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The Grief Series #2
Depression
Trust is the hardest to gain. But the easiest to lose.
An old flame shows up in Raven’s Hollow determined to start where they left off.
Livvy and Liam find themselves at a crossroads when Heaven plays the ultimate trump card by forcing Liam to make a fateful decision—one that could have him locked away in Purgatory.
Plagued with nightmares, death, and betrayal, Livvy must choose to fight for her life. Not just against the ones hunting her —but against herself.
This urban fantasy romance will leave you reeling.
An old flame shows up in Raven’s Hollow determined to start where they left off.
Livvy and Liam find themselves at a crossroads when Heaven plays the ultimate trump card by forcing Liam to make a fateful decision—one that could have him locked away in Purgatory.
Plagued with nightmares, death, and betrayal, Livvy must choose to fight for her life. Not just against the ones hunting her —but against herself.
This urban fantasy romance will leave you reeling.
- GenresRomantasy
Unknown Binding
Published April 30, 2024
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Crawford
2 books40 followersR.S. Crawford lives with her husband and two children in rural Arkansas. She has struggled with depression and PTSD since she was twelve years old. As a neurodivergent, she strives to bring awareness to mental health in order to let others know they are worthy of love and acceptance.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 14, 2023
Everything about this book is absolutely AMAZING!!! I am so honored I was chosen to be a beta reader!! The writing, the story, the character growth, all of it!! Also… SHUT UP KYLE!!!
September 20, 2023
Everything about this book had me on edge. The writing style was magnificent. This is the second book in the series so if you have not read the first book, please go back and read that one before continuing to this one. The way the FMC battles her mental health is beautifully written and having all other characters surrounding her and helping. The twists and turns in the book had me staying up late to keep reading. And the ending of the story blew my mind!!!!!I love the mythology aspect as well. I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed every minute of it. I had the privilege of BETA reading this book 5out of 5
January 23, 2024
“No. Your Liv is long gone. I buried that naïve bitch six feet under the day of the funeral.”
I thought after Denial it couldn’t get but better, but it did. The twists in this book threw me. I was so mad at points, crying at others, and loving so many moments. At times I’m questioning if TJ is on antipsychotics himself with the amount that man snacks (this was my thought after taking my antipsychotic and going to make toast). Again I found myself relating with Livvy throughout, wanting to give Liam a hug, and wanting to throttle certain others. The raw and gritty side of the mental health rep was as amazing as ever. Accurately portrayed and not the romanticised version.
If you love;
✨OTT MMC
✨Touch her and d!3
✨Found Family
✨Fated mates
✨Accurate mental health rep
Blurb; Dream until your dreams come true. But remember, nightmares are dreams too. An old flame shows up in Raven’s Hollow determined to start where they left off.
Livvy and Liam find themselves at a crossroads when Heaven plays the ultimate trump card by forcing Liam to make a fateful decision—one that could have him locked away in Purgatory.
Plagued with nightmares, death, and betrayal, Livvy must choose to fight for her life. Not just against the ones hunting her —but against herself.
Genre; Urban Fantasy/Romance
Pages;335📖
Rating;4.5⭐️
Spice;2.5🌶️
Series or Standalone; Second book of The Grief Series
Tropes or Themes; Found Family, who did this to you, touch her and d!3, fated soulmates, gods from multiple pantheons, accurate mental health representation
Content Warnings ⚠️ Mental Health Journey
Grief/Loss of a Loved One, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Mentions of Suicide, Suicidal Tendencies & Ideations, Intrusive Thoughts, Violence/Assault, Profanity, Murder, Slut Shaming, Sexual Content, On Page Sex, Eating Disorder.
I thought after Denial it couldn’t get but better, but it did. The twists in this book threw me. I was so mad at points, crying at others, and loving so many moments. At times I’m questioning if TJ is on antipsychotics himself with the amount that man snacks (this was my thought after taking my antipsychotic and going to make toast). Again I found myself relating with Livvy throughout, wanting to give Liam a hug, and wanting to throttle certain others. The raw and gritty side of the mental health rep was as amazing as ever. Accurately portrayed and not the romanticised version.
If you love;
✨OTT MMC
✨Touch her and d!3
✨Found Family
✨Fated mates
✨Accurate mental health rep
Blurb; Dream until your dreams come true. But remember, nightmares are dreams too. An old flame shows up in Raven’s Hollow determined to start where they left off.
Livvy and Liam find themselves at a crossroads when Heaven plays the ultimate trump card by forcing Liam to make a fateful decision—one that could have him locked away in Purgatory.
Plagued with nightmares, death, and betrayal, Livvy must choose to fight for her life. Not just against the ones hunting her —but against herself.
Genre; Urban Fantasy/Romance
Pages;335📖
Rating;4.5⭐️
Spice;2.5🌶️
Series or Standalone; Second book of The Grief Series
Tropes or Themes; Found Family, who did this to you, touch her and d!3, fated soulmates, gods from multiple pantheons, accurate mental health representation
Content Warnings ⚠️ Mental Health Journey
Grief/Loss of a Loved One, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Mentions of Suicide, Suicidal Tendencies & Ideations, Intrusive Thoughts, Violence/Assault, Profanity, Murder, Slut Shaming, Sexual Content, On Page Sex, Eating Disorder.
January 8, 2024
4.75⭐️
*I received an ARC from the author and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. I'm ready for the next book—that's the only bad part about getting an ARC. 😂
What I loved:
- The accurate, gut-wrenching depiction of Livvy's depression— I could almost feel her pain through the page. And despite that, she had some seriously badass moments.
- Celeste's character development. I didn't love her in the first book, but by the end of Depression, she had definitely grown on me.
- Liam had moments of it in Denial, but in this book, he was morally gray— willing to maim and murder in order to protect and defend Livvy.
- The plot twists in the last 20-30% of this book had me constantly whisper-screaming "WTF?" at 2 in the morning. Mind blown.
- The "spice rack:" The author lists the chapters where spice scenes happen at the back of the book—and ingeniously, the beginning and end of each spicy scene is marked with an angel wing so readers can easily skip them without missing any of the plot!
How I felt while reading: 😤 🤭 😂 😞 🤯
CW/TW: Mental illness is depicted, including PTSD, suicidal ideation and gestures, intrusive thoughts, and attempted self-harm. Death of a parent also plays a key role, although it doesn't happen in the book. The main character is physically assaulted by bad guys. The author also provides full trigger warnings at the front of the book.
*I received an ARC from the author and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. I'm ready for the next book—that's the only bad part about getting an ARC. 😂
What I loved:
- The accurate, gut-wrenching depiction of Livvy's depression— I could almost feel her pain through the page. And despite that, she had some seriously badass moments.
- Celeste's character development. I didn't love her in the first book, but by the end of Depression, she had definitely grown on me.
- Liam had moments of it in Denial, but in this book, he was morally gray— willing to maim and murder in order to protect and defend Livvy.
- The plot twists in the last 20-30% of this book had me constantly whisper-screaming "WTF?" at 2 in the morning. Mind blown.
- The "spice rack:" The author lists the chapters where spice scenes happen at the back of the book—and ingeniously, the beginning and end of each spicy scene is marked with an angel wing so readers can easily skip them without missing any of the plot!
How I felt while reading: 😤 🤭 😂 😞 🤯
CW/TW: Mental illness is depicted, including PTSD, suicidal ideation and gestures, intrusive thoughts, and attempted self-harm. Death of a parent also plays a key role, although it doesn't happen in the book. The main character is physically assaulted by bad guys. The author also provides full trigger warnings at the front of the book.
March 23, 2024
So I really liked this book. I did get in my feelings A LOT. Some tears definitely fell. It was worth it though.
This fantasy romance is a heart wrenching read. This is book 2 in the grief series. The series in itself is very emotional. Book 2 is a lot more emotional than book 1. Remember please check trigger warnings before starting this emotional rollercoaster read.
The romance is a heartbreaking, and longing in this book due to situations the MCs find themselves in.
The book has mild spice. The author does warn which chapters have spice, for those who do not enjoy it. The spice is fairly descriptive as well.
The book moves at a steady pace as the MCs try to figure out who is after the FMC, and how to keep her safe. There are bumps in the road to discovery making the story more intense. The book does end on a cliff hanger.
The characters are developed even more in book. This is one of the additional factors making this book so emotional.
The world building is done in the same environment as the previous book. The author just added many more layers to it, making the world more interesting, and complex.
This fantasy romance is a heart wrenching read. This is book 2 in the grief series. The series in itself is very emotional. Book 2 is a lot more emotional than book 1. Remember please check trigger warnings before starting this emotional rollercoaster read.
The romance is a heartbreaking, and longing in this book due to situations the MCs find themselves in.
The book has mild spice. The author does warn which chapters have spice, for those who do not enjoy it. The spice is fairly descriptive as well.
The book moves at a steady pace as the MCs try to figure out who is after the FMC, and how to keep her safe. There are bumps in the road to discovery making the story more intense. The book does end on a cliff hanger.
The characters are developed even more in book. This is one of the additional factors making this book so emotional.
The world building is done in the same environment as the previous book. The author just added many more layers to it, making the world more interesting, and complex.
June 28, 2024
Finally!
Let me tell you something... that slow burn was SLOW. Real slow. But that spice rack was nice and spicy. I like it.
In this book, we dive into a MH crisis with Livvy, see a new side to many of the gang, learn more about the lore behind the angels, and meet lots of new enemies. No one can be trusted. Livvy is spiraling. The damn Chevelle is cursed. We get a lot of answers but many more questions.
I really enjoyed this book! There is so much drama and suspense. The crew is loyal to a fault, and I'm here for it. Twists and turns around every corner, but they're going to stand together. And Livvy and Liam are absolutely meant for each other. Unless I can have him. Because, YES.
Short synopsis: Livvy grapes with herself and her relationship with Liam. She makes a choice to try and save him that breaks both of their hearts. Kyle tries to meddle and make things worse. Livvy trains her body. Secrets are revealed, and plots are uncovered. We finally get 🌶🌶 and deal with a major threat to Livvy. The ending is a curveball, but I definitely saw it coming.
Let me tell you something... that slow burn was SLOW. Real slow. But that spice rack was nice and spicy. I like it.
In this book, we dive into a MH crisis with Livvy, see a new side to many of the gang, learn more about the lore behind the angels, and meet lots of new enemies. No one can be trusted. Livvy is spiraling. The damn Chevelle is cursed. We get a lot of answers but many more questions.
I really enjoyed this book! There is so much drama and suspense. The crew is loyal to a fault, and I'm here for it. Twists and turns around every corner, but they're going to stand together. And Livvy and Liam are absolutely meant for each other. Unless I can have him. Because, YES.
Short synopsis: Livvy grapes with herself and her relationship with Liam. She makes a choice to try and save him that breaks both of their hearts. Kyle tries to meddle and make things worse. Livvy trains her body. Secrets are revealed, and plots are uncovered. We finally get 🌶🌶 and deal with a major threat to Livvy. The ending is a curveball, but I definitely saw it coming.
January 20, 2024
After the first book I thought she couldn’t top it but she did.
The range of emotions you feel in these books is powerful.
You have Livvy and Liam and the crew that are trying to find out who is after Livvy and why. In enters an old flame trying to pull the duo apart. I disliked him from the beginning. They get played by Heaven and she is so broken that she has to give her love up to “save” him. People they trusted were working against them. That cliffhanger at the end though. I Will impatiently wait for the next.
One thing I absolutely love about this author is the importance of mental health within her books and her readers.
The range of emotions you feel in these books is powerful.
You have Livvy and Liam and the crew that are trying to find out who is after Livvy and why. In enters an old flame trying to pull the duo apart. I disliked him from the beginning. They get played by Heaven and she is so broken that she has to give her love up to “save” him. People they trusted were working against them. That cliffhanger at the end though. I Will impatiently wait for the next.
One thing I absolutely love about this author is the importance of mental health within her books and her readers.
June 20, 2024
absolute must read!
Book 2 of the grief series did not disappoint! If you love paranormal fantasy, angels, reincarnation, suspense… you need this book.
The attention and focus on mental health representation is the best I’ve ever seen. Bringing words to what I’m sure so many have felt but couldn’t express.
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it held my attention the entire time, and made me gasp a few times for…several reasons.
There is spice but the author was so amazing an put in a little something special so you know when the spicy scenes are for those readers wishing to skip them.
Overall, a fantastic continuation after Denial and I can’t wait to read book 3!
Book 2 of the grief series did not disappoint! If you love paranormal fantasy, angels, reincarnation, suspense… you need this book.
The attention and focus on mental health representation is the best I’ve ever seen. Bringing words to what I’m sure so many have felt but couldn’t express.
It made me laugh, it made me cry, it held my attention the entire time, and made me gasp a few times for…several reasons.
There is spice but the author was so amazing an put in a little something special so you know when the spicy scenes are for those readers wishing to skip them.
Overall, a fantastic continuation after Denial and I can’t wait to read book 3!
April 10, 2024
Sooo good and definately left me BEGGING for book 3. If you have read denial, this gives you a deeper dive into the life of livvy before she moved as well as a small sneak peak into the lives of the rest of the characters while also introducing some new ones. The dialog had me cackling and R.S Crawford has an amazingly descriptive way of writing. If goodreads allowed half stars I would probably give it a 4.5, only because I didn't feel like it was as fast paced as it could have been but still an amazing story I would recommend.
May 1, 2024
everything I wanted and more
This series has a choke hold on me! These characters mean everything to me. You will fall in love with them. You will hurt for them. Sometimes, you will be angry at them. I know book two JUST came out, but I will be watching for book three’s release.
Fav quote: “You’re Liv is long gone. I buried that naive b six feet under”
Also, the 32 times that “little dove” was used.
ALSO, “always you”
There are so many good parts. You will just need to read this book to find them.
This series has a choke hold on me! These characters mean everything to me. You will fall in love with them. You will hurt for them. Sometimes, you will be angry at them. I know book two JUST came out, but I will be watching for book three’s release.
Fav quote: “You’re Liv is long gone. I buried that naive b six feet under”
Also, the 32 times that “little dove” was used.
ALSO, “always you”
There are so many good parts. You will just need to read this book to find them.
September 11, 2023
Holy smokes.
I literally just finished this and I am reeling. What a masterful take on the very real struggles and thoughts that come with depression but also the freaking storyline blew my mind! The end twists kept coming and have me aching for the next installment of the grief series. RS has done such a beautiful job documenting Livvy's mental health struggles while navigating a world that is much more than it seems. I can not recommend this book enough.
I literally just finished this and I am reeling. What a masterful take on the very real struggles and thoughts that come with depression but also the freaking storyline blew my mind! The end twists kept coming and have me aching for the next installment of the grief series. RS has done such a beautiful job documenting Livvy's mental health struggles while navigating a world that is much more than it seems. I can not recommend this book enough.
April 5, 2024
I received this book as an arc and it is the second installment of the grief series and man does the title live up to the book.
This series is emotional, impactful, and a good fast read.
Mixing urban fantasy, romance, and mental health is a lot of plot-lines to run and I feel this author managed them beautifully throughout this book.
I feel like this book dove deeper into the friendships, the romance, and the underlying story that left me wanting that third book to be released.
This series is emotional, impactful, and a good fast read.
Mixing urban fantasy, romance, and mental health is a lot of plot-lines to run and I feel this author managed them beautifully throughout this book.
I feel like this book dove deeper into the friendships, the romance, and the underlying story that left me wanting that third book to be released.
February 4, 2024
Our favorite team of fallen angels are still trying to protect Liam's one true love, Livvy. But will they succeed in keeping her alive?
Well, you definitely should read it so you can find out!!! R.S. Crawford definitely keeps us on our toes trying to figure out who the bad guy is while putting us in our feelings. I highly recommend this series
Well, you definitely should read it so you can find out!!! R.S. Crawford definitely keeps us on our toes trying to figure out who the bad guy is while putting us in our feelings. I highly recommend this series
January 5, 2024
I had the privilege to get an arc copy of this book and it did not disappoint. R.S Crawford has a way of drawing you in and keeping you there. She gives just enough information to keep you wanting more. I can't wait to read book three.
January 17, 2024
I loved this book even more than the first, and honestly the first was super hard to beat. Livvy and Liam and seriously goals and their soulmate bond is *chef kiss*. The epilogue has me already thinking of the twists and turns to come in the next book and I need it immediately!
May 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH!!! I just have no words on how amazing this book was! Livvy and Liam went through a lot in this book. I cried a lot throughout this book. Riki I may be a little bit upset about the cliffhanger but I can’t wait for book 3.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH!!! I just have no words on how amazing this book was! Livvy and Liam went through a lot in this book. I cried a lot throughout this book. Riki I may be a little bit upset about the cliffhanger but I can’t wait for book 3.
February 5, 2024
Is my first book about angels and I love it.
March 10, 2024
This book had my heart from the beginning. I felt every emotion and just so hard to put down.
November 21, 2024
This entire series is fire!!! I can’t get enough of it.
January 23, 2024
Dark, intense, quick read. Book two in the grief series is a continuation of where Denial left off. Livvy continues to work through her mental health issues in a very poetic way, but she is not alone. Her friends, new and old stand behind her in hopes to help her through her depression. This book also gives us a nice twist and a dose of betrayal. Feeling all the feels on this one.
March 27, 2024
This book had me in my feelings . It is dark but it is also intense. I found it to be quick read for me . I love that the author makes mental health important in her books in her books. I had to take a while after reading to gather my thoughts but overall enjoyed reading the story
March 18, 2025
"I am no saint."
The first book in this series ends with a dramatic conclusion, but it turns out that was only the beginning, and in this second book, we take a deeper dive into the characters, their world, and their relationships.
Spoilers Ahead!
The entire premise of this world is incredibly intriguing and a fresh take on the Urban Fantasy genre. I might have already stated this in a previous review, but I still stand by that assessment.
The character development is huge in this book. Livvy is amazingly developed, and I felt several emotions while reading about her internal struggle. And Liam. Oh, my. He's been holding back, giving Livvy her space and room to grow. He doesn't push, and I love that about him.
BUT THEN.... everything goes to hell because of one good deed, and my man shows a whole new side of himself. There's an undercurrent of something sinister happening, and as revelation after revelation occurs, you're left reading with your mouth hanging open.
"You are my goddess. You beg no one."
Let's talk about the spice. Book one is all tension (so good), but in this one, Livvy and Liam take things to the next level. The amount of SWOON WORTHY lines Liam utters in the book's second half had me highlighting so fast that my Kindle flashed an error and told me I couldn't highlight anymore. (I beg thy pardon, Bezos!) It's tastefully done, and I applaud the author for marking those sections so readers who might not be comfortable with it can skip them. There's also a "Spice Rack" that will tell you the chapters to watch out for.
Me being me, I was totally comfortable with the spice, and at one point (Kitchen Island), I morphed into Britney Spears singing, Gimme, Gimme More while I clapped like a seal when everyone's favorite fallen god dropped to his knees to worship his woman.
The side characters also came to life in this second installment. I am a Shawn girlie now and have no regrets. I will punch Kyle if given the chance. I gave Roni serious side-eye during the entire time. I like Marc more than I thought I would. TJ remains a favorite, as does Jaycee, who has an interesting backstory! But out of all of it, I'm looking forward to the dynamic between Shawn and Liam in the future books and SHAWN'S STORY! You can't just drop that morsel of history about my man and not expect me to be frothing at the mouth for more.
All in all, I am having so much fun in this world, and I can't wait to read the rest.
The first book in this series ends with a dramatic conclusion, but it turns out that was only the beginning, and in this second book, we take a deeper dive into the characters, their world, and their relationships.
Spoilers Ahead!
The entire premise of this world is incredibly intriguing and a fresh take on the Urban Fantasy genre. I might have already stated this in a previous review, but I still stand by that assessment.
The character development is huge in this book. Livvy is amazingly developed, and I felt several emotions while reading about her internal struggle. And Liam. Oh, my. He's been holding back, giving Livvy her space and room to grow. He doesn't push, and I love that about him.
BUT THEN.... everything goes to hell because of one good deed, and my man shows a whole new side of himself. There's an undercurrent of something sinister happening, and as revelation after revelation occurs, you're left reading with your mouth hanging open.
"You are my goddess. You beg no one."
Let's talk about the spice. Book one is all tension (so good), but in this one, Livvy and Liam take things to the next level. The amount of SWOON WORTHY lines Liam utters in the book's second half had me highlighting so fast that my Kindle flashed an error and told me I couldn't highlight anymore. (I beg thy pardon, Bezos!) It's tastefully done, and I applaud the author for marking those sections so readers who might not be comfortable with it can skip them. There's also a "Spice Rack" that will tell you the chapters to watch out for.
Me being me, I was totally comfortable with the spice, and at one point (Kitchen Island), I morphed into Britney Spears singing, Gimme, Gimme More while I clapped like a seal when everyone's favorite fallen god dropped to his knees to worship his woman.
The side characters also came to life in this second installment. I am a Shawn girlie now and have no regrets. I will punch Kyle if given the chance. I gave Roni serious side-eye during the entire time. I like Marc more than I thought I would. TJ remains a favorite, as does Jaycee, who has an interesting backstory! But out of all of it, I'm looking forward to the dynamic between Shawn and Liam in the future books and SHAWN'S STORY! You can't just drop that morsel of history about my man and not expect me to be frothing at the mouth for more.
All in all, I am having so much fun in this world, and I can't wait to read the rest.
April 28, 2024
This is one of my absolute favorite series!
The way that I can see myself in Livvy and just want to hug her so fiercely. The love and compassion Liam has for her is beautiful! If he isn't willing to find me lifetime after lifetime, I don't want him.
This is book 2, so we expand on the world and the characters. We get more backstory, to meet people mentioned in book 1, and of course we have new introductions. Riki has created magic and healing through her words. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
The way that I can see myself in Livvy and just want to hug her so fiercely. The love and compassion Liam has for her is beautiful! If he isn't willing to find me lifetime after lifetime, I don't want him.
This is book 2, so we expand on the world and the characters. We get more backstory, to meet people mentioned in book 1, and of course we have new introductions. Riki has created magic and healing through her words. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews