Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond is a cute, paranormal romantic comedy, and is the first book in Gwenda Bond’s Not Your Average Hot Guy series.
It was fun, bizarre, and an interesting read.

Callie works at her family’s Escape Room business and enjoys her job very much. When her mother leaves her alone one evening with her friend Mag to run the business, she does not expect her evening to be anything other than routine. So, when thirteen members of a Satanic Cult show up and summon a Demon. The Demon is Luke, the actual Prince of Darkness, the son of the devil. Luke is a very handsome bad boy, with a leather jacket and everything.

The cult members find the artifact they are searching for and set off to destroy the world. Callie and Luke set off to save the world from the cult and an evening of crazy adventures commence.

I started off really enjoying this book. I like Callie and her friend Mag and loved the idea of the escape room. Luke was definitely an interesting character and I enjoyed his charm and easy banter with Callie. The book has many laugh-out-loud moments and I did enjoy the romance between Callie and Luke. However, I never got used to Luke being the son of the devil AND such a nice guy? The story is bizarre, and I wasn’t able to suspend my disbelief for this book. I’m sure it’s the perfect book for somebody, but it was just a bit too different for me to enjoy it completely. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A very unique and interesting premise, but it ended up feeling a bit more like amateur fanfiction than I'd hoped.

The wit! The trivia! The cool pop culture references!

This was an extremely fun read, it had the kind of feel of modern Buffy with romance.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Did not finish. I could not get in to the story. It was not my cup of tea.

This was such a cute historical romance. Sophronia is content to being her cousins chaperone until she writes a letter informing a gentleman he’s about to marry the wrong person. She becomes known as an expert match maker after the letter helped two couples marry happily.

A Sir Edmund Winslow seeks her help in finding a bride… but Sophie soon finds herself wishing to be his bride.

This was a very light and sweet historical romance. I really enjoyed Sophie’s character and the family dynamic along with the romantic relationship!

I highly recommend if you enjoy lighter historical romances. Thank you @berkleyromance for my copy!

What a unique and fun story. It was not what I imagined it you be. It was a wonderful surprise. A twisted little romantic comedy.

Callie loves puzzles and clues. She and her mother have created the best escape room games in in country. Each room unique and hard to crack. Each detail carefully planned and tons of cool props from estate sales. That is what leads Callies life into a unique and strange story.

A grimore. Got at an estate sale. This book is what starts the end of days, so to speak.

Callie’s life is turned upside down by a handsome blue eyed devil. The only question is....will she survive soul in tack?

This book was such a fun mix of normal and paranormal. With interesting and carefully imagined characters, makes this book a fun and highly entertaining read. The world setting is carefully laid out with a cool plot that will have readers turning those pages.

Overall this book is laugh out loud fun. With great characters and story plot, it is sure to keep readers entertained from the very first chapter.

I absolutely loved this book and I’m pumped that there will be a second one. It was the perfect mix of romance and adventure! I will definitely be recommending this to my friends to read!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I grew up with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed so at the synopsis for this book, I couldn’t resist, and it absolutely did not disappoint! Callie is quirky and nerdy and feisty, and Luke is sexy and charming and funny. Callie’s adventure is like an escape room itself, and I just love that! This book is funny, and I like it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. I will say there were some pacing issues, the first chapter didn’t really grab me. It had strong descriptors, but just felt slower—I do love the escape rooms that Callie and her mom developed and the love and passion Callie has for them though, but it felt like a slower way for this adventure-filled book to kick off. Luke’s first chapter as he painted what it was like to be training to take over Hell was just so perfect and from then on, I was so hooked. I loved his confidence and the his admiration for Callie. This book might not have been steamy, but these characters were such perfect fits. Their loyalty for each other made my heart happy and their banter was so entertaining! I loved how they challenged each other. I wish there’d maybe been some more private moments between Luke and Callie, but also, they were in the midst of saving the world from an impending apocalypse, so in terms of plot it made sense, but with their chemistry, I wanted to see more of them interacting romantically. I think the dual POV though was very helpful in furthering their connection. With Callie too, I love how she charmed members of Hell, like Luke’s mom Lilith and his tutor Porsoth. Also, the depiction of Hell was so descriptive and interesting, and I just love how casual it was when they were in Hell--them walking through Hell discussing what their Hogwarts house is was just amazing and funny and so good. These side characters too were so dynamic, my favorite parts were definitely as they traversed Hell, but I loved Callie’s support system too. They may have hit some bumps but they’re such strong, wonderful friends—if I were in charge of stopping an apocalypse, I’d want Mags and Jared, along with Porsoth by my side too. Such a fun read and I’m really excited for what comes next in this series!

LOVED this book. Sweet, easy read with all the feels and excellent emotions and characters and I just loved it. CAN"T WAIT for the sequel.

I didn't like this book. Thanks for sending me an arc copy. The characters were annoying and the romance seemed so far fetched to me.

Not Your Average Hot Guy is a romantic comedy by Gwenda Bond. The second I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it, and it did not disappoint.

Callie is a little at a lost with what she's doing with her life and put her passion for puzzles and all things occult (odd, I know) into her family's Escape room business. Her world is turned upside down when an actual cult uses their business to aid them in summoning a demon. When she tries to stop them, they kidnap her and her friend. The cult successfully summons a demon, that demon being Luke, the son of the Devil. Luke has two days to gather souls for his father, and if he fails he'll be unmade. Luke doesn't plan on Callie with her spunk and goodness, and he doesn't plan to form an attachment to her. Callie and Luke will have to work together and literally travel through hell to stop the cult from bringing about the Apocalypse.

This was such a fun story with a great setting , an escape room business and the fires of hell. Plus two strong main characters in Callie and Luke. Callie is my favorite type of female lead. She is witty, sarcastic, smart and brave even when she is afraid. Luke is adorable with his whole Prince of Hell with a conscience deal. He automatically had a soft spot for Callie, and I couldn't get enough of the tender moments he displays with her. The romance aspect of the story was on the sweet side, there are some steamy kisses and one behind closed door intimate scene,, but I didn't really miss it. I was living for all the dopey smiles and hand holding between the two of them.

Overall, Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond was a lighthearted Adult paranormal romance. Filled with a genuine Grimoire, trips to hell, near apocalypses, meetings with the Devil himself, and a trip across the river Styx. I enjoyed myself from start to finish, and I look forward to more in the series.

I enjoyed this book. It's interesting and different. I'd like to see more about what happens with Callie and Luke. .# NotYourAverageHotGuy #NetGalley

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley for an honest review.
I don’t understand all of the meh reviews on this one. I really liked it! Ok, granted it’s probably more of a new adult, fine. It’s not sexual or horrifying in any way. In fact I thought the characters were super likeable, the story line amusing and I can totally see it being like a movie or a series. It left me wanting more!

I was so excited when I read the blurb for this one, but have to admit, the writing style immediately put me off. I felt confused for the first 30 or so pages and was just not absorbed the way I wanted to be. That said, it was a cute paranormal romance. I was expecting an adult romance but this felt much more aimed to the YA or new adult audience.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for the advanced read in exchange for an honest review

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.



What led me to Gwenda Bond's Not Your Average Hot Guy was it being likened to Darynda Jones who is one of my favorite authors. While the story did have that sort of light-hearted feel to it with a dose of humor that was about where the similarities ended. Which is not to say a bad thing, it was different from what I expected but still enjoyable!

I would say this book falls in line with New Adult, but could still be called a very mature YA, like on the level with Jennifer L. Armentrout. It's not very graphic in the romance sense, violence and profanity is also not intense, so other than the usual danger and apocalypse setting I'd say this book could be enjoyed by the older teenager as well.

Callie is taking on the responsibility of running the family business escape room while her mom goes out of town. When her customers end up being a cult intent on summoning a demon and then taking her and her best friend, Mag, hostage, things quickly get out of hand. When the cult tries to raise Lucifer's right-hand man, they don't quite get what they expected either.

Luke is Lucifer's son, trying to learn how to be the perfect demon, you could say. He has yet to collect any souls and is being tasked to collect the souls of the cult that summoned him. But then he meets Callie and things change, quickly. Luke has never really been taken with humanity up until now. The cult wants Luke's help in locating the spear that was used to stab Jesus so they can being about the apocalypse and earn Lucifer's favor. Callie is intent on stopping them and Luke is quick to offer his help in the ways that he can...since he's contractually obligated to help the cult out.

Now it's a race against the clock while Callie and Luke try to get the spear before the cult does and essentially save the world. In the meantime, you can imagine what starts to happen between. Feelings start to develop, though Callie is quick to fight them, she's also quick to forget those reasons. It does lean a little towards insta-love, but there is a series of events that lead one to fall for the other, so it doesn't have that eye-worthy quality of true insta-love.

The pacing to this one was evenly met. It's not a fast clipped adventure, nor is it drawn out. But there was just something about the story that didn't really draw me in. I can't quite put my finger on why. I guess perhaps the tone was a little too carefree. It didn't have that serious overture you'd expect from a dire need to literally save the world from ending. The characters had a slightly too laid back attitude when it came to hasting to action.

The characters were even likeable, so I still can't figure out why I wasn't immediately loving this book from the get-go. It was just okay, you know? That feeling you get when you think you're about to dive into a new favorite book, it has all the right elements from your previous favorite reads and what you look for in a new favorite read. Yet when you start diving into the story you just feel...meh.

The ending was decent too. Things wrap-up nicely in a way that could you leave content with a standalone novel or perhaps start us in a new series direction. As of now, it looks like Goodreads is calling this a standalone, but it definitely has series potential. As to whether I'll continue the series if it is in fact one, has yet to be decided. Not Your Average Hot Guy was a cute and cheerful kind of read that made for an entertaining afternoon, but lacked a kind of depth to it to make it a favorite.





Overall Rating 2.5/5 stars





Not Your Average Hot Guy releases October 5, 2021

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond was sent to me because I had previously reviewed Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series. I was excited that their could be a new series that was similar to Ms. Jones' series. Unfortunately, disappointment awaited me as I read the book. I believe other fans of Ms. Jones may also be disappointed as well.

A slow moving plot, silly situations that really didn't move the story forward, Callie addressing her friend Mags as "they/them" and a resolution to the apocalypse that was anticlimactic left me almost bored with the book. I believe this book might be better for a YA audience as I had trouble connecting with any of the characters. Ms. Bond's writing is well done and the book may be considered entertaining by younger readers.

I was kind of weary about this book when I read the premise, but it was absolutely hysterical and I couldn't have loved it more! I really liked the fact that it took such a unique view on a romance--I mean, who would think the Prince of Darkness would come to the human world and fall in love?? I adored the characters and identified with all of them! I cannot wait for the sequel!!

Not Your Average Hot Guy was a cute story. Lots of drama but also humorous parts. The characters were entertaining.

I haven't read this author before and had no expectations, but this story turned out to be a lot of fun.

A cult shows up at the Great Escape where Callie works the family business, and she's unwittingly involved in their plot. They summon a devil named Luke who turns out to be the prince of Hell and Lucifer's son.

I liked the comedy tone and how unexpected this story is (an bonus points for having a scene set in Portugal). As Callie and Luke work together to save the world from Armageddon and get to know each other, they recognize each other's strengths and their attraction grows.

One instance of the F word.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a cute read however, I feel it would be better served marketed as a YA read.
I very much liked the premiss and plot. Super cute and fun read.