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What happens when all means of transportation and communication suddenly vanish? What happens when you can’t call for help? What happens when the only person you can rely on is yourself? What hppens when an EMP sends Washington DC back into the stone age? Find out now with this collection of unputdownable EMP thrillers.

EMP No Power

An EMP explodes over Washington DC and the world comes to screeching halt. As society falls into dismay, Harper Murphy, a skilled army quartermaster/single mother, charges headlong into the escalating chaos to save the only thing she holds dear: her son. In a world rife with chaos, how far would a mother go to protect her family?

Hideaway

Losing power was only the beginning, now one couple must work together to survive

James and Marla Weller are preparing for a relaxing weekend, when an unexpected blackout spreads far beyond their St. Louis suburb and starts a devastating chain reaction. But the disabled power grid was only the beginning of a national nightmare as their vehicles and cell phones won’t function either. A series of building explosions rock downtown, leading to a mandatory evacuation. Amid the chaos, the young couple must make a decision on where to go. A possible solution emerges when a self-proclaimed survivalist offers them refuge in his remote cabin far from the city and away from the chaos. But James and Marla soon discover that survival isn’t as clear as they think, and that escape can lead to dangers all its own. 

618 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2018

1416 people are currently reading
279 people want to read

About the author

J.S. Donovan

105 books137 followers

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5 stars
214 (41%)
4 stars
158 (30%)
3 stars
93 (17%)
2 stars
37 (7%)
1 star
18 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for David.
221 reviews4 followers
December 2, 2019
This review contains spoiler alerts and somewhat strong language.

This set was pure garbage. I would have given this crap zero stars if I could. For Christ's sake, the book description on this very page pissed me off. No electrical power sets DC back to the Stone Age? Try the 1880s. This story is "unputdownable"? Fuck you.

After the EMP is a two story set: EMP and Hideaway by J.S. Donovan and Roger Hayden. Not sure who wrote which, or if they collaborated. Both were terrible. I'm guessing these two "authors" aren't the literary types since they broke the most basic writing rules when creating this nonsensical drivel.

First, write what you know about. Everything they wrote about the military was embarrassing and laughable. Don't write a military character if you don't know anything about it. At least do some research.

Second, show it. Don't say it. You don't have to say why the characters are doing each of their actions and what their thought process is. That's your thought process. Not the theirs. It pulls the reader/listener from the story. Show what they're doing through their actions. Their intentions should be obvious or implied.

So, for the first set, EMP, I hated. Pure garbage. There was no style. The characters were flat and bland. The character Harper was a good idea, but since she's the hero in this drab tale, then she should have suffered some real losses. James was a pointless character. He should have died back in DC, probably by her hand. Her son should have been killed before her eyes. Which leads me to my next gripe, the villains were watered down versions of school yard bullies.

The bad guys in these stories were hardly bad. The writers must have a weak imaginations if they can't come up with some nefarious, diabolical shit in a post-apocalyptic setting. You would think if they were bad guys they'd have bad language, at least. It's like this whole scenario was written by a Mormon. The main bad guy, Brandi, (seriously? Brandi?) was some scrawny, little blonde guy who somehow had an army of outcasts and drug addicts. Wouldn't that be like wrangling cats? Junkies and loners aren't exactly keen on being told what to do. But, hey, the lights went out, so I guess all bets are off.

I listened to this story on Audible, like a fool. But luckily, I was able to speed up the narration just to get through it. And after I finished the terrible story with Harper and got into the next pile of garbage with James and Marla, I was slightly less disappointed. At least Hideaway attempted some sort of style with the storytelling. They opened with the point of view of an adolescent boy far into the world after the power went out, then went back to the beginning. (Actually a really good storytelling method). He attempted to write the story from different points of view between James and Marla, even if they didn't match up. This earned the one star.

Honestly, I didn't even finish the story. Once it got to the point where the escaped convicts abducted Marla and other women for good old fashioned raping, and they didn't even kill the men, I was done. What a fucking unrealistic situation. The escaped cons would have murdered anybody who got in their way. For these terrible, abhorable, villains, there is no point in letting guys live after you take their women. There would be a whole lot more raping, thieving, and killing going on.

And why has everything fallen apart so quickly? The power went out. Why would everything go to hell so quickly? Why would the government take the time and resources to start putting residents of suburb communities into camps, within 24 hours of the event? Wouldn't it be better to keep them in their neighborhoods and homes? How would they have that much space to relocate the entirety of the American populace into camps? Doesn't make any sense.

The narrators were God awful. Cheryl May and Ramona Master. The rough, grizzled voices they used to read the male characters, you would think they had never heard men talk before.

This whole fucking thing was so poorly thought out. Why would everything go to hell so quickly just because the power went out? You'd think there would just be some confusion for a few days at least. Then some frustration and impatience. Then maybe some light pillaging. Probably some unrest in the big cities. But things wouldn't go to hell in a handbasket as soon as cars wouldn't start. Fucking ridiculous.

Don't bother with this garbage. I have no idea why this has 4.01 stars on goodreads. And, unfortunately, I have wasted too much time listening to what I did of the story, and writing this review.
Profile Image for Kel.
264 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2019
Confusing.

What frustrated me as a reader was that the last book in this set doesn’t seem to be related character wise to the other books. I had so much trouble finishing this boxset.
The author has done well in terms of the idea yet I’m not sure I’ll read more of their work. I’m sorry it was just difficult.
Profile Image for neil ferguson.
3 reviews
July 4, 2019
Shined?

Awful, truly awful. The only interest i had was counting the number of times the author used the word 'shined'. It's 'shone' FFS. Get a proof reader or spellchecker otherwise no-one will ever take you seriously.
30 reviews
February 1, 2019
Had to stop reading because I was simply rooting for James and Marla to be shot in the face!
3 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2019
Lots of enjoyable reading with characters who will grow on you

The writer does a very good job of showing how an EMP event could impact the lives of various Americans as they go about their everyday lives. Individual stories show the reactions from a National Guard Sgt, a prepper couple, a writer, the President, etc. Great character development, lots of anarchy, fried cars, and struggles to get the grid back. Well worth reading! If you don't know what an EMP is please start researching! P.S. To J.S. Donovan - you really are doing a disservice to yourself by not proofreading your work. If it is a question of cost I would volunteer to do it for free!
491 reviews2 followers
December 10, 2018
Good pack!

I liked how it was the same event just different areas and people. I liked the first grouping better and was more invested in their outcome. James in the last group was a menace! At first his wife was annoying when they were very lucky and completely took it for granted! They repaid the generosity they received with betrayal, whining, and destruction. I think the unsung heroes were Larry and Carol who helped and forgave then helped again. The characters were interesting and covered a wide range of what you might run into in a post apocalyptic scenario.
Profile Image for Dena.
4,465 reviews12 followers
December 17, 2018
To much together

I thought this was a good way to set up the series. However I would have liked that the 2 was separated. The first series about Harper were intriguing and fascinating because it was the woman kicking butt and taking names. The second part I wasn't so stoked about. I felt a little off because of the heroine from the previous book. Plus it was the POV of a 12 year old that started it off.
506 reviews3 followers
November 29, 2018
An EPIC READ!!

After I started the first book, I realized that I had read it a long time ago. It was an AWESOME READ the second time around!!
The second story, I had either only read up to James and Marla getting to the Church and meeting Sheriff Davis. Because. Every thing after that, was a total surprise!!
A MUST read, if you are looking for an AWESOME read!!
40 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2019
A Terrific Read

I literally couldn't put this series down! Every chapter feels like a cliffhanger leaving you needy for the next!! Much of the time I felt almost short of breath......that feeling you get in your chest when you're totally excited to see whatever's coming. Just...wow!
Profile Image for Catherine Merideth.
2 reviews
January 29, 2019
Great read,

There are a lot of EMP thrillers out there right now. Of the 20 or so books I’ve read this is by far the best. Good plot twists that do not rely on the same theme repackaged in every chapter. All around great writing. My only criticism regards basic editing. There were errors on every other page which detracted from the work. Otherwise high praise!
25 reviews
August 6, 2019
Larry and Carol; Marla and James

I bought these novels as a set. The first novel was the best of the three. The concept and action took the EMP in a different, interesting, action read. I wish the other two had been as new and progressive. The final novels dragged on and on as so many EMP novels tend to do.
6,028 reviews45 followers
December 8, 2019
In trying to help those around her, she nearly lost everything and everyone most dear to her.

When does personal good over ride the needs of country and community and when is it just the cost of community and communal freedom.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
26 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2020
Fascinating

I thought that the expanding plot was ingenious and the character's and story line were so easy to assimilate that it all just flowed from one set to the other.
I assume we can look first to a recovery under martial law and a new world over where USA and it's allied can be victorious. Well done that man.
Gramps
32 reviews
February 21, 2019
Good read

Good, a couple of characters needed a little more fleshing out, in my humble opinion. Very quick ending, was a say what? That's it? Type ending, but it was good way to end it really.
Profile Image for Lori.
78 reviews
April 21, 2019
Plot was ok but way too many typos

I love apocalyptic dystopian novels. The EMP series filled that, but there was way too many descriptive details in the beginning and many typos in the later books.
Profile Image for Tamara Bell.
54 reviews
October 13, 2019
Interesting read but needs more editing

So many typos made this potentially interesting or entertaining read just annoying. So many grammatical errors which serves to distract from the story.
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,241 reviews8 followers
October 25, 2019
This is a pretty good compilation of several EMP style disaster books. Generally it has the first two or three books in a series and then moves to the next. The authors have some good ideas and situational information. It was definitely not a fast read, but well worth the time.
338 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2019
Not a satisfactory ending

There was extreme violence and bloodshed in this book. If that’s your thing you might enjoy the book. The biggest disappointment was the ending. There really wasn’t one. It just ended without a satisfactory conclusion to any of the storylines.
Profile Image for Mary Ann.
2,746 reviews11 followers
March 8, 2020
The first set f books has GI Jane showing everyone how to get things moving while the second set of books used the same names for the two leading characters who do not exhibit the same common sense seen in the first set.
Profile Image for Vera.
35 reviews
November 24, 2018
Good Read

Good read about what will happen to society in the event of an EMP. I would highly recommend this series of books
162 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2018
Frightening!

Kept me glued to the page. Sometimes I could not sleep thinking about the possibility of things happening just like this in our time. I pray they never do.
7 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2019
After the EMP

This story kept me on the edge of my seat with the turn of every page! Marla drove me crazy but I loved the rest of the characters!
143 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2019
Not bad

Not a bad book to read but i was irritated at the way James and his wife thought sometimes. I did finish it though
2 reviews
January 13, 2019
Hard to put down!!

The difference between good and evil will make you think which is best side to be on. This book helped me to know my choice. Goodreads!!!
1 review
February 16, 2019
Excellent

This story is about what can happen if we are in a position that we have never been in before and is full of action from beginning to end. A good read.
Profile Image for PATRICIA BATES.
103 reviews3 followers
March 1, 2019
After thevEMP

Parts of this book were very good and exciting although some of it was unbelievable. Scary to think this could actually happen
Profile Image for Aileen Jakaub.
16 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2019
Loved it.

Would love to read more of James and Marla’s story. I’m sure they have better days ahead. Thank you 😀
3 reviews
May 23, 2019
Awesome

Been reading a lot of emp doomsday books lately this was clearly one of my favorites. Great plot and fast paced.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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