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Surviving Ashes #1
Essential Beginnings
Change is coming…
Maverick Beckett took his much needed annual vacation up to Washington State to relax with his old friends from his years in the Corps. He also had every intention of extinguishing the fires that arose between him and a certain local woman he couldn’t get out of his mind until the unthinkable happened.
Nothing is as it seems…
Henley Varano loved the simple anonymous life that her remote hometown provided. She’d had the wealthy existence of a fashion model and the fame that came with it only to find it lonelier than she could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, men only saw the fictitious person she appeared to be in the magazines and not the real woman she was—even the one man she’s wanted for years.
Surviving is just the beginning…
An apocalyptic event changes the course of their lives when the massive Yellowstone Caldera erupts. Panic ensues among the small town, causing Mav and Henley to witness the best and worst of humanity. They must work as a team to create a new existence before the fallout of harsh and fiery elements overtakes their safe haven. Along the way, they might just find that they need each other more than ever.
Maverick Beckett took his much needed annual vacation up to Washington State to relax with his old friends from his years in the Corps. He also had every intention of extinguishing the fires that arose between him and a certain local woman he couldn’t get out of his mind until the unthinkable happened.
Nothing is as it seems…
Henley Varano loved the simple anonymous life that her remote hometown provided. She’d had the wealthy existence of a fashion model and the fame that came with it only to find it lonelier than she could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, men only saw the fictitious person she appeared to be in the magazines and not the real woman she was—even the one man she’s wanted for years.
Surviving is just the beginning…
An apocalyptic event changes the course of their lives when the massive Yellowstone Caldera erupts. Panic ensues among the small town, causing Mav and Henley to witness the best and worst of humanity. They must work as a team to create a new existence before the fallout of harsh and fiery elements overtakes their safe haven. Along the way, they might just find that they need each other more than ever.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
291 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Kennedy Layne
156 books659 followersKennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her romantic thrillers in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. Kennedy also has a deep love for cozy mysteries, thrillers, and basically any book that can keep her guessing until the very end. They live in the Midwest with their menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 6, 2017
2.5 stars
I read this for the TSTL square for Romance Bingo and for my Kindle Freebie selection.
The first thing you need to know is that this world's apocalypse involves a SUPER-VOLCANO. Enough said, right? You already want to read this.
Look, I know nothing about Yellowstone and it's volcano's ability to send us all into a volcano ash winter for a decade but I believed the author does. There was enough real feeling (again, I don't know) facts to bolster the story and I was totally locked into this part. I loved how this took a bit of a different route from a lot of current apoca-rom and starts us off at the beginning instead of a couple years into the apocalypse. The suspense and fear was heightened, not knowing what was going to happen and dreading it.
What didn't work for me was the romance and to be fair, how does one fit in a romance as it starts to become clear the world as we current humans know it will be ending. I had a pretty big dislike for the heroine and her TSTL attitude. Out of no where immaturely and weirdly blaming the hero for 3yrs about something he wasn't even guilty for and any other adult woman would have handled better. She also had a TSTL tendency to think/feel/attack the hero over what she perceived as him treating her like "the little woman" but instead of coming off strong willed it made her seem immature and brittle as the situations never really warranted her attitude; there's strong attitude and then there's strong and smart attitude. Her constant desire to get the townspeople to do what she wanted them to do grated, too. The apocalypse is coming, if some want to flee, let them! More food for you.
I'll definitely look for the second in this series because the apocalypse storyline has me riveted. Who knew SUPER-VOLCANOES were my jam?!
I hope the romance shows up stronger in the next but it's a tricky formula, life and death danger and sexy times, to perfect. I also hope the heroine is strong but in a smart way.
I read this for the TSTL square for Romance Bingo and for my Kindle Freebie selection.
The first thing you need to know is that this world's apocalypse involves a SUPER-VOLCANO. Enough said, right? You already want to read this.
Look, I know nothing about Yellowstone and it's volcano's ability to send us all into a volcano ash winter for a decade but I believed the author does. There was enough real feeling (again, I don't know) facts to bolster the story and I was totally locked into this part. I loved how this took a bit of a different route from a lot of current apoca-rom and starts us off at the beginning instead of a couple years into the apocalypse. The suspense and fear was heightened, not knowing what was going to happen and dreading it.
What didn't work for me was the romance and to be fair, how does one fit in a romance as it starts to become clear the world as we current humans know it will be ending. I had a pretty big dislike for the heroine and her TSTL attitude. Out of no where immaturely and weirdly blaming the hero for 3yrs about something he wasn't even guilty for and any other adult woman would have handled better. She also had a TSTL tendency to think/feel/attack the hero over what she perceived as him treating her like "the little woman" but instead of coming off strong willed it made her seem immature and brittle as the situations never really warranted her attitude; there's strong attitude and then there's strong and smart attitude. Her constant desire to get the townspeople to do what she wanted them to do grated, too. The apocalypse is coming, if some want to flee, let them! More food for you.
I'll definitely look for the second in this series because the apocalypse storyline has me riveted. Who knew SUPER-VOLCANOES were my jam?!
I hope the romance shows up stronger in the next but it's a tricky formula, life and death danger and sexy times, to perfect. I also hope the heroine is strong but in a smart way.
September 30, 2016
Okay, this book was good. A few ex-military buddies came together to fish, drink, and placate one of their military friend who owned the lodge they enjoyed every year. The would take the time to help him build and prep a shelter deep into the mountainside, never believing they would ever need it. This book is about grown folks doing what grown folks do, so yes there is sex. The heroine was freaking annoying at times, but not tooooo bad. I guess you can say she was tolerable.
Anyway, I love the unique way this author threw the US into the apocalypse. Imagine heavy volcanic ash killing almost everyone and sending earth into a mini ice-age. For me, the romance kind of took away from the story. The timing of romantic thoughts etc just seemed far fetched. Who can be horny or deep into romantic thoughts when you're getting ready to possibly die? Still an excellent read. I liked it.
Anyway, I love the unique way this author threw the US into the apocalypse. Imagine heavy volcanic ash killing almost everyone and sending earth into a mini ice-age. For me, the romance kind of took away from the story. The timing of romantic thoughts etc just seemed far fetched. Who can be horny or deep into romantic thoughts when you're getting ready to possibly die? Still an excellent read. I liked it.
July 30, 2023
I came in at the tail end of the series and I loved the book. I backtracked for the first book which was free and well who wouldn't one click that baby.
I can only say that boy am I glad that I read the last one first cause this was a nightmare to read. I love a good end of the world we'll all gonna die plot but the main characters ruined it for me especially the heroine. Once a supermodel she has moved back to her hometown. She has ignored the Hero for nearly two years because she found some glossy magazines of her and she wanted to be liked for her not her looks but does she ask the Hero about it? Nooooo let's act like we are back in school. But this hasn't deterred me I'm going to read the others cause they can't be any worse than this one right?
I can only say that boy am I glad that I read the last one first cause this was a nightmare to read. I love a good end of the world we'll all gonna die plot but the main characters ruined it for me especially the heroine. Once a supermodel she has moved back to her hometown. She has ignored the Hero for nearly two years because she found some glossy magazines of her and she wanted to be liked for her not her looks but does she ask the Hero about it? Nooooo let's act like we are back in school. But this hasn't deterred me I'm going to read the others cause they can't be any worse than this one right?
July 6, 2025
Purch Amazon Sept. 7, 2016
Finished Reading November 3, 2016
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, #1) by Kennedy Layne is an Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance.
First the bad: There are quite a few editing errors; misspelled words; words in the wrong place; abrupt stops and starts in scenes. They disrupt the flow of the story. You end up confused and rereading sections. I have read a lot of Kennedy Layne's books. This type and amount of errors is unusual for her. Normally she tends to get caught up in technical talk. It's like her editor deleted whole sentences needed for the flow of the story, but left the errors.
Now the good: Great world build and awesome characters. While I have a problem with Henley's reason for initially being cold to Maverick, they both end up being strong, complex and well developed personalities. The secondary characters are well portrayed and implemented to create a story that keeps you interested. Even with the editing problems, the story flows well. The adult romance scenes are just that, ADULT. Which I very much appreciate. The suspense, action and intrigue is absorbing.
Here is a thought provoking fact. The Yellowstone Caldera is a well known topic in our time. The truth is, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN will it blow. According to the scientist who study it, it is overdue for a cataclysmic eruption.
Now to leave you with one of my favorite lines from the story.
'Mav had always been an open book which she’d chosen not to read, but he didn’t want her to just peruse the prologue. He wanted her to join him in his story ......'
Purchased from Amazon September 7, 2016
Finished Reading November 3, 2016
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, #1) by Kennedy Layne is an Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance.
First the bad: There are quite a few editing errors; misspelled words; words in the wrong place; abrupt stops and starts in scenes. They disrupt the flow of the story. You end up confused and rereading sections. I have read a lot of Kennedy Layne's books. This type and amount of errors is unusual for her. Normally she tends to get caught up in technical talk. It's like her editor deleted whole sentences needed for the flow of the story, but left the errors.
Now the good: Great world build and awesome characters. While I have a problem with Henley's reason for initially being cold to Maverick, they both end up being strong, complex and well developed personalities. The secondary characters are well portrayed and implemented to create a story that keeps you interested. Even with the editing problems, the story flows well. The adult romance scenes are just that, ADULT. Which I very much appreciate. The suspense, action and intrigue is absorbing.
Here is a thought provoking fact. The Yellowstone Caldera is a well known topic in our time. The truth is, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN will it blow. According to the scientist who study it, it is overdue for a cataclysmic eruption.
Now to leave you with one of my favorite lines from the story.
'Mav had always been an open book which she’d chosen not to read, but he didn’t want her to just peruse the prologue. He wanted her to join him in his story ......'
Purchased from Amazon September 7, 2016
Read
September 19, 2016Catch up on summer back log:
So, my fave trope is dystopian or catastrophic scenarios. Walking Dead has really shaped my interest in end-of-the-world shit...I can't lie. But it's so hard to find a great series that isn't YA or non-romance. Believe me, I've read a shit-ton of bad world building, shitty writing, and ridiculous love drama in the pursuit of a gem.
While I really liked this novel, the world building was believable and a new spin for me in this genre, the choice of POV tense pulled me out of the intensity of what was happening to the point when the H/h finally got it on the first night of "the end" I didn't care anymore.
I kept putting this book down and forcing myself to come back to it until I've finally decided it isn't worth the torture of trying to remember what's happened.
So a big ole DNF...no rating cuz I wanna go with 3 and that's probably not fair.
Maybe I'll come back to this...probably not.
So, my fave trope is dystopian or catastrophic scenarios. Walking Dead has really shaped my interest in end-of-the-world shit...I can't lie. But it's so hard to find a great series that isn't YA or non-romance. Believe me, I've read a shit-ton of bad world building, shitty writing, and ridiculous love drama in the pursuit of a gem.
While I really liked this novel, the world building was believable and a new spin for me in this genre, the choice of POV tense pulled me out of the intensity of what was happening to the point when the H/h finally got it on the first night of "the end" I didn't care anymore.
I kept putting this book down and forcing myself to come back to it until I've finally decided it isn't worth the torture of trying to remember what's happened.
So a big ole DNF...no rating cuz I wanna go with 3 and that's probably not fair.
Maybe I'll come back to this...probably not.
Want to read
June 10, 2018💝FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (6/10/2018)!💝
July 8, 2021
Stiff writing that sounds like reading a manual. Half the time, I don’t even know who’s talking or thinking what.
I’m annoyed as hell at 35%. The author has said the same damn thing over and over and over… every single damn way possible. I get the implications of the disaster and WHAT the disaster is. Aside from a lil back and forth between the MCs over a freaking magazine, the same shit what if disaster is repeated between the characters over and over and over - then the news says it… then the president says it. Over and over and over and over - ASH and freeze are coming. Got it. Dayum.
The FMC is annoying as hell .. oh, geez someone looks at her as a model. Well, hell, you were a model. Get over it. Oh, I left the big bad Hollywood world because people are so vain, bad, and use her … then, in the apocalypse, she’s all - human nature is good and no one would dare try to take their safe place because everyone is so good. She’s beyond TSTL.
The prep old dude doesn’t just prep for himself and his crew… oh, no, he preps for the ENTIRE town. Lol. Small town, but come on.
The MMC is all … oh, geez, wonder why she doesn’t like me. He sounds like a cardboard cutout gone all wrong. Nothing sexy.
The MMC isn’t from there and doesn’t live there. Comes once a year to see his old compadre. Yet, he knows shit about the townsfolk? Like telling the FMC not to forget some old lady’s 02 tank when she’s rounding up the old folk?
The last, first, and nicknames with this many characters is impossible to keep up with.
FMC is the epitome of what my teenage daughter calls a “Karen.”
At 60%, I’m so sick of this story spinning in circles of the same few thoughts. No movement. It’s like watching ice melt into a glass of Coke diluting it to a watered down mess.
Horrible dialogue like this: “Tread lightly but don’t push too hard” <<
Author tells what little story there is to be had, and at 75%, I’ve just had enough.
Cool concept for apocalypse, but that’s absolutely the ONLY positive.
I’m annoyed as hell at 35%. The author has said the same damn thing over and over and over… every single damn way possible. I get the implications of the disaster and WHAT the disaster is. Aside from a lil back and forth between the MCs over a freaking magazine, the same shit what if disaster is repeated between the characters over and over and over - then the news says it… then the president says it. Over and over and over and over - ASH and freeze are coming. Got it. Dayum.
The FMC is annoying as hell .. oh, geez someone looks at her as a model. Well, hell, you were a model. Get over it. Oh, I left the big bad Hollywood world because people are so vain, bad, and use her … then, in the apocalypse, she’s all - human nature is good and no one would dare try to take their safe place because everyone is so good. She’s beyond TSTL.
The prep old dude doesn’t just prep for himself and his crew… oh, no, he preps for the ENTIRE town. Lol. Small town, but come on.
The MMC is all … oh, geez, wonder why she doesn’t like me. He sounds like a cardboard cutout gone all wrong. Nothing sexy.
The MMC isn’t from there and doesn’t live there. Comes once a year to see his old compadre. Yet, he knows shit about the townsfolk? Like telling the FMC not to forget some old lady’s 02 tank when she’s rounding up the old folk?
The last, first, and nicknames with this many characters is impossible to keep up with.
FMC is the epitome of what my teenage daughter calls a “Karen.”
At 60%, I’m so sick of this story spinning in circles of the same few thoughts. No movement. It’s like watching ice melt into a glass of Coke diluting it to a watered down mess.
Horrible dialogue like this: “Tread lightly but don’t push too hard” <<
Author tells what little story there is to be had, and at 75%, I’ve just had enough.
Cool concept for apocalypse, but that’s absolutely the ONLY positive.
September 21, 2016
I really liked the start of this series...It was interesting and fun to read.
The characters were likable and intriguing and the suspense was well written. Henley was a unique character and she had her faults but she grew through the story. Mav was an alpha who also had a soft side for Henley and the people he loved. I cant wait to meet his brothers and get to know them better.
I especially liked that the apocalyptic portion was actually believable and intriguing.
(Loved researching Volcanoes! *because I'm a geek and had to know how valid this theory was...)
Ernie (Tank) was not just a prepper, he was smart and organized and grounded. While most people thought he was full of hot air he never was paranoid and agreed when there was issues to getting more data.
Overall I cant wait to see where this series goes.
The characters were likable and intriguing and the suspense was well written. Henley was a unique character and she had her faults but she grew through the story. Mav was an alpha who also had a soft side for Henley and the people he loved. I cant wait to meet his brothers and get to know them better.
I especially liked that the apocalyptic portion was actually believable and intriguing.
(Loved researching Volcanoes! *because I'm a geek and had to know how valid this theory was...)
Ernie (Tank) was not just a prepper, he was smart and organized and grounded. While most people thought he was full of hot air he never was paranoid and agreed when there was issues to getting more data.
Overall I cant wait to see where this series goes.
March 22, 2022
I'm firmly on the fence with this one. This was just okay with a lot of info dumping and a romance I didn't get on board with emotionally. I'm hoping for better as the series progresses. This series could go either way and I'm willing to see what happens in the next book.
October 4, 2015
I really like to read post-apocalyptic books. I always try to put myself in the characters place to see if I could live/do/survive like they do. Sadly the answer usually ends up being no, I'm a soft person. lol
With most of these types of books people are trying to survive in the aftermath. I seem to find myself wanting to know how/why things changed. With this one we get to see the event that changes the world, see the characters react right away to make sure they have a good chance to survive. It helped that Tank was a paranoid bastard and has been preparing for a long time. I actually was more interested in this and how they were going to protect the town of senior citizens than the romance between Mav and Henley. That was bland for me. It was the situation that kept me interested and will have me reading the next book. I want to see how Mav's "boys" make it to the mountain retreat and how the people survive.
With most of these types of books people are trying to survive in the aftermath. I seem to find myself wanting to know how/why things changed. With this one we get to see the event that changes the world, see the characters react right away to make sure they have a good chance to survive. It helped that Tank was a paranoid bastard and has been preparing for a long time. I actually was more interested in this and how they were going to protect the town of senior citizens than the romance between Mav and Henley. That was bland for me. It was the situation that kept me interested and will have me reading the next book. I want to see how Mav's "boys" make it to the mountain retreat and how the people survive.
May 15, 2017
I kept waiting for something to actually happen... then the book was over. The entire book focused on a couple involved in preparing their town for the apocalypse without anything ever happening. They were pretty much already prepared for disaster and just needed to confirm that there was in fact a disaster... The ultimate set-up book in the worst way possible.
Boring characters. Very cut and dry descriptions. Long paragraphs describing things like the bond between Mav and his team (who we never meet), the bunker (that no one went into), the lodge (that townspeople ended up living in)... things that never end up with any relevance to the main characters because most of it plays out in a nondescript diner then Henley's cabin.
I won't be continuing this series.
Boring characters. Very cut and dry descriptions. Long paragraphs describing things like the bond between Mav and his team (who we never meet), the bunker (that no one went into), the lodge (that townspeople ended up living in)... things that never end up with any relevance to the main characters because most of it plays out in a nondescript diner then Henley's cabin.
I won't be continuing this series.
July 27, 2015
I really enjoyed the first in this series. I can almost see where the author is going to take the series with these marines. That might be reaching a bit, but I enjoy the twists and turns the author puts into each and every story.
Yellowstone is bubbling just like the heat between Henley & Maverick has been for years. No need to hide it from each other. If things are getting as bad as it looks, they need to live life to the very fullest for the time they have left. Survival is on both their minds though, and I think they will make it long!
Yellowstone is bubbling just like the heat between Henley & Maverick has been for years. No need to hide it from each other. If things are getting as bad as it looks, they need to live life to the very fullest for the time they have left. Survival is on both their minds though, and I think they will make it long!
August 24, 2019
Military and many men, the ex-model h is the only woman under 30, one oldie even has an oxygen tank. Could have been handy as it's the end of the world and in this town of 40 people, paranoia paid off. They are prepared, although the guns and knives cause some issues with the weirdos. For me the weirdest was the heroine, a pain in the neck who has to have her say in every decision, because she knows better than the older, military and law enforcement men. May be she did, but all was well because the H had a year's worth of condoms, so the steamy times were good to go. Ugh.
July 18, 2016
I liked the setup for the end of the world (as we know it). The big misunderstanding at the beginning was stupid but even after they got together, I just wasn't feeling it between the main characters. Maverick was alright but Henley got on my nerves. There's a difference between believing in people and being stubbornly, stupidly naïve.
March 29, 2016
Absolutely enthralled with this book.
It's an edge-of-your-seat kind of read with all the best parts of a disaster movie. I couldn't put it down and cannot wait to read more.
The best/worst part is that this is actually a realistic occurrence.
It's an edge-of-your-seat kind of read with all the best parts of a disaster movie. I couldn't put it down and cannot wait to read more.
The best/worst part is that this is actually a realistic occurrence.
November 12, 2015
Really, REALLY good!!
March 8, 2023
I'm drawn to post-apoc/survival romances like a moth to a flame.
Though this story got a bit dense in places, I really enjoyed it. I liked that Mav and Henley have known each other for three years but really only interacted for about a few weeks (He comes back to visit Lost Summit once a year). We learn more about Mav and Henley as they do. So we feel like we are on this journey with them. They do have a misunderstanding that is cleared up pretty quick and discuss it later on.
I liked the balance of romance and survival in this book. I can overlook some of the more dense plot points because this story is setting up the town/bunker destination for the rest of the series.
Overall, an entertaining post-apoc story with love, spice and found family.
Though this story got a bit dense in places, I really enjoyed it. I liked that Mav and Henley have known each other for three years but really only interacted for about a few weeks (He comes back to visit Lost Summit once a year). We learn more about Mav and Henley as they do. So we feel like we are on this journey with them. They do have a misunderstanding that is cleared up pretty quick and discuss it later on.
I liked the balance of romance and survival in this book. I can overlook some of the more dense plot points because this story is setting up the town/bunker destination for the rest of the series.
Overall, an entertaining post-apoc story with love, spice and found family.
June 15, 2017
I love Kennedy I don't hide the fact so when she released this series I had no hesitation in buying it and damn I wasn't disappointed !
When you see apocalyptic event most write about Zombie invasion or nukes but noooo here we have a super volcano erupting in Yellowstone and the devastation it's about to cause. Buzz word "about" as the first offering is about meeting the Lads and ladies that are taking us on the journey, the moment the world is advised what's about to go down and the prep/build up to what's to come!
Love Tank, love Mav and adore Henley. Great start and can't wait to start book two!
When you see apocalyptic event most write about Zombie invasion or nukes but noooo here we have a super volcano erupting in Yellowstone and the devastation it's about to cause. Buzz word "about" as the first offering is about meeting the Lads and ladies that are taking us on the journey, the moment the world is advised what's about to go down and the prep/build up to what's to come!
Love Tank, love Mav and adore Henley. Great start and can't wait to start book two!
December 29, 2017
This was a decent book. I enjoyed the plot and subject matter, but the characters were a little boring for me. I thought they had interesting background stories, but I felt like that was a little glossed over. Also, the attraction between the characters felt forced. I just felt like the author could have expanded upon their relationship a bit.
September 15, 2023
Small town dealing with Yellowstone disaster, they are preparing.
Romance involved. No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HFN.
Romance involved. No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HFN.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2016
4 stars
This was a very good story. I liked both Henley and Mav and their story was interesting and engaging. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'm likely to try more of her work in the future.
Henley is an Ex fashion model who now runs a vacation cabin business in a small town in Washington state. She grew up in the town but ran off to become a model when she turned 18. She did well as a model but the stress of everything made her sick and she decided to drop the modelling life and move back home. Henley started working for Ernie (the owner of the vacation cabins) and has been there ever since.
Maverick is an Ex Marine who now works as a police officer (I believe as a highway patrol officer) outside of Chicago. His old Marine commander, Ernie, owns some vacation cabins in Washington state and Mav and his team go out to stay with Ernie regularly. Mav has been attracted to Henley for years but she won't give him the time of day and he's never understood why.
When the story begins, Mav is just getting ready to drive home at the end of his visit to Ernie's when there's news of an eruption in Yellowstone National Park. Ernie has worried about a major natural disaster for years and has been setting up his property with everything he, Mav and the team (and whoever else joins them) will need to survive. Ernie has also done research on what could hit us and is very familiar with the chain of events that could activate the super volcano that's under Yellowstone. Ernie convinces Mav to stick around but when things don't escalate immediately and Mav has a conflict with Henley, he ends up leaving town regardless. Thankfully, Mav finds out the danger is real before he gets too far and goes back, contacting the other members of his team to warn them and get them heading to Washington to ride things out.
Once Mav's back and he and Henley will have to deal with each other, it becomes apparent that they really need to clear the air. Some things have already come out in their previous conflict but they still need to get a few more things worked out. TBH, I wasn't liking Henley too much in the beginning (her reasoning for disliking Mav was messed up and based on idiocy) but once they worked through things, I liked her much better. There's much to deal with as Mav, Ernie and Henley try to let the town (which only has about 50 residents) know what's coming and try to get them to come to Ernie's place where they should be able to survive the volcanic winter headed their way. There's also some trouble with people getting greedy as the ash cloud gets closer and motives have to be questioned. Overall, things work out well and the story ends with the group safe for now and Mav and Henley starting a HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. Henley seemed kind of bitchy at first and I didn't really like her but once she got past that, she grew on me and I was liking her very much by the end. Mav was great and I can't think of any real complaints I had about his character. The story was well written but there were a few points where I noticed editing errors that made me reread parts trying to figure out what it meant. It almost seemed like there were a few sentences out of place...it only happened a few times but be warned the editing isn't perfect. Outside of that, I enjoyed the story very much and found it engaging. I'd recommend this story for people looking for a book in the post apocalypse/dystopian genre. :)
This was a very good story. I liked both Henley and Mav and their story was interesting and engaging. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'm likely to try more of her work in the future.
Henley is an Ex fashion model who now runs a vacation cabin business in a small town in Washington state. She grew up in the town but ran off to become a model when she turned 18. She did well as a model but the stress of everything made her sick and she decided to drop the modelling life and move back home. Henley started working for Ernie (the owner of the vacation cabins) and has been there ever since.
Maverick is an Ex Marine who now works as a police officer (I believe as a highway patrol officer) outside of Chicago. His old Marine commander, Ernie, owns some vacation cabins in Washington state and Mav and his team go out to stay with Ernie regularly. Mav has been attracted to Henley for years but she won't give him the time of day and he's never understood why.
When the story begins, Mav is just getting ready to drive home at the end of his visit to Ernie's when there's news of an eruption in Yellowstone National Park. Ernie has worried about a major natural disaster for years and has been setting up his property with everything he, Mav and the team (and whoever else joins them) will need to survive. Ernie has also done research on what could hit us and is very familiar with the chain of events that could activate the super volcano that's under Yellowstone. Ernie convinces Mav to stick around but when things don't escalate immediately and Mav has a conflict with Henley, he ends up leaving town regardless. Thankfully, Mav finds out the danger is real before he gets too far and goes back, contacting the other members of his team to warn them and get them heading to Washington to ride things out.
Once Mav's back and he and Henley will have to deal with each other, it becomes apparent that they really need to clear the air. Some things have already come out in their previous conflict but they still need to get a few more things worked out. TBH, I wasn't liking Henley too much in the beginning (her reasoning for disliking Mav was messed up and based on idiocy) but once they worked through things, I liked her much better. There's much to deal with as Mav, Ernie and Henley try to let the town (which only has about 50 residents) know what's coming and try to get them to come to Ernie's place where they should be able to survive the volcanic winter headed their way. There's also some trouble with people getting greedy as the ash cloud gets closer and motives have to be questioned. Overall, things work out well and the story ends with the group safe for now and Mav and Henley starting a HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. Henley seemed kind of bitchy at first and I didn't really like her but once she got past that, she grew on me and I was liking her very much by the end. Mav was great and I can't think of any real complaints I had about his character. The story was well written but there were a few points where I noticed editing errors that made me reread parts trying to figure out what it meant. It almost seemed like there were a few sentences out of place...it only happened a few times but be warned the editing isn't perfect. Outside of that, I enjoyed the story very much and found it engaging. I'd recommend this story for people looking for a book in the post apocalypse/dystopian genre. :)
July 23, 2015
Finding love amongst the ashes, and that’s literally in this new apocalyptic romance series. The author has taken an actual location within the United States, the Yellowstone Caldera which is the volcanic caldera and supervolcano located in Yellowstone National Park and written about something that could potentially happen one day. A Yellowstone supereruption would disrupt electronics and endanger human health in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and affect other parts of the country. Moreover, a month-long supereruption could affect the global climate for years, even decades.
Essential Beginnings starts after a rather larger earthquake happens at Yellowstone. Ernie “Tank” Yates retired from the Marines and opened up Lost Mountain Lodge in a small town in northeastern Washington state. A group of the Marines that had been under his command often come to Lost Summit to visit with him. Tank has always had a theory that one day Yellowstone would blow and had been building a large shelter in the hills with enough natural resources that could sustain them for years. His former team helped him build it even though none of them ever though what Tank was predicting would ever happen in their life time. Well they were wrong.
Maverick Beckett is currently the only one of the team that’s at Lost Summit visiting. Tank is like a father to Mav and he has tons of respect for him. He had a crap childhood and says that his life didn’t start until he joined the Marines at 18 and then found a real family with his fellow marines.
Henley Varano is from Lost Summit but had left after school and had become a successful fashion model. That life ended up with her crashing and burning over the stress that came with fame and the unreasonable demands put on body image a model has to keep to stay on top. Even though her parents have passed she decides to come back home and works for Tank at the lodge.
Mav and Henley have known each other for 3 years but Henley gives nothing but a cold shoulder to Mav and he’s never understood why. As the news about Yellowstone breaks these two finally deal with their issues and join forces along with the town to face the impending ending of the world as they know it.
Essential Beginnings blends the natural disaster, getting the town ready and the romance perfectly. The future books will be about the 4 other marines trying to make their way to Lost Summit through the ash cloud that is now working its way across the United States. Being a huge fan of disaster movies and loving romance books this was a treat to find and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Essential Beginnings starts after a rather larger earthquake happens at Yellowstone. Ernie “Tank” Yates retired from the Marines and opened up Lost Mountain Lodge in a small town in northeastern Washington state. A group of the Marines that had been under his command often come to Lost Summit to visit with him. Tank has always had a theory that one day Yellowstone would blow and had been building a large shelter in the hills with enough natural resources that could sustain them for years. His former team helped him build it even though none of them ever though what Tank was predicting would ever happen in their life time. Well they were wrong.
Maverick Beckett is currently the only one of the team that’s at Lost Summit visiting. Tank is like a father to Mav and he has tons of respect for him. He had a crap childhood and says that his life didn’t start until he joined the Marines at 18 and then found a real family with his fellow marines.
Henley Varano is from Lost Summit but had left after school and had become a successful fashion model. That life ended up with her crashing and burning over the stress that came with fame and the unreasonable demands put on body image a model has to keep to stay on top. Even though her parents have passed she decides to come back home and works for Tank at the lodge.
Mav and Henley have known each other for 3 years but Henley gives nothing but a cold shoulder to Mav and he’s never understood why. As the news about Yellowstone breaks these two finally deal with their issues and join forces along with the town to face the impending ending of the world as they know it.
Essential Beginnings blends the natural disaster, getting the town ready and the romance perfectly. The future books will be about the 4 other marines trying to make their way to Lost Summit through the ash cloud that is now working its way across the United States. Being a huge fan of disaster movies and loving romance books this was a treat to find and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 25, 2017
I am a huge fan of apocalyptic romance and it has been awhile since I have read one. The premise behind Essential Beginnings is solid, with the Yellowstone Caldera erupting, basically a super volcano. This volcano will throw the planet into an apocalyptic winter that will last 10 years, with falling ash. The buildup and believability of what was happening was quite scary. What I found distracting was, Layne was too overly descriptive and wordy in her writing. Example:
“….slid the key into the ignition, turning it until the engine rolled over and started. She nudged the gearshift into drive and then pressed her foot on the gas pedal.”
This would have been much better served to say she jumped in the truck and drove to her destination. This excess bogged down the story and quite frankly I skimmed a lot of this. And there is a lot. There are so many details that aren’t needed that don’t add to anything, they just cluttered the story. One author told me that if you give your character a gun at the start of your story, he better have shot somebody by the end. All details need to have meaning, if they don’t are they really necessary?
The story between Maverick and Henley was interesting but I was more rapt by the survival and their romance really felt secondary. I am extremely interested in reading the rest of this series because despite the problems I had with this novel I really did enjoy it and want to continue with it and find out what happens next. I am giving Essential Beginnings 3.5 Boundless stars.
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“….slid the key into the ignition, turning it until the engine rolled over and started. She nudged the gearshift into drive and then pressed her foot on the gas pedal.”
This would have been much better served to say she jumped in the truck and drove to her destination. This excess bogged down the story and quite frankly I skimmed a lot of this. And there is a lot. There are so many details that aren’t needed that don’t add to anything, they just cluttered the story. One author told me that if you give your character a gun at the start of your story, he better have shot somebody by the end. All details need to have meaning, if they don’t are they really necessary?
The story between Maverick and Henley was interesting but I was more rapt by the survival and their romance really felt secondary. I am extremely interested in reading the rest of this series because despite the problems I had with this novel I really did enjoy it and want to continue with it and find out what happens next. I am giving Essential Beginnings 3.5 Boundless stars.
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September 4, 2016
4 stars
Well I think this is overall a decent book. It didn't have the action I thought it would but then I really thought about the set up. Really that's kinda what I feel this book is about, it's the set up to the place Lost Summit, and the people there. It was a slow book for me. At times I had to push myself to keep going. It's not that the I didn't like it, I just kept waiting for something to happen. Which things started to get really interesting around the 70 percent mark. There were a few times I thought the information didn't add up. Yet it didn't take away from the story. Honestly I could watch a t.v show or movie about this book.
I did like the array of characters. The town itself was really set up nicely. There is a lot of jargon that is military and gun based but that's to be expected with the theme of this book. The author did great on describing the eruption and how it took place. I also feel that they way the townspeople reacted following was very realistic.
There is a group of people that get mentioned throughout the book, you don't really meet them but know of them. The next books follow these people and their journey to Lost Summit. I feel these will have more action since they have to get through desperate people and ash. I do plan on reading the next book. Like I said even though I felt this book was slow it did set up the world and events really nicely.
Oh there is a romantic aspect throughout the whole book.
Well I think this is overall a decent book. It didn't have the action I thought it would but then I really thought about the set up. Really that's kinda what I feel this book is about, it's the set up to the place Lost Summit, and the people there. It was a slow book for me. At times I had to push myself to keep going. It's not that the I didn't like it, I just kept waiting for something to happen. Which things started to get really interesting around the 70 percent mark. There were a few times I thought the information didn't add up. Yet it didn't take away from the story. Honestly I could watch a t.v show or movie about this book.
I did like the array of characters. The town itself was really set up nicely. There is a lot of jargon that is military and gun based but that's to be expected with the theme of this book. The author did great on describing the eruption and how it took place. I also feel that they way the townspeople reacted following was very realistic.
There is a group of people that get mentioned throughout the book, you don't really meet them but know of them. The next books follow these people and their journey to Lost Summit. I feel these will have more action since they have to get through desperate people and ash. I do plan on reading the next book. Like I said even though I felt this book was slow it did set up the world and events really nicely.
Oh there is a romantic aspect throughout the whole book.
August 3, 2019
I didn’t like it. Which sucks, because the concept REALLY interested me and I was really looking forward to reading this, but it was such a struggle to get through it.
Nothing really happened? It was all already set up because of the prepper guy, I think the biggest problems were that the supplies were already ready and that it was more focused on before anything happened. Honestly it felt like a prequel to a series for the majority of the book.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing, the male lead came off a bit wankish to me with how he spoke, especially during the sex scenes (“Your touch is enchanting, Henley. It makes me forget about everything outside these four walls… as if time stood still.”) they also barely knew each other and it all just didn’t feel very realistic. To me, the relationship part of the book took a back seat to the disaster and setting.
Everything’s a little too over explained, there’s a lot of talk about characters that we never meet that will obviously be later in the series but not now and there was drama that was starting to get interesting but it doesn’t turn up properly until like 80%.
Nothing really happened? It was all already set up because of the prepper guy, I think the biggest problems were that the supplies were already ready and that it was more focused on before anything happened. Honestly it felt like a prequel to a series for the majority of the book.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing, the male lead came off a bit wankish to me with how he spoke, especially during the sex scenes (“Your touch is enchanting, Henley. It makes me forget about everything outside these four walls… as if time stood still.”) they also barely knew each other and it all just didn’t feel very realistic. To me, the relationship part of the book took a back seat to the disaster and setting.
Everything’s a little too over explained, there’s a lot of talk about characters that we never meet that will obviously be later in the series but not now and there was drama that was starting to get interesting but it doesn’t turn up properly until like 80%.
October 11, 2019
This. Book. Sucked.
Horrible writing sample:
“Mav closed his eyes and took time to treasure the woman in his arms. They had all night before another day of survival started that would keep them alert, defending what was theirs.... They stayed that way for quite a while, both cherishing what they’d been given during these hard times. The saying was true about the sun still shining during dark times and the proof was in his arms. An essential beginning had taken place in more ways than one.”
GAG. FYI, those were the best she could come up with for the closing sentences of this book.
I actually skimmed the sex scenes - those are normally my focus, for my reading pleasure - because they were Just. So. Bad.
I can’t believe I forced myself to read all the way through this banal, poorly written, nothing-really-happens snoozefest of an annoying book. I was so happy when I got to chapter 22 but then it turned out there was yet another chapter 23 still to go. The later books in this series have higher rankings so my thinking was that I needed to get through this intro to the post-apocalypse in order to read the better books.
But fuck that; I’m done.
Horrible writing sample:
“Mav closed his eyes and took time to treasure the woman in his arms. They had all night before another day of survival started that would keep them alert, defending what was theirs.... They stayed that way for quite a while, both cherishing what they’d been given during these hard times. The saying was true about the sun still shining during dark times and the proof was in his arms. An essential beginning had taken place in more ways than one.”
GAG. FYI, those were the best she could come up with for the closing sentences of this book.
I actually skimmed the sex scenes - those are normally my focus, for my reading pleasure - because they were Just. So. Bad.
I can’t believe I forced myself to read all the way through this banal, poorly written, nothing-really-happens snoozefest of an annoying book. I was so happy when I got to chapter 22 but then it turned out there was yet another chapter 23 still to go. The later books in this series have higher rankings so my thinking was that I needed to get through this intro to the post-apocalypse in order to read the better books.
But fuck that; I’m done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2019
I have no idea how this ended up on my Kindle, but I was looking for some PA and there it was.
Great premise, except...
2 stars because I liked the premise and the writing was good. Most likely won't continue, tho.
Great premise, except...
2 stars because I liked the premise and the writing was good. Most likely won't continue, tho.
July 25, 2015
What would happen if the Yellowstone Caldera, or volcano, erupted? This book explores that question and provides an action packed scenario of how one group of citizens work to survive in the Pacific Northwest. This is only the opening book of the series, but I can already see that all manner of human strengths and frailties are going to be explored. This book had me at the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next, and although is ended on a positive note, I can see there is much more to come. I look forward to the coming books in this series.
July 28, 2015
I'm a big fan of the author's CSA Case Files series, so I was looking forward to this new series of survival after an apocalyptic event. I was not disappointed. In this first book we meet Mav and Henley and watch their relationship develop while we wait for the rest of the characters to work their way to the Lodge, hoping to survive the fallout of the massive eruption of the Yellowstone caldera. These kinds of stories intrigue me, and I am very anxious for the next installment to see where this series is going.
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