Review: An exciting adventure with Lawson!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2014
ARC Review:Before I start my review of this amazing story, I have to tell y'all  a few things I've learned from my girl Lila's book.  One: The more I read about Lawson the more I fall in love with him. I honestly didn't think I could have a favorite book boy out of all of Lila's yummy leading men, but there's just something about Law. *sigh*Two: *Note to self* Clean out my husband's closet and begin to hoard as much medicine as humanly possible, when the hub's closet is full move on to the children's. Now when I say medicine, I mean everything from Advil to prescription drugs.  The last and most important thing I learned while reading Forced Autonomy is two words TOILET PAPER. You can never have enough toilet paper, trust me y'all.......We are thrown right back into Lila's raw and sinister world in Phase Two.  Lawson is out scouting looking for any survivors he may be able to bring back to the safety of the camp, but his heart is consumed with everything Petra.  He's confused and a bit lost because he's never felt this way about anyone and wonders if  there is a place for love in cold world he lives in. Unable to take the distance, he caves and heads back to camp and Petra *sigh*Meanwhile, back at camp, Petra has been going through the motions of  her daily chores while trying not to think of Law (not that it's working).  She becomes distracted when a nasty virus hits the camp, remember what I said about toilet paper??? *shudder* Law returns to find Petra  nursing the camp back from the brink of death.Their reunion is brief as Odin *growl* forces Law to leave camp again, the unspoken threat of harming Petra if he chooses to stay hangs in the balance.  This time Petra refuses to sit idly by and watch Law leave not knowing if she'll ever see him again.She makes a dangerous decision and sneaks off with Law.  The two find an old house on the side of the road and stop to take refuge for a few days.  Running water, flushing toilets, food and even puzzles for entertainment.  They know they  have found heaven on earth. But upon further exploration, Petra discovers the house is not the paradise she had hoped....There are so many things I loved about this book!!! Let's start with Lawson and Petra.  Lila really begins to dive into the character's feelings for each other.  In Phase 2, not only are they thinking about the other person they're expressing feelings.  For example, on the way back to camp, Law comes across some supplies. Not only was he thoughtful enough to grab some for Petra, he saved them so he could give them to her privately *sigh* sweet right??Petra also reveals her feeling for Law when she begs him not to leave camp without her.  This was a hard scene to read because I could feel her desperation and her fear of loosing him.Their love is very powerful in this story because most of the population are...well man-made zombies incapable of feelings or thoughts of their own. IF you're lucky enough not to be in a zombie-like state, everyone you know is so why take the chance of loving someone when the risk of loosing them is so high?Lila also gives us a little peek into what Law and Petra's life was like before the horror changed their life forever. It was interesting to read because it felt like another piece of a puzzle to these realistic and complicated characters.No worries this isn't all disgusting sickness, threats and malice, Lila is a true mastermind when it comes to writing a realistic post apocalyptic story.  Her characters never give up hope, no matter what savagery they may have faced in the past they know some how it will eventually all even out.The authenticity of  Forced  Autonomy world  is exquisite.  From the smell of sickness to the longing of a true love, it will consume you. This story is extremely raw and gritty but in all of that horror and darkness, love still blooms, reigniting the faith in humanity!!