Light and fluffy paranormals sometimes really don’t work for me. Humor is so subjective and mine tends to lean quite a bit in the, let’s say, “warped” direction. You can imagine my delight though at finding a book that tickled my funny bone without insulting my intelligence or sacrificing the romance. For me, this was great escapism. And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Eden Riley is possessed by a demon named Darrak. The two of them have come to a sort of accord and have progressed from coexisting rather peacefully to having a romantic relationship. Darrak inhabits Eden’s body from sundown to sunrise. However, during the daylight hours he is able to assume his own humanoid form.

Eden has had to sacrifice much since being possessed. She has virtually no privacy. She is descended from angels and has acquired a measure of black magic from Darrak. She must be careful not to tap into the dark magic often lest it cost her soul. Though Darrak and Eden have found a way to cope with the inconvenience of demonic possession they still desire a solution to the curse that has been cast upon Darrak. As they attempt to remove the curse their plans are thwarted in turn by her newly-returned-from-the-grave mother, a former admirer, a hate group targeting supernatural beings, and even old Lucifer himself. What’s a possessed girl to do?

I found the book to be funny and refreshing. It’s a little like a road romance, except instead of driving across country this pair is taking day trips into Hell. The author has a very good sense of pacing and the story moves along quickly. Eden and Darrak are still getting to know one another, so there is still a sense of wonder and discovery to their relationship.

Though I was occasionally annoyed by Eden’s wheeling and dealing with Lucifer and her stubborn refusal to see him as an evil, dishonest being, I still thought she was endearing. Darrak won my heart with his wry commentary and his determination to do whatever was in Eden’s best interest even at the expense of his own. They complemented one another nicely and I felt a genuine sense of caring on both of their parts stemming from mutual trust and respect.

Occasionally I crave a romance that is lighthearted and fun without the slapstick gags that so many authors rely on for comedy. I was delighted with Eden and Darrak and his one-liners made me burst into laughter more than once. After reading some clunkers lately this one hit just the right note for me.