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Virgin Blood #5

Mated to the Reaper

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Ariella Sterling was raised by a coven of vampires, but she was different than the rest of them. She was a miracle from the time she was born, and her parents worried about her safety. She was protected and cherished like no other because of her abilities, but something has changed since her eighteenth birthday. There’s a pain growing inside her and she doesn’t think she’s going to make it much longer. When the Grim Reaper walks in everything changes and now she’s got to fight for what’s hers.

Grim Reaper has spent years alone carrying out what he’s destined to do. But when he’s called to take another immortal soul, he realizes this one is different. From the moment he sees Ariella, he knows she’s his mate, but her family steps in and tries to keep them apart. They can do what they want, but there’s no stopping Death, and he’s going to fight for what’s his.

Does this all seem crazy to you? Well, that’s because it is! The Grim Reaper is here to fall in love and we’re supporting it one hundred percent! Sit back and enjoy their story without all the little details that don’t matter. It’s steamy good fun and we hope you love it, just like we do.

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If you listened to Mated to the Reaper on the Read Me Romance Podcast and have been waiting for the epilogues… look no further!!

If you love this book bio and want to listen to it in audio, check out Mated to the Reaper on the Read Me Romance Podcast and get Ariella & Grim's story WITHOUT epilogues for FREE!

58 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2019

1041 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read

About the author

Alexa Riley

284 books16.2k followers
Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

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5 stars
1,024 (31%)
4 stars
854 (26%)
3 stars
924 (28%)
2 stars
334 (10%)
1 star
94 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
Profile Image for Jen.
1,655 reviews1,167 followers
April 16, 2019
This was a quick read... way too short for me! I have been waiting for this novella for awhile now and it was well worth the wait! The “Grim Reaper “ finally finds his mate! I was so happy for him! My only complaint about this read was that I really wanted more! It turned out to be such a heartwarming and sexy story!

Profile Image for Gi's Spot Reviews.
1,144 reviews1,366 followers
May 28, 2019
Awww, Reaper oh sweet Reaper! This book was EVERYTHING we’ve been begging for, since the last Virgin Blood series and more! His soulmate couldn’t have been more fitted and perfect to him! Pure AR smutty and sweet awesomeness!!!


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I listened to the professionally narrated audiobook on the Read Me Romance Podcast for FREE!
Profile Image for Deborah.
3,847 reviews500 followers
April 26, 2019

After reading the Virgin Blood series I wanted to move onto this. Unfortunately it was only available on podcast at the time.

In this book Grim finally finds his mate.

It’s Alexa you know how it goes.
Profile Image for ♡Tonya♡.
2,062 reviews568 followers
April 10, 2019
Only Alexa Riley can make the Grim Reaper hot and sexy. The long wait is over and we get Grim’s story.

-no cheating
-dual virgin
-no pushing away
-steamy hot
-safe neither with others after meeting
-epilogue 3 and 5 years later
Profile Image for Carvanz.
2,385 reviews898 followers
March 2, 2019
Not really much to review when talking about an Alexa Riley book. You always know exactly what you're going to get. This one is a paranormal romance and had a bit of a twist to it that was...interesting. Definitely an Alexa Riley twist. I may have enjoyed this one more but I listened to this via the Read Me Romance Podcast and the narrators just didn't work for me. The hero had an accent it was performed very well by either the male or female narrator. Perhaps if I had read it this one might have made me happier.

Listened via Read Me Romance
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Profile Image for Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey).
1,528 reviews483 followers
January 21, 2019
First I have to say that this book was not written by the same person(s) the other book I listened too. It’s not that this is Paranormal and the other contemporary. Or that the other was silly fun and this was more serious. The writing style is completely different more than genre. I’ve read authors who write across the spectrum. Yet, you can feel them in each story. I’m sorry but my guess is that these books were not authored by the same people. Of course I could be wrong, but I’d bet on me.

With that said, this book has a stronger voice and far better writing.

I really like the story though I though more world building as needed. But I’ll forgive them for that in this short format.

The disappointing thing was the declaration of love AR style. For me, it would have been far hotter and way more believable if they’d just said your mine. The I love yous weren’t needed and took away from the story for me.

But this was a good installment. I’d be interested in reading more in this world.

The narration was good except the female would took loud audible breaths between sentences. It was distracting.
Profile Image for Nova.
2,710 reviews102 followers
April 10, 2019
This follows on from the Virgin blood series and was really looking forward to reading it.

Grim is the reaper of the undead searching for his mate, resigned to wandering the earth forever and alone. Watching the vampires with their mates makes him feel more alone than ever, that’s before the feeling of death falls over him one day when he sees Ravanna fleeing to his dwelling he waits for the call he knows is coming. Only is the call really for death or something else.

Ariella feels the pain of death and has done every day since her eighteen birthday. She hides her pain from her family but as with the undead they can sense every emotion. She’s different to the rest of her family able to venture into sunlight and has never wanted blood. Patiently awaiting death she bides her time but when death comes for her it’s nothing like either of them expected.

Great read and am kind of hoping there will be more to come from this world.
Profile Image for Somia.
2,071 reviews171 followers
April 12, 2019
The life of a Grim Reaper is a lonely and cold one, and this is one Grim who hungers for his mate, one he has little hope of finding. Ariella feels death is close, and that something is wrong – what she doesn’t realise is that she is sensing what she is missing – her mate.

An Alexa Riley book is synonymous with insta love/lust, a possessive alpha male, smut and a HEA – and this can be found in this little novella. I usually love Riley’s books but I couldn’t help but feel that this lacked the spark of her earlier books – I was just left with the feeling that this was nothing new – and it was a sameness I didn’t enjoy.

The hero of this book was meh, I didn’t find myself engaging with him as a character. I also wished the heroine had some fire in her and was far less demure. For me this novella was far too superfical

Acquired via KU.
Profile Image for Alba M. .
1,724 reviews150 followers
April 19, 2019
Ariella siempre ha sido diferente a toda su familia aunque ellos la hayan hecho sentir como una igual. Ella sufre una enfermedad desde los 18 años aunque no sabe lo qué.
Grim ha sido la parca desde que su padre murió y sabe que va a pasar toda su vida solo. Hasta que una llamada de un alma para ser recolectada lo hace encontrarse con su alma gemela.

Me ha encantado aunque reconozco que hace mucho que me leí las otras historias y no me acordaba quien estaba con quién ni quién había tenido familia ni nada. Grim es adorable ❤️ y me encanta que Ariella luchara por él su chico!
Muy recomendada para pasar el rato
Profile Image for Stacie.
2,562 reviews275 followers
January 21, 2019
3+ "Reaper Finds a Mate" Stars!

I listened to the Read Me Romance free podcast. Once I figured out how to spead up the reading, I enjoyed it very much. So I will probably use that podcast again.

As far as The Reaper's story, it was Alexa Riley smutacular! Sweet as cotton candy and very sexy. This one was very short, but the build up from the previous book Bitten by the King helped with that. If you liked the other books in the BITTEN series, you will like this one. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Jennifer McGurk Finn.
2,101 reviews53 followers
April 24, 2019
I’ve been super curious about the Reaper ever since he appeared in Bishop’s book. This was a quick steamy story and my only complaint was poor Grim had to wait eighteen years after we meet him to find his mate. Other than that I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for *TANYA*.
1,002 reviews427 followers
April 11, 2019
I waited so long for this story...

I needed more!! More of a plot, more background from Grim, just more of a story. It was way too short. AR could have cut back on the smut to develop the characters a little more. (Add in a harrumph!! Lol)
Profile Image for Soft Nectarine ~.
432 reviews912 followers
February 11, 2024
She is a bright sunshine. He is Death.

Grim Reaper is desperate for a mate. He is an immortal being roaming the world and collecting souls of vampires that never found their mates🩸but low key all he wants is hugs and kisses.

Ariella knows death is coming for her as she grows more ill. But when Death does knock on her door it’s to deliver her Happily Ever After!!!

“Fate had been letting me die to bring Death to me.” I mean this will never not devastate me 🥵

I love this short novella so much it has become my comfort reread. It just has all the ingredients for a delicious smut cake 🌶️ 10/10 for the possessive immortal mmc finding his mate and absolutely ravishing her!!!! He apparently has never been able to 💦 before meeting his mate which yes & yes I support

Also Ariella’a family is well acquainted with the solitary Grim who previously had eyes for Ariella’s mom. This just adds to the forbidden sparkle of their relationship.

Can you tell I love this story?

paranormal
forbidden love 🪓
dual virgins
fated mates ✨
HEA (with great epilogues)
Profile Image for Book Snob Sue.
1,415 reviews136 followers
April 8, 2019
The Reaper is here, The Reaper is here *jumps up & down*. I had been “patiently” waiting for this book *shakes head* and I got to listen to it for free...yeah, FREE on the Read Me Romance podcast.

My poor, sweet Grim Reaper, I know, I know, sounds like a contradiction, but he is so sweet and just wanted to find his mate. And we get to find out who his equally sweet mate is. He tried waiting for his mate with the Vampire coven...but, uh...that didn’t go so well. Fast forward quite a few years and he finally finds her. Ariella aka Treasure is experiencing health issues per say, and doesn’t think she’ll make it. But mates always make it better in this series.

Safe read, no om or ow drama...just overprotective parents, that kinda ticked me off. Obviously he’s the Grim Reaper...after his mate, enough said. Older man, younger woman. Shit ton of baby batter, they’re mates after all. Totally worth the wait.
Profile Image for GimmeAllTheWerdssss.
597 reviews257 followers
January 20, 2019
Audio read with RMR

Typical AR. Insta, mate, can have sex and come multiple times in any position...blah blah blah.

I didn’t like how all of the h’s family reacted to her having Grim as her mate. I also really didn’t like how the heroine was ok with how her family treated Grim. Yes, she was upset in her mind but she didn’t forcefully or even really verbally reprimand them for their actions. She just sat demurely and waited for them to go to bed. No bish...give them a slap down for them not believing YOU!! Show some anger, defend your man....
Profile Image for Rochelle.
1,642 reviews
January 18, 2019
I listened to the professionally narrated audiobook on the Read Me Romance Podcast for FREE!
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,683 reviews2,448 followers
April 10, 2019
UPDATE!!!! I grabbed the ebook and we got some more like an added epilogue 2 of them which i loved!!! Beside that thats prettyy much whats new.. rating still the same for me.

I enjoyed the guys narration.. girl was meh to me.. as for the story i was confused for a second until the next chapters.. so this was Ravana daughter Ariella who is special and death aka Grim.. it was an okay read .. i just didnt enjoy The coven in this book? They were wayy to controlling and didn't let Ariella have a choice at first.. but they changed and i was okay with them. As for Grim well he is one Reaper who is well hawt lol

No cheating, no ow/om, secondary charas, tiny drama, sexy times, virgin gal.

Instalove/lust
Safe
Hea
Profile Image for Elizabeth Neal.
1,802 reviews148 followers
April 10, 2019
Grim, as in The Grim Reaper, is tasked with being there when the undead are nearing their end. It's a sad existence and he believes, just like the vampires he "helps" cross over as the majority of time they haven't found their mate by the two hundred year deadline, he will be alone. Only, he won't die, he'll just continue to live as is, forever without his one by his side.

Ariella is in pain. She knows her time is running out even though she just recently turned eighteen, her suffering growing worse every day. As the only child born to a human father, a Slayer at that, and female vampire (see Bitten by the Virgin, book two of the Virgin Blood Bundle for Valen and Ravana's story), she's not sure if it has something to do with that. But when her parents' door is literally busted down and the man states he's there for her, she finally knows.

Grim and Ariella know instantly they are meant to be, but due to the unknown of Grim's kind, Ariella's genetics, and a previous situation, not everyone is so sure.

Can Grim and Ariella prove fate is at work where they're concerned? Can the uncomfortable situation from eighteen years prior be explained? How will both deal with the reality of Grim's job as a couple? Must he continue his role or is there something not even he knows about his people? Is a HEA possible?

One-click now and follow along as two people, both aching for the other without ever meeting, discover a love that will literally last forever. I really enjoyed this story and would love to see more in this world.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
Profile Image for Kate.
Author 4 books30 followers
May 2, 2019
🎧 Read Me Romance 🎧

AR paranormal goodness.
3⭐️’s plus an extra ⭐️ just for “Grim’s” sexy, gargled gravel with smokey whiskey, voice. Helllllloooo Grim.

* yet to read epilogues in ebook version *
Profile Image for L. McCoy.
742 reviews8 followers
December 13, 2019
SUPER FAST REVIEW:
Very predictable and not an amazing story but the characters are fairly interesting and it’s well written.
Not bad but not something I’d really recommend and I’m honestly not sure if I’m bothered to add the Virgin Blood series to my reading list. Maybe since the world does seem slightly interesting, I just wasn’t super into this particular one.

3/5
description
Profile Image for Katie Pedersen.
466 reviews45 followers
January 19, 2019
Ehhhhh. I hate to knock off stars from the overall rating based on the narrators, but I just could not stand Grim's accent/voice, nor could I stand Ariella's impression of Grim. Outside of narration, the book was just ok. I want to love the book because I absolutely love listening to these ladies on the RMR podcast, but sadly it didn't really speak to me. The concept was pretty cool and maybe I would have liked it more if I had read the Virgin Blood series. I understand these novellas are cheesy insta-love romances, but the dialog was just too much for me at times. Like, I cringed every time he called her "treasure." Too much! The overall story was interesting, so I landed on a solid 3 stars.
Profile Image for Jamsu.
862 reviews38 followers
January 20, 2019
This is the second book I listened to this through the Read Me Romance podcast. Mated To The Reaper sets on the same word as their Virgin Blood series. I haven't read those since they're only available in Amazon but they're about vampires.  I didn't even notice that there were another Alexa Riley book in the podcast untl Ruby asked me if I had started it. I knew that I would like to listen to the whole book in the same day so I waited until all the "episodes" of the books were out.

I liked the narrators so much better in this one than in Closer. I didn't laugh at all this time. It could be because I got used to listening an audiobook or narrators were just so much better in this one. I wasn't even as annoyed with female mimicking male voice and male mimicking a female voice. 

Our heroine is a hybrid. Her mother's a vampire and father a slayer. Ariella has many same powers as vampires like the strength and high senses but unlike other vampires she can be in the sun and heals faster. She loves her family and likes visiting them more than being in her own house.

Our hero is the grim reaper. He doesn't really have 'real' name so everyone calls him Grim, Reaper or Death. Prologues can be boring sometimes but I like how in Mated To A Reaper it shows how Grim Reaper just wanted to belong somewhere but he felt more alone with mated vampires than when he's actually alone. Prologue also explained a lot about vampires and reapers, like what happens when Grim finds his mate.

I absolutely loved the romance! Grim and Ariella would do anything for each other and they need each other. They were pulled to each other since the beginning. Grim never wanted to let her go and all she felt was happiness when she was with him.

I was actually so pleased with the ending that I didn't mind that there wasn't an epilogue. All in all I found Mated To The Reaper very erotic and interesting read. I loved the soulmate aspect Alexa Riley added to the story.
Profile Image for Genieinachanelbottle.
364 reviews35 followers
April 11, 2019
Mated to the Reaper is absoflippinlutely to die for!!! AR has given us another delicious Vampire romance to sink our teeth into! hehe 😉

I was so excited when I found out that we would be getting Grim's story and couldn't wait to get my claws on it!

Ariella is a sweet little ray of sunshine, she brings hope N light to Grim's dark lonely heart, they are a perfect match both giving the other exactly what they didn't know they needed to be complete soul deep love!

This book just made me hungry for more of Alexa Riley's style of PNR! I hope they will write stories for all of Ariella's hybrid cousins!!! The next generation needs to find their mates, Pretty plz!!!

5 Seriously Sexy Stars all the way!
Profile Image for Hannah G.
319 reviews18 followers
April 22, 2019
Too much family involvement, not enough individuality of main characters. 2.25 stars. Kinda a let down :(
Profile Image for Pattricia Mesa.
184 reviews33 followers
May 27, 2019
Alexa & Riley stories are wild. They are loaded with sexual content and crazy plots. Mated to the Reaper is not the exception. Nevertheless, I have to say that I didn't realize it was part of a series until I was done with the novella, that added confusion to the typically experienced emotions during these short readings.
While there is not much to say about the plot without spoiling it since the story is too brief, I can acknowledge that the writing style seems remarkably different from their previous work. The authors sound more mature, despite the events being way too crazy. Hopefully, I can encounter the same style from now on their novellas since they have become my guilty pleasure even if my ratings aren't too high.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews

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