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Flashpoint #2
Smolder
World governments fall apart as their populations die off en masse, and the few survivors left work to find a way to survive in Flashpoint Book 2....
Half of the earth's population has been wiped out. Impossible to predict or stop, the Gamma Ray Burst tore through the Earth like a bullet, its radiation wave killing hundreds of millions and the aftereffects ensuring the deaths of billions more.
Now, as the world crumbles around them, a ragtag group of survivors make for the only home they know - the small town of Mercy. Spared the worst of the GRB's effects, the town is isolated, safe and self-sufficient - for now. The flash hasn't just decimated the Earth's population, though. It's brought out the worst in many of those who are still alive.
Survival in this new world doesn't just depend on preparedness - it depends on strength.
*****
It's the one disaster no one can plan for. A rogue cosmic event called a Gamma Ray Burst, sending a spike of radiation through the earth like a .50 caliber bullet through a ripe watermelon. It's speculated that such an event hit the Earth at some point in the past, causing a mass extinction event. With two potential sources for a GRB pointed directly at our heads, the chances of another one happening in our lifetime is remote... but still possible.
In Flashpoint, we explore such an event and the havoc it would wreak across the entire planet. From destroying our atmosphere to millions dying from incredibly painful radiation exposure, a GRB would be unpredictable and unavoidable for everyone, rich and poor, prepared and unprepared alike.
Flashpoint is a six-book miniseries-like event, written by Tara Ellis and #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus. This thrilling post-apocalyptic survival series will have you second-guessing the very nature of post-apocalyptic disaster scenarios and leave you breathless with every turn of the page.
Half of the earth's population has been wiped out. Impossible to predict or stop, the Gamma Ray Burst tore through the Earth like a bullet, its radiation wave killing hundreds of millions and the aftereffects ensuring the deaths of billions more.
Now, as the world crumbles around them, a ragtag group of survivors make for the only home they know - the small town of Mercy. Spared the worst of the GRB's effects, the town is isolated, safe and self-sufficient - for now. The flash hasn't just decimated the Earth's population, though. It's brought out the worst in many of those who are still alive.
Survival in this new world doesn't just depend on preparedness - it depends on strength.
*****
It's the one disaster no one can plan for. A rogue cosmic event called a Gamma Ray Burst, sending a spike of radiation through the earth like a .50 caliber bullet through a ripe watermelon. It's speculated that such an event hit the Earth at some point in the past, causing a mass extinction event. With two potential sources for a GRB pointed directly at our heads, the chances of another one happening in our lifetime is remote... but still possible.
In Flashpoint, we explore such an event and the havoc it would wreak across the entire planet. From destroying our atmosphere to millions dying from incredibly painful radiation exposure, a GRB would be unpredictable and unavoidable for everyone, rich and poor, prepared and unprepared alike.
Flashpoint is a six-book miniseries-like event, written by Tara Ellis and #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus. This thrilling post-apocalyptic survival series will have you second-guessing the very nature of post-apocalyptic disaster scenarios and leave you breathless with every turn of the page.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2019
343 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Tara Ellis
63 books253 followersWith over 50 published books across ten genres, author Tara Ellis is best known for her heart-pounding post-apocalyptic and thriller series. A heavy dose of mystery often underscores her character-driven plots, heralding back to what fueled her desire to tell stories from an early age.
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
*Join Tara's newsletter on her author website: Tara Ellis Books
*Check out her women's literature and mysteries under the pen name of Tara Meyers
*Find her on FB under Tara Ellis Author
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
*Join Tara's newsletter on her author website: Tara Ellis Books
*Check out her women's literature and mysteries under the pen name of Tara Meyers
*Find her on FB under Tara Ellis Author
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 11, 2025
Book #2 in the Flashpoint series by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus, Smolder continues where Flashpoint left off, with the various refugees and survivors of the Gamma Ray Burst, which hit the earth a week prior, killing billions, with radiation sickness and the gradual effects taking more folks, heading for the small town of Mercy, Maine. Mercy was isolated, in a valley which had protected the town to a degree, but they were suffering too. As Danny and Sam, along with retriever Grace, met up with Ethan who'd been kidnapped and was searching for his dad, others made their way. With the catastrophic events, it had brought out the best, and worst in people, which meant being on alert the whole time...
It didn't take me long to pick up the flow of the story in Smolder, remembering back to Flashpoint - I'm looking forward to #3 Fallout, soon. With courageous characters showing an incredible amount of strength, to the "bad" guys who thought the world owed them a living, the combination had my heart thumping! It's a twisty, gritty series already, and I recommend it highly. (But do start at #1)
It didn't take me long to pick up the flow of the story in Smolder, remembering back to Flashpoint - I'm looking forward to #3 Fallout, soon. With courageous characters showing an incredible amount of strength, to the "bad" guys who thought the world owed them a living, the combination had my heart thumping! It's a twisty, gritty series already, and I recommend it highly. (But do start at #1)
November 8, 2019
Good book
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Storyline continues to grow and develop. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Storyline continues to grow and develop. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
November 3, 2019
Unbelievable story that continues from book 1. Makes you think twice about earth’s situation. Half the population wiped out and the other half struggling to survive. Loved it.
December 11, 2019
Fascinating
Another good story in the series. I hope the bad people get taken out of the equation and I hope all the main characters survive. Mercy seems to be the place to be and I hope it is the haven they expect
Another good story in the series. I hope the bad people get taken out of the equation and I hope all the main characters survive. Mercy seems to be the place to be and I hope it is the haven they expect
November 26, 2019
Loved the first book. I’m in the midst of the second one and will definitely get the third and more if the series continues.
BTW, at location 469 in the kindle edition, a Glock pistol is described as a revolver. Glock doesn’t make revolvers. A revolver is the hand gun with the cylinder action, that spins around as you pull the trigger. It revolves, spins, hence the name “revolver”. Calling a semi auto pistol a revolver is like describing a car as a “cycle”.
A tiny flaw but my OCD couldn’t let it be.
BTW, at location 469 in the kindle edition, a Glock pistol is described as a revolver. Glock doesn’t make revolvers. A revolver is the hand gun with the cylinder action, that spins around as you pull the trigger. It revolves, spins, hence the name “revolver”. Calling a semi auto pistol a revolver is like describing a car as a “cycle”.
A tiny flaw but my OCD couldn’t let it be.
December 2, 2019
Amazing
It's about time that some of the scumbags got what they deserved. Glad that Ethan and his dad are together. Sam and Danny are amazing. The survivors are capable of making sure they will continue to be strong..
It's about time that some of the scumbags got what they deserved. Glad that Ethan and his dad are together. Sam and Danny are amazing. The survivors are capable of making sure they will continue to be strong..
November 27, 2019
Russell
I really hate that guy. Which I’m meant to do. Now I’m wondering who will handle him? Do we need Reacher?
I really hate that guy. Which I’m meant to do. Now I’m wondering who will handle him? Do we need Reacher?
November 4, 2019
In the wake of a gamma ray event that devastated the Earth, survivors are converging on the town of Mercy. Unfortunately, not all of them have good intentions.
This is book two of the series and works okay as a stand alone. However, I would recommend starting with the first book so that you get the character backgrounds and that of the event.
This is a post-apocalyptic story with all that that entails. You have your usual host of good guys and bad guys, the survivalists that were prepared for something like this, and the clueless that don't know how to boil water, let alone survive after a disaster. The story is well written and easy to read, told from multiple perspectives so you get a good overall feel for how things are. I can't really call this a "fun" read due to nature of the story, but it is entertaining. Overall, I enjoyed the read and look forward to the rest of the series.
Recommended.
This is book two of the series and works okay as a stand alone. However, I would recommend starting with the first book so that you get the character backgrounds and that of the event.
This is a post-apocalyptic story with all that that entails. You have your usual host of good guys and bad guys, the survivalists that were prepared for something like this, and the clueless that don't know how to boil water, let alone survive after a disaster. The story is well written and easy to read, told from multiple perspectives so you get a good overall feel for how things are. I can't really call this a "fun" read due to nature of the story, but it is entertaining. Overall, I enjoyed the read and look forward to the rest of the series.
Recommended.
November 10, 2019
This book is very short and I'm amazed at there is as much plot progress as there is. I find the short episode nature of this (and other) series a bit frustrating. It has a less common cause for the disaster, but is still very formulaic with the convict/insane guy stalking everyone and now the tried-and-true military leader that can't evade his delusions of absolute power. Some of the characters must have read the first book because they started calling the GRB "flashpoint." The saving grace of this is that the writing is decent with not a ton of errors and I like the characters in Mercy (plus Tom, Ethan, Danny, Sam and Grace).
November 1, 2019
Too short
This is a solid writing team. Once again Mike Krause does not dissappoint. The two books so far have been solid and believable. Read them both In one sitting. I need to go be productive now. Exciting read. Preordered book 3... now to get some work done before it comes out.
This is a solid writing team. Once again Mike Krause does not dissappoint. The two books so far have been solid and believable. Read them both In one sitting. I need to go be productive now. Exciting read. Preordered book 3... now to get some work done before it comes out.
October 28, 2019
Gets the blood pumping
Absolutely loving this series! It had my heart pumping all the way through. Again loving that it’s showing what several people/groups are having to go through to reach their end goal. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book
Absolutely loving this series! It had my heart pumping all the way through. Again loving that it’s showing what several people/groups are having to go through to reach their end goal. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book
October 26, 2019
Great series waiting to read the 3rd book but couldn't down load it from the back of this book.
Read
May 8, 2020Book 2 is amazing.
To survive a post apocalyptic world you have to be alert to danger wherever you go. People are trying to survive in a hostile environment where having food, water and a place to live is becoming hard to find . A father and son become separated by prisoners who shoot the father and leave him for dead. There is one place that most are setting sights on to get through and survive. Will they?
To survive a post apocalyptic world you have to be alert to danger wherever you go. People are trying to survive in a hostile environment where having food, water and a place to live is becoming hard to find . A father and son become separated by prisoners who shoot the father and leave him for dead. There is one place that most are setting sights on to get through and survive. Will they?
March 24, 2020
Great tension-filled apocalyptic tale! This is book 2 in the series and the characters are well-developed with lots of drama and dangerous situations. There is also an underlying mystery of one evil character's plans and plotting. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend the series, Flashpoint. I already have book 3 lined up to read as soon as I finish this review.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
April 4, 2020
The point of this book is that it's a good read.
Smolder continues the author's separation of all the different storylines in chapters in each road to Mercy. The characters storylines are starting to merge the closer they get to Mercy. However, the struggle with desperate survivors and a changing world is testing them to desperation. The only con I have with this book is that I had trouble keeping all the characters in their storylines. That's probably my ageing mind 's thought processing,
Smolder continues the author's separation of all the different storylines in chapters in each road to Mercy. The characters storylines are starting to merge the closer they get to Mercy. However, the struggle with desperate survivors and a changing world is testing them to desperation. The only con I have with this book is that I had trouble keeping all the characters in their storylines. That's probably my ageing mind 's thought processing,
October 30, 2019
Enjoyable
Riviting! A Excellent read.I plan on continuing the adventure. Will look forward to more books by this author. I am not the normal reader of these types of stories.
Riviting! A Excellent read.I plan on continuing the adventure. Will look forward to more books by this author. I am not the normal reader of these types of stories.
May 20, 2021
5 stars
Very exciting story! My heart was pounding there at the end. I would highly recommend this series to anyone that enjoy PA books.
Very exciting story! My heart was pounding there at the end. I would highly recommend this series to anyone that enjoy PA books.
December 14, 2019
Smolder review
Smolder is the second fast paced post apocalyptic survival book in the Flashpoint series written by author Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus.
Smolder is the second fast paced post apocalyptic survival book in the Flashpoint series written by author Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus.
February 19, 2020
Smolder
What a wonderful book - Smolder: Book 2 in the Thrilling Post Apocalyptic Survival.... Good story line. At times hard to put down. Characters seemed real. Situations seemed real
What a wonderful book - Smolder: Book 2 in the Thrilling Post Apocalyptic Survival.... Good story line. At times hard to put down. Characters seemed real. Situations seemed real
January 12, 2020
WOW
What a superb second book of this series.
This story is a fantastic in sight on what might happen in the future, written by knowledgeable authors...
What a superb second book of this series.
This story is a fantastic in sight on what might happen in the future, written by knowledgeable authors...
September 3, 2020
Really good book to read.. Very interesting and capturing...
This is a great series.!!!
Very well written. Grabs your attention and makes you want more!! I have already downloaded the next book!
This is a great series.!!!
Very well written. Grabs your attention and makes you want more!! I have already downloaded the next book!
March 5, 2020
Smolder is the second book in the series and it follows on from where book one left off. This story is easy to read and follow
The survivors are on their way to Mercy as this is where their family are.
The second story introduces some new characters who are a part of the military and they are now trying to get some semblance of control so that they can start setting up camps to save people.
Danny and Sam are making their way closer to Mercy and along the way encounter trouble but also end up inviting someone to join them.
Tom is injured but he goes looking for his son Ethan.
Ethan is still with his captors but manages to leave a note for his father to help find him, will Ethan and Tom be reunited?
Russell decides to take shelter in people’s houses, eating their food and drinking their water luckily for them they are not home and on his way to Mercy runs into some military, will he get found out or will they let him pass them by?
The one thing I like about this multi perspective series is that each time it goes back to the next character it continues their story and does not repeat anything from the last time we read from their point of view.
I’m really looking forward to reading #3
The survivors are on their way to Mercy as this is where their family are.
The second story introduces some new characters who are a part of the military and they are now trying to get some semblance of control so that they can start setting up camps to save people.
Danny and Sam are making their way closer to Mercy and along the way encounter trouble but also end up inviting someone to join them.
Tom is injured but he goes looking for his son Ethan.
Ethan is still with his captors but manages to leave a note for his father to help find him, will Ethan and Tom be reunited?
Russell decides to take shelter in people’s houses, eating their food and drinking their water luckily for them they are not home and on his way to Mercy runs into some military, will he get found out or will they let him pass them by?
The one thing I like about this multi perspective series is that each time it goes back to the next character it continues their story and does not repeat anything from the last time we read from their point of view.
I’m really looking forward to reading #3
February 29, 2020
Reunion
A man bent on finding his son. A son fighting for courage to escape his captors in order to find his dad. Read on to find out what happens next.
A man bent on finding his son. A son fighting for courage to escape his captors in order to find his dad. Read on to find out what happens next.
October 28, 2019
3.5 stars.
Up front, we know this series will have 2 authors, Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus. Anyone can tell when Mike Kraus co-authors because EVERY series he's involved in is the same. It's told in the same manner and tends to have the same kind of villains. He is totally formulaic in his writing. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it IS monotonous and, frankly, wears me down and bores me after a while. It also showcases the author's lack of effort and creativity.
My advise to Tara Ellis, you have talent and don't need to follow his "script", as so many others do. Be creative, be bold, be different. The world already has too many carbon copies.
Book 2 is also told in multiple POV, split by chapter. As various groups or individuals prepare to find or descend on struggling town of Mercy, Montana. Some are looking for safety, and some for trouble.
Danny and Sam are making their way there to get to Danny's father, who is ill, but Danny is still battling a bad infection of her own.
15 year old Ethan, who was kidnapped at the end of book one, is still hostage to the 2 prisoners who took him. He's desperately trying to find his way back to his dad, Tom, who was left injured on the side of the road.
Tom is doing his utmost to follow after his son, to rescue him. Unfortunately, he's still hurting, horseless, and without the supplies the prisoners stole, along with his son.
Russell, the escaped mental patient is on the loose and creating his own mayhem.
18 year old Chloe is, by far, my favorite character. She's got a bit of an anger problem & her lousy parents dropped her and ran, in book 1, with a group who helps teens in need. She's smart, sassy, and compassionate, under all the attitude. She really steps up and helps when possible.
Patty, in her early 70's is Mayor of Mercy. She's doing her best for her people, but not always great at looking at all the angles.
General Montgomery and his unwilling troops are planning a takeover of Mercy. I don't care much for this guy whose excuses are "someone has to make the hard decisions". In my opinion, the government will never be our friend in any kind of apocalypse.
All of the people and groups are slowly converging on Mercy. Good luck little town!
Up front, we know this series will have 2 authors, Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus. Anyone can tell when Mike Kraus co-authors because EVERY series he's involved in is the same. It's told in the same manner and tends to have the same kind of villains. He is totally formulaic in his writing. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it IS monotonous and, frankly, wears me down and bores me after a while. It also showcases the author's lack of effort and creativity.
My advise to Tara Ellis, you have talent and don't need to follow his "script", as so many others do. Be creative, be bold, be different. The world already has too many carbon copies.
Book 2 is also told in multiple POV, split by chapter. As various groups or individuals prepare to find or descend on struggling town of Mercy, Montana. Some are looking for safety, and some for trouble.
Danny and Sam are making their way there to get to Danny's father, who is ill, but Danny is still battling a bad infection of her own.
15 year old Ethan, who was kidnapped at the end of book one, is still hostage to the 2 prisoners who took him. He's desperately trying to find his way back to his dad, Tom, who was left injured on the side of the road.
Tom is doing his utmost to follow after his son, to rescue him. Unfortunately, he's still hurting, horseless, and without the supplies the prisoners stole, along with his son.
Russell, the escaped mental patient is on the loose and creating his own mayhem.
18 year old Chloe is, by far, my favorite character. She's got a bit of an anger problem & her lousy parents dropped her and ran, in book 1, with a group who helps teens in need. She's smart, sassy, and compassionate, under all the attitude. She really steps up and helps when possible.
Patty, in her early 70's is Mayor of Mercy. She's doing her best for her people, but not always great at looking at all the angles.
General Montgomery and his unwilling troops are planning a takeover of Mercy. I don't care much for this guy whose excuses are "someone has to make the hard decisions". In my opinion, the government will never be our friend in any kind of apocalypse.
All of the people and groups are slowly converging on Mercy. Good luck little town!
December 28, 2024
2.5 rounded down.
Following Book 1, the standard formula continues. One group of outsiders, the troubled teens & their camp counsellors arrive in town to mixed feelings. The Miller men father/son pair get back together after being separated by escaped convicts & meet up with Danny & Sam very conveniently as both pairs of people are on the way to Mercy.
Points lost for the Army sub-plot with its own devious post-disaster "plan", and even more lost for the cardboard-cutout serial killer, Russell, who appears as an unneccessary throw-in. Too much repetition, I skipped out on Russell's chapters.
Following Book 1, the standard formula continues. One group of outsiders, the troubled teens & their camp counsellors arrive in town to mixed feelings. The Miller men father/son pair get back together after being separated by escaped convicts & meet up with Danny & Sam very conveniently as both pairs of people are on the way to Mercy.
Points lost for the Army sub-plot with its own devious post-disaster "plan", and even more lost for the cardboard-cutout serial killer, Russell, who appears as an unneccessary throw-in. Too much repetition, I skipped out on Russell's chapters.
January 24, 2020
Gripping
Smolder is as good as Flashpoint. Ms. Ellis and Mr. Kraus have a great series going here. I get thoroughly involved in each person’s life - well, maybe not everyone’s. Pages are turned rapidly as I try to discover what will happen next as each strives to survive the global disaster. I find myself wondering what I would do in that type of situation.
Smolder is as good as Flashpoint. Ms. Ellis and Mr. Kraus have a great series going here. I get thoroughly involved in each person’s life - well, maybe not everyone’s. Pages are turned rapidly as I try to discover what will happen next as each strives to survive the global disaster. I find myself wondering what I would do in that type of situation.
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December 2, 2019Excellent
Ok
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December 28, 2019
This book was slow reading. Too many characters.
April 13, 2020
Good average EoTWaWki book
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May 3, 2020
Review can be found below book 1 in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews