What do you think?
Rate this book
Island Refuge EMP #1
Escaping Conflict
They must adapt in order to survive when the lights go out.
After leaving college, Elna Pasqualee is determined to bring her family’s California vineyard into the twenty-first century. She hopes her diligent efforts will finally earn her father’s respect and keep visitors safe and comfortable.
But all her hopes for the future are dashed with the EMP attack.
Broadcasts offer only a brief warning before missile strikes wipe out all power and communications across North America. The idyllic setting on the private island quickly sours as food and water to sustain the Pasqualees and their guests grow scarce and life becomes a fight for survival. A fight further complicated when they are cut off from the mainland – and an unexpected assailant threatens their lives.
Someone is stalking one of the guests, hiding out on the island and sabotaging Elna’s desperate efforts to sustain their source of fresh water. When her father goes missing and another guest is gravely injured, remaining on the island isn’t an option.
But even if they reach the mainland, there are no longer guarantees of safety in a world where science and reason have descended into post-apocalyptic anarchy.
And survival of the fittest reigns supreme.
After leaving college, Elna Pasqualee is determined to bring her family’s California vineyard into the twenty-first century. She hopes her diligent efforts will finally earn her father’s respect and keep visitors safe and comfortable.
But all her hopes for the future are dashed with the EMP attack.
Broadcasts offer only a brief warning before missile strikes wipe out all power and communications across North America. The idyllic setting on the private island quickly sours as food and water to sustain the Pasqualees and their guests grow scarce and life becomes a fight for survival. A fight further complicated when they are cut off from the mainland – and an unexpected assailant threatens their lives.
Someone is stalking one of the guests, hiding out on the island and sabotaging Elna’s desperate efforts to sustain their source of fresh water. When her father goes missing and another guest is gravely injured, remaining on the island isn’t an option.
But even if they reach the mainland, there are no longer guarantees of safety in a world where science and reason have descended into post-apocalyptic anarchy.
And survival of the fittest reigns supreme.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2020
427 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Grace Hamilton
141 books294 followersGrace Hamilton is the prepper pen-name for a bad-ass, survivalist momma-bear of four kids, and wife to a wonderful husband. After being stuck in a mountain cabin for six days following a flash flood, she decided she never wanted to feel so powerless or have to send her kids to bed hungry again. Now she lives the prepper lifestyle and knows that if SHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens, she’ll be ready to help protect and provide for her family.
Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"
It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.
Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"
It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 14, 2020
Grace Hamilton has started another EMP Series and while I Was super excited to sit down and get started...this is honestly my least favorite start to one of her series. It's a little slow and the characters are mostly unlikable. I sadly keep hoping most of them will just die off. The redeeming qualities are there and I will happily jump on reading the next one, knowing there is more to come. Escaping Conflict still gives a lot of resources and twists on surviving without the modern day things we are used to.
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.
August 20, 2020
I've read several books written by Grace Hamilton; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2020
This is book one of the Island Refuge EMP series and is set on a small island across from the mainland. The island is the location of the Pasqualee Vineyard, run by George Pasqualee and his daughter Elna. The island and vineyard has been in their family for four generations and even has an old lighthouse and some former army buildings on it. George and Elna are currently hosting a wine tasting weekend, when a warning comes over about a huge number of EMP missiles coming towards mainland America. Elna rushes back to the main guesthouse building, but the strike hits soon after and their power goes out. With a power outage, the sections of the causeway joining them to the mainland, will have automatically lifted, to allow boats to travel underneath. Their way back to the mainland is now cut off and they don’t have a huge stock of supplies to keep the small group of visitors for long.
The guests are soon to be married Malin and his best man Garrett, single woman Selene and her nippy handbag sized dog called Sniffy, and an elderly couple called Joe and Rita Dulles. Garrett tries to wind everyone up straight away, with doom and gloom scenarios of what the EMP means for them all. He also tries to make problems with his supposed friend Malin, about his bride to be Claire, who is waiting for him in Las Vegas, for their wedding in just two days’ time. Not the most helpful type of guy and he helps himself to a lot of the wine that is lying about. Getting drunk seems to be his way to cope with the disaster they are facing. Elan starts to be practical and wants to check on all their supplies, but her dad still seems to be treating everyone as a visitor still and ceding to their every demand!
When she checks on their water supplies, she finds it won’t last them very long and she needs to try and work out some other ways to desalinate seawater and find fresh food supplies or grow more. Whatever she does, she will need everyone’s assistance and they need to gather anything useful. Whilst doing so, she feels like someone is watching her, but can’t see anyone and there are no other people on the island, so she must just be imagining it. Food supplies quickly diminish as they have lost power on their fridge and freezer, so use it all up in one go, which thinking back, was a huge waste. They try fishing and bird traps, but aren’t very successful. A huge storm hits and with it comes an unhinged stranger, with an agenda of his own.
They manage to subdue him, but he gets away and then Elna’s father goes missing. One of the group is already badly injured and the elderly couple are not of any use and refuse to help with anything. The rest of the group go out the next day to look for her father and soon have to realise that the island will not sustain them all for long. Everything seems to be down to Elna now and getting her father back first is the main aim. The dangerous stranger is someone they need to avoid, but not forget about! They must work on figuring out how to get off the island before their supplies run out. Garrett finally comes out with a great idea on how to lower the drawbridges on the causeway. Hopefully it will work, but what will meet them on the mainland is a big uncertainty. They already saw huge fires burning on the coast of the mainland, so what chaos they may find is a worry. Law and order will have fallen to the wayside and it will be survival of the fittest!
A lovely tiny island scenario for an EMP storyline, where they are desperate to get off the island, but what might be awaiting them on the mainland could be more of a danger than what they were already facing. Elna is a great character, very resourceful and quite an inventor, even if her father isn’t too keen to let her get on with things her way. Selene is also another character who you soon find out is much more than you think of her at the beginning. She comes into herself, when they are facing problems in what should have been their salvation! The madman who snuck onto the island before the EMP hit, is one of those people you hope to never have coming for you and one who you can never manage to communicate with in any sensible manner. An interesting read and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the island refuge series. Definitely an interesting group of survivors and they will no doubt have many hurdles still to overcome. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The guests are soon to be married Malin and his best man Garrett, single woman Selene and her nippy handbag sized dog called Sniffy, and an elderly couple called Joe and Rita Dulles. Garrett tries to wind everyone up straight away, with doom and gloom scenarios of what the EMP means for them all. He also tries to make problems with his supposed friend Malin, about his bride to be Claire, who is waiting for him in Las Vegas, for their wedding in just two days’ time. Not the most helpful type of guy and he helps himself to a lot of the wine that is lying about. Getting drunk seems to be his way to cope with the disaster they are facing. Elan starts to be practical and wants to check on all their supplies, but her dad still seems to be treating everyone as a visitor still and ceding to their every demand!
When she checks on their water supplies, she finds it won’t last them very long and she needs to try and work out some other ways to desalinate seawater and find fresh food supplies or grow more. Whatever she does, she will need everyone’s assistance and they need to gather anything useful. Whilst doing so, she feels like someone is watching her, but can’t see anyone and there are no other people on the island, so she must just be imagining it. Food supplies quickly diminish as they have lost power on their fridge and freezer, so use it all up in one go, which thinking back, was a huge waste. They try fishing and bird traps, but aren’t very successful. A huge storm hits and with it comes an unhinged stranger, with an agenda of his own.
They manage to subdue him, but he gets away and then Elna’s father goes missing. One of the group is already badly injured and the elderly couple are not of any use and refuse to help with anything. The rest of the group go out the next day to look for her father and soon have to realise that the island will not sustain them all for long. Everything seems to be down to Elna now and getting her father back first is the main aim. The dangerous stranger is someone they need to avoid, but not forget about! They must work on figuring out how to get off the island before their supplies run out. Garrett finally comes out with a great idea on how to lower the drawbridges on the causeway. Hopefully it will work, but what will meet them on the mainland is a big uncertainty. They already saw huge fires burning on the coast of the mainland, so what chaos they may find is a worry. Law and order will have fallen to the wayside and it will be survival of the fittest!
A lovely tiny island scenario for an EMP storyline, where they are desperate to get off the island, but what might be awaiting them on the mainland could be more of a danger than what they were already facing. Elna is a great character, very resourceful and quite an inventor, even if her father isn’t too keen to let her get on with things her way. Selene is also another character who you soon find out is much more than you think of her at the beginning. She comes into herself, when they are facing problems in what should have been their salvation! The madman who snuck onto the island before the EMP hit, is one of those people you hope to never have coming for you and one who you can never manage to communicate with in any sensible manner. An interesting read and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the island refuge series. Definitely an interesting group of survivors and they will no doubt have many hurdles still to overcome. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
August 16, 2020
Escaping Conflict is the first book in the Island Refuge EMP series. It tells the story of the people on an island off the coast of California. After Korea sends EMPs to North America, all communication is broken and technology doesn't work anymore. They have to find out how to survive. On top of that, there's an unwelcome stranger on the island. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun to see what would happen if all communication to the outside world was lost. They need food and water but their resources are limited. The characters have a lot of depth and most of them were very likable. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
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.
August 13, 2020
If you are looking for an adrenaline building story with lots of battle details, death and destruction then this is not for you. Escaping Conflict is more like a bottle of fine red wine. You have to let it sit and breathe before imbibing. There is a slow build up of hinted moments and subtle tendrils of attraction between Elba and Malin, set against an EMP attack that affects Elna’s island and mainland USA. The pace picks up as you near the end and the inhabitants and guests must fight to get back to where they’re safe. And the ending? OMG! A dichotomy of elements that should make you reread again. Just to be sure you read it correctly. I bet you did!! Awesome story!
August 18, 2020
You jump right into the deep end quickly with this book. This is rather normal with Grace Hamilton and her post-apocalyptic? Dystopian? books. And as always she leaves you waiting for the next book in the series. This time we find ourselves on an island when the EMP hits and the bridge is up leaving the inhabitants with no way off. Of course to make life even harder for all there seems to be a killer on the loose. With well developed characters and a fast pace this is an absolute page turner. I am always amazed that each series is so much alike yet is so very different.
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.
August 12, 2020
Grace Hamilton writes the best EMP Apocalyptic stories. I've read a few and found them to be very engaging and engrossing. This is totally different because it happens on an island. How are she, her father and a group of weird guests supposed to get off the island and back onto the mainland? They are running out of water, food and no medical supplies. Then her father and another guest go missing. There is danger, fear, lawlessness, and anarchy. This is survival of the fittest. Can't wait for the next story. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2020
Escaping Conflict by Grace Hamilton is a great story to read. This is book number one in this great start to a brand new series that I have really enjoyed reading and can not wait to read the rest of the series. I recommend this great story to everyone who likes reading about Sci-Fi.
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.
August 17, 2020
I really cared about the characters, even found myself thinking about them during the day when I wasn’t reading.This was a really well thought out post-EMP book with lots of great ideas about what to do if an EMP hits.
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.
August 25, 2020
This author is brilliant at writing these post-apocalyptic books, when I see one pop up, I grab it straight away. This starts a new series so new location and new characters to go on new adventures as they try to survive. It’s a fantastic start to the series and I’m eagerly awaiting book 2.
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.
August 25, 2020
Good story and can't wait to get book 2 in the series. It has people who just wanted to get away for a holiday and an EMP hit. It has old loves some seeking revenge, with new ones that form. People throw together and trying to survive. It's a page turner and I want to find out what is going to happen next.
August 18, 2020
Best Winery, worst boyfriends, ever! Nuclear shock isn't as bad as these boyfriends, and it gets worse when they team up. I've never wanted bridges to fail as much as this, but you must read to find out what I mean.
Great start to a new apocalyptic series by one of my favorite new authors.
Great start to a new apocalyptic series by one of my favorite new authors.
September 27, 2020
As always Grace Hamilton never fails to please. This trilogy has a unique setting, and the cast of characters are also unique, you feel like you may have met them at your last cocktail party. It makes the entire novel much more believable. Great story!!
October 16, 2020
I really enjoyed Grace Hamilton in this new emp story. It is a different take on it with guests at a vineyard for a wine tasting when all hell breaks loose. I hope others will enjoy this read as much as I read how they make mistakes but try to think of ways to survive.
August 9, 2020
An exciting start to this new EMP end of the world series! Very enjoyable! Liked the ideas, characters & storyline! A great fun read! I do strongly recommend this writer & her work!
August 13, 2020
This is an excellent dystopian read. The action ramos up right away and it has excellent character development.
I feel the book needs a little more background development there are not many details about life before the EMP strikes and both the characters and storyline would be enhanced by that.
The book is told by several character viewpoints and I found that very interesting. I did have trouble connecting with Elna, the MC so maybe more back story woukd help define her better. Sadly I found her a bit controlling and doesn't work well others at times. But honestly you can do alot with that and really put the feeks in there if you can understand the characters motivations so I really hope to see growth that defines her and sets her apart.
This story-line wraps up well at the end no cliffhangers and it has a short lead in to the next book and ai am interested in seeing where it leads.
I feel the book needs a little more background development there are not many details about life before the EMP strikes and both the characters and storyline would be enhanced by that.
The book is told by several character viewpoints and I found that very interesting. I did have trouble connecting with Elna, the MC so maybe more back story woukd help define her better. Sadly I found her a bit controlling and doesn't work well others at times. But honestly you can do alot with that and really put the feeks in there if you can understand the characters motivations so I really hope to see growth that defines her and sets her apart.
This story-line wraps up well at the end no cliffhangers and it has a short lead in to the next book and ai am interested in seeing where it leads.
June 15, 2021
These days, North Korea is the bad guy of choice. It’s launching mass amounts of missiles to EMP the bejesus out of North America. Elna Pasqualee and her father, George own a bed and breakfast-style hotel in their vineyard on a small island off the California coast. Contrary to normal government actions, television and radio announcements give citizens only thirty minutes to prepare. Not sure how they determined that they were EMP missiles. Anyway, we’ll follow Elna, her father, and their guests as they deal with the resulting EMP and other people on the mainland. Elna is an intelligent young lady with a knack for fixing mechanical things, problem-solving, and an inventive mind. An uninvited guest appears on the island who causes fear and chaos for a time. The story progresses slowly but the characters are likable and the situations authentic, aside from the EMP warning. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 15, 2023
A family with a vine and hotel on an island end up with a mix of visitors when the emp hits. There is no way to the mainland.They start to inventory what they have.These people are just nuts! I would think people on an island would understand how to fish and hunt.They would know what you could eat...like a whole shark rather than just fin soup. They ate everything in the freezer instead of thinking about canning or drying what they could for later...they even ate up the potatoes.It was like a creepy spoof. So when there finally is a way off the island they go.What a mistake. Narration was mostly good.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 18, 2020
Escaping Conflict is book one in the Island Refuge EMP series and talk about a scary "it could really happen" scenario. From the original storyline to the descriptive writing this book held my attention from start to finish. This is a great start to the new series and I can't wait to read book two. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
August 19, 2020
Entertaining
Elna and her father own a vineyard, winery and accommodations on an island off the Pacific coast when an EMP is exploded over North America. The only way off the island is a series of draw bridges to the mainland and loss of power has causes the draw bridges to remain up. Food and clean water are limited.
Elna and her father own a vineyard, winery and accommodations on an island off the Pacific coast when an EMP is exploded over North America. The only way off the island is a series of draw bridges to the mainland and loss of power has causes the draw bridges to remain up. Food and clean water are limited.
November 20, 2020
I usually like this authors books but I couldn't get into this one. DNF'd at 40%.
The characters are too bland and it moves so slow.
Then there is a abusive ex that makes an appearance in the island and attacks, and he then runs off and everyone just ignores it and goes on with life.. Even though they are on an island that no one can leave.. Seemed very stupid.
The characters are too bland and it moves so slow.
Then there is a abusive ex that makes an appearance in the island and attacks, and he then runs off and everyone just ignores it and goes on with life.. Even though they are on an island that no one can leave.. Seemed very stupid.
May 13, 2021
Escaping Conflict is book one of Island Refuge EMP series. The world is very well-described and the characters are well developed. Some of the characters are villains while others are kind and brave. I enjoyed it very much. There is a big cliffhanger but that’s no problem because I’m on my way to get book two from KU.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
August 29, 2020
Elna and her father runs inn/vineyard on an island... Everything was fine until the mainland got attacked by emp!!! The world around them went crazy and powerless! We get whole lot first few week's from sociopath to power hungry soldier.
April 20, 2021
Cool
This is quite a different emp scenario. I am really enjoying the way the people are learning to make the most of what is naturally available. Of course there are human problems coming and I can't wait to see how things go.
This is quite a different emp scenario. I am really enjoying the way the people are learning to make the most of what is naturally available. Of course there are human problems coming and I can't wait to see how things go.
Read
May 13, 2021Implausible possibilities
What would anyone do having very few materials to make all that's needed when an EMP happens!.....somehow a strange crew of tourists and clever ideas makes for passible living. read how people can make a go at life when badness happens.
What would anyone do having very few materials to make all that's needed when an EMP happens!.....somehow a strange crew of tourists and clever ideas makes for passible living. read how people can make a go at life when badness happens.
August 12, 2021
Great Story
I have read Grace Hamilton's previous books and I love her writing style. The story theme us strong and usually has an intriguing twist. Can't wait to start the next book!
I have read Grace Hamilton's previous books and I love her writing style. The story theme us strong and usually has an intriguing twist. Can't wait to start the next book!
November 20, 2020
Escaping Conflict review
Escaping Conflict is the first post apocalyptic survival book in the Island Refuge EMP series written by author Grace Hamilton.
Escaping Conflict is the first post apocalyptic survival book in the Island Refuge EMP series written by author Grace Hamilton.
August 9, 2021
Very good new story (series) by Grace Hamilton, who, is fast becoming my favorite author.
May 30, 2021
This story is filled with typical dystopian contrivances and illogical decisions. It's pretty incredulous. The characters are lackluster and unimpressive. Michael Mills narration is merely passable.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews