~REVIEW~ Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

Title: Red Hill
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: Apocalyptic Romance
Purchase Links: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Red Hill grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best.

~MY REVIEW~

"Looking back, everyone knew then what was going on, but it had been a running joke for so long that no one wanted to believe it was really happening. With all the television shows, comics, books, and movies about the undead, it shouldn't have been a surprise that somebody was finally both smart and crazy enough to try and make it a reality.
  I know that the world ended on a Friday. It was the last day I saw my children"

I cannot express to you how much I adored this book! Jamie McGuire impressed me away with Beautiful Disaster but what she did with Red Hill just blew me away!! From the very first page I was so absorbed with the story that it was hard to put the book down. The writing in this book was phenomenal and there is no other way to say it! The horror of the pandemic felt so utterly real that I found myself pretty terrified at times and the attachment you develop to the characters is so strong that every circumstance and every loss affects you so much that it feels REAL.  


Told from alternating POVs, Red Hill, weaves together three journeys during what is known it be as"the days the world went to hell". Through Miranda, Scarlett and Nathan’s eyes you feel every uncertainty they feel, every fear that consumes them, and every loss, from the very first day of the pandemic.

"That puzzled me, much like the tiny woman with the huge set of balls holding the rifle in the living room."

Scarlett is an X-ray tech and is working in the hospital when the patients start to attack the staff. Realizing what is going on and desperate to find her daughters she leaves the hospital in search of them. But what seems like an unbelievable myth quickly turns out to be the reality and her journey to reach her daughters is not easy. Shufflers are turning at a rapid rate and they are hungry. Scarlett comes across gruesome scenes and the death of innocent lives. She quickly comes to realize that in order to survive in the world they are now living in she must do anything and everything. A mother’s love is the strongest love there is and Scarlett shows us just how strong that is during Red Hill. Nothing will stop her until she retrieves her daughters and makes it to the safety of Red Hill, the safest place to be during a zombie apocalypse.

“It’s just up the street there. Let’s just get it over with.”
“Famous last words. Have you ever seen a zombie movie? What you said would be a clear signal that something bad was going to happen if the characters continued on. My mind is made up. We’re going back.”

Nathan is in a miserable marriage and he's the only person that loves and cares for his daughter. After hearing about the outbreak Nathan's only responsibility is to get Zoe away and safe. When he rescues his daughter from school he makes his way to his brother in laws house. With Skeeter he knows they are safe. While there they are attacked and move to a church but Nathan doesn't believe they are safe anymore. So with the help of an unknown stranger he is able to escape the church and the infected that are quickly overtaking it. Nathan's only desire is to keep Zoe safe and during their journey he encounters many obstacles but also many people that help him in his search for a safe haven, Red Hill.

"I wasn't sure how long we could survive, but I knew I wasn't dying on day one of the fucking zombie apocalypse."

Miranda, her sister Ashley, are on their way to visit her father when the epidemic breaks out. Along with them are Miranda childhood friend Bryce and Ashley's current boyfriend, Cooper. The four are completely different but have been friends for a while and during their fight for survival turn out to be courageous in their own ways. Luckily they are on their way to the safest place during a pandemic. But not before they encounter dangerous "soldiers" who are the barrier on their way to safety and run in to those that have been changed. Circumstances that lead them to take shelter in a church for the night. A place where their lives are brought face to face with the zombies they are trying so desperately to escape. And later, after their escape from the church, they encounter a new survivor, Joey. With an additional person things between the foursome becomes a battle in its own. Soon they are once again stranded in another town and realize that they must work together to come up with a solution, or they will die. With the help of Joey and their determination to get to safety the five of them eventually find a way to get to Red Hill. But not before their lives are changed inexplicably.

‘It’s easy to forget that our lives before weren’t a dream. This isn’t the reality, how we are meant to live, or who we are.’

When everyone finally make it to Red Hill the story takes on a new twist. They aren't yet safe. Not until they are all together. Not only do they all fight to continue keeping their sanctuary safe but also help Scarlett in her quest to find her daughters. The problem is that the infected are relentless and during an apocalypse you have to expect lives to be lost. Even those that you grow attached to. :( Almost every character in this book will capture your heart in a way that you have never imagined. Their determination and courage throughout the pandemic will have you rooting for their survival and at times crying because of their circumstances. Others will have you yelling, screaming and fuming.

"I didn't really understand when you said the end of the world was the best thing to happen to you, and how it was so close to perfect. But now that everyone in our family is here......and safe.......I get it.

And of course I'm not going to forget the romance in this book. Now I have to say that the romance was not the forefront of this story. We didn't even really get any until the end. And being a romance lover, I will tell you all that I didn't mind it one bit. Yes of course I would have wanted to have more, but this story wasn't just about that and the amount we did get was perfect. Because really how can you think about romance when you are facing what can be the end of the world! Any who, the romance that developed between Scarlett and Nathan was actually really sweet and although it wasn't detailed I actually understood the development of it. There was even a triangle that developed and an unexpected romance. I don't want to reveal too much so I will just assure you that there is romance!  

“Everyone seemed to be suffocating. We were surviving, but every passing day felt less like living.”

One of the things I loved about Red Hill was that during each of their separate stories we see how their lives cross.  They each play a pivotal role in helping each other get to Red Hill and they don't even know it. The way Jamie weaved together their stories was incredible!

So I can sit here all day and talk about this book and how wonderful it is until the cows come home, but I won't. If you love horror, zombies, romance and a beautifully written book don't waste any more time and pick up Red Hill. If you enjoy The Walking Dead, this is the book for you!

Trust me; you don't want to miss out!


BUY this. READ it. LOVE it.

HAPPY READING!

~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~


Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK. She attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.
Her most recent novel, Walking Disaster debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She has also written bestselling contemporary romance Beautiful Disaster, and the Providence series.
Jamie now lives in Enid, OK with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. They share their 30 acres with six horses, three dogs, and Rooster the cat.

 Connect with Jamie:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook