Toot's Book Reviews: Review, Guest Post & Giveaway : Hero for Hire (Tales from Beyond the End #1) By Merissa McCain & Margaret Madigan (PNR)

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Book Blurb

One day her prince would come…disguised as a zombie-killer.

Having been disgraced and tossed out by her own scientific community, Gwyn is convinced she can develop a cure for a SuperVirus that has turned the Infected into zombies. By pure luck and determination, she has survived on her own for years, but while out scavenging, a clash with the local zombies leaves her potentially infected. Now, running out of time, she needs help and takes a chance on a hero for hire.

Rafe loves the apocalypse. Since the world went to hell, everything’s come up roses for him. Having procured a mansion in the Hollywood hills, adopted a slew of homeless boys and one cantankerous but useful Doc, Mr. Charming is benefiting from the nasty zombie infestation. His job? Killing the bastards, which he considers fun anyway.

Gwyn Snow needs Rafe Charming to help retrieve her research from the Paragon Pharmaceuticals lab, also known as Zombie Central. Believing she can yet save the world, Gwyn makes Rafe question what’s right and what’s worth the fight.

CONTENT WARNING: Prince Charming, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves as you’ve never seen them before.

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Toot's Review By Melissa Toppen

Hero for Hire is not your mommy's fairy tale! A fun spin on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Normally these fairy tale re-writes leave you bored and asking yourself, why am I reading this? But not this one. It was fun and original. Set in a world ran by zombies, our heroine Gwen, her panty dropping love interest and her family have to try to save the world. The story moves and keeps your attention. Merissa McCain & Margaret Madigan wrote this with a zest, flare & humor with all the added goodies to keep you interested. Zombies, gore, hot sex and yes, even your happily ever after. This was a great read, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. You won't be disappointed.

Guest Post

Rafe and Gwyn’s Top Ten Reads in their Doom Shelter

(IE Mansion in the Hills)

Rafe: I’m not a big reader, but when there’s nothing else going on sometimes I pick up a book. Gwyn’s been trying to help me learn to relax and since she likes to read at night before going to bed, I’ll snuggle up with her and read, too.

These are the books I’ve been working on adding to our library at the mansion.

1. The Bourne series by Robert Ludlum.

Action, intrigue, political bullshit, amnesia, finding the woman he loves. What’s not to like?

2. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

I know it’s a kid’s book, but it’s intense. And it’s all about a boy who survives on his own in the wilderness, which makes me think of my boys.

3. Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler.

When I go out on scavenge runs I always keep my eye out for Cussler’s Dirk Pitt books. I’ve got over half the books now. They help take the edge off my need for adrenaline when there’s nothing exciting going on.

4. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Because it’s just so freaking bizarre. And fun.

5. The Sackett Series by Louis L’Amour

Westerns make it easy to forget we’re in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, and L’Amour’s writing is easy to read. It’s cool that he follows the making of the west through the eyes of the Sackett family.

Gwyn: Rafe has had a lot more opportunity to go out and scavenge luxuries like books. Even now, her brings me books back whenever he can, so I’m growing a bit of a library, which makes me supremely happy. When I spent ages alone in an underground lab, I didn’t have all that much to choose from. But I did manage to find and keep some gems, and they are what make up my top five—the books that helped keep me sane when there was no human contact to be had.

1. Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy. I love this story. The characters are so vivid, and the story engaging that I felt as though I had friend when I was alone for so very long.

2. Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. I found this copy in the lab, and it was not in very good shape. There were pages missing, and half the front cover was torn. But inside the book, shone a sparking wit and brilliant mind. I loved the way this book calmed me when everything seemed utterly overwhelming.

3. Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches. This is a book I would NEVER have picked up before everything ended. But I am incredibly glad I did, because although the subject is not something I would have sought out, I love the story. The characters are well drawn, the history comes alive throughout the book, and the story is wonderful. I understand there are more books after this one, and have Rafe keeping an eye out for the others while he scavenges.

4. Kate Noble’s Compromised. This is another book I’d never have picked up before the end of everything. It is light, fluffy, and eminently enjoyable, and yet it’s written in a voice that resonates a dry sarcasm. I love the voice in this story and the story itself—it’s unique and utterly charming.

5. Bryan Miller’s Cooking Basics For Dummies. Doc does all the cooking at the mansion. But when I was alone, I quickly became tired of my terrible cooking skills. I was simply not equipped. So when I came across this book in a Walmart, I snatched it up and have used it until the poor thing is dog eared. It wasn’t a miracle worker, but I can cook macaroni and cheese these days, and when Doc lets me in the kitchen, I have been practicing on making stew. One of these days, it might even be edible.

That’s it for our top ten list! What would your top ten list include?

Author Info

Merissa McCain

My name is Merissa McCain. I grew up in the African bush, without T.V, and often without electricity. I now live in the deep South, with my very own superhero, and my three minons. Together, we attempt to take over the world.

When not otherwise occupied with planning world domination, I love to read, write, drink strong coffee and eat dark chocolate--not necessarily in that order and sometimes all at once. I'm a voracious reader, and will devour any type of good fiction I can get my hands on, but I'm particularly partial to happy endings.

I write with a partner (Margaret Madigan) and on my own. We love to hear from our readers, so please shoot us an email at Merissa.mccain@gmail.com or mmadiganauthor@gmail.com.

Margaret Madigan

Hi. I'm Margaret Madigan. Or M.K.D. Bail, depending on what literary genre we're talking about.

I live in the vast Northern Plains where it’s quiet and mostly empty, and very conducive to letting my imagination run wild. As a result, I have difficulty focusing on just one genre of storytelling. Of course, I love romance, so I write a lot of that, but I also write science fiction, a bit of horror, and dabble in other genres just for the fun of it.

When I’m not writing you’ll find me in a college classroom teaching English, or working as a literary agent for an amazing agency…and of course enjoying time with my family.

~Giveaway~