A Fiend In Need [Paperback]

Maureen Child (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 4, 2008

It's only been a month since single mom Cassie Burke unexpectedly became the hottest demon killer in town-and already there's a price on her head and a website calling for her murder.

Then a sizzling hunk of a faery shows up on her porch in need of protection. Cassie's happy to help because, after all, he is an expert love slave. Plus, he gets along great with her teenage daughter-a heroic feat in itself.

After a few not-quite-chaste nights, Cassie knows why Queen Vanessa wants him back so badly-and why she's planning an all-out attack on her. Suddenly Cassie's wondering if she can fend off an entire city of demons-and if a little faery tail is even worth it...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Maureen Child is the author of more than 75 books. She lives in Southern California with her family. Author website: maureenchild.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451223071
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223074
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today best selling author Maureen Child is the author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas. Maureen is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America.

One of her novels, A POCKETFUL OF PARADISE, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.

Maureen was not only on the Texas set to watch her characters come to life in front of the cameras, she was also tossed into the last scene by her husband and the producer, who both thought this would be a fun way to humiliate an author!

When her kids were small, Maureen started writing as not only a way to stay sane, but in the hopes of finding a job she could do and stay at home with them. Sanity is still an issue, but she did manage to write her way into a career she wouldn't trade for anything.

Over the years, she's written under lots of different names and she prefers the term 'pseudonym' to 'alias'. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.

Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire--books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.

Life is busy but when she isn't writing you can find Maureen sitting under her 'thinking tree', coming up with new ideas for even more stories. When she isn't dreaming up a new book or writing a current one, Maureen loves to travel. Her favorite vacation spot is Ireland, with Scotland coming in a very close second. She and her husband love a good road trip and Maureen's looking forward to the day when she can actually drive to Ireland. Talk about the best of both worlds!

Maureen lives with her family in Southern California and loves to hear from her readers. Visit her online at www.maureenchild.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Follow-up to "More Than Fiends", March 10, 2008

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fiend In Need (Paperback)

The events of this book take place a month after the end of the previous book, 'More than Fiends', when Cassidy Burke discovered that she was a Demon Duster, a kind of Demon Slayer. Her life has become more complicated - although also more fun - now she has a demon lover, Devlin Cole, and Logan, the father of her fifteen year old daughter has also come back into her life.

This story continues Cassie's experiences as a new Demon Duster. However her love life takes an unexpected twist when a Faery turns up at her door, asking for sanctuary. He has escaped from the Demon Queen and only Cassie can keep him safe from the woman who kept him as a love slave. Cassie has rather too much on her plate already, however, what with her other two men, being trained by Jasmine in Demon Dustering and worrying about her daughter's love life. However she finds herself regularly under attack by demons and it takes all her wits - as well as liberal helpings of chocolate and other goodies - to keep her going.

This book is written in a lighthearted style that was mostly charming but also irritating at times (she insisted on referring to a part of her anatomy as her 'Hoo-hah' which got very annoying very quickly). The more interesting parts of the books are her dealings with her daughter Thea and Thea's father Logan, the fights against the demons are all over very quickly. The book focuses more on the witty one-liners and amusing situational humour than any in-depth plot which left it rather unsatisfying overall but it's still an amusing read for a lighthearted moment.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, April 22, 2008

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fiend In Need (Paperback)

It's not easy balancing life being a single parent working mom of a teenager with being a Demon Duster but Cassidy Burke has no choice. Since realizing her generational destiny to be a Demon Duster, she's had to endure countless attempts against her life as well as the exhausting training of Jasmine. To make matters worse, a Faery has claimed Sanctuary with Cassie and now a demon queen is gunning for her. Could things get any worse?

A FIEND IN NEED is just sheer fun. It's the second book featuring the unlikely heroine of Cassidy Burke. While A FIEND IN NEED can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading these in order due to the subplots involving Logan Miller and Devlin Cole. Readers familiar with the first book will be intrigued by some of the twists in this story as it isn't necessarily a romance but is more along the lines of chick lit.

Brady the Faery steals the show in A FIEND IN NEED. As his story unfolds, readers will fall in love with this hero despite the ultimate curveball he throws at Cassidy. Thea's growth as a character has been intriguing to watch as well and I'm wondering if she'll play a more active role as the series progresses. My only disappointment with A FIEND IN NEED is that Cassidy seems stuck in a rut. She seems overly obsessed with sex, to the point it gets almost irritating. I would like to see a bit more depth as she acclimates to her role as a Demon Duster.

A FIEND IN NEED is a quick, often witty read. Maureen Child keeps the storyline upbeat and entertaining for the most part as Cassidy battles demons galore. Fans looking for a humorous twist on the paranormal are likely to enjoy this one.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies, August 28, 2008

By 

Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Fiend In Need (Paperback)

Maureen Child's latest release, A FIEND IN NEED picks up a few weeks after More Than Friends. Cassidy Burke, Demon Duster, has her hands full with a demon lover, a faery needing sanctuary, a law enforcement ex lover, a precocious daughter, and a demon queen who wants her dead.

Cassidy Burke has not been a Demon Duster for very long - a few weeks actually, so she is still learning the ropes of demon hunting and demon demises. When her daughter points out that there is a price on her head for ten thousand dollars dead or alive - but preferably dead - Cassidy knows that every demon in town is going to be looking to off her. Then, to make her day more complete, she opens the door on a handsome and very sexually attractive man demanding sanctuary. Not sure what that is but inadvertently granting it, Cassidy finds out that Brady the faery is the runaway sex slave of Vanessa, the Demon Queen.

In spite of having to protect herself from various demons about town while still trying to have a relationship with her demon lover, Cassidy can't help but be attracted to Brady. Finding out why he is wanted so badly helps some, but Cassidy is still unsure if protecting him is worth the cost. After some home cooked meals and a few sizzling kisses, Cassidy has her answer. To the dismay of her demon lover, her ex lover, and her demonic trainer, Cassidy and Brady explore each other quite naughtily.

Things are coming to a head however in Cassidy's fight against rogue demons. The queen wants her dead and is willing to do anything to accomplish that. Brady has a plan however and is willing to do what it takes to make sure Cassidy comes out the victor.

I quickly found myself smiling while reading A FIEND IN NEED. Cassidy's life is one major crisis after another and frankly, I don't know how she kept from going insane. Training to be the best Demon Duster alive took a lot of management and then, to top it off, Cassidy had to raise a daughter, one who frankly was about as smart as she was. All of this made for a realistic and highly humorous look at Cassidy's life and loves. Maureen Child combined the right amount of sexual tension with humor to hold my attention. Her wit and entertaining banter between characters shined through A FIEND IN NEED and I was hooked. I can't wait to see what she writes next!