The Demon Undertaker, Possessive Love by Alex J. Adams

The next installment of the Possessive Love universe, The Demon Undertaker, where reaping is a business and not just something that needs to be done. When reaping and sometimes bringing back souls is your business, it's not your job to stop the client. When Mal sets eyes on Jason, everything he's ever known and believed in is about to change.

From the blurb:

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour: Where we bury the bodies and reap the SOULS!

Mal

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, the family business; we bury the bodies and reap the souls, it’s what we do.

“Be nice to the humans, Mal.” My father insists. “Humans are our business.”

I don’t do humans. I don’t like humans. They’re tedious, but I'm cold and unfeeling. They mean nothing to me.

But then he walks in; sad eyes, sallow skin, a man grieving for his lost love. It’s all I can do not to hide him away and take care of him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen; now I don’t know how to handle these feelings.

Doesn’t he know I’m a demon, not a lover?

Jason

“It’s time to move on, Jase.” Kristine’s words ring in my ears as I enter Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, but that isn’t what I have in mind.

You see, I’ve heard of a man that can bring him back from the dead and I’ll do anything to hold him in my arms again. Kieran was my world until his ended.

But then there he is. Tall, dark and brooding, but he’s not the one I’m here to see. He’s not the one that can bring Kieran back to me.

Something about him, though. I can’t explain how he brings a long-forgotten smile to my face, how my stone-cold heart beats a little faster.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen.

But he’s a demon, not my dead lover.

The Demon Undertaker is part of the Possessive Love series featuring a demon and a human.

An MM standalone featuring a demon with no clue, a human with no clue, an annoying brother and a cute hellhound! Plenty of steam abounds!

TW - mentions the death of a loved one

Molly Otto's Review:

It has been eighteen months since the devastating loss of Jason's husband, and he is having trouble moving on and accepting life without Kiernan. With a chance meeting of Zeke, he is offered the chance to bring Kiernan back, until Fate gets in the way and collides him with Mal (Zeke's brother). 

The attraction is undeniable, even with Jason still grieving and Mal hiding his true nature.

This book has a fun take on reaping souls being a business rather than something that just happens when a soul passes. 

While grief is a major factor in the story, it isn't all consuming but a part of life that you learn to accept and live with to move forward with your life without that loved one no longer it. 

Some parts had me leave the story. That's why I took off 1 star because I did need to be brought back into the story. The author did accomplish this, just takes away from the overall love of the story.

Rating: 4 Stars

Sheena's Review:

The Demon Undertaker is part of the multi author possessive love series, with a - you guessed it - demon who is an undertaker and a grieving man finding what he didn't know he needed.

First of all, this is HOT 🥵. I think this may be the hottest story Alex has written to date. Seriously, I needed a fan at some of the scenes.  The best part is, it's not insta-lust, it's well crafted and fits with the story she is telling. For a short-ish book, there's a lot going on here and it's commendable how much is packed into the pages. It's paranormal, yes, but it's also an examination of grief and how it affects the person and those around them, and that part is quite powerful. Jason is grieving the sudden loss of a beloved partner and not looking to move on initially. I will admit to being a little lost with the resurrection sub-plot, but that's minor, really.  

I loved the connection between Mal and Jason - side note, I'm all for human names for demons, and Malcolm is perfect 😂. I liked Malcolm and his distaste for most human customs, but loved how he was instantly protective of Jason and I'm all for fated mates, and this was done well. Once Mal and Jason do get together, though, it is H O T 🔥.  I feel for the paintwork on that Aston, I really do.

This was such a fun read, I really enjoyed it and am going to lobby hard until we get Zeke's story. I cannot wait for that one.

Rating: 4.25 Stars

Tatted_book_freak's Review:

Ummmm… this was the most sexually charged story that I have ever read by Alex. She did her thing with this one! And Mal, the name alone sounds seductive, but the man himself was secretly captivating and just what Jason needed to break through his grief. 

𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖓 𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖊𝖉.

Alex did a remarkable job with packing so much into such a shortish book, while also covering the realms of grief and despair in a tasteful manner. Examining how grief can affect even others around, was such a powerful message (even if the resurrection was a little too much). 

“𝕷𝖊𝖙 𝖍𝖎𝖒 𝖔𝖚𝖙. 𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖒 𝖓𝖔𝖜.”

Mal and Jason’s connection was so fierce that it could not be denied. Mal’s protectiveness of Jason was relentless, warranted, but still ferocious. And that Aston scene 🥵🥵🥵🥵, hopefully, no harm was caused because Amal’s beast wasn’t holding back. 

An enticing and alluring performance from Alex with this one. Hope to see more similar work from her soon! 

Rating: 4 Stars

The Demon Undertaker is available to buy as an ebook or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.