Although this didn't work for me, I really enjoyed the vibes. The characters and their chemistry too was a highlight. I think readers will enjoy this paranormal romance, especially this upcoming spooky season.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for my ARC!

3/5

The story really feels underdeveloped, which is a letdown. The characters don’t come off as authentic; instead, their dialogue feels awkward and disjointed, making it hard for me to connect with them. At times, their emotions shift so unexpectedly that it’s tough to care about what’s happening to them.

What could have been a slow build or a touching moment ends up feeling like a hodgepodge of inconsistent character behavior. Overall, this book didn’t resonate and left me feeling disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!! I am such a huge fan of these fun, modern paranormal romances. This one was excellent. Highly recommended. If you're a fan of the Hell Bent series by Aurora Ascher, check this out (and vice versa--if you love this book, you'll love the Hell Bent series).

The second book in the Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures series, Dealing with a Desperate Demon is the story of Nancy, the town bookstore owner, who was introduced in the first book. At first, Nancy seems like any other of the town's hapless humans, unaware of the supernatural creatures and elements of the town, but as the story unfolds, and with the help of Jack, a cinnamon roll of a demon, we catch glimpses of Nancy's past and learn the reason why she has suppressed her knowledge of magic. Jack, meanwhile, has made a deal with the devil and has to earn Nancy's love to satisfy the terms of the bargain. He can't tell her any more than that there's a woman he loves and he needs to earn her love in return -- he isn't even allowed to say her name. (Side note: This was such an integral part of the story that I almost forgot Nancy's name myself and started thinking of her as kid/honey.) Along the way, Nancy needs to remember her magic, listen to her familiar, win over Jack's sentient truck (Steve), and teach her demon how to be comfortable in the human world. I loved this book and can't wait to see where the series goes from here.

I do usually love paranormal romance, and the cover is so cute, plus the concept is so intriguing, however, this wasn’t a win for me.

Maybe it's just me, but the descriptions for this man were strange. Hubcap-sized elbows, meaty biceps, juicy double (also mentioned as rounded butt), enormous paws (weird choice for hands), blue eyes, immensely tall, fist-like jaw. Like is this man attractive or not? As a matter of fact, everything has strange descriptors and overly wordy, and I appreciate the attempt to sound different and not go with overly used words, but it's ok to say gruffy instead of "gravel-in-a-cement-mixer voice."

Sometimes things are described in such extensive detail that it practically stops the story from moving on. You'd think taking multiple pages to describe a house would immerse me into the story more, but for some reason I kept being taken out of the story from the long winded descriptions, I was just wanting to get on with the story.

Unfortunately even the dialogue feels unnecessarily drawn out, and their interactions between each other felt odd, and unrealistic. At times it felt like there was a word count minimum trying to be met.

The characters all feel very surface level and lacked depth which made it hard to connect with them.

Another perfect publication from Charlotte Stein. The characters never fail to make me love them. The jokes always make me laugh out loud. And this series specifically has the most whimsical, vivid imagery. The weirdest things happen in this book and I can see them all so clearly. I’m so grateful to be an ARC reader for my #1 insta-buy author.

I did love these characters. They had great chemistry and banter and I loved the concept and idea of the story based on the blurb. I did feel as though the smutty scenes weren’t really necessary and the pacing felt a little rushed in the end.

Title: Dealing with a Desperate Demon
Author: Charlotte Stein
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Dealing with a Desperate Demon is a charming, slightly chaotic blend of sweet romance and paranormal intrigue. While it’s the second in Charlotte Stein’s series, it can be read as a standalone, though there are some cameos from Helping a Hungry Werewolf that fans will recognize.

The story follows Nancy, an unassuming but quietly assertive bookstore owner, as she agrees to help Jack Jackson—the town’s reclusive oddball—learn how to be the kind of guy a woman would fall in love with. Jack is inexperienced in the ways of love (and being human), which makes for some awkward moments and dates as Nancy attempts to teach him the ropes. I appreciate that Nancy is also seen as a little bit different. She’s not the kind of girl who wants a regular prince, which is a good thing for Jack.

There’s a definite Beauty and the Beast vibe, though not directly inspired by the tale—it’s more about two people feeling like they don’t quite belong, finding belonging in each other.

Stein crafts endearing characters in Nancy and Jack, whose mutual insecurities are both endearing and a little heartbreaking. They’re so sweet and reserved in many ways, yet Stein doesn’t shy away from throwing in some explicit language during their most vulnerable moments, creating an oddly charming juxtaposition that made me giggle and just seemed a little out of place. Shy unsure characters that are totally cool using some smutty language is amusing to me.

The story had some nice quotes that were worth annotating. Jack’s quote, “Doubt is the worst thing about being human,” really encapsulates the emotional core of the story and was super relatable. Even if Jack isn’t human, his experience (and Nancy’s) will definitely resonate with some readers.

The paranormal aspect unfolds slowly—almost too slowly. Nancy doesn’t discover Jack’s demonic nature until well into the story, and when she does, it’s almost comical in its reveal. While the build-up is sweet, it leaves some questions about Nancy’s eerie visions and unexplained references to her past that are never fully fleshed out. There’s also a bit of confusion around the mechanics of the world—like how one can only see paranormal elements after becoming part of that world. I would have loved a bit more exploration of that, especially given Stein’s knack for world-building.

Fans of Helping a Hungry Werewolf will enjoy the brief reunion with Cassie and Seth, though newcomers may not feel the same impact. It’s a cute scene but perhaps lacking context if you haven’t read the first book. Still, it’s a nice touch that gives a sense of continuity.

One of the highlights is the last 10% of the book, where the pacing and stakes ramp up significantly, leading to a satisfying and well-earned conclusion. Stein’s sense of whimsy shines through in small, charming details—like Nancy’s familiar, Popcorn, and the hilariously cheesy music choices in Jack’s truck.

That said, I wish there had been more description of the world Stein is building. The potential is clearly there, and what we do see has so much potential—I just wanted more, especially at the end of the novel on Nancy’s rescue mission.

Overall, Dealing with a Desperate Demon is a sweet, quirky paranormal romance that’s easy to fall into, albeit a bit slow to build, with just enough spice and humor to keep you engaged. Fans of golden retriever demons, endearing weirdos, and unlikely and fated love stories will find a lot to enjoy here.

I was pretty excited to read this book as the concept behind it sounded great- small town romance with a modern twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast.

However the book just felt super chopped up, the spice was not super compelling, and the dialogue felt really rough and repetitive at times. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more with additional character development and just overall editing would have made it so much better.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC!

I posted a review on my goodreads profile and on my Instagram profile story and highlight the review in my Instagram profile under ARC reviews on 5/18/25.

I really wanted to love this book—and I did at the very beginning—but it started to drag a little and get repetitive at the end.

The concept of the book really hooked me. Small, cozy town. Grumpy demon with a heart of gold and a misfit bookshop owner. A demon trying to learn how to be human and love, after growing up in literal Hell.

The silly, cringey descriptions of Jack at the beginning made me laugh (“hubcap-sized elbow” especially made me giggle) and really set the book up to be a nice cozy, silly read. For the most part, the somewhat silly dialogue and references to media were fun and kept the book lighthearted despite the someone serious undertones of Jack and Nancy’s story!

I think the writing style was the biggest issue I had with it. At the beginning, the kind of choppy style worked and I just thought I could get used to it, but as the book progressed it became a little hard to follow. While Jack not saying her name made total sense, Nancy only being referred to as “she” throughout the entire book, even when other female characters were involved, started to grate on me a little. There were definitely some repeated errors that also took me out of the immersion. Specifically, the phrase “it was all she could do not to…” This phrase was used so liberally, but never actually followed any sort of action. I found myself having to go back a few pages to see if I missed some action or description many times, especially towards the end.

I actually really loved the plot and where the story was headed, but around the 60% mark it started to drag—likely because of the writing style.

I absolutely loved Jack :) He was so sweet and kind, and I felt so emotional every time he hinted at how cruel people were to him. Nancy was likable, but I would have loved to see a little more growth/awareness from her. She kind of turned into a badass overnight with little explanation for it other than boom, she’s a powerful witch. It could have been cool to see a little more of that journey. I think it’s such a fine line before a character starts turning into not the other girls and Nancy definitely started toeing it towards the end.

60% of the book was quite sweet and cozy, and had me eager to learn what was next. The remaining 40% was difficult to follow and a bit rushed.

The smut felt a little unnecessary and awkward, especially considering that was the one part of interacting with people that Jack didn’t really need to practice. Maybe it was just the writing style—perhaps a nod to the old romance novels Nancy loved—but it felt a bit dated? There was also a bit of a disconnect and lack of chemistry between Jack and Nancy. I liked them as friends, but not as much as lovers :(

I really believe the bones of this book are good, but the writing style dragged it down quite a bit. That said, I will probably try another book from this author! Perhaps this style is better suited for a different romance genre with less magic/world building?

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Sexy, strange, and unexpectedly sweet—I wasn’t ready, but I loved it.

This book took me by surprise in the best possible way. It’s weird and wonderful, with just the right blend of heat, heart, and absolute chaos. The demon is unhinged in a totally loveable way, and the chemistry? Off-the-charts ridiculous—in the best way.

Charlotte Stein somehow made this feel both spicy and soft. There’s real emotion under all the snark and seduction, and I was genuinely rooting for this wild, strange little love story to work out. It’s like falling in love with a disaster demon who just needs a little understanding (and a lot of flirting).

Hilarious, hot, and surprisingly wholesome. Loved every minute.

Second read by this author. The first book's writing style didn't secure my interest.
Still, the plot of this second book was not your run of the mill plot. Also, a second try of another can lead to unexpected good novels.

This read didn't turn out that way.
Didn't like the nickname of 'kid' as it seemed to be a bit patronizing for a grown woman. The writing style mirrored the first read. It was, at times, overly florid and the characters didn't resonate.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffins, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the characters and world-building. I love a grumpy MMC with a secret nougat center. That Jack was using pop culture to guide him in his daily life and how to be a man was excellent. I also enjoyed watching Nancy realize her power. I almost wish there was a little more time spent between the Nancy pulling him out of hell and the resolution of the story. But I loved it!

To be honest, I was a bit out of my depth as I haven’t read too many supernatural romances. However the description captured my attention, and I had to give it a read. Within a few pages, I was captivated by the story and couldn’t stop reading. I liked the naïveté and sweetness of the main characters. People who’ve endured such trauma and yet have such gentle souls. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their HEA play out. The supernatural elements just added to the adventure and kept me utterly entertained.

I sadly had to dnf this book because it felt underdeveloped and awkward at so many places that I just could not get a hang of it.

I wanted to love this but had trouble connecting with the story! Wished the characters were a bit more developed.

I've been patiently waiting for this and was very excited whiten I saw it here! It didn't disappoint! I loved the diverse body representation and the fact that the FMC doesn't apologize for being plus sized. The vulnerability both of the characters show is so heartwarming as well. This is just a cozy read, with spice and a talking dog; perfect.

The book was enjoyable, but the repeated phrases throughout pulled me out of the story a bit. The tv bits throughout made me laugh, and I love a plus size FMC.

Nancy has spent many hours on trying to find her special person but is almost ready to give up when she Jack Jackson comes into her life. She has a dream of what she wants her future relationship to be like.