Ellen Connor

This book didn't fall neatly into any category. I consider it mostly a post apocalyptic and survival story wrapped around a romance. The world surely does end but in a manner different from any seen before. Dark things are abroad in the changing world. The tension level is high. The story revolves around John and Jenna and their escape from the city and struggle to survive the ravening beasts in the wilderness and understand the rules of the new world. The hero and heroine are both well show more drawn. They start out with John protecting Jenna because of a promise he made to her father and Jenna hanging with John as her best bet to survive. They each bring elements to their partnership that the other needs. Slowly their feelings deepen.

This book was very well written. It starts right in the middle of the action and never lets up. There aren't any unnecessary scenes. It is tightly written. The emotions ring true and the emotional progression is believable. The secondary characters are well drawn. The story is not all roses. Realistic bad stuff happens. There was some angst.

I normally enjoy a good epilogue that advances the characters' lives a year or so. Here I kind of think I'd rather the book ended without one. For one thing I think the advancements made in the time that passes before this final scene are too great and a bit pat. But mostly because, contrary to my life long preferences, I would have loved to see a second book about this pair. I would have loved to read about their struggles and triumphs as they arrive at that wonderful world shown in the epilogue. show less

The action and suspense surrounding the characters made it extremely hard to put this book down. From the get go, the heroine and hero are thrust into survival mode as they try to find a safe haven from the apocalypse. It certainly helps to have a military trained man of the woods at your side. The hero lived with her estranged father and knew about the end of the world and immediately hunted her down to save her. He's humorless, hard and ruthless when it comes to keeping the problem he made show more to her father and nothing will stop him from seeing it threw. As time goes on, the hero gains affection for the heroine and soon comes to love her. Even though she's all too human and soft for the world they live in now. The most heart wrenching scene hands down was when the heroine is bitten and, therefore will dying turning into a monster. The hero weeps and smashing his fist against the tree in agony. Things work out but just that overwhelming sadness made me cry. This was an amazing book and I can't wait to read it again. show less

I found Nightfall while I exploring the “post-apocalyptic” genre on Goodreads. I went into this novel skeptically after spotting a few discouraging reviews. Thankfully they didn’t sway me from purchasing this hidden gem (because ZOMBIES). I absolutely love this genre, but it can be a tad difficult to find enjoyable end-of-the-world themed novels. Thankfully, I found Nightfall to be a unique take to the zombie apocalypse genre.

When I started this novel, I stepped into a whole new world. show more People are dying. You either are attacked and turned by rabid “wolves,” eaten, or die trying to turn into one. The author’s created an apocalyptic world similar, but far more complex than the average zombie novel. The imagery is so real, so descriptive, that the reader becomes a character, terrified and trapped in a world overrun by evil beasts that become smarter by the minute. And we all know a smart zombie is a deadly zombie. I definitely did not get much sleep the night I read this. When I did finally doze off, I’m pretty sure I was hiding under the covers with a stuffed animal… It’s that real.

I also loved the main characters, even though there were times I wanted to shake the stupid out of them (if only it were that easy). Mason and Jenna have been attracted to each other ever since he kidnapped her and saved her life. It’s interesting to note, that even while Mason saved her life, and knows a bit about surviving an apocalypse, Jenna is the stronger of the two. One of the main themes of the novel is The more adaptable and flexible you were in your old life, the better you’re going to handle this one. (I really would not last in this world. I don’t adapt well to a change in cereal, much less a change in the entire word as we know it).

Since Jenna is the more emotionally capable partner, Mason leans on her for emotional support and her social skills (which really does come in handy when dealing with strangers), while she leans on him for his survival and military experience. It’s nice to see a couple in an apocalyptic world actually need each other for reasons other than the world is ending and we’re likely the last people on Earth. Let’s make babies scenario.

All-in-all, a spectacular book for those of us who like post-apocalyptic romance novels that will have you panting in fear and needing an extra pair of panties!



❤❤ - Check out One Curvy Blogger for reviews, giveaways, interviews, and more!

❤❤❤ - Now accepting review requests, author interviews, and guest blogs. show less

I don't know how many post-apocalyptic romances you've read, but Nightfall by Ellen Connor isn't going to be your average one. It's not an average romance by any stretch of the imagination. Oh sure, there's a hot hero and a sassy heroine and a HEA, but after that, things get really different.

Despite the lack of walking undead, this book reads like a zombie movie. The way it unfolds slowly, building on that nervous tension that something bad is going to happen until BAM! Shit hits the show more fan.

Electricity has stopped working and much of the western US is in denial (because this stuff just doesn't happen to us) until it's too late. Mason, in keeping with a promise he made, kidnaps Jenna (yes, kidnaps, because time is a factor and explanations can wait until later) and hightails it to his cabin in the woods. Naturally, she mistrusts him -- it isn't until she's faced with you-can't-ignore-this-anymore proof that she believes the stuff he's been trying to tell her.

So when she hears five strangers floundering around in the dangerous woods, she goes after them to offer help. Safety in numbers right? Not always. Because even though she meant well, it isn't until everyone is in the cabin that she realizes that wanting to help others, while noble, isn't always very smart -- particularly when food in the cabin was only meant to last for two people, not seven.

And though you'd think that this kind of book would be nonstop action and heart-pounding moments, it's not. It certainly has those moments, but much of the book is slow paced and tension filled. Normally a slow-paced book would grate my nerves, but with Nightfall, it only added to the scariness of the world. Imagine being trapped in a basement, listening to demon dogs pound on the door for hours and all you can do is wait it out, hoping you'll live to see another day.

The romance between Mason and Jenna is slow building and has a lot of pushing on both sides. Mason is hell bent on survival, with no time for emotions to come into the play. Jenna is the opposite. She wants to survive, but she also wants some reassurance, too. And even though this is classified as a romance, I did not feel like the romance dominated the book at all.

Aside from the amazing world building and the sexual tension, you are introduced to other survivors. Each survivor is different and unique in their own way, and it was Tru -- the surly gothic teen -- who really impressed me. You saw him become a man under very harsh, stressful situations and I liked reading about him. There's also Penny, the small child who barely talks --- there is something about her, and I can't wait until the third book releases in December to learn more about them.

Dark, gritty, full of blood and guts...this is a very different type of paranormal romance, but it's too good not to read. show less