Maxwell “The Devil” Sterling is cursed with the devil gene; a genetic anomaly that causes the carrier to go off from the slightest provocation. After exhausting his research, Max comes to the realization that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. So there had to be someone out there carrying the angel gene. That someone is Olivia Watts. Max usually has women pursuing him but when he has to pursue Olivia and convince her that they are made for each other, an entirely new set of rules apply. Will Olivia accept the soul bond that is needed to get Max’s powers under control?

The Devil’s Plaything was like eating a decadent dessert; glorious, filling, mind blowing, toe curling, and it makes you say, “ummmm”. Wait, that sounded like a description of an orgasm. This book was that good. Ms. Vaughn’s plot was refreshing and new. The premise of what happened to the Fallen Angels and their descendents was not one that I have ever read about. Her descriptions of her characters and the different situations were very explicit. Alpha male Max was very compelling. How could someone who calls himself “The Devil” not be? I was humbled by how Max gave the Olivia the space she needed even though he was losing the battle with his inner demon. Olivia was a survivor and her standing up for herself to her physically abusive ex-husband and the mentally abusive and catty women at the office made me root for her and want her to get the love, support, and man that she wanted. The secondary characters added just the right amount of support to make this book a perfect mixture of discovery, romance, sex, and suspense. The Devil’s Plaything is a highly recommended read that hit the spot in more ways than one.

Reviewed by: Shira