Reviewed by: Sue Eaton
TITLE: A Beginners Guide to the Care and Feeding of Demons
SERIES: Demonic Disasters and Aferlife Adventures
AUTHOR: Shannon Mae
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 140 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 11, 2024
BLURB:
Beelbufo has lived a comfortable life as a pet frog for two decades, enjoying pets, human food, and horror movie nights with his favorite human, Gabe. But when Gabe and Az fall head over heels in love, they decide Beel needs a companion too. Little does Beel know that the charming pet shop owner, Jon, is about to become his unsuspecting caretaker. There’s only one small catch – Jon thinks Beel is just an ordinary pet frog.
When Jon’s safety is threatened, Beel can’t help making an appearance in his human form. Now Jon’s eyeing him with suspicion (turns out his cover story wasn’t that great), Gabe and Az are up to their matchmaking antics, and Beel really just wants another kiss with the adorable pet shop owner. (Oh, did we forget to mention they shared a kiss? Spoiler alert: it was magical.)
If Beel’s meddling family can stop interfering, Jon can stop being so suspicious, and Beel can stop being so scared of outing his true identity, these two might just get their own happily ever after. (Hopefully with more kisses, because Beel really does like the kissing.)
Tags: Beel despises romantic comedies, but maybe he’s about to star in one; Jon’s got a troublesome ex and could use a knight in shining armor – Beel’s more than happy to oblige; Az keeps weaving fairy tale and frog references into their lives, much to everyone’s chagrin; Beel’s cover stories are laughably bad; coming out as your true self is tougher than Beel imagined, but sometimes it’s worth it.
REVIEW:
This was a delightful novella. Gabe’s pet frog, Mr Frog, we discovered in the previous book is really a demon, masquerading as a pet frog. Beel, initially summoned, decided he liked being Gabe’s pet and didn’t like running errands for demons in the underworld so decided to stay as Mr. Frog. He likes his quiet life, watching movies, snoozing on his heated rock and hanging out with Gabe. Now his identity as a demon has been revealed, Gabe is worried he is lonely and needs a companion.
Jon owns and runs the local pet shop, he really loves all his animals and wants the best for them but doesn’t have a pet of his own and tries not to get attached to the animals in his store. When Gabe says he needs a pet sitter for Mr. Frog, Jon immediately volunteers. Little does Jon know that Mr. Frog is really a demon in disguise.
Beel is happy as he really likes Jon and is content to have pets and popcorn watching movies together. When Jon’s obnoxious ex turns up, Beel transforms and helps Jon.
The hilarious shenanigans start, Beel is rubbish as lying and makes up a ridiculous story about why he came to Jon’s aid. Instead of walking away and being Mr. Frog Beel starts to plot and plan how he can be Mr. Frog during the day and Beel at night so he can date Jon. There are plenty of close shaves, misunderstandings and throw Az’s plotting in makes for a funny tale.
I really liked Beel who is uncomplicated and content with his life but the pull he feels to Jon totally upends his life. Jon is drawn to the mysterious stranger who shows up and helps him, but something is off, and as the tales get wilder, Jon gets more suspicious, though the truth about Beel is something he could never have imagined.
I liked that we got to see Az and Gabe again, and when the Higher Ups start meddling again, Adam and Minos have their backs and help them out.
A great, funny book with some of my favourite characters from the series turning up and I was so glad that Beel go to have his own book.
RATING: 
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