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Praise in the Wastelands: A Dark Post-Apocalyptic Age Gap Romance
Falling for a ruthless warlord twice my age is dangerous enough. Finding out he's my ex's father might just get me killed.
Since the nuclear exchange, I've been barely surviving. I have trust issues, a talent for fixing broken machines, and the kind of desperation that makes bad decisions look reasonable.
That is, until I collapse half-dead at the gates of Mayer Compound and one of the most dangerous men in the territory decides to keep me. Martin Mayer gives me work on the water systems and quarters near his own. Which means I answer to him. Obey him. And when he orders me to his bed, I go willingly.
Because every time I prove myself useful, every moment I'm good for him, he rewards me with the one thing I'm starving his approval.
The whole arrangement should feel wrong. Scandalous. Completely inappropriate, considering he's old enough to be my father and dangerous enough that grown men fear him. But when his voice drops to gravel and he calls me a good girl, I want more. When he looks at me like I belong to him, I forget why I should resist.
But his compound is full of people who'll tear me apart if they think I'm a threat to their survival. And Martin's claim on me only makes things worse. His control is absolute, his authority unquestioned, and he's made it devastatingly clear where I on my knees for him, beneath him, wrapped around him.
Oh, and there's one more tiny problem.
His son is my ex-boyfriend. The one who left me to die in the wasteland.
And Edward's jealousy might just burn this whole compound to the ground.
A Dark Post-Apocalyptic Romance. Age gap. Praise kink. Morally gray warlord. And enough raw, possessive dominance to make you beg for more.
Since the nuclear exchange, I've been barely surviving. I have trust issues, a talent for fixing broken machines, and the kind of desperation that makes bad decisions look reasonable.
That is, until I collapse half-dead at the gates of Mayer Compound and one of the most dangerous men in the territory decides to keep me. Martin Mayer gives me work on the water systems and quarters near his own. Which means I answer to him. Obey him. And when he orders me to his bed, I go willingly.
Because every time I prove myself useful, every moment I'm good for him, he rewards me with the one thing I'm starving his approval.
The whole arrangement should feel wrong. Scandalous. Completely inappropriate, considering he's old enough to be my father and dangerous enough that grown men fear him. But when his voice drops to gravel and he calls me a good girl, I want more. When he looks at me like I belong to him, I forget why I should resist.
But his compound is full of people who'll tear me apart if they think I'm a threat to their survival. And Martin's claim on me only makes things worse. His control is absolute, his authority unquestioned, and he's made it devastatingly clear where I on my knees for him, beneath him, wrapped around him.
Oh, and there's one more tiny problem.
His son is my ex-boyfriend. The one who left me to die in the wasteland.
And Edward's jealousy might just burn this whole compound to the ground.
A Dark Post-Apocalyptic Romance. Age gap. Praise kink. Morally gray warlord. And enough raw, possessive dominance to make you beg for more.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2025
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2026
Praise in the Wasteland by Krista Drake
~ Couldn’t put it down, literally, but at 2:30 my fingers were so cold that I had to tuck them under the covers and finish the story today ~
What I liked:
* Sara Wallace: mid-twenties, mechanical engineer – specialty water and water systems, alone, seeks security and belonging, a bit of a submissive, attracted to Martin
* Martin Mayer: widow, ex-military, wife and daughter dead, leader of compound with about 300 inhabitants, son is a problem, strong, lethal, dominant alpha, immediately attracted to Sara
* The apocalyptic setting post nuclear disaster and thinking about what it would take to survive
* Sara’s skills and how they made life on the compound better
* The insta-lust attraction and how it felt right in a world where one doesn’t know how long they might live – the steamy bits…oh my!
* The supporting characters that I hope to hear more about in the future – perhaps even see them with books of their own: Clementine, Danica, Marianne, Rafael, and Liam
* The way people worked together as a team in the compound with everyone knowing their duties, able to use their skills, and support one another…well most of the inhabitants…not all
* Being glad that *I* don’t have to deal with a world turned upside down but hoping that if I were in that situation then my skills would be viable and worthy of safe harbor
* Reading a new to me author and coming in on the first book of the series
What I didn’t like:
* Edward Mayer: Martin’s son, mid-twenties, lost a compound he was in charge of, selfish, poor leader, a waste of space, wonder if he will show up in the future
* Jessica: ex-Marine, member of Martin’s compound, has a following, troublemaker
* Thinking about how difficult life would be and imagining all of the issues one would have to contend with
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
~ Couldn’t put it down, literally, but at 2:30 my fingers were so cold that I had to tuck them under the covers and finish the story today ~
What I liked:
* Sara Wallace: mid-twenties, mechanical engineer – specialty water and water systems, alone, seeks security and belonging, a bit of a submissive, attracted to Martin
* Martin Mayer: widow, ex-military, wife and daughter dead, leader of compound with about 300 inhabitants, son is a problem, strong, lethal, dominant alpha, immediately attracted to Sara
* The apocalyptic setting post nuclear disaster and thinking about what it would take to survive
* Sara’s skills and how they made life on the compound better
* The insta-lust attraction and how it felt right in a world where one doesn’t know how long they might live – the steamy bits…oh my!
* The supporting characters that I hope to hear more about in the future – perhaps even see them with books of their own: Clementine, Danica, Marianne, Rafael, and Liam
* The way people worked together as a team in the compound with everyone knowing their duties, able to use their skills, and support one another…well most of the inhabitants…not all
* Being glad that *I* don’t have to deal with a world turned upside down but hoping that if I were in that situation then my skills would be viable and worthy of safe harbor
* Reading a new to me author and coming in on the first book of the series
What I didn’t like:
* Edward Mayer: Martin’s son, mid-twenties, lost a compound he was in charge of, selfish, poor leader, a waste of space, wonder if he will show up in the future
* Jessica: ex-Marine, member of Martin’s compound, has a following, troublemaker
* Thinking about how difficult life would be and imagining all of the issues one would have to contend with
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
December 9, 2025
Surviving, Loving, and Thriving
Post nuclear apocalypse romance that enthralled me. Martin is the stern leader of a survivors compound when Sara limps to their gates. She has escaped from a cruel compound whose leader abandoned everyone he deemed not valuable enough to live. Too bad the guy is Martin's son and Sara's Ex. Sara and Martin deal with his suspicions, his son spewing hate about Sara, betrayal to another compound, battles for survival, and finding each other.
A compelling and spicy read. Adult themes, some bedroom kinks but all are well written. Highly recommend.
Post nuclear apocalypse romance that enthralled me. Martin is the stern leader of a survivors compound when Sara limps to their gates. She has escaped from a cruel compound whose leader abandoned everyone he deemed not valuable enough to live. Too bad the guy is Martin's son and Sara's Ex. Sara and Martin deal with his suspicions, his son spewing hate about Sara, betrayal to another compound, battles for survival, and finding each other.
A compelling and spicy read. Adult themes, some bedroom kinks but all are well written. Highly recommend.
December 12, 2025
Dark,intense and sizzling hot!
Earth is a wasteland and humanity falled into the most basic intincts where only the strong survive.
Sara was abandoned to a certain death,but with an admirabe resilience she arrives at the compound gates
She's half-dead but one look and Martin,the compound commander feels possessive .
A well written age gap, post-apocalyptic dark romance that hooked from the very beginning with turns and twists enough to keep me engrossed in the story until the last word.
The plot is complex and the spice is hot and kinky.
Each story is about a couple but there's an overarching plot that promisses to be rich ,complex and utterly addictive!
Earth is a wasteland and humanity falled into the most basic intincts where only the strong survive.
Sara was abandoned to a certain death,but with an admirabe resilience she arrives at the compound gates
She's half-dead but one look and Martin,the compound commander feels possessive .
A well written age gap, post-apocalyptic dark romance that hooked from the very beginning with turns and twists enough to keep me engrossed in the story until the last word.
The plot is complex and the spice is hot and kinky.
Each story is about a couple but there's an overarching plot that promisses to be rich ,complex and utterly addictive!
April 12, 2026
An ok quick read, but it needs some work
This book has a fine plot but has some holes for sure.
Like there’s no power grid but they can make water irrigation with contamination readouts that are blinking green. And spotlights at night.
There’s no fuel for one car because there’s no fuel left but then they are driving into town to get supplies.
There’s no antibiotics and no surgery supplies yet the MC survives a chest wound.
And there’s way too much talk about water systems as a plot device. I believed her the first time she said she was an expert. I didn’t need to be told multiple times.
Nevertheless I did finish the book and enjoyed parts of it.
This book has a fine plot but has some holes for sure.
Like there’s no power grid but they can make water irrigation with contamination readouts that are blinking green. And spotlights at night.
There’s no fuel for one car because there’s no fuel left but then they are driving into town to get supplies.
There’s no antibiotics and no surgery supplies yet the MC survives a chest wound.
And there’s way too much talk about water systems as a plot device. I believed her the first time she said she was an expert. I didn’t need to be told multiple times.
Nevertheless I did finish the book and enjoyed parts of it.
April 20, 2026
I love good storytelling and OMG this was great.
The scene description were on point and telling the story in real time through explanations take true skill and Krista has proven she has it.
I fell in love with Sara and Martin from the moment they appeared on the page. I was vested in the story from the moment they met tilt the end. I could not put this book down and when the end comes I can see love happening just as Sara's and Martin's happen.
I am looking forward to more from Krista Drake.
The scene description were on point and telling the story in real time through explanations take true skill and Krista has proven she has it.
I fell in love with Sara and Martin from the moment they appeared on the page. I was vested in the story from the moment they met tilt the end. I could not put this book down and when the end comes I can see love happening just as Sara's and Martin's happen.
I am looking forward to more from Krista Drake.
January 31, 2026
I really liked it. It's a good balance of romance, spice, and plot. I also liked the FMC. She's really smart and made herself indispensable in a post-apocalyptic world.
The questions this book raised for me:
1. How are relationships treated in a broken world?
2. How is life valued in a world with extremely limited resources? Is it justified to reduce life to just its usefulness?
3. Is having a community the best living situation in this kind of world?
Excited to proceed to Book 2!
The questions this book raised for me:
1. How are relationships treated in a broken world?
2. How is life valued in a world with extremely limited resources? Is it justified to reduce life to just its usefulness?
3. Is having a community the best living situation in this kind of world?
Excited to proceed to Book 2!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews