Reaping Havoc by A.J. Rose

REAPING HAVOC by A.J. Rose

 

Pages: 282

Date: December 21, 2015

Own / E-book

The blurb:

No one asked Mitch Seeker if he wanted to be a grim reaper. He didn’t sign up for the rumors, the lack of friends, or the erratic schedule. He doesn’t want to go through life watching people die. Especially not a man he loves. Mitch’s solution is simple—don’t fall in love. He’ll never have to explain why he doesn’t age or why he’s around death so often. Most of all, he will never be a widower.

But when his head is turned by world-class skier Nate Koehn, Mitch believes he may have the answer. If the soul attached to Nate is any indication, Mitch has found himself another reaper, in which case, his undeniable feelings don’t have to be suppressed. However, the spectral tag-a-long is only the beginning of Nate’s burdens. After a catastrophic loss, Nate is no stranger to grief and the hole it leaves behind. 

The question they both must answer is loud and clear: is the pain of losing love worse than the pain of never having loved at all?

My thoughts:

“We play with everyone’s lives. It’s why the phrase ‘divine intervention' exists.”

Wow, this is a stunning book. Reaping Havoc is so much more than ‘just’ a very imaginative and very well written story. It manages to be both sweet and heartbreaking, charming and thought-provoking and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out there is this twist to put the whole thing on its head again. My expectations when I pick up a book by AJ Rose are high; she managed to surpass them once again. J

Mitch Seeker’s situation broke my heart. I mean all of us know it is possible that we’ll lose a loved one somewhere along the way, but we’re never certain it will happen. Mitch on the other hand knows with absolute certainty that if he were to share his life with another man, he would have to watch him grow old and die while Mitch would still be in the prime of his life. Unwilling to set himself up for the pain that would bring, he decides he’s better off on his own. It is a decision I completely understand.

Of course life is never that easy, and the heart seldom listens to reason. Enter Nate Koehn who carries his own burdens and is in desperate need of love and a connection with someone he can trust. Suddenly Mitch’s world and all his decisions about his future are up in the air. Instant attraction brings the two men close until a revelation makes Mitch think he can’t continue with their developing relationship.

And that is all I want to say about the story itself. The surprises this tale holds should be experienced without prior knowledge. What I do want to say is that I’m in awe that the author managed to take a supernatural premise and make the dilemmas the characters face so recognisable that I ached for Mitch and Nate when all seemed lost, and cheered whenever it looked as if they might have a chance after all.

This is a story about love conquering all and it is breathtakingly beautiful. Rumour has it there will be a second ‘Reaper’ book in the future and I will be patiently waiting, my finger poised over the one click button, so I can summon it as soon as it is available.