Only the Lonely

By: Amanda M. Lee

Narrated by: Sarah Grace Wright

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

Isabella “Izzy” Sage spent her formative years on Belle Isle in Detroit, playing next to the gate that separates the living from the dead as her parents drew a paycheck from the grim reaper council.

Then the impossible happened, tragedy struck, and Izzy found herself an orphan. Her grandfather took her away and raised her among the Bruja in New Orleans, although her heart always longed to return to the gate...which felt so much like a part of her.

Now, as an adult, Izzy has worked her way up to gatekeeper status, and she’s back in the place her childhood ended. She’s the one in charge now...although things don’t go how she hoped. On her very first day, the gate is breached, and the wraith that crosses over is not only murderous but enhanced.

Izzy wants to be in charge, but the local reaper council needs help, so they send backup in the form of a magical reaping family.

The Grimlocks are loud, boisterous, and used to a good fight. The men are also handsome, something Izzy doesn’t want to acknowledge, even when the flirting gets out of control. In addition to all that, they’re also protective, and whether Izzy wants it or not, they’re going to infringe on her territory if they think they can keep her safe.

The past might be haunting Izzy, but she can’t look forward to the future until the danger is behind her. Those around her know more than they’re letting on, and the magic she’s been trying to hide is about to take over.

The fight is on...and Izzy is loaded for bear.

©2018 Amanda M. Lee (P)2018 Amanda M. Lee

Great Title, Great Cover Art, Decent Story

By Amanda M. Lee
Narrator Sarah Grace Wright


I was drawn to this book by the cover art. I love it. For the most part I enjoyed the story of Izzy the Reaper/Bruja. She returns to her home town to get answers about her past. The story starts with the important details and doesnt seem to have many flashbacks (which I hate). The author doesnt really explain what Reapers and Gate Keepers are in the story? What is the purpose of a Gate keeper if the souls cant get out? The Reapers collect souls so what is the need to have separate gate keepers? After reading other reviews, I see this is a spinoff. This means that I might find those details in the other series. If you do a spinoff, I think you should accommodate the readers who are starting off with this series with the pertinent details.

Didn't realize this was YA... there are a lot of Kardashian references and "I'm like so confused"... "wait, I'm lost" was a response the heroine gave to the evil genius??? Smh, so embarrassed.

Also, I didn't like was how much time was spent on The Grimlock family instead of our main character. I cant even say she is a main character in her own book.

One of the secondary characters is pregnant and unfortunately we get this comedy sitcom type story with her being annoying and an overly dramatic birth. This has been done in EVERY sitcom, in EVERY comedy sketch, and in EVERY romantic movie that involves pregnancy. So why would a female writer feel the need to do this to us again 🤨???

Other things that kept this from 5 Star rating:

Why would a young person with no actual experience be chosen for this job?

Doesn't ever give details on exactly what a gate keeper does or how it's considered magical.

So random suspicious guy shows up and then ask you to give him every single detail about an investigation... and she tells him. Wth?

If you were a supernatural creature... would you not seek to see if there were others... I don't like the idea of supernaturals thinking they are the only oones and being shocked when they hear about vampires, etc.

Overdone gay best friend.... why is this used so much???

Our herione:
1. Doesnt know her own staff numbers
2. Doesnt know Safety protocols
3. Doesnt research area she is going to work and live (where parents were killed)
4. Never heard of Reaper families

Gate keepers come off as the equivalence of a Mall Cop with a flashlight.

Magic and Supernatual creatures are in this story but they meet their demise because of a door with a broken latch... really???

2 Stars 🌟🌟- Decent. Has Potential. Possibly a good idea for a story but something could have been better. Sometimes it's because the author put too little or too much into the wrong parts of the story. Doesn't mean I hated it. Just means it was missing something to push it over the hump.

Great Start

Glad to have the Grimlocks back. Izzy is a strong heroine. The death gate adds a new element in the storyline. I just listened to the entire Aisling seties. This narrator did a great job, pacing and voices were good. I like this series and author.

The story might have been good but.....

The narrator was clearly bored. I could hear a decent story but I think she is more suited to meditation audio so, I gave up. Save your credits.

Boring...

From the reviews I thought the book was going to be good, but it just wasn't. I was unable to get into the story, the main character was boring no sense of humour. I found the book very dry, even during the action scenes I forgot to pay attention. The male voices all sound the same, which is to say they all sounded like immature teens. I cannot tell if the writing was the problem or the narrator. I tend to lean toward the writing altough the male voices case it was both. The narrator wasnt bad other than that. I think the story would have been better with with included. I cannot reccomend this book as I found my self rolling my eyes and wishing it was over. I never finished the book I had to send it back.

Only the Lonely

This is an awesome book for young adults or adults. A fun fast paced thriller that will not disappoint you . It keeps the Grim Lock thrillers going.

Not worth the credit

I generally do not write reviews but I feel like I can not hold back this time.

The cover art for this book is amazing and what drew me to it in the first place.

Unfortunately, I had to stop the book at chapter 19 as I was just unable to take any more. The main character in the book (Izzy in her twenties) seems to be there solely to narrate the relationships of the Grimlock Family (main characters in another series). Most of the time she is clueless and trying to understand this family. As far as the Grimlocks go they seem to all be focussing on the daughter who is a spoiled, selfish brat that acts like a 5yr old and not a woman in her 20s.
I found all the interpersonal relationships very imature and irritating.

Performance of Aisling is off from the original.

I found these through the Mystic Caravan series. I listened to this before I found the Aisling Grimlock Mystery Series. I stopped the Only series & really like Aisling in her books. The narrator finds less snark & more charm in the lines than this series. Here, Jerry, Aiden & Aisling are shrill & boring but the original narrator did a much better service to the Grimlock Family.

Just what I have been looking for.

A delight and entertaining read. Love all the characters cannot wait to start second book. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Izzy and the way she makes references to other shows, comics and celebrities. Not to sound off but really reminded me of Breaking Dawn (twilight) which gets mentioned here too.. Kept me entrained, only gripe I have is books are too short but at least its a series.

what can I say

Another great beginning to another great series from Amanda M Lee... just love her talent for telling stories. And the characters are always unforgettable

Wow, what a fantastic paranormal book!

Only the Lonely
A Death Gate Grim Reapers Thriller, Book 1
By: Amanda M. Lee
Narrated by: Sarah Grace Wright
This book is so good! A 7 yr old girl that can hear the voices from behind the Death Gate. She also can see what is there from her dreams. No one else can. Her dad is a reaper and her mom is a bruja, or special kind of witch but has special powers. One night, something bad happens and her parents died and she goes to her grandfather. She comes back as a grown woman to be a gate keeper like her dad at the same place. She wants to find out what happened to her parents.
There are some hot reapers, merpeople, ghosts, and more. It's creepy in places but more witty places than creepy. Plenty of funny, clever, and great dialogue. The touch of romance is funny too!
The narration is great and made the story even funnier.

Child like

I found the writing very childlike and immature. The plot moved incredibly slowly so much so I listened to large parts on increased play back speed just to get through them. I did listen to the second book in the series but did not complete it as I found the plot boring and predictable

fantastic

can't wait for the next, loved this one couldn't put it down, well done, hope the next one is as good