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Reaping Havoc #1
Reaping Havoc
No one asked Mitch Seeker if he wanted to be a grim reaper. He didn’t sign up for the rumors, the lack of friends, or the erratic schedule. He doesn’t want to go through life watching people die. Especially not a man he loves. Mitch’s solution is simple—don’t fall in love. He’ll never have to explain why he doesn’t age or why he’s around death so often. Most of all, he will never be a widower.
But when his head is turned by world-class skier Nate Koehn, Mitch believes he may have the answer. If the soul attached to Nate is any indication, Mitch has found himself another reaper, in which case, his undeniable feelings don’t have to be suppressed. However, the spectral tag-a-long is only the beginning of Nate’s burdens. After a catastrophic loss, Nate is no stranger to grief and the hole it leaves behind.
The question they both must answer is loud and clear: is the pain of losing love worse than the pain of never having loved at all?
But when his head is turned by world-class skier Nate Koehn, Mitch believes he may have the answer. If the soul attached to Nate is any indication, Mitch has found himself another reaper, in which case, his undeniable feelings don’t have to be suppressed. However, the spectral tag-a-long is only the beginning of Nate’s burdens. After a catastrophic loss, Nate is no stranger to grief and the hole it leaves behind.
The question they both must answer is loud and clear: is the pain of losing love worse than the pain of never having loved at all?
259 pages, ebook
First published November 12, 2015
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524 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 2, 2016
Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
Mitch Seeker longs to have a normal life, but his job as a reaper prevents him from doing so. His family has aroused suspicion in the inhabitants of the small town in Colorado they call home. Every time someone dies, you can count on any one of the Seeker family members to be around. It’s not as if Mitch volunteered for this job either. A major screw-up and a deal made with a demon by a distant relative back in the 1670’s ensured that all future male descendants begin their reapership on their twenty-fourth birthday.
Mitch’s life becomes complicated when he meets Nate, an Olympic skier who is new to town and looking to start a new life after the tragic death of his twin sister, Tate, in a skiing accident. Nate’s only friend, a cop named Wes, is deeply suspicious of the Seeker family and encourages Nate to steer clear, but Nate is not having any of that.
Though there are death scenes and spectral beings throughout the story, there are no real horror elements here.
This was a fun and delightfully quirky story that explores love, death, family relationships, friendship, and grief without wallowing in drama and sadness.
Both men have lots of issues to deal with and it was fun watching them fumble through difficulties and eventually grow and discover themselves and each other.
At times, I found their interactions bland and the story a little sluggish through the middle. Thankfully, there was a cast of secondary characters that popped off the page and kept the story moving along.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to more of Mitch and Nate.
Thanks to Gina from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
Mitch Seeker longs to have a normal life, but his job as a reaper prevents him from doing so. His family has aroused suspicion in the inhabitants of the small town in Colorado they call home. Every time someone dies, you can count on any one of the Seeker family members to be around. It’s not as if Mitch volunteered for this job either. A major screw-up and a deal made with a demon by a distant relative back in the 1670’s ensured that all future male descendants begin their reapership on their twenty-fourth birthday.
Mitch’s life becomes complicated when he meets Nate, an Olympic skier who is new to town and looking to start a new life after the tragic death of his twin sister, Tate, in a skiing accident. Nate’s only friend, a cop named Wes, is deeply suspicious of the Seeker family and encourages Nate to steer clear, but Nate is not having any of that.
Though there are death scenes and spectral beings throughout the story, there are no real horror elements here.
This was a fun and delightfully quirky story that explores love, death, family relationships, friendship, and grief without wallowing in drama and sadness.
Both men have lots of issues to deal with and it was fun watching them fumble through difficulties and eventually grow and discover themselves and each other.
At times, I found their interactions bland and the story a little sluggish through the middle. Thankfully, there was a cast of secondary characters that popped off the page and kept the story moving along.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to more of Mitch and Nate.
Thanks to Gina from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
November 12, 2015
Fucking FABULOUS. Morbidly, sexily, weirdly, perfectly fucking fabulous.
Seriously. I loved the guys. And the story itself, I was dying (heh), on the edge of my seat the whole book. I read it straight through in one sitting, 3.5 hours.
Totally recommended if you don't mind a little ghosts and a lot of death talk in your M/M.
Seriously. I loved the guys. And the story itself, I was dying (heh), on the edge of my seat the whole book. I read it straight through in one sitting, 3.5 hours.
Totally recommended if you don't mind a little ghosts and a lot of death talk in your M/M.
dnf
December 2, 2018Bland, flaccid, unconvincing, repetitive. Boring. DNF @ 50%.
November 15, 2015
Full review at. Tried not to spoiler it but it's more in-depth, so....
Briefly -
It's a little different from the norm in the genre. Honestly... vive la difference!
It has some good world building of a contemporary paranormal kind.
The MCs are easy to like and become attached to.
The writing style flows well and is engaging throughout.
The humour is so right - offbeat, at times, and fun.
Despite the premise it is not a horror book or scary - I guess if you are freaked out by death it might bother you but otherwise it's quite charming.
It's not filled with sex, it's still there (I'll add pic/quotes on the blog) but it's more solid plot and story driven.
Give it a go if you are toing and froing about the premise. It may just surprise you.
Review on the blog later today when I'm not so freaking tired.
Briefly -
It's a little different from the norm in the genre. Honestly... vive la difference!
It has some good world building of a contemporary paranormal kind.
The MCs are easy to like and become attached to.
The writing style flows well and is engaging throughout.
The humour is so right - offbeat, at times, and fun.
Despite the premise it is not a horror book or scary - I guess if you are freaked out by death it might bother you but otherwise it's quite charming.
It's not filled with sex, it's still there (I'll add pic/quotes on the blog) but it's more solid plot and story driven.
Give it a go if you are toing and froing about the premise. It may just surprise you.
Review on the blog later today when I'm not so freaking tired.
November 22, 2015
3.5 stars
Death never looked so good.
He might not be the bringer of death like the rumors say, but Mitch Seeker is surrounded by it far more than he'd like to. He's a reaper; someone who ushers the souls of the newly dead to their afterlife. There are all sorts of rules to live by, and in his opinion, quite a few limitations; it's certainly not a life he would have chosen for himself. The thought that he'll have hundreds of years alone, watching those he loves die, is a major source of contention for Mitch, so he's resigned himself to a long and lonely life. He can't bear the thought of loving someone only to watch them age and die.
Then Nate Koehn catches his attention, along with an unexpected soul in tow, and Mitch is left deciding if it's worth loving regardless of the pain of losing.
Nate was once an Olympic hopeful until a tragedy rocked his world. Now he is determined to live his life to the fullest, and Mitch could be a part of that plan, but it comes with a steep sacrifice.
The premise of this book? The beginning, the end? All fantastic. The idea of a reaper trying to navigate his life, and some sticky situations, while trying to come to terms with his loneliness, is a great one. It's the best thing about this story.
But somewhere around the middle, it starts breaking its own rules.
Some reaper rules come pretty close to skirting the line of being broken, and there's some ghostly disturbances that left me wondering why they hadn't happened sooner.
I actually fell asleep a few times in the middle. It could be because, for me, the middle wasn't as strong as the beginning. Or, it could be because I was exhausted. Who knows?
I do know this is a pretty unique and entertaining book that everyone loves, and most likely, you will too.
I let my expectations gets in the way of enjoying this as much as I should have, but I still thought it was great, and would love to read more quirky adventures with Mitch and Nate.
Death never looked so good.
He might not be the bringer of death like the rumors say, but Mitch Seeker is surrounded by it far more than he'd like to. He's a reaper; someone who ushers the souls of the newly dead to their afterlife. There are all sorts of rules to live by, and in his opinion, quite a few limitations; it's certainly not a life he would have chosen for himself. The thought that he'll have hundreds of years alone, watching those he loves die, is a major source of contention for Mitch, so he's resigned himself to a long and lonely life. He can't bear the thought of loving someone only to watch them age and die.
Then Nate Koehn catches his attention, along with an unexpected soul in tow, and Mitch is left deciding if it's worth loving regardless of the pain of losing.
Nate was once an Olympic hopeful until a tragedy rocked his world. Now he is determined to live his life to the fullest, and Mitch could be a part of that plan, but it comes with a steep sacrifice.
The premise of this book? The beginning, the end? All fantastic. The idea of a reaper trying to navigate his life, and some sticky situations, while trying to come to terms with his loneliness, is a great one. It's the best thing about this story.
But somewhere around the middle, it starts breaking its own rules.
Some reaper rules come pretty close to skirting the line of being broken, and there's some ghostly disturbances that left me wondering why they hadn't happened sooner.
I actually fell asleep a few times in the middle. It could be because, for me, the middle wasn't as strong as the beginning. Or, it could be because I was exhausted. Who knows?
I do know this is a pretty unique and entertaining book that everyone loves, and most likely, you will too.
I let my expectations gets in the way of enjoying this as much as I should have, but I still thought it was great, and would love to read more quirky adventures with Mitch and Nate.
December 20, 2015
4.5 Stars
Reaping Havoc was a rather fun story, considering we're dealing with reapers, here. I found the story fresh and entertaining, even if it was sad at times. And I fully approve of the HEA.
Nate knows all about loss and he's figured out that the only way to live life is to actually live it. And even though he's been warned away from Mitch by the residents of the little Colorado ski town he just moved to, he can't help but want to actually get to know Mitch and make up his own mind.
Mitch is what you would call a 'reluctant reaper'. He doesn't have a problem with the reaping, per se, but reapers are very long lived and their aging stops when they reach the age of 24 (that's also when their reaping contract starts) until they are about 250 years old, or so, then they age normally and die, like everyone else. But that 200+ years in between? Youth and health. That doesn't sound so bad, except when you consider that everyone around you will still age and die. So, Mitch thinks he would rather spend his bit of eternity all alone so as to not have to go through that. Ah, Mitch, you silly silly reaper.
But you know what? You can't always control how you feel or whom you fall for. Our boys discover that well enough. I don't want to say more because the fun really was in the journey of the story. There were a few things I didn't expect and a few things I did, of course. And Mitch was a bonehead once or twice, but he eventually found his way. And so did Nate.
The steam level is pretty low, unfortunately, but I loved the story and I had a hard time putting it down and I would love to read more about these boys.
Reaping Havoc was a rather fun story, considering we're dealing with reapers, here. I found the story fresh and entertaining, even if it was sad at times. And I fully approve of the HEA.
Nate knows all about loss and he's figured out that the only way to live life is to actually live it. And even though he's been warned away from Mitch by the residents of the little Colorado ski town he just moved to, he can't help but want to actually get to know Mitch and make up his own mind.
Mitch is what you would call a 'reluctant reaper'. He doesn't have a problem with the reaping, per se, but reapers are very long lived and their aging stops when they reach the age of 24 (that's also when their reaping contract starts) until they are about 250 years old, or so, then they age normally and die, like everyone else. But that 200+ years in between? Youth and health. That doesn't sound so bad, except when you consider that everyone around you will still age and die. So, Mitch thinks he would rather spend his bit of eternity all alone so as to not have to go through that. Ah, Mitch, you silly silly reaper.
But you know what? You can't always control how you feel or whom you fall for. Our boys discover that well enough. I don't want to say more because the fun really was in the journey of the story. There were a few things I didn't expect and a few things I did, of course. And Mitch was a bonehead once or twice, but he eventually found his way. And so did Nate.
The steam level is pretty low, unfortunately, but I loved the story and I had a hard time putting it down and I would love to read more about these boys.
March 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this, its something a little different from the norm. It was a pleasant change from the standard supernatural novel. It had great MC's, was well written with excellent little sub plots that merged to make the crux of the entire tale great.
It's quirky too which is always a plus for me. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea though but it if you want to read a fun supernatural novel that's not a horror story in the slightest then this is your book.
I don't usually rave on about how much I loved the MC's but they were an excellent fit in this and took the good with the bad.
Enjoy if you're looking for a real change. It's almost a contemporary romance at times which I dislike in general but the writing took care of that and didn't leave it too sappy. It's actually a bit of an emotional roller coaster with a dash of sexy times between two broken boys who end up repeatedly getting the wrong end of the deal to possible lose everything in the end anyway but it doesn't slow them down for a second.
It's quirky too which is always a plus for me. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea though but it if you want to read a fun supernatural novel that's not a horror story in the slightest then this is your book.
I don't usually rave on about how much I loved the MC's but they were an excellent fit in this and took the good with the bad.
Enjoy if you're looking for a real change. It's almost a contemporary romance at times which I dislike in general but the writing took care of that and didn't leave it too sappy. It's actually a bit of an emotional roller coaster with a dash of sexy times between two broken boys who end up repeatedly getting the wrong end of the deal to possible lose everything in the end anyway but it doesn't slow them down for a second.
November 13, 2018
Fantastic Premise!
I loved the idea behind this book...on where reapers walk amongst us as "normal" humans rather than dark spectres. The execution of this, though, felt uneven due to the plot, dialogue, and character "wallowing/deprivation."
It had some heat, which was nice. But.....This story is one that could have been told better.
Will I read the next one? Maybe, but it's not a one-click deal for me.
I loved the idea behind this book...on where reapers walk amongst us as "normal" humans rather than dark spectres. The execution of this, though, felt uneven due to the plot, dialogue, and character "wallowing/deprivation."
It had some heat, which was nice. But.....This story is one that could have been told better.
Will I read the next one? Maybe, but it's not a one-click deal for me.
January 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a sweet, subdued, realistic (as much as paranormal can be), enjoyable romance. There was some depth to the story and characters, but it still had a light feel, and it was one of those books that was just easy to keep reading because it flowed really well and made me feel absorbed in the story.
Where this author really shined though was at writing very natural, realistic characters and scenes. It was the little things that she really nailed, things like something as simple as someone playing with his coaster in the condensation on the table in a restaurant while talking. Those little things went such a long way in making every scene come alive and feel very three-dimensional.
The characters were also likeable and the kind you can’t help but root for and want happiness for, and I found them both relatable in different ways.
Mitch also had a really loving, close-knit family, which was nice. Nate, on the other hand, had a lot of struggles with his family, and even though it wasn’t as nice, it was realistic. Wes and Troy turned out to be good friends to Nate though, so he at least had them. And his sister was a lot of fun.
The romance, while sweet, did have some angst, but I happen to like when relationships have some angst and internal struggles between the characters, so I’m not complaining.
But, although this was definitely a romance book, there was still, understandably since the book was about reapers, a lot of general death involved. It was a kind of interesting juxtaposition and sometimes added a though-provoking element. For example, near the beginning, Mitch had a soul with him who still had unfinished business, but he couldn’t leave Mitch’s side because they were tethered. In the meantime, while Mitch was working on helping him with the unfinished business, Mitch was going out with Nate and having fun. It seemed kind of callous because this poor dead guy literally just had his life ripped away and had to have been upset, but, as Mitch said, if he (Mitch) put his life on hold every time he had a reap, he’d never get to have a life himself. And I completely understood that. The characters themselves discussed a lot of things relating to life and death too, especially since Mitch was struggling with whether it was worth it to have a relationship knowing the other person would grow old and die while Mitch had to continue living on.
I have to admit this book wasn’t entirely right for my tastes though. It was enjoyable, I would definitely recommend it to people, but the characters were a little too perfect to really stand out to me (perfect characters are kind of hit-or-miss with me), and *SPOILER (I’m going to say something about the ending)*
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a sweet, subdued, realistic (as much as paranormal can be), enjoyable romance. There was some depth to the story and characters, but it still had a light feel, and it was one of those books that was just easy to keep reading because it flowed really well and made me feel absorbed in the story.
Where this author really shined though was at writing very natural, realistic characters and scenes. It was the little things that she really nailed, things like something as simple as someone playing with his coaster in the condensation on the table in a restaurant while talking. Those little things went such a long way in making every scene come alive and feel very three-dimensional.
The characters were also likeable and the kind you can’t help but root for and want happiness for, and I found them both relatable in different ways.
Mitch also had a really loving, close-knit family, which was nice. Nate, on the other hand, had a lot of struggles with his family, and even though it wasn’t as nice, it was realistic. Wes and Troy turned out to be good friends to Nate though, so he at least had them. And his sister was a lot of fun.
The romance, while sweet, did have some angst, but I happen to like when relationships have some angst and internal struggles between the characters, so I’m not complaining.
But, although this was definitely a romance book, there was still, understandably since the book was about reapers, a lot of general death involved. It was a kind of interesting juxtaposition and sometimes added a though-provoking element. For example, near the beginning, Mitch had a soul with him who still had unfinished business, but he couldn’t leave Mitch’s side because they were tethered. In the meantime, while Mitch was working on helping him with the unfinished business, Mitch was going out with Nate and having fun. It seemed kind of callous because this poor dead guy literally just had his life ripped away and had to have been upset, but, as Mitch said, if he (Mitch) put his life on hold every time he had a reap, he’d never get to have a life himself. And I completely understood that. The characters themselves discussed a lot of things relating to life and death too, especially since Mitch was struggling with whether it was worth it to have a relationship knowing the other person would grow old and die while Mitch had to continue living on.
I have to admit this book wasn’t entirely right for my tastes though. It was enjoyable, I would definitely recommend it to people, but the characters were a little too perfect to really stand out to me (perfect characters are kind of hit-or-miss with me), and *SPOILER (I’m going to say something about the ending)*
December 19, 2016
Right after reading the blurb for this book, I knew I was going to have to read it. Reapers + M/M + Romance A.J. Rose style? Sign me up please. After reading the Power Exchange series, I had extremely high expectations for this book. Reaping Havoc did not disappoint.
The story kicks off with little old mopey Mitch Seeker who hates his life because he’s forced into the family reaping business. He is torn between spending his 300 years on Earth alone or taking a risk and falling in love, knowing that his lover would live a normal human lifespan and die much before him. His head tells him to find comfort in the solitude of being alone, but his heart tells him that he needs to find love and live his life while he has the chance.
Nate Koehn, the new guy in town, runs into Mitch in the supermarket parking lot and is immediately fascinated by him. Despite warnings from his friends to stay away from the “freak” Seeker family, Nate talks Mitch into spending time with him.
Up until he met Nate, Mitch had a firm grasp on his heart and he protected himself from showing anyone vulnerability, but a crazy coincidence has Mitch believing that Nate might be a reaper too. Mitch lets down his guard and he starts to fall for Nate. He gets so caught up in him that he lets his responsibilities slip and almost loses Nate in the process.
Nate and Mitch had that intense soulmates type of romance and they fit together like two peas in a pod right from the beginning. They’re put on a rollercoaster with no seatbelts but somehow manage to hold on and make it to their HEA at the end and I couldn’t have been more happy with the way their story ended.
This is a great first book to a hopefully awesome series and I’m definitely looking forward to cracking open Reaping Fate!
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
The story kicks off with little old mopey Mitch Seeker who hates his life because he’s forced into the family reaping business. He is torn between spending his 300 years on Earth alone or taking a risk and falling in love, knowing that his lover would live a normal human lifespan and die much before him. His head tells him to find comfort in the solitude of being alone, but his heart tells him that he needs to find love and live his life while he has the chance.
Nate Koehn, the new guy in town, runs into Mitch in the supermarket parking lot and is immediately fascinated by him. Despite warnings from his friends to stay away from the “freak” Seeker family, Nate talks Mitch into spending time with him.
Up until he met Nate, Mitch had a firm grasp on his heart and he protected himself from showing anyone vulnerability, but a crazy coincidence has Mitch believing that Nate might be a reaper too. Mitch lets down his guard and he starts to fall for Nate. He gets so caught up in him that he lets his responsibilities slip and almost loses Nate in the process.
Nate and Mitch had that intense soulmates type of romance and they fit together like two peas in a pod right from the beginning. They’re put on a rollercoaster with no seatbelts but somehow manage to hold on and make it to their HEA at the end and I couldn’t have been more happy with the way their story ended.
This is a great first book to a hopefully awesome series and I’m definitely looking forward to cracking open Reaping Fate!
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
April 19, 2017
4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book! From the characterization to the story to the drama...all of it was interesting and engaging. Bits of it reminded me of Reaper, Dead Like Me & Being Human...but only the parts that seem to be ubiquitous to the genre (family curse, door to afterlife, reaping while trying to have a real life) so it feels more homage-y. Especially quoting a scene from Dead Like Me!
Definitely putting the next installment on the TBR shelf.
I really enjoyed this book! From the characterization to the story to the drama...all of it was interesting and engaging. Bits of it reminded me of Reaper, Dead Like Me & Being Human...but only the parts that seem to be ubiquitous to the genre (family curse, door to afterlife, reaping while trying to have a real life) so it feels more homage-y. Especially quoting a scene from Dead Like Me!
Definitely putting the next installment on the TBR shelf.
June 1, 2018
Reaping Havoc is a book that follows two guys that meet and fall in love with each other. That sounds so simple but with a title like Reaping Havoc you know that it is not going to be. See Mitch is a reaper. Which means, that next to reaping some souls, he also gets to live longer than the average human.
I had high hopes for this book. And in part it was met. But not enough. Reaping Havoc is a fun, sweet and very quick read that focuses mostly on the romance portion of this book. And I could have lived with that had we had a bit of a stronger plot and world building surrounding that. Something that could truly suck me in. But as it was the plot in itself concerning the reaping business was quite weak and the world building was just barely scratching the surface. As it was there just isn’t enough for this book to truly stand out from the crowd. To be remembered. Not for me.
I understand that it is very convenient to have a character who literally also knows exactly nothing about his own life and profession because that way there is very little to get in the way of continuity. But it doesn’t create a very compelling or believable world. The ending was also predictable and convenient. I rolled my eyes so hard, I saw it coming a mile away.
Having said that however, I did truly enjoy reading the story because of our two main characters. Both Mitch and Nate are endearing in their own ways. They have had their own hardships and have found each other amidst that all. I loved how their relationship was so respectful of one another and banked so much on support. And clearly Mitch’s dad was their biggest cheerleader along with Nate’s sister, haha. I loved that.
Just for their relationship it is worth reading it.
I had high hopes for this book. And in part it was met. But not enough. Reaping Havoc is a fun, sweet and very quick read that focuses mostly on the romance portion of this book. And I could have lived with that had we had a bit of a stronger plot and world building surrounding that. Something that could truly suck me in. But as it was the plot in itself concerning the reaping business was quite weak and the world building was just barely scratching the surface. As it was there just isn’t enough for this book to truly stand out from the crowd. To be remembered. Not for me.
I understand that it is very convenient to have a character who literally also knows exactly nothing about his own life and profession because that way there is very little to get in the way of continuity. But it doesn’t create a very compelling or believable world. The ending was also predictable and convenient. I rolled my eyes so hard, I saw it coming a mile away.
Having said that however, I did truly enjoy reading the story because of our two main characters. Both Mitch and Nate are endearing in their own ways. They have had their own hardships and have found each other amidst that all. I loved how their relationship was so respectful of one another and banked so much on support. And clearly Mitch’s dad was their biggest cheerleader along with Nate’s sister, haha. I loved that.
Just for their relationship it is worth reading it.
October 25, 2018
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This was so amazing! I was just sucked in right from the start and I didn't want to let go. The plot was so original and I thought it was well planned and executed. The characters are fabulous. Mitch and Nate are funny; I had so many moments where their antics just cracked me up. :)
Reaping Havoc is the first book of an undetermined length series. As the blurb says, Mitch is a reaper who doesn't age (you get more backstory on the how's of this later) and he isn't happy about any of it. He wants to find someone he can love and grow old with and have a regular life. So when he meets Nate, he initially pushes him away. Due to circumstances around Nate's past and now present, Mitch is confused and does an about face regarding his relationship with Nate.
There is the expected relationship drama between Nate and Mitch and I just wanted to bop Mitch over the head and tell him to stop panicking and to go after Nate. Thankfully Mitch's family basically does this for me and Mitch sees he can't just throw away all the happiness he could have with Nate just because he is afraid.
I was absolutely fascinated with Nate's relationship with This was just so cool and I loved how simple yet brilliant it was all handled.
Since I read the blurb to book 2 I had an idea of what was going to happen, but I was unsure how it was going to be pulled off. I was anxiously waiting to see how this story ended and I wasn't disappointed. Lets just say an angel named Katherine is involved and she and her "team" are quite creative and tricky. ;)
This whole story was just so clever and fun and original. I can't wait to read book 2 and see these men again, especially Sadie, Mitch's dog. I can't say enough good things about this book and demand you all read it. Yes, it does deal with religion and God(s), Heaven and Hell, angels and battles over souls. So if that isn't your thing...eh, maybe you should still give this one a try because it's really that good.
I give this 5 HUGE stars and I can't wait for the next one.
This was so amazing! I was just sucked in right from the start and I didn't want to let go. The plot was so original and I thought it was well planned and executed. The characters are fabulous. Mitch and Nate are funny; I had so many moments where their antics just cracked me up. :)
Reaping Havoc is the first book of an undetermined length series. As the blurb says, Mitch is a reaper who doesn't age (you get more backstory on the how's of this later) and he isn't happy about any of it. He wants to find someone he can love and grow old with and have a regular life. So when he meets Nate, he initially pushes him away. Due to circumstances around Nate's past and now present, Mitch is confused and does an about face regarding his relationship with Nate.
There is the expected relationship drama between Nate and Mitch and I just wanted to bop Mitch over the head and tell him to stop panicking and to go after Nate. Thankfully Mitch's family basically does this for me and Mitch sees he can't just throw away all the happiness he could have with Nate just because he is afraid.
I was absolutely fascinated with Nate's relationship with This was just so cool and I loved how simple yet brilliant it was all handled.
Since I read the blurb to book 2 I had an idea of what was going to happen, but I was unsure how it was going to be pulled off. I was anxiously waiting to see how this story ended and I wasn't disappointed. Lets just say an angel named Katherine is involved and she and her "team" are quite creative and tricky. ;)
This whole story was just so clever and fun and original. I can't wait to read book 2 and see these men again, especially Sadie, Mitch's dog. I can't say enough good things about this book and demand you all read it. Yes, it does deal with religion and God(s), Heaven and Hell, angels and battles over souls. So if that isn't your thing...eh, maybe you should still give this one a try because it's really that good.
I give this 5 HUGE stars and I can't wait for the next one.
January 27, 2016
4 stars
What I loved the most was the unique reaper story line. I enjoy when an author tries something different, and this was definitely something different (at least for me). While this wasn't all light and fun - there is some death here - it wasn't nearly as dark as you would think for a reaper story. I also enjoyed the romance between Mitch (the reaper) and Nate. For the first quarter of this book, I was thinking this could be a five star read. However, I wanted more focus on the romance in the last half of the book. There was a lot going on here and I think I needed to see more of Mitch and Nate spending time together so that I could fully believe in their HEA.
What I loved the most was the unique reaper story line. I enjoy when an author tries something different, and this was definitely something different (at least for me). While this wasn't all light and fun - there is some death here - it wasn't nearly as dark as you would think for a reaper story. I also enjoyed the romance between Mitch (the reaper) and Nate. For the first quarter of this book, I was thinking this could be a five star read. However, I wanted more focus on the romance in the last half of the book. There was a lot going on here and I think I needed to see more of Mitch and Nate spending time together so that I could fully believe in their HEA.
November 18, 2015
What a fantastic and imaginative read!! AJ has an awesome imagination and is a wonderful writer, I’ve said it many times and I’ll continue to say it. 5 ‘Deacon the Reaper’ stars from me.
Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls to the strange and bizarre world of Mitch Seeker, who just happens to be an extremely unwilling and stubborn trainee Reaper of Souls. What do Reapers do?? Well, they tether the departed soul to themselves and look after them until the door to that person’s afterlife appears, whether it be Heaven or Hell. Why is Mitch pissed off about it all?? Well, you see, he has no say whatsoever in his future, he’s been born into a traditional Reaper family and the rules say that he and his older brother Morgan must tow the family line and accept their fate. This of course means that whomever Mitch and his brother take to be their lawful wedded wife/husband will die many, MANY years before their spouse – long lives, just one of the many benefits of being a Reaper, or so Divinity, the governing body would have you believe. So what does Mitch do?? He refuses to get seriously entangled with anyone, but it means of course that he lives a very lonely life. As his father says “You were born a reaper, just as you were born left-handed, gray-eyed, and gay, Mitch. There’s no point fighting it when it’s who you are.”
Into the story drives Nate Koehn, former try out for the US Olympic Ski squad, who’s hoping to find a job as an instructor at the local ski resort in Caperville, Colorado. He’s seriously grieving the loss of his twin sister Tate 6 months previously, and decides that the only comfort he can gain from her death is that she died doing something she loved. He has a major fallout with his cold and seemingly uncaring parents, and travels to the other side of the country so they can no longer tell him what to do - it’s HIS life and he’ll damn well live it how he chooses. He meets Mitch and Mitch notices that Nate has a soul trailing after him…yes, mischievous Tate missed her ‘door’, tethered herself to Nate and is trailing after him like a lost puppy. Nate of course can’t see her, but feels her presence very strongly, and when Mitch finally realises who the ghost is, decides he can’t continue seeing Nate, it’s too upsetting and he supposedly can’t reveal who or what he is to anyone but his intended; Nate however is made of strong stuff and refuses to take no for an answer.
When disaster strikes at the ski resort, how many souls will Mitch and his family have to gather?? I’ll leave this one here folks, enjoy, it’s brilliant. There were sniffles, huge smiles and maybe a HEA??? Loved the Stitch n Bitch knitting circle too. Oh, and a big shout out to Fen for the great editing as always.
And I'm doing a little happy dance here cos AJ's muse is telling her to do a sequel for this story...yay!! Stick a fork in me, I’m done.
February 5, 2017
Reapers are a fascinating member of the paranormal genre that don't get a lot of print time. Since I'm a big fan of A.J. Rose's writing I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read about Mitch, his family, Nate, and the reaper profession. The thought that reapers could exist is interesting, although I can't say I believe it, but the idea that someone would be with you right after you die so you can say goodbye to your loved ones before the door opens for you, was extremely comforting.
“Once you go through the door, you’re on to the next phase.”....“I wish I could tell you what that is, but it’s different for everyone. It could be Heaven if you believe in that, or reincarnation, or a different life on another plane we haven’t discovered yet. I’ve never seen it, but I do know someone meets you at the door to move you along. You won’t get lost, okay?”
Mitch is new to the whole reaping gig as you have to be twenty-four before the management council of reapers, Divinity, calls you to the plate. Reapers are always men and it's passed down from father to son. They are very long-lived as they live up to three hundred years. I did find it entertaining that Divinity texts Mitch with the information regarding his next reap. Mitch, his father, mother, and uncle live in a small town in Colorado, so when he meets Nate and notices a female soul attached by a tether to him, Mitch assumes he's another reaper who moved into the area. However, they have very strict rules about discussing these things and so Mitch waits until Nate will open up to him.
There are a few stumbles to happy ever after, though. Mitch is so determined not to love anyone because he can't stand the idea of watching them grow old and die while he keeps living and never growing older, at least not for another two hundred years or so. Nate has already lost so much with the death of his twin sister just months before in a tragic accident. With Mitch, Nate had finally begun to feel a little alive again, but Mitch throws a wrench in things. It's not until they both resolve their issues, individually and together, that they can see a future ahead.
"Chin trembling, he took a deep breath, seeking a way to make the man he loved understand. “You can’t protect me from death. The one thing everyone has in common when they’re born is that they will die. Even you.”
A stunning novel that made me think about a number of things. As usual, the author hit me out of left field with the way the story developed and, particularly, the ending. A fantastic read!
“Once you go through the door, you’re on to the next phase.”....“I wish I could tell you what that is, but it’s different for everyone. It could be Heaven if you believe in that, or reincarnation, or a different life on another plane we haven’t discovered yet. I’ve never seen it, but I do know someone meets you at the door to move you along. You won’t get lost, okay?”
Mitch is new to the whole reaping gig as you have to be twenty-four before the management council of reapers, Divinity, calls you to the plate. Reapers are always men and it's passed down from father to son. They are very long-lived as they live up to three hundred years. I did find it entertaining that Divinity texts Mitch with the information regarding his next reap. Mitch, his father, mother, and uncle live in a small town in Colorado, so when he meets Nate and notices a female soul attached by a tether to him, Mitch assumes he's another reaper who moved into the area. However, they have very strict rules about discussing these things and so Mitch waits until Nate will open up to him.
There are a few stumbles to happy ever after, though. Mitch is so determined not to love anyone because he can't stand the idea of watching them grow old and die while he keeps living and never growing older, at least not for another two hundred years or so. Nate has already lost so much with the death of his twin sister just months before in a tragic accident. With Mitch, Nate had finally begun to feel a little alive again, but Mitch throws a wrench in things. It's not until they both resolve their issues, individually and together, that they can see a future ahead.
"Chin trembling, he took a deep breath, seeking a way to make the man he loved understand. “You can’t protect me from death. The one thing everyone has in common when they’re born is that they will die. Even you.”
A stunning novel that made me think about a number of things. As usual, the author hit me out of left field with the way the story developed and, particularly, the ending. A fantastic read!
November 24, 2015
3.75 stars
Review @ Scattered ThoughtsandRogueWords
A.J. Rose can definitely write. I really like her consistency and pacing when I read her books. This was a good introduction to the series. An excellent start to a Grim Reaper series. I'm a paranormal fan, and I enjoyed the way she went about it. I like the history aspect that she intertwined her characters in.
The MCs work well with one another. Mitch Seeker and Nate Koehn are a definite match made in Heaven. The humor is dry and morbid kind of. I enjoyed Mitch's dry sense of humor. Mitch hails from a long line of Seeker men who ultimately become Grim Reapers at the age of 24. He is so caught up in his job, that he doesn't look for love. Well enter one Nate Koehn who escapes life to come to Caperville, Colorado to mourn & move on in his life.
I really enjoyed the back and forth between the two. I liked the supporting cast. Mitch's family, & Wes were hilarious. Even Tate was funny at times. You could almost forget that it isn't a contemporary story, at times it reads like one, but then the paranormal comes at you. I really like the combination of both worlds. It wouldn't be A.J. Rose without some form of tears. That ending was well written. I was on pins and needles about what would happened. Katherine, tried to pull the wool over our eyes!!!! I think most people would be surprised by how good it is. Can't wait until book 2.
Review @ Scattered ThoughtsandRogueWords
A.J. Rose can definitely write. I really like her consistency and pacing when I read her books. This was a good introduction to the series. An excellent start to a Grim Reaper series. I'm a paranormal fan, and I enjoyed the way she went about it. I like the history aspect that she intertwined her characters in.
The MCs work well with one another. Mitch Seeker and Nate Koehn are a definite match made in Heaven. The humor is dry and morbid kind of. I enjoyed Mitch's dry sense of humor. Mitch hails from a long line of Seeker men who ultimately become Grim Reapers at the age of 24. He is so caught up in his job, that he doesn't look for love. Well enter one Nate Koehn who escapes life to come to Caperville, Colorado to mourn & move on in his life.
I really enjoyed the back and forth between the two. I liked the supporting cast. Mitch's family, & Wes were hilarious. Even Tate was funny at times. You could almost forget that it isn't a contemporary story, at times it reads like one, but then the paranormal comes at you. I really like the combination of both worlds. It wouldn't be A.J. Rose without some form of tears. That ending was well written. I was on pins and needles about what would happened. Katherine, tried to pull the wool over our eyes!!!! I think most people would be surprised by how good it is. Can't wait until book 2.
April 3, 2025
3 1/2
I waited ALL book for that line. I knew it would be there.
But then again, I was looking for a reference to "Being Human" also….and if it was there, I missed it.
The story was cute. Maybe I'm a little bias…I enjoyed the Dead like me tv show, and this made me think of it fondly.
I was a little surprised by Tate's reaction to the deal….but I was hopeful it would go down the path it ended up going…so I wasn't to upset about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I understand Mich didn't really care for being a reaper. He didn't have a choice in the matter. He doesn't want to care about someone and watch them grow old and die. But 250 years without caring for someone, seems pretty lonely. Especially when he'll lose his father and Uncle soon. Well, soon when you consider he'll still be alive for 200 more years. Then who will you have? Just your brother to talk to.
This was a fun read. I liked the antics of Nate's sister. Even as a spirt she can tease him.
I still loved the Dead to me tv show reference.
I could be hit by a falling toilet seat from a Russian space station in three weeks. My last words could be, ‘Ah, shit!
I waited ALL book for that line. I knew it would be there.
But then again, I was looking for a reference to "Being Human" also….and if it was there, I missed it.
The story was cute. Maybe I'm a little bias…I enjoyed the Dead like me tv show, and this made me think of it fondly.
I was a little surprised by Tate's reaction to the deal….but I was hopeful it would go down the path it ended up going…so I wasn't to upset about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I understand Mich didn't really care for being a reaper. He didn't have a choice in the matter. He doesn't want to care about someone and watch them grow old and die. But 250 years without caring for someone, seems pretty lonely. Especially when he'll lose his father and Uncle soon. Well, soon when you consider he'll still be alive for 200 more years. Then who will you have? Just your brother to talk to.
This was a fun read. I liked the antics of Nate's sister. Even as a spirt she can tease him.
I still loved the Dead to me tv show reference.
May 15, 2016
This was ok. I liked the idea of it but it was slow for me. I got bored and was tempted to skim. Lot's of extra detail on things that just seemed unnecessary to me.
December 23, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
It’s true, this one made me cry ugly tears, more than once. However, A.J. Rose’s novel, Reaping Havoc was worth every tissue that died during the reading of this lovely story.
From clever world building to witty dialogue, Reaping Havoc deliciously twists all we have come to know about the Grim Reaper and gives him—a soul. Suffice it to say that the deft handling by this author when it comes to creating interesting and compassionate characters made this novel’s MCs, Nate and Mitch, some of the loveliest people to get to know. I was immediately drawn to Mitch, whose loneliness was palpable and whose unhappiness at being tied to a job he would never have chosen for himself, tore at my heart. The idea that there is more than one reaper and that they live among us was most fascinating and the world of other spiritual beings that Rose created was so well developed I was able to shed any misgivings or pangs of disbelief from the onset.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
It’s true, this one made me cry ugly tears, more than once. However, A.J. Rose’s novel, Reaping Havoc was worth every tissue that died during the reading of this lovely story.
From clever world building to witty dialogue, Reaping Havoc deliciously twists all we have come to know about the Grim Reaper and gives him—a soul. Suffice it to say that the deft handling by this author when it comes to creating interesting and compassionate characters made this novel’s MCs, Nate and Mitch, some of the loveliest people to get to know. I was immediately drawn to Mitch, whose loneliness was palpable and whose unhappiness at being tied to a job he would never have chosen for himself, tore at my heart. The idea that there is more than one reaper and that they live among us was most fascinating and the world of other spiritual beings that Rose created was so well developed I was able to shed any misgivings or pangs of disbelief from the onset.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
November 19, 2015
Sadly, this book didn't live up to my expectations at all. It had two interesting points to be, the reaper plot and Nate being a world class skier, but those two things just fell flat in the execution. I was honestly just bored. I thought this book would be different from the many other fairly bland m/m romances out there, but it wasn't. There wasn't that much driving the plot along, and the interactions between the two main characters were totally blah. The characters themselves were pretty blah. Their conversations were pretty much: 'what movies do you like' 'oh I like that too how cool' and it just didn't keep me interested.
