Dead Awakenings

by Rebekah R. Ganiere

Being dead can be a great way to find yourself…

Struggling to pay her bills in New York, theater student Evaine Michaels sees an opportunity to make money by taking part in an unsanctioned clinical trial for a new drug. But things don’t go as planned. She wakes up in a derelict hospital, chained to a bed with no memory of who she is or how she got there. Then a band of pale-skinned men, led by the gorgeous Luca, bursts in and rescues her. Evaine is instantly attracted to Luca, but he’s so hell-bent on stopping the experiments, he has no time for the feelings she’s awakening within him.

Safely back at Haven House, Evaine is introduced to The Family and learns that the drug trials have made her a Deader, a reanimated Undead. Evaine and Luca find themselves getting close, until Evaine remembers not only who she is, but that she’s engaged. And her fiancé, Tristan, is probably still looking for her. Torn between her first love and her new heart’s desire, Evaine has some hard choices to make.

But when a rogue faction of Deaders, called Feeders, attempt to kidnap her, Luca suspects Evaine might be the key to the experiments, and everyone must band together to keep Evaine off the cutting table…

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Horror, Zombies

436 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2013

About the author

Rebekah is a USA Today Bestselling Author and Award Winning, Emmy Nominated Screenwriter. Her debut novel Dead Awakenings, hit the bestseller list on release day. She has won several awards in both writing and screenwriting. Books in her popular fairytale retelling series Fairelle have won many awards including Best Fantasy Series of 2014 from the Paranormal Romance Guild. Rebekah is a prolific author releasing upwards of five books a year and is currently working on six different series.



Rebekah is the former President of the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA as well as a member of several local and online chapters. In her spare time when she isn't writing you can find her teaching all over the US and online. Rebekah has been a guest speaker and panelist at Comic Cons and conventions all over the US. Her first feature film, based on her novel Rekindling Christmas, was nominated for an Emmy for Best Picture.

Reviews

[Angel Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously LOVED this read. There are few author imaginations that captivate me like Ganiere's, and this twist on the zombie genre is absolutely amazing. But the most captivating aspect of this book is the beautiful relationship that unfolds between Luca and Evaine, with backstories woven in like delicious buttercream to a dessert recipe. It's a subtle yet wonderful way of balancing out the hard truths that must guide their lives--and love--in present day.
I can't wait to move deeper into this series. Such memorable work from an outstanding writer!

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a massive fan of zombie reads but I am a massive fan of this author so thought I would give it a go and OMG I am so glad I did cause it is awesome! The storyline grabs you from the very beginning as we follow Evaine Michaels on her journey and enter a world she didn’t know existed. It’s dark, it’s exciting, it’s action packed, it’s got romance and it’s so freaking hot and steamy in places and I could not put this down! It’s such a great read with its addictive plot, suspense, danger, intrigue, thrills and twists and turns that I have to read more!!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much more than I expected. It is action-packed, well-paced, engaging, and entertaining, with steam, intrigue, mystery, and great main characters, as well as secondary characters. I have a new opinion of Zombies (Deaders). I liked this read and am looking forward to more in this series. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent. Absolutely excellent. This is my second Rebekah R. Ganiere book and I think I enjoyed it even more than I did the first. The story hooked me from the get go and didn't want to let me go (not even to go to work; thankfully, I won that battle). The story is incredibly interesting. I honestly haven't read many novels that involve the undead in some way or another and have always been a little wary of them (but definitely not opposed to trying them out). So far the two Ganiere books I've read, this one and Cupid's Curse, have been vastly different but both fantastic. I honestly just want to go and pick up another of her books and start reading asap, and I just might do that. This story was really intriguing. The characters were really well fleshed-out and completely endearing. Evaine and Luca first meet when he and his tactical team barge into her "hospital" room, where she has just woken up, to rescue her from an unknown enemy. She is thrown into a world that she never could've imagined. She and Luca have some sort of strange connection, the likes of which the Deaders have never seen before. This in addition to her exceedingly powerful abilities make her a point of interest for not only her "family" members, but also the Feeders. In this book Ganiere takes us into a completely different world existing within our own that feels surprisingly normal. While the Deaders have a lot of limitations, the family they have created and the things they've managed to accomplish (the number of Deaders they have been able to rescue and the way they've built a life for themselves) are applaudable. It was interesting having Tristan thrown into the mix. Being human and Evaine's fiance makes things very complicated. She has such strong feelings for Luca yet still loves Tristan. What is a girl to do?! Despite Luca and Tristan's extreme dislike for each other, they manage to overcome their differences enough for Tristan to help out the members of Haven House (aptly named, I might add) in taking down whoever is creating them. The book is exciting and will completely pull you in. There is absolute a HEA ending with no cliffhanger. Regardless, I canNOT wait to read more!

[Mandie Foxylutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://foxylutely.blogspot.com/2014/0...

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review

I don’t get to read many paranormal books of late but this is so much more as it crosses a couple of genres that make the read just that little bit more engaging and original.

The plotline was a winner from the start and the characters extremely likeable, especially the main character Evaine. The world building was well executed and the author did not take the reader through complex evolvement that it was easy to understand and get enveloped into the story.

I was a little hesitant when I read in the blurb that there was to be a battle of old love and new love, with zombies thrown in (kind of) but again this was cleverly played.

I don’t want to divulge too much as this is covered in the synopsis of the book, however what happens is so much more. But I liked that the story unfolds without the need for rampant erotica, yes there were love scenes but they did not override the overall plot of the story.

A totally absorbing read and for someone is no longer has paranormal on the top of her TBR list anymore, this has certainly broken that as I will definitely look forward to more from Ms Ganiere.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

Set in New York, where college students and homelessness abound and no one recognizes just how many people are missing, Ms. Ganiere has created a new, and incredibly intriguing, sub-genre of zombies: ones with souls and “vampiric” like abilities

Read full review in the 2014 June/July Double Issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Kady Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deaders! Great twist on the zombie trope. Rebekah Ganiere's debut novel got this reader to embrace the walking dead for the first time. The romantic elements are so well drawn in this creepy, dystopian world, it draws the story miles away from the overdone "hero battles legions of zombies" plot. Can't wait to read more from this promising new author!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story that had me hooked forever. Loved the characters. Taking part in a drug trial gone wrong isn’t good. What will happen next. Don’t miss out.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is a very interesting PNR, with a pretty unique premise versus your usual urban fantasy. The main characters are what they call Deaders - kind of like zombies, but not. Reanimated corpses, but with full faculties, and spirits. Technically they primarily crave human flesh, but the Deaders have created a pretty vast community where they have developed a drink that they have daily to keep their bodies functioning, and they eat animal flesh, or have developed methods of obtaining human remains without having to kill humans. There is a faction of Deaders, known as Feeders, who don’t conform to their rules and just give in to their baser instincts and feed on humans. Evaine enters this world when she’s rescued by the Deaders and taken to one of their community homes. She has no memory of her life or what happened to turn her into a Deader, but she has no choice but to adapt. There is also an immediate connection/attraction to one of the other Deaders, Luca. Some Deaders also have been reawakened with new abilities, such as telekinesis, electrical pulse manipulation, or other mind related skills. The other interesting thing about these Deaders is that they don’t seem to have been around for maybe slightly over a decade. We’re not talking about people who have been living this life for hundreds of years, and they don’t really know why they are like this either. No one has been able to figure out the why of their situation.

But Evaine seems to have developed very strong abilities, and suddenly the Feeders are very interested in her as well. And when she regains her memories and tries to reach out to someone in her former life, it opens up a whole new world of danger for everyone. Interestingly enough, a sort of love triangle happens, and to be honest, her former love, Tristan, really isn’t a bad guy at all, so you kind of feel bad for him, knowing that since he’s not a Deader, he really just doesn’t stand a chance. But his involvement also brings other aspects to their mission, and he is surprisingly helpful for them.

There is a good amount of action, and the world building is quite intriguing, and definitely kept my interest. There’s also some steam and tension between Evaine and Luca that keep things spicy. The culmination and big confrontation brings a lot of tension, and there is enough of a thread left that the story will definitely need to continue with another book, but you’re not left screaming at a major cliffy. I’m definitely interested in this world and the continuation of the story and characters. The other Deaders that essential become Evaine’s family are an interesting crew, and there is plenty of personality to go around, rounding out the story nicely.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Awakenings is Rebekah R. Ganiere’s newest paranormal romance novel. The author introduces readers to a young woman by the name of Evaine. Evaine is facing some hard decisions in her life, but this isn’t the first time that these problems have come up. Money is tight, and she needs to consider taking time off from school to get a job. But everyone knows that the theatre won’t wait, but she refuses to ask her fiancee for the financial help that she needs. So when her counselor gives her a flyer about medical trials and earning money from it, she finds herself forever changed.
Evaine just wanted a means of making money to pay her short term bills and figure out what she was going to do next in her long-term timeline. Now, she find herself being rescued by a group of individuals who call themselves “Deaders.” She can’t remember anything from her life upon awakening, but she is struck by a serious craving for blood. This paranoral romance novel has some good moments, but I feel that it lacks some serious direction to really drive things toward. Evaine it seems is just a victim of opportunity and not a specific target, so unlike other paranormal novels there is nothing truly specific about her, until the storyline delves deeper as another group tries to abduct her.
I’m an avid reader and fan of paranormal novels, but I struggled a bit with this particular book. Evaine isn’t that interesting of a character, so we have to depend on the plot and other characters to really move this book along for the majority of the book. I do like the flashbacks into Evaine’s life before she was changed, and I appreciate that we get her boyfriend/fiancee, Tristain, as well. He never gives up on finding the woman that he loves. This aspect of the story helps bring in interest and drama while the storyline works to gain its feet.
The ending of this book leaves hints that another will be coming to create a series for this book. I’m curious to see where things go, so if/when there is another book I will be interested in reading it. For this book, I will be rating it 4 out of 5 stars. It takes time for this book to become interesting, in my opinion, and I found a few of the characters to be rather bland.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars

Evaine is studying acting in New York and is engaged to her high school sweetheart. She's determined to make it on her own, unlike her mother who uses men for what she can get.

Luca is a Deader and head of the tactical recon team at Haven House. Since his change he has been committed to finding those responsible and ending their experiments as well as recovering those who have also been changed.

Tristan Atwater lost his family young but never regretted making a fool out of himself to get the attention of his now fiancé.

Short on funds Evaine enters a drug trial that changes her forever. She awakens without her memory and a hunger for human flesh. Luca and his team are there to rescue her and guide her through the aftermath of the change, her new powers and a connection neither of them understands.

When Evaine disappears, Tristan is devastated and pulls out all the stops to find her. Finding her is everything, but it leads him down a path he never expected and a rival for her affections.

Ganiere gives us a new world, with human test subjects, two factions of Deaders, a love triangle, and a different take on the previously dead. I thought some of her ideas worked well in the story but others did not. There were a few inconsistencies that pulled me out of the story a few times. My takeaway was mixed, it's a likeable read but not my favorite of Ganiere's work.

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[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evaine is a student who has had a rough life. The one thing in her life that shines bright is her fiancée Tristan. He is a millionaire and worships the ground she walks on. She takes nothing from him and tries to do things on her own. When she signs up for a medical trial, things take a drastic turn…she awakes with no memories and her physical body is severely altered in many ways. She is now known as a Deader…someone alive, but not~ She has increased strength, vision, smell, and special abilities that are apparently off the charts…oh yeah, she wants to eat humans! There is one Deader she has an unexplainable bond too…Luca~ Luca feels the same about her and is beyond obsessed with everything about her! They are looking for those responsible for turning people into them~ They will also go up against the Feeders…those like them who eat humans! Evaine belongs to a group who is against doing that, except in worse case scenarios or war. Tristan is doing everything in his power to find her and once he does, he is not about to let her go no matter how she looks or is…but it will be a battle between Luca and Tristan for her…and when the chips come down when they discover who is truly behind these turnings~

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evaine is a theater student with a rich boyfriend whom she keeps telling to find someone more appropriate for him, however Tristan is persistent and wants to give her the world. But Evaine wants to support herself because she doesn't want to become her mother. So when her professor gives her a flyer about a drug research program she looks into it. Luca is a deader which is a reformed vampire in my opinion. He saves Evaine who has become a deader.

That is all the info I am providing to see if you get hooked in as well and I'm not usually a fan of vampiric stories however this had something new and that was my hook, line and sinker as you will because now I need to find out more about Evaine, her powers and connection to Luca despite being engaged.

You are going to have to decide if this hooks you as well as I recommend it thoroughly. This is my own honest opinion, in my own words with no compensation based upon the complimentary copy I found. Be your own judge and grab a copy yourself.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second opportunity to review this book by Rebekah Ganiere. I loved it the first time I read it and I loved it even more now that there is more to enjoy. I am an avid paranormal romance reader. I love romance about anything supernatural or paranormal. I was drawn in from the beginning and couldn't put the book down. This book held my attention and was never disappointing. This was an amazing story. The characters were engrossing and entertaining. Rebekah made the relationships enthralling and the characters are ones you will not forget.

Through Rebekah's we discover a kickass woman who is struggling through life, wrestling with its challenges, and through this story, she discovers all the things she didn't realize she wanted and needed... family, friends, and an a passionate and all-consuming love. I wish I had a Luca of my own!

Warning… once you start reading it will be really hard to put down because it's so captivating. Make sure you prepare yourself to be absolutely absorbed in this book and enjoy. This book is well worth it.

[Mary Lou Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEAD AWAKENINGS is a stand-alone story. However, I think it needs to be the beginning of a series!

I don’t like zombie stories. Especially after living through the recent pandemic! Life is hard enough without adding in real-life flesh-eaters or blood-suckers or…

However, I loved this story. It grabbed me from the beginning. It is action-packed, romantic, full of friendships, and suspenseful. There were times I felt like maybe I missed a prequel, but then I thought, “you’re not stupid, put the pieces together!”

There is a HEA/HFN ending. It could end here and be complete, but the ending is like life… it’s open to more.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.




Title: DEAD AWAKENINGS
Series: N/A
Category /Genre: Paranormal Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: book received as an unedited ARC copy/ errors excused
Received from: Rebekah R. Ganiere

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A paranormal mystery/romance or dark fantasy, Dead Awakenings brought a new (to me at least) twist to the paranormal romance genre, as it features zombies, or Deaders and Feeders as they are called in this book, as the main characters. Evaine is a newborn Deader, while Luca is a member of a group of Deaders trying to track down the persons responsible for their change. We follow Evaine as she discovers her new powers and the challenges of her new life as well as her trying to put closure to her recent past. The dynamics of Haven House, where Luca takes her after her "rebirth" are many and varied leading to interesting conflicts and drama. A piece of Evaine's recent past, her fiancee' Tristan, proves difficult to leave behind and ends up being connected to her new life in an unforseen way.
Dead Awakenings was my first book by this author and I don't think it will be my last.

[E.M. Reders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and unique twist on... dare i say it? Zombies! (Or deader's as they prefer to be called.) I loved the way we learnt about this new world along with Evaine, the same way we gained details of her past and what had happened to her as she did, though she didn't always remember what we had learned.
Luca was endgame for me right from the beginning, and i only cheered for him harder as time went on (is it bad to say i despise T, and yelled obscenely whenever he appeared).
Rebekah managed to introduce numerous other characters which i really hope get there own books. Prequel for Teo and Abbey maybe? A book for Victor and Cami? Curtis!!!! I would really love Curtis to get a book of his own one day. In fact every member of the family at Haven House need their own books and HEAs.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Awakenings

All Evaine ever wanted she had finally found... In Tristan. Tristan. Sweet, loving, safe Tristan. But Evaine wasn't sure she would ever be enough for Tristan... Even though he swore she was all he ever wanted...

"You've always seen yourself as broken, unfixable, and something to be thrown away. You think because your mother—no. Not your mother, because she's never been a mother to you." - Tristan

Tristan is devastated; Evaine has vanished: gone as if she never existed. Tristan is determined to find her... Or to die trying. She is his destiny, his all.


Looking for a horror novel, with brain hungry zombies and battle hardened heroes? You aren't going to find that here! Dystopian? A bit, perhaps... Struggles, betrayals, desires... all this and more. A complex, compelling tale, with multiple plotlines skillfully woven into a cohesive whole.

[Lory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my very first time ever reading a zombie PNR I'm really trying to understand why I haven't read this type of book before. This book had it all!!! This intense, thrill, and suspense read was worth my lack of sleep and my eyes being glued to my kindle. I'm not exaggerating it was that good. Since I'm not one to give spoilers you'll just have to check it out for yourself to see what I'm talking about. Overall enjoyable and entertaining read and great start for a new series. I'm looking forward to seeing what else is in store for this series. I voluntarily read and review this ARC no monetary compensation was received the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love urban fantasy with little romance, and I thought this might just be up my alley. Thankfully, I was right. However, this isn’t your typical UF, and Evaine is not your typical heroine. The “creatures” in this one are more a combination of zombies and vampires called Deaders, and they have commune-like communities where they live. I was so intrigued by this book from the beginning, and I loved all the characters including Tristan who I kinda felt sorry for. I hope there will be more book in this universe as I really want to visit them again. Well-written, engaging, and a great way to spend a day. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new twist on zombies for me. Evaine is more of the typical heroine of the typical book who is tore between two worlds, but otherwise I did enjoy the book. It has a very intriguing plot twists that puts the characters somewhere between a zombie and almost a vampire for me. I don't quite like the zombie term because they are not mindless, but they really aren't vampires either. In ways it reminds of the CW show. The characters have some good definition and the plot keeps you reading, so bravo to the author. I volunteered to read this book.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Awakenings, by Rebekah R. Ganiere, is a thrilling roller coaster ride of epic proportions! The storyline is fast-paced and well written, filled with twists and turns, danger, intrigue, subterfuge and romance. The characters are well developed and engaging. Evaine is a great female protagonist, adapting to her situation, and striving to take down those responsible for causing it. The storyline and characters are so we'll written you feel as if you are right there with them. Kudos to Ms. Ganiere for a wonderful novel!

[Claressa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my interest

I have to admit this isn't a type of book I would normally find interesting. Rebekah Ganiere did a very good job at keeping my interest! I loved the twist on and in this story. I became invested in the characters. She has a way of describing the scenes
so well that I felt like I could see and feel what was going on. I feel this is a good book for older teens and up. There is some violence and mild adult content. Excited to see if the story continues. I would love to see what happens with the main characters!

[Nicole Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking good. I have read book series is going to be awesome. The world she creates in her work is truly amazing. I cannot wait to see where this series goes. The characters that she has created really pull you in and you get attached and care about each and every one it was an amazing read.I received the book for free and I reviewed it voluntarily.

[Tara Dorough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Awakenings by Rebekah R. Ganiere is a different take on vampire/zombies genre. The characters are completely likable. They will hook you into the story and have you pulling for them right away. There are edge of your seat moments and twist you won't see coming. I can't wait to see what is in store for the future in the series.

[Michelle Dubia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... Seeing the humanity in the deaders and lack of it in the feeders. Talk about a glass half full and a glass half empty. This book kept my attention all the way through but I didn't see the ending with Tristan coming!

[altheah Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised did not know what I was getting in to !I don’t do Zambis This book I enjoyed had to find out what happen.Good strong characters great plot.and no grossing out.and the ending was not expected that ?need to read this book .

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I was fascinated by yhe plot and characters and I'm looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend this book if your looking for a new twist on an old genre you will love this one.

[Deborah Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I enjoyed how this was an atypical story of the dead and totally different from reading a zombie story. I really look forward to read more stories with any future books in the series.

[Shirley Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange new world,

Crazy, crazy medical experiments - a woman just trying to improve her life by hard work! The two men who have suffered losses of their own She is waking up 'different' & survival in a very strange new world becomes impariative!