Grim Tidings

Ghosted #2

by B.K. Borison

From #1 New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison comes a new whimsical, haunting romance. When a runaway grim reaper tries to save a life, she clashes with a skeptical Guardian, forcing them to form an unlikely partnership beyond the grave.

Darcy Moore is tired of death. Which would be fine and good ... if she wasn’t a Grim Reaper. Determined to outrun her designation as the villain, Darcy decides she won’t be dragging her next assignment to the underworld. She’ll be saving him instead.

Unfortunately for Darcy, there’s a complication in her plan. Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos doesn’t tolerate threats to his little corner of the world, and a Grim Reaper showing up at his bar is as deadly as it gets. But when he realizes Darcy is not as she seems, Gabriel must decide if he can trust his growing feelings or hold on to his long-standing grudge.

But magic doesn’t come without consequences. And the Department of Hauntings & Spirits will eventually come calling for their missing Reaper.

A spooky yet simmering enemies-to-lovers tale to keep you warm this fall.



• Enemies to Lovers

• Angel x Reaper

• Grumpy x grumpy

• Guy who likes everyone except her

• Death but make it corporate

• Star-crossed lovers

• Changing your fate

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Fantasy, Paranormal, Holiday, Adult, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

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Reviews

[ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you know how much i loved good spirits (a lot) then i am here to say i loved this one EVEN MORE. b. k. borison quite literally never lets me down. this was sweet, funny, hot and cute all at the same time. i read this in one sitting as soon as i got home and opened the package with it in, and it’s definitely one of my favourite books of the year. OBSESSED

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly, thank you thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i don’t think i’ve ever cried as much reading a b k borison book as i have with grim tidings — i literally cannot go into depth for the sake of not spoiling the read for others excited about this book.

however, i will say grim tidings granted me a new outlook on death and the afterlife; as someone with extreme death anxiety, books that paint death as a beginning always soothe my anxiety and bring me hope.

the next book in this series is undoubtedly gideon’s — and im very excited as i enjoyed the parts of the book he appeared in!

not to mention, the cutie easter eggs from good spirits were nice to see🩵✨

——

update at 25% — if i know anything about b k borison, i just know that i’ve picked up on a possible plot twist. i’m calling it NOW

——

everyone... i fear it's time i dive into my ARC 🫂🫶

YAAAAA I'VE GOT THE ARC!

[ଘRory (Back!Dental School got me good)]

I'm so ready to feel that ghosty,ethereally cozy vibe—curled up in my Rory Gilmore sweater with a warm coffee 🥺 The only problem? I have to wait until September 2026 to get it! 😭😭😭

[DianaRose]

YAAAAA I'VE GOT THE ARC!

AAAH I LOVE THE COVER🥹🤭

manifesting for the yearning levels to be through the roof in this one💞

[vita ౨ৎ (inactive)]

ꕤ 🪻𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 ࿐ ͎. ｡˚ ° ⊹ ˚.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⤿ release date: september 15

THE COVER IS FINALLY HERE YAYYYYY lT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL!!! i loved ‘good spirits’ and i can’t wait to read this one, soooooo excited 🥹💜

⊹ ⌞ 🫟 ⌝ ⊹ ghosted series .ᐟ

⌗ i. good spirits review
⌗ ii. grim tidings

[maria (will I fully comeback?)]

Grim tidings as the title is actually so perfect😋😋

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡]

pre-release:

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER? 😫 it’s so pretty i literally ran to the article to see the cover because i’ve been sat for this book since i finished good spirits 🥹🫧🩵 i’m so so so excited for this one!

[Christina Bertolo]

I hope this is about that grim reaper that went MIA 🤭

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving five stars to offset the one star rating for a book that is almost a year away from being released.

GoodReads really needs to limit early ratings.

I looked at the profile of the person who left the one star rating and that’s 99% of what they do. I’ve left my share of one stars over the years but this is excessive and seems very fishy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a new B.K. Borison book I think, surely, SURELY, she has run out of room to top herself.

And she does. Every. Single. Time.

Grim Tidings is perfect. B.K. somehow wrote a book that is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming; that is witty and spicy and fun and sad; that SAYS something, about death and life and people who help you, on your way.

Darcy and Gabriel are the perfect, classic, opposites-attract-(and maybe are more alike than they think). I ached so, so much for Darcy. Her longing GUTS you—for purpose, for something more, for connection. The way she breaks down Gabriel’s surly, reluctant, fluffed feathers is cute and charming and just, a perfect look at falling reluctantly, helplessly in love.

Also:
🪽 An insanely overprotective, possessive MMC
🍋‍🟩 Tequila shots heal all wounds
🐕 Tater Tot, the goodest good boy there ever was
🎃 Perfect spooky, small-town fall, Halloween vibes—(putting my bet in now that we get 4th of July next)
💜 Wit, whimsy, and nostalgia—her writing is so soft and lyrical and feels like coming home
🕶️ Let it be known now that Gideon is MINE. I call him. Everyone else, back off

Oh, and this world?! The way B.K. continues to enrich the Department is insane. The small, tiny Easter eggs where this one interconnects with Good Spirits—and even Heartstrings—are Taylor Swift level masterful.

I devoured this in one sitting over a week ago, and I’m crying again now, thinking about this beautiful story. I didn’t review it right away because I was too raw. Those feelings are still here—because the magic of B.K. Borison is that her words lodge into you and stay there.

Thank you, Avon!

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinity stars.

I smiled, laughed, squealed with delight, wept, and then smiled again.

This book is like a hardy, rich soup - filled me up & is going to cling to my ribs for a long time.

I don’t know how to articulate how warm this book is. BK has somehow infused the feeling of genuine love & want for human connection into words on the page. A masterclass.

I loved everything about this.

cry count: 8

[har.]

avon pls be sweet with the arcs <3

[elise | bookingthroughlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!!!!

i've been struggling to write this review bc sometimes books are just so good how do you articulate it? grim tidings was everything i wanted and so much more. truly might be my fav bk book yet.

first off, the tension & chemistry between darcy & gabriel??????? insane. like these two hit it off from the start & you can FEEL it! i was living for every single interaction and how they kept orbiting each other and flirting with each other !! SO GOOD! also gabriel is 1000% my type of man: flirty, a little broken and extremely caring. i love him i love him i love him.

something i loved about this book (beyond how hot darcy and gabriel are and how much they love each other) is how beautifully bk tackles death, responsibilities and the weight of expectations in a really unique story setting. you feel the anguish of darcy. you understand her dilemma of being a reaper but hating being the bringer of death. how does one keep being the bad guy? is she a bad guy? the way darcy wrestles with these thoughts and feelings and how she ultimately overcomes them is so beautiful (trying to keep it vague so i don't spoil anything)

and gabriel is also going through his own struggles, bearing the weight of protecting everyone around him. loving what he does but feeling exhausted from it at the same time. 😭 yeah.

and those struggles are part of what makes darcy & gabriel's relationship so sweet. they truly are a safe space, a breath of fresh air, for each other. and it is the sweetest most beautiful thing.

also tator tot and frank are my babies and i love them so much it's not even funnyyyyy

thank you so so much Avon Books for the arc! this is my honest review.

[Readaholic Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect in Grim Tidings:
-Reaper x Archangel
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-underlying themes of grief
-right person wrong time

Darcy's profession within the Department (of Haunting and Spirits) is as a Reaper. She ushers those who are dying into the afterlife. But...Darcy wants something different from her job and life in general. She's tired of dying and death and being last person someone sees before dying. So she decides to veer a little off course on her next assignment. Instead of being the harbinger of death...she'll save the person instead!

Sounds like a wonderful idea, except some complications arise when Darcy is dropped off at her next location. She ends up in the same town as Guardian Angel, Gabriel - oopes! Their departments clearly do not like each other. She ushers in death while he tries to protect his people. There's a lot of animosity between the two. Will they find a way to “work” in the same place while both completing their assignments?

THIS BOOK...aahhh how I loved this book 😭. The tears were flowing fast and quite early while reading this book to be honest. BK Borison has a way of writing that just gets to me. Darcy and Gabriel had so much chemistry - from the first scene they were in together I was wanting these two to end up together. But that wasn't always easy considering their jobs. Darcy the Reaper and Gabriel the Angel are on two opposite sides of the spectrum. How would they even make a relationship between each other work?

Every side character had an important part to play in Grim Tidings and I loved them all. From Gabe's bar friends to the resident florist in town to Darcy's fellow eight (!!) year old Reaper Aelia - they all played crucial parts of this story 🥹

If there's one thing that BK Borison excels at its weaving the underlying themes of grief within her books. And it might be odd for me to say this - but she did it so well here. I have passage after passage highlighted 🖤.

What another lovely and hauntingly beautiful book from BK Borison. I literally cannot wait for the next book which has to be Gideon's / book -right?!?! I can already feel the angst with that one.

Definitely add this one to your tbr if you haven't alredy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Erin (erinsreadingroom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ 5 stars

"I kiss her like she belongs to me. In a way nothing has in more than a thousand years."

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 352 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: B.K. Borison
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: HQ Stories
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 15 September 2026

What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Paranormal Romance
— First Person X Dual POV
— Grumpy X Grumpy
— Guardian Angel X Grim Reaper
— Afterlife Corporate Rivals
— Star-Crossed Lovers
— Opposites Attract
— Animal Companion
— Winged MMC X Shadow Mommy FMC
— Yearning x1000
— Bucket List Adventures

Grim Tidings is the second instalment in Ghosted series by author B.K. Borison. Do you ever feel like you read the works of an author and come to the realisation that they are exactly where they should be… alongside where they want to be? I’m not kidding when I say that every single book that I’ve read by this author (First Time Caller was my first) has been utter perfection and if I could surpass the five-star rating scale then I would without question. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to pick a favourite, but this one definitely comes pretty close to the top as one of my books of the year. One thing I know that I can continuously count on from Borison is her ability to deliver an unforgettable story that is as equally healing as it is heart wrenching and hurtful. Her capacity for exploring delicate conversations including grief and death with such grace and care is beyond incredible in the way that you are left with the sensation of the warm embrace that you crave on a cold day. I physically couldn’t put my book down from the very moment I picked it up and there’s no denying that I experienced every variety of emotions that you can imagine from beginning to end. The distinctive narrative voice, descriptive writing, compelling character interactions and emotional dialogue continues to cement B.K. Borison as one of my absolute favourite authors of all-time and there’s no denying that I will consume every book she ever deigns to gift us mere mortals with. This is the book of my dreams with the stunning cover to match… and even though it’s way too early you can guarantee that I’ll be counting down the days until the release of the third and final (sobbing) book in this remarkable series.

Darcy Moore is a wonderful compilation of contradictions that I had the best experience getting to know and understand as a character. I knew I was in for a good time when the ending of the first book hinted towards a runaway Grim Reaper that is tired of death and yearns for something more. I was really intrigued to see what would happen should a Reaper go against the very foundations of their existence and attempt to save a soul rather than taking it, and I definitely wasn’t left disappointed in the end. I was pleasantly surprised at the intricacies of her character in how deeply her softness and vulnerabilities play a role in her everyday life. Darcy’s capacity for empathy and understanding made her easy character to connect with as it becomes clear just how lonely she has felt for the majority of her life, both when she was alive and now as being undead. So much of Darcy’s dialogue and private thoughts made me feel like my heart was shredding piece by piece within my chest and I sympathised with the way she yearned for a normal, mundane human existence filled with life and vibrancy. It becomes clear quite quickly that she is not one to ever asks for anything for herself and I loved getting to follow her journey towards slowly learning how to ask and advocate for herself. I felt immediately endeared towards Darcy’s outlook on human existence and the way that she valued every moment she was granted to belong as one of them. Her kindness for others alongside her unapologetic fierceness felt perfectly matched and I fear that Darcy may now be my favourite heroine by this author to-date. There is not a single bad attribute that I can name for her character and I adored every moment that we are granted within her perspective. I was fighting back tears in the end and I couldn’t be happier in the way that Darcy’s journey concludes.

Gabriel Aetos is a notable highlight to the story for me in the way that we witness him undergo tremendous growth from the very beginning of his journey. You get an immediate strong sense on him and his morals as a Guardian Angel whom has sworn to preserve and protect the best of humanity for over a thousand years. His prejudice and animosity towards Reapers as a result of experiences within the past showcases Gabriel at his worst alongside his capacity to be flawed despite being intended for ‘good.’ Gabriel is a very complex being that desperately fears failing at the duty that he has so vigilantly abided by as the threat of it all being ripped away looms over his shoulders. I really sympathised in the way that he is always giving back to the people around him without ever trying, nor wanting, to take anything for himself in return. I adored getting to witness the close connections that he has forged with the humans in the small coastal town he currently resides in and the way that he seemed to thrive within their company. I had the best time getting to better understand Gabriel as the story progressed and the way his inner softness came to the forefront of his character as he feels more relaxed. I was really pleased to see his ability to admit his wrongs as this helped to showcase his capacity immense growth and maturity. Gabriel’s yearning was exquisite and I found myself wanting to constantly squeal like a teenager every time his thoughts became consumed (this happens many times) by his unlikely partner. Gabriel is a wonderfully complex and relatable character to follow from beginning to end and I can’t deny that he’s now one of my favourite love interests that this author has written thus far. I was admittedly a tad nervous towards the end in my anticipation in what his ‘happy ending’ would look like and there’s no denying that I was choking back tears in the aftermath of the conclusion. In queen B.K. Borison we trust, always. The emotional pain is always worth it when you are left with such a fulfilling conclusion.

I absolutely loved the whirlwind dynamic that is explored between Darcy and Gabriel within Grim Tidings as hostility and misunderstandings soon develops into an unmistakable, tender romance that will leave you swooning into your pillows. There’s no denying that their relationship kicks off with a rocky beginning as Gabriel’s incorrect assumptions of Darcy’s intentions leaves both characters at an impasse. Their development is heavily reliant upon an ‘actions over words’ approach which I delighted upon in the way that trust is earned through genuine means. Their banter and quick-witted interactions made for an enjoyable buffer as feelings begin to take root despite both characters desperately trying to fight against it. I was honestly just existing in a constant state of giddiness throughout the majority of this book as longing glances, forbidden attraction and swoon-worthy yearning slowly begins to demands its time to shine on page. The way that Darcy and Gabriel begin to truly understand one another and connect on a deeply emotional level is unmatched and I adored the safe space that they created within their dynamic to be their true selves. There is ample moments of vulnerability and tender discussion which helps to drive their relationship forward amidst their own personal healing journey. Their love story felt hard-earned and I absolutely adored the unconventional family unit they have created in the end. I don’t know why Gabriel referring to Tater Tot as ‘Spud’ warmed my heart as much as it did, but for me it just went to show how much effort went into attainting the trust and love of Darcy’s loyal companion. As satisfactory as the ending on their love story was… I cannot help but selfishly yearn for one final cameo from this magnetic pair in the third and final instalment in the Ghosted series… especially after guessing who our two MCs of that book will be.

I’ve not exaggerating when I say that I’ve never wished to be a physical annotator as much as I did during my experience reading Grim Tidings… but alas my fear over ruining my precious book won out in the end. There are so many moments that I desperately hope will be forever imprinted into my brain in the way that I feel fundamentally changed. Borison is a true, masterful storyteller that knows how to write emotionally-charged stories that will sit with you for a very long time. The discussions surrounding death not being an ending to be feared, but the beginning of something anew, felt invigorating and refreshing to face as somebody that constantly worries about the unknowns of ‘what comes next.’ I already cannot wait to get my hands on the ebook version to re-read so that I can highlight and note every moment that has stuck with me through to the end… and the teasing snippets on what to expect in book three? Obsessed. Feral. Count me in. Do you think Maverick will let me hide out in his office when it’s my time to go so that I can keep up-to-date on all the latest office gossip? The Ghosted series is filled with endless charm and swoon-worthy romances that I cannot recommend any higher to my fellow romance readers, so pretty please make sure to pick this one up because I’m extremely confident that you won’t regret it.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

The 'Ghosted' series:
1. Good Spirits - 5 stars
2. Grim Tidings - 5 stars

[megan ◡̈]

i cant tell you how many times in the last few days since the cover reveal i’ve come back to this posting so i can stare at the cover likeeee I NEED IT

[summer⁎ ˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆]

i loveeee the cover but what is up with the over-saturated blush/contour on both of their faces?!

[cat (slow)]

・❥・⁀➷ pre-release

april 27th- HELLO THERE GORGEOUS 💜💜💜
I can’t get over B. K. Borrison’s book covers 😭 they are all top tier 🫶🏼😍

[carolina]

Look at that cover 😭 absolutely stunning!!! I can’t wait to read this book 🥹

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider myself Good Spirits number one fan. Like it was a SIX star read for me, so the fact that this one blew it out the water. I say that with so much love. This was genuinely SO charming. While Good Spirits is for sure a Christmas reread, this one is PERFECT for fall. Yes, it can also be read as a standalone, and you can probably read this one first, but trust me read both.

The first little meet cute was SO delicious. Actually, the entire book was delicious. The chemistry and the banter was honestly insane. I had to keep pausing and then going back just to reread the same passage over and over. I was blushing!! I laughed out loud!! I KICKED my FEET!!

I also cried like ten different times. Heartwarming and sad in such a tender mix.

We got some grumpy x grumpy, which I feel like is so underrated. We got some enemies (though, lets be real, Gabriel is the only with actual beef) to lovers. It starts off fast and hot and heavy then moves into a nice little slow burn. We get a ghost (zombie?) dog!! The perfect and wild mix of side characters who you become attached to and love just as much as our main characters. It's the perfect blend of every single thing I love about a romcom.

I'm honestly still giddy after reading and planning another read once it's released because you best believe I'll be buying a physical copy.

I also love the idea of this taking place in the same universe as heartstrings and lovelight farms, because that means my friends are running around and falling in love with their SOULMATES while living in a magic filled world.

Thank you so much to Avon and netgalley for the invite for the e-arc!!

[Polina]

Giving the book 5* to balance the „Book has yet to be announced, but 1*“-review

We have a name!!

[Kaitlyn]

SQUEALING I can't wait AND IT COMES OUT ON MY BIRTHDAY. :' )

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a lot of fun. A guardian angel and a Reaper fall in love, honestly, isn’t that the ultimate enemies-to-lovers setup? I really enjoyed how that dynamic was used to lean into the trope, and the romance was very easy to get invested in.

I also really enjoyed Darcy’s character. She felt like a great example of how our perception of someone isn’t always aligned with reality, and I liked how that thread played out.

Gabriel starts off very harsh and guarded, and then does a complete 180 into full golden retriever energy. It was a big shift, but honestly I was here for it, and it really worked for me.

Overall, this isn’t a book that’s trying to be overly deep, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s a fun, light fantasy romance that delivers on vibes, characters, and romance. If you’re looking for something easy, magical, and entertaining, this is a great pick.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[andie]

thank GOD there is more of this series coming!!!

[Holly]

The treat of 2x books per year from B.K. Borison continues!!

[phideɭia]

no wait what-

[RavenCantRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grim Tidings

Darcy, a grim reaper who feels crushed under the weight of her job of reaping souls and bringing them to the afterlife, is given a new assignment…except she’s met every step of the way by the Guardian of the town, Gabriel. Together they discover that these jobs are leading them to something much more important.

I thought this was very sweet, beautifully written and a really interesting and fun take on the co-workers/enemies to lovers trope.

Darcy is a grim reaper who doesn’t want to do her job anymore, she’s sick of it. She just wants to feel normal, even for a brief moment! Gabriel doesn’t know how to be anything but a guardian! I was initially turned off by the insta-lust but I got back on board when I realized they weren’t going to make it easy on us and they were gonna do the whole “enemies to lovers” thing even though Darcy is clearly a cinnamon roll.

********Spoilers abound if you proceed but if you want my overall thoughts skip to after the ************

With that being said, yeah Gabriel really pissed me off the first 30% of this book or so. He was really really mean and I honestly just hated him. I literally cried because of how mean he was being to Darcy. He did eventually get it together but it really turned me off from him for a decent % of the book.

I saw the ending (and the Frank thing) coming a mile away and it still got me good. I wish there would have been some sort of goodbye between him and Gabriel.

*****************

Overall I think it was a sweet story but I wish we had gotten a little more depth from both main characters and the ending felt a little too tidy to me. Not that I’m complaining, these are just me nitpicking if I’m being honest. Darcy is lovely, Gabriel is…a man. The ending was cute.

Thanks Avon for the e-arc via NetGalley!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real rating 4.25 ⭐️

Talk about an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance with a twist!

I loved these characters, and I thought Borison did a masterful job at giving them depth without making them so tortured that you want to slap them around.

With every book I read by this author I am always amazed at how she hits me right in the feels! My one “What? Why?!” comment on this is that she wrote about Gabriel grasping, cradling, holding, and or cupping Darcy’s ribcage… like a lot…what? Why?!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this book!

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fear I will never forgive BK for making me cry on the tube.

Praise be the netgalley gods that allowed me to read this. I love all BK books but this one takes the cake for me. Every time I think she’s written her best work she knocks it out if the park. THE YEARNING! TATER TOT! FRANK!

Like this book ripped my heart out, trampled on it, put it back together and still had amazing smut. WTF.

‘He shakes his head. “I want it,” he says quietly. “However long you’re here—whatever time you have left—I want it to be with me. I want all your minutes, Darcy. Every last one.”’
Are you serious!?!?!

I have been in a deep reading slump and this has yanked me out.

This is the best and worst thing that could have happened to me.

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead)]

“Grim Tidings”!?!? Love. It would be amazing if this book has a slightly darker edge to it! Can’t wait to see what she does next in the Ghosted series.