The part I liked best was the reaper side of things, and I loved how they have a reaper conference every year in Vegas. That was hilarious.
The part I liked best was the reaper side of things, and I loved how they have a reaper conference every year in Vegas. That was hilarious.
March 14, 2017
Really good
This was the best paranormal I've found / read for a long time; exactly what I've been missing and what I'm looking for. A great story, characters and all around nothing to complain of in the least. Imaginative, good writing. A truly enjoyable read to my taste. I'm going to see if there are more these.
This was the best paranormal I've found / read for a long time; exactly what I've been missing and what I'm looking for. A great story, characters and all around nothing to complain of in the least. Imaginative, good writing. A truly enjoyable read to my taste. I'm going to see if there are more these.
June 26, 2016
I love the idea of Reaper stories. This story was very interesting and I loved the way it ended. Nate and Mitch are a great couple and I look forward to the second book where they both work together as reapers.
May 1, 2016
Okay. Trigger warning. One of the MCs has an Amy Lane book on his bookshelf. Not one of the racist ones, but if you don't see it coming... Now you know.
November 21, 2020
3.5 Stars. I absolutely loved the concept of this book. Reapers among us like every day people and the way that they went about their reaping was different and interesting. The actual presentation was just a little bit off the mark for me and didn't quite live up to the concept. I liked the MC's but Mitch was just a bit too caught up in his "poor me" for too long and the pacing slowed way down in the middle of the book. The beginning and the end were really well done though.
February 9, 2019
Very well rounded out story. I liked the way that Mitch's family rolled with being reapers. Plenty of background information that filled in all of the blanks.
November 12, 2015
You never really know what you’re going to get when you open a book. You hope it will blow you away. You plead with the word Gods that this will be an experience you will never forget… good experience that is. Especially when it’s one of your most favorite authors. AJ Rose is one of my most faves! I have never been disappointed with any of her work. Her words stay with me.
Reaping Havoc, well… This one is tattooed in my brain forever. This book was a ride on a never-ending rollercoaster of emotion. I cried myself dry. I laughed till it hurt. I felt.
You hear reaping and you think death… and yes there’s death. But never has a book made me feel more alive. More appreciative of the minutes, the breaths, the beats of my heart.
Mitch and Nate are like beacons. They are hope, life, death, love. Separately they are but pieces in the puzzle of existence. Together, they are a masterpiece of true life!
I wanted to pick up a new hobby when I was done reading. I wanted to make my life matter more than what I thought I was already doing. That says something about a book. When you finish and you want to find cures for things!
This book touched me deeply. AJ Rose’s talent shows in every word of this story, and you will be swept away in it.
Outstanding book! A must read, must own, must love tale!
Reaping Havoc, well… This one is tattooed in my brain forever. This book was a ride on a never-ending rollercoaster of emotion. I cried myself dry. I laughed till it hurt. I felt.
You hear reaping and you think death… and yes there’s death. But never has a book made me feel more alive. More appreciative of the minutes, the breaths, the beats of my heart.
Mitch and Nate are like beacons. They are hope, life, death, love. Separately they are but pieces in the puzzle of existence. Together, they are a masterpiece of true life!
I wanted to pick up a new hobby when I was done reading. I wanted to make my life matter more than what I thought I was already doing. That says something about a book. When you finish and you want to find cures for things!
This book touched me deeply. AJ Rose’s talent shows in every word of this story, and you will be swept away in it.
Outstanding book! A must read, must own, must love tale!
October 14, 2016
I loved the TV series 'Dead like Me' I am hoping this is kind of similar!
Okay so 'Dead like Me' did get a mention but the story was a little different to my expectations.
Mitch is a reaper, one of a whole family of them, with a 300 year life span having recently stopped aging at 24 when he took up his post. Determined not to love and lose someone he's set on remaining single till he begins to age again at 250 years old.
Enter Nate, former Olympic hopeful for the ski team who is grieving the loss of his twin sister. Only his twins soul is still with him and Mitch starts a relationship thinking Nate is another reaper with the same extended life span.
There are misunderstanding that aren't talked through and a disaster that brings them together again. There is also Katherine, the angel from Divinity who runs the show.
lots of fun and not macabre at all.
Okay so 'Dead like Me' did get a mention but the story was a little different to my expectations.
Mitch is a reaper, one of a whole family of them, with a 300 year life span having recently stopped aging at 24 when he took up his post. Determined not to love and lose someone he's set on remaining single till he begins to age again at 250 years old.
Enter Nate, former Olympic hopeful for the ski team who is grieving the loss of his twin sister. Only his twins soul is still with him and Mitch starts a relationship thinking Nate is another reaper with the same extended life span.
There are misunderstanding that aren't talked through and a disaster that brings them together again. There is also Katherine, the angel from Divinity who runs the show.
lots of fun and not macabre at all.
October 28, 2018
Clever idea - poor execution (no pun intended). It is written so sweetly with the kindhearted and caring Reapers for the poor traumatized dead and making sure they get to tie up there loose ends and unfinished business. Wow .... the reality implementing this premises just boggles my mind. The logistics a lone would be impossible. To say nothing of reality of experiencing sudden unexpected accidental death.... There is nothing dark or heavy about this story .... it is rainbow, sunshine and unicorn world the author has written about. It was so insipid that couldn't bear to finish the book.
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