To save the man she loved, Alice Grey made a deal with the devil. When the demon came to call in the bargain, she had the choice to carve out the heart of the Guardian who saved her or spend eternity in Hell. In a frantic search for escape, Alice’s world collided with a fledging guardian named Jake. There couldn’t be a worse time to be distracted by a handsome man and the urges he called forth in her, but something in her just couldn’t resist temptation. 

A guardian was made when a person sacrificed their life from otherworldly threats. When given a choice, soldier Jake Hawkins eagerly accepted his new role in life. Who can turn down immortality, wings, strength, and teleportation? Too bad there was no instruction manual to help him learn to control his new gifts. But when he accidentally jumped and came across the beautiful Alice Grey, Jake felt fate smiled on him…even if Alice tried to use her hocus pocus to scare him away. 

But when Jake learned of Alice’s bargain, he was determined to do everything in his power to keep her safe, even if it meant digging into the past no one wanted revealed. Together, they piece together the truth of the first guardians. But will the answers help solve the mystery or only complicate matters further? When push came to shove, will the guardians stand together or chose sides in a battle that could split their loyalty when they needed it the most? 

Demon Bound is a great story, the romance wonderful, but the pacing and tension wavered in places. I like Alice and Jake as a couple, but the story seems to stop at points to give them time to fall in love. Alice’s connection to spiders fascinated me -very well written with some nice descriptions, while Jake’s ineptitude with his gift endured me to him. The vulnerabilities of both characters made them more real. I enjoy reading Meljean Brook and her series. I like this one as well, but would’ve liked a little more action to spice things up.

May 11, 2009