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Beneath the Burning Sky: A Forced Marriage Dystopian Survival Romance
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26He never wanted a wife.
She never wanted him.
But in a dying world full of Marauders and monsters, a forced marriage might be the only thing standing between them and death.
It’s the end of the world, and choices are a luxury David hasn’t had in years.
Until now.
Marry the camp’s notorious bread thief—the girl who’s been stealing rations right out from under his nose—and earn passage to the Sanctuary for himself and his little sister…
Or stay in Camp Orange and watch Grace die in the cold, disease-ridden ruins of Sector 9.
So David does the unthinkable.
He marries the bread thief.
The problem?
Amari hates him.
Almost as much as he hates her—for the fights, the secrets, the attitude, and the way she never seems afraid, even when she should be.
But hatred won’t protect them now.
Bound together in a marriage neither wanted, David and Amari must cross a wasteland crawling with Marauders, Infected, and nightmares humanity was never meant to survive. With enemies behind them and horrors ahead, they make one
Don’t kill each other before the world finishes the job.
Yet the longer they run, the more the lines blur—between trust and suspicion, enemies and allies, hate… and something far more dangerous.
Because in a world where love is a liability, what happens when the one person you shouldn’t care about becomes the one person you can’t lose?
And when they finally reach the Sanctuary… will it save them?
Or destroy what’s left of them?
She never wanted him.
But in a dying world full of Marauders and monsters, a forced marriage might be the only thing standing between them and death.
It’s the end of the world, and choices are a luxury David hasn’t had in years.
Until now.
Marry the camp’s notorious bread thief—the girl who’s been stealing rations right out from under his nose—and earn passage to the Sanctuary for himself and his little sister…
Or stay in Camp Orange and watch Grace die in the cold, disease-ridden ruins of Sector 9.
So David does the unthinkable.
He marries the bread thief.
The problem?
Amari hates him.
Almost as much as he hates her—for the fights, the secrets, the attitude, and the way she never seems afraid, even when she should be.
But hatred won’t protect them now.
Bound together in a marriage neither wanted, David and Amari must cross a wasteland crawling with Marauders, Infected, and nightmares humanity was never meant to survive. With enemies behind them and horrors ahead, they make one
Don’t kill each other before the world finishes the job.
Yet the longer they run, the more the lines blur—between trust and suspicion, enemies and allies, hate… and something far more dangerous.
Because in a world where love is a liability, what happens when the one person you shouldn’t care about becomes the one person you can’t lose?
And when they finally reach the Sanctuary… will it save them?
Or destroy what’s left of them?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2026
i was genuinely hooked from the sample for this book. i have never read a book about a zombie apocalypse, so this was the first of a genre for me. you could literally feel everything getting more and more tense. i felt like i could feel the heaviness of the characters emotions.
the love story in this book was also so amazing. enemies to lovers but during a zombie apocalypse LMAO. david was so down bad and yearned for amari so quickly, i LOVED it! david was also so emotionally mature and never held amaris trauma against her. UGH DAVID THE MAN YOU ARE!!
amari is that bitch fr. she was sassy but girl boss af. she was a medic but also was very capable at survival stuff. her backstory actually breaks my heart though, but i’m not getting into that bc spoilers ofc. i loved how motherly she was towards grace!
grace was sooo cute and so was toby. i hope we get more of them in the next book. also i appreciate the author not including gory details of the animal deaths because i really cannot handle animals dying in any way shape or form, so i have to skip past it every time.
the ending was a crazy cliffhanger and i hope everyone is okay and will be happy and healthy and together and emotionally stable in book 2 (i cry as they drag me away to a padded room)
also, thank you so much to this author for letting me arc read this story! i absolutely loved it and will be staying up to date with all the new releases!
(oh and cyrus can go die already i hate him so much)
the love story in this book was also so amazing. enemies to lovers but during a zombie apocalypse LMAO. david was so down bad and yearned for amari so quickly, i LOVED it! david was also so emotionally mature and never held amaris trauma against her. UGH DAVID THE MAN YOU ARE!!
amari is that bitch fr. she was sassy but girl boss af. she was a medic but also was very capable at survival stuff. her backstory actually breaks my heart though, but i’m not getting into that bc spoilers ofc. i loved how motherly she was towards grace!
grace was sooo cute and so was toby. i hope we get more of them in the next book. also i appreciate the author not including gory details of the animal deaths because i really cannot handle animals dying in any way shape or form, so i have to skip past it every time.
the ending was a crazy cliffhanger and i hope everyone is okay and will be happy and healthy and together and emotionally stable in book 2 (i cry as they drag me away to a padded room)
also, thank you so much to this author for letting me arc read this story! i absolutely loved it and will be staying up to date with all the new releases!
(oh and cyrus can go die already i hate him so much)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me hooked from the beginning. An enemies-to-lovers romance set during a zombie apocalypse, with a forced marriage, plenty of tension, and characters carrying more trauma than anyone should have to endure? I was completely invested.
David and Amari’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. David was so down bad for Amari, and I loved watching that shift in their relationship. He was also incredibly emotionally mature and never used Amari’s trauma against her, which made their connection feel that much more meaningful.
Amari is an absolute badass. She’s a skilled medic, capable when it comes to survival, fiercely protective, and has just the right amount of sass.
The story kept me turning the pages with its twists, danger, and slow-burn romance. And that ending?
That cliffhanger was RUDE. 😂
Now I desperately need book two because I need answers and, more importantly, I need to know that everyone is okay.
David and Amari’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. David was so down bad for Amari, and I loved watching that shift in their relationship. He was also incredibly emotionally mature and never used Amari’s trauma against her, which made their connection feel that much more meaningful.
Amari is an absolute badass. She’s a skilled medic, capable when it comes to survival, fiercely protective, and has just the right amount of sass.
The story kept me turning the pages with its twists, danger, and slow-burn romance. And that ending?
That cliffhanger was RUDE. 😂
Now I desperately need book two because I need answers and, more importantly, I need to know that everyone is okay.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Omg, this book... where do I begin!! The FMC and MMC both have troubles they carry, and dislike eachother, yet they are forced together though hope of a better life. There are so many twists and turns in this book, I couldnt put it down. I got to the end and wondered how its going to end, only to get there and its left on a cliffhanger for book 2! Ugh I cant wait to continue this story!
Thank you for letting me be apart of the ARC for this book! Totally fabulous writing and I cant wait for more.
Thank you for letting me be apart of the ARC for this book! Totally fabulous writing and I cant wait for more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, this book made a comeback. What the hell?
It started off slow at first but I just couldn't stop reading... This is one of the few books lately that I actually wanted to finish.
I don't like slow books, but I guess it was needed to paint the story. And paint it did.
The brush strokes were painted so beautifully. And when it all came together, the canvas was filled with many different stories.
The ending though... I literally cussed at the author... Ruby, you can't do this to me. To us. You better make it right in book 2, otherwise I will riot. And I will bring the pitch forks!
It started off slow at first but I just couldn't stop reading... This is one of the few books lately that I actually wanted to finish.
I don't like slow books, but I guess it was needed to paint the story. And paint it did.
The brush strokes were painted so beautifully. And when it all came together, the canvas was filled with many different stories.
The ending though... I literally cussed at the author... Ruby, you can't do this to me. To us. You better make it right in book 2, otherwise I will riot. And I will bring the pitch forks!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is exceptionally high rate. The characters are carrying weights that would break most people but somehow they seem to make the most of it and survive even if they do hate each other. They are brought together through circumstance but stay together from love. The twists nearly broke my neck and I didn't want to stop reading. It is a disaster novel that ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared to be anxiously waiting for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an absolute, edge-of-your-seat page-turner that keeps the tension and momentum relentlessly high all the way through to the final page. Her undeniable strength of character and his fierce protectiveness. The stakes escalate so intensely that you are left desperately wondering, "OMG, how will they survive?" (and wondering just what the Marauders are). I cannot wait until the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A gripping post-apocalyptic story full of infected humans, danger, despair and a slow burn romance. David and Amari have a forced marriage full of tension and hatred at first as they struggle to live in a destroyed world. The action was gripping and unpredictable. A really well written read with a great cliffhanger. Can't wait to read the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a good book, lots of twist and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. I love the tension between the FMC and MMC.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews