Praise in the Wasteland by Krista Drake
~ Couldn’t put it down, literally, but at 2:30 my fingers were so cold that I had to tuck them under the covers and finish the story today ~
What I liked:
* Sara Wallace: mid-twenties, mechanical engineer – specialty water and water systems, alone, seeks security and belonging, a bit of a submissive, attracted to Martin
* Martin Mayer: widow, ex-military, wife and daughter dead, leader of compound with about 300 inhabitants, son is a problem, strong, lethal, dominant alpha, immediately attracted to Sara
* The apocalyptic setting post nuclear disaster and thinking about what it would take to survive
* Sara’s skills and how they made life on the compound better
* The insta-lust attraction and how it felt right in a world where one doesn’t know how long they might live – the steamy bits…oh my!
* The supporting characters that I hope to hear more about in the future – perhaps even see them with books of their own: Clementine, Danica, Marianne, Rafael, and Liam
* The way people worked together as a team in the compound with everyone knowing their duties, able to use their skills, and support one another…well most of the inhabitants…not all
* Being glad that *I* don’t have to deal with a world turned upside down but hoping that if I were in that situation then my skills would be viable and worthy of safe harbor
* Reading a new to me author and coming in on the first book of the series
What I didn’t like:
* Edward Mayer: Martin’s son, mid-twenties, lost a compound he was in charge of, selfish, poor leader, a waste of space, wonder if he will show up in the future
* Jessica: ex-Marine, member of Martin’s compound, has a following, troublemaker
* Thinking about how difficult life would be and imagining all of the issues one would have to contend with
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
Falling for a ruthless warlord twice my age is dangerous enough. Finding out he's my ex's father might just get me killed.
Since the nuclear exchange, I've been barely surviving. I have trust issues, a talent for fixing broken machines, and the kind of desperation that makes bad decisions look reasonable.
That is, until I collapse half-dead at the gates of Mayer Compound and one of the most dangerous men in the territory decides to keep me. Martin Mayer gives me work on the water systems and quarters near his own. Which means I answer to him. Obey him. And when he orders me to his bed, I go willingly.
Because every time I prove myself useful, every moment I'm good for him, he rewards me with the one thing I'm starving his approval.
The whole arrangement should feel wrong. Scandalous. Completely inappropriate, considering he's old enough to be my father and dangerous enough that grown men fear him. But when his voice drops to gravel and he calls me a good girl, I want more. When he looks at me like I belong to him, I forget why I should resist.
But his compound is full of people who'll tear me apart if they think I'm a threat to their survival. And Martin's claim on me only makes things worse. His control is absolute, his authority unquestioned, and he's made it devastatingly clear where I on my knees for him, beneath him, wrapped around him.
Oh, and there's one more tiny problem.
His son is my ex-boyfriend. The one who left me to die in the wasteland.
And Edward's jealousy might just burn this whole compound to the ground.
A Dark Post-Apocalyptic Romance. Age gap. Praise kink. Morally gray warlord. And enough raw, possessive dominance to make you beg for more.
