North to Zombieville (Zombieville #1)

Title: North to Zombieville (Zombieville #1)
Author: Meg Bawden
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 18, 2016
Genre(s): Paranormal
Page Count: 200
Reviewed by: Vallie
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

The year is 2028, and Dallas and Raleigh Jenson are torn apart when a worldwide zombie apocalypse ravages their home of Townsville, Australia. After a year of searching, Dallas, a former Australian army rifleman, finally reunites with Raleigh, but it’s not like old times. Not only do they have zombies to contend with, but also other humans, changed by desperation and willing to do anything to survive.

Dallas and Raleigh have changed too. So much so, that Dallas struggles with the idea that Raleigh no longer needs or wants his protection. But they will need to rely on each other and find strength in their love as they are forced to evade zombies and watch their friends die. As they fight for their lives in a brutal landscape where every supply and every step toward a potential cure is a battle to the death, only their trust in each other can keep them from perishing.

Yes! Zombies! And there’s gore and love and feelz all in one!!!

I am a total geek when it comes to stories like these. I watch the walking dead and even the spinoff –Fear the walking dead, even though the second sucks. I just love the survival stories and what it does to people.

This one is a wonderful addition to the genre and I had a blast reading it. Raleigh and Dallas were married and very much in love when the zombie apocalypse happened. One minute they’re having a fantastic dinner date, the next they’re running away from groans of the dead trying to eat them. They get separated for a year –fear not though, it doesn’t last long in page time- and they learn how to survive in the new world.

What I loved about this story was the incredible love Raleigh and Dallas had. Dallas was army and Raleigh was a damsel but those dynamics started shifting after the zombies showed up. There was some delicious friction with Dallas clinging on to the memory of Raleigh always needing protecting and Raleigh being a bit fed up and carving a more independent identity for himself.

Now for the gore. There’s a twist. The zombies are smart! They group, they set traps, they are strong and fast, and cunning. I loved that the story did not become run-of-the-mill and the foundation was laid very nicely for follow-up books in terms of finding a cure and what have you. Not to mention, there’s a wonderful (and some not wonderful) array of side-characters that move the story along. Reading dystopian books, I sometimes get this claustrophobic feeling because of the isolation and the destruction all around. Here, the main characters are part of a huge group which makes the story more entertaining and adds to the character development as well. Dallas and Raleigh are not just lovers and survivors. They play numerous roles, each of which reveals different aspects to their personalities.

*clears throat*

Hot sex is hot.

The steam is up to par with the adrenaline levels but the cuteness factor went through the roof as well. Cute as in –Slay some zombies and then stop to kiss your man next to guts spilling on the road to hoots and hollers of the members of the group. Isn’t that adorbs or what?!

Recommend to all fans of dystopian mm!

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