The Divide

A Great State, Book 1

By: Shelby Gallagher

Narrated by: Lessa Lamb

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Julie Atwood is struggling with the day-to-day challenges of being a single mom. She works for a non-profit by day and clips coupons by night. The time in between is spent doing homework with her son. She wants a stable and secure life for him, but she needs a new start for herself. That won’t come easy, though. Julie is recently divorced, financially stressed, and still reeling from a violent attack in her past.

She is determined to make it on her own, however. She learns self-defense skills and enrolls in a women’s-only firearms class. That’s where she meets a likeminded woman who helps take her skills to the next level. Julie’s personal evolution continues as she uses her couponing know-how to stockpile essential food and survival supplies. She will become self-reliant - and never be a victim again.

The urgency of her efforts takes on new importance as society begins unraveling around her. America is divided. Conservatives and liberals are at war. Then the newly elected president cuts funding to so-called Sanctuary States, including her home state of Oregon. Julie loses her job. Everyone who lives off the government gets desperate. Riots. Crime. Fire.

Julie needs to flee to the safety of her family cabin in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Can she get there, though? There is an exodus of people, and the conservative states - now called Great States - have established border checkpoints. Refugees are being turned away. Will she be one of them? Will Steve, her ex-husband, let her take their son far away? Will he demand to go with them? There is a wildfire at hand. Civilization is crumbling. And Julie is running out of time.

The Divide is the first book in the A Great State trilogy.

©2018 Peanut Butter & Jelly LLC (P)2018 Peanut Butter & Jelly LLC

A roller coaster ride of emotion. A must read for the world we live in.

This book was incredible the lady that told the story did so with such emotion. The characters were so realistic it could be your daughter or your father. I have 5 sisters and share Glenn’s opinion in the foreword. I absolutely hate that scum bags like this roam the street freely preying on the innocent. No woman should ever have to experience that. I wanna say a Thank to the Author the roller coaster ride of emotion was intense. You can feel it through these written words. As a scoutmaster and father of two the skills discussed are crucial in life.
The appreciate of nature and the understanding that you need to take care of ones self is lost on today’s youth. The details of this collapse are both accurate in today’s world as well as in past history. It has been repeated through time country after country. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series and can’t wait to hear what’s coming.
Thanks again

Marvin Fore
Great American Survival

fabulous!

This is a delightful, well written novel that addresses real concerns and provides practical solutions to real problems. More like this!!!

Fiction Becoming Reality

The Divide is an absolutely amazing book. Shelby has predicted so many things it's kinda scary. Once you hear chapter three it will have your blood boiling and wanting to take action. But most importantly I think this book gives an oh so important look into the mind of a women who decides to start prepping and seeing that journey through the eyes of a single mom. Well done and I can't wait for the next books to come.

Awesome story and narrator

Looking forward to the next two in the trilogy . Can’t wait! Keep on writing, you are terrific!

A refreshing female perspective

I was swept into the story from the very beginning. I’ve read or downloaded over 100 titles in this genre and this is the first from a woman’s perspective that has held my interest. This is both frighteningly realistic and honest. A real inspiration to women Preppers!

Well developed characters with captivating drama

Great story, well developed characters with believeable but captivating drama. I think she has nailed some senarios that might just be in our future. I have read a lot of these end of the world dramas and its hard to find any new ones with a different twist; this one has it. I cant wait for the next two volumes.

Best prepper book so far!

I absolutely love this book! the characters have depth, and are, aside from some passing criminals, not so clearly separated into "good guys" and "bad guys" as some other authors. It also really benefits from the 299 days world building without being unnecessarily tied to the previous series. this book easily stands on its own.

the start of the book begins with a really ham-handed forward by Glen Tate that paints the book as something men can use to get their wives interested in prepping. that might sometimes be true, but I honestly enjoyed this prelude and bug out journey more than the first 299 day novel (if only by a bit). it seems FAR more realistic than the rich, but down to earth lawyer who somehow has 30 hours per week to spend working on his cabin, running SWAT drills with his buddies.

This first book doesn't have much action (that I expect to appear in future books), but it easily kept me engaged. I was extremely disappointed when it ended! I'm especially interested in how the protagonist's efforts at animal husbandry goes long term, as that's been lacking in many other prepper novels I've read.

Fantastic Point of View

This book is fantastic at pointing out the perspective of a woman who encounters modern day political strife. This book offers incredible views on a demographic that is horribly represented in the prepper community. It also helps that nearly all the predictions in this book are coming true at this very moment. This book is rapidly becoming non-fiction.

I was truly emotionally invested.

This audiobook is the absolute best book written from a woman's perspective in the preparedness genre. I have rarely had such a powerful and visceral response from fiction before. Shelby Gallagher has crafted a genuine gamechanger and the narrator didn't just portray Julie Atwood, she WAS Julie Atwood. I can't wait for the next book.

A Worthwhile SHTF Adventure

I was pleasantly surprised and entertained by this story. This story is a welcome change of view in this genre. I believe this book will appeal to a wide variety of people, and I hope this book will help motivate the women in my life. I appreciate that this book is clean and not filled with obscene or foul language, so I can recommend this to everyone I know. I can't wait to read the next book!