since Vance left her at the end of book 1, but it took no time at all to reach that point in book 2.

It’s kind of nice that Sean, Portia’s father, is allowing her to be with Vance all the time, but I didn’t appreciate the fact that they flaunted it in front of everyone they knew. PDA much? What’s worse is that not only are these people they knew, but are also people from Portia’s family. It was very inappropriate behavior.

I couldn’t care less what Damien, Vance’s father, was doing. Yeah, yeah, he’s evil incarnate and he must be destroyed… then what? He’s boring as heck. He doesn’t even know he’s being watched. And the ending with him was incredibly lousy.

Portia, on the other hand, was very vain and conceited, despite saying that she isn’t. I get it, she suddenly realizes something and she says she’s not vain because she’s just really surprised to find out that she’s actually really good to look at but… come on! Let me be the one to judge that; you have other things to do! From the time that I resumed reading this book until the time I finished it, she took at least 3 baths after doing absolutely nothing special for the day. Unless standing around and people watching is special. Okay, no. How about let’s not see her take a bath at all, yeah? Special day or not, seeing the protagonist shower after each of them is just redundant.

Another thing I disliked about this book was the excessive usage of exclamation points. It’s like they’re always screaming! And that’s not all! They also use ALL CAPS to emphasize WORDS instead of using italics. Or exclamation points!

!!!!!

I think I would’ve enjoyed this book (series) more if I cut out all the sweet Portia/Vance moments and compiled them. Seriously, it’s all I look forward to while the rest are just… eh. I mean how can anyone be excited for the next chapter when the previous one ended with:

“This is Sean. Talk to me,” he said.

[Cole Morgenstern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Post: http://writtenportals.blogspot.com/

WARNING SOME SPOILERS POSSIBLE


Of Witches and Warlocks by Lacey Weatherford

Where to start with this amazing book series? It has witches, it has warlocks, it has demons and soul mates, romance and sexy encounters and absolutely swoon worthy men. What is not to love? Christmas day 2011 I was given a kindle fire. Being a fan of books about Witches I simply searched the word “Witch” and I stumbled upon Lacey’s First book “The Trouble with Spells”. After buying the book I spent the better part of that day eating up the story and dying for more I purchased the rest of the series.

Through out this series you are introduced to Portia and Vance a couple of kids with wicked powers who just can’t seem to catch a break. When all seems well in there lives, well Lacey just throws you another curve ball and your left asking yourself “what the Hell just happened here!?”. Each page is riddled with delicious romance, and action that could require CPR. If just reading about Vance didn’t already stop your heart that is.

After discovering she is a Witch Portia Mullins is thrown through a series of loops while she basks in learning about magic and becomes better aquatinted with the mysterious Vance Magnum life is good. But not for long, Without giving to much away, Portia has to learn how to use her powers to save the ones she loves and even when the storm calms its not over through out the series she has to deal with the death of coven members the betrayal and redemption of her best friend and the person she loves most falling into the hands of dark magic. Vance turned demon by his father must battle his inner darkness and conquer his instincts in order to save the one he loves and in the end have what they always dreamed of.

This series is a pure work of art, I am not joking when I say you need to go out and read these books. Whether you own a kindle or your would rather have a paperback novel in your hands the books are available in both formats. You will laugh with the characters cry with them, feel there joy and even though its all over you’ll go on your knees to Lacey begging for more.

The books are honestly so good that two months later the final line of her last book still rings in my head.

[Belinda Boring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me begging for more and frantically searching the computer looking for the release date of the 3rd book. I think that Lacey Weatherford is a genius. She has followed up her first book (The Trouble With Spells) with a second phenomonal story. The Demon Kiss continues the journey in Portia and Vance's discovery of each other and their magic, with events that seem impossibly difficult and relentless in trying to pull them apart. Having overcome the danger of a near demon conversion, Portia and Vance embark on the journey of facing Vance's father, with the hopes of finally laying to rest the threat that hangs over Vance's fate. As I read each page, I found myself pulled deeper into the story and my emotions became tied to theirs. I loved the dynamics the author developed further with Vance and Portia and I have to say that they are rapidly becoming one of my favorite couples. Portia is more committed to doing all she can to support Vance and Vance is more determined to protect Portia at all costs. Both fall deeper into each other and for all lovers of romance, both of them sizzle on the page. One of my favorite scenes occur when Portia and Vance come face to face with the evilness that is Vance's father, Damien Cummings and as a villan, Damien definitely delivers the goods. Even through the pages he made my skin crawl and that's what I loved so much about reading this book. Not only did the author have my skin crawling, she also had me blushing through the kissing, sighing through the tenderness, laughing at the humor and cheering in those moments where Vance and Portia need it most. She has written the book in a way that engages both the mind and heart of the reader, taking them on a ride that they won't easily forget. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and I definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series. I absolutely loved this book. Thank you Lacey for writing it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank Goodreads First-Reads for this book I won through their giveaway. It was a pleasure to read. I was a bit hesitant at first since this is the second book in the Witches and Warlock Series, and I had never read the first. Thankfully the author took the time in the beginning and a few places throughout the book to bring the reader up to speed. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would since this book is geared for young adults. It was filled with romance but no sex and the four main young characters actually had morals (which is almost unheard of in young adult books anymore.) When my daughter gets older (she's 7 now) I would let her read this. The book also had plenty of action that I feel would appeal to young boys also. I'm waiting to see if my boys will read it but I believe they think it's a "girl's novel." The only complaint I have about the book is the editing. There were mispellings & typos throughout. Lastly, I would like to read the first novel in this series and hopefully many more that continues the story of Portia & Vance. I can forsee a TV series or some movies made from this series.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the five series of books by this author. The title is very deceiving as it implies that the entire book is about demons when it is not. I found this book to be as fast-paced as the first book. I flew through this book (just like I did the first one, perhaps even faster) because I couldn't wait to see how things progressed between the two main characters (Portia and Vance). If you enough paranormal fiction or books about witches and warlocks, I would highly recommend this book to you.

[Arceli · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the giant cliff hanger in book one, I was immediately pumped to read book two. Boy, it was no disappointment. This book is full of tension, twists and turns, and of course plenty of romance.

Portia has been through a since her 16th birthday. She is introduced to the world of witches and discovers how truly evil Vance's dad is. Portia has a lot of character growth in this book. And I've got to admit, she does has some amazing qualities. Portia is exposed to much more violence and sees things that no 16 year old girl should go through. How she reacts and remains strong throughout the book makes her an amazing heroine. I love that despite the many difficult times she goes through in this book she does not shut down or become whiny. Instead, she is more determined to fight for her loved ones than ever. Go Portia!

Vance in the beginning of this book is less likable in the beginning. At the turn of events in the beginning of book one, he vanishes in effort to protect Portia. His self-deprecation is kind of annoying in the beginning. He acts really like a baby in the beginning. However, I can see where he is getting at. He loves Portia so much that he willing to do anything to protect him. But at times I really want to kick him in the nuts because he does not realize that his leaving is the main cause of Portia's pain. After the much anticipated reunion between the couple, Vance starts to grow on me. I think I like him even more after book one because he does redeem himself. His growth in the book is amazing. You can start to see glimpses of a truly grown man (although he is legally an adult). In addition, his romantic gestures for Portia made me swoon even more. Like I said before, I need my own Vance. Vance really has all the great qualities in a guy. And he is a good person deep down.
The romance between Portia and Vance is still combustible and sweet. There is a lot more kissing and things are building up for them. The sexual tension was very well written. I could literally feel both of them trying not to go for it all like a bunch of horny teenagers.

The overall plot in this book has a faster pace than the previous book. Things are much darker. There are bloodier scenes and more action. Be prepared to be standing on your toes. The world of witches is revealed more and more. Plus, you really get to see how evil Vance’s father is. According to Vance, “I need to kill that sucker.” Hell yeah. Want more twists and turns? You’ll get it in this book. Also, there are some unexpected things revealed.

Weatherford does a great job expanding the story of Portia and Vance. Great continuation to the series. I can’t wait to read the next book.

[Tracy Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lost sleep three night in a roll reading this series!!!!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The sequel dives deeper into dark magic and high-stakes adventure as Portia pursues Vance, who has fled to confront his demon father. The story expands beyond the familiar setting to international locales and introduces more intense supernatural threats. Portia’s determination to protect Vance and her coven drives a suspenseful plot filled with romance and danger. This installment raises the stakes with greater complexity, ideal for readers who appreciate a blend of paranormal romance and action.

[Cas | casreadz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution if you have not read the first book in the series, The Trouble with Spells.

