Die Trying by Nicholas Ryan (Guest Spot & Excerpt)

Die Trying

Nicholas Ryan

Trapped amidst the horror of the zombie apocalypse, three men hear the sound of a helicopter overhead and know it represents their last desperate hope to survive the terror and reach safety.

But survival comes at a cost - and the undead hordes that ravage the world are not the only lurking evil the men must face.

But for Mitch Logan, his brother, Jed, and their friend, Clinton Harrigan, there is no choice.

They must fight to survive - or Die Trying.

Zombies!! You know I love them!!  Here's a new novel for you, and I have an excerpt just for you so you can be as excited as me!

The World Without A Future by Nazarea Andrews (Review & Giveaway)

Title: The World Without A Future
Series: it looks like it could be one....
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Published: Dec 3, 2013 - A&A Literay
Format: Ebook provided for review

She was born the day the world ended…

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies—trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She’s mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breach the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die…

Finn O’Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what’s outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin’s best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren’t the most dangerous thing they’re facing.

In their world, only one thing remains true: everything ends in blood.

I don’t even know what category to put this book in; it would fit so well in several. Zombie, dystopia, new adult, romance… it’s got it all. The World Without A Future has raced onto my favorites list (which includes a five star rating) and has me clamoring for the next book (which I’ve heard there will be one, but that’s all I’m saying!)

Review: Controlling The Dead by Annie Walls

Title: Controlling The Dead
Series: The Famished Trilogy, Book Two
Author: Annie Walls
Published: October 2013
Format: Ebook provided for review

With the help of her new companions, the path Kansas follows leads to more knowledge of the ever adapting famished.

The team finds help in unlikely places, meeting more survivors, and discovers the possibility of a new beginning.

When the team experiences a devastating loss, Kansas struggles to keep her humanity from fading and distorting like that of the surviving society around her. It begins with knowing who to trust and who to leave behind. First, she must trust herself – she won't make the same mistakes twice.

As the answers to her questions are revealed, Kansas begins to understand the knowledge comes with a heavy price and great responsibility of controlling the dead.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is as emotional as it is horrifyingly gripping.

Well thank goodness my wait is finally over and I got to read Controlling The Dead!!  Woot!  I was so very excited for this book to come out, and now I'm happy I get to share it with all of you!  I have a review today, but later on in the tour I will also have an interview with author Annie Walls, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!



So in this book Kan is dealing with the aftermath of everything from Taking On The Dead.  She is wracked with guilt, and she's formulating plans.  Relationships have been strained, and others have been fortified.   I really enjoyed this book, and I found it to be packed with action.  There was quite a bit of detail included, and at times it did feel a bit slow for me.  But there were some many new additions, that overall I'm just really excited about it all.

As far as the relationships that Kan has with her friends, I have to say the ones that please me most are the ones she has with Reece and Glinda.  Yep.  I love Rudy, and Mac... well, Mac has fallen a bit out of favor with me in this book.  But Reece and Glinda are pure aces.  I love their comic relief, their steadfastness and I love how they interact with each other, along with Kan.  Rudy... man.  I love him.  I want him and Kan to be together. I want them to have a happily ever after. I don't know if that's possible in the apocalypse?  The attraction between them is tangible, but for some reason they just don't act on it as much as I want them to.  And Mac!!  That man has a temper, and he's pissed me off enough times that I think he is forever in the doghouse as far as I am concerned.

There are quite a few new characters in this book, and at times I had trouble keeping who is who straight.  But they definitely added something to the story, and I'm glad I got to "meet" them.  Well, most of them.

It's hard to do this and not spoil it for you.  There are several really big plot points in this book.  Some things I didn't see coming, and I love that Annie Walls was able to surprise me that way.  I'm also glad I took the time to read Bailing Out Into The Dead, which is Rudy's story before he and Kan entered each other's lives.  It did help as a little bit of background for some scenes in this book.  You can read that for free on http://www.anniewalls.com .  This book definitely went deeper into Kan and why she is the way she is about some things.  If you loved Malachi for his brief part in book one, you will be glad to see he is not forgotten in book two!  Plus if you are into the gory aspects of zombie life, Annie definitely gives you that in this book.  Ugh, some of it is just so disgusting - it's great!!   If you've been following this trilogy, and have been waiting like I have, I definitely think you won't be disappointed by this book!

About Annie Walls:

Author of dark fantasy and sub-genres of horror. Voracious Reader and Googler. Lover of dark humor. Horror Buff. Zombie Apocalypse Enthusiast. Loyal Cracked follower. Pinterest Addict. Wife of adoring husband. Mother of a seven year old Bruce Wayne. Cook. Maid. Kisser of boo-boos. Ultimate Time Waster. Perfect Procrastinator. Lolly Gagger. Trubie. Cake Decorator. Tea Drinker. Sculpey Sculptor. Girl Gamer. Perfectionist in the art of Facebook stalking. And now, God help me, a blogger. Oh yeah, and a twitter, twatter, tweeter. Well yeah, I'm one crafty bitch. 

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Review: Controlling The Dead by Annie Walls

Title: Controlling The Dead
Series: The Famished Trilogy, Book Two
Author: Annie Walls
Published: October 2013
Format: Ebook provided for review

With the help of her new companions, the path Kansas follows leads to more knowledge of the ever adapting famished.

The team finds help in unlikely places, meeting more survivors, and discovers the possibility of a new beginning.

When the team experiences a devastating loss, Kansas struggles to keep her humanity from fading and distorting like that of the surviving society around her. It begins with knowing who to trust and who to leave behind. First, she must trust herself – she won't make the same mistakes twice.

As the answers to her questions are revealed, Kansas begins to understand the knowledge comes with a heavy price and great responsibility of controlling the dead.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is as emotional as it is horrifyingly gripping.

Well thank goodness my wait is finally over and I got to read Controlling The Dead!!  Woot!  I was so very excited for this book to come out, and now I'm happy I get to share it with all of you!  I have a review today, but later on in the tour I will also have an interview with author Annie Walls, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

Review: Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

Title: Mortality
Series: The Hitchhiker Strain, Book 1
Author: Kellie Sheridan
Published: March 2013, Patchwork Press
Format: NetGalley ebook, Thank you Patchwork Press!

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

It’s no secret (I think…) that I like zombies. I like to read about them, watch them on tv, and plan for when they are here. So when I saw this book on NetGalley, I was all like, “Oh hell yeah, let’s check it out.” And what I found was quite a different zombie book than any I’ve read.

It starts out with Savannah. She’s a teen girl, around sixteen years old. The world has become over-run with the zombs and she lives in the local highschool with a couple hundred survivors. Seems like a pretty good set up, to me.  Although I should mention that there isn't much to go on, I just think a building like that would offer a lot as far as a residence for a large group of people.  A couple recon teams are out, and they need supplies, so they send out four teens to get more. Savannah, Alex, Zack, and Pierce (who is only fourteen…) This seemed a little unlikely to me. There is no one else to go out, and they are going to send the only people left to go get medical supplies? As unlikely as this scenario seems to me, I’m still digging on Savannah. She’s young, independent, and family-less. She also has this inner driven need to do something. She’s the perfect heroine for a zombie novel.  I decide right away that I'm on her side.

And then we meet Zarah, who is also a highschool student, but in a different city. She gets rescued from her highscool by her crush, Liam. They take off on his motorcycle, and they are on their own…for a bit anyway. I’m not really sure how I felt about Zarah. I think I liked her. I don’t feel like I really got to know her as well as Savannah. It felt more like her story was prep for the point when the paths of these two girls crossed.  For a large part of the book, I just got annoyed when it switched to Zarah's story from Savannah's.  However – and I will say this – Zarah’s story became much more interesting in the last third of the book.

Overall, there was not a ton of zombie action in this book. I mean it wasn’t page after page of fighting for your life. There were a few fights, but they didn’t really go into much detail. You have the usual decaying zombies, and then you have something a little more like an evolved type of zombie.  They are faster and stronger, and as it goes on you learn more about them and why they are the way they are.  The story seemed more focused on the relationships of a few people, and Savannah’s journey. While this definitely wasn’t my favorite zombie book, it was pretty good overall. There is the colonization of a group of people to deal with, well… a couple groups of people. You have to try and figure out who is good, and who is bad. Or are they all grey? I liked that, that it wasn’t a clean cut issue. The characters were pretty interesting, and I even found myself drawn to some.

This book does offer something I’ve not seen done in a non-comedic fashion – a look at the brain of a zombie. Yep, you get to see the change from the inside out. This is something I thought was superbly done, and worth the price of admission alone. Sure, you’ve seen in done before in books and movies, and it’s usually got some kind of a fun tone to it. But this is different, and it worked great for me. This was the part of the book I couldn't put down, and its more than likely the part I will continue to remember.

Mortality is number one in a series. I’ve not quite made up my mind if I will continue or not. I like Savannah, and I like some of the people she has teamed up with. I love the apocalypse. I’m interested to see where it goes, so I will probably give it a chance.  The writing was smooth, and the author's voice is unique.  If you are into zombies, I say, “Hey, why the hell not? Give it a try.” Maybe it will work for you, maybe it won’t. But it’s worth a shot (and not a double tap!) 

As I'm gathering links for the bottom part of this post, I'm seeing that there is a 0.5 book in the series, before book one.  I'm thinking that might be a good story, something that will give a little background to Savannah and her friends, before they run for supplies.

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Review: Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

Title: Mortality
Series: The Hitchhiker Strain, Book 1
Author: Kellie Sheridan
Published: March 2013, Patchwork Press
Format: NetGalley ebook, Thank you Patchwork Press!

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

It’s no secret (I think…) that I like zombies. I like to read about them, watch them on tv, and plan for when they are here. So when I saw this book on NetGalley, I was all like, “Oh hell yeah, let’s check it out.” And what I found was quite a different zombie book than any I’ve read.

It starts out with Savannah. She’s a teen girl, around sixteen years old. The world has become over-run with the zombs and she lives in the local highschool with a couple hundred survivors. Seems like a pretty good set up, to me.  Although I should mention that there isn't much to go on, I just think a building like that would offer a lot as far as a residence for a large group of people.  A couple recon teams are out, and they need supplies, so they send out four teens to get more. Savannah, Alex, Zack, and Pierce (who is only fourteen…) This seemed a little unlikely to me. There is no one else to go out, and they are going to send the only people left to go get medical supplies? As unlikely as this scenario seems to me, I’m still digging on Savannah. She’s young, independent, and family-less. She also has this inner driven need to do something. She’s the perfect heroine for a zombie novel.  I decide right away that I'm on her side.

And then we meet Zarah, who is also a highschool student, but in a different city. She gets rescued from her highscool by her crush, Liam. They take off on his motorcycle, and they are on their own…for a bit anyway. I’m not really sure how I felt about Zarah. I think I liked her. I don’t feel like I really got to know her as well as Savannah. It felt more like her story was prep for the point when the paths of these two girls crossed.  For a large part of the book, I just got annoyed when it switched to Zarah's story from Savannah's.  However – and I will say this – Zarah’s story became much more interesting in the last third of the book.

Overall, there was not a ton of zombie action in this book. I mean it wasn’t page after page of fighting for your life. There were a few fights, but they didn’t really go into much detail. You have the usual decaying zombies, and then you have something a little more like an evolved type of zombie.  They are faster and stronger, and as it goes on you learn more about them and why they are the way they are.  The story seemed more focused on the relationships of a few people, and Savannah’s journey. While this definitely wasn’t my favorite zombie book, it was pretty good overall. There is the colonization of a group of people to deal with, well… a couple groups of people. You have to try and figure out who is good, and who is bad. Or are they all grey? I liked that, that it wasn’t a clean cut issue. The characters were pretty interesting, and I even found myself drawn to some.

This book does offer something I’ve not seen done in a non-comedic fashion – a look at the brain of a zombie. Yep, you get to see the change from the inside out. This is something I thought was superbly done, and worth the price of admission alone. Sure, you’ve seen in done before in books and movies, and it’s usually got some kind of a fun tone to it. But this is different, and it worked great for me. This was the part of the book I couldn't put down, and its more than likely the part I will continue to remember.

Mortality is number one in a series. I’ve not quite made up my mind if I will continue or not. I like Savannah, and I like some of the people she has teamed up with. I love the apocalypse. I’m interested to see where it goes, so I will probably give it a chance.  The writing was smooth, and the author's voice is unique.  If you are into zombies, I say, “Hey, why the hell not? Give it a try.” Maybe it will work for you, maybe it won’t. But it’s worth a shot (and not a double tap!) 

As I'm gathering links for the bottom part of this post, I'm seeing that there is a 0.5 book in the series, before book one.  I'm thinking that might be a good story, something that will give a little background to Savannah and her friends, before they run for supplies.

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Review: In The After by Demitria Lunetta

Title: In The After
Series: Not yet, but I am hoping so
Author: Demitria Lunetta
Published: To be released June 25, 2013 - Harper Teen
Format: Ebook received from Edelweiss

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

When I got this book from Edelweiss, I thought it was going to be something different than what it actually was. At first I was a bit disappointed to find out it was aliens, but then after a chapter or two I was completely in awe. I thought, “Hell yeah! Alien Apocalypse!” I hadn’t read one yet, so I was completely on board with this by that point.

Amy is fourteen when the aliens come, and she is home alone watching tv – watching it all unfold on the news. Her mother is a scientist and a bit paranoid about their safety, she’s installed an electrified fence around their house. Her father is a bit green and installed solar panels and a rain water capture system. Even though her parents never come home after the aliens attack, they are still taking care of her, it seems. I think this is terribly lucky for Amy, but I’m glad she has the intelligence to just stay home. She lasts a month before she even has to leave.

Every venture out of the house is dangerous. These aliens are wildly attracted to noise and light, and they are brutal and savage in their attacks. Amy adapts so very well, and that is impressive in itself. On one trip out of the house she finds a toddler in the grocery store. That’s the day she meets Baby and takes her home. The girls form an easy alliance, relying on each other for everything. They become family. They even have their own modified version of sign language. This is something I find incredibly amazing and perfect. With their modified version they escape the possibility that others will know what they are saying to each other.

Eventually, after several years, Amy and Baby are picked up by rescuers and taken to a compound. This is where – ta-daaaaa – Amy meets someone from her past. While I was happy for this, and her this person played an integral part in the story, at first it seemed like it was a little “Ohhhh realllllly?” And a bit convenient. But as the story goes on you find out exactly everything you need to know about this person. It’s safe to say at this point there was never a time where I liked that person. They seemed shady to me, and didn’t really seem to care about Amy in the way that I felt she should. Their actions deemed investigation and their reactions did not feel genuine.

Throughout the story Amy meets a slew of other people. The only one I trust is Baby, but I liked some of the others (like Garrett and Kay). New Hope, the compound, is not everything it appears to be. It’s kind of like the sexy psychopath. Sure, everything looks great on the outside, but peak behind the layers and what you find is pure terror. I don’t see the twists and turns that are coming, and I like that a lot. This book definitely was full of surprises and mystery.

The book is set up in three parts. Part one is my favorite, when Baby and Amy are on the outside, fighting and surviving. Part two started to drag a bit for me, mixing present times with flash forward instances. Part three brings everything back to present…which was the flash forward instances from part two. I think I might have liked the time continuity to stay in one straight line, but I can see why it was written this way.

As far as apocalypse books go, I liked this one a lot. There is an instance where I felt it really kind of flipped in a way I didn’t see coming. I felt like the author had a very unique and awesome idea, and then changed her mind about it and made some choices I felt really distracted from the awesomeness and brought it down a few notches. But even with that, it was still really good. And even better, the ending was left open to a sequel. I did like it enough to be on the lookout for book two!

Follow Demitria Lunetta Online

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Review: In The After by Demitria Lunetta

Title: In The After
Series: Not yet, but I am hoping so
Author: Demitria Lunetta
Published: To be released June 25, 2013 - Harper Teen
Format: Ebook received from Edelweiss

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

When I got this book from Edelweiss, I thought it was going to be something different than what it actually was. At first I was a bit disappointed to find out it was aliens, but then after a chapter or two I was completely in awe. I thought, “Hell yeah! Alien Apocalypse!” I hadn’t read one yet, so I was completely on board with this by that point.

Amy is fourteen when the aliens come, and she is home alone watching tv – watching it all unfold on the news. Her mother is a scientist and a bit paranoid about their safety, she’s installed an electrified fence around their house. Her father is a bit green and installed solar panels and a rain water capture system. Even though her parents never come home after the aliens attack, they are still taking care of her, it seems. I think this is terribly lucky for Amy, but I’m glad she has the intelligence to just stay home. She lasts a month before she even has to leave.

Every venture out of the house is dangerous. These aliens are wildly attracted to noise and light, and they are brutal and savage in their attacks. Amy adapts so very well, and that is impressive in itself. On one trip out of the house she finds a toddler in the grocery store. That’s the day she meets Baby and takes her home. The girls form an easy alliance, relying on each other for everything. They become family. They even have their own modified version of sign language. This is something I find incredibly amazing and perfect. With their modified version they escape the possibility that others will know what they are saying to each other.

Eventually, after several years, Amy and Baby are picked up by rescuers and taken to a compound. This is where – ta-daaaaa – Amy meets someone from her past. While I was happy for this, and her this person played an integral part in the story, at first it seemed like it was a little “Ohhhh realllllly?” And a bit convenient. But as the story goes on you find out exactly everything you need to know about this person. It’s safe to say at this point there was never a time where I liked that person. They seemed shady to me, and didn’t really seem to care about Amy in the way that I felt she should. Their actions deemed investigation and their reactions did not feel genuine.

Throughout the story Amy meets a slew of other people. The only one I trust is Baby, but I liked some of the others (like Garrett and Kay). New Hope, the compound, is not everything it appears to be. It’s kind of like the sexy psychopath. Sure, everything looks great on the outside, but peak behind the layers and what you find is pure terror. I don’t see the twists and turns that are coming, and I like that a lot. This book definitely was full of surprises and mystery.

The book is set up in three parts. Part one is my favorite, when Baby and Amy are on the outside, fighting and surviving. Part two started to drag a bit for me, mixing present times with flash forward instances. Part three brings everything back to present…which was the flash forward instances from part two. I think I might have liked the time continuity to stay in one straight line, but I can see why it was written this way.

As far as apocalypse books go, I liked this one a lot. There is an instance where I felt it really kind of flipped in a way I didn’t see coming. I felt like the author had a very unique and awesome idea, and then changed her mind about it and made some choices I felt really distracted from the awesomeness and brought it down a few notches. But even with that, it was still really good. And even better, the ending was left open to a sequel. I did like it enough to be on the lookout for book two!

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Review: Survivor Roundup by Angela Scott

Title: Survivor Roundup
Series: Zombie West Series, #2
Author: Angela Scott
Published: October 2012, Evolved Publishing
Tour: Yes, Innovative Online Book Tours
Format: Ebook provided for review

Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon...

With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.

...And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.

Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.

A couple months ago when I read Wanted: Dead or Undead, I was excited about this fresh and unusual take on zombies and I couldn’t wait to read more. With Survivor Roundup I definitely got my wish granted.

This story takes place not too long after the first book in the series ended. Supplies are getting low so Trace and Red decide they will be the ones to go and scout for supplies. Any time they leave the confines of the fort they know they are taking a chance, and those odds haven’t lessened at all. The number of undead seem to be increasing. So they are off and running, and then the unthinkable happens – they are discovered and separated.

This book really tugged on my heart strings at times. I really love these two characters, and their happiness is important to me. They are so good together, that even when they are separated and they don’t even believe the other is alive – they are still acting like a married couple.

During their time apart they could both easily go their separate ways. There were definitely times I was fearful that’s what was happening. But their story definitely wasn’t over. This book has a multitude of different reunions – and it includes reuniting Red and Trace, thankfully. I’ve become attached to these characters, and I loved reading more about them.

The action was terrific in this story. There are monsters that are definitely more scary than the zombies, and that is the monster that is within the living. Everything was definitely amped up in this story. It was very engaging, and I was quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. There are also some big surprises in this book. One of those looks like it could lead to a book three, so I am crossing my fingers. I definitely want to know how this will be handled, considering that Red is the person that she is. If you read the first book in the Zombie West Series, you will definitely want to continue on with this book.




Angela Scott hears voices. Tiny fictional people sit on her shoulders and whisper their stories in her ear. Instead of medicating herself, she decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. She's not crazy. She's an author. For the most part, she writes contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, she found herself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West--and loving it. Her zombies don't sparkle, and they definitely don't  uddle. At least, she wouldn't suggest it. She lives on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. She graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of her love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn't require math. She can't spell, and grammar is her arch nemesis. But they gave her the degree, and there are no take backs. 

ONLINE LINKS:

Blog - www.angelascottauthor.com
Twitter - @whimsywriting
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13636317-desert-rice

Stalk Angela: Blog . Twitter . Facebook . Amazon . Zombie Book Trailer . Desert Rice Book Trailer

Check out:
WANTED: Dead or Undead
Survivor Roundup
Desert Rice

Previously Reviewed:
Wanted: Dead or Undead

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Review: Survivor Roundup by Angela Scott

Title: Survivor Roundup
Series: Zombie West Series, #2
Author: Angela Scott
Published: October 2012, Evolved Publishing
Tour: Yes, Innovative Online Book Tours
Format: Ebook provided for review

Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon...

With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.

...And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.

Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.

A couple months ago when I read Wanted: Dead or Undead, I was excited about this fresh and unusual take on zombies and I couldn’t wait to read more. With Survivor Roundup I definitely got my wish granted.

This story takes place not too long after the first book in the series ended. Supplies are getting low so Trace and Red decide they will be the ones to go and scout for supplies. Any time they leave the confines of the fort they know they are taking a chance, and those odds haven’t lessened at all. The number of undead seem to be increasing. So they are off and running, and then the unthinkable happens – they are discovered and separated.

This book really tugged on my heart strings at times. I really love these two characters, and their happiness is important to me. They are so good together, that even when they are separated and they don’t even believe the other is alive – they are still acting like a married couple.

During their time apart they could both easily go their separate ways. There were definitely times I was fearful that’s what was happening. But their story definitely wasn’t over. This book has a multitude of different reunions – and it includes reuniting Red and Trace, thankfully. I’ve become attached to these characters, and I loved reading more about them.

The action was terrific in this story. There are monsters that are definitely more scary than the zombies, and that is the monster that is within the living. Everything was definitely amped up in this story. It was very engaging, and I was quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. There are also some big surprises in this book. One of those looks like it could lead to a book three, so I am crossing my fingers. I definitely want to know how this will be handled, considering that Red is the person that she is. If you read the first book in the Zombie West Series, you will definitely want to continue on with this book.




Angela Scott hears voices. Tiny fictional people sit on her shoulders and whisper their stories in her ear. Instead of medicating herself, she decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. She's not crazy. She's an author. For the most part, she writes contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, she found herself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West--and loving it. Her zombies don't sparkle, and they definitely don't  uddle. At least, she wouldn't suggest it. She lives on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. She graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of her love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn't require math. She can't spell, and grammar is her arch nemesis. But they gave her the degree, and there are no take backs. 

ONLINE LINKS:

Blog - www.angelascottauthor.com
Twitter - @whimsywriting
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13636317-desert-rice

Stalk Angela: Blog . Twitter . Facebook . Amazon . Zombie Book Trailer . Desert Rice Book Trailer

Check out:
WANTED: Dead or Undead
Survivor Roundup
Desert Rice

Previously Reviewed:
Wanted: Dead or Undead

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Review & Giveaway: Mostly Dead by Bonnie R Paulson

Title: Mostly Dead
Series: Barely Alive #3
Author: Bonnie R Paulson
Published: October 2012
Tour: Yes, Supagurl Tours
Format: ebook provided for review

Time is running out and Paul’s original wish for death looms. As his skin grays and hunger becomes uncontrollable, the world burns. 

Heather and Paul have fallen for each other, but with life and death barricading them apart, and the potential cure disappearing into time, they have no hope. 

Paul’s hunger is all-consuming. He has to walk into the flames, join Dominic, or eat everyone he loves. 

Can he save anyone, if not himself?

Welcome to the second of three posts I have this week for the Barely Alive series!   Monday - An awesome guest post/character interview with Bonnie and Paul.  Tuesday:  An awesome zombie meatloaf recipe from Bonnie, sure to complete any doomsday themed meal!  And now today I have a review of Mostly Dead, book 3. 

Originally I was supposed to review all three books, but time escaped me and I found myself having to jump right into Mostly Dead, book 3. What I found was an exciting action packed – and very unique – story. Yep, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get a chance to read the first two books first.

So when I jumped in with this story Paul and Brian are on the road, and Paul is trying to figure out how to get away from Dominic. Dominic is a big reason I wish I had read the other books. He’s in this book quite a bit, but not really in it. Are you picking up what I’m putting down? Anyhow, I think I definitely want to know more about Dominic. But in the meantime, Paul is definitely a slice of interesting with a side of awesome craziness.

This book read wonderfully. I think it is a true attest to Bonnie’s writing skills that I didn’t feel like I was lost, even though this isn’t really a standalone book. I was quickly enamored with the characters, and any questions I had got answered along the way.

This book was full of action. And the zombie storyline is unlike anything I’ve ever read. There’s a bit of romance, and a few sad moments. Dominic is creating more zombies at a crazy rate, Paul is suffering from his own dubbed “superhero” complex, trying to save everyone. People are hearing other people’s thoughts, and it was just a great trip following Paul through this journey. I definitely think this is a book for zombie lovers, especially if you are looking for a new take on it.

About the Author....
Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane. 

Facebook

Twitter: @bonnierpaulson

Website

Goodreads: Bonnie R. Paulson 

Amazon links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart

Mostly Dead

Barnes and Noble links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart

Review & Giveaway: Mostly Dead by Bonnie R Paulson

Title: Mostly Dead
Series: Barely Alive #3
Author: Bonnie R Paulson
Published: October 2012
Tour: Yes, Supagurl Tours
Format: ebook provided for review

Time is running out and Paul’s original wish for death looms. As his skin grays and hunger becomes uncontrollable, the world burns. 

Heather and Paul have fallen for each other, but with life and death barricading them apart, and the potential cure disappearing into time, they have no hope. 

Paul’s hunger is all-consuming. He has to walk into the flames, join Dominic, or eat everyone he loves. 

Can he save anyone, if not himself?

Welcome to the second of three posts I have this week for the Barely Alive series!   Monday - An awesome guest post/character interview with Bonnie and Paul.  Tuesday:  An awesome zombie meatloaf recipe from Bonnie, sure to complete any doomsday themed meal!  And now today I have a review of Mostly Dead, book 3. 

Originally I was supposed to review all three books, but time escaped me and I found myself having to jump right into Mostly Dead, book 3. What I found was an exciting action packed – and very unique – story. Yep, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get a chance to read the first two books first.

So when I jumped in with this story Paul and Brian are on the road, and Paul is trying to figure out how to get away from Dominic. Dominic is a big reason I wish I had read the other books. He’s in this book quite a bit, but not really in it. Are you picking up what I’m putting down? Anyhow, I think I definitely want to know more about Dominic. But in the meantime, Paul is definitely a slice of interesting with a side of awesome craziness.

This book read wonderfully. I think it is a true attest to Bonnie’s writing skills that I didn’t feel like I was lost, even though this isn’t really a standalone book. I was quickly enamored with the characters, and any questions I had got answered along the way.

This book was full of action. And the zombie storyline is unlike anything I’ve ever read. There’s a bit of romance, and a few sad moments. Dominic is creating more zombies at a crazy rate, Paul is suffering from his own dubbed “superhero” complex, trying to save everyone. People are hearing other people’s thoughts, and it was just a great trip following Paul through this journey. I definitely think this is a book for zombie lovers, especially if you are looking for a new take on it.

About the Author....
Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane. 

Facebook

Twitter: @bonnierpaulson

Website

Goodreads: Bonnie R. Paulson 

Amazon links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart

Mostly Dead

Barnes and Noble links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart

Zombie Meatloaf Recipe (& Giveaway) by Bonnie Paulson, author of Falling Apart (Barely Alive Series)

Falling Apart

(Barely Alive #2)

Bonnie R Paulson

Days slip through Paul’s graying fingers. Humanity faces the end. His brother has the virus and is dying, too. 

Paul’s hopes ride on Heather’s genetic code. Her immunity leaves her unchanged and untouchable. What would she see in the zombie he was becoming anyway?

Dominic’s army of infected grows, capturing the south and leaving little alive in its wake. 

While Paul and his friends work on the vaccine, protecting the north becomes protecting the world. Heather is taken hostage and Paul races toward Dominic to save his heart. 

With his time “alive” shortened, Paul must do more than protect the uninfected. He has to get his brother and Heather back to Sandpoint before the zombies find them. Paul needs to survive the upcoming war before he finds himself defecting to the other side and leaving Heather to Dominic’s mercy.

He has three days to get the cure or he might as well find a fire to call home. 

Welcome to the second of three posts I have this week for the Barely Alive series!   Monday - An awesome guest post/character interview with Bonnie and Paul.  Tuesday:  An awesome zombie meatloaf recipe from Bonnie, sure to complete any doomsday themed meal!  And then on Wednesday I will have a review of Mostly Dead, book 3. 

********************

Thank you again, so much for having me! I have a gluten free recipe today… I don’t need gluten free, but sometimes, it’s just plain fun to see what you can substitute, like when Paul substitutes cow for human.

Zombie Meatloaf – Gluten Free

Half-pound cooked bacon (you can decide crispiness)

Two pounds of lean ground beef

Two eggs

One tablespoon dried parsley

One teaspoon Worcestshire sauce

One teaspoon soy sauce

Half cup ketchup (because this is inevitable in any meatloaf)

One tablespoon brown sugar

Half chopped onion

Directions:

Pre-cook bacon and chop into small pieces – not tiny.

Mix all ingredients including bacon into a bowl. Form on a pan – I use a cookie sheet because it gives the juices somewhere to go besides swarming the loaf. Bake at 350 until cooked through. Note: This makes for a denser meatloaf but doesn’t have gluten and will appeal more to that walking undead you call your mother-in-law ;).

About the Author....
Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane. 

Facebook

Twitter: @bonnierpaulson

Website

Goodreads: Bonnie R. Paulson 

Amazon links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart

Mostly Dead

Barnes and Noble links:

Barely Alive

Falling Apart