Who Is Saving Whom?

Malcom Barnett has lost everything he held dear to a virus that has decimated mankind. Without his family, he feels that he has nothing to live for. That is until he meets up with Tessa and her children while they’re trying to escape Cincinnati for Texas.

Powers’ novel, Convergence: The Far Side of Hell, is book four in the Five Roads to Texas series. It introduces us to characters not in the original story. It is a gripping tale with good character development. There is almost nonstop action with a few twists along the way. Emotions run high for both the characters and the reader.

At first, I was upset that this book did not follow some of the characters from the first book. But, once I got into the story I was hooked and forgot all about that. Hopefully, their story will continue in future novels.

5 out of 5 stars.

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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.

Will the Republic of Texas fall?

**This novel is expected to be released May 1, 2018**

Ernesto “El Flaco” Guzman is bored six months after taking Dallas and effective control of the Republic of Texas. That all ends when representatives from the United States of America show up at his front door with no challenges. They bring unexpected news of the Reverend Zachariah Wright having taken over the western part of the Republic.

Young’s third novel in the Dark Republic series, El Flaco continues the story of the fight for control of the desolated Republic of Texas after over seventy-eight years of secession. All the characters from the first two books in the series are brought together in what could be the final life or death struggle for the Republic.

The question becomes will the Americans help Don Flaco to rid the world of the Reverend once and for all? And, how did the Reverend get all the supplies he needed to conquer west Texas? Can positive relations be established between whomever rules the Republic and the USA?

In another nail-biting, Mad Max-like, post-apocalyptic adventure Young has created an explosive finale to this series.

5 out of 5 stars.

 

Love Finds A Way

Nico Bell is an undercover border patrol officer trying to infiltrate a drug cartel. Kate Chandler is Chris Chandler’s younger sister hiding from her past behind the bar where she works. Nico is determined to peel back the layers Kate has constructed to insulate and protect her from her own feelings. Reload is her service dog and senses that Nico is a good man. San Antonio is rich in history. Will that history be destroyed when an EMP turns the city upside down?

Pike’s fourth novel in The EMP Survivor Series, Unwanted World: A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Survival Fiction Series, branches off from the previous books and takes us back to before the EMP struck San Antonio. We meet Chandler’s sister, Kate, and discover why she has not returned home. Once the EMP strikes Kate finds herself separated from Nico. Can he fulfill his promise to return?

Of all the books so far in this series, this one starts off the slowest. But, once it gets going BOOM! Watching Kate’s character grow was very satisfying. Grit gets tossed around a lot when describing characters in these type of books, but Kate truly puts new meaning to the word. I’m anxious to see where the series goes from here.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Past Can Be Deadly

Chris Chandler and Amanda Hardy leave Dillon and Holly to take Amanda home to Austin. With everything seemingly running as well as can be expected post EMP at the ranch now is as good a time as any. Their journey will be anything but smooth even though it has been made easier by having the horses that Holly loaned them. All along the way danger is waiting to challenge their wit and their resolve. It is also a time for Chandler and Amanda to learn more about one another. What they learn may be more dangerous to them over time than anything else.

Pike’s third novel in The EMP Survivor Series, Unknown World: A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Survival Fiction Series, explores a new set of characters while expanding on the ones we already know. She does a good job of bringing in history without it distracting from the storyline. The pace is fast and makes for a quick read. Be ready for a thrill ride and gut-wrenching action.

Surprisingly to me was the breakdown in editing/proofreading in this book. Books one and two were very well done. This book had two continuity errors between book two and three. There were at least three times the wrong name was used. It was suggested to me that I had an older version. If so, this is the latest version on Amazon. Maybe, it hadn’t been updated yet?

Overall, it is a good addition to the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

When Worlds Collide

Based on hearsay Dillon Stockdale believes that his daughter died in the plane crash. Reluctantly, he and Holly Hudson along with his dog, Buster leave Louisiana and head back to Holly’s ranch in Hemphill, Texas. It has been over a week and the chances of even finding Cassie’s body are slim. The swamp claims everything that does not escape. Their trek back will be fraught with death and uncertainty. New friends and alliances will be made along the way. Once back on Holly’s ranch more trouble rears its head. Can Dillon and his group bring peace to the area or will they die trying?

Pike’s second novel in The EMP Survivor Series, Uncertain World: A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Survival Fiction Series, picks up within a few days of the first book. Holly’s character has been full of surprises. There’s more to her than the lovely lady attorney who’s a force to be reckoned with in a courtroom. Her ability to read witnesses provides her with a good judge of character.

Again, Pike has done her due diligence and the book is well edited and proofread. I can’t praise her enough for that. She tells a compelling story and her writing is maturing with each book. I still don’t like Buster having an inner voice, but that is a personal issue for me, nothing against Pike’s ability at all. The only complaint that I have about the storyline is that I think that Dillon would have noticed Amy’s necklace when he and Holly became intimate.

Good series. Read it!

5 out of 5 stars.

You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down

Marcus Battle cannot seem to catch a break. Just when everything settles down and he can enjoy life, Wham! along comes some Murphy’s Law to turn it all upside down. It’s been five years since Battle returned to the homestead with Lola, Sawyer, and Penny. They have managed to survive and come together as a family without much interference until now. Three men changed Battle’s world in a matter of minutes.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” And, Marcus aims to serve it all three times.

The Dwellers came into power after the Cartel was defeated. Their reign did not last long and the former state of Texas is once again a lawless territory with competing gangs plaguing the innocent. Battle’s moral compass, or what is left of it, will not let him pass up a chance to set things right for those he stumbles upon.

His search for revenge meets him up with the most unlikely companions. One tries to kill him and then becomes his constant sidekick. Another is on a similar quest as Marcus and joins them to exact his own retribution. The trio, while somewhat comical, are a deadly combination.

This is my favorite quote from the book: “If these people could shoot, I’d be dead three times over,” he muttered. Not sure why, but I found this hilarious. What Battle said is so true in this situation. But, I digress.

Abrahams’ fourth novel in The Traveler series, Rising, is fast-paced and gritty. True to the series’ name, Marcus is always traveling. He cannot stay put no matter much he would like. The story is reminiscent of tales from the Wild West with vigilante justice and guns-a-blazing. There are no more hospitals to patch you up. You are more than likely to die from infection or bleed out from your wounds.

I am enjoying Battle’s struggle to retain his humanity. He often goes into the darkest places of his mind. Then along comes someone he is drawn to because they remind him of happier times in his past, and he starts that long climb back towards his version of normalcy.

His story will continue.

5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.