Last Light

by Claire Kent

It only took four years for the world to fall apart.

Now the last member of my family has died, and I'm forced to travel across what's left of three states to find the only people I know left alive. To survive, I'll have to salvage food and supplies and try to avoid violent men who've learned they can take what they want by force. The only way I'm going to make it is by trusting Travis.

Travis used to fix my car, and now he's all I have left in the world. He's gruff and stoic and unfriendly, and I don't really know or like him. But he's all I have left. He'll keep me safe. We'll take care of each other. Until we reach what's left of our town and can finally let go of one another.

Last Light is a standalone post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe.

Genres: Romance, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Survival, Slow Burn

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2019

About the author

Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. After teaching English at the university level for several years, she started writing full-time under two different pen names. She lives in Virginia.

Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.

Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams,

Reviews

[⚔Irunía⚔ · Rating 1 out of 5]

As per usual,

Scrolling through my dear friends' reviews and a few top ones for good measure (which are all either 4 or 5 stars), I came to the conclusion that the author was not joking. Her books are women’s fiction with hot sex and real emotion (taken from the about the author section at the very end of the book). Sexy, real, raw, emotional, hot — that's how this book is mostly described so don't let my review convince you otherwise. I'm the black sheep. 🐑

Believe it or not, I didn't mean for this review to get that big (almost like Travis's cock) and ugly (like his face in my imagination).

¡READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HOLD THIS BOOK DEAR!

THE PLOT, I laughed a lot. SPOILERS, don't put me in a boiler

An asteroid chooses Germany as a place to land its phantasmagorical ass on, and in the snap of a finger causes cataclysms and disrupts the worldwide economy.

The consequences have hit Western Europe the hardest, and "the developed countries 🤡 take in as many immigrants" fleeing the scene as they possibly can.

Long gone the traces of common decency and humanity in the face of the ordeal, the world becomes a dark and dangerous place to live in.

For 4 years Layne (h) has been trying to survive in her small hometown that she couldn't leave, forced to take care of her ill granny. When the old woman passes away, Layne stacks her bag with all kinds of necessary objects and a book of poems.

Nothing like carrying a book of poems around in the middle of the world falling apart to give the heroine that edgy and deep angle that every plain, insipid character has such a dire need of. Never mind she never once opens that book. Don't forget about the little reminder of her "depth" that is bound to carry you through the book because when it came to other things, this girl was as shallow as the puddle I accidentally stepped in today with my fancy new shoes (thank god
shallowness is welcome sometimes).

All of a sudden on her way to finding a sanctuary, she stumbles upon a neighbor who she once knew as a mechanic. He lost his daughter and now he has the nearest sanctuary as the ultimate destination too.

Far from being eager to spill all the details of the plot, I'll only mention that by the twist of fate (or, if you wish, a random dying man's last wish 🤡) these two need to deliver an important message to a faraway community (closest to them sjsjs) that might save many lives.

A naive reader, who also happens to be me, would think they are securely in for a nice ride, a wholesome reading experience sprinkled with adventure, spice and head-turning events to keep them wide awake. The main characters would go out of their way (in all their heroic glory) to save the day and deliver the exclusive information while barely escaping the clutches of death. What a treat!

HEH-HEH-HEH

What we do get is Travis and Layne having a long, tedious road trip filled with sex marathons that are occasionally intercepted with unexciting encounters with gross (at their worst) and cardboard (at best) characters with zero personality. With their "traveling" set at an excruciatingly leisurely pace, it read like an endless route to the beautiful nowhere for the purpose of spectacular nothing.

But... why?? Why would Travis and Layne take their sweet ass time to reach the final destination if the message was so fucking important, on top of being assigned by, no more no less, a dying random man (it should have counted for something right)? Oh please. ✋🏻 Don't play innocent with me now, huh. We're well past the pretense. You already guessed the whole mystery behind their delay on your own.

Layne exploring her sexuality in the post-apocalyptic world is a far more important thing than a noble task at hand. That's kinda obvious to everyone but that dumbass Irunia.

In a nutshell, the book is dedicated to Travis and Layne sexing each other up, finding temporary shelters, discussing how badly they stink, stacking their bags and stomachs with food and meeting weird randoms on their way. Sex offenders, drunk men... no one too alarming. All these little road nuisances described here have nothing on hitch-hiking travelers' stories.

This book is weird in the sense that it was a never-ending absurd cycle of pain of traveling, finding temporary shelters and fucking.

Can you imagine?? Layne and Travis's languid asses almost reach the sanctuary near the end of the book only to come to learn that their trip has been in vain because the people there have already been warned about the pending danger and moved securely to another relatively safe location.

What can I say? If I wanted to read about someone's persistent fight against the absurdity of life, I'd revisit The Myth of Sisyphus. 🤡✋🏻 My brain would have appreciated a little reprieve from all those mediocre smut books they're selling as romance these days.

THE FIRST RED FLAG : CRINGE TALK

His eyes widen slightly. “Not like that. I wouldn’t expect nothin’. Pretty little thing like you—you’re not safe on your own.”

Not to be the queen of nitpicking that I'm, but that line is precisely, word for word, what I would expect from the mouth of a jobless 40-year-old man — with a large belly, yellow teeth, dirty and long hair and little beady eyes that acquire a sultry look every time they fall on a pretty, young girl; roaming around the streets at night, drinking himself into a stupor and slurring something along the same lines to every pretty little thing he encounters alone in the dark alley, where he occasionally brings a company of his equally obscene friends.

Layne hasn't survived on her own for 4 long years only for some loser to come up to her and claim that she needs his protection when it's him who's being held at gunpoint right about now? The audacity of men to feel superior at any given moment (which I find hot and sexy when the hero doesn't ooze a mediocre heterosexual white man with an occasional glimpse of a god complex energy)

Better safe than sorry, if I were Layne, I'd shoot first and deal with the consequences later. 🤪

But let's label it as a me problem and move on...

UNTIL WE FUCKING COME ACROSS THE NEXT INTERACTION THIS HEROINE HAS (JUST A FEW PAGES LATER (OH, THE IRONY) WHEN THE MEMORY OF THAT FIRST MEETING WITH THE HERO IS STILL FRESH 😍) WITH A GROUP OF DRUNK AND CRUSTY OLD MEN.

Guess what one of them does say. 💀

“Hey, li’l lady,” one of them slurs, leaning out the back window. “What’s a pretty thing like you doin’ out here by ’erself?”

For all I cared, that could have been just another love interest and his epic introductory speech. But boy was I wrong. 😔 It's just some drunken twat who speaks exactly like the hero and would've probably raped and killed Layne if that dumb bitch hadn't pointed her gun at the dumbass.

pretty little thing, not safe on your own — the hero, a hypothetical rapist/murderer/criminal element, we trust him immediately, doesn't offer any beer 😍
pretty thing, what you doin' out here by 'erself — a drunk man, a hypothetical rapist/murderer/criminal element who offers her beer and a loud company of his friends 😍

I mean...the choice ain't that obvious.

THE SECOND RED FLAG : DO IT LIKE MISS KENT; PICK A WORD AND REPEAT IT TILL THE END TIME

Travis. Oh, Travis. I swear this man grated on my fucking nerves like it was a job he got paid for.

So, Travis. He grunts and grunts and grunts (48 times. I'm sure the number is much larger, I feel like the author didn't mention every grunt he voiced because she's a woman of generous heart and decided to take mercy on me in the end) until I get so sick and tired of it and I start grunting like a wild animal, returning the gesture automatically.

He grunts. Then he picks up a bottle of water and hands it to me.
...
He grunts.
“I mean after eating. Thanks for making me.”
He grunts again.
...
He nods and grunts.
...
Travis has withdrawn back to grunts and silent stares.
...
Travis grunts.
I’m not sure why I would expect anything else.
...
He grunts but doesn’t let me go.

It might have come off as adorable if it hadn't been so repetitive, and more fitting if it were a caveman romance, I guess. But when the whole grunting thing becomes his key personality trait, it comes to the point when a reader (me, to be specific) starts doubting whether the grunting thing is the male lead's personal choice of not wanting to engage in meaningful interactions with the heroine (I'd probably grunt my way through the rest of the trip if I was paired with that shallow, clingy bitch) or a matter of his incapability to properly articulate his thoughts.

The first option is kinda sexy. Unfortunately, the hero didn't ooze the air of natural superiority and nonchalance required for pulling off a grumpy and noncommital type of guy.

As for the latter option, yeah, a dumb look rarely looks hot and sexy on a man, let alone a man written by this author. 🌚 I don't like the way she describes her male leads. Having met the two of them, I can confidently say that they do the bare minimum, and I don't settle for the bare minimum kind of heroes.

THE THIRD RED FLAG : STINKING VS REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF PEOPLE'S MENTAL STATE IN THE POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD. THEY SWEAT BUT THEY DON'T FRET 😍🤪

The only remotely realistic thing about this book was the constant mention of natural processes — like peeing and especially sweating (omg did these guys sweat) — that I could have gladly lived without and exchanged for blood galore, action, desperation, mistrust and tension (that are kinda essential to any post-apocalyptic narrative?).

Every conflict in this book was so short-lived and badly executed that not a single muscle on my face (apart from the one in charge of raising my brow incredulously) moved an inch while reading those few supposedly tension-filled moments.

I love it when books go for a little realism and credibility, but when the author constantly reminds me of how badly these people smell, or should I say (in the best traditions of this author), stink, I feel kinda sick because I have a weak stomach and vivid imagination.

“I can’t wait to take a shower,” I say as we get close. “It’s been almost two weeks.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“You definitely need one. Haven’t smelled you this strong in a really long time.”
He gives me a narrow-eyed glare that isn’t particularly convincing. I can tell he’s trying not to laugh.
“I know I stink too, so you don’t have to say it.”

Did the stench miraculously reach my nostrils through the screen and impeded my other senses from feeling their sparking chemistry?

Maybe. The author was hellbent on getting the smelly point across and with my focus unfocused, buried somewhere amongst nonsensical, awkward dialogues (which provided zero perspective on their predicament and not a sliver of original thought), constant sex or thoughts about sex (during which they, YOU WILL NEVER FUCKING BELIEVE IT, sweat — mentioned three times during one scene 😍), I must have missed another point having something to do with their nonexistent emotional connection.

I will never get tired of repeating: chemistry leads to sex, not vice versa. Stop selling me sex with zero sparks between the main characters as the ultimate sign of love and soulmate connection.

YEAH, YET ANOTHER RED FLAG : NAIVETY SIMMERED TO DUMBNESS, INSTA-LUST AND ZEALOUS SEXUAL DRIVE AS THE ULTIMATE PERSONALITY TRAIT: MEET OUR LOVELY HEROINE

Layne is the personification of stupidity, and I don't say things like that lightly. Intelligence is a subjective criterion unless we're talking about this girl.

One moment the girl reflects shortly but bitterly on how seemingly normal, pre-asteroid people (men) that showed no signs of illicit behavior before have gone mad and turned into wild raging animals that steal, rape and wreak havoc. The next, when confronted with a group of drunken men, she immediately assumes (must be their mannerisms, it's a known fact that no indecent and dangerous guy would ever address you leeringly as li’l lady and pretty thing, huh) that they're harmless and decent because they didn't attack her right off the bat. 🤡

I bet she'd have learned her lesson if she hadn't held one of them at gunpoint at the time.

By the 7-10% mark she already trusts our hero wholeheartedly, and calls him decent and safe, which, I assume, was a thorough preparation technique for her declaration of love lust. In other words, out of the blue, she claims that she wants to have sex with him. An ugly stranger. The man she knows nothing about. The man she has talked to a couple of times. 😭 The world is falling apart, bitch. Wake up from your lusty haze, loser.

Her quick trust and insta-lust made little sense in the context of the post-apocalyptic setting created by the author, as opposed to mistrust, suspicion, and tension that should have been engraved in her mind naturally due to living in a state of perpetual fear and alert. The feelings that were supposed to morph slowly into trust and care. That is if this author hadn't concentrated too hard on smut instead. Apparently, writing about sex while neglecting real feeling and emotion behind the act is easier.

If I have to hear Layne's baseless assumptions on how harmless all those weirdos that she knows exactly nothing about are one more time, I might snap. This bitch talks with a person for 5 minutes and if they don't attempt to stab her with a knife, she takes it as read that they're HARMLESS.

I'M NOT A VIOLENT PERSON BUT I WISH SOMEONE INFLICTED SO MUCH PAIN ON THIS TWAT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO HEAR THAT WORD FALLING FROM HER STUPID LIPS EVER AGAIN.

Another episode of the show 'dat girl never learns': just imagine meeting a creepy old woman on your way to the sanctuary who offers you "help" and phrases it like this:

She nods back at one of the men—a grizzled guy with a shaggy beard and a gun in a shoulder holster. “Jimmy there doesn’t have a woman. He’d take real good care of you.”

OMFG. 😭 I take all the bad things I've said about the hero back because it seems like he was the only one with a functioning brain cell still floating languidly in his head:

His eyes are narrowed as he turns to glare at me. “Told you to drive away if you saw anyone.”
“You told me to drive away if there was any trouble. And there wasn’t any trouble. Those people were harmless.”
“You couldn’t know that.”
“Yes, I could. They thought I was alone, and their offer was genuine.”

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? THIS GREY-HAIRED WOMAN TRIES TO PROSTITUTE YOUR ASS TO A DISGUSTING CRAP OF A MAN TWICE YOUR AGE FOR "PROTECTION". OFC IT WAS A GENUINE OFFER, YOU TOMFOOL'S LITTLE SPAWN.

Superficial concerns about her looks (namely her hair and boobs she takes so much pride in) didn't help me in my quest to stop hating on this poor, lonely 21-year-old peer of mine. YOU MIGHT DIE RIGHT THIS INSTANT, THINK ABOUT YOUR IMMORTAL SOUL FOR A MINUTE. If you even have one.

SEX AND DIRTY TALK

Since the whole point of this book amounted to delivering smut, it would be a hate crime not to mention how much I hated every second of it.

He’s propped on one arm and uses the other hand to fondle my breasts some more, trailing his fingertips up and down the contours of them and flicking the nipples in turn.
I gasp every time he flicks, and I lift my chest toward his fingers.
Then he teases me with his mouth until I’m almost writhing. I’m mumbling wordless pleas as his face lowers to nuzzle at my stomach.

TEASING UNTIL SHE'S WRITHING, HOW SEXY A DESCRIPTION. RISE THAT CHEST HIGHER, BABE. Give an impatient little wriggle with that breastbone.

Unfortunately, by the time he "massageS her clit", I've said enough is enough. There are better ways to make the process sound hot instead of primitively describing their every move in a semi-detached manner as if it were a scientific experiment that had to be written down step by step. 😭

“You likin’ this, Layne?”
“Yeah. Oh God, yeah. I’m... I’m...”
His eyebrows pull together. “You’re what?”
“I’m dying here! Please, I need to come soon.”
“I’m gonna make you come. I’m gonna make you come real good.”
..
“That’s real good,”
“That’s what you wanted, ain’t it? You’re feelin’ real good now. Just like you said.”
..
“Now you’re feelin’ even better.”
“Told you that you could. That’s real good. Feel real good.”
..
“Now my hand is even wetter,” he says dryly, giving my shoulder a little nip
..
“You got real wet,” he murmurs, a smile in his voice, although I can’t see his face. “My hand is soaked.”

Don't even start me on dirty talk because what the fuck was this? No comments.
Where's the silencing charm when I desperately need it? 🥲

He takes his erection and moves it into place.

Don't hurry, dude. Insert that bolt in her slot, it can't get more robotic than that.

He eases out and then back in a couple of times until he’s fully in place.

CONCLUSION

The obvious one: this author and I just don't click. As for the reasons for this:

— descriptions are very mechanical and down-to-earth. They didn't encourage my imagination to run rampant. Her writing doesn't paint vivid pictures, which is fine, I guess, as long as that's your preference. I, for one, enjoy a little poetry and allusion sprinkled in a romance book. Love is supposed to sound more beautiful and sophisticated than a bunch of raging hormones and intensely sweating bodies. At least in books.

I prefer more imaginative, metaphorical writing that's doesn't read as instruction on how to use a sex doll

— dialogues lack wit and substance

— heavy focus on sex/smut. I never understood why her characters (two couples I've read about so far) liked each other (as in, liked each other, not liked to fuck each other)

— not a single scene where I wanted to stop and reflect on what I just read

[Isabella. R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Hymn of Faith Stars ⭐

~Second Read of a book that I underappreciated the first time around.~

Last Light is exactly what I want in a post-apocalyptic romance. A story of desolation, steaminess and ultimately hope. To think that this was my second read, yet I devoured this whilst fully appreciating the fantastic writing, the new world created and two very remarkable characters.

There’s a defense mechanism built into the human soul. You get to a point where loss is so immense that the part of you that hurts when something dies simply shuts down. You go numb.

In four years, the whole world has gone to ruin. A natural catastrophe has caused havoc on the planet, decimating half the population. The survivors have been left to fend for themselves. In a time of crisis where most people should be banding together, many have gone rogue. Food is scarce, safety is questionable and only the fittest will survive.

Layne Patterson is going it alone when she crosses path with a man she barely knows. A man from her former life, Travis Farrell. When he offers to accompany her to Fort Knox, an army base rumoured to be helping and housing refugees, Layne is tempted. Travis may have been the dependable mechanic in their old town of Meadows, but times have changed. The world has changed, many can’t be trusted, and woman are now a commodity.

Unfortunately, it won’t be long until Layne is without options and she is forced to put her trust in Travis. There is no denying that there is safety in numbers, or with a companion that can take care of himself and her. And what she doesn't know is that she's hit the jackpot with Travis

"I mean what I say. Men can’t make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other." He clears his throat and avoids my eyes. "I need you. Like you need me."

This was an adventure that spoke to my soul. Two people who would never have been together or fallen in love had circumstances been different. It’s a tale of hardship and sacrifice. But for me, I love the satisfaction of two people facing the many dangers and somehow finding love amongst the devastation. Where Layne was a warrior, Travis was the perfect alpha hero that had her back. Their chemistry was something else, and this is one book that will always stay with me.

~BR with Rain. An actual book that finally hit all the highs for us. Hallelujah!~

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It matters, taking care of someone else, even at the end of the world.

I’m giving it a 5 star rating simply because this book got my feelings way too involved.

This almost read like a road trip romance. But in a post-apocalyptic setting which is as morbid as it sounds.

But the story as a whole is oddly settling and comforting, even though things are tense, and the main characters are in constant survival mode and danger always lurks around the corners. It’s still hopeful and I loved that message.

There’s also a moment with a dog here that was just precious. 🥹

All in all, I had the best time reading this. It’s everything I could want from a romance novel.

(This relates to the Kindled series, it’s a standalone prequel.)

P.S. I’m gonna need Claire Kent to write me my own hero.

Recommended reading order:

* Last Light (prequel)
* Haven (but if you’re new to Claire Kent and want to see if her work is for you, you can start off with this novella.)
* Princess
* Embers
* Hero

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars (Originally Read 6/10/2020)

4 Stars (Re-Read 6/3/2021)

Overall Opinion: I liked this. I liked having the change up in sub-genre and dealing with an end of the world scenario. I really liked their connection and how it developed from friends to more and the ending was surprisingly good with great closure considering their life circumstances. It was what I needed to help me work on getting out of this slump...so if anyone has any post apocalyptic type romances to recommend— I’m all ears!

Re-Read Note: After some fails in this post apocalyptic romance sub genre, I decided I wanted to revisit this one. I’m happy I did! While I didn’t get emotional like I remember being the first time since I knew what to expect, I still enjoyed revisiting these characters and experiencing their love grow. I’m not going to be changing my rating because I still liked it, and I’m still always looking for this type of book recommendations if anyone wants to lend a hand 😜

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Layne and Travis’ story. An asteroid had hit Europe years before that had triggered natural disasters, health problems, and criminal behavior for all Earth. Layne’s grandma that she was staying behind with has died and she decides to meet up with the rest of her small town. Layne meets Travis along the way that was also headed that way and they travel together. After spending more time together and experiencing dangerous events, then grow closer and fall in love. There are some sad scenes, suspenseful moments, and some hot sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.

Point Of View (POV): This was told in Layne’s POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.

Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings. Friends-to-lovers-to-more.

H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Travis. I really liked him. He was pretty gruff to start, but he was grieving. I really appreciated how he was protective and caring while also being vulnerable at times with the h.

h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Layne. I liked her. I appreciated her strength, ability to see the good things, and the way she cared for others.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes The H does push away some because he doesn’t think the h fully wants him

Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Only misunderstandings The h and H both think the other is interested in others but they are not

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: No

Possible Triggers: Yes Mentions of rape (side characters off page), the H was married and his 5 (?) year old daughter died (off page), loss of loved ones (off page), the H is significantly older than the h (not sure how much but the h is 21), and murder/death/violence (on page)

Closure: This has probably as close to a HEA as I could get with calling it a HFN ending. I think I feel that way because of the circumstances surrounding the mcs, but it was a pretty good ending. the h is pregnant, they’re living together, and they are going to try to arrange to get married

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the H pushing the h away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse by mcs
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read so many apocalyptic stories over the years, and this one is at the very top of my favorites list. The writing is simple yet brimming with genuine emotion. Every time I re-read it, I find something more to love.

Layne (20) might be young, but this story is told through her very capable and mature voice.

It matters, taking care of someone else, even at the end of the world. I’d almost forgotten I had it in me.

I'm so thankful Kent continues to write stories set in this world! I was thrilled that both Haven and Princess have cameos of Travis and Layne!! While I enjoyed those books, nothing has come close to matching the heart (and steamy emotional sex) in this one.

Thank you Isabella for suggesting we reread this book as a BR. I didn't know I could love this story any more than I already did!

*Original review *
*5 stars*

As an apocalyptic junky, this book checked all of my end-of-the-world boxes.

✔️A strong and resourceful heroine
✔️A gentle, yet protective alpha male
✔️Smokin hot chemistry

I’ve read so many books from this genre that try to wow the reader with violence and gore that when you finish them, you’re left feeling emotionally exhausted. This book doesn’t hide from violence, but it doesn’t take the main stage either. It’s a story about survival, but at it’s core, it’s a story about a relationship between two lost souls.

Layne was 16 when an asteroid slammed into Germany, the shock waves and blast debris decimating most of Western Europe.

Travis (30) had met Layne (20) previously, as her car mechanic and knew her grandparents from church. They meet up again four years later, both heading to Fort Knox, an Army base in Kentucky.

"Men can’t make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other.” He clears his throat and avoids my eyes. “I need you. Like you need me.”

There is such an incredible sweetness to their love story. It’s slow and gentle and feels very real. Despite all the hardships they go through, there is an overwhelming feeling of hope and promise throughout this story. It is also quite steamy and passionate.

It was refreshing to have an author talk realistically about periods, body hair, body odor, and lack of clothing in the apocalypse.

I was so sad to see the last chapters! There was SO MUCH more I wanted to know about their lives and how the world was changing.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I'm looking for something different from the usual romance story, this is what I love to read. The best way to describe this would be to think of the tv series The Walking Dead but without the zombies and instead of following a group of people, this only follows one couples journey across the United States trying to stay safe in a very unsafe world.

This isn't your typical "disease ravages the world" kind of apocalyptic story. In fact, this is something that could truly happen in real life. It's pretty scary to think about and that's exactly what I kept thinking as I read this book. What would I do? How would my family and I survive under these circumstances? It made for a connection to a story that should seem pretty far fetched. I was on the edge the whole way through waiting for anything to happen. It made the ending to this book mean so much more.

You would think it would be hard for a book to have such a good romance when the main focus is survival but no only did the author succeed, she created one of the sexiest slow building romances. If you need steam in your books, let me just tell you there were some pretty sexy scenes. The romance is not lacking in this book.

I really liked the main couple. Travis pulled off the strong, protective alpha while still showing a vulnerable side to him through Layne. Layne is a heroine I can get behind. She's young, only 20 years old and she is braver than most. She was smart and practical. You do not see any immaturity in this girl. She had to grow up and grow up fast. As a couple, these two fit perfectly when they never would have even looked twice at each other before the world fell.

This was a creative story that made for very enjoyable read, especially if you are looking for something different. I highly recommend it!

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars ☄️

i definitely didn’t stay up till 7am reading this book because i couldn’t put this book down for even a second. i am unbothered and unashamed 😴

if there’s one thing i know about claire kent, she knows how to write barbaric men (even human ones)

with the amount of one and two syllable grunts travis (H) did, i was half convinced he was part neanderthal. travis every time he was asked a question—



do i care for even one second that travis initially said, quite possibly, the worst thing you could say to a woman when the world has ended?

“I’m not looking for company.”
His eyes widen slightly. “Not like that. I wouldn’t expect nothin’. Pretty little thing like you—you’re not safe on your own.”

uhhhhh i’ve seen the walking dead and i know reverse psychology when i see it ✋🏻
sorry travie boo…i probably would have robbed you and left you for dead 😔💔



not gonna lie, i half expected zombies to jump out of nowhere and start attacking the MCs. why is it easier to be believe zombies could end the world but not a stray asteroid?

anywho, the sexual tension between travis and layne (h) was perfect. there’s certain points where you can cut it with a butter knife, it was that strong. nothing says foreplay like learning self-defense—

“Then I open my mouth and clamp my teeth down into the flesh of his upper arm, which is the only part of him I can reach.
I don’t bite down, but I hold the position.
“Do it,” he rasps.”

when she started dry humping him and he freaked out and scolded her i nearly died though 💀

the amount of times layne mentions travis’s smell was comical. like when he was teaching layne self-defense, he snuck him on her and grabbed her but she didn’t fight back because she knew it was him. she could smell him coming 🤣

i just love post-apocalyptic flirting 😍

“You don’t need no deodorant.”
“Uh.”
“You smell just fine.”

in all honesty, the “other people” were much too nice. people are already horrible, you don’t think they’d be even WORSE if the world ended? travis and layne also got too lucky whenever it came to looting…like how they gonna find a house in the middle of nowhere with solar-powered water and electricity…how convenient that no one in 4 years ever went in that direction 🤔

i needed them to suffer more and have their lives be in more danger than they were. how dangerous could it really be when layne couldn’t stop thinking about having sex instead of well…dying

[Arini · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was everything i didnt know i needed, and one that i’ll always come back to if i never find a post apocalyptic romance book as good as this again since its hard to come by.

- i loved how simple the plot was despite the dystopian setting.

- the romance was simply wholesome. it wasnt corny or cloying; it felt real and genuine.

- the H was unassuming, sweet, and caring. he respected and admired the h’s strength, and he never pushed her to do anything she didnt want. he loved quietly, and he’d do anything for the h but not in an overbearing, territorial, alpha way. gah, he was such a sweetheart.

- the h was smart, cautious (despite a couple close calls), and she was strong.

- the two of them had good chemistry, and the development from them barely knowing each other to being friends, partners, and more felt natural. they made one heck of a great team. they were resourceful and they had each others back at all times.

- they felt deep for each other, but they didnt expect/demand more from one another cause they didnt think it could go anywhere, which led to a tiny miscommunication towards the end. but i loved how it got resolved cause the H’s confession really made the book for me.

- everything about this world was threatening and brutal, but there wasnt any unnecessary drama or exaggerated situations. thats why i loved how realistic it felt, at least to me. like the things that happened here, i could see it happening in real life if the world was truly ending.

- the book had the right amount of everything: danger, action, romance, angst, and steam.

- the story ended perfectly, and i couldnt be happier for the H & h.

there was nothing i’d change, but it also didnt feel like a five star read. i loved it though. not many people have read this, which is a total shame. i highly recommend it!

(read as an audiobook)

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread:

Oh my gosh! While I had not forgotten one intense moment of this story, I had forgotten how totally I loved and connected with this heroine! I knew that she was definitely one of my favorites, but not all the reasons for it. This author is the main reason as she developed her in such a way that I couldn’t help but feel a total and complete connection.

I loved rereading what was already one of my favorite books. This is one that should be on everyone’s list if they enjoy post-apocalyptic romances. So glad I took the time to dive back into this one for a reading challenge!

Original review:

Holy heck! Forget about post-apocalyptic stories that are all about world building, this is what I want. Last Light is all about the struggle, the survival, the emotions, and falling in love when the world is screaming that should be the last thing you should be thinking about.





It’s been four years since the end of the world. While Layne’s community slowly dwindled, she choose to stay behind to care for her dying grandmother. Now she’s determined to find those that might have survived and hopefully find some kind of connection in this new world. But life has reverted back to a time of lawlessness and women are even more vulnerable. No one can be trusted, not even the man that her grandparents said was a good man.


’Things I’ve always taken for granted – like normal people acting in normal ways – can’t be relied on anymore.’


From the first page I was completely hooked and could not stop reading. This author painted a clear, perfect picture of not only what happened to end the world as we all know it, but what civilization, or the lack thereof, is like. Her simple, concise descriptions sucked me in immediately and I felt the dark weight of this life as though I were living it myself.





With each page, each word, my emotions became tangled up in Layne’s. I’ve never felt such an emotional connection to a heroine before. Not because of anything I have in common with her, but because she was so real. Talk about character development! I felt everything Layne felt and as a result my emotions were all over the place along with hers.





While this is written entirely in Layne’s point of view, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Travis. With a southern, unrefined drawl that thickens when it’s obvious he’s feeling deeply, it didn’t take long for Travis to steal my heart. Although he’s a bit shy and uncertain, that doesn’t stop him from protecting Layne above all else. He was so sweet and kind but ferocious when it came to her safety. And oh my gosh, when I reached the end, my heart bled for him even as I cried for this simple country man who deserved so much but couldn’t see it for himself.


”Sometimes we gotta cry ‘bout the smaller things because the big things are just too big.”





This couple go through a lot from the first to the last page. I was intrigued, I was fearful, I laughed and I cried. This author took my every emotion and tossed them into a spin cycle before spitting them back out at me. To say I’m gob smacked is an understatement. I hate that I can’t find all the beautiful words to describe what an amazing story this is.

You know that adrenaline surge you get when you finish THE most incredible book? This is that book!

’And love might be the biggest risk of all at the end of the world.’

Heroine POV
Safe no om drama; ow drama – H’s ex-wife – H’s young daughter recently died, his ex is in town where h is traveling to and he tells her that he is going there to find her – at one point, regarding his ex, H tells h that he loves her – it was obvious to me that he means in the way someone who you’ve known all your life and had a child with but not in a romantic love but the h has doubts – this doesn’t consume the story but it does come in to play a bit; h is virgin – world ended when she was 16 and she is currently 20 and has been fighting to survive; H not a manwhore
Triggers this is a world where men take what they want from women – rape – but no actual rape occurs; attempted rape but it was stopped before it progressed further than the man wrapping his arm around her neck from behind

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making the apocalypse adorable

You all were right, this is the best one of the series. How did she make a book that’s mostly sex scenes so sweet and so deep? Must be a gift.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio – 5 Stars
Story – 5 ++ Stars

Me listening to this book equaled INSTALOVE.

This a close proximity action/advantage romance, so the story is very couple/relationship focused. Some of the scenes are so cozy and steamy, you think the couple is living in a bubble. But then the suspense and action scenes come into play and make your heart race in a different way. I thought everything about the story was well balanced and perfectly paced.

The hero is rough around the edges, gruff, stoic but incredibly considerate and protective. The heroine is sweet, innocent, young but tough and assertive when she needs to be.

Although the story was told only from the heroine’s pov, I still got a good sense of the hero and his thoughts. Both were dealing with insecurities, but they had a way of reassuring and comforting each other.

Dear Author,

I’m so glad this story randomly came to you forced you to give in and write it. I know you said to consider this a standalone, but I hope this book does so well that you get hit HARD with the inspiration to turn it into a series of several more books.

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!!

Love might be the biggest risk of all at the end of the world.

This was pretty good! And the quote above really sums up the plot perfectly.

If you're into post-apocalyptic survival romances, I definitely recommend! Last Light was gritty and brutal, but I loved the way Layne and Travis's budding relationship balanced out the scales so nicely.

"Men can't make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other."

I admit that I got a bit frustrated near the end of the story with the way things were playing out, but then BAM! I got hit in the feels unexpectedly when things came to a head. That's the work of a great writer.

Thank you Isabella and Lyn for getting me to read this one!

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the end of the world…and she spends it with her old mechanic 🚗💨 Cozy post-apocalyptic road trip with AGE GAP romance!

“If you kiss me, darlin’, I’ll never whine again in my life.”

After losing everyone Layne is traveling to the last known safe haven in the US. Heading out of town she meets Travis aka her old mechanic who is going the same way 🚗 He think’s she’s too pretty to travel alone! Their long journey marked by dangerous survival & budding attraction!

For a dangerous post-apocalyptic world this was a surprisingly cozy read. I really enjoyed reading about their road trip journey, fight for survival and scavenging.

🤎 she sings to him

✨ AGE GAP

🤎 micro trope: when he gets too excited in the morning so he goes to quietly take care of himself in the bathroom

✨ he grunts & blushes

There’s was quite a lot of smut in the book but it worked well with the plot. Nothing too dirty but it definitely gave the feel of “we are the only one’s left might as well enjoy it”.

Biggest OP of this book is the cover!

dystopian romance
protective mmc
virgin fmc
grumpy x sunshine
forced proximity
road trip
HEA

[Dri ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

'🅻🅰🆂🆃 🅻🅸🅶🅷🆃' is a full length post-apocalyptic romance novel by new to me author Claire Kent.

Trying something new, so switching it up a bit with this one, new author to me. Not a genre I generally jump on…

Ash in the atmosphere had decimated so much of humanity which is slowly reinventing itself into a bleak world with very few survivors.

This story follows Layne Patterson & Travis Farrell as they make their way to Fort Knox an army base which is apparently a safe haven housing refugees. But to get there they have to travel through rough terrain passing through abandoned towns overtaken and wiped clean by scavengers and gangs.

Layne was sixteen when her whole world and her township of Meadows, a small town in Southwest Virginia fell apart when an asteroid slammed into Germany creating a domino effect towards the rest of Western Europe.

Travis' character was similar to Sylvester Stallone, a man with a rough exterior with few words, he mumbles instead of using full sentences, so Layne has her work cut out for her trying to get him to open up. He was just the man who used to fix her car whenever it broke down. She was just the girl who had never fallen in love and gone the whole way with a boy before.

As they embark on this journey together they discover the new meaning of the word survival.

This is not good!

I inhaled this, crazy loved it, so much so that I’ve jumped on her other series similar to this book. God my reading tastes have thrown me a curveball with this book!

Soooo if you’ve got any recommendations similar to this book if you’ve read it, throw them my way!!

[Deniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooooo good! Loved this story! if you are looking for something different. I highly recommend it! Will definitely re-read it !!! I love Claire Kent and only just realized that she also writes as Noelle Adams. The author mentions in a note that this will probably be her last Claire Kent book. This is so disappointing as I actually find her Claire Kent books much more interesting and creative than her Noelle Adams books. I would love to read more of this world and characters and I continue to love anything written by Claire Kent.

[Ruby Dixon]

Why did I wait so long to read this? It was really sweet, or as sweet as you can get in a super gritty post-apocalyptic world. No huge violence on screen which was a plus, and the big conflict at the end was not nearly as worrying as I was expecting.

[SHOMPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 HAWT stars! :D

[Inna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why it has taken me SO LONG to read this book. It’s so damn good and Claire Kent has written some of my favorite books, so I really should have read this before now.

I haven’t had the urge to rate anything at 5 stars for a long time…but I can’t bring myself to rate this lower.

I think this is the first truly believable “end of the world” book I’ve read… it freaks me out just how possible most of the scenarios in this book could be. I think, realistically, a lot of what happens in this book could actually happen. Some of the details do seem a little sketchy, but not totally impossible. It’s a freaky alternative world, and just the possibility of it makes me want to start stocking up on food rations.

Anyways, this book definitely has that dystopian vibe - it had me feeling pretty sad for most of it. I even shed a few tears. The hero & heroine are awesome, and so great together. The hero, Travis, is the strong, silent type. Very similar to the hero from “Hold”, one of my all time favorites. The story is surprisingly simple given how complicated the circumstances in the world are. It focuses more on the day-to-day struggles that Travis and Layne have while traveling to Fort Knox. Their trip is difficult and full of danger, but they really connect during their time together and take care of each other through everything.

The ending is so beautifully done. I absolutely love Claire Kent for giving me an epilogue that is a year later and full of happy details. It left me feeling happy, even though the ending for these two characters is in no way predictable considering the awful world they live in. But the ending gave me hope, and it really was very well done.

Safety is good; hero was married and had a kid. He and his wife got divorced right before the world went to hell. Their daughter gets sick and dies right before the start of this story. He wasn’t a manwhore, very little mentioned about his past besides the ex. His ex left with the rest of the town, knowing their daughter would die, he stayed behind. The heroine is a virgin. She briefly had a boyfriend who she fooled around with, but he was killed. She assumes that the hero still has romantic feelings for his ex wife and will want to get back together with her, but he doesn’t. He does say he loves his ex, but it’s obviously just platonically. No OM/OW drama besides jealousy/misunderstanding on both their parts. No cheating, no major separation.

[Lana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

How do people handle feeling this way? How do they live every day and go about their business with this kind of storm of emotions inside them?
How do they ever manage to share the feelings with someone else?

Kent did slow burn wonderfully and worked it into the story organically. I loved the characters, their slow dance around each other, heroine's naivety in some areas and total badassery in others; hero's protectiveness and gruffness.

There were some similarities in the way this author developed romance in her books, even writing under a different name, and it's gotten a bit dramatic towards the end. But I still loved the optimism and the lightness of it, considering the world around them.

"We all live our lives in just a snapshot of time. Maybe it was never the sun setting on us. Maybe it was always the sunrise."

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!

[TJ ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this author loves reminding me how bad everyone smells

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been two years since I read this, and it just made me feel so nostalgic.

To this day, it's still one of my favourite apocalyptic stories. There's something so human about this book, and I'll forever be chasing the way that I feel whenever I read it 🥹.

Travis and Layne will always have my heart, and this book will undoubtedly always be my favourite in the series.

-=- 2nd read -=-
I recently found out that CK wrote more books in this world and I was so happy- so I decided to re-read this one, because I remembered how much I loved it.

Now having read so many more post-apocalyptic stories like this, I love it even more. It's really rare for me to like these types of books when they include romance because I never really feel like the themes balance each other out well?

I feel like this book really did this trope justice, and had a realistic air to it, that didn't feel overbearing to me when reading- and had some really nice development in terms of the romance. And even though a lot of what happened in relation to their luck with scavenging, felt very convenient- I loved it anyways bc it felt so satisfying to read about. Idk, I just love this book so much 😭😭.

I think I'll forever be obsessed with Layne and Travis as a couple- the number of domestic scenes and cute banter, no matter how awkward at times 💀, just felt really real and I'm in love 😭.


--(original review)--
This for me, was actually a really good read. -4.5 stars-

I honestly didn't know what to expect when coming into this book- I've never really read an 'apocalyptic' style book that primarily focuses on romance- I've usually only read them in some form of a pure fantasy book. So this was really refreshing to read- and I absolutely loved it.

This was genuinely such an easy book to get into, I was able to immediately jump into the storyline- It was a really quick read. And although I found the overall story to be very vague (there wasn't really a strong backstory/ plot) and, really fast-paced, I felt like it worked out quite well in this case- it was very fitting for this type of story and led to a very nice, casual read.

I loved the realistic themes and topics that came up in this book in relation to hygiene and just overall life. There wasn't really a 'plot' to this book, however, it just really came together nicely at the end. I did find some of the scenes between the two characters quite awkward at times (their convos during sex had no right being that awkward 😭)- however overall I really liked how their relationship developed over time- It was actually really sweet.

This book was a nice blend of some of the favorite tropes and themes- and was just a really enjoyable, quick read. I'm glad to have read it- and am sad that it ended so soon- I would've loved a longer book. But yeah, it's great if you're looking for a quick, fun book to read. I loved the writing style of the book- it was pretty solid. This was the first book that I've read by this author, and I'm definitely gonna check out more.

No, but the way that Travis never had a moment of peace bc of his body odor 💀💀

'He smells clean. Not really like Travis'

LEAVE HIM ALONE I CANTT 😭😭.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Last Light after seeing all the positive reviews from GR friends and I'm so glad I did! Post-apocalyptic and dystopian reads aren't usually my favorites since so many get bogged down in darkness, but there was a lot of light and sweet in this story. Still plenty of tension, tight situations, and a looming sense of danger. I liked that this is a single, first person POV story from h, even with H being stoic and not as talkative. There's no ow/om drama (there is some confusion that each might want to be with someone else), h is a virgin and H is not but no details given and didn't appear to be a manwhore, pulling out is bc when the world is over.

Layne (h) and Travis (H) are from the same small town and both are headed towards Ft. Knox, which is supposed to be guarded by remnants of the military after an asteroid hit Europe a few years prior, changing the entire planet. They connect on the road and agree to travel together. There is an age gap, but it's not clear how much it is that I noticed. I loved that we see some of the basic survival practices that they have to go through, while not spending too much time in repetition. I especially liked that challenges like periods, shaving, lack of toiletries, etc. are mentioned.

As for Layne and Travis, they're both likable, caring, strong, and vulnerable at times. Neither has let the end of the world turn them into something they're not, despite their grief over who and what they've lost. Their journey isn't without obstacles, but they also meet decent people. They connect more as they go along and there's plenty of steam eventually, with deeper emotions developing (although it's clear to the reader how much each cares for the other while they're each oblivious for a time that the other one returns their feelings). There's also an adorable dog and if you put a dog in a book, I'm going to fall in love with it. The epilogue is a sweet HEA that I felt like this couple truly earned and deserved. After finishing, I checked this author's other works and see that she's written more in this same world so that's something to look forward to!

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars**

[MC The Bookaholic ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!!

Post-apocalyptic ✓
Age gap ✓
Slow burn ✓
Protective alpha male ✓
Steamy smutty smut ✓

Things didn’t go to well with the last post-apocalyptic book I read, but this book? It totally 101% redeemed that trope. Whatever beef I had with it no longer exists — it’s finito.

Travis and Layne. Layne and Travis. They became my wonderful babies.

Layne is depicted as a strong heroine. Like kickass strong, even though Kent makes sure to prove that no matter how strong women are, physically men can overpower women. Layne is still hella stubborn and resilient.

And so is Travis. Man what a hot name. Travis. Alpha Travis (lol he’s actually a super alpha-male) is super protective of our h. Even though he is an alpha-male, he still gave our h freedom as an independent woman and that’s why I really loved him and found him an attractive character.

Although he was described as someone the h wouldn’t normally find handsome, Travis’ ways makes him the best eligible bachelor and causes him to become the hottest man ever — at least to me, in terms of body, mind, personality, etc.

The connection between the two MCs is inevitable. And even though our h is everything, she the clueless 20/21 year old you’d expect her to be which is what leads to the “big” misunderstanding.

Like in all awesome romances though, the angst isn’t prolonged (too much, at least) and my babies get their HEA!!! And so of course Momma MC (being me) was hella happy, content, and sad that the story was suddenly over.

With that being said: this is a must re-read because I absolutely freaking loved it. The characters were awesome, plot was well thought-out, and the writing was great! — 5 stars!!!

(PS: not gonna talk about the plot too much: synopsis does a good job of hinting at it.)

*****SPOILER******
(PPS: Only complaint is that I expected more of the wolf drove since it seemed like a big deal.)

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I’m new to the reading pleasures of Claire Kent, but I’m delighted to say that this first taste-test went really, really well.

Set in a near-future reality, where a global catastrophe has killed off a large portion of the population and rendered society fractured and untenable, this story follows small-town survivors, Layne and Travis, as they pair-up on a dangerous cross-country trek to seek loved ones and the promise of a safer haven.

Opposites in many ways, Layne and Travis were two very relatable and complex characters. Both on the quieter side, one never really knew the depth of the other’s romantic feelings, even though their growing bond was obvious to the reader from the start. These two made a good pair, especially considering the survival mentality needed to make it in this changed world. As two individuals trying desperately to not only survive but thrive, they worked well together, complementing each other’s strengths. As a romantic pair, these two were fire (!!!), heating up the sheets with every desperate and impassioned touch.

One thing is for certain: if the world was to end (as we know it) tomorrow, I could only hope to be so lucky as to find a partner to survive it all with, the way Layne found Travis (and Travis found Layne).

Although realistic and gritty at every turn, the tone of this story was never too heavy or depressing. For the most part, human decency triumphed, and although not the most ideal version of our world to be living in, Layne and Travis made it through many obstacles and survived many dangers (mostly of the feral human kind), stronger for it. Thankfully, this was one dystopian romance that had a really satisfying HFN ending, which, I believe balanced the realism of the situation, with my desperate need for a romantic happy ending for these two likeable leads.

I hear there are more books set in this world and I look forward to reading every one of them.

******************************************

Audio Edition:

Narrator Kirsten Leigh nailed this one. It’s not often I’m fully satisfied listening to female narrators, usually finding more issues than not, but Leigh’s performance was pitch perfect for this story and I enjoyed every minute of the audiobook.

[juli✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝟰.𝟮𝟱

❝Men might be stronger, but we’re not independent anymore either.❞
❝What do you mean?❞
❝I mean what I say. Men can’t make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other.❞ He clears his throat and avoids my eyes. ❝I need you. Like you need me.❞

𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗖
— My Silver Lining


LAST LIGHT is a deeply romantic story with a slightly horrifying backdrop. It's a book all about finding true love, while also dealing with the aftermath of an apocalypse.

Author, Claire Kent, sets out to answer the question, ❛is there room for love at the end of the f*cking world?❜

𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗩𝗘𝗦

♥ Travis
♥ Layne
♥ Duke
♥ Jeep Wrangler (FTW)
♥ Conveniently abandoned cabins
♥ Darlin'
♥ Sexy times
♥ Slow-burn
★ Layne's thoughts on sex… (relatable as hell)

Sex simply isn’t a priority right now. And it doesn’t matter that the irony is bitterly amusing. A virgin at the end of the world.

♥ One sleeping bag
♥ Middle of the night cuddling
★ TOILETRIES
♥ Best happily ever after

𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦

✘ The resolution (seriously, what was the point)
🅾🅺 Priorities (stop thinking about the 🍆 Layne)

... I recognize that part of my frustration is that I want to have sex. And it’s going on three days since we have.

🅾🅺 Conveniently empty houses
✘ MISCOMMUNICATION (at the ninth hour, too)
✘ Hurry up and wait
✘ No Travis POV

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected from a dystopian - apocalyptic romance.

The action did take place in a very “end of the world as we know it” space BUT the book really only focuses on the characters relationship and how they deal with the events on the outside.

We don’t get much apocalypse talk, just survival and we get to know the MCs as they take their lives day by day.

It was a good read. Initially I wanted more action or plot but by the end I actually loved how this wasn’t about that - but strictly about the characters.

[edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved post apocalyptic fiction, and honestly, it probably stems from my crippling YA addiction when I was 15. My brain developed in run down worlds and among people in distress, through books, TV shows, everything. Like many of us, that’s the fiction that shaped me. And now, with my adult ass self, I still eat up a good end of the world book, especially when it’s mixed with romance.

And this book was apocalyptic for sure. Our FMC, Layne, is on the road, trying to find the people she used to know, now that most of the world is dead. She runs into Travis, this grumpy mechanic who used to fix her car, the same guy her grandmother used to teach in Sunday school.

They’ve both been left behind because of their love for people who couldn’t be saved. Travis stayed for his daughter. Layne stayed for her grandmother. And now, because love alone couldn’t protect them from sickness or death, they’re left to find someone else to love, and maybe be loved by.

Layne’s journey kicks off when a man approaches her on the road. She doesn’t recognize Travis at first and points a gun at him. Even after she remembers who he is, her instincts tell her not to trust anyone. Still, Travis offers companionship, since they’re heading in the same direction. Layne refuses. But when fate makes them cross paths again, they end up forming a small group and hitting the road together.

Now, Travis is just a grumpy working man on the outside. But from the beginning, even before we peel back his layers, we know both he and Layne are capable of great love. We know because they stayed behind. But as the story progresses, we realize Travis is more than just a “good guy helping a woman.” He’s compassionate, quiet, but powerful. The kind of man women are wired to fall for. And Layne is no different.

She starts feeling lust toward him early on, especially once he starts teaching her how to defend herself (ooh🔥 those scenes were hot). The author builds this passionate tension between them and lets it simmer before letting it snap, and I loved every bit of it.

Now let’s talk about the sex scenes. They were so goddamn hot. Travis was direct in the best way, curious, attentive, and unafraid to ask questions. He checked in with Layne, explored her like a puzzle, and made love like he meant it. YESS, please.

For the romance itself, I adored how quietly Travis loves. He’s a tender man. There’s this mutual trust between them that feels earned. And in a broken world, that kind of trust makes everything more explosive, if you know what I mean.

The only thing I didn’t like was the drama involving Travis’ ex wife. She abandoned their daughter while she was literally dying, and it’s implied that Travis still loves her. He even says it at one point, but it’s eventually revealed to be a platonic, friendly kind of love. Still, I was mad for God's sake. I chose to brush it off, though, because Travis knows how to convince a woman.

“Darlin’. I’m doin’ a terrible job of sayin’ this. I’ll try again. You’re not gonna lose me. Not unless you want me gone. I’m gonna do whatever you do. If you wanna join Maria, then I’ll trail around behind you like a lost puppy. Me and the dog. Or if you wanna hook up with Mack or some other man, I’ll make myself a third wheel and I’ll practice deep breathin’ so I don’t beat the man’s face in for gettin’ to touch you like I… Or if you wanna stick with the caravan after all, I’ll learn to be patient and put up with not bein’ in control. You’re not gonna lose me, Layne. But I’m tryin’ to tell you that you don’t have to fuck me to keep me. You have me, even if you never want me to touch you again.”

Overall, I really loved this. The setting, the characters, the emotion, the flow... it’s an easy read that pulls you in. And Travis made me start praying for a man like him 🙏