From the blurb:
Cal and his brothers turned their backs on the family business over a hundred years ago – but Hell is tired of waiting for them to return.
Cal
I’ve never wanted a relationship – especially not with a human. With my father demanding my return to Hell and a demon leaving dead bodies in my bookshop, now is not the time to be losing my heart. But one look in Oscar’s broken eyes and I know I’m in trouble. Oscar’s been hurt before and everything in me is screaming to keep him safe. How can I do that when I know being with me will only put him in more danger?
More importantly though, am I strong enough to walk away from him?
Oscar
After escaping my last relationship with broken bones and an anxiety disorder, I’m tired of living half a life. My world revolves around my classroom, flat, and best friend. When fate throws Cal in my path, he seems too good to be true. Not only does he look like he’s been pulled from my fantasies, but my baggage doesn’t scare him. Ok, so there’s the tiny issue of him being a demon, but I’ve dealt with far scarier.
I’ve been broken once before, and I don’t think I’d survive it again. Can I pull down my barriers enough to let Cal in?
Trigger warning for emotional abuse and domestic violence in a previous relationship, anxiety attacks, and descriptions of violence.
Miki.J's Review:
Devil's Mark grabbed my attention right from the dedication and first lines in chapter 1 and all the way to the end !!
The author has written this story with a very deft hand – it’s funny and the sassy dialogue is quite simply … perfect. She also handles the heavy emotions/subject with empathy and flows with the storyline seamlessly.
This books ticks a lot of boxes for me – demons with a moral code and loopholes, the family bonds and bickering – love how Oscar was able to handle them ….. bahahahaha And the fact we have a bookstore owner and a teacher as main characters …perfect pairing !!
Cal, possessive demon, adorable and patient …but only with Oscar….. And Oscar himself, poor guy, he’s really gone through the wringer and is still suffering. (TW’s here !) The interaction between them is so heart-felt and romantic and very definitely steamy !!
Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book and a great start to the series - I really can’t wait to see what happens with Harlow !!
Rating: 5 Stars
SNik's Review:
First in series (The Reckless Damned). Paranormal. Hurt/comfort. Dual POV.
A demon prince that’s left Hell behind to be with his brothers, Cal is immortal and doesn’t have time for humans, but when he meets Oscar, a teacher with a painful past, Cal is drawn to him beyond all reason. Cal’s protective and comforting presence slowly gives Oscar the determination to start living his life fully again and when he learns Cal is a demon Oscar does not run away but instead embraces all the risks involved to his safety and his heart.
Both Cal and Oscar are sweet (yes a demon can be sweet with his forever person), loyal, caring, needy with each other, and absolutely steamy whenever they get a chance to be together. Oscar is no pushover, he accepts Cal as a demon and demands an equal relationship which I appreciated and Cal with his possessiveness but determination to let Oscar live an independent life is swoony.
There is a fun secondary cast of characters made up of Cal’s brothers and Oscar’s sister, his best friend, and an archangel, and enough action to show that messing with Cal’s family is a one way ticket to Hell.
A really fantastic and entertaining read from debut author Lark Taylor with enough world build to keep the reader wanting more from this series.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Janet's Review:
Devil's Mark was seriously fun to read!! This was my first time reading this authors work and it definitely will NOT be my last!!
Devils’ Mark was sooo freaking good, I literally could not put it down. The story was engaging and consistent. Cal didn’t want any type of relationship, but that’s exactly what he gets when He meets and marks Oscar. Oscar was scared to have another relationship after his last one almost ended his life. He is pushed out of his comfort zone by his best friend and meets Cal.
Their story is sweet, hot and steamy, spicy and lots of humor and snark. I cannot wait for Mori or Harlow’s stories.
Overall, a outstanding read, gimme more!!! Well written with perfect pacing that makes it so hard to stop reading!
Rating: 5 Stars
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's Review:
What an unexpected absolute delight. Sometimes you take a chance on new to you author and it doesn't pan out. I can happily say that was far from the case here. This book had a ton of elements I love. PNR, humor, snark, brotherly banter, and a found family element to wrap it up. Oh and lots of steamy sex with a demon who is quite the possessive gentleman. Did I forget to mention that first?
"If you were mine, if you accepted the bond, I would never let you go. You would become the focus of my life, the being I would put before all others."
I mean holy swoon. Poor Oscar has got baggage up the wazoo and barely leaves his house. Luckily for him, when his bestie Bailey finally convinces him to hit the town, he runs into none other than Cal, one of the demon princes of hell. Only he has no idea the man is a demon. Just that he's sex on legs. Cal, who has never really given two shits about humans before is hit with a whammy of his own. Something about the human Oscar calls to him like no other being has before. From there it all spirals into a dramatic courting affair that more often than not ventures into hilarity. Cal's brothers are definitely a hoot and added a ton of enjoyment to the story. I mean one is a slutty demon twink, enough said. Speaking of said slutty twink, his story is next and I am foaming at the mouth to get my hands on it. It's gunna be a long 4 months til November after this one.
Rating: 5 Stars
Devil's Mark is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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