Fight like a Man: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller

The SHTF Series, Book 1

By: L.L. Akers

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

As a prepper, Grayson Rowan was prepared for almost anything.

...anything other than being totally alone when the sh*t hits the fan.

While he sat back and watched the United States rattle swords with Korea, play chicken with Russia, and strong-arm China, he felt sure if the lights went out that he and his family would be ready and safe - whether it was due to a natural disaster or a man-made event. They had everything they needed at their homestead.

What he wasn't prepared for was his family not being home if it ever happened.

Olivia Rowan is with her sisters, Gabby and Emma, on a girls-only trip to Myrtle Beach. When chaos erupts and there's no gas, their journey home is a nightmare, filled with predators and danger - and apparently, Olivia hadn't learned a thing her husband tried to teach her.

When your neighbors run out of water and turn on each other, what will you do?

Jake, a country boy mechanic, never believed in TEOTWAWKI, but he'd heard his brother-in-law preach about it many times. He knew what to do, but he didn't prepare. He lazily left it all up to Grayson - he was the prepper after all. When catastrophe strikes, will he continue to keep his head stuck in the sand while his clueless neighbors destroy each other, and his wife is stuck out on the road, or will he stand up and fight like a man?

And if you're alone? Bug in or bug out?

Graysie Rowan, a freshman at university, just wants to go home. When no word comes from the government, and the state capital is overrun with looters, chaos, and mayhem, the college administration puts the students on lockdown. But her dad, Grayson, had prepared her for this. Now, if she can only remember what it was he said to do....

If they want to survive this post-apocalyptic event, they'll all have to learn to fight like a man.

©2017 Lisa L. Akers (P)2017 Lisa L. Akers

Excellent Read

If you enjoyed "One Second After", you will love this book. Great character development and good storyline provides for a thrilling read.

Engaging, character intensive SHTF story.

Grayson, a firm prepper, is the ‘patriarch’ of his family and has prepared the family farm so everyone will be taken care of. Although the rest of the family have agreed to prep and the rendezvous plans, they don’t take the threats as seriously as Grayson does. They are all startled … and unfortunately separated… when the grid goes down. Grayson is home alone since his wife and sisters-in-law are 200+ miles away for a girl’s weekend at the beach. His daughter is an hour away at college.

Jake, one of the brothers-in-law, a mechanic, has been experiencing some funky mood that he’s been trying to hide from everyone. He hasn’t had much motivation and it takes him a little time to accept that a SHTF event has occurred. He still doesn’t take the steps he knows need to be done and drags his feet getting on the road to the family farm. Plus he remembers that he got lax on some of the tasks he was supposed to take care of. When he finally gets ready to go he runs into one problem after another.

Grayson’s wife, Olivia, is enjoying the beach with sisters Gabby and Emma. Olivia loves her husband but never really bought into the prepper mode. As the beach resort descends into chaos, Olivia plays ostrich and hides her head in a book on the beach. Gabby is ready to move out and try to get home but is rightfully upset when she discovers she is the only one with her bug out bag. The girls are extremely vulnerable as they try to find a ride home and begin to run into some dregs of society.

Graysie is a freshman at college who is stuck with her clueless roommates. University authorities have told the students to stay put. But after several days, as conditions deteriorate, Graysie decides she is going to get past the security guard to her car and head home.

Everyone may have to "fight like a man" as Grayson has tried to teach them. The story follows all four threads with the fears and dangers the characters face as technology, normalcy and society break down around them. The characters evoked various emotions: curiosity, annoyance, anger, dread, fear, and relief. There are some political statements which didn't bother me but sadly there is unnecessary bad language. There are a few alarming scenes that are consistent with an EOTW scenario. I liked the prepper information, including what could go wrong with the best of plans. I am interested in continuing the series.

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce has become a reliable sci fi narrator. He doesn’t always provide completely unique voices but he still manages to convey the distinct personalities. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story and I hope to continue listening to the series on Audible.

I received this from the narrator for an honest review.

What The Puck? Great Characters and Story!

Where does Fight like a Man: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really enjoyed her first book. I think this one has to be in the top 3 series that I have listened to based on of the characters and storyline. I am really looking forward to book number 2 coming to audible soon.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fight like a Man: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller?

For some reason, I loved the interaction between Grayson and Puck. Without giving anything away I am so looking forward to the moment Grayson finds out Jenny is not who he thinks she is.

What about Kevin Pierce’s performance did you like?

Just like every series I have heard Kevin Pierce narrate, he did another great job on this book.

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

When we hear the story about Grayson having to choose between his wife or daughter in a flashback memory and the letter he wrote to Gracie.

Any additional comments?

Hoping audible gets off their butts and gets book 2 out so we can continue the story!!!!

Great series

Authors writing keeps you listening and come on, Kevin Pierce.... best there is. Looking for next book

awesome story

This book was an excellent read. It told the story of collapse through the lenses of many different people. Rich, poor, men, women, preppers, non-preppers, conservative, liberals, college students, adults, animals, etc. I would highly recommend this book. I can't wait to start in on the next novel in the series.

Are you ready?

Loved the book. Lisa sure knows how to write a cliffhanger. The characters are so relatable that I have renamed some of my friends(in my mind of course) after them.
Kevin knows how to verbalize at the right tempo, level, and intonation.
Great read and listen.

Realistic portrayal of survivors

With this book I've come back to my favorite genre - survival after the SHTF. What I liked most about this first book in the series was that the survivalists where not perfect. Mistakes were made, preps were not taken care of, all of which lead to additional hardships as things got worse.

I'm looking forward to book which is just around the corner.

I thoroughly enjoy the way Kevin Pierce narrates

I’m now on my 3rd series of books narrated by Kevin Pierce. I have yet to be disappointed on the way he narrates a story.

When SHTF What Will You Do?

3.5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw the cover of this book a month or two ago I knew I was interested. I was hoping that it was going to feature more of a woman’s point of view. It did, but it’s so much more than that. Akers is able to throw in practical advice (go bags, how to make fire, what to keep/rotate), etc) to make this a more than just a story. I think that’s what she was going for — making an entertaining story that could also help teach and help others prepare.

The cast of characters in this were all pretty likable and were all getting out of their own bad times. The “bad guys” and antagonist were pretty stereotypical and one-sided but it didn’t bother me. Their interactions weren’t as often as I expected them to be, but when they did happen it felt like Akers was a little nervous to get too much into violence or full out panic mode.

This book has a fair amount of cursing and vulgarities in it which doesn’t bother me in the slightest. People can be crude and vulgar. It’s a part of life. But, if that sort of things bugs you, you should know by the SHTF and what that stands for that this story might trigger you a bit. Just a word of warning.

I liked the story enough that I definitely want to continue reading the series, especially with Kevin Pierce narrating it. He gives is an air of authority since he narrates so many post-apocalyptic books. Akers and Pierce made a nice team and really helped bring this book to life.

Overall, a nice “starter” PA book. It had a lot of elements (and a lot of unknowns left for the readers’ interpretation) which could make some readers love it and others feel like something was missing. The biggest misstep, in my opinion, I’ll cover last.

This is a solid 4 in my book if one thing were to change. If Akers were to take out the mention of Trump. I completely understand what she was going for and why she used him to write the story, but he’s so polarizing that some people might either think you’re making fun of them or just stop reading the book for being too political. I heard the parts about Trump and the MAGA stuff and I was trying to ignore them but it frustrated me and I only think it did because it was actually about Trump. She could have written about a polarizing President and pretty much wrote about the campaign and people with mentioning Trump. He could have even been named something similar like President Johnald Drammp or something. Using a real political figure in a book (one that is still around) can be a gutsy move. In my opinion, it didn’t work in this, but others could disagree.

I was given a free copy of this book which has not affected my review in any way.

Spoilers ahead

I can accept the daughter being a fragile college flower. And i can accept the girls being in denial and oblivious to the current situation. I cannot accept the stupidity of grayson with his interactions with puck. Has noone ever heard of either autism or down syndrome or functionally retarded? Graysons assumption that there is a female in pucks barn is beyond asinine.