Book Talk Review; Best Served Cold

 

I loved this book so much! 

Jeremy Jenkins’ mother was a drug addict, his foster families abusive. The man he thought the love of his life had just betrayed him in the most catastrophic way possible.

He stabbed him.

On the night of his death, he cries out. Jeremy doesn’t seek help or forgiveness, he craves revenge. In answer to his plea, Ozark appears before him with the promise of a future he never could have imagined.

Oz is a demon older than time. Feeding off revenge, he’s spent millennia reaping and selling souls. The contracts are simple: Oz helps someone achieve revenge, then hell gains another soul.

Jeremy takes the deal, but when the time comes, Oz releasing him to join the faceless ranks of hell’s ghouls is one more betrayal in a long line. He yearns to join the gorgeous demon for eternity; by his side and in his bed. Desperately searching for a loophole, he’s running out of time. Can Jeremy outwit those who fight against him and bend the laws of hell to keep the dangerous demon who’s captured his heart? Or is he destined to die as he lived?

Betrayed and alone.

*

Best Served Cold is some of EM Denning’s best writing. It’s dark, gory, and oh so good. I was so excited when it was announced that this book was coming because I love everything this author writes and this is no exception, if I’m being honest it might be some of the best writing I’ve read from her. 

Jeremy is lost and hurting and he’s saved by a demon when he needs someone to love him the most. That someone turns out to be Oz, a demon of revenge who helps Jeremy find the dark corners of his soul and come into his full potential. 

The chemistry between these two is off the charts. There’s a connection between the two of them, even when Oz tries to fight it because he doesn’t know how to keep Jeremy. Watching Oz embrace what he feels for Jeremy and fight for him is great. He evolves from a demon who embraces the revenge of those he collects to someone who wants to keep the sad and beautiful human safe. But through it all he doesn’t stop being a demon. Just a demon who’s a bit more in touch with his feelings. And that is great writing. 

Jeremy is such an amazing character. He’s so lonely. All he’s ever wanted was someone to love him. It took meeting a literal demon and embracing his hidden bloodlust to find it. And what a thirst for blood it is. Jeremy has no problems getting revenge and he’s very creative in how he goes about it. Some of the scenes are very dark and I did not expect that from EM Denning. I loved every bit of the darkness in this book, even the parts that go further than I thought they would go. But that’s what makes it so good, you don’t expect an author like EM Denning to write this type of book and she takes you for a ride with just how well she can write dark.

Everything about this book was perfection. From the cinnamon roll that is Jeremy. To Oz being the best demon to ever demon. To all the yummy goodness one could ask for. Mix it all up with all the relationship feels of an EM Denning book and you have the perfect read. 

*Quote- 

“When everyone else had seen nothing worth keeping, Oz had seen someone worth saving. Someone who had something of value inside him. Even if it was hate. Even if it was darkness and pain.” 

“If Oz had the ability to miss anyone, it would be Jeremy.”

“‘You’re the first person who ever gave me a choice.’”

“‘You’re exactly the person you always could be. I didn’t change you. I set you free. You’re no longer encumbered by expectations. You’re free to be exactly who you always wanted to be.’”