this was not for me unfortunately… i was really lookin forward to this one as the premise sounded very fun and a few of my friends had been enjoying it but i quickly found myself not enjoying my time reading it.

i dont know if its the writing style which felt a little choppy and that it forced dialogue/attraction to one another or it just feeling very chaotic and all over the place. i was just very underwhelmed over all, these demons felt like normal dudes????

Thank you to Kensington for an ARC of this book!

My Funny Demon Valentine is a PNR book that hits a lot of high notes for the genre. It’s got demons and angels, delightful side characters, as well as fun as heck main characters. It’s spicy and a tad bit sweet and it’s got a plot (ish).

This book was a fun romp from beginning to end - Asmodeus the demon of lust has been cursed, and Eva (a mortal) somehow can see through his curse? Enter major, steamy attraction between the two of them. Like, Eva cannot resist. (Neither can Ash to be honest).

From there we get to meet Ash’s brothers, Raum, Meph, and Bel. Who are all hilarious. There are some pure gold moments in this book that had me chuckling out loud.

It was a fast paced read that kept me interested from beginning to end, and it included some amazing banter between the characters.

Overall, this is a fun PNR read that you can get lost in for a few hours.

While this book might not have been for me personally, I can understand why someone would enjoy this story.

The love interest, Ash, is very swoon-worthy. It's insta-love, but the plot allows their relationship to develop and gives a bit of background to their "natural" bond to one another. The spicy scenes are very spicy, but there aren't many of them. And if you like ensemble casts, you'll appreciate the bond between Ash and his brothers. The ending also tied itself together well.

I did feel like the book was a bit predictable, and the jokes were lackluster for me. It was definitely in the "popcorn" category for me, which is why I don't give it a higher rating. It was one of my most anticipated (re)releases of 2025, so I was disappointed to see it didn't take itself more seriously because I think it could've been a great story if wasn't trying to be as silly as it did.

As long as you keep your expectations lower than I did, you will enjoy this book. The Kimberly Lemming comp makes a lot of sense looking back.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

This book is pure fun.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued by the demons and jazz hook. What was happening? My Funny Demon Valentine is a paranormal romance with some heft to it, but is also an entertainable read. Set in today’s world, we quickly meet Ash and his brothers, demons who’ve escaped Hell and want to live with humans on earth. Ash is cursed. He once was the demon prince of lust and now an angel has made him unforgettable to all who would desire him. And, on his first night out Montreal as a free-demon he finds a gorgeous woman who is obsessed with him. Eva is fun, fearless, and comes from bohemian artists. She wants to be loved but is tired of playing games, is focused on her career as a musician, and just wants the same sweet and loyal love her parents have.

Ash seems too good to be true when she meets him. And then, during a bad ending to the night, she watches him turn into a demon? Lucky for her, demons don’t exist. Unfortunately for Eva, Ash and his brothers are demons who are just dying to survive. Over their millennia in hell, somehow the men? Demons? Have evolved and found a conscience. They no longer wish to cause chaos and pain and want to find happiness and peace. Oh yah, and their human forms are all totally hot.

The demon brothers are a hoot. They are dysfunctional, not sure how to pass as humans, and have some serious trauma and anger issues as would be fitting of kings and princes of Hell who’ve done some stuff they aren’t ready to admit easily. Somehow this scrappy band of brothers won me over. They are sweet, funny, and focused on trying to survive. Eva, of course, gets lost in Ash and falls deeply in love. The big problem? I mean other than Ash being a literal demon from hell? Well, hell doesn’t like when demons go missing and hunters are out for them, and they have Eva’s scent. The problem is, she also has some family secrets that are deep in the demon world and are going to cause problems for Eva and the demon brothers.

Throughout the book is a bass line of music, art and the meaning of life. Why do we create? Is to create a human instinct? Do you need a soul to make art? Eva and Ash and their families throw this around as they try to keep the demon brothers hidden and safe from Hell’s hunters.

I requested this book on a whim and really loved this introduction to the series which currently has five books, with this being the first. The book is partially set in Montreal, Quebec and British Columbia. If you’re a fan of Lucifer the TV show or Charlaine Harris’s vampires then you will love these demons.

This was such a cute read. Eva and Ash instantly had chemistry and watching the hurdles they had to overcome (I mean he is a demon after all) provided some great entertainment.

I did feel that I would get thrown off by the switch to certain characters and felt maybe it didn’t need to be included, but overall this was a good read

Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️/5

"My Funny Demon Valentine" is the first book I've read by Aurora Ascher. The story begins with four demons walking into a bar, which sounds like the start of a bad joke. Asmodeus, also known as Ash, is a Prince of Hell who is passionate about jazz but struggles with his evil nature. Alongside his three brothers, he escapes Hell in search of freedom on Earth, becoming the Underworld's Most Wanted.

Everything changes for Ash when he meets Evangeline Gregory, a human violinist who seems to see past his curse. Despite the dangers involved, he feels an undeniable attraction to her. Eva, who works at a jazz bar, begins hallucinating demons after meeting Ash. Doubting her sanity, she investigates and becomes caught in a supernatural conflict. As secrets are revealed, Eva and Ash realize their path to love may lead them straight to Hell.

Eva is an ordinary girl who spends her days working at a jazz bar and playing gigs on weekends. She doesn't expect that her potential boyfriend can transform into a seven-foot-tall demon with wings—or that he is being hunted by other demons. Ash is surprisingly sweet and charming despite being a demon, and his brothers are fun and caring. But can a demon indeed be in love? Furthermore, can Ash and his brothers escape being Hell's most wanted?

This book is the first in a series, and it turned out to be a surprisingly cute and fun romantic comedy with a bit of spice and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I loved getting to know Ash and his brothers. I'm excited to read about each brother's romance in the future! The romance in this story is fun to experience. If you enjoy paranormal demon romances, you should definitely pick this up. Overall, this book is a delightful and entertaining demon romance with a well-developed plot, engaging characters, intriguing side characters, and world-building.

This book is now available for purchase. Thank you to Aurora Ascher, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

I’d describe this as a silly, over the top rom-com with a heavy fantasy element. This is my first demon romance and I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this was enjoyable enough. It is definitely heavy in the insta-love, insta-spice which isn’t my favorite as I prefer more of a slow burn. The fantasy elements are interesting though it’s not the typical world building type of fantasy. A quick, easy read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Asmodeus, Raum, Belial, and Mephistopheles are all demons and they got tired of what they had to do in Hell so they escaped. They were done with that whole life, they wanted to live on Earth and have lives but Lucifer isn't going to just let them walk away and so they have to be careful and make sure where they live in warded against hunters and others coming to look for them. Only problem is Asmodeus (Ash) meets Eva who can actually see through his curse and see him. She's a musician and he loves that since he likes to play the piano. His brothers are happy for him that he's met a human female who can actually see him but that also puts her and the rest of them in danger.

Once Eva realizes that Ash and his brothers are actual demons and a hunter is out to nab them and take them back to Hell, the action ratchets up a whole lot. But Ash and his brothers aren't the only ones with a huge secret that's about to pop wide open and change Eva's life forever.

This was such a great story! I love demons, especially when they turn into good guys which these guys really were trying to do. Yes, they might be demons but even demons get tired of being bad all the time, at least these ones did. I loved getting to know Ash's brothers, especially Belial, he had such a bad temper. I can only hope he meets someone who is good for him when he gets his own book. I can't wait to read more of this series and find out what happens to the rest of them.

Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a super cute and fun demon romance! I liked the plot and the characters. We got quite a bit with side characters and world building. The spice was good. And all in all, just a fun read! It is written in third person, which is not my favorite, but it wasn't terrible.

this was cute, just a fun little demon romp. i fear it may have been a bit long for the amount of story happening but pretty easy to read.

I've seen the preview for this re-release for about a year now and I was ecstatic to be chosen! Absolutely devoured this book!

This group of stories is a different POV per couple in each book.

This book is about a group of demons who escape hell and try to find refuge on earth. They are hunted down by gargoyles and demon hunters. One of them starts to fall for the female MC. She can see past a curse and starts falling for the male MC. They have to find safety and avoid being caught. However, someone's dad is not going to let that happen. The ending is kinda funny and great! Gave off A Soul to Keep Vibes :)

Needs Book Art:
I really wish there was book art in the Kindle Version because some of the descriptions got mixed up or easily confused. All I could picture were guys looking like Hellboy.

Free Copy from NetGalley

It took me four days to finish this book because I kept putting it down since I disliked it so much.

I don't understand why it wasn't edited and formatted again with the re-release. It's mentioned a lot how the FMC is dark skinned with curly hair and a fat ass. And the MMC has long black hair. We get it. We see it. We don't need it mentioned so often.

The premise of the story was really enticing, but the story fell flat. I completely guessed what was happening from the beginning. Where was the plot twist? Where was I being sucked into the story and wanting to know more?

This could have been brilliant, but it fell flat from the very beginning. I won't be continuing the series.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book. It was exactly what I expected it to be - funny, crazy, AND hot.

The characters were so easy to like, and the demon brothers were such a fresh representation of the said creatures. Especially Ash was so amazing, but I'm totally invested in the stories of the other brothers as well. I'm very excited to read Bel's story, because I ship him with Naiamah so hard, although I have a feeling he's going to be paired with Eva's friend. I don't remember her name but she's the only character I hated for some reason.

The writing had me swooning at times, and sometimes finding myself laughing out loud in the middle of the night.

This said, the last couple of chapters felt rushed... I was more engaged until the middle, but once Eva found out the truth, I felt like I was running to catch up with the story and not really enjoying it much.

Another thing that I didn't enjoy was the POVs of the other characters, like Eva's parent's, or the Hunter's, or even Bel's.

This said, I'd definitely recommend reading this story if you're into paranormal fantasy romance.

Thank you for sending me the ARC.

Thankyou to Kensington Publishing for this gift.

Loved it! The perfect mix of tension, action and smut with an intriguing plot line.

Set in Canada, we have demons escaped from Hell, one of which has a curse making him "invisible" to potential sexual partners, just trying to live life on earth without causing trouble. They cross paths with unsuspecting human "Eva" who notices our cursed demon "Asmodeus" watching her play music at a night club. One thing leads to another and they are thrust onto the path of lust and danger.

The sexual tension was palpable, the plot line consistent and the slight tid-bits of information throughout gave the overall novel a mysterious feel.
A wonderful palette cleanser with more story to come!

4 stars 🌟

I thought Chapter 1 started the book off right when it was called The Beginning of a Bad Joke. After all, this book is marketed as funny, and I was looking for something a little more light hearted than the epic fantasy I've been reading. Except, the writing was not funny, and it felt underdeveloped. I don't know what the joke was meant to be and I didn't finish reading the book to get to the punchline. This book was mildly entertaining, and is perfect for a reader who is looking for a light fantasy where the characters just want to have a good time.

It had the idea of a great story. The synopsis caught my attention, and I truly was interested in reading this book. However, the writing drove me absolutely crazy. Every time I would read a line and then have a thought in my mind that someone really wouldn't say or think like that, the characters would say or think it to themselves. It was like having my thoughts on the page. It felt as if the author knew this to be the case and was attempting to argue her point of view while writing the book. I mean, we know men can have long hair, and if he wanted to cut it, he could.

I forgave the author when I read about how hot the demon was for half a page. Then it became a overwhelming topic in the book. How many times, and in how many different ways, can a woman call a man/demon hot? It was almost believable at the beginning, as the character couldn't believe that he was attracted to her, and she needed to explain why, and then it got annoying by the 6th chapter.

"Her entire female reproductive system lit up like a carnival parade. Like she had a freaking 'Turn me on!' button on her forehead for a ride that only he could operate."

Underneath all of the similes and figurative language written all over the page, there were moments that had me captivated and wanting to read more. Eva was right in questioning what she saw, and then all of that would evaporate once she saw him again. I need to read books with female characters that are a little stronger in their resolve to make the story more believable.

I tried to give it more time to see if the characters' thoughts would evolve, but finally gave up around 20% of the way through reading. This book was not for me. I did not do a review of this book online because I did not like this book, and don't want to discourage others from reading it, as the writing style may be more for them.

3.5 ⭐ 2.5 🌶️

I think had this been a little more condensed I would have loved it, but I struggled to get through a few parts despite really enjoying the story as a whole. The characters were fantastic and the premise was a lot of fun with a couple fantastic twists. I'd recommend giving the audio a go if you listen to books, it may help if you're an ADHD reader who gets easily distracted like myself.

I absolutely adored these characters. Eva's mom was a doll, I can't wait for Bel's story (I love a broken boy so much) and really all of the stories to come. Aurora did an amazing job with the banter and, um, naivity? sheer ignorance? 😂 of the demons earth knowledge. They were all adorable and I am so excited for more of this world.

I dove into this book with high hopes, but sadly, it didn't quite capture my heart. I made it to about 10% before realizing it wasn't the right fit for me. The writing style and pacing didn't resonate, and I found myself struggling to stay invested.

No hard feelings, though! I know how much love and effort goes into writing a book, and I appreciate the author's courage in sharing their work. Maybe this one just wasn't meant for me, and that's okay.

While the premise of this story originally excited me, the author’s execution of it left me with a lot to be desired.

Eva, a musician, meets Ash, a demon, at a Canadian club. The two have insta-lust for one another. There’s just two big problems: Eva has no idea what Ash really is, and Ash isn’t supposed to be on earth. Shenanigans ensue.

I was not a fan of the writing style, the forced yet gaudy conversations, what felt like a largely unedited first draft, and the overall feel of this book. I understand I’m in a minority here based on other reviews I’ve read, but I will not be continuing with the series.

I was slightly uncomfortable with the white author’s presentation of a black female lead.

The plot of the story was not original, nor was it told in any way that felt inspired. Demons gonna demon, right? For me, the four male leads of the story were not well-rounded. Their banter was childish. They did not manage to capture my interest.

All good stories have the mechanics that get them from start to finish. There was little mystery to be found in this book about what would happen next. Everything was too convenient. There were no plot twists, and the end of the story left room for spinoffs, but ultimately did not get me interested in pursuing them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of “My Funny Demon Valentine” in exchange for my honest review.

A Demon Prince of Lust finds himself falling for a musician who can see past his curse... too bad him and his brothers are being hunted and his new love might have more secret than either of them realize. Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, or rather Ash, dreams about making music and when him and his other demon prince brothers escape to earth its the perfect chance for him to explore. Ash is a Demon of Lust yet his curse prevents anyone from seeing or being interested in him... until he ends up at a club where a gorgeous jazz musician sees him, actually sees him and takes an interest. Eva is a normal girl who has been spending her days working at a jazz bar and playing gigs on weekends, what she doesn't expect is that her new possible boyfriend can turn into a seven foot tall demon with wings... oh and happens to be a literal demon who is being hunted by other demons. For a Demon, Ash is surprisingly sweet and charming and his brothers are fun and caring... but can a Demon really be in love and can Ash and his brothers escape being Hell's most wanted? This is the first book in a series and this was a surprisingly cute and funny rom com with a bit of spice and hilarious moments. The banter and vibe of the book was just a fun time. The characters were fun to get to know and I loved meeting Ash and his brothers and am excited to read each future brother's romance book! The romance is fun to read in this and if you love a paranormal demon romance, absolutely pick this up!

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is a light-hearted and fun read 🥰 I liked Eva and the demons were pretty funny and the SPICE?! 👀 I’ll definitely be reading the other books in this series