Book Review: Helle's Belles by Jackie Kessler

I was at a stage where all I wanted to read were trashy novels. (Maybe that says something about me? I think I'll just let my therapist decide that... ) I'd already read Richelle Mead's SUCCUBUS BLUES and enjoyed it. So when I read blurb about Jackie Kessler and HELL'S BELLES, I hurried out to find it.

The main character, Jezebel is an ex-succubus. She lived in the Heartlands of Hell (where all the sinners accused of Lust, and all the creatures of Lust reside - She lives in the red-light district), she had the life she thought she loved. She loved the smell of brimstone in the morning, she had her best friend (a Fury, Meg), a sex-buddy (the incubus, Daun).

That is, she loved it until the order of Hell was turned upside down by King Lucifer's Announcement.

Suddenly, she found herself disguised as a 'flesh-puppet,' in New York City. Made mortal by a witches potion, she finds a job dancing at a local Gentleman's Club, Belles, and falling in love with a mortal. And if that isn't bad enough, Hell's put a price on her head!

Funny one-liners, and steamy scenes written perfectly... it was a wonderful book! In particular, I loved the different take on Hell. I loved how Kessler made a creature of Evil so... likeable. I even came to like the confusing politics of 'the Pit.' She made Hell a real place that strangely enough, while I wouldn't want to live there, I could see why the different demons of Lust, Envy, Pride, and the other sins loved it there. Jesse's voice was impeccable. I could almost hear her talking to me, with all her reactions to her new human needs- eating, bathing, etc.

Definitely not for anyone younger than say, twenty (these scenes were very steamy), but anyone who loves steamy urban fantasies will gobble this up! It's going to be a hard press to keep me from buying the next one, THE ROAD TO HELL.