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Grave #1
Grave Intentions
He’s handsome, reliable, and punctual—the perfect gentleman when you want him to be. But this dream man is Death’s best agent—and now he’s got more than his soul to lose…
One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper—an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good. Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can’t be influenced by his powers—even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living—and a passion he can’t afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he’ll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah...and gamble on a choice even an immortal can’t win.
One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper—an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good. Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can’t be influenced by his powers—even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living—and a passion he can’t afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he’ll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah...and gamble on a choice even an immortal can’t win.
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Lori Sjoberg
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 14, 2012
Grave Intentions by Lori SjobergMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book took me by surprise, first of all since this is "paranormal" as obviously a book about Grim Reapers would be it is in reality a character driven romantic drama. The second thing that struck me as I read through the book was that for 80% or more of the book, the paranormal aspects played little if any part (except for the reapers having to show up at the scenes of the deaths). There is a bit of action in the story and the author has to spend some time introducing all the secondary characters which I am guessing will become the subjects of future books. Just for info they only have to show up for violent deaths, apparently dying in your sleep requires no help
The main story is character driven and the required bits of angst and self loathing that seems to be part of many novels in the recent past are here . To be honest this book reminded me quite a bit of early (really good) Dark-hunter books. This is a story of a very lonely man and a woman who worries that she is going to follow her family history of dementia and the author weaves a compelling tale that brings them together.
Almost any real 5 Star novel has a few things in common, this one is no different. You have the flawed but destined couple, noble sacrifice and hoped for ending that makes you close the last page with a sigh and the feeling all is right with the world.
If I have any complaints about this book it would be that one character did not get the justice he so richly deserved but I am a revenge junkie so that might not be as big a deal with many readers
Rating: I loved this book, I am not sure it was 100% original, it seemed familiar but none of that made it any less entertaining and heartfelt. If you love paranormal romance that actually has a romance then you will enjoy this and I hope to see more of what I hope will be a long running series. Highly recommended and 4.5/5 Stars. Another great ending you will see coming a mile away but you would not want it any other way.
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December 21, 2012
David Anderson died a tragic death, but right before his death an act of mercy changed is fate. He is now working for Death as one of the Grim Reaper. You see, even though David is in a physical human form, he can’t die, he doesn’t age and his job is to go around and collect souls that have lost their way to the after life. Seeing tradegy every day for 60 years has a way of hardening your heart, until the fateful day Sarah Griffith moved into his building.
Sarah Griffith is a scientist working to cure dementia. She’s lost her mother to dementia and now believes her grandmother is heading down the same path. They believe they see and hear spirits of the dead. Since its unscientific, Sarah won't even consider it as a possibility...not until she sees her hot neighbor David sucking a soul out of a man that has just fallen and died. Now that everything she once believed has changed. Sarah must come to grasps with her ability to see the spirits as well.
Chemistry ignites between David and Sarah. A decision will change their paths forever. The question is which soul will pay the ultimate price?
Grave Intentions has great characters, a very entertaining story line and a good amount of action. I really enjoyed this story. I laughed, got choked up and sighed in appreciation...Lori Sjoberg definitely did a fantastic job making her characters relatable. 4 Stars!
This ARC copy of Grave Intentions was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date January 3, 2013.
Sarah Griffith is a scientist working to cure dementia. She’s lost her mother to dementia and now believes her grandmother is heading down the same path. They believe they see and hear spirits of the dead. Since its unscientific, Sarah won't even consider it as a possibility...not until she sees her hot neighbor David sucking a soul out of a man that has just fallen and died. Now that everything she once believed has changed. Sarah must come to grasps with her ability to see the spirits as well.
Chemistry ignites between David and Sarah. A decision will change their paths forever. The question is which soul will pay the ultimate price?
Grave Intentions has great characters, a very entertaining story line and a good amount of action. I really enjoyed this story. I laughed, got choked up and sighed in appreciation...Lori Sjoberg definitely did a fantastic job making her characters relatable. 4 Stars!
This ARC copy of Grave Intentions was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date January 3, 2013.
December 5, 2012
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read GRAVE INTENTIONS by Lori Sjoberg.
David is a reaper. He guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. He has to do this for an indeterminate amount of time. His handler likes to threaten with extending the sentence. He just wants some peace. As the leader of the local reapers, he assigns the reapers to where the souls will breathe their last.
He's also training a new reaper, Adam. He rather hopes this one is going to take his place and he can move on. He's a bit annoyed by the DOG that they pick up.
He meets Sarah and he's pretty much taken. She thinks he's pretty hot stuff, too. She's a scientist and pretty much only wants to believe in the FACTS. The "fact" that she has this extra sense is something she tries to ignore.
The climax was something that I expected, but the way this author got us there was fun.
I felt for David. That poor guy really deserved some HEA. His handler seemed to enjoy toying with him and I really wanted to see some kind of smack down for that.
An enjoyable premise and execution.
David is a reaper. He guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. He has to do this for an indeterminate amount of time. His handler likes to threaten with extending the sentence. He just wants some peace. As the leader of the local reapers, he assigns the reapers to where the souls will breathe their last.
He's also training a new reaper, Adam. He rather hopes this one is going to take his place and he can move on. He's a bit annoyed by the DOG that they pick up.
He meets Sarah and he's pretty much taken. She thinks he's pretty hot stuff, too. She's a scientist and pretty much only wants to believe in the FACTS. The "fact" that she has this extra sense is something she tries to ignore.
The climax was something that I expected, but the way this author got us there was fun.
I felt for David. That poor guy really deserved some HEA. His handler seemed to enjoy toying with him and I really wanted to see some kind of smack down for that.
An enjoyable premise and execution.
January 15, 2013
The last thing David Anderson needs is an unhealthy attraction to his neighbor Sarah Griffith, after all what could a reaper have in common with a mortal? Quite a bit actually and the more David gets to know the more he wishes for a different path, but his life is sealed and souls need collecting. An interesting thing happens when Fate sees David at a crossroads and his decision could change everything he believes will happen.
I thought this was highly creative and loved the kind of dark humor that David possessed. The side characters are dynamic and just add to the already fantastic story. Loved this story, highly recommend.
I thought this was highly creative and loved the kind of dark humor that David possessed. The side characters are dynamic and just add to the already fantastic story. Loved this story, highly recommend.
December 29, 2014
Holy hot reaper, Grave Intentions was a fun, sexy start to a new paranormal fantasy. Sjoberg introduces us to souls who have been enlisted to serve as Reapers. I loved the world building and the fleshed out characters. It looks like each book will deal with a reaper and his romance. I quickly consumed this as I laughed, giggled and swooned.
We meet David Anderson he has been a reaper since he died during the war. His job is to help souls who die from tragedy cross over. His boss is fate, and because of some fluke in the universe; souls that meet a tragic end need guidance to cross over and do so though a reaper. It is a hard job, arriving just before death and being helpless to stop it. In order to handle the emotional toll of the job, David cuts all of his emotions off. That is until his path crosses with his neighbor Sarah Griffin. She is different than most humans and he is astounding when he cannot plant suggestions in her mind. The tale that unfolds kept me enthralled as I waited to see what fate had in store for this couple.
David is smexy, built like a solider with the sexiest grey eyes you have ever seen. *swoons* He does not regret the act(s) that caused him to become a reaper but after sixty years he is starting to lose some of his humanity. He is training a newbie named Adam. Who is cute, loves dog and was a police officer before he died. I cannot wait for his story. Sarah is interesting, and her family history and paranormal abilities were fascinating. I loved the slow building relationship between her and David. It felt genuine and oh so hot!! Other reapers and David’s superior Samuel added to the tale causing problems. All of the characters had unique voices.
I really enjoyed Sjoberg’s take on reapers and cannot wait for the next book. David’s story was fascinating and his anguish felt real. I loved Fate and her interference. The story flowed at a wonderful pace and the climatic last few chapters completely removed me from reality. When I finished I immediately searched out information on the next book. Thankfully, there is a sneak peak in the back of this book, but it only says coming soon and isn’t yet titled..Grrr hope it’s soon!
Copy provided by publisher full review at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
We meet David Anderson he has been a reaper since he died during the war. His job is to help souls who die from tragedy cross over. His boss is fate, and because of some fluke in the universe; souls that meet a tragic end need guidance to cross over and do so though a reaper. It is a hard job, arriving just before death and being helpless to stop it. In order to handle the emotional toll of the job, David cuts all of his emotions off. That is until his path crosses with his neighbor Sarah Griffin. She is different than most humans and he is astounding when he cannot plant suggestions in her mind. The tale that unfolds kept me enthralled as I waited to see what fate had in store for this couple.
David is smexy, built like a solider with the sexiest grey eyes you have ever seen. *swoons* He does not regret the act(s) that caused him to become a reaper but after sixty years he is starting to lose some of his humanity. He is training a newbie named Adam. Who is cute, loves dog and was a police officer before he died. I cannot wait for his story. Sarah is interesting, and her family history and paranormal abilities were fascinating. I loved the slow building relationship between her and David. It felt genuine and oh so hot!! Other reapers and David’s superior Samuel added to the tale causing problems. All of the characters had unique voices.
I really enjoyed Sjoberg’s take on reapers and cannot wait for the next book. David’s story was fascinating and his anguish felt real. I loved Fate and her interference. The story flowed at a wonderful pace and the climatic last few chapters completely removed me from reality. When I finished I immediately searched out information on the next book. Thankfully, there is a sneak peak in the back of this book, but it only says coming soon and isn’t yet titled..Grrr hope it’s soon!
Copy provided by publisher full review at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 12, 2013
In case you don’t know I love the Paranormal Romance genre. So when I read the synopsis of Grave Intentions I was really intrigued. There have been a few grim reaper books that I have read and have fallen in love with so I hoped this would be another one of those kinds of books.
It is! The plot moves at a wonderful pace and takes you on an adventure with David Anderson whose job is a Grim Reaper. He had died quite a while ago in a war and was brought back to help souls who died by a tragic ending to cross over to the other side. He also mentors new Grim Reapers and teaches them how to handle the job.
His neighbor is Sarah Griffin who is a scientist. She is also different from most humans because David can’t plant suggestions in her mind and she is able to see exactly what he does…
I have to say the ending was not what I had expected and I like the story more because of that. The characters were all captivating and interesting. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
It is! The plot moves at a wonderful pace and takes you on an adventure with David Anderson whose job is a Grim Reaper. He had died quite a while ago in a war and was brought back to help souls who died by a tragic ending to cross over to the other side. He also mentors new Grim Reapers and teaches them how to handle the job.
His neighbor is Sarah Griffin who is a scientist. She is also different from most humans because David can’t plant suggestions in her mind and she is able to see exactly what he does…
I have to say the ending was not what I had expected and I like the story more because of that. The characters were all captivating and interesting. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
February 1, 2014
Who doesn't think that death is an interesting subject? Especially in today's fascination with vampires, shapeshifters, demons and all the other undead or long living creatures, it's hard to think of death solely in the context of sadness. Nope, death makes an interesting life choice these days, presenting fantasies of eternal life. So it's no wonder when I came across this series that deals with reapers who collect souls for Fate, I was very very intrigued.
This time we're not talking about creatures who are either born or turned into immortals against their wills, but humans who are given a second chance at righting their wrongs in the form of becoming reapers. One such human is David, a long time dead soldier, and when I say long time, I mean about sixty or so years, who's balancing his undead life between reaping souls, dividing up schedules for his subordinate reapers and training his current newbie into the death business. He's quite a busy man, but things get busier when Sarah enters the picture, the human woman who very unexpectedly and surprisingly turns his routine upside down and dodges all his attempts at Jedi mind tricks.
Having read enough paranormal romance novels, I gotta say this, I love my dark and brooding hero. The possessive hunk. The one that at first tries to keep his woman away until he realizes how futile that attempt is. I also love my sexy flirty hero, the one that works his charm at every opportunity and doesn't necessarily care for monogamy until the right woman. And then there was David. I guess one can say he was somewhat of a blend of the two. I loved how David was one of the most gentlemanly of heroes I've read so far. Sure, he has that possessiveness that we love in a man, but he was no asshole about it. It's a fine line which thankfully many of my favorite authors don't cross, but it's there. David though, he walked a good distance away from it. Even though his act was tough, he was all about emotions and Sarah, and that was very endearing.
What I loved about both their relationship and the two as individuals was that there was no big show, a back and forth that stretched out about an is-this-love issue. The parts where they both realized their thing was more than sex was over quickly without much denial and drama which I very much appreciated.
I must've said this many times, but I do have an uncontrollable pet peeve when it comes to women in romances. Especially paranormal stories. I'm always up for a woman who knows how to take care of herself, one who fights and kicks ass, but I also want her to have some weakness. A little something that makes her human, so to speak. I've found Sarah to be a great heroine. She was tough and determined, she knew what she wanted and how. She wasn't superhuman but she was stronger than many. And she fit the ideal heroine profile I have in my mind. Along with David, and all my favorite heroes and heroines, she had her flaws. But she also possessed strength and intelligence.
A very intriguing plotline, with characters that are very much likable and relatable, this was a refreshing, lively look at death and I personally cannot wait to read more of these poor unfortunate reapers finding their salvation.
This time we're not talking about creatures who are either born or turned into immortals against their wills, but humans who are given a second chance at righting their wrongs in the form of becoming reapers. One such human is David, a long time dead soldier, and when I say long time, I mean about sixty or so years, who's balancing his undead life between reaping souls, dividing up schedules for his subordinate reapers and training his current newbie into the death business. He's quite a busy man, but things get busier when Sarah enters the picture, the human woman who very unexpectedly and surprisingly turns his routine upside down and dodges all his attempts at Jedi mind tricks.
Having read enough paranormal romance novels, I gotta say this, I love my dark and brooding hero. The possessive hunk. The one that at first tries to keep his woman away until he realizes how futile that attempt is. I also love my sexy flirty hero, the one that works his charm at every opportunity and doesn't necessarily care for monogamy until the right woman. And then there was David. I guess one can say he was somewhat of a blend of the two. I loved how David was one of the most gentlemanly of heroes I've read so far. Sure, he has that possessiveness that we love in a man, but he was no asshole about it. It's a fine line which thankfully many of my favorite authors don't cross, but it's there. David though, he walked a good distance away from it. Even though his act was tough, he was all about emotions and Sarah, and that was very endearing.
What I loved about both their relationship and the two as individuals was that there was no big show, a back and forth that stretched out about an is-this-love issue. The parts where they both realized their thing was more than sex was over quickly without much denial and drama which I very much appreciated.
I must've said this many times, but I do have an uncontrollable pet peeve when it comes to women in romances. Especially paranormal stories. I'm always up for a woman who knows how to take care of herself, one who fights and kicks ass, but I also want her to have some weakness. A little something that makes her human, so to speak. I've found Sarah to be a great heroine. She was tough and determined, she knew what she wanted and how. She wasn't superhuman but she was stronger than many. And she fit the ideal heroine profile I have in my mind. Along with David, and all my favorite heroes and heroines, she had her flaws. But she also possessed strength and intelligence.
A very intriguing plotline, with characters that are very much likable and relatable, this was a refreshing, lively look at death and I personally cannot wait to read more of these poor unfortunate reapers finding their salvation.
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January 8, 2015Roses are red, violets are blue
Oh, Grave Intentions, I just can't seem to finish you.
Sadly, this will be tossed onto the DNF shelf. At 54%, I'm still waiting for a plot to emerge. One that ties in the Hero's soul reaping and the Heroine's job as a scientist. Something with a little conflict to make things interesting. Right now it feels as though there are two separate stories being told: one in which the Hero is teaching a newbie the ropes as a grim reaper, and the other in which the Heroine is facing job woes. And then a little of this happens, and then a little of that happens, and then some random thing over there, and then...zZzzzzzzzzzzz.
The sad part is that the grim reaping parts are kind of fun, quirky, and interesting. I actually enjoyed those scenes. But everything else is so very bland. The Heroine is bland, and the romance is bland, and nothing is really happening. It basically feels like a day in the lives of the H/H. So, although some parts might be interesting, the overall effect is that it's lost me. The few enjoyable parts are not enough to keep me invested.
DNF: 54%
Oh, Grave Intentions, I just can't seem to finish you.
Sadly, this will be tossed onto the DNF shelf. At 54%, I'm still waiting for a plot to emerge. One that ties in the Hero's soul reaping and the Heroine's job as a scientist. Something with a little conflict to make things interesting. Right now it feels as though there are two separate stories being told: one in which the Hero is teaching a newbie the ropes as a grim reaper, and the other in which the Heroine is facing job woes. And then a little of this happens, and then a little of that happens, and then some random thing over there, and then...zZzzzzzzzzzzz.
The sad part is that the grim reaping parts are kind of fun, quirky, and interesting. I actually enjoyed those scenes. But everything else is so very bland. The Heroine is bland, and the romance is bland, and nothing is really happening. It basically feels like a day in the lives of the H/H. So, although some parts might be interesting, the overall effect is that it's lost me. The few enjoyable parts are not enough to keep me invested.
DNF: 54%
September 10, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Grave Intentions by Lori Sjoberg. The book was well-written; the characters were distinct, the narrative was clear and flowed easily, and the romance between David and Sarah was both sweet and steamy.
My only possible complaint is that certain aspects of the plot felt unfinished. ore time could have been spent on the boss subplot as well as Pearl’s demise, and relative to everything else going on, it felt like Sarah’s “gift” was skimmed over.
All that said, I liked the book and its characters. I found it an enjoyable read. If you like paranormal romance, give this book a try!
My only possible complaint is that certain aspects of the plot felt unfinished. ore time could have been spent on the boss subplot as well as Pearl’s demise, and relative to everything else going on, it felt like Sarah’s “gift” was skimmed over.
All that said, I liked the book and its characters. I found it an enjoyable read. If you like paranormal romance, give this book a try!
January 13, 2013
4.5
David Anderson is a reaper and one of Death’s more experienced agents. He’s been given the task of training a new reaper to collect souls.
Sarah Griffin lives in the same apartment building as David and is responsible for her grandmother, a psychic who lives in a home. Sarah doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night or her grandmother’s visions. She works at Cava Technologies where she conducts trials and searches for cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s.
With my love of paranormal romance, I was pre-disposed to like this book and it dragged me in from the first line – Death never took a holiday.
I enjoyed the plot and the way the two main characters David and Sarah met and interacted and the obvious attraction between them, but it was the secondary characters who lifted this book and made it extra entertaining. There was the grim reaper rookie Adam and the big dog he rescues, Sarah’s grandmother and her horrid boss plus Samuel, the reaper’s boss, and the other reapers working the same area. This sounds like a lot of secondary characters but it all works beautifully.
On the whole the plot was entertaining and kept me reading, although it could really only end one way and remain a romance. In that sense it was predictable.
One thing I didn’t really understand was the reaping itself and how the sentences (the number of years) were decided. I got that it was blood spilled and lives taken but it seems to me that a soldier should get a bit of a pass unless they go mental and kill indiscriminately. I understand this is the start of a series and I hope this area will be explored a bit more in latter books.
Grave Intentions is a paranormal romance (not erotic) with a cast of strong characters and I enjoyed reading it very much. I look forward to further instalments.
This ebook was provided to me free of charge by Net Galley for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
David Anderson is a reaper and one of Death’s more experienced agents. He’s been given the task of training a new reaper to collect souls.
Sarah Griffin lives in the same apartment building as David and is responsible for her grandmother, a psychic who lives in a home. Sarah doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night or her grandmother’s visions. She works at Cava Technologies where she conducts trials and searches for cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s.
With my love of paranormal romance, I was pre-disposed to like this book and it dragged me in from the first line – Death never took a holiday.
I enjoyed the plot and the way the two main characters David and Sarah met and interacted and the obvious attraction between them, but it was the secondary characters who lifted this book and made it extra entertaining. There was the grim reaper rookie Adam and the big dog he rescues, Sarah’s grandmother and her horrid boss plus Samuel, the reaper’s boss, and the other reapers working the same area. This sounds like a lot of secondary characters but it all works beautifully.
On the whole the plot was entertaining and kept me reading, although it could really only end one way and remain a romance. In that sense it was predictable.
One thing I didn’t really understand was the reaping itself and how the sentences (the number of years) were decided. I got that it was blood spilled and lives taken but it seems to me that a soldier should get a bit of a pass unless they go mental and kill indiscriminately. I understand this is the start of a series and I hope this area will be explored a bit more in latter books.
Grave Intentions is a paranormal romance (not erotic) with a cast of strong characters and I enjoyed reading it very much. I look forward to further instalments.
This ebook was provided to me free of charge by Net Galley for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
June 10, 2016
3.5 stars
Sjoberg is a new-to-me author and I'm happy to say I think her writing works with me. I enjoyed the work of the reapers here; and both the MCs were likable enough.
However, I also felt that the romance was not very prominent. David spent more of his time on page training Adam (whom I actually loved, especially when he decided to adopt a dog *laugh*) while Sarah was busy either with her work at the research lab, or visiting her grandmother. When David and Sarah were together, some scenes were also "summarized" as paragraphs.
So I enjoyed the paranormal aspect as well as reading about the life and mechanics of being Death agents. But on the romance front, it wasn't a winner. Having said that, I would still check out the next book. Probably because I was already invested with secondary characters of Reapers: Ruby, Dimitri, and of course Adam.
Sjoberg is a new-to-me author and I'm happy to say I think her writing works with me. I enjoyed the work of the reapers here; and both the MCs were likable enough.
However, I also felt that the romance was not very prominent. David spent more of his time on page training Adam (whom I actually loved, especially when he decided to adopt a dog *laugh*) while Sarah was busy either with her work at the research lab, or visiting her grandmother. When David and Sarah were together, some scenes were also "summarized" as paragraphs.
So I enjoyed the paranormal aspect as well as reading about the life and mechanics of being Death agents. But on the romance front, it wasn't a winner. Having said that, I would still check out the next book. Probably because I was already invested with secondary characters of Reapers: Ruby, Dimitri, and of course Adam.
January 13, 2013
This is just a fun, fast read. The writing flowed without a hitch, making it a pleasure to turn pages. Main characters,David and Sarah, were believable and likable. It was easy to care about them. The reaper world caught my attention and going along on assignments with David and Adam was always an adventure.
January 18, 2013
I like reaper stories and I enjoyed this one. Grave Intentions provided a fresh spin on how reapers move among us and I'm always tickled to find a new spin on a supernatural being. :) I thought Ms. Sjoberg did a great job on creating something unique in that respect.
