The Hartford Homestead

By: Marie Wilkens

Narrated by: Cheryl May

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Tasha Deavers has dedicated her life to helping people prepare for the worst disasters. But when an EMP strike shuts down the country’s power grid, she’ll face her deadliest crisis on an unimaginable scale. With New York City in chaos, Tasha must brave the road to reach her grandfather’s homestead in Kentucky before the EMP claims her life.

©2022 DBS Publishing LLC (P)2022 DBS Publishing LLC

Escape from New York adventure

I received this book for free, and all of my opinions are my own. This story is about a blogger and prepper named Tasha. She and her assistant live in New York City. An Electro Magnetic Pulse is ravaging the country, and New York is also hit by this disaster. Additionally, the entire country and perhaps the whole world are cast into darkness. Due to this, its everyone for themselves, and the city quickly devolves into marauding looters and worse. Tasha, her dog, and her assistant escape to New York and pick up a homeless girl along the way. The three travel together all the way to Kentucky while avoiding danger, and sometimes fighting for their lives.

The narrator did a good job, and had distinct voices for each character. She was also able to express the characters emotions, be it fear or whatever else which I liked. Tasha is a strong female protagonist which I liked. I also liked the homeless girl, Tamra. I wish she would have had a bigger role, as her past would be useful in this end of the world scenario.

While I know what an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) is, I do not recall it being explained in the book. The blurb on this book makes it sound like the EMP itself is the danger. Instead, the EMP breaks down electronics and communications which breaks down society and then scared and dangerous people become the antagonists. I didn't really care for one of the characters. Harley is Tasha's new assistant, but I would think a prepper would want to hire an assistant who knows something about that field. In a sense that character was needed as she was the foil to show Tasha's competence, but I would have liked her to have some baseline knowledge and grow as a character quicker.

Overall I enjoyed the book. The ending was enjoyable and the author left an opening for more to happen at the homestead during a sequel, If you like end of the world or apocalypse type books, then you will likely enjoy this as well.

Strong female characters

This book features strong female characters. it's an EMP disaster book geared towards women. there are some holes in the story, like how 2 women escape from NYC without much trouble on foot and somehow end up Kentucky in a few days when Google Maps says it's 10 days and that's under perfect conditions. There's action and a bit of romance at the end as the Lead finds love in a powerless world. The narrator does a good job voicing a steady thinking heroine.

Survivalist Author but doesn't want people armed

interesting story but anyone with a brain knows that post-SHTF those with pews survive....this author starts out unarmed

So finally in the last days Men are the true enemy

This seems to be the theme of the new generation of writers. Only good man is a dead one. they are all wife beating drunks ,sweet impotent grandfather's. rapists and thieves.