Half Past Dead

Half Past Dead
The Undying Heart by Zoe Archer
Simon Says by Biana D'Arc
ebook, 320 pages
Published January 1st 2010 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
ISBN 9780758256034

There are good guys, there are bad boys, and then there are men with a danger all their own—these are the ones who take you places you never imagined... and will never forget.

The Undying Heart by Zoe Archer

Samuel Reed had no idea magic existed, until it almost destroyed him. Thirsting for vengeance against the enemy who made him something less than human, Sam returns to England and crosses paths with Cassandra Fielding. His best friend's little sister has become a fearless woman on a dangerous mission of her own. And against all odds, she sees past what he's become, and stirs a desire he thought he'd lost forever...

Simon Says by Bianca D'Arc

Special Forces soldier Simon Blackwell ended his affair with Mariana Daniels three years ago, but he hasn't stopped protecting her. Mariana has no knowledge of the dark, deadly creatures that lurk in the forest surrounding her clinic, or of the mysterious powers that make Simon the only one who can defeat them. But soon he'll have no choice but to reveal the truth, and urge her to trust in an explosive passion that never faded.

The Undying Heart unfolds a story about Samuel Reed, a soldier who is murdered by his commanding officer and then brought back as an undead slave. He eventually breaks the hold over him and free will becomes his once more. In his quest for vengeance, he returns to his home town in England where he is reunited with Cassie, a childhood friend who has been smitten with him for years.

In Simon Says, things keep more to the basics of how zombies will come to be- overzealous scientists. Simon survived a zombie attack three years ago while on a mission that left him with incredible healing abilities and immunity to the virus. He's now a one man team on the hunt of a number of infected Marines that wander the woods where his ex-girlfriend, Dr. Mariana Daniels lives.

I wondered, when picking up the second half of this book, where the author was going with her title. Quite honestly, I find Simon Says to be the least kinky of all  games one could manipulate for sexual purposes and having it cheesy up the last portion of the story was a total disappointment. The first story, however, was rather enjoyable, even unto the very end, and contained far less predictability. As far as characters go, Samuel was easily the more appealing of the two leading men. Then again, when doesn't a story of vengeance outdo a special ops mission?  3 out of 5 stars overall.