Unwrapping: Review of ONLY LOVE SURVIVES by Renee Charles

Ask most anyone who knows me well and they’ll tell you that when it comes to zombies, I’m more likely to run the other way than watch a zombie movie or read about zombies. So, when Renee Charles asked me to read and review her upcoming new release from The Wild Rose Press, ONLY LOVE SURVIVES, I was more than hesitant, I was apprehensive but she promised that I wouldn’t get grossed out by it. Was she ever right!

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for ONLY LOVE SURVIVES:

Amidst an epidemic ravaging the world, all Megan Fletcher's hopes for the future lie in getting to Las Vegas where newscasts reported scientists were gathering to search for a cure for the modern plague. After rescuing her from a rooftop surrounded by Zombies, Sam Woods appoints himself her escort. While he knows she is determined to get to Vegas no matter the cost, he doesn't know her secret. And with his hatred of all things Zombie, she doesn’t dare tell him the truth. The more he kisses her, the harder it is for Megan to hide her growing feelings…and the bite-shaped scar. But Vegas is not the haven it was promised to be, and when Megan’s immunity to the disease is discovered, she realizes her future and her heart belong to Sam, if he will trust her.

An idealistic school teacher and ex-corporate mogul manage to find love despite a looming worldwide catastrophe. Can their love survive while everything around them is dying? Will they learn that when facing the end of the world, Only Love Survives.

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Excerpt from ONLY LOVE SURVIVES:

A storm that spelled danger flashed across Sam’s face. He advanced on Megan so fast, she backed up against the side of the Suburban. Planting a hand firmly on each side of her, he pinned her with his arms as well as his gaze.

“What I want? Are you so hard headed you can’t tell what I want?” He covered her mouth with his lips and crushed her clever comeback with an assault on her senses.

Megan pushed him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he continued to kiss her until her heart raced and cheeks flushed with need. All resistance melted and she succumbed to the warmth of his embrace. Her arms wound around his neck of their own accord pulling him closer while her tongue sought his in a passionate dance, completely ignoring what her heart wanted.

When he finally broke away leaving Megan breathless and wanting so much more, Sam put his forehead to hers and watched her mouth like a drunk watches amber liquid poured into a glass. “You,” he rasped. “I’ve wanted you since I found you hanging from that damn roof, and all our little encounter in the river did was add fuel to the fire.” 

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Megan Fletcher has survived more tragedy, heartbreak, and danger then she ever thought she would in one lifetime much less in only seven months. When the epidemic broke out, she was a happy elementary school teacher, enjoying her life and just wanting what every young woman wants out of life. Now seven months later, she’s hiding from everyone  - human and zombie. Bitten by one of her students. She watched her mother die of infection and feared for her own life, but somehow survived. Believing that her blood may hold the secret to a cure, she’s traveling to Las Vegas where it’s rumored civilization still exists.

Sam Woods is searching for his younger sister. Responsible for her since their parents died when he was a teen, Sam has carved a successful life out of nothing only to have the epidemic destroy everything he knew. Now he only wants to find his sister. After rescuing a young woman from zombies and a rooftop, he’s discovered someone else he wants, and desires, to protect. He knows she has a secret and can only hope that someday soon she will trust him enough to share it.

Outrunning zombies, human men who want to rape and abuse Megan, vicious murdering hookers, and finding safety with a group that welcomes them with friendship and camaraderie, Megan and Sam begin a journey that takes them further than Las Vegas or their expectations.

ONLY LOVE SURVIVES by Renee Charles surprised and delighted me. Enthralled by everything about this zombie-apocalyptic romance from the characters, the setting, to the action, dangerous encounters, and close escapes, I read this one in one night because I just couldn’t put it down. Even if you’re not a fan of zombies, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one without the blood and gore and dropping body parts that are usually included. You’ll still enjoy that edge of the seat, nail-biting nervous energy that makes a horror so much fun, but will fall in love with Megan and Sam, and cheer them on.

I highly recommend ONLY LOVE SURVIVES by Renee Charles because it’s exciting, descriptive without being cringe worthy gory, and the romance that develops between Megan and Sam, although quick but then again it is apocalyptic, is sweet, funny, and so natural that you want everything to turn out just right for them, and for the rest of the world.

Happy Reading Everyone!

ONLY LOVE SURVIVES by Renee Charles, The Wild Rose Press, currently available at Amazon in print and ebook format and coming to Kobobooks in ebook format on September 18, 2013.

***click on links or cover below for purchasing information.