Eternally Yours

Afterlife #1

by Gina Ardito

If they weren’t already dead, working together would probably kill them.

After one too many disappointments, Jodie Devlin took her own life. Until a new future can be created for her, she serves as one of Death’s bounty hunters, retrieving souls who haunt Earth. She’ll need smarts, charm, and trickery to convince these specters to give up the ghost and move on. These same skills come in handy for dealing with her bull-headed, know-it-all trainer.

Luc Asante’s wife ordered him taken off life support, condemning him to employment in the Afterlife. Now he’s saddled with a trainee who’s as soft-hearted as he is hard, as impulsive as he is methodical. In a place where perfection is the norm, she flaunts her flaws just to drive him nuts.

When the two confront the secrets of their past, only the ultimate sacrifice can save them both.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2012

About the author

Gina Ardito is the award-winning author of more than twenty romances in contemporary, historical, and paranormal sub-genres. In 2012, she launched her freelance editing business, Excellence in Editing, and now has a stable of award-winning clients, as well.

She’s hosted workshops around the world for writing conferences, author organization chapter meetings, and library events. To her everlasting shame, despite all her accomplishments, she’ll never be more famous than her dog, who starred in commercials for 2015’s Puppy Bowl.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GinaArditoAu...

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ginaardito/

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

A dangerously amusing and original book, “Eternally Yours” is meant to be savored and enjoyed!

Read full review in the 2012 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ETERNALLY YOURS is totally satisfying as a romance, but is also so much more. It's a morality tale that's actually fun to read. The concept of bounty hunters in the Afterlife is fresh and original and Ardito pulls it off without a hitch. I was completely drawn in by the interesting characters and the details with which she created the Afterlife. It was not like anything I had imagined, but I found it easy to step into her vision. I won't spoil the fun by giving away plot details, but will say that I enjoyed watching the story unfold and read the last word with a divided heart. I felt the ending was perfect, but wished I could spend more time with the characters. The writing style is clean and crisp, with just the right touch of humor, the right combination of sweet and spicy.

[Sahreth Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternally Yours was nothing like I anticipated; I guess that's what I get for judging a book by its cover. From the very first line all the way to the end, this paranormal romance had me hooked. Jump into the afterlife with Jodie, where she is not only faced with the consequences of past mistakes, but must unravel intricacies of life itself in order to understand and save the soul. I was rendered speechless by the time I was done reading. The author has woven an amazingly intricate and heart-warming, tear-jerking romance.

[Bernadette Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved the world Gina built in this book. Her version of the Afterlife was so clever and felt so real. I could just picture the check-in area -- heaven as high-end hotel.

I especially loved how Jodie and Luc's past lives all came together in the end--and how each one of their assignments really were designed to teach them important life -- or rather afterlife--lessons.

Great, quick, enjoyable read. Highly recommend!

[Tabitha Barret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jodie Devlin believes that her boyfriend is in love with someone else and decides to end her own life. She wakes up in the Afterlife and is told that because she foolishly ended her life, she now has to learn from her mistakes before she can move on to the next life. She is given a job as a reaper and must search for the souls who have not moved on because of some past trauma. Luc Asante is assigned as her trainer until she is able to learn how to capture the lost souls. Luc is not interested in training anyone and wants to be left alone. He was betrayed by his wife during his life and doesn’t trust women. He feels that Jodie is too soft to be a reaper and expects her to fail miserably. He is more worried about ruining his perfect record than teaching her the ropes.

Jodie and Luc must try to convince all types of souls to move on with them and each soul presents a challenge for them. Luc prefers to ignore the suffering and pain that the souls have endured and wants to capture them quickly. Jodie, on the other hand, takes the time to understand why they are suffering and why they refused to move on. With each capture she learns about regret, deception, betrayal, anger, and remorse so that she can help the souls cross over. At the same time, Luc starts to feel the pain that the souls are feeling and it weakens him. He can’t understand why he is suffering and tries to ignore it. The problem comes when Luc is drained to the point of exhaustion and can’t help but relive his painful past. Will he learn the truth about his past and what is needed to move on to the next life before it’s too late? Is Jodie strong enough to forget about her painful past and all the reasons why she ended her life so that she can move on from the Afterlife?

I loved how Ms. Ardito created a unique version of the Afterlife using common elements like reapers and escaped souls and breathing new life into them. Instead of the Afterlife being a scary place filled with torment, there are kind Elders who want to help the deceased overcome their personal issues and learn from their mistakes so that they can find happiness. I thought that it was an interesting concept that the reapers were considered to be balls of energy that can manipulate their form at will. My only negative comment is about the sentence structure and how the author tended to write in fragments. Perhaps this was a style choice, but it made the reading a little choppy at times.

I found Eternally Yours to be a refreshing take on a subject that is well-know and dear to my heart. I know that this is the first book in the series and I am interested to see how the series progresses. I give this book 4.5 stars and look forward to future reaper stories.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I have to say that I don't really like the cover on this book and I was nearly put off reading this book as I thought it looked a little too cheesy and frankly looks like a sci fi romance! Well I'm so pleased that I didn't let the image put me off and the author has done an amazing job of bringing something completely new and different to the paranormal romance genre. There seems to be a plethora of books featuring Reapers hitting bookstores at the moment but Ms Ardito brings a completely fresh approach to the subject which had this reader eagerly turning the pages .
This story charts what happens to Jodie after she commits suicide and begins her afterlife. She is a young woman who has suffered greatly in her human life and her reward was to have been a life and children with Gabe but she puts the kibosh on that happy ending when she takes her own life! Arriving in the afterlife far sooner than expected there's no plans seemingly ready for her so what will happen to Jodie now? It's decided that perhaps she could assist in retrieving wayward souls and she is set up as an trainee with Luc.
Luc prides himself on a job well done. Always able to retrieve the souls he is assigned with just one short trip but having Jodie thrust upon him is not making him a happy bunny! She is quite obviously far too sweet and naive for this kind of work and her impulsive touchy freely nature is bound to cause all kinds of problems . Luc has enough demons of his own to cope with without having to watch out for the maddening Jodie as well but as they start working together Jodie's compassion astounds the jaded Luc. Jodie may just be in the right place at the right time after all!
This amazed me. Not at all what I expected and why have I not discovered this author sooner? This is most definitely a romance but it's almost a spiritual journey as these characters discover more about themselves. It's such an enthralling story that I am loathe to say too much lest I give spoilers but suffice to say love conquers all as two tortured souls learn all about forgiveness . Even the authors more romantic scenes standout as original and if you are a reader who dislikes too much sex in a story then rest assured that this author has a truly unique manner for her characters to connect!
Very well written and there's a deft touch here with truly likeable characters that will make you smile . This may be the first in this series but there's a certain deceased police detective who will be revealing his own secrets and I for one will be eager to read more. This book was heartwarming, romantic and although perhaps a little emotional it was a delight to read. A new author to me but one I will definitely be following from now on.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up ’Eternally Yours’, but it wasn’t this! I hadn’t read the blurb… I rarely do, but from the title and the cover I expected just another run of the mill love story. This is a love story but it is not ‘run of the mill’, it is a journey to the unknown, in a place outside my thought process with an imperfect couple and the ultimate romance.

The story begins as a disheartened Jodie commits suicide. She has very low self esteem and a distorted view of life, which in the end causes her to give up and take this drastic course of action. Being paired with Luc to help with her transition is a position neither of them wants to be in, it soon leads to tension and an interesting interaction between the two. When we get to the predictable part that they get ‘together’ we are not given smut or crude scenes, our couple does not have sex, they ‘meld’ and they do so in such an electrifyingly explosive way that their love is beautiful and not tacky.

Gina Ardito (aka Katherine Brandon writer of Historical Romance novels) created a world that I had thought about, but not pictured quite this way before. Her imagination and writing talent created a scene that I could easily visualise, from Jodie’s scars and Luc’s burning prison to the council of elders with their questionable punishments. This is the afterlife but our characters aren’t angels, there are no harps, no pearly gates, no heaven and no hell. Every preconception you have about life after death will be totally wiped out when you read this book and replaced with impressions so clear and new that you may just believe they could actually be real!

Going beyond story telling and teetering on the edge of a lesson in forgiveness, this timeless tale about two tortured souls will have you smiling, sighing and possibly dabbing away a tear before you get to the end…enjoy!

Copy supplied for review

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Originally published at West Coast Book Reviews

I liked this one. In many places I liked it a lot.

It was a little lumpy to get in to and took a while for me to want Jodie and Luc together. I didn't feel any tension or attraction for a long time but that was understandable, Jodie was still hung up on making things right with those she left behind.

The biggest distractions for me were all the pop culture references. They weren't subtle and complementary to the story. Instead they were obvious and completely iconic. For me, my personal experiences around those references forced me from the story. Those experiences prevented me from seeing the references in the context the author may have intended or in a light that that enhanced the plot. Pop culture references are difficult to place. Too esoteric and they are lost but too powerful and they hide the real meaning of a scene or characters comment.

Fortunately, as Jodie let go of her earth bound experiences she also stopped referring to the movie Ghost and Vulcan mind melds. For me, that was when the story began to develop.

Eternally Yours finally grew into a sweet love story. For me, though, it felt like I'd moved on to another book. I wanted a happy ending, strong resolution and all the lose ends to come together. They certainly did, and well, Luc and Jodie both made their own journeys and I liked the result.

I will definitely move on with the series. Gina's writing won me, pulled me through when I was challenged with the beginning and was a big part of how pleased I was with the ending.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book overall was a very enjoyable one to read. Even though this is a fantasy type book it really sort of makes you wonder about what life after death is really like. You are able to feel generally almost heartbroken for the main characters in this book when you seen what they have gone through in this life and in their past lives as well. If there are anymore books written to make this a series I would definitely read them.

After one too many disappointments, Jodie Devlin took her own life. Too bad her suicide is only the beginning of her troubles. Until a new future can be created for her, Jodie will serve as one of Death’s bounty hunters, retrieving souls who haunt Earth. She’ll need smarts, charm, and trickery to convince these specters to give up the ghost and move on. Of course, these same skills will come in handy for verbally sparring with her bull-headed, know-it-all trainer. It's no wonder Luc Asante is so bitter toward women. His former wife ordered him taken off life support, condemning him to employment in the Afterlife. Now he has a trainee—a female trainee who’s as soft-hearted as he is hard, as impulsive as he is methodical. In a place where perfection is the norm, she flaunts her flaws just to drive him nuts. If they weren’t already dead, working together would probably kill them. Traveling between the dead and the living, bringing peace to lost souls, Jodie and Luc will be forced to come to terms with their differences and their pasts, to discover a love that might bind them for eternity.

[Sheila Claydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Gina Ardito's books but when I read Eternally Yours I realized that she has taken her writing into a whole new dimension (and that is not a pun about the subject matter). Initially I was doubtful as it is a story about eternal love in the Afterlife. I should have had more faith in Ms Ardito, however, because it is well written, funny, irreverent, and (although I can't believe I'm saying this given the subject) totally believable. In addition the ending remains elusive until the final few pages and it is only then that the reader realizes that he/she should have paid more attention to the detail earlier in the book. As I don't want to give away what is a truly original story, all I can say is read this book. You will not be disappointed and you will probably end up with a fuzzy warm feeling as well as a sense of loss, because what the hero and heroine have is something we all want but rarely achieve.

[Cassandra Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the best PNR I've read in a while, Eternally Yours by Gina Ardito brings a new vision of the Afterlife to readers, challenging preconceptions.

When Jodie Devlin commits suicide, she begins a long journey of discovery. At times funny, yet also sad, the story moves through the phases of grief as Jodie learns about the potential future she gave up to earn her place as one of the Afterlife's bounty hunters.

She's paired as a trainee with Luc Asante, an anti-social and bitter man with his own scars. The top bounty hunter in the Afterlife, Luc is an arrogant complication she didn't count on and can't figure out how to handle, but as things heat up between them, she comes to the realization that their "angellic" keepers never do anything without a good reason, even pairing up two misfits like her and Luc.

But will the knowledge set them free or destroy everything? If you love PNR, don't miss this book. It's a keeper!

[Rhiannon Overby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I began 'Eternally Yours', I was sort of on the fence about it since it started off with the heroines suicide. However, I'm really glad that I gave this book a chance! Luc and Jodie are total opposites; Jodie is soft and caring, next to Luc's hard edges. While Luc and Jodie might not see eye to eye on much, they work well together when it comes to bringing souls to the afterlife.

Gina Ardito did a fabulous job setting up this story line. The details in this story were like bread crumbs, you got a little piece here and there as the story takes place, which eventually leads you to all of the details of Luc and Jodies's deaths throughout several lifetimes and how their stories are deeply entangled. You won't be disappointed in the way this book is written, or the whitty characters themselves.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodie’s well suited for her Afterlife job. She thinks outside the box when it comes to troubling spirits. Luc is at first very angry that he’s been saddled with a trainee. She’s inexperienced and in his mind not well suited for the job. It’s when surprising things begin to occur both on the job and between them that you know that their partnering wasn’t exactly accidental. Luc and Jodie are the yin to the others yang. Jodie’s soft to Luc’s hard.

Eternally Yours makes you sit down and think what the afterlife could really be like. This book has given me a completely different aspect. After finishing this book, I sat in silence, not at the story’s outcome, but the sheer humbling factor Ardito has given me. This book not only entertains, but also makes you really think about what’s in the Afterlife and about the things you do and their affects on those around us. To say that Eternally Yours is enjoyable is a mere understatement.

[☆Joycedale☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jodie commits suicide and arrives in the afterlife she's partnered up with Luc to be trained as bounty hunter to the souls remaining on Earth. We learn there has to be a reason for this as there has never been trainees before.
I really enjoyed this story. The world created seems interesting and although we're not really shown what happens to the souls that are processed we do know a lot about how the bounty hunters live. The story between Luc and Jodie was good enough to keep me questioning what was really happening. They were also a good match. She is soft and caring to his indifferent hard ways.
I thought Jodie's story was so sad and I knew there had to be more to Luc's than he thought. At first I had the same conclusion as him but we both ended up being wrong. I loved the ending.

I was given an ebook from the author through Nerdy Girl's in exchange for a honest review. Thank you.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a work of fiction about the afterlife, centering on characters whose lives were cut short. The book is very entertaining and quite a page turner. Ardito succeeds in creating a unique form of afterlife that I appreciated as it was very non confrontational as far as religious views go concerning what awaits after death. I was reminded of the RIPD series while reading this book, but with the focus on the internal struggle of the characters rather than the bounty hunt. I read from a hard copy and found that there were a number of formatting errors, but I expect that this is due to the awkward translation from an eBook version. The book was fun to read, low-stress and generally well-written. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, which focuses on one of the side-characters from this book.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought it would be only an okay read, but I really liked it. It was emotional at times with a beautiful love story. I enjoyed it and I laughed a few times. I liked the concept of the 'Afterlife'. Both of the main characters' stories are really sad and my heart may have broke a little for them. We get to know the truth at the end but I didn't really know what happened to them exactly even if there was an HEA. I was worried it was going to be boring around 60% because I didn't know where the story was leaded. Also, the 'melding' part was a bit weird for my taste and I wish it was a little more realistic.

Overall, Eternally Yours was an entertaining and enjoyable book.

***I received an ebook of this title through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review***

[Danielle Lytwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in hooes that i would read, enjoy and write a review. i enjoyed the book. like others I did not read any reviews or any write ups prior to starting the book. Although the context of the book does not following my personal beliefs of what may lie after this life. I did enjoy the realm that was created and how lives are connected for eternity. I really enjoyed the development of the story and how the characters slowly learned how their paths were linked. it would be interesting to see if a series becomes of this book. I would like to see more. I enjoyed the stories behind the bounties and it would be nice to see how more lost eternal soul mates are reunited.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

**more at melenasreviews.wordpress.com**

This is the first I have read from Gina Ardito and have to say it was a little confusing. There were parts that seemed okay and easy to understand. Then there were chapters where Luc will have flashbacks and it just made the story go weary. I felt for Jodie and her heartache yet seeing what he could have had was unbearable. In a way though these two definitely had chemistry from their love and hate relationship it seemed almost funny. My favorite part was when they melded and Luc realizing what just happened was hilarious. Unlike other men or ghostly males Luc was one bad ass dude complimenting Jodie all the way.All in all it was good but wanted more from Jodie seemed more about Luc in the book which was good yet felt there should have been more.

[Stephenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a good read with a lot of interesting things to ponder about the afterlife and what becomes of us....This story had a great plot! I enjoyed the way that the author was able to engage the reader with the characters and the way that you were pulled into the story! I also loved the end and am ready to read the next book in the series!! This book is a quick add on to my favorites list!!!

[Jenifer Kleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very different book. It was a very unique story & surprisingly good I wasn't sure how it was going to play out, but it unfolded perfectly. Luc & Jodie had great chemistry. I really enjoyed the banter between the two. Some of the back story of the ghost's still on earth were really sad, but very believable. This book really makes you think about the afterlife whether you believe or not.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this book. It was intense, the characters had chemistry. The story line was like no other book I have read. The story line was intriguing, action packed and had depth.



Would recommend it to those who like young adult paranormal books, especially those who like Rachael Vincents Soul Screamers series.

Looking forward to book 2.

[Christine Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic!! I am a newbie to Gina Ardito's writing and must say, I want more! There was nothing in this book I would change and strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves Love!!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful cover art. A lovely and beautifully unconventional love story. Eternally yours was very thought provoking and totally engrossing. A well written story that inspires your imagination.

I was given a free ebook for an honest review.

[Mimi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Really like the author's style, just some elements of the story bothered me.

Reviewed for InD'tale here

[Andrea Mcbride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It makes you think what afterlife is really like! And the characters I was just heartbroken to see all the pain they both had to deal with ! I'm so glad they got their ending!

[Jan Murphree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!!

Really interesting look at the afterlife!!
Finding your true love...and a lot of great
Stuff inbetween!!!
Loved it...gonna read next in series!

[LMR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternally Yours (The Afterlife Series Book 1) By: Gina Ardito
WoW! A Stellar 5 STAR Read, One-Click "Eternally Yours," & Be Swept Into An Amazing Tale Today!!
Drama, Intrigue, Romance, Redemtion, Second Chances, & Sooo Much MORE... This book's gonna take you on a journey unlike any other!!
I cannot wait for the NEXT INSTALLMENT. I LOVE the characters & the World Gina Ardito's developed!!
I rarely give Coveted 5 STAR ratings; they're saved for Books/Items that Outshine, Outclass, & Outperform their competition... They've gotta give me something MORE! Gina Ardito's won that Distinction for "Eternally Yours;" Kudos Ms. Ardito's for your Stellar work!!!
Even though I already owned Gina Ardito's "Eternally Yours (The Afterlife Series Book 1);" I agreed to review it as an ARC via Booksprout for her; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was so down on her life that she took the only option open to her and that is death. She ends up being trained to take would from those who did not want to give them and she has a tough trainer. They bump heads all the time. How can they work together? Will it work? What is going to happen? Follow rh sir tale

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane Werning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternally Yours

If the afterlife is anything like this book we all have a lot to atone for.True love seems to know no borders.If true love reaches to the ends of time we will eventually be reunited to our true love.This book is amazing and well worth the read.Pick up a copy of you will be sorry you passed it up.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternally Yours by Gina Ardito is a wonderful story to read. This is a brand new author and series that I started to read, I never read anythng from this author till this story. I loved reading it with the strong characters and the wonderful story line, I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.