Audible Book Review: Out of the Ashes by Bonnie R. Paulson

This post-apocalyptic trilogy has an interesting psychological twist.
Out of the Ashes
Into the End, Book 3
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: David Gilmore

Series: Into the End, Book 3
Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-04-14
Language: English
Publisher: Bonnie R Paulson
Genre: EOTW, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
America can rise, but the cost is high.
Traumatized by previous exposure to her own tests, Dr. Rachel Parker has to complete the methodical steps she swore would never see the light of day...on herself. Her sister, Brenda Krous, may be the only one capable of pulling her through intact.
If they can accomplish the feat and find resolution together, the answers they discover can help the rest of America rise up and reclaim itself from the protection of destruction.
But a nation's fall has a time frame and pride can get in the way. Rachel and Brenda must find what they need in each other to conquer the fear in others.
©2012 - present Bonnie R Paulson (P)2014 Bonnie R Paulson

Review:
America is under attack and individual citizens are being subjected to horrible physical and mental tortures. These tortures were designed by Dr. Rachel Parker with the help of her friend Daniel as her partner to help her pull through the traumatic experiments. Now the foreign enemy is using the methods they designed and the local forces are intent on getting the final tests from Rachel. It isn’t clear if Daniel is standing by to help Rachel or betray her. But Rachel’s sister, Brenda, isn’t willing to trust Daniel at all. She may not completely trust her sister either but she is willing to help her complete the tests if it will help America.

As Rachel, Brenda, and Daniel struggle with the bizarre testing, Josh continues to run missions trying to protect Rachel and others. In a community where it isn’t clear which side the local militia are fighting on is there any hope that an ally can be found to help the beleaguered survivors?

I enjoyed that the story is presented from the view of different primary characters. I really like Josh and his hero nature… even though he makes mistakes too. I liked Brenda’s strengths… even though her past experiences have made her distrustful and cynical. The story kept my interest… even though I never fully understood how Rachel’s self-revelation would help to save America. Since that was a central theme in all three books I sure wish it had been made clear. So, if you can set aside the fact that the central theme might not be resolved, you can enjoy the action and suspense in this post-apocalyptic trilogy.

Audio Notes: David Gilmore did a good job presenting the story without creating any distracting issues. I was a little surprised that this third book narration was completed by Gilmore who narrated the first book and not the second. On the other hand, the change of narrator didn’t impact my interest or engaging with the story. I was glad to have the trilogy on audio.

Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. Thank you, Bonnie Paulson! This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author goals.

Audible Book Review: Into the End by Bonnie R. Paulson

This is an engaging end of the world story.
Into the End
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: David Gilmore

Series: Into the End, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-07-12
Language: English
Publisher: Bonnie R Paulson
Genre: EOTW, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 3.75.

Publisher's Summary
America's end is near.
No one knows why, but the great country is under attack.
After being weakened by countless natural disasters, America opens its airspace for aid. But instead, what is left of the devastated West Coast finds itself nearly obliterated from above. The key may belong to tests designed by a Pacific Northwest psychologist, Rachel Parker.
Rachel loses the love of her life in a house fire as they escape with their children to the nearby Rocky Mountains following the first round of air raids. In refuge, she faces her husband's best friend, Joshua, but doesn't want to face his ill-harbored feelings or her own inability to face fear.
Her sister, Brenda, escapes the fallen city, and, mistaken for Rachel, is captured. Terrified and alone, Brenda is protected by the enigmatic Daniel even while he helps keep her captive. Through torture and mind games, Brenda discovers information about her sister's work that could spin the free world into a tumultuous frenzy where the unknown is safer than reality.
©2012 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2012 Bonnie R. Paulson

Review:
Rachel and her husband, Andy, have a ‘bug-out’ cabin in the forest that Andy worked hard to get ready. Rachel really didn’t think they would need a place to run but that day has come. The states are being devastated by an unknown enemy. The Pacific Coast, where Rachel’s family lives, is being bombed and set on fire. People are being rounded up and murdered with no explanations.

Rachel and Andy escape town with their three children, 14-year-old Cole, Kayli, and four-year-old Beau. Before they reach their cabin tragedy strikes. When Rachel and the children arrive she is upset to find Josh, Andy’s best friend in college, and the man who almost ended up with Rachel. Andy had kept it secret that Josh was their neighbor in the wilderness.

Meanwhile, a science geek teen, Tom, is threatened in his home. He snatches up his father’s CB code notes and escapes as men with foreign accents shoot at him and the innocent people he passes in his effort to hide. Tom meets a friend from school, Jenny, and pulls her along trying to keep her safe even though it also puts her in danger. Tom heads for a place he thinks he can get help, his therapist’s home. There the young pair run into Brenda, Rachel’s sister. Brenda’s boyfriend took off and she is looking for her sister and family too.

The paths of these characters weave together, and it all has something to do with Rachel and a secret psychological program she was part of a few years back. The brutal, foreign men are looking for Rachel and will hunt down anyone else who might help to get to her. Another group of men are looking for the note’s Tom took.

The story is presented from the view of several of the characters: Rachel, Andy, Brenda, and Tom. I found this kept my interest in the separate threads that look to be coming together. The story is fast-paced and a bit chaotic. There are secrets that are not explained in this book even though they are a central element to the terror that is occurring and there are scenes that require suspension of belief. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the suspense and am curious to learn what is going on. I also am rooting for the characters to stay safe.

Audio Notes: David Gilmore does a ‘nice’ job with the narration. Even though he doesn’t provide distinct character voices, he does provide fitting emotional expressions. I am glad to have this in audio as it helps the book to move along. I am looking forward to book 2, Through the Flames.

Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goals.