Chuckles Goes Sampling

Seeing Kermit surrounded and almost buried in leaves kind of reminds me of my relationship with books. I'm pretty much buried in them too! I have no more space in my house for the books I buy and piles are sitting on the floor which isn't good and I can't read them quick enough because I keep buying!!! I've battled to reduce the tbr without success this year but now Kermit and I are embarking on a new plan to reduce the book buying and give me a chance to reduce the tbr at last. The Plan? Download samples and read them and only go on to buy those I liked instead of grabbing everything!

Here is what I read last week! 

1) Rob Lopez-Remember Me Dead 

Staff Sgt Breht has shot his first ever person after 12 years in the army-a zombie in a hospital gown during a mission to rescue the scientists still trying to find a cure. When they reach the roof, the helicopter that was to rescue them is gone and a plume of smoke rises nearby. They are in two minds on whether to barricade themselves back in the labs or try to escape, and this leads to them being trapped in the mortuary. Now they need to get out the hospital and to the train station.

This sample jumps about way too much for me. It goes from the rooftop episode to being trapped in the mortuary, forward to him about a year later wandering the country feeding a stray dog while thinking about how his army career was nearly ruined by a scandal, then back to after they escaped the hospital and a battle on the train, then back to him searching for someone and gathering children's toys, back to a conversation on the train, forward to him looting a crashed plane...it was all over the place and lacked any cohesion. There were also the unexplained things-who is he looking for, why is he collecting toys, how did they get out the hospital past the burial pit teeming with the undead, how can zombies leap up from the platform and smash through the train safety glass windows in one try, what were the smears alleged against him...too much unexplained, chaotic writing style, no real development of characters. It wasn't for me.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33207317-remember-me-dead

2) Jack Hunt-Phobia 

Frank is a reclusive germophobe who is spending the summer at his parents cottage on an island, about to be visited again by his psychologist Sal who is trying to help him manage that and his OCD. His ex wife Kate works at the CDC and calls to warn him of a new pandemic and that their daughter Ella is in one of the cities where cases are starting. Frank is going to have to persuade Ella that this is the real event and get her to come to him as he is too afraid of germs to go near New York to get her.

This is very promising! I am always looking for diverse apocalypse reads and having the MC as a man being controlled by his germophobia and OCD and trying to prepare for the pandemic he has always feared was intriguing. I liked the inner voice of Frank that showed how chaotic his thinking was and the mounting panic over how he is lacking in basic supplies and might need to go out and get them. I think an MC like Frank will be a fascinating hero to follow in an apocalypse situation. I definitely want to read this book so I'll be buying it as soon as the festive season is over.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33543040-phobia 

3) Courtney Konstantin-Prepared 

Alex is with her children and babysitter Lucy while her husband finishes up a business trip. She grew up in a prepper household and her sister Max alerts her to a 'bath salt' attack on the news which is one of the scenarios that their father once warned about. Alex notices with a touch of alarm that multiple attacks are taking place in Orlando which her husband has to transit through and she is relieved when he returns home safe, but slightly ill. The next morning, Blake tries to kill them all and Alex prepares to flee.

I liked this sample other than the use of that prologue spoiler that tells you what happens to her husband before we see it happen in real time in chapter one. I find this so frustrating and it does damage the attempt to build up the tension in the lead up to the incident. Putting that aside, it was very well written. I always enjoy experiencing the initial outbreak with the MC as it helps to get to know them and care about their situation. I'm interested in the prepping that Alex did with her father, brother and sister and look forward to finding out how they deal with the zombie apocalypse! I'm certainly buying this one.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36039221-prepared 

4) KD Kinney-Enduring the Crisis 

Tammy is stuck in traffic when the EMP hits and her thoughts are focused on getting her kids collected from school and getting them home safely where she can plan her next move. Thankfully their old car is up to the task but it does attract unwanted attention from people who want to take it from them. Her husband Ben is working on a contract in Alaska when the disaster strikes and now he has to work out how to get home to his family.

I liked this sample and the story sounds like it has potential. Tammy and Ben prepped for this day but never expected to be so far apart when it happened. I've read and enjoyed a lot of apocalypse books featuring this dual plot and I never get tired of it! I plan to get the book as soon as possible to see what happens.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31378634-enduring-the-crisis