Waking the Dead - D. B. Sieders

The road to hell begins when the Reaper knocks on her door… and the stakes are higher than life and death.Vivian Bedford, a struggling caregiver, has always tried to keep her head down and survive—but when a dying stranger crosses her path, everything changes.Lazarus Darkmore, a seductive and deadly Grim ReaQper with a dangerous agenda, wants Vivian to join him in managing the afterlife. He offers her power—and a chance to escape her own personal hell—but at what cost?Caught in the middle of a fierce battle between forces she barely understands, Vivian finds herself under the protection of Ezra, a brooding guardian spirit, and his fiery apprentice, Zeke. However, the guardians’ protection comes at a price that leaves her questioning their true motives.Vivian’s rare ability to channel energy from the living gives her a dangerous edge—and both Reapers and Guardians will stop at nothing to control it. When she learns that her disabled sister Mae is a prime target for energy harvesting, Vivian must navigate deadly alliances and outsmart those who would use her for their own gain.To save her sister and herself, Vivian must choose: remain a pawn, or rise as a ruthless player in a game of life, death, and power.Can Vivian control her powers and outwit both the Reapers and Guardians? Or will the price of her survival cost her more than she’s willing to pay?