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Carlie Simmons #1
Until Morning Comes
Secret Service Agent Carlie Simmons began her day surrounded by trusted colleagues in an inter-agency shooting competition in Tucson. It ended with a staggering body count as the world around her unraveled from a deadly virus. With her mission to extract the President’s daughter from the University of Arizona gone awry, she must choose between her sworn duties and her moral obligations to others as the city is overtaken by roving packs of flesh-eating mutants. If she and her small group are to survive the night and find a way out of the ravaged city, she will have to summon all of her training, mental prowess, and tactical abilities.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2014
230 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 8, 2015
Very quick & easy read. Nothing very different, but enjoyable.
January 10, 2018
A "GOTTA" READ
Okay, so I actually read and reviewed this book as part of the boxed set. Then, after reading the fifth and final book in the series, I decided to do something I've only (in close to 1500 books) done once before.... I downloaded book 1 just so I could leave this review telling you that if you like zombie books, you've just GOTTA read this series. There are other thoughts and comments I have regarding it but for the purpose of this statement - you've just GOTTA read this series!
Okay, so I actually read and reviewed this book as part of the boxed set. Then, after reading the fifth and final book in the series, I decided to do something I've only (in close to 1500 books) done once before.... I downloaded book 1 just so I could leave this review telling you that if you like zombie books, you've just GOTTA read this series. There are other thoughts and comments I have regarding it but for the purpose of this statement - you've just GOTTA read this series!
March 12, 2015
This grabs you from the start!
From page one, this novel pulls you and in doesn't let go until the very end. You'll certainly be ready for the second novel in the series. Carlie Simmons is a character you'll love!
From page one, this novel pulls you and in doesn't let go until the very end. You'll certainly be ready for the second novel in the series. Carlie Simmons is a character you'll love!
December 26, 2019
I read about 60% of this book before I gave up.
The characters were bland, the action was okay, but not that descriptive, and the pacing was terrible - it was slow at times, fast at others. There were also too many perspectives without enough character development.
Don't get me wrong. I don't mind different perspectives. But since the characters were uninteresting, I was bored the whole time. I felt like I was reading a college textbook.
The first chapter starts with the main character, Carlie Simmons, training. Training. How many good books have started with training? This is another one of those books that is slow to begin. It took six chapters to get to the zombie content. The previous chapters involve the main characters just standing around and talking about people being attacked. There's too much telling and not enough showing. For an example of a good zombie book, try Joseph Zuko's "The Infected: Jim's First Day."
The level of detail was a little much at times, which made the story hard to read. For example, on the first page, Carlie did a "tactical reload." Why not just say "reload"? This would have improved the pacing and made it easier to read. We also find out she has a blond ponytail and is athletic. Okay. So show me, don't tell me.
There is also a space between each paragraph. On my kindle I think the lines weren't indented, but on computer, they are. So the formatting needs a bit of work.
The dialogue was a bit fake. Someone talked about "city slicker clothes" and "snazzy suits" in one paragraph, for example. All the dialogue we get doesn't seem to serve much purpose other than to provide more bulk to the story.
The story is much in need of developmental editing for tighter pacing, as well as line editing to improve some of the word choices. For example, during one scene Carlie was shooting zombies, and we get "she finished another surge of firepower." That sounds very weird.
I wouldn't recommend this unless you like dialogue that sounds like it's from the 1980s.
However, I will say the author's strength lies in fight scenes. They aren't the best fight scenes, but they have potential. The pacing and dialogue are the weakest parts of this story, but the description of fight scenes doesn't require as much work. Too bad the bad word choices pulled the story down. It would have been interesting to read a story about secret service agents protecting the President of the United States' daughter.
The characters were bland, the action was okay, but not that descriptive, and the pacing was terrible - it was slow at times, fast at others. There were also too many perspectives without enough character development.
Don't get me wrong. I don't mind different perspectives. But since the characters were uninteresting, I was bored the whole time. I felt like I was reading a college textbook.
The first chapter starts with the main character, Carlie Simmons, training. Training. How many good books have started with training? This is another one of those books that is slow to begin. It took six chapters to get to the zombie content. The previous chapters involve the main characters just standing around and talking about people being attacked. There's too much telling and not enough showing. For an example of a good zombie book, try Joseph Zuko's "The Infected: Jim's First Day."
The level of detail was a little much at times, which made the story hard to read. For example, on the first page, Carlie did a "tactical reload." Why not just say "reload"? This would have improved the pacing and made it easier to read. We also find out she has a blond ponytail and is athletic. Okay. So show me, don't tell me.
There is also a space between each paragraph. On my kindle I think the lines weren't indented, but on computer, they are. So the formatting needs a bit of work.
The dialogue was a bit fake. Someone talked about "city slicker clothes" and "snazzy suits" in one paragraph, for example. All the dialogue we get doesn't seem to serve much purpose other than to provide more bulk to the story.
The story is much in need of developmental editing for tighter pacing, as well as line editing to improve some of the word choices. For example, during one scene Carlie was shooting zombies, and we get "she finished another surge of firepower." That sounds very weird.
I wouldn't recommend this unless you like dialogue that sounds like it's from the 1980s.
However, I will say the author's strength lies in fight scenes. They aren't the best fight scenes, but they have potential. The pacing and dialogue are the weakest parts of this story, but the description of fight scenes doesn't require as much work. Too bad the bad word choices pulled the story down. It would have been interesting to read a story about secret service agents protecting the President of the United States' daughter.
March 11, 2025
“Until Morning Comes” is a clone of 'The Walking Dead', no ifs or buts about it.
A zombie plague suddenly overwhelms the world and civilisation heads towards the precipice.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, Secret Service Agent Carlie Simmons, 31, is at the firing range and completely unaware that the woman she is charged to protect, the daughter of the President of the USA, is in imminent danger.
Once news gets through Carlie, with limited resources but plenty of heavy weaponry, fights her way to the University of Oklahoma to bring her to safety.
Along the way she picks up the usual motley crew, a cowardly agent, a criminal, etc.
It's bog standard stuff with little to offer beyond constant action.
2 Stars.
A zombie plague suddenly overwhelms the world and civilisation heads towards the precipice.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, Secret Service Agent Carlie Simmons, 31, is at the firing range and completely unaware that the woman she is charged to protect, the daughter of the President of the USA, is in imminent danger.
Once news gets through Carlie, with limited resources but plenty of heavy weaponry, fights her way to the University of Oklahoma to bring her to safety.
Along the way she picks up the usual motley crew, a cowardly agent, a criminal, etc.
It's bog standard stuff with little to offer beyond constant action.
2 Stars.
April 25, 2018
No es en ningún sentido un mal libro, pero le falta siempre un poquito mas para ser mejor. Cada vez que sucedía algo sentí que podría haber dado mas detalles, o un poco mas de background para los personajes.
Otra cosa es que aun no e leído los demás libros, pero creo que por el largo de este, podrían unirse en uno y funcionar mejor.
Aun así, amo los zombies y la supervivencia, por lo que definitivamente leeré mas libros de J.T. Sawyer.
Otra cosa es que aun no e leído los demás libros, pero creo que por el largo de este, podrían unirse en uno y funcionar mejor.
Aun así, amo los zombies y la supervivencia, por lo que definitivamente leeré mas libros de J.T. Sawyer.
July 14, 2020
I received a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.I enjoyed this book and it was good to listen to a book that has a different twist on the end of the world-not the same old zombie story. The main character is very likable and her story is captivating.-I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I apologize that I am not a master at writing reviews but I want all of you to know that this book will not disappoint.
September 24, 2022
This was fun! Love a strong female heroine, especially when she kicks butt despite what the male pencil-pushing people in charge tell her she SHOULD be doing! Also love a good zombie novel. These poor characters are apparently saddled with the fast zombies! That's the worst kind! And these bloody big-heads can use their brains too!!!! And that's not all, they can work together! Ahhhh! That's some Resident Evil bs right there! 😂😂😂
Fun book and I will definitely continue the series.
Fun book and I will definitely continue the series.
September 30, 2023
I didn't care for this book. I always have to finish a book once I start so I was thankful it was a shorter book. I didn't feel like there was a lot of character development or much back story as to how things got to the point they were at in the story. It was the first in a series and I will not be reading any more in this series.
August 12, 2017
A fast paced when the SHTF story
This book has strong, likable characters. It has a good story line and exciting action. It's hard to put down and I'm looking forward to the next book.
This book has strong, likable characters. It has a good story line and exciting action. It's hard to put down and I'm looking forward to the next book.
August 11, 2018
Not bad
This is your standard zombie story but thankfully the characters have a better reason to be crack shots. The presidents daughter was a total brat right up until the end but it was action packed and fast paced.
This is your standard zombie story but thankfully the characters have a better reason to be crack shots. The presidents daughter was a total brat right up until the end but it was action packed and fast paced.
April 28, 2020
Zombies and Jared
This is a serious, yet funny nail biter. The chemistry between Carlie and Jared bring the gore and horror from the zombie attack front and center. If, you like these types of stories. Stand by, Carlie and crew are real deal killers and survivors.
This is a serious, yet funny nail biter. The chemistry between Carlie and Jared bring the gore and horror from the zombie attack front and center. If, you like these types of stories. Stand by, Carlie and crew are real deal killers and survivors.
June 17, 2017
If you like zombies, this is a good read. I enjoyed the characters and the story line.
August 12, 2020
Fantastic
Great read, the writer keeps you on the edge of your seat during the whole book! Ready for book 2.
Great read, the writer keeps you on the edge of your seat during the whole book! Ready for book 2.
November 3, 2021
Listened to the audiobook. The narration was very flat and lacking in inflection. I couldn’t get into the story at all. Glad it was short.
May 30, 2022
Carlie Simmons book 1
An enjoyable read & a great introduction to these characters... Fast paced without feeling rushed. Already downloading book two & looking forward to reading it
An enjoyable read & a great introduction to these characters... Fast paced without feeling rushed. Already downloading book two & looking forward to reading it
August 9, 2024
3 1/2 stars.
January 10, 2018
I like the characters. Though fighting the undead is getting old.
March 5, 2017
Good and quick.
The characters were kind of "Eh". Once you get over hearing how everyone thinks Carlie hot and every man that comes across her flirts? It's a fast paced, action packed read.
The reanimated people weren't zombies per se. It would have been nice to be given a little background on what made them.
But maybe that's asking too much with 90 (nook) pages.
I'll definitely read the next in the series.
The characters were kind of "Eh". Once you get over hearing how everyone thinks Carlie hot and every man that comes across her flirts? It's a fast paced, action packed read.
The reanimated people weren't zombies per se. It would have been nice to be given a little background on what made them.
But maybe that's asking too much with 90 (nook) pages.
I'll definitely read the next in the series.
March 10, 2017
I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read but had a lot of action in it. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
June 10, 2017
I enjoyed the First Wave zombie series by this author and decided to give this short story a try.
We follow a Secret Service officer, Carlie, who is about to have a very bad day. She is told that she is under investigation for a recent shooting that she was involved in and she isn't happy about the snotty DOD agent investigating her who thinks she is guilty. Carlie is on protection duty for the First Daughter, Eliza, as the zombie apocalypse suddenly hits the city. Carlie's team are going to collect Eliza from the University of Arizona campus and get her back to her father, with the DOD agent tagging along but as they reach the building, they are overrun with the living dead rampaging through the area.
A DEA team led by Shane are in town for a gun competition that Carlie also took part in and they have a decision to make. Do they follow orders to try and assist Carlie with saving Eliza or do they put duty aside and try to save their own families?
I can't go into much more detail on plot without giving spoilers but it follows both teams as they work their way through the city, collecting weapons, fighting zombies and rescuing those in need of help. These zombies are smart and are slowly hunting down the survivors holed up in various campus buildings so time is running out for any kind of rescue. Carlie's orders are to find Eliza and get her to the extraction point but can she turn her back on others who need her help?
Carlie was a normal but kickass woman who wants to get a long awaited promotion to get away from protection duty and the First Daughter who she does not get along with. She wants to prove that she is the best at everything she does so the sudden investigation is a body blow that she can do without. When the zombies come, she just wants to do her job but the DOD agent is constantly on her case about what she is doing. I wanted to punch him as much as Carlie wanted to! Shane is another enjoyable character, a good agent who has to put aside his own plans to help with the rescue. Eliza was a bit of a pain when you first meet her but she does improve as the situation turns desperate.
Overall it was a decent start to a new zombie series but I didn't engage with it in the same way as I did with First Wave. I did like it but I'm unsure if I'll be continuing on with the series. Maybe if I see it cheap on Amazon.
We follow a Secret Service officer, Carlie, who is about to have a very bad day. She is told that she is under investigation for a recent shooting that she was involved in and she isn't happy about the snotty DOD agent investigating her who thinks she is guilty. Carlie is on protection duty for the First Daughter, Eliza, as the zombie apocalypse suddenly hits the city. Carlie's team are going to collect Eliza from the University of Arizona campus and get her back to her father, with the DOD agent tagging along but as they reach the building, they are overrun with the living dead rampaging through the area.
A DEA team led by Shane are in town for a gun competition that Carlie also took part in and they have a decision to make. Do they follow orders to try and assist Carlie with saving Eliza or do they put duty aside and try to save their own families?
I can't go into much more detail on plot without giving spoilers but it follows both teams as they work their way through the city, collecting weapons, fighting zombies and rescuing those in need of help. These zombies are smart and are slowly hunting down the survivors holed up in various campus buildings so time is running out for any kind of rescue. Carlie's orders are to find Eliza and get her to the extraction point but can she turn her back on others who need her help?
Carlie was a normal but kickass woman who wants to get a long awaited promotion to get away from protection duty and the First Daughter who she does not get along with. She wants to prove that she is the best at everything she does so the sudden investigation is a body blow that she can do without. When the zombies come, she just wants to do her job but the DOD agent is constantly on her case about what she is doing. I wanted to punch him as much as Carlie wanted to! Shane is another enjoyable character, a good agent who has to put aside his own plans to help with the rescue. Eliza was a bit of a pain when you first meet her but she does improve as the situation turns desperate.
Overall it was a decent start to a new zombie series but I didn't engage with it in the same way as I did with First Wave. I did like it but I'm unsure if I'll be continuing on with the series. Maybe if I see it cheap on Amazon.
February 20, 2017
Good but
I am not a fan of this particular genre but there were enough other elements in the story I did enjoy the book.
Nicely evolved characters and a great handle on the Tucson area
I am not a fan of this particular genre but there were enough other elements in the story I did enjoy the book.
Nicely evolved characters and a great handle on the Tucson area
April 24, 2016
I enjoyed 'Until Morning Comes', a different kind of zombie story. Carlie Simmons is the only female Secret Service Agent on the detail to watch over the President's daughter while she is going through college in Arizona. A pandemic breaks out and the world's population is lost almost overnight. These zombies are different from anything I've read before...they are strong, fast and can do anything humans can do. Their vision is not too good during nighttime, but their sense of smell can detect live humans hiding behind two feet of concrete slab. Hiding places are few and far between. The protagonist, Carlie, survives the initial onslaught and fights through the mobs of undead to find and save the President's daughter.
Carlie locates the daughter and other survivors and then leads this group of interesting characters to safety and then await rescue by the remaining government who's members are holed up in the White Sands Missile base. While awaiting extraction, the zombie mobs are growing and becoming more vicious, destroying any and all defenses to reach the live humans. The rescue chopper has not yet arrived and the small group of survivors is only minutes away from getting overrun.
The story is exciting, and some characters are easy to dislike. After finishing this book, I discovered that it is part of a series of short books, all less than 200 pages with a total of five books in this series. Although this is becoming the norm for many authors, I'm still going to purchase book 2 to see what happens next in the storyline. I must also commend the author on his accomplishments - writing requires a lot of time, patience, perseverance and many sacrifices for both him and his family. Great job, Mr. Sawyer!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
Carlie locates the daughter and other survivors and then leads this group of interesting characters to safety and then await rescue by the remaining government who's members are holed up in the White Sands Missile base. While awaiting extraction, the zombie mobs are growing and becoming more vicious, destroying any and all defenses to reach the live humans. The rescue chopper has not yet arrived and the small group of survivors is only minutes away from getting overrun.
The story is exciting, and some characters are easy to dislike. After finishing this book, I discovered that it is part of a series of short books, all less than 200 pages with a total of five books in this series. Although this is becoming the norm for many authors, I'm still going to purchase book 2 to see what happens next in the storyline. I must also commend the author on his accomplishments - writing requires a lot of time, patience, perseverance and many sacrifices for both him and his family. Great job, Mr. Sawyer!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
June 22, 2015
Awesome action packed Gore filled zombie book!
This book was great. I don't know why I didn't decide to read it earlier. I finished it in less than two days bc I couldn't put it down. Super excited it is free with kindle unlimited. Carlie is badass and definitely not a damsel in distress like most. Shane is hot and I hope he and Carlie get together since I know they like each other. The presidents daughter, Eliza, is student than I thought. She isn't this uptight girl, she actually cares about others and doesn't want to be put before them. She what's others to get rescued before herself. I liked the convict Jared to he was funny and turned out pretty decent. There are so many action scenes. I could visualize this story in my head like I was watching a movie. Your get to read it from before the outbreak starts and then see how ppl survive. The zombies are somewhat different and very fast. I can't wait to see how things turn out and how the zombies progress. I'm getting book two now. A MUST READ! The author is amazing and definitely knows how to tell a story. I will be reading more of JT Sawyers books.
This book was great. I don't know why I didn't decide to read it earlier. I finished it in less than two days bc I couldn't put it down. Super excited it is free with kindle unlimited. Carlie is badass and definitely not a damsel in distress like most. Shane is hot and I hope he and Carlie get together since I know they like each other. The presidents daughter, Eliza, is student than I thought. She isn't this uptight girl, she actually cares about others and doesn't want to be put before them. She what's others to get rescued before herself. I liked the convict Jared to he was funny and turned out pretty decent. There are so many action scenes. I could visualize this story in my head like I was watching a movie. Your get to read it from before the outbreak starts and then see how ppl survive. The zombies are somewhat different and very fast. I can't wait to see how things turn out and how the zombies progress. I'm getting book two now. A MUST READ! The author is amazing and definitely knows how to tell a story. I will be reading more of JT Sawyers books.
June 24, 2016
I almost dropped this book on the first page because some of the description was pretty close to what I call "gun porn" where the author spends an uncomfortable amount of time overly lovingly describing guns. But, I hung in there and it was a decent story with some zombies closer to the "28 days later" variety than the "romero" variety. I see others complain that it was short book, but I like that it didn't have a lot of pointless filler.
Looking at the author's self described background I find it odd that the parts that didn't ring true were the gun parts. I don't think I would try to drive a car with two submachine guns stuffed in my armpits along with a side arm and umpteen pounds of ammo. But, I guess when you're writing about the zombie apocalypse it's either go big or don't bother. LOL.
I like that the book had a definite ending point, but left the characters open for a sequel. I'm not sure what part the charming felon is supposed to play. I don't think that whole subplot added much to the story.
I did like Carlie and her potential love interest. I might or might not read the next one.
Looking at the author's self described background I find it odd that the parts that didn't ring true were the gun parts. I don't think I would try to drive a car with two submachine guns stuffed in my armpits along with a side arm and umpteen pounds of ammo. But, I guess when you're writing about the zombie apocalypse it's either go big or don't bother. LOL.
I like that the book had a definite ending point, but left the characters open for a sequel. I'm not sure what part the charming felon is supposed to play. I don't think that whole subplot added much to the story.
I did like Carlie and her potential love interest. I might or might not read the next one.
October 28, 2016
This was a fast-paced, easy read that killed some time for me. I didn't love it, but I have definitely read worse. I wasn't very attached to any of the characters but I didn't mind following them on their zombie adventure. It was nice to read a book that was from the view point of the military help that is always on the way in other zombie books, as well as movies. It was interesting to me, to see trained personnel coping with an outbreak as opposed to the video game geek turned hero or the gun crazy backwoods hillbilly.
Right there at the end... what happened to the students? I thought there was more people than those seen at the very end. Or did I miss something? It seemed like some people just got abandoned.
Maybe I just need to read book #2.
Right there at the end... what happened to the students? I thought there was more people than those seen at the very end. Or did I miss something? It seemed like some people just got abandoned.
Maybe I just need to read book #2.
May 18, 2016
The main character was Carlie Simmons, and the only thing that distinguished her from all the other characters was that she's female. All the other characters were so interchangeable, I kept losing track of who they were. When one of them died, I didn't care because they might as well have been cardboard cut-outs.
There was plenty of action, but the writing style was so flat and colorless, I just got really bored with it.
The only thing that was the tiniest bit interesting was the type of zombies in the book. Sorry but even that isn't enough to make me want to read anything else in this series.
There was plenty of action, but the writing style was so flat and colorless, I just got really bored with it.
The only thing that was the tiniest bit interesting was the type of zombies in the book. Sorry but even that isn't enough to make me want to read anything else in this series.
June 8, 2016
To be honest, I didn't enjoy it all that much. Might be me, might be the book.
The writing was decent, although the pacing of the book and the quick interactions between characters made it feel more like a movie than a book.
There were some cliches, naturally the focus on military personnel, and all in all nothing new and exciting for the genre, but it wasn't bad as such. Just a little redundant and fast paced (movie like rather than book like).
Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the book. Who knows.
The writing was decent, although the pacing of the book and the quick interactions between characters made it feel more like a movie than a book.
There were some cliches, naturally the focus on military personnel, and all in all nothing new and exciting for the genre, but it wasn't bad as such. Just a little redundant and fast paced (movie like rather than book like).
Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the book. Who knows.
November 12, 2014
Another Good One!
Lots of action from nearly the first page. Although this subject has had many books written about it, I can never get enough since so many variations have been written about and heaven knows how many more can be written.
Loved the book and it's any characters and I can't wait until Philip gets his come uppance.
When is the next installment due out? I'm waiting!!!!
Lots of action from nearly the first page. Although this subject has had many books written about it, I can never get enough since so many variations have been written about and heaven knows how many more can be written.
Loved the book and it's any characters and I can't wait until Philip gets his come uppance.
When is the next installment due out? I'm waiting!!!!
December 10, 2015
Gripping!
Fantastic story! Great character development, extremely fast-paced, and definitely edge of your seat.
The zombies are different than your run of the mill zombies, which makes the story more interesting.
Read in one sitting. Can't wait to read the other books in the series.
Fantastic story! Great character development, extremely fast-paced, and definitely edge of your seat.
The zombies are different than your run of the mill zombies, which makes the story more interesting.
Read in one sitting. Can't wait to read the other books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews