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Revolution X #1
Outbreak
College was supposed to be my fresh start. When I ran out of Arizona like my ass was on fire, I left my old life behind—all of my baggage and trauma included. But the world had other plans—like taking a giant, steaming sh*t on everyone.
One minute I’m at a house party in the woods, and the next I’m finding my douchebag boyfriend banging a dead girl in the upstairs bedroom. Now I’m being kidnapped by a giant masked stranger who enrages me beyond belief and smells entirely to f*ckable.
I need to run—to escape and go back to Louisiana and find my friends. But can I survive this Outbreak alone? Or is everything I’ve ever wanted sitting next to me in this truck holding my leash?
Outbreak is Book 1 in the Revolution X Series, a shared world triology with authors Loralai Blake and Ryan Mundy. While this book wraps up with an HEA for these characters, the underlying plot continues in Books 2 & 3. Continue reading in the next installment, Anaracy by Loralai Blake.
***Please check your triggers before starting this series. It is not the darkest, but it deals with some heavy topics and your mental health matters. Triggers can be found in the front of each book!
One minute I’m at a house party in the woods, and the next I’m finding my douchebag boyfriend banging a dead girl in the upstairs bedroom. Now I’m being kidnapped by a giant masked stranger who enrages me beyond belief and smells entirely to f*ckable.
I need to run—to escape and go back to Louisiana and find my friends. But can I survive this Outbreak alone? Or is everything I’ve ever wanted sitting next to me in this truck holding my leash?
Outbreak is Book 1 in the Revolution X Series, a shared world triology with authors Loralai Blake and Ryan Mundy. While this book wraps up with an HEA for these characters, the underlying plot continues in Books 2 & 3. Continue reading in the next installment, Anaracy by Loralai Blake.
***Please check your triggers before starting this series. It is not the darkest, but it deals with some heavy topics and your mental health matters. Triggers can be found in the front of each book!
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2025
20 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I've been wanting a zombie book, and this one was okay. We have 3 friends and 3 stories. The other 2 won't be out for a while. But we get some hints of their books and couples.
Rue and her friends are at a party when the world goes to shit. Rue catches her Undead douche boyfriend fking a dead girl. She is separated from her friends and kidnapped. By a masked man who knows a lot about her but she doesn't know anything about him. She does try a few times to run away from him, but in a world with zombies, would you rather be solo and killed or have someone watch your back. The chemistry between them is good it's a lot of banter and push/pull for Rue and Ghost. Ghost wants to punish Rue for the betrayal she did years ago. Then we get the big unmasking, and the trauma and drama are settled. What happened all those years ago.
Like above, we run into the MMC in book 2, and honest idk how I feel about his story and Mal. Since he has a wife.. idk if he loves the wife or his deal. Since they have a dom/sub relationship. I hope in his book he can be redeemed for me.
Low angst, no ow/om drama, no cheating, secondary characters, drama, sexy times, no virgins (mentions there past nothing on page with others)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowburnish
Apocalypse
Seperation 4 years (both not celibate)
21h/22H
Disease Outbreak
Cannibalism
Undead
Violence
Masturbation
Praise kink
Humiliation/Degradation
Gore
Secret Identity
Trauma
Sexual Assault/Rape of a minor (through flashbacks, in detail, not between the MMC and FMC)
Forced proximity
Collar and Leash
Mentions of child death (not described) Spanking
PTSD and Anxiety
Use of sex/orgasms for episodes of anxiety
Hea/cliffhangerish
I've been wanting a zombie book, and this one was okay. We have 3 friends and 3 stories. The other 2 won't be out for a while. But we get some hints of their books and couples.
Rue and her friends are at a party when the world goes to shit. Rue catches her Undead douche boyfriend fking a dead girl. She is separated from her friends and kidnapped. By a masked man who knows a lot about her but she doesn't know anything about him. She does try a few times to run away from him, but in a world with zombies, would you rather be solo and killed or have someone watch your back. The chemistry between them is good it's a lot of banter and push/pull for Rue and Ghost. Ghost wants to punish Rue for the betrayal she did years ago. Then we get the big unmasking, and the trauma and drama are settled. What happened all those years ago.
Like above, we run into the MMC in book 2, and honest idk how I feel about his story and Mal. Since he has a wife.. idk if he loves the wife or his deal. Since they have a dom/sub relationship. I hope in his book he can be redeemed for me.
Low angst, no ow/om drama, no cheating, secondary characters, drama, sexy times, no virgins (mentions there past nothing on page with others)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowburnish
Apocalypse
Seperation 4 years (both not celibate)
21h/22H
Disease Outbreak
Cannibalism
Undead
Violence
Masturbation
Praise kink
Humiliation/Degradation
Gore
Secret Identity
Trauma
Sexual Assault/Rape of a minor (through flashbacks, in detail, not between the MMC and FMC)
Forced proximity
Collar and Leash
Mentions of child death (not described) Spanking
PTSD and Anxiety
Use of sex/orgasms for episodes of anxiety
Hea/cliffhangerish
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
~ARC Review~
Tropes: kidnapping, second chance, forced proximity, masked stalker, apocalyptic
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’d like to start out by saying that this is one of my favorite ARCs that I’ve ever had the opportunity to read. Tbh, I’d rate it 6 stars if I could. Heather YOU DID AMAZING, LOVE! 💗 The second I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down! The chemistry between Rue and Ghost was AMAZING, the plot had me either on the edge of my seat or pacing around my living room, and the spice DEFINITELY spiced! I CANNOT WAIT for book 2 and I’m CRAZY excited for you guys to get your hands on this book! Heather 🥹 thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this ARC team and congratulations because you are officially one of my new favorite authors!
Tropes: kidnapping, second chance, forced proximity, masked stalker, apocalyptic
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’d like to start out by saying that this is one of my favorite ARCs that I’ve ever had the opportunity to read. Tbh, I’d rate it 6 stars if I could. Heather YOU DID AMAZING, LOVE! 💗 The second I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down! The chemistry between Rue and Ghost was AMAZING, the plot had me either on the edge of my seat or pacing around my living room, and the spice DEFINITELY spiced! I CANNOT WAIT for book 2 and I’m CRAZY excited for you guys to get your hands on this book! Heather 🥹 thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this ARC team and congratulations because you are officially one of my new favorite authors!
March 26, 2025
I received an ARC copy of the book. First and foremost, I freakin loved this book! Heather did an amazing job setting the scene for the first of the Revolution X series! The sexual tension between the two main characters is soooo delicious! I do love a HUGE masked stalker/kidnapper! These two characters are *chefs kiss*! Heather as always does a wonderful job! You feel like you know them personally (or want to be them ;) I will stop here before I leave any spoilers. Do yourself a favor and grab this one ASAP! Currently impatiently waiting to get my hands on the next in the series, Anarchy!
May 11, 2025
Outbreak is Book 1 in the Revolution X Series, a shared world triology with authors Loralai Blake and Ryan Mundy. While this book wraps up with an HEA for these characters, the underlying plot continues in Books 2 & 3. Continue reading in the next installment, Anaracy by Loralai Blake.
***Please check your triggers before starting this series. It is not the darkest, but it deals with some heavy topics and your mental health matters. Triggers can be found in the front of each book!
Wow this book put me in a chokehold from page one!
The banter between Ghost and Death (Rue) is so good. The details of Ghosts stalker ways 🤌🏽💋. He had me giddy!
I don’t usually read about zombies and apocalyptic things. But this book was really good and I can’t wait to read book 2 and 3.
Thank you Heather for this incredible ARC read.
***Please check your triggers before starting this series. It is not the darkest, but it deals with some heavy topics and your mental health matters. Triggers can be found in the front of each book!
Wow this book put me in a chokehold from page one!
The banter between Ghost and Death (Rue) is so good. The details of Ghosts stalker ways 🤌🏽💋. He had me giddy!
I don’t usually read about zombies and apocalyptic things. But this book was really good and I can’t wait to read book 2 and 3.
Thank you Heather for this incredible ARC read.
April 22, 2025
*** ARC review *** The following is my own honest opinion.
Dark, stalker, masked man romance during a zombie apocalypse!! Yes, please! I freaking loved this, Ghost and Rue's chemistry had me spellbound! The story was so original, spicy, and a fun read. I gobbled it up, it was to hard to put down! Outbreak is book 1 in the Revolution X Series written by 3 different authors (which is so cool), and I will be jumping into Anarchy ASAP!
Dark, stalker, masked man romance during a zombie apocalypse!! Yes, please! I freaking loved this, Ghost and Rue's chemistry had me spellbound! The story was so original, spicy, and a fun read. I gobbled it up, it was to hard to put down! Outbreak is book 1 in the Revolution X Series written by 3 different authors (which is so cool), and I will be jumping into Anarchy ASAP!
May 23, 2025
This book just didn't hit the way I thought it would...
Ok, so a masked man kidnaps me. I fight, of course. However, I quickly realise the world has turned mad and there are now zombies trying to eat me. I also realise that said masked man is very protective of me and would rather put himself in danger than see me hurt. Would I still fight to get away? NO! No, I would not. There were at least two instances where Rue got me so mad with her stupidity - unnecessarily putting her and Ghost in danger.
Otherwise, I did generally enjoy the premise and the overall plot.
Ok, so a masked man kidnaps me. I fight, of course. However, I quickly realise the world has turned mad and there are now zombies trying to eat me. I also realise that said masked man is very protective of me and would rather put himself in danger than see me hurt. Would I still fight to get away? NO! No, I would not. There were at least two instances where Rue got me so mad with her stupidity - unnecessarily putting her and Ghost in danger.
Otherwise, I did generally enjoy the premise and the overall plot.
March 21, 2025
This is book one in the Revolution X series, and let me tell you! Heather does such an amazing job setting the environment for Loralai and Ryan to continue on with their stories. I absolutely adore all three of these authors, and I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to Alpha read this series.
Rue is honestly my spirit animal. She is fierce, badass, feisty, and has such a mouth on her that it gets her into trouble quite a few times😉
Ghost is honestly the man every girl wishes she had. He also has quite hthe mouth on him, but the naughtier kind that makes you clench your thighs every time he talks.
The back and forth between Ghost and Rue is everything in this. She wants to hate him so much, but when she finds out who he really is, although hella pissed, she can't stay away from him. She knows she needs him.
Rue is honestly my spirit animal. She is fierce, badass, feisty, and has such a mouth on her that it gets her into trouble quite a few times😉
Ghost is honestly the man every girl wishes she had. He also has quite hthe mouth on him, but the naughtier kind that makes you clench your thighs every time he talks.
The back and forth between Ghost and Rue is everything in this. She wants to hate him so much, but when she finds out who he really is, although hella pissed, she can't stay away from him. She knows she needs him.
March 23, 2025
Did you forget me, Death?
Outbreak is the first book in Revolution X, a shared-world trilogy written by Heather Beal, Loralai Blake, and Ryan Mundy. I received this as an ARC and will be sharing my honest review. Outbreak will be published on April 10!
Dark romance set in The Walking Dead? Sign me up! I planned to read a few chapters this morning before starting my day, and before I knew it... I was at the end. I really enjoyed this book, but I do have a few wishes.
This felt way more fast-paced than a slow burn. I was hoping for more tension and a bigger, more dramatic reveal when Rue finally learned the truth of who Ghost was and why he left all those years ago. Even after the reveal, something about that moment felt… glossed over? But then again, when zombies are literally at your door, there’s probably not much time to react to anything else. That aside, I really enjoyed learning more about Ghost and Rue—they support each other so well and their connection feels natural.
However, I wish there had been more focus on the outbreak itself. The story leans heavily into the romance, sometimes at the expense of the chaos unfolding around them. I wanted more—more news reports, more scattered survivors sharing information, more clues about how this all started. We don’t even get a clear explanation of how the virus spreads until near the end, and I found myself craving that world-building much earlier on.
That being said, this was a fantastic read, and I can’t wait for Book 2!
Outbreak is the first book in Revolution X, a shared-world trilogy written by Heather Beal, Loralai Blake, and Ryan Mundy. I received this as an ARC and will be sharing my honest review. Outbreak will be published on April 10!
Dark romance set in The Walking Dead? Sign me up! I planned to read a few chapters this morning before starting my day, and before I knew it... I was at the end. I really enjoyed this book, but I do have a few wishes.
This felt way more fast-paced than a slow burn. I was hoping for more tension and a bigger, more dramatic reveal when Rue finally learned the truth of who Ghost was and why he left all those years ago. Even after the reveal, something about that moment felt… glossed over? But then again, when zombies are literally at your door, there’s probably not much time to react to anything else. That aside, I really enjoyed learning more about Ghost and Rue—they support each other so well and their connection feels natural.
However, I wish there had been more focus on the outbreak itself. The story leans heavily into the romance, sometimes at the expense of the chaos unfolding around them. I wanted more—more news reports, more scattered survivors sharing information, more clues about how this all started. We don’t even get a clear explanation of how the virus spreads until near the end, and I found myself craving that world-building much earlier on.
That being said, this was a fantastic read, and I can’t wait for Book 2!
April 13, 2025
⚠️ MIND THE TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
5/5 🌟
5/5 🌶️
“Don’t you fucking dare leave me again, Ghost,”
“You’re my Death, Rue. My life, and my death, are yours alone.”
A dark, grim, and gritty zombie apocalypse romance that will keep you on your toes and kicking your feet from one chapter to the next, safety uncertain, nothing promised, except for burning obsession and a drive to see it through till the end.
5/5 🌟
5/5 🌶️
“Don’t you fucking dare leave me again, Ghost,”
“You’re my Death, Rue. My life, and my death, are yours alone.”
A dark, grim, and gritty zombie apocalypse romance that will keep you on your toes and kicking your feet from one chapter to the next, safety uncertain, nothing promised, except for burning obsession and a drive to see it through till the end.
March 26, 2025
** ARC REVIEW **
I came into this world unsure of how I felt about a zombie apocalypse but when Heather added a masked man into the mix named Ghost, my fate was sealed 🙊. What is it about masked men that tip the scales to make things that much more interesting?!
This is book one of the series and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the other two authors take what Heather has set up - complete with a HEA - and dive us deeper into it. While there were definitely spicy bits there are also topics that aren’t for everyone so make sure to read the TW. I will say though that some of the darker themes aren’t fully focused on and are a quick moment in the bigger story.
Key take aways:
- Zombies bad 🧟
- Masked men good 👻
- You really learn what matters when the world is ending 🌎
- Always make sure to get the full story before jumping to conclusions 🫠
- I gotta try adding salt and vinegar chips on my next sandwich 🥪
I came into this world unsure of how I felt about a zombie apocalypse but when Heather added a masked man into the mix named Ghost, my fate was sealed 🙊. What is it about masked men that tip the scales to make things that much more interesting?!
This is book one of the series and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the other two authors take what Heather has set up - complete with a HEA - and dive us deeper into it. While there were definitely spicy bits there are also topics that aren’t for everyone so make sure to read the TW. I will say though that some of the darker themes aren’t fully focused on and are a quick moment in the bigger story.
Key take aways:
- Zombies bad 🧟
- Masked men good 👻
- You really learn what matters when the world is ending 🌎
- Always make sure to get the full story before jumping to conclusions 🫠
- I gotta try adding salt and vinegar chips on my next sandwich 🥪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
I think it's so cool that 3 awesome authors got together to write their books in the same world! Revolution X is such a cool idea and so glad I got the chance to Alpha read them!
Rue is such a badass, feisty little thing and I love her! That mouth though.... Gets her in trouble sometimes. Ghost also is mouthy but in a thigh clencher kind of eat and I'm here for it 😍 I love the banter between them. That's always my favorite. And the way the Rue wants to hate him but just can't? I get it 🤣 she needs him no matter how pissed she is at him for something in the past.
This was a fantastic start to this world and I'm here for it!
Rue is such a badass, feisty little thing and I love her! That mouth though.... Gets her in trouble sometimes. Ghost also is mouthy but in a thigh clencher kind of eat and I'm here for it 😍 I love the banter between them. That's always my favorite. And the way the Rue wants to hate him but just can't? I get it 🤣 she needs him no matter how pissed she is at him for something in the past.
This was a fantastic start to this world and I'm here for it!
April 8, 2025
The chemistry between the two lead characters is absolutely captivating! I can't get enough of a mysterious masked stalker/ kidnapper! These characters are just perfection! Heather has done an amazing job, making you feel like you really know them (or wish you could be them!). I’ll keep it brief to avoid any spoilers, but seriously, you need to pick this up right away! I'm eagerly counting down the days until I can dive into the next installment, Anarchy!
April 10, 2025
Ahhhhhh! I absolutely loved this book! If you like the walking dead this is the book for you!!!
April 11, 2025
Rating: 5.0
Spice: 5.0
ARC review:
Okay! I love Ghost! This book was freaking amazing! I love zombie stuff! This had me obsessed! I am so freaking excited to read the other 2 in this series!
Spice: 5.0
ARC review:
Okay! I love Ghost! This book was freaking amazing! I love zombie stuff! This had me obsessed! I am so freaking excited to read the other 2 in this series!
June 30, 2025
4.5 stars!
April 1, 2025
**ARC Review**
Tropes:
kidnapping
second chance ❤️
forced proximity
masked stalker
apocalyptic 🌎
Zombies 🧟♀️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Best ARC book yet!! Who knew I needed a zombie apocalyptic dark romance in my life but here we are! 🧟♀️🤣 I flew through this book!
Ghost and Rue's chemistry and interactions were so good! I wanted to just keep reading to figure out what the heck was happening and what brought them together! I love their story! I want more and need to know what happens next! It was a slow burn but when it started burning, did it burn!! 🥵
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!!!
Tropes:
kidnapping
second chance ❤️
forced proximity
masked stalker
apocalyptic 🌎
Zombies 🧟♀️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Best ARC book yet!! Who knew I needed a zombie apocalyptic dark romance in my life but here we are! 🧟♀️🤣 I flew through this book!
Ghost and Rue's chemistry and interactions were so good! I wanted to just keep reading to figure out what the heck was happening and what brought them together! I love their story! I want more and need to know what happens next! It was a slow burn but when it started burning, did it burn!! 🥵
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!!!
April 8, 2025
Did someone order a masked man with a side of zombies?
Yes, yes I did. And I ate it up within a day.
Outbreak is part of a 3-book series written by different authors, all set within the same world.
It has dead people. It has people who are not dead. And it has dead people who don’t stay dead.
Let's talk about it.
The Writing
From the get-go, it’s clear that the author is fluent in potty mouth.
And not just boring, thrown-in-for-the-sake-of-it curses, but creative swearing, with “Fuck a duck!” and “fuck me sideways” being my personal favourites.
This only added to her very clear sense of humour that was generously and consistently sprinkled throughout the book. Prime example below:
“This sounds like the makings of a grippy-sock vacation sans the shoelaces.”
The language and humor may not be for everyone but it absolutely hit the spot for me.
There were a few continuity errors or things that weren’t made clear. Like when Rue was in the car and then was suddenly outside the car, even though it wasn’t made very clear that Ghost helped her out. Or when Ghost turned a lamp off even though there was supposedly no power in the house and just candles. Also, how Ghost miraculously got out of being tied up. But these were easily overlooked.
Our Female Main Character: Rue
There are two wolves inside our female MC. One that tries (and fails) to have some common sense and one that is incessantly horny and can’t keep its mouth shut. The second wolf usually wins.
If Edgy was human personified, it would be Rue. She’s sassy, outspoken, sarcastic, and hates anyone who’s had an easy life purely because she’s had it shit. She was very vocal about her cockroach-like survival abilities by consistently dropping phrases like ‘I’m still here’ and ‘I’ve seen worse’.
But for someone who supposedly has a knack for surviving, she sure isn’t smart when it comes to sassing her kidnapper. If he had been anyone else, she would have been hurt or killed. The interactions only work because we as readers can see the situation from Ghost’s POV. From hers alone, she was behaving very stupidly.
Our Male Main Character: Ghost
Dominant mofo. Loves to grab people by the throat (I lost count of how many times his hands found their way around Rue’s neck). Clearly based on Ghost from COD (which is big fucking tick in the box from me).
Is supposedly some sort of badass killer but never actually seems to show off any badass skills.
Unfortunately, our masked man was a little bit one-dimensional. All he had going for him was the fact he was hot as sin and obsessed with Rue. I wanted to know more about him as a person, the little things that make a character feel believable and have a personality outside of their tropes, but sadly I wasn’t fed any titbits.
Their Relationship
I have to say, the chemistry between these two was hot as fuck.
She sasses him…
“Did you happen to think about grabbing some napkins, or should I just wag my ass like a good little bitch and drip dry?”
… and he puts her in her place.
“So tell me the truth, Rue. What’s got your little cunt so excited?”
But while it was hot, it didn’t always make sense.
‼️ WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
Rue is attracted to Ghost the very second she sees him, so much so that she gets the fanny flutters, even though she can’t see what he looks like and proceeds to kidnap her. From then on, she was super inconsistent with how she felt about him. One minute she is fighting for her life to get away, the next she is quite happy travelling with him. Suddenly, she’s convinced that she has to run away before she falls in love with him, but abruptly 180s and decides to fight for him and stay with him. It gave me a bit of whiplash, especially as these changes happened so fast.
His feelings towards her are just as difficult to suss out. Ghost supposedly hates her for betraying him years ago and wants to make her pay, but at the same time doesn’t really want to hurt her or be that mean to her? Not to mention… why would he even want her back when he thinks she did what she did to him? And why would he get that tattoo if she betrayed him? It makes no sense that he skipped town straight away after the ‘betrayal’ without even talking to her about it, yet comes back years later all obsessed.
I feel like there wasn’t enough of a transition between her hating him and her trusting him. The same with there not being a clear transition between him wanting to punish her and then wanting to protect her. It went from very harsh and angry between them to very soft quite quickly. I needed more to happen between them to make it fully believable.
The Smut
After all the sexy, flirty banter and a medium-slow burn, I was sooo ready for the shagfest.
However, their first proper sexual contact was a bit anticlimactic for me and felt a tad rushed. It didn’t match up to the chemistry they’d demonstrated before, and I found myself waiting to see if this was rectified.
Unfortunately, their first time having sex didn’t sit quite right with me either. Since it occurs right after the big reveal, they aren’t given the time to sort out the issues between them at all. She hated him not two minutes ago for leaving her, and then suddenly she was all aboard the fuck train.
He tells her that he loves her for the first time, but then is like I’m gonna fuck you like I hate you? I feel like the author had a certain vibe in mind for the sex between them, which is admittedly hot, but it didn’t fit with the situation and the emotions at that current time.
Also... god damn is Rue a screamer in the bedroom. She was screeching over anything and everything. Fingers, mouth, penis. She sure is vocal.
The Plot
The characters seemed a little bit tickbox. You’ve got your blonde Barbie cheerleader, your bratty edgy vaper, your horny dramatic gay, and your dominant masked man. I know that there are three books in this interconnected world, with each of the friends as the main character, so I’m just hoping that there’s more substance to them when I read their books.
Some scenes were really well done. The initial Josh and dead girl in the bedroom scene was a proper WTF moment that set the tone for the rest of the book. The introduction to Maverick and his wife was also mega creepy, and now I’m super excited to read his book.
The zombies were your standard run-of-the-mill type, nothing new there. I wasn’t going into this expecting a fresh take on them. However, the scenes involving them seemed a bit anti-climactic. Would have liked a tiny bit more substance to the action parts.
I also like that the author acknowledges that the characters are, in fact, human and need to eat and piss to function. Feel like too many people forget that when writing.
However, for everything I enjoyed, I feel like there was a lot of context and details missing, as well as loads of unanswered questions and things that didn’t make sense.
What is Ghost's job? What happened in his childhood with his dad? What made him the way he is now? Without more details, he lacked substance as an MC.
What is the mountain cabin and why does Ghost own it? How has it still got hot water and electricity when other places don’t? Why spend all that time getting to this cabin just to leave straight away when she turns her phone on?
I wanted more depth into Rue’s trauma, and how it shaped who she is. She seemed a little bit blase about it. I wanted it to act as more of a foundation for the plot rather than just being thrown in for the sake of a big reveal near the end.
I would have also liked more details about Rue’s and Ghost’s previous relationship and their history when they were younger. The single flashback wasn’t enough to have me invested in their past. It seems strange to me that they were so important to each other and were going to run away together, but that they never kissed or said they loved each other? Maybe some more history would have helped me understand.
Would I read again? No
Would I recommend it? Yes
My star rating: ★★★★
Note: I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
My unhinged book rating system:
★★★★★+ fucking fantastic, give me ten more like it. Bury me with it. First thing I'd save if my house was on fire.
★★★★★ sheeesh this shit was good. Would definitely buy a special edition of it for my trophy shelf and rant about it to my book bestie.
★★★★ a fun read. Not necessarily the best thing to ever grace this good earth, but would check out other works from this author.
★★★ this was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine) but it had some redeemable qualities that made me keep reading.
★★ well… that was definitely a thing. This book was just not it for me. Most likely forced myself to finish while crying on the inside.
★ what the ever loving fuck were my eye balls just forced to perceive? DNF’d and metaphorically chucked out the window.
Disclaimer: Writing a book is an incredible feat and I admire anyone who has managed it. This is just my personal opinion - take it or toss it as you see fit.
Yes, yes I did. And I ate it up within a day.
Outbreak is part of a 3-book series written by different authors, all set within the same world.
It has dead people. It has people who are not dead. And it has dead people who don’t stay dead.
Let's talk about it.
The Writing
From the get-go, it’s clear that the author is fluent in potty mouth.
And not just boring, thrown-in-for-the-sake-of-it curses, but creative swearing, with “Fuck a duck!” and “fuck me sideways” being my personal favourites.
This only added to her very clear sense of humour that was generously and consistently sprinkled throughout the book. Prime example below:
“This sounds like the makings of a grippy-sock vacation sans the shoelaces.”
The language and humor may not be for everyone but it absolutely hit the spot for me.
There were a few continuity errors or things that weren’t made clear. Like when Rue was in the car and then was suddenly outside the car, even though it wasn’t made very clear that Ghost helped her out. Or when Ghost turned a lamp off even though there was supposedly no power in the house and just candles. Also, how Ghost miraculously got out of being tied up. But these were easily overlooked.
Our Female Main Character: Rue
There are two wolves inside our female MC. One that tries (and fails) to have some common sense and one that is incessantly horny and can’t keep its mouth shut. The second wolf usually wins.
If Edgy was human personified, it would be Rue. She’s sassy, outspoken, sarcastic, and hates anyone who’s had an easy life purely because she’s had it shit. She was very vocal about her cockroach-like survival abilities by consistently dropping phrases like ‘I’m still here’ and ‘I’ve seen worse’.
But for someone who supposedly has a knack for surviving, she sure isn’t smart when it comes to sassing her kidnapper. If he had been anyone else, she would have been hurt or killed. The interactions only work because we as readers can see the situation from Ghost’s POV. From hers alone, she was behaving very stupidly.
Our Male Main Character: Ghost
Dominant mofo. Loves to grab people by the throat (I lost count of how many times his hands found their way around Rue’s neck). Clearly based on Ghost from COD (which is big fucking tick in the box from me).
Is supposedly some sort of badass killer but never actually seems to show off any badass skills.
Unfortunately, our masked man was a little bit one-dimensional. All he had going for him was the fact he was hot as sin and obsessed with Rue. I wanted to know more about him as a person, the little things that make a character feel believable and have a personality outside of their tropes, but sadly I wasn’t fed any titbits.
Their Relationship
I have to say, the chemistry between these two was hot as fuck.
She sasses him…
“Did you happen to think about grabbing some napkins, or should I just wag my ass like a good little bitch and drip dry?”
… and he puts her in her place.
“So tell me the truth, Rue. What’s got your little cunt so excited?”
But while it was hot, it didn’t always make sense.
‼️ WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
Rue is attracted to Ghost the very second she sees him, so much so that she gets the fanny flutters, even though she can’t see what he looks like and proceeds to kidnap her. From then on, she was super inconsistent with how she felt about him. One minute she is fighting for her life to get away, the next she is quite happy travelling with him. Suddenly, she’s convinced that she has to run away before she falls in love with him, but abruptly 180s and decides to fight for him and stay with him. It gave me a bit of whiplash, especially as these changes happened so fast.
His feelings towards her are just as difficult to suss out. Ghost supposedly hates her for betraying him years ago and wants to make her pay, but at the same time doesn’t really want to hurt her or be that mean to her? Not to mention… why would he even want her back when he thinks she did what she did to him? And why would he get that tattoo if she betrayed him? It makes no sense that he skipped town straight away after the ‘betrayal’ without even talking to her about it, yet comes back years later all obsessed.
I feel like there wasn’t enough of a transition between her hating him and her trusting him. The same with there not being a clear transition between him wanting to punish her and then wanting to protect her. It went from very harsh and angry between them to very soft quite quickly. I needed more to happen between them to make it fully believable.
The Smut
After all the sexy, flirty banter and a medium-slow burn, I was sooo ready for the shagfest.
However, their first proper sexual contact was a bit anticlimactic for me and felt a tad rushed. It didn’t match up to the chemistry they’d demonstrated before, and I found myself waiting to see if this was rectified.
Unfortunately, their first time having sex didn’t sit quite right with me either. Since it occurs right after the big reveal, they aren’t given the time to sort out the issues between them at all. She hated him not two minutes ago for leaving her, and then suddenly she was all aboard the fuck train.
He tells her that he loves her for the first time, but then is like I’m gonna fuck you like I hate you? I feel like the author had a certain vibe in mind for the sex between them, which is admittedly hot, but it didn’t fit with the situation and the emotions at that current time.
Also... god damn is Rue a screamer in the bedroom. She was screeching over anything and everything. Fingers, mouth, penis. She sure is vocal.
The Plot
The characters seemed a little bit tickbox. You’ve got your blonde Barbie cheerleader, your bratty edgy vaper, your horny dramatic gay, and your dominant masked man. I know that there are three books in this interconnected world, with each of the friends as the main character, so I’m just hoping that there’s more substance to them when I read their books.
Some scenes were really well done. The initial Josh and dead girl in the bedroom scene was a proper WTF moment that set the tone for the rest of the book. The introduction to Maverick and his wife was also mega creepy, and now I’m super excited to read his book.
The zombies were your standard run-of-the-mill type, nothing new there. I wasn’t going into this expecting a fresh take on them. However, the scenes involving them seemed a bit anti-climactic. Would have liked a tiny bit more substance to the action parts.
I also like that the author acknowledges that the characters are, in fact, human and need to eat and piss to function. Feel like too many people forget that when writing.
However, for everything I enjoyed, I feel like there was a lot of context and details missing, as well as loads of unanswered questions and things that didn’t make sense.
What is Ghost's job? What happened in his childhood with his dad? What made him the way he is now? Without more details, he lacked substance as an MC.
What is the mountain cabin and why does Ghost own it? How has it still got hot water and electricity when other places don’t? Why spend all that time getting to this cabin just to leave straight away when she turns her phone on?
I wanted more depth into Rue’s trauma, and how it shaped who she is. She seemed a little bit blase about it. I wanted it to act as more of a foundation for the plot rather than just being thrown in for the sake of a big reveal near the end.
I would have also liked more details about Rue’s and Ghost’s previous relationship and their history when they were younger. The single flashback wasn’t enough to have me invested in their past. It seems strange to me that they were so important to each other and were going to run away together, but that they never kissed or said they loved each other? Maybe some more history would have helped me understand.
Would I read again? No
Would I recommend it? Yes
My star rating: ★★★★
Note: I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
My unhinged book rating system:
★★★★★+ fucking fantastic, give me ten more like it. Bury me with it. First thing I'd save if my house was on fire.
★★★★★ sheeesh this shit was good. Would definitely buy a special edition of it for my trophy shelf and rant about it to my book bestie.
★★★★ a fun read. Not necessarily the best thing to ever grace this good earth, but would check out other works from this author.
★★★ this was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine) but it had some redeemable qualities that made me keep reading.
★★ well… that was definitely a thing. This book was just not it for me. Most likely forced myself to finish while crying on the inside.
★ what the ever loving fuck were my eye balls just forced to perceive? DNF’d and metaphorically chucked out the window.
Disclaimer: Writing a book is an incredible feat and I admire anyone who has managed it. This is just my personal opinion - take it or toss it as you see fit.
April 29, 2025
All hell has broke loose and friends get separated. No one seems to understand what happened but the world has gone to shit and survival is a must. Rue is separated from her friends and winds up taken by someone that she isn’t sure if she should trust… but in a world on infected zombies .. trust is not as linear as it used to be.
April 13, 2025
3.5 stars - So this was pretty good, I was looking for an "unhinged alpha gets the girl ft. apocalypse" kind of vibe and we get that but some things didn't really work for me which is why I'm really torn on this. (slight SPOILERS below)
PLOT: Rue and her friends head to a house party in the woods where she stumbles across her boyfriend fucking a dead girl. She's separated from her friends and kidnapped by a sexy masked man who reminds her of her past. They road trip across the virus ridden southern US and face zombies along the way.
PROS:
- The story had some interesting parts, it did keep me engaged and I definitely wanted a lot more. Overall the vibe was interesting.
- The small spicy / sexy parts we got were pretty good.
- even though he's a big cliche, Ghost was written to be pretty hot! I loved his growling and deep voice vibes.
CONS:
- Rue kind of annoyed me. she's kidnapped by a hot, super tall, super buff guy and she only puts up a bit of a fight. Half the time she's creaming her panties for him and he's barely said anything to her. she also flips really quick from "I have to get away from this psycho" to "we're in love and everything is great"
- Ghost could have been such a good character but he needed more depth IMO. I get it he's like 6'8 (seriously), super jacked, tatted and a killer but aside from that we don't see much else. I wanted more of their backstory together and see some flaws. he's just hot and perfect and has a huge dick (like so huge it causes pain sometimes.. yikes lol)
- WE NEEDED MORE SMUT (and less leash stuff but that's just me I guess lol). The smut we got was pretty good but it was so sporadic and I wanted longer scenes especially after the buildup! the leash thing is fine but kind of annoyed me after a while.
- WTF was with Maverick and his wife?!? the next book features him and one of rue's friends, Mallory and we're supposed to root for a guy who keeps his wife and an indentured pet and it sucks so bad she's looking forward to dying to escape him?? ew. super ick. I don't get how vapid Mallory is supposed to get with someone like that.
- I wasn't crazy about how the backstory and trauma elements were handled tbh. We're told this girl was photographed and raped repeatedly by one (or more guys)... her bf / love (the mc) basically abandoned her and believed someone who was ALSO his abuser and never thought to check on her?? then he has the nerve to fling the "oh you slept with my dad" thing at her, she admits she was raped and he's apologetic for like 2 mins before they bone???? like she's seen guts, friends murdered violently by zombies and was repeatedly violated as a child and abandoned by her only confidant and it's only addressed once for like a min and then it's sunshine and roses? nah.
- we needed more detail about the virus. we're told that it's spreading but there's no consistent way that it's described or like concrete "rules" for how it presents or what caused it?
- they have a secured mansion bunker but go on vacay... while there's a literal outbreak we aren't given a lot of details on? that sounds like a terrible idea.
PLOT: Rue and her friends head to a house party in the woods where she stumbles across her boyfriend fucking a dead girl. She's separated from her friends and kidnapped by a sexy masked man who reminds her of her past. They road trip across the virus ridden southern US and face zombies along the way.
PROS:
- The story had some interesting parts, it did keep me engaged and I definitely wanted a lot more. Overall the vibe was interesting.
- The small spicy / sexy parts we got were pretty good.
- even though he's a big cliche, Ghost was written to be pretty hot! I loved his growling and deep voice vibes.
CONS:
- Rue kind of annoyed me. she's kidnapped by a hot, super tall, super buff guy and she only puts up a bit of a fight. Half the time she's creaming her panties for him and he's barely said anything to her. she also flips really quick from "I have to get away from this psycho" to "we're in love and everything is great"
- Ghost could have been such a good character but he needed more depth IMO. I get it he's like 6'8 (seriously), super jacked, tatted and a killer but aside from that we don't see much else. I wanted more of their backstory together and see some flaws. he's just hot and perfect and has a huge dick (like so huge it causes pain sometimes.. yikes lol)
- WE NEEDED MORE SMUT (and less leash stuff but that's just me I guess lol). The smut we got was pretty good but it was so sporadic and I wanted longer scenes especially after the buildup! the leash thing is fine but kind of annoyed me after a while.
- WTF was with Maverick and his wife?!? the next book features him and one of rue's friends, Mallory and we're supposed to root for a guy who keeps his wife and an indentured pet and it sucks so bad she's looking forward to dying to escape him?? ew. super ick. I don't get how vapid Mallory is supposed to get with someone like that.
- I wasn't crazy about how the backstory and trauma elements were handled tbh. We're told this girl was photographed and raped repeatedly by one (or more guys)... her bf / love (the mc) basically abandoned her and believed someone who was ALSO his abuser and never thought to check on her?? then he has the nerve to fling the "oh you slept with my dad" thing at her, she admits she was raped and he's apologetic for like 2 mins before they bone???? like she's seen guts, friends murdered violently by zombies and was repeatedly violated as a child and abandoned by her only confidant and it's only addressed once for like a min and then it's sunshine and roses? nah.
- we needed more detail about the virus. we're told that it's spreading but there's no consistent way that it's described or like concrete "rules" for how it presents or what caused it?
- they have a secured mansion bunker but go on vacay... while there's a literal outbreak we aren't given a lot of details on? that sounds like a terrible idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
Book one in the Revolution X series, and let me tell you I ate this shit up. And unlike the unfortunate souls in this book, I managed to stay alive afterward. Barely.
Chaos? Check.
People dying and not staying dead? Check.
Mysterious masked kidnapper? Check.
A feisty, foul-mouthed heroine who refuses to be tamed? Double check.
Rue gets kidnapped by Ghost, a masked, brooding man who clearly doesn’t know what he just signed up for. She’s not some helpless damsel she’s fierce, smart-mouthed, and fully capable of making his life a living hell. And let’s be real, she does. Their back-and-forth banter is the kind of tension-filled gold that makes you want to scream at the pages while simultaneously throwing your Kindle at the wall which I seem to be doing a lot lately.
Rue, upon being kidnapped:
“Oh, I’m sorry—did you not do your research on me before you decided to kidnap me!? If you wanted a docile little bitch, you should have taken someone else. Or better yet, get a fucking dog.”
Ghost: internally rethinking all of his life choices.
But just when she thinks she hates him, she starts to realise maybe, just maybe she needs him. Not just for survival, but because there’s something undeniably there between them. And Ghost? Oh, he’s not about to let her go.
“It’s either me and her, or her and me, or us together. Those are the only options she’s getting.”
Sir??? Possessive much??? But also, yes, please, continue.
With the undead breathing down their necks, betrayals hanging in the air, and a romance that burns hotter than the apocalypse itself, Outbreak delivers the perfect mix of action, suspense, and enemies-to-lovers tension. Heather Beal, you have my attention—I’m ready for book two of this shared world. Definitely can’t and won’t stop at one!!
⚠️ Check the trigger warnings unlike me who uses them as a shopping checklist.
Chaos? Check.
People dying and not staying dead? Check.
Mysterious masked kidnapper? Check.
A feisty, foul-mouthed heroine who refuses to be tamed? Double check.
Rue gets kidnapped by Ghost, a masked, brooding man who clearly doesn’t know what he just signed up for. She’s not some helpless damsel she’s fierce, smart-mouthed, and fully capable of making his life a living hell. And let’s be real, she does. Their back-and-forth banter is the kind of tension-filled gold that makes you want to scream at the pages while simultaneously throwing your Kindle at the wall which I seem to be doing a lot lately.
Rue, upon being kidnapped:
“Oh, I’m sorry—did you not do your research on me before you decided to kidnap me!? If you wanted a docile little bitch, you should have taken someone else. Or better yet, get a fucking dog.”
Ghost: internally rethinking all of his life choices.
But just when she thinks she hates him, she starts to realise maybe, just maybe she needs him. Not just for survival, but because there’s something undeniably there between them. And Ghost? Oh, he’s not about to let her go.
“It’s either me and her, or her and me, or us together. Those are the only options she’s getting.”
Sir??? Possessive much??? But also, yes, please, continue.
With the undead breathing down their necks, betrayals hanging in the air, and a romance that burns hotter than the apocalypse itself, Outbreak delivers the perfect mix of action, suspense, and enemies-to-lovers tension. Heather Beal, you have my attention—I’m ready for book two of this shared world. Definitely can’t and won’t stop at one!!
⚠️ Check the trigger warnings unlike me who uses them as a shopping checklist.
April 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 Star Rating
Multi First Person POV (Rue and Ghost)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Age Rating: 18+
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 🖤
If you’re looking for a spicy ‘zombie’ story, this is the one for you. From the beginning, when our main attends a party and finds her boyfriend… it’s like a rollercoaster that does not stop. From the infected to the masked man who has abducted her, this story is non stop action, and I mean that in more ways than one. I haven’t read anything by Beal before this, and damn! This won’t be my last!
🖤 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 🖤
Alright, so OUTBREAK starts off in the middle of Louisiana as an infectious disease has taken over the civilians, turning them into undead ravages. We then cut over to our main, Rue, getting ready to surprise her boyfriend at a little house party. But when she arrives, she gets more than she bargained for in surprises… and it’s pretty morbid. Suddenly, she feels herself drifting as someone has spiked her drink. When she wakes up, she finds out she’s been kidnapped by a masked man. But that may be the least of her worries…
🖤 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 🖤
Rue is a total badass. She notices her boyfriend’s odd behavior almost immediately and takes action to getaway. She has some past traumas but is strong in this time of chaos. Ghost is a walking red flag. Well, at the start because he had to kidnap her in order to ensure that she would be safe. Their chemistry takes a while to build but the spice is worth it!
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 🖤
🖤 kidnapping
🖤 second chance
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 masked stalker
🖤 infectious/zombies
🖤 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 🖤
As a start to a trilogy with two other authors, this story is gripping and full of emotions. One minute she’s finding her disloyal man giving it up to the dead and the next she’s kidnapped by a masked man who won’t allow her to leave his protective sight. This is a must read, as ANARCHY is coming out and UPRISING will be following shortly.
Multi First Person POV (Rue and Ghost)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Age Rating: 18+
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 🖤
If you’re looking for a spicy ‘zombie’ story, this is the one for you. From the beginning, when our main attends a party and finds her boyfriend… it’s like a rollercoaster that does not stop. From the infected to the masked man who has abducted her, this story is non stop action, and I mean that in more ways than one. I haven’t read anything by Beal before this, and damn! This won’t be my last!
🖤 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 🖤
Alright, so OUTBREAK starts off in the middle of Louisiana as an infectious disease has taken over the civilians, turning them into undead ravages. We then cut over to our main, Rue, getting ready to surprise her boyfriend at a little house party. But when she arrives, she gets more than she bargained for in surprises… and it’s pretty morbid. Suddenly, she feels herself drifting as someone has spiked her drink. When she wakes up, she finds out she’s been kidnapped by a masked man. But that may be the least of her worries…
🖤 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 🖤
Rue is a total badass. She notices her boyfriend’s odd behavior almost immediately and takes action to getaway. She has some past traumas but is strong in this time of chaos. Ghost is a walking red flag. Well, at the start because he had to kidnap her in order to ensure that she would be safe. Their chemistry takes a while to build but the spice is worth it!
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 🖤
🖤 kidnapping
🖤 second chance
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 masked stalker
🖤 infectious/zombies
🖤 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 🖤
As a start to a trilogy with two other authors, this story is gripping and full of emotions. One minute she’s finding her disloyal man giving it up to the dead and the next she’s kidnapped by a masked man who won’t allow her to leave his protective sight. This is a must read, as ANARCHY is coming out and UPRISING will be following shortly.
June 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ 4 🌶
MCs: 𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘦 ♡ 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵
This is my way out. And it's my choice. I choose to fight for the only thing that feels real in this fucked-up world. 𝙃𝙞𝙢.
i loved rue!! a sassy gummy worms lovin college girl. regardless of her past, she really tried to make an effort moving on & live normal w/ her besties mallory & noah. but she hasnt even processed catching her douchie bf cheating on her at a party when the world decides to throw a monkey wrench!! she was taken by ghost, a delicious masked $talkr/hired unaliver from her past deadset on protecting her & at the same time punish her in the onset of a GD apocalypse!!
I might be an asshole, but I meant what I said. Nothing will be happening unless she begs for it. That doesn't mean I won't push her to that point.
a thrilling apocalyptic smut i never knew i needed!! THATS how u fckn kick off a trilogy🙌🏽 i srsly couldnt put it down turning page aftr page!! shmexual tension was high from the get go!! slow to get there but from the build up to when the spice actually hit was sooo good!! i cant wait to see whats coming next🤗🤗
✨ Book 1 of 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙓 shared world trilogy. some things will be left unanswered in this book, but will be resolved before the series ends
🧟♀️ ᴅısᴇᴀsᴇ ᴏᴜᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋ
🚨 2ɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
🧟♂️ ғ0ʀᴄ3ᴅ ᴘʀᴏxıᴍıᴛʏ
🚨 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ıᴅᴇɴᴛıᴛʏ
🧟 sıᴢᴇ ᴅıғғᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ
🚨 ᴍᴀsᴋᴇᴅ $ᴛᴀʟᴋʀ
🧟♀️ ᴋıᴅɴᴀᴘᴘıɴɢ
🚨 ᴛʀᴀüᴍᴀ/ᴘᴛsᴅ/ᴀɴxıᴇᴛʏ
🧟♂️ 🖐🏽ɴᴇᴄᴋʟᴀᴄᴇ
🚨 ᴄᴏʟʟᴀʀ & ʟᴇᴀsʜ
🧟 ıɴᴋᴇᴅ & ᴘıᴇʀᴄᴇᴅ...
‼️ 𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. ✔️🆃🆆/🅲🆆
MCs: 𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘦 ♡ 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵
This is my way out. And it's my choice. I choose to fight for the only thing that feels real in this fucked-up world. 𝙃𝙞𝙢.
i loved rue!! a sassy gummy worms lovin college girl. regardless of her past, she really tried to make an effort moving on & live normal w/ her besties mallory & noah. but she hasnt even processed catching her douchie bf cheating on her at a party when the world decides to throw a monkey wrench!! she was taken by ghost, a delicious masked $talkr/hired unaliver from her past deadset on protecting her & at the same time punish her in the onset of a GD apocalypse!!
I might be an asshole, but I meant what I said. Nothing will be happening unless she begs for it. That doesn't mean I won't push her to that point.
a thrilling apocalyptic smut i never knew i needed!! THATS how u fckn kick off a trilogy🙌🏽 i srsly couldnt put it down turning page aftr page!! shmexual tension was high from the get go!! slow to get there but from the build up to when the spice actually hit was sooo good!! i cant wait to see whats coming next🤗🤗
✨ Book 1 of 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙓 shared world trilogy. some things will be left unanswered in this book, but will be resolved before the series ends
🧟♀️ ᴅısᴇᴀsᴇ ᴏᴜᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋ
🚨 2ɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
🧟♂️ ғ0ʀᴄ3ᴅ ᴘʀᴏxıᴍıᴛʏ
🚨 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ıᴅᴇɴᴛıᴛʏ
🧟 sıᴢᴇ ᴅıғғᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ
🚨 ᴍᴀsᴋᴇᴅ $ᴛᴀʟᴋʀ
🧟♀️ ᴋıᴅɴᴀᴘᴘıɴɢ
🚨 ᴛʀᴀüᴍᴀ/ᴘᴛsᴅ/ᴀɴxıᴇᴛʏ
🧟♂️ 🖐🏽ɴᴇᴄᴋʟᴀᴄᴇ
🚨 ᴄᴏʟʟᴀʀ & ʟᴇᴀsʜ
🧟 ıɴᴋᴇᴅ & ᴘıᴇʀᴄᴇᴅ...
‼️ 𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. ✔️🆃🆆/🅲🆆
April 8, 2025
After her boyfriend is infected by a deadly disease, Rue is saved by a masked man with an ulterior motive. Ghost braved the panicked masses to find and save Rue, whether she's willing to go or not. He's been watching her for a while, waiting for his moment. When the country falls into chaos, he strikes. Their road trip to his safe house is detoured by the undead, traffic, and supply runs. Along the way, Rue realizes she's trusting this mysterious stranger with her life and not completely regretting her choices. When Ghost's mask comes off, Rue rethinks her mindset as she comes face-to-face with the boy who broke her heart. Ghost is determined to right past wrongs by saving the woman who's always had his heart. Now, if only she will cooperate long enough to survive.
Spicy zombie apocalypse romance? I'll bite! Rue and Ghost were childhood best friends until a misunderstanding forced him to leave her behind in hell. Now, he's faced with the reality of his choices and realizes he didn't know the whole story. Rue has been fighting her whole life, and no masked adultnapper is going to get the better of her. Revealing his identity drags up bad memories but gives them both a chance to explain. The pent-up feelings between them were super heightened by their close calls with the undead, and it led to some spicy stolen moments! Despite Rue and Ghost's happy ending, there are two more interconnected books in the series to continue the overall story. I'm very excited to dive deeper into this world!
Spicy zombie apocalypse romance? I'll bite! Rue and Ghost were childhood best friends until a misunderstanding forced him to leave her behind in hell. Now, he's faced with the reality of his choices and realizes he didn't know the whole story. Rue has been fighting her whole life, and no masked adultnapper is going to get the better of her. Revealing his identity drags up bad memories but gives them both a chance to explain. The pent-up feelings between them were super heightened by their close calls with the undead, and it led to some spicy stolen moments! Despite Rue and Ghost's happy ending, there are two more interconnected books in the series to continue the overall story. I'm very excited to dive deeper into this world!
March 26, 2025
This was fun from the start. Rue was entertaining to follow!
- Immediate lolz to the Josh scene. He already sounded like a tool but necrophilia-adjacent?? I was simultaneously horrified and having a giggle fit. CAN YOU IMAGINE WALKING IN ON THAT.
- Maybe I’ve read too many stalker romances, but if that was the state of the world, I would 100% have gone WILLINGLY with a giant, muscled man. Zero questions asked. I mean…my books tell me he’s going to be hot af and will call me his good girl. #survival
-Aspen and Mav… Honestly, I’d have tapped out pre-apocalypse if I were her. Mav sounded terrible from the name alone, and based on the snippets we got? I was out. But of course, I already know I’m going to love him in the next book - because I’m toxic and self-aware.
- The “big misunderstanding” from the past that had them all mad and broody? Having that get resolved in like 26 seconds normally would’ve sent me.
But then I was real with myself… if I were in a zombie apocalypse… with that man…? I, too, would get over it quickly and… ride it out. Literally and figuratively. Get while the gettin’s good or whatever?
- Speaking of gettin’… let’s talk about the death dick.
Those three paragraphs had me cringing, fanning myself, and audibly gasping. Rollercoaster of emotions. But I guess… find you a man who tattoos your name on his dick?
Zombie apocalypses usually totally bore me but this one was a great time.
Bring on book two!
- Immediate lolz to the Josh scene. He already sounded like a tool but necrophilia-adjacent?? I was simultaneously horrified and having a giggle fit. CAN YOU IMAGINE WALKING IN ON THAT.
- Maybe I’ve read too many stalker romances, but if that was the state of the world, I would 100% have gone WILLINGLY with a giant, muscled man. Zero questions asked. I mean…my books tell me he’s going to be hot af and will call me his good girl. #survival
-Aspen and Mav… Honestly, I’d have tapped out pre-apocalypse if I were her. Mav sounded terrible from the name alone, and based on the snippets we got? I was out. But of course, I already know I’m going to love him in the next book - because I’m toxic and self-aware.
- The “big misunderstanding” from the past that had them all mad and broody? Having that get resolved in like 26 seconds normally would’ve sent me.
But then I was real with myself… if I were in a zombie apocalypse… with that man…? I, too, would get over it quickly and… ride it out. Literally and figuratively. Get while the gettin’s good or whatever?
- Speaking of gettin’… let’s talk about the death dick.
Those three paragraphs had me cringing, fanning myself, and audibly gasping. Rollercoaster of emotions. But I guess… find you a man who tattoos your name on his dick?
Zombie apocalypses usually totally bore me but this one was a great time.
Bring on book two!
March 23, 2025
5/5 ⭐️ • 🌶️🌶️/5 spice
• Tropes •
- Stalker/kidnapping
- Second chance
- Burn the world for her
- End of the world
- Miscommunication
- Masked man
- Forced proximity
- HEA…for now
We meet our strong FMC going about her normal life not knowing her past has been watching her for years. The world goes upside down and thankfully the past is there to kidnap her when she didn’t know she needed it.
As they travel along and see what all has been happening during the outbreak and meet a few characters who may or may not be in the next books.
Tensions rise between Ghost and Rue and the slow burn starts to happen as much as Rue doesn’t want it to.
This is part one of a 3 part, shared world trilogy so I don’t want to go into more detail about the ending because is it really to “end”? 🤔
This book captured my interest from the beginning. The instant that we see the world get flipped upside down I had a feeling this wouldn’t be like most books I’ve read. I have yet to read a dark romance set in an apocalyptic environment so I know that helped pique my interest.
If you are wanting a quick read with non stop action like the Walking Dead (the good seasons, heh) but with a dark romance twist. This is it.
I am excited to read book two to see what happens in this messed up world these 3 authors are creating.
• Tropes •
- Stalker/kidnapping
- Second chance
- Burn the world for her
- End of the world
- Miscommunication
- Masked man
- Forced proximity
- HEA…for now
We meet our strong FMC going about her normal life not knowing her past has been watching her for years. The world goes upside down and thankfully the past is there to kidnap her when she didn’t know she needed it.
As they travel along and see what all has been happening during the outbreak and meet a few characters who may or may not be in the next books.
Tensions rise between Ghost and Rue and the slow burn starts to happen as much as Rue doesn’t want it to.
This is part one of a 3 part, shared world trilogy so I don’t want to go into more detail about the ending because is it really to “end”? 🤔
This book captured my interest from the beginning. The instant that we see the world get flipped upside down I had a feeling this wouldn’t be like most books I’ve read. I have yet to read a dark romance set in an apocalyptic environment so I know that helped pique my interest.
If you are wanting a quick read with non stop action like the Walking Dead (the good seasons, heh) but with a dark romance twist. This is it.
I am excited to read book two to see what happens in this messed up world these 3 authors are creating.
April 7, 2025
Outbreak by Heather Beal ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Goodreads won’t allow me to do 4.5 stars and it deserves more than 4 stars so 5 stars it is and it does deserve it!!
This was such a fun read! If you like dark romance and apocalyptic type of books/movies then this is a good book for you! It isn’t too smutty but when it is the heat is turned all the way up and is delicious enough for a book about zombies. Plus the banter had me giggling and smiling every other page 🖤
We follow Rue who is trying to forget her horrible past and just live a decent normal life until she is taken by a MASKED man (😏) named ghost during a zombie apocalypse, who happens to know everything about her and continuously surprises her the whole book. She knows she should be scared and run off every chance she gets but for some reason she continues to stay, she doesn’t understand how she can feel so safe with a stranger she just met but yet she knows she’s safer with him then alone during whatever the hell is happening around them! Even when he does collar her and walks her around on a leash like his own little pet 🤭
Thank you @heather_beal_author for allowing me to read this book ❤️
#zombieapocalypse #Outbreak #DarkRomance #RevolutionXseries #arcreader
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Goodreads won’t allow me to do 4.5 stars and it deserves more than 4 stars so 5 stars it is and it does deserve it!!
This was such a fun read! If you like dark romance and apocalyptic type of books/movies then this is a good book for you! It isn’t too smutty but when it is the heat is turned all the way up and is delicious enough for a book about zombies. Plus the banter had me giggling and smiling every other page 🖤
We follow Rue who is trying to forget her horrible past and just live a decent normal life until she is taken by a MASKED man (😏) named ghost during a zombie apocalypse, who happens to know everything about her and continuously surprises her the whole book. She knows she should be scared and run off every chance she gets but for some reason she continues to stay, she doesn’t understand how she can feel so safe with a stranger she just met but yet she knows she’s safer with him then alone during whatever the hell is happening around them! Even when he does collar her and walks her around on a leash like his own little pet 🤭
Thank you @heather_beal_author for allowing me to read this book ❤️
#zombieapocalypse #Outbreak #DarkRomance #RevolutionXseries #arcreader
April 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well, I didn't know that I needed this backdrop in a romance book, but I loved it.
This is Outbreak, which is the 1st book in a 3 book series called Revolution X. It is a multi author series.
This world is apocalyptic. A strange virus is taking the country down, and the series follows three friends, Rue, Mallory, and Noah.
Outbreak is a dual POV book of Rue, our FMC and Ghost, our MMC.
Rue has definitely been dealt some crappy cards in her life and is currently at college with her two friends. They go to a party and the shizz hits the fan!!
All these people are getting sick, they get separated, and Rue gets kidnapped.
Her kidnapper is Ghost.
Ghost has a complicated lifestyle, and we learn that he knows Rue and there's a history there.
The story is about their escape from civilisation. These two have super hot chemistry. The plot keeps you guessing, and the spice is spicing. It's a slow but delicious slow burn.
I really can't wait to dive into Book 2 and follow Mallory's story.
This was the 1st book I've read by Heather, and I don't think it will be the last!!
I would recommend this book.
Kidnapping
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Masked Stalker
Apocalyptic
Well, I didn't know that I needed this backdrop in a romance book, but I loved it.
This is Outbreak, which is the 1st book in a 3 book series called Revolution X. It is a multi author series.
This world is apocalyptic. A strange virus is taking the country down, and the series follows three friends, Rue, Mallory, and Noah.
Outbreak is a dual POV book of Rue, our FMC and Ghost, our MMC.
Rue has definitely been dealt some crappy cards in her life and is currently at college with her two friends. They go to a party and the shizz hits the fan!!
All these people are getting sick, they get separated, and Rue gets kidnapped.
Her kidnapper is Ghost.
Ghost has a complicated lifestyle, and we learn that he knows Rue and there's a history there.
The story is about their escape from civilisation. These two have super hot chemistry. The plot keeps you guessing, and the spice is spicing. It's a slow but delicious slow burn.
I really can't wait to dive into Book 2 and follow Mallory's story.
This was the 1st book I've read by Heather, and I don't think it will be the last!!
I would recommend this book.
Kidnapping
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Masked Stalker
Apocalyptic
March 24, 2025
**ARC REVIEW**
I can add 'zombie apocalypse' to my list of fantasy locations, apparently. Who knew an army of undead was an aphrodisiac?
This was a RIDE from page 1. I prioritized finishing this ARC over sleep, and I regret nothing. The plot was electric. Fantastic pace with perfect tension. It was like a chainsaw through solid steel. Sparks and shrapnel everywhere. You get it.
This MMC. Ghost is EVERYTHING my sick little heart bleeds for and more. I also think i added a new mandatory criteria to my book boyfriend list.... Cautionary warning to future readers, ensure you have multiple pairs of underwear at your disposal while reading this. IYKYK.
The FMC. YES, YOU SNARKY FIREY QUEEN. I love me a sassy, strong bad ass FMC, and Rue is the total package. The banter between these two is chef's kiss; she carries 80% of it. Girl, let's be besties.
The chemistry between these two is insane. Mix that with elements of constant danger and deep-rooted childhood trauma, and you have a recipe for perfection.
I'm thrilled to be a part of the extended ARC Team for the Revolution X Trilogy and I am on my knees for the release of book 2.
I can add 'zombie apocalypse' to my list of fantasy locations, apparently. Who knew an army of undead was an aphrodisiac?
This was a RIDE from page 1. I prioritized finishing this ARC over sleep, and I regret nothing. The plot was electric. Fantastic pace with perfect tension. It was like a chainsaw through solid steel. Sparks and shrapnel everywhere. You get it.
This MMC. Ghost is EVERYTHING my sick little heart bleeds for and more. I also think i added a new mandatory criteria to my book boyfriend list.... Cautionary warning to future readers, ensure you have multiple pairs of underwear at your disposal while reading this. IYKYK.
The FMC. YES, YOU SNARKY FIREY QUEEN. I love me a sassy, strong bad ass FMC, and Rue is the total package. The banter between these two is chef's kiss; she carries 80% of it. Girl, let's be besties.
The chemistry between these two is insane. Mix that with elements of constant danger and deep-rooted childhood trauma, and you have a recipe for perfection.
I'm thrilled to be a part of the extended ARC Team for the Revolution X Trilogy and I am on my knees for the release of book 2.
April 12, 2025
Really good read. Lots of good spice and a great level of world and character building. Rue and Ghost both have a fractured past and it’s great rekindling to their story.
Rue is damaged her past has clearly shaped her into a withdrawn person just trying to find something that sparks her inside. Who would guess it’s her kidnapper that would not just spark her but completely light her on fire. I love how the internal dialogue shows Rues constant battle with wanting to escape and yet being drawn to Ghost with this invisible pull of both safety and a burning desire for more from him.
Ghost is a total badass. I love the mystery and dominance of him. He knows so much more and himself he is so much more than what Rue thinks she knows it’s great to see how his story unravels into the perfect storm for him and Rue. Their relationship truly shows how a dom/sub relationship while yes on the surface is controlled by the dom it in fact is the sub who controls everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Chop chop, bitches! I’m trying to get dicked down, thrown around, and folded like a taco. Let’s go!”
Rue is damaged her past has clearly shaped her into a withdrawn person just trying to find something that sparks her inside. Who would guess it’s her kidnapper that would not just spark her but completely light her on fire. I love how the internal dialogue shows Rues constant battle with wanting to escape and yet being drawn to Ghost with this invisible pull of both safety and a burning desire for more from him.
Ghost is a total badass. I love the mystery and dominance of him. He knows so much more and himself he is so much more than what Rue thinks she knows it’s great to see how his story unravels into the perfect storm for him and Rue. Their relationship truly shows how a dom/sub relationship while yes on the surface is controlled by the dom it in fact is the sub who controls everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Chop chop, bitches! I’m trying to get dicked down, thrown around, and folded like a taco. Let’s go!”
April 2, 2025
ARC Review-
I had the pleasure of receiving an arc for Outbreak, and chowed down on it like a mindless meat sack!
Outbreak, Book 1 in the Revolution X Series Trilogy, is written by Heather Beal, and this is my first time reading one of her books. She expertly captures your attention from the very first page, leaving you wanting more.
The chemistry between Rue and 'Ghost' is incredibly intense and passionate, with a generous amount of steamy spice added to the mix.
Stars- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fire- 🔥🔥🔥
Genre- Dark Romance
Favourite Quotes-
Rue- ‘’So if you’re not going to kill me and clearly you’re not gonna f@ck me, what are we doing? This is about the most boring kidnapping I’ve ever seen.’’
Ghost- ‘’ No, Death. It’s not in your head. You feel my eyes on your body. I’m already buried so deep inside of you- you could suffocate on me.’’
🖤Viral Outbreak
💚Masked Kiddnapper
🖤Secret Identy
💚Trauma
🖤Slow Burn
💚Forced Proximity
🖤Second Chance
💚Undead Dead People
🖤Banter
💚Sassy
🖤Filthy Mouth
Highly recommend!
Looking forward to continuing on with Anarchy, Book 2.
I had the pleasure of receiving an arc for Outbreak, and chowed down on it like a mindless meat sack!
Outbreak, Book 1 in the Revolution X Series Trilogy, is written by Heather Beal, and this is my first time reading one of her books. She expertly captures your attention from the very first page, leaving you wanting more.
The chemistry between Rue and 'Ghost' is incredibly intense and passionate, with a generous amount of steamy spice added to the mix.
Stars- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fire- 🔥🔥🔥
Genre- Dark Romance
Favourite Quotes-
Rue- ‘’So if you’re not going to kill me and clearly you’re not gonna f@ck me, what are we doing? This is about the most boring kidnapping I’ve ever seen.’’
Ghost- ‘’ No, Death. It’s not in your head. You feel my eyes on your body. I’m already buried so deep inside of you- you could suffocate on me.’’
🖤Viral Outbreak
💚Masked Kiddnapper
🖤Secret Identy
💚Trauma
🖤Slow Burn
💚Forced Proximity
🖤Second Chance
💚Undead Dead People
🖤Banter
💚Sassy
🖤Filthy Mouth
Highly recommend!
Looking forward to continuing on with Anarchy, Book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews