BOOK REVIEW - AFTERSHOCK by JILL SORENSON - AFTERSHOCK # 1 - HARLEQUIN - SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: JILL SORENSON

Published By: HARLEQUIN HQN

Released :Available Now

Details : Paperback from library, 374 Pages

RATING: 3.5 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

THERE'S A FINE LINE...

As an emergency paramedic, Lauren Boyer is dedicated and highly capable. Until an earthquake strikes, trapping her beneath the freeway with a group of strangers--including Iraq war veteran Garrett Wright... 

...BETWEEN PERIL AND PASSION

Handsome and take-charge Garrett aids Lauren in her rescue efforts, even as the steely look in his eyes seems to hide dark secrets. When a gang of escaped convicts goes on the attack, Garrett's bravery makes him more than a courageous bystander to Lauren. If they can save the others before time runs out, maybe, just maybe, they can explore the fire igniting between them--if the truth about who he really is doesn't pull them apart forever....

BOOK REVIEW:

This is gonna be a tough review for me to write, but from seeing many a review citing some of my own thoughts, I realize that I am well within my reasonable opinion on Aftershock.

This is my first Jill Sorenson read and it probably won’t be my last.

In Australia, Cyclone Tracy in 1974, Darwin was our last devastating catastrophe of that nature. We don’t get earthquakes, maybe a tummy rumble every X amount of years.

My point being I can’t imagine what it is like in an earthquake situation like what happens in Aftershock where freeways come toppling down on each other crushing cars and leaving people buried and fighting for their lives.

Lauren Boyer an emergency paramedic is trapped beneath a freeway. Enter handsome ex-war veteran, Garret and throw in some prisoners who escaped their bus and shit is gonna get bad. The author has thrown in a small group of survivors fending off Jeb and Mickey. An unlikely friendship follows with Owen and a pregnant girl.

The two lead characters who should have led the way,  I had trouble believing in. I needed something more from these characters and I kept looking for it. 

I really liked Owen and Penny and I could have read about them the whole book. Garret and Lauren weren’t connecting with me. Things felt too contrived or rushed, or something. 

I felt as a reader story line was unfinished in places. I needed some more fleshing out and more emotion.

I still enjoyed this read. It just felt too staged is probably what I am trying to say. I give kudos for the gore and violence as Jeb and Mickey played their roles well.

To me this book read like the characters were in an apocalypse. If you hadn’t read about the start and what happened and you came in a few chapters in, that is how it honestly felt for me personally. It was a real fight for survival in a dark place where you had to forage for food, water, power. Not that this is a bad thing how I felt. I think Jill wrote that aspect well.

It’s great to see Penny and Owen get a story in, Badlands, Aftershock # 3. Owen was a great character even though he could really have won the good guys over by simply explaining why he had the tattoos he had. Again, this is where I say the story in parts felt forced rather than organic.

I did mostly enjoy this read. Lots of five stars have been thrown down and lots of three’s have as well. I think you are either gonna dig it, or be simply okay with Aftershock.