Book Review: After Sundown by Linda Howard, Linda Jones
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This book was right up my alley. Even though I’m not a big fan of YA dystopian novels, I really enjoy them when they are adult fiction novels. And After Sundown was a wonderful surprise for me. Beside me devouring the novel in one-sitting, it’s definitely a book I would recommend. Especially if you like slow burn, and grumpy and broody heroes.
Sela Gordon, shy owner of a Tennessee general store, prefers solitude. If anyone can chip away at her protective shell it’s the handsome, mysterious, ex-military man who’s been hiding for two years in the wilds of Cove Mountain. But when he warns her that a catastrophic solar storm with the capability of taking down the power grids is approaching, Sela must come out of her shell and be the leader Wears Valley needs.
Living in self-imposed exile, Ben Jernigan has learned the hard way to look out only for number one. With a top-notch security system, he’s serious about keeping people at a distance. Yet he has to caution the undeniably sexy Sela about the impending threat-and now she’s making it too easy for him to lower his guard.
As panic spreads, Sela and Ben discover that in the dark, cut off from the outside world, there’s no more playing it safe — in life or in love.
Book Review: After Sundown by Linda Howard, Linda Jones
MY THOUGHTS
Although the plot was pretty straight forward: a solar storm was coming and it would destroy the power grid on earth. And not surprisingly the hero was prepared, but of course nobody else was. The dystopian aspect of it, the preparation and survival was what made this novel so fascinating for me.
It boggled my mind to read all the things that were necessary to survive a solar storm. Everything I took for granted each and every day. And how the world as it’s known would just stop to exist from one second to the other. No more grocery stores, gas stations, warm water, and washing machines. No more hospitals and medications. It got really scary the longer I thought about it all. So I stopped thinking and just enjoyed the book.
Because there was much to enjoy.
And I as I mentioned, I was really fascinated by all the preparations that Sela thanks to Ben was able to get done. And I loved the way the community came together, and helped each other.
But of course the situation wasn’t without danger. Fear can make people rapid. And when survival instincts kick in, everyone fights for themeselves. And then there is also just plain greed. But all in all, the novel was less brutal and scary as it could have been just because of the topic. And I love how well balanced the authors kept the plot, since it’s being marketed as romantic suspense.
I’m a big fan of the couple. I love broody heroes, and Ben was someone that just worked for me. And I really appreciated Sela’s independent nature, her wanting to stay in the background instead of being in the middle of things. Together they were an understated couple, but one that really worked for this novel.
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The only complaint I have is that there wasn’t enough dialogues for my taste, which is kind of a Linda Howard trademark. With this being a slow burn, and a dystopian novel, the research and preparation was the highlight of the book. And because of the preparation etc there wasn’t much interaction between Ben and Sela in the first half of the novel. And without the interaction, there wasn’t the signature dialogue that I love so much.
Nevertheless, I can see myself reading it again, because I’m such a sucker for this kind of novel. (UPDATE I already re-read it within 6month of reading it the first time.)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.
My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
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Book Review: After Sundown by Linda Howard, Linda Jones
Thanks Corina for that awesome review, I was in 2 minds about adding this to my TBR, now going ahead:-)
I really enjoyed it – but I think a lot has to do with personal preference, and this one was right up my alley. 😀
I hope you’ll enjoy it too.
What a great review you have here. I am always intrigued by these type of set ups in seeing how people react to panic and fear and the means by which they resort to.
It’s fascinating to think how I would have dealt with a situation like this. Not only living in a city, which is never a good place during an event like this, but also not knowing what to do, and not having a garden etc – it’s a bit eye opening if I may say so – lol
Great review. For me, it wasn’t as epic as I wanted it to be.
I can see how it might not be as epic for everyone, but for me it just worked in every way ? I’ve always enjoyed books that focused on preparation etc.