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Maybe Jackson would be different if he were in love. If he were in a relationship. Or if the world outside this room hadn’t fallen into violent chaos, hadn’t become a constant war we have no choice but to fight. Maybe he would take his time. Be softer. Gentler. Maybe he would smile or even laugh.

Maybe I would be different too.

Maybe I wouldn’t need his hungry eyes and demanding hands in the dark.

But this is how we are together every time.

He's not my friend or my boyfriend, but sometimes I go to his room after the sun goes down. I need to. Not for sweet words or soft kisses but because his arms, like the flickering light of that one candle, are the only things that can hold back the night.

Haven is a short, steamy post-apocalyptical romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe and includes some violent content and (secondary) character death.

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2021

560 people are currently reading
3558 people want to read

About the author

Claire Kent

41 books2,132 followers
Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. After teaching English at the university level for several years, she started writing full-time under two different pen names. She lives in Virginia.

Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.

Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams,

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 551 reviews
Profile Image for Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️.
2,092 reviews36.2k followers
July 18, 2023
3.75 Stars
I read Hold many years ago (when it was originally published under Zannie Adams) and I loved it SOOOOO much. In fact, I've re-read it numerous times over.

I have been aware of this series and this pen name for a while now and knew it had apocalyptic origins as well. For some reason, I never got around to starting it. Not sure why as I love the forced proximity/romance of necessity situations that arise from apocalyptic books such as these.

In fact, I knew my apocalyptic romance reading book twin Leigh enjoyed this series as well, so I’m really not sure what took me so long.

Anyway, like I said, I enjoyed the forced proximity romance here. So much. I loved Jackson how much he loved Faith. I only wish the story had been longer. There was potential for this to be a home run.
Profile Image for Kristina .
1,051 reviews936 followers
May 16, 2024
Dirty, raw and pretty sweet.

This was much less dark than I thought it would be. It’s told single POV from Faith’s perspective, and she’s a total badass so I liked the choice. Jackson was a protective, grunting grouch, but he was smart and all about Faith so I liked him.
This is pretty short so the development and world building are brief but overall it worked for me. I liked the hopeful feel, which is not always done in post-apocalyptic reads. This one was uplifting but also sad and for all that it was mostly smut, it was a good and moving story.
Profile Image for Isabella. R.
1,007 reviews2,188 followers
November 2, 2022
4.5 Start of the Beginning Stars ⭐

~Second Read. Love the fact that each book in this series gets better every time you read them.~

An erotic novella set in a post-apocalyptic world after the collapse of civilization. Can two people find love after seeking comfort in each other’s bed?

For a moment I’m not sure I can do this. I don’t think I’m strong enough to live through this moment. But this is a world where punches never get pulled, where salvation never falls from the sky, and so I have to be strong enough to meet it.

The world as we know it is gone. It’s every man for themselves unless you are fortunate to have a found a place at New Haven Farm. As it stands, this had already been Faith and Jackson’s home, yet now they shoulder the responsibility of leadership together as they try and run a safe place for rebuilding lives.

The pressures of staying safe, sourcing supplies and growing food to sustain a community eventually takes it's toll. With sex as their current outlet, Faith and Jackson will need to navigate a new path if they want a future together.

I am a huge fan of post-apocalyptic romances. The thrill of danger and finding love in scary territories really appeals to me. Haven was light on the angst, high on the eroticism whilst setting a realistic and terrifying mood of life after we’ve destroyed our Earth. The struggle for Jackson and Faith was real. You could feel it oozing from the pages. This series is just captivating to read!
Profile Image for Warda.
1,314 reviews23.2k followers
July 1, 2023
EDIT: bumping it up to 5 stars, because honestly? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this series.

————————————

I think I just fell in love.

This was such a great read! Am I into romances that have a post-apocalyptic setting now? I just might be.

It honestly feels like I read a 300 page novel even though this is a novella. I gained such a good understanding of the world and the characters and the things they had to do to survive. It felt tense and eerie but there were sweet and hopeful moments woven in between it as well.

