Pulse

Pulse Effex #1

by L.R. Burkard

What do you do when the whole world... stops?
When everything--transportation, grocery shopping, cell phones, the internet--comes to a sudden, crashing halt?

Welcome to PULSE.

Three teenage girls and their families must survive when America's worst nightmare actually occurs: The failure of the electric grid due to an electromagnetic pulse.

To outsiders, Andrea Patterson has the American dream house and family. But when the unthinkable happens, the dream looks more like a nightmare--one from which she and her family may not wake up alive.

Lexie Martin's homesteading family has never been cool like Andrea's, but they've been prepping for disaster for years. For them, the world didn't stop; it just slowed down. The one thing they didn't prepare for? A psycho school bus driver who wants what they've got.

Sarah Weaver, friend of Andrea and Lexie, lives on the top floor of a ten-story apartment building. When things went black, she thought it could be romantic, like in the time of Jane Austen.
She was wrong.

Has the world collapsed forever?
Who will survive when technology fails? Perhaps even more important,
Who will get to eat?

FROM THE AUTHOR:
Told in journal-style prose by three 16 year old girls, PULSE takes readers into a chilling possible future for Americans while hitting right in the gut with honest, if at times heartbreaking, detail.
Andrea, Lexie and Sarah bare heart and soul as they share what they encounter after the pulse. As even the U.S. government is concerned about the possibility of a catastrophic EMP, this book is not only timely but compelling. I wrote it as a warning and a wake-up call. PULSE should be the next HARBINGER for this generation.

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2015

About the author

Also known as Linore Rose Burkard.

She writes YA Suspense/Apocalyptic fiction as L.R. Burkard, not only to keep expanding boundaries for her readers, but to explore deeper themes. Between books, she homeschools her youngest daughter, preferably while wearing pjs and with her feet up.

Reviews

[Andrea Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book as a gift. No review was required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

This story started out amazing. I really enjoyed the first person, journal writing perspective. That was well pulled off and entertaining. The characters were unique with real-world problems. Sometimes the adults talked and acted like teenagers, but this happened rarely. The post-apocalyptic aspect of the story was expertly executed and fascinating... creating a sense of doom and despair that worked well for the story line.

What made this book end up only being an okay read for me was the second half. It became preachy and political-agenda pushing, then morphed into a scientific dissertation on EMPs. There were two expletive phrases and one improper use of the Lord's name, as well as three bleeped out expletives, which defeated the purpose since the full words popped directly into my mind. There were inconsistencies that bothered me but that might not disturb other readers' experience with this story. When homosexuality was mentioned, it was unclear what the author's stance was on it, for or against. I found that strange in combination with the deep Christian talk that became preachy in several spots.

Parental warning: There were mentions of --
* porn
* sex
* sex trade
* homosexuality

I won't be continuing this series since it wasn't fully my style of story, but I think there will be lots of fans for it. There are many things to enjoy about this book.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

About this book:

“What do you do when the whole world stops?
When everything you've come to depend upon--transportation, grocery shopping, cell phones, the internet--comes to a sudden, crashing halt?
Welcome to PULSE.
Three teenage girls and their families must survive when America's worst nightmare actually occurs: The failure of the electric grid due to an electromagnetic pulse.
To outsiders, Andrea Patterson has the American dream house and family. But when the unthinkable happens and life is forever different, the dream looks more like a nightmare--one from which she and her family may not wake up alive.
Lexie Martin's farm family has never been cool like Andrea's, but they've been prepping for disaster for years. For them, the world didn't stop; it just slowed down. The one thing they didn't prepare for? A psycho school bus driver who wants what they've got.
Sarah Weaver, friend of Andrea and Lexie, lives on the top floor of a ten-story apartment building. When things went black, she thought it could be romantic--like living in the time of Jane Austen.
She was wrong.
Has the world collapsed forever?
Who will survive when technology fails? Or perhaps the right question is, Who will get to eat?”


Series: Book #1 in the “Pulse Effect” series.


Spiritual Content- Ezekiel 33:2-4 at the beginning; Many talks about God, Jesus, the Bible & worshiping; Many talks about God, stealing things & blaming; Some ‘H’s are capital when referring to God, but they are not when referring to Jesus; Many Prayers; Many Scriptures are mentioned & memorized; Lexi is said to be “very religious” (her family is Christians); Sarah and her family are Catholics (Sara says she believes in God); *Spoiler* Andrea asks God to forgive her. *End of Spoiler*; Thinking that Jesus is literally right in front of you; Hymns are sung; Mentions of Bible studies & Bible reading; Mentions of Church; Many mentions of Prayers; Many mentions of those in the Bible, parables, & discussions about them;
*Note: Two mentions of hell: “hell and high water” and “Dad looked like he’d been through hell.”; A mention of the ‘gods’; a mention of karma; Mentions of Muslims, Islam & beheading Christians;


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘cruddy’, a ‘d---’, a ‘darn’, a ‘gosh’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘sissy’, a form of ‘suck’, two ‘b----’s, three ‘dumb’s, four forms of ‘shut up’, five ‘heck’s, nine forms of ‘idiot’, nine forms of ‘wretched’, 19 forms of ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses; Sarcasm; Andrea & her father do not get a long at all; Fighting (verbally) & hating; Many mentions & actually shooting at people, being shot at, & bullet nicks (semi-detailed); Many mentions of dying (semi-detailed); Many mentions of bombs, radiation & terrorists; Many mentions of toilets, grossness & waste; Many mentions of frostbite; Many mentions of starving; Mentions of the recent beheadings & the Holocaust; Mentions of deaths & blood (semi-detailed); Mentions of drunks; Mentions of cigarettes; Mentions of eating dog meat {?!}; Mentions of eating mice; Mentions of hunting, shooting & eating rabbits; Mentions of butchering; A mention of divorce;
*Note: Mentions of Global Warming & the Ice Age.

Sexual Content- A barely-above-not-detailed kiss; A couple mentions of kisses; Noticing & Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Hand holding; Mentions of boys & crushes; Mentions of pretty girls; Andrea is known a flirt at school, but will not sleep around; Wondering if a man is a porn addict, then he touches a girl’s arm later; A mention that Lexi has a “friend from school who claims to be homosexual.”; A mention of rapes that didn’t happen because of firearms; A mention of abortion; Mentions of periods, pads, & that time of the month; Mentions of virgins; Mentions of brothels & prostitutes; Mentions of & Talks about sex, sleeping with someone, wanting to & saying no; Mentions of creeps & selling a daughter; A creep asks Andrea’s father to sell her to him & he’ll give Andrea’s family food (Andrea’s family (especially her father) want her to; but she will not and is understandably upset that they would consider selling their daughter for food);
*Note: a “big pain in the butt”; Hints & mentions of breeding rabbits.

-Andrea Patterson, age 16
-Lexie Martin, age 16
-Sarah Weaver, age 16
1st person P.O.V. switches between them.
251 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- One Star (and a half)
Very interesting plotline. I’ve heard of “preppers” and about EMPs before due to my sister watches those kind of shows. (Though, her preppers are much different from these preppers.) I’m very disappointed in the language, and while it might not bother others since the bigger minor cuss words are dashed out, I’m not amused about it. While the whole plot was…interesting and maybe one day realistic, I am very bothered by the eating dog meat and almost selling a daughter to a creep for food. Just not my cup of tea, I suppose.


Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this e-book for free from the Author for this review.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating - 2.5

I can't say I liked any of the main characters in this. I found them all to be pretty annoying.

I found this to be pretty boring unfortunately. The second half wasn't quite so bad, as time had passed since it all happened, but I still didn't love it.

Overall, Not awful, but not something I enjoyed unfortunarely.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover made me stop, then I looked at the author’s name. I was thrilled to learn that L.R. Burkard and Linore Burkard were the same person. I adored the authors other books and was excited to read this new YA series. The set up for this story is brilliant. The reader experiences the tragic worldwide event from three very different teenage girls’ POV’S. These three girls are friends and go to school together – that is about as much as they have in common. The author introduces one young lady at a time; writing the novel in first person; which made it more intimate. Andrea is 16 and the first teenager to experience the fall out. Each new chapter starts out giving the time line like this Jan 11th Day one (and so on – this is important when you read the other girls stories)

Andrea things to herself, “So my dad got all upset because when he went to leave for work the car went halfway down the driveway and died. His precious Mercedes. I was just walking out to wait for the school bus and he hurried towards me in a huff, yelling something about how the starter wouldn’t even turn over.”

“What’d you do to the car, Andrea? He demanded. I stared at him. I couldn’t believe he was trying to pin it on me.”

After the reader learns about that family they meet the next teenager in PART 2 Lexie Jan 11th 16 years old - Day one. Lexie thinks to herself, “We’re the “preppers” we’d long ago taken seriously the idea that something catastrophic could render the country helpless in a matter of minutes by shutting down the entire electric grid. Heck, we almost expect it. My parents even had enough emergency supplies in storage to last through such a disaster…had it really happened?” As you can see this gal has a different spin on things. It’s quite fascinating to read.

The reader meets the last teen SARAH in PART 3 she too is 16 years old and lives in the city. She has a completely different situation then the other two girls which reminded me of the movie The Day After. The author takes readers through all these families’ lives -later mixing up the girls situations as time goes on. The author takes readers to part 6 which is three months out in time.

Each family has troubles even the ones that are prepared. Readers see that fire drills are different than actually experiencing the real deal! This is a realistic look at what desperate people do in desperate times. It’s edgy but not too graphic. This book sets the stage for the next book in the series. You’ll want to know what happens to these three friends and the families. You’ll want to know how God moves in their lives through impossible situations. This book grabbed my heart and never let go as I watched these families struggle; I couldn’t help but wondered what I’d do.

I instantly cared about these girls and their all too real situation. I had read a series similar to this one that showed a small towns struggle. It didn’t happen in the thick of winter like this story did. This one is written in first person which puts a whole new spin on things. Learning about this through the eyes of teens had me spell bound! You won’t want to miss this gritty and powerful series. This would make a great book club pick. There is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pulse by Linore Burkard is a Christian young adult/Apocalyptic suspense novel. One morning Andrea, Lexie and Sarah are preparing to leave for school when the families notice that there is no electricity. Upon further investigation, they discover that the cars will not start, cell phones are not working and there is no wi-fi. It is a cold winter in Ohio and these three families must find a way to survive. The story is told by the three teenage girls through their diary entries. Sarah lives in the city, Andrea lives in a large home in suburbia while Lexie lives on a farm. We get to see what it is like for each of them after the unthinkable happens. They must find a way to stay warm and cook food. Difficult times have a way of bringing out the best and the worst in individuals. Pulse is an interesting story as we see what happens to society when there is no government to regulate people. I did like how Lexie felt God nudging her to help her friend and how she responded to it. I thought the first half of the book was better than the second. It descended into political and theological rants especially regarding the right of gun ownership. Pulse does contain extreme violence and foul language. I do want readers to be aware that there is a disturbing area where one of the girl’s parents wish to “sell” their daughter to the neighborhood letch for food for the family. While I felt the author gave an accurate portrayal of what could happen in the event of an EMP, it was not what I expected from a book that is listed as Christian young adult novel. A wanted to share the following phrase from Pulse “human pain is hard to hear, hard to share, hard to endure.” How would you act in similar situations? Would your Christianity have you act differently from other? Pulse is a book that will have you thinking as well as planning for the future.

[L.K. Simonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darn you, L. R. Burkard! Now I have to read Resilience, Pulse Effex #2, to find out what becomes of Lexie, Andrea, and Sarah.

This is YA fiction, but since Suzanne Collins and J. K. Rowling blurred the lines on audience boundaries for YA fiction, and since I enjoyed this novel so much, I will from now on consider YA fiction to be stories about young adults rather than stories for young adults.

The pulse in Pulse is an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP, or epic solar flare) that wipes out all post-nineteenth century technology. Unless it's caged in special material - maybe lead, I can't recall - to protect it. Who would think of doing that? Preppers, that's who. Those odd, march-to-their-own-drumbeat people who seem out of sync with reality until the apocalypse hits.

Lexie's family are preppers. Andrea's family are upper middle class. Sarah's family are just trying to make it day to day. Ms. Burkard did a fantastic job of imagining the effects of a total shutdown of everything, even automobiles, in the middle of a brutal Ohio winter. As day piles upon day, the community degenerates into every man for himself paranoia worthy of Cormac McCarthy. This EMP is a particularly nasty apocalypse, simply because absolutely none of the technology we've become absolutely dependent on works. It's the equivalent of asking the flight crew of an Airbus to hang a pocket watch from the panel and bring the ship down safely in a snowstorm. You'll need either Charles Lindbergh or Sully Sullenberger for a successful outcome. In other words, you need someone pretty unusual on your side.

There is a heavy spiritual theme to this book because of Lexie's family, the preppers, who go to the Lord for just about everything. Some readers may take exception to that, but we need to remind ourselves that some people do walk out their faith every day, publicly and privately, and these characters reflect that. In that respect, they are true to life.

Ms. Burkard knows how to keep a reader turning pages, and buying her next book. I'm headed to Amazon now. Well done.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulse is a great name for this book, because your pulse is racing all through the book! I'll admit it was nerve-wracking to read about an EMP hitting America. It changes everything for the families in the story. Oh, my....I definitely have to prepare more for this kind of disaster, because you never can tell when something will happen. I really got into the story of three teen girls whose families live through this event that affects every part of their lives. Each family is unique, in that they have very different lives. One is a well-to-do family who is not prepared for their cars and electronics not to work. They don't have much food in the pantry, because they normally shop every week. It's like a wake-up call to us nowadays...use wisdom to prepare for anything. Another family lives in the city, an apartment building, and they are poor and aren't prepared for anything either...it's heartbreaking, some of the things the families go through just to survive. The third family is a christian family who has been preparing all along, with food storage, and a garden, and horses and farm animals. It's still quite an adjustment to deal with the changes and the people surrounding them that need help. I feel like the story really showed life as it would happen in the event of the electronic pulse disaster. The book showed some good ideas of things to focus on and what would help people survive. It's an amazing story. I highly recommend it, and can't wait to read the further books in the series.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thought of an EMP, or Electro Magnetic Pulse has always terrified me. Everything that has electrical parts will cease to work...including cars and cell phones. Our country could be crippled in a matter of seconds. This book delves into that scenario by following 3 teenage girls who are friends and all live in different types of homes...Andrea's family is on the wealthier side but her dad is not the nicest person to be around...Lexie was raised in a Christian home and her family has been "prepping" for a difficult situation for years...and Sarah lives in an apartment in the city with her parents, older brother, and younger cousin. 

The story is narrated by the 3 girls and  it's interesting to see the EMP effects through each of their eyes. There are some very gritty moments in the book but I imagine that everything described is something that would happen if this scenario occurred. 

There were a few times when the author got very political in the story, which isn't my cup of tea, whether I agree with the sentiments or not. Other than that I found the story to be very intense and stressful and it caused me to evaluate what I should do to prepare should this ever happen in the future. It's definitely a thought provoking book!

I am interested to read the second story to find out what happens next!

I received this book from the publisher/author to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cecily Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional and often disturbing story that makes the reader think of the possibility of losing power due to an EMP. How much do we rely on the electric grid for our everyday needs, for our very survival? How far would you go, or how far do you THINK you would go, in the name of saving your life, even if it is at the expense of someone else's life, without the power we take for granted?

Vivid and intense, this made me think of Michael Grant's Gone series - looking forward to book two.

(and this cover is fantastic!)

[Darlene · Rating 1 out of 5]

What if a solar EMP hit and all electronics, even in cars and landline phones stopped working and it was in the middle of one of our coldest winters? Good plot premise.

Three teen girls from the same clique at school can't get to each other or school. Written in their points of view in their journals, first person. And not too much teen romantic angst.

Sounds like my kind of book.

If it had stayed with the above status I would have loved it.

It was a political anti-everyone that isn't them propaganda. Gun carrying prolifers--only ours, no one else's counts. Judgemental as all get out.

I believe the best Christians are humble and caring for others. No matter whether they think or look like me or not. 'We are all made in the image of God.' 'Judge not lest ye be judged.' 'Thou shalt not kill.' The christians in this book represent a lot of people who pick and choose which verses to preach believing it makes them more holy.

Stepping off my soapbox now. There were plenty of different scenarios in how folks are dealing with this new world. In real life right now, we are going through a very cold snowy winter so a lot is believable.

Hunger is the first and biggest problem in this story as there are no stores or ways to get food. As abhorrent as a lot of the book is, the writing is good and I didn't throw it across the room because there are all kinds of people in this world and this story is from one kind of view.

Which is why I felt shooting that many people, thinking they were in the right and others who were hungry were wrong... was wrong.

What would I do if I lived through the situation our main characters were in? Is there a way as we prepare for such as this that we try to share our abundance. As we prepare we have to remember that our case of food is kept in our car or home and the catastrophe is an earthquake, volcano, or fire and that case of food is destroyed. When we are prepared but but end up the hungry ones, how would we like to be treated? I have rarely missed a meal. I can't imagine being that cold, tired, and hungry.

Regardless of politics, I'm glad I read it. I won't bother with the rest of the series. There are a lot better sci-fi's to see the post-apocalypse through a more open-minded prep and love.

[Donna Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world suddenly without technology, what would you do? Are you ready? PULSE is carefully-researched and fascinating with gripping subject matter and compelling characters. Highly recommended! - Donna J Shepherd, Author

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved following the stories of 3 teenage girls as their lives had been turned upside down by the pulse. I'm grateful for an author who is not afraid to add a dimension of faith to her stories.

[ʟ ᴇ ᴀ ʜ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh... I think my face was glued to the book. I had such a hard time putting it down at night to get some sleep. It was that good!
I loved the POVs (point of views). L.R. Burkard made a smart choice to write the book in the first person style. It was so interesting because it got so personal and it helped me picture their situations easily. If L.R. Burkard had used the second or third person writing style, this book wouldn't have been quite so eye-catching.
Each characters' stories were different and interesting.
I especially liked Lexie's POV. I think it's because her story took up a large amount of the book, like she was the main character, but I enjoyed her story the most anyway. It was action packed, and I like that in a book. It was also interesting that Lexie's family came prepared for the EMP, while Sarah and Andrea's families didn't.
Sarah's POV was also very interesting. The difference between she and Lexie's lives (City Life vs. Farm Life) make their stories so... different from each other's, and that also made me want to read more.
Andrea's POV, I must say, is my least favorite out of all three girls' POVs. It was interesting to an extent, but it didn't have that 'I-just-can't-put-down-the-book' effect on me.

I'll try not to reveal too much of the plotline, but I want to share my thoughts on the story. If you haven't read the book and you don't want to be spoiled, please don't click the spoiler tag below.

So, I was freaked out when Andrea's father wanted to sell her to the older guy down the road (Mr. Herman, wasn't it?) in exchange for food and shelter. I mean, wouldn't it be scary if your dad sent you to some old guy, and you had to sleep with him? That part of the book added a bit of a realistic touch, though, so I tried to not let it bother me too much. Andrea's dad was crazy. O_O
Also, that creep, Roy, was a pain in the neck! Who knew a bus driver could be such a psycho?? First, he kidnapped and locked up Lexie's dad, then he led a group of raiders? I'm glad he's been put out of his misery. He really creeped me out. But, he definitely added a spark to Lexie's story!
And then there are the deaths towards the end of the book (not including the raiders' deaths). There were four, I think? It was kind of sad, especially for an ending, but I suppose it's realistic enough. What else would you expect from starvation, sickness, being shot, and lack of oxygen (I think that's what caused Mrs. Preston's slow death.), especially after an EMP? Of course there's going to be death when people are fighting for food, decent water, resources, and a means of transportation (horses).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting! Reading about the families' survival issues kept me interested. I also loved the Christian stuff in there. I really need to get book two!!

