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EMP Survival in a Powerless World #11
The Final Homestead
After an EMP strike leaves the country with no power or communications, James Bowers, a fourth-generation cattle rancher, must rescue his wife and son from the chaos engulfing San Antonio, Texas. But with so many unprepared, James discovers more than one type of enemy.
- GenresPost ApocalypticFiction
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2019
1370 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
James Hunt
167 books229 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
James Hunt's passion for writing began at an early age. While his journal of yesteryear may never be the work of great fiction, he's been working hard every day since then to bring pages to life. James has well over a decade of writing under his belt, but his professional career in literature didn't take off until 2014.
James currently lives in Orlando, FL and when he's not pounding away at the keyboard you can find him at the theater or somewhere outside enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
James Hunt's passion for writing began at an early age. While his journal of yesteryear may never be the work of great fiction, he's been working hard every day since then to bring pages to life. James has well over a decade of writing under his belt, but his professional career in literature didn't take off until 2014.
James currently lives in Orlando, FL and when he's not pounding away at the keyboard you can find him at the theater or somewhere outside enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
March 21, 2019
At least the grammar was ok
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I find lazy writers highly annoying. Add poorly thought out story lines and you have a recipe for disaster.
Let's see, our hero's Humvee is immune to EMP because it's a 1964? Oh, come on, really? The development of the Humvee began in 1983 and it wasn't in widespread military use until the 1990s. It's often portrayed as surviving an EMP because the electronics are hardened against it.
And mortars are little cannons that lob shells hundreds of yards up to a mile or more... They are not buried explosives, those are called mines. Lots more silliness regarding military hardware too.
Then we have a third world nutcase who puts together an army that starts out at a thousand men but somehow ends up being just a bit over a hundred by the time the big battle comes at the end. What's never explained is how this nut gets hold of an 'EMP device' and uses it to cripple the entire country (which her is going to destroy with his thousand/hundred man army and one nuclear weapon.
By the way, don't ask where the US military is during all this, they must be hiding in fear of this South American army that has invaded the most heavily armed state in the union and destroyed a city without encountering any resistance except one rancher and a few hands.
The most generous description I can give this one is sophomoric... And that's being generous indeed.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I find lazy writers highly annoying. Add poorly thought out story lines and you have a recipe for disaster.
Let's see, our hero's Humvee is immune to EMP because it's a 1964? Oh, come on, really? The development of the Humvee began in 1983 and it wasn't in widespread military use until the 1990s. It's often portrayed as surviving an EMP because the electronics are hardened against it.
And mortars are little cannons that lob shells hundreds of yards up to a mile or more... They are not buried explosives, those are called mines. Lots more silliness regarding military hardware too.
Then we have a third world nutcase who puts together an army that starts out at a thousand men but somehow ends up being just a bit over a hundred by the time the big battle comes at the end. What's never explained is how this nut gets hold of an 'EMP device' and uses it to cripple the entire country (which her is going to destroy with his thousand/hundred man army and one nuclear weapon.
By the way, don't ask where the US military is during all this, they must be hiding in fear of this South American army that has invaded the most heavily armed state in the union and destroyed a city without encountering any resistance except one rancher and a few hands.
The most generous description I can give this one is sophomoric... And that's being generous indeed.
March 27, 2019
As others mention it starts off fairly interesting but then gets really strange really quick. Feels like the book really needed an editor as there are glaring errors that take you out of the story.
First, the scale of everything is off. The book goes from a normal day to complete anarchy with people brutally murdering each other in the streets within hours. People go from being untrained nurses that had held a gun a few times to grizzled battle veterans able to successfully fight against dozens of trained mercenaries in 48 hours. The invading "army" which apparently brought the U.S. military to their knees was...like 200 people? Not to mention the army's main concern isn't the military or national guard or thousands of other armed ranchers, but apparently the main character's tiny ranch becomes their sole focus.
The author will spend tons of time painting a picture of things that interest him such as prepping and religion, but then then spend a sentence to gloss over a long, crucial series of events. Characters just magically whisk around without much explanation of why.
There's also just a ton of errors. Vehicles that don't exist (1960s Humvees?), characters swapping names by mistake, continuity mistakes. I'd recommend the author find a good editor (or fire their current one if they had one) and try again as there are flashes of talent in this.
First, the scale of everything is off. The book goes from a normal day to complete anarchy with people brutally murdering each other in the streets within hours. People go from being untrained nurses that had held a gun a few times to grizzled battle veterans able to successfully fight against dozens of trained mercenaries in 48 hours. The invading "army" which apparently brought the U.S. military to their knees was...like 200 people? Not to mention the army's main concern isn't the military or national guard or thousands of other armed ranchers, but apparently the main character's tiny ranch becomes their sole focus.
The author will spend tons of time painting a picture of things that interest him such as prepping and religion, but then then spend a sentence to gloss over a long, crucial series of events. Characters just magically whisk around without much explanation of why.
There's also just a ton of errors. Vehicles that don't exist (1960s Humvees?), characters swapping names by mistake, continuity mistakes. I'd recommend the author find a good editor (or fire their current one if they had one) and try again as there are flashes of talent in this.
April 16, 2019
The Final Homestead caused me do do something I have done only a few times in all of years I have been an avid reader. I actually, on purpose, put the book down for a few hours because it was so intense. This book is an excellent example of the term action-packed. And while I am a huge fan of multi-book series it is a welcome change to get the entire story in one incredible novel. There are three or four instances where the author chose curse words to be included in his dialogue and I, personally, do not think the use improved the book at all. There are a few typos but I have found many errors in other books that were published by huge commercial publishing houses so it's no big deal. I enjoyed it immensely, I cried and I laughed as I devoured it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I have every intention of reading more of Mr. Hunt's work.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2019
Great read!
Very good read.. I enjoyed the suspense and couldn't book the book down for long.. I recommend this book to those who love a good suspense novel.
Very good read.. I enjoyed the suspense and couldn't book the book down for long.. I recommend this book to those who love a good suspense novel.
March 18, 2019
Don't read if you have any medical knowledge.
Just no.. poorly written. If he had AVS, why not just get a valve replacement? And so much more....just no.
Just no.. poorly written. If he had AVS, why not just get a valve replacement? And so much more....just no.
April 5, 2019
This story takes the EMP phenomenon, which is so popular in fiction writing today, and gives it an interesting perspective. What I missed in the story though was the specific reasoning behind the detonations. The terrorists were preparing to assemble a nuclear bomb too. Okay. But I felt I needed to know more about these people. It was mentioned in passing that they wanted to take back from - and kill - those who had what they did not. Maybe I missed something more. We learn that they’re terrorists that the CIA is aware of, and members of the makeshift army in this story were organized to attack the southern US border. How did they train and organize, how did they pull off the EMPs? What about the other factions of this terrorist group? Maybe this is all just not relevant to this story, but I wondered about it anyway.
The ending was a bit too quick and neat. But all in all I really did enjoy the story.
A big problem with this book is the editing, especially those instances where even the characters are mixed up in different situations. Plus there are several occurrences of an action happening in one paragraph and then happening again in the next. (Full hardy...I mean, foolhardy.)
The ending was a bit too quick and neat. But all in all I really did enjoy the story.
A big problem with this book is the editing, especially those instances where even the characters are mixed up in different situations. Plus there are several occurrences of an action happening in one paragraph and then happening again in the next. (Full hardy...I mean, foolhardy.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2019
So much potential wasted
This is obviously the work of someone who has not a single clue about military and did zero research. He has humvees 20 years before they were made. He keeps referring to 50 caliber as artillery and switching description of effects at random. He has the main character acting like a highly trained veteran from range time. I am pretty sure the writer has spent little if any time at a range. The bad guys are comic book level caricatures. They however are dropping enough buildings block people from fleeing a major city in foot by the use of only small arms or what light troops carry. In one part the main character suddenly has a completely different weapon which swaps back later without any text that he changed weapons during a scene where he could not physically performed certain actions without the unexplained swap. Seriously write fantasy next time because then you could use magic as to how. The sad part is he has talent with dialog but insists on using specific details that are wrong.
This is obviously the work of someone who has not a single clue about military and did zero research. He has humvees 20 years before they were made. He keeps referring to 50 caliber as artillery and switching description of effects at random. He has the main character acting like a highly trained veteran from range time. I am pretty sure the writer has spent little if any time at a range. The bad guys are comic book level caricatures. They however are dropping enough buildings block people from fleeing a major city in foot by the use of only small arms or what light troops carry. In one part the main character suddenly has a completely different weapon which swaps back later without any text that he changed weapons during a scene where he could not physically performed certain actions without the unexplained swap. Seriously write fantasy next time because then you could use magic as to how. The sad part is he has talent with dialog but insists on using specific details that are wrong.
June 21, 2019
This is a good story in some respects and stretches the imagination in others. The pepper aspect was pretty good and the response to the EMP was also good, however a group of rogue outlaws or paramilitary antagonists was a little far fetched. Immediately after a disaster like an EMP if a group started walking down the street murdering people they would be met with police, and possibly even military response. The police would present a significant resistance and a military response would be overwhelming so they wouldn't get very far.
The results of the EMP seemed plausible and the recovery by society seemed to me to be pretty accurate. The characters were well developed and you empathize with them, and not all the hero's survive, which lends a realistic aspect to the story.
The results of the EMP seemed plausible and the recovery by society seemed to me to be pretty accurate. The characters were well developed and you empathize with them, and not all the hero's survive, which lends a realistic aspect to the story.
July 20, 2020
Good Read
I liked this book. It is a good, suspenseful, fast-paced book. It could have been a little longer with more development of some of the side characters. I'm a retired RT, so I pick on medical stuff: some of the medical stuff was stretching it a bit. There was a beautifully written part towards the end, that I myself would have let go entirely the other direction, but that's just me, and I do like what the author wrote. This book was fun, and the author took me out of worrying about a loved one who has the 'Rona. Thank you, James Hunt!! The book took me about 10 hours to read; it was good enough that I just read straight through, didn't want to put it down. Well done!! Read and enjoy, everybody.
I liked this book. It is a good, suspenseful, fast-paced book. It could have been a little longer with more development of some of the side characters. I'm a retired RT, so I pick on medical stuff: some of the medical stuff was stretching it a bit. There was a beautifully written part towards the end, that I myself would have let go entirely the other direction, but that's just me, and I do like what the author wrote. This book was fun, and the author took me out of worrying about a loved one who has the 'Rona. Thank you, James Hunt!! The book took me about 10 hours to read; it was good enough that I just read straight through, didn't want to put it down. Well done!! Read and enjoy, everybody.
April 5, 2019
Awful, boring, very poor writing.
I like to read dystopian books because I enjoy seeing how people rebuild and learn to cope with their new reality. As a child, Swiss Family Robinson and Earth Abides were my favorite books. If that is what you enjoy, this book is not for you.
If you enjoy detailed and graphic descriptions of people dying, being burned alive: if you enjoy page after page of gunfights, this book is for you. That is if you can overlook the tortured semantics, the sentences which don't make any sense and the constant mixing up of names. Obviously no-one ever proof read this book before it was published!
I like to read dystopian books because I enjoy seeing how people rebuild and learn to cope with their new reality. As a child, Swiss Family Robinson and Earth Abides were my favorite books. If that is what you enjoy, this book is not for you.
If you enjoy detailed and graphic descriptions of people dying, being burned alive: if you enjoy page after page of gunfights, this book is for you. That is if you can overlook the tortured semantics, the sentences which don't make any sense and the constant mixing up of names. Obviously no-one ever proof read this book before it was published!
April 24, 2019
Good story but repetitive
I enjoyed this book even though it became overly redundant and corny in the repetitive build up of the characters. Alright already, I get it that they are all selfless and incredibly brave. And near the end when three people take on an army ... come on! I know it's fiction but this really stretches it.
Another thing that bothers me is how was the original EMP set off ?? Loose ends right off the bat. If I hadn't read other books with EMP's I wouldn't have had a clue how they were set off.
I enjoyed this book even though it became overly redundant and corny in the repetitive build up of the characters. Alright already, I get it that they are all selfless and incredibly brave. And near the end when three people take on an army ... come on! I know it's fiction but this really stretches it.
Another thing that bothers me is how was the original EMP set off ?? Loose ends right off the bat. If I hadn't read other books with EMP's I wouldn't have had a clue how they were set off.
June 8, 2019
Great book with super conclusion
As Mr, Hunts books develop, they bring such new and different twists that you are second guessing your own deductive reasoning. The whole series keeps you wishing this one doesn't end but already you are anticipating the next thrilling one. I've read m o st of Edgar Rick Burroughs fantasies and Tarzan books and somewhere realized that Burroughs wrote serials parts for weekly publication. Mr. Hunt makes the thrill of anticipation , as does Mr. Burroughs, a thrill in itself. Great read!!
As Mr, Hunts books develop, they bring such new and different twists that you are second guessing your own deductive reasoning. The whole series keeps you wishing this one doesn't end but already you are anticipating the next thrilling one. I've read m o st of Edgar Rick Burroughs fantasies and Tarzan books and somewhere realized that Burroughs wrote serials parts for weekly publication. Mr. Hunt makes the thrill of anticipation , as does Mr. Burroughs, a thrill in itself. Great read!!
September 4, 2024
action packed
This book was so full of action that I couldn’t put it down. It focuses on preppers, and shows that even when you think you’re ready for anything, you’re probably not. I like this author and most of his stuff. I really couldn’t file any inconsistencies in this book, although occasionally, There are tiny grammatical errors, and the names of the characters got mixed up, but you were able to figure out what is going on and move forward. Definitely worth reading! And now, I feel like I have to get more serious about my prepping!
This book was so full of action that I couldn’t put it down. It focuses on preppers, and shows that even when you think you’re ready for anything, you’re probably not. I like this author and most of his stuff. I really couldn’t file any inconsistencies in this book, although occasionally, There are tiny grammatical errors, and the names of the characters got mixed up, but you were able to figure out what is going on and move forward. Definitely worth reading! And now, I feel like I have to get more serious about my prepping!
March 7, 2019
This is a well written story; the plot is easy to follow, and you can’t help but root for certain characters. Once I began reading this book I was reluctant to put it down, but my son required food! I really enjoy this author’s style of writing and although I received a free ARC copy via booksprout I enjoyed it so much that I purchased my own copy also. I love this genre and I love this author’s books.
March 12, 2019
This book is so scary because EMPs are not only possible, they are likely in some distant future and could disrupt the world as we know it. I found this to be a very good read and to be very compelling. I hope everyone is at least somewhat prepared. It doesn't take a conspiracy to cause an EMP, just an extreme cold front.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2019
Awesome Story
This was a great book to read which I normally do at bedtime 🌙. I stayed awake longer than usual because I didn't want to put it down. It catches you in the beginning with a great start and you're sucked in. There were a few names in the wrong places but easy to follow without being confused, other than that it was Jan packed with excitement. I even teared up a few times. Great story!
This was a great book to read which I normally do at bedtime 🌙. I stayed awake longer than usual because I didn't want to put it down. It catches you in the beginning with a great start and you're sucked in. There were a few names in the wrong places but easy to follow without being confused, other than that it was Jan packed with excitement. I even teared up a few times. Great story!
April 9, 2019
About what I expected....
I did enjoy this book; however, I do think some things were a little far-fetched and I'm still confused by what happened when James fell in the river while riding his horse... it seems like a part of the story was skipped at that point.
I went back and forth on whether I should give 3 or 4 stars... I would've given 3.50 stars if that had been an option but since it wasn't, and I did overall enjoy the story, 4 stars it is.
I did enjoy this book; however, I do think some things were a little far-fetched and I'm still confused by what happened when James fell in the river while riding his horse... it seems like a part of the story was skipped at that point.
I went back and forth on whether I should give 3 or 4 stars... I would've given 3.50 stars if that had been an option but since it wasn't, and I did overall enjoy the story, 4 stars it is.
April 20, 2019
Edge of your seat read
Very exciting book. Read it all without stopping. I can really see this happening in our country. I also enjoyed the fact that it was a full story in one book no waiting for months to find out what happens. I find myself more and more skipping to the last page to make sure that it is a single book read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed this type of story.
Very exciting book. Read it all without stopping. I can really see this happening in our country. I also enjoyed the fact that it was a full story in one book no waiting for months to find out what happens. I find myself more and more skipping to the last page to make sure that it is a single book read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed this type of story.
September 1, 2019
AWESOME!
James Hunt is such an awesome writer! This EMP was a little different; I like the idea that it was the terrorist was mainly Americans. I also like that James the Rancher was a prepper with a heart and him wanting to safe others helped bring the terrorist group down. Some of the people that died was heart wrenching and didn’t expect to see them die so soon in the story.
James Hunt is such an awesome writer! This EMP was a little different; I like the idea that it was the terrorist was mainly Americans. I also like that James the Rancher was a prepper with a heart and him wanting to safe others helped bring the terrorist group down. Some of the people that died was heart wrenching and didn’t expect to see them die so soon in the story.
September 11, 2019
While the "inciting group" is a little over the top and reminds me of some of William Johnstone's 80's and 90's work, it works well for this particular story. The element serves as a major pusher to get the story moving. Hunt proceeds to grab the reader by the arm and take into an interesting situation. Give this book a read if you like J.A. and William Johnstone or just love a rocking good story that will have you on the edge of your seat on minute and crying the next.
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July 25, 2021Great Story
Great story with action moving from the very being. The plot moves along and holds the reader's interest. Strong characters, some who are women.
This book does need additional editing. Names were mixed up which makes for some confusion. The length of the books are longer so you don't have to read a bunch of short books, which if find distracting.
If you are an EMP fan, you will enjoy these books!
Great story with action moving from the very being. The plot moves along and holds the reader's interest. Strong characters, some who are women.
This book does need additional editing. Names were mixed up which makes for some confusion. The length of the books are longer so you don't have to read a bunch of short books, which if find distracting.
If you are an EMP fan, you will enjoy these books!
August 14, 2022
Wow!
This one was worth reading through the night for!
I was terrified turning the pages! The people involved... the good and the bad!!
The scenery was so good, I felt like I was right there fighting each battle!
So many people that grabbed my heart, I wanted to pull them from the pages.
When you are done reading, you reflect on the amazing strength of love and honor that kept all of them fighting together.
Read this book! It's more than worth your time.
This one was worth reading through the night for!
I was terrified turning the pages! The people involved... the good and the bad!!
The scenery was so good, I felt like I was right there fighting each battle!
So many people that grabbed my heart, I wanted to pull them from the pages.
When you are done reading, you reflect on the amazing strength of love and honor that kept all of them fighting together.
Read this book! It's more than worth your time.
June 28, 2024
One of the things that I love about this particular book was that not everyone is healthy and perfect, and the best shot in the entire world. Let real life shine through and I appreciate that.. like that question of when do people in zombie movies go pee? What happens if your glasses break. These things aren’t usually in books or movies, not those two things are addressed in this one but other real life things are.
Highly recommend.
Narration was great.
Highly recommend.
Narration was great.
November 20, 2025
real thing
Finally a character, James Bowers, comes to the realization of what he up against early on. My opinion, take it or leave it, is simply that if this happens we Americans will not squander in self pity and pointless hope that the evil is not so evil, but will rise up and meet it head on. James Bowers is the first in all the books to this conclusion early on in the story. Really enjoyed this one the most so far.
Finally a character, James Bowers, comes to the realization of what he up against early on. My opinion, take it or leave it, is simply that if this happens we Americans will not squander in self pity and pointless hope that the evil is not so evil, but will rise up and meet it head on. James Bowers is the first in all the books to this conclusion early on in the story. Really enjoyed this one the most so far.
March 3, 2019
Thrilling book of survival!
James and his family have been preparing their home and ranch for what could happen and when the EMP hits, they are ready! But not everyone is and James must decide to keep just his family alive or help others. Very thrilling book of what just may be in our own future!
James and his family have been preparing their home and ranch for what could happen and when the EMP hits, they are ready! But not everyone is and James must decide to keep just his family alive or help others. Very thrilling book of what just may be in our own future!
March 15, 2019
Started off really good, but...
This started off as a really good book and I really enjoyed it at the start. Then the book took a unusual turn and it was so weird to have a foreign army worrying about a farmer, before they even met him. The book goes downhill from there. The only reason I finished the book, was to see if it got better again...
This started off as a really good book and I really enjoyed it at the start. Then the book took a unusual turn and it was so weird to have a foreign army worrying about a farmer, before they even met him. The book goes downhill from there. The only reason I finished the book, was to see if it got better again...
April 2, 2019
Ill conceived prepper novel full of factual inaccuracies and editing errors.
P.S. When I read a novel such as this I wind up speed reading or skimming over the last half or so just to get through. This causes a problem if I immediately start another book. I have to stop myself from speed reading the new book and must back up and start again.
P.S. When I read a novel such as this I wind up speed reading or skimming over the last half or so just to get through. This causes a problem if I immediately start another book. I have to stop myself from speed reading the new book and must back up and start again.
April 24, 2019
A must read
This is most definitely different from your usual, run of the mill SHTF novel and it's so GOOD. It's a wrap you up, drag you under, not let you go page turner. It's hard to even review it because you want to talk about the characters, the story, and everything that happens.
This is most definitely different from your usual, run of the mill SHTF novel and it's so GOOD. It's a wrap you up, drag you under, not let you go page turner. It's hard to even review it because you want to talk about the characters, the story, and everything that happens.
April 27, 2019
Complete
It seems that authors can write a complete story and one book this one is terrific and full of tension and bad guys. There are a lot of battle scenes and fight scenes if you like that kind of thing you’ll love this book.Some of the good guys Die I didn’t like that but I guess the author wanted to be realistic. You can always depend on a good story from James Hunt.
It seems that authors can write a complete story and one book this one is terrific and full of tension and bad guys. There are a lot of battle scenes and fight scenes if you like that kind of thing you’ll love this book.Some of the good guys Die I didn’t like that but I guess the author wanted to be realistic. You can always depend on a good story from James Hunt.
May 7, 2019
Outlandish
I've read many EMP aftermath books, and unfortunately this is just another almost impossible scenario, where the main character is a prepper....with everthing, warehouse between big city and ranch he lives on, caches of equipment everywhere, escape tunnel from home to bunker, mortars around his home.....etc, etc
I've read many EMP aftermath books, and unfortunately this is just another almost impossible scenario, where the main character is a prepper....with everthing, warehouse between big city and ranch he lives on, caches of equipment everywhere, escape tunnel from home to bunker, mortars around his home.....etc, etc
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews