Can Division Bring Us Together?

Lauren Russell and a group from the valley have left in search of food and medical supplies. Along the way, they were ambushed. They now find themselves at the mercy of a gang of hardened criminals bent on nothing but torture and death.

Meanwhile back in the valley many of those remaining are gravely ill with an unknown pathogen. The able body members are few. Yet, three of them decide to go off on their own. One seeking the immediate help from a neighbor from another valley. The other two on a fool’s errand to try and save some imprisoned children in a distant subdivision.

And, then there is the fate of Faith Gallo.

Rudolph’s fourth novel in the What’s Left of My World series, Divided We Stand pulls the story into five different arcs. It is daunting at times to keep up with some many storylines at once. They are all wrought with danger and the likelihood of losing some of their companions. This time the book ends with several cliffhangers. There are a lot of questions left unanswered.

The author’s storytelling ability is getting better with each book. The pace is more action-packed and varied. He has started developing some of the supporting characters. It was nice to have folks from previous books in the flashback chapters brought into the present day story.

I have a feeling that the next book with be the most revealing.

4 out of 5 stars.

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Dastardly Deeds

Lauren Russell and the small community of Trout Run Valley only want to live in peace and be left alone. They had found a balance to subsist by trading among themselves until most of their crops and livestock were destroyed by a rogue motorcycle gang sent by DHS. Now, the wild animals and fish they used to supplement their diet have been found dead. Several of their clan have come down with a devasting illness and need medical attention beyond what they have to offer. With winter coming they must seek food and medical supplies outside the boundaries of the valley.

Rudolph’s third novel in the What’s Left of My World Series, We Won’t Go Quietly: A Family’s Struggle to Survive in a World Devolved is the best of the series by far. It seems the author has finally found his stride, and the story being told is presented much better. There are three stories. There are the flashbacks that give Lauren’s origin story, current day with Lauren and those of Trout Run Valley, and the struggle of Faith Gallo, Lauren’s grandmother imprisoned at the FEMA camp. This book is also the first one to have a real cliffhanger ending.

When the convoy is ambushed by an overwhelming force outside the valley Lauren’s skills are put to the test once again. Lauren does well in controlled training sessions. But, put her in a real life or death struggle and she occasionally puts herself in more danger. Her situational awareness seems to be her weakest area.

It will be interesting to see how Lauren and her friends handle their newest foe.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Fight Comes Home

Lauren Russell and her family have established a close-knit community in Trout Run Valley of West Virginia. Life is hard in a post-apocalyptic world. While most everyone had prepared by stocking up on supplies they are having to barter with neighbors for garden vegetables and fresh meat from livestock. The clan wants nothing more than to be left alone to subsist with one another. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a roving hoard of Takers have other plans. The valley will be under siege. Do they have enough to defend their homesteads and families? More importantly, do they have what it takes to survive?

Rudolph’s second novel in the What’s Left of My World Series, This We Will Defend: The Continuing Story of a Family’s Survival, is very much like book one in its meandering pace. There again are several flashback chapters which break of the flow of the story. The most disappointing part of these books is that Lauren’s character is the only one that is really fleshed out. The subplot with Faith Gallo at the FEMA camp is much more cultivated. I can say that this novel was much better edited than the first.

The uniqueness of Lauren’s training instituted by her father from her very early years is what keeps me interested in these books. She is a very complex young woman. While she makes mistakes based on her impulsiveness and desire to know everything her instincts are almost primal.

3 out of 5 stars.

Can You Survive The Infected?

After a previously unknown virus breaks out in major population centers throughout the US those uninfected seek refuge. Once the virus shows up in areas thought to be safe zones there seem to be few places left to escape. Texas offers the last hope. Or, does it?

Five authors with Phalanx Press have collaborated to bring you Five Roads To Texas. Each author contributes a group of folks trying to survive the outbreak as they travel to Texas. Each group comes from different parts of the US and are very diverse in their makeup.

Regardless of how it’s billed this is a zombie-type book. Though I do not care for zombie stories this was well written and one of the better edited. The only downside was that they often stayed with one set of characters too long. I often had to refresh my memory as they switched to a different set.

This is a very frank novel. It does not hold back in its language or graphic descriptions. It is not for the faint of heart. The pace is varied and moves along quite well. All the characters are well developed. The story has some lightheartedness as well as plenty of heartache.

I am looking forward to the breakout novels that will follow each of the groups separately.

4 out of 5 stars.

Would You Chose Power?

Jim Powell and his extended family of friends throughout the valley are anxious for the power to be restored. Lights have flickered a few times and there seems to be activity at the nearest power plant. The government has sent out several messages about bringing the power back and what it would take for citizens to reap the benefits. The cost is something the Jim and his friends may not be willing to pay.

Horton’s sixth novel in The Borrowed World Series, Switched On is his best one yet. When I started reading it I had the feeling of sitting down to catch up with an old friend. No matter what I didn’t want to stop reading. The heartbreaking loss had me grabbing a tissue. To me, if there is an emotional response from me then that is a sign of a talented writer.

As good as the story was there were numerous errors that should have been caught prior to publication. For that reason alone, I cannot give it five stars.

4 out of 5 stars.

A Mother’s Love

Sloane Delaney and her daughters, Wren and Mae, find themselves almost totally alone in their neighborhood after a devastating tsunami wreaks havoc along the Oregon coast. Sloane is a strong woman and sets out to ensure that her daughters have what it takes to survive in the wake of this disaster. A crazy neighbor, no power or fresh water, wanders, and the government are among the many dangers thrown at them.

Shaw’s first book in the Dawn of Deception series, Unbound is a riveting novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. The ingenuity and determination of Sloane make for a fascinating read. The pace of the story varies and keeps your reading straight to the end.

Having a strong female protagonist in a post-apocalyptic setting is refreshing. Motherly love is overwhelming. Sloane will do whatever it takes to keep her children safe. Will she ever learn to trust again? We shall see in book two!

I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars.

Nowhere is Safe

Charlie and her companions are hunkered down near DHS headquarters waiting for word from John as to when it would be least dangerous to travel and what would be their best route. They have learned that DHS are more like gestapo and the FEMA camps are more akin to prisons.

Browning’s and American’s formal novel in the Charlie’s Requiem series, Democide, follows Charlie, Dr. Kramer, and Beker as they each deal with the aftermath of an EMP attack on the USA.  While each must adapt to a life without power and the accompanying first world problems, the harsh reality of their government’s intentions are alarming.

I am so happy these two authors decided to continue Charlie’s story with a full-length novel with the promise of more in the upcoming months.

5 out of 5 stars. If I could give 100 stars for this I would.