Killing Zombies is Easy – It Takes a Real Man to Refrain – Or does it?
Guest post by Sam Cheever
Okay, I’ll admit it, where zombies are concerned, I’m kind
of blood thirsty. To me, those rotting, nasty things are like cockroaches. If
you saw a cockroach in your kitchen, you wouldn’t let it live just because it
scurried behind the dishes in the cabinet and you couldn’t see it anymore.
Would you?
Like millions of other people, I’m a huge fan of the TV series,
The Walking Dead. I love the show,
though it’s so intense thereare times I’m just not up to watching. I mean,
isn’t it bad enough that they’re being chased and eaten by hoards of nasty zombies…the
writers had to give them a killer bug too? And mean people who keep trying to
kill them? Seriously?
But I digress.
What I really wanted to talk about was all the zombies they
see and don’t kill. Really? I know there are lots of them, but you can’t stop
killing them just because there are so many! If I were living in that prison,
I’d spend every waking moment sticking sharp objects through the monsters’
brains. Yeah, I’m vindictive that way. But this letting them live crap always
comes back to bite our heroes in the ass, literally.
Playing Devil’s Advocate though, what if my view on this is
wrong? Should you kill something or someone just because they/it might try to
kill you later? Hmm
My hero, Audie Kord, in the soon to be released Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic, is a
Sorceri warrior. His mission is to find and exterminate all the creatures a
certain black witch has created through death magic. He starts his mission
thinking his job is black and white.
See a zombie, kill a zombie. No gray area.
But then he meets Yeira. Yeira’s a zombie…sort of…and she
was created/enhanced by the black witch. But she’s beautiful and smart and, whenever
he lays eyes on her, Audie’s body tightens with sexual heat. He’s supposed to
kill her. His brain tells him he should, because it’s what he does and she’s
his target. But his heart stays his hand. Yeira is nothing like he expects her
to be and, with his awareness of her as a living, breathing human being, he
finds himself reassessing both his perspective of the creatures he hunts, and
his opinion of Yeira herself.
Audie saw a zombie and didn’t immediately kill her. Because
of this restrainthe might find love. And he might learn something about the
creatures that he never would have learned if he’d done what he was trained to
do.
So, dang it! I guess it might make sense not to just
perform wholesale slaughter of zombies, because they’re there. But I still
think the cast of TWD needs flame throwers, or bombs. I mean, come on. One at a
time? Really? There’s like billions of the nasty things. Kill those suckers!
Rip off their heads!!
Oops, sorry. I guess I need a little more convincing. Look
for Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic on
March 8th! In the meantime, here’s a taste:
A grand passion in an apocalyptic world. A love beyond
reason and without boundaries.
He’s a warrior, a bounty hunter in a world turned upside
down. She’s a target, a creature of dark magic. His job is simple. Kill the target.
Her goal is more complex. She must stay alive until she finds and destroys the
source of death magic staining the twenty worlds. But the passion burning
within them may be their undoing. It’s going to take an apocalyptic will to
overcome the distraction their bodies are creating…and not lose themselves in
the process.
Book page
with excerpt
Watch the video
Watch the video
5
stars - Venus Cahill Reviews: “This story jumps right into the action and never lets up!
Yeira is a kick-butt heroine but she's still easy to relate to, which was surprising
considering her amazingly unique situation. Kord is the ultimate Alpha and he
took my breath away. He's masculine and imposing and while he is steadfast and
dependable he is also a good man at heart. The setting becomes almost a third
lead character and I loved it. I cannot wait to read more stories about the
fabulous world this author has created. I will freely admit to being a huge fan
of this author, I love her Honeybun series but I was a little apprehensive of
reading an apocalyptic story as I rarely enjoy them but this one was a definite
exception not only did I thoroughly enjoy it I want more!”
EXCERPT
“There are ten reborns in that hillside lair.”
Audie pulled his sword so quickly the woman’s bright blue gaze
widened slightly with alarm. “Let’s go kill them.”
Instead of moving, Yeira just stared up at him, looking
eminently disappointed.
When she didn’t move, Audie placed the tip of his sword in the
dirt at his feet and leaned on it. “What?”
“Have you even been listening to me?”
He frowned. “Hanging on every word, why?”
“You remember the part about my goal? Wherein I don’t kill
everything that moves but instead try to find Edwige?”
She sounded so much like his legal counsel Audie couldn’t help
grinning. She certainly didn’t look like any lawyer he’d ever met. “Vaguely.”
She turned on her heel and strode away, her feet hitting
the dry, scratchy-sounding grass much harder than they needed to.
Feeling just a tiny bit proud of himself for getting under
her skin, Audie started after her. The good feeling didn’t last long.
As soon as he caught up she glanced at him and asked. “So
how good are you at restrictive magics?”
Audie worked hard not to show his panic. “I’m much better at
whacking things than restraining them.”
One corner of her delicious mouth curved upward. “You do have guide magic, right?”
“Of course!” He was deeply insulted by her question. Only
the novice hunter walked around without a guide to call. “I didn’t say I couldn’t restrain them. I just said I
was better at lopping off their heads.”
She sniffed but didn’t say anything and Audie’stemper
flared. Suddenly he found it very important to prove himself to her. He
stopped, but the woman kept walking. Watching her fine, heart-shaped behind
sway away from him, he lifted one hand, palm up. With a thought he called the
magic in their surroundings and sparking blue particles of energy filled the
air, speeding toward him. The light caught and swirled in a power-whirlwind
above his palm, waiting for his direction.
Smiling, Audie glanced at the woman, whose, curvy form had
widened the distance between them by ten feet. With a thought he sent the swirling
blue magic surging toward her, grinning as it wrapped her in a shimmering
embrace and dragged her to a halt.
She gave a little squeal of alarm and Audie strode over,
stopping to stare down at her. “It appears my restrictive magics work just fine.
She struggled against his magic web. “Good. Now let me go.”
Watching her fight the magic, her red hair flying around
delicate shoulders as she struggled to get free, something broke inside Audie. Something
that had been closed was wrenched open. And suddenly he couldn’t help wondering
how her wine-colored lips would taste—pondering how they’d feel moving softly beneath
his.
Once the thought was free he couldn’t call it back and
Audie stepped closer.
She stopped struggling and looked up at him through those
unfathomable blue eyes, the thick fringe of dark red lashes fluttering slightly
as she seemed to consider whether he meant her harm. Audie reached out and touched
her porcelain-colored cheek, and she flinched.
His finger scraped softly against the velvet surface and
Audie turned it so the calluses on the tips wouldn’t abrade her delicate skin.
“How is it possible that you’re so beautiful?” He murmured. It was meant to be
a thought. One he’d wondered all too often to himself. But the words escaped
his lips and she heard.
Yeira’s eyes widened in alarm. “Look, Hunter, I…”
He didn’t want to hear what she had to say. Couldn’t stand
it if, in the moment when his cold heart had warmed slightly, she filled the heat-charged
air between them with ugly words. So he did the only thing he could. He lowered
his head and captured her lush, burgundy lips with his own.
And the thing that had blossomed inside his chest creaked
open another inch as she responded with instinctive passion to his touch.
Available March 8, 2014!
Tall,
Dark & Apocalyptic will
initially release as part of a box set entitled Tall, Dark & Alpha. As the name implies, this set features 10 hot
Alpha heroes and the women who keep them on their toes.
Tall,
Dark & Alpha Box Set
He makes your heart pound and melts your resistance away.
He promises you a world of passion and you find it impossible to resist his
dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room, you know he means
business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a bad boy looking
for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can't get away—and after
one sizzling night in his arms, you won't want to. He’s Tall, Dark & Alpha.
The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence…the richest dark chocolate…and we’re
offering him to you in abundance.
Delve into the sensual worlds of award-winning authors:
Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke,
Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself
in the alpha male experience.
BIO
Award winning Sam Cheever writes romantic
paranormal/fantasy and mystery/suspense, creating stories that celebrate the
joy of love in all its forms. Known for writing great characters, snappy
dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author
of 50+ books and has been writing for over a decade under several noms de
plume.
