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Hellfire Universe #1
Keys to the Coven
Welcome to "Keys to the Coven" a witty, tightly plotted, sometimes very dark, (adult) urban fantasy/romance set in an original universe where karma is power, sex is karma, and it's not who you know but whose soul you own that matters.
To become a demon, you must die in complete and utter despair. Three hundred years ago, Max passed that test with flying colors and joined the afterlife resolving never again to have innocent blood on his hands. Now a successful Demonic Intervention Agent, Max has been given the job of breaking Felicity Woodsen's family curse. But what she doesn't know, what Max can't bring himself to tell her, is that completing his mission almost certainly means her death.
When Felicity inherits her mother's coven, she learns each firstborn Woodsen daughter must become the consort of an evil-arch demon. Felicity's only hope is to ally with the mysteriously charming Max. But is saving her body from one demon worth the price of risking her soul with another?
Arch-Demon Roxashael landed in Hell when his Roman captors sent his family, one by one to be devoured by lions. The lesson was clear: power is good; lots of power is better. Two-thousand years later, Rocky has power. He's purchased hundreds of souls, and he's created the Minsk Homunculus, a magic artifact that, by binding a human witch as his consort, places him above the goody-two-shoes laws of karma.
But Rocky made a mistake. He fell in love with Felicity's mother and in a moment of weakness promised to give up his demon-consort charm. Now Felicity's mother is dead, the Minsk Homunculus is slated for destruction, and Rocky's power as an arch-demon is about to end.
No demon can break a promise. If Rocky refuses to give up the Minsk Homunculus, he'll become the lowest, most abject slave in Hell.
But then, why break promises when they're so easy to corrupt?
*Caution: This book contains violence, strong sexual themes, moderately explicit sex between consenting adults, (unfulfilled) threats against children, and one completely gratuitous reference to unicorns. Not intended for readers under 18.
To become a demon, you must die in complete and utter despair. Three hundred years ago, Max passed that test with flying colors and joined the afterlife resolving never again to have innocent blood on his hands. Now a successful Demonic Intervention Agent, Max has been given the job of breaking Felicity Woodsen's family curse. But what she doesn't know, what Max can't bring himself to tell her, is that completing his mission almost certainly means her death.
When Felicity inherits her mother's coven, she learns each firstborn Woodsen daughter must become the consort of an evil-arch demon. Felicity's only hope is to ally with the mysteriously charming Max. But is saving her body from one demon worth the price of risking her soul with another?
Arch-Demon Roxashael landed in Hell when his Roman captors sent his family, one by one to be devoured by lions. The lesson was clear: power is good; lots of power is better. Two-thousand years later, Rocky has power. He's purchased hundreds of souls, and he's created the Minsk Homunculus, a magic artifact that, by binding a human witch as his consort, places him above the goody-two-shoes laws of karma.
But Rocky made a mistake. He fell in love with Felicity's mother and in a moment of weakness promised to give up his demon-consort charm. Now Felicity's mother is dead, the Minsk Homunculus is slated for destruction, and Rocky's power as an arch-demon is about to end.
No demon can break a promise. If Rocky refuses to give up the Minsk Homunculus, he'll become the lowest, most abject slave in Hell.
But then, why break promises when they're so easy to corrupt?
*Caution: This book contains violence, strong sexual themes, moderately explicit sex between consenting adults, (unfulfilled) threats against children, and one completely gratuitous reference to unicorns. Not intended for readers under 18.
362 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2012
About the author
Vicky Loebel
12 books37 followersVicky Loebel began her professional life as a systems programmer for NASA and moved through successively more challenging careers before settling in as a writer of tightly-plotted, romantic fiction. She lives on the slopes of Mt. Lemmon, AZ with her sister, three dogs, a rotating assortment of children, and a husband who has the patience of a saint.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 7, 2012
First, I HAVE to say, I LOVE the concept! I even sort of liked Max, he had his own 'charm'- Felicity had a tough time of it growing up, but, it seemed she whined about her good intentions being misunderstood by overly self-absorbed siblings just a little too much.
I don't care about perfect editing, I can usually read through any issues, but the story itself rambled left and right, often being rather confusing and leaving too many half explanations. I'm not sure if it was me, because there are many good reviews here, but I just could not get invested in this read.
I don't care about perfect editing, I can usually read through any issues, but the story itself rambled left and right, often being rather confusing and leaving too many half explanations. I'm not sure if it was me, because there are many good reviews here, but I just could not get invested in this read.
October 27, 2016
Keys to the Coven mixes dark, almost absurd, humor with hot romance and a battle between good and evil to create a surprisingly tense and thrilling novel. Felicity's mom has died and she must go back to her hometown in Arizona to sort out the estate so she can get money to finish putting her sister through college. The problem is, Felicity's mom was a witch who controlled a coven housed in a bowling alley. Felicity's mom was also the consort to a powerful demon called Roxashael. Max is a demon charged with keeping a powerful talisman out of Roxashael's hands. I found the book a surprising thrill ride that was by turns tense and sexy. I would have liked to have seen more of the bowling alley coven and there were a couple of moments of tension set up by misunderstandings that seemed all too easily avoidable. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable book.
August 26, 2014
In a world where the handsome demon/hero recharges his powers through sex, you know it's going to be a sexy read. What you don't know is that Keys to the Coven is also hilarious, with wisecracking dialog and clever characters. Some patience is required, since the reader learns the complex demon-world rules along with the human heroine, but eventually all is explained. After that, hang on for a wild and funny ride.
Note - my copy was free, received during the book-launching giveaway.
Note - my copy was free, received during the book-launching giveaway.
April 20, 2017
My original Keys to the Coven audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Keys to the Coven by Vicky Loebel is an urban fantasy novel with a touch of romance set in current time. Max is a demon. Hundreds of years ago when he died in utter despair, instead of his soul leaving in the beyond, he became the demon that he is today. As a demon, his job is to intervene in magical cases to prevent situations from breaking the rules of the underworld. His latest task is to break a curse on the Woodsen family. The heir, currently Felicity, inherits the sorcery that is present in their family, but a curse ties the heirs of the family for generations seemingly inextricably to the arch-demon, Roxashael. Max must help Felicity, who has only recently become aware that magic exists and that she has power, by finding the artifact that connects her family to the arch-demon. If he doesn’t complete his task to the best of his ability, his soul will be foresworn, but if he does, he may end up losing Felicity forever.
Loebel has created a complex and dark magical structure in Keys to the Coven. There is not only the political hierarchy amongst demons and also angels, but also the rules are well defined. The structure and rules are slowly introduced as the some of the characters learn about them. All the relationships, sibling, romance, or parental, in this novel are complicated and changing, which makes the story engrossing. There is a bit of romance and sex, which seemed to come at inopportune times and is heavy with responsibilities. The plot moves along at a fast clip with lots of action, betrayals, and stubbornness driven drama. There are a lot of little revelations about characters’ motivations that I didn’t see coming, which was a pleasant surprise. While I loved the end of the novel, it did seem a bit too convenient and tidy. But at the end, it’s uplifting.
The narration by Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl were well done. It helped to have female and male narration for the two main characters. And it was nice to hear the voices of all the characters as heard by Max or Felicity. Both did a good job with distinguishing voices for the different characters. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this to anyone who likes urban fantasy, a little bit of romance, and a lot of drama.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Keys to the Coven by Vicky Loebel is an urban fantasy novel with a touch of romance set in current time. Max is a demon. Hundreds of years ago when he died in utter despair, instead of his soul leaving in the beyond, he became the demon that he is today. As a demon, his job is to intervene in magical cases to prevent situations from breaking the rules of the underworld. His latest task is to break a curse on the Woodsen family. The heir, currently Felicity, inherits the sorcery that is present in their family, but a curse ties the heirs of the family for generations seemingly inextricably to the arch-demon, Roxashael. Max must help Felicity, who has only recently become aware that magic exists and that she has power, by finding the artifact that connects her family to the arch-demon. If he doesn’t complete his task to the best of his ability, his soul will be foresworn, but if he does, he may end up losing Felicity forever.
Loebel has created a complex and dark magical structure in Keys to the Coven. There is not only the political hierarchy amongst demons and also angels, but also the rules are well defined. The structure and rules are slowly introduced as the some of the characters learn about them. All the relationships, sibling, romance, or parental, in this novel are complicated and changing, which makes the story engrossing. There is a bit of romance and sex, which seemed to come at inopportune times and is heavy with responsibilities. The plot moves along at a fast clip with lots of action, betrayals, and stubbornness driven drama. There are a lot of little revelations about characters’ motivations that I didn’t see coming, which was a pleasant surprise. While I loved the end of the novel, it did seem a bit too convenient and tidy. But at the end, it’s uplifting.
The narration by Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl were well done. It helped to have female and male narration for the two main characters. And it was nice to hear the voices of all the characters as heard by Max or Felicity. Both did a good job with distinguishing voices for the different characters. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this to anyone who likes urban fantasy, a little bit of romance, and a lot of drama.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
June 19, 2016
DNF..
At 23% I have no idea WTH is going on. The first stupid thing to happen is when Felicity was on the phone and KNEW the phone wires were causing a fire in the wall and just didn’t care. Then when Max jumped through the window to put out the fire, and Felicity was still mad at her fiancé, she felt the need to slap Max across the face then tried again 2 more times. Huh? Then Max goes to Mr. Wu’s shop so he can listen to the will being read, a shop labeled “Mr. Wu’s Fine Advices.” Really? And, of course, the author doesn’t want you to forget what kind of can Max drives so she mentions the Bugatti 28 times in the first 138 pages then never again. Good grief.
The more I read the stupider and nonsensical the story became. I went back to Amazon and looked at the reviews and saw that I wasn’t the only one who was confused, so I didn’t feel so bad when I decided to stop reading this silly book.
With the help of my iPad I can tell you there’s swearing and the F-bomb is used 38 times and I’d say there’s at least one sex scene but there could be more. I really can’t finish the book to find out. I wonder if the author read the book when she finished it.
As to the narration: I thought Nick Podehl did a great job on all the voices and read with emotion. BUT Emily Beresford sucked! Her male voices sounded just like the females most of the time. It was like she forgot who was talking. This was narrated in 2013 so hopefully Ms. Beresford has learned more about sounding like a man.
At 23% I have no idea WTH is going on. The first stupid thing to happen is when Felicity was on the phone and KNEW the phone wires were causing a fire in the wall and just didn’t care. Then when Max jumped through the window to put out the fire, and Felicity was still mad at her fiancé, she felt the need to slap Max across the face then tried again 2 more times. Huh? Then Max goes to Mr. Wu’s shop so he can listen to the will being read, a shop labeled “Mr. Wu’s Fine Advices.” Really? And, of course, the author doesn’t want you to forget what kind of can Max drives so she mentions the Bugatti 28 times in the first 138 pages then never again. Good grief.
The more I read the stupider and nonsensical the story became. I went back to Amazon and looked at the reviews and saw that I wasn’t the only one who was confused, so I didn’t feel so bad when I decided to stop reading this silly book.
With the help of my iPad I can tell you there’s swearing and the F-bomb is used 38 times and I’d say there’s at least one sex scene but there could be more. I really can’t finish the book to find out. I wonder if the author read the book when she finished it.
As to the narration: I thought Nick Podehl did a great job on all the voices and read with emotion. BUT Emily Beresford sucked! Her male voices sounded just like the females most of the time. It was like she forgot who was talking. This was narrated in 2013 so hopefully Ms. Beresford has learned more about sounding like a man.
August 8, 2012
Felicity's mother dies leaving her to settle the estate. Max, a demon, is looking for an amulet that belonged to Felicity's mother; one that he needs to give to his boss. Felicity is unwillingly drawn into a world she never believed in filled with witches and demons. She finds out she is a witch who is wanted by a very bad arch demon. This is a complicated and involved plot but very interesting with lots of action and suspense. During the adventure, Felicity and Max fall in love. :-) But it isn't apparent how they could possibly be together until the last chapter of the book.
I would say this book is more in the Urban Fantasy genre than the Paranormal romance genre. Even though the plot was complicated (sometimes I was a little lost), I found myself unable to put this book down. It was one of those books I just could not stop reading. :-) I really enjoyed this book and definitely would read more books by this author.
I would say this book is more in the Urban Fantasy genre than the Paranormal romance genre. Even though the plot was complicated (sometimes I was a little lost), I found myself unable to put this book down. It was one of those books I just could not stop reading. :-) I really enjoyed this book and definitely would read more books by this author.
July 6, 2013
This book was ......... interesting. Trust me when I say there is a whole lot going on most of the time so if you skim you will miss. But at other times it just seems to be main female complaining/whining about all the sacrifices she has made for her family. Her fiance gets a couple of sentences even though she's supposedly sacrificed for him too.
It takes a while to get used to the play of 'karma' and how it would affect the demons/demis etc but once you get that sorted, you roughly know what's going on - maybe! This book has more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti!
I like a book where I can see both sides of the story (and this is possible when the book is written in the first person) but I'm afraid with this book, the women let me down. Not only could I not see everything from their perspective but I had no interest in doing so either. The men rocked! The women - meh!
On the whole, this was enjoyable but that was about it.
It takes a while to get used to the play of 'karma' and how it would affect the demons/demis etc but once you get that sorted, you roughly know what's going on - maybe! This book has more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti!
I like a book where I can see both sides of the story (and this is possible when the book is written in the first person) but I'm afraid with this book, the women let me down. Not only could I not see everything from their perspective but I had no interest in doing so either. The men rocked! The women - meh!
On the whole, this was enjoyable but that was about it.
September 18, 2014
I won a copy through the Goodreads: First Reads program.
Pros: Good story, great (and witty) dialogue, plenty of the sexy times for those who want that. Interesting enough that I'd be willing to read the next in the series.
Both pro and con: Characters. While the female characters are mostly cardboard cut-outs, there are a few that do have three dimensions. I'm still a bit meh about most of them, but at least a few of them do have some personality. The men, on the other hand, are very well-written. Of course, that may be just in comparison.
Con: Needs a big fat trigger warning for child sexual abuse. Seriously. I had to put the book down for a bit because it came dangerously close to a few of my personal triggers. If you have triggers in this area, DO NOT READ when you're feeling vulnerable. Just don't. Read it when you're feeling strong, and have a good support system no more than a phone call away.
Pros: Good story, great (and witty) dialogue, plenty of the sexy times for those who want that. Interesting enough that I'd be willing to read the next in the series.
Both pro and con: Characters. While the female characters are mostly cardboard cut-outs, there are a few that do have three dimensions. I'm still a bit meh about most of them, but at least a few of them do have some personality. The men, on the other hand, are very well-written. Of course, that may be just in comparison.
Con: Needs a big fat trigger warning for child sexual abuse. Seriously. I had to put the book down for a bit because it came dangerously close to a few of my personal triggers. If you have triggers in this area, DO NOT READ when you're feeling vulnerable. Just don't. Read it when you're feeling strong, and have a good support system no more than a phone call away.
December 20, 2014
A resounding 5 plus for this quirky, love story.
As a new reader I was not sure what to expect. But I was gloriously surprised that it was just different enough to peak, then maintain my interest. If you enjoy a bit of humor with a story with twists and turns right up to the end then this is for you. I kept trying to see where the story was going but could not. The characters, a demon named Max and a young woman named Felicity meet when Felicity comes home to take care of her mother's estate. From the first these two held my rapt attention. I really loved them together. I rooted for them all the way. And I must admit I sobbed through the ending. There are many players and the stakes are high. Can good win or will evil claim the prize? Is there really true love? And can it reach out through death? I am in love with this story. I will be looking for more by this author. I can VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Keys to the Coven. Vickie Loebel is an impressive author.
As a new reader I was not sure what to expect. But I was gloriously surprised that it was just different enough to peak, then maintain my interest. If you enjoy a bit of humor with a story with twists and turns right up to the end then this is for you. I kept trying to see where the story was going but could not. The characters, a demon named Max and a young woman named Felicity meet when Felicity comes home to take care of her mother's estate. From the first these two held my rapt attention. I really loved them together. I rooted for them all the way. And I must admit I sobbed through the ending. There are many players and the stakes are high. Can good win or will evil claim the prize? Is there really true love? And can it reach out through death? I am in love with this story. I will be looking for more by this author. I can VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Keys to the Coven. Vickie Loebel is an impressive author.
January 11, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, OH BOY is she going to be ticked about that!! This book was a HUGE disappointment! It not only was incredibly confusing but disjointed and lackluster to boot. I had no affinity to ANY of the characters and the writing was spectacularly Meh. I tried to read it 3 times and all three times my attention repeatedly drifted elsewhere (what should I make for dinner? Did I put out an outfit for my daughter to wear tomorrow? Was that crash a burglar come to rescue me from this confusing monotony? etc) I even fell asleep a few times. I REALLY hate giving a negative or low star review, that's why I normally only read things with a star average of 4+, but it sometimes can't be helped. Sorry folks, this one did nothing for me besides helping me get some welcomed shut eye.
That being said, OH BOY is she going to be ticked about that!! This book was a HUGE disappointment! It not only was incredibly confusing but disjointed and lackluster to boot. I had no affinity to ANY of the characters and the writing was spectacularly Meh. I tried to read it 3 times and all three times my attention repeatedly drifted elsewhere (what should I make for dinner? Did I put out an outfit for my daughter to wear tomorrow? Was that crash a burglar come to rescue me from this confusing monotony? etc) I even fell asleep a few times. I REALLY hate giving a negative or low star review, that's why I normally only read things with a star average of 4+, but it sometimes can't be helped. Sorry folks, this one did nothing for me besides helping me get some welcomed shut eye.
July 11, 2012
Keys to the Coven, author Vicky Loebel’s debut novel, is a fast paced urban fantasy featuring a hot romance between Max and Felicity. The dialogue is seamlessly written, and Ms. Loebel shows great skill in world building. I enjoyed every word of this book and anxiously await another from this new talent.
August 13, 2012
Could not put it down!
October 11, 2017
Learning that you are actually a witch can be frightening, but also empowering. What if you learned that your whole family, generations before you, were all witches and sorcerers? It would be very difficult to cope with because that would mean that your life would change forever, possibly even putting your life in danger. Loebel has a peculiar, but highly compelling paranormal story that will leave readers entertained.
Felicity meets Max after having it out about Greg, her lying cheating no good for nothing, now ex-fiance. After arriving at her mother's house to take care of the estate, she has only two things in her mind. Her mother promised to pay the bills for her younger sister's Medical School and then, she had to figure out what to do with her mother's house...her rotten careless no good for nothing...now dead mother. Even if she is dead though, she still holds reserve that somewhere her mother was a good person...then Max climbs through the window and makes his presence known to a furious Felicity and younger sister Hannah.
Max isn't a normal man...in fact, he really isn't human at all--he's a demon. He made a deal with Rose Woodson, Felicity's mother, that he would protect her since she is the oldest daughter in the Woodson line. Coming into her powers is something that Rose feels would be the most dangerous thing for her with something called the Minsk Homunculus, a magic artifact that, by binding a human witch as a consort, turns a demon into an arch-demon and places them above the goody-two-shoes laws of karma. Wrapped up into a nutshell, they find themselves in some seriously deep danger.
After a binding goes so horribly wrong and Max becomes bonded to Felicity for what appears to be 24-hours, she is forced to come to the rationalization that perhaps her mother wasn't completely lunatic crazy when she said that she was a witch and head of her own coven.
Loebel does a good job with character development, most of it. There are some characters that seem to be left in the dark a little more than others. As the suspense unravels, so many things are thrown at these characters in rapid succession--making the story fun and enticing! The pace is fast, sometimes if feels that it is a little too fast which can make the story a bit confusing for the reader in this type of genre. The change in having two narrators is certainly very entertaining as well. One narrator can do the job just fine...given that they are fit for the novel, but having two perspectives in this story from Felicity and Max, two narrators do give the narration a great emphasis on both characters. If you are a reader of paranormal, suspense, and fantasy, this might be something that you are looking for!
A copy of this audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions, but this in no way affects our honest opinion of the book or the review that has been written. We provide a four-star rating for Keys to the Coven by Wendy Loebel, narrated by Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl.
Felicity meets Max after having it out about Greg, her lying cheating no good for nothing, now ex-fiance. After arriving at her mother's house to take care of the estate, she has only two things in her mind. Her mother promised to pay the bills for her younger sister's Medical School and then, she had to figure out what to do with her mother's house...her rotten careless no good for nothing...now dead mother. Even if she is dead though, she still holds reserve that somewhere her mother was a good person...then Max climbs through the window and makes his presence known to a furious Felicity and younger sister Hannah.
Max isn't a normal man...in fact, he really isn't human at all--he's a demon. He made a deal with Rose Woodson, Felicity's mother, that he would protect her since she is the oldest daughter in the Woodson line. Coming into her powers is something that Rose feels would be the most dangerous thing for her with something called the Minsk Homunculus, a magic artifact that, by binding a human witch as a consort, turns a demon into an arch-demon and places them above the goody-two-shoes laws of karma. Wrapped up into a nutshell, they find themselves in some seriously deep danger.
After a binding goes so horribly wrong and Max becomes bonded to Felicity for what appears to be 24-hours, she is forced to come to the rationalization that perhaps her mother wasn't completely lunatic crazy when she said that she was a witch and head of her own coven.
Loebel does a good job with character development, most of it. There are some characters that seem to be left in the dark a little more than others. As the suspense unravels, so many things are thrown at these characters in rapid succession--making the story fun and enticing! The pace is fast, sometimes if feels that it is a little too fast which can make the story a bit confusing for the reader in this type of genre. The change in having two narrators is certainly very entertaining as well. One narrator can do the job just fine...given that they are fit for the novel, but having two perspectives in this story from Felicity and Max, two narrators do give the narration a great emphasis on both characters. If you are a reader of paranormal, suspense, and fantasy, this might be something that you are looking for!
A copy of this audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions, but this in no way affects our honest opinion of the book or the review that has been written. We provide a four-star rating for Keys to the Coven by Wendy Loebel, narrated by Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl.
October 12, 2017
Perhaps a little complicated, the plot nevertheless moves from A to B culminating in an oddly satisfying ending. Ms Loebel has devised a unique magic system for the world she has built around modern day America. The use of karma is intriguing and once the reader understands and buys into this, the story is a joy to read.
The characters are interesting and quirky and the humor is enjoyable. I found myself egging Felicity on during her quest to understand the new world she finds herself in.
Overall, an enjoyable story with an intriguing cover and tagline and recommended to adult lovers of fantasy romance.
The narrators chosen for this story are both great - taking the female and male POV, they do the job with flair resulting in a listen with no flaws.
The characters are interesting and quirky and the humor is enjoyable. I found myself egging Felicity on during her quest to understand the new world she finds herself in.
Overall, an enjoyable story with an intriguing cover and tagline and recommended to adult lovers of fantasy romance.
The narrators chosen for this story are both great - taking the female and male POV, they do the job with flair resulting in a listen with no flaws.
January 23, 2017
I freely chose to review this book on my own and all I can say is WOW WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK! I was so captured by the determination with Felicity and Max to stop Roxashael, a Arch Demon who's a wants his charm back, but a Max had vowed to felicity's mother a favor and his boss wanted him find it and bring it to her to be destroyed. Felicity only thought of Max as a demon with sex always on his mind. And A HUGE explosion as forces collide!
December 30, 2017
Looking at the other reviews, I am struck -- again -- by how people can see the same book differently.
I LOVED IT. It never got predictable for me. And it was one hell of a fun ride. Loved the ending.
This is my first book from this author and it's on Kindle Unlimited at the moment -- I am definitely going to seek out other book by Vicky Loebel.
I LOVED IT. It never got predictable for me. And it was one hell of a fun ride. Loved the ending.
This is my first book from this author and it's on Kindle Unlimited at the moment -- I am definitely going to seek out other book by Vicky Loebel.
March 23, 2017
Have you ever read a book and wished it were true? Well, parts of it anyways lol. The life of a demon doesn't sound too bad in this book! Lots of sex and sex gets you karma. Wow! Excellent erotic love story with witches and demons. Both narrators did an excellent job. I love how it switches perspective from Max to Felicity. Definitely looking forward to book 2!
September 5, 2016
Keys to the Coven by Vicky Loebel Set in Arizona, this adult urban fantasy is full of surprises! Felicity, a dog trainer, recently lost her mother and is going through a messy divorce. She’s the oldest of three children, having mostly raised her baby-sister Hannah, who is now in college. Her brother, Alton, isn’t so grateful of her efforts to ‘mother’ her younger siblings. Then in steps Max, a demon on assignment to recover a magical relic, the Minsk Homunculus. It’s been in Felicity’s family for generations, but she isn’t aware of it’s magical abilities nor what it means in regards to the powerful demon Roxashael (Rocky).
This was a very, very fun book. The mix of serious adult situations, witty banter, demonic entities in moral crises, and an unknowing witch who just inherited a bowling team makes a great read! Max has used his powers of seduction in the past to rev up his karma, which in turn he uses as a power base to get other things done. His demi Kate, a minor demon tied to his phone, is, by turns, a useful or irritating side kick. For this assignment, she is constantly reminding him to keep his eyes on the goal – the Minsk Homunculus. Yet he can’t help but be drawn into Felicity’s initial drama and later her life as she figures out her family history and the past deals her mom Rose made with the demon Rocky.
Felicity herself started off caught up in her own little drama, a little too much for me. I wasn’t sure I was going to like her character at first. Then as things get explained – the ugly divorce, her mom dying, her inheriting this odd coven with it’s bowling team, and then Max coming in saying he has to recover the artifact (Minsk Homunculus) or the equivalent dollar amount (think 6 digits), I could see why she was on the verge of having a melt down. It’s apparent from the beginning that she has tried her best to do what she thought was best for her younger siblings, but they don’t fully appreciate it. So that gets tossed in her face as well later in the story. She has a lot of stresses and Max provides a handsome distraction and also gives her something to focus on (the hunt for the artifact).
This book also contains a fair smidge of romance, which I normally don’t go in for but it’s done so well with the plot and doesn’t weigh down the pacing, that I found myself rooting for Max and Felicity. They each find the other indebted to them and their ties continue to grow as the story marches on. The make-out sessions, and later the sex, are steamy and sweet. Sometimes there’s a bit of humor mixed in, sometimes it’s intense. As a side note, this book also references some sexual abuse situations, but I felt they were in keeping with the plot and the characters and weren’t there for shock value.
The humor really brought the whole book together for me. Sometimes the humor was a little dark (which suits me fine) and sometimes it was a little slapstick, like Felicity falling off park benches or such. There was plenty of witty banter, but also certain situations the characters ended up in were funny, especially since I didn’t have to live them. All around, it was a very entertaining book with enough wit and a sharp edge to keep me engaged for the entire length.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl did a great job teaming up on this book. Beresford made a great Felicity and a jaded Kate. Podehl was a wonderful Max and quite the evil Rocky. There were plenty of secondary and minor characters and this team made them all distinct.
This was a very, very fun book. The mix of serious adult situations, witty banter, demonic entities in moral crises, and an unknowing witch who just inherited a bowling team makes a great read! Max has used his powers of seduction in the past to rev up his karma, which in turn he uses as a power base to get other things done. His demi Kate, a minor demon tied to his phone, is, by turns, a useful or irritating side kick. For this assignment, she is constantly reminding him to keep his eyes on the goal – the Minsk Homunculus. Yet he can’t help but be drawn into Felicity’s initial drama and later her life as she figures out her family history and the past deals her mom Rose made with the demon Rocky.
Felicity herself started off caught up in her own little drama, a little too much for me. I wasn’t sure I was going to like her character at first. Then as things get explained – the ugly divorce, her mom dying, her inheriting this odd coven with it’s bowling team, and then Max coming in saying he has to recover the artifact (Minsk Homunculus) or the equivalent dollar amount (think 6 digits), I could see why she was on the verge of having a melt down. It’s apparent from the beginning that she has tried her best to do what she thought was best for her younger siblings, but they don’t fully appreciate it. So that gets tossed in her face as well later in the story. She has a lot of stresses and Max provides a handsome distraction and also gives her something to focus on (the hunt for the artifact).
This book also contains a fair smidge of romance, which I normally don’t go in for but it’s done so well with the plot and doesn’t weigh down the pacing, that I found myself rooting for Max and Felicity. They each find the other indebted to them and their ties continue to grow as the story marches on. The make-out sessions, and later the sex, are steamy and sweet. Sometimes there’s a bit of humor mixed in, sometimes it’s intense. As a side note, this book also references some sexual abuse situations, but I felt they were in keeping with the plot and the characters and weren’t there for shock value.
The humor really brought the whole book together for me. Sometimes the humor was a little dark (which suits me fine) and sometimes it was a little slapstick, like Felicity falling off park benches or such. There was plenty of witty banter, but also certain situations the characters ended up in were funny, especially since I didn’t have to live them. All around, it was a very entertaining book with enough wit and a sharp edge to keep me engaged for the entire length.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: Emily Beresford and Nick Podehl did a great job teaming up on this book. Beresford made a great Felicity and a jaded Kate. Podehl was a wonderful Max and quite the evil Rocky. There were plenty of secondary and minor characters and this team made them all distinct.
November 13, 2016
◌⑅⃝●♡⋆♡ "The Girl's Guide to Demons" ♡⋆♡●⑅◌
That was amazing!! (｡’▽’｡)♡ I must say, at the end I was impressed with this Audiobook. Paranormal Demonic Romance with lots of humor, suspense thought, twists and turns, and dark moments. This book was deliciously written. I loved how it switched characters from Felicity to Max. The non-predictable plot, shocking at times, complicated, intriguing, and interesting bewitching characters. With all the crazy turns, I was grossly engaged in the story. Gloriously great. \(-ㅂ-)/ The moral of the story: Karma is a beatch and you never know when you have it coming! Funny how Karma works. ⊙_⊙
The hero of the story is a demon who ends up making a deal with a witch. Max would come up with remarks through the story that would make me laugh. I finally understood how Max had become a demon. That was unexpected! Felt bad for such an honest guy to be doing evil deeds. Didn't get to find out the "why" if he had to be willing. (My one negative of two). Maybe I have to go at it again. Anyways, Max meets a woman named Felicity, who had gone to her mother's house to take care of her estate along with her sister and brother. She happens to be the daughter of a powerful witch whom he had made a bargain with.
The heroine, Felicity, was a real fighter. Always trying to keep promises, putting others above Her. Having to deal with acceptance, and denials and responsibility over things out of her control or hard to believe. Loved Her character. And her sister Kate. In fact, loved every character! Even the cat (~_^)
The villain of the story was a creepy, scheming sicko named Roxashael (Rocky). who was quite the villain. He tormented from an early age the females in the family. With the exception of Rose; Felicity's Mom; whom he seemed to be the only one he ever truly loved. Rose; who knew what awaited her daughters, chose to protect them over her love for "Rocky" the twisted evil bastard. Then, the tender moments threw me off. Their love so strong... But a Demon obsessed with power and sickening traditions will always have Karma come kick you in the rear! Wish I could tell you the ending! I could NEVER have imagined it!
My only disappointment is the point in the story where Rocky has tricked Max. Being at Roxashael's mercy unable to heal, he later shows up. (My second negative). That part could have been extended. I wish I could comment more about it: but I'm afraid I may give something away. Don't want to spoil it.
Overall, this story will take you on a wild humorous ride. I highly recommend the audio book. The narrators were clear, full of emotions and gave each character their own personality. I seriously will need to go on audible for PC and do a proper rating for narrators as well. This has been for me a perfect 5. I'm not counting my two negatives. I'm rating it as a reader who kept going from suspense to giggling and recommending it. I am seriously looking forward to works by Vicky Loebel and narrators Emily Beresford, and Nick Podehl. (All saved). Will be looking them up as well as "The Demonic Intervention Series". I wanted to take my time on this review. In the end, I don't want to spoil it. It's one of "those" books you must have in all versions. You really have no idea how much I have enjoyed this Audiobook. (๑♡∀♡๑)
Disclaimer: "This Audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audio Boom"
◌⑅⃝●♡⋆♡LOVE♡⋆♡●⑅◌
That was amazing!! (｡’▽’｡)♡ I must say, at the end I was impressed with this Audiobook. Paranormal Demonic Romance with lots of humor, suspense thought, twists and turns, and dark moments. This book was deliciously written. I loved how it switched characters from Felicity to Max. The non-predictable plot, shocking at times, complicated, intriguing, and interesting bewitching characters. With all the crazy turns, I was grossly engaged in the story. Gloriously great. \(-ㅂ-)/ The moral of the story: Karma is a beatch and you never know when you have it coming! Funny how Karma works. ⊙_⊙
The hero of the story is a demon who ends up making a deal with a witch. Max would come up with remarks through the story that would make me laugh. I finally understood how Max had become a demon. That was unexpected! Felt bad for such an honest guy to be doing evil deeds. Didn't get to find out the "why" if he had to be willing. (My one negative of two). Maybe I have to go at it again. Anyways, Max meets a woman named Felicity, who had gone to her mother's house to take care of her estate along with her sister and brother. She happens to be the daughter of a powerful witch whom he had made a bargain with.
The heroine, Felicity, was a real fighter. Always trying to keep promises, putting others above Her. Having to deal with acceptance, and denials and responsibility over things out of her control or hard to believe. Loved Her character. And her sister Kate. In fact, loved every character! Even the cat (~_^)
The villain of the story was a creepy, scheming sicko named Roxashael (Rocky). who was quite the villain. He tormented from an early age the females in the family. With the exception of Rose; Felicity's Mom; whom he seemed to be the only one he ever truly loved. Rose; who knew what awaited her daughters, chose to protect them over her love for "Rocky" the twisted evil bastard. Then, the tender moments threw me off. Their love so strong... But a Demon obsessed with power and sickening traditions will always have Karma come kick you in the rear! Wish I could tell you the ending! I could NEVER have imagined it!
My only disappointment is the point in the story where Rocky has tricked Max. Being at Roxashael's mercy unable to heal, he later shows up. (My second negative). That part could have been extended. I wish I could comment more about it: but I'm afraid I may give something away. Don't want to spoil it.
Overall, this story will take you on a wild humorous ride. I highly recommend the audio book. The narrators were clear, full of emotions and gave each character their own personality. I seriously will need to go on audible for PC and do a proper rating for narrators as well. This has been for me a perfect 5. I'm not counting my two negatives. I'm rating it as a reader who kept going from suspense to giggling and recommending it. I am seriously looking forward to works by Vicky Loebel and narrators Emily Beresford, and Nick Podehl. (All saved). Will be looking them up as well as "The Demonic Intervention Series". I wanted to take my time on this review. In the end, I don't want to spoil it. It's one of "those" books you must have in all versions. You really have no idea how much I have enjoyed this Audiobook. (๑♡∀♡๑)
Disclaimer: "This Audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audio Boom"
◌⑅⃝●♡⋆♡LOVE♡⋆♡●⑅◌
November 9, 2015
Keys to the Coven: Demonic Intervention Series is a very entertaining story about Demon, Karma,Witchcraft, and Corruption. Max is a demon, hired to retrieve the Minsk Homunculus for destruction. The Minsk Homunculus belonged to Rose Woodsen. After her passing, the Minsk Homunculus will seek Felicity Woodsen as the next demon consort for Roxashael, an arch-demon.
Felicity has never trusted her mother after being molested by Roxashael when she was five. She has denied herself of being a witch and now with her mother's passing, Felicity is now a sorceress. She has to trust Max to protect her and maybe keep her alive when the Minsk Homunculus is destroyed.
Max has to retrieve the Minsk Homunculus. It became complicated when he has promised Rose Woodsen to protect her daughter Felicity. Felicity has fought him every steps of the way and made deals with Max unknowingly of the consequences. When Roxashael showed up to claim Felicity as his next demon consort, the stakes become higher for Max and Felicity.
What I love about the story is at the beginning of each chapters, there is a phrase provided so the listeners/readers will learn about witchcraft, demons, promises, and karma. The listeners/readers will also learn that promises and deals can be corrupted with a simple wordings when making a deal/promises. I love learning the world of witches, demons, karma, and deals.
I even love the phrases "universe where karma is power, sex is karma, and it's not who you know but whose soul you own that matters" and "But then, why break promises when they're so easy to corrupt?"
The listeners/readers will also see Felicity grows from being a whining bully to someone who finally accepted Max and to do what she can to protect her younger sister and brother from being the next demon consort if she fails. Even in the process, she was also trying to manipulated Max to her will which Max kept refusing.
What I didn't like about the story is that there is so much yelling which was so irritating to me especially from Felicity. I did have to listen to the story the second time which didn't irritate me as much.
I was given this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in any way for writing this review.
Felicity has never trusted her mother after being molested by Roxashael when she was five. She has denied herself of being a witch and now with her mother's passing, Felicity is now a sorceress. She has to trust Max to protect her and maybe keep her alive when the Minsk Homunculus is destroyed.
Max has to retrieve the Minsk Homunculus. It became complicated when he has promised Rose Woodsen to protect her daughter Felicity. Felicity has fought him every steps of the way and made deals with Max unknowingly of the consequences. When Roxashael showed up to claim Felicity as his next demon consort, the stakes become higher for Max and Felicity.
What I love about the story is at the beginning of each chapters, there is a phrase provided so the listeners/readers will learn about witchcraft, demons, promises, and karma. The listeners/readers will also learn that promises and deals can be corrupted with a simple wordings when making a deal/promises. I love learning the world of witches, demons, karma, and deals.
I even love the phrases "universe where karma is power, sex is karma, and it's not who you know but whose soul you own that matters" and "But then, why break promises when they're so easy to corrupt?"
The listeners/readers will also see Felicity grows from being a whining bully to someone who finally accepted Max and to do what she can to protect her younger sister and brother from being the next demon consort if she fails. Even in the process, she was also trying to manipulated Max to her will which Max kept refusing.
What I didn't like about the story is that there is so much yelling which was so irritating to me especially from Felicity. I did have to listen to the story the second time which didn't irritate me as much.
I was given this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in any way for writing this review.
September 13, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book showed me a completely new way to look at demons and demon hierarchy. In a crowded genre of paranormal romance, this one really stood out as a unique creation.
Max is a demon, but he's not really a bad demon. He collects karma, which fuels all sorts of things, and eventually pushes you up the ranks from demon, to arch-demon, to angel. It seems a little strange, but is explained beautifully. I was immediately rooting for the lonely, brooding, and sometimes slutty demon. A promise he makes to a sorceress in the heat of battle ends up pushing him onto Felicity's doorstep. Or really her mother's doorstep. Either way, the two of them immediately fall into lust, which is a little awkward, because Felicity should be cleaning out her deceased mother's house for sale.
Felicity goes from logical and normal to rather extraordinary in a few short chapters. Inheriting her mother's house is the least of her inheritance. Turns out, all the magic tricks her mother was showing her were actually real and she's now the sorceress who must find an evil object or there will be much doom. Some abusive childhood stories aside, this book read like the most awesome of urban fantasies and had me hooked from the start. There was a good balance of romance, action, magic, and fantasy. I'm eager to see where these two end up in future books (of which I hope there are many!).
This book showed me a completely new way to look at demons and demon hierarchy. In a crowded genre of paranormal romance, this one really stood out as a unique creation.
Max is a demon, but he's not really a bad demon. He collects karma, which fuels all sorts of things, and eventually pushes you up the ranks from demon, to arch-demon, to angel. It seems a little strange, but is explained beautifully. I was immediately rooting for the lonely, brooding, and sometimes slutty demon. A promise he makes to a sorceress in the heat of battle ends up pushing him onto Felicity's doorstep. Or really her mother's doorstep. Either way, the two of them immediately fall into lust, which is a little awkward, because Felicity should be cleaning out her deceased mother's house for sale.
Felicity goes from logical and normal to rather extraordinary in a few short chapters. Inheriting her mother's house is the least of her inheritance. Turns out, all the magic tricks her mother was showing her were actually real and she's now the sorceress who must find an evil object or there will be much doom. Some abusive childhood stories aside, this book read like the most awesome of urban fantasies and had me hooked from the start. There was a good balance of romance, action, magic, and fantasy. I'm eager to see where these two end up in future books (of which I hope there are many!).
February 10, 2016
This book, ugh. It just left me feeling underwhelmed, and while I was reading I kept wanting to speed it up and kept losing my focus. The audiobook was great – both narrators are good voice actors and are enjoyable to listen to. I actually couldn’t speed it up because the voices were already at a comfortably fast pace (which is how I like it). I also liked the “A Girl’s Guide to Demons” intros for each chapter – clever and fun. Another pro: I liked all the hellfire and dealing in Karma as currency. But as for the overall plot – it just wasn’t for me. The book was crude and I certainly didn’t enjoy all the parts about demonic rape of children heirs of this witch’s line. The characters were mostly irritating and obnoxious and I just didn’t care about them. Kill them, don’t kill them - just get on with it. But it took forever to “get on with it” and it felt like the plot was just going back and forth with over the top insanity but nothing got accomplished. I know we were supposed to be rooting for Max and Felicity (and family) but I felt like Max was just a whiny demon and Felicity was just nothing special. The book did have a great ending with some interesting twists, but at that point it was a bit too late to redeem it.
I received a free copy of this book via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an unbiased review.
I received a free copy of this book via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 3, 2015
I was given a FREE copy of this book in exchange for a HONEST review.
When i get a book like this i prefer not to read blurbs and like to go in completely blind. Just looking at the cover i thought hmmm this is going to be a cute book. BOY WAS I WRONG!
This book had me giggling at the beginning. I want his jacket by the way.
The world of demons i guess kinda like heaven and hell works on karma. It is a bit confusing so i had to backtrack a few times. SO READ IT CAREFULLY.
I loved the characters. They were witty, they were dark, they were sexy and demons and witches woohoo. I suggest you should try this book out it is not your typical witch or demon book. This bright new author Is on her way to a great future in the writing community i hope this is not a one hitter. I look forward to reading more from Vicky.
When i get a book like this i prefer not to read blurbs and like to go in completely blind. Just looking at the cover i thought hmmm this is going to be a cute book. BOY WAS I WRONG!
This book had me giggling at the beginning. I want his jacket by the way.
The world of demons i guess kinda like heaven and hell works on karma. It is a bit confusing so i had to backtrack a few times. SO READ IT CAREFULLY.
I loved the characters. They were witty, they were dark, they were sexy and demons and witches woohoo. I suggest you should try this book out it is not your typical witch or demon book. This bright new author Is on her way to a great future in the writing community i hope this is not a one hitter. I look forward to reading more from Vicky.
August 16, 2015
I first read this book back in 2012 and just now finished the audio version. The work contains love, magic, demons and the eternal quest for power. I enjoyed reading it but listening elevated the experience greatly. The narrator brought each character to life in a way that my minds eye hadn't while reading. Listening also allowed me to pick up on little things that I had missed before. If you have already read the book, don't hesitate to give the audio version a listen too, you won't regret it. If you haven't, you should put it on your to do list. At the time of this review you can get the audio version on Audible for $1.99 if you buy the kindle version first. That's a terrific bargain.
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
October 6, 2015
STORY REVIEW.......
Good story. Interesting concept for a story. The story is exciting, original,fast-paced, compelling, gripping, addictive, unique and totally unexpected. The dialog is smart, well written and flows smoothly. The characters are fascinating, captivating, quirky, engaging and well developed. I couldn't stop listening to it.
AUDIO REVIEW......
I found the narrator to be very good at reading the book as well as giving the characters life and voice. A well as attitude and humor. This makes for a great read but I highly recommend getting the audio version for the full effect and enjoyment. Great job.
*****Received this via audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review. ****
L. .
Good story. Interesting concept for a story. The story is exciting, original,fast-paced, compelling, gripping, addictive, unique and totally unexpected. The dialog is smart, well written and flows smoothly. The characters are fascinating, captivating, quirky, engaging and well developed. I couldn't stop listening to it.
AUDIO REVIEW......
I found the narrator to be very good at reading the book as well as giving the characters life and voice. A well as attitude and humor. This makes for a great read but I highly recommend getting the audio version for the full effect and enjoyment. Great job.
*****Received this via audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review. ****
L. .
December 5, 2015
** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
I was hooked in the first hour and did not want to put this down! I like a good witch book, and this had witches and demons...so plus plus!! Felicity goes to settle her mothers estate after her passing, not knowing there was more then meets the eye going on there. Turns out her mother had deep dealings with the underworld and Felicity's soul has been sold to a demon names Max...now Max is not a bad guy, and as she gets to know his, a romance blooms, and a bunch of things unfold..Felicity has been in the dark about her family for a long time, but evil always shows itself!
REALLY GREAT STORY, AND FUNNY BOOK! I RECOMMEND!
I was hooked in the first hour and did not want to put this down! I like a good witch book, and this had witches and demons...so plus plus!! Felicity goes to settle her mothers estate after her passing, not knowing there was more then meets the eye going on there. Turns out her mother had deep dealings with the underworld and Felicity's soul has been sold to a demon names Max...now Max is not a bad guy, and as she gets to know his, a romance blooms, and a bunch of things unfold..Felicity has been in the dark about her family for a long time, but evil always shows itself!
REALLY GREAT STORY, AND FUNNY BOOK! I RECOMMEND!
December 7, 2016
Maybe 3.5 stars... Parts of this book worked for me, and parts didn't.
I got bogged down early on in this book, and set it aside for quite a while, and when I picked it up again it made as much sense as it ever did. There's a lot of dealing by a lot of people, and the clashing motivations make the plot twisty and complicated. It's also very dark and adult, with a whole heap of people being forced into bad situations because they have no choice. Somehow all the deviousness and backstabbing didn't lose me, and I enjoyed much of the main character interactions. The ending was a bit rushed and unlikely, but still satisfying enough.
I got bogged down early on in this book, and set it aside for quite a while, and when I picked it up again it made as much sense as it ever did. There's a lot of dealing by a lot of people, and the clashing motivations make the plot twisty and complicated. It's also very dark and adult, with a whole heap of people being forced into bad situations because they have no choice. Somehow all the deviousness and backstabbing didn't lose me, and I enjoyed much of the main character interactions. The ending was a bit rushed and unlikely, but still satisfying enough.
December 16, 2012
I haven't read a TON of urban fantasy romance, but this one doesn't measure up to what I have read. The character development is lacking, and the characters themselves are either incredibly childish or overly dramatic. The plot is... okay. There are so many twists it's a little hard to keep up with them all, but there were very few surprises.
I had a really hard time finishing this, and, at about halfway through, I told myself I wouldn't. But I hate leaving an unfavorable review of something if I've not finished. I still sort of wish I hadn't forced myself through to the end.
I had a really hard time finishing this, and, at about halfway through, I told myself I wouldn't. But I hate leaving an unfavorable review of something if I've not finished. I still sort of wish I hadn't forced myself through to the end.
July 10, 2016
This was an okay story
This was an okay story.... A little disjointed and a bit tough to keep up with all the twists and turns in the contracts and such. Character development was okay, plot was okay, basically it was one of those Okay kinda stories, it didn't really suck me in and have me feeling the storyline and if it hadn't been raining I likely would have moved on to something else rather than finish the book. Sorry to have to say that, I am sure the author worked hard on this story. But truthfully it was a bit jumbled.
This was an okay story.... A little disjointed and a bit tough to keep up with all the twists and turns in the contracts and such. Character development was okay, plot was okay, basically it was one of those Okay kinda stories, it didn't really suck me in and have me feeling the storyline and if it hadn't been raining I likely would have moved on to something else rather than finish the book. Sorry to have to say that, I am sure the author worked hard on this story. But truthfully it was a bit jumbled.
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