Braving the Light: Book 2
Publication Date: August 24, 2021
A standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US
A solar electromagnetic pulse fried the U.S. grid fourteen months ago. Everything’s gone: power, cars, running water, communications, all governing control and help—gone. Now northern lights have started in Texas—3,000 miles farther south than where they belong. The universe won’t stop screwing with eighteen-year-old Keno Simms.
All that’s left for Keno, his family and neighbors is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat. Keno’s still reeling from the death of his pregnant sister. His beloved Nana is ill, Grandpa’s always brandishing weapons, and water is far too scarce. Desperate thieves are hemming them in, yet he can’t convince his uncle and other adults to take action against the threat.
Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows. When he gets her pregnant, he vows to keep her alive no matter what. Yet armed marauders and nature itself collude against him at every turn, forcing him to make choices that rip at his conscience. If he can’t protect Alma and their unborn child, it will be the end of Keno’s world.
IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES is post-apocalyptic science fiction set in a near-future reality, a coming-of-age story told in the voice of a heroic teen who’s forced into manhood too soon.
One randomly chosen winner via Rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble.com gift card.
Brenda Marie Smith lived off the grid for many years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. She’s been a community activist, managed student housing co-ops, produced concerts to raise money for causes, done massive quantities of bookkeeping, and raised a small herd of teenage boys.
Brenda is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their own limitations to find their inner heroism. She and her husband reside in a grid-connected, solar-powered home in South Austin, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
Her first novel, Something Radiates, is a paranormal romantic thriller; If Darkness Takes Us, and its sequel, If the Light Escapes, are post-apocalyptic science fiction.
August 23: Author Deborah A. Bailey Blog
August 24: Christine Young
August 25: Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, and Characters
August 25: Don’t Judge, Read
August 26: Literary Gold
August 27: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
August 27: Novels Alive
August 30: It’s Raining Books
August 31: Fabulous and Brunette
August 31: Viviana MacKade
September 1: Sybrina’s Book Blog
September 2: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
September 2: Becoming Extraordinary
September 3: Jazzy Book Reviews
September 6: Lamon Reviews
September 6: Let me tell you a story
September 7: All the Ups and Downs
September 8: The Obsessed Reader
September 8: The Salty Nomad
September 9: Westveil Publishing
September 10: The Avid Reader
September 10: Girl with Pen
September 13: Joanne Guidoccio
September 14: Welcome to My World of Dreams
September 14: Sandra’s Book Club
September 15: Novels Alive – review
September 16: Kit ‘N Kabookle
September 16: Travel the Ages – review
September 17: Locks, Hooks and Books
Thanks for hosting!
You’re welcome!
This sounds like a good read
Thank you, Karen, for saying that. I hope you get a chance to read it. Best wishes to you.
This sounds wonderful and the cover is amazing
Thank you, Anita. I appreciate your kind words. Olivia Hammerman is the cover artist and I’m so lucky to have had her talents on my series.
Thank you, Dayna, for hosting me and my book on your blog today. I’m happy to be back here. Looking forward to chatting with you and your readers. I hope you all have a great weekend.
We’re happy to have you back, Brenda! Your book sounds so good! Wishing you all the best!
Thank you, Dayna. Wishing you all the best as well.
This sounds like an awesome book.
Thank you, Sherry. So kind of you to say.
Congrats on your new release! The book sounds great. Fabulous, eye-catching cover.
Thank you, Katherine. I hope you get a chance to read the book. Olivia Hammerman is the mega-talented cover artist. So lucky to have her for both books in this series.
This book sounds so good – very creative theme!
Thank you, Rosie. I appreciate the kind words.
Thank you for having me today, Dayna. It’s a real pleasure to be here.
It’s always a pleasure to have you, Brenda! You’re welcome to return at any time!
I love the pretty green cover.
Thank you, Anita. I do, too. I thank Olivia Hammerman for the cover. She’s quite the artist.
Both the cover and the title draw me in. Cannot wait to read this book. Best of luck with the tour and thank you.
Thank you for so many kind comments, Michele. Means a lot to me.
I really like this cover. The colors are perfect!