A grim first week on the job.
Tessa Randolph is feeling defeated. On the outs with her boyfriend and suddenly without a job, she’s scrambling to pay the rent. She doesn’t exactly have the kind of life she wants.
Tessa needs a change.
And the ability to afford the wet food her cat Pepper thinks she deserves at every meal.
Against her better judgement but without a better offer, Tessa takes a … meal.
Against her better judgement but without a better offer, Tessa takes a job from one of the scariest of bosses—her mother, who has a deadly sharp tongue.
And just like that, she learns that the life insurance agency at the edge of Mist River isn’t what it seems to be. Plus, Cheryl Randolph isn’t simply the sharp-tongued, overly critical mom Tessa thought she was. She’s a grim reaper. One of many people tasked with escorting souls into the afterlife.
And now Tessa is one too.
She wasn’t expecting her life change to involve so much Death.
Tessa intends to simply kill it in her new career. But, running late on her second day of work, she doesn’t make it in time for her neighbor’s death. And now his soul is missing. Apparently, that’s not a good thing when you’re in the soul-collecting business.
Who knew?
Now, her mom-boss thinks Tessa can’t cut it. Which is just so typical. And she doesn’t seem to be telling Tessa everything about an important death in both of their pasts.
Not only that, but apparently, if Tessa doesn’t find the missing spirit fast enough, its absence will rip some kind of apocalyptic hole in space and time. Or something like that. It’s all a bit vague.
Not that Tessa read the job manual line-by-line. Who has time for that?
What’s worse, the police think Tessa might’ve committed the murder.
Can Tessa prove her innocence? Can she get her mom off her back and find the wayward soul before time runs out? And will Pepper get that expensive can of tuna she’s sure she deserves? Find out today!
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Grim and Bear It by Paula Lester is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I have fallen in love with and can not wait to read the next book in this wonderful series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about cozy mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Such a great read and the characters just captured me. Had a really good time reading it. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
This review is for the audio book.
I enjoyed this book. I love the idea of a grim reaper solving murders. What a novel idea and very quirky! The best thing is, it worked as a mystery and I found it amusing and entertaining. The characters were great, especially the mother daughter relationship and I think it is a great start to a new series that is only going to get better as the series unfolds and develops. It was also fun the way the main character tries to help the lost soul mend his relationship with his son without letting on about her secret. With an on the ball love interest being able to read her tells I don’t think it will be a secret for long. The mystery was good and with plenty of red herrings it certain keeps you guessing. Looking forward to the next book.
After losing her job and boy friend, Tessa only has one option if she and her cat don’t want to get kicked out of her apartment. And that is to work for her bossy mother. The only problem is, the job she is offering isn’t the normal sort of job. It is escorting newly departed soul on to the next world, as the grim reaper. Working for your mother what could go wrong? Everything! Especially as Tessa’s car breaks down causing her to be late for her first job. When she arrives she finds the body of her neighbour but no soul that needs help. It appears the neighbour was murdered and now he isn’t ready to move on until he has completed his task. Tessa doesn’t get paid until she delivers his soul to the correct place, so she sets got to find his killer and in the process find his soul all before her next rent payment is due.
I have listened to a few books read by Angel Clark and have found them all to be as entertaining as the book she reads. I hope she sticks with any future books to come in this series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is going to be one of my favorite series! I can already tell. Loved Tessa’s sense of humor and how she interacted with the other characters. It was awesome watching her grow as the story went on. I’m really looking forward to the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was refreshing to read a cozy mystery that didn’t include the main character to be a witch or a baker. The perspective that is provided by the main character as a reaper made the book more intriguing. I am sure that this series will be a success for the authors.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tessa needs a job. Shes broke and about to be homeless so she does the unthinkable. She takes a job with her mom. So on Tessas first day she learns her mother is not an insurance agent, shes a grim reaper and now so is Tessa. On her first day Tessa does the unthinkable, she loses her marks soul. This book is wonderful. Its humorous and the characters are delightful. I really loved this book. I think its going to be a great series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading Grim and Bear It. This is the first book of the series and I was not disappointed. I found this book very well written. The storyline was interesting and the characters well developed. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries then I recommend reading. I’m looking forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A cozy mystery with great characters and an enjoyable story line. Amazing characters that are easy to love and entertaining. Good start to a new series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this book. Tessa becomes a grim reaper like her mother. Good characters and story. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Who wants to work for their Mom and also be The Grim Reaper? It would be an almost unbearable situation. That is just exactly where Tessa finds herself. Another one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down. A real page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This looks like this will end up being a fun little cozy mystery series. Tessa has found herself single, jobless, and about to be evicted from her apartment if she doesn’t get money to pay the rent soon. What is a girl to do when she is desperate? The last thing she would ever want to do……work for her mother at the insurance agency. But it’s no ordinary agency.
Written as a 3rd person, single pov with a solved mystery ending. Entertaining story line, comical characters, easy to visualize detailed descriptions, and engaging dialogue. All in all, a really good read.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Would I read more from this author? Yes
Sassy Beta Reading and Review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a re
Not Quite Ringing My Bell
I absolutely adored Paula Lester’s series about the Sunnyside Retirement Community. So many quirky characters, so much goofball magic. I was definitely intrigued to see the start of her new paranormal cozy mystery series. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something just isn’t ringing right with me for this novel. I actually think it’s an intriguing concept for a paranormal cozy, having a grim reaper agency and harvesting souls—and even having the mystery revolve around a reaping gone sideways, but I just didn’t like Tessa and her mother. To me, they both come across as very shallow, caring only about appearances, handbags, gossip, and other inconsequential things like that. I didn’t like all the product name-dropping, either. I’ll give this series another shot, but I’m not wild about what I’m seeing so far. I’m hoping the emphasis in future books will shift from these characters’ weaknesses, or perhaps they could even grow.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
After Tessa loses her job and her boyfriend, she doesn’t think things could get worse. However, she must take a job with her mother and, to her amazement, she’s now a grim reaper. When she bungles one of her assignments, she’s accused of murder. I thought the mystery was very good and enjoyed the character development.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tessa just can’t win she loses her job, breaks up with her boyfriend, she’s behind on her rent and her car pepper decided the day her Tessa’s manager take to her about the rent to sunbathe in the window causing Tessa to have to pay hundred dollars more a month and let’s not talk about her new job which she hates. Tessa’s New job is that she’s a dealer as in the grim reaper and she doesn’t want to do it but what’s a girl to do when she has to pay the rent. I really enjoyed this new book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve read several books written by Paula Lester; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Grim and Bear It is the first book in the “A Tessa Randolph Cozy Mystery” series.
I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series. This short story has great characters and an engaging storyline, with a down-on-her-luck reaper who is late for a reap, murder, mystery, mayhem, and a pushy puss named Pepper.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
I love this fun Grim Reaper story you won’t regret getting this one. I absolutely loved it so much!! It is a cozy mystery that has all the perfect amounts of fun sassy heroines and mystery. The MC is stronger than she thinks and has to learn to navigate her new job so she can gain control of her life again. She finds herself investigating/hunting down her client’s soul as well as solving a murder so she doesn’t lose her job. this book has great humor and fun characters. If you enjoy a great cozy I highly suggest trying this one.
I received this book from Booksprout for an honest review.
Tessa just got dumped by her boyfriend/boss and needs a job fast to pay the rent. So she decides to take a job with her mom working as a reaper. Her first assignment is to escort the soul of her neighbor, Chet, only she gets there late and now his soul is missing. So the search begins but it’s not that easy. I enjoyed this mystery with its many twists. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was Tessa Randolph’s first day on the job of reaping souls for The Final Journey Agency, and she had been hoping for sunshine and warmth, not this cold and rainy weather. The reapers had mystical abilities to transport souls across the veil between worlds. Actually she was hoping it would be more paperwork than actual reaping. She ran inside the office, her mother criticizing her for not using an umbrella. Tessa is sort of “lost” in more ways than one. Her ex-boyfriend, Frank, dumped her at the side of the road. Since he was also her boss at his restaurant, she effective lost that job as well. Working with her mother was not going to be pleasant, but she had to pay her bills, right?
Tessa headed out to her first assignment, Mr. Dale Jeffries at the Sweetwater Golf Course. When the sunny day suddenly brought forth a storm, he refused to leave the green, instead digging for his club. Holding it high in the air in victory, he never saw the lightning strike and was furious to die just as he was about to hit under 80!
Back at her apartment and picking up her mail – another pile of bills – she turned and almost walked into Chet Sanborn who was standing way too close and leering. He was pressing her close to the mailboxes and she ducked under his arm. But before she could escape, she ran into her landlord! She promised him the money on Friday – hoping she would get paid by then!
She drove to work and opened up her new case – it was Chet Sanborn! She had only 15 minutes to get to him or she wouldn’t get paid. She raced back out to her ancient car, only to find it wouldn’t start! She started to run toward home, but had to slow down to a walk before she keeled over. She was late getting to Chet’s apartment but the door was open. She couldn’t find him until she looked out the window and saw his body in the pool! What was he doing there? It wasn’t open yet for the season. And where was his soul?
Before she could run downstairs, the police arrived and arrested her. Her mother got her out by telling them she was there to do the physical exam before he could get insurance from their company. So she was released. Her mother was ready to fire her as soon as she had a replacement reaper. Tessa has to find Chet’s soul quickly – and his murderer. Can she do that, with the way her life has been going? If she can’t, she will lose her apartment and her job and who knows what else?
This is a funny story of Tessa who can’t seem to get ahead in life. One thing after another goes wrong as she struggles through her difficulties. Grab your copy and enjoy the rest of her story as she tries to find the missing soul and the murderer of her upstairs neighbor. She will find some interesting information along the way, and perhaps a change in her luck?
I love a good Grim Reaper story, in fact I am addicted to them. When I saw one of my favorite authors had written a new story and the start of a new series based on this I was beyond excited. I downloaded this story and devoured it within hours. I LOVE it so much!! It is a cozy mystery that hits all the right notes. The main character is relate able, strong but also a bit lost in her life. She finds a new job to help get her life back on track but it is not as easy as it seems and she soon finds herself investigating/hunting down her client’s soul as well as solving a murder to save her job. I loved the balance of the humor, the angst, the new fresh fun characters and the mystery that was not easy to solve. The LeSabre was a great side character as well, LOL. I can go on and on but I will leave my review here. I will be buying this in paperback because I will be reading it again and again. I seriously hope these authors write fast because I am so read to jump back into this world! 5 glorious stars!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.