Witches, warlocks and demons oh my...too much *shrugs*, maybe, but that is what we have in this book, and I loved it. Alasdair is the powerful warlock, that is the head of the Covens Syndicate, and he happens to be dealing with demons possessing people, so he goes to the one woman that drives him nuts for help, Delilah, a sassy seer. These two, lmao, I loved their back and forth, and all the sexual tension between them, you could just feel it through the pages. She can’t help him, but she does send him to someone that can, and that’s where the twist and “fun” really starts. These two get bound and sent on a Dickens, A Christmas Carol, like adventure. See, the real fun starts. They get to embark on a journey and share the most important moments in each other’s lives. Such a great twist, oh, and there are plenty more twist in the story, that had me going wtf, and I did not see that coming.

This was a safe read, with a sexy warlock and his equally sexy seer. Great storyline, with so many great twist. A epilogue and a hea.

I'll admit, I picked up this book just because of its title. It just delights me. And it's a paranormal romance with a Christmas Carol twist, which is also fun.

I liked it fine, but my feelings are purely middling about this. Billed as a standalone, I think it would have been helpful to have read the previous books in the series. I felt a bit like I got dumped into the story and didn't have time to get my bearings. I also wasn't 100% into the apparent insta-lust between these characters.

It's fun and fast, but not totally fulfilling for me.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.

The man is a demanding one, “still want you.” He stepped in to her again, cupping the back of her neck, willing her to shop shutting him out. “I’ll still want you, dammit.” I liked this book, I loved Alasdair

Delilah may be the paranormal world's ultimate fixer but she is hiding a BIG secret. But will the dashing but annoying Alasdair hemp or hinder her in trying to keep it under wraps.

Get ready for this twist on a Christmas Carol as Alasdair and Delilah's pasts come crashing into their present.

Alasdair may be chockful of power as the head of the Coven. He has a tight leash on his emotions and his power. The last time he lost control he almost cost himself his family and his sanity.

But Delilah...that woman tempts him like no other. All whilst driving him around the proverbial bend. Demons, desire, dreamscapes...all of these mix in a wonderful tale. Magic, mystery, and memorable moments abound.

I loved finding out more about the enigmatic Delilah and the oh-so-uptight Alasdair. Loving this series - these two especially are crazy hot together!

And Abigail did it again - finally we got to read more about Delilah and Alasdair with a bit of a Chrimasy-feeling and sizzling romance while they have to learn to trust in each other... But sometimes you need ghosts of the past, present and future to manage this ;)
****
I was so looking forward to finally read more about Delilah, especially after her encounter in BaitnWitch with Alasdair. We already knew about the strong, badass woman, but once she came face to face witht the head of the Covens Syndicate, she felt something change within her, and I felt it as well as the reader.
As always I just love Abigail's writing style and the way she brings the story to her readers. The same goes with Alasdair - although he seems cold and passionless in the beginning, he is everything but when it comes to those he loves - and oh my can he love.
The dynamic between those two was great and I also loved the fact that Alasdair fought for it - he did not give up on either of them and I this was refreshing (better than this never-ending back and forth).

The read was short and so good, and I hope we do get to read more about this world. Can't wait to find out what a certain siren will do with her cupid...

******

Wie immer lieb ich das Buch von Abigail. Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist einfach toll und ich find es so gut, wie sie die Geschichte an die Leser bringt.
Besonders mit Delilah und Alasdair hat sie hier wieder mal ein ganz besonderes Power-Couple erschaffen, welches zur Weihnachtszeit sich mit Geistern der Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft auseinandersetzen darf. Wenn da mal nicht weihnachtliche Gefühle aufkommen :)
Beide sind stark, wirken kaltherzig und berechnend, aber lieben und kämpfen für diejenigen, die sie lieben und ihre Familie sind. Besonders toll fand ich aber, dass Alasdair hier ganz besonders kämpft und nicht aufgibt, und es dadurch sich nicht zu einer darf-ich-darf-ich-nicht Geschichte entwickelt!

Das Ende war perfekt und macht so richtig Lust auf die nächste Geschichte aus der Feder von Abigail. Ich freu mich auf die Sirene mit ihrem Cupid :)

What would happen if A Christmas Carol met a paranormal romance? Try As I Smite, I couldn’t put the two together in my head. Luckily, Owen did that very thing for us.
I definitely enjoyed this one. The Dickens touches. The hardheaded supernaturals. It all blended seamlessly into this beauty.

I enjoyed this book, it was another great read from ms Owen. It held my attention and gave me the romantic experience as well as some evil and happiness.
Ms Owen, did a great job worldbuilding and capturing everyone's attention.

Try as I Smite is the fourth instalment in Abigail Owen’s Brimstone Inc. and what a fun, outrageous and thoroughly enjoyable read it was. This one has a bit of Halloween and Christmas rolled into one, and plenty of dark and sexy too! I loved the concept and it’s perfect as a quick, in-between stories read.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I have been hoping that we get a book with the mysterious Delilah! So, I was very excited that this book was about her and boy she is a mystery waiting to unfold.

Alasdair kind of seems like a stuck up elitist but he kind of grows on you as the book progresses and we see some of his past and you can't help but like him.

Lots of action, drama, and intrigue to go along with the sizzling attraction as they battle evil forces. Delilah has a big secret that she just knows is going to seal her fate with Alasdair but you just know it will all work out so they have a very nice HEA! Plus, it was fun to see Rowan and Greyson for a few minutes in the book!

I love Abigail Owen's writing, so when I saw this latest book, I immediately dove into it with eager anticipation! While it was shorter than what I'm used to seeing from her, written as a novella-size story, it was packed with excitement and romance. This was the first book I had read in the series, so I went in knowing I was going to be a bit blind to the characters' relationship development. However, Abigail did a wonderful job setting them up without my needing to have read exactly what happened between them before. We got snippets of backstory as it was needed, and I was fully aware of what was important to the story at hand.

Alasdair, the head of the Covens Syndicate, and Delilah, the owner of Brimstone Inc., have at least one thing in common - they stay far, far away from demons. Of course, their reasons are very different, but the outcome remains the same: when Alasdair needs Delilah's help in managing a demon problem, Delilah turns him down. Furious, he takes her recommendation to see a woman named Hazah, who sucks him and Delilah into a scene out of A Christmas Carol, where they both must witness each other's past, present...and future. Their patience will be tested and their recollections of past events will be turned upside down. By the end, they will either work together to save humanity or refuse and doom the world. No pressure, right?

I will start by saying that this is most interesting take I have seen on the classic Christmas Carol scene to date! I loved having two characters go through it at once and seeing how their lives were intertwined when they didn't even realize it. It showed how two people can misjudge each other without having all the facts, and once they do, their eyes are open to all the possibilities. I was worried as things became more heated and secrets were being revealed. However, lessons were learned, and they weren't so quick to judge a second time. Alasdair and Delilah were both very strong people at the outset, and by the time everything was over, they were also compassionate and selfless. They learned what is most important and what a person would do for someone they love.

This has definitely sparked my interested in reading the other Brimstone Inc. books. Now I want to see what other exciting stories I have missed.

This is the fourth book in the Brimstone, Inc. series. It features Alasdair Blakesley who is the head of the Covens Syndicate. A demon infestation means he can’t trust any of the witches and warlocks in the syndicate because they may be possessed. The last person he wants to ask for help is also the only person who can fix this, so he sucks up his pride and storms into the Brimstone, Inc. offices to ask Delilah for assistance.

This book was very entertaining. It had good dialogue and it was interesting to get Delilah’s back story. Delilah has been featured or discussed in each of the previous books and we were introduced to them as a potential couple in the fourth book. They work as a couple and they are both very independent characters. It was an interesting read that I would recommend to others. I believe that it would also work as a standalone title.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As far as I'm concerned, Alasdair and Delilah are the king and queen of penetrating stares, smirking grins, and the ubiquitous eyebrow lift. From the first moment we witness these two in a room together, or office to be precise, we can't wait for the eventual moment when they'll rip each other's clothes off to devour one another. Now granted, Alasdair is currently encountering a bit of a demon problem in which his fellow mages are being possessed by their enemies in a hellish attempt at demonic world domination, but...ya know...his sexual chemistry with Delilah is still forefront in our minds. Priorities!

When Alasdair comes to Delilah for help with ridding his people of demons, she surprisingly refuses to assist him herself. This shocks Alasdair considering she's known throughout the supernatural world for helping those in need. While he is rightly pissed off at her initial refusal, and assumes it stems from her personal dislike of dealing with him, we can tell there's a secret reasoning behind Delilah's rebuff. She doesn't leave him out in the wintry cold completely though, and instead sends him to another woman for help...her mother. Rather than solve his problem for him, Delilah's mother proceeds to send both Alasdair and Delilah through a Dickens-like Christmas Carol journey, observing scenes from their past, present, and future.

These scenes are supposedly the key to Alasdair's solution, but as he spends more time trapped with Delilah through all of these emotional moments in time, he can't help but feel increasingly linked with her as each vision passes. They become connected in a way that is special and all-consuming, and even though he needs to get back to his people, Alasdair also doesn't want this time with Delilah to end. A gripping need starts to envelop them, and before long they're more entranced with each other than the scenes playing out before them. Hands down my favorite point in the entire book was when they've been transported to a new scene, and Alasdair essentially declares he doesn't care what lesson this particular glimpse is supposed to teach him, and instead he proceeds to ravish and taste Delilah all over while pushing her up against a wall. Makes things a bit more interesting than your typical Christmas Carol rendition, doesn't it?

I must say this battle against possessive demons truly had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation from start to finish. I never really knew where the story wanted to take me, and there were a few twists and turns along the way that I didn't see coming. Something I did appreciate throughout the read was the emphasis on Alasdair and Delilah discovering that they were always stronger together than they could ever be apart from each other. It wasn't about him rescuing her as a damsel in distress, or her opening his eyes to a woman's worth, but rather that their connection as a unit was everything worth fighting for.

4.5/5*

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled Amara!

Try As I Smite is the fourth book in the Brimstone Inc. series and tells the story of Delilah and Alasdair. Although this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

Try As I Smite is the book I’ve been waiting for. Ever since I read about Delilah and her services, I’ve been wanting to read her story. And I’m not disappointed at all! I really liked Delilah and Alasdair’s story. The story was really good, and I loved discovering more about Delilah.

Delilah’s always been an interesting character to me. I’ve always wanted to know more about her and I loved reading about her parents and her abilities. As for Alasdair, I really liked him. At first he seemed like an asshole, but the more I read about him, the more I started to like him! I think Delilah and Alasdair are a great pair.

Try As I Smite was such an amazing and fast paced read! I loved reading about Delilah and Alasdair, and I wish I could read more about them (and all the other characters in the Brimstone Inc. series)! The entire Brimstone Inc. series is such a good series, and all the books are quick reads. I highly recommend this series if you’re looking for amazing and quick Fantasy books!

Try As I Smite is a brilliant addition to this heart rending and extraordinary series. Nothing will capture your heart better then two enemies who challenge one another and disrupt their calm world. Join me in this eye-opening journey of two people who start apart and yet are so tightly and emotionally connected. What you think you see is only smoke and mirrors compared to the truth of their reality.

Alasdair and Delilah are on opposite spectrums. They are so extremely different on so many levels that they will surely never cross. When a devastating truth is revealed, they finally find a game changer that upends everything they held as an illusion. The truth is much more tantalizing then secrets which comes as a shock to them both.Further keeping them on their toes, they find a shocking connection that is enough to shatter and remake their world. If they have any hope of saving their world, they must accept the impossible, embrace the forbidden, and hold nothing back. Will this task prove to be more then either can handle, or will their hearts surprise them and prove just how easy that is?

What a beautiful revelation to get to know these two powerful and provocative characters! I was in heaven as I watched their secrets revealed one by one and watched their hearts set free to explore and claim what they have so greatly longed for. What a true masterpiece to behold!! It can't get much better then that.

Abigail Owens truly owns my heart and soul. This series has taken my captive, and I don't care to escape. The beauty, the intrigue, and the danger has left me in awe and estascy as I savor the stunning and passionate characters that speak to every part of my heart, mind, and soul. I beg you not miss out on this fabulous wonder and incredible delight that is this phenomenal series!!

while Delilah is the owner of Brimstone Inc and has had a part in the prior books of the series and the steam between her and Alasdair was also present and obviously not just due to their clashing opinions, this book could work well as a stand alone. Sometimes opposites are more alike than not, and so are these two -- powerful, private, stubborn & passionate. I like the slight twist the author used to tell us (and each other) about the MCs backgrounds and help them see common ground and how they belong together. the story was nicely paced, had interesting plot points and surprises that kept the pages turning and had me cheering them on to not just defeat the demons, but find their HEA together.

Alasdair is the leader of the Covens Syndicate and a (the most?) powerful witch/warlock. But even he needs to seek help when his people are possessed by demons - killing the demon means killing the host. He unwillingly seeks help from Delilah, who owns an agency who provides all sorts of assistance & someone he has an unwilling attraction (lust) to & a rather frosty relationship with. Delilah refuses to help him personally but directs him to someone else which is where thereafter I felt it got really tedious.

The person puts A & D under a Christmas Carol like spell taking them to scenes it their pasts, presents, and futures; which seemed to me like a way the author was to tell the history and background of the 2 characters.

The book was really slow paced and I felt like it was plodding for most the 1st half. I didn't realize that this book is the 4th in a series & perhaps that's why I didn't enjoy it. I felt that there wasn't any romance between the H & h, just lust and sex and limited building of a relationship (was it all in the previous books?).

Like the rest of the Brimstone Inc. series, I've enjoyed every single one. This entire series always have me begging that they were full-length novels. But you know what you're in for, they're short, but immensely enjoyable.

I've been waiting for Delilah's story and to see her paired up with the ever so grumpy, Alasdair. I just couldn't wait to see what Abigail had in store for us.

Earlier today I was going on about how I despise holiday romanced, but give it to me with a PNR twist and I'm here for it! With the darkness of what's to come combined with a bit of the Christmas Carol tale, you'll get a rather suspenseful and emotional read.

I loved that they had to journey the past, present and future together because that ultimately brought them closer together. Abigail definitely packs it in with the emotions, which I'm always here for. Love, love, loved this one.

Try As I Smite is another amazing addition to this series, I can't wait to read the next one!

If you love witches, warlocks, mysterious women, bossy, arrogant yet loving men, demons, angels, and a fight for life and loved ones, get your hands on TRY AS I SMITE and enjoy this fast-paced, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always engrossing read.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=71982

This is part of a series, and while each book features a new couple, there is some overlap between characters, so I advise reading in order, but it can be read as a standalone.


This book follows the premise of the Christmas Carol where out two main characters see their past, present and future and must work together to avoid catastrophe. I enjoyed the use of this trope to tell a unique and compelling story.


What I like about this series is that it is not a long read but still packs a lot of depth with exciting characters.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would like to thank #Entangled for providing me an #ARC of #TryAsISmite by #AbigailOwen via #NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Try As I Smite is a short addition to the Brimstone Inc. series, and centers around Delilah, owner of Brimstone Inc (a fixer of supernatural problems), and the woman responsible for the series' love matches, and Alasdair, head of the Coven Syndicate, one of the most powerful warlocks in the world, and despite the intense lust that comes over him when he thinks of Delilah, doesn't really want to go to her for help. That is, until he discovers his coven is being possessed by demons. In need of help, he goes to the only being he knows might be able to help; Delilah. Only to be turned down. You see, there are certain things Delilah can't mess with ... demons being one of them. In an effort to help a little bit, she sends him to someone she trusts ... only for both of them to end up in a visions, reliving important moments from their past, present and future. Will the answers to Alasdair's demon problems lay in these visions? And what does Delilah have to learn?


Everything in this series that I have read I have liked, but I haven't loved. Abigail Owen's writing is technically great. It's not overly repetitive, good word use, etc ... My main issue is the actual story. These books are short, which are great if that is what you are looking for. The problem with short books, is that the only way to establish the happy ending the writer wants, is you have to go the "insta-love" route. I hate insta-love. The main problem in the story was also too easily solved. I just needed a bit more substance. Not to mention, I'm never a fan of recycled story lines, which, in following the whole Christmas Carol theme, is doing just that. Something Try As I Smite does have going for it? The chemistry between Delilah and Alasdair is hot, and steamy scenes between them reflect that.


Try As I Smite is a great, hot, short little read if you are looking for something a little dirtier than the holier-than-thou hallmark movies that plagues the holiday season. Is it the most original? No. But if you love romance, supernatural plot, and sex, you will love this little book.