For Annie Theophilus, bad luck has been a constant in her life, until now.  Finally, Annie is on the verge of having everything she ever wanted.  She has a handsome fiancé, a beautiful home, and a successful job as a high school teacher.  Then Annie’s world comes crashing down around her when she finds her fiancé cheating on her.  Hiding out in the garage for a much-needed cry seems like a sensible plan until a portal to the Underworld opens up right beside her.

Namtar of the Annunaki is on a quest.  His people have been brought down by the actions of their selfish, crazed queen.  Namtar’s attempt to gather power brings him to Earth, where he must convince a human to sacrifice her mortality to spend an eternity in Underworld.  Should he succeed, Namtar will be able to free his people, and the lovely Annie would suit his purposes perfectly.  Yet, things never go as easily as planned.   From the moment Namtar touches Annie, he finds he cannot so callously use the intriguing beauty.  Soon the two find themselves on the run, from demons and murderous humans alike.  Should they survive, can Namtar really ask Annie to give up everything to him?

Devil Take Me is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure with rollicking good sex and some fascinating plot twists.  Namtar is sexy, honorable, and justifiably conflicted as he tries to balance the need to free his people with his need to protect and love Annie.  Annie is likeable and charming, and her horrible bad luck only served to endear her further to me.

The demon queen definitely punishes her lovers in a way that puts the “ick in icky,” as the warning on Samhain’s site says.  Thankfully these scenes are brief and not plentiful, and serve to highlight just how badly Namtar needs to succeed in his quest, even if the price might be too high for him to bear.  Altogether, a hero and heroine I can root for, steamy love scenes, a lovely romance, an engaging plot, and some truly terrible villains make Devil Take Me a delightful read.