USA Today BestsellerDanger brings together two guarded hearts in a battle for survival in this irresistible story from New York Times bestselling authors Linda Howard and Linda Jones.Sela Gordon, the shy owner of a Tennessee general store, finds safety in solitude. But if anyone can pierce her protective shell it’s the handsome, mysterious ex-military man living alone in the wilds of Cove … mysterious ex-military man living alone in the wilds of Cove Mountain. For two years, he’s kept his distance—until the day he appears to warn her that a catastrophic solar storm capable of taking down the power grid is coming. Now, Sela must find the courage to become the leader Wears Valley needs.
Bitter experience has taught Ben Jernigan it’s best to look out for number one. For two years the former soldier has lived in a self-imposed exile, using a top-notch security system to keep people away. But he had to let Sela know about the impending threat—and now the quiet and undeniably sexy woman is making it too easy for him to lower his guard.
As panic spreads, Sela and Ben discover that in the dark, cut off from the outside world, there’s no more playing it safe—in life or in love.
more
*I received an arc copy of After Sundown from Goodreads giveaway & am providing my honest review.* Loved this book, didn’t want to put it down!!The story takes place in Wears Valley, TN where Sela Gordon owns a gas station/convenience store & Ben Jernigan who’s former military lives in solitude on the mountain. Ben comes to Sela’s store for some supplies & warns her about an approaching CME (Coronal Mass Ejection)/Solar Storm that would cause the power grid to go down. The book shows how Ben & Sela finally act on their attraction to each other while Ben helps Sela (who’s in charge) with the town & towns people survival (that includes her Aunt Carol & niece Olivia) after the CME. Also can’t forget Sajack the dog that Ben saved. You will love Sela & Ben (who deserve their HEA), along with the supporting characters. Just an amazing book!!!!
It was difficult to decide what Star rating to give this book. It’s billed as a romantic thriller/suspense, but the hero barely shows up until halfway through the book. It’s a story about the consequences of the electrical grid going down all over the world. As a survival training book, it’s interesting, but slow. There are several suspenseful moments, but most of the book is about the people in this small Smokey Mountains town finding ways to survive. The romance is basically two people thinking lustful thoughts about each other, then having marathon sex, then the hero says they should get married because he’s run out of condoms. There is never any talk of love, although they clearly care about each other. The heroine grows stronger throughout the book, but she starts at such a low place that some readers will find it tough to relate to her. The reviews online are split, too. I guess it comes down to your expectations when you pick up a Linda Howard book. If you are looking for more suspense than romance, you might really enjoy this novel.
AFTER SUNDOWN by Linda Howard and Linda Jones hooked me from the first page, but I’m not certain it was the best choice during a pandemic (since it’s about a catastrophic solar storm that wipes out the power grid worldwide.) Even so, I couldn’t put it down!
AFTER SUNDOWN is set in the small town of Wears Valley, Tennessee. Sela Gordon runs a small convenience store. She is reserved and prefers her solitude, but there is one man who could pull her out of her shell—handsome, ex-military, loner Ben Jernigan, who lives in the wilds of Cove Mountain.
Sela was attracted to Ben from the first time he came into her store two years before, but her shyness keeps her from approaching him. Then one day he warns her that a solar storm is headed for earth, and she should prepare for the worst.
The worst happens, and Sela must step up to take care of her aunt and cousin and become the leader of Wears Valley, the last thing she wants to do. If Sela doesn’t step up, people will starve and freeze to death come winter. But when violence erupts, she realizes she needs help. Sela turns to Ben, and when he refuses, she offer her body in return for his expertise on keeping Wears Valley safe.
This story was so realistic that I was ready to stock up on supplies and take our solar off the grid. Loved it from beginning to end with a satisfying happily ever after.
Recommended Read
After the sun has a hissy fit, the earth’s power grids are fried.
This is a well-thought-out story about what the people who survived the disaster had to do to not only survive, but to thrive.
I highly recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the main characters, Sela and Ben, and the personal issues they had to work through – while facing events they never expected to have to deal with.
I had changed my mind about reading this book a dozen times. There were reasons, and I’ll explain. But before I do, understand that the book rated 4-1/2 stars for me because the story was well written with enough research behind it that it was accurate as well as soul-wrenching.
I had changed my mind because people whose opinions I respect had read the ARC almost a year ago and had rated it lower than five stars, and they had good reason. I believe that between then and now, there were re-writes because what they said about the book doesn’t seem to be on-point now. The second reason is that, while I don’t DISLIKE the writing combo of Jones and Howard, I do find the books lacking as much of that Howard-touch that we see in her independently written books. Some of that, I believe, comes from the two authors themselves who have divergent writing styles as well as methods/processes that differ wildly from each other.
Despite all those things, the book rated 4-1/2 stars. The story was well researched, from the CME itself to the area the book was written about Wears Valley. I love well researched books, it shows that the author is serious about her craft and that she’s willing to learn all she can in order to give her readers the best book she can write. I stopped really liking Insta-love a while back. While it does happen, and yes, it has happened to me, it is rare, and because the book starts in the middle of the attraction between Ben and Sela, I could accept it more, but it needed a little more background to make it palatable for me.
Even the best of people become violent when a live-threatening crisis erupts, and I think that aspect of it was played down in favor of making the book more palatable for most readers. I don’t necessarily find fault with this, so please don’t get me wrong, but I DO think that my imagination went to places the authors didn’t want to go.
As always Howard’s words came through, whether written by two people or a hundred. I read her first story/book when it was published by Harlequin way back when, and have read them all since, except for one. She will always be my go-to author if I want to read a well-researched, well-written romance.
I love anything Linda Howard writes.
Linda Howard and Linda Jones. Hit another one out of the ball park. Great story with a wonderful look at the good and bad in every day life. Such great writing that has all romance, family values, and people coming together to help one another. Awesome read, and look forward to another by the LINDA’S
Copied from Goodreads post: Giving this a 4+. Really hate to say I enjoyed a book about world-wide disaster but I did. Romance might seem a little quick to some but the nature of the H&H lends itself t0 the accelerated pace. Love that there was a good balance of characters; especially appreciate the character of Ted Parson who makes you look at the gray areas–he isn’t likable but proves to be a great touchstone. Loved Ben and Sela separately but glad they get the HEA! Only problem is that I found myself looking at backup generators! Highly recommend!
Great read!! i need to find more books by this author.
I loved this story. It is not had to imagine this actually happening. It’s a great plot with very recognizable characters.
It was really well written and makes you think about what can happen to us. I am ready to move to a small community where people look out for each other.
It was hard to put down, a great read.
Very original plot!!
Very thought provoking. What would you do if you had to live without modern conveniences.
Characters were believable and book was well written. Read it in one sitting. Didn’t want to put it down
I loved it!
Love Linda Howard
After Sundown by Linda Howard and Linda Jones.
This is not what I was expecting from Linda Howard, but it is an interesting premise and a good story plot. The tingly suspense is absent, a strong mystery has replaced it—what will happen when the winter comes, the food runs out, and the city dweller looters come? The characters are strong, and the romance is slow burning —a positive conclusion.
I really enjoyed this book. The hero and the heroine are both strong characters are willing to let each other be the person they are and that they need to be. Have read this one at least twice and will read it again and again.
However, the story line is kind of scary because it is so plausible. Some of the things that happen in the story gave me the chills because I can see them actually happening. This made the story even better!!