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Between Him and a Hard Place
Dead Ones #1
They survived catastrophe, but can they live on together?
Archer did things he didn’t know he was capable of doing to survive the zombie virus that brought down the world. When his traveling companion is murdered by dead ones, he knows his time has come. Seconds before he’s slaughtered, a combat vehicle crashes through the scene and a masked man saves the day—a man he feels inexplicably drawn to.
Only the man isn’t a man, but a vampire.
Syn is a tracker, sent out to find and protect the last of the humans and the precious blood in their veins. Archer isn’t like the others he’s found. He feels tied to the human in a way he can’t explain. The two come together explosively, both fighting the intense emotion they feel before running to escape their burning lust.
Can they find a way back to one another?
They survived catastrophe, but can they live on together?
Archer did things he didn’t know he was capable of doing to survive the zombie virus that brought down the world. When his traveling companion is murdered by dead ones, he knows his time has come. Seconds before he’s slaughtered, a combat vehicle crashes through the scene and a masked man saves the day—a man he feels inexplicably drawn to.
Only the man isn’t a man, but a vampire.
Syn is a tracker, sent out to find and protect the last of the humans and the precious blood in their veins. Archer isn’t like the others he’s found. He feels tied to the human in a way he can’t explain. The two come together explosively, both fighting the intense emotion they feel before running to escape their burning lust.
Can they find a way back to one another?
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Kelex
212 books682 followersInternational bestselling MM romance author Kelex lives in Hampton Roads, Virginia with her twenty-something slacker kidult and two senior grandpups.
When not being a pain in her daughter’s ass or writing under various pen names, she also loves to create stained glass, paint, crochet, bake gorgeous breads, and host game night with all her kiddos, be they born or adopted.
When not being a pain in her daughter’s ass or writing under various pen names, she also loves to create stained glass, paint, crochet, bake gorgeous breads, and host game night with all her kiddos, be they born or adopted.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 17, 2016
4.45 stars This novella packed a punch. It had everything - apocalypse, zombies, vampires, gay for you, guilt over killing when you're a medical student, son fighting father's expectations, hot sex, and sweet romance.
This is one of Kelex's better romances. Would like to see a series and a continuation of the world building - history of the vampires, humans fighting zombies, life inside the citadels.
This is one of Kelex's better romances. Would like to see a series and a continuation of the world building - history of the vampires, humans fighting zombies, life inside the citadels.
November 2, 2015
Syn, a vampire running from taking over his father's throne, until he met Archer, a human fighting for survival for the last 5 years. When these two meet, the chemistry, attraction, sexual need was combustible. Syn, finally realized that his heart, his love and his place belong with Archer.
This was loving, and omg smoking hotness. I loved it
This was loving, and omg smoking hotness. I loved it
October 16, 2015
Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews for an honest review. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.
Wow, this is a totally different direction for this author! Kelex has brought us a new story. The story of a human who has survived the zombie virus that destroyed the world. For those of you who have read the author’s works, you will see it is much different from some of her other more contemporary series.
Let’s talk about this new book. Between Him and a Hard Place is the story of two very different men, set at some future date after the destruction of civilization worldwide because of a plague. A plague of zombies. But the zombies aren’t like those shuffling dead in the current popular television shows. These suckers are fast! When they see you, they have you. All you can do is stay on the run and avoid them to live.
Archer is a young paramedic who somehow made it through not only the zombie plague, but the five years following it, without being turned. Shortly after the story begins, his traveling companion has her throat ripped out by two zombies and he has to give her final death so that she won’t come back as a zombie.
Then Archer is surrounded by zombies and he knows he is about to die. Unfortunately when he tries to shoot himself in the head, the gun only clicks and doesn’t fire! Suddenly, when things are the most grim, a tank like vehicle crashes onto the scene and Archer is rescued.
But why is the man masked? As the blurb above says he is a vampire. What strange relationship exists between the remaining humans and the vampires?
I really enjoyed this novella. It is only 71 pages and just as I really got into it, it ended! :-( As always, Kelex delivers a well-crafted story, complete with good world building, and believable characters. In this case, I would have liked more of each, but I am hoping that there is more coming….and SOON! I highly recommend this new work from Kelex, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series????
Wow, this is a totally different direction for this author! Kelex has brought us a new story. The story of a human who has survived the zombie virus that destroyed the world. For those of you who have read the author’s works, you will see it is much different from some of her other more contemporary series.
Let’s talk about this new book. Between Him and a Hard Place is the story of two very different men, set at some future date after the destruction of civilization worldwide because of a plague. A plague of zombies. But the zombies aren’t like those shuffling dead in the current popular television shows. These suckers are fast! When they see you, they have you. All you can do is stay on the run and avoid them to live.
Archer is a young paramedic who somehow made it through not only the zombie plague, but the five years following it, without being turned. Shortly after the story begins, his traveling companion has her throat ripped out by two zombies and he has to give her final death so that she won’t come back as a zombie.
Then Archer is surrounded by zombies and he knows he is about to die. Unfortunately when he tries to shoot himself in the head, the gun only clicks and doesn’t fire! Suddenly, when things are the most grim, a tank like vehicle crashes onto the scene and Archer is rescued.
But why is the man masked? As the blurb above says he is a vampire. What strange relationship exists between the remaining humans and the vampires?
I really enjoyed this novella. It is only 71 pages and just as I really got into it, it ended! :-( As always, Kelex delivers a well-crafted story, complete with good world building, and believable characters. In this case, I would have liked more of each, but I am hoping that there is more coming….and SOON! I highly recommend this new work from Kelex, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series????
July 28, 2020
The zombie apocalypse has come. But fear not, the vampires are here to save you! Yes, you, as their only food source. Do not worry, even if some of them would or might have killed you before, now you're practically an endangered species and the suckers need to eat. So do not be afraid and be welcome to our new haven. We have food, water, even electricity! There are plenty of humans to interact with and high walls to protect you from what become of the rest of the humanity.
The premise? So cool, right? Vampires (despite being fried by the sun) go around the country and are rounding up their walking, talking blood bags... and saving the world in the meantime!
And so our MC gets saved. He gets carted off to a modern bunker, fed, cleaned up... and naked with his new, sexy saviour. Who happens to be a vampire. And a prince! Yay! Which is not even that shocking all things considered. Then they have a kind of an argument. They separate. And in the last moment the vampire gets his head out of his unmentionables... and HEA.
That's... yeah, that's all.
I only tried to read one other book from this author and highly complicated and hardcore sci-fi/fantasy they are not. It's naked time. And you can see it as a naked time but with some original ideas! Or you can accept it's a lust and "love" story, a short one at that.
There are always two sides to a story.
Kind of recommend though since the original idea has more potential than just being a backdrop to a kickass damsel in distress getting saved by a prince and living with him in his castle.
The premise? So cool, right? Vampires (despite being fried by the sun) go around the country and are rounding up their walking, talking blood bags... and saving the world in the meantime!
And so our MC gets saved. He gets carted off to a modern bunker, fed, cleaned up... and naked with his new, sexy saviour. Who happens to be a vampire. And a prince! Yay! Which is not even that shocking all things considered. Then they have a kind of an argument. They separate. And in the last moment the vampire gets his head out of his unmentionables... and HEA.
That's... yeah, that's all.
I only tried to read one other book from this author and highly complicated and hardcore sci-fi/fantasy they are not. It's naked time. And you can see it as a naked time but with some original ideas! Or you can accept it's a lust and "love" story, a short one at that.
There are always two sides to a story.
Kind of recommend though since the original idea has more potential than just being a backdrop to a kickass damsel in distress getting saved by a prince and living with him in his castle.
December 31, 2023
3.5
Me encantó la idea de tener zombies, vampiros y humanos en este libro, y que todo pase en este lugar distopico en que los vampiros estan buscando humanos para salvarlos y a la vez alimentarse de ellos era un trato justo hasta que Syn se enamoro de un humano que rescató.
Si perteneces aquí, entonces no pertenecemos juntos - dijo antes de marcharse. Ok eso me dolió.
Me encantó la idea de tener zombies, vampiros y humanos en este libro, y que todo pase en este lugar distopico en que los vampiros estan buscando humanos para salvarlos y a la vez alimentarse de ellos era un trato justo hasta que Syn se enamoro de un humano que rescató.
Si perteneces aquí, entonces no pertenecemos juntos - dijo antes de marcharse. Ok eso me dolió.
November 30, 2015
Between Him and a Hard Place by author Kelex is part the A Wicked Tale series. I really liked this one. Has some great characters in this fast paced story. Archer, he has a wicked sense of humor. I love a character that has a great personality and Archer does. He is rescued by Sin in his tank/truck. Sin is to take him to the human city. Sin is a vampire. He isn't suppose to want the humans he rescues but Archer gets under his skin.
There are a lot of walking dead references at first when you read this story. I have never personally watched the show so they went over my head. But if you are a fan you might find that humorous. For me it was just like huh, what?
I loved who Sin turns out to be in the end. I love the journey these two take towards finding themselves in this new dangerous world. I would love to see this become a series I think there is a lot the author could do with this one, and I want a whole lot more.
Five Shooting Stars
There are a lot of walking dead references at first when you read this story. I have never personally watched the show so they went over my head. But if you are a fan you might find that humorous. For me it was just like huh, what?
I loved who Sin turns out to be in the end. I love the journey these two take towards finding themselves in this new dangerous world. I would love to see this become a series I think there is a lot the author could do with this one, and I want a whole lot more.
Five Shooting Stars
June 23, 2024
received a free ARC for review
Well developed world, at least outside the Citadel. We barely get to "see" anything in the Citadel except for the hospital.
Archer is a well written. believable main character. Would have liked a little more info on the vamp society, but maybe that info will come as the series progresses.
The story was well paced and progressed nicely...until the last couple chapters. Those seemed very rushed to me. Not enough to keep me from reading any further books in the series. But I do hope the rest don't have that rush to the end feeling.
Well developed world, at least outside the Citadel. We barely get to "see" anything in the Citadel except for the hospital.
Archer is a well written. believable main character. Would have liked a little more info on the vamp society, but maybe that info will come as the series progresses.
The story was well paced and progressed nicely...until the last couple chapters. Those seemed very rushed to me. Not enough to keep me from reading any further books in the series. But I do hope the rest don't have that rush to the end feeling.
November 2, 2015
Syn, a vampire running from taking over his father's throne, until he met Archer, a human fighting for survival for the last 5 years. When these two meet, the chemistry, attraction, sexual need was combustible. Syn, finally realized that his heart, his love and his place belong with Archer.
This was loving, and omg smoking hotness. I loved it
you never faIL to suck me in lol
March 30, 2016
3.5 stars
Only Kelex could get me to read a book that's outside my comfort zone! I'm not a big fan of vampires and zombies, but I enjoyed this book. I'll be looking forward to the next one in this series.
Only Kelex could get me to read a book that's outside my comfort zone! I'm not a big fan of vampires and zombies, but I enjoyed this book. I'll be looking forward to the next one in this series.
October 9, 2015
Interesting combo of vampires with zombies, I wish there had been more!
January 25, 2016
3.5 stars
April 3, 2017
Archer and Syn were so hot together. Let me just say I love this book I was suck into the story plot right away I was rooting for Archer to stay alive in a zombie apocalypse were he meets up with syn and the rest is history hands down one of the best mm reads I have read this year hoping to read more in this series.
April 12, 2017
This story is a rerelease. When I saw it the first time it came out I had no intention on reading it. I don't do zombies. After reading afewbooks by this author and enjoying her writing style I thought, why not? So glad I did. Very good story. Author blurb in front of book is that this was ment to start a series, but due to things out of authors control not sure if they will add. I for one have to say I would very much enjoy seeing where this story could lead to, but if it is the only one it was a story that could stand alone.
April 12, 2017
Zombie stories aren't usually my thing, but I loved this book! The added bonus of having vampires with the zombies, just made it perfect. I would love to read more about this group of vamps and their human friends.
April 15, 2017
Now I love Kelex's so when I had the opportunity to read this I wasn't disappointed. This the Zombie apocalypse that everyone is saying is going to happen and very when the world is in chaos love still will conquer all. Archer has been on the run just trying to survive. When Syn, a vampire, comes and saves him. They are both attracted to each other but with the human races in chaos and with Archer wanting to help people and Syn just wanting to escape his duty. It was a journey read about how these two fight the attraction and how they come together in the end.
*I voluntarily reviewed this advance copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed this advance copy of this book.*
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews