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Lilith Straight #1
Straight to Hell
The moment Lilith Straight dies, the Devil appears to claim her soul and cash in on a longtime family curse. Now, Lilith has no choice but to work for him as a succubus. The job is bad, the boss is worse, and she can’t imagine how she’ll explain her new reincarnation to her eight-year-old daughter. But then an arrogant, yet oh so yummy, incubus shows up…and hell heats up just a little more.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2011
23 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Scott
101books420followersI’m a little old horror writer who puts her nightmares down on paper. I was born on Halloween and live with my husband in a haunted house far off the beaten track. When I’m not writing, I frequent used bookstores and prowl the woods.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 7, 2012
I received this book to review for the Read2Review program in the Paranormal Romance/Fantasy Addicts group. Thanks to the mods and the author for providing this book for us to read.
I absolutely adored this book. I love that this book revolves around an adult, particularly a mom. Lilith is a 30-something mother who lives in a house that is absolutely packed. She's got her lazy, slacker step-sister, her step-sister's man friend, her daughter, and her ex-husband's niece who is a handful on her own. There is never a dull moment in this household, and never a dull moment in this book.
Lilith is a succubus, but this book is about so much more than that. She tries to do her assignments as best she can, but she is constantly feeling guilt, and usually ends up messing them up. She's broke, but she does her absolute best with a bad situation. she's a strong woman with pride who will do anything for the ones she loves. I will read any number of books that come out about Lilith Straight, because I honestly feel she has quickly earned a spot as one of my top 10 favorite female characters.
The story moves very quickly. I blew through it in a few hours, and although this book didn't really have an ending that left you craving more I will still be genuinely interested in continuing this series. The humor and dialog were both very amusing.
This book could very easily be enjoyed by fans of chick-lit and paranormal. It was a unique story, but for some reason while reading it I kept thinking it resembled the "Undead" series by Maryjanice Davidson. Without the raunchiness. They are completely different stories, I'm aware, but maybe it's the writing style that is similar. I don't know.
I absolutely adored this book. I love that this book revolves around an adult, particularly a mom. Lilith is a 30-something mother who lives in a house that is absolutely packed. She's got her lazy, slacker step-sister, her step-sister's man friend, her daughter, and her ex-husband's niece who is a handful on her own. There is never a dull moment in this household, and never a dull moment in this book.
Lilith is a succubus, but this book is about so much more than that. She tries to do her assignments as best she can, but she is constantly feeling guilt, and usually ends up messing them up. She's broke, but she does her absolute best with a bad situation. she's a strong woman with pride who will do anything for the ones she loves. I will read any number of books that come out about Lilith Straight, because I honestly feel she has quickly earned a spot as one of my top 10 favorite female characters.
The story moves very quickly. I blew through it in a few hours, and although this book didn't really have an ending that left you craving more I will still be genuinely interested in continuing this series. The humor and dialog were both very amusing.
This book could very easily be enjoyed by fans of chick-lit and paranormal. It was a unique story, but for some reason while reading it I kept thinking it resembled the "Undead" series by Maryjanice Davidson. Without the raunchiness. They are completely different stories, I'm aware, but maybe it's the writing style that is similar. I don't know.
March 8, 2012
Quick review
Cover: I think it works.
Rating R for mild adult & sexual situations.
Thumbs Up 2.5
Overall: Not sure this book was for me.
Characters: Developed.
Plot: Original.
Page Turner: I guess so.
Series Cont.? Maybe
Recommend To select people maybe
Book Boyfriend: Tommy
SUMMARY (50 word or less)
This wasn’t the book for me. Most of my reasons are personal and I think others could enjoy. The story was a different take on succubi than I’ve read. Not sure what I think about it though. Mostly my problems are the lack of moral values in the story.
Full Review
What to say about this book. From the opening pages, Lilith really turned me off as a character. From the second paragraph my inner musings went something like this Highly unlikely, how can you be sure, doubtful, definitely not, maybe, so did mine. Finishing through the chapter, Lilith really rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t like people who think they are better than anyone else. I say this all the time, but I will say it again. I don’t have to like the main character to like a story. But it does put the author in a position to work harder for me to enjoy the story.
Therefore there should be a good reason why the character is unlikeable. So, I said to myself, give it some time. The title suggests that this character is going to hell. So maybe there is a point to me not liking her. Unfortunately, we find out So I say to myself, why is she the way she is. In fact, I stepped away from the book because I felt I couldn’t give the book an unbiased opinion.
Coming back to it, I was able to read through. I thought the other certain wrote a story that was visual. I could picture what was happening in my head. The story was very original with the
But I had several questions with this story.
Overall, I gues this was just not sure this story was for me. I think others could enjoy.
My book boyfriend is Tommy who deserved much better than he got. He was a hard character to find a picture for, so this isn’t exactly how he is depicted in the story. This doesn't do him justice.
Cover: I think it works.
Rating R for mild adult & sexual situations.
Thumbs Up 2.5
Overall: Not sure this book was for me.
Characters: Developed.
Plot: Original.
Page Turner: I guess so.
Series Cont.? Maybe
Recommend To select people maybe
Book Boyfriend: Tommy
SUMMARY (50 word or less)
This wasn’t the book for me. Most of my reasons are personal and I think others could enjoy. The story was a different take on succubi than I’ve read. Not sure what I think about it though. Mostly my problems are the lack of moral values in the story.
Full Review
What to say about this book. From the opening pages, Lilith really turned me off as a character. From the second paragraph my inner musings went something like this Highly unlikely, how can you be sure, doubtful, definitely not, maybe, so did mine. Finishing through the chapter, Lilith really rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t like people who think they are better than anyone else. I say this all the time, but I will say it again. I don’t have to like the main character to like a story. But it does put the author in a position to work harder for me to enjoy the story.
Therefore there should be a good reason why the character is unlikeable. So, I said to myself, give it some time. The title suggests that this character is going to hell. So maybe there is a point to me not liking her. Unfortunately, we find out So I say to myself, why is she the way she is. In fact, I stepped away from the book because I felt I couldn’t give the book an unbiased opinion.
Coming back to it, I was able to read through. I thought the other certain wrote a story that was visual. I could picture what was happening in my head. The story was very original with the
But I had several questions with this story.
Overall, I gues this was just not sure this story was for me. I think others could enjoy.
My book boyfriend is Tommy who deserved much better than he got. He was a hard character to find a picture for, so this isn’t exactly how he is depicted in the story. This doesn't do him justice.
January 25, 2012
I received this book through the R2R program. Thank you to Michelle Scott for giving us the opportunity to read and review her novel. I actually gave this book 2½ �'s, but as GoodReads does not allow for ½�'s, I rounded up to 3.
I was really looking forward to this book, I had previously fallen in love with the Georgina Kincaid succubus series and was hoping to find another series along a similar theme to enjoy. The writing itself (sentence structure, grammar, formatting) is suburb; this must be the best example of technical writing skill and formatting I've seen in a smaller-scale author. The characters, however, were not endearing or appealing. There are a few things in particular that really prevented enjoying this book:
◘Lilith Straight, the main character, starts off the novel essentially bragging about her life pre-divorce. She went to "those parties", hobnobbed with stars and athletes, daughter went to the elite private school... While I understand this gave us necessary background information, I felt the character was aloof and condescending to me as the reader.
◘She preens about how attractive she is for her age, and how she can still wear her high school cheer leading uniform, then pages later flat out saying that it was untrue. She lied about fitting the uniform. The book is in 1st person perspective; if I cannot trust the character telling me the story, I begin to doubt the entire story itself.
◘Lilith also is practically bipolar in her emotions. One minute she's breaking her personal "commandments" and traffic laws in her anger and fear toward an individual, and then paragraphs later she's giving kisses to this character and inviting them to stay in her already crowded house tittering between poor and destitute.
I ultimately just did not care for Lilith and her struggles.
The "blurb" of the book made it sound like there would be more romance, especially considering the succubus angle- but I found that to be lacking from the book. Some readers, however, may find that to be a welcome change. William Darcy never "sold" me on his charisma or the sexual tension alluded to between Lilith and William. The "relationship" between these two characters seemed so shallow. I did not feel connected to either character.
So many reviews say how witty this is, how it's such a "quick read"... while it did have witty moments, I had to force myself to finish it. About halfway through the book, it did become a little easier but I would just keep reaching that same barrier of dislike for the characters, wanting more action in multiple ways... overall I was just left plain wanting. I would absolutely be willing to read another book by Michelle, as I said, the technical end of it was flawless. But this story was just not for me.
Ultimately, if you are interested in this book, I would recommend a reading of your own. While I did not find it engaging, many readers have. To each their own.
I was really looking forward to this book, I had previously fallen in love with the Georgina Kincaid succubus series and was hoping to find another series along a similar theme to enjoy. The writing itself (sentence structure, grammar, formatting) is suburb; this must be the best example of technical writing skill and formatting I've seen in a smaller-scale author. The characters, however, were not endearing or appealing. There are a few things in particular that really prevented enjoying this book:
◘Lilith Straight, the main character, starts off the novel essentially bragging about her life pre-divorce. She went to "those parties", hobnobbed with stars and athletes, daughter went to the elite private school... While I understand this gave us necessary background information, I felt the character was aloof and condescending to me as the reader.
◘She preens about how attractive she is for her age, and how she can still wear her high school cheer leading uniform, then pages later flat out saying that it was untrue. She lied about fitting the uniform. The book is in 1st person perspective; if I cannot trust the character telling me the story, I begin to doubt the entire story itself.
◘Lilith also is practically bipolar in her emotions. One minute she's breaking her personal "commandments" and traffic laws in her anger and fear toward an individual, and then paragraphs later she's giving kisses to this character and inviting them to stay in her already crowded house tittering between poor and destitute.
I ultimately just did not care for Lilith and her struggles.
The "blurb" of the book made it sound like there would be more romance, especially considering the succubus angle- but I found that to be lacking from the book. Some readers, however, may find that to be a welcome change. William Darcy never "sold" me on his charisma or the sexual tension alluded to between Lilith and William. The "relationship" between these two characters seemed so shallow. I did not feel connected to either character.
So many reviews say how witty this is, how it's such a "quick read"... while it did have witty moments, I had to force myself to finish it. About halfway through the book, it did become a little easier but I would just keep reaching that same barrier of dislike for the characters, wanting more action in multiple ways... overall I was just left plain wanting. I would absolutely be willing to read another book by Michelle, as I said, the technical end of it was flawless. But this story was just not for me.
Ultimately, if you are interested in this book, I would recommend a reading of your own. While I did not find it engaging, many readers have. To each their own.
October 22, 2023
Rated
5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Read to review
Owner Amazon Digital Library
Kindle Unlimited Read
*2 XRead
2nd time read
4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kindle Unlimited Read
“Straight to Hell� has one of the covers once upon a time I would shy away from. Not anymore and just like first gem Michelle Scott does not disappoint. Not only does the storyline follow its title when Lilith has the added bad luck to be hit by a car and is sent straight to hell, her last name is Straight. It is a laugh out loud pun when you make the connection.
Lilith Straight is a divorced mother of one who is struggling to just get by day to day. As if that is not enough, let’s make things even more complicated by taking in her ex-husbands niece (because he’s simply� an ass!) Oh, and to boot her unemployed half-sister living in the basement. Then after being hit by a car while snapping a pic of a dildo playing peek a boo to send to her sis Lilith learns her family secret she a succubus. As Lilith begins her new life as a succubus she has to struggle to maintain some kind of semblance to normal life and more often than not she does one hell of job. The stories is so well written that among all the witty and laugh out loud humor the reader can almost miss the subtle battle that rages with in Lilith as she must choose good v/s evil and ultimately Heaven v/s Hell.
5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Read to review
Owner Amazon Digital Library
Kindle Unlimited Read
*2 XRead
2nd time read
4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kindle Unlimited Read
“Straight to Hell� has one of the covers once upon a time I would shy away from. Not anymore and just like first gem Michelle Scott does not disappoint. Not only does the storyline follow its title when Lilith has the added bad luck to be hit by a car and is sent straight to hell, her last name is Straight. It is a laugh out loud pun when you make the connection.
Lilith Straight is a divorced mother of one who is struggling to just get by day to day. As if that is not enough, let’s make things even more complicated by taking in her ex-husbands niece (because he’s simply� an ass!) Oh, and to boot her unemployed half-sister living in the basement. Then after being hit by a car while snapping a pic of a dildo playing peek a boo to send to her sis Lilith learns her family secret she a succubus. As Lilith begins her new life as a succubus she has to struggle to maintain some kind of semblance to normal life and more often than not she does one hell of job. The stories is so well written that among all the witty and laugh out loud humor the reader can almost miss the subtle battle that rages with in Lilith as she must choose good v/s evil and ultimately Heaven v/s Hell.
July 26, 2016
Recently divorced Lilith Straight has a fairly normal life � crappy job, even crappier ex-husband and a generally crappy life. Her life couldn’t possible become any worse, she believes � until it does. While on her way to a meeting, Lilith dies…and becomes Hell’s minion. And in a twist of fate, for the first time in her life, she lives.
Life as a single mother, with a child, a delinquent niece and an unruly sister is hard enough. Add to that curbing your demon (literally) and battling your conscience…and you have a world where all hell breaks loose!
A temptress in the truest sense of the word, succubus Lilith now has to seduce men on the path to hell. Though initially hesitant, Lilith soon has a blast. But not all remains harmless fun for long. Soon Lilith has to make tough choices…tougher than she could have ever imagined. Even God may not be able to help her out of this one.
Wonderfully written with well-developed characters, Straight to Hell is a novel which is not only hilarious, but also portrays some of the harder decisions in life. Beneath the supernatural elements, we find a hard-working, loving mother who is at her wit’s end to provide for her family. With an overbearing (and scary) she-demon breathing down her neck, a comical demon-friend and a devastatingly beautiful incubus, Lilith is hard-pressed to get out of the corner she has been painted in.
In a comical and hilarious way, Michelle Scott reminds each of us of the devil inside of us and how we will stoop to anything for the ones we love, collateral damages be damned! If you look at it closely, it is really heartbreaking to see Lilith try to make the best of this situation, but find a block at the end of each road. No matter what she does, she can never forgive herself. She has to learn the hard way � between two evils, neither is the lesser one.
Life as a single mother, with a child, a delinquent niece and an unruly sister is hard enough. Add to that curbing your demon (literally) and battling your conscience…and you have a world where all hell breaks loose!
A temptress in the truest sense of the word, succubus Lilith now has to seduce men on the path to hell. Though initially hesitant, Lilith soon has a blast. But not all remains harmless fun for long. Soon Lilith has to make tough choices…tougher than she could have ever imagined. Even God may not be able to help her out of this one.
Wonderfully written with well-developed characters, Straight to Hell is a novel which is not only hilarious, but also portrays some of the harder decisions in life. Beneath the supernatural elements, we find a hard-working, loving mother who is at her wit’s end to provide for her family. With an overbearing (and scary) she-demon breathing down her neck, a comical demon-friend and a devastatingly beautiful incubus, Lilith is hard-pressed to get out of the corner she has been painted in.
In a comical and hilarious way, Michelle Scott reminds each of us of the devil inside of us and how we will stoop to anything for the ones we love, collateral damages be damned! If you look at it closely, it is really heartbreaking to see Lilith try to make the best of this situation, but find a block at the end of each road. No matter what she does, she can never forgive herself. She has to learn the hard way � between two evils, neither is the lesser one.
March 4, 2012
2.5/5 stars
When I started this book, it seemed really interesting. It had a new concept, I was intrigued and the book was funny. I was hoping to love it. But about halfway through the book, it went spiraling downward for me. The book ceased to be funny, it turned serious. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying a book has to be completely funny but some fun + some seriousness = works for me. But the first part of the book is all funny while the latter is all serious. It just somehow broke my mood. The focus completely shifted from the idea of hell and being a demon to thinking about conscience or doing random things to prove herself as a demon. And then some side characters which did not need to be a part of this book were there, thus digressing from the original story.
I started this book very enthusiastically, finished half in a sitting but after that I had to struggle to finish it.
When I started this book, it seemed really interesting. It had a new concept, I was intrigued and the book was funny. I was hoping to love it. But about halfway through the book, it went spiraling downward for me. The book ceased to be funny, it turned serious. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying a book has to be completely funny but some fun + some seriousness = works for me. But the first part of the book is all funny while the latter is all serious. It just somehow broke my mood. The focus completely shifted from the idea of hell and being a demon to thinking about conscience or doing random things to prove herself as a demon. And then some side characters which did not need to be a part of this book were there, thus digressing from the original story.
I started this book very enthusiastically, finished half in a sitting but after that I had to struggle to finish it.
February 28, 2012
A pretty good book that I would recommend to anyone going through a hard time in their lives. It's funny, well-written, and flows straight through a story packed with action, hard choices, and amusing situations that literally managed to crack me up. Throughout the book, the Heroine has to struggle to make ends meet as she tries to support a household of four on a paycheck that hasn't come in a month. She practically has to bend over backwards to provide a nice and healthy life for her family.
When I first started this book I figured it would be another Good trumps Evil kind of book, and for a minute toward the end, I was fairly certain that that was the case. But I must say, I was more than pleasantly surprised when that was not the case. This book managed to keep me guessing up until the very end! The way both god and the devil (or at least his secretary) are portrayed is fresh and amusing. And all through the book, the author seems reluctant to take a side, so in a way, the reader is always satisfied. Furthermore, even though the book is a heaven/hell battle type of books, it steers quite clear of religion, though it does mention a large number of them, practically equating them all to each other. Though I do believe that that might have to do with the atheistic mentality of our heroine.
Basically, it's a good-girl-gone-bad book, and when she goes bad, boy is she good at it. To get what she wants, without having to sacrifice a thing, the heroine in this book basically devastate one of the nicest characters in the book, and destroy her sister in the process, but oh well, at least she still has love in the end!
One thing I did not like about this book, is that it spewed a couple of misconceived stereotypes. The one that bothered me the most was at the very beginning of the book when the heroine is in her 'jail cell' and she points out that she can't end up in jail after getting hit by a car, that's not normal in Detroit, but it would have been normal in Dubai. Not to sound like a jerk or anything, but Dubai is actually quite an advanced country, where justice reigns, and most of the population is educated. I really think authors should research facts about countries before they drop them in their books, not just believe the bull-crap that gets spewed by the media.
Anyway, if I were to take a moral from this book, it would be that we cannot sit by and wait for god to do our work for us because his price will be too steep, instead we should go ahead and sell our souls to the devil, after all, there are many advantage to having your own demon.
Finally, I think book provided a cool new twist to the 'succubus', 'heaven and hell', and 'demon' theories. It refused to follow the paths sets by almost all books before it, instead creating its own new twists. A nice touch are the couple of loose ends that were left dangling, stringing us readers along into a hot wait for the upcoming installment.
Can't wait for book 2!
Cheers,
Farah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2012
The synopsis provided for this story was great and I was crazy excited to read it. The idea (Succubi and Incubi) was fresh and not over done. (One more vampire book and I may puke)
Things I liked:
I enjoyed the character of William
The idea was fresh
I enjoyed the inner struggle of good vs evil within Lilith.
Things I didn't enjoy so much:
The storytelling seemed a little erratic, which made reading it tedious.
The characters lacked depth. I wanted the bad guys to be bad. I wanted Lilith be less wishy-washy (although I know her evolution was on purpose, she seemed to have no foundation emotionally to build on at all)
The addition of the children in the book was unnecessary to me, they were more like scenery than an engaging aspect to the book.
My biggest complaint was the lack of humor. The cover and title are so sassy looking, I was expecting to to find humor in the book, some type of comic relief. That isn't the writers fault as much as my own for making an assumption about the book.
All in all, it wasn't terrible, and would probably make a decent beach read, but I need to fall in love with at least one of the characters for the story to work, and none of them did it for me.
Things I liked:
I enjoyed the character of William
The idea was fresh
I enjoyed the inner struggle of good vs evil within Lilith.
Things I didn't enjoy so much:
The storytelling seemed a little erratic, which made reading it tedious.
The characters lacked depth. I wanted the bad guys to be bad. I wanted Lilith be less wishy-washy (although I know her evolution was on purpose, she seemed to have no foundation emotionally to build on at all)
The addition of the children in the book was unnecessary to me, they were more like scenery than an engaging aspect to the book.
My biggest complaint was the lack of humor. The cover and title are so sassy looking, I was expecting to to find humor in the book, some type of comic relief. That isn't the writers fault as much as my own for making an assumption about the book.
All in all, it wasn't terrible, and would probably make a decent beach read, but I need to fall in love with at least one of the characters for the story to work, and none of them did it for me.
January 23, 2012
I tired so hard to get into this book but I just couldn't, and for the life of me I have no idea why!!
It was a fun read and I did enjoy the story because it was so original. It also gave a lighter side to serious stuff like death and funerals etc. The problem was that I just wasn't able to connect with it in any way. The character of Lilith Straight was just that, a character, she didn't feel very real to me, and I love characters who I can relate to in some way or another.
Unfortunately there were times when I got bored with the book and just had to put it down (which is very strange for me because normally I'm keeping my eyes open with matchsticks just so I can read that last chapter)
Having said this I still gave it 3 stars and I would recommend it to people who are looking for something witty and quirky to pass the time with.
Thanks to R2R and Michelle Scott for giving me the opportunity to read Straight to HEll.
It was a fun read and I did enjoy the story because it was so original. It also gave a lighter side to serious stuff like death and funerals etc. The problem was that I just wasn't able to connect with it in any way. The character of Lilith Straight was just that, a character, she didn't feel very real to me, and I love characters who I can relate to in some way or another.
Unfortunately there were times when I got bored with the book and just had to put it down (which is very strange for me because normally I'm keeping my eyes open with matchsticks just so I can read that last chapter)
Having said this I still gave it 3 stars and I would recommend it to people who are looking for something witty and quirky to pass the time with.
Thanks to R2R and Michelle Scott for giving me the opportunity to read Straight to HEll.
March 9, 2012
I got this book to review from the project.
I really liked this book.
I like how it shows a woman's way to work for 'hell', but still remains a good person at heart. A person that is willing to destroy other people's hope and lives to see her family safe and secure, but still a good person.
The way Lilith's new demon powers are explained are something refreashing to me. It's not the 'normal' over-the-top powers like shooting lighting or super-strength or immortality. It's the more subtle way to seduce others to what she wants them to do. That kind of power is technically not even a power, it's basic psychology turned around to the near invincible.
It's really scary when you think about it. There are people out there in the world who do this for a living. They make people think that the ideas planted into their head are their own. One extreme of this is brain-washing, another side of it is advertising.
I really liked this book.
I like how it shows a woman's way to work for 'hell', but still remains a good person at heart. A person that is willing to destroy other people's hope and lives to see her family safe and secure, but still a good person.
The way Lilith's new demon powers are explained are something refreashing to me. It's not the 'normal' over-the-top powers like shooting lighting or super-strength or immortality. It's the more subtle way to seduce others to what she wants them to do. That kind of power is technically not even a power, it's basic psychology turned around to the near invincible.
It's really scary when you think about it. There are people out there in the world who do this for a living. They make people think that the ideas planted into their head are their own. One extreme of this is brain-washing, another side of it is advertising.
March 3, 2012
Straight to Hell was a decent book. I never found myself wondering what happened next though. The book was very short (a one sitting book.)
Lilith is a seemingly rebellious individual, and rather whiny I may add. She has a horrible ex husband, a horrible job, a horrible demon, a horrible house. She doesn't like the hands she is dealt and wont do anything about them. She has one shot at redemption and she doesn't take it simply because she has to make amends with her ex. Now she has condemned her daughter to the same fate.
I would have loved if the author dove into Mr. Darcy more. He seemed to me to be the only character with any depth and potential, however, we are reduced to a few cameos throughout the book.
In short, I would not pick up another Lilith Straight book simply because it did not grab my attention the way I like. Although the book has some redeemable qualities they are flooded by character gaps and poor plot construction. Solidly two stars.
Lilith is a seemingly rebellious individual, and rather whiny I may add. She has a horrible ex husband, a horrible job, a horrible demon, a horrible house. She doesn't like the hands she is dealt and wont do anything about them. She has one shot at redemption and she doesn't take it simply because she has to make amends with her ex. Now she has condemned her daughter to the same fate.
I would have loved if the author dove into Mr. Darcy more. He seemed to me to be the only character with any depth and potential, however, we are reduced to a few cameos throughout the book.
In short, I would not pick up another Lilith Straight book simply because it did not grab my attention the way I like. Although the book has some redeemable qualities they are flooded by character gaps and poor plot construction. Solidly two stars.
March 5, 2012
Being a guy and reading a book written to a female audience made me a little hesitant but I was surprised to find that I quite enjoyed the book. I am glad that it was not a Harlequin novel since that would be difficult to get through.
This is a quick, humorous and rather light read which as a father of two, is very welcomed. There were thoughts and feelings that Lilith had that I could identify with as a parent which made the fantasy more enjoyable.
I enjoy reading books that are not mirror images of reality so I can escape for a time and immerse myself in someone else's world for a time and this book definitely provided that enjoyable escape. I look forward to reading the next book.
This is a quick, humorous and rather light read which as a father of two, is very welcomed. There were thoughts and feelings that Lilith had that I could identify with as a parent which made the fantasy more enjoyable.
I enjoy reading books that are not mirror images of reality so I can escape for a time and immerse myself in someone else's world for a time and this book definitely provided that enjoyable escape. I look forward to reading the next book.
March 1, 2012
Straight to Hell is about Lilith a divorcee who is caring for her daughter, a troubled niece and a adult half sister. If that is not complicated enough she dies goes to hell where she is told she is now a succubus.
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning.The characters are intriguing. Lilith is witty and sarcastic.She loves her family very much and because of that has to make some tough choices. It is not just the choice of right or wrong but sometimes the lesser of two evils.
It is a interesting book that will have you laugh, cry and sometimes scream.
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning.The characters are intriguing. Lilith is witty and sarcastic.She loves her family very much and because of that has to make some tough choices. It is not just the choice of right or wrong but sometimes the lesser of two evils.
It is a interesting book that will have you laugh, cry and sometimes scream.
January 21, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book from the author through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Lilith is having a proper family crisis-divorcing her cheating husband, loss of rich secure lifestyle, sponging relatives in her home, bills to pay, no job, no love life...oh and she suddenly dies and finds she has no choice but to be a succubus for the Devil like previous female members of her family.
I don't read chicklit at all EVER. I don't read paranormal humour as I normally don't find anything funny in it. I signed up to do a book tour slot as a promo and ended up with a review copy. Erk, awkward much! I decided to give it a go anyway-and I actually enjoyed it! I did laugh at some stuff as well, which is new for me!
I liked Lilith a lot. She was amusing and entertaining, her life was a mess and you were rooting for her to pull things together and sort out the ungrateful relatives living in her house without paying their way. Her demonic employer and fellow employees were a lot of fun as well. Haven't we all thought that our boss was the Bitch from Hell? Well check out the ACTUAL Bitch from Hell that Lilith has to deal with! Our heroine lurches from one crisis to another, screwing up the most simple of tasks given to her every time. It made for an entertaining plot and a light, quick read to keep you amused. As a character Lilith changed through the book, in surprising ways that I certainly wasn't expecting. The other surprise for me is the type of succubus Lilith turns out to be. She is not having sex with victims all through the book-she is a succubus who tries to tempt people into all sorts of bad behaviour-cheating, suicide, drugs etc, anything that will damage their soul. I much preferred this to sex every two minutes.
The humour was great. How anyone can screw up the task of dropping a bag of drugs and urging a junkie to pick it up is a mystery to me but Lilith manages it beautifully. Her attempts at seduction, persuasion and even shopping without paying are equally inept. Her death scene and the reason why she died was very funny and I won't spoil it by telling you anything about it! She also has varied success with trying to coerce the people she knows into doing things to help her and it made me wonder what I'd do with demonic powers of persuasion...
This book was certainly a big surprise to me and I think it could appeal to a wide range of readers. It has humour, a sprinkling of romance, real life situations we can all relate to and a nice dose of demons to add to the fun. Readers of paranormal humour/romance, chicklit, women's fiction, humour, and light paranormal reads would probably like this book as it offers something for everyone. I will probably read on with the series to see what Lilith does next.
3.5 out of 5.
Lilith is having a proper family crisis-divorcing her cheating husband, loss of rich secure lifestyle, sponging relatives in her home, bills to pay, no job, no love life...oh and she suddenly dies and finds she has no choice but to be a succubus for the Devil like previous female members of her family.
I don't read chicklit at all EVER. I don't read paranormal humour as I normally don't find anything funny in it. I signed up to do a book tour slot as a promo and ended up with a review copy. Erk, awkward much! I decided to give it a go anyway-and I actually enjoyed it! I did laugh at some stuff as well, which is new for me!
I liked Lilith a lot. She was amusing and entertaining, her life was a mess and you were rooting for her to pull things together and sort out the ungrateful relatives living in her house without paying their way. Her demonic employer and fellow employees were a lot of fun as well. Haven't we all thought that our boss was the Bitch from Hell? Well check out the ACTUAL Bitch from Hell that Lilith has to deal with! Our heroine lurches from one crisis to another, screwing up the most simple of tasks given to her every time. It made for an entertaining plot and a light, quick read to keep you amused. As a character Lilith changed through the book, in surprising ways that I certainly wasn't expecting. The other surprise for me is the type of succubus Lilith turns out to be. She is not having sex with victims all through the book-she is a succubus who tries to tempt people into all sorts of bad behaviour-cheating, suicide, drugs etc, anything that will damage their soul. I much preferred this to sex every two minutes.
The humour was great. How anyone can screw up the task of dropping a bag of drugs and urging a junkie to pick it up is a mystery to me but Lilith manages it beautifully. Her attempts at seduction, persuasion and even shopping without paying are equally inept. Her death scene and the reason why she died was very funny and I won't spoil it by telling you anything about it! She also has varied success with trying to coerce the people she knows into doing things to help her and it made me wonder what I'd do with demonic powers of persuasion...
This book was certainly a big surprise to me and I think it could appeal to a wide range of readers. It has humour, a sprinkling of romance, real life situations we can all relate to and a nice dose of demons to add to the fun. Readers of paranormal humour/romance, chicklit, women's fiction, humour, and light paranormal reads would probably like this book as it offers something for everyone. I will probably read on with the series to see what Lilith does next.
3.5 out of 5.
March 8, 2012
Originally posted on my blog
Review:
I got a copy of Straight to Hell through the Read it and Reap program on ŷ, so thanks to the author and the program for making this happen. This book was not what I expected and yet at the same time it was...confusing right. From the description and the cover I expected a funny paranormal romance, a quick read and it did start out that way but about halfway through things change.
Lilith is a newly divorced single parent, she also has her niece living with her and the kid is strange, her beautiful lazy unemployed sister lives with her also and drags along the occasional boyfriend to stay there too. Her job sucks and her ex husband is a douche, she gets hit by a car wakes up in hell and discovers some old family curse that forces her to be a succubus. Lots of oppurtunity for comedy and in the beginning there was lots of it. About halfway through the book start to get a lot more serious and Lilith has some heavy moral decisions. The administration in Hell says "do what you're told or else" and the or else is pretty serious leaving Lilith some crappy choices.
Lilith as a character was kind of whiny and frequently got on my nerves and the "...oh so yummy, incubus" was even less likable than her. A few of the minor characters were interesting like Lilith's niece, one very strange child and the administrator from Hell that liked watching Real Housewives. Other than that the characters kind of fell flat. They did have Jesus make an appearance and he was well...kind of an ass, so that was disappointing.
The story, though well written was not exactly what I was expecting but that's more my issue than the author's. While this was the first book in a series it didn't really feel like it, I don't have a burning desire to read the second book because it will resolve issues in this one. Will I read another book in the series? Probably but I won't be waiting in line for it to come off the presses. For me the book was ok, not great not awful just ok so it's a 3/5.
3/5 Meh, it was Ok
Review:
I got a copy of Straight to Hell through the Read it and Reap program on ŷ, so thanks to the author and the program for making this happen. This book was not what I expected and yet at the same time it was...confusing right. From the description and the cover I expected a funny paranormal romance, a quick read and it did start out that way but about halfway through things change.
Lilith is a newly divorced single parent, she also has her niece living with her and the kid is strange, her beautiful lazy unemployed sister lives with her also and drags along the occasional boyfriend to stay there too. Her job sucks and her ex husband is a douche, she gets hit by a car wakes up in hell and discovers some old family curse that forces her to be a succubus. Lots of oppurtunity for comedy and in the beginning there was lots of it. About halfway through the book start to get a lot more serious and Lilith has some heavy moral decisions. The administration in Hell says "do what you're told or else" and the or else is pretty serious leaving Lilith some crappy choices.
Lilith as a character was kind of whiny and frequently got on my nerves and the "...oh so yummy, incubus" was even less likable than her. A few of the minor characters were interesting like Lilith's niece, one very strange child and the administrator from Hell that liked watching Real Housewives. Other than that the characters kind of fell flat. They did have Jesus make an appearance and he was well...kind of an ass, so that was disappointing.
The story, though well written was not exactly what I was expecting but that's more my issue than the author's. While this was the first book in a series it didn't really feel like it, I don't have a burning desire to read the second book because it will resolve issues in this one. Will I read another book in the series? Probably but I won't be waiting in line for it to come off the presses. For me the book was ok, not great not awful just ok so it's a 3/5.
3/5 Meh, it was Ok
March 23, 2012
Straight to Hell was a great surpise.
When I first received this book for review I wasn't sure if it'd be my kind of thing, I don't usually read books about 30-something women, but let me tell you I am really glad I got it. This book was amazing and hilarious. I fell in love with Lilith who was just like a real life person. Struggling with her life and trying to stay in the right way. But let's start with what this book is about.
Lilith Straight used to have everything, a loving, rich husband, a huge house, an adorable daughter, and everything money could buy until the day she got divorced and her life started falling apart. Her 23 year-old sister moved in with her, her ex-husband's sister dropped her troubled daughter in her doorstep, her house caugh fire, money was hard to come by and on top of everything else, she died. Lilith then learned a secret about the women in her line, they were all succubus, seducing demons working for hell, who could work their way around anything. She tests her new power to get new clothes and a new washing machine, make her ex do what she wants and a lot more, but not everything is great. Her new boss is determined to have Lilith use her powers for evil and her new co-worker is one hell of a hot incubus.
As I said before this books was a great surprise. I adore Lilith, she fights so hard to not use her new powers for evil and to stay as good as she was before everything changed. She is a very believable person, she reacts the same way anyone would if they were in her shoes. All the characters in the book are so different and well developed that I could actually picture then perfect and expect their reactions, the author made a great work to help us understand them. The story it is a great balance of serious and hilarious moments, just like real life. Really well done. Finally, I am very curious as to what will happen next, I can't wait for the next one.
When I first received this book for review I wasn't sure if it'd be my kind of thing, I don't usually read books about 30-something women, but let me tell you I am really glad I got it. This book was amazing and hilarious. I fell in love with Lilith who was just like a real life person. Struggling with her life and trying to stay in the right way. But let's start with what this book is about.
Lilith Straight used to have everything, a loving, rich husband, a huge house, an adorable daughter, and everything money could buy until the day she got divorced and her life started falling apart. Her 23 year-old sister moved in with her, her ex-husband's sister dropped her troubled daughter in her doorstep, her house caugh fire, money was hard to come by and on top of everything else, she died. Lilith then learned a secret about the women in her line, they were all succubus, seducing demons working for hell, who could work their way around anything. She tests her new power to get new clothes and a new washing machine, make her ex do what she wants and a lot more, but not everything is great. Her new boss is determined to have Lilith use her powers for evil and her new co-worker is one hell of a hot incubus.
As I said before this books was a great surprise. I adore Lilith, she fights so hard to not use her new powers for evil and to stay as good as she was before everything changed. She is a very believable person, she reacts the same way anyone would if they were in her shoes. All the characters in the book are so different and well developed that I could actually picture then perfect and expect their reactions, the author made a great work to help us understand them. The story it is a great balance of serious and hilarious moments, just like real life. Really well done. Finally, I am very curious as to what will happen next, I can't wait for the next one.
November 18, 2011
This story is much more grim than I'd expected after reading the blurb.
Lilith is a nice and fun person, but the things thrown at her are not only dragging her down, they are also changing her, although she tries really hard to fight it. I was rooting for her to stand her ground and to find a way to turn her life around for the better, but time and time again things turned out wrong.
The tension between Lilith and the Incubus, William, is delicious to read I will say and brings a bit of light in an otherwise dark story.
What keeps this story from becoming depressing is Lilith's defiance and her strong will to not become what the Devil wants her to. It's this that kept me reading to see Lilith succeed and overcome her problems.
To know if Lilith will succeed in finding happiness I will have to read the next book in this series though, as this first book ends with lots of things still unresolved.
Lilith is a nice and fun person, but the things thrown at her are not only dragging her down, they are also changing her, although she tries really hard to fight it. I was rooting for her to stand her ground and to find a way to turn her life around for the better, but time and time again things turned out wrong.
The tension between Lilith and the Incubus, William, is delicious to read I will say and brings a bit of light in an otherwise dark story.
What keeps this story from becoming depressing is Lilith's defiance and her strong will to not become what the Devil wants her to. It's this that kept me reading to see Lilith succeed and overcome her problems.
To know if Lilith will succeed in finding happiness I will have to read the next book in this series though, as this first book ends with lots of things still unresolved.
March 2, 2012
Straight to Hell was a quick, enjoyable read. The characters were interesting and compelling, but I had a hard time liking the heroine, Lilith. And I guess that is important to me. Without giving the story away, I just finished reading with a bad taste in my mouth. Lilith's decisions made me feel uncomfortable. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it!
October 7, 2011
Lillith Straight is a thirty-something divorced mother of an eight year old daughter who is struggling to make ends meet. To further complicate her life, she has her ex-husband’s young niece and her stepsister living with her. And, oh, by the way, she “dies� after being hit by a car, the Devil appears to claim her soul and she now has to work for him as a reincarnated succubus.
To say Lillith struggles with her new circumstances is putting it mildly. She’s pretty bad at being a succubus initially, really struggling to overcome her true nature of being at her best with the world even in the face of chaos. Lillith’s life before the accident was no bed of roses, especially since she doesn’t have a regular paying job, her house burned down and the insurance company isn’t cooperating, her niece is acting out and having food on the table is, well, a luxury. Her stepsister, Jasmine, doesn’t seem to want to work and her niece is self-destructive (and was also responsible for the house burning down). As if there weren’t enough people for Lillith to support, Jasmine’s boyfriend, Tommy, starts occupying the living room couch.
This isn’t your typical succubus tale…no X-rated scenes here. The real substance of this story begins, however, when Lillith is faced with choices to help protect and provide for her unconventional family. Does she succumb to the allure of the Devil, who can provide for her and her family in the manner well-beyond survival or does she look to God for help, which would be a first for her. Lillith is no different from the every-day person who is just trying to provide for her family, do the right thing and have a love life in the meantime. It’s a constant tug-of-war in trying to figure out not only the right path to take but who’s going to be able to really deliver. There’s also an interesting cast of characters, from Lillith’s “handler� Miss Spry to the sexy incubus, William, who she’s unwillingly drawn to, and her adopted father who raised her from the age of three following her mother’s departure.
This is a well-written story, told with wry humor and realism. Identifying good versus evil isn’t the issue; the circumstances may muddy the waters and it’s not as easy a choice as you might think. But, you’ll find yourself identifying with Lillith and her decisions, even though you know it may not be the acceptable “right� thing to do. No matter what course she selects, Lillith does what she feels is best for the people around her. There is an especially disturbing choice she makes near the end that will make you cringe. I was left wondering what she will have to deal with in the long run as a result of her actions. As disappointed as I was with Lillith, I’m invested enough in her to wait for the next installment in this series.
(I received an ARC from the author)
To say Lillith struggles with her new circumstances is putting it mildly. She’s pretty bad at being a succubus initially, really struggling to overcome her true nature of being at her best with the world even in the face of chaos. Lillith’s life before the accident was no bed of roses, especially since she doesn’t have a regular paying job, her house burned down and the insurance company isn’t cooperating, her niece is acting out and having food on the table is, well, a luxury. Her stepsister, Jasmine, doesn’t seem to want to work and her niece is self-destructive (and was also responsible for the house burning down). As if there weren’t enough people for Lillith to support, Jasmine’s boyfriend, Tommy, starts occupying the living room couch.
This isn’t your typical succubus tale…no X-rated scenes here. The real substance of this story begins, however, when Lillith is faced with choices to help protect and provide for her unconventional family. Does she succumb to the allure of the Devil, who can provide for her and her family in the manner well-beyond survival or does she look to God for help, which would be a first for her. Lillith is no different from the every-day person who is just trying to provide for her family, do the right thing and have a love life in the meantime. It’s a constant tug-of-war in trying to figure out not only the right path to take but who’s going to be able to really deliver. There’s also an interesting cast of characters, from Lillith’s “handler� Miss Spry to the sexy incubus, William, who she’s unwillingly drawn to, and her adopted father who raised her from the age of three following her mother’s departure.
This is a well-written story, told with wry humor and realism. Identifying good versus evil isn’t the issue; the circumstances may muddy the waters and it’s not as easy a choice as you might think. But, you’ll find yourself identifying with Lillith and her decisions, even though you know it may not be the acceptable “right� thing to do. No matter what course she selects, Lillith does what she feels is best for the people around her. There is an especially disturbing choice she makes near the end that will make you cringe. I was left wondering what she will have to deal with in the long run as a result of her actions. As disappointed as I was with Lillith, I’m invested enough in her to wait for the next installment in this series.
(I received an ARC from the author)
November 17, 2011
See my author interview with Michelle and enter the international giveaway to win a copy of this book until December 2nd!
When I started reading Straight to Hell, I was instantly gripped by the narrative. The books I tend to enjoy reading the most, are those that immediately reach out to the reader and speak to them as though they're having a conversation with a friend - and Michelle has certainly achieved that here! I was instantly drawn into Lilith's hectic life, and it took very little time for me to sympathise with her character. It also took very little time for the story to get going properly. I find with a lot of books, the author spends a little too much time at the beginning of the book, introducing readers to the setting and describing the characters' appearances and backgrounds etc, and not enough time introducing the main plot, which is after all, what the reader is going to be gripped by - Straight to Hell throws the reader straight in and holds them there.
Lil's character was also absolutely fantastic. Obviously, only being 20 myself, I can't yet sympathise with all of her problems, but I found her a very easy character to like, despite all of the awful things she's forced to do by the evil antagonist, Miss Spry (who was, by the way, quite an entertaining character, despite her evil).
Lilith's character is definitely a complex one, which I think is why I found her so believable - she found excitements and thrills in some of the things her Succubus allowed her to do, but at the same time she fought with her conscience, as any normal human being would do. In the end, even though she has to do some terrible things, she has an ultimately good motive for doing so.
There were so many twists in the plot that I didn't see coming that the novel definitely kept me on my toes, and it kept moving at such a pace that there wasn't a single point in the book where I was bored in the slightest.
I'm also a bit of a sucker for some romance in the books that I read, and this certainly delivered. I'm really intrigued to see what happens in Lilith's relationship with a certain beautiful man in the second book in the series - I won't tell you who because I really don't want to spoil anything for you. Although I do like romantic elements in a novel, I also liked that the romance did not overpower the rest of the story, but rather just accompanied it well.
I would definitely recommend this novel to any fan of the fantasy or 'dark fantasy' genres.
When I started reading Straight to Hell, I was instantly gripped by the narrative. The books I tend to enjoy reading the most, are those that immediately reach out to the reader and speak to them as though they're having a conversation with a friend - and Michelle has certainly achieved that here! I was instantly drawn into Lilith's hectic life, and it took very little time for me to sympathise with her character. It also took very little time for the story to get going properly. I find with a lot of books, the author spends a little too much time at the beginning of the book, introducing readers to the setting and describing the characters' appearances and backgrounds etc, and not enough time introducing the main plot, which is after all, what the reader is going to be gripped by - Straight to Hell throws the reader straight in and holds them there.
Lil's character was also absolutely fantastic. Obviously, only being 20 myself, I can't yet sympathise with all of her problems, but I found her a very easy character to like, despite all of the awful things she's forced to do by the evil antagonist, Miss Spry (who was, by the way, quite an entertaining character, despite her evil).
Lilith's character is definitely a complex one, which I think is why I found her so believable - she found excitements and thrills in some of the things her Succubus allowed her to do, but at the same time she fought with her conscience, as any normal human being would do. In the end, even though she has to do some terrible things, she has an ultimately good motive for doing so.
There were so many twists in the plot that I didn't see coming that the novel definitely kept me on my toes, and it kept moving at such a pace that there wasn't a single point in the book where I was bored in the slightest.
I'm also a bit of a sucker for some romance in the books that I read, and this certainly delivered. I'm really intrigued to see what happens in Lilith's relationship with a certain beautiful man in the second book in the series - I won't tell you who because I really don't want to spoil anything for you. Although I do like romantic elements in a novel, I also liked that the romance did not overpower the rest of the story, but rather just accompanied it well.
I would definitely recommend this novel to any fan of the fantasy or 'dark fantasy' genres.
May 25, 2012
Original review:
I first saw this book on Dani’s blog, Pen to Paper � and I have to say, I got hooked right away. I loved the synopsis and the fact that Dani rated it so high and seemed to enjoy it made me even more interested. Even though I don’t normally read indie books, Straight to Hell was an exception � and I’m so glad I did pick this up! It was a very pleasant surprise and I have to agree with Dani � it is a page turner.
The narration is just spot-on: it is Lilith who tells the story and boy, she’s a great character. She has a great sense of humour and she’s a bit sarcastic as well. (I always mention this but yes, I love sarcastic characters!) I loved Lilith from the very beginning � there’s something about her that draws you in and even though Michelle Scott did a great job with all the other characters, Lilith will still remain my favourite. I love the fact that even though the plot is a bit, well.., far-fetched (and I don’t mean this in a bad way) and definitely not something that would happen to any of us, she’s still a down-to-earth, everyday character, just like us. She’s worried about getting her daughter to school, paying bills, finding a job and all these everyday problems while she works for Miss Spry (i.e. a Devil-like creature who works in Hell) as a succubus. I loved how one minute she’s on a mission in Hell and she’s back to her apartment with her odd family and unpaid bills the next. The difference between these two worlds and the fact that Lilith is involved in both at the same time is incredible and for me, it made the book even funnier.
The only negative thing I can mention in connection with this book is punctuation. I don���t know whether it was my edition only or if it was edited since I downloaded my copy but the lack of question marks at the end of certain sentences was a little bit distracting. I’m terrible when it comes to grammatical mistakes or punctuation, I know, but it does annoy me. Dani -who read and reviewed this book earlier than me- said she doesn’t remember any mistakes so it might have been my copy only, I don’t know.
All in all, I would definitely recommend Straight to Hell to anyone who’s looking for a relatively quick read � something fast paced, something funny with a bit of a twist and some paranormal elements. Lilith and her family will no doubt leave a lasting impression on you and you’ll look forward to Straight to Heaven, the second instalment of the Lilith Straight series, just like me.
I first saw this book on Dani’s blog, Pen to Paper � and I have to say, I got hooked right away. I loved the synopsis and the fact that Dani rated it so high and seemed to enjoy it made me even more interested. Even though I don’t normally read indie books, Straight to Hell was an exception � and I’m so glad I did pick this up! It was a very pleasant surprise and I have to agree with Dani � it is a page turner.
The narration is just spot-on: it is Lilith who tells the story and boy, she’s a great character. She has a great sense of humour and she’s a bit sarcastic as well. (I always mention this but yes, I love sarcastic characters!) I loved Lilith from the very beginning � there’s something about her that draws you in and even though Michelle Scott did a great job with all the other characters, Lilith will still remain my favourite. I love the fact that even though the plot is a bit, well.., far-fetched (and I don’t mean this in a bad way) and definitely not something that would happen to any of us, she’s still a down-to-earth, everyday character, just like us. She’s worried about getting her daughter to school, paying bills, finding a job and all these everyday problems while she works for Miss Spry (i.e. a Devil-like creature who works in Hell) as a succubus. I loved how one minute she’s on a mission in Hell and she’s back to her apartment with her odd family and unpaid bills the next. The difference between these two worlds and the fact that Lilith is involved in both at the same time is incredible and for me, it made the book even funnier.
The only negative thing I can mention in connection with this book is punctuation. I don���t know whether it was my edition only or if it was edited since I downloaded my copy but the lack of question marks at the end of certain sentences was a little bit distracting. I’m terrible when it comes to grammatical mistakes or punctuation, I know, but it does annoy me. Dani -who read and reviewed this book earlier than me- said she doesn’t remember any mistakes so it might have been my copy only, I don’t know.
All in all, I would definitely recommend Straight to Hell to anyone who’s looking for a relatively quick read � something fast paced, something funny with a bit of a twist and some paranormal elements. Lilith and her family will no doubt leave a lasting impression on you and you’ll look forward to Straight to Heaven, the second instalment of the Lilith Straight series, just like me.
December 6, 2015
Imagine having the perfect life, the perfect family, not worrying about if there is enough money in the bank, buying that designer handbag or in my case not worrying about buying a shed load of books.
Now imagine having that ripped away from you, being by yourself with your kids and having to live day to day. Well this is what has happened to Lilith Straight, she had it all and lost it but she still has her daughter and is also looking after her niece plus somewhere along the line her crazy stepsister has moved in.
But hey she has her health......well she had till the day she gets knocked over and killed by a car.
But she doesn't reach the pearly gates, she ends up behind bars somewhere down below and is introduced to Miss Spry who has a family story to tell her.
She learns that she is a Succubus and not only that, she comes from a long, long line of them. The icing on the cake is she can have her life back but only if she becomes a Succubus, one that will be forever on call for the people down below in Hell or she can die.
She doesn't like it but there really is only one choice for her.
Of course the path to accepting that your body is now hosting a demon and that your mother has been hiding the fact she is a succubus from you does take a bit of getting used to for Lilith but before she gets a chance to speak to her, the worst happens, her mother passes away.
Lilith does not even get to organise her mothers funeral in peace, her new "skills" want to come to the surface and so begins Lilith's attempt to rebel against what she is.
As the story progresses we meet more of Miss Spry's colleagues who are there to guide Lilith and to make sure she carries out what is demanded of her because is she doesn't do what she is told, she will lose her life.
Straight to Hell is a great read, it is sassy, it is funny and the character of Lilith is a great one, she is a normal woman who has hit hard times and all of a sudden has to ride the crazy train to her new life.
This book did not take itself too seriously which I love and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the future!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Now imagine having that ripped away from you, being by yourself with your kids and having to live day to day. Well this is what has happened to Lilith Straight, she had it all and lost it but she still has her daughter and is also looking after her niece plus somewhere along the line her crazy stepsister has moved in.
But hey she has her health......well she had till the day she gets knocked over and killed by a car.
But she doesn't reach the pearly gates, she ends up behind bars somewhere down below and is introduced to Miss Spry who has a family story to tell her.
She learns that she is a Succubus and not only that, she comes from a long, long line of them. The icing on the cake is she can have her life back but only if she becomes a Succubus, one that will be forever on call for the people down below in Hell or she can die.
She doesn't like it but there really is only one choice for her.
Of course the path to accepting that your body is now hosting a demon and that your mother has been hiding the fact she is a succubus from you does take a bit of getting used to for Lilith but before she gets a chance to speak to her, the worst happens, her mother passes away.
Lilith does not even get to organise her mothers funeral in peace, her new "skills" want to come to the surface and so begins Lilith's attempt to rebel against what she is.
As the story progresses we meet more of Miss Spry's colleagues who are there to guide Lilith and to make sure she carries out what is demanded of her because is she doesn't do what she is told, she will lose her life.
Straight to Hell is a great read, it is sassy, it is funny and the character of Lilith is a great one, she is a normal woman who has hit hard times and all of a sudden has to ride the crazy train to her new life.
This book did not take itself too seriously which I love and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the future!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 11, 2012
*Received a copy through Read it & Reap program on ŷ. Thanks to the author and the program for making this happen. Thanks!*
Lilith's a divorced woman trying to make a living with her daughter, her niece and her step-sister who just wouldn't get out of the house to find a job for herself. What could be worse than being knocked down by the car and died? If only it ended there. But no, she went to hell after dying and found out about her terrible family curse--the females in her family were to be succubus due to some contract her ancestor signed with the Devil. Lilith was forced to work for the Devil. The plus point for this arrangement? She got to go back to the living again.
If you think that's the end of the story, think again. She has to go on missions at unexpected times and faced the wrath of her "boss" when she failed them as she just couldn't get past herself to do bad things. It just wasn't in her nature. At times, things happened at home when she wasn't around and it was dangerous for the kids who were unsupervised.
Of course there's a man in every book. In straight to Hell, there's William but there wasn't really much going between him and Lilith or was there? Just read it yourself to find out!
Will Lilith give up her family to continue her job as a succubus? Or will she fight for her family and for a way to survive? Read Straight to Hell by Michelle Scott to find out.
Overall: There's a touch of humor here and there in Straight to Hell, making it an interesting read. The daily struggle with kids and life is realistic and easily relatable. In my opinion, the plot is pretty original but there's just something that doesn't really suits me. I wonder if it is the devilish content? Purposely making/forcing the main character do some bad things. No harm giving this book a try if you are interested though. It has some potential in it. I'll probably wait for some reviews for the second book first before deciding if I want to continue with the series.
3/5 Stars for Straight to Hell.
Lilith's a divorced woman trying to make a living with her daughter, her niece and her step-sister who just wouldn't get out of the house to find a job for herself. What could be worse than being knocked down by the car and died? If only it ended there. But no, she went to hell after dying and found out about her terrible family curse--the females in her family were to be succubus due to some contract her ancestor signed with the Devil. Lilith was forced to work for the Devil. The plus point for this arrangement? She got to go back to the living again.
If you think that's the end of the story, think again. She has to go on missions at unexpected times and faced the wrath of her "boss" when she failed them as she just couldn't get past herself to do bad things. It just wasn't in her nature. At times, things happened at home when she wasn't around and it was dangerous for the kids who were unsupervised.
Of course there's a man in every book. In straight to Hell, there's William but there wasn't really much going between him and Lilith or was there? Just read it yourself to find out!
Will Lilith give up her family to continue her job as a succubus? Or will she fight for her family and for a way to survive? Read Straight to Hell by Michelle Scott to find out.
Overall: There's a touch of humor here and there in Straight to Hell, making it an interesting read. The daily struggle with kids and life is realistic and easily relatable. In my opinion, the plot is pretty original but there's just something that doesn't really suits me. I wonder if it is the devilish content? Purposely making/forcing the main character do some bad things. No harm giving this book a try if you are interested though. It has some potential in it. I'll probably wait for some reviews for the second book first before deciding if I want to continue with the series.
3/5 Stars for Straight to Hell.
May 29, 2012
I was given a free copy of this book on it's blog tour for an honest review.
In book one of the Lilith Straight series; we are introduced to the main character. Narrated by Lil in a very candid no bars held funny sort of way. Here are two of my favorite lines:
· “The woman you always wanted to be.�
· “Married to someone better looking than your husband, and his salary climbed into figures so high that you’d have to be married to six men before their incomes equaled his.�
She goes on to talk about her cars, her home, her daughter’s prestigious education, celebrity parties and socialite status. Yet all in the same breathe her tune changes because within the span of a year this snotty diva is brought down to Earth to live like less than a commoner. She lives on a substitute teacher’s salary in a 2-BR shabby townhome with her unemployed step sister, unofficially adopted delinquent ex niece-in-law, and daughter. Just when she thinks things can’t get worst, her free loading step sister moves in her psychic friend/love interest. And that’s only covers 10% of chapter one. The real fun begins when Lilith takes an unfortunate trip to the hot zone. This story literally took me on a ride I will NEVER forget. The only complaint I couldn’t get over was “ALIMONY�! This would have been so much more believable if she had something to show for the lost of her elaborate lifestyle of the rich and famous courtesy of her penny pinching ex. Instead, it was kind of painful to watch her struggles and not have that little common sense voice shouting it in my head. After Lil’s conversion into the supernatural realm and the new characters that came with it were very entertaining as well. It was surprising to see the author incorporate morals along with depicting Lil’s inner battle without being preachy. The only thing keeping me from rating this as a five or higher is the unfair divorce settlement and the ending. I really held out hope for a different ending.
In book one of the Lilith Straight series; we are introduced to the main character. Narrated by Lil in a very candid no bars held funny sort of way. Here are two of my favorite lines:
· “The woman you always wanted to be.�
· “Married to someone better looking than your husband, and his salary climbed into figures so high that you’d have to be married to six men before their incomes equaled his.�
She goes on to talk about her cars, her home, her daughter’s prestigious education, celebrity parties and socialite status. Yet all in the same breathe her tune changes because within the span of a year this snotty diva is brought down to Earth to live like less than a commoner. She lives on a substitute teacher’s salary in a 2-BR shabby townhome with her unemployed step sister, unofficially adopted delinquent ex niece-in-law, and daughter. Just when she thinks things can’t get worst, her free loading step sister moves in her psychic friend/love interest. And that’s only covers 10% of chapter one. The real fun begins when Lilith takes an unfortunate trip to the hot zone. This story literally took me on a ride I will NEVER forget. The only complaint I couldn’t get over was “ALIMONY�! This would have been so much more believable if she had something to show for the lost of her elaborate lifestyle of the rich and famous courtesy of her penny pinching ex. Instead, it was kind of painful to watch her struggles and not have that little common sense voice shouting it in my head. After Lil’s conversion into the supernatural realm and the new characters that came with it were very entertaining as well. It was surprising to see the author incorporate morals along with depicting Lil’s inner battle without being preachy. The only thing keeping me from rating this as a five or higher is the unfair divorce settlement and the ending. I really held out hope for a different ending.
March 12, 2012
*Received e-book through Read It and Reap program from the Shut Up and Read! ŷ group from author for an honest review;
**also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Straight to Hell is told by the point-of-view of Lilith Straight, a 30+ year old divorcee/substitute teacher (once extremely rich) who currently struggling to pay the bills for herself, her daughter, a niece abandoned by her sister-in-law, and a stepsister kicked out by her mother. After she is fatally struck by a car, she finds herself in hell, given an ultimatum by Miss Spry, to either uphold a long-standing bargain by a female ancestor to become a succubus or to remain dead. Given her family/responsibilities, she chooses to share her body with a demon, permanently on call for any assignment from Miss Spry.
Scott succeeds in writing an entertaining, fast-paced book with a little romance thrown in and unexpectedly touching moments. It was hilarious to see Lilith give over to her demon side, especially the scenes with her ex-husband, a funeral director, and a Rodeo Drive store clerk. In addition, the scenes with the incubus, Mr. Darcy, were charming although I wished they were longer and more developed. It was also pleasantly surprising to feel moved by her struggle with her various missions as she questions the morality of her actions and whether they were justified in protecting her family. I loved the final twist at the end when Lilith must face the final choice of whether to stay a succubus and proving the conviction of her decision.
Overall, Straight to Hell was a fun, fast read (I finished this in one sitting). Scott did wrap up this first novel well, but I was enjoying it so much I did want more � it is more like a novella or teaser at ~120 pages. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. I would highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal romances such as the Jane True series by Nicole Peeler or the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper.
**also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Straight to Hell is told by the point-of-view of Lilith Straight, a 30+ year old divorcee/substitute teacher (once extremely rich) who currently struggling to pay the bills for herself, her daughter, a niece abandoned by her sister-in-law, and a stepsister kicked out by her mother. After she is fatally struck by a car, she finds herself in hell, given an ultimatum by Miss Spry, to either uphold a long-standing bargain by a female ancestor to become a succubus or to remain dead. Given her family/responsibilities, she chooses to share her body with a demon, permanently on call for any assignment from Miss Spry.
Scott succeeds in writing an entertaining, fast-paced book with a little romance thrown in and unexpectedly touching moments. It was hilarious to see Lilith give over to her demon side, especially the scenes with her ex-husband, a funeral director, and a Rodeo Drive store clerk. In addition, the scenes with the incubus, Mr. Darcy, were charming although I wished they were longer and more developed. It was also pleasantly surprising to feel moved by her struggle with her various missions as she questions the morality of her actions and whether they were justified in protecting her family. I loved the final twist at the end when Lilith must face the final choice of whether to stay a succubus and proving the conviction of her decision.
Overall, Straight to Hell was a fun, fast read (I finished this in one sitting). Scott did wrap up this first novel well, but I was enjoying it so much I did want more � it is more like a novella or teaser at ~120 pages. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. I would highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal romances such as the Jane True series by Nicole Peeler or the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper.
May 23, 2012
When I started the book, I though uh-oh this is sounding like a Queen Betsy rip off � right from the first page Lilith mentions the day she died...and she was hit by a car. But Lilith doesn't rise from the dead, instead she must fulfil her family's destiny and become a succubus, in the employ of the devil... or Miss Spry as the case may be. Don't worry, it's not all about sex either, true to her name, Lilith is a temptress but must use her seductive skills to sway the decisions of humans and gain extra souls for the cause.
It's an easy read although I wouldn't put it in the paranormal romance sub-genre. It's not at all romantic or sexy if that's what you're after. Yes, there may be a hot demon in Lilith's life but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Lilith is much more concerned about looking after her daughter and niece, paying the bills and not doing anything too evil.
And maybe that's my problem with Lilith as a character. All her guilt. She doesn't really fight against her job but she goes on a bit too much about how awful everything she has to do is. At times it's really quite funny but it is a little overdone for me and the plot loses its way.
I read a final copy of this book and there were a few sentences that didn't read quite right. These should be picked up by a good professional proofreader. However the ebook is certainly a bargain if you like light, paranormal reads.
It's an easy read although I wouldn't put it in the paranormal romance sub-genre. It's not at all romantic or sexy if that's what you're after. Yes, there may be a hot demon in Lilith's life but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Lilith is much more concerned about looking after her daughter and niece, paying the bills and not doing anything too evil.
And maybe that's my problem with Lilith as a character. All her guilt. She doesn't really fight against her job but she goes on a bit too much about how awful everything she has to do is. At times it's really quite funny but it is a little overdone for me and the plot loses its way.
I read a final copy of this book and there were a few sentences that didn't read quite right. These should be picked up by a good professional proofreader. However the ebook is certainly a bargain if you like light, paranormal reads.
September 29, 2011
3.5 stars - Lilith Straight had it all, the rich husband, the fabulous house, in short, the perfect life, but no more. Then just when she thinks that everything in her life has has gone to hell, Lilith dies and goes to Hell (literally) and back. Now Lilith's a newly made Succubus single mom trying to balance her new duties with her family and her old values.
I accidently ended buying this book - it is just too easy to click the "Buy" instead of the "See Details" - but it was only ninety nine cents so what the heck. Which is lucky because this turned out to be a more than decent not-quite-urban-fantasy-not-quite-chicklity-paranormal read. I liked Lilith's struggle to get by. That she occassionally succumbs to temption by using her seductive powers to help her family survive, and how she manages to foul up at being evil when the chips are down, is at times amusing. She does have to make some unfortunate trade offs, but still Lilith manages to stay a sympathetic character even as a minion.
So, I thought Straight to Hell was entertaining and, surprisingly, the story was PG13 at most - which was pretty amazing for a book that had a succubus in the lead.
I accidently ended buying this book - it is just too easy to click the "Buy" instead of the "See Details" - but it was only ninety nine cents so what the heck. Which is lucky because this turned out to be a more than decent not-quite-urban-fantasy-not-quite-chicklity-paranormal read. I liked Lilith's struggle to get by. That she occassionally succumbs to temption by using her seductive powers to help her family survive, and how she manages to foul up at being evil when the chips are down, is at times amusing. She does have to make some unfortunate trade offs, but still Lilith manages to stay a sympathetic character even as a minion.
So, I thought Straight to Hell was entertaining and, surprisingly, the story was PG13 at most - which was pretty amazing for a book that had a succubus in the lead.
March 8, 2012
How can you beat a succubus, an irresistible incubus and a dark and twisty sense of humor? Michelle Scott has done a fabulous job in unraveling this new and hellish world of Lilith Straight in Straight to Hell. Scott's seamless story telling kept me turning the pages, anticipating Lilith's next move in her dance with the Devil.
One thing Lilith must face is one thing I think all women are afraid of, becoming like their mother! However, this time, it really is beyond her control as their ancestor struck a deal with the Underworld, a deal that each generation must uphold. Torn between her own morality and unwavering will to protect her family, Lilith is forced to do something that she will inevitably regret.
I adored Lilith's wit, her resilience, her honesty and her less than graceful efforts to be successful at her "job" in a new world, while still maintaining the "old" one. I loved how I could cheer her on one moment and want to strangle her the next! Oh how I look forward to seeing what's in store for Lilith Straight.
Michelle Scott, don't make me wait too long!
One thing Lilith must face is one thing I think all women are afraid of, becoming like their mother! However, this time, it really is beyond her control as their ancestor struck a deal with the Underworld, a deal that each generation must uphold. Torn between her own morality and unwavering will to protect her family, Lilith is forced to do something that she will inevitably regret.
I adored Lilith's wit, her resilience, her honesty and her less than graceful efforts to be successful at her "job" in a new world, while still maintaining the "old" one. I loved how I could cheer her on one moment and want to strangle her the next! Oh how I look forward to seeing what's in store for Lilith Straight.
Michelle Scott, don't make me wait too long!
January 6, 2012
I liked it so much better than I expected to and this is quite a difficult review to write with no spoilers.
At the ripe old age of 34, Lilith finds she has inherited the mantle of the family business - which she didn't even know existed. This turn of events just adds more to her already overflowing plate of life. She's lost her life of luxury, her friends, her husband, her mom dies, her house is burned down, she's taken in her sister that won't work & her ex-husband's troubled niece and she had to get a job - as a substitute teacher! Lilith's story is one that definitely reminds you that down on your luck does not mean out of luck. She still has plenty-that some would call it bad luck is beside the point.
Lilith's indiviuality is so strong that it gives credibility to the other characters, most of whom are very likable. Overall the plotting and characterization make the trip to this glib, irreverent world fun. This humorous riches to rags story is a quick read that will have you laughing out-loud.
At the ripe old age of 34, Lilith finds she has inherited the mantle of the family business - which she didn't even know existed. This turn of events just adds more to her already overflowing plate of life. She's lost her life of luxury, her friends, her husband, her mom dies, her house is burned down, she's taken in her sister that won't work & her ex-husband's troubled niece and she had to get a job - as a substitute teacher! Lilith's story is one that definitely reminds you that down on your luck does not mean out of luck. She still has plenty-that some would call it bad luck is beside the point.
Lilith's indiviuality is so strong that it gives credibility to the other characters, most of whom are very likable. Overall the plotting and characterization make the trip to this glib, irreverent world fun. This humorous riches to rags story is a quick read that will have you laughing out-loud.
January 17, 2012
Straight to Hell is a witty, engrossing read that grabs your attention from the beginning. The book is about Lilith Straight, a down on her luck divorcee, who is struggling to balance the strains of being a single parent plus the additional stress of an immature adult sister and a troubled niece living with her. Right after we are introduced to Lilith and have been given a chance to get to know her, she dies. Lilith knows she was not perfect during her short life, but she was not prepared for where she ended up.
I loved Lilith's witty, sarcastic personality. It was so much fun to be inside her head. Throughout the book we watch her struggle with what she knows is right and what she feels she must do. The tough decisions she makes are always for what she feels is the greater good…her daughter. This is not a story of good versus evil, but more like bad versus worse, and Lilith does the best she can with what she has to work with.
I loved Lilith's witty, sarcastic personality. It was so much fun to be inside her head. Throughout the book we watch her struggle with what she knows is right and what she feels she must do. The tough decisions she makes are always for what she feels is the greater good…her daughter. This is not a story of good versus evil, but more like bad versus worse, and Lilith does the best she can with what she has to work with.
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