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kate_and_books's review
3.0
I came in at the tail end of the series and I loved the book. I backtracked for the first book which was free and well who wouldn't one click that baby.
I can only say that boy am I glad that I read the last one first cause this was a nightmare to read. I love a good end of the world we'll all gonna die plot but the main characters ruined it for me especially the heroine. Once a supermodel she has moved back to her hometown. She has ignored the Hero for nearly two years because she found some glossy magazines of her and she wanted to be liked for her not her looks but does she ask the Hero about it? Nooooo let's act like we are back in school. But this hasn't deterred me I'm going to read the others cause they can't be any worse than this one right?
I can only say that boy am I glad that I read the last one first cause this was a nightmare to read. I love a good end of the world we'll all gonna die plot but the main characters ruined it for me especially the heroine. Once a supermodel she has moved back to her hometown. She has ignored the Hero for nearly two years because she found some glossy magazines of her and she wanted to be liked for her not her looks but does she ask the Hero about it? Nooooo let's act like we are back in school. But this hasn't deterred me I'm going to read the others cause they can't be any worse than this one right?
rattybluestocking's review
4.0
I loved this book!!! I did not like the heroine though. Her attitude and what I felt was immaturity and nitpicky shit really annoyed me. Especially how she was mad at the hero and treated him crappy for three years over some shit that wasn't even warranted?! Are you kidding me?
But despite that the storyline and writing was pretty damn good. I live right in the kill zone if that volcano in Yellowstone erupts in my lifetime so I really liked the details the author put into this. It was pretty spot on with things I have kept up on. The author did a good job of conveying the fear I assume people would feel once the super volcano erupted.
I can't wait to read the next. I just hope it has a better heroine.
But despite that the storyline and writing was pretty damn good. I live right in the kill zone if that volcano in Yellowstone erupts in my lifetime so I really liked the details the author put into this. It was pretty spot on with things I have kept up on. The author did a good job of conveying the fear I assume people would feel once the super volcano erupted.
I can't wait to read the next. I just hope it has a better heroine.
geo_ix's review
1.0
I didn’t like it. Which sucks, because the concept REALLY interested me and I was really looking forward to reading this, but it was such a struggle to get through it.
Nothing really happened? It was all already set up because of the prepper guy, I think the biggest problems were that the supplies were already ready and that it was more focused on before anything happened. Honestly it felt like a prequel to a series for the majority of the book.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing, the male lead came off a bit wankish to me with how he spoke, especially during the sex scenes (“Your touch is enchanting, Henley. It makes me forget about everything outside these four walls… as if time stood still.”) they also barely knew each other and it all just didn’t feel very realistic. To me, the relationship part of the book took a back seat to the disaster and setting.
Everything’s a little too over explained, there’s a lot of talk about characters that we never meet that will obviously be later in the series but not now and there was drama that was starting to get interesting but it doesn’t turn up properly until like 80%.
Nothing really happened? It was all already set up because of the prepper guy, I think the biggest problems were that the supplies were already ready and that it was more focused on before anything happened. Honestly it felt like a prequel to a series for the majority of the book.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing, the male lead came off a bit wankish to me with how he spoke, especially during the sex scenes (“Your touch is enchanting, Henley. It makes me forget about everything outside these four walls… as if time stood still.”) they also barely knew each other and it all just didn’t feel very realistic. To me, the relationship part of the book took a back seat to the disaster and setting.
Everything’s a little too over explained, there’s a lot of talk about characters that we never meet that will obviously be later in the series but not now and there was drama that was starting to get interesting but it doesn’t turn up properly until like 80%.
valerie_sam's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
booklvrkat's review
5.0
I really enjoyed the first in this series. I can almost see where the author is going to take the series with these marines. That might be reaching a bit, but I enjoy the twists and turns the author puts into each and every story.
Yellowstone is bubbling just like the heat between Henley & Maverick has been for years. No need to hide it from each other. If things are getting as bad as it looks, they need to live life to the very fullest for the time they have left. Survival is on both their minds though, and I think they will make it long!
Yellowstone is bubbling just like the heat between Henley & Maverick has been for years. No need to hide it from each other. If things are getting as bad as it looks, they need to live life to the very fullest for the time they have left. Survival is on both their minds though, and I think they will make it long!
wims's review
3.0
If you're looking for a good apocalyptic book, this isn't it. If you're looking for an okay romance set at the apocalypse, well, I guess this is it. I wasn't a fan of either the romance or the apocalyptic setup.
It's not that I object to romance. I love Sarah Lyons Fleming's zombie books and they all have romance in them. But I intensely seriously dislike the "hero and heroine haven't gotten together because of a very stupid misunderstanding that some straightforward communication could have fixed years ago" trope. And I'm not all that interested in military men, either.
I suspect that, for those who enjoy the type of romances this particular author writes, this will be enjoyable. But if you're looking for a good apoc book, I'm not sure this is going to be your cup of tea.
It's not that I object to romance. I love Sarah Lyons Fleming's zombie books and they all have romance in them. But I intensely seriously dislike the "hero and heroine haven't gotten together because of a very stupid misunderstanding that some straightforward communication could have fixed years ago" trope. And I'm not all that interested in military men, either.
I suspect that, for those who enjoy the type of romances this particular author writes, this will be enjoyable. But if you're looking for a good apoc book, I'm not sure this is going to be your cup of tea.
whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
I read this for the TSTL square for Romance Bingo and for my Kindle Freebie selection.
The first thing you need to know is that this world's apocalypse involves a SUPER-VOLCANO. Enough said, right? You already want to read this.
Look, I know nothing about Yellowstone and it's volcano's ability to send us all into a volcano ash winter for a decade but I believed the author does. There was enough real feeling (again, I don't know) facts to bolster the story and I was totally locked into this part. I loved how this took a bit of a different route from a lot of current apoca-rom and starts us off at the beginning instead of a couple years into the apocalypse. The suspense and fear was heightened, not knowing what was going to happen and dreading it.
What didn't work for me was the romance and to be fair, how does one fit in a romance as it starts to become clear the world as we current humans know it will be ending. I had a pretty big dislike for the heroine and her TSTL attitude. Out of no where immaturely and weirdly blaming the hero for 3yrs about something he wasn't even guilty for and any other adult woman would have handled better. She also had a TSTL tendency to think/feel/attack the hero over what she perceived as him treating her like "the little woman" but instead of coming off strong willed it made her seem immature and brittle as the situations never really warranted her attitude; there's strong attitude and then there's strong and smart attitude. Her constant desire to get the townspeople to do what she wanted them to do grated, too. The apocalypse is coming, if some want to flee, let them! More food for you.
I'll definitely look for the second in this series because the apocalypse storyline has me riveted. Who knew SUPER-VOLCANOES were my jam?!
I hope the romance shows up stronger in the next but it's a tricky formula, life and death danger and sexy times, to perfect. I also hope the heroine is strong but in a smart way.
I read this for the TSTL square for Romance Bingo and for my Kindle Freebie selection.
The first thing you need to know is that this world's apocalypse involves a SUPER-VOLCANO. Enough said, right? You already want to read this.
Look, I know nothing about Yellowstone and it's volcano's ability to send us all into a volcano ash winter for a decade but I believed the author does. There was enough real feeling (again, I don't know) facts to bolster the story and I was totally locked into this part. I loved how this took a bit of a different route from a lot of current apoca-rom and starts us off at the beginning instead of a couple years into the apocalypse. The suspense and fear was heightened, not knowing what was going to happen and dreading it.
What didn't work for me was the romance and to be fair, how does one fit in a romance as it starts to become clear the world as we current humans know it will be ending. I had a pretty big dislike for the heroine and her TSTL attitude. Out of no where immaturely and weirdly blaming the hero for 3yrs about something he wasn't even guilty for and any other adult woman would have handled better. She also had a TSTL tendency to think/feel/attack the hero over what she perceived as him treating her like "the little woman" but instead of coming off strong willed it made her seem immature and brittle as the situations never really warranted her attitude; there's strong attitude and then there's strong and smart attitude. Her constant desire to get the townspeople to do what she wanted them to do grated, too. The apocalypse is coming, if some want to flee, let them! More food for you.
I'll definitely look for the second in this series because the apocalypse storyline has me riveted. Who knew SUPER-VOLCANOES were my jam?!
I hope the romance shows up stronger in the next but it's a tricky formula, life and death danger and sexy times, to perfect. I also hope the heroine is strong but in a smart way.
bodebeabay's review against another edition
4.0
Finished Reading November 3, 2016
[b:Essential Beginnings|25478797|Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, #1)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431039326l/25478797._SY75_.jpg|45250538] (Surviving Ashes, #1) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg] is an Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance.
First the bad: There are quite a few editing errors; misspelled words; words in the wrong place; abrupt stops and starts in scenes. They disrupt the flow of the story. You end up confused and rereading sections. I have read a lot of Kennedy Layne's books. This type and amount of errors is unusual for her. Normally she tends to get caught up in technical talk. It's like her editor deleted whole sentences needed for the flow of the story, but left the errors.
Now the good: Great world build and awesome characters. While I have a problem with Henley's reason for initially being cold to Maverick, they both end up being strong, complex and well developed personalities. The secondary characters are well portrayed and implemented to create a story that keeps you interested. Even with the editing problems, the story flows well. The adult romance scenes are just that, ADULT. Which I very much appreciate. The suspense, action and intrigue is absorbing.
Here is a thought provoking fact. The Yellowstone Caldera is a well known topic in our time. The truth is, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN will it blow. According to the scientist who study it, it is overdue for a cataclysmic eruption.
Now to leave you with one of my favorite lines from the story.
'Mav had always been an open book which she’d chosen not to read, but he didn’t want her to just peruse the prologue. He wanted her to join him in his story ......'
Purchased from Amazon September 7, 2016
[b:Essential Beginnings|25478797|Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, #1)|Kennedy Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431039326l/25478797._SY75_.jpg|45250538] (Surviving Ashes, #1) by [a:Kennedy Layne|7266600|Kennedy Layne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615168348p2/7266600.jpg] is an Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance.
First the bad: There are quite a few editing errors; misspelled words; words in the wrong place; abrupt stops and starts in scenes. They disrupt the flow of the story. You end up confused and rereading sections. I have read a lot of Kennedy Layne's books. This type and amount of errors is unusual for her. Normally she tends to get caught up in technical talk. It's like her editor deleted whole sentences needed for the flow of the story, but left the errors.
Now the good: Great world build and awesome characters. While I have a problem with Henley's reason for initially being cold to Maverick, they both end up being strong, complex and well developed personalities. The secondary characters are well portrayed and implemented to create a story that keeps you interested. Even with the editing problems, the story flows well. The adult romance scenes are just that, ADULT. Which I very much appreciate. The suspense, action and intrigue is absorbing.
Here is a thought provoking fact. The Yellowstone Caldera is a well known topic in our time. The truth is, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN will it blow. According to the scientist who study it, it is overdue for a cataclysmic eruption.
Now to leave you with one of my favorite lines from the story.
'Mav had always been an open book which she’d chosen not to read, but he didn’t want her to just peruse the prologue. He wanted her to join him in his story ......'
Purchased from Amazon September 7, 2016
ymiranda's review
3.0
Interesting read but it was a bit all over the place. I'm interested enough to pick up #2.
picky_book_b1tch's review
3.0
I'm firmly on the fence with this one. This was just okay with a lot of info dumping and a romance I didn't get on board with emotionally. I'm hoping for better as the series progresses. This series could go either way and I'm willing to see what happens in the next book.