RtP's Week in Review (09/20/26)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• Heat with the Hellhound by Piper Kane [Review] - Hellohound love!
• Hellhound's Obsession by Piper Kane [Review] - More Hellhound love!
• Submitting to the Hellhound by Piper Kane [Review] - Even MORE Hellhound love!
• Curses and Cornstalks by R.K. Pierce [Review] - Monster-y love!
• Knot Today Satan by Calliope Stewart [Review] - Omegaverse with the devil!
• Jack's Head by Siggy Shade [Review] - OTT spooky lovin'!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• The Doll Squad (Bureau of Cursed Objects #1) by Hailey Edwards - For review!
• A Waltz of Sinister Import (The Supernatural Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven #3) by Stephanie Burgis - For review!
• Currently reading
• Abyss by Deiri Di

Jack's Head by Siggy Shade [Review]

Jack's Head by Siggy Shade
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 4, 2026

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Siggy Shade
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The headless horseman was hunting for his next victim.
Well, he found one. Me…
Halloween night is not the time to be out alone. I knew that. But I could either stay with my abusive, soon-to-be-ex fiancé or take my chances with the monster who haunts the roads.

I chose the monster.

He could’ve taken my head on the spot. I…distracted him.

Headless Jack was so pleased with my efforts that he made me a sexy proposal. If I stayed with him and satisfied his every dark desire, come morning, I’d leave with my head and his hidden treasure.

I could have said no. Maybe I should have.

I didn’t.

Now, it’s going to be hard, dirty work. But someone has to do it.

Might as well be me, right?

Thoughts on Jack's Head: Bess's fiancé puts her in an awkward terrible situation (her soon-to-be-ex is kind of terrible himself, so that tracks) and Bess takes off to get away from him (and the situation, which was super blech). Her path to escape takes her down the road Jack haunts. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Just kidding. Bess and Jack have some issues they need to work through before they get their happily ever after. The main one being that Jack is a ghost who takes heads on All Hallows Eve. He spares Bess only because she's a quick ducker (as in she ducks quickly) and she finds a way to turn his murderous rage in another direction.

Yup, Bess uses her feminine wiles on the big guy and he's totally game to spare her in return for some late night lovin'. That makes it sound very transactional, but Bess is into it. Very much so. Let's just say that Jack puts her through her paces, is a giver of the highest order, and doesn't leave his partner unsatisfied.

When her ex shows up to put her in her place, Jack protects her the only way he knows how. This also opens the door for something more permanent between them. You know, if Bess is interested. (Spoiler: she's interested.) Steamy, sex-ay, and full of surprises. *thumbs up*

Knot Today Satan by Calliope Stewart [Review]

Knot Today Satan (Unholy Holidays #1) by Calliope Stewart
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 4, 2026

Unholy Holidays
1. Knot Today Satan - Paperback | Kindle
2. Knot Again Satan

Calliope Stewart
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

An angel-costumed Omega, an accidental summoning, and one lonely devil.

Art student Eden Evans is your average college-going omega. When she's not in class, she's either painting or waiting for her alpha crush to finally notice her.

That is, until the annual Kappa Sigma Psi Halloween party arrives to shake things up. It's the place to be on October 31st, and Eden's art skills just landed her a coveted invite.

Now all she needs to do is help decorate for the party. Easy-peasy, right? Wrong.

When Eden's decorating attempts summon a whole lot more than spooky vibes, her Halloween night quickly goes from fun to downright sinful. Read at your own risk...and Happy Halloween!

Thoughts on Not Today Satan: Eden's an omega who happens to hold all the pieces to summon the devil himself in her hands. Well, actually, she's a college student with a library book she didn't check out, the ability (and imagination) to decorate a frat house with spooky designs, and an unexpected heat about to make itself known. As it turns out, those are all the pieces she needs to summon her devil.

And Luc? He's game. More than, to be honest. He's been dreaming about Eden and Eden's been dreaming about him (without knowing he's Satan or anything) and when all the conditions of his summoning are met the big guy puts in an appearance. No lie, he might be Lucifer himself and in charge of a whole lot of souls, but Hell has recently gone through some streamlining and he has more than enough time to take care of his lady.

A little magic, a little summoning, a little heat, a devil who is a giver, and an omega who has no inhibitions when her heat's on her. *thumbs up*

Curses and Cornstalks by R.K. Pierce [Review]

Curses and Cornstalks (Falling for the Monster #1) by R.K. Pierce
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 11, 2026

Falling for the Monster
1. Curses and Cornstalks - Paperback | Kindle

R.K. Pierce
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A century-old curse. A sentient scarecrow. A city girl who’s in way over her head.

Cassie never imagined leaving the big city, but after dumping her cheating ex, she lands in the tiny town of Cold Springs. However, farm-life isn't as peaceful as she thought it would be.

Something is haunting the town and plaguing the locals… And she's determined to find out what it is.

Atticus has been cursed for over a hundred years, bound to a stake he can’t escape. But when a brave, wide-eyed woman stumbles upon him, he can't help but be intrigued.

She isn't like the others… And she might be his only shot at freedom.

With All Hallows’ Eve approaching, Cassie is unable to stay away from the scarecrow that haunts her dreams. Can they find a way to break the curse and be together, or will Atticus’ soul belong to the cornfield forever?

Thoughts on Curses and Cornstalks: Straight up, I liked this book overall, but I was a little thrown that we didn't learn more about the curse itself. I mean, I fully understand what Atticus said happened, but it felt like maybe there should be more (this part may be an entirely me thing, so do with it what you will). I was also expecting the three town rules to somehow tie together with the curse. I had a whole scenario built up revolving around apple pie and not entering town before noon on Sunday. ALAS.

Again, though, I liked the book. Atticus was a good man driven to bad things by circumstances (or the lady who cursed him, I guess) and Cassie saw beneath the monster to the heart of the man he was. Cassie was caught between trying to get over her previous relationship and her drive to keep herself from thinking about her cheating ex led her to do some questionable things that would have ensured she was not the final girl in a horror movie.

But she survived. And her kindness put her on the path to helping Atticus. Fun, sex-ay, and with enough out of the ordinary anatomical differences to make this monster-loving reader happy. *thumbs up*

Submitting to the Hellhound by Piper Kane [Review]

Submitting to the Hellhound (Halloween Heat #3) by Piper Kane
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 12, 2026

Halloween Heat
1. Heat with the Hellhound
2. Hellhound's Obsession
3. Submitting to the Hellhound - Kindle

Piper Kane
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She filed the wrong papers. Now she's filled with hellfire.

When curvy bookkeeper Jade Martinez thinks she's doing her eccentric boss's weird filing in the office basement, she accidentally completes an ancient summoning circle, calling forth Lock—a hellhound enforcer who mistakes her for a witch trying to bind him.

But her pure soul and virgin scent trigger his mating instincts so hard he immediately goes into rut, his infernal knot already dripping as he explains she has two choices: submit to him or get dragged to hell anyway.

As Jade discovers that submitting to a hellhound means constant knotting and praise for being such a good little mate, she realizes some accounting errors have incredible benefits—especially when her familiar bloodline means she was literally made to take his knot.

Thoughts on Submitting to the Hellhound: Another hellhound meets his match and...I have some questions. I don't know if I missed something or what, but how did neither Jade's boss or her witchy coworker know Jade had familiar blood (or so they claimed) until after she'd been working there for a while, but they had access to Jade's grandma's journals? Clearly the coworker (Sarah? Maybe?) had read the journals because she was able to direct Jade to specific entries when she handed them over. So? DID I MISS SOMETHING? Am I overthinking this? It's possible.

Anywho. Jade somehow summons a hellhound by accidentally setting up a very specific ritual. I'm cool with that, actually, because it brought the big guy into her life. And yes, Lock was big. And angry. And then he catches Jade's scent and it's all over for him. He's been smited. Hit with the smit. SMITTEN TO THE EXTREME. He's also a little overbearing, but Jade seemed into that, so I guess good on him.

Instalove with a side of exhibition (which I'm not really a big fan of). I just don't see how getting your freak on with your special someone is fun when your boss and coworker (among others) are there as witnesses. This would be the boss and coworker who used your fledgling abilities without telling you to make a killing in the antiquities market. Sure, they paid you what you were worth AFTER THE FACT, but would they have it they hadn't had their hand forced? That right there is enough for me to say NO THANKS and become an independent contractor where I charge them the BLINDING BETRAYAL fee on top of my normal contract amount.

But I'm petty and hold grudges like that.

Hellhound's Obsession by Piper Kane [Review]

Hellhound's Obsession (Halloween Heat #2) by Piper Kane
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 8, 2026

Halloween Heat
1. Heat with the Hellhound
2. Hellhound's Obsession - Kindle
3. Submitting to the Hellhound

Piper Kane
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She mispronounced his name. Now she's screaming it for eternity.

When mortician Willow Blackthorne mispronounces a Latin name while cleaning antique funeral jewelry, she accidentally summons Bane—the original hellhound who guards death's door, not the three-headed dog from myths.

He immediately recognizes her virgin death-touched scent as his fated mate, his demonic knot already swelling with need as he explains she has thirteen days to accept their bond or he returns to eternal loneliness.

As Willow discovers that being Death's princess means taking Bane's evolved knot in every room of the funeral home (and most of the cemetery), she learns that some mispronunciations are actually mating calls—and some hellhounds are worth becoming immortal for.

Thoughts on Hellhound's Obsession: Another hellhound is up and Bane's special someone is a woman who has a special connection to the dead. Already. before Bane arrived.

Yup, Willow can see and interact with ghosts. Seeing as how she's a mortician, she's pretty keyed in on all aspects of death. Which makes sense because her death-touched abilities are genetic and this makes her an EXCELLENT match for Bane.

A little danger (until she's claimed by Bane, Willow is fair game for any other creature out there), a whole lot of sex-ay times, a hellhound who has found his other half, and a lady who knows a good male when she meets him. I mean, she's a little freaked out by him appearing, but her reservations don't last long.

Heat with the Hellhound by Piper Kane [Review]

Heat with the Hellhound (Halloween Heat #1) by Piper Kane
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 5, 2026

Halloween Heat
1. Heat with the Hellhound - Kindle
2. Hellhound's Obsession
3. Submitting to the Hellhound

Piper Kane
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She summoned a demon by accident. He's keeping her on purpose.

When exhausted night nurse Jade Thompson reads from an ancient book she bought for Halloween decorations, she accidentally summons Rex Infernus—a massive hellhound demon who's been waiting centuries for his fated mate.

With only 72 hours before he's dragged back to hell, Rex is determined to convince the curvy virgin that she belongs to him, body and soul.

But as Jade discovers her witch heritage and experiences her first mating heat, she realizes some accidents are actually destiny.

Now she must decide: send him back to hell forever, or complete a binding ritual that will tie her to a breeding-obsessed demon who's desperate to knot her, claim her, and fill her with his pups.

When a hellhound prince declares you're his mate, resistance is futile—especially when his demon anatomy is designed to make you scream his name.

Thoughts on Heat with the Hellhound: Home from work after a long shift, Jade reads a passage from an old book she found and BOY does she get more than she expected. A hunky hellhound who claims she's his fated mate appears out of nowhere and Jade doesn't quite know what to do with him. I mean, her body is telling her what to do, but her head and heart are putting off mixed signals. She's just a massively confused ball of woman, basically.

Fortunately, Rex is able to fill in some of the gaps. He's hers. If they don't complete the mating bond within 72 hours, he'll go back to hell and his lonely existence and the two of them will never need to cross paths again. Frankly, that's ideal for him. Especially the lonely existence part. So the big guy sets out to do what he needs to do to convince Jade to choose him. This involves lots of hot looks, some mutually pleasurable experiences, and showing her just how devoted he plans on being for the rest of their (probably extremely long) lives.

What can I say except Rex is persuasive.

A little heat (more than a little, really), a few surprises, a hellhound who knows what he wants, and a lady who is very appreciative of all her demon's forms. *thumbs up*