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** spoiler alert ** About the book:

I absolutely love this book! The action started on the first page, and I loved that. The action was what pulled me into the story. The journey to survive began with Doug Branning and his daughter, Deni, at an airport. A crazy event happened at the airport, and I had to know what other dangers awaited them. The members of the Branning family are Doug, his wife Kay and their children Deni, Jeff, Beth and Logan. Deni is a young adult, and she is the oldest sibling. Kay and her other children were away from home as well, and like Doug and Deni they experienced their share of chaos. The family wanted to get home, but suddenly all forms of transportation and electronics did not work. When they finally arrived home, they learned that a mysterious force caused an electrical power outage. They were confused, and they tried to make sense of it. When news got around that the power outage was global, the Brannings and everyone in their neighborhood began to panic, and pandemonium broke out everywhere. They found out that plumbing did not work because water treatment plans ran on electricity. There was no form of transportation. Stores ran out of food, and generators did not work. Also, there was no way to communicate. The list went on and on when it came to things they could no longer use. Everyone in the neighborhood could either hoard their food and survival items or share with others while praying for God's provision and protection. The Brannings were a family who always took God's provisions for granted; therefore, there was no peace at home. They had to work together like never before to get the things they needed to survive. There was an uproar in the neighborhood when everyone realized that the electrical power outage was not a temporary situation. On top of all the chaos that was going on, the neighborhood became an eerie place when a psychopath began to commit a string of murders. It was hard to catch the murderer because the neighborhood was completely dark at night. The killer slayed and took out anyone who stood in the way. It was not hard figuring out who the murderer was, but that did not take away from the enjoyment of the story.



My thoughts:

I enjoyed getting to know the Branning family. The Brannings and the neighborhood residents had quite a journey, and I felt like I was with them throughout the entire story. I was fully engrossed with the events that took place. There was so much to reflect and ponder on. The premise of this book was riveting, and I was constantly wondering what would happen next. The characters grew so much spiritually, and it was so refreshing seeing their growth individually and collectively. When they realized how much they needed God to get through their crisis, they started to pray and read the Bible. I enjoyed the story even more at this point because there is power in prayer. Also, a family that prays together stays together.



Sometimes it takes experiencing a major life event for God's children to shift their eyes towards Him. God knows what is best. The character who dealt the most with this realization was Deni. She was stubborn, self-centered, ungrateful, selfish and overall, a negative person. The unfolding of her character growth was displayed powerfully and beautifully. She was purged of what was not pleasing in God's sight. When she explained to others how God made her new, it tugged at my heartstrings. During the first half of the story, I found myself scowling at her insensitive remarks. She never had anything positive to say. I was also shaking my head at her poor judgement in certain situations. Later on in the story, I found myself rooting for her and hoping that everything would work out in her favor. Her maturity level increased, and I rejoiced because of her newfound perspective on life.  Although Deni was a negative character, she was a needed character. Without her, the story would not have been as impactful.



Doug was my favorite character. I love how he protected and provided for his family. He was a good husband and father, and he stepped in to make sure the neighborhood was functioning as it should. He was a loyal friend. He stood up for what was fair, and he looked out for everyone's well-being. He was also a quick thinker, which is always a good trait to have as a character in a suspense story.



These are some quotes and scripture passages that I enjoyed reading:

Doug:
"The bottom line, Kay, is that God does do things like this. And look at all the stuff that's been happening in the world - war, hurricanes, tsunamis - it's like He's been trying to get our attention."


James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."


"It would be all right. God would see to it. This wasn't meant to break those affected. It was only to make them stronger."


Psalm 37:25
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."


"The moon was bright, and the stars had never looked more glorious. The absence of streetlights made the heavens seem deeper, more vast, stars upon stars that almost made him catch his breath. He felt so small, so insignificant, just a speck in the universe. Yet he knew he was more than that. He was precious in God's sight."


"What if this was all some kind of divine wake-up call, a loving reminder that there was more to life than hurry and busyness and stress and work? A reminder that God was the only One to be trusted, the only constant in life. The only sure thing."


Doug:
"Whatever happens, we'll be all right. God will protect us and provide for us."


Kay:
"I know He will. I keep telling myself that. The thing is, I've never had to really believe it before. All these years, I've been so arrogant, thinking that whatever happened, you and I could provide. I haven't really known what it's like to be in need. But here we are, three days in, and I'm already losing it."


Doug:
"You're not losing it. It's just been a bad day all around. And hey, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it's time we find out what it's like to need, so we can see how big God is."


Matthew 6:25-26
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"


Luke 12:27
"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."


Philippians 4:12-13
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."


Kay:
"I've always thought I trusted Jesus. But it was kind of easy, living in a four-thousand-square-foot house, parking my Expedition next to your Mercedes, cooking in a state-of-the-art kitchen and relaxing in the air-conditioning, in front of twenty-four-hour television that entertained us and informed us about everything going on in the world."


1 John 2:15-17
"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever."



I am thrilled that this was a solid and spiritually enriching story, and that the rest of the series seems to be the same! I was surprised because I actually read a few of the scripture passages above before I started reading this book. Needless to say, that increased my level of enjoyment. I love when God does that! I definitely recommend reading this book. I'm excited to dive into the next book in the series, "Night Light." This series has the perfect name, "Restoration Series," because restoration definitely happens.