Compassion without interference

Phew. This book. Clear your calendar before you start it - it was definitely an unputdownable, stay up too late, regret nothing in the morning kind of book. Adrianne and Samael were portrayed as such real and relatable messy beings as they tried to deal with a messy situation it felt like I was right there with them as the story unfolded. It had the perfect balance of danger, humor, love, real life issues, mystery, world building, evil, deep emotions, and spice. The push pull of the sexual tension and feelings slowly ramping up in conjunction with the ratcheting up of the danger was delicious perfection. Adrianne owns a lavender farm and e-business. She moved back to small town Redemption six months ago to escape a stalker. Samael is an immortal reaper and one of Death’s sons. The Grim Reaper believes Samael is not doing his job correctly and has tasked him to learn compassion while reaping or be banished to the Shadowland for eternity. To accomplish this, he is dropped off outside of Redemption on foot with limited resources. He soon encounters Adrianne and realizes she’s his assignment. He thinks it’ll be easy to walk the line of compassion without involvement and to reap Adrienne when her time comes but his growing feelings for her complicate everything. The story was well written and included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, good world building, and a captivating storyline. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 4.5 stars.

2⭐️2🌶️

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me an Advanced Ebook of this book. The thoughts are my own…

I wanted to like this book. The premise sounded amazing and the first 5 or so chapters promised the same. However, after those chapters the book became repetitive and instalove/attraction with no real connection. Plus the cop being like ohhh someone put a note in your truck and then did nothing to ensure her safety made me roll my eyes and her stalker color me surprised because sadly I wasn’t.

I will not be continuing this series.

Love her. Protect her. Reap her soul.

Samael by N.J Walters
Releases 4/21/2025

•Third person POV
•Paranormal romance
•Morally gray MMC
•Son of Grim Reaper

This book pleasantly surprised me! I am not one to usually read third person POV books but, I really enjoyed how this one was portrayed and how it played out. N.J. Walters did a wonderful job of letting us into Adrianne and Samael’s minds while still reading a general perspective!

The idea of this book grabbed my attention immediately as I love paranormal romance. “He was sent to end her story. But she just might rewrite his.” Jaw dropped. This was the moment I was immediately hooked!

I really enjoyed how we saw Samaels character develop throughout the story. Adrianne is an independent and strong heroine which I loved to see! She is trying to move on from her past but her past keeps creeping in, who better to be there to help than Samael! This steamy paranormal romance was just what I needed!

4 stars out of 5 stars
Thank you so much to Entangled publishing for this ARC!


Samael Blackwell is the son of Death-and he's officially out of chances. After centuries of reaping souls with zero regard for the rules, his father sends him to the dead-end town of Redemption. With only a few hundred bucks and the clothes on his back, Sam has one last shot to prove he can do the job right: reap with compassion, or lose everything.
It should've been easy. Find the soul. Finish the job. Walk away.
Then he meets Adrianne Sharp.
She's strong, guarded, and hiding from a past that refuses to stay buried. The connection between them is instant-and impossible.
Because Adrianne isn't just anyone. She's his assignment.
And her soul's on the clock.
To win back his old life, all Sam has to do is watch her die. But what if the cost of redemption...is her?
He was sent to end her story. But she just might rewrite his.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I flew through this - partially because the characters were so good and the plot was very straightforward and easy to follow. In some ways, I wish the story was a little more complicated, because there was really nothing for the reader to think about.

Both characters were likable and understandable. The side characters were solid, if a little 1 dimensional.

Love story with spice!

This was my first book my NJ Walters but I look forward to more. This was a very enjoyable read. This story jumps right in so for those looking for a quick read this may be for you. This was the perfect blend of romance and mystery for me. And the characters were enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this.

Thank you to NJ Walters and Entangled Publishing for the gifted ARC

Redemption, Protection, Love and suspense all tied up in a pretty paranormal package!

Samael, oldest of the 3 sons of the Grim Reaper himself, has kept himself detached from the humanity that surrounds him.  To his father he appears callous and unfeeling towards the plight of humankind, something which he cannot allow to stand. So he sets Samael up for his own kind "It's a wonderful life/trading places type shot at redemption.

Plopped down outside the tiny town of Redemption with his gifts muted and limited cash, Samael has to find his assignment, reap their soul and get out of Dodge.  However, Fate has decided to have another idea.

Adrianne, only returned to Redemption to hide out from her stalker.  She didn't want to take danger back home but with the death of her gran she has no-one left to be worried about.  With the work at the Lavender farm keeping her out of town, she thinks she's flying under the radar but it would appear her stalker is more tenacious than she gave them credit for!

Samael is way more than he appears.  That outwardly bored, callous façade hides a heart that actually feels too much and that final sacrifice he makes - OML!  The attraction is quick between these two, yes, but lots of love in real life is too.  When you find your person sometimes you just know - to heck with everyone else's opinion on how long it should take!

I enjoyed watching Sam become a likeable character.  It's more satisfying watching someone's character take shape and emerge from the armour they've erected around themselves. Adrianne is stronger than she thinks - she has started over more than once and even when she thinks she's cowering and in hiding, she's really just stocking up on willpower to face her stalker.

I can honestly say I did not identify the big bad before the reveal - it really came out of left field.  I thought the smexy times were appropriate and didn't take over the suspense of the story.  There were a few spicy scenes and I loved the bedbreaker!

The second story has been set up nicely and I can't wait to see what mishaps are awaiting Alex and his love!

🖤 Love her. Protect her. Reap her soul.
Samael Blackwell was sent to Redemption to do one thing: follow the rules and reap the soul…
But then she showed up.

✨ Samael by N.J. Walters is a haunting, heart-clenching fantasy romance full of forbidden longing, fated love, and the impossible question: Can you choose love when it means losing everything? 😭🔥

This book wrecked me—in the best way. Sam is the son of Death, cocky with a soft side he didn’t know existed. Adrianne? Broken but unbreakable. The connection between them is instant and doomed and soooo addictive.

This isn’t just a romance—it’s a battle between destiny and choice. And I was flipping pages like my soul depended on it. 🥀

—

🖤 Tropes to die for:

😤 Grumpy x Guarded

🧬 Fated Mates Vibes

👻 Supernatural Romance

💀 Soul Reaper MMC

🚫 Forbidden Love

🫀 He Falls First

🔥 Redemption Arc

🏡 Small Town with Big Secrets

🥵 Emotional, Steamy, & Unexpectedly Tender

—

#Samael #NJWalters #BlackwellBrothersRedemption #FantasyRomance #ParanormalRomance #GrimReaperRomance #HeFallsFirst #SoulmateVibes #AngstAndSteam #FatedButForbidden #EntangledPublishing #BookstagramRecs #literaryhavocreviews #RomanceBooksOfInstagram #SpicyFantasyReads #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTokRecs #RomanticFantasy #AprilReleases2025

The Grim Reaper’s son is sent to a quiet little town to learn compassion but plot twist, he ends up falling in love instead. The book had perfect balance of romance and thriller/mystery aspect. I loved their banter. I’m always a sucker for a good paranormal romance ✨bonus point for a grumpy sidekick 🐱

3.5! This was a Potato Chip Book. Or a CW show, if you will. There were hot people, the plot was 100 mph, I couldn’t look away. We’ve got small town vibes, he’s a reaper and her soul is his next to reap, suspense, family drama, body guard/protector, insta-lust!

Sam finds himself banished to Redemption, North Carolina, on assignment to learn empathy and compassion at the orders of his father, Death. Adrianne has returned home to Redemption from Chicago, attempting to escape her stalker who is slowly ruining her life. Adrianne and Sam find themselves as unlikely friends of sorts and their fates become intertwined. I enjoyed the suspenseful plot of Adrianne dealing with her stalker, with Sam as her protector. I do feel the insta-lust and quick I love yous took away from the romance a bit. I had no idea how this was going to end but the ending was satisfying!

🖤 Small town vibes
🖤 Suspense
🖤 Protector/body guard
🖤 Family drama
🌶️🌶️ (chapters: 13, 17, 22)

I loved the concept. Super interesting and hooked me from the start. I loved their chemistry and how it bloomed throughout the whole book

What's the son of the Grim Reaper to do when daddy's pissed at how he's handling the job and he's got one last shot to do it right?
Samael is thrown in Redemption with $500 and the boots on his feet. He never guessed his assignment would end up being his last...
Adrianne is on the run from a stalker and never expects the hot hitchhiker to throw her world upside down...
Romance, suspense, and alittle comedy don't forget Chester the cat..this book has it all for a great read.

Samael was a suspenseful romance with some humor on the side. I really enjoyed reading this book and I finished it pretty quickly. However the timeline for this book is only a few days, so some of the chemistry between the characters felt a bit sudden or forced. If you want a new humorous take on reapers, this book is for you.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for this ARC.
Please check TW prior to reading.

3.5 rounded to 4

This is a suspenseful paranormal romance. I was immediately intrigued that Samael is a reaper and essentially falls for his mark.

Could use more of Sam actually being a reaper though. He's sent to Redemption as a punishment. Then when he reminds his father that he kinda needs his powers to even do his job, he uses them once and never again. As with most FMCs, Adrianne managed to annoy me. Girly pop. You have a stalker. Why are you rejecting help and worried about putting other people in danger when your life is quite literally on the line??

The conflict resolution was interesting. I'm not quite fully happy with how Sam's fate turned out, but that's a me problem. Assuming the next book is about Alex and I will be reading it since we got literally no info about his brother's in this book.

Thanks so much Entangled for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance, which is book 1 in a series and follows Samael, one of the sons of the Grim Reaper. Samael has 2 brothers so I’m guessing this will end up as a trilogy.

Samael has spent a millennium as a reaper, his birth right as the son of the Grim Reaper himself. To protect his heart, he has closed off his emotions & kept a distance from the humans he lives amongst…since human lives are short in comparison to his immortality. During one particular reaping, he sends a soul off without escorting it as he is supposed to and this act pisses off daddy dearest, landing Samael on the outskirts of small town nowhere USA.

Adrianne is back in the small town she grew up in, desperately trying to hide out after leaving her big city life behind. Little does she know that the stranger she offers a ride to has his own secrets too.

This book has forced proximity, humor, and a low level of spice (but those scenes will live rent free in my head regardless). There is on-page descriptions of stalking & assault (involving the FMC but not the MMC), so if you’re a survivor of stalking and/or assault, make sure to protect your mental health if reading this one.

Thank you to Entangled & NetGalley for early access to this digital title. All opinions expressed above represent my own thoughts & feelings on this book.

This was my first ARC, and I’m thrilled it was Samael

The storyline follows familiar patterns, so the strength lies in its characters and emotional depth.

Adrienne’s journey through grief and guilt is portrayed really well, and the exploration of how we cope with loss and the expectations we place on ourselves adds a poignant layer.

The romance is intense, and the swift progression may feel abrupt or rushed to some, however the chemistry between Sam & Adrienne is undeniable and moments of domesticity we get to see provide a comforting contrast to the much darker themes and the mystery aspect of this!

Chief Johnson stands out as a protective figure who I hope to see more of in subsequent books.

What a fantastic suspenseful read. I absolutely love this author and have been looking forward to this new series.
Sam has become jaded being a reaper for so long. He gets set down in a small town to redeem himself.

Samael Blackwell was the Grim Reaper’s son, a dangerous reaper in his own right—intelligent and deadly.

Adrianne has a stalker that has followed her to her home town of Redemption.

There HEA made me smile and look forward to the next story in this series.

3.5
This was an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal aspects as I don’t read a lot of books with that. I found it interesting how Sam’s path played out. I really did enjoy the reaper aspect and I wish that was discussed more. Adrianne was such a sweet character. I liked how strong she is despite what is happening to her. I enjoyed both of these characters and their friendship. I also liked the town of Redemption and seeing how the small town persona carried over to this one off situation they are apart of.

One of the few things that was more of a miss for me was the romance. I did enjoy it at first, I thought it was sweet seeing how protective he was despite just meeting her, but I think it got much more insta-love than I would have enjoyed. I kept thinking that they have only known each other for like a week and she was already saying I love you. I know the build up for their relationship was bound to happen, I just wish it happened at a slower pace.

Overall I was really intrigued by the plot. I thought the ending was fun and took a turn that I didn’t necessarily expect. I also enjoyed both of these characters and their personal growth. Thanks Entangled and Netgalley for an earc. All opinions are of my own.

“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.”

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 1.5/5 ⭐️💫

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 4/21/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @Entangled_Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Samael is the Grim Reaper’s son, a real life angel of death. He has one purpose, to lead souls to the afterlife. When he becomes jaded to the task his father teaches him a lesson by sending him to reap Adrianne’s soul, and do it with compassion. Soon Sam find himself developing feelings for his target.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
💀Touch her and die
⚖️Stalker mystery
💀HEA
⚖️Open door spice


𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
Ugh, I really don’t want to write this review. 🫣

This had so much potential to be a great read. The premise was 🤌🏻 chefs kiss. The cover 😍.. omg. Yes, let me read about Samael!
Chapters 1-4 were pretty good, I wasn’t able to put the book down! I was sucked in to the story and had to know where it was going. 🤓📚

Unfortunately, it went nowhere and nowhere for another 16 chapters or so. When we find out who the stalker is, and the resolution to the FMC/MMC conflict is revealed. I was so bored with the whole thing- it was nothing like it hoped it would be. The story is 90% about Adrianne’s stalker, not about the paranormal aspect of Sam being a reaper. The relationship was so forced but not felt. Even for being an ULTRA instant love… it was just words on a page telling me what they were supposed to be feeling. I want to FEEL the characters emotions for each other, not just be told. The character angst was so cheesy, the dialogue was disjointed and choppy. It seemed the author had a thesaurus next to them and tried to use as many words as possible- with the exception of “canted”, that was a favorite and overused. There was an excessive about of beverages consumed, namely coffee… and the amount of lip licking made me want to buy chapstick. 💄 The random stalker that was never a red herring or introduced previously in the book was just odd. I would have loved to see more character development with Chester the cat 🐈‍⬛ too!

Lots of potential but completely fell flat 😞

#Samael

DNF. It's just not for me.

I received a gifted copy. This review is honest and voluntary.

This was my review in it's entirety.

While Samael may have started off cold and arrogant, his exposure to Adrienne and her adamant refusal to slink away in the darkness despite the threat of her stalker, changed him in ways he never would have imagined. He finds himself wanting her future to change from the direction he knows it will go. His burgeoning emotions shock him as he finds quiet pleasure in her presence, laughter in the ways she expresses her love of her grandmother and guilt for the loss of his family through careless neglect and apathy. Taking a chance may be his only redemption, but will any of it help if he doesn't succeed in the assignment he was given?