In The Demon Kiss, book two in the Of Witches and Warlocks series, Vance Mangum decides that the time has come to face down his past demons - literally - but his decision to do it alone does not go over well with his girlfriend and fellow witch, Portia. When he leaves in pursuit of his bloodthirsty father without notice, an incensed Portia decides that she has no choice but to follow and hope that she catches up with him before he catches up with his aptly-named father, Damien. With her mortal-turned-magical (thanks to two enchanted amulets) friends Brad and Shelly in tow, 16-year-old Portia sets out to follow a dangerous and potentially deadly path, one which will lead her not only to Vance, but to Damien and his demonic coven as well. However, after finally being reunited and successfully hunting down their quarry, Vance and Portia are in for a horrifying shock. Damien's plans are far more ghastly than they feared, and the young witches find themselves pawns in a sadistic game.

The Demon Kiss revvs up the action and intrigue from its predecessor, The Trouble with Spells, and the new tone of mystery and espionage adds an exciting new facet to Lacey Weatherford's tale of magic and romance. Portia and Vance's relationship becomes more complex, making it more engaging for readers. Vance develops tremendously as a character in The Demon Kiss - the toll his past has taken on him becomes clear, and it is much easier to understand why he clings to Portia so tightly. His consuming love is endearing, and readers will truly feel for his troubled soul. The struggles that result from his near-demon-conversion also revive hints of his alluring dark side, which went missing in the early days of his relationship with Portia. However, as Vance blossoms as a character, Portia becomes a bit more problematic. Portia seems to be a heroine of the fight-her-own-battles variety, and while she does stand up for herself, she still seems like the weakest link when things get particularly nasty. From the beginning, everyone around her has marveled over her unusually strong powers, but those powers have yet to be demonstrated for the reader. When the rest of the coven fly in as reinforcements, the vast and varied cast of characters is lively, but the familial interactions occasionally get awkward - with Portia sleeping in Vance's room and standing by while he discusses her "virtue" with her father - making this reader cringe. Though I would like to see the rest of the coven gain additional depth in future installments, it was a pleasant surprise to see Brad and Shelly develop as more central characters - a lighthearted and imaginative trend I wish had continued for the entirety of The Demon Kiss. The pair of brave and loyal friends have immense potential as characters, as well as foils to Vance and Portia. Despite a few quibbles, The Demon Kiss is an engaging read, full of more suspense and action-driven plot than the first installment of Portia and Vance's tale. If the series continues to develop in the same strain, it promises to pack a powerhouse punch that will make readers lament the saga's end.

[Heather Book Savvy Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Demon Kiss is book 2 in the series, but I did not have the chance to read book 1. So, when I started reading, I did have to play catch-up. It took me awhile to understand exactly what happened, and to understand the characters. Also, since I primarily read adult fiction, I had to adjust to reading a young adult book. Especially in the beginning of this book, there is quite a bit of teenage angst, and emotions run pretty wild. As the story progresses, I fell into the plot and I understood the characters and the structure of the witchy community (coven) they are apart of, as well as the nature of the evil they are facing.

Portia, the main character is searching for her boyfriend, Vance, who had run away to try to find his evil father. After some indecision and teenage emotional melt-downs, the two work some things out and their group continues their search for Vance's father, Damien, down to Mexico. In Mexico, they find out where Damien has based his operations, and the rest of the coven is called to help learn more about Damien's activities. What they uncover is surprising and Portia and Vance have to face their powers and natures. Ultimately, Vance has to overcome the evil nature instilled in him to stop his father and protect Portia, but the evil inside of him was never fully healed.

Once I understood the world and the paranormal elements to this story, I really enjoyed it. The magic the characters have is all very interesting and it's fun to see who has what power. The Demon Kiss is not a slow read, and kept my interest through the whole story. I really like Portia's character, for a 16 year old girl, she actually handles bad situations really well. Both she and Vance definitely have the teenage angst element going. They experience very adult emotions, and often times have very teenage reactions. However, they are resourceful and very loyal, and those are qualities that I love to see in characters.

I am not going to give away spoilers, but I had to say that I was quite surprised by the depth of the relationship that Portia and Vance had. For being so young, they progress pretty far, and their parents and coven are all okay with it. I just felt that the parents and the coven being so okay with teenagers having such a deep connections was a bit weird. Really, this was my only concern with the book, and as I got to know the characters better, it made a bit more sense. When the book ended, I found that I really enjoyed the characters. While some plot threads are ended and tied up, other future story lines are set up, and I find that I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for all the characters in this series.

I was pleased by the author's ability to create depth in the story and characters; combined with magical paranormal elements, and surprising plot twists, The Demon Kiss is an impressive young adult book.

Paranormal and YA readers, if you are looking for a new series to try, I do recommend giving Lacy Weatherford's "Of Witches and Warlocks" series a try. I really enjoyed reading The Demon Kiss, but I am sure I would have liked this book even more if I had read book 1 first.

I received an e-copy of this book for review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Demon Kiss is book 2 in "Of Witches and warlocks" series of books by Lacey Weatherford, it starts from where the 1st book, The Trouble with Spells left off.

From the very start I didn't want to put it down. Portia awakes from a very troublesome near death experience to find her true love Vance has gone leaving her only a letter and some photos. Although still very weak she decides to tackle things head on and with the help of her best friend Shelly and Vance's friend Brad they set off to find Vance.

During the journey of searching for Vance and any clues they could get to his fathers whereabouts they find Vance in an old warehouse. Although Portia's emotions were running high I didn't expect her to PUNCH him in the face for leaving her! Whilst Portia is still cross at him he turns around and kisses her and once again she melts at his touch.

After an emotional and intense reunion they eventually set out on the task of finding Vance's father - a task which they find is much harder than they thought it would be.

A very well written and captivating story. It has lots of twists and turns, just as I thought I had worked out what was going to happen next something else happened and it kept me reading.

It is a total whirlwind of emotions. I feel as though I am getting to know the characters personally and the book gives the impression that you are there with them.

Vance and Portia's romance steps up a level as they face yet more challenges ahead of them to the extent that they have arguments like real life couples do, and afterwards they kiss and make up! Very intense book, just like the first one.

The story contains romance, friendships, emotions, death, tension, teamwork and much more. Great read from start to finish. Well done to Lacey.

My favourite section from the book has to be (quote:)

"So how did you sleep last night?" my Dad asked....Vance looked over
at him quizzically, his eyes narrowing slightly before he spoke up,
answering the question. "Well let's see" he began....." Portia
had nightmares, and I spent most of the night watching her sleep,
while trying to solve the puzzle to all of my life's problems,
before I finally gave up and fell asleep myself". Vance
replied "Then I woke up to this beautiful angel in my bed who
magically took away the pain of withdrawal which has made me
miserable every single morning lately, so I grabbed her to me and
made out with her for close to an hour, loving every second that I
was able to forget about the world around me, while I did my best
to thank her properly."
I coughed and almost choked on my food....
"Did that answer the question you were really asking?" Vance asked,

These few lines say so much, you can really feel the embarrassment that Portia must feel having this conversation with her father and boyfriend! Greatly written though.

Don't just sit here reading the reviews go and read the book! I can't wait to read the third story.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORED this book. When I finished the first book (The Trouble With Spells), I was so excited to read The Demon Kiss and I crossed my fingers that it would be just as exciting and entertaining. Now that I've finished reading The Demon Kiss, all I can say is that it FAR exceeded my expectations. The Demon Kiss picks up straight where the first book left off and instantly drew me into the storyline. I loved reading about the beginning stages of Portia and Vance's relationship and in this book, I really got to see how well they worked together. I'm a sucker for romance and passion and reading about how much Portia and Vance loved each other, it had me sighing and remembering fondly my own memories of being a young person in love. Lacey Weatherford captures the essence of what it was like being new to each other and how passionately someone will defend and protect those they care for. It was easy to identify with Portia as she begins to learn more about her powers and the joy she feels as she's able to use them to help Vance. Recent life hadn't been easy for either of the couple and the author steeps them in the kind of trouble that has you cheering them on each step of the way. As you read through the book, the author has written it in such a way that you sigh, you laugh, you cheer, you laugh, you cringe, you cry right along side with the characters and to me that's an essential element to a good story. I loved the storyline of The Demon Kiss and how the author introduces twists in the story that you never see coming. This is definitely not a boring read and its one that will keep you up all night reading frantically because you can't bare to put it down for a second. Of course though, my review wouldn't be complete with mentioning how totally AMAZING Vance is. The author really hit the nail on the head when she created this delicious bad boy. I loved Vance in the first book but with The Demon Kiss, the author took Vance to a whole new level. He is every girls dream guy - strong, confident, protective, totally devoted, and extremely funny. (some of my favorite scenes in the book where of him and his quick sense of humor)It was so easy to fall deeper in love with him and it has me eagerly (and rather impatiently) waiting for the third book in the series. I love bad boys and after reading The Demon Kiss I can only hold my breath and wonder just how bad will Vance become? Just how far down the path to evil with he be pulled and tempted? Or will his desire for good and Portia's love triumph? I don't know but the moment I see when the next book is being released, I will be pulling out my credit card to buy it. This is definitely a MUST READ series. The Demon Kiss is a MUST READ. It's a new look at YA paranormal (a nice break from the flood of vampire books) so buy the book and read about the amazing world of witches, warlocks and demons. I'm addicted.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

In this portion of 16 year old witch, Portia Mullins, story she and her friends Shelly and Brad take off searching for Portia's warlock boyfriend Vance Mangum. Vance has left Portia to search for his father in hopes of taking out the dangers his father might present to Portia in the future. Portia's friends are quickly ensconced in her magical world as they travel searching for Vance. Though Vance is quickly found, his fears of the danger he presents to Portia creates a lot of obstacles in their budding relationship and they find it difficult to convince him to return. The friends succeed in convincing him to join them and all four work together to search for Vance's evil father before finding him in Mexico. Eventually the entire coven joins them and this magic tale merges with one of spies and missions leaving readers turning the pages to the very end wondering who will win the game of cat and mouse.

The writing in this book compared to the first has cleaned up quite a bit with minimal grammatical errors and nothing enough to really jar you out of the story. It has the same wonderful flow and voice of the last story and definitely falls into the thrilling page turner category. It seems with each book by Weatherford she improves her work a little more offering the reader a better story. If she continues to improve at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to find her on the best sellers rack in a couple years.

While the characters still fall into the Mary Sue category, they are becoming more believable as she gives them more flaws and more hardship in this novel. The main issue with this work in my opinion is that her writing has a kind of sugar coating to it, like she's glossing it over so even the bad parts aren't that bad and it's almost as if she's afraid to get a little gritty with her characters and her story. There were a couple parts that were a little far-fetched like her father going from encyclopedia salesmen to government agent and the perfect moral compasses of every teenager in the story but otherwise it was a great read that kept you turning the pages from beginning to end.

I'd like to thank the author for offering this book as a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway that I was fortunate enough to win. I look forward to reading more works by Lacey Weatherford in her Of Witches and Warlocks Series.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Womp. I never really got completely into the first book but what the heck, just kept working my way through the series anyway.
In the first installment, there's all these different things goings on. Portia is turning 16, she's learning she's a witch, learning how to use powers, falling in love, watching her BF get kidnapped, saving his life while dealing with the death of students and a friend, losing her best friend, and working to hide from Vance's dad.
So this book starts out and she's recuperating, looking for Vance, finding Vance, planning to on the offensive with Vance's dad. And I'm just.....meh. I felt like, yeah, we're learning about all these dark plans and Vance is struggling to hold onto his humanity, but a great part of the book is spent with Vance pushing and pulling and Portia always pulling. Their love became something that triggered a permanent grimace on my face for the rest of the book. First of all, it's weird to me that Portia's family so easily forgave and let Vance go after he drained her of blood. Then that they just let her disappear without adult supervision (same goes for Brad and Shelly's) and a crazy demon warlock out there looking for them. And the greatest, most insistent drain on my tolerance was how V&P talked. A lot of the dialogue seemed forced (i.e. There’s a sweet little place down by the marina called the Friendly Dolphin. “Sounds great!” Vance said. “Let’s go there.”) I don't know if it's the authors overuse of the exclamation point but.... Also, they aren't talking and acting like they are 16 and 18 years old. I almost wished they would reveal their faults and weaknesses so I could start liking their characters more. They talk like adults, make decisions like adults, and claim responsibility like adults.
Finally, the love between Vance and Portia was way intense. When Vance asked if he was moving too fast and Portia assured him he wasn't, I wanted to yell 'YOU'RE GOING TO FAST FOR ME!!' slow down! I can't keep up. I get there's a magical tie between you too and you've both liked each other for two years, but I have to believe that relationships don't happen like that that fast. Everything they said to each other was like really bad poetry and rolling my eyes the whole book might have elicited a few 'does she have epilepsy?' comments from those around me.

But overall, I enjoyed the book. I did my best to follow the bigger story and let the smaller things slide and I'm glad. Onto the next 3 books!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Demon Kiss is the second book in the Of Witches and Warlocks series by Lacey Weatherford. This book has the perfect balance of love, action, determination and resilience.

After waking from a horrific ordeal, Portia finds that the love of her life is gone. This infuriates her and makes her determined to find Vance and give him a piece of her mind. He has ran off to find his demonic father and take care of him once and for all. Portia is outraged that Vance has left her behind and is worried that he won’t come back to her. So she decides to go find him along with her two best friends promising to call in the coven when she finds him.

This trip ends up being more of a black ops mission; to find Vance’s father, help save his victims and kill him whilst not getting killed themselves. This is a lot more tricky that what they think as Vance’s father has unlimited power and resources.

I loved the character development in this book. Portia shows just how resilient and strong she is in this story. Not only has she to deal with her every advancing powers and recovering from being drained of blood but also has a blood lusting boyfriend to deal with. I also loved how much closer Portia and Vance became in this book if that’s even possible. It seems as if their love is even more unbreakable.

I had a strange feeling of foreshadowing in this book but not from anything that Lacey had written. I had the feeling that something bad was going to happen as soon as I started reading one of the chapters and it ended up happening how I thought it would but at the same time I was surprise that it happened. The ending left me with the mother of all cliffhangers but at the same time it explains the nightmare that Vance went through in The Trouble With Spells.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed The Demon Kiss and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Blood of the Witch. Hopefully some more answers will be made available in the next book.

Disclaimer: I was sent this book by the author for review. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts:
~ the quick note ~
Demon Kiss is a fast-paced, tragic, triumphant, romantic, inspirational, emotionally loaded, powerful story. It grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let you go! This is a "cover to cover, hope you downloaded book three on the same day" read.


If you haven't started the series at all - go get all three books (four is coming soon) - or if you have already read book 1 - then grab something to snack on, something to drink and get set up in your favorite reading spot and plan for a read-a-thon!


~ the longer version ~ (spoiler alert)
I am totally in love with this series! I finished the first book and immediately went looking for more! I was thrilled to find books two and three on Smashwords, so I bought and downloaded them both right then. I couldn't wait to get going on The Demon Kiss.


Demon Kiss started right away from where The Trouble With Spells left off.
Once again I was captured by the characters and intrigued by the story.
We are in back in another "Can love conquer all" situation.
Portia sets out in search of Vance - the love of her life - and in the company of her two best friends. Once they find Vance, we are taken on an emotional whirlwind ride and left breathless.
The connection between Vance and Portia is stronger than ever and they finally decide to work together to try to find and destroy Vance's demon father (Damien). This sets them up for a multi-country search for Damien. They discover that he is stealing power from other witches and warlocks with what is called the Demon Kiss and the only way to save everyone is to stop him. They finally find him, but he has found them too and comes for Portia just like she has seen in her dreams so many times.
Once Damien has Portia, the story seems to fly by as Vance sets out to save her. There is an epic battle between Vance and Damien. Of course (because there is a book 3) Vance is victorious.


This one too ends with a cliffhanger - hence my suggestion to have the next book already!

[Lindsay Paige]

Title Thoughts: It fits perfectly!

Cover Thoughts: I really like it. I like how they are always both in the cover.

WARNINGS: There are just some really good kissing scenes.

First, let me start with what has been on my mind since I finished this book this morning. Weatherford is a torturous little writer! And I say that in the nicest way possible. I've come to discover that she ends her books by leaving you with her characters on the brink of another adventure. She leaves you wanting more.

I was not disappointed with this next part of Portia's and Vance's lives. I enjoyed every word and can't wait to read the next book. Although, I do have to say that that is not because of the ending. Maybe a tiny bit, but I mostly want to continue it because I love this group of characters and I want to see more of them.

There is one thing I am sure of about this book. It made me, a single gal, miss the little things of being in a relationship. In The Demon Kiss, we have Portia whose boyfriend is there for her. He showers her with sweetness, fun, and some good ol' kissing. He holds her hands and they love spending their time together and learning more of each other.

Addict's Last Words: The Demon Kiss continues where The Trouble with Spells left off and delivers just as good.

To Buy or To Borrow: This is a buy for me, of course. I love the characters and I'll say what I did in the review of the first book. Better buy the entire series at once so you can read them back to back.

Disclosure: I participate in tours with The Bookish Snob Promotions and a copy was provided for me by the author. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Of Witches and Warlocks: The Demon Kiss stepped up this series in a major way, making it a new must-read series of mine, because not only did the characters and plot threads get more fleshed out and the writing become better, but The Demon Kiss is filled with action, romance, and even some laugh-out loud parts.

In Demon Kiss Portia is dealing with the aftermath of what occurred in The Trouble with Spells. Vance is gone and there's a chance he won't be coming back if his plan fails, so Portia decides it up to her to save the day and him, and before she knows it she's on the road with her best friend, Shelly, and Shelly's boyfriend Brad, with a mission to find Vance and stop this all once for all. Though, as it turns out the future holds to be more dangerous than Portia could ever image, but will the danger come between her and Vance and will she die because of it? Only time and more pages will tell in this amazing sequel!

One of my favorite parts for this sequel was the fact that the characters got more fleshed out, since for one I could finally see why and just how much Vance and Portia love each other. Plus, I loved seeing how Lacey gave bigger roles to Brad and Shelly, my two new favorite characters, because they provided to simply hilarious and well-worth the parts recieved.

Further more, The Demon Kiss' action and romance levels stepped up majorly as well. I loved finding out more about Vance's dad and his ambitions in the dark side, as well as seeing all the spying missions and planing for how Portia, Vance, and everyone would capture him. Lacey's writing also got a lot better...to point were the story was even able to jump of the page in my eyes. And the ending? Words can't express how much I'm dying to read the sequel now.

In all, the amazing thing that The Demon Kiss is makes the lackluster first book worth it. I can't wait to read more about Portia, Vance and the gang.

Grade: A-

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

After leaving you with an enormous cliffhanger, this installment of the Of Witches and Warlocks series opens with equal dramatic flair. Portia, almost dying in her attempt to save Vance's life, awakens to discover that Vance has gone. In his desire to keep her safe, he has left her to search for his father and to face him alone. She refuses to allow him to face this evil alone, however. Portia, her best friend Shelley, who had her own recent brush with Vance's evil family, and Shelley's boyfriend Brad track him down and eventually Vance realizes he is stronger with Portia than without her. The entire coven is drawn into the increasingly dangerous mission to save Vance and destroy the demon coven over which his father rules.

From the very beginning, I was drawn right back into the story of Portia and Vance. Portia's pain at the beginning, both physically and emotionally, was so tangible that you felt for her. Brad and Shelly were far more in the forefront of the story this time, which I really enjoyed. Their skepticism and then excitement at learning about the existence of magic was endearing. I loved that they not only didn't judge their friends for their differences, but accepted and embraced it and supported Portia and Vance in every way. Vance's apparent overprotection and Portia's meekness drove me crazy to the point that I cheered out loud when she finally exploded, which earned me odd looks from my sick 9yo! But that is the mark of superior storytelling, involving your reader to the point that they are that fully invested emotionally. And I was definately invested! The story was as action-packed as the first in the series, and just as engrossing. And once again, Lacey Weatherford was the Queen of the Cliffhanger! She gets to that edge, and just stops, leaving you wanting MORE, somehow without allowing the reader to feel unsatisfied. A-MA-ZING!

[Anaiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. This book takes place soon after the end of Book One. Portia, along with her friend Shelly and her boyfriend Brad embark on a journey to track down Vance who has gone off alone to hunt down his evil father Damien. What I like about Lacey Weatherford's books is that she doesn't keep you waiting for the "good stuff". I wasn't looking forward to reading about Portia suffering because Vance isn't near or worse I was afraid of reading about a really long journey to find him. Fortunately I didn't have to read about either. The story moved at a good pace with something always happening or being planned. There was a lot of planning actually, it was exciting. Lots of spy-stuff. *cues James Bond intro music*

Vance is still awesome even though he sometimes has red demon eyes. If you haven't read the first book just pretend you didn't just read that previous line. The romance is still sweet between the two albeit with a little more intensity and some complications (bloodlust anyone?). There were several times where I felt that certain characters' lines didn't quite fit with their persona (or the way I imagined them) I just can't believe positive enthusiasm when the characters are in danger or on a serious trip. There were a tad too many exclamation points from Vance and Portia's Dad in particular. The writing in general was a bit stiff at times, but the storytelling was wonderful and once again I must say I like the way the book gets to the point. The ending was short but it had action and a hint as to the next book... I enjoy long drawn out scenes with multiple battles and the like but there are times where I just want to read a story and be quick with it. This series in general (so far) is great for those who like straight to the point storytelling.

*NOTE* the ratings on my blog sometimes differ to the ratings on Goodreads because of the different rating systems.

[Tishia (Paperback Opinion) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this series is just awesome. This is the second book in the Of Witches and Warlocks series. This book takes you on a roller coaster ride - making you feel just about every emotion imaginable. The author has an awesome way of somehow making you feel what the main character, Portia, is feeling. The story has a great plot and wonderful characterization. You'll love all the characters - well, expect for the ones you're not supposed to love! Ok, first I want to warn you that this review may contain spoilers if you haven't read the first book in this series. I will try my best to not spoil anything for you in this book, which is really hard to do sometimes.

The book begins with Portia's friends being there for her, and risking their own lives to go in search for Vance. Vance is Portia's soulmate. They are perfect for each other, and the sparks are unimaginable. In this book, Portia is feeling upset and angry with Vance for leaving her to search for his father. Everything that Vance does is to protect Portia, and you can't help but love him for that. If you loved Vance in the first book, you'll love him twice as much in this one. Seriously, almost every scene between Vance and Portia gives me butterflies and I feel ridiculously lame for it. They make me feel like a giddy school girl swooning over her crush, and I'm a married mother of 2 who has been out of school for *cough* 12 years. Not that I have any issues about feeling old or anything...

See how easily distracted I am? Ok, now back to the book. Not only does this book have an abundance of romance and passion, it has plenty of humor, suspense, and adventure as well. This book just goes non-stop and when you get to the end, you'll be begging for more.

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to the romantic The Trouble With Spells, The Demon Kiss gives us a lot more suspense.

We come back to Portia and Vance after Vance is turned into a half-demon, and Portia is left behind while Vance goes on a search for his evil father.

What I really appreciate in these books is that Ms Weatherford doesn't keep you waiting for the action until the very end. There is enough going on throughout the book to keep you entertained. There were a lot of moments in the book that made me giggle, which is always a very good sign.

The most significant change in the series is that the focus of the story is shifting a bit from the romance between our main characters, to some more action and plot. Trust me, there is still more than enough romance to satisfy your fix of Vance, but it's nice to read some more about his father and learn more about the demon lore.

There is a little bit less magic in The Demon Kiss, but I still love the fact that it all feels so natural. The descriptions make it feel like a second nature of the characters, and not something the author forced on them. It was also nice to see Portia's friends getting some minor powers of their own. I hope to see more of them in the third book of the series.

The relationship between Portia and Vance is clearly more mature now, and I'm very glad for that. They're still deeply in love, but they now realise that there will always be disagreements within a relationship. It was interesting to see them deal with their problems.

Overall The Demon Kiss is a really nice sequel for The Trouble With Spells. It has the same atmosphere as its predecessor, but a bit more mature and with an exciting plot to keep you urging to read on.

[Aydrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh how I love Vance! He is a totally dangerous BA, but I love him anyway. The Demon Kiss is full of action that is practically non-stop. It is pretty crazy & there are some cool magic happening. I also liked that Shelly & Brad were around more because they were helping Portia & Vance. There were just so many parts of the story that I really liked. They were a ton of really intense parts as well as a cliffhanger! I don't want to give too much away, but I learned some interesting things in this book and I can't wait to see where they will lead to next.

First off I love Portia because she is a strong character and she doesn't let people hold her back including Vance. It was nice to see him finally understand that and let her help. I just love that Portia can kick some butt herself and isn't just a "damsel in distress." Of course I love because well he is hot, but he is also so sweet adorable when it comes to Portia. There were so many scenes that I loved between the two of them (there were some very swoony moments). I don't want to mention specific scenes but they were just too cute! Other than Vance being adorable he is also super BA and protective, which I admit that I like even though he goes overboard sometimes. The two of them are just an amazing couple for how young they are. Shelly & Brad were fun characters to get to know better too.

Vance's dad was quite possibly the creepiest, grossest person ever! Seriously he disgusted me and I wanted to beat the crap out of him myself! It creeps me out thinking about him! Anyway I can't wait to see what happens in the next book & I definitely recommend this one!