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Z World #1
Patient Z
Two years ago the zombie apocalypse wiped out the world police officer Mitch Kennedy had a role in. But he’s found a way to continue doing his duty, serving as guardian of a small community of survivors, living in the safest place they can find. When the group takes in Cal Richardson Mitch can’t help but be attracted to the first available—and incidentally, gorgeous—man to cross his path in months.
Mitch and Cal can’t resist each other physically, but each man tries to hold back his emotions. Though he’s strong on the outside, Mitch is too badly hurt inside to risk more pain. Cal’s very sure he won’t stay for long. He’s been a drifter all his life and it came naturally to him to survive alone after civilization fell. He’s sure this is a temporary stopover for him. He has no intention of becoming emotionally involved with a cop who is certain to despise Cal when he learns the truth about him.
The longer Cal stays the stronger his urge to run, but the harder it becomes to give up the safety of the community and his new friends. The harder it becomes to give up Mitch.
Mitch and Cal can’t resist each other physically, but each man tries to hold back his emotions. Though he’s strong on the outside, Mitch is too badly hurt inside to risk more pain. Cal’s very sure he won’t stay for long. He’s been a drifter all his life and it came naturally to him to survive alone after civilization fell. He’s sure this is a temporary stopover for him. He has no intention of becoming emotionally involved with a cop who is certain to despise Cal when he learns the truth about him.
The longer Cal stays the stronger his urge to run, but the harder it becomes to give up the safety of the community and his new friends. The harder it becomes to give up Mitch.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2013
5 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 25, 2016
DNF at 45%!!!
Another books bites the dust for me because of utterly infuriating and ridiculously blatant reinforcement of gender stereotypes.
According to this book, only civilization kept heterosexual men from turning into brutalizers and enslavers of women. However, once the zombie apocalypse came along, all bets were off and men wanted nothing more than to lock women up for their perverted sexual pleasure.
"...A lot of them had been held captive by men at some point, or guys had at least tried to...to enslave them...They'd either escaped when we met them, or we had to rescue them by force."
"...What I'm doing now, it's what I've always done, what was always at the heart of my job--protecting women and children from men. That's what being cop is about."
"...You talk as if all men are monsters..."I just can't even...
"But we have it all in us. Some of us are just better at holding it in check."
Fuck gender stereotypes.
August 17, 2013
3.5 stars
An offshore oil rig near the southern US coast is the setting for this zombie action thriller. This is a clever plot device, it’s what I’d do post-disaster, head for an island or some other structure that gives distance to the moldering mob. It seems that zombies suck at navigating boats and climbing ladders. But, is the rig as safe as it would seem?
For two years the world has been under a zombie takeover. The disease is spread by an infected human biting a non-infected; zombies are only interested in uninfected people, they ignore each other, and their numbers have been increasing. Mitch Kennedy, a cop back in the normal days, has learned how to evade the zombies, he has set up the oil rig as a fortress-haven for himself and a small group of very self-sufficient women and small children. They have learned to survive by carefully scrounging the countryside in well-planned excursions, for supplies, medicine and weapons. More importantly, they have a doctor on board who may have found a vaccination for the zombie pathogen, and it is paramount that her work continue.
There used to be other men on the rig, but when they started sexually harassing the women, they were booted off. In particular, Ethan, who heads up his own on-shore gang of marauding fellow meat-heads. Mitch and his “harem” have learned to live comfortably on the rig and have trained themselves to stave off vicious attacks by Ethan’s gang. Mitch is the only guy left onboard not only because he is a trusted leader but because he is gay and does not pose a sexual threat to the women. It isn’t until they rescue Cal, mysteriously adrift in a small boat found near the rig, that there is hope for Mitch finding someone he can be with. The plot gets messy because Mitch is a stand-up guy, looking for commitment where Cal is, literally, the drifter with a shady past who’s aim is to keep on the move.
The enemies in this story aren’t so much the zombies, but the fellow non-infected humans who covet what Mitch battles to keep safe— the women and rig. The author sets up the well-used premise that in a post-apocalyptic world, mankind can be its own worse enemy, so there is nothing really new here. But, the action is great; the dangerous on-land excursions and confrontations with Ethan’s gang have good suspense built in. And having to kill zombies that one may have known previously poses some ethical issues.
Along with the colorful setting there are a lot of wins here. It’s when the story focuses on Mitch and Cal, together, that it drags a bit for me. They’re nice enough guys, and their characters are well-drawn, but I just don’t find their pairing that compelling. It seems like a set up of convenience where they have to be attracted to each other by their both happening to be gay and the ‘last gay man on earth’ or close to it. So, the romance seems a bit forced to me. Still, this was a fun action/adventure zombie read and I would recommend it for those who like this genre.
For this review and much more:
August 9, 2013
4.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Post-Apocalyptic books are so very tricky in my opinion. You’re either going to love them or you’re going to hate them, nothing in between. At least that’s how I’m affected. Zombies? Oh God, the very notion is horribly appealing. You hate them but you can’t stand away from them, and you pray that it’s well written so that they don’t turn your stomach the bad way. I’m sure there are many half-arsed works out there, grabbing the virus idea and going bat-crazy with it. This is not the case.
I loved, no adored this book. It made my “Favorite” list without blinking an eye. It was simply brilliant; the plot, the characters, the romance, damn even the end was bloody fantastic. It starts with a hooking scene, one you can’t say no to, and in a matter of seconds it has you in its grip, daring you to stop, driving you crazy when you really, really need to take a break.
Cal is found on his boat, nearly dehydrated and on top of it bitten. (Ah and this is my one issue here. I couldn’t understand how the Doc didn’t understand the difference between a dog bite and a zombie one) He is rescued, shot with a vaccine that is on trial and error phase, shackled and fettered, and observed for a week by the guardians of a small community of survivors.
And what a community that one was. I couldn’t believe it when it was revealed. I didn’t know what to do with that, laugh my head off, or marvel at the brilliance.
Mitch Kennedy, a cop when the world had a meaning, retains some of that past duty with his community of survivors, being their guardian, training their guards, and distrusting everybody. The chemistry between Cal and Mitch, electrifying. The willingness to go for a quickie while transparent from Cal’s side, doesn’t even stand a chance with Mitch. There can’t be simple sex between them, not now, not when they’re sharing the same room, not when they’re living, working, surviving together.
The men’s different personalities clash, the strain of their chemistry unbearable, the situation they’re living in when every day could be your last day weights on their heart, and the inevitable is only around the corner. As much as Mitch tried to stay away Cal is a master in seduction, and as much as Cal tried to guard his heart Mitch is the kind of man who you can’t help but lay it in his feet. The drifter and loner in Cal’s soul gets restless and the steady Mitch can’t do anything to stop him, making him stay.
I absolutely loved this pair. The romance part was fantastic, so hooking, so hot and sexy, so heartbreaking, and so suitable. I kept thinking, this pair is made for each other, and I know, right? This is a piece of fiction, of course this pair was made for each other.
As for the rest of the plot, well there are no words. It was well thought, well executed, kept me on my toes all the time, had my heart beating every time the guys were on raids, and in the end, when Cal does that brilliant stunt that has Bren shouting “He’s the King of the Zombies” oh my, I was half shouting along with Bren and half shaking my head frustration. It took them long enough to figure that out didn’t it? But yeah, that scene was amazing.
In the end there isn’t much left to be said. I love a good post-apoc and this not only didn’t disappoint, but it raised the bar a bit higher. If you’re even remotely fans of the genre, this is a book you must not miss. Strongly recommended!
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Post-Apocalyptic books are so very tricky in my opinion. You’re either going to love them or you’re going to hate them, nothing in between. At least that’s how I’m affected. Zombies? Oh God, the very notion is horribly appealing. You hate them but you can’t stand away from them, and you pray that it’s well written so that they don’t turn your stomach the bad way. I’m sure there are many half-arsed works out there, grabbing the virus idea and going bat-crazy with it. This is not the case.
I loved, no adored this book. It made my “Favorite” list without blinking an eye. It was simply brilliant; the plot, the characters, the romance, damn even the end was bloody fantastic. It starts with a hooking scene, one you can’t say no to, and in a matter of seconds it has you in its grip, daring you to stop, driving you crazy when you really, really need to take a break.
Cal is found on his boat, nearly dehydrated and on top of it bitten. (Ah and this is my one issue here. I couldn’t understand how the Doc didn’t understand the difference between a dog bite and a zombie one) He is rescued, shot with a vaccine that is on trial and error phase, shackled and fettered, and observed for a week by the guardians of a small community of survivors.
And what a community that one was. I couldn’t believe it when it was revealed. I didn’t know what to do with that, laugh my head off, or marvel at the brilliance.
Mitch Kennedy, a cop when the world had a meaning, retains some of that past duty with his community of survivors, being their guardian, training their guards, and distrusting everybody. The chemistry between Cal and Mitch, electrifying. The willingness to go for a quickie while transparent from Cal’s side, doesn’t even stand a chance with Mitch. There can’t be simple sex between them, not now, not when they’re sharing the same room, not when they’re living, working, surviving together.
The men’s different personalities clash, the strain of their chemistry unbearable, the situation they’re living in when every day could be your last day weights on their heart, and the inevitable is only around the corner. As much as Mitch tried to stay away Cal is a master in seduction, and as much as Cal tried to guard his heart Mitch is the kind of man who you can’t help but lay it in his feet. The drifter and loner in Cal’s soul gets restless and the steady Mitch can’t do anything to stop him, making him stay.
I absolutely loved this pair. The romance part was fantastic, so hooking, so hot and sexy, so heartbreaking, and so suitable. I kept thinking, this pair is made for each other, and I know, right? This is a piece of fiction, of course this pair was made for each other.
As for the rest of the plot, well there are no words. It was well thought, well executed, kept me on my toes all the time, had my heart beating every time the guys were on raids, and in the end, when Cal does that brilliant stunt that has Bren shouting “He’s the King of the Zombies” oh my, I was half shouting along with Bren and half shaking my head frustration. It took them long enough to figure that out didn’t it? But yeah, that scene was amazing.
In the end there isn’t much left to be said. I love a good post-apoc and this not only didn’t disappoint, but it raised the bar a bit higher. If you’re even remotely fans of the genre, this is a book you must not miss. Strongly recommended!
Thommie
August 31, 2013
My search for m/m zombie books continues. This one was, unfortunately, disappointing.
-Boring, formulaic, "romance" between two cardboard-cutout main characters who basically have no other options besides each other.
-Unscary zombies that barely had a presence in the story. They were just... stage dressing.
-Overbearing gender politics that left me feeling kinda blah at times.
i.e., All heterosexual men are aggressive potential rapists. And lots of women characters who are CURRENTLY rad and kickass, and were totes just waiting for the apocalypse to happen, so that they could shake off the shackles of their secretary- and manicurist-hood and become totally rockin', zombie-killin gals! (Along with their trusty, kickass and rad pet gays.) Nothing I could really point my finger at and declare WRONG, just an overall vaguely lingering bad aftertaste.
There were some interesting ideas here about the zombie virus, and resulting zombie behavior. I also dug the survivors' "encampment."
-Boring, formulaic, "romance" between two cardboard-cutout main characters who basically have no other options besides each other.
-Unscary zombies that barely had a presence in the story. They were just... stage dressing.
-Overbearing gender politics that left me feeling kinda blah at times.
i.e., All heterosexual men are aggressive potential rapists. And lots of women characters who are CURRENTLY rad and kickass, and were totes just waiting for the apocalypse to happen, so that they could shake off the shackles of their secretary- and manicurist-hood and become totally rockin', zombie-killin gals! (Along with their trusty, kickass and rad pet gays.) Nothing I could really point my finger at and declare WRONG, just an overall vaguely lingering bad aftertaste.
There were some interesting ideas here about the zombie virus, and resulting zombie behavior. I also dug the survivors' "encampment."
January 1, 2014
3.5
I love zombies. This book could have used more, but oh well. I enjoyed it a lot except for those moments when Mitch irritated me. For some reason that seemed to happen a lot. He had this martyr/god-complex/I'm-the-only-man-that-can-be-trusted-and-only-person-who-knows-what-they-are-doing thing going on. And this totally weird woman are helpless thing. I don't even know how to explain it, just the way he said some stuff caught me totally wrong...there seemed to be this idea that none of the women could have survived without a man to take care of them but all the men in the world except Mitch would try to hurt them. I don't know maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed to me, it just got stuck, like sand in your thong and I couldn't get away from the irritation at times. Otherwise though, it was pretty good and I liked the idea of them living on the oil rig, that was pretty cool.
I love zombies. This book could have used more, but oh well. I enjoyed it a lot except for those moments when Mitch irritated me. For some reason that seemed to happen a lot. He had this martyr/god-complex/I'm-the-only-man-that-can-be-trusted-and-only-person-who-knows-what-they-are-doing thing going on. And this totally weird woman are helpless thing. I don't even know how to explain it, just the way he said some stuff caught me totally wrong...there seemed to be this idea that none of the women could have survived without a man to take care of them but all the men in the world except Mitch would try to hurt them. I don't know maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed to me, it just got stuck, like sand in your thong and I couldn't get away from the irritation at times. Otherwise though, it was pretty good and I liked the idea of them living on the oil rig, that was pretty cool.
August 14, 2013
I was really impressed with this one. It was almost like "watching" a couple of episodes of The Walking Dead with a gay twist. I equally enjoyed it as a fan of zombies and as a fan of m/m romances. Authors who want to jump on the zombie bandwagon should take note.
August 17, 2013
4 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Strangely enough this isn’t my only zombie book lately. I don’t get the craze over them. I only watch the movies because the hubby makes me. So why would I want to read this? I do enjoy post-apocalyptic stuff. Throw in some m/m lovin’ and I’m set.
Cal wakes up as a shackled prisoner in a room. His captors won’t believe his bite is from a dog and who can blame them? There are zombies everywhere. Cal remembers stealing a boat with no provisions and then things get a little hazy.
Mitch doesn’t trust the guy. The ship doc has given him her newest round of the zombie vaccine but with nobody to test it on there’s no real way to tell if it works. Until now. A guy shows up with a bite on a boat? Seems like a good candidate for it. They watch and wait for any signs of sickness but after a few days, nothing changes. Cal looks more human than when they brought him aboard. They take the vote to free the prisoner to the council. The council votes to let Cal stay. Which is a pretty significant thing considering they’ve banned all men but Mitch from the boat. The last few seemed to think the women were there for their pleasure. Willing or not. That won’t be a problem for Cal because he prefers men and sets his sights on Mitch.
Mitch struggles with letting anyone in after his lover died. He’s an ex-cop, or cop since nobody technically fired him, and he takes the safety of the women and children on the ship they call home very seriously. Mitch fights the attraction to Cal. It’s been awhile since he’s been with a man and the fact they put Cal in Mitch’s room, since he’s the only other man, makes it damn near impossible not to give in to Cal’s advances. Eventually it happens. And it’s hot!
Cal can’t believe he’s into a cop. With his background that’s the last guy he needs to hook up with. Cal also doesn’t stick around long. He’s planning on staying just long enough to rest, have some sex, and gain as much knowledge as he can. Then he’s out. Problem is he starts to care for the people on the ship. Cal knows Mitch starts to care for him and it’s terrifying. Enough that he’ll face zombies alone to escape it. But zombies aren't the only bad guys out there.
Post-apocalyptic zombie romances can’t be easy, right?
This book had some very strong women. I loved it. The army was all women and they were smart, tough and completely capable. I also appreciated the irony of the one woman on the boat being the sort that prefers men to woman. She deserves to be without if she feels that way. There are women out there like that. Some of the women were victims but that wasn’t the focus and I appreciated that.
The MCs became more and more likable as the book went along. Some good banter and hot sex. Both men had some serious issues that seem like nothing after the end of civilization as they knew it but some things are just so deep they don’t ever go away.
Oh, and the zombies were nasty. Nobody had a problem killing them thank goodness. If I see a freaking zombie I’m shooting it. Period. Like I said earlier they weren’t the only problem. When times get hard they say you find out who you really are and some men were truly vile. Basically thinking they needed to club and capture their own woman type crap. I really disliked these guys. The idea of them gaining access to that ship was more terrifying than the zombies, for me anyway. The main baddie did go OTT IMO. I want to hate them, not roll my eyes at them. The way the author dealt with “fresher” zombies being more alert and faster was interesting. The disease that caused the outbreak was never really touched on beyond the vaccine and I’d have liked to know about that. Maybe in a sequel? Hopefully because I’d like more Mitch and Cal.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Strangely enough this isn’t my only zombie book lately. I don’t get the craze over them. I only watch the movies because the hubby makes me. So why would I want to read this? I do enjoy post-apocalyptic stuff. Throw in some m/m lovin’ and I’m set.
Cal wakes up as a shackled prisoner in a room. His captors won’t believe his bite is from a dog and who can blame them? There are zombies everywhere. Cal remembers stealing a boat with no provisions and then things get a little hazy.
Mitch doesn’t trust the guy. The ship doc has given him her newest round of the zombie vaccine but with nobody to test it on there’s no real way to tell if it works. Until now. A guy shows up with a bite on a boat? Seems like a good candidate for it. They watch and wait for any signs of sickness but after a few days, nothing changes. Cal looks more human than when they brought him aboard. They take the vote to free the prisoner to the council. The council votes to let Cal stay. Which is a pretty significant thing considering they’ve banned all men but Mitch from the boat. The last few seemed to think the women were there for their pleasure. Willing or not. That won’t be a problem for Cal because he prefers men and sets his sights on Mitch.
Mitch struggles with letting anyone in after his lover died. He’s an ex-cop, or cop since nobody technically fired him, and he takes the safety of the women and children on the ship they call home very seriously. Mitch fights the attraction to Cal. It’s been awhile since he’s been with a man and the fact they put Cal in Mitch’s room, since he’s the only other man, makes it damn near impossible not to give in to Cal’s advances. Eventually it happens. And it’s hot!
Cal can’t believe he’s into a cop. With his background that’s the last guy he needs to hook up with. Cal also doesn’t stick around long. He’s planning on staying just long enough to rest, have some sex, and gain as much knowledge as he can. Then he’s out. Problem is he starts to care for the people on the ship. Cal knows Mitch starts to care for him and it’s terrifying. Enough that he’ll face zombies alone to escape it. But zombies aren't the only bad guys out there.
Post-apocalyptic zombie romances can’t be easy, right?
This book had some very strong women. I loved it. The army was all women and they were smart, tough and completely capable. I also appreciated the irony of the one woman on the boat being the sort that prefers men to woman. She deserves to be without if she feels that way. There are women out there like that. Some of the women were victims but that wasn’t the focus and I appreciated that.
The MCs became more and more likable as the book went along. Some good banter and hot sex. Both men had some serious issues that seem like nothing after the end of civilization as they knew it but some things are just so deep they don’t ever go away.
Oh, and the zombies were nasty. Nobody had a problem killing them thank goodness. If I see a freaking zombie I’m shooting it. Period. Like I said earlier they weren’t the only problem. When times get hard they say you find out who you really are and some men were truly vile. Basically thinking they needed to club and capture their own woman type crap. I really disliked these guys. The idea of them gaining access to that ship was more terrifying than the zombies, for me anyway. The main baddie did go OTT IMO. I want to hate them, not roll my eyes at them. The way the author dealt with “fresher” zombies being more alert and faster was interesting. The disease that caused the outbreak was never really touched on beyond the vaccine and I’d have liked to know about that. Maybe in a sequel? Hopefully because I’d like more Mitch and Cal.
August 27, 2013
For me, this ticked all the right boxes. I'm completely desperate for more of Mitch & Cal, and not because the story needs more. I'm just greedy for more because they were just, perfect.
July 24, 2014
OMG this book! Zombies and hot mens and an HEA! Loved!!
Er, one note though. Mitch's issues with men felt a bit... Strange. Like het men are the devil. It was very random. Idk that i appreciated that so much.
Any who. Fun read and I really really liked Cal. Recommended.
Er, one note though. Mitch's issues with men felt a bit... Strange. Like het men are the devil. It was very random. Idk that i appreciated that so much.
Any who. Fun read and I really really liked Cal. Recommended.
July 26, 2013
3.5 stars - I love a well executed zombie book, and this one definitely fit the bill. A perfect mix of terror, hope, and love, with great character development and plot. Really enjoyed this one.
August 19, 2015
5 stars for Mitch and Cal
3 stars for the plot
I admit I thought the main issue that most readers complained about (sexist prejudices against men in general) wasn't even too bad. I mean, the world went downhill. It's understandable a guy like Mitch turns into a full on pessimist.
I loved Mitch, though. He's the perfect romance hero type of man. Strong, but vulnerable, loving, kind but still a tough and courageous fighter. His cop past definitely played into that perfectly.
Cal was an interesting character to say the least. Some mysterious and possibly shady past (love that in a character), hot Italian looks, and a temper that would render a horde of zombies speechless ;-)
He played with Mitch's feelings at first, but I did believe in his change in attitude towards the end.
I also enjoyed the zombie apocalypse shown here. It was creepy, scientifically believable (as far as any zombie plot can be believable) and showed a desperate world of walking undead where humans only survived if they were willing to fight for their lives.
I felt a bit disappointed, though, that the main antagonist was a mere human who held a grudge against Mitch and his group. The actual zombies only played a supporting part. I would have loved something spectacular, like one of the guys being bitten by a zombie and the other hiding it from the rest of the group because he loved his guy and didn't want to lose him. Drama!!
As it is, the story is solid, but didn't really need zombies. Any apocalypse would have been a possible setting for this.
Oh, and I just loved the moment when Cal and Mitch used a condom thinking it protected against the sexual transmission of the zombie virus. That was creative ;-)
A very enjoyable read that I totally adored because of the main characters. They were just awesome!
Now I gotta read something different. I keep seeing moaning zombies everywhere ;-)
3 stars for the plot
I admit I thought the main issue that most readers complained about (sexist prejudices against men in general) wasn't even too bad. I mean, the world went downhill. It's understandable a guy like Mitch turns into a full on pessimist.
I loved Mitch, though. He's the perfect romance hero type of man. Strong, but vulnerable, loving, kind but still a tough and courageous fighter. His cop past definitely played into that perfectly.
Cal was an interesting character to say the least. Some mysterious and possibly shady past (love that in a character), hot Italian looks, and a temper that would render a horde of zombies speechless ;-)
He played with Mitch's feelings at first, but I did believe in his change in attitude towards the end.
I also enjoyed the zombie apocalypse shown here. It was creepy, scientifically believable (as far as any zombie plot can be believable) and showed a desperate world of walking undead where humans only survived if they were willing to fight for their lives.
I felt a bit disappointed, though, that the main antagonist was a mere human who held a grudge against Mitch and his group. The actual zombies only played a supporting part. I would have loved something spectacular, like one of the guys being bitten by a zombie and the other hiding it from the rest of the group because he loved his guy and didn't want to lose him. Drama!!
As it is, the story is solid, but didn't really need zombies. Any apocalypse would have been a possible setting for this.
Oh, and I just loved the moment when Cal and Mitch used a condom thinking it protected against the sexual transmission of the zombie virus. That was creative ;-)
A very enjoyable read that I totally adored because of the main characters. They were just awesome!
Now I gotta read something different. I keep seeing moaning zombies everywhere ;-)
September 7, 2013
4.5 Stars From Me!!
Zombies everywhere! It seems like there is a bunch of zombie books and movies out there recently and they all seem to blur together. So when I had started reading this book, I really didn’t have high hopes for it. But I will be the first to admit when I am wrong about something and I am glad to say that I was wrong about this book!
While there are zombies in here, the story isn’t about them as much as it is about everyone else. The people who have managed to survive the apocalypse so far and how they are staying alive. Right off the bat, one thing that I did enjoy about it was the amount of detail and thought that the author thought to put into the book. For instance, I didn’t know that about hospitals and military bases! (Tempted you there didn’t I? Now you want to read to find out what I’m talking about!!)
The romance part of the book, you could see that coming from the first page, and then further on in the book it became very obvious what was going to happen between the two men. But I have to say, I think that Cal is just great. Even with everything that was going on, he stayed strong and helped to support the people. With Mitch, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed him as much as Cal, but he was very obvious about his feelings throughout the book.
There is a twist in the book that caught me completely off guard and I was so freaking excited about it because it made the book stand out from everything else I have read.
I will say this, if you enjoy Zombies check this book out!!
Review provided by Crystal's Many Reviews
Zombies everywhere! It seems like there is a bunch of zombie books and movies out there recently and they all seem to blur together. So when I had started reading this book, I really didn’t have high hopes for it. But I will be the first to admit when I am wrong about something and I am glad to say that I was wrong about this book!
While there are zombies in here, the story isn’t about them as much as it is about everyone else. The people who have managed to survive the apocalypse so far and how they are staying alive. Right off the bat, one thing that I did enjoy about it was the amount of detail and thought that the author thought to put into the book. For instance, I didn’t know that about hospitals and military bases! (Tempted you there didn’t I? Now you want to read to find out what I’m talking about!!)
The romance part of the book, you could see that coming from the first page, and then further on in the book it became very obvious what was going to happen between the two men. But I have to say, I think that Cal is just great. Even with everything that was going on, he stayed strong and helped to support the people. With Mitch, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed him as much as Cal, but he was very obvious about his feelings throughout the book.
There is a twist in the book that caught me completely off guard and I was so freaking excited about it because it made the book stand out from everything else I have read.
I will say this, if you enjoy Zombies check this book out!!
Review provided by Crystal's Many Reviews
February 22, 2014
I love some zombie apocalypse in my reads. I also enjoy plausible situations mixed with the impossibility of a zombie apocalypse. Patient Z delivers on this in all ways possible with a sexy side of male male romance. Mitch and Cal are enjoyable to read as a couple. The secondary characters (the harem) are an added bonus.
Mitch, a cop in both his pre-apocalypse and post-apocalypse life is trying to keep his haven safe from zombies, bandits, and anyone seeking to take advantage of the inhabitants of the haven that he has helped build and maintain. He also tries to carry all of the burdens while lessening the load of the people he shares this space with.
The newest, quite possibly temporary member of this sanctuary Cal is more than happy keeping his time there limited. He’s a drifter. He has found that the post-apocalyptic world is best survived alone. His hine with the solitude. He’s just hoping that he can get some sexxing with the hot cop before he leaves. Cal keeps life simple. Survive, sex, don’t get bitten. The problem is that one taste of Mitch just isn’t enough for him and all things he thought were good are even better with Mitch close by.
Becky Black has given readers a large group of very likeable characters. She has added two very sexy heroes with personal obstacles that they must overcome before than can even see a happily ever after in their future. This makes for a great romantic read. The situations she throws them in with the zombies and the raiders make for some nail biting drama. Great read! Go grab it if male male romance zombie apocalypse is your thing.
Mitch, a cop in both his pre-apocalypse and post-apocalypse life is trying to keep his haven safe from zombies, bandits, and anyone seeking to take advantage of the inhabitants of the haven that he has helped build and maintain. He also tries to carry all of the burdens while lessening the load of the people he shares this space with.
The newest, quite possibly temporary member of this sanctuary Cal is more than happy keeping his time there limited. He’s a drifter. He has found that the post-apocalyptic world is best survived alone. His hine with the solitude. He’s just hoping that he can get some sexxing with the hot cop before he leaves. Cal keeps life simple. Survive, sex, don’t get bitten. The problem is that one taste of Mitch just isn’t enough for him and all things he thought were good are even better with Mitch close by.
Becky Black has given readers a large group of very likeable characters. She has added two very sexy heroes with personal obstacles that they must overcome before than can even see a happily ever after in their future. This makes for a great romantic read. The situations she throws them in with the zombies and the raiders make for some nail biting drama. Great read! Go grab it if male male romance zombie apocalypse is your thing.
July 19, 2017
This book was a solid 3, maybe even a 3.5, it was interesting even though it got off to a bit of a slow start. The zombies don’t even make an appearance until maybe a third of the way into the book. Still, you can go wrong with a Z book and I like this one pretty well. Cal is a loner who gets stranded on an oil rig with a bunch of girls and luckily one other guy too, who happens to be gay. The progression of the relationship is a little stilted and I didn’t feel much of a connection between the two men though it worked out alright in the end. You tend to root for Bren and the survivors, but as other reviewers have said, this book hates on straight men quite a bit and they are the real villians of the piece. Mitch is a good guy but overprotective and Cal isn’t as badass as he thinks he is. There were parts of the book that felt kind of bleak when you think of how these ppl could be stuck on the rig for years thanks to the zombies, but I liked how it was sort of circumvented by the ending, and there is a lot of promise for a new future. Good story, ok romance.
July 12, 2016
3.5 stars
I love zombie stories and while this one was good it didn't blow me away. I didn't like that all of the men aside from the MCs were presented as "bad" which then left no one but each other as a love interest. It kind of took away from the romance factor for me. Overall though it was an entertaining story.
I love zombie stories and while this one was good it didn't blow me away. I didn't like that all of the men aside from the MCs were presented as "bad" which then left no one but each other as a love interest. It kind of took away from the romance factor for me. Overall though it was an entertaining story.
September 18, 2013
im am really impressed withe the characters and the plot...this book kept me turning the pageslike a reading junkie. Not one bad thing I can say about it - - - go read it :P
August 25, 2019
What...am I reading? DNF at 47% because WTF....
I really tried to ignore the issues, because I was interested in this concept, and the writing wasn't bad, but the blatant horrific misogyny and the archaic view of gender roles turned me right off. Again, what did I just read...?
And right after that, my dears, is where I gave up the ghost. Life's too short.
I really tried to ignore the issues, because I was interested in this concept, and the writing wasn't bad, but the blatant horrific misogyny and the archaic view of gender roles turned me right off. Again, what did I just read...?
And right after that, my dears, is where I gave up the ghost. Life's too short.
April 24, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This was a thoroughly captivating read. I found myself in a “one more chapter” loop that often took four or five chapters to break out of, and even then it was only because I was late for something else. The world was very clearly defined, I could clearly see each scene and feel the tension coming from all directions. Most of all, Cal and Mitch had the kind of relationship I was both rooting for, yet worried for.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This was a thoroughly captivating read. I found myself in a “one more chapter” loop that often took four or five chapters to break out of, and even then it was only because I was late for something else. The world was very clearly defined, I could clearly see each scene and feel the tension coming from all directions. Most of all, Cal and Mitch had the kind of relationship I was both rooting for, yet worried for.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
Read
August 25, 2019No rating, DNF. I was intrigued by the concept but really put off because the book was heavily laced with gender stereotyping and misogyny. Just wasn't for me, couldn't get past it. Not rating because the writing was good other than the off-putting themes.
June 2, 2021
3.5
Me gustó pero le faltó algo
Me gustó pero le faltó algo
February 12, 2023
Tarde más en leer esto de lo que debería.
August 31, 2013
Horror is not my thing. Maybe that's why I liked this book about zombies (OMG) so much - the gruesomeness was kept to an acceptable (for me) minimum. But the adventure grabbed me from page one and kept me reading non-stop until it was done.
Now, I just need the next book to continue Mitch and Cal's adventures!
Now, I just need the next book to continue Mitch and Cal's adventures!
dnf
July 28, 2015*No rating as DNF*
I really tried with this one. The writing is ok, the characters are ok, and I think I could possibly have finished it if it wasn't just so very dull. Hardly any zombies or action and the sex scenes were devoid of any sexiness.
I really tried with this one. The writing is ok, the characters are ok, and I think I could possibly have finished it if it wasn't just so very dull. Hardly any zombies or action and the sex scenes were devoid of any sexiness.
September 9, 2013
An okay story. It was well written and the story flowed fine. The MC's were okay and the plot was good. I just finished watching World War Z a few nights ago so I can't really say this book blew my mind. I enjoyed it but I didn't think the story was unique.
August 7, 2013
3.5 stars
August 23, 2013
-1 for not putting a bullet in Ethan's head and pushing him off the edge when he came to "negotiate"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2014
Combines two of my favourite things ;)
March 8, 2014
I really liked this book. I hope there is a sequel.
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November 7, 20163,5
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