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... just wow! I barely have any words to explain how I feel right now! I was instantly interested in the book as I read the first sentence...This book is very thought-provoking and a new favorite!
I actually enjoyed reading this book, even though it's written in first person and switching between people. Honestly, I have a hard time reading books written in First Person. I'm not sure why, but it's true.
I feel like that it really worked for this book.... and that's saying something.
The story was so exciting, that I was devouring the book as fast as I could! I loved to read the POVs from each character. I honestly really enjoyed reading about their troubles and the differences in their situations. I've got to say that Lexie was probably my favorite... I really like Lexie's situation because of how her and her family handled it, with faith in God.
Reading about Roy in Lexie's POV made me scared... really! I was freaked out when he had threatened Lexie's father and led a raid to their house! I may now, forever, have a fear of school bus drivers.... :|

My least favorite POV was Andrea. Reason is startling for some: Andrea's family were starving and almost out of food.Andrea's mother told her that they had one option. For Andrea to give herself sexually to Mr. Herman... to provide food for the family! Seriously? That was so hard to read and chew... This was something that had really startled me. Even scared me. It was quite uncomfortable to be able to imagine and "watch" a father tell that to his daughter! I was thinking "How could her parents be so heartless?! How could they tell her to do something that would make her give the thing most precious in a marriage to an awful man?!" I was seriously just wanting to give it to him....

Then I realized that Andrea's family WEREN'T Christians! This is an important issue that is explored in the book. AKA The realistic truth. And it really wouldn't be the right thing to do if I punched her father... :P

The most boring thing in the book was when the guy Lexie has a crush onI don't remember his name so I will go back and find it in the book later talks scientifically about what happened... I guess it had to pop up at some point, but it's just literally not my cup of tea.

Other negative content: Contains spoilers from the book! Multiple deaths including the death of Andrea's father, Sarah's mother, Mrs. Preston, and Sarah's cousin Jake, Richard said 'Idiot' a few times throughout Sarah's POV, Sarah shaved her head bald because she had lice, mentions of crushes/boys, and some more that escaped my mind. :P
This really is the type of book I enjoy, so, since I can't rate a book 4.5 stars on GR, I'm rating it five for the exciting story! :)

I think I'm going to make sure I'm prepared for disastrous situations when I have a family of my own in the future.... AKA Roy sneaking up behind you.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Fast-Paced. Thought Provoking.
Peeling back the cover of this book is like slowly - tentatively - opening the door to a place that is frightening in its uncertainty. You enter this place with timid steps, gradually adjusting to your surroundings, until you find yourself running, your heart pounding, your blood pumping, as the weight of a new and strange reality settles on your shoulders and the full impact of this place becomes clear. Hardship is the new norm, and devastation is an everyday occurrence, and yet through it all you manage to cling to a thread of hope as God proves Himself real in the face of suffering. Are you ready for the world as you know it to change drastically in a mere moment?
This is Pulse.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulse

What a strange book. But could it really happen? The power goes out. They get snowed in. How will they survive for a long time?

The book has different characters telling their versions of what is happening. Everyone story is a little different.

All of sudden one day nothing will work. No electricity, cars won’t start. It is very cold. Eventually they will run out of food. What will they do? They uses horses to get around but wasn’t the best. Read the book to see what happens.

I received a advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review.

[Larissa Self · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pulse started off very well and had me hooked right away because the post-apocalyptic story line, which is something I love to read about. The teenage characters where believable at the beginning. It was written in a diary format, but it didn't seem like I was reading a diary. Half way through the book I lost interest and could barely make it to the end.

[Gina Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author for an honest review. Well, I loved it!

The story is from the point of view of three teen girls. I cannot tell you how absolutely refreshing it is to read from a single point of view of one character with no head hopping, and the head jumping from one character to the next is done by chapters with clear headings. No confusion whatsoever. Wonderful!

How would you manage in the dead of winter to wake up with zero electricity, no transportation, and no hope of rescue for a very long time? When 15 miles is an all day trip one way, and money means nothing, but food and water is the most precious commodity, I think you would find yourself in the exact predicaments as these three girls. Except Lexie has the added luxury of living on a farm, and her family are preppers.

It's a wonderful story line premise, and Burkard's writing sizzles with tension. Her characters are developed in such a way that you think you'd recognize them when you passed them on the street.

Although, the teen girls seem to talk the same. Since they are friends, I imagine that would probably happen. Their situations are all different, but so are their backgrounds. I think they would have some unique idioms and/or speech patterns that would differ also such as filler words. But that is so minor, you don't really notice it.

It is a story about faith, and the strength faith gives you when you face adversity. It also has a strong foundation in ethics and moral issues that young people might be shocked into thinking about.

This is a story that moms and daughters should read together then talk about. It's a story that friends should read together and talk about. Dads and daughters should read it and talk about it. The story is that strong. After reading it, you'll find yourself pondering it days later. I would love to write a story that strong!

It well deserves five stars.

[Melanie Kilsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book at a 3.75 stars!

I LOVED the cover of this book. I also loved how the author brought Jesus into the book. It was refreshing given the circumstances. I though the writing was alright and the character development the same. I was really hoping to know more about Richard and felt the end was okay. I could have probably done without three different P.O.V's but, I found I liked Richard. I didn't like Andrea but was happy with her character development-especially near the end :D I did like Lexie, sort-of.

Some of the issues dealt with in this book were very real and thought out, which I appreciated. We lost our power in our whole city practically for three days this summer and I could definitely relate to the rapid decline of society and resources. It made me very conscience of what is in our home and how we should be wise to prepare while keeping our faith and morale intact.

Speaking of faith, I would have also loved to know what happened to the wonderful couple in the beginning of the book. Because of some of those loose ends, I rated it lower. Besides that, I was happy to get this copy from the author!! Thanks L.R. Burked for talking about real issues and bringing us to a world that may be closer than we think!!

[Eleanor Gustafson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard about electromagnetic pulses or EMPs years ago, I began to think hard about the possibility of such an event happening and how people left alive would cope with the trauma. Burkard has put together a believable story of three young girls, their families and their levels of preparedness for such an event. She goes into almost excruciating detail about the ways and means of survival and what even “good” people are forced to do. Starvation and death are a constant specter that drives the desperate to desperate measures.

This tightly crafted story paints a vivid portrayal of a cataclysm that could well happen, and it forced me to examine my previous views concerning EMPs. How long would I survive in midwinter with no heat, no substantial food supply, no medical help—to say nothing of no toilet paper or dark chocolate?

My only complaint about the book is its heavy-handed preaching about Christian faith and classroom-like lectures about EMPs. While I agree with the author’s point of view, she could have used a gentler brush that would attract non-believers, rather than turn them away.

No pat answers in this book, but Pulse is a provocative novel that should push readers to project how they themselves might react in such a catastrophic event.

[Christy Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you handle the world stopping? No electricity, running water or transportation? This book really got me to thinking and realizing I am definetly not be prepared. I really like how the book also had the point of view of three different girls and the struggles they and their families faced. My husband wanted me to read this book and I had my doubts if I would like it. I have to say I'm glad I read it.

[Shawn Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really makes you think about what you would do if you woke up and there was no electricity or transportation. It definitely would be a mess. People think that preppers are insane but really they are the only ones that would be prepared for this.

[Stephanie Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pulse" is the first book of Linore Burkard's series. It is all about surviving life when our electrical grid goes down worldwide.

Linore Burkard has a unique writing style. She had the story be told through journal entries of each of these three teen girls in Wintery, Ohio. Burkard is written into three parts. Each part focuses on one girl at a time. The stories are told in the first person. Each story starts on January 11th. Each girl has a different take on the disaster. Burkard seems to have done her research.

Part 1 - Andrea Patterson, who is 16 years old. She lives on farm in a strong Christian family.

Part 2 - Lexie Martin who is 16 years old - lives in a rural home with her family totally unprepared for this type of disaster.

Part 3 = Sarah Weaver who is 16 years old and lives in an apartment in the city.

I found "Pulse" to be really scary because this could actually happen. Burkard did a wonderful of making this book seem like it is actually happening right now. I felt for each girl. I couldn't help but be worried about these girls and their families.

The story covers topics we are dealing with right now such as guns, how biased the media is, judgment on America. It also touches on many issues such as stealing and even killing others to survive. Teens already have a hard time in life and then you add technology and electricity become nonexistent. I never even thought about if the power goes out there we will eventually lose water too.

I found this book really hard to put down. The pace was well done. Yes, there is some repeated information due to reading each girl going through the disaster, but it didn't make it drag or become boring. Each girl told the story of the event in a different way. However, at times there were preachy politics. This got old. We saw how each of these girls uses their faith to get through this difficult time in their lives.

This is a book is geared more towards teens adults. However, I would like to note the book does touch on some adult materials. There isn't much teen romantic angst. There are some sexual content topics such as wondering about a man who might be a porn addict then he touches a girl's arm later, rape, abortion, periods, virgins, sex. A creep asks Andrea's father to sell her to him and he will give Andrea's family food. There is some minor cussing, fighting, drinking, and shooting each other. "Pulse" is edgy but not too graphic when it comes to having to survive something like this. I felt at times "Pulse" was a little on the preachy side when it comes to politics. It got old at times.

The biggest thing I took away from reading this is we rely really heavily on our technology and take everything for granted and we shouldn't do that. I would recommend reading this book. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Celeblit for my honest opinion. This is my honest

[Joy Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Pulse, a disaster strikes much of the US that knocks out anything electrical.  Cell phones, cars, landline phones, heating.  We don't think about it, but if the grid goes down, we eventually lose water, too.  The story is told through the journal entries of three teen girls in wintery Ohio.  One friend lives in a 10th-floor apartment, one in an out-of-town neighborhood, and one on her family's farm.  It's a chilling tale of how these families fight for survival when their normal means of heat, food, and water go down with the rest of the infrastructure.

What I Loved About Pulse

I really enjoyed watching these girls navigate faith questions in the midst of disaster.  Disaster or distress of any kind tends to amplify the heart issues and force a response.  I loved the reminder that what would seem absurd to us in the US, where we seem to have everything, is tragically normal in other parts of the world.  Most of us don't think about fighting for survival against cold and starvation, or what we might give up to survive.  Most of us, outside of our law enforcement and military, don't have to wrestle through those "awful but necessary" decisions.

The journal style was well done, and though we don't always fully understand how something like an EMP would actually impact our lives, I felt this novel was well-researched.  More than that, though, it successfully pulled me in.  I found myself thinking about it when I was doing the dishes or driving to work, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

What I Didn't Love About Pulse

There were a few times where it got a little preachy, or a little too politically long-winded.  I work with teenage girls, and even if their dads were long-winded, even if they agreed with their dads, I don't see them writing that much about those political opinions in a journal in one sitting.  As a reader, I'd rather you subtly walk me into that way of thinking by observing the challenges the characters are going through than go at it head-on.  I found myself skimming over these sections because they got kind of old.  And I wanted to get to the next part because the rest of it was so good!

Would I Recommend Pulse?

Yes - to teens or adults.  This book definitely had a YA flavor because of the point of view, but it didn't bother me or come across as "young." Note: Pulse touches on some adult material.  Survival kind of does that to you.  But as I've shared elsewhere, our teens need to read books with mature content.  If it's one of my girls that finds herself in a tough situation when disaster strikes, I don't want that to be the first time she's thought through how she would respond.

I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several novels about the aftermath of an EMP but this is the first I've seen for teens. It is a combination of entertainment and information. The narrative is from the viewpoints of three teens. We follow the alternating first person accounts of their experiences after technology and electricity become nonexistent. We learn much about an EMP, what it is and what happens as a result.

The three viewpoints give three very different responses to the disaster. One teen lives on a farm in a very strong Christian family. We see how farm life has prepared her and her family for survival. Another teen lives in the city in an apartment with her family. They struggle greatly to survive after their grocery store food supply is cut off. The third teen lives in a rural home with her family totally unprepared for such a disaster.

There are many issues teens could discuss after reading this book. There is the entire complex question of making choices, such as feeding one's own family verses giving food to others. There is also the issue of stealing, implying that it is not so wrong when done to provide for the survival of loved ones. There is also the reality the teens must face. Suddenly beauty habits are meaningless when just surviving is paramount, and getting rid of lice! There is also a good discussion on listening to what God is telling you to do. And ultimately, how does a family protect themselves from marauders? Do they kill others? What is a Christian's responsibility to those in need, to those starving?

The novel is also a bit preachy. There is a monologue on the importance of having guns with which to defend ones self. There is another monologue on how biased the media is, being selective in what news they report to the public. Another one speaks to judgment on America, suggesting the parallel to Sodom and Gomorrah. (I found it interesting that the concentration was regarding sexual sin and totally ignored Ezekiel stating that the sin was being overfed and unconcerned, failing to help the poor and needy as well. Ezek. 14:49)

This is a very realistic and gritty novel dealing with the issues teens will face should there be an EMP. Teens are made aware of how people behave when they are desperate, including Christians when they are defending their own food supply. While very well written, I found the novel troubling. I would suggest that parents read this book along with their teens. There is much that should be discussed while reading it.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pulse"by Linore Burkard is a book that is about three different teens and their own perspectives on life after all society collapses and technology fails?

This book has no sex and zombies nor drugs/alcohol, no horrible violence but guns are used, no profanity (though alluded to a couple of times), no macho guys and/or gals, no overt religion and/or preaching, but it does have faith and Biblical points in the girl's writing, no army of super-heroes.

This book really does make the reader think about what would we do if this happen in our life time.

Okay, I have to be honest and tell that why reading this book I was very judgmental of Lexie's father because even through he is a Christian, he refused to help her friend family's because they have to help their own family seems wrong to me because aren't we called to help when we are able. As soon I typed this, this thought immediately popped in my head, Christians aren't to judge and aren't you judging even if the characters are fictional, no one is perfect in their Christian walk . I can't tell you how that was eventually worked out.

I can't image having to do some of the things that the characters had to do to just survive, but again maybe with this statement I am judging again, but I don't think I would resort to even think about selling my teenage daughter to someone so that I can eat. Yes, I know that happens way to much in this world and I have to say that the ones thinking about this aren't Christians. And I have never experienced real hunger or thirst.

This story is written as journals by all three girls, and is written so well that I could image myself setting down at a table and listening to them telling me their stories.

This story will make readers more appreciative of what they have and make them love their families and show love more openly and more often because even if we never experience a EMP, these things and those we loved can be taken from us suddenly.

This book has happy moments in it but it is not a happily ever fairytale story. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

I really recommend this book to all, young mature readers, teens, adults and seniors adults, to read.

I received a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These are my own opinions.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you be prepared if am EMP happened? I know I'm not and I guess like most people I just don't think about it. When we have hurricane season the news is always giving us directions to get prepared if one was to come our way. I have done that since I have been through several hurricanes. But an EMP just doesn't seem as worrisome to me. That is my silly way of thinking that it could never happen. But in reality it could happen at anytime.

The book takes us on a journey with three different young girls and their families as they face the aftermath of an EMP. Everything is shut down including electricity, phones, stores and even basic needs like water. Each family deals with the crisis in different ways. One family who are very prepared have been stock piling food and essentials knowing that one day a disaster could happen. It was interesting to read how desperate people became and were willing to kill for food.

There is one part in the book I had a very hard time with. The family is out of food and an offer comes their way to have shelter and all the food they need for a price. I won't spoil the story and tell you what the offer was, but I will say how disgusted I was reading it. Other parts of the story are a bit one sided and almost political to the point of becoming offensive to some people who disagree with statements made.

I did enjoy the book and getting to know the three girls and how they each found ways to survive. There is a faith element in the story but not too much that it is preachy.There is a lot of violence in the book which was a bit graphic at times. I have to say it fit with the story because people will do anything to survive. I can't tell you what I would do if faced with this crisis but I know I would be doing a lot praying.

The author does not sugar coat anything and it made it realistic and almost scary at times. No one wants to think about the end coming, but as we see in the story, if you aren't prepared you could be scrambling for necessities that we take for granted. I may not agree with everything in the book but I will say that I thought it was interesting and made me want to get the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Tabitha Bouldin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Post-Apocalypse Christian Fiction, yes, please! I'm always looking for a new take on the Apocalypse and Pulse did not disappoint on the care and details given to how society would react to the loss of electronics. Having to survive on instinct created a different kind of monster for Andrea, Lexie, and Sarah to overcome.

Pulse did a wonderful job of creating a devastated world where electronics no longer function. What happens when stores shut down, cars don't run, and you can't call 9-1-1 when something goes wrong? And things will go wrong. Things will go incredibly wrong.

Humans are animals at heart. Survival of the fittest. Kill or be killed. They're all explored in Pulse.

There are a few points that will offend some readers. Pulse does have a political bend and often makes rude remarks about government. But I can overlook that.

While enjoying Pulse, you'll read the diary entries from three different girls and see how they fare from their perspective in different parts of the city. Now, we're talking about the viewpoint of three sixteen-year-olds who've grown up having everything at their fingertips, and Burkard does an excellent job of making them sound their age. Pretty much, they're snobby know-it-all's, which got old fast but made their character arc intriguing as they learned to overcome the trials facing them.

Lexie was my favorite character. She and her family are 'preppers' so they've been preparing for something like this for years. When they're threatened, they protect themselves. I have no qualms with that. I would probably react the same.



Since this is a series, I'm interested to see how the story progresses. Andrea, Sarah, and Lexie show great promise in their journeys and their paths will only become more difficult as the world continues to deteriorate.

For a YA novel, it could go either way. I personally don't believe it is too dark for the younger generation, but that's only my opinion. There are some uncomfortable situations brought up in Pulse, so read and recommend at your discretion.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Renee Knoblauch]

This book is a YA read. The story sounded interesting and I’m always on the lookout for good books for my kids to read. I have to say that after reading this book I think many adults would like this story.

This is the first time I have read anything from L.R. Burkard and the first time I have read a book around this scenario.

The story is about three young teenagers who are sixteen and have a good life. Suddenly that good life is turned upside down from an electro-magnetic pulse. The story is told in first person story telling. The story flows good in this style and goes back and forth between chapters. All girls are good friends in school but, all of them have different stories. You can follow the events in by dates and weeks.

I love that all the girls are different one girl lives out in the country and family is prepared and preppers for this kind of an event. The other teen lives in the city in an upper middle class home with siblings. The last girl lives on the tenth floor apartment with other family. As you can image each story is unique for each girl. One family is pretty self-sufficient and prepared, another family is upper-middle-class and another family before all this happened was barely making it paycheck by paycheck. You can’t help but to really feel and care for each family.

The book is Christian, not preachy but what I would like to think of as realistic. There is no language, s*x, the violence is there but not glorified or long drawn out details. It’s done in a way that is tasteful, if I can use that word generally.

The situations are realistic. I mean what you would do if you couldn’t use your phone, internet or even your car. It makes you see how depended we are on things like going to the grocery store.

This is an excellent book and I want to read the other books in this series and look into more of her books. Yes, I would let my teenagers read this story. I think my son would prefer one coming from a teen boy’s point of view.

I received a free copy of this product

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So ... I have mixed feelings on this review. What I liked is the kind of apocalypse backdrop that was framed as a quite possible event in the future that I have heard a lot of talk about- an EMP. Knocking out all forms of technology, communication, transportation, etc. would definitely have a crushing effect and put our country into apocalypse mode no doubt. I feel like bringing that occurrence from the viewpoint of 3 teen girls and their families was an interesting way to tell the story. I also liked the thread of faith and questioning their faith in the three girls (which were all very different in background and personality) as I felt it shared the gospel well and also made the characters relatable to the YA reader. I felt like with the girls being different, every reader could find one that they relate to. I felt the topic discussed was a difficult one, and the author gave us a realistic look at the horrors that an EMP would cause while giving us the thread of faith. What lacked for me in this book was that, while a character can certainly have political viewpoints, it was just overdone and too specific in my opinion. Whether I agree with the viewpoints or not, I feel like the way it was so specific could alienate some readers, especially considering the audience. Also, it took me a while to get into the story which seems odd for a thriller/apocalyptic type vibe. To be honest, the action just seemed sudden and took a long time to get there. I realize this is a trilogy, but it just didn't seem to have the same push that an apocalyptic type book usually has- not to say there isn't some horrifying scenes in it, because there is. So while I have mixed feelings, I would suggest a parent check it out first and share with their YA reader, or just someone looking for a realistic look at an apocalyptic book might enjoy this one.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.