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Heart's Compass
Back East
Where do you want to be when the world ends?
An apocalyptic M/M Romance. Electricity is gone. Society is on its knees. The heart’s compass becomes the light in the darkness.
Eli, an intern for Channel Seven News, finds himself on a bus full of hockey players from the New York City Gay Hockey Association. His boss thought it was a good joke to play on the new kid, but Eli has no problem with the assignment, especially when he befriends the Ice Giant’s winger, a real giant of a man, David LaMonte. When the power goes out and their bus crashes, Eli and David suffer through loss, and find comfort from one another as the world descends into chaos.
About the Heart's Compass series:
Our heart has its own compass. It knows where we should be heading, even if the rest of us doesn't. Through loss and love, our heart’s compass guides us through life, often to somewhere completely unexpected. When the world ends, the heart’s compass of several people has them headed in directions they may have never traveled otherwise.
Each book in the series is a stand-alone, novella-length story, but is written within the same fictional setting in which the Earth has just been struck with several massive solar flares. All modern technology has been rendered inoperable. Cars, computers, city infrastructure, phones – all gone in an instant and without warning. In the days directly following the end of the modern world, people must learn to depend on each other, and on their heart’s compass, if they hope to survive.
An apocalyptic M/M Romance. Electricity is gone. Society is on its knees. The heart’s compass becomes the light in the darkness.
Eli, an intern for Channel Seven News, finds himself on a bus full of hockey players from the New York City Gay Hockey Association. His boss thought it was a good joke to play on the new kid, but Eli has no problem with the assignment, especially when he befriends the Ice Giant’s winger, a real giant of a man, David LaMonte. When the power goes out and their bus crashes, Eli and David suffer through loss, and find comfort from one another as the world descends into chaos.
About the Heart's Compass series:
Our heart has its own compass. It knows where we should be heading, even if the rest of us doesn't. Through loss and love, our heart’s compass guides us through life, often to somewhere completely unexpected. When the world ends, the heart’s compass of several people has them headed in directions they may have never traveled otherwise.
Each book in the series is a stand-alone, novella-length story, but is written within the same fictional setting in which the Earth has just been struck with several massive solar flares. All modern technology has been rendered inoperable. Cars, computers, city infrastructure, phones – all gone in an instant and without warning. In the days directly following the end of the modern world, people must learn to depend on each other, and on their heart’s compass, if they hope to survive.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2015
12 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Kilgore
51 books187 followersC.E. Kilgore (1981 - ) is an author without genre, who likes to dabble in several genres from romance to science fiction. She also enjoys pushing the boundaries of those genres, trying new things, venturing outside formulas and turning tropes on their heads. Admittedly a control freak, she is currently a self-published author under the name Tracing The Stars, and hasn't quite found the publisher who fits all her quirks. Be sure to check out her website, cekilgore.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 23, 2015
So far we’ve been Northbound and Deep South in Texas, this time we are heading back East, New York to be exact. We are…BOOM!! *gasp* So, so sorry. Did that scare you? *wide eyed nod*
Me too. This one is scary, sad and a bit angsty. I wasn’t expecting that.
Eli is a journalist doing a story on New York’s Gay Hockey Association. He has joined the team and they are packed into a Greyhound heading to a tournament when their world stops. However, it’s not during a video game or a horse taming session but while they were traveling on a crowded freeway.
Crash, bang, burn…it’s horrific. The survivors of the terrifying pileup are scarce. The loss is great and the fear of the unknown is greater. Eli and one of the surviving hockey players, David, cling to any sliver of hope and comfort. They find it in a baby girl’s smile and each other’s arms. New life and bright love shine in the darkness.
Full review to come...
Me too. This one is scary, sad and a bit angsty. I wasn’t expecting that.
Eli is a journalist doing a story on New York’s Gay Hockey Association. He has joined the team and they are packed into a Greyhound heading to a tournament when their world stops. However, it’s not during a video game or a horse taming session but while they were traveling on a crowded freeway.
Crash, bang, burn…it’s horrific. The survivors of the terrifying pileup are scarce. The loss is great and the fear of the unknown is greater. Eli and one of the surviving hockey players, David, cling to any sliver of hope and comfort. They find it in a baby girl’s smile and each other’s arms. New life and bright love shine in the darkness.
Full review to come...
*3.5 stars*
November 26, 2016
This is a very light read considering the post apocalypse setting. Bad stuff is glossed over and everyone is lovely and supportive and kind. No-one panics or acts distastefully. It was a pleasant distraction but had little impact; the emotional aspect never hit me because there was never a sense of risk, losses were faceless, there was no concern over survival. All very civilized.
Liked the quote:
Both holding onto someone and sharing a laugh can help in a lot of cases.
Basically I enjoyed reading it, but will forget it quickly.
Liked the quote:
When it hurts too deeply to cry, the best thing you can do is hold on to one another and share a laugh.
Both holding onto someone and sharing a laugh can help in a lot of cases.
Basically I enjoyed reading it, but will forget it quickly.
February 29, 2016
There should be a "wow" rating. I did not expect this mind blowing story out of a few pages. A very good read. Adding to favorites.
July 6, 2019
Gay hockey players facing the apocalypse together. It’s cute!
February 17, 2025
A post-apocalyptic story about found family with a sweet ending. However, note that the apocalyptic event itself ends up in death and horror. Still, this isn't a dark story. I am curious about more in this universe!
February 7, 2016
Post apocalyptic tales are never a jolly good read for me as the implications of a sudden indent in civilisation's course are all too clear to be looked at with rose-tinted glasses.
The author of this M/M short story skips over the worst traits of humankind which are bound to surface in situations like that and concentrates instead on the feelings of her characters, adding a nice dollup of humour and not a little amount of hope.
The first half of her story is good, the second pays the price of emotional transitions that make sense in themselves but are a little compressed and needed more pages and time.
In the end we have a pleasant if not entirely believable short story with a satisfying HEA.
The author of this M/M short story skips over the worst traits of humankind which are bound to surface in situations like that and concentrates instead on the feelings of her characters, adding a nice dollup of humour and not a little amount of hope.
The first half of her story is good, the second pays the price of emotional transitions that make sense in themselves but are a little compressed and needed more pages and time.
In the end we have a pleasant if not entirely believable short story with a satisfying HEA.
September 25, 2017
In this installment of Heart's Compass, we start off on a bus with a bunch of gay hockey players. Eli, the intern reporter, is travelling with them to their next game. When the power goes out, chaos ensues on the highway.
Eli and David make it out alive and the chemistry between them goes nuclear.
Great story ;D
Eli and David make it out alive and the chemistry between them goes nuclear.
Great story ;D
November 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Back East by C.E. Kilgore
Back East is a powerful, heartfelt entry in C.E. Kilgore’s Heart’s Compass series that deserves every bit of a five-star rating. It blends apocalyptic tension with tender romance, creating a story that is both gripping and deeply human.
What Makes Back East Shine
• Unique Premise: Set in a world where electricity has vanished and society collapses, Kilgore asks the haunting question: “Where do you want to be when the world ends? This backdrop heightens every emotional beat, making love feel like a radical act of survival.
• Authentic Characters: Eli, a young intern thrown into chaos, and David LaMonte, the towering hockey player he befriends, are beautifully drawn. Their relationship grows from camaraderie into solace, offering warmth against the cold unraveling of civilization.
• Emotional Resonance: The novel captures grief, resilience, and intimacy with striking honesty. Eli and David’s bond feels earned, layered with vulnerability and strength.
• Series Continuity: As part of Heart’s Compass, Back East expands Kilgore’s vision of love as a guiding force in times of collapse. Each installment explores different directions of the compass, but this one feels especially poignant in its Eastward journey..
Why It’s a 5-Star Read
• Romance with Depth: The M/M relationship is tender, respectful, and emotionally rich—never reduced to trope or stereotype.
• Atmosphere & Setting: Kilgore’s apocalyptic world is vividly realized, yet never overshadows the human story at its core.
• Balance of Hope & Loss: The novel doesn’t shy away from tragedy, but it insists on love as a compass pointing toward survival and meaning.
Final Thoughts
Back East is more than a romance—it’s a meditation on connection when everything else falls apart. Kilgore proves that even in darkness, the heart can chart a path toward light. For readers who crave stories of resilience, intimacy, and hope against the odds, this book is a gem.
Verdict: A luminous, unforgettable 5-star journey.
Back East is a powerful, heartfelt entry in C.E. Kilgore’s Heart’s Compass series that deserves every bit of a five-star rating. It blends apocalyptic tension with tender romance, creating a story that is both gripping and deeply human.
What Makes Back East Shine
• Unique Premise: Set in a world where electricity has vanished and society collapses, Kilgore asks the haunting question: “Where do you want to be when the world ends? This backdrop heightens every emotional beat, making love feel like a radical act of survival.
• Authentic Characters: Eli, a young intern thrown into chaos, and David LaMonte, the towering hockey player he befriends, are beautifully drawn. Their relationship grows from camaraderie into solace, offering warmth against the cold unraveling of civilization.
• Emotional Resonance: The novel captures grief, resilience, and intimacy with striking honesty. Eli and David’s bond feels earned, layered with vulnerability and strength.
• Series Continuity: As part of Heart’s Compass, Back East expands Kilgore’s vision of love as a guiding force in times of collapse. Each installment explores different directions of the compass, but this one feels especially poignant in its Eastward journey..
Why It’s a 5-Star Read
• Romance with Depth: The M/M relationship is tender, respectful, and emotionally rich—never reduced to trope or stereotype.
• Atmosphere & Setting: Kilgore’s apocalyptic world is vividly realized, yet never overshadows the human story at its core.
• Balance of Hope & Loss: The novel doesn’t shy away from tragedy, but it insists on love as a compass pointing toward survival and meaning.
Final Thoughts
Back East is more than a romance—it’s a meditation on connection when everything else falls apart. Kilgore proves that even in darkness, the heart can chart a path toward light. For readers who crave stories of resilience, intimacy, and hope against the odds, this book is a gem.
Verdict: A luminous, unforgettable 5-star journey.
November 28, 2016
3.9 Stars
Okay, this was a whole lot better than I thought it would be. I think I picked it up because it was free...and damnit, the promo worked because now I want to see how the rest of these stories turn out.
I didn't read the summary (like some sort of dolt, IDEK)...so, I'm not sure it was meant to be read first. But, this book does a great job as a standalone to tell the reader what happened. It's kinda like the beginning of Revolution where something* knocks out everything electric-powered, so people have to learn to live off the grid. (*I think there was some off-hand remark in an early chapter about the meteorologist at Eli's news station freaking out about a solar event, and maybe that's meant to be the cause?)
It starts out super gruesome (like, Final Destination level devastation), and we learn a bit about the characters in how they handle that situation. Some rise to the occasion, proving themselves more than just empty-headed jocks; some are heroes; some show strength in other, less obvious ways. But those that make it appear to forge a bond not easily broken and much stronger than just those they formed as part-time teammates.
Lots of community spirit, planning, participation and cooperation; but I am a realist and think there would be some frustrated tension riling up even the most cohesive group of people...maybe some sort of outside element popping up to incite problems. There very well may be some of that in the other installments. Of course, maybe the point of the series is that there will be pockets of humanity that won't succumb to the basest of natures, won't turn on each other.
I think a not-so-small part of me would like to see that...the part that loves Eli's letter at the end.
Okay, this was a whole lot better than I thought it would be. I think I picked it up because it was free...and damnit, the promo worked because now I want to see how the rest of these stories turn out.
I didn't read the summary (like some sort of dolt, IDEK)...so, I'm not sure it was meant to be read first. But, this book does a great job as a standalone to tell the reader what happened. It's kinda like the beginning of Revolution where something* knocks out everything electric-powered, so people have to learn to live off the grid. (*I think there was some off-hand remark in an early chapter about the meteorologist at Eli's news station freaking out about a solar event, and maybe that's meant to be the cause?)
It starts out super gruesome (like, Final Destination level devastation), and we learn a bit about the characters in how they handle that situation. Some rise to the occasion, proving themselves more than just empty-headed jocks; some are heroes; some show strength in other, less obvious ways. But those that make it appear to forge a bond not easily broken and much stronger than just those they formed as part-time teammates.
Lots of community spirit, planning, participation and cooperation; but I am a realist and think there would be some frustrated tension riling up even the most cohesive group of people...maybe some sort of outside element popping up to incite problems. There very well may be some of that in the other installments. Of course, maybe the point of the series is that there will be pockets of humanity that won't succumb to the basest of natures, won't turn on each other.
I think a not-so-small part of me would like to see that...the part that loves Eli's letter at the end.
February 28, 2017
A post-apocalyptic setting that is more hopeful than not despite the tragedy that occurred. There were tears & laughs in equal measures. For a short it sure packs a punch.
February 2, 2023
KSKS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2023
3.5 but it’s the season of giving, so.. 4
September 28, 2024
I really enjoyed it.
November 1, 2017
Overall I really enjoyed this series!
July 24, 2016
Humor, poignancy, and love at the end of civilization
Tale about a reporter on assignment on the bus of a gay hockey team when a solar flare knocks out all digital devices and pandemonium follows. Paints a funny but realistic picture of strangers banding together to face harsh realities while love blooms. Sweet, well-written and touching.
Tale about a reporter on assignment on the bus of a gay hockey team when a solar flare knocks out all digital devices and pandemonium follows. Paints a funny but realistic picture of strangers banding together to face harsh realities while love blooms. Sweet, well-written and touching.
June 22, 2015
4.5 stars
August 5, 2015
Enjoyed this morsel. Not a lot there but well done and pleasing. Kilgore does a pretty good job of balancing the End of the World with Happy Ever After. Might check out the others in this set.
August 28, 2016
Also part of the Heart's Compass Anthology.
April 29, 2016
Short angsty apocalyptic MM romance.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews