Fight The Tide by Keira Andrews
Series: Kick at the Darkness, 2
Paranormal Dystopian M/M Romance
Released: July 26, 2016
KA Books

Reviewed by Sheena

Favorite Quote:

“Dude, I jerked off inside you.”
“You sure did.”

A virus that turns the infected into zombie-like killers spreads through a burning world thrown into lawless chaos. Lovers Parker and Adam have escaped to the open sea when they hear a message over the airwaves from a place called Salvation Island—a supposed safe haven.

Orphaned as a child, werewolf Adam has always longed for a pack. He’s eager to investigate the island, but Parker doesn’t think for a nanosecond that the voice on the radio can be believed. He doesn’t trust anyone but Adam and is determined to keep it that way. They don’t need anyone else complicating their struggle to survive. Or do they?

Danger on the high seas can surface in a heartbeat, and if Parker and Adam aren’t careful, the current will drag them under.

So right off the bat, I knew I had to read this novel. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not contemplate further. I read the blurb (that was an actual blurb and oh, I dunno, actually told me what the book was about- more on my disdain for these new, trendy, nonsensical blurbs another time), I saw this and my brain went on gimmie- autopilot! Dystopian (check),  hot H/H (check-check), paranormal element (shifters-check- though reluctant- I love paranormal romance, but this felt like too much whipped cream on a sundae, but it was too late- I was already on board.  Fight the Tide picks up immediately after book one, Kick at the Darkness, ends. Mandi took on book one and had this to say .  Cannon balling into book 2 of a series can sometimes feel like bashing your head on the pool bottom. You’re delirious and in pain from all of the WTF is going on or you kind of twist around a bit after entering at an odd angle but you kick about and find your way.  Jumping into this series with book two, I quickly found my way, no worse for the wear. However, I was very distracted at times because I felt little nuggets of knowledge were missing that would have made certain scenes that much more poignant. What I did revel in was there was no time delay on picking up on the connection between Dam and Parker. I didn’t need to be told 101 times that they were destined. I could  see it for myself. Their connection so well written it sang with authenticity.  Despite one wayward incident that shall go without mentioning (primarily because I am still a little traumatized) these two are one of my fave gay romance heroes, they just played so well off one another!

Waking up to find he was drooling on Adam was Parker’s favorite way to start a day.

“Mmm,” he mumbled, rubbing his cheek against Adam’s chest, loving the rough caress of hair.  He was sprawled across Adam, who was on his back, already awake.  Parker could tell by how he breathed and the way he spread his big hand over Parker’s ass, just resting it there where they cuddled under the covers.  “Morning.”
….
“This is the part where you tell me I’m wonderful and perfect and could never be an asshole,” Parker noted dourly.
“Oh, is it?” Laughing, Adam closed his eyes under the water.
“Must have missed that memo.”

I love dystopian romance for many reasons. They are tense books; easily keeping my attention. And there is a desperation that calls to me, that makes their survival and love despite the utter and literal shit storm surrounding them even more magnificent.  There is usually little time for ridiculous and distracting sub plots because there is so much focus on world building and character evolution that the author has their hands full.  But Kiera Andrews managed to lighten the mood a bit, without cornballing it and that alone gets two thumbs up from me.  The banter and humor threaded so smartly through out the novel was quite inspired.  Parker frequently lapses into flashbacks of carnage and the violence they escaped and it was unexpected to go in and out of his graphic recollections and into a sweet and funny exchange with Adam.

Oh Adam.  Sweet to his core and radiating the most warmth! A constant support, emotionally, for Parker, giving him what he needed in and out of the bedroom.  This was no wham, bam, gratuitous sex scene after sex scene ma’am, kind of deal.  Parker and Adam were the real deal and their story, at least this part of it, the aftermath of escaping to the seas (because zombies can’t swim!) and deciding who they can trust (apparently no one but each other) and if they are on the path to salvation or damnation as they follow a mysterious beacon, a life line that could bring life or death. Parker thinks the beacon is utter bullshit and my Adam clings to the possibility of a safe haven with both fists.

And well…speaking of fists…and since I brought it up and all….there is a serious, graphic, down and dirty, can’t blink, can’t look away even though my eyeballs were bleeding- fisting scene.

No no no. Ok, stop, don’t scroll away! I think I did better going into this novel blind, I didn’t read any reviews or information about the author, I just read the blurb and had to read the book.  Would I have still read Fight the Tide, had I known Adam would wind up with Parker’s arm up his ass. Meh, nope!  I  have some pretty hard and fast NO’s… and fisting is right around the top of my hell the fawk no!!! list…but in this case, I can’t help but be glad I cannon balled into the story.  I was already in too deep (sigh, pun) by the time Parker balled up his fist and prepared to go where I’ve never read before, I was too invested in the duo and the plot to hurl my e-reader across the room and hide, several blanked levels deep, from the depravity.  The best I can do is warn you away from about 41%- 43% or chapter 7 depending on what medium you use to read.  And that’s all I am going to say about it.  Let’s move along shall we?

There is another family living day by day to escape the zombies and they come to Parker and Adam’s rescue, providing a home of sorts and family network to the drifters.  To trust them or not to trust them is the question that is asked and answered throughout their relationship and I think Andrews did a great job keeping me right on the precipice of both acceptance and wariness of their good will.  These secondary characters are lovable and a little freaky in their own way (I mean anyone would lose some of their “normal” luster after battling a zombie apocalypse and surviving to tell about it).  They come along at a crucial point, bonds form and I couldn’t get enough of how they showed up for one another.  To find this in a world gone to hell in a hand basket was like hitting the lottery for Parker and Adam.  I seriously, loved these characters!

I don’t like to spoil, so I’ll stick to waxing more poetic about how in sync and balanced Adam and Parker are. I’ll tell you the heat factor is supreme and they have supreme sex (and it is hot sans the scene/chapter that shall not be mentioned).  I’ll share with you that the dystopian imagery read so real that I felt like I too had nothing but the clothes on my back and dried blood and zombie guts in my hair as I fought with my man at my back and machete in hand for survival.  The romance was sweet and authentic.  H/H were strong characters and I appreciated their love, honor and respect.  The paranormal aspect was superfluous- the warewolf angle wasn’t all that necessary, except it came in handy when Adam healed from sex injuries or used his super senses to detect an innocent crush on his mate, etc.  But the rest you’ll have to experience for yourself.  It’s definitely worth the read.

Kissing his way down the side of Parker’s neck, Adam stroked over his chest and lower to his cock, which thickened quickly in his hand. “No fair,” Parker whined. “You play dirty.”

Growling low in his throat, Adam whispered, “And you love it.” Parker moaned as Adam nudged him the short distance to the cabin and pushed him facedown on the bed. Adam wanted to drop on top and cover him completely, keeping the rest of the world at bay. When Parker spread his legs, Adam knelt between them. He licked the water from Parker’s flushed skin, kissing and teasing. He hadn’t shaved in weeks, and he rubbed his scruff against Parker’s ass until the skin reddened beautifully.

“Tease,” Parker muttered.  “My ass can take more than that.  Need more.”

You can jump in, like me, to  Fight the Tide, or you can start from book 1, Kick at The Darkness, where it all began.  Where Parker met Adam and their story began.

Grade: B

Previous Keira Andrews Reviews: Kick at the Darkness, Valor on the Move, A Way Home

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