I just absolutely had so much fun and I was so sad to turn the last page. I can’t wait to read more wonderful stories from this author.

Great addition tot he Brimstone series!

I'm a fan of almost all romance genres, as long as there is some humor or wit in the writing. Try As I Smite has this in spades, and left me thoroughly satisfied.

We have a powerful warlock that is the leader of the Covens Syndicate, and the seer that makes him NUTS is his best hope to solve the demon possession issues that he's working on. Alasdair and Delilah are all tension - they bristle each other like no one else. And the adventure that they set upon trying to solve this mystery? Hysterical!

This is a great series to devour.

Try as I Smite is the second book in the series and unfortunately I found it severely lacking. The book is really short and a quick read but I just did not connect to the characters of Delilah and Alastair as much as I did with the first book (Rowan and Gray). The story moves quick and I found the world building a little more confusing than I was hoping. I would read more in the world, I just wish they were a little longer with more explanations.

This was an unexpectedly sweet paranormal romance? I wish I had known it was Christmas Carol themed going in (only to have known I was reading a holiday book!) but luckily I read in December so it was timely anyway.

Let the Christmas-themed reading commence!

Try as I Smite was a fun Christmas-themed novella loosely based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's an enemies-to-lovers novella (Alasdair and Delilah have known each other professionally, and interact in at least one other series book) and though it's 4th in the series it works just fine as a standalone.

You'd better believe I'm going back to see that earlier interaction, though! I loved these two together, whether they were sniping at each other or doing...other things ;)

Readers of the series will be excited to know that the question of *what* Delilah is is finally answered here--and no, I'm not going to tell you! I'll just content myself going back and reading from the beginning, already knowing the secret. It's a good one :)

Even though this is a fairly short novella, the story feels complete (the hero and heroine having a previous relationship helps) and there's a nice balance here between relationship development and bad guy fighting. The climax of good vs evil was one heck of a ride, and the relationship resolution was just as satisfying. The combination of paranormal creatures and Christmas has put me in the mood for all things holiday now--I *almost* won't be upset if it snows this weekend as our forecast currently shows!

Somehow this is my first read from author Abigail Owen, but it definitely won't be my last!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This was a pretty good book in a series that I’m really enjoying. It had so much more than I was expecting. I really liked both Alasdair and Delilah as they tried to unravel their past to fix the present. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

The fourth (or fifth, if you count a short story) novella-length book in Owen's Brimstone, Inc. series follows, at long last, the woman matchmaking everyone in the prior books, Delilah. There are some things I can't tell you about her because they're spoilers, but let's just say that her arc is The Most.

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance between Delilah and Alasdair, the head of the witches (The Coven Syndicate). They've been at odds this whole time, especially when Delilah helped a fugitive witch go undercover as a nanny in a witchhunter's house in the last book, Bait 'N Witch. In some ways, Delilah reminds me of the meddling head Valkyrie, Nix, from the Immortals After Dark series. She helps people in unexpected ways, putting them in situations they'd never choose for themselves. And then they find love, save the world, etc. It's fun to see her get her comeuppance and HEA all at once.

However, this is also a Christmas story. I didn't realize that before picking it up and was pleasantly surprised when I got to the bits that felt like A Christmas Carol. (Read the blurb Suzanne!) Delilah is magically prevented from helping Alasdair with a demon problem, so she sends him to her mother... who sends them traveling through their memories together. Rather traumatic memories, a few of which are confusing to the protagonists and sometimes to the reader. For example, there's a scene in which they're making out against a wall and then everything goes dark and they're suddenly in a different memory. Awkward.

The plotting, as over-the-top as it may be, is tighter in Try As I Smite than in the earlier stories. It's not perfect, but it doesn't sag in the middle like the second and third. Overall, another quick, sexy paranormal romance with just a touch of Christmas magic.

***

Content Warnings: mass murder, demon possession, past: parent murdered family (while possessed), past: protagonist murdered father (while father was possessed), possible apocalypse, parental abandonment? IDK, lots of weird family stuff


I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Alisdair is attracted to Delilah from the time he first met her and despite all his attempts cannot make any headway with the lady until he reaches out to her for help with a demon possession. While Delilah shares Alisdair's lust she passes him along to her mother for help. Unfortunately the two are thrown together in a parody of a Christmas Carol and get to live their past, future and present in an interesting way shedding new light to some of the baggage each one of them carry and ripping apart the indifference behind they hide their attraction to each other.
Once you get started you'll find it hard to put the book down. The story is innovative and fresh and will keep you guessing. Clearly it's a love story and love will prevail but let me tell you I had many a doubt in the reading. I have newly discovered the author but I find her voice fresh and compelling.
A great read. Can hardly wait for more.

Alasdair Blakesly has a demon problem. Some of his Witches and Warlocks have been possessed and the violence is building. Now there is only one person he knows that can help him. She is the last person he wants to ask.

Delilah helps all magical beings with their problems and has upset a lot of others. This time it's impossible for her but she knows someone who can.

This is a magical Christmas Carol type story with very grave danger for our characters and possibly many others. Exciting and full of sexual tension.

Great fun.

This was such a ride! Action packed and romantic? Sign me up!
This story is part of a series and while I do recommend reading the others, I don't think it's necessary in order for you to enjoy this.
This story is a paranormal romance inspired by A Christmas Carol. Incorporating A Christmas Carol type plot worked to help develop the romance between the hero and heroine quickly but make it genuine at the same time. The romance between Delilah and Alasdair put a smile on my face. They were so sweet and caring of each other which was nice to see between two powerful, magic wielding characters.
The plot was pumped with action and suspense. I did not know how the heroes were going to save the day. Even though this book is short, so much happens and the reader is never bored.
We learn so much about the characters and their backstories while at the same time getting an exciting, intriguing plot. I love what Owen has done with this world and its characters! Can't wait to see what happens next.
(I also like that there's a new paranormal romance Christmas edition out in the romance world!)

Loved it, my new favorite series by her. Loved the "Christmas Carol" feel to it but with demons and witches. Was so much fun to read, can't wait for whats next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read, voluntarily read and reviewed all opinions are my own.

Great story. Loved these characters. Didn't want it to end. Has been a fun series. Love second chance stories.

I had a hard time getting through this one which is too bad because I was really looking forward to this installment but unfortunately was bored from the beginning. The first two books in the series were fantastic but I have just lost interest

This is another short-ish installment in the larger Brimstone Inc world. I don't think you necessarily need to have read the other books, but it helps build up the main characters a bit more than in this book.

Delilah is someone who we've known to help other supernaturals in need, usually in unexpected and interesting ways, always ending in HEA. She seemed thrown for a loop when she met Alasdair in the last book, so we knew it would come back around. He is a very serious and demanding leader of the witches and it seems that these two are complete opposites. I'm not going to say that there is some epic love story that magically evolves in this book, but we get some fireworks.

We get to learn all the backstory you could ever want from both of them, told in a very Christmas Carol-esque way. There's demons and magic and ultimately a big showdown. All in all, this was a quick, satisfying story that finally gave Delilah, the magical matchmaker, a mate.

I've absolutely loved getting to know all of the characters throughout this series, but this is the one I've been most looking forward to. I've been so curious about Delilah since the first book and I'm compelling satisfied with her story. And bringing Alisdair into the fold was brilliant!

A supernatural version of A Christmas Carol is what brings these two enemies together. They're forced to visit each other's pasts together and see things from a whole new perspective. Such an epic way to bring two amazing characters together ❤

Loved this paranormal spin on A Christmas Carol. Smite is a quick read full of humor, steam, action and emotion. This is my first book by this author but I'll definitely be looking for more.

Alasdair has a demon problem. As head of the Covens Syndicate he must find a way to keep his people safe. He turns to the one person he didn't want to ask for help and she says no, referring him to someone else who can help. Delilah is a compassion person, always helping the supernatural in need. Until Alasdair comes knocking. The problem he has with demons is one in which she cannot intervene.

When Alasdair and Delilah are swept away into vision together, they soon discover it's a take on A Christmas Carol, and are subjected to their past, present, and future. As they try to figure out how this is going to help Alasdair's demon problem, especially when Delilah cannot be of any assistance, sparks fly. Their chemistry is hot and spicy. The banter between them is fun, sexy, and witty. The suspense due to the demon problem, Delilah's binding problem, and their growing attraction kept me on the edge of my seat as the story played out.

Try As I Smite is a quick, fun read, blending paranormal romance and dark versus light in a novella that packs a punch. Both Delilah and Alasdair are terrific characters and I really enjoyed the chemistry the author created between them. The world building was done well and I was able to visualize the story as I read along. The loose depiction of A Christmas Carol brought another level to the paranormal romance and I fell in love with the characters and the story.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

I thought that Try ask Smite was the best of the Brimstone Inc books. This time Head of Brimstone Inc the sexy sassy mysterious Delilah and the rigidly controlled warloc head of the witch Syndicate Alasdair are in the lead. They are at odds professionally and personally are doing their best to keep a distance due to a sizzling attraction neither feels they can afford to acknowledge. But when demons invade the Syndicate by possessing key personal, Alasdair has no one else to turn to, Delilah
is his only hope.

The foundation of the story is a twist on Dicken's ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future but used to great effect to give us their back stories get the Delilah and Alasdair to a point that they understand and trust each other enough to make sure there will be a happy ending.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley, Try as I Smite is out now.

*I received this book free from the author and Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.*

Alasdair is a warlock with exponential power, literally at his fingertips. Delilah is a mixture of good and evil, depending on who you ask. Both care about others. Both try to do right. But their strong alpha personalities cause them to clash.

When Alasdair goes to her to help she wants nothing more than to be able to assist, but she cannot. What she does is send him to someone who can, however that didn't end up as anyone expected. Instead of the help he'd anticipated he ended up back with Delilah, stuck in rendition of A Christmas Carol.

"You make me happy too. Even if you are a control freak."

Throughout their journey they saw each others greatest pain, and discovered that their paths had crossed even before they knew it. Their destinies were entwined, and once they realized it, they desires they each felt and each had been fighting against became something they no longer had to deny. Lost in a journey they couldn't escape, they also found themselves lost in each other.

Their journey, although insightful to the demon problem they were facing, gets hijacked by the one demon who had been hunting Alasdair since he was a boy. Fighting to save each other, fighting to save his people, fighting to save the world...these two realize that neither can do it alone. Combined they have the love and power to take on anything thrown at them. All it took was was a little outside assistance for them to realize it.

"I want you to make me come so hard I see the edges of heaven."

Try As I Smite is a quick paranormal read that combines adventure, suspense, and love. It was fast-paced (maybe a little too fast-paced), the characters were well developed, their personalities almost tangible, and it captured me enough to finish it in a single day. For anyone who likes a little demon, witch, angel magical romance this is one I'd suggest grabbing.

Try as I Smite is book four in the Brimstone INC series. I haven’t read the previous three books so I can honestly say this one is written as a standalone title. There were no holes in the plot where the previous books played a part, and there was nowhere in the book that felt like an information dump, either. I’ve heard good things about this author, so I thought I’d give this new release a try.

NICUnurse’s Rating: Once upon a time, I said I wasn’t a huge fan of paranormal romance/suspense books, save for the Twilight series. But authors like Abigail Owen are quickly changing my mind. I was sucked into the story from the first page, and with all of the action and emotion that kept hitting me from all sides as I read this book, I ultimately read all night so that I didn’t have to put it down. It’s a surprising twist to A Christmas Carol that will have your heart pounding…sometimes from all of the action and suspense, and sometimes from all of the chemistry between Alasdair and Delilah. The only criticism that comes to mind with this book is that at times the action and revelations felt a bit rushed. But all in all, without having read any of the previous books in the series, I felt it was really well done. Needless to say, I think it’s the perfect read as we approach Halloween!

I give Try as I Smite by Abigail Owen 4 out of 5 stars!