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Love and Decay 1 #9
Love and Decay, Episode Nine
Zombies- as if that wasn’t enough to ruin any girl’s dream of a happily ever after.
After a night of horror and bloodshed in Tulsa, Reagan and crew are back on the road traveling south. Their van is armed with weapons and loaded with supplies. If it weren’t for Kane Allen casting a dark shadow on their trip, things would be looking up.
But Kane is there, and he’s badly injured.
Reagan falls into the role of caretaker in order to protect everyone else from Kane and his disturbing ways. She will do anything to protect those she loves, even if that includes fighting a battle of wits and words against the mysterious force that is Kane Allen. But even Reagan doesn’t understand what she’s up against yet.
Kane isn’t the only danger on the road though. When the van screeches to a halt in front of an army of Zombies, the group will have to get creative in order to fight their way free. And just when they’re about to escape, someone Reagan cares about more than anything is thrown into the dangerous melee of Feeders.
Reagan must risk everything in order to keep her group whole. But in the end will it be enough to save all of them?
Love and Decay, Episode Nine, is the ninth 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.
After a night of horror and bloodshed in Tulsa, Reagan and crew are back on the road traveling south. Their van is armed with weapons and loaded with supplies. If it weren’t for Kane Allen casting a dark shadow on their trip, things would be looking up.
But Kane is there, and he’s badly injured.
Reagan falls into the role of caretaker in order to protect everyone else from Kane and his disturbing ways. She will do anything to protect those she loves, even if that includes fighting a battle of wits and words against the mysterious force that is Kane Allen. But even Reagan doesn’t understand what she’s up against yet.
Kane isn’t the only danger on the road though. When the van screeches to a halt in front of an army of Zombies, the group will have to get creative in order to fight their way free. And just when they’re about to escape, someone Reagan cares about more than anything is thrown into the dangerous melee of Feeders.
Reagan must risk everything in order to keep her group whole. But in the end will it be enough to save all of them?
Love and Decay, Episode Nine, is the ninth 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.
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2013
160 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Higginson
122 books3,494 followersRachel 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.
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 - 21 of 21 reviews
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.
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.
March 1, 2019
🔆Kindle Unlimited🔆
August 12, 2016
Too many close calls!!! I guess that's to be expected in a zombie-filled world, but still...I feel bad for everyone.
And it's not like I want anyone to die either! I love all these characters too much!
Well, I actually could survive the deaths of the Allens. But you take away Reagan, Haley, or any of the Parker family and I am gonna cry! I just have this feeling like one of these days there is going to be a close call, only it will end with someone dying or turning into a zombie and then getting shot.
But because there's close calls ALL the time, I'm never going to know when to prepare myself for the heartbreak!
Grrr!!!!!!
I totally loved this episode though! Between Hendrix and Reagan fighting zombies in a Walgreens, to Reagan tending to Kane's wounds even though he creeps her out, to a crazy zombie blockade that surrounds everyone, I was on edge the whole time!
But really, when am I not on edge while reading this novella series??? This is zombies we're talking about. They're scary.
And what's even more frightening is that these zombie are becoming smarter. Or more evolved. Or something horrible that makes them even more of a threat!
We've been seeing this gradual progression of zombies from the normal moaning and groaning to seemingly calculated attacks. And in this episode they literally created a barrier to block people from passing.
Gah! Zombies can't be smart! What happens if they become so smart that they start to use guns too!! Then everyone is dead!
God, if I'm ever stuck in a zombie apocalypse, please let the zombies be idiots. I need a fighting chance for survival.
And it's not like I want anyone to die either! I love all these characters too much!
Well, I actually could survive the deaths of the Allens. But you take away Reagan, Haley, or any of the Parker family and I am gonna cry! I just have this feeling like one of these days there is going to be a close call, only it will end with someone dying or turning into a zombie and then getting shot.
But because there's close calls ALL the time, I'm never going to know when to prepare myself for the heartbreak!
Grrr!!!!!!
I totally loved this episode though! Between Hendrix and Reagan fighting zombies in a Walgreens, to Reagan tending to Kane's wounds even though he creeps her out, to a crazy zombie blockade that surrounds everyone, I was on edge the whole time!
But really, when am I not on edge while reading this novella series??? This is zombies we're talking about. They're scary.
And what's even more frightening is that these zombie are becoming smarter. Or more evolved. Or something horrible that makes them even more of a threat!
We've been seeing this gradual progression of zombies from the normal moaning and groaning to seemingly calculated attacks. And in this episode they literally created a barrier to block people from passing.
Gah! Zombies can't be smart! What happens if they become so smart that they start to use guns too!! Then everyone is dead!
God, if I'm ever stuck in a zombie apocalypse, please let the zombies be idiots. I need a fighting chance for survival.
October 26, 2013
This is the end of the world. This was it. In all its deathly, gruesome glory. This was nightmares come to life-biggest fears, unthinkable dangers, the chilling, grisly menace of trying to survive the Zombie Apocalypse.
And one thought kept running through my head. What if this wasn't the end of the world? What if this was only the beginning.
***
Never able to catch a break, the group is back on the run. But this time, a certain person has caught up to them. Kane. Reagan's fears of him finding her and making good on his last promise to her is now a reality. Fortunately he is very badly hurt and being the good people they are, they won't leave him stranded and unable to protect himself. So the plan is to get him better and leave him on the side of the road. Alone. But in the time of the zombies, no one is safe.
Wow oh wow! I know I keep saying this in each and every review of LOVE AND DECAY, but this one was probably the most intense to me. You want zombies galore? You got'em! No matter where the group is, there is zombies at every turn. You'd think they would get a break at some point. But where would be the fun in that?
Reagan is still struggling with her feelings for Hendrix, but it is becoming a little easier for her as the time goes on. I think she is starting to realize that it is ok to love and be loved...even in a zombie apocalypse. But with the added complication of Kane, her feelings for Hendrix might have to take a back seat until they can figure out what they are going to do with him.
I look forward to this series every 2 weeks. It is like my brain knows it is time for another episode to come out and I have to have it. Thankfully, we will get a special Halloween edition next week too! This short story series is most definitely a must read.
And one thought kept running through my head. What if this wasn't the end of the world? What if this was only the beginning.
***
Never able to catch a break, the group is back on the run. But this time, a certain person has caught up to them. Kane. Reagan's fears of him finding her and making good on his last promise to her is now a reality. Fortunately he is very badly hurt and being the good people they are, they won't leave him stranded and unable to protect himself. So the plan is to get him better and leave him on the side of the road. Alone. But in the time of the zombies, no one is safe.
Wow oh wow! I know I keep saying this in each and every review of LOVE AND DECAY, but this one was probably the most intense to me. You want zombies galore? You got'em! No matter where the group is, there is zombies at every turn. You'd think they would get a break at some point. But where would be the fun in that?
Reagan is still struggling with her feelings for Hendrix, but it is becoming a little easier for her as the time goes on. I think she is starting to realize that it is ok to love and be loved...even in a zombie apocalypse. But with the added complication of Kane, her feelings for Hendrix might have to take a back seat until they can figure out what they are going to do with him.
I look forward to this series every 2 weeks. It is like my brain knows it is time for another episode to come out and I have to have it. Thankfully, we will get a special Halloween edition next week too! This short story series is most definitely a must read.
October 26, 2013
OH. MY. WORD! Best episode so far, and I'm not even embarrassed to confess that I've read it twice today, haha! Once when it came out on Smashwords and then again when it came up for my Kindle.
The drama is seriously amping up here, the possibility for things to get stale is huge here (you know, kill zombies, cuddle cute boy, rinse &repeat), but I can't see that happening with this author - the ideas, my goodness, the ideas!! original and fascinating, I love the direction things are heading in and all of the new storylines being woven in. And Tyler, sneaky thing, she keeps getting more + more interesting!
And okay, second confession, I have a thing for Kane. I have *no* idea why!! Because Hendrix is amazing and definitely my favorite Parker brother, but I guess I'm just a sucker for the mystery of it all. I want to know what drives him, he is crazy intense and there has got to be some sort of backstory there. Yes, my memory must be selective because I know he is guilty of a lot of wrongs, but the vulnerability at the moment (and the toothbrushing scene from a previous episode) has me forgiving wayyy too much. But anyway, the drama he brings in is delicious, so short term, it's heaps of fun.
Long term, there are some serious relationship developments in this book, and they are earth-shatteringly adorable! And they take place in a crazy-brilliant action scene.
The drama is seriously amping up here, the possibility for things to get stale is huge here (you know, kill zombies, cuddle cute boy, rinse &repeat), but I can't see that happening with this author - the ideas, my goodness, the ideas!! original and fascinating, I love the direction things are heading in and all of the new storylines being woven in. And Tyler, sneaky thing, she keeps getting more + more interesting!
And okay, second confession, I have a thing for Kane. I have *no* idea why!! Because Hendrix is amazing and definitely my favorite Parker brother, but I guess I'm just a sucker for the mystery of it all. I want to know what drives him, he is crazy intense and there has got to be some sort of backstory there. Yes, my memory must be selective because I know he is guilty of a lot of wrongs, but the vulnerability at the moment (and the toothbrushing scene from a previous episode) has me forgiving wayyy too much. But anyway, the drama he brings in is delicious, so short term, it's heaps of fun.
Long term, there are some serious relationship developments in this book, and they are earth-shatteringly adorable! And they take place in a crazy-brilliant action scene.
November 17, 2013
Love this series!!!!
So with added passenger Kane in tow the Parker group plus Tyler and Miller, (Kane's siblings) continues their journey through the zombie infested world. Reagan and Hendrix chemistry grows, and their relationship grows. But in this episode Reagans near death experience at the hands of the feeders(zombies) is too close for Hendrix. He cant bare the thought of ever loosing her or not being able to protect her.And their extra passenger as much as he is familyt to Tyler, and Miller, No one wants him around. Until he is healed from his wounds they agree to care for him. But unfortunately he is stilled obsessed with claiming Reagan. And Reagan just wishes he were no longer dead, just gone, she feels ultimately responsible for him . Needless to say things get interesting!
So with added passenger Kane in tow the Parker group plus Tyler and Miller, (Kane's siblings) continues their journey through the zombie infested world. Reagan and Hendrix chemistry grows, and their relationship grows. But in this episode Reagans near death experience at the hands of the feeders(zombies) is too close for Hendrix. He cant bare the thought of ever loosing her or not being able to protect her.And their extra passenger as much as he is familyt to Tyler, and Miller, No one wants him around. Until he is healed from his wounds they agree to care for him. But unfortunately he is stilled obsessed with claiming Reagan. And Reagan just wishes he were no longer dead, just gone, she feels ultimately responsible for him . Needless to say things get interesting!
November 21, 2013
Hold on tight ladies, this episode starts with a head injury & ends with some untrustworthy rednecks with guns! It's a non stop action packed story & you'll be holding your breath the whole time!!
It wouldn't be like Rachel to not sprinkle in some laughter to help ease all the crazy drama!! Keep an eye out for what Hendrix grabs a TON of during a Walgreen raid! There's also some romance amid a zombie horde with some promise of future sweetness!
Yes love can still bloom through the stench of rotten zombies!
It wouldn't be like Rachel to not sprinkle in some laughter to help ease all the crazy drama!! Keep an eye out for what Hendrix grabs a TON of during a Walgreen raid! There's also some romance amid a zombie horde with some promise of future sweetness!
Yes love can still bloom through the stench of rotten zombies!
February 10, 2014
Another fabulous episode. I seriously LOVED the Walgreen's adventure with Hendrix and Reagan. So much giggling. And watching the interplay with Kane is interesting....he's so mysterious. Evil, yes....but there's more there. Course, he could just be crazy....I mean, I know he's crazy, but HOW crazy??
And new people? Interesting to see where this is going to take us!
And new people? Interesting to see where this is going to take us!
April 12, 2014
OK, so I don't even have enough fingers to count the almost heart attacks I had.
This is really going to be the death of me.
Can't they have a reprieve from all that gore and evil?
I mean at least a day.
C'mon!
This is getting so anxiety full that I can't get through a chapter without thinking I will soon need to be medicated.
This is really going to be the death of me.
Can't they have a reprieve from all that gore and evil?
I mean at least a day.
C'mon!
This is getting so anxiety full that I can't get through a chapter without thinking I will soon need to be medicated.
October 1, 2015
Have to read this zombie series it's epic. I ignored the call of Spain's sea and sand to read this brilliant series. Kindle one click made me read the entire series while on holidays in Spain. An epic adventure filled with lust,love, blood, kisses, zombies, action, suspense, intrigue, fear and resilience.
June 24, 2017
That was a little too close. I think the zombies are getting a little too smart. Love the little competition going on with Kane in the picture. Well not so much comp as fun banter and tension. Reagan is so freakin awesome:)
November 12, 2013
Honestly a LOT happens in just a few (okay 30+) pages. These novellas go by so fast :(.
As always, a lot going on, and this time it means a LOT for everyone in the group. Zombies, guns, and near-death experience included.
As always, a lot going on, and this time it means a LOT for everyone in the group. Zombies, guns, and near-death experience included.
December 12, 2013
You know, I could so see this turned into a tv series if there wasn't already one similar. 9 episodes in and I'm still thoroughly engrossed in it. There is always suspense with a smattering of snarky humor and love. I don't know how many episodes we are going to get, but I'm doing them all!
October 26, 2013
I loved this episode!!! Seriously one of my favorites!
October 27, 2013
Loooooooove!
October 30, 2013
I do believe this is my favorite so far!! so many close calls and suspense as well as humor! also I too am ready for candy and flowers!
August 27, 2016
Lots of zombies and mind games from Kane. Oh yes he is back and ready to fight for what he wants. This episode is full of action :) Gotta enjoy a bunch of crazy zombies.
December 17, 2013
Just another day in zombieland...onto 10
May 1, 2014
Oh my poor racing heart!
August 7, 2014
Love it
July 8, 2015
Awesome read. Get so sucked in to these episodes. I am unsure I will cope when it eventually ends for good
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews