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Love and Decay 1 #6

Love and Decay, Episode Six

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Zombies- as if that wasn’t enough to ruin any girl’s dream of a happily ever after.

After escaping Kane and The Colony, Reagan, Haley and the Parkers have acquired new traveling companions in the form of Tyler and Miller Allen. Neither are prepared for the struggle to survive daily or fight off the ever present Zombies.

On top of dealing with Tyler’s bad attitude and Miller’s careless ignorance, they are struggling with finding safe places to stay, an unreliable van and a dangerously depleting weapons stash.

Life seems deadlier than usual for Reagan and friends, but it also seems happier in places too. Hendrix holds her attention now and with life and death scenarios at every turn, their relationship is encouraged to develop.

When they are suddenly surrounded by hungry Zombies and every one of their lives is threatened, the tension between Reagan and Hendrix finally comes to a head.

Love and Decay, Episode Six, is the sixth in a novella series in a Dystopian Romance about Zombies, the end of the world and finding someone to share it with.

This story takes place over multiple episodes, with a release date every two weeks. Approximately 20,000 words.

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First published September 13, 2013

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179 people want to read

About the author

Rachel Higginson

122 books3,494 followers
Rachel Higginson is the best-selling author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, Bet on Us and The Star-Crossed Series.

She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Izzie d.
4,300 reviews362 followers
January 9, 2023
This is an interesting series.
It has humour so things don't get too heavy but at the same time they do loose people and there is violence and killing.

The series is a long one and these main characters stories continue for 3 seasons.
There is also a spin off series that deals with the sister later.

There is little intimacy. There is touching, hugging and a few kisses but no sex until much later in the last season.
The main 2 characters have love interests but due to the nature of the start of the virus and the constant threat there are no intimate scenes until the end of season 3.

Each season ends on a HFN with an enemy thread running through the whole series.
Each episode either ends as HFN with a goal set for the next or at times an immediate threat will run across several episodes.
At the time I read these the whole series was on Amazon KU so it was possible to read one after the other or complete in a box set.
If you start reading and want to get to a HEA you will need to read the entire 3 seasons.
There is the immediate zombie threat which is constant but also the series deals with humanities reaction to survival.
Often a bigger threat is the desire for power between the surviving groups and these at times use lack of resources and scientific experimentation to control the main threats.
Later in the series there is a love triangle situation of sorts for the heroine.
It's not exactly a love triangle but there is a dividing force between the main couple due to the interest from another man.
There are no intimate details but there is a kissing scene with the other man, but at the time the main couple are not together.
The characters are all very different, they have their flaws but they are college age so when they make mistakes and sometimes they are stupid ones I put it down to youth and although they have learnt survival through experience the threat is constant so it's not easy for them to be sensible all the time.
There is a good bit of banter between the group and a great deal of humour.
There are some serious issues dealt with too and the main human enemy threat is pretty evil.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sarah's Book Blog.
227 reviews927 followers
October 14, 2013

This is a spoiler free review on Love & Decay Episodes 1-7

(Giveaway at the end of the review...Giveaway if for the entire first season of Love & Decay, some are not yet released but will be sent to the winner upon release.)


This has been such a great, fun, and exciting read. I am a huge fan of zombies. Have been for as long as I can remember. Now, it is so easy to get your zombie fix so easy...we have The Walking Dead, the millions of movies out there, from World War Z, Zombieland and the classics like Night of the Living Dead but when it comes to getting a zombie fix in a book with the added bonus of a romance...Love & Decay is PERFECT.

Let me start by telling you that while Love & Decay is in fact a series of Novella's, it is also a lot like a show. Every two weeks a new episode is released. They are short quick reads but a packed full of action, romance and lots of gross gooey zombie blood.

Love & Decay reflects around a tight knit family, The Parker's and 2 young ladies. The Parker's are from oldest to youngest, Vaughan, Hendrix, Nelson, Harrison, King and the 8 year old little sister Page. They have survived the past two years by being careful of their surroundings, untrustworthy of others and relying on their awesome survival skills.

Reagan and Haley are two 20 year old girls who seriously kick ass...figuratively and literally. They lost everyone the cared for right in the beginning of the spreading zombie virus (which has a pretty funny start btw). They were not always the zombie ass kicking, bad ass girls they are now. They were the popular cheerleaders, into boys, nice clothes, girly girls. It is seriously pretty damn impressive that they have survived this long.

This whole series or I should probably should say season has been about two groups joining together and forming a bond that is a force to be reckoned with. During a zombie apocalypse, the last thing on anyone's mind is love. Finding the one, living a normal life for a girl right out of high school, well almost out of high school (damn zombies).

Reagan is the main story teller. We got one episode in Haley's POV which was nice, got to get inside her head a bit and learn more about her take on the whole zombie thing and a bit of how she feels about a certain Parker Brother. There is also a couple added members in the later episodes, brother and sister Tyler and Miller. I am now reading episode 8 which happens to be Tyler's POV so I'm hoping that I start to like her more and understand her more.

I really enjoy reading these novella's. They are super fun and you actually picture the scene in front of you. While, yes, there are a bit of editing problems here and there, I don't really pay much attention to it since the author has to be pretty darn busy to be releasing them every 2 weeks. Editing take some time and well, I'd rather have the book instead of waiting.

This book has everything. I mean everything...there is blood, guns, action, HUMOR, love, kissing, drama, fighting...I can't think of anymore to type but its all there. Rachel Higginson has a true talent. This has a mix of your zombieland humor, your walking dead action and seriousness and MORE...

I highly recommend this series to everyone. Even if your not a zombie fan you will definitely not care after this, its just so much fun to read and am so happy I found this series.


There will be 12 total episodes is this season and the author has said there is 3 seasons planned so far. The first season should end in November. We should expect Episode 9 October 25th.

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Profile Image for Deanna.
161 reviews17 followers
September 14, 2013
***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

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Has anyone else been missing out on zombies for a while now? Or is it just me?

Not gonna lie. Every episode we have a run in with some humans or their messed up communities my heart plummets a little 'cause I know that a zombie attack isn't gonna be the prime action in the episode. I think the zombie fighting bits are actually my favorite.

Who would have guessed I would become a fan of zombies? Not me. I love Zombieland, and Warm Bodies was an awesome movie, but I like them because they are awesome and hilarious movies, not because I have a creepy fascination about zombies.

Take The Walking Dead for example. That show freaks me out! I watched the first five episodes of that show in 2010 when I was a little freshman in college and I can still remember curling up in my bed in the dark with my eyes glued to my computer screen as I watched what I believed to be the scariest thing I'd ever seen. I hardly remember a thing about the show except that it freaked me out and gave me nightmares; and I haven't the faintest clue why I suffered through five episodes before finally turning away because that show is scary!

All this to say, I am terrified of zombies and I started out reading these novellas not because of the zombies, but because of Rachel Higginson. But now I cannot seem to get enough of those disgusting, smelly dead things that like to eat people. What is wrong with my brain?

Now finally the zombies are back! No creepy human settlements with dictator men who like to use women in this episode. I'm talking just some good old zombies. And, of course, the wonderful Parker brothers and the gang who get to kill the filthy beasts.

But now the dynamic has changed a bit with the addition of two new members to their gang - Tyler and Miller - who joined them up at the end of the previous episode.

I'm still not sure about how I feel when it comes to these two newbies. I liked the way things were going with just Reagan, Haley, and the Parker family, so I'm kinda trying to adjust. If Tyler and Miller are staying forever...well, I'm not sure how I like that. Especially since I'm a little annoyed with Tyler's personality right now. She's too bossy and whiny for my liking. I like Reagan and Haley because they are strong women who go out there and kill zombies like they are toned champions who were born and raised to be beasts at what they do. I don't need Tyler coming along and pulling this pathetic woman act on me.

No sir. I like strong female characters.

Can anyone say Brienne of Tarth?

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Now she is one awesome female. Dare I say my favorite? Of course!

Sorry for getting sidetracked. But how can you not think of Brienne when you think of strong and capable women?

In this episode the gang is still headed on their long journey south but it starts out with them sweeping a store of zombies to make a secure place to sleep in for the night. Not only are there zombies, there are rats! and there's rotting food with it's pungent odor.

Bleh!

The smell of rotten food is one of the worst smells. My nose protests at the hint of souring milk, so when the gang chooses to stay the night in an old freezer with rotten food my gag reflex is ready to hit the roof. 'Cause really, the idea of having to clean out a space with decaying food and then sleeping there sounds like a nightmare to me.

In my mind, rot is like the zombie equivalent for food. A person gets infected, they turn into a zombie; food gets infected, it rots. The thing they both have in common is the yucky smell and their ability to make me squeal in fear.

And that's all I'm gonna say. I'm not gonna give anything else away about this episode. Just know that I loved it and as always, I am totally ready for more.

Oh no! Zombie food! It's a mesh of two great evils!!! Run away!

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Profile Image for Mandy Reads Indie.
1,983 reviews91 followers
September 14, 2013
They were life to me now. And not just my waking moments and daily duties. No, they were literally life-they represented the only good things left in this dead world, they were bright and full of vitality and color. They were shining with everything good and pure and beautiful and I would never give them up.

Reagan and her family made it out of the Colony, barely, and along the way they picked up 2 more people to join their band of misfits. These newbies have a lot to learn when it comes to surviving out in this harsh, unforgiving world. And it is not something that is going to happen overnight. But things only get worse when the group tries to take off after a fitful night's sleep, in a freezer of an old grocery store. Will this finally be it for the group? Will things go unsaid between Raegan and Hendrix?

This was Hendrix-the boy had seen me and demanded I make a place in his life before I even knew his last name.

Have I mentioned how much I love Hendrix? Yes, every infuriating, delicious ounce of him. I love how intense he is and how much he cares for Reagan. He would do anything for this girl and yet, she just wants to question her feelings. Does she really know him? Is she settling because they are walking on the edge of the end of the world; quite possibly being the only sane people left to populate the world? Ok, I just added that last part in there. But seriously, couldn't you see Reagan trying to process that as she is justifying her feelings for Hendrix?

Another fabulous, intense episode from the LOVE AND DECAY series. How does Higginson keep them all so fresh and exciting? I don't know, but I can assure you the intensity of the series keeps getting stronger and stronger as the clan travel on. I seriously thought the worst was going to happen in this one. I just knew that we would lose someone, anyone, in this episode. Will they all make it out alive? Read the story and find out for yourself.
Profile Image for Mary.
191 reviews
September 16, 2013
Another great installment that had me on the edge of my seat. This episode starts off with a couple zombies, some rat wrangling and some cleaning. Tyler and Miller and not exactly helpful to the gang and it seems like Vaughn's even more stressed about keeping everyone safe. Add into the mix a lack of ammunition, a still somewhat ill Page, and a somewhat confusing relationship with Hendrix and it's not going to take much to plunge Regan's world into panic. They get past one group of zombies only to end up in a showdown with at least 30 of them when the van breaks down and they run out of ammo.

This episode had one of the best action sequences in the serial. The intensity kept me glued to the page even though I was terrified that someone was going to die. Since the past few episodes have focused more on relationships and humans, it was nice to have some zombie action in this one. The zombies in all their gross stink glory certainly didn't disappoint. And the kiss with Hendrix... perfect. It still seems like things might get worse for the gang before they get better, but I can't wait to find out what happens next!

*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Caylie.
Author 6 books165 followers
October 15, 2013
**I received an ARC from Rachel in return for an honest review**

I laughed so hard during this episode. Forget about the zombies (even though they were everywhere!) - you get something even creepier in this one.... RATS. Hordes and hordes of rats. UGH!
Between Reagan being freaked about the rats - and Vaughan and Hendix making her stay and clean up... and their banter back and forth. Laughed.So.Hard!!

Also, I have to say, I liked Tyler in the last episode, but she seems to be wearing on me already. What did she think it was going to look like when she left that colony?! All peaches and cream everywhere?! Psht.
But, I do love the banter between her and Vaughan.

My favorite... FAVORITE part happened at the end. Yeah... Rachel makes you SUFFER until the LAST.FREAKING.PAGE.
But once you get there... You will say... FINALLY!!!!!!! (as if that doesn't give anything away...)... FINALLY!!!!!!!!!

That is all. I cannot wait until episode 7!! Way to go Rachel, way to make me freak out on the last page, only to make me suffer for two more weeks.
Profile Image for Rebecca Rakes.
209 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2014
This story brought us back on track!
At first I hated the addition of Tyler and Miller. Tyler is annoying and selfish and I wanted to punch her in the face. But then Rachel Higginson uses her as a billboard to show how things could have been, how things were for so many people in the beginning. Reagan sees her and questions herself. Why didn't see fall apart? Has she become cold and unfeeling?
I was iffy and the proposed pairing for Tyler and Vaughn. You can see that build up coming a mile away but with her evolution I think it may be a fun ride to go on. As long as it is taken slow and this one is NOT instalove. This pairing must be one of the slow, growing things to be anywhere near beleivable.
Love the series.
Profile Image for Roz Balidio.
105 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2015
I'll make some amendments first. If I'll ever love Tyler, it's not yet in this episode.

The climax is great to end this season. It has this dreadful finality that had my insides in knots and my heart racing.

The last episode in the first season started slow I practically skimmed through it. It also has a full-on emotional middle part that I just had my eyes scan over it.

However, compared to episode five, this one's lamer. The intensity of the previous episode is much better than this. The way it ended is very anticlimactic. It had me thinking that ending it high, like maybe a cliffhanger's gonna leave the readers antsy to get to the next season. This season finale can just be an ending to the whole story.

Profile Image for Jordon.
335 reviews25 followers
February 2, 2014
Not a lot happens in this novella. At least not that i can remember... It was very unmemorable. I'm still not sure what the bigger picture is, the story focus's a lot on Hendrix and Regans relationship which would be fine if there was a little more too it. Regan is starting to get really annoying, she's constantly saying yes and then saying no at the last moment.

The zombies are evolving but the story doesn't really focus on them evolving, something will be mentioned in a paragraph and then is overshadowed by Hendrix and Regan's relationship, or non-relationship. Whatever it is. I want more world building!
Profile Image for Shannon Deberry.
41 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2013
Wow!! Another great episode. The group is on the run from zombies and is trying to clean the zombies from a supermarket to make it safe for the night. Personalities clash with Regan and Tyler , and Tyler and Vaughan , it's going to get interesting. Hendrix and Regan get closer and their relationship finally starts to heat up. It seems Tyler is getting under Vaughans skin can't wait to see where this leads. Absolutely love Rachel's writing!
Profile Image for Lenore Kosinski.
2,389 reviews64 followers
September 29, 2015
Rats, Zombies and kisses oh my! Another solid episode. Not sure if it's b/c my weekend left me with no time to read this one, so I had to split it up, but I wasn't quite as enraptured with it as others. Which in no way detracts from it's awesomeness, it just wasn't my favourite. But holy wow, what an ending. Ms. Higginson knows how to write kissing scenes, that's all I'm going to say.
Profile Image for Kimchi.
620 reviews14 followers
January 16, 2014
Im hooked Racheal is still reeling after what happened In Arkansas and she is still trying to get pass her feelings for Hendrix. The gang finds shelter and are safe. Tyler is useless and it seems her and her bother are still living in unrealistic times when everyone is tested. I love these short stories and I wish there were more for me to read . great great read.
Profile Image for Krista.
58 reviews4 followers
September 30, 2013
Sigh. This episode really had me wanting more and wanting more right now. I went looking for ep. 7 and even though it was supposed to be out it wasn't. Talk about serious withdrawals. So glad Reagan got her head screwed on straight and kissed that boy! Looking forward to some possibilities between Taylor and Vaughn. Forgive my misspellings of names.
Profile Image for Elisa.
218 reviews12 followers
September 15, 2013
Is there anything better than Love and Decay episodes? I think not! This novella series is better than any tv series I've watched in awhile. Survival, swoon, and awesome characters makes for great reading every two weeks.
Profile Image for Cheer Papworth.
337 reviews55 followers
October 14, 2013
If I were to get out a map and follow the path this group has traveled, my guess is they won't get to Peru until episode 100! I'm loving the zombie infested adventure, but I'm itching for some real progress here.
Profile Image for Cora.
337 reviews6 followers
September 2, 2016
I can't seem to put these down once I start reading them....Just like the episodes before you can't help but enjoy the little moments with the characters. And now we have some new ones along for the ride...Fun times a head for sure!
Profile Image for Kitlina.
2,005 reviews23 followers
March 11, 2014
That was such a close call. OMG
This book is going to be the death of me. Really.
How much anxiety can one person hold until he explodes?
I'm on the verge of exploding right now. What a full story. So complete. So awesome.
On to the next adventure then.
Profile Image for Shawna.
20 reviews2 followers
September 17, 2013
I love this series but this is my favorite so far!!
Profile Image for Melissa.
119 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2013
Funniest episode so far. A pool noodle and feeders and rats what do they have they have to do with each other? Read and find out. I laughed so hard I woke my sleeping husband up.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,261 reviews
December 16, 2013
Another one (or a few hundred) bites the dust...zombies that is. A great episode. I'm so happy for Hendrix...yay! But, I have a sneaky suspicion that we haven't seen the last of Kane.
Profile Image for Coyora Dokusho.
1,432 reviews147 followers
March 13, 2014
It was so good, I'm buying the next volume *_* must. read. more...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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