Review: Not my usual reading material
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2013
**I received this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.**Book 1:I've always said I would try anything and if I can't read it, I stop. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a book on zombies....I mean really, I hate almost all zombie movies. The exception being Resident Evil. I think that is because Alice kicks ass so not your typical "brains, must eat brains" kinda thing. However, fans and friends of the author were really pushing for these books, and she was nice enough to gift me the first two, so I figured the least I could do is try them and be as honest as I can about them in my review.If I liked zombie movies, I probably would have rated this a 5 star. However, I can't say I loved it, because (and no offense C.M., truly) I REALLY am not a fan of zombie anything. However, I did rate it 4 stars because at the end of the day, the book was very well written with humor and every day people. There wasn't an "Alice" kicking butt, but a housewife and her family, all trying to survive a freak zombie infestation. Like anyone, their first reaction was "Are you kidding me? This can't be real." To the realization that HELL YES, it was. The story is written with Canada (the housewife) narrating. She is on her second marriage, has 2 children from her first, and is traveling with her husband Will, her parents, Will's sister and family, as they try to avoid becoming zombies or dinner.This book is a short story introduction so easy to get through to determine if I could actually commit to reading book 2. And I can say definitively, that yes, I am reading book 2 now and so far, so good. If you are like me, you may find the humor and perspective of Canada entertaining enough to get past any hesitancy for reading this genre. I would say that to at least have an open mind if you are the kind of person that is willing to try something new / different. It is short enough to help you decide if this is actually up your alley or not. So thanks C.M. I may not become a zombie fan after this, but I can at least say I didn't hate it. Far from it surprisingly!Book 2:Uh, ok so I'm still not a fan of zombies, but SURPRISE, I really like this series. Canada is no Alice, but she is hilarious and I can totally relate to her, and think other women who are wives and mothers would too.The basis of the story is that Canada and her family, her husband Will and their children, her mom and dad, and his sister and her family, joined by Jake, a military man, are trying to survive. Canada wants to meet up with her siblings and their families, picking up her grandma in the process. Jake wants to find his brother who is in the hospital with cancer. After that, it is anyone's guess what they will do, but it isn't as easy as it sounds when there are zombies everywhere. They'll find themselves picking up other survivors, losing some of those folks, suffering injuries and losses, and pretty much adapting and doing things none of them would have expected to live and get through the next obstacle. They are real people and totally believable in the things they say, and do.There are definitely some OMG moments, and you come to really like Canada, the unlikely heroine and strong female character in the book. I will definitely continue with the series and want to again thank C.M. for the first two books. I may not be a fan of zombies, but I am of this series. And yes, there are a few grammar errors in this book, but not enough to detract overall from reading it.