In a world ravaged by the collapse of civilization, where the dead walk and the living fight for scraps, survival is more than instinct- it's the only thing that matters. Bella Grant, a 21-year-old engineering student, finds herself thrust into a chaotic new reality. When she's saved by Max, a stoic military captain with a dark past, the two must rely on each other to stay alive. But the infected are not the only danger. In this new world where trust is a fleeting memory, Max and Bella discover that the greatest threat to their survival may come from the living. Ruthless and desperate survivors are willing to do anything to claim what's left, testing their courage and their growing bond in ways that could break them. With enemies at every turn and their bond growing stronger, Bella and Max must face the question: will they make it through this brutal new reality, or will the dangers of survival tear them apart? Is there hope left, or is humanity truly lost? And most of all, can they find a way to keep what remains of their lives intact? ___ Note : This is the first book in a two-part saga, but can be read as standalone. The story will continue in ALL THAT FOLLOWS, where the scars of survival run deep, and the world is far from done.

As Lord Adam Beresford left Ashwood, Hertfordshire for the training and education of a gentleman, he promised to return and marry his childhood best friend, and the only girl he could see himself marrying, Grace Denham. Neither of them foresaw that it would be twelve years until they would meet again. A lot has changed in that time, and their lives are vastly different. Adam became a gentleman, and everything that the heir to a Dukedom ought to be. Grace remained in Ashwood and became a housemaid to support her family. But as their lives intertwine once more, their childhood promise bubbles to the surface, throwing their lives, the lives of their families, and the village of Ashwood into chaos.