Undying Hearts

by Charlotte Saxon

After being abandoned at the altar by my fiance, I didn’t think my day could get any worse. And then the zombie apocalypse happened…

It’s been over a year since the dead started walking on British soil and things aren’t looking great. Society is in shambles, along with my love life, and while I have my brother and a safe place to live, our food situation is turning dire. But we’ll survive, just like we always have.

Until the worst happens and my brother goes missing.

Desperate to find him, I have no choice but to leave the safety of my home and step into this violent new world. One filled with death, gore and brutality. And three devastatingly handsome strangers who are determined to help.

I don’t trust any of them.

Not their scarred ex-SAS leader, Rhys, who seems to have a permanent stick up his a**. Or Theo, the flirtatious former paramedic with a twisted sense of humour that rivals my own. And definitely not Alex, the overprotective ex-rugby star who's sweet smiles and kind gestures hide a dark past. All three of them are dangerous to my fragile heart and the longer I stay with them, the more it’s at risk.

But I don’t have a choice.

My brother’s life is in danger and these men are my best chance at saving him. Which means putting my heart on the line and hoping that if it does shatter, I’ll still be alive to pick up the pieces.

Undying Hearts is a slow burn post-apocalyptic why choose romance set in the UK and the first of two books. If you enjoy action, dark humour, growly men who are a little broken and a capable heroine who's just as broken, then this book is for you!

Genres: Romance, Zombies

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2025

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5* A zombie apocalypse set in the UK, a heroine searching for her missing brother, with three broken, dangerously attractive men.

The execution had some rough edges. There are major plot holes that pulled me out of the story. She somehow uses the horse to move a vehicle? How exactly did the horse, crow and dog make it through an entire zombie apocalypse without getting bitten? It annoyed me that she rides her horse while the three men walk, without offering to carry their supplies.

There’s plenty of fighting action in this one, brutal zombie encounters, violent human threats, and constant fight-or-flight moments that keep the tension high, but no actual sex. (Kinda important to know going in to a RH story!) There are some intimate moments, but that’s about it.

The book ends on a mild cliffhanger, setting up for the second installment.

Tropes/themes:
Zombie apocalypse
Psychological trauma
Reverse harem
Former military MMC
Found family
Multi-POV
Survival horror
No on-page sex
Mild cliffhanger

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book. It’s my first time reading Charlotte Saxon, and it definitely won’t be my last. (And not just because this book ends with a cliffhanger.) I’m not really one for the whole zombie apocalypse thing, and blood and gore aren’t on my list of fun things to read about either. And you definitely get lots of those things in this book. But you also get the depiction of a strong woman finding herself and the three men who not only help her to do that but who are helped by her in return. Ollie is a badass character and I could empathize with her and the trauma she’s been through. But the guys, Rhys, Theo and Alex, also come with their share of baggage. One of the many things I like about this book is that it doesn’t make any of the characters “less than” because of their trauma. The mental health rep in this book is positive and strong. I was really impressed. Of course it also doesn’t hurt that it’s just a great adventure tale. The four characters are on a mission to save people taken by a gang while also trying to survive the apocalypse. In other words, just another Tuesday. :) The author does a great job of combining action with introspection, not letting the violence or the emotional heavy weight of the story overpower one another. There isn’t a lot of physical romance in this book, though there is a lot of anticipation of things to come. But that makes it all the better, having a chance to really get to know all four characters and really care about them. I actually thought it was very well balanced. The story grabbed my attention from the first chapter and I’m very eagerly awaiting the continuation of it. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bryanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was surprisingly good. The zombie apocalypse starting was perfect timing. Right when she was about to be left at the alter. Anyways, she is actually a good fmc. She has a lot of trust issues but I would be like that too with the way her life has gone. Her brother was honestly making me mad. I know he was trying to protect her, but keeping her locked inside and not letting her have any experience killing zombies was definitely going to blow up in his face. I bet he didn’t think about what would happen to his wife and sister if he went missing. Good thing she has common sense and can survive without him. Anyways, the guys were… interesting. Theo was my favorite. Obviously. He wasn’t too overprotective and he was nice. And he’s the only one that is onboard with the whole sharing thing. Rhys was okay. I don’t really know too much about him and how he would be with Ollie. I know he likes her, but I just need to see how they are together. I like him though. Alex… is complicating. I liked him at first, but now he’s all possessive with Ollie. Like, dude, she not just yours and she doesn’t want only you. I know he has his past traumas with that, but still, it’s annoying the heck out of me. He’s very sweet but gosh, he needs to quit acting like Ollie only likes him. He sees how she likes the other guys. Trying to make her pick only him will end up a disaster. Just like Theo said it would. Anyways, the ending was crazy! I’m glad they got all the people out and Tobias is ok. But I swear if he starts being all protective with her in the next book I’m going to loose it. If he acts like she’s still a kid and didn’t just travel all this way just to save him, I might crash out. I have a feeling he will. I guess I’ll just have to read the next book to find out.

[Felicia Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read!

An apocalypse story that delves in to the psychological trauma aspect a little deeper than most dystopian fiction. This is really a story of adversity and survival. Four broken hearts come together and bond through shared trauma, while on a rescue mission. And together, they begin the healing process. This book is only the beginning, and the abrupt unfinished ending leaves you wanting more. This story is not a standalone story. But, it is well written. The characters are realistic variations of personalities that are perfect for their roles in the story. The zombies are intense, not your typical slow undead infected. The gore factor is on point, not too little and not over done. And there's enough action to keep things entertaining throughout the book. Overall this is a great read. I'm looking forward to reading more of the story in book two.

Tags: Apocalypse Fiction, Apocalypse Romance, Dystopian Romance, Dystopian Fiction, Reverse Harem Romance, Second Chance Romance, Thriller, Horror.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love me some zombie apocalypse, then throw in an interesting sweet and spicy slow burn RH and I’m a goner.
Our poor FMC Ollie has been through a lot of trauma caused by her past and crappy men, so it was so great watching her gain confidence and see her strength shine through. She forces herself to set off on a dangerous solo mission to rescue her overprotective brother, who frankly holds her back too much it’s annoying.
Along come our three hot and capable MMC’s to the rescue so now it’s a party, tho she saves them right back several times, it was awesome. Theo is currently my favourite, I adore his humour and compassion. His communication with the group was wonderful too, so the book doesn’t fall into the annoying misunderstanding trope that so many RH do. Their overall chemistry and commitment to Ollie was lovely to read and I can’t wait to see this foursome grow and dominate the end of days together. ❤️🤭

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Saxon is a new author for me and I’m a huge fan! Her characters feel real, their emotions and experiences make this story personal, and the adrenaline is awesome and exhilarating. Olivia rises above her own perception and is so much more than her trauma! Rhys, Theo, and Alex have this incredible brotherhood and that connection is palpable!
I love the setting, the atmosphere, and the attraction Olivia/ Ollie has for each of these men. She doesn’t have much faith in the opposite sex, but as they travel together fighting to stay alive these men prove themselves over and over again. I am intrigued by her and her affinity for animals, her resilience, and how these men see her struggles! I’m ready for the book!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole]

Great Post Apocalyptic RH!

So, I read a lot of books, over 280 just last year. This book has me excited for the next book in the series. Is it perfect? No, but the story was great, the slow burn was believable, and most importantly, the progression of the characters was natural. I got so involved with Ollie and the guys that it was over before I knew it and I'm champing at the bit for the next one. It wasn't really a cliffhanger of an ending either. It didnt leave me in anxiety of waiting for the next book, I'm just fricking excited for it. No need to hold back on reading it until the series is completed.

The only sad part is is that when I clicked on Charlotte's name, no other books were listed. Did I miss a Pen name because no way was this her first book.

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF @ 33%

I love a good post-apocalyptic romance but I also need them to make sense. There were a few things that happened with a lot of author hand waving rather than an actual explanation. Additionally, there's nothing that frustrates me more in survival books than character A, who isn't trained and experienced, not listening to character B, who is actually trained and experienced. And boy does Ollie do this a lot, all under the guise of being independent and stubborn. And yet these guys still found it endearing and cute even though their lives were on the line every time she didn't listen? No thanks.

Content Warning up to what I read: severe phobia of being in a car after an accident; negative self-talk surrounding infertility

[Kaurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Apocalyptic Journey to Finding Love

This fast-paced, funny, and adventurous apocalypse story had me rapidly turning the page to see what happens next. While Ollie is relatable, capable, and funny, she wrestles with understandable demons while trying to navigate a new world of violent gangs and zombies. Her love interests all have very different personalities that complement her accordingly and their budding feelings are set against a terrifying backdrop and mutual goal to rescue people from a gang. I’m equally intrigued to see the romance play out as I am to see how this apocalyptic world unfolds. I can’t wait to read what happens next!

[Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm

I liked Liv (heroine) for about 50% of the book. She went from terrified to figuring and finding her own strength. Totally a heroine to get behind for that.

What I didn't like was the angst. Those characters that need validation none stop. That had me skipping pages. Liv was at it, so were the MMCs. Speaking of, none of them really stood out for me. Not in a way that made me want to know more about them.

By 85% I was bored and just wanted to get to the end. Sooo there's a book 2.... There isn't much more I want to read about sadly.

[Tosha Y. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the next book

I need book two soon. One thing I'm a sucker for is zombie apocalypse why choose romance books. This one isn't very spicy, but it was just enough for the story.

I loved the development as the story progressed as well. The characters are all broken in some way. They're slowly mend the cracks together while fighting for their lives.

A couple of my favorite tropes, after why choose, are the female rejecting her men and forced proximity. This book gives me both in the best way. Highly recommended :)

[B. Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diferente. Caótico. Divertido.

O senso de humor dos personagens é quebrado e adorável. Amei. Achei extremamente refrescante uma protagonista forte, porém traumatizada, com uma espinha endurecida e um senso de humor distorcido e sarcástico. Me dê mais da Ollie, por favor.

O romance é queima lenta, mas todas as migalhas são bem aceitas e eu adorei isso também. Espero que na segunda parte dê tempo deles desfrutarem mais a companhia uns dos outros e que tenham momentos de muito amor e sexo, por favor autora!!!!

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! Meeting Ollie in the first chapter was perfect. A Bride being broken up with at the alter is a nightmare but then there are also the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse! This was a funny and steamy read. I can’t wait to read the next one! Yes....there's a cliffhanger. Choices have to be made!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed

I couldn't put this book down! Ollie is just amazing even with everything she's been through. I love it when she refers to issues being future Ollie problems. 😂 I love the banter and how hard she tried to keep distance between the guys. 🤭 Overall, I just really enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and I can't WAIT for the second book! I wish it would come out tomorrow! 😂

[Brandy Istre · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow burn but so good

I’m usually not one to read slow burn romances but this book was worth it. The character development was great. All the details the author put in helped to create the scenes. Definitely consider this zombie apocalypse. A bunch of action to keep your interest. The FMC is extremely sarcastic and nothing seems to keep her down. I would highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for the second to come out.

[Jennifer L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

It’s really annoying that you can’t just leave stars. I found this book to be good at holding my attention. I’m pretty over the sexually dominant /submissive theme. Thankfully it was mild in this first book. The book is enough for me to overlook it and just skip past any in the next book. I do recommend it.

[Miya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.

Ollie is great, I love the bravery. The way she can suffer from ptsd and still be badass was beautifully written. The guys are great, too. I adore how protective they are but still admire how great she can be. I am so excited to read the next book. I am hoping for a long series. 🙏

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

SO much potential and inevitability just book porn. I’m utterly disappointed with this book. It has great characters, hilarious dialogue and a solid plot. Then it just falls apart into reverse haram trash. Have we devolved so greatly that all stories must contain smut? I’m no prude, but I’m never a fan of a good story using sex as a filler.

[Kaylee Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great zombie reverse harem

The characters are great! Slow burn reverse harem zombie book with actual plot! If you like Sanctuary by SM Olivier give this book a read. Can't wait for the next in the series to come out.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

I love ZA RH. It's hard to find ones with good characters. We definitely have good characters and chemistry in this book. The dialogue between the characters could be a bit more developed but overall this kept my interest and I'm eager to see what comes next.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. It had some promise, but ultimately, I just didn't really connect with any of the characters. My favorite was Ketchup the crow...

[Kaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this but when is the next book coming out 😥. I can't find information on it.