Shiloh Ranch

The Blackout Series, Book 4

By: Bobby Akart

Narrated by: John David Farrell

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

The strongest emotion of man is fear, and...fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all.

Could you face fear head-on?

Can you forget all those moments when you thought you wouldn't survive, but did?

This fast-paced post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction series from author Bobby Akart (The Boston Brahmin series and the Prepping for Tomorrow series) has been hailed as a masterpiece of EMP survival fiction. Prepare to learn, as well as be entertained, as the Blackout series continues with Shiloh Ranch.

After a perilous journey replete with highs and lows around every turn, the Rymans reach their destination only to face guns pointing at them from all directions. Did they make a mistake? Should they have stayed home where familiar surroundings may have outweighed the threats closing in on them?

They quickly learn that there is one constant in a post-apocalyptic world - the threat from their fellow man.

This is the fourth book in the best-selling Blackout series. This book does not contain strong language. It is intended to entertain and inform audiences of all ages, including teen and young adults. Although some scenes depict the realistic threat our nation faces from a devastating solar flare, and the societal collapse which will result in the aftermath, it does not contain graphic scenes typical of other books in the post-apocalyptic genre.

©2017 Bobby Akart Inc. (P)2017 Bobby Akart Inc.

Difficult listen...great book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narration. It is difficult to switch narrators after listening to the first three narrated by Kevin Pierce. Kevin Pierce is not my favorite narrator, but he is easy to listen to and he makes the listeners "feel" the character's emotions. I often have to take a break after listening to a series by Kevin Pierce because his voice really "sticks" with the characters and I find it difficult to change gears. I listen to a few other books by other narrators, then come back to SHTF with Kevin.

What does John David Farrell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nice voice, clear reading.

A change is narrators!

I have listened to all the Black Out books and several others by this author. You get a voice and character in your head, changing the narrator is a mistake.

NOT A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE READERS

I would strongly suggest Mr Akart to think twice when changing readers. Especially 180degree difference type reader from previous three books. Voice, inflection, style and character voices so different that I'm not sure I can listen to the rest of the books in the series. Shame because I really LOVED "The Blackout Series" books.

Different Narrator!

Nothing distracts me more than having different narrators on a series!! this definitely effects my rating

Boring

Would you try another book from Bobby Akart and/or John David Farrell?

Another book, yes. This book is just poorly written and the story line is dead.

Would you ever listen to anything by Bobby Akart again?

Maybe, but I now have doubts.

terrible new narator

why in the world would you drop the best reader for this monotone? story was ok but ruined by this guy

Narration change

These books are kind of short for the price. Good series but the narrator change in the middle of the series throws the story off.

worst book in the series

poorly written story. poor narration. worst book in the series. don't waste your time on this one. the previous books in this series are great.

too many chapters

Where does Shiloh Ranch rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

average

What other book might you compare Shiloh Ranch to and why?

others in the series

Did John David Farrell do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

mostly, but he is no Kevin Pierce

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

The author ended and started chapters for no reason, continuing the same scene. I will probably finish the series, but will be more careful in the future with narrators before I get hooked into a series. I feel like the author chopped up the books just make more money. He needs to keep working to improve his writing.

NEVER....

....change your Narrator in the middle of a series!!!! Especially when you start with the very best!! John Farrel is not bad but he's no Kevin Pierce!!! Totally ruined the experience for me. The story is good but the Narrator makes or breaks it!

Ps. There was no 3rd Ranger Batt in Vietnam/Cambodia. When referring to real military units accurate details are critical.


Post-WWII

The unit was redesignated 21 June 1954 as Company F, 75th Infantry Regiment, in the Army of the United States, and was allotted on 26 October 1954 to the Regular Army. It was activated 20 November 1954 on Okinawa, and was inactivated there on 21 March 1956.

The unit was again activated on 1 February 1969 in Vietnam, and was again inactivated on 15 March 1971 in Vietnam.

This unit was again redesignated 3 October 1984 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Infantry, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated).

Just a little advice from an avid listener.

Give it a chance!

I admit that the change of narrator was extremely hard, I tend to buy series in one hits and listen to one book after the other and this wasn't a good move, I can't understand what or why, but as a RH myself, I do know things can happen.

But, although I initially had to turn away from this book and series, I just went and listened to another, I came back to it, and gave it another shot.

The story tone itself seemed to be pretty different. In the last book, there were some historical moments given about some of the towns that they were passing through etc, and this seemed to have a lot more history in it. I'm not much into history and don't really know my way around the UK let alone the US, so I did find some sections a little much to get through.

The main bulk of the story, with our characters, moved along, they still had the proverbial everything thrown at them, and their development as a family continues on. I still enjoyed it for the most part.

I have the other two books, so moving on :) thanks Bobby for the entertainment, it's days like these that make me feel alive and treasure our world.