ASIN: B01HFWA3OS
Publication Date: July 13, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Print Length: 226 pages
Blurb:
Who knew the apocalypse could be so sexy?
Nina can shoot a gun, start a fire, and kick some serious ass. So when a killer virus and solar storm decimate the country, she’s as prepared as possible to survive. She just needs a motorcycle to navigate the cluttered roads and meet up with her family.
Creed, former Marine, is tattooed and tough. He’s scarred inside and out. Loss is no stranger to him, and he avoids getting close to anyone at all costs.
When Nina tries to steal his motorcycle they have a vicious fight, but necessity and attraction force them into an uneasy alliance. They travel together through the dangerous landscape, where trouble lurks around every corner and they need each other to survive.
But the biggest danger just might be falling in love.
Equally as exciting as it is sexy, Afterglow contains graphic sex and some violence, so please read at your own risk.
Review:
Dead bodies are sprawled around everyone. Even when out of sight, their arid stench a constant reminder of the mass of deaths that have occurred. A nasty virus has wiped out most of mankind, and those left are fighting to survive. Nina and Creed are two of the lucky ones. If there’s still a such thing.
Nina is strong and brave. Her renegade grandmother taught her family how to survive long before the virus was discovered. Now Nina is trying to make her way to her family. She’s not sure whether or not they are still amongst the living, but her heart tells her they are. Creed buried the last of his family, and although he took ill, he came through it. When Nina attempts to steal his motorcycle in order to navigate through the abandoned cars blocking the roadways, they end up discussing it rather forcefully. At first – thanks to her attire- Creed wasn’t even sure she was a woman, but it didn’t take long to discover it. Nina’s not a bad person. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve never tried to steal anything from anyone, but their circumstances were a long way from normal; and desperate times called for desperate measures.
Once they agreed to play nice and help each other out, things got even more interesting. They’re attracted to each other, and with nothing to do but survive and no one around to object, they give in to their carnal desires. It helps with getting through the cold, lonely nights, and neither wants to attach themselves to anyone considering the chances of survival.
Monroe has crafted an action-packed romance that is very light on the sci-fi. Yes, there’s mention of a solar superstorm, and the characters are living through an apocalypse; but the story is definitely all about the romance. Nina and Creed’s romance develops in spite of the current events, and the story is written in a manner that leaves me believing had they met under normal circumstances, they still would’ve somehow gotten together. I appreciated this about the story- that they were brought together because of the apocalypse, but it wasn’t the only reason they worked out. At first I wasn’t sure what to think about Charlie popping up, but as I read on, I saw how it worked. The ending was a little eyebrow-raising, but don’t take that negatively. The dialogue is quite witty, and I was able to clearly picture each scene. Although some intense scenes seemed to resolved rather quickly, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment.
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1 cup of coffee