From the age of three, all I’ve known is Stonewell Manor, home of the prominent political figure, Josiah Stonewell. Josiah and I were once close companions, but as we grew older, our stations in life demanded distance. You see, I am a Walker: a survivor of a deadly virus that wiped away a large portion of the population, and my immunity allows me to be fortunate enough to serve the prestigious … prestigious Stonewell household. I am a cook, servant, and general housemaid, but my life is content.
My every waking moment is lived for Josiah, his praise, his sighs, his nearness. I don’t know the exact moment I fell in love with him, but I do know that if anyone found out about our lingering stares, it would end his political career.
When Cyler Black and his beautiful sister come to visit Stonewell Manor, I find myself squinting down the barrel of heartbreak. Cyler offers me a chance at freedom in a new Providence where he and six other male leaders live. Choices will be made, goodbyes will be said, and the world I thought I knew, changes. But the biggest choice of all is deciding on what my heart wants.
This is a slow-burn Reverse Harem Romance & the first book in the series.
RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
The Walker Series
– Wings of the Walker (Book 1 of The Walker Series)
– Heart of the Walker (Book 2 of The Walker Series)
– Soul of the Elite (Jules’ Story)
– Fight of the Walker (Book 3 of The Walker Series)
– Revenge of the Walker (Book 4 of the Walker Series)
– End of the Walker (Book 5 of The Walker Series)
– Love of the Scavenger
more
You have to read this book. It’s absolutely amazing! I waited entirely too long to give it a try. Highly addictive and creative characters. Plot was well thought out and relationships felt organic. Five glittery stars!
Ooh you have destroyed me for sweet, brooding, flirtatious, fun loving men.
I had NO IDEA what I was walking into with this series. And it was exciting.
I still don’t know what direction it will take me, but I’ll let it.
Ashleigh has lead a pretty bland life of servitude.
A Walker.
Where she has been given a very high honor of serving in a wealthy family’s home because she was immune to a disease that has created a massive divide between the rich and the poor.
In this book her world is turned upside down and shook up a great deal.
She’s torn between her new and old life.
Alliances are in the making.
Decisions must be made.
And Betrayal is a foot and somehow Ash is right in the middle of it all.
This epic series introduced us to the amazing voice that is CoraLee June just over three years ago- a series coincidentally foretelling since it deals with a pandemic. Her writing style has evolved over time, but this series introduced us to the hallmarks that make CLJ such a unique and compelling voice in the romance world.
Cora is a visionary- she’s unafraid of the unconventional story, she finds beauty in complex dynamics. It’s why her stories are spellbinding. Cora is a rule breaker- she cleverly and unabashedly colors outside of the lines- defies tropes, breaks romance “rules,” and she takes risks. It’s why she’s one of the most versatile writers out there- she’s always challenging herself and her readers. Cora is a character writer- she understands and develops her characters with such passion and artistry. It’s why her characters have such nuance and dimension, why they are unforgettable, and why they impact us deeply emotionally. And, Cora has a point of view- her stories are always entertaining, but they have profound depth and meaning that undergird everything. It is why her stories move us, why they stick with us.
This series is nothing like what you think it will be- this is not the Walking Dead. This is dystopian entertainment that is also complex and emotionally resonant. This is a sexy reverse harem with a serious slow burn. This is a story about a society beyond the norm, a new normal, but still bound by rules- yet, Cora writes a story that breaks all the rules. A story that exists in demise of a world we know, in which story builds an entirely new one.
If you love Cora’s later work or are new to her, give this series a shot. There is not anything like it out in the world of romance- a true testament to CLJ’s creativity.
Since Virus X appeared the world is divided into three groups, the Elite, Walkers, and Scavengers. The Elite could afford the vaccine to the virus. They hold the power and wealth of the world. Walkers are the poor. They either die from the virus, are bought by the Elite, vaccinated, and forced into a lifetime of servitude or they are the rare individual with natural immunity. Scavengers refuse to play by society’s rules and live in the deadlands, the wilds. Ashleigh is a Walker. She was born with natural immunity but since she was orphaned as a young child, she was sold to the Governor’s family. She was raised to cook, clean, and serve the family; to think less of her own value. Somewhere along the way she fell in love with the son of the house, Josiah and although he realizes that they can never be together, she believes he cares for her too. So when visitors arrive and a political engagement is announced, Ashleigh’s heart is broken. Even worse, Josiah agrees to trade Ashleigh as part of the negotiations. Ash soon finds herself on the way to Dormas with one of its leaders Cyler. Established in the leadership Manor with all six of the town’s leadership council Ash discovers freedom like never before. Torn between missing Josiah and discovering the family she’s never had Ash’s new life is more than she ever dreamed of. But Josiah isn’t ready to let his little Walker go and his weakness places sh in danger. her new life, her life might be over just as it’s truly beginning.
One of my first literary loves is dystopian stories. I love them all! The creativity, the world building, throwing away everything we know and starting all over again. Naturally, this story appeals to me. The setting, the destruction of the world due to virus x, the continued/reinforced class system. I enjoy the characters. Ashleigh is lovely, sweet. I liked her struggle to embrace freedom after having lived only as a Walker. I like that she is an artist and baker. I relate. I hope this is explored more. Josiah is weak. I do not care for a man who refuses to risk his power for something more important than position. Jules is an immature, spoiled brat. It’s not clear yet if she’s anything more. The Dormas Councilmen are intriguing. Cyler, his commanding way with his unpredictable mouth. His brother Maverick, intelligent and thoughtful. Jacob, sweet, gorgeous yet insecure about his place within the family. Patrick, always easy-going and fun. His twin, Huxley brooding and at times threatening. And Kemper, the sweet, shy perfectionist. I admit sometimes it was difficult to separate their voices. Their descriptions were clear but when everyone was together, the characters became blurred at times. I also couldn’t warm up to Huxley. Too harsh for no good reason to Ash and also cowardly in his own way. And while Jacob had the most story, he was the least developed man. Cy, Mav, and Kemp were more successfully developed. Josiah and Ash are the only characters that felt fully developed. The others are all ‘in-progress’ and that’s okay for a series. This is advertised as a slow-burn RH and it is definitely that. After setting a limitation that Ash is only to be thought of as a sister, all romantic progress is halted. There is nothing more than glances and short touches. A little frustrating but appropriate for the storyline.
The big picture storyline interests me. Government greed, corruption, danger. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out and how everyone fits in. One little issue that bothered me; where is Josiah’s mother? Mrs. Stonewall featured so heavily early on and then disappeared. Did I miss something? Anyway, this is a good start to the series. I look forward to more.
I must have been living under a rock to have missed how awesome this book is!!
I actually listened to this book on audio using one of my 2 free credits by joining Audible and was blown away by this narrator and the book. I fell instantly for Ash and her situation and swapped from not wanting her to leave her home to wanting her to be her new guys so much!! I would get so excited to get back in my car to know what happened in the story next. I did more housework so I can more of an excuse to continue listening haha. I loved the world Coralee June created, how desolate she makes it seem for Walkers, and how she brings new life and joy into Ash and the council in a short amount of time. I loved how it wasn’t instant feelings, you could feel the bonds strengthening for Ash and her men. I loved the different details and twists Coralee June weaved in throughout the story. Favorite read of 2018, cannot wait to read and listen to more. Definitely now a one click author for me