Waking the Dead

When the Grim Reaper knocks, the road to hell begins-and the stakes are higher than life and death.Vivian Bedford has spent her life surviving quietly as a struggling caregiver, hiding her pain and protecting the one person who matters most-her disabled sister. But when a dying stranger crosses her path, Vivian's world cracks open, and the afterlife comes calling.Lazarus Darkmore, a darkly seductive Grim Reaper, offers her an impossible choice: help him manage the balance between life and death-or be destroyed by it. Power. Freedom. Salvation. The temptation is intoxicating… but making a deal with a reaper always comes at a price.As Vivian is pulled into a violent war between Reapers and Guardian Spirits, she finds herself claimed by unlikely protectors: Ezra, a brooding, morally rigid guardian, and Zeke, his fiery, unpredictable apprentice. Their protection should mean safety-but the guardians want something from her, and their motives may be just as dangerous as the reapers'.Vivian's secret is deadly: she can channel energy from the living, a rare and coveted power that could tip the balance of the spirit world. Now both sides want to control her-and when Vivian learns her sister Mae is a prime target for energy harvesting, there's no room left for hesitation.To save her sister, Vivian must decide who she's willing to become.Will she remain a pawn in a supernatural power struggle…or rise as a ruthless player in a game of life, death, forbidden power, and dark attraction?Perfect for fans of paranormal romance, grim reaper love stories, urban fantasy with romance, slow-burn tension, dangerous alliances, and morally gray heroes, this darkly addictive story blends high stakes, supernatural intrigue, and a heroine who refuses to be broken.