Review: Astonishingly good
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2010
After the fall of modern civilization, Selena and her parents strive to live in a world where survival of the fittest is the norm and the innocent, like Selena, live in constant danger. There are no laws, no order, and when a man attacks 12-year-old Selena, her parents rush her into seclusion. They learn how to survive on their own in the mountains; to hunt, fish, make shelter, and make clothing using leather hides. When the opportunity arises, they scavenge abandoned homes and towns for anything useful for their survival. The story opens on one such opportunity. Now 24, and four years on her own since her parent's deaths, Selena finds an abandoned home and searches for How-To books. While there, five rough and dangerous men arrive and in a panic, Selena steals one of their horses and rides fast and furiously to the closest town. It is there she meets Dan, a man determined to save her - whether she appreciates it or not. This novel follows the tale of Dan and Selena as they struggle against the criminal elements of the time, and with their growing feelings for each other. Selena, unwilling to place neither her very life nor her trust in Dan, fights him every step of the way. And no matter that she has tried to kill him and runs away every chance she gets, Dan is determined to take her to safety, his village, and hopefully his bed. Dan is a super hero. He is strong and brave and feels that he must be in control at all times - especially his emotions. This control, and the final breaking of it, is what spurs the most passionate and erotic episode I've had the pleasure of reading in a very long time. Ms. Underwood's ability to portray Selena's chaotic emotions as she learns to trust, accept and love Dan is breathtaking. The world she describes following the downfall of humanity, the abandoned homes, the struggle for survival, the resourcefulness of the survivors, is believable and realistic. The powerful emotions and final gripping conclusion will leave you thinking about this story for days and weeks to come. It may make you wonder - are you prepared for the future? Do you have the skills, determination and stamina to survive a crash of this proportion? It makes me wonder - will there be a Dan for me? I read over 500 books in 2010 and this one was, hands down, my absolute favorite.