I did not want to put it down once I started. And now I can’t wait to make my way through this series.

4.5 ⭐️

Recommended reading order:

* Last Light (prequel)
* Haven (but if you’re new to Claire Kent and want to see if her work is for you, you can start off with this novella.)
* Princess
* Embers
* Hero
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,628 reviews10.9k followers
December 28, 2022
'🅷🅰🆅🅴🅽' Is a short, post-apocalyptic romance novel set in the near future after a global catastrophe. In this we meet Faith & Jackson. They have known each other since she was twelve years old, now she's twenty-one.

I don’t think I moved off my reading space once whilst reading this, inhaled, I’m loving this new author, new genre to me and this new world she’s created.

I love the survival aspect of the storyline, banding together in a bleak world where so many lives were lost but when love finds them in this unforgiving new world things start looking up.

This story is set in the same world as Last Light, which I loved, and enjoyed seeing them make a brief appearance in this book.

Like the previous book our male character Jackson briefly has any lines, the female character carried this book, a man of few words
Profile Image for Wulf Krueger.
519 reviews127 followers
May 24, 2024
Let’s get this review started with the best aspect of this novella: It’s short! And that’s a mercy because it tries to put a romance story into a post-apocalyptic world - and neither of these ideas actually works.

The entire story felt forced, probably due to the length of this novella: the story never had a chance to develop and I feel very strongly that romance and apocalypse don’t really fit well together.

Especially not when the author, who “has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old”, never progressed beyond that age writing-wise: Our heroine, Faith, shows her maturity by gratuitous use of the word “fuck”. All over the place.

I don’t mind vulgarity, but if it’s just introduced for its real or perceived “shock value”, it quickly becomes annoying. Especially if, as is the case here, the writing is on an extremely “plain” level. Simple sentences, driving the mediocre story forward without any linguistic or semantic appeal - there are no redeeming qualities to the writing.

Jackson, Faith’s love interest, is a stereotypical grumpy, brooding young man without any other discernible character traits. He’s basically just around to have sex with Faith. The resulting sex scenes are supposed to be steamy, but feel rather mechanical and sterile. There’s lust but no passion. Nevertheless, after some sex and one kiss, they’re in a relationship. Just like that. Oops.

The apocalyptic parts are also rather bland. We’re just being told about the death of billions and how devastated Earth now is but there’s nothing to show for it. I know teenagers who have absorbed lots of “Walking Dead”, who, as a result, can evoke images of a devastated world more convincingly.

When I started writing this review, I was going to award three stars. Two paragraphs earlier, I was down to two stars, and now this turd actually gets the one star out of five it deserves.


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Profile Image for Rain.
2,591 reviews21 followers
September 4, 2021
I was so excited to see this author pop up on my kindle!!! I loved Last Light and Hold but heard she wasn't going to be writing under this pen name anymore. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get my eyeballs on this one.

This novella based in the same post-apocalyptic world as Last Light, in fact we get a little peek at Travis and Layne in this one! *Squee!*

Haven had a slightly darker feel about it. There is an intrinsic pull between Jackson and Faith, but also a reservation to keep it surface level and not get too attached. Their relationship is somewhat clinical at first and Jackson is a bit of an ass. But keep with it, under his gruff exterior is someone who just wants the best for Faith. It helps to remember that he and Faith are still really young, have almost no adult mentoring and are surviving in a new world.

While this isn't a light hearted story, it's classic Claire Kent. Her heroes are the kind who will do anything for their woman. I also loved that Jackson and Faith are independently strong but make a formidable team when together.

I don't read apocalypse books because they're depressing. I read them because they are the ultimate of hope. When stripped away from all our human comforts we are at our most real. Good or bad, it all comes to the surface and I love reading these kind of stories.

I recommend reading Last Light before this one, it’s not necessary, but it will give you a better idea of what happened to the world.
Profile Image for Meags.
2,485 reviews695 followers
January 20, 2023
4 Stars

It’s been five years since the world as it once was ended, after a global event killed most of the population and structured society collapsed. Now, survivors like Jackson and Faith remain in a battle for survival, fighting every day, not only to keep themselves (and the ones under their care) feed and sheltered, but also safe from increased deadly weather events and the worst left of humanity, known as droves or Wolf Packs—feral people who terrorize, pillage, rape and kill indiscriminately to get ahead.

When the world changed, Faith and Jackson, and their found family, were lucky enough to already be located on a self-sustaining farm, called New Haven, where, for the most part, they had a better chance of survival when many others didn’t. It’s here that Jackson and Faith would fight and die, if they had to, to protect their own and, above all, each other.

Romance is the last thing on their minds, but as the world begins to settle and they find themselves finally in a position of prosperity—at least, as well off as you can be considering the state of the world—Faith and Jackson finally allow themselves to feel beyond the surface and slowly open themselves up to the possibility of building a relationship together, beyond just the physical needs they’ve been helping each other meet for the past year.

I love how realistic this whole scenario is. The world has gone to hell and there is no quick/easy fix. These characters have had to adapt, becoming tougher, stronger and non-compromising when it comes to the hard decisions that could mean survival or death. It’s a gritty, scary world, and although other humans can be the biggest threat of all, there are also enough good, decent people, just trying to get by and help others where they can, that the story carries a strong sense of hopefulness and pridefulness in the (mostly) good of humankind.

For such young characters—Faith is 21 and Jackson 25 in the present—they really were impressive people. Protective, smart, organised and thriving all the more for it. They both had a harshness to them, but it made total sense considering everything they’d been through and the weight of responsibility they each held for the safety of everyone under their care. It was in the moments they shared together, though—in the passion, desperation, and eventual need and longing for more beyond the physical—that Faith and Jackson showed their softer, more vulnerable sides.

Faith and Jackson worked so well together on so many different levels, whether it be as the leaders of New Haven, working in tandem, or as lovers, increasingly showing more care and devotion as they acknowledged the importance of their feelings for one another.

I liked Jackson, with his gruff, intense nature, always putting Faith first (even when she couldn’t see it for what it was), but Faith’s strength of character and ballsy-ness was commendable and great to see as a lead female in this type of grittier romantic setting.

Beyond the great post-apocalyptic world building, where this story really excels is in the balancing of the tight plot and the sexy-as-sin romance. If you aren’t squirming in your chair from Jackson’s alpha ministrations then you’ll be on the edge-of-your-set with the intense, suspenseful moments that drive the story forward. It’s gripping storytelling all-around and I, for one, will be reading as many stories in this world as Kent will bless us with.


NOTE: Technically, this is “book one” in the Kindled series, but Kent’s previous standalone, Last Light, is actually where this larger story began—same post-apocalyptic event, same Kentucky setting, and, most importantly, crossover characters galore. From one reading order fanatic to others out there, I definitely recommend going back to where it began with Last Light before venturing into this new series. (You won’t be disappointed—Last Light was possibly even better than this!)
Profile Image for Karla.
1,455 reviews367 followers
July 21, 2023
3.5 stars**
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,398 reviews325 followers
January 25, 2022
3.5 stars

Haven is book 1 in the Kindled series and I really hope the author continues it. I found Haven very enjoyable but would have loved if it was longer. I wanted more of Jackson and Faith as a couple instead of just bed partners. I loved Jackson and how protective he was towards Faith. I found Faith a little too hard for my liking and wish I was able to see her soften more. I loved seeing Travis and Layne again and look forward to more books by this author.

**I subscribed to the authors newsletter and received an Epilogue. It's really sweet and I loved the softer side to Jackson and Faith. I hope at some point the author adds it to the end of Haven.***
Profile Image for girlwithhearteyes.
1,699 reviews226 followers
November 21, 2023
5 stars

I went to rate this 4.25 stars but then realised there was absolutely nothing I would change, the story made me cry, squirm from the tension (danger and other types 😏), and feel so happy/relieved at the end — and all within 169 pages. I’m just so impressed at how full the story was and how much it made me feel for a novella. So, 5 stars it is.

Set in the same post-apocalyptic world as Last Light, with Faith and Jackson as the leaders of a self-sufficient farm and the people they’ve taken in. I loved how the story was told from Faith’s POV, so we got to see their relationship entirely from her side. The progression from “just seeking comfort in each other” to them realising/talking about their feelings? So satisfying.
Profile Image for Mindy Lou's Book Review.
3,010 reviews798 followers
September 14, 2022
I'm going to be a little bit lazy and post the link to my review for Last Light. Haven is set in the same world and you even get the appearance of the couple from Last Light in this novella. What I mention in that review is how I felt about this world and how well written I felt it was for this type of romance. What I can add to that is that I think the author did a really good job of giving us the same things we loved in the Last Light book while also giving us a different perspective. It felt like a fresh new book with a different type of couple. I first wasn't sure I was going to like this couple as much, but of course I was wrong. By the time we got to the end and the evolving romance of this couple had me completely sucked in and I couldn't help but give this 5 stars just like the other book. I just felt this was a refreshing change compared to so many other romantic suspense I've been reading lately. It also doesn't hurt that I love the apocalyptic worlds.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Profile Image for RLbooks (in and out).
999 reviews481 followers
July 5, 2022
I really enjoy that the men in this world Ms. Kent has built are stoic, grunty, and bottled up marshmallows for the ladies, it just takes time for them to be able to communicate it. I spent most of yesterday DNFing books but then I got to this one and gobbled it up. I really enjoy this world and I'm looking forward to more in this series, getting to see different journeys.

In this novella, Faith (h) and Jackson (H) run a small, contained community post-apocalypse. Faith's parents had previously built the farm and taken in troubled youth (like Jackson years prior) so they were in a good place to weather the world changing. There's a small age gap with Jackson being older but they're both in their early twenties. The story is told in first person, Faith's POV. No ow/om drama, neither are virgins and neither was interested in each other until recently, and it's post-apoc so no bc.

Like Last Light, which I do think benefited me reading first, the world itself has a lot of bleakness to it, but there's also hope and there are still good people helping others. This story has less threats to survival though given their situation but still day to day challenges, like needing medicine. There are a couple of instances of danger/suspense still but the world as a whole is getting a bit safer. Faith has been content to work within their community, New Haven, but has been feeling restless recently. That restlessness led her to pursuing a physical only relationship with Jackson and eventually realizations are made that it's a deeper connection. Lots of steam in this one because at first they talk more with their bodies than their mouths lol. Also realizations come as to why she's been restless and what she needs, which does lead to a bit of angst that thankfully doesn't drag on. There are some great emotional scenes and tearing down some walls to be vulnerable.

We get a nice epilogue with their HFN and I felt their romance was solid by the end esp with their communication skills having opened up. I'm hoping we might catch a glimpse of these two in a future novella, even in passing, like we get with the main characters from Last Light briefly here.

Trigger warnings: some violence and death of side characters
Profile Image for Christi (christireadsalot).
2,807 reviews1,452 followers
October 12, 2022
This was so good! Haven is the first story in a post-apocalyptical romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. Post-apocalyptical/dystopian reads take me back to my reading roots and just bring me all the feels while reading them. I was so excited to check out this series and it did not disappoint!

In this world, Earth was hit by an asteroid 5 years in the past and it not only wiped out an entire continent but it has since wreaked havoc on the environment, economies, population, and governments around the world. Now living in a very post-apocalyptic world, daily life is dangerous and isolating. Faith and Jackson live and run New Haven Farm together. Faith’s parents actually had built the farm to live off the grid prior to Impact, so they definitely had an advantage over others when the asteroid hit. Faith’s parents always had foster kids living with them and Jackson was one of the troubled teens they had taken in over the years. Faith and Jackson have been in one another’s lives for 9 years now and their relationship dynamic is super interesting right from the start! Leaders by day who don’t really talk or share that much of themselves, but at night they end up in one another’s arms when she sneaks into his room.

I loved getting to see all that was happening in this world the author created. This was my first time reading anything from her and I already want to devour all the rest of the books that take place in this post-apocalyptic world. I loved the tension and angst between Faith and Jackson. While we get only her POV, you can definitely tell his feelings and I loved some of his big-sweeping, swoony speeches and declarations towards the end. You get a layer of action and danger with the story, with supply runs and running into others on the road who are more-than likely not friendly. You feel for the characters and their choices, and can even understand the ways they’ve had to toughen up in the years. I loved seeing the tender moments and time for compassion and hope amidst all the rough times.
Profile Image for Misha.
305 reviews176 followers
August 18, 2022
A promising story ruined by the most obtuse moron of a heroine. The ‘I’m going to be intentionally obtuse’ character archetype is so annoying to me—

If a man CLEARLY cares about you and has demonstrated it in action in 500 different ways, what’s the point in repeatedly denying it? Immaturity and manipulative denial has never once been attractive. I tend to like Claire Kent’s heroines, but Faith’s character was SO ANNOYING to me.

The story was generally good— I liked this iteration of a post-apocalyptic world after an asteroid impact. I liked the setting of New Haven Farm and I liked our hero and his backstory. I felt Jack and Faith’s chemistry and liked their dynamic! But Faith caused so much unnecessary trouble by being childish, irrational, selfish, and disconnected. How are you living in a post-apocalyptic world scavenging for food and supplies and you still have time to be a Pick Me Girl? Don’t you have other shit to worry about?
Profile Image for Carvanz.
2,383 reviews897 followers
August 28, 2021
Best. Surprise. Ever!!! I can’t express how excited I was to see that this author was releasing a new book under this pen name! I couldn’t dig into it fast enough and holy heck, it was wonderful!!


Post Apocalyptic City Environment by NateHallinanArt on DeviantArt


This is in the same post-apocalyptic world as Last Light, which is one of my all time favorites. It’s shorter in length but it didn’t have the feel of a novella as the characters, locale, and plot were so well developed. I connected with Faith immediately and loved seeing the world through her eyes.


Wicker basket full of various vegetables photo by Gajus-Images on Envato Elements


This is deliciously steamier than the Noelle Adams books. This doesn’t delve into the heroine’s emotions regarding the hero, but centers more around their life, how they deal with a crisis, and stretching yourself towards new possibilities.


Gregory house huddy GIF - Find on GIFER


This is a complete standalone but I’ll always recommend the previous book because it was just that good. And now, I’ll be adding this recommendation to it.

Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers

Profile Image for Inna.
1,678 reviews372 followers
December 1, 2021
4 stars. SO GOOD! I was so happy that this author was once again releasing books under this pen name. I hope to god that there will be lots more. I really enjoyed this “new world” in Last Light… and I’m glad I read it before diving into this book. I don’t recommend reading this book before that one, since there are crossover characters. This is a novella, and the only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because it didn’t last long enough to savor, lol. I want moar moar moar.

Safety is good; no virgins, no om/ow drama, both had prior experience, his past lover died, no info about her past besides saying she had a few random hookups. No cheating, no separation.

TW: death of side characters
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marcia.
495 reviews83 followers
June 6, 2024
I have enjoyed every story in this world so far. Not sure why I put off reading Faith and Jackson's story, but this was just what I needed this evening. It's nice because I don't think you really need to read this in order; given the cameo of certain characters and the state of the relationships they were in. A quick read that's still full of heart and emotional moments. I love this series.
Profile Image for Jackie ♡.
1,126 reviews102 followers
October 15, 2024
4.5 stars

It’s crazy how entertaining these books are. None of the interactions (you know what kind I’m talking about) feel repetitive and the romance is honestly *chef’s kiss.* So much fun.
Profile Image for Seikai.
91 reviews189 followers
May 13, 2022
Feels strange giving out 5 stars like they're candy, but I'm on a winning streak here with all these Claire Kent novels 🥰. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's set in the same post apocalyptic world as "The Last Light."

This story follows Faith and Jackson. They run a community in New Haven, a farmland that Faith's parents used to run before the apocalypse happened. Faith's parents took in orphans and miscreants to do a decent living working on their farm, and Jackson was one of them. Now that the world has collapsed and most of the original members of New Haven are dead, Faith has taken on the mantle of running the place alongside Jackson. As a result, she has had to harden up and become business-like at a young age, not allowing herself to show vulnerability. She butts heads often with the gruff Jackson, but ultimately they are a team and trust each other. Faith has also started a friends with benefits relationship with Jackson, but she's sure that he has no feelings for her, since they never really talked it out...

This book was considerably darker than "The Last Light." Unfortunate things and deaths occur on page to characters our protagonists care about. I actually preferred that, since this is supposed to be a dark post apocalyptic story! There was violence and sad things that happened, but it wasn't overdone or torture porn.

Faith, our heroine:
I was a bit more torn on how to feel about Faith compared to Layne, the heroine in "The Last Light." Faith wasn't terrible or anything... she had her good moments where she made reasonable and logical decisions, but she also had her moments of some pretty braindead decisions 🤦‍♀️. I understood why she did them, but they were definitely ones that had me shaking my head as I read it. She definitely needed Jackson a lot more than Layne needed Travis in "The Last Light." At least in that book, Layne saved Travis just as much as Travis saved Layne. I suppose that's fine, as not all book couples have to have the exact same relationship dynamics. While our heroine Faith tried to be a hardass, I liked that she was still sweet and a softie inside. I know some people might be irritated with how dumb she was being about Jackson's obvious feelings for her, but I love oblivious heroines 😂. Faith had such a blind spot to how Jackson felt about her, and kept being like "oH hE obVIOUslY jUSt tHiNKs oF mE as A fRIeNd 👁👄👁." I love that she had Jackson fuming and chasing after her.

Jackson, our hero:
Jackson was such a dreamboat 🥰. It was obvious to me from the start that he was afraid to spook Faith away when he finally got to have her with the silent friends with benefits relationship, and that's why he never talked things out with her. I loved how jealous and possessive he was even from the start of the book. It was also so cute how in tune he was with her moods, and he would observe her and try to read into her behavior. Poor guy kept getting a heart attack whenever Faith delayed coming into his room at night for sexytimes, thinking she was done with him 🤣. I was squealing when she would go to his room and he'd be naked and ready, huffing about how it took her long enough. This man was adorable, and I actually prefer him over Travis, the hero from "The Last Light." He was much more possessive and aggressive. The only thing I wished was that his previous girlfriend didn't die, and that he instead broke up with her to pursue Faith. I know the author tried to imply that his feelings for his previous girlfriend were less emotional and deep, but he still confirmed he was sincere about her. He only got attracted to Faith after his previous girl died. He and Faith grew up together, and I'm a sucker for the "bickering childhood sweethearts" trope. Maybe I'm twisted, but I wanted him to have always been attracted to Faith, and just didn't understand his feelings for her. Then voluntarily left his previous girlfriend. Alas, this book didn't give the same confirmation that "The Last Light" did where the hero has a choice to go be with the OW, but chooses the heroine.

One small criticism I do have is that I wish we weren't thrown into the story in the middle of their friends with benefits relationship. I wish the story showed how it started - it sounded very hot, with them arguing and getting to the peak of tension, then animalistically having sex 🥵🔥🔥. I like reading about how the relationship started in romance novels, instead of starting from the middle.

All in all, this was a very interesting read, and I was super happy that we got cameos from Layne and Travis. They're so adorable, and it's good to see updates on their situation!

Safety:
* Heroine is NOT a virgin - she slept with a couple people casually many years back.
* Hero is NOT a virgin - he had a girlfriend he would go outside to have sex with. She died during a supply run outside of New Haven.
* No real OM drama. A young teen at New Haven has a crush on her, but only Jackson notices and gets jealous about it. Heroine doesn't notice or believe it.
* No real OW drama. The hero's previous girlfriend died before this book starts. He was never as emotional or affectionate with her, and he confirms his feelings for the heroine are much stronger. However, he was sincere towards her, until she ended up dying.
* No cheating
* No condoms, they use the pull out method until they decide for babies.
* HEA with no epilogue
Profile Image for Lolina ⋆ .
1,141 reviews241 followers
August 20, 2022
For the majority of the book, I was sort of convinced that I didn't like it? After having recently read 'Last Light' again, (which I loved), I think I subconsciously started comparing the two with each other. I think the main thing that didn't work for me about this story, was the status of the relationship between Faith and Jackson, early on in the book.

The book started off at a point where the two characters had already known each other for many years, and had already been intimate with one another- and at the same time were really impersonal about their relationship. And although I can understand their dynamic with one another, I'm someone who loves reading about characters getting to know each other from the get-go (maybe that's why I'm not a huge fan of childhood friends to lovers). It really came down to personal preference.

So starting the book where the characters were already well integrated into each other's lives, and knew each other well, made it hard for me to get into/ connect with their relationship. I also wasn't too fond of Faith in certain situations.

But of course, I understand that this was a novella, and although I would've loved to have seen more, I still enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of the world that CK created. And even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as I would've hoped to, it was still a nice novella.

No, but the Layne and Travis crumbs made me so happy 😭.
Profile Image for m.
499 reviews1,082 followers
July 4, 2023
The last thing I expected to read in a post apocalyptic book and during a angsty scene is kitten🧍‍♀️it works ig
Profile Image for Catheryn.
1,344 reviews27 followers
February 9, 2025
spicy post-apocalyptic love story

A great post-apocalyptic romance story! I like the world this author created. A nice departure from humans destroying the world. I thought the community was great and well thought out. I also liked that she tied into the stand alone novel, Last Light (which was sooooooooo good).

I did find the main characters conversation towards the end to be a bit long winded and confusing. I don't understand why the couldn't have had a more direct conversation about their feelings. Even I was confused if she loved him after that conversation.
Profile Image for Pinky.
641 reviews669 followers
December 5, 2024
Trigger Warnings:

OH MA GOD WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE AAAAAH


When I read Last Light a coupla months ago, I remember being so sad when I reached the author’s note and finding out that this might be one of her last books under her pen name. BUT CLAIRE KENT HAS DECIDED TO SURPRISE US ALL AND GIFT US WITH THIS GEM. Do you know how happy I was when I found out this book existed?! The fact that it came out recently and the fact that more books will be released IN THIS UNIVERSE oh my god I’m so so so happy right now I can’t. This is a really short story and though it is said that this can be read as a standalone, I don’t recommend that, read Last Light and then come back to this. This book is more of a smutty nouvella that introduces us to other characters in the world and there isn’t much relationship building compared to Last Light. We just kinda jump into the smut. I still loved this book but I feel like I would’ve enjoyed it more if we had the build-up before the smut took place. I’m still gonna give it 5 stars cuz TRAVIS AND LAYNE WERE IN THIS and I’m a little biased hehe. That’s another thing, if you read the Last Light and you’re hesitant to pick this up, just know, even if it isn’t as good as that gem, you still get to see your favourite characters, SO... GIVE IT A SHOT PLEASE.


So this follows Faith, who lives in New Haven Farm, a place that is safe and where she is protected by Jackson, the cold guy she knew for a while. After so much loss, Faith needs to fill her needs and seeks Jackson out at night. It becomes a regular friends with benefits typa deal but she still feels like something is missing in her life. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where danger lurks on the outside.


Look I’m gonna be completely honest, I’m overhyping this nouvella. If this weren’t related to the Last Light, my rating definitely would be lower, like 3.5-4 stars. But because it is related to it and I was able to see more of my favourite characters and the fact that there are gonna be more books in this universe in the future, has me so happy Imma happily give this 5 stars. So, don’t trust my rating. But, trust my rating for Last Light, if you haven’t read it, you are missing out.

Now for spoilers



Thank you again Claire Kent for this amazing surprise, I was so scared you wouldn’t write anymore under this pen name so this makes me so happy. I cannot wait for you to release the other books from this world, I bet it’s gonna be amazing! Stay safe folks!

Profile Image for Serial Romance Librarian.
1,193 reviews297 followers
December 26, 2021
I read this to get another glimpse of Travis and Layne, which didn’t disappoint at all. I really enjoyed this novella, even though I found the FMC, Faith, a bit exasperating at times. I really liked Jackson. He was sexy af. It was definitely worth joining the author’s newsletter for the short and sweet 6 month epilogue. I really enjoy this author’s creativity and world building. It also helped that this couple’s chemistry and sexy times were hot, hot, hot. Jackson was a lot more sure of himself in bed than Travis, but no less endearing overall. There are some trigger warnings of rape, violence, murder, and death of secondary characters mostly off page. Read Last Night before this book. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Jessie ツ.
362 reviews
December 1, 2025
5⭐️
4🌶️
read x2 already 🙃

When the rigid, authoritative post-apocalyptic farm leader just wants to love his “kitten”🐱😓💞

——ˋˏBLURBˎˊ——
MCs have what FMC thinks is a friends-with-benefits relationship in which every few weeks she comes to his room & they get their freak on. 😝

But MMC is like I’m your man??? we’re in a committed relationship??? But also MMC never says this, he’s like isn’t it obv bbg??💕🌈💞😇

MCs are both a bit brusque due to the entire fucking world falling apart. Both focused & committed on running the farm efficiently. Due to this, FMC misses the signs of MMC being on his knees for her. But man did I love reading ab this down BAD guy who used actions more than words & an oblivious FMC. Plus, we’ve got other characters telling FMC how obv it is MMCs in love w her.

Super duper loved it. It gave romance during a supply run in the Walking Dead (minus the zombies). I was consumed and read it so fast in one sitting then re read it the next day🫶

Also, the smut was 🥵🔥🔥💦!

———•••BOOK INFO•••———
[H] Jackson- (25) in charge of safety on farm; quiet, rugged, focused, pragmatic,

[h] Faith- (21) in charge of health on farm; hardworking, focused, big hearted

standalone, novella, post-apocalyptic, med-paced,

—TROPES—
-fwb to lovers
-he’s always liked her
-protective MMC
-secret relationship

no condom (pulls out), oral, multiple positions, rough-ish,

—SAFETY—
-No virgins
-No separation
-No cheating

No real OPD

1)OMD - just a younger char that H thinks has a crush on h & jealous ab

2)OWD - just brief mention from h pov that yrs ago (when h was underage), H had a fwb w/ an ow who died yrs ago. Not romantic. The only other time this OW is mentioned is in the end where H tells h he did care ab OW as a person but never wanted her the way he did h. (so just 2 brief mentions; no drama)

-HEA + cameo in next book
Profile Image for rae ✿.
356 reviews330 followers
June 14, 2023
I just randomly stumbled upon this steamy romance post-apocalyptic novella, and it's surprisingly really good. I would check out the whole series now! 😍

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙜𝙤. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.”

3.5⭐
Profile Image for Lisa.
264 reviews99 followers
August 24, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ I just got into reading post-apocalyptic based books after reading last light. So I’m hooked and loving it 🤷🏻‍♀️
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