Ashen Winter (Ashfall #2) by Mike Mullin → Start Date: October 12th, 2016

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Amanda, Vicki and I
please feel free to join us!

[Vicki]

Guess I'd better hurry and read book 1. LOL

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

ha! Fingers crossed Vicki!! It's really good!

[Vicki]

Thanks, Trisha!

[Amanda]

Hope you can get to it Vicki. It was a good one :)

[Amanda]

So excited for this one. I will probably start this one late this afternoon.

[Amanda]

10 chapters in.

Alex (view spoiler)[just like the last book this one starts right off with some action. Scary that the farm was attacked by that gang, standing up to them was brave, but very dangerous. Glad that he saved his sister and cousin. I hope that he can find his parents. Would the bandits that ended up with his dads gun just let him live? I somehow think they would kill him to get to the gun. (hide spoiler)]

Darla (view spoiler)[It's lucky that she is around and keeps saving the day. She has saved Alex so many times. It's great that his family has made her feel so welcome and told her that she is family to them too, so sweet. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

20 chapters in.

Weather (view spoiler)[ugh I can't imagine 9 straight months below freezing. That is brutal weather. (hide spoiler)]

Darla (view spoiler)[very scary to fall through the ice especially with the weather being constantly below freezing. It's going to be very hard to warm up and try to prevent hypothermia. (hide spoiler)]

Alex (view spoiler)[I guess I missed the part where it mentioned that his parents could possibly be in a camp. I wonder if they really are though, it seems that if they are searching for Alex they would not want to stay in a camp and they would try and find a way out. I just have a feeling that one or both are/will be dead. (hide spoiler)]

Pretty fast paced so far.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

OH NO!!! I forgot to mark this one on my calendar and completely missed this!! I'll start tonight

[Amanda]

That's okay Trisha there's no rush, I've barely had time to read these past two days and won't get back to this one until tomorrow afternoon.

[Amanda]

30 chapters in.

Alex (view spoiler)[I hope that he can reach Darla in time. Pretty scary situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

40 chapters.

Alex (view spoiler)[he just can't catch a break he keeps running into one dangerous situation after another. That camp of cannibals is scary. His trying to escape under the truck is pretty intense. (hide spoiler)]

Rita Mae (view spoiler)[so nice to help Alex escape with supplies and escape the guards. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

50 chapters.

Alex (view spoiler)[crazy plan to crash the truck that could have backfired so bad, but glad it worked. (hide spoiler)]

Alyssa (view spoiler)[love how she takes care of her brother, it's a lot to have to take on, but she really looks out for Ben. She also seems to have the same feisty attitude that Darla has. (hide spoiler)]

Ben (view spoiler)[his knowledge about military vehicles and weapons have been useful. I think that he will helpful for more as they trek further. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Got a lot done while running errands.

70 chapters.

Alyssa (view spoiler)[sad what she had to do to survive. Awful that women are being used the way they are. (hide spoiler)]

Alex (view spoiler)[Glad he found his parents. Interesting how they ended up there and how they were taking care of the girls in the camp. I'm glad that he stood his ground with his parents about Darla too. They have been through so much together and if it wasn't for Darla Alex would be dead right now. They have to go after her. (hide spoiler)]

Ben (view spoiler)[he has been a big help with all his knowledge and his observational skills are a great tactic. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm sorry Amanda. it's been a rough half of the week. I have this sitting on my kindle.
I will get to it today and start responding :)

[Amanda]

That's okay Trisha. I have had more time this weekend to read than I thought I would. Can't wait to see what you think once you start :)

[Amanda]

Finished.

Plan (view spoiler)[that was a super dangerous plan to rescue Darla. Glad they got her out but sad at the expense it happened. (hide spoiler)]

End (view spoiler)[that was so action packed and dramatic. His Dad sure rescued them by risking his life, I think though he would have died from the gunshot wound regardless. Things sure are getting a lot worse with more time that passes. How long before Warren gets taken over by the gang groups next? I wish in the meeting they would listen to Ben. I think his plan is a lot better by attacking where they least expect them to. (hide spoiler)]

Darla (view spoiler)[I suspect a lot more tension between her and Alyssa in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

This was fast paced all the way through. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

10 chapters

Darla(view spoiler)[ yikes, that attack on the farm was bad. So glad Max wasn't more injured.
good that Darla insisted on checking his wound too - it's definitely dangerously infected. she's saving his buns left and right (hide spoiler)]

Alex(view spoiler)[ jeez, he is just handing out those seeds like they are nothing!! I'm so glad they were able to get the kale back into the soil after the attack. awesome that Darla made that system so the soil stayed warm too
poor Alex, though. I'm not sure he's going to find his parents or that they will be okay when he does (hide spoiler)]

this one is fast paced! it's good so far!

[Amanda]

Trisha wrote: "10 chapters"

Alex (view spoiler)[I know he was handing out seeds pretty carelessly. He is lucky that Darla is around, that wound was really infected. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

20 chapters

Weather(view spoiler)[ I agree. the hard winter just sounds awful (hide spoiler)]

Darla(view spoiler)[ oh no!! now she's freezing and not even shivering. he has to use what she's taught him to get her safe! (hide spoiler)]

Alex(view spoiler)[ Yeah, the guy they got the gun from - he said the guy HE got it from traded it at a camp. but it sounds like the camp was pretty bad - like them, I think the belief is that his parents are being held hostage/forced to stay there

I agree, I don't think his parents are still alive. If they are, I'm not sure how I'll feel about that ....I can't imagine them surviving. The only reason Alex has is because he found Darla and her mom and their safe haven and then with all of Darla's farm/land smarts. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Alex (view spoiler)[thanks for reminding me what that ghy said about getting the gun, not sure how I missed that. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

30 chapters

Holy MOLY(view spoiler)[ I couldn't believe it when Darla fell out of his arms. I wish he'd stop putting them both in harm's way. What is wrong with alex?! Sometimes you just have to stay out of a situation in order to keep the person with you safe!

she has to be alive - if even for them to hurt her :(
which I hope hasn't happened yet either (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

40 chapters

Rita Mae(view spoiler)[ I agree. she was great. I couldn't believe the mayor was trying to hold him. you can do that anymore
and a 16 year old, in these times, is no longer a child. he's already been traveling.... (hide spoiler)]

Alex(view spoiler)[ OMG I know right? this is just crazy (hide spoiler)]

Darla(view spoiler)[ oh god :( they sold her Ugh (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

50 chapters

Alex(view spoiler)[ I can't believe he went that whole way...and it wasn't even Darla! (hide spoiler)]

Alyssa(view spoiler)[ I agree.....I like how she's protecting her brother. and I'm glad she said girls are worth more. at least Darla isn't going to be killed for food :/ ugh (hide spoiler)]

Ben(view spoiler)[ yikes, he saved alex with telling him about the truck and then helping (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

60 chapters

Alex(view spoiler)[ Jeez - caught again. this kid can't get a break
but MOM?! his mom is there? and she watches over the girls ? :( (hide spoiler)]

this story is so freaking bleak. lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

80 chapters

Darla(view spoiler)[ yes! they found her! and she was ready to break herself out. so glad. because they are going to have to work their way out (hide spoiler)]

Alex(view spoiler)[ i'm so glad his parents came and that Alyssa was willing to use herself as bait. (hide spoiler)]

Ben(view spoiler)[ wow, he really is great! and he got them out of that jam with that guy from the other camp - and got the Peckerwoods taken care of. (hide spoiler)]

lol FEMA is so freaking corrupt in this one!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm done. wow that was a good one!

action packed, just like you said!!

Plan(view spoiler)[ i agree, how are they NOT listening to Ben? (hide spoiler)]

Alex(view spoiler)[ it was so risky getting Darla but I'm so glad they did. I wonder how much longer she would have lasted.....

but...this new situation is really bad, just like you said. overrun farm and the house is now the hospital. Yikes. (hide spoiler)]

Wow, hopefully we can read the next one in November??

[Amanda]

Yeah glad you liked it too.

I would love to read the next one, November works for me. I have a feeling that the next one will be darker, it seems things get worse as the series progresses.

[Vicki]

Can we make it late November so I have a chance to catch up?

[Amanda]

I am fine with it being in late November.

I hope you can catch up Vicki, it's a good series so far :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

it's a REALLY good series! I agree!!

um...I'm okay with late November! I'm completely open so just throw a date out and we'll set it!

[Vicki]

I had to return book 1 so I just went ahead & bought all 3 so I can do it!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

WOW! I really hope you like them!!

Today, I went to a restaurant and an option on the menu included corn pone. I'd never even heard of it until this books so - of course - I ordered it!! :D

[Vicki]

I've never heard of it either. Now at least I'll know they're real.

[Amanda]

I've heard of corn pone, but never had it. How was it Trisha?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

It was so good! It's the consistency of a pancake only slightly thinner and drier (I think to make it sturdier). I got it with a breakfast dish - it had scrambled eggs, bacon, and pico de gallo with cheese melted on top. I shoveled the mix onto the pancake type substance and it held well and added to the flavor. It was SO good!

[Vicki]

Yum yum!!!!

[Amanda]

Yum, that sounds really good.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Trisha wrote: "it's a REALLY good series! I agree!!

um...I'm okay with late November! I'm completely open so just throw a date out and we'll set it!"

late November day, does anyone have a date that works best for book #3?

[Amanda]

I am pretty open so any day is fine with me.

[Vicki]

How' November 25? That's after Thanksgiving and gives us the whole weekend (for those of us who work M-F).

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

works for me!
I'll make the thread tomorrow if that works for everyone else!

[Vicki]

AWESOME

[Amanda]

Works for me :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

our new thread is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...