RecruitZ

Afterworld #1

by Karice Bolton

Step into the desolate echoes of a world ravaged by an unforgiving plague in the Afterworld, an adrenaline-fueled saga where love and vengeance collide amidst the ruins of civilization. Follow Rebekah, a survivor whose heart beats with the determination to reconstruct a shattered society and cherish a peaceful future with her husband Gavin.But in a cruel twist of fate, Gavin is torn from her embrace, plunging Rebekah into a treacherous odyssey into a perilous new world. Fueled by a relentless thirst for revenge, she delves into the shadowy depths of an Afterworld, where the undead are mere pawns in a sinister game of power, and the currency of human life dwindles to dust.Rebekah's solitary fight transforms when she encounters Preston, a fellow seeker of truth, in the unlikeliest of sanctuaries—a local dive bar. Bonded by the common threads of loss and despair, they unite with a shared mission to unravel the conspiracy that seeks to harness the undead for malevolent purposes.With every step deeper into the heart of darkness, Rebekah and Preston find themselves hunted by an emergent evil that thirsts for control.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, New Adult, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic, Dystopia

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Karice is the author of over sixty books that span several genres. She loves nothing more than spending time with her family and sneaking away to write in between with a latte in hand.

She received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W.

Sign up for Karice's newsletter and new release info at http://www.karicebolton.com/


Titles include:

Cloudberry Inn Series
Imagining You
Remembering You
Leaving You
Loving You

Sunshine Breakfast Club
Dash of Love
Pinch of Love

Beyond Love Series
Beyond Control (Book 1)
Beyond Doubt (Book 2)
Beyond Reason (Book 3)
Beyond Intent (Book 4)
Beyond Chance (Book 5)
Beyond Promise (Book 6)
Beyond the Mistletoe (Book 7)

Island County Series
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Book 1)
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Book 2)
Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Book 3)
Forever Love on Fireweed Island (Book 4)
Tempting Love on Holly Lane (Book 5)
Chance at Love at Mystic Bay (Book 6)
Irresistible Love at Silver Falls (Book 7)
Lucky in Love on Hound Island(Book 8)
Mistletoe Mischief (Book 9)

Silver Ridge Series
Happy Truth About Love
A Little Secret About Love
A Funny Thing About Love
A Surprising Thing About Love
Christmas at Silver Ridge

V Mafia Series
Blake
Devin
Jaxson

Luke Fletcher Series
Hidden Sins (Book 1)
Buried Sins (Book 2)
Redemption (Book 3)
Mia (Book 4)

Afterworld Serie
RecruitZ
AlibiZ
UprisingZ

The Camp

The Watchers Trilogy
Taken Novella (A Watchers prequel)
Awakening (Book 1)
Legions (Book 2)
Cataclysm(Book 3)

The Witch Avenue Series
Lonely Souls (Book 1)
Altered Souls (Book 2)
Released Souls (Book 3)
Shattered Souls (Book 4)


The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening was a Barnes & Noble January 2012 Staff Pick: Nook Books Under $5

Reviews

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a lover of all things zombies, I knew I had to read this series.
The first thing I loved was the cover and title.
Rebekah, the kick ass protagonist, is front and center.
Then there’s that catchy title, RecruitZ. Love how the author replaced the s with a z.
The next thing that made me love this book was the beginning.
Imagine you and your husband are sitting in the car in your driveway. Here come the zombies. They aren’t supposed to be there. The area has been cleared of the shufflers, but there they are.
When you make the decision to mow them down with your car, there’s a problem. It’s self-driving and keeps saying there are obstructions in the way. It won’t hit them.
What happens next is tragic and horrifying.
This beginning is so powerful, so traumatic. And this is where I first fell in love with this author’s writing.
She keeps it coming as Rebekah struggles with the loss of her husband, and tries to look like she’s pulled herself together to her friends.
As she digs to find out why the zombies were waiting for her and her husband and who sent them, she forms a reluctant alliance with a mysterious man. Everything about him screams, don’t trust him. But, she needs help and he’s offering. Plus, she’s pretty sure he knows more than he’s telling. Rebekah has to rely on her instincts as she gets deeper into the conspiracy.
The other thing I loved about this book was the protagonist being female. So many movies and books have men as the lead protagonist. Nothing wrong with that. I love Daryl Dixon, Rick, and Glenn and many more in The Walking Dead. But you also have Carol, Maggie, and Michonne, to name a few, always stepping in to get dirty and take down some zombies.
I almost forgot. There’s something fishy about the zombies. The author threw in a new spin on them. As if they aren’t scary enough already. I like it.
Rebekah uses her grief to fuel her anger. She’s determined, gutsy, and accepts help when it’s offered. The author makes her believable and you can’t help but fear for her and cheer her on.
You don’t have to love zombies to love this book. The conspiracy powers the book as much as fear of being eaten. That and the reckoning to come when Rebekah discovers who killed her husband. The zombies are the bloody icing on the cake. Keep it coming.

I received this book for my honest review.

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read any of my reviews before, you may have noticed that I have a love for zombie novels. After reading so many of them, it is refreshing when a novel comes along and changes all the rules. RecruitZ has some very interesting turns that took me by surprise, and I am curious to see how things will play out as the Afterworld series continues. RecruitZ is not your standard zombie apocalypse novel, but a look at civilization after the zombies.

Rebekah survived the horrors of the zombies with her husband Gavin, only to discover that there are worse things than zombies. After her husband’s death, Rebekah pulls away from her friends and sets her sights on learning what is really going on, and who is behind it. As she delves deep into her personal mission, she discovers that the truth maybe harder than expected, but she may not be the only one searching for it.

RecruitZ is like an amusement park Haunted House Ride, everything is going along one way but then the twists and turns cause new surprises to leap out at you along the way. The flow of the story keeps the reader in the action, without making them feel rushed. Rebekah is a strong female lead character, but she is not an expert and does need help. I find that quality makes Rebekah more realistic, and believable as a character. Who does not need help from time to time?

With the reveals that happen during RecruitZ I feel like I barely got to touch the whole story of the Afterworld Series, and I am hoping for more developments in the next book in the series, AlibiZ. I am also looking forward more to see how Rebekah’s story continues and where it all leads.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a post-zombie apocalyptic world, zombies are supposed to no longer be a threat. But Rebekah watches a new/organized group of zombies target and kill her husband right next to her. No one believes Rebekah's retelling of the zombie attack, and even her friends question her sanity. So, Rebekah decides to go after the truth on her own. What she discovers...will rock the foundations of society! Will she survive to tell her tale?

RecruitZ is not your typical zombie story... It's a conspiracy, suspense with heavy science fiction backing. The dark storytelling is gripping, but a few plot directions never came to fruition, leaving me a little befuddled. I really did enjoy this story and was utterly surprised by Bolton's twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end. I will definitely be continuing with the AFTERWORLD series and am looking forward to what will come next.

I received this copy of Recruit Z from Karice Bolton in exchange for a honest review.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting take on the zombie genre it started out strong but in the end everything about Rebekah, including the spelling of the name began to annoy me. She takes risks, she goes from being afraid and weak to looking down on others who takes loss differently than her.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

(✮✮✮½)

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my post for the excerpt and a giveaway. Blog Post



Got to say I loved this Post Apocalyptic zombie book. I was so shocked from that first chapter, if you read the excerpt I posted you will see what I mean,. just wow. With the popularity of comics and tv show of the Walking Dead, books like this really draw in people, and this is in no way like the Walking Dead, these zombies are quite different. But the few similarities just made me like it more anyway.

So fans of books and shows like that will love this. I really wish I could get my hands on book 2 now, lol. Its called Alibiz and it can't be here soon enough.

I am a bit surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, as zombie books are just not really my thing, I am more a vampire,shapeshifters, witches , fallen angels etc kind of girl.

I didn't connect right away with the main female character, Rebekah, but she grew on me, and found she sure has guts. I liked the way the story progressed, and think it was written really well.

I see this series to have alot of promise. Can't wait to read them all as they come out. Just hope the wait isn't too long.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

Cover Review: 5 out of 5 stars. This is an awesome cover, the way it was done, gives it that feeling of the bad-ass character. The cover is what caught my eye and made me check it out. So love the cover. Covers are extremely important, so glad it did catch my attention.

[Carrie Ardoin · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading the other reviews of this novel, which gave it 4 or 5 stars, I feel like I missed something. I truly like this author as a person and I have enjoyed the other works I read from her, which is why I'm quite disheartened that this novel didn't work for me.

The premise of RecruitZ, which involves the main character getting her life back together after the zombie apocalypse has already come and been conquered, grabbed me immediately. I am always up for a good zombie book, and this one was different in that it doesn't take place while the zombie outbreak is just beginning as most other books in the genre do.

I initially really liked the main character, Rebekah. She lost her young husband in what seemed a strange and calculated undead attack. As the months pass and she mourns her husband, Rebekah learns that there is an underground organization pitting zombies against each other in cage fights, and that the leader has much more sinister plans in store.

This is where I kind of got lost. Up until the point where we got deeper into TRAC, I was very into everything that was going on. Girl on a revenge mission? Yep! Zombie cage fights? I'm there! But I think the plot just became too convoluted for me to follow. I finished the entire book even though I was kind of lost for the last 100 pages, and I still don't fully know what all the "bad guys" were doing.

I was also bothered by the fact that once a new guy came into her life, not only did Rebekah, to me at least, trust him very quickly...their romance seemingly developed out of nowhere and she forgot about her departed husband. Towards the end, she learned a secret about her late husband, and she focuses in on that immediately and forgets that they had any good years together. It just felt a bit extreme that she could have her feelings changed about her husband, a man with whom she had loved since high school and mourned tremendously, over one thing.

This book is the first in a series, but I don't think I will be continuing it. I wish I had liked this book more, because this author has talent and this book had promise, but ultimately it just wasn't for me.

[Tiffany (BookAndCoffeeAddict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The zombie apocalypse has come and gone. Scientists developed a vaccine to protect the living and the government developed agencies to get rid of the living dead. Rebekah Taylor and her husband Gavin are finally able to rebuild their lives – until a horde of oddly focused zombies rip Gavin to pieces in front of Rebekah, while leaving her untouched. Rebekah’s determination to find out what happened on that horrific day and her need for vengeance lead her down a rabbit hole of cover-ups, corruptions and, ultimately, a ghastly and shocking discovery.

When you read books about zombies, it’s usually set during the zombie apocalypse, so having RecruitZ set in the aftermath was a refreshing set of pace that I thoroughly enjoyed. How does society build again? What’s it like with so many people dead or grieving or traumatized beyond belief? This book explores some of these kinds of questions and also, now that it’s known that zombies are a real thing, how will this knowledge be exploited by the less scrupulous members of society? (The answer is not pretty)

The opening chapter of this book is positively gripping and hooked me right away into the action. And the action just keeps coming. This book is fast-paced and never lets up. I did find it so fast-paced in some parts that I had a little trouble catching up to what was going on since new information just comes at you lightning fast, but it was all part of the ride.

If you’re a fan of zombie thrillers and conspiracy hunts, you’ll love this book. It keeps you guessing and entertained the whole way through. Warning for some pretty heavy blood and gore – but, hey, it’s a zombie novel, so that’s pretty much a given.

*I received a free ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Recruitz is a wild ride full of mystery, conspiracies, and of course zombies. The writing flows quite seamlessly. I was drawn in from the first rather heart-wrenching scene. While I normally like a bit of romance in my reads, I wasn't expecting it given the fact that Rebekah's husband is killed by zombies. There is a hint of romance to come in the next installment of this series, though.

After her husband is killed by the zombies the media claims no longer exist, Rebekah is a woman possessed. She will uncover this mystery if it's the last thing she does. I really liked her. She's one tough cookie. Along the way, she meets Preston who joins up with her in an attempt to reveal the conspiracy and figure out just what is happening. I loved Preston. I can definitely see romance between these two in the future.

The story is so fast-paced with nonstop action. One chapter rolls into the next making it very difficult to stop reading. I love a good conspiracy and enjoyed following Rebekah and Preston on their quest for the truth. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot. This isn't really your typical zombie novel. There aren't a whole lot of zombie battles. It's more about Rebekah and Preston navigating the steamy underworld to solve the mystery.

I would recommend this one to ages 17+ due to mature content, including blood and gore. Can you even have a zombie novel without blood and gore? You don't have to be a zombie fan to enjoy this book. If you're a conspiracy buff then this is the book for you.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

First paragraph: I sat in the passenger seat horrified, but I didn’t dare drag my gaze away. The world had been told zombies no longer threatened human existence. Yet I was staring at an onslaught of them taking slow, deliberate steps toward our vehicle. We had barely pulled into our driveway when the horde descended out of nowhere.

An interesting take on the zombie apocalypse, focusing on a young widow's quest to revenge the death of her researcher husband as she is caught up in a spiral of lies, betrayals, and conspiracies.

There were many elements that I enjoyed in this book: the beginning was spot on, action-packed, and sucked me in. I also enjoyed the budding romance between Preston, her would-be rescuer, and our heroine Rebekah. The zombie pits, the cloning, the over-the-top character Brenda. However, there were equally as many elements in this book that just put me off. Rebekah just rubbed me the wrong way - she was too reckless, too waffle-y, too annoying. So much so, there were times in the book where I was rooting for the other guys, just hoping that Rebekah would get the short end of the stick.

Also, the last half of the book felt rushed, with the death of Marcus coming in what felt like two sentences. It seemed that the ending needed to be neatly wrapped up, before we took another nose-dive into a cliffhanger ending whose only purpose seems to be to lead us into the sequel for this book. Overall, however, this was a good read.

[Carol Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about 3.5 stars for me. It would have been 4 or 5 because I couldn't put the book down until about halfway through and then I lost almost all interest. The beginning was written really well and held my attention but it honestly slipped halfway through because of lack of explanation and I feel like the characters lost their depth. It was entertaining and has potential but I don't know that I would read the second book

[H.N. Oetken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent

This book was decent, but not quite five star quality.
Let me start by saying that I am no expert on writing or editing, and my review is based solely on my opinion as a reader.

👎 Things I didn’t like:
Passive voice distanced me from the characters and action.
Redundant words and sentences distracted from the suspense.
Contradictory descriptions made me feel uneasy.

👍🏻 Things I did like:
The story is rock solid.
Character development is pretty great.
The author has a knack for ending the chapters on cliff-hangers or such resounding notes that it kept me turning the pages.


💯 Three things I loved: 👏💗
The active setting is near impeccable.
World building is spot on.
The slow burn relationship between Becca and Preston is completely believable.

👍🏻 I would recommend this to someone looking for a quick read with action and suspense, conspiracy and a little romantic tension.

👎 I would NOT recommend this book to someone nit picky, who will notice and be bothered by the things I listed above that I didn’t like.

[Sharon Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start!

I absolutely enjoyed reading the first book of this series. It is a different view of the zombie apocalypse, taking place shortly after the hordes have been eliminated…or have they?
You really need to get into this series!

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

RecruitZ by Karice Bolton is the first fantastic zombie novel of the Afterworld Series.

I love the awesome cover by Phatpuppy, showing the kickass protagonist, Rebekah.

Not only is RecruitZ a zombie novel, you will find some science fiction thrown in that will have you thinking, could this really happen?

I borrowed the book from Laura, my sister, some time ago. I was staying at her house while we were taking care of my older sister. I loved this book so much, I signed up for this tour and reread the book so I could share it with you. Plus, I now have Book II, AlibiZ, to read and review. Be sure and stay tuned for that.

The action starts from the first page and never lets up. Just imagine you are trapped in a self-driving car that will not listen to your commands. Add to that a horde of zombies that are determined to get in. This should not be happening! The action is graphic and horrifying. I found myself gripping my Kindle as if MY life depended on it.

Would you resign yourself to the fact you are going to die or would you fight to the death? I always try and put myself into the characters shoes and wonder what I would do in their place?

Things are not as they should be and Becca is determined to get answers, at all costs.

The Afterworld is what they are calling this new world that has developed since the outbreak. Her friends thought she had lost it since the death of her husband, Gavin. If she wasn’t careful, they would report her to the authorities and that would be the end of her. She couldn’t let it go, but she would pretend to her friends that she was moving on with her life.

The devastation left behind is eerie; empty shops and restaurants waiting for owners that would never return were found in every city and town.

Rebekah’s first order of business is going to Shackles, a bar that she thinks will have some answers. Here is where she meets the bartender, Preston. For sport, they had cockfighting, only in place of roosters there were zombies, some of them being New RecruitZ. Imagine the gruesome and bloody sight that will be. Would you participate?

The New RecruitZ were different than the zombies that took down civilization, much more dangerous. How can that be? Zombies are not capable of thought and reasoning, or are they?

Is there more going on than meets the eye? Could there be a conspiracy?

Marcus heads the agency that oversees the remaining humans. Does he have an ulterior motive? Rebekah learns more from Preston, the bartender she met at Shackles. She finds they have a lot in common and teams up with him.

As the danger revs up, so does my anticipation.

I love the characters, especially, of course, Rebekah. I would only hope I could be like her if something were to happen in our world. She is strong, with a capital S. She is smart, determined and will do whatever is necessary to find out why her Gavin had to die. The more she learns, the bigger the danger becomes.

I love a strong female protagonist and like to watch as the character grows and develops into their own. She slowly begins to rebuild her world, sometimes not even aware she is doing it.

Karice is an excellent writer. The words flow smoothly and she creates a tension that never lets up. The pacing will have you on the edge of your seat as you wonder who will survive. As the battle continues and I reach the end of RecruitZ, I can hardly wait to pick up and continue Rebekah’s story in AlibiZ, Book II of the Afterworld series. This is an author that I will be following, eagerly anticipating each new release, plus catching up on some of her other work.

The first time I read the book, I borrowed it. To review for the tour, I reread a copy I received in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing book! I was hooked from the first page and loved every single word of it. Full review will be posted over at my blog on the 26th April for my stop on the 'RecruitZ' blog tour. http://www.oldvictorianquill.wordpres...

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I’m fairly new to the Zombie scene, and this was only the second book I’ve read in this genre, The first one being ‘Undying’ by Valerie Grosjean which I adored, so I was a little nervous when I started this one in case I didn’t get the same ‘buzz’ for it.

I needn’t have worried because WOW! ‘RecruitZ’ was just spectacular in every way! I’ve had a few of Karice Bolton’s books on my Kindle for a while now and never gotten around to reading them, but as soon as I finished reading ‘RecruitZ’ I looked them up and added them to my immediate to-read list because the author had such a satisfying and stunning writing style that I flew through this book within a day, so engrossed in the story, the characters, the world, just everything!

I had chills as I read the first chapter where we see Rebekah’s husband die, and I could feel the emotions just seeping off the page. I was hooked from the start and had to know more.

Rebekah was an absolutely brilliant heroine, she was one of those characters I related to really strongly. I loved that she mourned her husband through her desperation for answers, and how trying to avenge the guilty parties involved in his death was how she coped and felt closer to him.

The mystery and suspense of this novel was just so intense there were moments I had to put the book down, look around and remind myself that I was not actually living in a Zombie Apocalypse. That was how much this story sucked me in, and how real it felt. Karice Bolton’s fantastic descriptions, and realistic settings were written to perfection.

OK, and my current book boyfriend? Definitely the lovely Preston. I loved him from the get go. But what was so refreshing about this book was that it was not overtly romantic. I am a huge romance fan but the subtle change in Rebekah and Preston’s relationship throughout the book was so beautiful and even more special in a way. They didn’t look at each other for romance, or promises of love, they connected on a deep level of desperation to seek revenge for their loved ones. It was so wonderful to see their friendship grow on a deeper level, and whilst not romantic (because honestly there was no suggestion of any strong romance between them in this part of their story), there was a deeper connection and understanding between them which made them the perfect partnership for their quest for the truth.

Everything about this story was so original and compelling. The way that the Zombies were no longer the bad-guys, but were being used to further their own power was chilling, and made the Zombies seem more human, more vulnerable, and most of all an enemy that has layers.

This was a stunning, compelling and all round brilliant start to the Afterworld Series and I can’t wait to see where Rebekah and Preston continue on their journey for the truth.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the outbreak is contained and only some straggler zombies are left, Rebekah thinks they are safe. She and her husband are in their car when suddenly they are attacked from all sides. They cant override the self drive commands so are stuck. Whats strange is the Zombies seem fixated on Rebekahs husband and seem to ignore her. When he is ripped out the window she scrambles out of the car to help. Next thing she knows a van drives up and all the zombies hop in. What the heck is going on? How can mindless zombies do this?

Now a few months down the line she is trying to get answers. No one believes her story so she sets out to find evidence. Along with Preston, whom she meets along the way, she has to journey to places she never imagined and find the answers that she may not be able to handle.

This isn't your typical zombie book. The zombies we see are manufactured to be fighting machines. The people in the Afterworld are pitting them against each other in the ring and some people are even using them for their own nefarious purpose. While I enjoyed Recruitz Im still very torn on how to rate it. Im leaning towards a 3.5 stars because there were a few things that annoyed me. Im going to get the negative part out of the way first.

While I did enjoy it as I said, I did have one or two problems. There wasn't alot of Zombie action. In a Zombie book you expect a lot of Zombies but this didn't have it. I did like the storyline about the zombies though and how they were made!! Also there was a part in the book where someone gets shot and they did nothing about it!!! I cant say too much about that part because of spoilers but it annoyed me what a certain character did. I was reading it and had to reread it to make sure I read it right. Then the ending. It was way too fast and easy and I expected more.

Now onto what I liked.
.
I liked Rebekah. She is smart, strong but still not totally kick ass. She lost the love of her life and is now trying to find answers to why and why were the zombies so focused on just him. She is training and reading and now feels ready to go to one of the zombie rings.

Preston lost his sister the same way Rebekah did and both are fighting for answers. He is part of an underground movement and tries to recruit Rebekah for it. She is hesitant but finds herself slowly starting to trust him. His character was strong and capable and I loved seeing their friendship grow.

The whole book is packed with action, mystery, suspense and plenty of twists and turns to keep everyone happy. Its fast paced and will keep you turning the pages. The plot is unique and the Zombies were creepy. Bolton has created a world that is horrible and slowly trying to repair itself but the wrong people are coming to power and abusing it. Theres quite a few questions left unanswered so I am looking forward to more to find the answers. Overall its a really good book and I am looking forward to more.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag:

‘RecruitZ’ is a novel that delivers in peaks and troughs of interest. I found it really difficult to rate this one and couldn’t quite decide if this deserved a three or four star rating. In the end I settled for three out of five and hopefully this review will explain why.

The premise of ‘RecruitZ’ really intrigued me. The idea of the world recovering from a serious outbreak that turned the infected into zombies did appeal to me and reminded me of films such as ’28 Days Later’ and the opening chapter of the book certainly did not disappoint. The exciting opening saw our main protagonist, Rebekah (a lovely and unusual spelling for such a popular name!) trapped in a car with her husband, with a crowd of zombies battling to get in. Furthermore, the car they are stuck in is a voice-activated one and only responds to certain commands, and not when it detects pedestrians being at risk. The question of their escaping alive caught my imagination (despite what is hinted at in the blurb) and it was sections like this one that made ‘RecruitZ’ a real page-turner.

But what let this novel down for me was that at times the plot either was lacking in depth or there really wasn’t much going on and I felt like Bolton was trying to “pad out” the story a bit. This was disappointing for me as there were times when I wanted a lot more from the plot, such as more insight into the background of the outbreak, or more details about when Rebekah is trying to escape in the opening scene. Then, on the other hand, scenes such as when Rebekah is in the gym before there are deadly visitors, came across as rather dull. The description of her working the bars in the cage just didn’t appeal to me and this lessened the pace of the story because it seemed so lengthy.

There are a lot of hints made in this story and, being the first in a series, I hope that they are elaborated on in the next novel. This will help maintain reader interest because I think there is a lot of backstory that needs explaining. Now that the scene has been set and the characters established, there is definite potential to crank up the pace in the next instalment.

So, whilst this book does have some exciting and tense scenes to carry you through, there is still opportunity for more plot development. I liked the premise of the story and the mystery surrounding the outbreak and the role of the scientists was certainly intriguing. It will be interesting to see how the characters progress now that they have their first round of answers.

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems I never get tired of reading a good zombie book! I love it when I can find that special gem lost in the midst of the mass of zombie books flowing in. A zombie book that can bring some originality and is able to stand out from the rest. And RecruitZ is definitely one that falls into that category, for many reasons!

RecruitZ was fast-paced and action-packed! Two of my favorite things in a book! Then you throw in some awesome zombies, and a fierce main character fighting for the truth, with twist and turns you'll never see coming, and corruptions, conspiracy's, lies, deceptions, and ultimately...murder! And you have one hell of a Zombie book! You will have RecruitZ!!

THE PLOT...

Rebekah is on a mission, and her determination and will to uncover the truth, might shake the very core their society, and bring everything crashing down! But after being told that their world was once again safe from the creatures that were destroying their world, Rebekah finds out firsthand just how much of a lie that really was! Zombies are still there, lurking, waiting, and attacking! And they went flesh, lots of flesh!

Her husband was murdered right in front of her eyes by those vicious creatures. But something was not right about that attack. Something, or someone is behind these zombie attacks, and she's determined to find out! She's on the hunt for answers, and there's no stopping her.

No one believes her story of what happened that fateful horrific night when her husband was murdered. They think she must be suffering from the horrific events of that terrible evening. They think that what she's saying couldn't possible be true. They think maybe she's lost it. But what if there wrong? What if someone is controlling these zombies? Planning attacks on certain humans, having it look like random zombie attacks. What if there all in danger? What if any one of them could be next? What then?

Doesn't that sounds awesome? I not only loved the plot and the characters, but I also LOVED that this book had more twist and turns then a roller coaster could possibly have!

I will definitely be continuing this series. And I'm really looking forward to seeing where this story goes next. Because with these twist and turns, there's no telling where Bolton will take it next!! And that is definitely something that I can get down with!

NOTE: I received an eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Rebekah Taylor and her husband Gavin were survivors of the zombie apocalypse. They were so happy that both of them had survived that they went home and just as they pulled up into their driveway zombies started attacking them or rather they were attacking Gavin and not Rebekah. She tried everything she could to save him but there wasn't anything she could do. The government was supposed to have had teams out searching for the undead and taking care of them. After the attack she knew there was something that wasn't just right about these zombies or that they were just different. Why did they only attack Gavin and not her?

Rebekah tried telling her friends about how the zombies acted and how focused they were on what they were doing but no one would listen to her. They thought she was having a hard time dealing with the death of her husband. They thought she was crazy. Rebekah learned real quick like to keep her mouth shut before they had her committed. But Rebekah knew she wasn't crazy and she was very determined to find out the truth behind these new, different zombies.

When Rebekah starts investigating the zombie attacks and trying to find the truth behind these new zombies and who is creating them and why. She meets Preston on one of her trips investing a tip she has on the zombies. She is not sure if she can trust him or not but hopefully he can prove himself to be trust worthy. She can't be the only one left that knows about the new zombies and will fight for what is right.

Rebekah is on tough chic that can kicka$$ with the best of them and can probably handle herself in most any situation but we all need a little help or a friend once in a while. And what better help than a hottie like Preston. Everybody needs a little romance in their lives sometimes. I love zombie books and a little romance thrown in is ok but too much romance and it is not a zombie book anymore. RecruitZ has just the right amount of romance just enough to show that the characters have feelings but is not overbearing.

If you like reading or watching zombies then you are going to love RecruitZ it is an amazing story with all the new zombies. It is action packed with so many turns that you will end up dizzy if you are not careful. Come along for the ride that Karice Bolton takes you on with Rebekah and Preston and all the zombies. You will be amazed! Oh I have done said that haven't I?

[Pili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recruitz was a very intriguing book. Right from the start the action begins and leaves you wondering about what's really going on in the world you've just gotten your first peek at.

Rebekah is trying to deal with the worst kind of loss, having lost her husband in a very inexplicable way just when they thought they were safe, so now she's turned everything into finding out the truth about the incident and getting revenge.

While trying to gather information she infiltrates the underworld where she meets Preston, and although she doesn't trust him fully at first, they become allies on trying to find out what happened to Rebekah's husband and Preston's sister and they find out that there's more to it than either of them really suspected at first.

The setting for this book was very interesting, we're in the aftermath of a zombie outbreak, right when the world seems to be getting back to normal and rebuilding, after a vaccine was discovered and distributed, and although you can still found the odd rotten zombie here and there, they can't turn anyone and so they're not as big a threat. But things aren't as safe as it seems, and someone is using and shaping zombies to suit their needs. As a zombie book, this is definitely very unique!

The plot was quite well weaved and some of the revelations were quite unexpected, and although this is obviously a first book in a series, it has enough plot of its own to not seem just a mere introduction and doesn't only focus on world building, so there's space for that on the upcoming books. With a bit of conspiracy theories, secret societies and corporations taking advantage of an unstable world, there's plenty of plausability.

What didn't work for me in this book was the romance between Rebekah and Preston...Rebekah seemed to be so wrapped up in her husband's loss and then she finds out about something and then she seems ready to move on? I liked how they worked together as a team, but maybe for my own personal reasons the romance seemed to move along too fast. It started feeling wrong for me, and it costed the book quite nearly a star just because of that. Probably not something other readers will have an issue with, but I did.

All in all, a very interesting read, well deserving of 3 stars.

[Kathy Horsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good zombie read. RecruitZ, however, brought more than just zombies to the table. It brought mystery, dystopia, science, emotions and a whole lot of courage in the form of Rebekah Taylor. Having survived the outbreak of zombies months before, and living off the land with her husband, her world is ripped apart when the supposedly contained zombies rip him apart right in front of her and her world changes. She has to deal with the grief of losing her best friend but she is also determined to find out who is lying to whom and why did this happen to him....

Rebekah was such a great character for this story! You could feel her pain and grief coming through but at the same time she was this brave and determined woman who wasn't going to take any sort of BS around her. You felt horrible for her and was awed by her at the same time. That is a hard balance to mix in a heroine. I think the author does a great job at making you feel everything that is going on in her head and that leaves you with a book that hits all the great things about a zombie read: adventure, thriller and emotions.

Those emotions run wild in this story and what emphasized them well was the fact that this is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. Yes, it's a disease outbreak and it's zombies but there is another element to RecruitZ that I just loved. It was the world trying to tip itself back up again after hitting some serious lows and people trying to get back to normal after a horrific event. However, clearly there are still mysteries at work here because things aren't what the government want you to believe. Add to that background of tragedy and rebuilding the hint of romance that is blooming for Rebekah and a sexy man who also has his own grief he is dealing with and it just rounded the story out. Clearly it is too early for Rebekah to be falling in love, which is perfect exactly how this is playing out, but that spark of something more is hidden in these pages somewhere and gives the reader a direction to go in for future books. I loved the setting we created in this one and the characters so I am definitely looking forward to what else this story has for me in the future!

[SARIT · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Usually zombies genre is not my cup off tea. But I got RecruitZ and start to read it fearing horror disgusting scenes. The fast-paced and action-packed book, just draw me in. So In short:

They had been told that their world was once again safe from the creatures that were destroying their world, they tried to return to normal sure that a vaccine they got will protect them. In fact, rouge Zombies were still out there, lurking, waiting and trying to attack. In the afterworld, zombies have decimated the population and change all life as it once was. And yet…every one attempted to revive normalcy; they are going back to college, fixing their homes up, spending their survivor bonuses from the government, and getting married, and so on.

But when Rebbecca's husband, Gavin, was murdered right in front of her eyes by Zombies creatures, She knew that in this attack something was not right. Those zombies didn't attack her, their only target was her beloved husband.

But No one believes her story of what happened at that fateful horrific day when her husband was murdered. Even her best friends thought, that she must be suffer from the horrific event. They all thought that she's losing it.

Is Something, or someone behind these zombie attacks? she's determined to find out! She's on the hunt for answers, and there's no one will stop her, even if it means alienating herself from her friends.

Along the way she meets Preston, who in turn helps her in her search of answers. What they find is beyond anything they could ever imagine. Zombies clones that trained to fight and kill. The people in this afterworld are pitting them against each other in the ring and some people are even using them for their own nefarious purpose.

The link between Rebbecca's husband,and Preston's sister deaths is that they are scientist who work at the same Lab. The first mission of these new zombies was to kill the scientists who were trying to find a cure to the disease that made the zombie in the first place.

I could say so much more but I don't want to give anything away! And it is worth the gamble if you don't typically read from this genre!!

[Ryan Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6/5 (round to 5)

So you guys all know me. I love zombie fiction and seeing what new takes authors can come up with when it comes to a zombie "outbreak". I have read some good zombie stories with some creative origins for the disease. This one, however... was just PURE AWESOME.

The book is told entirely from Rebekah's point of view and follows her in her quest for answers after the love of her life, her husband Gavin, is killed by a hoard of zombies outside their family home. Now, you might be thinking that this is nothing new. Hundreds of other zombie books have started out similarly. But here is the kicker. They had already survived the zombie apocalypse. They are living in a world set after a cure was found for the infection and they thought they were safe. And then BOOM zombies eat him on their front lawn. My reaction? YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION, MRS. BOLTON... You have my complete and undivided attention. And she did. For the next few hours, I devoured this book. I latched onto that creative and different story line immediately and ran with it. Following the crazy introduction, more fantastic additions followed, drawing me deeper into the clutches of the story. I mean, she had me at zombie outbreak, but pretty soon there was mystery, suspense, action, politics, heartbreak, shock, and MORE zombies. Also, there was a hint of some romance, but it was not crazy and it did not envelop the entire story. I love that it is hinted at, but it does not interrupt the focus on Rebekah and her quest for answers regarding her late husband. The ending felt a bit rushed, but I cannot wait for the second book to see what further craziness Rebekah can get into.

Rebekah was a pretty cool character. I did not feel an incredibly deep connection to her, but I was still able to empathize. She was very cool and I admire her courage a lot. (: Can't wait for more of her.

All in all? RecruitZ was a refreshing twist on the classic outbreak story full of mystery, danger, and zombies (well, duh). I cannot wait for book two!

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting story this is!

Once upon a time, I wasn’t fond of zombies; in fact, I pretty much avoided them. Then Max Brooks and David Wellington came along and , well, the rest, as they say, is history. Nowadays, I actively look for good zombie fiction and RecruitZ falls nicely into that group.

The first thing that especially appealed to me about this book is the premise that the world after the zombie plague could be just as bad, maybe even worse, because of the behavior of some survivors. That idea has been present in earlier books but the difference here lies in WHICH survivors are behind the “Afterworld” mayhem.

The other thing that drew me in was the opening scenes which left no question that this was going to be a serious zombie book with few laughs. Don’t get me wrong, I like zombies with a splash of humor but not all the time by any means. Lately, my favorites have been driven by action adventure and/or humor so it was time to get back to a somber, no-nonsense tale. This was definitely the right book.

Rebekah is a terrific protagonist—intelligent, driven, take-no-prisoners—and the bartender she comes across, Preston, is an even match for her. In some ways, he’s the voice of reason we frequently find in a female character and that’s a nice touch. The two find they have much in common starting with the fact that they both survived the infection against overwhelming odds but getting to the truth about the current crop of zombies may change everything they think they know about the plague and the world they now live in.

Tensions run high at a nearly frantic pace but mystery and romance also play into the story. I did think the ending was somewhat rushed, kind of like the author had run out of steam, but I still think Ms. Bolton has come up with a nifty tale and has crafted it well with few hiccups. I thoroughly enjoyed RecruitZ with the exception of the hasty conclusion and, now, I’m eagerly awaiting the second book, AlibiZ, which I hear will be coming soon.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, April 2014.

[Jennifer Ricketts (Donnie Darko Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.

I've been excited to read RecruitZ for quite a while - the minute I first heard about it last December as a matter of fact. From the cover alone, I knew Rebekah would be a bad ass character, and while she didn't start out that way, she grew into the role. Right away I liked her and related with her feelings of loss. RecruitZ isn't a typical zombie novel - it's so much more than that with a conspiracy that's as disturbing as it is compelling.

In a post-apocalyptic world where zombies are supposed to no longer be a threat according to the government, Rebekah helplessly watches zombies tear her husband apart and believes his death was planned and covered up. Her friends don't believe her when she tells them what she saw, and I don't think they wanted to either.

Not only is she reeling from her husband's violent death, but she also must be careful not to reveal too much to the wrong person. She could be turned in and never heard from again, but she can't rest until she knows the truth and sets out to search for it. On the surface is denial and a glowing positivism about life after the outbreak while underneath, the dark and seedy side of humanity thrives. It's this dark, seedy side that Rebekah must explore to find out what's really going on and to avenge her husband's death.

RecruitZ is full of twists and turns I never expected, and I love it when a book keeps me in suspense. Rebekah is a character I love because she's strong yet also has her vulnerable side. She decides to take her grief and do something proactive with it, and I admire that about her. I'm looking forward to what comes her way in the next book.

[Maria Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by Karice Bolton and only my second time diving into the world of Zombies. I'm not going to lie, Vamps, Weres & Shapeshifters are more my thing but I'm willing to give all books a fair shot. And I'm glad I did! The synopsis appealed to me and I couldn't wait to get started. I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed Ms. Bolton's writing style and the intense story line. I'm always intrigued by conspiracy theories, I just love all the secrets and mystery surrounding them, and uncovering them is even more fun!

In Recruitz we're introduced to Rebekah, whose husband is killed right before her eyes by Zombies who are supposedly no longer a threat. Something is definitely wrong here. Especially when said Zombies have absolutely no interest in her, only her husband Gavin. And then they just all collectively flee the scene into an unmarked black van? That can't be right, can it? Zombies don't follow orders and they certainly don't single out just one person. Let the mystery and intrigue begin! Rebekah is determined to uncover what exactly is going on despite how dangerous it might be. And as always, when you get to close to exposing secrets somebody always tries to stop you.

Ms. Bolton takes you on one wild ride as Rebekah and her partner in crime Preston, who also lost his sister to the same type of organized zombie attack, attempt to get to the bottom of TRAC (Tactical Reinforcement and Capture), a private security company run by Marcus Lordan, a.k.a the bad guy. This is an absolute page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll be hooked from the very first page and won't be able to put it down until the very end. There is never a dull moment as Rebekah realizes nothing is what it seems and more secrets are discovered. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installment!

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having her husband ripped from her arms by the very things she thought they'd already survived, Rebekah makes it her life's work to find out who and what is behind her husband’s death. Even if it means alienating herself from her friends. Along the way she meets Preston, who in turn helps her in her search of answers. What they find is beyond anything they could ever imagine. But this is the Afterworld after all, so anything is possible. And no one is to be trusted.

This is one story that will have you on the edge of your seat from the very start all the way through. It is intense...it is frenzied...it is absolutely amazing. If I wasn't already a fan of Bolton's, this one would be the one to make me that fangirl. But I already knew that Bolton is one heck of an author. I've read her other work. I know she has what it takes to give us readers a great read and sexy characters. Even if they are being hunted by the undead.

I always love some romance with my reads, and this one just didn’t have it. But it did have zombies, so it definitely made up for the lack of romance. I will say that there is hinting of romance. And I look forward to it in the next one. Because if I know Bolton, she was itching to write some and knew that it just wasn’t the right time for it. And it wasn’t. There is a time and place for romance to happen and Bolton just needed to lay the ground work for the story. I am sure she didn’t want to rush into it, with all that is going on in this book.

I adored this read and its fast paced flow. The reader is constantly on the go with everything that is happening and I think it was absolutely perfect for this story. I am truly looking forward to what is going to happen in ALIBIZ with Rebekah and Preston. 5 Gory Stars from me and a definite must read!

[Tabby - Shattered Hearts Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am extremely glad that I was contacted by Karice to to review this novel! I am a huge fan of hers! I will admit that I am not very big on zombie books, but I am glad that I gave this one a chance. It has changed my mind on the way I will look at these kinds of books in the future. I literally read this in one sitting! I am SO glad that my husband was home that day, because I am almost positive that it’s against the law to ignore your kids for hours on end while reading a book lol.

Rebekah (love that spelling!) is a fighter, in just about every sense of the word. Then again, after being told everything was all dandy in the world, only to watch your husband be murdered by the very outbreak that was said to be over, would kind of make you just a little angry too. Except, these zombies are not your normal zombies. They seem to have brains — or “smarts” if you will. Can we say conspiracy? Fueled with the rage of having her husband taken from her, she sets off in search of answers.. & she will get them – no matter how many obstacles stand in her way.

You are taken on a ride with this novel! I loved every single second of it! Secrets, lies and cover ups are just the beginning! & don’t try to figure it all out as you go, because let me tell you, just when you THINK you have it all figured out – everything shifts! The flow of this story seemed effortless and I was hooked from beginning to end. I was honestly bummed when it was over because I wanted more! I cannot wait to read the next one in this series!

If you haven’t read this one yet, I suggest you give it a chance. I honestly feel like I should tell you that you are MISSING OUT if you don’t have this on your list of books to read, because it’s a MUST!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different take on the Zombie apocalypse, one I really liked. This is the first in the Afterworld series so that means waiting until the next one, but it will be worth the wait I am hoping.
The author sent me a digital copy of this book for review.
It is about Rebekah who loses her husband to a gang of zombies AFTER the infection and hordes of zombies are supposedly under control. The zombies who attack her husband are focused on him and him alone, an organized attack, even though she was sitting next to him in the car. What does this mean? Why did they target her husband but not her? Is someone controlling them? If so, who?

She goes on a mission to find out what happened and why. Her close friends think she is surely exaggerating the attack and what happened and that maybe she should go into a facility where they help people who are not adjusting well after the infection and zombie threat has been controlled. She knows she must try to fake it for her friends so she is not sent to one of those facilities.

She goes to a bar in the dark underground part of town to see what she can find out. What she finds is beyond her wildest imagination and who she finds along the way is a gorgeous guy who has also lost someone in a controlled zombie attack and he has plans. She is not really ready for love...yet. But together they will explore what is going on and why.

This book was a pleasant surprise. Very different from the zombie stories I usually read, and I pretty much like them all. So I am very excited for the next one in the Afterworld series.
If you like the apocalypse, especially the zombie kind, and you like a little romance along the way, this is the book for you.
Thank you, Karice Bolton, please hurry and release the second book in this series!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world that has supposedly recovered from a zombie outbreak, Rebekah and her husband a trying to rebuild their life until Rebekah's husband is targeted and killed by a strange-acting group of zombies. Rebekah fears that these zombies were different than the rest and the attack was planned due to her husbands research. In her grief, she determines that there is a conspiracy and Rebekah turns to revenge. Meanwhile, Rebekah has to put up a facade of normalcy, or else be taken away. Rebekah sets out to place herself into the world of the dangerous people who train these strange-acting zombies, with the help of a bartender, Preston, she finds more than she thought possible.

I liked that the story takes place in the 'afterworld'- a world that is recovering from a zombie apocalypse. There is still danger, but it is from an unlikely source, the one that Rebekah and Preston are determined to bring down in revenge for their loved ones. Now, zombies are being trained to fight one another or a specific target, essentially being used as weapons. This gave the story a unique plot with something other than just killing all the zombies. There is also a science-fiction twist with the idea of cloning going on. From the prologue, I knew that this story would be good, an emotional opening, but one that fuels Rebekah's intentions. Rebekah is an extremely tough character and I enjoyed seeing her increase her skills in an attempt to uncover the conspiracy. Preston is a nice balance to her character, sweet but tough and smart. Preston and Rebekah sort through conspiracies and cover-ups offering up there are plenty of thrills, action sequences and emotional roller coasters

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.