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American Apocalypse #1
American Survivor
American Apocalypse: American Survivor
This is Book I in the American Apocalypse series.
The North Koreans launch a surprise Nuclear EMP attack on the USA. Our hero, Joe doesn’t care about politics or what happened, he just knows his world went to Hell. Planes fell out of the sky, people went nuts looting and killing as he scrambled to hide from all of the craziness. Joe had a cabin and land in Southern Oregon when TSHTF and retreated to the cabin to survive the massive die-off that was always predicted for an apocalypse.
The weeks before the Grid went down weren’t much better for Joe because his best friend, his fiance, and his beloved Grandma all died during the weeks leading up to lights out. Joe was a young auto mechanic whose only stress in life was from a domineering girlfriend, and now he has to learn how to survive in a Post-Apocalyptic world without military or survival training. To make matters, worse others look to him for support and guidance.
Read American Survivor to find out how a regular guy survives in a Post-Apocalyptic world.
AJ Newman
This is Book I in the American Apocalypse series.
The North Koreans launch a surprise Nuclear EMP attack on the USA. Our hero, Joe doesn’t care about politics or what happened, he just knows his world went to Hell. Planes fell out of the sky, people went nuts looting and killing as he scrambled to hide from all of the craziness. Joe had a cabin and land in Southern Oregon when TSHTF and retreated to the cabin to survive the massive die-off that was always predicted for an apocalypse.
The weeks before the Grid went down weren’t much better for Joe because his best friend, his fiance, and his beloved Grandma all died during the weeks leading up to lights out. Joe was a young auto mechanic whose only stress in life was from a domineering girlfriend, and now he has to learn how to survive in a Post-Apocalyptic world without military or survival training. To make matters, worse others look to him for support and guidance.
Read American Survivor to find out how a regular guy survives in a Post-Apocalyptic world.
AJ Newman
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2018
739 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Newman
69 books80 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A.J. Newman is the author of over 22 novels that have been published on Amazon. He was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life, and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing.
He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author.
He served six years in the Army National Guard in an armored unit and spent six years performing every function on M48 and M60 army tanks. This gave him a great respect for our veterans who lay their lives on the line to protect our country and freedoms.
He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.
A.J. Newman is the author of over 22 novels that have been published on Amazon. He was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life, and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing.
He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author.
He served six years in the Army National Guard in an armored unit and spent six years performing every function on M48 and M60 army tanks. This gave him a great respect for our veterans who lay their lives on the line to protect our country and freedoms.
He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 10, 2023
Well, this was a waste of time..
This book was dreadful. I'm sorry, but it really was. It's filled with sentimental claptrap, excruciating dialog, and ridiculous situations. The way the female characters were depicted was reminiscent of stories written by middle school students. Actually, the whole book could have been written by a middle school student.
Results: if you like prepper fiction, run away from this book now. I hate being so harsh, but this should not have been foisted onto an unsuspecting public.
This book was dreadful. I'm sorry, but it really was. It's filled with sentimental claptrap, excruciating dialog, and ridiculous situations. The way the female characters were depicted was reminiscent of stories written by middle school students. Actually, the whole book could have been written by a middle school student.
Results: if you like prepper fiction, run away from this book now. I hate being so harsh, but this should not have been foisted onto an unsuspecting public.
April 25, 2018
I made it to page 40 & stopped reading-
I’m sorry but I cannot finish the book and I am so glad it was on KU and I didn’t spend my money on it!
This book could have used a professional editor. Even beta readers would have picked up on the long, long list of issues.
I felt as though I was reading something a teen wrote never intending to publish.
Hopefully the author’s writing improves and he invests in editorial services.
The subject matter was intriguing but it failed to deliver on so many levels.
I’m sorry but I cannot finish the book and I am so glad it was on KU and I didn’t spend my money on it!
This book could have used a professional editor. Even beta readers would have picked up on the long, long list of issues.
I felt as though I was reading something a teen wrote never intending to publish.
Hopefully the author’s writing improves and he invests in editorial services.
The subject matter was intriguing but it failed to deliver on so many levels.
February 28, 2018
So much potential but failed to deliver
The writing is very amateurish. The storyline is scattered and jumps around going to very random conversations and interactions. It feels like so much is missing.
The writing is very amateurish. The storyline is scattered and jumps around going to very random conversations and interactions. It feels like so much is missing.
March 2, 2018
Poor prose
Oh dear,
not for me. I'm afraid i couldn't finish it. I thought the "fat mechanic" in a post apocalyptic tale would be a great twist, but turned out to be a fat mechanic already with all the skills and opportunities for survival. Dreadfully unnatural prose.
Oh dear,
not for me. I'm afraid i couldn't finish it. I thought the "fat mechanic" in a post apocalyptic tale would be a great twist, but turned out to be a fat mechanic already with all the skills and opportunities for survival. Dreadfully unnatural prose.
March 19, 2018
I was interested in this story because the main character is not a prepper or an ex-Navy seal etc. However, this "regular guy", ended up with a sweet already-prepped set up from his grandmother. Joe is mostly likable though and willing to help strangers. However, one friend is kidnapped, and though he is initially concerned and wants to try to find her, he never does anything and she is kind of just forgotten other than to give her clothes to someone else (Just wow, Joe). Most of the women say they want to be treated like equals yet always seem to have an eye to finding a man. The apparent nuclear EMP attack was from North Korea but for some reason there were a bunch of well geared Islamic jihadists running around Ashland, Oregon? The writing was often fairly stilted, especially dialogue. With all that, it was mildly interesting and ended with a cliffhanger, so I will likely given #2 a try to see if there is some improvement.
June 1, 2018
Good story, but needs work
This is a good story line with an evolving cast of characters. The conversations are stilted and the male/female relationships are clumsy, however. I think this author will improve as he continues. A good proofreader wouldn’t be amiss. In all, it’s still a good story and I plan to continue reading this series.
This is a good story line with an evolving cast of characters. The conversations are stilted and the male/female relationships are clumsy, however. I think this author will improve as he continues. A good proofreader wouldn’t be amiss. In all, it’s still a good story and I plan to continue reading this series.
April 8, 2023
This is probably the worst written book I have ever read. The conversations are terrible. There are many errors in the story. I admit I did finish it but would never bother with the rest of the series.
February 14, 2018
Good read
Well done. I was raised in Rogue River valley,so this book became pretty personal. I am pleased that a story staged in my old stomping grounds was so well done. Kudos!
Well done. I was raised in Rogue River valley,so this book became pretty personal. I am pleased that a story staged in my old stomping grounds was so well done. Kudos!
March 3, 2021
Up front Grandma takes the cake she one person you fall in love with and like all grandmas she makes you laugh, cry and teach you things you did not know was being taught to you.
Now Joe a man if he did not have bad luck he have no luck at first he finds his girlfriend is having an affair with his best friend and learns when are caught dead in his SUV getting it on when a tree falls on them and kill them. A few days later he find out his grandma has died and to him his world ended with her death. And finally top it all off a few days the world does ends with Iran, North Korea, China attacking the US with both EMPs and security and financial high jacking sending the US and other countries back into the dark ages and most likely Iran, North Korea and China both in ruin from bombing and the destruction of financial institutions.
The only good luck Joe gets is at his grandmas funeral and reading of the will were he learns that he inherit land and cabins of his grandparents who were prepers and a enough letters for him to read for two years from his grandma. For once something good happens then real world ends and there no one to share with for he is in Oregon and his parents are Tennessee so what do you you move into the main cabin and start reading the letters as instructed each day and listening to your grandma from the grave.
This is one awesome story well written and the authors makes the character alive and you become one other and then the narrator weaves the many storylines around each and ever character and create the most perfect quilt that wraps around you and makes you warm, cozy and closer to each character.
Now Joe a man if he did not have bad luck he have no luck at first he finds his girlfriend is having an affair with his best friend and learns when are caught dead in his SUV getting it on when a tree falls on them and kill them. A few days later he find out his grandma has died and to him his world ended with her death. And finally top it all off a few days the world does ends with Iran, North Korea, China attacking the US with both EMPs and security and financial high jacking sending the US and other countries back into the dark ages and most likely Iran, North Korea and China both in ruin from bombing and the destruction of financial institutions.
The only good luck Joe gets is at his grandmas funeral and reading of the will were he learns that he inherit land and cabins of his grandparents who were prepers and a enough letters for him to read for two years from his grandma. For once something good happens then real world ends and there no one to share with for he is in Oregon and his parents are Tennessee so what do you you move into the main cabin and start reading the letters as instructed each day and listening to your grandma from the grave.
This is one awesome story well written and the authors makes the character alive and you become one other and then the narrator weaves the many storylines around each and ever character and create the most perfect quilt that wraps around you and makes you warm, cozy and closer to each character.
August 19, 2023
Dropped the book 3/4 in. Felt to aimless. Only near end did he seem to have the seeds of a goal by saving and house a family.
Its his relationship with women that turned me sour as women are the only people he really encounters and deals with for most of the book. Another reviewer noted that every woman wants to sleep with hero MC. I don't have problem with that. I actually like the idea of classical hero that everyone admires. But he's not admirable.
You see when he meets a woman who flirts with him, he labels her a manipulator and untrustworthy even though these women do whatever he says and distances himself. He has reason for this. He was betrayed by his former lover before. But he encouraged by his loving grandmother to get over it and he was glad to be out of the relationship anyway.
What kept bugging me was that the first woman he met, Madison got kidnapped. He got angry, made speech to himself of getting revenge even he he didn't love her. Then just moved on once he found the pretty single mother who could fish and shoot with feisty daughter. Its made clear that the Terrorists rape, kill, or enslave their captives but he is just glad to be rid of her. The vibe was really "Be gone, vile succubus!"
This new woman turned out to be harder to deal with than the first woman, lashing out at him for spying on her, a precaution anyone would take during end of the world, as she did with him(she hid food and daughter pointed gun at him).
Or maybe i wasn't into the good ol country boy conservative survivor thing.
Its his relationship with women that turned me sour as women are the only people he really encounters and deals with for most of the book. Another reviewer noted that every woman wants to sleep with hero MC. I don't have problem with that. I actually like the idea of classical hero that everyone admires. But he's not admirable.
You see when he meets a woman who flirts with him, he labels her a manipulator and untrustworthy even though these women do whatever he says and distances himself. He has reason for this. He was betrayed by his former lover before. But he encouraged by his loving grandmother to get over it and he was glad to be out of the relationship anyway.
What kept bugging me was that the first woman he met, Madison got kidnapped. He got angry, made speech to himself of getting revenge even he he didn't love her. Then just moved on once he found the pretty single mother who could fish and shoot with feisty daughter. Its made clear that the Terrorists rape, kill, or enslave their captives but he is just glad to be rid of her. The vibe was really "Be gone, vile succubus!"
This new woman turned out to be harder to deal with than the first woman, lashing out at him for spying on her, a precaution anyone would take during end of the world, as she did with him(she hid food and daughter pointed gun at him).
Or maybe i wasn't into the good ol country boy conservative survivor thing.
December 23, 2018
This is the debut novel of a new apocalyptic survival series narrated by the talented, and my favorite, Kevin Pierce. The relationship between the characters and their individual growing pains are a large part of the story. Joe had been raised to protect women and children. He found that in this new world his sometimes overbearing protection was not always appreciated. Joe was a good man, but he had a few things to learn which he had never considered. Another sub-plot involves what appear to be Middle Eastern terrorists making their way through the territory leaving a trail of dead bodies. What they are doing in the middle of Oregon is a mystery. The character development is excellent and I became quite fond of Joe, Coby and Chloe. This is a great start and I need book two! This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
April 2, 2018
It was really nice to find a book featuring an average person, well supposedly, with a head start from his prepper grandmother and years of experience hunting and trapping it feels like he's quite well prepared.
Joe turned out to go a genuinely likeable guy although I was a bit disappointed that he didn't end up going after the semi-girlfriend that was abducted. He helped so many people during the story, and he really didn't have to, in fact most people wouldn't so this seemed out of character.
The story ends up showing both the best and worst of humanity, including the cliffhanger at the end.
The narration is very well done, the character voices are distinct and recognizable and the overall delivery is a good match for the story.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
Joe turned out to go a genuinely likeable guy although I was a bit disappointed that he didn't end up going after the semi-girlfriend that was abducted. He helped so many people during the story, and he really didn't have to, in fact most people wouldn't so this seemed out of character.
The story ends up showing both the best and worst of humanity, including the cliffhanger at the end.
The narration is very well done, the character voices are distinct and recognizable and the overall delivery is a good match for the story.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
August 8, 2023
Started out slow but before I was halfway through, I ordered the other 3 in the series. Storyline is man with few survival skills gets caught in Oregon after his grandmother's funeral in an EMP event. His grandmother had been a prepper and had left him her land and some money. He retreats to the cabin and finds some things to help him survive. She has left him a series of letters to encourage him. He slowly gains skills to survive and is joined by other including Cobie and her daughter that have taken another cabin on the property and a romance begins. He begins helping some of the survivors and decides that he needs to form a survivor community. By the end Cobie gets kidnapped and Joe has to find her with her daughter Chloe helping him. Book 2 goes into the search. Highly recommend, finally puts a positive spin on making the best out of EMP Apocalypse.
March 26, 2018
It's so frustrating and disappointing when a potentially great story ends in a cliffhanger, especially when doing so is so unnecessary.
The author asks, "How does a regular guy survive the apocalypse?" But Joe isn't exactly a "regular guy" and he has help from his grandmother. The main characters are well-drawn and compelling. The story is realistic. However, I cannot in good conscience give a top rating to a story that ends in a cliffhanger.
As expected, Kevin Pierce delivers an outstanding performance with a little help from Sara Morsey, who is cast perfectly as the grandmother.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The author asks, "How does a regular guy survive the apocalypse?" But Joe isn't exactly a "regular guy" and he has help from his grandmother. The main characters are well-drawn and compelling. The story is realistic. However, I cannot in good conscience give a top rating to a story that ends in a cliffhanger.
As expected, Kevin Pierce delivers an outstanding performance with a little help from Sara Morsey, who is cast perfectly as the grandmother.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 25, 2018
Good book. I’ve read (listened because I do Audible) a few apocalypse genre books and a couple I’ve gotten only as far as chapter one before realizing it wasn’t for me. This one is a good read. Interesting story about a average Joe (literally) who has some hunting, camping experience who gets caught up in post apocalyptic rural Oregon learning to adapt and survive in the new order. Kill or be killed. No military experience and living on land willed to him by his grandma who has written some post death letters for him to read narrated by an old lady voice that just adds some great color to the story. Downside is the next book in the series has no audio version yet! WTH! So there’s that. But definitely enjoyable.
December 10, 2018
Joe is just a regular guy who happen to end up knowing more about survival that he even realized.
He turns in to a bad ass and helps save a lot of people. He’s a recluse and just wants to be alone but ends up realizing he needs people. His grandmother taught him a lot about survival and continues to do so from the grave... via letters she left him to read. When the book ended I was so mad & then the audio continued with a clip from the next book. Can’t wait to get more of this story. It’s really really good!
Kevin Pierce continues to be my audio voice crush and does an amazing job as always!
I highly recommends this book. It’s amazing!
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
He turns in to a bad ass and helps save a lot of people. He’s a recluse and just wants to be alone but ends up realizing he needs people. His grandmother taught him a lot about survival and continues to do so from the grave... via letters she left him to read. When the book ended I was so mad & then the audio continued with a clip from the next book. Can’t wait to get more of this story. It’s really really good!
Kevin Pierce continues to be my audio voice crush and does an amazing job as always!
I highly recommends this book. It’s amazing!
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
April 12, 2018
Good book all in all when compared to other SHTF series that have become popular over the last couple of years but I won’t give it a perfect score. In comparison to other post apocalyptic novels like The Stand by King or the Passage trilogy it can’t be held in the same category. I listened to the audio book and Kevin Pierce was the narrator and did a great job as always. He has a matter of fact detached way of speaking which is great for the third person narrative.
I received a free copy of this book in agreement to write a review.
I received a free copy of this book in agreement to write a review.
June 26, 2022
Sorry, but this was a DNF for me. In fact I was so disappointed I actually returned it to Audible, which in 700+ books I have only done 3-4 times.
I so wanted to like this, but the writing was awful. It was a 16 year old boy’s fantasy of TEOTWAWKI. All the women want to sleep with him, zero emotional depth or reaction to the cataclysmic events and dreadful parodies of Islamic terrorist bad guys yelling "Allah Akbar" and despoiling any woman they can find. Awful, cliched and unpleasant.
I only gave it 2 stars because the premise of the letters from Granny was a bit different.
I so wanted to like this, but the writing was awful. It was a 16 year old boy’s fantasy of TEOTWAWKI. All the women want to sleep with him, zero emotional depth or reaction to the cataclysmic events and dreadful parodies of Islamic terrorist bad guys yelling "Allah Akbar" and despoiling any woman they can find. Awful, cliched and unpleasant.
I only gave it 2 stars because the premise of the letters from Granny was a bit different.
May 21, 2018
Overall a really good read
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book and actually give it 3.5 stars. I liked the characters and storyline quite a bit. The reason I only gave it three stars is due to numerous editing issues and the way the characters often communicated. The way they talk is just too awkward. They are far too technical and stiff. I think if the author could work on making their communication more fluid and natural, it would improve the book greatly.
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book and actually give it 3.5 stars. I liked the characters and storyline quite a bit. The reason I only gave it three stars is due to numerous editing issues and the way the characters often communicated. The way they talk is just too awkward. They are far too technical and stiff. I think if the author could work on making their communication more fluid and natural, it would improve the book greatly.
May 18, 2021
Kudos to this guy for writing and publishing several books. Most "aspiring " writers never even get close to what this author has put out.
However, the overall quality is 100% amateur, and would've benefitted immensely from an editor and a couple thousand dollars' worth of writing classes at the local community college. You'll find examples of this in the first page, and it's consistent throughout.
However, the overall quality is 100% amateur, and would've benefitted immensely from an editor and a couple thousand dollars' worth of writing classes at the local community college. You'll find examples of this in the first page, and it's consistent throughout.
September 19, 2022
This is a good story and start to a series. The setup at the start of the story is somewhat contrived and the Muslim “terrorists” didn’t really add anything to the story.
That is the ems of my complaints though. I think that as the story unfolds the fall of the civilised world is very plausible. It is the banal things that
you need to survive along with moments of abject terror. This comes across loud and clear.
The story is short but well paced and the narration is excellent.
That is the ems of my complaints though. I think that as the story unfolds the fall of the civilised world is very plausible. It is the banal things that
you need to survive along with moments of abject terror. This comes across loud and clear.
The story is short but well paced and the narration is excellent.
October 31, 2022
Some of the readers have complained about the relationship issues in the book. The first woman who attempted to use feminine wiles to secure food and comfort, I can understand. Let's face reality, a person will do whatever it takes to survive and many books of this genre don't address this head on.
The other two women including the main character's love interest are more believable. For the most part this is a decently written storyline.
The other two women including the main character's love interest are more believable. For the most part this is a decently written storyline.
June 24, 2025
Your typical murican survivor porn.
Literally described as an overweight middle aged guy magically inherits vast tracts of land just before a vague and super convenient apocalypse which was remarkably easy for him to survive but killed all of his male competitors and left only hot women (all of whom fancy him), children and evil people who cause problems which can be solved by rather easily killing them.
I mean, it passes the time I guess.
Literally described as an overweight middle aged guy magically inherits vast tracts of land just before a vague and super convenient apocalypse which was remarkably easy for him to survive but killed all of his male competitors and left only hot women (all of whom fancy him), children and evil people who cause problems which can be solved by rather easily killing them.
I mean, it passes the time I guess.
March 11, 2018
Excellent beginning book series.
This book is very well written and lets the reader enjoy the personalities of the characters. And all characters are well done!
The story is intriguing and follows a smooth course of true potential events. You won't be sorry you got this book! The author is very accomplished!
This book is very well written and lets the reader enjoy the personalities of the characters. And all characters are well done!
The story is intriguing and follows a smooth course of true potential events. You won't be sorry you got this book! The author is very accomplished!
March 15, 2018
I was rather pleasantly surprised. The synopsis read as an "every man" surviving, but then in the first chapter, he inherits land, cabins, money, etc which put him far ahead of every day Joe. But the book didn't turn into the unrealistic tale I expected. Instead, it stayed humble and homey in a way. Got me interested enough to read the second book.
June 21, 2018
Main character is too well setup for survival. Just happens to inherit a cabin in the woods from grandma? Just happens to ditch his bad fiance and bad friend, right before SHTF? Way too coincidental to be believable. If it stretches credibility beyond plausibility, it loses resonance. Character was just engaging enough to get me to Book #2, but then I lost interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2019
fine read
I enjoyed this book in the way it started out and how the story developed from there. I wish there had been more letters from the grandmother though and the explanation for the "treasures" buried so maybe more about the treasure hunts and the letters in book 2. before it spends in another direction. Enjoying the story so far.
I enjoyed this book in the way it started out and how the story developed from there. I wish there had been more letters from the grandmother though and the explanation for the "treasures" buried so maybe more about the treasure hunts and the letters in book 2. before it spends in another direction. Enjoying the story so far.
May 15, 2022
I enjoyed the story and idea of this book, but found some of the action to be difficult to believe. An overweight man who likes to hunt and fish is normal. But to kill someone and never show remorse or even depression about taking a life is not. P.T.S.D. would be big on this guy.... unless he was a serial killer in waiting. The rest was more realistic.
February 1, 2023
This is such an awful book series. It’s so bad it made me angry. What a load of drivel. The characters are just so two dimensional. The Berk is full of cliches and same old formulaic post Apoc pulp fiction. This is a book the should absolutely only have a place in the preppers library as a fire fuel or arse wipe.
January 2, 2024
Great read .
As the title states, it's the end of the world. Like the REM song.
Man moves into the mountains. His Grandmother left him lots of land and several cabins.
He has all kinds of books to help him navigate the new World.
He finds other survivors and they come to the mountains also.
.
As the title states, it's the end of the world. Like the REM song.
Man moves into the mountains. His Grandmother left him lots of land and several cabins.
He has all kinds of books to help him navigate the new World.
He finds other survivors and they come to the mountains also.
.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews