Preservation

In the Time of Ruin #1

by L.A. Kirk

As the world is ending, can Bailey find new hope with her best friends, Kace, Ryker, and Devon? Or will family and social obligation tear them apart?


With the food supply quickly running out, the super markets become a battlefield as everyone fights to feed their families. But for Bailey’s mom, the most important thing is maintaining their family’s social status. Which means throwing Bailey the biggest birthday party possible, despite the potential waste.


Under pressure to be the perfect daughter, Bailey finds solace with her best friends, Kace, Ryker, and Devon. With them, she can just be herself. But when they take her out dancing to an illegal club, everything changes. Suddenly, Bailey can’t hide her feelings for the three men anymore, and it might just not be one sided as they each vie for her attention.


But with the world falling apart around them, will Bailey be brave enough to take the risk and find happiness with them, or will her family force her down a different path?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2018

Reviews

[Kathleen Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read Preservation as part of the Falling for Them Anthology, which if you weren't aware is a compilation of several full length Reverse Harem books, some authors well known for their RH stories.

Preservation is a Dystopian novel where the Earth is suffering greatly from polution and food shortages, caused by the people of our current time. And also something else different. There are many more girls being born than boys, which is usually the opposite in some RH stories, in a way making it more believable and acceptable. So this made it even more interesting and intriguing to me.

Bailey is our main character with her best friends Devon, Kace and Ryker. There are certain expectations of her because of her family and her father's position in society. But it's not her father that puts pressure on her, it's her mother who likes their position of power a little too much i my opinion. Her father actually seems like a good Dad.

I'm a little annoyed with the guys though. They hid a lot from Bailey and twisted her back and foeth with the emotional tug of war and I know they cared and it was all good in the end but I am still a little miffed with them. I am very curious how it will turn out in the next few books as this is just the beginning and i am interested in how the worldbuilding will progress.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this as part of the Falling For Them Volume 2 Anthology.

The world has gone to ruin; pollution is rampant, food is scarce. Resources are limited but Bailey’s mom is more concerned about the family image than others. Bailey's graduation party is the perfect occasion to flaunt the family's status and promote her father's promotion. Bailey doesn't share her mother's views and suffers under her mother's behavior. Her best friends Kace, Ryker, and Devon are her refuge. A night out dancing and a camping trip changes everything and gives her hope for the future. I was torn about this book. Interesting concept, but the guys hurt Bailey's feelings and made her feel insecure repeatedly. It was all explained and they all moved beyond the hurt, but I was left unsettled. I am hopeful that this story continues. It has great potential moving forward.

[Stephanie Meadath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in a Dystopian time where there is a mass shortage for food and pollution that makes it hard for people to survive. The world L.A Kirk is amazing but also sad to think of something like that happening. The MC Bailey seems sweet and kind hearted and after having to deal with her mother and her excessive planning for her graduation party (which her mom was more worried about showing her dad’s boss how well off they were, and it was basically all about appearances), Bailey’s childhood friends Kace, Ryker and Devon take her on an adventure of dancing at an Illegal party to camping in the wilderness. I thought this was a sweet story and definitely has potential to become a series so we can find out what happens between Bailey and her guys and where they all end up.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this novella in the Falling For Them Anthology released in the fall of 2017. It is a reverse harem in a dystopian-style setting in a future America, where they are dealing with the fallout of actions happening now. I find this concept super interesting and thought provoking, and, in the interest of being vague for spoilers-sake, groundwork is laid for some ongoing consequences that will provide intriguing conflicts for the main characters down the line in the series, which I am looking forward to.

This series starter has a YA feel to it, though all of the main characters are 18 and above, mostly because for a bulk of it the heroine, Bailey, seems very innocent, though there are a couple instances where the first person narration uses not so inncocent phrasing that is a marked difference from the rest of her thoughts/actions. (To be clear, I don't mind the phrasing or actions at all, I just wasn't expecting it based on the rest of her thoughts/behaviors). The story could use some fine-tuning in terms of a couple of things, and though the communication of everyone's feelings towards the end was a little too neat of a bow for me, it still was a nice way to end the first arc of the story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preseration is a great dystopian story, although it was a little shorter than I would like. I felt it ended just when things were getting good with Bailey and the guys, and since it was so short there was plenty of room for more (personal opinion, although I'm sure Kirk had reasons for leaving it as it was). Bailey and her 3 best guy friends are trying to navigate life In a time when the world is dying, the government is regulating everything from music and alcohol to who each person will be paired with, and the females out number males. Very good read.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was real unusual for me, it is set in the here and now but has an apocalyptic feel to it. I would love too know where the idea for this story came from, but it works really well. Baileys mum is all about appearances and gets on baileys case a lot, thankfully Baileys friends Kace, Ryder and Devon help keep her sane. The world is dying around them yet they do not lose hope. I enjoyed seeing Baileys relationships develop and grow, there are a couple of twists I did not see coming. I really enjoyed this story

[Brittany Devlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one in a new dystopian (ish) type of world. Bailey is the MC is she seems to have a good sense of right and wrong because she repeatedly disagrees with how her mother is snobby and acts entitled. She had a close group of male friends and they go out camping and dancing one night and it open Baileys eyes up to a whole group of being living outside of the governments rules. The whole concept is written well and I feel like the story has a lot of potential to continue into something interesting. I will be awaiting to see what happens next.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A great story from a possible future if we are not careful! What a thought provoking world where we all stop and think about what we take for granted and wonder if there is something else we could be doing now to prevent the very possible world depicted in this story.  Couple that with some of the self centeredness we are seeing more and more of and this is a scary possibility.  I love the characters and the path they are traveling.  To be able to find anything good from the world in this story is wonderful. I am looking forward to the next book in this  series.

[Claudia Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read Preservation as part of the Falling For Them anthology. It is a sweet, shorter story. It took me a couple chapters to get into it, I think partially because the three main guys are a little hard to distinguish? It was a unique (and depressingly believable) take on a future world that I found intriguing. I'm glad to see that a sequel is planned, because there are a lot of unanswered questions at the end, but rest assured it doesn't end on a cliffy.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preservation is a Dystopian story set in a time where Earths resources are dwindling and human nature is shown at both its best and its worst. I love this kind of story, so why only three stars? I needed more. This is a short story and as a result lacks slightly in the world building department, however I have no doubt that as the story continues everything will come together more cohesively. At the moment though I sometimes felt slightly disconnected.

[Jaliza Burwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine story to read and I'm curious to what's going to happen. There were parts that felt too extreme for me (a little over the top on the drama). The world is really interesting and feels like it can be a reality check to where our world is headed. I liked Bailey and the guys are interesting. I liked their pasts too.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of dystonia society stories. (so take my review with that in mind)

I did like the characters and relationship development but I'm just a bit over the end of the world set. I always fell that LA Kirk's stories could be longer and i'm hoping that this one has a continuation cause I'm not ready to shelve theses characters.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really Hope there is 2nd book because the ending was just kinda flat it just end and that was it so it's like what gives I did enjoy the story up that point but I have no idea where is going so please tell me there is more, they confused there love for Bailey but that was it. And what about her mom and dad so many unknown here. You can never go wrong with one of LA Kirk story storys through.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The main character was so kind and sweet. Always trying to put others first. Yet her mother was made from a different type of cloth. Taking everything for her self. Never caring for the devastation she leaves behind. I adore the guys too!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't really grip me. I felt the characters were a little weak. I think the story line and idea was great however. I just really need well developed characters in order to fully enjoy a book.

[Tiffani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, overall was good because I really like the Post-Apocalyptic type setting and story line. I unfortunately did not love any of the characters. They felt a little bland to me, not bad by any means, but not super memorable either.

[Simone · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slow read that was hard to read through, LA Kirk's new series sounds interesting but falls through with a lack of backstory and and difficult narration. Hopefully the next in the series helps reinforce the story.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It makes you think really hard about some things, but it doesnt ruin anything! It's perfect!

[Kathleen Johnstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

i found it to be fun to read and honestly im excited for book 2
i think Baileys mum is a bit to stuck on looks and status to realise that she is probably going to make life harder for Bailey

[Pops · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like it's only half the story ..

[Amy Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in the falling for them anthology. It's a dystopian reverse harem. It's a quick fun read. Baily's mom is over bearing and is only interested in high society. After her graduation, her three best male friends take her camping and a whole new world of possibilities opens up to her. I can't wait to read more of Baily's story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this in the Falling for Them anthology. I really liked this story. I was sad for how Bailey's mom treated her but I love her guys! My only complaint would be that it's too short. Mostly because I didn't want it to end yet I wanted so much more!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this in one of the Falling For Them Anthologies. I thought it was a cute little story. The perspective of the World was rather interesting with its dystopian setting. Seeing how things could just deteriorate over time the way they have in this World gives you something to think about. The MC seems sweet and my kind of personality of just wanting little conflict, but as she deals with her mom's on going attitude you see where she reaches her limits some. The guys are resourceful and attentive and perhaps a hit too good to be true, but then this is a book after all! :D Overall it was an enjoyable little read that has some potential to grow into a great series!

[Jev Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!!! I cannot wait for the next one!!! The guys on this are so sweet! It was breaking my heart at the thought of them not being together anymore, so, I need the next one and soon I hope!!