Sara’s been preparing for this moment her whole life—she just never believed it would actually happen. With her bug-out bag and emergency food already in her truck, her only goal is to get to her family’s hidden bunker and wait out the pandemic that’s hit every major cruise ship port in the US. But her plan quickly falls apart. She’s out of gas, her route to the bunker is now a two-lane parking lot with no alternative in sight, and her only weapon is a pocketknife. For an experienced prepper, she’s made every rookie mistake.
Dane believes he’s safe in his cabin, off the beaten path and in the woods with his own source for water, electricity and an endless supply of food to hunt. After finding Sara stranded and alone, he’s suddenly not only providing for and protecting himself, but also the girl who wandered out of the woods and into his life. When looters come looking to take what he has, Sara and Dane’s only option is to make a run for their last hope—the bunker.
Can Sara and Dane find safety in each other’s arms and will they survive long enough to escape to a future together?
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Decadent Publishing's series of Prepper romances continues with this heart-pounding yet sensual story from Heather Thurmeier that shows mankind at its best and worst. With a pandemic on the horizon it's every person for themselves to find a safe place to hide out, with love being an unexpected surprise.
Sara thought she was prepared for the worst until the unthinkable happened and an empty gas tank puts her in the middle of nowhere, far away from the bunker where she was to meet her family. Wih only a sexy stranger to rely on she tries to learn of the more bloodthirsty ways to stay safe while fighting her growing attraction to her lonely savior. Sara starts out as a bit weak-willed in my opinion, letting fear overrule her common sense. At one point she puts both of their lives in danger by inviting strangers into their home which causes even bigger problems later on. The longer she's with Dane though the stronger she becomes and the more capable she appears. She takes that final step into true heroine territory by saving Dane after he sacrifices himself to keep her and her family's secret bunker safe.
Dane is a strong-willed hero capable of protecting himself and anyone else who comes along by doing whatever necessary. He's living in the past after the loss of his whole family and sees his secluded cabin as the only safe place. The cabin is a comfort to him but it's kept him separate from the world too. He's become a lonely hermit who realizes just how lonely he's become when Sara comes to stay. When a crazed mob comes to take their supplies and her he must choose between the past that his cabin represents and the uncertain future Sara promises him. Ultimately they must depend on each other to reach true safety and a just hinted at HEA.
Sara and Dane have great chemistry and a mutual understanding of survival skills. Dane's far more bloodthirsty though while Sara's more kindhearted, even when faced with danger. Their sexual encounters were steamy and, considering the uncertainty of the future, believable in their quick connection. I wish Ms. Thurmeier had explained the pandemic more along with its ramifications. While there was a sense of foreboding I wish we could've seen the actual implications of society falling apart. The mob chasing Dane and Sara felt a bit stereotypical in their deviousness, caricatures of villains at their worst. The ending too felt a bit rushed, giving just a sense of future happiness while also ending with a bit of a cliffhanger. Overall though I found myself riveted to the storyline's heart-pounding sense of survival while rooting for Sara and Dane to find just a moment of happiness. Ms. Thurmeier again captured my attention with this book and I look forward to what she has planned next.
My rating for this is a B+
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
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