BURN

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Nine months ago, everything went to hell. An injectable medicine touted as humanity’s savior turned one-third of the United States into ravenous monsters whose only vulnerability is fire. They killed more than a half of us, leaving the rest a group of shell-shocked survivors.

All we do now is band together in individual communities, working to push back against the lurkers—hooded, hungry zombie-like creatures that lurk in the dark, eager to take a bite—and make it another day. Resources are scarce, and there’s no one to help us. Our useless government abandoned us all to the creatures nine months ago. Phone and television and the outside world… they don’t exist.

Or do they?

After a tragedy in my settlement has me desperate to escape, I’m willing to do anything to get the hell out of here. Enter Maverick Brooks. A dark-haired stranger fifteen years older than my twenty-five, he arrives at the Grave, stoic and mysterious, and looking for volunteers to join him in a suicidal plan to take the lurkers head-on.

I’m the only one reckless enough to raise their hand.

The leader of the Grave—who is also my dad—isn’t thrilled that I offer to go. Neither is Chase Knight, but I get it. The sexy hunter wants me to stay so that we can talk about the night that changed everything between us... the night that I just can’t forget or forgive myself for. Call me a coward, but I refuse to. As much as I’m drawn to him, there can’t be anything between us.

Not when he was my dead twin’s fiancé.

But he’s named well, and though I head out with Maverick, it isn’t long before Chase comes after me, and then sparks fly—and I don’t just mean from my lighter.

We’re on a mission to kill as many lurkers as can. That’s it. He’s an extra hunter… so why can’t I stop finding myself giving in to him no matter the reason?

I don’t know, but if I can’t get control of myself, it won’t only be the rest of the world that goes up in flames…

* Burn is a dark dystopian/post-apocalyptic/zombie romance told in 1st person POV. This is Xandra's story, and while it seems like there is a love triangle, Chase is way too possessive to let her think about choosing anyone else... even if, on the outside, he seems like the perfect golden retriever love interest.

Previously published under the name Jessica Lynch, this version has been changed and is intend

There are themes of grief and lost loves in this book, as well as adventure, determination, and graphically detailed descriptions of violence (specifically toward the lurkers who, as the title states, must burn). This book also has a romantic subplot that weaves its way throughout the entire story, and while it’s a slow burn (pun intended), you can expect a couple of open-door intimate scenes in Burn. Because this is a dangerous, dystopian world, there will also be a dubcon scene (when the MMC and FMC are forced to be together, though it gets cut short—and the guy who does the forcing gets what’s coming to him). Plus, you know, lurkers are zombie cannibals, so there’s that, too. Expect blood, danger-banging, mental health/mental illness, a primal chase scene (because how can you have a MMC named Chase and not have one), and a HFN that will become a HEA in the second book of the duet (out in September).

As a pre-order incentive, I'm revealing one of the spicy scenes ahead of the book's release! You can read it here:  CHAPTER 23