Girls of Geek Book Review: Roms, Bombs & Zoms

Written by: Scotty

Romance and Bombs dropping are two of the things that most people like to read about, but having Zombies tie them together makes it fun for all.  Roms, Bombs & Zoms does just that, not only focusing on the popular genre of zombies eating their way through humanity, but adding in romance that goes unfinished in a sense when the world turns into a downward spiral. Couples face the oncoming apocalypse together or through correspondence, but no matter how far apart they are, their love will keep them together in one way or another.

Having stories that range from the middle ages to today, Roms, Bombs & Zoms makes sure to cover all of its bases with twenty one authors all giving us their take on love in a time of zombies.  Here's an idea of how diverse and incredible some of these stories are. In ‘Church of the Risen Dead’, by Tom D. Wright, Reverend Marcus has his faith in God tested with the loss of his wife Anne to the virus.  Trying anything to be with his wife, he starts going to the camp where she is held and tries to bring her mind back to where it was before her untimely death.  Trying to find comfort for himself, Marcus starts running sermons for the camp and gains a new fellowship with the zombies in attendance, along with their families.  The message he tries to deliver is however lost in translation as his new parishioners choose to go down a different path, and he reluctantly follows.

In ‘Mama’, by Jay Wilburn, Kelly is faced with the fact that her long time love had been taken by the virus and has found refuge in the protection of Buck.  Although she has strong feelings for Buck, Kelly only wishes she could love him as much as her previous lover.  Buck did not let this get under his skin as he was preparing a trip out to visit his mother so Kelly could meet and learn from her.  Being a very self-sufficient woman, Mama had her farm protected from the undead and was more than willing to teach any young woman, especially the one staying with her son the tricks of the trade.  While teaching Kelly how to make an easier explosive, Mama laid a profound fact on her to help Kelly get past the loss of her first love.

Other couples are separated by the onslaught of the outbreak and forced to join the fight.  In ‘I’ll Come Back’, Anne is sent out to battle the undead while her lover Matthew stays home and prays for her safe arrival.  Matthew is planning their future together and does not want to hear about genocide that is happening across the ocean.  Anne is focused on the killing that is right in front of her, along with the impending bombing that will be taking place if the soldiers end up losing any ground to the undead.  With the only way of communication between the two being conventional mail, their correspondence is cut off as a mail carrier near the front line is killed.  Not knowing the fate of his love, Matthew buys a farm for the two of them to work on when Anne arrives home, but did not expect the plague to arrive on his side of the ocean.  Arriving home, Anne is met with a surprise that ends up changing her life.

Some people may try to take advantage of the situation, trying to make their lives better or what they believe would be better.  In ‘An Undying Love’, Morty does just that.  Finding the love of his life and keeping her chained up while he tries to win her heart over.  Buying the finest flowers and getting the ring she would flip for, the love of his high school days would be his.  Although Christine got married, Morty never lost hope that she would be his, he just had to bide his time.  With the loss of her husband, and her life, it was just the chance that Morty would take to make her his, forever.

Every story in this anthology encompasses its own type of twist on the zombie apocalypse and how it could change the world and the lovers inside of it.  A great compilation of stories that will keep you thinking about what you would do if you or your loved one was bitten and turned into a flesh craving monster.  Could you keep them around, protect them, risking the chance of having you turn into one?  Could you take advantage of the situation, making it beneficial to yourself or others?  Could you live your life without them, taking your own life to see them at a later time, or allow them to infect you, so you can be together, 'til death do you part?

Either way, I hope that Roms, Bombs & Zoms has the answers you need because it's a pretty awesome read.  One I definitely recommend and one that you should own as soon as possible.  You'll find a copy on Amazon.com and make sure you read it with someone you love, after all...it's a good idea to make sure they're still breathing when you're done. 

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