Sigh. I’ve been looking forward to this book coming out for a long time, and it didn’t disappoint.

Morgan is one of Death’s minions. She runs her operations from a plush downtown office complex and takes pleasure in doing her job well and occasionally perving over the office IT manager. Jane is an IT manager. She knows that at some point one of Death’s minions will approach her so that she can officially choose her afterlife options, but she’s kind of surprised when the minion turns out to be her hot boss.

So this is half supernatural fantasy and half steamy romance. I’ve never seen a world built like this one and actually the world building was done really well. Not too infodump-y but still had enough information to give me a good idea of what the deal was.

This is an alternate universe where Death isn’t a skeleton in a robe with a scythe, but a hot chick. Her minion is a hot chick and so is the IT manager. The book is full of hot chicks, which is fine by me. I imagine some people might say that the hotness quotient is not representative of reality, but really we’re talking about a book where Death is a person and you pick your afterlife options using an iPad. So yeah.

The supernatural element was done really well. I think the reason for Morgan wanting to help Jane with her bucket list was super flimsy but I was so keen for them to get together that I was willing to overlook it. The romance element was done well also. There was plenty of slow burn and emotional engagement. Honestly, there wasn’t quite enough sex for me and a bit too much discussion as to why they couldn’t be together, but this is only a small complaint and didn’t detract too much.

There was one passage that really made me laugh when Jane and Morgan are in the English countryside:

If she lived here, she’d probably do nothing but walk around staring or spend her days lying down in the fields of thick grass.

This was hilarious because I live in the English countryside and I would NEVER spend the day lying in the grass because (a) it’s always either raining or has recently rained, (b) adders and (c) dog poo. Sorry to burst everyone’s romantic bubble of what the countryside here is like.

For me, EJ Noyes is an auto-buy author. She has absolutely reeled me in with her other books. I think If The Shoe Fits and Turbulence are still my favourites, but this is a welcome addition to my library!

I was given a copy of Reaping the Benefits in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley.

5 stars

When I read the blurb for Reaping the Benefits, I actually had a moment of hesitation before I requested the book. Paranormal novels are not usually my first reading choice. The idea of one of the main characters being the immortal Head Minion of the “Grim Reaper” seemed like a very…unique story idea, and one I wasn’t sure I would like. Then I remembered that the author is E.J. Noyes. That was good enough for me, and I requested the book immediately. I am so glad I did.

This very unique story-line turned into a beautiful story that had me experiencing a multitude of emotions, from humor to heartbreak and everything in between. The paranormal aspect works beautifully in the novel. Ms. Noyes made the supernatural aspect of the story seem like a normal part of life in this book.

The characters are well developed. I connected immediately with Morgan and Jane. Even Death herself (she likes to be called Cici) seems nice, though she obviously wields a great deal of power. The ideas of life, death, and the afterlife are handled in a manner I would have never thought about, but which works well in the book.
I am so very glad I ignored my moment of hesitation, and read this book. It is funny, sad, romantic, and uplifting. This novel is in my favorites list (with all the rest of Ms. Noyes’ novels), and has a five star rating from me. Get this book. I think you will love it just as I did.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Bella Books of 'Reaping the Benefits' for affording me the opportunity to read the book and review it.

I was very excited to read this particular book by one of my favourite authors. Simply because it was in an unfamiliar genre to myself, in an unfamiliar 3rd person narrative from the author's perspective, and also because without exception E J Noyes writes 5* books. Essentially she can write and she writes well. Her characters are interesting, memorable and interact well on the pages as they interact with each other in the scenes and storylines she creates, "Reaping the Beneifts" is no exception to this and I found it a comfortable easy read, even if the last third of the book I was questioning in my own head how this could be resolved to everyone's satisfaction!

As always the main characters are multidimensional and their path to happiness is far from straightforward. I'm going to shy away from possible spoilers. This then is a paranormal love story with some twists along the way. Other characters add different dimensions to the storyline with some particularly poignant moments. Family, friends, Cici, Leah and Pamela especially. Both Jane and Morgan are multidimensional characters finding their way and negotiating the difficulties of their engagement. I loved the list and Cici's involvement.

I appreciated the relationship, rapport and evident love between Pamela and Jane Their dynamics,words expressed and actions spoke volumes, especially given the backdrop currently of the worldwide pandemic, where family dynamics are difficult and where people are often unable to be with their families or even see their parents due to medical isolations is heart rending. Here we have Mother and only daughter expressing themselves, their feelings, their emotions and saying those things we hope to have chance to say to those we love. and being unselfish.

The writing style is engaging, The narrative and storyline works well, ably assisted with good editing and spot on proofing. It was also a welcome escape from the grim realities of life! At times as a reader it was difficult to see how this relationship dynamic between Jane and Morgan would be, could be resolved in the short or long term. But the author managed this, providing the reader with a satisfying ending. My one quibble was to Q blood pudding. A local delicacy in the UK, it's better known as black pudding.

It's a comfortable 4.5* from me.

Before I write anything about this novel not being as obvious a beyond-5* book as have, so far, been all the author’s novels I’ve read, I want to make it clear that it’s nevertheless a tremendously enjoyable read. Had it been written by anyone else, I’d be pouring all my joy in this review. It is smart, balanced, at times delightful, well-paced. As always with E. J. Noyes, it is also extremely well-written, not ostentatiously so, it just is.

That said, this is, I believe, the first time a book written by E. J. Noyes doesn’t leave me breathless (if Abby Craden narrates it, the audiobook might, however).

Jane Smith has been working for Theda for eight years, eight years of crushing on her hot boss, Morgan Ashworth. Little does she know that Morgan a) fancies her too and b) is not just her boss, she’s the head of Death’s Minions, responsible for getting humans to decide how they want to spend their afterlife. Morgan is not only really good at her job – because she’s so kind and empathetic –, she’s also very competitive and is not taking well to the fact that one of her colleagues is on the verge of winning the Minion of the Year award. When Morgan has to approach Jane about her own questionnaire, Jane convinces her to make a deal: she’ll sign the papers if Morgan helps her with her bucket list, from roller coasters in various countries to drinking Dom Pérignon with her mother. And sleeping with her boss, an item Jane wasn’t fully prepared for Morgan to find out about.

Reaping the Benefits has a bittersweet comedic quality to it, in the lighter vein of Turbulence and If the Shoe Fits – keeping in mind that with Noyes, light doesn’t exactly equal fluffy. While still very clearly a Noyes novel, this one differs from what she usually writes. First of all – and she’s been very open about how hard it has been for her –, this is Noyes’ first book written in third person. I don’t usually care whether a book is first or third person, but Noyes’ first person is so strong that it’s a real change and, apparently, a real challenge. I like an author who takes risks, and when the author is so talented, I’m more than willing to take risks with them. My attention was unfortunately very focused on that third person thing, and I blame social media for that (and the Acknowledgements page). If I hadn’t known Noyes had struggled with it, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. At least not enough for it to warrant so many words in my review.

The other detour she takes with this novel is into paranormal. I loved that. I loved that it felt so paradoxically normal. One thing that surprised me, coming from Noyes, is how much miscommunication there is between Morgan and Jane. Jane is so convinced Morgan can’t really be interested in her that she keeps making assumptions, whereas Morgan is terrified of falling again for a mortal woman and the hurt that would inevitably follow. These are classic tropes, and they can often become annoying. Sometimes I feel like taking the characters by their shoulders and shaking them, yelling at them “You’re adults! Talk to each other!”. I have to admit, it happened once or twice here.

That’s probably my main criticism. Other than that, I loved Morgan’s story, I loved Cici aka Death, I loved the tedious administrative stuff and the empathy Morgan keeps showing. I loved the idea of afterlife questionnaires, Morgan’s constant hunger, Jane’s sweet nature, her relationship with her mother, her willingness to understand and support Morgan. I loved that Morgan is a tease at times, while being so deeply kind. It’s her kindness Jane finds most attractive, not the incredibly sexy body she’s occupying. She’s attracted to the person Morgan really is, not the shell. That’s another point I found fascinating, how Morgan feels about her present body, the anxiety it brings her sometimes. If I had to pinpoint my two favourite things in Noyes’ writing, it would be the way she paints chemistry and how her character often grapple with who they are, in what might seem sometimes minor ways but are in fact the essence of who they are. That’s what makes them so real, so relatable, even when they’re so far from the reader’s real life, even when they’re Death’s right-hand person.

In my eyes, there’s no such thing as a minor Noyes novel. And no, that’s not just me fangirling. I’ve written it before and I’ll probably write it again many times, E. J. Noyes is one of the best writers at the moment. Therefore, while this latest book might not be as extraordinary as her previous ones, it’s still way above many I’ve read over the years. Which makes it a 5* for me. If you think it’s strange that I would give it the same rating as her other books, remember that, for me, those were beyond 5* and I’m still looking for a way to make that appear, at least on my blog. I can’t make up my mind on how to call that very special category. Anyway, if it makes you feel better to think of this as a 4.5*, be my guest. Call me stubborn, but I am not giving Noyes anything under 5*, unless she writes an average or bad book. That hasn’t happened yet.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Paranormal is not one of my favorite genres, but I read a few books by this author, and they were all well written, and so was this one.

Morgan Ashworth was Head of Transition Operations for Death, her boss. Morgan was 695 years old but her most recent body was that of a 28 year old. Morgan and the other Minions needed to distribute afterlife packages to humans so Death would know where to place them in the afterlife realm when they died. Jane Smith, 31, was given her afterlife package by Morgan who was her employer. However, Jane refused to sign the package until her bucket list was completed and she wanted Morgan’s help. Morgan reluctantly agreed after conferring with Death, also known as Cici La Morte. Both Morgan and Jane actually liked each other, but their relationship was purely professional. This status changed when Morgan helped Jane complete her bucket list. Their lives became much more complicated, especially since Morgan, centuries ago, fell in love with a human only to helplessly watch her die. She did not want a repeat performance with Jane even though she fell in love with her.

Everything about this storyline was interesting and entertaining. The paranormal aspect of this story was very creatively explained from those afterlife packages to the ever burning questions about all those Elvis sightings after he died.

All the characters were very likable and their interactions throughout the story were emotional and also humorous. It was a good mix and well balanced. The romance between Morgan and Jane, however, took center stage and each brought out the best in each other. Their intelligent and emotional dialogue expressed their desires, fears, loneliness, anxieties, and most importantly, love. Their love story was well developed and engaging.

Overall, from start to finish, this book was pure entertainment and highly recommended!

An ARC was given for an honest review.

I'm spectacularly smitten with Death, to be specific with E.J. Noyes' personification of death as Cici La Morte, full name "Cecilia Helena Immortata La Morte" in this new and most wondrous book. Cici is not one of the main characters (I'll get to those in a minute, as they are incredible too) but she is the fulcrum about which the whole plot rotates. She simultaneously operates as a beautiful symbol of our fascination with the theme of death and loss, and as a comedic but wise Greek chorus guiding Morgan through the internal conflict threatening to tear her very soul apart.

To give some context, in this world, Death and the afterlife are a far more organised process. At some point in everyone's life they are visited by one of Death's minion's to complete their afterlife package so Death knows which realm to send them to once they die. It just so happens that the very much immortal Morgan Ashworth is Death's head minion and oversees the proper collection and processing of all this data. Conveniently enough she owns a data storage facility in the human realm and it just so happens that one of her employees there is the very human but also seriously attractive and all-round awesome Jane Smith.

All of [a:E.J. Noyes|15582690|E.J. Noyes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1484929369p2/15582690.jpg]' previous books have had emotionally charged first person narrative, so I was curious how her switch to writing in the third person would play out here, but it really works. In the early chapters we see both Morgan and Jane struggling to hide the fact that they are each checking the other out from their respective desks in an open plan office. (After Jane gives us a description of Morgan in a three-piece suit, complete with tie, pocket square and pearl buttons and cufflinks, I don't blame her for eyeing up her boss one bit!) As the book progresses you can almost feel the pain and doubt from each of them as they struggle to understand what they really mean to each other: Jane can 't get past the thought that this is just Morgan helping her work through her bucket list as per their agreement, while Morgan is battling ghosts from her past.

Despite many lighthearted and genuinely funny moments I found that this book not only had E.J. Noyes' signature ability to make me cry, (It's a compliment, I promise - I just love all her characters and she's so good at making me *feel* while I read) but also fascinating ideas and philosophies about grief, loss and hope. Morgan's all-consuming grief has kept her closed off for centuries: "You keep breaking pieces of that pain off me, Jane. But it’s been part of me for so long that every time I drop a piece I panic, and I feel like I simply must pick it up again. That if I let it go, then I’m going to fall apart somehow. My arms are getting very full.” I positively swooned when I read that line; so beautiful and so full of heartache. As for hope? Well in one scene Morgan and Jane stand together on a beach at night and watch dozens of tiny turtle hatchlings make their first journey to the vast ocean, their whole lives ahead of them.

I will be reading this book again; despite getting an ARC I have already got my pre-order in and paid for on BellaBooks website, when "Reaping The Benefits" comes out as an audiobook I will buy buying that too - that is how much I love this book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Morgan and Jane has been having feelings for each other for years but since they are in a boss and employee status and both thinking that neither one of them would have feelings for the other decide not say anything.

It’s comes to head because Morgan is not only Jane boss but she also head of Death Minions which means she task of helping other Minions. When it’s time for Jane to fill afterlife document she sees this at a chance to fulfill her bucket list. When Cici aka Death accept the deal she tells Morgan go along.

I like that their feelings were deepening but Morgan was getting annoying with her hot and then cold attitude at one point I’m like Jane deserve better. This was a good read loved Cici aka Death.

After the intense Ask,Tell; the singular Alone and the character driven romantic Gold, E. J. Noyes shakes it all up (including our expectations) with this paranormal romcom.

Morgan Ashworth owns a very successful data storage and security company and Jane Smith heads the technology side of the business. Both the women have been silently lusting after each other for years but stick to safe boss-employee zone convinced that the other cannot be similarly interested. Well, at least that is Jane's feeling. For Morgan it is a little more complicated. She is Death's Head Minion which means she is in charge of all other Minions and of late, she also has to tak care of the Americas since the Minion in charge of that geography has left (yes, the Minions have a choice).

The job of th Minions is to administer afterlife packages which are essentially a long list of questions so that each person is assigned an afterlife as per their personality. Receiving an afterlife package to fill doesn't mean that the human's days are numbered, though. They could have days, weeks, months or even years ahead of them.

Morgan is assigned to administer an afterlife package to Jane. Getting this one done would mean that Morgan would still be eligible for the Minion of the Year award -- an award she's won consistently over years and just may lose this year. Except that Jane cottons on to how important it is to Morgan that Jane completes her package and bargains for fulfilment of her bucket list before signing that package.

Cici (Death), Morgan's boss encourages Morgan to not only accept Jane's terms but also accompany Jane around the world as the bucket list items get ticked off.

The circumstances and the context of the story are fabulously implausible and Noyes balances that implausibility superbly with very empathiseable characters. As soon as #12 of the bucket list (Sleep with the boss) appears, both women are quite open about their attraction to each other.

However, as their feelings deepen, Morgan started getting on our nerves with her feinting, blowing hot blowing cold, flirt and flight, and the most unforgivable of all -- complete lack of communication about her feelings for Jane or sharing of her fears. By around the 75% mark we couldn't stand Morgan anymore. Her behaviour of running away but making certain gestures and just giving enough to keep Jane hooked to her is a kind or psychological problem (we think it's a kind of dysfunctional behaviour displayed by narcissistic personalities).

By the time we reached the point where Cici offers to 'save' Jane (i.e. give Jane many more years and f life -- which seemed like at least 50 to 60 additional years) or make Jane the Minion for Americas thus granting the couple (Morgan and Jane) an eternity together -- and Morgan rejects both possibilities unilaterally, we were completely done with her and her self pity and self-preservation. We lost what little understanding we had held on for her up to this point.

Cici and Jane are lovely, very lovely, ladies, though.

While our extreme frustration with Morgan doesn't allow us to give this one an unmixed, ringing endorsement and recommendation, it is still well written plus it is a paranormal fantasy romcom by Noyes, so maybe worth a shot.