Nightfall: Dark Age Dawning #1

Nightfall
Ellen Connor
Dark Age Dawning, book one
Paperback, 327 pages
Published June 6th 2011 by Berkley Trade
ISBN 9780425241691

First in a stunning new post-apocalyptic paranormal romance trilogy.

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

Got as far as the prologue and already I knew this book was going to make me very happy. The prophetic message from Jenna's father alone had me tingling in anticipation and finding a well crafted wolf shifter inside-pure bonus!

It doesn't take long to get to know Mason, our main character, and we even get introductions to the leading men of books two and three: Dr. Chris Welsh who's holed up at a nature outpost, and Tru (aka Midnight) who's currently a 15 year old former gamer into the goth scene. Oh, and we also meet Penny. =)

Not everything is a lost cause after the cell towers go down, communications are lost, and rabid death dogs turn people into mutants- we still have magic. Mason and Jenna begin to discover a psychic bond they share and it's so worthwhile to experience Pen and Tru coming together so early in their lives. I was all kinds of 'awe' when that little girl climbed up into his lap.

Mason is truly a woman's dream. Jenna tells the guy what she needs from him and instantly he's processing that newly found information through his brain and trying to figure out a way to put it to action, albeit after an epic ton of drama back and forth between the two. Still, kudos for effort!

I loved this book, the world and the characters, and am beyond ready for book three. Chris (star of book two) really didn't do anything for me, though I felt the author(s) didn't intend him to anyway. A tad disappointing as well was the countless possibilities this world offered up weren't exactly explored to their full potential. Everything stayed according to a familiar formula which actually made me miss The Walking Dead tv show even more. Hopefully, the sequels will push further outside the box. 4 out of 5 stars.

He closed the blanket around her like a cocoon and swept loose tendrils of hair from her face. No fever now. Just cold. Holding out little hope, he leaned in and brushed a kiss against her mouth. His own Snow White- only Jenna didn't stir. Her lips didn't respond. He opened his thoughts, sending a desperate SOS. But even on that unseen highway where their minds once met he traveled alone.