In B.K. Borison’s Grim Tidings, a grim reaper walks into a bar (I promise this isn’t the start of a bad joke) and finds herself going toe-to-toe with the skeptical guardian angel barkeep who refuses to believe she’s changed her soul-stealing ways.
Darcy is sick and tired of being the harbinger of death. Frankly, it’s depressing being a Grim Reaper, and Darcy wants nothing to do with it anymore. She’s made up her mind: for her next assignment, instead of taking them to the underworld, she’s going to try her hand at saving them. Easy-peasy, right? Not so much. When Darcy arrives in Annapolis, Maryland, local Guardian Angel and hunky barkeep Gabriel is not about to allow her on his turf. No matter how much Darcy claims she wants different for herself, an Angel knows better than to trust a Reaper. But as Darcy shows Gabriel again and again that she wants a different path, Gabriel finds it harder to ignore the simmering tension between them. However, the Department of Hauntings and Spirits isn’t about to let one of their Reapers switch teams, leaving Darcy and Gabriel wondering if they’ll find their Happily Ever Afterlife.
There is something deeply comforting about cracking open a Borison romance and meeting her latest duo. Whether it’s the small-town dwellers of cozy Christmas tree farm (Lovelight Farms), the quirky staff of a Baltimore radio station (First-Time Caller) or, in this case, the ultimate workplace enemies, Borison masterfully creates flawed and emotionally vulnerable romantic leads. Darcy spent her human life in and out of hospitals and has a list of human activities she never got to do when she was alive. Gabriel is a prickly Guardian Angel who will do absolutely anything to keep his people safe. Together, they are delicious. Put them in a bowl with whipped cream, and you will eat them up. Don’t forget the cherry on top: a delightful cast of side characters, like Tater Tot, a sweet zombie dog.
If you want to dip your toes into paranormal romance but don’t want a full grimoire and a map, Grim Tidings is perfect. It’s paranormal light, with speculative elements that are an important part of the story but don’t bog the reader down in world building and rules. This spookily good enemies-to-lovers story will delight those who love a dash of magic in their contemporary romance.