If you no longer recognise someone, how can you possibly be expected to trust them with your life?Some might describe Blake Brannigan’s life in the small Yorkshire village of Thwaite as bordering on mundane. His job in a café doesn’t exactly set the world alight. But, he’s got his own house, a boyfriend, and a close-knit group of good friends. For him, that’s more than enough to lead a contented … enough to lead a contented life.
Then in one fell swoop, everything’s ripped away when he’s forced to flee the village with only his boyfriend for company. He doesn’t know why they’re leaving. He hasn’t got the faintest clue what’s going on, and he’s struggling to understand the actions and behaviour of a man he thought he knew. A man that it soon becomes clear knows far more about what’s happening than he’s letting on. A man hiding a multitude of secrets.
When the true extent of what’s happening comes to light, Blake is rocked to the core. Peril lurks around every corner. The smallest decision suddenly spells the difference between life and death. If Blake’s to have any chance of survival in this new and frightening world, he’s going to have to unearth buried secrets, figure out whether love really can conquer all, and face emotional, physical, and mental challenges the likes of which he could never have imagined.
One thing’s for sure, when life suddenly boils down to nothing more than the desperate need to find refuge, priorities change. Blake’s certainly have.
*Refuge is the first in a series of three books and therefore ends on a HFN. However, it can be read as a standalone and does not end on a cliffhanger.*
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I could not put this book down. Loved every minute of it.
I discovered this after mixing it up with another story by the same author (Exposed is another excellent story). Anyway, so glad I read it. It’s sooo good! Blake meets Zed af the cafe where Blake works. Despite Zed being a bit different, they end up as boyfriends. The story goes back and forth between past and present for the first half of the book, so it’s easy to see clues about Zed (in retrospect). The story is a bit suspenseful, though sometimes funny, with characters like Cherry, Marmalade (a cat they rescue who has a bit of a personality and others. It ends with a HFN and a soft cliffie, but it’s well worth it.
Again, H.L. Day has made me a fan of post-apocalyptic type stories and am looking forward to the next book.
I remember when Refuge first released. The cover immediately caught my eye, but considering sci-fi isn’t a preferred trope of mine, I didn’t passed the book up. After seeing the initial positive reviews, I always intended to double back and read Refuge, especially after reading and loving this author’s subsequent releases. My ever growing to-be-read list being what it is, I had yet to do that. With the fast approaching release date of the second book in this series, I finally made the time to dive in. Refuge was absolutely amazing…the type of read that’s ridiculously hard to put down even when it’s later and your eyes are burning with exhaustion.
Considering my initial hesitation to read Refuge when it first released, I feel it’s prudent to mention that despite sci-fi elements fueling the conflict, this book didn’t feel outside the realm of my interests at all. Refuge was filled with fast-paced action, suspense, and an original plot. The romance between Zed and Blake was prominent, but certainly not the primary focus of the book, making this a satisfying read for those who value a great story over all else.
The characters were well developed and dynamic. I loved that both the main and secondary characters weren’t perfect, but were relatable, interesting, and people I wanted to see succeed. As I’ve come to expect from this author, there was some good banter and humor mixed in with the exciting plot. The writing was smooth and the pace fast. And while the ending was satisfying, this is definitely a happy-for-now conclusion that leaves the reader eager for more… luckily my wait won’t be long!
Wow. This was not what I was expecting from this book. It was a huge but really pleasant surprise. I loved this author writing, the plot and character development was amazing. Blake’s super funny, and his relationship with Zed was the sweetest thing ever. Being able to read about their first encounter and their evolution as a couple…it melted my heart. Zed’s different, aloof, but at the same time he’s the most caring, sweet and protective guy ever, I fell in love with him since the beginning. The dangers and obstacles they and the rest of the group had to overcome, I don’t think I would be able to survive what they did. And sweet old George? Damn, I was warming up to him, it was heartbreaking. I can’t wait to see what waits for them next in this long, dangerous journey
Refuge is the first book in the Fight for Survival series by H.L Day, and sets the scene for the series about an alien apocalypse.
We flip back and forth between “3 years ago” and “what would be the present day. In one time we are treated to the sweet love story of Zed and Blake, and then we go to present times and see the battle being faught and the new world of their existence rising. So not only do we get the drama, sweetness and fun of the lovestory… but we get the twists and turns of the adventurous journey they are about to embark on. The characters pull you into their world – into their drama. Together it is a great, well written, and entertaining tale that builds anticipation for the next book.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.