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Counting Down: An End of the World Love Story
Artist Abigail Connelly's dreams turn into nightmares when she discovers her long-term, live-in boyfriend has been cheating on her. There's no time to tend a bruised heart as news outlets from all over the world begin reporting one disaster after the next. Following her instincts, she packs up her cheating ex-boyfriend and flees to her family farm in rural Kansas.Kyle Windstone bought half of the Connelly farm from his best friend to build a simple life made of blue skies and cornfields. That life becomes infinitely more complicated when his best friend's niece arrives at the farm spinning tales of impending doom. Kyle is ready to wage the battle against Armageddon, but Abby is one distraction he couldn't have foreseen. They are drawn to each other by a shared power neither of them fully understands. Together, they will learn what it takes to survive and find the courage to love along the way.The 2019 Second Edition of Counting Down has a new cover, has been edited for clarity (typos, etc), and has two lost chapters added as a bonus to the back. There's also a sneak peak of Book Counting Shadows to whet your palette for more Eternal World stories before its release in Winter 2020.
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2012
20 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Lilah Boone
2 books7 followersLilah Boone writes sci-fi/paranormal romance full of quirky characters and lots of fast paced storytelling. Counting Down is her first novel (published July, 2012). A sequel is already in the works. Find out more about Lilah and the Eternal World Series at LilahBoone.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 23, 2015
Great concept, not executed very well at all. The romance was a bit over-the-top cheesy, but I can live with that. The science behind what happened (the Destroyer) being more fully explored and explained would have greatly enhanced the story and helped me suspend disbelief - as it is you are given only the bare minimum in terms of an explanation as to what the heck is going on. Also, any kind of explanation as to why it appears that for the most part only Gleamers survive (and why do they survive? and where do they get their gifts?) would have been appreciated. While there is some backstory to Kyle and Abby, the rest of the backstory is just....not there at all. Did the author think no one would care? I don't like to read a story in which I have no explanation, at any point, as to what/why/how things are happening beyond the most superficial. All the characters accept all these strange occurrences far too easily, with far too few questions of their own to be at all believable.......It was, however, the lack of editing that really (REALLY) got me. I mean....how hard is it to use spell check? There were so many spelling errors it became annoying after a while (immanent for imminent, their for they're, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc....) and was distracting to the overall flow of the book.
August 2, 2012
I actually registered myself on Goodreads because I enjoyed this book so much and wanted to leave good reviews for Ms. Boone. I have been recommending this book to many of my friends because it was so intriguing and fun. I'm not really into romance typically but I love sci-fi and this book has them both, and done well too. I found that the world Ms.Boone created was very engrossing and it holds the readers interest in a tight grip. The characters she creates are also great and very likable. She really does a good job of showing their development in the story and making them very human. Each character has strengths and weaknesses that bring them to life. I don't want to reveal to much about the plot of this book, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or just plain action. What's amazing is that it appeals to many different kinds of people, both men and women would like this story. Ms. Boone also has a website up, www.lilahboone.com where curious readers can go to learn more about the world she has made. Also she says there is a sequel coming out that I am very excited for. Happy Reading!
August 26, 2012
To be fair, I got halfway through this book (and I mean that literally -- I'm at 53%), then life interrupted with such force and fury that I had to put all reading aside for a couple of weeks. Then, when things settled down again, I came back to this book, tried to start it up again, and found I just didn't care. I came to Goodreads, hoping to find another review that might help explain why I didn't feel any sense of urgency to finish the book, but the other reviews I read were all very positive and everyone loved it. So, maybe it's just me.
I don't know... I just didn't care about the romance (the guy was just entering ANOTHER "Let's not get too close because we're too busy trying to survive the end of the world" phase and it irritated me because he had just come out of one of those); the end of the world was coming and I didn't feel much of a sense of urgency about that either (they had a really well-stocked underground hide out, so why worry about them too much?), and the new characters that had just been introduced just weren't very interesting.
Again, this just might be me and the fact I was interrupted, causing me to lose momentum and interest.
I don't know... I just didn't care about the romance (the guy was just entering ANOTHER "Let's not get too close because we're too busy trying to survive the end of the world" phase and it irritated me because he had just come out of one of those); the end of the world was coming and I didn't feel much of a sense of urgency about that either (they had a really well-stocked underground hide out, so why worry about them too much?), and the new characters that had just been introduced just weren't very interesting.
Again, this just might be me and the fact I was interrupted, causing me to lose momentum and interest.
May 15, 2018
A lovely spring of fresh air
As a lover of sci-fi, paranormal and time travel this tale was just what I needed. The Gleamers concept is an interesting spin for end of the world readers. With just right amount of romance, Lilah Boone has a refreshing appeal without the need for steamy bedroom scenes. As a prepper tale it could be fleshed out for that sequel that is hinted at. Good Job 😁
As a lover of sci-fi, paranormal and time travel this tale was just what I needed. The Gleamers concept is an interesting spin for end of the world readers. With just right amount of romance, Lilah Boone has a refreshing appeal without the need for steamy bedroom scenes. As a prepper tale it could be fleshed out for that sequel that is hinted at. Good Job 😁
April 25, 2013
lots of typos in the kindle version which was distracting. shallow characters. I was bored but I finished it because I don't like to stop reading a book in the middle.
May 29, 2021
This story was promising at first. I liked the concept of lovers who have known each other in another time and find each other again at the end of the world, trying to fix the mistakes of the last go around, but by about half way through, the story was hollow and repetitive. There were interesting characters whose stories weren't developed and just kind of sat in the background until convenient. It's too bad because those characters' abilities and backstroke were of more interest to me than the main characters.
Also the wrong word errors were pretty bad, especially towards the end. Blah.
Also the wrong word errors were pretty bad, especially towards the end. Blah.
November 20, 2025
I don't really get into the end of the world stories but was an ARC. It was quick paced but a little hard to hold my interest. The ending seemed appropriate and hopeful.
July 23, 2012
A unique apocalypse story about a girl named Abby and her vision of the end of the world. Most of this book takes place either before the events, or in the shelter. I would have liked to have seen more of the rebuilding taking place afterwards, but that's just preference. Some of the characters were never really developed very well, but Abby and Kyle were done pretty decently. Setting and survival plan of the people was done pretty well, although I didn't understand some of it. For instance, Kyle never knew all they would have after they survived, and he had a year and a half to plan for it since his visions started earlier then Abby's. You would think that since he bothered to upgrade the shelter, he would have made provisions to bring some of the animals down with him, along with enough feed. At least some of the chickens and goats, not to mention putting up some seeds. I just felt like if I would have had that much time to prepare, and knew something that bad was coming, I would have done more.
I also understand that he was unable to care for everyone, but it felt like they were all a bit to callous and cruel. The mothers with toddlers walking past, and them not even offering to help out any of them, or warning them of what was to come. I mean, if I had prior knowledge of a global disaster, I think I could have found the kindness within me to offer a few others shelter, or at least a warning to find a cave. They do live on a farm, and it's really not that hard to fill everything they could find with water and just eat less to save a few more lives. Of course I realize that might get me killed if this was reality, I just have trouble being cruel.
Now for the parts I loved, after all those complaints. The love story, while rushed, actually gave a reason for the rush, and was very sweet. Kyle and Abby seemed like they were going to make a great couple, and the magical element to the story gave their relationship a deeper impact. Speaking of the magical element, it was actually very well done and interesting, nothing too over the top. I liked the characters slowly figuring things out, and it will be interesting when the author comes out with the next book to see how everything is going to progress with the rebuilding and recovery. Also the fear felt very real, the buildup of the world dying, the visions, it all made everything seems very frightening. During parts I got chills just thinking about the world baking under the heat and radiation. I also liked that the people knew it was coming, and were planning for it, creating a different perspective then most apocalyptic titles, which always seem to deal with surprised and unprepared.
Overall, the story had good world building, decent characters, and an apocalyptic scenario that'll give you nightmares in the night. It also had a little bit of the sci-fi magic feel with a whole lot of questioned to be answered in future installments. I feel as if any lovers of the apocalyptic genre looking for a book about survival with a little bit more focus on prophesy and romance should check out this interesting story. I can't wait to read where the author plans to take the next book, and hope it doesn't take too long to come out.
I also understand that he was unable to care for everyone, but it felt like they were all a bit to callous and cruel. The mothers with toddlers walking past, and them not even offering to help out any of them, or warning them of what was to come. I mean, if I had prior knowledge of a global disaster, I think I could have found the kindness within me to offer a few others shelter, or at least a warning to find a cave. They do live on a farm, and it's really not that hard to fill everything they could find with water and just eat less to save a few more lives. Of course I realize that might get me killed if this was reality, I just have trouble being cruel.
Now for the parts I loved, after all those complaints. The love story, while rushed, actually gave a reason for the rush, and was very sweet. Kyle and Abby seemed like they were going to make a great couple, and the magical element to the story gave their relationship a deeper impact. Speaking of the magical element, it was actually very well done and interesting, nothing too over the top. I liked the characters slowly figuring things out, and it will be interesting when the author comes out with the next book to see how everything is going to progress with the rebuilding and recovery. Also the fear felt very real, the buildup of the world dying, the visions, it all made everything seems very frightening. During parts I got chills just thinking about the world baking under the heat and radiation. I also liked that the people knew it was coming, and were planning for it, creating a different perspective then most apocalyptic titles, which always seem to deal with surprised and unprepared.
Overall, the story had good world building, decent characters, and an apocalyptic scenario that'll give you nightmares in the night. It also had a little bit of the sci-fi magic feel with a whole lot of questioned to be answered in future installments. I feel as if any lovers of the apocalyptic genre looking for a book about survival with a little bit more focus on prophesy and romance should check out this interesting story. I can't wait to read where the author plans to take the next book, and hope it doesn't take too long to come out.
August 5, 2012
TEOTWAWKI meets Harlequin Romance meet superhero powers?
Well, the science was kind of weird, such as it was. If the world hidden behind the sun (or whatever) breaks up when it gets close, how could it come back whatever-thousands of years later? And if the Yellowstone caldera blows up, there's gonna be a lot more than a couple of inches of ash covering Kansas ... they'll need more than a couple months under ground. And why would they take the dogs, but not a couple of chickens and a rooster?
But, never mind, let it go. Did it keep my attention? Pretty much. Not read-all-night attention, but enough to want to find out what happens next. Though it was pretty predictable. Reanimating dead meat is really creepy though.
--- Spoiler alert --- (yeah, sure it is)
Funny, though, the climax of the book isn't the end of the world, or emerging from the shelter after surviving the end of the world. The climax of this book is literally a climax.
Will I read the sequel? If I notice it, maybe.
Well, the science was kind of weird, such as it was. If the world hidden behind the sun (or whatever) breaks up when it gets close, how could it come back whatever-thousands of years later? And if the Yellowstone caldera blows up, there's gonna be a lot more than a couple of inches of ash covering Kansas ... they'll need more than a couple months under ground. And why would they take the dogs, but not a couple of chickens and a rooster?
But, never mind, let it go. Did it keep my attention? Pretty much. Not read-all-night attention, but enough to want to find out what happens next. Though it was pretty predictable. Reanimating dead meat is really creepy though.
--- Spoiler alert --- (yeah, sure it is)
Funny, though, the climax of the book isn't the end of the world, or emerging from the shelter after surviving the end of the world. The climax of this book is literally a climax.
Will I read the sequel? If I notice it, maybe.
August 3, 2016
An entertaining read that offers the end of the world apocalypse mixed with the supernatural. Although the events in the story are improbable and can contain some gory details, it still keeps the reader's attention. I like that it offers a little history with the past, present, and future in detail. The two main characters (Abby) and (Kyle) are likable and are on an emotional roller coaster in understanding their intense relationship towards each other. The other characters still need building-up in their development.The plot was somewhat weak, but still draws some drama into the mix.
But overall, the book can be read as a stand-alone without ending it with a cliffy. The possible sequel in the next book hopefully will bring everything to light and will show the progress with the rebuilding and recovery.
But overall, the book can be read as a stand-alone without ending it with a cliffy. The possible sequel in the next book hopefully will bring everything to light and will show the progress with the rebuilding and recovery.
February 13, 2013
I make a point of never reading reviews before I read the book so I am not influenced beforehand. I almost wish I had broken the rule with this one. Although it wasn't a bad end of the world story, it was far from being a good one. The characters were everything from undeveloped to barely developed. The science didn't jive either and though the grammatical errors were minor, they were too numerous not to be annoying. This is one of those books that you can safely judge by the cover; it left something to be desired all the way around. For a light, quick read, it was okay. Still not sure it was worth a 3 however.
August 15, 2012
I loved this book, I just wished it had more of an ending or a second book to finish the story. We still dont know the meaning of the other gleamers orange and purple. it would be great to get a better finish of the other peole who just joined them at the end of the book.I really enjoy getting to know the charachters and follow them thru a long journey and we did get that whith this last group. i would really enjoy another book to follow .
March 4, 2014
Story started out like most couples ,but quickly changed.Had problem putting it down.Sort of sci fi and time travel .Story was good.End of the world coming ,what should everyone do .Can anyone survive .How???Read and see.
December 18, 2014
Some interesting ideas, interspersed into a fairly standard romance. Not a whole lot explained or amplified as to the strange doomsday scenario presented, but I suppose more will come in the sequel.
December 27, 2014
Total waste of time
I should have skipped this book.
I always finish what I start BUT not what I would I would normally buy.
I should have skipped this book.
I always finish what I start BUT not what I would I would normally buy.
Want to read
February 15, 2016she meets a farmer with unusual abilities, she moves to her family farm in kansas, her end of the world dreams are coming true
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews