Book Review: Resurrection America by Jeff Gunhus

This is a tense, engaging post-apocalyptic thriller.

Resurrection America

by Jeff Gunhus

File Size: 4240 KB

Print Length: 374 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0998217719

Publisher: Seven Guns Press (June 5, 2017)

ASIN: B06ZYTZYSC

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

USA TODAY bestselling author Jeff Gunhus. 

In the near-future, the world order has deteriorated after America's exhaustion from endless foreign wars causes her to pull back within her borders. Her enemies and allies alike pursue their own interests, grabbing resources, erecting trade barriers, and launching opportunistic wars. The American Century is a distant memory.

Sheriff Rick Johnson thinks he's left behind the problems of the greater world, retiring from the Marines to become the sheriff of the little town of Resurrection, Colorado. His relationship with Dahlia, his childhood friend's widow, has given him new purpose, along with the responsibility of being a father-figure to her young son. Life isn't perfect, but it's better than he ever expected it would be after seeing the horrors of war. But when helicopters and armored vehicles filled with soldiers in hazmat suits unexpectedly quarantine the town, Sheriff Rick Johnson feels like the nightmares of the outside world have followed him home.

While the town follows martial law, Rick isn't buying the official version of events from the military that a virus has been released into the air. As he investigates, the cover story unravels and he discovers the military's presence and the salvation they offer isn't what it seems. Soon he and his ex-flame, scientist Cassie Baker, are entangled in a plot so evil that it could only be bourn from the absolute extremes of nationalism and madness.

There are men in Resurrection who are willing to do anything to see America restored to her former greatness, even if the rest of the world must be destroyed to make it happen. But Rick Johnson is a man willing to do anything to protect the people he loves. And he's a force to be reckoned with.

Review:
Rick is a former marine who has settled as Sheriff in the small town of Resurrection, Colorado. He suffered enough in war and his is glad to have an easy-going job and hopeful of building a relationship with an old friend’s widow, Dahlia, and her young son, Charlie. When Rick gets a strange radio call from his deputy which is cut off, he heads up the old mine road to check on him. Instead of finding his deputy, Rick finds a large fence closing off the mine and a man, Keffer, who offers him $10,000.00 to keep quiet for three days. Rick isn’t interested in the bribe but is willing to stay quiet for the extra millions the man assures will be forthcoming to the town from the secret entity that is reopening the mine with robotic assistance.

The town is hosting thousands of visitors to a festival that weekend when an alarm sounds, a helicopter hoovers overhead, tanks appear in the streets and snipers appear with guns aimed at the crowd. A warning issues from the loud speakers that the town has been exposed to radiation but that the men are there to issue a live-saving inoculation. No one understands what is happening and Rick really doesn’t believe the story, especially when he sees and hears actions inconsistent with Keefer’s explanation.

Rick tries to challenge Keefer, but even his friends think he has had a PTSD episode and is delusional. Getting locked in his own jail cells with his ex-wife, a biochemist from the company that previously worked the mine, is the only thing that might give them a chance to save Dahlia, Charlie, the community and visitors. Keefer’s proclaimed goals are to save America and restore her position as a superpower. Sadly, the extent of his plan moves into madness and extremism.

This is a rather scary scenario and gets more alarming as the secret lab and the expected use of the captured citizens is revealed. One can hope that the science is only fiction although somehow I think the possibility might exist in the future. A few scenes do stretch believability but that’s why they call it “fiction”. That didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the fast moving, suspenseful plot. The primary characters are well developed and I liked the relationship between Rick and those he loves. There is good action and an ironic twist at the end. I recommend this to readers who like apocalyptic tales that have a different storyline.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: No Easy Hope: Surviving the Dead, Volume 1 by James N. Cook

This is a solid EOTW, biochemical (zombie) story with a strong lead character and good action.

No Easy Hope: Surviving the Dead, Volume 1
Written by: James N. Cook
Narrated by: Guy Williams

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
Series: Surviving the Dead, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-07-13
Publisher: James N. Cook
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Zombie
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Eric Riordan was once a wealthy man leading a comfortable, easy life. Until one day Gabriel, his oldest friend, Marine Corps veteran, and a former mercenary, told him how the world was going to end.
He did his best to prepare. He thought he was ready for anything.
He was wrong.
As the dead rise up to devour the living, one man finds himself struggling to survive in the ruins of a shattered world. Alone, isolated, and facing starvation, his only chance is to flee to the Appalachians and join forces with Gabriel. But the journey will not be easy, and along the way his humanity, his will to live, and his very soul will be tested.
This is the beginning. This is his story.
©2011 James N Cook (P)2013 James N Cook

Review:
Eric is a wealthy man, not a military man. He and Gabriel, Gabe, became friends during the sale of land between them. Sometime later, Gabe warns Eric to prepare for a chaotic collapse of the world. Gabe is a former Marine and former mercenary who has reason to know of biological secrets that could endanger society.

Eric had the money to prepare a bunker and stock it with food and weapons. He thought he was ready – but who can really prepare for the bloody rising of the dead? After staying alone in his own bunker for a time, Eric sets to meet up with Gabe who is hunkered down in a cabin in the mountains.

Along the way Eric faces danger and rescues a young man from an attack of the undead and returns with him to a compound of survivors. Some of the survivors are thankful but some are resentful and untrusting. Eric remains and proves his good intent as he helps the group clearing local communities of infected so they can gather more supplies. Sadly, the undead are not the only enemy that the survivors must face. There are rival survivor groups who are lawless and brutal.

I really liked Eric’s strong, well developed character. The survivor group he works with is well developed also. Mr. Cook does a good job of creating an engaging story with a good balance of human elements and action. There is gore and bad language but it is not the focus of the story but rather part of the situation.

There are also grammatical errors which might be attributable to the nature of the characters… otherwise it is just inadequate editing. I let them slide. There are a few slower segments but for the most part the story pacing moves along well. I did not realize that this series is already up to 8 books. I will likely continue to read at some point, although not immediately. I recommend this to readers who like well written, catastrophic, end of the world (EOTW), scenarios.

Audio Notes: Guy Williams does a good job with the narration. I found it is easy to listen and follow the characters. There did not seem excessive emotion but adequate to convey the scenes of the story. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

I picked this from my Audible TBR shelves. It qualifies for Audio Challenge, Mount TBR and "N" in Alphabet Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 1, 2017

Happy Friday!
I've been away on what I dub a "working" vacation. I had too much work not to work part of the time so I have worked on computer 3-4 hours each day. In between I have played with our grandchildren: 4 year old granddaughter and the 1 year old twins.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the August 25 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title still blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from August 25 Pick:
MIKI gets a GC.
ELIZABETH gets Sweet Talking Man.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

September Already. Ready or not, Autumn will soon be here! :-)
Image found at Picture Cafe (??).

New Book Group #74 August 25, 2017

PAIRS:
Suzanne Brockman: Flashpoint and Over the Edge
Lisa Gardner: Hide and The Survivor’s Club (spine wear)
SINGLES:
Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart
Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
House of Dreams by Brenda Joyce (slight spine wear)
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Surrender My Love by Johanna Lindsey (slight spine wear)
204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson – Audio Cassettes
The Duchess Diaries by Barbara Dawson Smith
To Conquer a Highlander by Mary Wine
Cain by James Byron Huggins (Hardback)
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
Reader’s Digest Large Type: A t First Sight by Nicholas Sparks and Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland


New Book Group #73 June 16, 2017
I was looking for Summer titles but that didn’t really work.
PAIRS [or Singles] – Since I have four sets of pairs I will work this by first two pairs that go the others go as singles OR you may choose a title as a single and if won that pair falls into single.
Joan Johnston: The Loner and the Cowboy -- Moved to singles
Nora Roberts: Sea Swept (some spine creases) and Genuine Lies
Kat Martin: Midnight Sun and Perfect Sin
Linda Howard (aka Krista Janssen): Cry No More and Indigo Fire (spine wear) -- Moved to singles
SINGLES:
The Loner by Joan Johnston
The Cowboy by Joan Johnston
Cry No More by Linda Howard
Indigo Fire by Linda Howard (spine wear)
Garden of Scandal by Jennifer Blake
A Rogue’s Heart by Debra Lee Brown
The Night Remembers by Kathleen Eagle (spine wear)
A Dragon Prince by Mary Gillgannon
Hurricane by Karen Harper
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
Sail by James Patterson
Home Sweet Home by Bella Riley


New Book Group #72 May 12, 2017
PAIRS:
Brenda Joyce: The Third Heiress and The Rival
Jayne Ann Krentz: Dangerous Affair and True Colors
SINGLES:
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)


New Book Group #71 March 10, 2017
Mysteries and Thrillers
SINGLES:
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)

New Book Group #70 January 27, 2017
Thought I’d share some romances for February:
SINGLES:
Kissed by Shadows (Get Connected Romances) by Jane Feather
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn


New Book Group #69 November 18, 2016 -- All Gone


New Book Group #68 October 28, 2016
SINGLES:
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown


New Book Group #67 September 9, 2016

(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
SINGLES:
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)


New Book Group #66 June 25, 2016

(I will post a picture later. *Four of these books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I have had for many years. They may not be wanted by anyone and if so, I will donate elsewhere in time.)
SINGLES:
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell


New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016

SINGLES:
The Champion by Heather Grothaus


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016
SINGLES:
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette

New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016 -- All Gone

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014 -- All Gone

BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost seven years I have posted 68 groups of 16 (1,088) books to find new homes! (as of November 4, 2016).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,094+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Audio Book Review: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

Though not totally enchanting, this is a sweet, entertaining listen.
The Healer's Apprentice
By Melanie Dickerson
Narrated By Jude Mason

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
Series: Hagenheim, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-13-15
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian, Historical, Teen/Young Adult
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In author Melanie Dickenson's new book, a young healer's apprentice named Rose believes she will never marry...until she meets Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of her village. Hamlin is everything she could ever want - kind, understanding, and a man of faith - but her low station and the fact he's already betrothed to a mysterious woman makes their romance impossible. As Lord Hamlin seeks to find the sorcerer who cursed his future bride, Rose's life spins toward confusion. A creative retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale.
©2015 Melanie Dickerson (P)2015 Zondervan

Review:
Rose is a young woman of faith and compassion. She has been apprenticed to the healer even though she finds the duties difficult due to her soft heart. Her position brings her to tend Lord Hamlin, the eldest son of the Duke. He is kind and accepting of her lower status and they develop a gentle friendship.

Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a woman who he is to meet and marry later in the year. The young lady has been hidden since childhood to keep her safe from the threats of a sorcerer who seeks revenge on her father. Although Lord Hamlin has chased the enemy for a number of years, the villain is always just out of reach.

Lord Hamlin and Rose must work to resist their attraction to each other. Lord Hamlin’s younger brother, Rupert, has a reputation as a scoundrel around the ladies. He takes an interest in the lovely Rose, insisting that he finds her so enchanting that he is prepared to change his ways for her. Lord Hamlin is anxious to secure a good position for Rose, so he encourages her saying that he believes his brother is sincere. Rose herself is flattered by Rupert’s attention and tries to set her affections toward him instead of the unattainable Lord Hamlin. While the young people struggle with their emotions, the enemy is closer than they know.

Rose and Lord Hamlin are lovely, honorable and chivalrous characters. This is an easy read/listen for the most part. There is a scene with demons that might be difficult for some readers. Although the story has a fairy tale feel, with easy, simple writing, it focuses on God’s protection rather than magical protection. I really enjoyed the Biblical messages of faith, and God’s provision and protection for those who trust Him. This story, and probably the series, would be suitable for readers who enjoy medieval settings with the fairy tale and Christian elements of good prevailing over evil.

Audio Notes: Jude Mason does an adequate job with the narration. Her voice and accent fits the setting and tone of the story. She manages to portray the characters with sufficiently distinct voices. Because I found the story a bit simple, the narration made this a more enjoyable reading experience for me.

I received this CD audio book from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. It qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge.

ReWired by S.R. Johannes - Launch Week Spotlight

Available August 27, 2017. I have received this title and will be reading it next week for review.

ReWired
by S.R. Johannes
16-year-old Ada Lovelace is never more alive and sure of herself than when she’s hacking into a “secure” network as her alter ego, the Dark Angel. In the real world, Ada is broken, reeling from her best friend Simone’s recent suicide. But online, the reclusive daughter of Senator Lovelace (champion of the new Technology Privacy Bill) is a daring white hat hacker and the only female member of the Orwellians, an elite group responsible for a string of high-profile hacks against major corporations, with a mission to protect the little guy.

Ada is swiftly proving she’s a force to be reckoned with, when a fellow Orwellian betrays her to the FBI. To protect her father’s career, Ada is sent to ReBoot, a technology rehab facility for teens…the same rehab Simone attended right before killing herself.
​
It’s bad enough that the ReBoot facility is creepy in an Overlook-Hotel-meets-Winchester-Mansion way, but when Ada realizes Simone’s suicide is just one in an increasingly suspicious string of “accidental” deaths and “suicides” occurring just after kids leave ReBoot, Ada knows she can’t leave without figuring out what really happened to her best friend. The massive cyber conspiracy she uncovers will threaten everything she cares about–her dad’s career, her new relationship with a wry, handsome, reformed hacker, Fisher, who gets under her skin, and most of all–the Dark Angel.

With a deliciously twisty plot, the topical bite of Cory Doctorow's LITTLE BROTHER, ReWIRED delves into technology addiction, internet privacy, and corporate/government collection of data.

ReWIRED is about the daily choices we all make about who we want to be, how much of ourselves we choose to share with others, and the terrifying risks and exhilarating rewards of being ourselves, online and off.

What others are saying:

"Delving into the world of underground hacking, REWIRED crackles with tension. I loved every cyber-second I was immersed in Ada's world!”— Kimberly Derting, author of YA thriller series' The Body Finder, The Pledge, and The Taking.

"Timely and terrifying, Johannes shows us just how easy it is to find a trapdoor into anyone's life. I'm never getting on the internet again."— Romily Bernard, author of YA thriller series, Find Me and Never Apart (2017)

"ReWired is a tenderhearted, thought-provoking young adult thriller that makes you update your passwords and call your best friend (and request to hang out away from all video feeds.)" —Courtney Stevens, author of Dress Codes for Small Towns and Faking Normal.

Amazon Buy Link

Excerpt: The Firewall

   The lab smells like burned toast.
   Fisher races back in the room. “Ada, I think this place is on fire. We gotta go.” When I finish uploading the files, he grabs my hand and yanks me out of the room.
   We race down the hall and push through a door that leads us to an empty stale room with nothing but a mahogany fireplace in one corner. The small space is already filling with thick, black smoke, and the heat is unbearable. When I glance back, the steel door starts to turn red from the intense temperatures.
   This must be what hell feels like.
   Fisher tugs on my sleeve. “This place is going to torch quickly. It’s a freakin’ tinderbox.”
   And he’s right, the place is already blazing with fire. My eyes burn as I cover my mouth with my shirt, coughing. “Which way?”
   “There.” He points in the opposite direction.
   As we weave through the labyrinth of suffocating rooms and tiny hallways, neither of us speaks. The air is heavy with soot, burning my throat. Thick gray spirals of smoke crawl out of the cracks in the walls, curling finger-like tendrils around my throat.
I try to control my smoke intake. “Now what?” I choke out.
   “Breathe shallow, stay low, and keep moving.” He hands me his handkerchief. “Keep this over your mouth.”
   We wind through the twisting hall until we reach a stairway. Flames nip at our heels like a pack of seething dogs. The searing air singes the tiny hairs on my face. I panic and gulp in dirty air, igniting a fit of hacking. The fire alarm remains silent, so I’m guessing help is out of the question. It’s possible that no one at ReBoot is aware of the danger stewing behind the main house.
   I holler into the rag, muffling the rising panic in my voice. “We’re trapped!”
   Fisher dashes around, frantically opening and slamming cupboards, searching for a hidden escape route. In this place, you never know. The fire prowls across the floor, roaring at anything in its path. The flames chase us, rolling in from all sides.
   Fisher steps on a trapdoor in the floor. “Here!” He dusts off the opening with his shoes and jerks the round latch. The wood planks squeak open, revealing a kitchen on the floor below us. He drops through the hole and lands in a kneeling position on the rusted stove.
   A beam in the ceiling splits and comes crashing down behind me. I scream and lower myself through the opening, hanging by my hands.
   “Drop!” Fisher screams.
   I release my grip and hit the counter.
   This time, he breaks my fall by grabbing my waist, but pain sears through my sore leg. I crumple to the floor. Without missing a beat, Fisher scoops me up and races toward an exit, half carrying me.
   Somewhere in the maze, a door slams. Clunky footsteps cross the floor moving closer and closer.
   “Someone’s chasing us,” I hiss under my breath.