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Aftershock #3
Badlands
Love is the most dangerous territory of all . . .
Every day, bodyguard Owen Jackson puts his life on the line — and keeps his feelings for Penny Sandoval locked away. Assigned to protect Penny's father, a presidential candidate, Owen can't get emotionally involved. That is, until Penny and her young son, Cruz, are abducted and taken deep into the California badlands.
Owen knows the bleak territory from his childhood. Worse, he knows the gang leader making ransom demands — his own brother, Shane. When a terrified Penny escapes into the desert with Cruz, Owen has to save her: from the elements and from the gang in close pursuit. Owen has hidden the darkness in his past from Penny. Now his only chance of keeping her alive is to let her see the man he really is — even if it means losing the only woman he'll ever want.
Every day, bodyguard Owen Jackson puts his life on the line — and keeps his feelings for Penny Sandoval locked away. Assigned to protect Penny's father, a presidential candidate, Owen can't get emotionally involved. That is, until Penny and her young son, Cruz, are abducted and taken deep into the California badlands.
Owen knows the bleak territory from his childhood. Worse, he knows the gang leader making ransom demands — his own brother, Shane. When a terrified Penny escapes into the desert with Cruz, Owen has to save her: from the elements and from the gang in close pursuit. Owen has hidden the darkness in his past from Penny. Now his only chance of keeping her alive is to let her see the man he really is — even if it means losing the only woman he'll ever want.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 2013
30 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Jill Sorenson
42 books458 followersJill Sorenson is the RITA-nominated author of more than a dozen novels, including the Aftershock series with HQN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 2, 2014
Updated 12/27/13...
Wow, what a story! Can't think of a single thing wrong with it, except...I'd kill for an epilogue! Jill Sorenson, please don't leave us hanging--can we see Owen and Penny again in a future book, just to see how they're doing?
Owen...
This book had it all. A great story that was plenty intense, wonderful characters (it helped that we met them in the previous book--Aftershock) that we really got to know in this story; a truly gritty atmosphere (I could just sense the heat and the desolation of the California badlands, and the description of the Salton Sea area was eye opening--had to get out my atlas and follow the path that the H/h took).
Penny...
The Salton Sea, which was like another character in the book...
The book takes place 5 years after Aftershock. In that book, convict Owen and pregnant-teenage-daughter-of-a-prominent- politician Penny were supporting characters who meet during an epic San Diego earthquake, when they were both trapped under a freeway overpass and Owen helps deliver her baby boy. So it's 5 years later, Penny is now 23 and Owen is 26 and they've both matured. Penny and Owen have maintained a "friendship", and even though each is crushing on the other, they haven't taken it further. Owen is now working security for Penny's protective father, the future Presidential nominee for the Republican party. In actuality, Owen is now Penny's bodyguard. But during the convention, Penny, her son Cruz, and Owen are all kidnapped, and held for ransom. And the kidnapper has a connection to Owen. A big connection.
That's all I want to say about the plot.
This was a real page-turner, and if I could've read it in one day I would have. There wasn't a whole lot of romance (how could there be in this situation, especially with a little 5 year old in tow?) but it didn't matter. The intense plot more than made up for it, and we do get a provocative shower scene late in the book, and another scene where Penny and Owen express their feelings for each other (*sigh*)
Now, about our hero, Owen. So many times in this book I just wanted to hug him. He's no big-bad-larger-than-life alpha hero, but he is a hero, with plenty of guts and courage and decency and a kind heart. I admired him for turning his life around (after a crappy childhood that led him to make some wrong decisions). I felt sorry for him for what he endured while in prison and understood why he did the only thing he could to survive. And I wanted him to realize his own worth. He had a lot to offer a woman, and thank god Penny was smart enough to see that. I loved reading his inner thoughts, and was rooting for him to get a break in life and get a much deserved HEA. He has to be one of my favorite non-alpha heroes of all time. Just... loved... him.
This book can be read as a stand alone, but to get the full picture of Penny and Owen's relationship, I'd recommend also reading Aftershock (a spectacular book) and Freefall (where Owen is a supporting character). JS can certainly write an emotional, suspenseful page turner, and when I get to thinking "I'd like to see this as a movie" I know I'm reading a winner. One of my favorite books of 2013. 5 big stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley...
Wow, what a story! Can't think of a single thing wrong with it, except...I'd kill for an epilogue! Jill Sorenson, please don't leave us hanging--can we see Owen and Penny again in a future book, just to see how they're doing?
Owen...
This book had it all. A great story that was plenty intense, wonderful characters (it helped that we met them in the previous book--Aftershock) that we really got to know in this story; a truly gritty atmosphere (I could just sense the heat and the desolation of the California badlands, and the description of the Salton Sea area was eye opening--had to get out my atlas and follow the path that the H/h took).
Penny...
The Salton Sea, which was like another character in the book...
The book takes place 5 years after Aftershock. In that book, convict Owen and pregnant-teenage-daughter-of-a-prominent- politician Penny were supporting characters who meet during an epic San Diego earthquake, when they were both trapped under a freeway overpass and Owen helps deliver her baby boy. So it's 5 years later, Penny is now 23 and Owen is 26 and they've both matured. Penny and Owen have maintained a "friendship", and even though each is crushing on the other, they haven't taken it further. Owen is now working security for Penny's protective father, the future Presidential nominee for the Republican party. In actuality, Owen is now Penny's bodyguard. But during the convention, Penny, her son Cruz, and Owen are all kidnapped, and held for ransom. And the kidnapper has a connection to Owen. A big connection.
That's all I want to say about the plot.
This was a real page-turner, and if I could've read it in one day I would have. There wasn't a whole lot of romance (how could there be in this situation, especially with a little 5 year old in tow?) but it didn't matter. The intense plot more than made up for it, and we do get a provocative shower scene late in the book, and another scene where Penny and Owen express their feelings for each other (*sigh*)
Now, about our hero, Owen. So many times in this book I just wanted to hug him. He's no big-bad-larger-than-life alpha hero, but he is a hero, with plenty of guts and courage and decency and a kind heart. I admired him for turning his life around (after a crappy childhood that led him to make some wrong decisions). I felt sorry for him for what he endured while in prison and understood why he did the only thing he could to survive. And I wanted him to realize his own worth. He had a lot to offer a woman, and thank god Penny was smart enough to see that. I loved reading his inner thoughts, and was rooting for him to get a break in life and get a much deserved HEA. He has to be one of my favorite non-alpha heroes of all time. Just... loved... him.
This book can be read as a stand alone, but to get the full picture of Penny and Owen's relationship, I'd recommend also reading Aftershock (a spectacular book) and Freefall (where Owen is a supporting character). JS can certainly write an emotional, suspenseful page turner, and when I get to thinking "I'd like to see this as a movie" I know I'm reading a winner. One of my favorite books of 2013. 5 big stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley...
February 14, 2014
We met Owen and Penny back in the first book when Penny was a pregnant teen and Owen a convict and they were struck together in the San Diego earthquake and from the very first moment these two showed up on screen I knew they were meant to be together but their journey together wasn't simple. The reasons were several, Owen's conviction and ties with the Aryan brotherhood, the high political stature of Penny's dad.
The book opens five years later and Penny has spent those years being a good mom and daughter and not going for what she wants, Owen. Owen has cleaned up his life and is now Penny's bodyguard and then things take a turn for the worse and they are kidnapped and one of the kidnappers is Owen's elder brother and they are taken into an area Owen is familiar with, Badlands.
I loved the book, it had danger, it had emotion, it had everything. Owen was a guy who was raised in an abusive environment and his experiences in prison were hellish and he didn't think he deserved Penny, who herself was low on confidence when it came to men. I loved seeing these two get together in the face of so much danger. Often I read books where the characters get foolish when they are in a dangerous situation but this is not the case in this book, Owen is depicted as human and no super-hero and even the villain has different shades to him. Overall, a fantastic read, I just wished for more and more.
ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.
July 10, 2016
This is a decently paced, readable romantic suspense like one can expect from Sorenson. What is also not so surprising from Sorensen - but certainly unusual for this genre - is the nuanced (not overblown) way that this book addresses race, gender, and class. Both the heroine (an unwed, upper-class Latina teen mother) and the hero (a poor, "white trash" ex-con who joined the Aryan Brotherhood in prison for self-preservation) are shown to be influenced by but not limited to the charged identity categories they fall under. And the entire cast of characters in this story complicates any clear good guy/bad guy dichotomies.
This is, in my opinion, a pretty feminist book - and not just for its representation of women (in particular the heroine and a secondary stripper/single mother character), but its depiction of vulnerability and kindness as positive - yet threatened - aspects of masculinity.
Oh! And the kid in this story is refreshingly not-annoying & well-characterized.
This is, in my opinion, a pretty feminist book - and not just for its representation of women (in particular the heroine and a secondary stripper/single mother character), but its depiction of vulnerability and kindness as positive - yet threatened - aspects of masculinity.
Oh! And the kid in this story is refreshingly not-annoying & well-characterized.
January 15, 2014
How can you not be in love with young Owen? In the first book, Owen is a 21 year old tattooed, ex-con with possible ties to the AB. Penny was a 17 year old pregnant, Mexican-American, what is not to love with that set up. I would read the first book before you read this book, just so you have their full background. This book takes place 5 years later. Penny and her son Cruz are kidnapped for ransom and it is up to Owen to bring them to safety. Only problem, he might have to kill is brother Shane in order to do it. Very, very good read and I hope that we are getting a book for Ash and Jonelle...because they were hawt together!
May 4, 2017
I think I enjoyed Badlands a lot more than I'd expected to (more on that later). The entire book is so intense and fast-paced, and it is entirely possible that it is my favorite of the Aftershock books so far... though
Freefall
was also one I loved, so I really can't decide.
And the characters were so great! I especially love the fact that we're building onto Owen's character from previous books, as well as the relationship between Penny and Owen from a known history between them.
The Story:
After the events of the San Diego earthquake ( Aftershock ), Owen Jackson and Penny Sandoval still remain friends, their relationship growing stronger and their feelings deeper as the years go by. But Owen holds himself back, feeling the differences of their social standings. In order to get his life moving forward, he agrees to take a position on Jorge Sandoval's personal security team with the condition that he distance himself from Penny. In return, the politician has offered him a letter of recommendation to help further his career, helping him find a spot with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
But everything changes when Penny is targeted by kidnappers who want to ransom her for money as well as force her father to drop out of the running as a presidential candidate. In the chaos, however, the kidnappers end up grabbing Penny's young son, Cruz, as well as Owen. They take the three hostages into the California badlands as part of their ransom plans, but what they hadn't counted on was Penny's escape as well as Owen's determination to keep Penny and Cruz safe.
Whether held captive, or trekking through the unforgiving heat of the desert, Owen vows to guard Penny and her son with his life; even if the person he's fighting against is his own brother.
My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure if I was going to like Badlands since I had a hard time relating to Penny in the first Aftershock book. She had come off as spoiled, entitled, and prejudiced. But I suppose that with the San Diego earthquake being years behind us, and Penny being allowed time to grow up, she has come out of the entire ordeal a much more mature person.
Raising a son and gaining acceptance from her super conservative father for getting pregnant out of wedlock has added to Penny's character growth since we last saw her two books prior. Also, according to the vaguely mentioned timeline, a few years have passed since the San Diego earthquake that brought Penny and Owen into each others' lives.
To be honest, I really love the person Penny is in this book, and I really love how she loves and accepts Owen with all her heart. Owen has certainly been through a lot of tough times, from a rough childhood with an abusive father and elder brother, to a hardening new outlook in life when he ended up in prison. I love that Owen doesn't give himself any excuses for the decisions he made before he ended up in prison, and he also doesn't give himself any excuses for the decisions he made while in prison.
He's accepted that that has been his life up to that point, and is making steps to turn his life around and make everything work out somehow. His ambitions are admirable, and his humble personality is kind of sweet as well.
Both characters are great together; both developing as the story progresses into even better people.
Because despite the fact that I love the person Penny is in the beginning of the book, I love that she recognizes and admits how readily she allowed her father to control her life simply because he not only didn't toss her and her son out, but also gave them everything they needed to live a comfortable life. I love that she also doesn't give herself any excuses when it was time to stand up to her father.
Setting character dynamics aside--and there are a lot of character dynamics in this book--I very much enjoyed the entire suspenseful progression, following Owen, Penny, and Cruz as they make their way through the Badlands. This story just keeps moving forward without a chance to stop for breath, and when all is said and done, we just kind of drift to an end in a well-outlined way.
If there is one thing I would point out, it would be the logic hole in the kidnappers hauling Owen along for the ride in the scheme. Though I suppose, in a way, Owen's brother had been expecting him to turn around and help them with the kidnapping and ransom? I suppose I would have been a little less forgiving if that reason hadn't been presented, since it seems highly foolish to kidnap the targeted rich girl and her bodyguard as well.
Anyway...
I loved this book, nonetheless, and I'm glad that I finally had a chance to get to it. And in spite of how much I really disliked some of the characters, it occurs to me that they didn't take away from my enjoyment of Badlands, and in fact, kind of enhanced my satisfaction.
Jill Sorenson writes in a way that is real and down-to-earth, gritty and intense, and just keeps you hooked from the beginning until the end, with characters that are not the usual, larger-than-life romance novel types.
And the characters were so great! I especially love the fact that we're building onto Owen's character from previous books, as well as the relationship between Penny and Owen from a known history between them.
The Story:
After the events of the San Diego earthquake ( Aftershock ), Owen Jackson and Penny Sandoval still remain friends, their relationship growing stronger and their feelings deeper as the years go by. But Owen holds himself back, feeling the differences of their social standings. In order to get his life moving forward, he agrees to take a position on Jorge Sandoval's personal security team with the condition that he distance himself from Penny. In return, the politician has offered him a letter of recommendation to help further his career, helping him find a spot with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
But everything changes when Penny is targeted by kidnappers who want to ransom her for money as well as force her father to drop out of the running as a presidential candidate. In the chaos, however, the kidnappers end up grabbing Penny's young son, Cruz, as well as Owen. They take the three hostages into the California badlands as part of their ransom plans, but what they hadn't counted on was Penny's escape as well as Owen's determination to keep Penny and Cruz safe.
Whether held captive, or trekking through the unforgiving heat of the desert, Owen vows to guard Penny and her son with his life; even if the person he's fighting against is his own brother.
My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure if I was going to like Badlands since I had a hard time relating to Penny in the first Aftershock book. She had come off as spoiled, entitled, and prejudiced. But I suppose that with the San Diego earthquake being years behind us, and Penny being allowed time to grow up, she has come out of the entire ordeal a much more mature person.
Raising a son and gaining acceptance from her super conservative father for getting pregnant out of wedlock has added to Penny's character growth since we last saw her two books prior. Also, according to the vaguely mentioned timeline, a few years have passed since the San Diego earthquake that brought Penny and Owen into each others' lives.
To be honest, I really love the person Penny is in this book, and I really love how she loves and accepts Owen with all her heart. Owen has certainly been through a lot of tough times, from a rough childhood with an abusive father and elder brother, to a hardening new outlook in life when he ended up in prison. I love that Owen doesn't give himself any excuses for the decisions he made before he ended up in prison, and he also doesn't give himself any excuses for the decisions he made while in prison.
He's accepted that that has been his life up to that point, and is making steps to turn his life around and make everything work out somehow. His ambitions are admirable, and his humble personality is kind of sweet as well.
Both characters are great together; both developing as the story progresses into even better people.
Because despite the fact that I love the person Penny is in the beginning of the book, I love that she recognizes and admits how readily she allowed her father to control her life simply because he not only didn't toss her and her son out, but also gave them everything they needed to live a comfortable life. I love that she also doesn't give herself any excuses when it was time to stand up to her father.
Setting character dynamics aside--and there are a lot of character dynamics in this book--I very much enjoyed the entire suspenseful progression, following Owen, Penny, and Cruz as they make their way through the Badlands. This story just keeps moving forward without a chance to stop for breath, and when all is said and done, we just kind of drift to an end in a well-outlined way.
If there is one thing I would point out, it would be the logic hole in the kidnappers hauling Owen along for the ride in the scheme. Though I suppose, in a way, Owen's brother had been expecting him to turn around and help them with the kidnapping and ransom? I suppose I would have been a little less forgiving if that reason hadn't been presented, since it seems highly foolish to kidnap the targeted rich girl and her bodyguard as well.
Anyway...
I loved this book, nonetheless, and I'm glad that I finally had a chance to get to it. And in spite of how much I really disliked some of the characters, it occurs to me that they didn't take away from my enjoyment of Badlands, and in fact, kind of enhanced my satisfaction.
Jill Sorenson writes in a way that is real and down-to-earth, gritty and intense, and just keeps you hooked from the beginning until the end, with characters that are not the usual, larger-than-life romance novel types.
January 3, 2015
I have been waiting impatiently for this story ever since I read Aftershock, and it didn't disappoint. Heroine is welcomed back into her family, to a sense of safety she craves, only to find herself trapped in a pretty gilded cage. Hero finds himself making a deal with the heroine's father in order to grease a few wheels so people will look past his criminal record. Hero and heroine falling in love? Not really an option that will be embraced by, well.....anybody. Great read, definitely one of the strongest romantic suspense novels I've read in ages.
January 1, 2014
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My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️
Owen Jackson and a Penny Sandoval have a history. Five years ago he was a convicted felon and she was rejected by her parents due to her unplanned pregnancy when they where trapped together under an overpass after a massive earthquake. Owen had stood up for and by Penny through their ordeal and despite their vast differences in background, they came through close friends. Penny's father, already active in the political arena pulled some strings and managed to eventually have Owen assigned to their security detail.
Despite having been within sight of each other for most of the past five years, Owen has always kept his feelings for Penny under lock and key. It hasn't always been easy, but at least he was able to show true affection for her son Cruz, who he had helped bring into this world. At times Penny would give off signals that indicated she might have more than just a friendly interest in him, but they both had too much to lose to act on a mere possibility.
When an alarm at a political rally for her father causes chaos, it allows Owen and the driver to be overpowered and Penny and her son to be abducted. Owen is tied up and taken along as well as the group makes their way into the California badlands, country very familiar to Owen as well as the apparent leader of this operation. His family came from there. Owen was shocked to find his own brother behind the abduction plan, he was only released from prison a month ago.
The gang is careful with Penny, since she is their bargaining tool for a substantial amount of ransom, but they have no such reservations for Owen and are brutal in their treatment of him. Terrified they have killed him, Penny finds an opportunity to escape with her son and flees the camp. When discovered, an attempt is made to use Owen to lure her back, but Owen is determined to foil the gang's plans and find Penny himself to help her and Cruz to safety.
Under the direst of circumstances, and in the face of danger, the close mouthed Owen starts revealing some of his complicated family dynamics, along with the true depth of his feelings for Penny and his reasons for the years of emotional distance. Penny is thrilled to have finally broken through some of his carefully erected barriers, to see her feelings reflected back. If only they could find a way to stay alive long enough to enjoy the discovery.....
****
Dangerous, disturbing, hot and heroic!!
I have loved every book in this "Aftershock Series" by Jill Sorenson. The books are such a great blend of suspense, action, romance and some heat. Fantastic imperfect heroes with human flaws that make them all the more attractive and strong, capable heroines, not easily taken for a ride and often doing as much of the rescuing as being rescued. It is merely a matter of how one looks at it.
Owen grew up on the wrong side of the tracks so to speak, not an ideal childhood, and he got in trouble through his involvement with his brother, who had less of a moral compass than Owen did. Being a young kid still, Owen's time in prison was not good for him, it scarred him emotionally and he did what he had to to survive, but somehow he never lost his moral compass.
Penny had more of a privileged upbringing, but far more public, which is why her young unplanned pregnancy caused such an uproar and estranged her from her parents temporarily. Living through a disaster and giving birth mellowed out the situation and guilt kept Penny bound to her influencial father and unable to make many choices for herself.
Jill Sorenson's great descriptive powers bring everything alive. From the desolate scenery, to the tension building in a scene, or feelings of utter fear and desperation, Her words have the ability to place you right inside the story, so much so, that the world around you seems to stop.
✨Fabulous writing, amazing characters and a thrilling story!!✨
**ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin HQN in return for an honest review.**
My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️
Owen Jackson and a Penny Sandoval have a history. Five years ago he was a convicted felon and she was rejected by her parents due to her unplanned pregnancy when they where trapped together under an overpass after a massive earthquake. Owen had stood up for and by Penny through their ordeal and despite their vast differences in background, they came through close friends. Penny's father, already active in the political arena pulled some strings and managed to eventually have Owen assigned to their security detail.
Despite having been within sight of each other for most of the past five years, Owen has always kept his feelings for Penny under lock and key. It hasn't always been easy, but at least he was able to show true affection for her son Cruz, who he had helped bring into this world. At times Penny would give off signals that indicated she might have more than just a friendly interest in him, but they both had too much to lose to act on a mere possibility.
When an alarm at a political rally for her father causes chaos, it allows Owen and the driver to be overpowered and Penny and her son to be abducted. Owen is tied up and taken along as well as the group makes their way into the California badlands, country very familiar to Owen as well as the apparent leader of this operation. His family came from there. Owen was shocked to find his own brother behind the abduction plan, he was only released from prison a month ago.
The gang is careful with Penny, since she is their bargaining tool for a substantial amount of ransom, but they have no such reservations for Owen and are brutal in their treatment of him. Terrified they have killed him, Penny finds an opportunity to escape with her son and flees the camp. When discovered, an attempt is made to use Owen to lure her back, but Owen is determined to foil the gang's plans and find Penny himself to help her and Cruz to safety.
Under the direst of circumstances, and in the face of danger, the close mouthed Owen starts revealing some of his complicated family dynamics, along with the true depth of his feelings for Penny and his reasons for the years of emotional distance. Penny is thrilled to have finally broken through some of his carefully erected barriers, to see her feelings reflected back. If only they could find a way to stay alive long enough to enjoy the discovery.....
****
Dangerous, disturbing, hot and heroic!!
I have loved every book in this "Aftershock Series" by Jill Sorenson. The books are such a great blend of suspense, action, romance and some heat. Fantastic imperfect heroes with human flaws that make them all the more attractive and strong, capable heroines, not easily taken for a ride and often doing as much of the rescuing as being rescued. It is merely a matter of how one looks at it.
Owen grew up on the wrong side of the tracks so to speak, not an ideal childhood, and he got in trouble through his involvement with his brother, who had less of a moral compass than Owen did. Being a young kid still, Owen's time in prison was not good for him, it scarred him emotionally and he did what he had to to survive, but somehow he never lost his moral compass.
Penny had more of a privileged upbringing, but far more public, which is why her young unplanned pregnancy caused such an uproar and estranged her from her parents temporarily. Living through a disaster and giving birth mellowed out the situation and guilt kept Penny bound to her influencial father and unable to make many choices for herself.
Jill Sorenson's great descriptive powers bring everything alive. From the desolate scenery, to the tension building in a scene, or feelings of utter fear and desperation, Her words have the ability to place you right inside the story, so much so, that the world around you seems to stop.
✨Fabulous writing, amazing characters and a thrilling story!!✨
**ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin HQN in return for an honest review.**
December 31, 2013
My Review:
We met Penny and Owen five years ago in the first book of this series when the overpass collapsed in the earthquake. At that point in time, Penny was 8 months pregnant, but Owen fell hopelessly in love with her then. She was 18, he was 21. She was the daughter of a powerful Latino congressman. He was a con and a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang. Not exactly an expected match. That's why five years later, they have a stilted relationship...more of an acquaintance than anything. He's Penny's bodyguard now as her father makes his bid for the White House.
Since that week trapped, Owen has worked to turn his life around and he's been very successful at it. But that doesn't change the fact that he thinks he's not good enough for Penny. He's also promised her father that he'll stay completely professional with her. No friendship or anything more.
For Penny, after the earthquake, her entire family realized how close she came to death and that changed things. They were never happy about her teenage pregnancy (in fact, they'd kicked her out), but the earthquake changed that and they took her back in. Penny was too grateful for that support and has since let her father dictate her life to a certain extent which she hates. The power her father holds over both of them is the one little issue I had with this book, but that is where the bulk of the conflict in the story comes from and there is a change in that as the book progresses. As a result, I can live with them being weak characters when it comes to standing up to her father at the beginning of the book.
The book begins with Penny, Owen, and her five year old son, Cruz, being kidnapped by Shane, Owen's brother, and a group of the Aryan Brotherhood gang. They are taken to the Badlands, a desolate stretch of land where Owen grew up. It was interesting to "see" this bit of land that I've never heard of before. (note: Jill Sorenson has photos of her and her family visiting the areas talked about in the book on her blog which is really interesting to look at.) The entire book is action packed as the three of them try to get out of this situation. The action begins on page one and never ends. For a lot of RS authors, they use that adrenaline as an excuse for the romance. I liked that Jill Sorenson didn't do that. The romance is built up really slowly, even though both of these characters have been fighting their feelings for years.
There is also some great backstory with Owen and how he ended up where he was....OMG, this guy....I loved him before, but now I love him even more. He made some mistakes along the way, but honestly, he was just trying to survive. His entire life has been a struggle and this book goes into all that. The last scenes between him and Shane (his brother) broke my heart...for both of them. That's one thing Jill Sorenson does really well....she can provide the human side of her characters...even the ones that are doing despicable things (here, I'm referring to Shane, not Owen).
This book was a great end to the story of the people we met in the original book. While you absolutely can read this one without having read the last two, it's interesting to watch how Owen has grown and evolved over the years (yes, he was in book #2, also). Overall, it's been a great series and I was thrilled to see at the end that it's expanding. There is a book #4 coming... Yay!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
We met Penny and Owen five years ago in the first book of this series when the overpass collapsed in the earthquake. At that point in time, Penny was 8 months pregnant, but Owen fell hopelessly in love with her then. She was 18, he was 21. She was the daughter of a powerful Latino congressman. He was a con and a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang. Not exactly an expected match. That's why five years later, they have a stilted relationship...more of an acquaintance than anything. He's Penny's bodyguard now as her father makes his bid for the White House.
Since that week trapped, Owen has worked to turn his life around and he's been very successful at it. But that doesn't change the fact that he thinks he's not good enough for Penny. He's also promised her father that he'll stay completely professional with her. No friendship or anything more.
For Penny, after the earthquake, her entire family realized how close she came to death and that changed things. They were never happy about her teenage pregnancy (in fact, they'd kicked her out), but the earthquake changed that and they took her back in. Penny was too grateful for that support and has since let her father dictate her life to a certain extent which she hates. The power her father holds over both of them is the one little issue I had with this book, but that is where the bulk of the conflict in the story comes from and there is a change in that as the book progresses. As a result, I can live with them being weak characters when it comes to standing up to her father at the beginning of the book.
The book begins with Penny, Owen, and her five year old son, Cruz, being kidnapped by Shane, Owen's brother, and a group of the Aryan Brotherhood gang. They are taken to the Badlands, a desolate stretch of land where Owen grew up. It was interesting to "see" this bit of land that I've never heard of before. (note: Jill Sorenson has photos of her and her family visiting the areas talked about in the book on her blog which is really interesting to look at.) The entire book is action packed as the three of them try to get out of this situation. The action begins on page one and never ends. For a lot of RS authors, they use that adrenaline as an excuse for the romance. I liked that Jill Sorenson didn't do that. The romance is built up really slowly, even though both of these characters have been fighting their feelings for years.
There is also some great backstory with Owen and how he ended up where he was....OMG, this guy....I loved him before, but now I love him even more. He made some mistakes along the way, but honestly, he was just trying to survive. His entire life has been a struggle and this book goes into all that. The last scenes between him and Shane (his brother) broke my heart...for both of them. That's one thing Jill Sorenson does really well....she can provide the human side of her characters...even the ones that are doing despicable things (here, I'm referring to Shane, not Owen).
This book was a great end to the story of the people we met in the original book. While you absolutely can read this one without having read the last two, it's interesting to watch how Owen has grown and evolved over the years (yes, he was in book #2, also). Overall, it's been a great series and I was thrilled to see at the end that it's expanding. There is a book #4 coming... Yay!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 2, 2014
What a great conclusion to Owen and Penny’s story. If you haven’t read Aftershock I would recommend reading that book first so you understand the dynamic between these two and what its taken for them to finally get to a point where its possible for them to be together.
Owen and Penny met after an earthquake left them buried under a freeway. She was 16 and pregnant and estranged from her Mexican American family due to the pregnancy. Owen was 19, in prison and part of a white supremacist prison gang with racist tattoo’s over his body. But Owen was part of the gang for survival only and he became infatuated with Penny during their ordeal and ended up saving the group trapped by managing to escape and get help. After getting out of prison Owen wanted to better himself and Penny’s father played a part in that but with a stipulation that he wasn’t to ever be more to his daughter than a friend.
Five years later Owen is part of Penny’s father’s security team as he is now running for president. Owen’s been assigned to guard Penny and Cruz, her son he helped deliver. Penny and Owen both have feelings for each other but just have just silently pined for the other for their own reasons. The three of them are kidnapped by Owen’s brother and group of other gang member and taken to the Badlands and held for ransom. They manage to escape and during there trek through the desert we learn more about the horrible childhood Owen had and the atrocities done to him in prison. Those things have made Owen have intimacy issues and it takes Penny’s love for him to help him start to work through them.
Normally we see the woman in a book being the one that’s been sexually abused and the effects of that. In this book its Owen who has the deep emotional scars from what happened to him in prison and all the mistakes he made that got him there. But through all of that he still has the kindest heart and you root for him on every page he is on. I am so happy we finally got Penny and Owen’s story as they both deserved a happy ending to all the heartbreak that came before it.
Owen and Penny met after an earthquake left them buried under a freeway. She was 16 and pregnant and estranged from her Mexican American family due to the pregnancy. Owen was 19, in prison and part of a white supremacist prison gang with racist tattoo’s over his body. But Owen was part of the gang for survival only and he became infatuated with Penny during their ordeal and ended up saving the group trapped by managing to escape and get help. After getting out of prison Owen wanted to better himself and Penny’s father played a part in that but with a stipulation that he wasn’t to ever be more to his daughter than a friend.
Five years later Owen is part of Penny’s father’s security team as he is now running for president. Owen’s been assigned to guard Penny and Cruz, her son he helped deliver. Penny and Owen both have feelings for each other but just have just silently pined for the other for their own reasons. The three of them are kidnapped by Owen’s brother and group of other gang member and taken to the Badlands and held for ransom. They manage to escape and during there trek through the desert we learn more about the horrible childhood Owen had and the atrocities done to him in prison. Those things have made Owen have intimacy issues and it takes Penny’s love for him to help him start to work through them.
Normally we see the woman in a book being the one that’s been sexually abused and the effects of that. In this book its Owen who has the deep emotional scars from what happened to him in prison and all the mistakes he made that got him there. But through all of that he still has the kindest heart and you root for him on every page he is on. I am so happy we finally got Penny and Owen’s story as they both deserved a happy ending to all the heartbreak that came before it.
March 5, 2015
Jill Sorenson is an author I know I can count on every time I read one of her stories. Badlands is the 3rd book in the Aftershock series. In Aftershock, we meet Penny where she was an 18 year old Latina who comes from wealth & is pregnant. We almost meet Owen, a convict but has a heart that wants to do the right thing. Owen falls for Penny the moment he saw her. Penny grew to care for Owen despite his appearances. In Badlands, we catch up with Penny and Owen five years later. After much work and hard work, Owen is working a bodyguard for Penny's family. Penny's son (Cruz) is now five and Penny is helping her father with his presidential campaign. Owen has always loved Penny but never felt he was good enough for her so he has always keep a wall between them. Penny trusts and lusts (rightly so!) after Owen. There are some great suspense moments in Badlands but it is Jill Sorenson's incredible ability to create such engaging, diverse, and captivating characters. Penny and Owen both grow tremendously in this story. Also, my heart tumbled even further in love with Owen with all his interaction with Cruz (the tattoo!). I honestly would read Badlands 2 because I want to still know what happens with Owen, Penny, and Cruz after ending.
I also must point out no one writes secondary characters like Jill Sorenson. With all of her books that I have read, I become so intrigued (you could say obsessed :o ) with her secondary characters (I am still waiting to find out what happened with Ian, Maria and Armando from 'Caught In The Act'). Badlands is no exception. We meet Shane (Owen's brother) whose dialogue made me go to the ugly cry place. We also meet Janelle and Jamie (Shane's ex and their son) with a mysterious stranger named Ace. I would love to find out more about all 3 of them.
I cannot extol how much I enjoy Jill Sorenson's writing. Badlands just proves once again why her books are on auto buy for me.
I also must point out no one writes secondary characters like Jill Sorenson. With all of her books that I have read, I become so intrigued (you could say obsessed :o ) with her secondary characters (I am still waiting to find out what happened with Ian, Maria and Armando from 'Caught In The Act'). Badlands is no exception. We meet Shane (Owen's brother) whose dialogue made me go to the ugly cry place. We also meet Janelle and Jamie (Shane's ex and their son) with a mysterious stranger named Ace. I would love to find out more about all 3 of them.
I cannot extol how much I enjoy Jill Sorenson's writing. Badlands just proves once again why her books are on auto buy for me.
December 27, 2013
It is difficult for words to even begin to describe this romance novel. I understand that this is a work of fiction and a romance no less...but it is not science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy or a dystopian society or even where the rules of common sense have no meaning anymore. In these genres you need that lack sometimes to push the plot along..
I this book we have the first Mexican American running for president. One of his daughters had a baby out of wedlock and it makes it difficult for her father to keep his credibility with his 'family values' platform. The daughter Penny Sandoval and her son Cruz are being guarded by a man who is an ex-con, a past member of the Aryan Brotherhood, can't carry a gun, has no formal training in body guarding and can't even fight properly..
Penny, Cruz and Owen (the body guard) are taken prisoners during a convention by Owen's brother (?/!), now they need to escape and find help.
Throughout all of this Owen and Penny each have a huge crush on each other, but angst (very boring...beating a dead horse anyone?) and a false sense propriety keeps them apart.
This book is trite and cliched...that can usually be brushed off with this genre, because of what romance is. Romance seems to be a work that really seems to have some strict rules of writing .
However, this book not only is as I said trite and cliched; the characters have absolutely no chemistry, the child seems to have been written as an after thought and the outside evil forces/kidnappers are such that I just wanted to laugh at the stereotypical aspects of them.
I could find nothing that would redeem this novel.*ARC Supplied by Publisher*
I this book we have the first Mexican American running for president. One of his daughters had a baby out of wedlock and it makes it difficult for her father to keep his credibility with his 'family values' platform. The daughter Penny Sandoval and her son Cruz are being guarded by a man who is an ex-con, a past member of the Aryan Brotherhood, can't carry a gun, has no formal training in body guarding and can't even fight properly..
Penny, Cruz and Owen (the body guard) are taken prisoners during a convention by Owen's brother (?/!), now they need to escape and find help.
Throughout all of this Owen and Penny each have a huge crush on each other, but angst (very boring...beating a dead horse anyone?) and a false sense propriety keeps them apart.
This book is trite and cliched...that can usually be brushed off with this genre, because of what romance is. Romance seems to be a work that really seems to have some strict rules of writing .
However, this book not only is as I said trite and cliched; the characters have absolutely no chemistry, the child seems to have been written as an after thought and the outside evil forces/kidnappers are such that I just wanted to laugh at the stereotypical aspects of them.
I could find nothing that would redeem this novel.*ARC Supplied by Publisher*
October 19, 2016
I cut my teeth on historicals and romantic suspense, so I always enjoy an excuse to dive back into either of these subgenres. This month’s TBR Challenge prompt of paranormal and rom susp gave me the perfect excuse. I’d read all but one of the books in Jill Sorenson’s
Aftershock
series and inexplicably the one I’d neglected was the one that intrigued me most.
Badlands reunites Owen Jackson and Penny Sandoval, two of the most fascinating characters from Aftershock. When readers last saw these two, they were trapped together in an earthquake – an ordeal which drew the young, very pregnant Hispanic mother and the convicted felon member of a white supremacist gang together. I enjoyed seeing them dance around one another and open up to having their assumptions about people challenged in that first book and I longed to see them get together.
This novel picks up five years later. Owen has completed his prison sentence and now works security for Penny’s wealthy father. Penny is now the mother of 5 year old Cruz and finds herself more in need of security than ever as her father runs for President. As the book opens, Penny is on the verge of speaking at a campaign event when she and her son are kidnapped. While trying to protect Penny, Owen gets swept up by the kidnappers as well.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: http://www.allaboutromance.com/tbr-ch...
Badlands reunites Owen Jackson and Penny Sandoval, two of the most fascinating characters from Aftershock. When readers last saw these two, they were trapped together in an earthquake – an ordeal which drew the young, very pregnant Hispanic mother and the convicted felon member of a white supremacist gang together. I enjoyed seeing them dance around one another and open up to having their assumptions about people challenged in that first book and I longed to see them get together.
This novel picks up five years later. Owen has completed his prison sentence and now works security for Penny’s wealthy father. Penny is now the mother of 5 year old Cruz and finds herself more in need of security than ever as her father runs for President. As the book opens, Penny is on the verge of speaking at a campaign event when she and her son are kidnapped. While trying to protect Penny, Owen gets swept up by the kidnappers as well.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: http://www.allaboutromance.com/tbr-ch...
December 12, 2013
I received a free copy of this book as part of a FirstReads giveaway. It's been a while since I read a romantic-suspense book, and I was happy to have received this one.
This was a little different from the typical book of this genre in that the heroine was the daughter of a Hispanic presidential candidate and the hero was an ex-felon, former member of the Aryan Brotherhood, former meth-user, and seriously damaged. You'd think you would not be able to root for this guy, but he's the heart-of-gold type. Also, there's a little boy in the mix who hero-worships him.
Another twist is that it's the hero's brother who kidnaps Penny and her son. He's a bad dude. Owen goes after them, but ends up being captured and knows his brother wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Owen's criminal past, and his messed up family causes him serious emotional conflict.
The backdrop for the romance was interesting, and a little different, and the author created some nice heat between Penny and Owen. This is a good, quick read. I wouldn't mind reading more from this author. Apparently this is the third in a series related to the survivors of an earthquake (Owen previously saved Penny and delivered her baby), so I know where I can find more.
This was a little different from the typical book of this genre in that the heroine was the daughter of a Hispanic presidential candidate and the hero was an ex-felon, former member of the Aryan Brotherhood, former meth-user, and seriously damaged. You'd think you would not be able to root for this guy, but he's the heart-of-gold type. Also, there's a little boy in the mix who hero-worships him.
Another twist is that it's the hero's brother who kidnaps Penny and her son. He's a bad dude. Owen goes after them, but ends up being captured and knows his brother wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Owen's criminal past, and his messed up family causes him serious emotional conflict.
The backdrop for the romance was interesting, and a little different, and the author created some nice heat between Penny and Owen. This is a good, quick read. I wouldn't mind reading more from this author. Apparently this is the third in a series related to the survivors of an earthquake (Owen previously saved Penny and delivered her baby), so I know where I can find more.
May 14, 2014
1.5 stars, because I don't actively dislike it, I'm just massively disappointed. I finished it, but it's one of the worst-written books I've read in a very long time. The plot is interesting (daughter of high-ranking Hispanic political candidate kidnapped by the brother of her bodyguard; she and said bodyguard having an unacknowledged and discouraged-by-her-family attraction. He also saved her and her son at a previous point in time. ) The characters were not badly conceived - she is a model-beautiful (of course) single mother and he's an ex-con and ex-racist-gang member who had some bad times in prison. It should have been a better book. The problems are mostly in the writing itself. Phrases are repetitive in rhythm, cliches abound, sentences describing characters' thoughts follow each other as apparent non-sequiturs, secondary characters do things that are clearly setting up for subsequent books but have no believable explanation in this one. And I kept reading and getting more frustrated, because the plotting and primary characterizations are good and not complete cliches. Slarg.
February 12, 2016
Sorenson has come up with a different type of hero--one who has made really bad choices and willingly violated the law. I felt that we really get to know Owen much better than we know Penny. In fact, we get inside Janelle, a side character (who is featured in Shooting Dirty of the series, "Dirty Eleven MC") more than we really do Penny. Owen's family dynamics are front and center here and we see him learn from his experiences.
Wendy, this is my February title. I am behind on all of Sorenson's series!
Wendy, this is my February title. I am behind on all of Sorenson's series!
November 6, 2014
4.5 stars. I had been anticipating this book since we first met Penny and Owen. Easily my favorite of the first 3 books :)
Will officially "back-blog" the first 3 booms in coming weeks on review blog..!
Will officially "back-blog" the first 3 booms in coming weeks on review blog..!
March 18, 2015
This is 1 of the best romantic suspense novels ever. Finally! Owen's book. He absolutely breaks my heart. His yearning for Penny & belief that he's not good enough 4 her is so touching. The romance is sweet but the action is a huge part of story. Very riveting. This is an awesome series
February 7, 2014
Akciódús, érzelmes szuper.
April 6, 2023
Badlands is book 3 in a series where readers follow characters we met in Aftershock, where an earthquake destroyed a freeway that killed or injured several people. Penny Sandoval was a pregnant teenager who gave birth with the assistance of an escaped prisoner named Owen Jackson. Fast forward five years and Owen works as a bodyguard for Penny's father who is running for President.
During a campaign event Penny and her son are kidnapped and Owen is swept along in an effort to protect her. Imagine his surprise when one of the kidnappers turn out to be related to him. They have always been attracted to each other but Owen knows he's not the type of guy that Penny should be around so he tries to stay aloof. Naturally that's going to change.
I thought this was a well executed romance with a great plot and plenty of suspense. The action moved along briskly as they try to escape the kidnappers by hiding in mud caves and an old train trestle. The action is mostly set around the Salton Sea and the author had a great ability for setting the scene. Even though it's part of a series, it read like a standalone novel. I enjoyed it very much and will try another by this author.
During a campaign event Penny and her son are kidnapped and Owen is swept along in an effort to protect her. Imagine his surprise when one of the kidnappers turn out to be related to him. They have always been attracted to each other but Owen knows he's not the type of guy that Penny should be around so he tries to stay aloof. Naturally that's going to change.
I thought this was a well executed romance with a great plot and plenty of suspense. The action moved along briskly as they try to escape the kidnappers by hiding in mud caves and an old train trestle. The action is mostly set around the Salton Sea and the author had a great ability for setting the scene. Even though it's part of a series, it read like a standalone novel. I enjoyed it very much and will try another by this author.
March 8, 2017
This was such a pleasant surprise! I picked this up on a whim from my local library and ended up finishing it in less than two days. Both characters were very relatable and mostly realistic. Owen is a damaged ex-con with a good heart and unrequited feelings for Penny. Penny is the single-mom daughter of a presidential candidate who has had feelings for Owen since he rescued her from an earthquake and helped her deliver her son. These characters seemed much more mature than their actual ages suggested and that was my only beef with the whole steamy, adrenaline-pumping story. I had to keep reminding myself of Penny's age as she did not come off that young. I also didn't think the perspectives of Shane and Janelle were necessary, though I'm definitely curious for a future book on Janelle! Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed Badlands! Owen is drool-worthy in his tattooed emotional issues. I just wanted to hug him and comfort him myself, which doesn't happen often when I read!
April 10, 2021
I have so much enjoyed this series and this book was no exception. This is Owen and Penny’s story, they both featured heavily in the two prior books (well, just Owen in book 2). These books were so exciting. I never skimmed. It was like watching an action movie inside my head. The heroes in this series are average men with flaws and weaknesses. And I loved them!! Some may disagree but I’ve always had a weakness for a man that cries. I seriously cannot recommend this book and this series enough ❤️ - my only regret was the connection between Owen’s sister-in-law and one of the bad guys wasn’t fleshed out enough. I wanted to know more about this mysterious man.
July 2, 2019
Owen & Penny are altogether a much more intriguing match than what’s his face and Paramedic Lady from the first one. Also Owen’s vulnerability would win a literal corpse over. Also there’s a lot of unrealistic physical realities but literally who the fuck cares????
May 15, 2021
Really enjoyed Ms. Sorenson’s way of combining serious, dangerous physical suspense with emotional conflict among her characters. Her settings and events are ingenious - so well described that I’m glad I wasn’t there for real.
November 10, 2017
4.5 stars
January 10, 2019
Very nicely written romantic suspense! The action makes this a page-turner you won't forget.
May 7, 2019
3.5 stars
June 5, 2019
3.5 stars
July 6, 2021
This is a deeper read than you would think.
October 17, 2021
I'm really enjoying this series. The writing is great, the characters are sympathetic and the stories are action-packed.
March 25, 2025
Yeah-Owen and Penny’s story hit the mark-did not avoid his prison trauma. Just missed seeing and hearing about characters from other novels…
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