Into the End

By: Bonnie R. Paulson

Narrated by: David Gilmore

America's end is near.

No one knows why, but the great country is under attack.

After being weakened by countless natural disasters, America opens its airspace for aid. But instead, what is left of the devastated West Coast finds itself nearly obliterated from above. The key may belong to tests designed by a Pacific Northwest psychologist, Rachel Parker.

Rachel loses the love of her life in a house fire as they escape with their children to the nearby Rocky Mountains following the first round of air raids. In refuge, she faces her husband's best friend, Joshua, but doesn't want to face his ill-harbored feelings or her own inability to face fear.

Her sister, Brenda, escapes the fallen city, and, mistaken for Rachel, is captured. Terrified and alone, Brenda is protected by the enigmatic Daniel even while he helps keep her captive. Through torture and mind games, Brenda discovers information about her sister's work that could spin the free world into a tumultuous frenzy where the unknown is safer than reality.

©2012 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2012 Bonnie R. Paulson

Wow, I couldn't put the series down.

Where does Into the End rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

#2 in my all time series. I must confess to reading the kindle version for book #1 in 3 hours. Then listened to 2 & 3 continuously on audible. It's thought provoking, intelligent writing and a wild ride. I'm now in love with survival.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Into the End?

What would you do to survive? I really invested a lot into the beginning family, I saw myself, my loved ones , I breathed and cried with them. I had to know how it ended. Your in constant suspense of who's on what side, where is the next danger coming from?

Which character – as performed by David Gilmore – was your favorite?

Mr Gilmore unfortunately can't give the female heart to the heroine. This is a women's book. He is brilliant in the telling males stories, but drops the impact on women, Thus poor female reviews.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What would you do to servive?

Any additional comments?

Please Read the first book then listen once your Characters are established .

One of the best books I've read this year!

Would you consider the audio edition of Into the End to be better than the print version?

I think they are both good. The audio edition is more convenient when you're busy or on a long drive. I listened while recovering from a migraine.

What did you like best about this story?

The plot of the story, I thought it was amazing.

Which character – as performed by David Gilmore – was your favorite?

My favorite would have to be Brenda.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Brenda told Rachel she was taken by Rachel's former co-worker. Also when Brenda told Rachel that Andy was alive.

Any additional comments?

I can honestly say I have never listened to a book quite like this. The entire time, I kept thinking about what i would have done in the same circumstances. Bonnie Paulson has once again surprised me with her storytelling genius. I was immediately drawn into the story; it kept me intrigued and at the edge of my seat to the very end. I can't wait to read book two to see what happens next!

interesting

Liked story line. will have to get next in series.
Took me awhile to get use to narrators style.

This is an engaging end of the world story.

Rachel and her husband, Andy, have a ‘bug-out’ cabin in the forest that Andy worked hard to get ready. Rachel really didn’t think they would need a place to run but that day has come. The states are being devastated by an unknown enemy. The Pacific Coast, where Rachel’s family lives, is being bombed and set on fire. People are being rounded up and murdered with no explanations.

Rachel and Andy escape town with their three children, 14-year-old Cole, Kayli, and four-year-old Beau. Before they reach their cabin tragedy strikes. When Rachel and the children arrive she is upset to find Josh, Andy’s best friend in college, and the man who almost ended up with Rachel. Andy had kept it secret that Josh was their neighbor in the wilderness.

Meanwhile, a science geek teen, Tom, is threatened in his home. He snatches up his father’s CB code notes and escapes as men with foreign accents shoot at him and the innocent people he passes in his effort to hide. Tom meets a friend from school, Jenny, and pulls her along trying to keep her safe even though it also puts her in danger. Tom heads for a place he thinks he can get help, his therapist’s home. There the young pair run into Brenda, Rachel’s sister. Brenda’s boyfriend took off and she is looking for her sister and family too.

The paths of these characters weave together, and it all has something to do with Rachel and a secret psychological program she was part of a few years back. The brutal, foreign men are looking for Rachel and will hunt down anyone else who might help to get to her. Another group of men are looking for the note’s Tom took.

The story is presented from the view of several of the characters: Rachel, Andy, Brenda, and Tom. I found this kept my interest in the separate threads that look to be coming together. The story is fast-paced and a bit chaotic. There are secrets that are not explained in this book even though they are a central element to the terror that is occurring and there are scenes that require suspension of belief. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the suspense and am curious to learn what is going on. I also am rooting for the characters to stay safe.

Audio Notes: David Gilmore does a ‘nice’ job with the narration. Even though he doesn’t provide distinct character voices, he does provide fitting emotional expressions. I am glad to have this in audio as it helps the book to move along. I am looking forward to book 2, Through the Flames.

Source: Audible Credit received from the author. My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 3.75.

UGH! could not finishd

Would you try another book from Bonnie R. Paulson and/or David Gilmore?

I doubt it. Definitely would not pay for one.

Would you ever listen to anything by Bonnie R. Paulson again?

Very doubtful.

Which character – as performed by David Gilmore – was your favorite?

none

What character would you cut from Into the End?

The wife was unbelievable. She was a psychologist, but couldn't remember what she was taught about dealing with grief and so couldn't deal with her own child's grief and just blurted out that daddy died in the fire. She supposedly almost left her husband and got a divorce over "Josh" yet didn't even recognize him when he arrived at her house. Then, later, again recalling that earlier she went into detail about almost losing her marriage because of him, she suddenly realized he had dimples. Her husband had been dead less than 36 hours and they all ride off to investigate a plane crash but she rides on the same 4-wheeler as the former boyfriend, leaving her 14 year old son to drive the other. Really? Just ugh. Insulted my intelligence one too many times and I ripped my headphones off and did the unhappy dance and started another book.

Any additional comments?

You will survive this book only if you can suspend any common sense you might possess and listen with gritted teeth.

Get familiar with locations please...

The storyline caught me...but my ears were bleeding with the narration. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I cringed every time the narrator butchered the names of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Oregon. Come on ... really??? And the abrupt end. I don't mind cliff hangers that lure you towards the next in a series. But I think I broke my tailbone from being dropped so suddenly without any warning whatsoever. Can't decide yet if it's worth the effort to give the next one a try or not.