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Bite-Sized Romance #1
Trapped: Expanded Edition
Serena is between a rock and a hard place.
A military experiment gone wrong has sent her world crashing down—along with everybody else’s—as a mysterious disease turns living, breathing, red-blooded people into mindless weapons of destruction.
Supplies have run so low that her husband leaves to find food and never returns.
Serena finds herself alone, preparing for inevitable death from starvation when her husband’s best friend, Steven, shows up to her rescue.
After seeing his best friend turn, Steven knows what he must do: protect and save his old buddy’s wife, the only person he has left now that his whole family and everyone else he cared about is gone.
Only Serena is not just his undead best friend’s girl—Steven has had a secret crush on Serena for almost as long as he’s known her, doing everything in his power to hide it from his buddy while he was alive.
And now, at the horrible price of losing his best friend, he has a chance to be with her.
But would Serena ever give him a chance, given their circumstances?
NB - The Expanded Edition includes a prologue, additional Part One scenes, and a whole new section (Part Two).
A military experiment gone wrong has sent her world crashing down—along with everybody else’s—as a mysterious disease turns living, breathing, red-blooded people into mindless weapons of destruction.
Supplies have run so low that her husband leaves to find food and never returns.
Serena finds herself alone, preparing for inevitable death from starvation when her husband’s best friend, Steven, shows up to her rescue.
After seeing his best friend turn, Steven knows what he must do: protect and save his old buddy’s wife, the only person he has left now that his whole family and everyone else he cared about is gone.
Only Serena is not just his undead best friend’s girl—Steven has had a secret crush on Serena for almost as long as he’s known her, doing everything in his power to hide it from his buddy while he was alive.
And now, at the horrible price of losing his best friend, he has a chance to be with her.
But would Serena ever give him a chance, given their circumstances?
NB - The Expanded Edition includes a prologue, additional Part One scenes, and a whole new section (Part Two).
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2013
50 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Rose Francis
44 books90 followersRose writes contemporary interracial romance (mostly BWWM). Her stories star white-collar heroes as well as billionaires, and the women of color who fall in love with them! Some are on the sweet side, and some are on the steamy side.
For white-collar heroes, check out the Sweet Redemption & Holiday Hunks series.
For Cinderella-type billionaire love stories, check out The Billionaire's Desire, The Billionaire's Proposition, Secrets & Deception, and the Taking Chances series.
For oddball stories, see the Dangerous Secrets series & Bite-Sized Romance.
For white-collar heroes, check out the Sweet Redemption & Holiday Hunks series.
For Cinderella-type billionaire love stories, check out The Billionaire's Desire, The Billionaire's Proposition, Secrets & Deception, and the Taking Chances series.
For oddball stories, see the Dangerous Secrets series & Bite-Sized Romance.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 30, 2014
I can't even begin to list all the things that made this fail but I want to start by saying its not a lack of talent. It boils down to a writer who seems completely out of touch with what's romantic, compelling and sexy.
First ten pages, I was stoked. Zombie apocalypse, black heroine, bad ass alpha hero. It went straight to hell soon after.
the writing is solid. But the choices....oooh for the love of books, the choices she made for these two. (spoilers ahead) Starting with...
WHO THE F*CK thinks its sexy for the "best friend" of a woman's dead husband to openly watch her bathe less than 24hrs after telling her the news that said friend is dead? Who the hell thinks its romantic or sexy for this same friend to have sex with this woman the next day despite her protests...all because he "can tell" she wants it and we as the reader are treated to a few ambiguous thoughts and phrases that make it seem like MAYBE she does. What's sexy about these SAME TWO people making a conscious decison to procreate DURING THE F*CKING ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE??? There is zero discussion between these two to denote ANY emotional depth or commitment. Its all so flighty, disjointed and vague that you're suprised by them spouting off the things they do when they do speak. No lead up to ANYthing that happens.
Just ..don't. Spare yourself. Its short and an obvious prequel but I feel certain you can do something else with this hour of your life.
First ten pages, I was stoked. Zombie apocalypse, black heroine, bad ass alpha hero. It went straight to hell soon after.
the writing is solid. But the choices....oooh for the love of books, the choices she made for these two. (spoilers ahead) Starting with...
WHO THE F*CK thinks its sexy for the "best friend" of a woman's dead husband to openly watch her bathe less than 24hrs after telling her the news that said friend is dead? Who the hell thinks its romantic or sexy for this same friend to have sex with this woman the next day despite her protests...all because he "can tell" she wants it and we as the reader are treated to a few ambiguous thoughts and phrases that make it seem like MAYBE she does. What's sexy about these SAME TWO people making a conscious decison to procreate DURING THE F*CKING ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE??? There is zero discussion between these two to denote ANY emotional depth or commitment. Its all so flighty, disjointed and vague that you're suprised by them spouting off the things they do when they do speak. No lead up to ANYthing that happens.
Just ..don't. Spare yourself. Its short and an obvious prequel but I feel certain you can do something else with this hour of your life.
April 20, 2014
I did not like this book, but the surprise ending - Steven's statement to Serena at the end - made me give it one additional star.
The writing style is smooth, and free from grammatical boo boos. It was also interesting to see an interracial couple, which is typically not done in most romances, zombie or otherwise. These are the only things I can say I liked about this story.
As a zombie story, there was a lot left to be desired - like, you know, zombies, for one. For a post-ZA world, our intrepid couple ran into a total of two, yes two!, zomibes while travelling from California to Nevada. And of course, both of these two zombies were miles apart and isolated. So, where did the rest of the 3/4 of America's zombified population go? No clues are found in this book.
As a romance story, there was also a lot left to be desired. The romance read more like a happy rape scene - Serena is terrified, and Steven is an egotistical megalomaniac. The whole thing with pregnancy was just out there and didn't make any sense to me.
So, aside for the lovely one-liner ending that piqued my interest, this is a book I would take a pass on.
The writing style is smooth, and free from grammatical boo boos. It was also interesting to see an interracial couple, which is typically not done in most romances, zombie or otherwise. These are the only things I can say I liked about this story.
As a zombie story, there was a lot left to be desired - like, you know, zombies, for one. For a post-ZA world, our intrepid couple ran into a total of two, yes two!, zomibes while travelling from California to Nevada. And of course, both of these two zombies were miles apart and isolated. So, where did the rest of the 3/4 of America's zombified population go? No clues are found in this book.
As a romance story, there was also a lot left to be desired. The romance read more like a happy rape scene - Serena is terrified, and Steven is an egotistical megalomaniac. The whole thing with pregnancy was just out there and didn't make any sense to me.
So, aside for the lovely one-liner ending that piqued my interest, this is a book I would take a pass on.
March 11, 2017
3.5 stars ***.5
A good read !
A good read !
January 20, 2016
I received a free kindle copy of Trapped: Expanded Edition (Bite-Sized Romance #1) (Bite-Sized Romance: Zombie Apocalypse Book 1) by Rose Francis from Amazon for fair review. I gave it four stars.
It is a post apocalyptic world where there was the release of a virus from a base that did military research. Rather than calling the resulting victims of this virus zombies, they are called Morphs & cannot be healed. The only solution is to shoot them in the head.
Steven, Gregory's best friend comes to rescue Serena, Gregory's wife. Gregory is now out of the picture by becoming a Morph. Steven had been attracted to Serena for several years but because he was friends with Gregory, had not acted on it. Now his desire holds no bounds.
Will Serena surrender to Steven? Will he get her safely to the military base of survivors?
There are several erotic scenes between them so I would not recommend this for under 18 years old readers.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1500...
It is a 'to be continued' book.
It is a post apocalyptic world where there was the release of a virus from a base that did military research. Rather than calling the resulting victims of this virus zombies, they are called Morphs & cannot be healed. The only solution is to shoot them in the head.
Steven, Gregory's best friend comes to rescue Serena, Gregory's wife. Gregory is now out of the picture by becoming a Morph. Steven had been attracted to Serena for several years but because he was friends with Gregory, had not acted on it. Now his desire holds no bounds.
Will Serena surrender to Steven? Will he get her safely to the military base of survivors?
There are several erotic scenes between them so I would not recommend this for under 18 years old readers.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1500...
It is a 'to be continued' book.
July 8, 2015
I was completely stoked for this read, I thought, "Zombies, the apocalypse, hot alpha male, the perfect story" although I was utterly disappointed in return. I tried to finish the book, trust me I really did, but it was nearly impossible. One of my main dislikes was (SPOILERS AHEAD) Steven was so convinced that this is what Serena wanted, that she wanted to have sex with her deceased Husband's best-friend not even a week after she receives the knowledge of his death. And on top of that, she (Serena) just couldn't for the life of her resist him, which I've found to be a common trait in erotic fiction, but seriously, as a reader I should have felt excited and anxious for the two to make love, but what they were doing was anything but "making love". I wouldn't say this book is a failure, as I've mentioned before, it had it's highlights, the more gory scenes were what I found the most enticing. Other then that, the romance was a major NO for me.
March 7, 2014
I liked this novella mainly because it depicts the franticness that one would feel while the end of the world was upon them. Feelings change without even thinking about them. Life is looked at differently. And in this zombie apocalypse tale, both hold true.
What got me and makes me want to read the next book in the series is the ending. The bomb dropped and it left me feeling like I had been struck by lightning while simultaneously drowning.
It was like an OMG. What. The. Hell. Just. Happened. Here?! Moment.
I have a soft spot for romance told during a zombie apocalypse and this novel took the themes one would face during a zombie apocalypse to a whole new level. Being used to get what you want. Doing anything to get food, water, and safety. Yep... all of those are in here.
What got me and makes me want to read the next book in the series is the ending. The bomb dropped and it left me feeling like I had been struck by lightning while simultaneously drowning.
It was like an OMG. What. The. Hell. Just. Happened. Here?! Moment.
I have a soft spot for romance told during a zombie apocalypse and this novel took the themes one would face during a zombie apocalypse to a whole new level. Being used to get what you want. Doing anything to get food, water, and safety. Yep... all of those are in here.
March 4, 2014
I really don't know how I feel about this book. I liked the zombies. I liked the total destruction of the world as we know it. But I didn't like the quasi-forced consent between Serena and Steven. Because while her body was willing, Serena's head was definitely not in the game.
That said, I thought the ending was weirdly awesome. Such a punch to the gut. One little line made me all O.O and (O)_(O) and back to O.O.
If only the D/s themes had been less squicky for me. I would have been ALL OVER this book. Alas.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
That said, I thought the ending was weirdly awesome. Such a punch to the gut. One little line made me all O.O and (O)_(O) and back to O.O.
If only the D/s themes had been less squicky for me. I would have been ALL OVER this book. Alas.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
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December 23, 2014The beginning of this book was intriguing, then it went wrong. Very wrong for me. When the hero of a story tells the heroine, "I'm not going to rape you." Then, he's on top of her and apologizing because he can't control himself and he does the deed... That's not sexy to me. It's icky.
Because of the decent writing, I'd consider trying another book by this author, but I'd read the reviews first and if anyone mentioned "rapey", I'd definitely pass on it.
Because of the decent writing, I'd consider trying another book by this author, but I'd read the reviews first and if anyone mentioned "rapey", I'd definitely pass on it.
February 11, 2014
Part one is a good start to this zombie apocalypse story. Look forward to part 2.
January 23, 2015
Great book
OMG this book was good. All the twists and turns. The ending was the best. So many questions that was left unanswered. The author is brilliant.
OMG this book was good. All the twists and turns. The ending was the best. So many questions that was left unanswered. The author is brilliant.
April 26, 2016
Immensely enjoyable
My first zombie apocalyptic story and I really thought it was well written and developed. The words basically jumped and you could picture everything.
My first zombie apocalyptic story and I really thought it was well written and developed. The words basically jumped and you could picture everything.
November 19, 2023
Wanted too
I wanted to like this book. I still don't understand his actions when he found her. The world as you know it is falling apart but all you can think about is having sex with this woman. Was it a side effect of the virus, it seems like it, maybe. If he had'nt kept pushing it she would not have slept with him. Also the brothers point of view, why did we need that. The ending was a disappointment also. I really wanted to like this book.
I wanted to like this book. I still don't understand his actions when he found her. The world as you know it is falling apart but all you can think about is having sex with this woman. Was it a side effect of the virus, it seems like it, maybe. If he had'nt kept pushing it she would not have slept with him. Also the brothers point of view, why did we need that. The ending was a disappointment also. I really wanted to like this book.
September 4, 2025
I think I've read this book before—maybe a few years ago—because when I started reading the first chapter, it felt very familiar. Soon, I realized I'd read it back then. Not sure why I didn't review it here; the story was really short.
I'm not sure I would consider what Serena and Seven had to be a romance—it felt more like a bunch of lust-infested red flags. Anyway, I was interested in the zombie theory, but the book ends abruptly, so there's not much info there, I guess.
I'm not sure I would consider what Serena and Seven had to be a romance—it felt more like a bunch of lust-infested red flags. Anyway, I was interested in the zombie theory, but the book ends abruptly, so there's not much info there, I guess.
May 1, 2018
I dislike zombies, just as much as I dislike vampires and shifters.
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January 9, 2020Did not read. Purchased in error on November 26, 2016. Marked as read and removed from my devices in April 2019.
May 15, 2023
Zombie apocalypse porn. Just wasn't for me. Thankfully it was free.
May 1, 2024
Not your typical
Definitely not your typical pa read. Characters are full and intriguing. Did not expect the ending at all.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Definitely not your typical pa read. Characters are full and intriguing. Did not expect the ending at all.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
August 7, 2016
Serena is between a rock and a hard place.
A military experiment gone wrong has sent her world crashing down—along with everybody else’s—as a mysterious disease turns living, breathing, red-blooded people into mindless weapons of destruction.
Supplies have run so low that her husband leaves to find food and never returns.
Serena finds herself alone, preparing for inevitable death from starvation when her husband’s best friend, Steven, shows up to her rescue.
After seeing his best friend turn, Steven knows what he must do: protect and save his old buddy’s wife, the only person he has left now that his whole family and everyone else he cared about is gone.
Only Serena is not just his undead best friend’s girl—Steven has had a secret crush on Serena for almost as long as he’s known her, doing everything in his power to hide it from his buddy while he was alive.
And now, at the horrible price of losing his best friend, he has a chance to be with her.
But would Serena ever give him a chance, given their circumstances?
NB - The Expanded Edition includes a prologue, additional Part One scenes, and a whole new section (Part Two).
A military experiment gone wrong has sent her world crashing down—along with everybody else’s—as a mysterious disease turns living, breathing, red-blooded people into mindless weapons of destruction.
Supplies have run so low that her husband leaves to find food and never returns.
Serena finds herself alone, preparing for inevitable death from starvation when her husband’s best friend, Steven, shows up to her rescue.
After seeing his best friend turn, Steven knows what he must do: protect and save his old buddy’s wife, the only person he has left now that his whole family and everyone else he cared about is gone.
Only Serena is not just his undead best friend’s girl—Steven has had a secret crush on Serena for almost as long as he’s known her, doing everything in his power to hide it from his buddy while he was alive.
And now, at the horrible price of losing his best friend, he has a chance to be with her.
But would Serena ever give him a chance, given their circumstances?
NB - The Expanded Edition includes a prologue, additional Part One scenes, and a whole new section (Part Two).
June 2, 2015
SPOILER ALERT
I'm glad that I decided to read this updated version after reading the original first. I liked the story - I could see it being made into a script for a feature film on the SyFy Channel - a pretty good one at that!
I appreciated the characters' back stories - they made the characters more believable and relevant. I actually cared about them.
I had some reservations with Steven's character though - I felt that he was short of being a rapist, but I found myself also drawn to him. The fact that he could still be attractive/sexy is a testament to the author's writing skills. And as it turned out - he got a 'get out of jail free' card when it was later revealed that the virus he carried made him behave overly aggressive and scary. (Still - if I was in Serena's position, dude would've gotten kneed in the nuts)...
Even though there were a few editing issues, I will be reading more of this writer's work soon!
I'm glad that I decided to read this updated version after reading the original first. I liked the story - I could see it being made into a script for a feature film on the SyFy Channel - a pretty good one at that!
I appreciated the characters' back stories - they made the characters more believable and relevant. I actually cared about them.
I had some reservations with Steven's character though - I felt that he was short of being a rapist, but I found myself also drawn to him. The fact that he could still be attractive/sexy is a testament to the author's writing skills. And as it turned out - he got a 'get out of jail free' card when it was later revealed that the virus he carried made him behave overly aggressive and scary. (Still - if I was in Serena's position, dude would've gotten kneed in the nuts)...
Even though there were a few editing issues, I will be reading more of this writer's work soon!
January 20, 2017
Not well written
The writing wasn't professional by any means. People's thoughts were strange. In the beginning she feared him, but later she say she always desired him. So which is it? She was not only send I g mixed signals, but thinking mixed signals. Dude all so sounded pretty crazy at times. Burning bodies is not an easy thing to do and the smoke is the most vile thing you could ever smell. No way would you stand around a burning body or burn them in the street. There didn't seem to be much organisation to the organization that started the virus! So they are just going to bomb everyone. Not spread messages for survivors to hunker down for 8 weeks, not risking exposure or they will get bombed. Maybe give them time to do right and survive while the infected die off. Just too much thinking like a teenager in this book. Not enough common sense from anyone.
The writing wasn't professional by any means. People's thoughts were strange. In the beginning she feared him, but later she say she always desired him. So which is it? She was not only send I g mixed signals, but thinking mixed signals. Dude all so sounded pretty crazy at times. Burning bodies is not an easy thing to do and the smoke is the most vile thing you could ever smell. No way would you stand around a burning body or burn them in the street. There didn't seem to be much organisation to the organization that started the virus! So they are just going to bomb everyone. Not spread messages for survivors to hunker down for 8 weeks, not risking exposure or they will get bombed. Maybe give them time to do right and survive while the infected die off. Just too much thinking like a teenager in this book. Not enough common sense from anyone.
January 20, 2015
The story was there, but I just couldn't commit to it. I had one major drawback... there are minimal zombies in this zombie apocalypse book. There are some books you read and you ARE the story and this was not one of those. It was a good read, but for me it is not a re-read. It walks that precarious line for a heartbeat, but pulled the story out of what could have been a catastrophic tailspin. It is a fast read and had very few errors in it.
November 17, 2019
The plot was there, but he was an ass and she was more weak than I would have like her to be.
April 9, 2015
loved this... I almost wanted to feel trapped
Love the psychologicAl and sexual tension plus her writing style......... Pick it up ... You won't be disappointed I promise
Love the psychologicAl and sexual tension plus her writing style......... Pick it up ... You won't be disappointed I promise
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September 27, 2014Print edition almost here...
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