The Aftermath

A Great State #2

by Shelby Gallagher

In The Aftermath, Julie Atwood is settling into a new normal in remote Smoky Flats, along with her son and father. While the U.S. continues spiraling into violence and instability, Julie and her family hone their survival skills as they prepare to endure their first harsh winter in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Joining with others and building new friendships, Julie bolsters Smoky Flats' security, sense of community, and commerce among residents. Together, they protect themselves from outside intruders, mountain lions, and food shortages. Meanwhile, back in Oregon, life for Julie's ex-husband, Steve, and his new infant, worsens. He falls victim to a crumbling employment sector and housing crisis, and is forced to live in horrendous conditions while working to further a radical liberal agenda. His money and supplies are quickly dwindling, and nearby protests are becoming more violent. Before long, Steve is beholden to a local gang and their demands on him become a matter of life or death. Although hundreds of miles apart, Julie and Steve's worlds collide when circumstances become so grim that he is forced to ask for Julie's help to save his daughter's life. Julie is now faced with a dilemma. She must weigh her moral obligation to help an innocent person against putting her own life in danger to do so. In this second book of the A Great State trilogy, the everyday realities for those who prepared clash with the realities of those who did not. Lives are lost, and danger and uncertainty creep around every corner. Despite it all, there remains a sense of hope and renewal, and a vision for a future when people and the country can thrive again.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

289 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2018

About the author

Shelby Gallagher is a pseudonym. Shelby resides in the Pacific Northwest. She writes from her first-hand experience working in and around state capitols and has observed why a collapse is coming and how it may unfold. She is a parent and active prepper.

Reviews

[cindy bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I’m a reader not a writer so my review is not very flowery..Shelby brings the story to life for the reader (me). I can see the camps in the minds eye and it scares me that it could really happen that way. Such a great story line. Looking forward to the next one.

[Ian Denner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good

I did not enjoy this book at all. After finishing the first book I was looking forward to this one with high expectations, but I was greatly disappointed. The book started off where the first one ended but lost the plot completely. When the ex-husband became involved with the baby that he wanted to give up for "adoption" and then Ned's ex-wife moved in... It just got too much.

[Jonathan Roseland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this series is, I think, better written, and the story really starts to pick up. We see the desolation of liberal Portland, and the survival struggle of non-preppers in a collapsing city, reading about this is a cathartic pleasure for a right-winger, frankly.

In the story, there's this very slowly developing romance between the heroine Julie and this old fashioned Colorado mountain man, Ned. I described this to my wife (who is pretty "red pilled" on women)...
There's this real "provider male" in the story, who serves and protects Julie selflessly and volunteers to go on this insane mission with her to save her ex-husband's bastard child, and she likes him, but he just such a gentleman that he won't make a move and kiss her. But I'm sure that in the story they end up together...
My wife responded That's bullshit. In real life, Ned would lose her as soon as some "bad boy" shows up who is a little more aggressive!
My pet peeve is that in real life these kinds of provider males get royally screwed out of love, the women they spend so much time serving will hop on the bad boy's motorcycle as soon as he shows up - so the notion that it all pays off the provider male is wholly fictional. But maybe this will change in the collapse.

Nevertheless, look forward to reading the 3rd book.

[Mattster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelby is writing a great comparison between characters that failed to prepare and are stuck unarmed in a city as it descends into chaos and a character who prepared and is dealing with the hard work that living in the country all the time equals. The portrayal of what mass population area's will turn into in a collapse, is disturbingly accurate and should cause one to be prepared and do whatever it takes to not be in that situation. Another book torn from the next days headlines.

[Lettie Loo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy guacamole.
I thought Book 1 was good, but this one blew it out of the water. The tension and reality that the characters faced, along with the tough decisions, I LOVE it. I've got Book 3 ready to read.
And the sad thing is...I can see this happening to the US in our near future. I'm ready...are you?

[Jo Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic. Frighteningly accurate perceptions of innocent moral expectations being met by depravity, and the true state of the world

I highly recommend this book, to open the eyes of life on the streets, and what we can honestly expect.

[Cynthia Rennolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great trilogy of post apocalyptic fiction

Ripped from today’s headlines, Shelby Gallagher has created a storyline that grabs you and keeps your attention as you try to find the line between reality and fiction. Her characters are well developed and evoke emotion. Highly recommend!

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Major sigh when they decided to build a rifle range using hay bales as a backstop. Rounds would pass through those without even slowing down. People that don't know anything about guns should never include them in their story lines.

[Gerald H. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding

I really like the way Shelby switched from location to location keeping me spell bound. Keep up the great work, can’t wait for volume 3

[Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

I like the female perspective and the way the characters feel real. I look forward to the next book. The situation certainly feels like it could happen.

[Joan L Huffman MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

The AfterMath

Resourceful people counter depravity and horror. Will they succeed in their plans to get the baby out of harms way?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong women play a major role in this book. I love it.