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Cookbooks and Demons
by Megan MackieSeries: Culinary Infernal #1
Published by Self-Published on October 18, 2024
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 356
Source: Inkslinger PR
Audience: 18+/Adult
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It’s too hot to get out of Hell’s Kitchen.It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. After inheriting her grandmother's old cookbook, Helena decided to throw a dinner party for the ages, inviting her friends and even her boss! Then everything went wrong. The stove caught fire. The cat stole one of her filets. She even bit her tongue!
And now her dinner plans could not be any more ruined because she’s accidentally summoned a demon. Now everything is going… right? The dinner was amazing, her friends are thrilled, and her boss would like to talk to her about a promotion! And of course, she would never be so foolish as to again summon the demon….
I will always enjoy reading Paranormal Romance and haven’t read much Cozy Paranormal Romance. When I came across Megan Mackie’s Culinary Infernal series, I knew I had to pick it up. The first book, Cookbooks & Demons, had an interesting storyline, and I was hooked at the beginning, but it didn’t keep me engaged at times, especially in the middle. It’s labeled as a cozy paranormal romance but has darker emotional themes that may be triggering for some readers, so check the CW before reading.
Brief Storyline: The FMC, Helena, ends up summoning a demon in her kitchen after she reads a spell from the cookbook she inherited from her grandmother. The demon, Rafferty, keeps telling her the consequences of summoning him, but Helena can’t help it, especially when she starts forming an attraction for him. The issue is that the more she summons him, the more she is at risk of that debt getting bigger and more dangerous. She’ll also find out she’s not the only one at risk of summoning Rafferty each time.
My Thoughts: I liked both characters in this book. Helena is determined to help Rafferty, especially after learning why he became a demon. I could tell she wanted to be helpful, especially after it’s mentioned what she was like when she was younger and what she did to a girl. She truly was trying to be a better person. I always love grumpy characters, and Rafferty was that grumpy character, and he was very upfront with Helena, trying to warn her about demons like him. He eventually falls for Helena too, and I love how protective he becomes of her, even if it was from him at times.
It was inevitable Helena and Rafferty were going to end up together in the end. I love the parts where Helena helped Rafferty taste the dishes he made because he couldn’t due to his punishment. (You’ll have to read the story to find out more about Rafferty and what happened to him.) Their attraction is forbidden but a slow burn with mild heat, so if you expect a spicy book, this one won’t have it.
My main issue with the book was the pacing. The first part hooked me, but the middle felt like filler and dragged at times. It eventually picked up toward the end. The middle mainly deals with Helena’s job and her search for a caterer. I already knew what was going to happen toward the end because of where the story was going. Then Helena realizes the consequences of summoning Rafferty, which affect her friends and boss. (No spoilers from me on this one.) This part was all over the place at times, which pulled me out of the story.
This is also where the Cozy Paranormal Romance got a little heavier than I expected to read with the heavy topics and dark emotional themes, so read the CW before reading.
Overall, this was an okay read for me, and I give it 3 stars. Even with this rating, it doesn’t mean I won’t pick up the second book. I’m invested in Helena and Rafferty’s storyline and need to know what happens next after the cliffhanger.
P.S. I’m not afraid to admit this book made me hungry with all the food mentioned. I would love to have the opera cake (Rafferty’s version) recipe he makes at the end. It sounded delicious on paper.
POV: Third Person
Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you enjoy Cozy Paranormal Romance that has a slow-burn romance between a human and a demon she accidentally summons, then check out this book by Megan Mackie.
What to Expect:
🩷Cozy Paranormal Romance
🩷Demon + Human
🩷Forbidden Love
🩷Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷Accidental Demon Summoning
🩷Slow Burn
About Megan Mackie
Megan Mackie is a writer, actor, and playwright. She started her writing career as an indie author and had such smashing success in her first year with her inaugural book The Finder of the Lucky Devil. She has become a personality at many cons, recognizable by her iconic leather hat and engaging smile.
She is also a contributing writer in the role-playing game Legendlore and Legendlore: Legacies by Onyx Path Publishing and Sirens: Battle of the Bards through Apotheosis Studios. Outside of writing, she likes to play games: board games, RPGs, and video games. She has a regular Pathfinder group who is working their way through Rapanthuk. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children, dog, three cats, and her mother in the apartment upstairs.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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