Sarah is a scientist and although she grew up around events that couldn't be explained - like being raised by a grandma who could talk to spirits - she shies away from anything that can't be scientifically or logically proven. But as her friend said,
"You know, one of these days you're going to come face to face with something you can't explain through the scientific method."
Sarah had no idea how prophetic that statement would turn out to be.
David is a reaper. It's taken him some time but he's figured out the formula for best enduring his current incarnation. That is too keep all emotions locked down tight. That's a tall order when your job is assisting souls who've experienced untimely deaths to the afterlife .
Fate has a strange sense of humor, it would seem, when she weaves these two souls together. Can Sarah let go of her need for scientific proof? Can David tear down the wall behind which his emotions are concealed?
I found the cast of supporting characters entertaining. Samuel, David's boss was a joy in his snobbery. David's fellow reapers Ruby, Adam, and Dmitri also offered their own charms and I look forward to getting to know them even better in future books in this series.
As I said, I really enjoyed this book. At times, I did feel it was a bit predictable. However, Ms. Sjoberg was still able to wring emotion from me. At one point, I knew what was coming and still I cried! And the ending...even though I thought I knew how things would end, Ms. Sjoberg didn't take the exact path I envisioned (guess my psychic skills are lacking! :) Overall, this was a pleasant read and I will check out the next in the series.
Sarah is a scientist and although she grew up around events that couldn't be explained - like being raised by a grandma who could talk to spirits - she shies away from anything that can't be scientifically or logically proven. But as her friend said,
"You know, one of these days you're going to come face to face with something you can't explain through the scientific method."
Sarah had no idea how prophetic that statement would turn out to be.
David is a reaper. It's taken him some time but he's figured out the formula for best enduring his current incarnation. That is too keep all emotions locked down tight. That's a tall order when your job is assisting souls who've experienced untimely deaths to the afterlife .
Fate has a strange sense of humor, it would seem, when she weaves these two souls together. Can Sarah let go of her need for scientific proof? Can David tear down the wall behind which his emotions are concealed?
I found the cast of supporting characters entertaining. Samuel, David's boss was a joy in his snobbery. David's fellow reapers Ruby, Adam, and Dmitri also offered their own charms and I look forward to getting to know them even better in future books in this series.
As I said, I really enjoyed this book. At times, I did feel it was a bit predictable. However, Ms. Sjoberg was still able to wring emotion from me. At one point, I knew what was coming and still I cried! And the ending...even though I thought I knew how things would end, Ms. Sjoberg didn't take the exact path I envisioned (guess my psychic skills are lacking! :) Overall, this was a pleasant read and I will check out the next in the series.
January 28, 2013
Grave Intentions is Lori Sjoberg’s debut. It features, as main characters, a grim Reaper and a very skeptical Scientist – David and Sarah. Both are trying to do their jobs while facing difficulties. They are drawn together and face seemingly insurmountable odds of being together (as one expects in a Paranormal Romance). What makes Grave Intentions stand out is the Reapers' mythology and rules and the well done character building.
David and Sarah are both extremely likable. They don't experience instantaneous love at first sight. They actually spend time together and get to know each other. David and Sarah are just lovely as a couple. I had no idea how they would end up together. Ms. Sjoberg surprised me!
Throughout the story we learn about their jobs and meet some of the people that are in their lives.The other Reapers that work with David are interesting in their own right as well.
There are some heartbreaking and some downright creepy moments that, for me, enhanced the novel and helped bring the world of the Reapers to life. No hocus pocus here. The Reapers appear human and have to do their reaping without being caught, which is a change of pace from most stories that feature psychopomps of one sort or another.
On top of terrific character and myth building, the pacing of Grave Intentions is quite good. Grave Intentions is a really delightful and engaging read. I’m looking forward to more of Ms. Sjoberg’s novels.
David and Sarah are both extremely likable. They don't experience instantaneous love at first sight. They actually spend time together and get to know each other. David and Sarah are just lovely as a couple. I had no idea how they would end up together. Ms. Sjoberg surprised me!
Throughout the story we learn about their jobs and meet some of the people that are in their lives.The other Reapers that work with David are interesting in their own right as well.
There are some heartbreaking and some downright creepy moments that, for me, enhanced the novel and helped bring the world of the Reapers to life. No hocus pocus here. The Reapers appear human and have to do their reaping without being caught, which is a change of pace from most stories that feature psychopomps of one sort or another.
On top of terrific character and myth building, the pacing of Grave Intentions is quite good. Grave Intentions is a really delightful and engaging read. I’m looking forward to more of Ms. Sjoberg’s novels.
May 11, 2013
3 Grim Reaper-y Stars
David has been dead for a long time. As a punishment for a sin he created while he was alive, he's been made into a Grim Reaper. He has to continually, day after day, watch people die. He sends them to heaven or hell. His afterlife really sucks.
And then he meets Sarah. She's alive and life also sucks for her too. She works as a medical researcher. Every day, she's met with protestors. Also, her boss is sexually harassing her, and threatening to ruin her career. Also, she has a family history of insanity.
There's an instant connection, and the two are drawn together.
The story itself is interesting and fairly unique. But the beginning was very slow going, I had to struggle to keep going. When the two main characters finally met, the story really found it's stride. I only gave it three stars because the romance between the two characters was a little bit slow as well. And because of the beginning. Otherwise, it's worth a read.
David has been dead for a long time. As a punishment for a sin he created while he was alive, he's been made into a Grim Reaper. He has to continually, day after day, watch people die. He sends them to heaven or hell. His afterlife really sucks.
And then he meets Sarah. She's alive and life also sucks for her too. She works as a medical researcher. Every day, she's met with protestors. Also, her boss is sexually harassing her, and threatening to ruin her career. Also, she has a family history of insanity.
There's an instant connection, and the two are drawn together.
The story itself is interesting and fairly unique. But the beginning was very slow going, I had to struggle to keep going. When the two main characters finally met, the story really found it's stride. I only gave it three stars because the romance between the two characters was a little bit slow as well. And because of the beginning. Otherwise, it's worth a read.
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December 7, 2013I loved it!
What would happen if a scientist fell in love with the grim reaper? Sarah, a scientist working feverishly on curing dementia, has the boss from hell, a hot neighbour, a family history of losing one's marbles, and a grandmother who sees dead people.
So what would happen if this woman saw her hot neighbour claiming a soul? While it's just another day's work for David, who is trying to earn redemption, this is definitely a complication he doesn't need.
This story had many layers and an ending where it could come out 50 different ways, but it's left to the last two pages to keep you hanging on. I can't really say more as I'll spoil it, but it's a fun read. If you like romance with a paranormal spin this is it!
What would happen if a scientist fell in love with the grim reaper? Sarah, a scientist working feverishly on curing dementia, has the boss from hell, a hot neighbour, a family history of losing one's marbles, and a grandmother who sees dead people.
So what would happen if this woman saw her hot neighbour claiming a soul? While it's just another day's work for David, who is trying to earn redemption, this is definitely a complication he doesn't need.
This story had many layers and an ending where it could come out 50 different ways, but it's left to the last two pages to keep you hanging on. I can't really say more as I'll spoil it, but it's a fun read. If you like romance with a paranormal spin this is it!
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January 3, 2013
My Review:
I really enjoyed this first book of this new series. The story line wasn't completely new and original, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the reading of it at all. It was really well written and I stayed fully engaged with the story from page one.
David's a grim reaper. He collects the souls of people minutes after they die. He's been doing this for over sixty years and it's not the easiest job in the world. He's constantly watching people die, many times those are gruesome deaths and then when the souls pass through him, he has to feel the sudden onslaught of their grief. Over the years he's had to numb himself to it just so he can keep going. Right now, he's in the process of training a newly dead cop, Adam. For me, Adam's character was definitely one of the main highlights of this book. I loved him and really hope that the author writes his story soon.
David's the head reaper in this area and he manages the schedule for (I think) seven of the other reapers. There are some interesting personalities within the group and it will be interesting to watch their stories develop. They all have their own little coping mechanisms to deal with this very difficult job that they have to do.
But at the heart of this story were David and Sarah. Sarah works in biomedical research and is neighbor to David and Adam. The females in Sarah's family have a history of psychic abilities. Sarah has always just thought they were all certifiable until her own abilities start to take hold around David. She's also dealing with a lot of stresses at work, mainly stemming from the fact that her boss is a Class A jerk who's trying to get into her pants. Sarah and David are so fabulous together. She brings some humanity and emotion back into his life, which is why he worked so hard to push her away. That's not something he can handle with his job. I hope that we continue to get to see little glimpses of them in future books in the series.
This was an entertaining book. Like I mentioned before, I think my favorite parts were with David and Adam and Adam's training. I loved his character and am super-curious as to why Samuel insisted that he be fast-tracked in his training. I see some intrigue in the future for him. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this series and author. It's off to a great start.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this first book of this new series. The story line wasn't completely new and original, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the reading of it at all. It was really well written and I stayed fully engaged with the story from page one.
David's a grim reaper. He collects the souls of people minutes after they die. He's been doing this for over sixty years and it's not the easiest job in the world. He's constantly watching people die, many times those are gruesome deaths and then when the souls pass through him, he has to feel the sudden onslaught of their grief. Over the years he's had to numb himself to it just so he can keep going. Right now, he's in the process of training a newly dead cop, Adam. For me, Adam's character was definitely one of the main highlights of this book. I loved him and really hope that the author writes his story soon.
David's the head reaper in this area and he manages the schedule for (I think) seven of the other reapers. There are some interesting personalities within the group and it will be interesting to watch their stories develop. They all have their own little coping mechanisms to deal with this very difficult job that they have to do.
But at the heart of this story were David and Sarah. Sarah works in biomedical research and is neighbor to David and Adam. The females in Sarah's family have a history of psychic abilities. Sarah has always just thought they were all certifiable until her own abilities start to take hold around David. She's also dealing with a lot of stresses at work, mainly stemming from the fact that her boss is a Class A jerk who's trying to get into her pants. Sarah and David are so fabulous together. She brings some humanity and emotion back into his life, which is why he worked so hard to push her away. That's not something he can handle with his job. I hope that we continue to get to see little glimpses of them in future books in the series.
This was an entertaining book. Like I mentioned before, I think my favorite parts were with David and Adam and Adam's training. I loved his character and am super-curious as to why Samuel insisted that he be fast-tracked in his training. I see some intrigue in the future for him. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this series and author. It's off to a great start.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 1, 2013
Review originally posted at: http:www.nightstandnovels.com
I stepped out of my comfort zone with this book and tried a genre that I don’t normally read and I am so glad that I did. I loved this book. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but something about the cover and the blurb drew me in.
I was surprised that other than the main character being a reaper, the paranormal aspect took a backseat to the romance in the sense that it didn’t play such a significant role in the storyline.(I actually enjoyed the paranormal aspect as it pertained to grandma Pearl.)
Grave Intentions was well written and flowed rather nicely although somewhat slowly at first. The characters were relatable and despite their being supernatural, the story was totally believable.
The inner conflict of the hero added a realism and depth to the character which allowed me the opportunity to better connect with him. Its taken him sixty years to remove his emotions and feelings as a coping mechanism in order to deal with his job. Does he let it all go to open himself up to a mortal and take a chance at his own happiness? Lori allows the reader to actually feel the turmoil and inner struggle of both David and Sarah as they are faced with decisions that would have any normal person pulling out their hair strand by strand.
I loved the fact that Sarah was open and honest and willing to go after what, or in this case, who she wanted. I also loved the bond of friendship amongst the reapers and especially between David and Adam.
Sjoberg also introduces us to a wonderful supporting cast of characters each interesting in his/her own right. With just enough of a back story to pique the interest and curiosity of the reader, Sjoberg leaves us wanting more. I, for one, really would love to know more about the other reapers stories, especially Ruby and Dmitri. Adam was interesting as well and I absolutely loved Grandma Pearl, eccentric, clairvoyant and simply adorable.
Overall, Sjoberg did a wonderful job weaving a tale of romance, inner conflict and ultimately sacrifice and she gained a new fan in the process! I cannot wait to read Ruby’s story next! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance which actually focuses on the romance, pick up Grave Intentions today, you will not be disappointed!
I stepped out of my comfort zone with this book and tried a genre that I don’t normally read and I am so glad that I did. I loved this book. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but something about the cover and the blurb drew me in.
I was surprised that other than the main character being a reaper, the paranormal aspect took a backseat to the romance in the sense that it didn’t play such a significant role in the storyline.(I actually enjoyed the paranormal aspect as it pertained to grandma Pearl.)
Grave Intentions was well written and flowed rather nicely although somewhat slowly at first. The characters were relatable and despite their being supernatural, the story was totally believable.
The inner conflict of the hero added a realism and depth to the character which allowed me the opportunity to better connect with him. Its taken him sixty years to remove his emotions and feelings as a coping mechanism in order to deal with his job. Does he let it all go to open himself up to a mortal and take a chance at his own happiness? Lori allows the reader to actually feel the turmoil and inner struggle of both David and Sarah as they are faced with decisions that would have any normal person pulling out their hair strand by strand.
I loved the fact that Sarah was open and honest and willing to go after what, or in this case, who she wanted. I also loved the bond of friendship amongst the reapers and especially between David and Adam.
Sjoberg also introduces us to a wonderful supporting cast of characters each interesting in his/her own right. With just enough of a back story to pique the interest and curiosity of the reader, Sjoberg leaves us wanting more. I, for one, really would love to know more about the other reapers stories, especially Ruby and Dmitri. Adam was interesting as well and I absolutely loved Grandma Pearl, eccentric, clairvoyant and simply adorable.
Overall, Sjoberg did a wonderful job weaving a tale of romance, inner conflict and ultimately sacrifice and she gained a new fan in the process! I cannot wait to read Ruby’s story next! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance which actually focuses on the romance, pick up Grave Intentions today, you will not be disappointed!
October 20, 2013
3.5 Stars
Grave Intentions is adorably predictable. It follows the traditional paranormal romance story arc where boy meets girl, they have insta-lust, they learn things about one another that shouldn't be possible, they hook up, something tears them apart, they live (?) happily for now.
David is emotionally closed off. But unlike most heroes, I actually understand why, and don't think he is being stupid, or immature, or any of the other things I usually think about emotionally stunted men. He is a reaper - and in this world reapers are only needed when the cause of death is not natural ... I'll let that sink in for a minute.
Yeah. Those deaths. Uh huh. I don't think any of us could deal with that and not have issues. David deals by being emotionally closed off - from everything. Good and bad. So when his neighbor, Sarah, starts breaking down his barriers, he has good reason to fight it.
Sarah is a scientist and needs proof of everything. I get that, I am the same way. Also I grew up in Missouri - it's the "Show Me" state. So show me. David certainly shows Sarah, but not right away. Of course.
I never really connected with David and Sarah, but I don't really know why. The story was fine, the progression was predictable but interesting, and the characters were certainly unique. If I want an easy read, I will keep this series in mind, but I won't be waiting with bated breath for the next book.
If you are looking for something that is easy to read, and that you can pretty much see what is coming from a mile away, this is the book for you. Yes it deals with death and all the nasty issues that come with it, but those aspects of the story are not overpowering.
Grave Intentions is adorably predictable. It follows the traditional paranormal romance story arc where boy meets girl, they have insta-lust, they learn things about one another that shouldn't be possible, they hook up, something tears them apart, they live (?) happily for now.
David is emotionally closed off. But unlike most heroes, I actually understand why, and don't think he is being stupid, or immature, or any of the other things I usually think about emotionally stunted men. He is a reaper - and in this world reapers are only needed when the cause of death is not natural ... I'll let that sink in for a minute.
Yeah. Those deaths. Uh huh. I don't think any of us could deal with that and not have issues. David deals by being emotionally closed off - from everything. Good and bad. So when his neighbor, Sarah, starts breaking down his barriers, he has good reason to fight it.
Sarah is a scientist and needs proof of everything. I get that, I am the same way. Also I grew up in Missouri - it's the "Show Me" state. So show me. David certainly shows Sarah, but not right away. Of course.
I never really connected with David and Sarah, but I don't really know why. The story was fine, the progression was predictable but interesting, and the characters were certainly unique. If I want an easy read, I will keep this series in mind, but I won't be waiting with bated breath for the next book.
If you are looking for something that is easy to read, and that you can pretty much see what is coming from a mile away, this is the book for you. Yes it deals with death and all the nasty issues that come with it, but those aspects of the story are not overpowering.
November 28, 2012
**My FULL REVIEW here**
After reading the synopsis for Grave Intentions, I thought it looked "okay". I am happy to report that it was definitely more than just "okay"!
David is the ultimate professional; having been on the job, so to speak, for 60 years, he has gotten very good at it. When you are a Grim Reaper, you really can't mess around, ya know? While he is busy doing his job, he is also training the new guy, Adam. Together they collect souls, helping guide them to wherever it is they are destined to go (Heaven or Hell). Adam feels like he should be able to save some of these people, but David reminds him of rule #1: you can never alter Fate.
Sarah is a scientist through and through. Everything has a scientific explanation. Ghosts? Psychics? Nah, none of it is real. At work, Sarah is on the verge of a major medical breakthrough in her research, but that is put in jeopardy when she declines her boss' unwanted advances. After a disastrous ride home from her boss, Sarah is rescued by her gorgeous neighbor, David. Added to her professional stress, Sarah is called to her grandmother's nursing home after yet another incident.
After reading the synopsis for Grave Intentions, I thought it looked "okay". I am happy to report that it was definitely more than just "okay"!
David is the ultimate professional; having been on the job, so to speak, for 60 years, he has gotten very good at it. When you are a Grim Reaper, you really can't mess around, ya know? While he is busy doing his job, he is also training the new guy, Adam. Together they collect souls, helping guide them to wherever it is they are destined to go (Heaven or Hell). Adam feels like he should be able to save some of these people, but David reminds him of rule #1: you can never alter Fate.
Sarah is a scientist through and through. Everything has a scientific explanation. Ghosts? Psychics? Nah, none of it is real. At work, Sarah is on the verge of a major medical breakthrough in her research, but that is put in jeopardy when she declines her boss' unwanted advances. After a disastrous ride home from her boss, Sarah is rescued by her gorgeous neighbor, David. Added to her professional stress, Sarah is called to her grandmother's nursing home after yet another incident.
March 14, 2013
David is the senior Grim Reaper in the Orlando Florida area, working his way toward salvation one soul at a time. Sarah has thrown all of her efforts into scientific research to battle her fear of becoming as crazy as the rest of the women in her family.
Sarah and David’s story is romantic and fun with a healthy dish of impending doom. What would a book about the grim reaper be without at least a little doom? The story is an easy read that will keep you turning pages and rooting for love.
Sarah was a great character, a thoroughly modern girl. She’s not afraid to make the first move and she faces problems head on, but she also knows when to trust her heart and her instincts.
David is immediately likeable. He’s haunted by his past in the Korean War and accepts the consequences of his actions and doesn’t use good intentions as an excuse to complain about his fate.
This will probably sound a bit morbid, but I loved the constant litany of death that ran through the story as David was training, new reaper Adam. We get to know David through his relationship with his trainee, but it was also just a little bit of creepy fun to see how many unique deaths the story could provide and to explore the perils of life as a Reaper.
Sarah and David’s story is romantic and fun with a healthy dish of impending doom. What would a book about the grim reaper be without at least a little doom? The story is an easy read that will keep you turning pages and rooting for love.
Sarah was a great character, a thoroughly modern girl. She’s not afraid to make the first move and she faces problems head on, but she also knows when to trust her heart and her instincts.
David is immediately likeable. He’s haunted by his past in the Korean War and accepts the consequences of his actions and doesn’t use good intentions as an excuse to complain about his fate.
This will probably sound a bit morbid, but I loved the constant litany of death that ran through the story as David was training, new reaper Adam. We get to know David through his relationship with his trainee, but it was also just a little bit of creepy fun to see how many unique deaths the story could provide and to explore the perils of life as a Reaper.
December 14, 2012
David is a reaper. Although, he isn't what you would normally thing of when you picture a reaper. When he was alive he made some sins but was found redeemable and thus was brought back to earth as a human in order to help souls pass over. With ever soul that he reaps, he is one step closer to paying for his sins. Over the 60 years that he has been reaping, he's pretty much seen it all. Helping souls pass isn't an easy thing and in order to keep his sanity he has managed to lock down all of his emotions. However, when he meets his neighbor, Sara, he realizes that she can help relieve some of the pain from his job.
I thought that this was an interesting take on reapers. I liked the the whole "redeeming your soul" part of reaping. I must admit that I am not on board with the whole animal testing but I was glad to see that Sara's job didn't come into play too much. Had I needed to read through a "testing" I would have put the book down and called it good.
I wasn't really surprised by what takes place in this story. It is pretty predictable but I still enjoyed the story. The characters are likable and I found myself interested in their story and what happens next.
I thought that this was an interesting take on reapers. I liked the the whole "redeeming your soul" part of reaping. I must admit that I am not on board with the whole animal testing but I was glad to see that Sara's job didn't come into play too much. Had I needed to read through a "testing" I would have put the book down and called it good.
I wasn't really surprised by what takes place in this story. It is pretty predictable but I still enjoyed the story. The characters are likable and I found myself interested in their story and what happens next.
August 22, 2015
More like 2.5 stars. There wasn't anything really wrong with this book but there wasn't really anything great about it either. It was an ok story but I never felt drawn in to the characters and I was bored with the plot at times. Overall, for me, just kinda meh.
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September 6, 2019
Amazing story!
Plot is unique, story resonates, characters well developed, laugh out loud humour, and a satisfying happily ever after. This story hits me as just about perfect. Thank you.
Plot is unique, story resonates, characters well developed, laugh out loud humour, and a satisfying happily ever after. This story hits me as just about perfect. Thank you.
September 7, 2019
Wow lots of emotion in this story.
I can’t even describe the level of emotion this story brought up. I won’t send out any spoilers but have a box of tissues ready as you fall in love with David.
I can’t even describe the level of emotion this story brought up. I won’t send out any spoilers but have a box of tissues ready as you fall in love with David.
October 27, 2019
This book drew me in. I loved the idea and the characters. I liked the fact that the Reapers were like normal people and that they could be hurt but not killed. I liked the idea that they became reapers to pay off a debt too. The story line was good but I preferred the first ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2017
3.5 stars -
4 stars for the premise - I'm partial to Grim Reaper tales...3 stars for the writing style, story progression and romance scenes.
4 stars for the premise - I'm partial to Grim Reaper tales...3 stars for the writing style, story progression and romance scenes.
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