A Fiend In Need

By Maureen Child

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451223071
• ISBN13: 9780451223074
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: NAL Trade
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.6" x 5.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

A Fiend in Need

After a busy month of being her town's demon killer, putting up with her ex-lover moving back to town, and dating a sexy demon, Cassie Burke's life does not seem to be slowing down. In fact, it is only getting worse. With her daughter being a classic teenager, the sudden knowledge of the price that is now on her head, The Demon Queen planning to have her killed and, of course, the faery hunk that has appeared at her door, slowing down is definitely not in the cards. A Fiend in Need is an enjoyable, paranormal romp with plenty of giggles and moments of angst. Ms. Child's characters are well developed and believable, and the humor is just the perfect mix. At the end, this reader wanted a Faery of her very own and the ability to kick demon butt. Emma reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

4 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies

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!

Fun read

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

Follow-up to "More Than Fiends"

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

amusing chick lit romantic fantasy

One month ago her mom died, but Cassidy Burke has had little time to grieve her loss as she has become the most powerful demon duster in the world; or at least in California. The thirtyish mother of Thea wonders what next since she began spraying people with her specialized cleaning solution that turns selected people smoking and had to rescue her offspring (see MORE THAN FIENDS). No longer quite shocked by what has happened to her world since she learned about her DNA, Cassidy finds out that someone has posted a reward to the person who kills her on a website; just another day as a duster. However, Cassidy actually becomes flustered when six feet five inches Brady demands she give him a haven in her home. She figures she would be a light snack for the hunk, but he explains that he is a runaway slave. For the past hundred years, Brady has been a sex slave used and abused by his owner Demon Queen Vanessa. He insists the demon duster is the only one who can keep him safe although that might mean war between her and the Demon horde. As she ponders what to do encouraged by her teenager to keep him, she admits to herself the road to sanctuary is through her stomach as he can cook and through her libido as he is one heck of a hunk. This amusing chick lit romantic fantasy is an entertaining tale starring a likable save the world from a dusty demons heroine. The story line is fast-paced as Cassidy feels she has enough on her plate between demon dusting and raising a daughter, but to take a runaway slave in means warring with Queen Vanessa and her horde. Her first bite makes up Thea's mind to keep the hunk who can cook. A FIEND IN NEED is a pest, but a lovable nuisance not quite as weird as having a cheerleader offspring. Harriet Klausner