Grave-Reaping Hermit

Grave Reaper Series #1

by Everlyn C. Thompson

When self-professed hermit Theodora Edwards is attacked by a dark fae and infected with his magic, she finds herself thrust into the supernatural spotlight as the first possible changeling in centuries. As if surviving the transition isn’t hard enough, Theo has to deal with an attempted abduction by her newly turned vampire ex-husband, unwanted courting offers from salacious fae suitors, and her growing attraction to the guardian of the gate to Fairie.
Caught in a cruel tug of war between the queen of the fae and a surly law-enforcement agent, Theo must find a way to free herself before she loses her hard-earned independence for good.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fae, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2023

About the author

Born and raised on the beautiful Canadian prairies, Everlyn prefers to spend her time outdoors with her family kayaking, skating, fishing, and hunting. She loves reading and writing about vampires, witches, fae and zombies that get to find their own version of happily ever after.

Reviews

[Thais • tata.lifepages • · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 4.5 stars!❤️

The first book in this urban fantasy romance is a rollercoaster ride! 🙌🏻 I laughed half the time due to all the funny & crazy things that happen to our dearest Theodora who just wants to be left alone to write her books while in her cabin in the woods. But somehow supernatural creatures keep coming after her, stray animals and even an investigator looking for her ex-husband. 😂❤️ her reactions to everything around her are hilarious and best thing is: she loves cake too!

My favorite thing about the story is the personality of the female lead! She is so easy to connect to and relate !! She’s a curvy woman on her 30s (like me), and super witty and clever! The snarky remarks and her hilarious inner thoughts make the story shine even brighter! 😍✨ it feels like the mix of a magical urban fantasy with a romantic comedy!

What you can expect:
✨ lots of funny moments & dialogues
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Curvy FMC
✨ Who did this to you?
✨ Alternate realms
✨ found family

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy for review

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grave-Reaping Hermit is the first book in The Grave Reaper urban fantasy series.

Historical romance writer Theodora (Theo) Edwards is living the life of a hermit, hiding away in her cabin while she works on her latest book.


Trouble begins when a law enforcement agent shows up and warns that her long-missing husband may be trying to find her and that he is now considered very dangerous. But the attack, when it comes, is from a dark fae creature – after which all sorts of magical beings start showing up at her cabin.

No longer alone, Theo now has a new dog, a sworn protector, her ex-husband and a host of other beings offering themselves to her—what has she done to deserve all this attention?


This was an impressive start to a new series; Theo was funny, ate cake and creatively dealt with a multitude of situations which involved the supernatural. I shall look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Maria Elena | pagesofmaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 3

There’s nothing better than being surprised by a book and suddenly coming to the end of it wondering “what’s next?”

THE GRAVE REAPER series is a steamy urban fantasy romance trilogy in which the third book just released, so it’s the perfect time to dive right in! The protagonist of this series is romance author Theo, who lives in the Canadian woods, writing her books and putting her life back together after the mysterious disappearance of her husband. She’s attacked by a dark fae and is saved by a hot fae guardian, but the damage is done. The attack starts off a transformation that makes Theo the first changeling in centuries, and all of a sudden, she’s coveted by the fae who are desperate to replenish their numbers. But fae aren’t the only supernatural creatures suddenly appearing in her life. There’s her husband, who reappears after six years as a very mean vampire, and the surly supernatural federal agent hot on his heels who’s also keeping an eye on Theo given her potential transformation. Oh, and an adorable dog that might not be a dog after all.

Saying I inhaled this book would be an understatement. I can’t remember the last time I read a book this fast. Between catching feelings, keeping her independence, and trying to survive, there’s a lot of exciting things happening in this book, made all the easier to read by the author’s very fun and fresh voice. I loved being in Theo’s head because she was so relatable, starting from her issues with her body (yes, there’s curvy rep in this book!) and finishing off with the fact she achieved my dream of writing in a secluded cabin in the woods. The cast of characters in this book is great, and none more so than Theo herself.

As for the romance, I wasn’t entirely sold on Farranen. For the longest time, I was actually expecting for there to be some romantic twist with Oscar, the federal agent she gets to calling Ozzy, because their banter was just hilarious, and I love how she gave him a nickname that he repeatedly asks her not to use. It’s the stuff of OTPs for me. Seeing the descriptions for the rest of the books though makes me think that I’m completely off the mark on this one. Nevertheless, I’m curious to continue the series to see how it develops. (I could also start my own Ozzy fan club.)

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the disappearance of her ex-husband. Theo keeps to herself. Living in a cabin, writing, and enjoying cake.

“The blood—it was mine.”
Theo finds herself attacked by a dark fae. Which introduces her to a world she never knew existed.

Once alone, she now finds the door to her cabin constantly opening to an investigator, protector, a new dog, ex-husband, and men trying to court her.

“Your magic calls to me. You’ve started the change.”

With danger lurking, new powers growing, and men seeking her attention. Will Theo’s world continue to change or can she have her regular life back?

I love how relatable Theo was. Her reactions had me laughing so much! If she feels a certain way about something. She won’t back down or be talked into doing anything she’s not comfortable with unless it will protect her.

[Anastasia Abboud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! I don’t know when I’ve laughed/snorted/guffawed so much while reading!

All Theodora Edwards wanted was a quiet place to be alone to write romance while her heart healed. But when she moves into a cabin at the edge of a forest, not only can she no longer be a hermit, but a whole new world is out to get her. Suddenly, fae are fighting for her, vampires are attacking, and she might be a changeling! Yet Theo remains true to herself.

And “herself” is fab. Theo is smart and spunky with a wry, self-deprecating sense of humor and a lot of good, old-fashioned common decency. She’s totally unprepared for the new reality in which she finds herself, but she doesn’t back down, doesn’t give in, and never loses her sense of humor. I love, love, love her.

There’s a great cast of supporting characters that I hope to see more of. I can hardly wait for the next installment of Theo’s adventures. Grave-Reaping Hermit is a fun, hilarious fantasy with magic, a touch of romance, and a salute to personal authenticity. What’s not to love?

[Tempest Reign · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶


Grave-reaping hermit starts off very mundane in the modern world with no 'fantasy aspects' at all, but, as the story progresses it undeniably becomes a fantasy book, with fae, vampires, shifters, and magic oh my!

I love how the FMC feels like a real person- she's short, curvy, a bit of a loner, loves cake, and her reactions are spot on. I definately felt a connection, and I'm here for it.

When Theo's suitors came calling, a scene with two fae brothers, I was absolutely howling with laughter at their antics. Imma leave this 🍆 right here, and if you're instantly curious or have a wicked little smile tugging at your lips, I suggest you read the book, because I think you'll giggle at that part too.

While there are definately some questions left unanswered, I felt the ending didn't contain much of a cliffhanger to hook me into waiting for the release of a second book, as most of the questions I have (I'm looking at you Farranen 👀) related to a few chapters before the end of the book. I'm still curious about what happens, but not in a 'need the next book right this second' sort of vibe.

Overall, I found Grave-Reaping Hermit to be a really good book that gave me lots of feels, had me questioning almost everything that was going on, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. I also found it felt longer than the page count, which is always a good thing!


☆ I received an ARC of this book from the author, which in no way sways my honest opinion, as stated in this review ☆

[Dusti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh there is nothing I love more than a book that takes place somewhere I actually know!!!

Everlyn is also a Canadian Prairies girl and there were a few comments in the book I LOVED (loonie sized blisters! haha) Is this what people from New York City feel about... basically every single book out there?

Anyways, I digress...

Theo is so funny. She's an author who is living in a rural cabin with few neighbours and even fewer friends. She's snarky and sarcastic and I adore her so much. She's clumsy and likes cake. I think we might be related.

So, when she finds out that her husband who has been missing for six years might be mixed up in some pretty messed up stuff, her life takes a VERY sharp turn, and she learns there is a whole world out there that is completely hidden from us. Vampires? Fae? Hilarious one liners?

I'm so excited to read the next one.

Thank you Everlyn for sending me a copy to read and review!

[MRS C MARSHALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book and giving my honest review.
A new author, on vampires, fae and shifters.
What a book, I Could not put this down. Had to find out what was coming next etc.
Love. Sexy and very creepy. Had you on the edge of your chair.
Nail biting.
Left on a cliff hanger, wonder what will happen next
I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

[Devons book corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. From the snarky humor to a badass heroine who tells it like it is, I loved this book so much. I was instantly drawn to Theo, thought the story was great and flowed nicely, and got caught up in this magical world. This urban fantasy is one you won't want to put down. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Dorthy Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and full of twists and surprises until the very last page! I'm already looking forward to Book 2!

[Kreela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everlyn Thompson should get more press. I troll romance forums, and I expect I will add this to my favorite recommendations.

This is a smart and funny read. Theo is a romance writer, or a writer of smut. As such, she has come to the back woods of a small town to concentrate on her writing. Years ago her husband disappeared, and now she craves only the romantic interludes in fiction and chocolate cake. Substituting her missing husband for cake is safe.

After retrieving a dead animal from under her shed, Theo visits a sleazy bar with her BFF and wakes up with a man in her room. He is not the same man she danced with the night before.

But after kicking him out, she starts getting visits from others: a huge dog, and a pale man with a sword. This is a misadventure in huge proportions, since the dog won’t stick around long enough to help when danger lurks.

What is a girl to do but take charge of her life and go on a diet…okay, no, but attempt to work off the calories by swimming. That doesn’t go well, since she gets attacked on her return trip. Where is the shotgun (she doesn’t know how to use) when you need one?

Theo is BBW [big beautiful woman] and older than the average heroine in romance. She is probably the most relatable I have read in a while. On the run to fetch her shotgun, she realizes her only reason to invite her newly returned husband is to help her when the pursuers arrive: “I didn’t like this cold, selfish person I’d become.”

The romance is quirky, too:
I felt that the detective sparring verbally with her had more of a connection than the elf she later pines for. As she starts turning fae, the elf Farranen decides to protect and aid her transition by sharing magic; in other words, cuddling in the bed. “It was like Farranen [elf], warm and comforting, but without any of the sexual undertones.” Well, that’s how I felt while they were spooning. Farranen was too sugary sweet for my interest.


Theo still is hesitant to recognize that paranormal elements were involved. After all, she is a romance novelist, not a PNR novelist.
“The human population?” I interrupted. “As opposed to what? The buffalo population?”

Trigger warning:
If you are self-obsessed with your weight like I, you might take offense at her sense of humor at her own expense:
“I lumbered out of the lake like a big whale with legs.”

• Complete story
• Feels like Series starter
• Funny PNR
• Steam=2 plus events
• If you like Kate Karius Quinn’s Grave new World series, you will like this.

[Basil Zarahoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wanted to be a five-star book and it just missed by a hair. It is really a four and a halfer.

The flow is excellent, never found a good stopping point from page one to the very end. And without clumsy cliffhangers to drive the reader from one chapter to the next, the pace was furious.

The central character is fully developed and completely believable. And it is nice to see a lead character who is not either a super-model or a superhero. A character with more normal dimensions is a delight and deserves a pat to the writer. If there is a flaw and I am not positive there is, it would be that the central character is too self-deprecating. A bit of insecurity goes a long way, to question almost all of the character’s physical being is overkill.

The supporting characters are interesting and fully drawn. They do seem to be a bit similar. There is a slight cloning going on and it makes separating all of the positive characters hard to distinguish. More variation might make for better identities but then perhaps this is a writer targeting the audience this work is aimed at?

Unfortunately, the antagonists all seem to be cut from the same cloth. I am willing to suspend disbelief to accept individuals of the same species would have similar characteristics, it is hard to understand why cross-species individuals would have so many similarities. This is especially distracting when the individuals are recruited rather than birthed into the fold. And giving a protagonist the same identity as the antagonists makes it difficult to swallow. It is like trying to relate to a decent abuser.

The single most distracting thing about this work and the reason it did not get five stars in spite of being wonderfully enjoyable, is that there is no actual climax. Yes, things work out and presumably all live happily until the next book, but there’s no shoot-out. In the third reel, the hero walks down the middle of the street and shoots it out with the villain. But not in this tale.

This is a solid read well worth spending a rainy day enjoying, but with just a hint of additional work, it could have been amazing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

An author who writes historical romances, is thrown into the paranormal world without her consent. She was living her best life, being a hermit, writing away and eating all the world's most delicious foods, but when a handsome law enforcement agent shows up at her door asking questions about her missing husband, who might not be missing but is kidnapping women and killing them. Having to wrap everything around in her mind, she does not pay attention when a dark fae comes after her and attacks her. With the help of another fae that is the guardian of the gate to Fairie, Theo will have to navigate the possibility that she might become a fae now, or something worse. Yikes, maybe even death.

I really enjoyed this plot, I loved that it was clear, fast paced, and didn’t have an information dump. I loved that the author made a MFC someone who a lot of women can relate with, I know I can. She is short, curvy, a little bit of a loner and loves to eat sweets. I also loved that she didn’t lose her wit or banter throughout this book. I loved that she didn’t lose herself throughout the book and this character stayed true to herself.

I thought the other characters in the book were well developed and you got to see more about them throughout the book, you can start to see how they will become important in this book later or even in the next book. I loved that this book wasn’t an insta-love, but you can feel the chemistry coming from Theo and Farranen. His is still a mystery to me and I hope that I can get to know more about him in the next book or heck I would love to know more about that dark prince fae…yummy!

Dog was a favorite character of mine, and I did catch on right away to what dog really was and to read the moment that Theo figured it out made me laugh out loud.

There were a few loose ends that will need to be wrapped up and I am hoping in the next book there will be at least a few books, fingers crossed we get multiple books from this author. If you like reading books about magical creatures, fantasy, great characters, great banter, and some intense moments you should pick up this book and read it.

I want to thank the author for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

When receiving this ebook to read and review, I really didn’t know what to expect. The title in particular felt like it gave me no hints of what was to come. I was so excited to dive in to find out. Man, I was blown away.

The story starts in a contemporary place and time with the main character, Theo (Theodora). As the story continues, fantasy elements begin to weave into the story. Everlyn did an amazing job building this world. I especially like how elements were slowly immersed in while learning about the world along with Theo. Grave-Reaping Hermit includes many different magical features such as Faes, Vampires, Shifters, and more.

Another great factor to the story was the characters; Theo was especially well done. Theo is not your typical main character heroine. She just wants to be alone, writing her historical romances, while moving past her husband's disappearance. Theo is so witty and thinks cake will solve all problems. (I mean I can’t argue with that) She was so relatable and fun, and added so much sarcasm and laughs throughout. Theo’s chemistry with Farranen was also so good. Their care and connection to one another was perfect. It gave the readers warm and fuzzies along with some spicy connections. All Everlyn characters were developed so well and had so much personality to them, even the very minor characters.

The only thing I struggled with was that some of the events of the story were so fast paced that I had a hard time keeping track of what happened. This just occurred in a few area and not throughout the full story.

Overall I really enjoyed Grave-Reaping Hermit. It gave me a strong and fun main female character, great chemistry between characters, an immersive fantasy world, and some twists and turns along the way. I cannot wait to start the next book to see what else will happen with Theo.

Thank you to Everlyn C Thompson (@everlyncthompsonauthor) for a free advanced copy for my honest review.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theo is a writer who is looking for peace and quiet so she can finish her book. She moves into a falling-down cabin at the end of a short road. Six years ago, her husband Will disappeared and the cops are looking for him. They keep bugging her to find out if she’s seen him (she hasn’t), but they keep asking. She’s overweight, a loner, and not into physical fitness, though one morning, she does manage to go to the nearby lake for a swim. On her way home, she’s attacked by a…thing. And then her life changes forever.

The book started off very smelly – the imagery the author put into my head was very well written, but ugh! I wish I hadn’t been eating breakfast (dead skunk she’s removing from under the cabin). There’s a hot light Fey (Farranen), a hotter dark Fey, vampires, shapeshifters, changelings, and more. I loved Dog— the stray who shows up and becomes her friend. There is a lot going on here. And the writing is amazing.

But…it doesn’t end. This is definitely part of a series. There are a ton of threads left dangling including who (if anyone) is going to get her heart. That was the only drawback for me. I am not a fan of serialized stories. I know it’s a marketing ploy to get you to buy the next books – and I probably will since I liked this one, but it is irritating to me.

Recommendation: If you don’t mind the fact that this is the first in a definite series, if you love paranormal stories with just about every kind of “other” being you can think of, pick this up.

Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo’s entering a world she doesn’t understand nor believes she’s what they call a changeling. All she wants is to be left alone in her seclusion. Wow, what a flippin’ amazing book! Never in my life have I read a book like this. The world-building is complex yet imaginative. The heroine, Theo, is a woman after my own heart. The multitude men trying to protect/woo her is impressive. The plot reads like one of my fave tv shows. I couldn’t put it down and neither will you.

Let’s start with the world-building. This author’s world-building skills are masterful, intricate, and full of imagination. She creates a world steeped in classic fantasy mythology and spins it on its head to create something new and exciting. It’s believable and I personally was transfixed while reading. I don’t want to give out spoilers, just know that it’ll blow your mind.

The characters are wonderful and written with a realism I found refreshing. I connected with Theo right away. Her inner thoughts are hilarious and relatable. She speaks her own mind, and her reactions are inline with mine. There are several other characters I enjoyed. Each character has its own voice and backstory.

The action is quite intricate and described really well. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself reading late into the night.

If you’re looking for an original urban fantasy you can’t put down, start reading Grave-Reaping Hermit. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are all my own.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Chiara | wordsbychiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 3

Have you ever been jealous of a fictional character? Readers and writers who, like me, are often forced to engage with people will understand the allure of a cabin in the woods and why I’m jealous of this book’s protagonist.

THE GRAVE REAPER SERIES is a steamy urban fantasy series starring Theodora, a hermit writer living in the woods, surrounded by all manner of supernatural creatures, including her newly-turned-vampire ex-husband and the federal agent hot on his trail, hot fae, and a friendly shifter. When Theo gets attacked by a dark fae, she begins to transform into the first changeling in centuries, thus becoming a coveted prize for all fae who are looking to add to their dwindling numbers. Suddenly, Theo finds herself in a position where she must fight for her freedom.

Grave-Reaping Hermit, book 1 in the series, was an unexpected surprise. The protagonist has a very witty voice, giving the story a humorous touch I wasn’t expecting. But important topics such as body image issues and infertility are also explored. Theo is a protagonist many women will easily identify with, because of her insecurities, her vices, her wants and needs, and the fact she’s a writer certainly makes her relatable to me personally! More than anything, she is the greatest strength of this book.

I’m also very invested in the romance and curious to see where it will lead. The first book seemed set on the guardian Farranen, but there’s other characters who would make equally interesting love interests, especially Lief, dark prince of Fairie.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

[Brittany🩵 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic start to a series. The characters were pretty well developed and there’s so much happening that you don’t get bored.

The main character, Theo, is so relatable. She is a plus size woman who has never felt anything more than ordinary. It felt like she was me and I was her. The whole time I was firmly in her corner. She was so tough and brave and tired of rolling over for people.

The love interest was kind of insta lovey, which isn’t really my thing, but he was such a sweetheart I didn’t mind too much.

When he was first introduced, he kind of acted like he was unfamiliar with the human realm, but after that first interaction he didn’t seem as clueless (for lack of a better word). Which didn’t make sense to me because he has his own cabin in the human realm and is there all the time.

There were some questionable reactions in this book that I’m not quite sure I understand. I’m hoping the next book we can explore some of that.

The whole missing husband now hunting the wife plot line was super interesting. I wasn’t expecting what happened, and it was a fun journey.

My absolute favorite part of this book was Dog. He showed up when Theo most needed a friend and he just always stuck around and was there when she needed him. I also didn’t expect the twist with Dog! So much fun.

I wasn’t expecting the hysterectomy representation, but it was a nice surprise. You don’t see “mundane” things like that incorporated in fantasy books often so I enjoyed that rep.

The author did a fantastic job writing this. I enjoy her writing style. I’m about to dive right into the second book!

This is a great choice if you like fantasy books with a mundane twist to them, insta love, and plus size rep!

[Erika_thebookbearie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I figured this book would be just another paranormal story like others. But I was surprise! I got hooked right from the start.

So, Theo, our main character, decided to become a hermit after her husband went missing for six years. She went to a small town where her house was practically in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thick forest. Little did she know, there was a boatload of mysteries swirling around her.

One day, feeling adventurous, she decided to take a dip in the lake. That’s when things went south real fast. She got attacked by some creepy creature that left her wounded and freaked out. But in the nick of time, a guy who could pass as Legolas’s twin swooped in to save the day.

When she finally came to, Theo was introduced into a whole new world, one filled with fairies and vampires, of all things! I love Theo.Well, she’s funny, brave, and just a downright lovely person.

This book was one of those rare gems where, even at 90% in, you’re still uncovering mysteries and itching for answers. Knowing that there are only few pages left, you don’t want it to end yet. Thankfully that Book 2 is already on the shelf.

Now, here’s the thing that bugged me a bit. Theo has this habit of constantly pointing out her flaws, and it comes off like she’s body-shaming herself. It could be a trigger for folks struggling with body image or self-esteem issues, so just keep that in mind when you dive into this otherwise fantastic read.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The absolute best part of living alone was being able to have chocolate cake for breakfast. Gooey, moist, fudgy cake with thick sticky icing was exactly what a hangover called for. And since, technically, I didn’t get up until after noon, it was more of a lunch or afternoon snack.”

I love the FMC, Theo, she’s a realistic person who is shaper and curvy women! She absolutely loves cake and a bit of a loner- I honestly related to her as a curvy lady who loves cake! 😂

I definitely had a few laughs throughout this book and the writing flowed nicely- there was no information dump and there was no confusion!

“I’m not the handiest of homeowners. I’m more of a learn-as-I-go-and-hope-I-don’t-burn-the-house-down-in-the-process kind of girl.”

I found it definitely a slow and steady kinda of book that keeps you wanting read. It was very well written! The side characters actually have personality too that just make the book even better!

I am a bit confused about who the actual MMC is or if it’s going to be a RH (I’m so hoping it is!). I also felt the ending was a happy-for-now kind of ending that was a bit open-ended without some answers but I cannot wait to start book 2! I will probably devour it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a good set up for the rest of the series! I cannot wait to read the second book to get some answers and to see where it goes!

4.5/5

[Moonburst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo is just trying to restart her life after her husband's mysterious disappearance six years ago. Leaning into her anti-social tendencies, she's settled into a cabin in the woods to continue her writing career. Unfortunately her peace and quiet is disrupted when she's attacked by a dark fae. As the fae's magic starts to change her, she finds herself thrust into the supernatural world. Her transition is further complicated when she's abducted by her ex-husband. Stuck in transition, Theo is constantly struggling to stay alive and independent.

Theo makes a very enjoyable main character. As an author she is a bit of a daydreamer, and she often muses to herself with interesting rabbit trails. She is a true introvert, and her reactions to her circumstances are quite relatable and entertaining. Her experiences with her husband have left her a bit emotionally scarred, but as she recovers she opens herself to others with mixed results. Her attempts to protect herself are reasonable and have extremely realistic results. She is a refreshing change to the outgoing, brash, martial artist female protagonists typically found in the urban fantasy genre.

Overall a fresh new series that doesn't go in the usual directions with a fun, introverted heroine who ultimately wants to be left alone.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[nvl_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodora (Theo) Edwards is a self proclaimed hermit, romance author, and cake lover. She moves to a secluded cabin after the disappearance of her husband, Will. Her quiet life ends soon after and she enters the world of the paranormal.

One night she goes out with her friend to a local bar and drinks too much. She has no idea how she got home or who the stranger in her house is. She learns his name is Oscar and he is an agent from the PIMP (paranormal intelligence maintaining peace) agency. He has been looking for her husband and tells her that Will is believed to have killed a number of women and is now hunting her. A stray dog wonders in as she is cooking dinner but there is something weird about him.

She is attacked by a dark fae walking home after a swim and is infected with fae magic. Farranen, guardian of the fae gate, saves her and becomes her protector. She learns her ex has become a vampire.

The characters are very likable and you will be rooting for Theo from the beginning. She is a snarky, independent heroine who just wants to be left alone to eat cake but whose world has been invaded by all sorts of paranormal happenings.

I absolutely loved the characters and can’t wait to see what happens between Theo and Ferranen!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deborah Mayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from author - NO spoilers! Book 1 Grave Reaper series, Happy for now and to be continued ending
Urban Fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shifters, Vampires, Fae, curvy Human FMC, Slow burn/low spice


A veritable 'pick n mix' of my favourite tropes compacted into a fast paced smooth read headlined by the funniest, most genuinely realistic FMC I have read in a long while. My diet ended, all that delicious cake described broke me lol
All the characters were hearty and vivid and the love interest contenders, well should there be a vote for a Reverse Harem count mine as a firm resounding Yes!

I love Dog, hope he features more in the next book.
The World Building was intricate and revealed at key points along with background history.

Although billed as Dark I found it not to be so, I do read very Dark books though however there are some slightly violent elements but all in context to the story.
It is slow burn so do not expect instant relationships but do expect a lot of giggles along the way.

There was no big build up to a crescendo, but it was a steady volley of story and adventure which caught all your emotions and was a perfect Saturday afternoon read.
A new to me Author and one I shall read again after this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mel (literaturelylost) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of surprises.

Initially, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. The title absolutely threw me.

After a bad marriage, and her husband going missing, Theodora, or Theo as she likes to be known, is living in a small house on the edge of the woods in an extremely small town in Canada.

There is always something happening in this story. A missing person, a guardian of a fae gate, vampires, shifters, and her ex-husband all come out of the ether as soon as this whole is thrust upon Theo.

I love the action and everything that was thrown into this book, but I also would have loved a bit of slowness to go into depth and world-building. There are so many characters so quickly I would have loved some sort of way to draw out more from them to create a bigger overview of this world that has popped up in the middle of nowhere. The end still left a lot of loose ends, which I hope makes more sense in book two.

Though, Theo... gah I loved her. She was just so real, and I just vibed with her hard. In real life, when things go wrong, we are not always battle-ready, it's not pretty, and she just felt so normal in the best way possible.

I flew through this book because I was hooked, but I wish there was more of a cliffhanger at the end. I will 100% be reading book 2.

[Thebookimburiedin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 100% will have spoilers so don’t read the ending if this is going on your TBR (it should go on top).

I am obsessed with this book. I am a complete sucker for normal ass bodies while reading. Don’t get me wrong I like the world chiseled as much as the next girl, but once in a while I want the word squishy or something. You know something you can grab onto. Lol This is honestly the first book I’ve ever read where the female main character seemed like me, I too am a sucker for cake.

There wasn’t really explicit scenes (except at the end) but there was quite a bit of tension and smoldering and it was perfect the way it is.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️

Spoiler past here….. look away

So, those that have read, at the end where she’s supposed to consummate at the request of the Queen..? Was anyone else screaming NO in their head while reading. “ARE YOU F#%*^+g SERIOUS” came out a bunch and I had to take a breather. My guy dinner seriously dirty!

Also dog was too expressive and intelligent so I knew that wasn’t a regular dog but I had hope it was her guardian or her vampire (it’s a RH in my head lmao) or a man. I am curious where he came from, is he ages like the rest of the supernatural. School? Will he speak? Soooo many questions.

[Susie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance author Theo Edwards just can’t catch a break. First, her husband disappears after dumping her six years ago, and Theo wastes time and a king’s ransom of money searching in vain for the scoundrel. Then she throws in the towel, buys a cabin deep in the forest, and becomes a hermit who focuses on her writing. When her only friend convinces her to come out for drinks, life as Theo knows it disappears completely after she is attacked by a dark fae and infected with his magic. Theo is thrust into a paranormal world she knows nothing about and has to figure out how to survive.
Paranormal author Everlyn C. Thompson penned a rip-snorter of an engaging, well-written plot chock full of laugh-out-loud comedic moments woven into an amazing fantasy. The out-of-this-world, yet remarkably believable characters take readers on a raucous, rollicking rollercoaster ride from page one, and don’t let go of them. Theo is a heroine that readers relate to and root for. Thompson created a part paranormal, part romance, part urban fantasy world that at times tilts its inhabitants sideways and other times turns Theo and the rest of us along for the ride upside down.
Grave-Reaping Hermit is a wild tale that takes the protagonist along with readers on a fast-paced, fun trip to Never-neverland.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was a fun, intriguing, mysterious story.
I also found myself giggling a lot with Theo's comments and inner thoughts. She was just a fun character to follow. One who loved her sweets by the way. 😆
.
Her secluded life gets turned completely upside down one night, which she assumed was a one night stand. But she was wrong. Completely wrong.
A new world soon is revealed to her and she's not really sure exactly what to believe.
Before she knows it, she learns that vampires, Fae, and shifters are all real...who knows what else is out there.
.
She thought she escaped crazy when she moved from the city to a small town after her husband disappeared 6 yrs ago.
.
And Farranen, he's such a gentleman...but also the "who did this to you"..."don't touch her" kinda mmc
.
The first bit of the book was slightly slow. But it quickly picked up and I couldn't stop reading.
Seriously though, I've giggled so much during some serious situations in this book....
And there was one scene I down right died laughing after she returned from visiting the fae queen. 🤣

I can't wait to dive into book 2 and see what happens next.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Magic world

- Great world building

- Loner FMC

I was absolutely transfixed by this book. It is so original and clever. The FMC, Theo, is such an interesting character.

Theo, a romance writer who has secluded herself to a remote cabin. She just wants to be left alone. Her husband Will left without a trace six years ago and she spent all of her money trying to find him. She has resigned herself to a solitary existence - at least that way no one can let her down.

After her only friend takes her out for drinks, Theo's life is changed forever. She wakes up to find a strange man, Oscar (who she nickname Ozzy) in her cabin, asking lots of questions about Will. Ozzy has been tracking Will and Ozzy thinks Will has been tracking Theo. Theo finds it hard to reconcile the man she married with the person Ozzy describes.

Then she is injured when she is jumped by a strange creature - and is rescued by a different stranger, Farranen. Both Farranen and Ozzy are concerned about her wounds and tell her some news that she finds hard to believe….

I enjoyed the twists in this book. I cannot stop thinking about this story and am grabbing the next in the series immediately!

[Ellie Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕖- ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕥

By: Everlyn C. Thompson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

''𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠?'' 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩.
''𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩''

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Read if you love: The Vampire Diaries meets A Court of Thornes and Roses

The plot of the first book, follows our heroine Theodora, whose husband has disapeared without a trace.
As she tries to live her life in peace, away from people, she is thrust into the world
of the supernatural when a dark fae attacks her and everything she knows changes from hereafter.
In a series of unforturnate events, she gets attacked by vampires (spoiler alert: it's her husband) while a handsome Fae from the Light Court, Farranen tries to protect her from Fae and Vampries alike.

I simply devoured this book. It's so refreshing, well paced, absolutely well written, with short chapters and something is always happening, you never get bored. The heroine of this book is in possesion of my heart, she is so down to earth, brave, with top notch humour.

This book has it all, fantasy, action scenes, romance, spice and you get invested in the
heroes storyline.

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theo has been alone in her cabin with Dog for a while now, and that's just the way she likes it. Away from her crappy ex-husband Will, and away from, well, everyone. When she ends up being attacked by a being from Faerie, her whole world changes.

Will catches up with her and decides he's not going to take no for an answer anymore and kidnaps Theo, taking her straight into a vampire nest. She is able to escape, thanks to the help of another woman there, and ends up face to face with the sire herself. How on earth is she going to get out of this one?

Now her Guardian, Farranen, has been commanded by the Queen to try and continue the Faerie race with Theo...for 60 nights...yeah it's exactly what it sounds like. But Theo has information that he should probably know...oops. When she meets the dark prince, Leif, she isn't sure what to think. Farranen doesn't seem to like him much, but he could just be a territorial Fae male, right?

Back and forth being hunted and attacked, controlled by forces beyond her comprehension, Theo does all she can to maintain her sense of self. Through betrayal, heartbreak, and rage, at least she still has Dog...