Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review 'Midnight Hour' by Kate Hewitt. The premise initially caught my interest, with the promise of a family navigating a harrowing escape from a nuclear explosion in a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of *The Walking Dead*. However, after reading about 30% of the book, I found the characters too one-dimensional to fully engage with the story.

The suspenseful setup had a lot of potential, but the lack of depth in character development left me feeling disconnected from the stakes and unable to invest in the storyline. The family’s journey through the dangers of a devastated world felt repetitive, and the narrative lacked the complexity and intensity that makes survival stories truly gripping.

Unfortunately, I didn’t feel compelled to continue reading. Though it didn’t work for me, I can see the concept appealing to readers seeking a simpler, easy-to-follow apocalyptic thriller. Thank you again for the chance to review 'Midnight Hour'.

Read the first book The Last Stars in the Sky first, you won’t regret it, I have now devoured the both and loved them. The Midnight Hour continues Alex’s journey with her family after the US and Canada, along with many other places worldwide have been decimated by nuclear strikes. Kate Hewitt has created some wonderful, believable characters, they make you think ‘What would I do? How would I cope?’ I really enjoyed this follow on, having really enjoyed the first book too, even reading it with tears pouring down my face and my heartbreaking with loss so close to home it felt like this was written for me. Well done Kate Hewitt I will be reading more and recommending you!

read if you like:
😱 dystopian dramas
☢️ nuclear holocausts
🏡 family dramas

summary:
After reading THE LAST STAR IN THE SKY, I had to read the sequel. Continuing where the last book left off, Alex, Daniel and their family set off for the camp they’ve heard about in Buffalo. Leaving their secluded home in the woods, they learn quickly what the rest of the world has been doing while they’ve been hidden away. New societies have been formed, new leaders have been established, and a new way of life has emerged. How and where will they fit in?

Much like its predecessor, only read this if you’re ready to take on a nuclear holocaust and dystopian drama. In this book, we get to see how the family has settled - the roles they’ve taken, how they’ve grown, and how their past traumas continue to affect them. I did love getting to understand how they’ve adapted to this new life, and how each of the characters has found their own way. We also get flashbacks from Daniel of when he rescued Sam at college, which are tragic, sad and do get a little repetitive. While the first book establishes new things that have changed, this one just doubles down on them. The second half of the book gets better though, as new people are introduced and they start to move forward to a new society, rather than just battling gangs and terrorists.

If you want closure from the first story, and are in the mood for a little heartbreak, I recommend THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! This book will be released on January 10.

The world as we know it gone. Losing our home, money issues and my husband lying to me are meaningless. We are just trying to stay alive but how where do we go. No where is safe from radiation poisoning. The United States as we know it is gone, What are we to do!!
Alex and her family are trying to stay alive and together during this Armageddon. Trying to get her son Sam her husband Daniel leaves them so Sam can be with them. Not knowing what to expect Daniel escapes looters, killers to get his son, while he risks his life . Hurting people along the way Daniel wants to get back to his family.
This book takes you on a whirlwind of a ride. So many obstacles lay ahead for this family. Who can they trust,,should they trust anyone. They end up in places no one could imagine knowing life as they knew it was over. Will they survive the radiation poisoning or die one by one?
This is not my typical read at all. I really enjoyed the first book so I figured I needed to know what happens and I did. This book kept me going and at the edge of my seat. What a family does to survive, the things they would never have done. If you like an adventure this book is for you. It truly made me think about what would I do if this happened to me?
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for getting me out of my reading realm. I’d love to see what happens next for this family. Great book Ms. Hewitt

This is the scone book in the series by Kate Hewitt.

I absolutely love this author!

I enjoyed these books and gave the first book 5 stars.
However, this second book I only gave 4 stars.
That’s because I felt there could have been a little more back story at the beginning of this second book to enlighten the readers on where the storyline was continuing from.

Other than that I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from Kate Hewitt.

This was a strong sequel in the Lost Lake series, I thought it continued the story well and had that character element that I was looking for. I enjoyed the way Kate Hewitt wrote this and it left me wanting more. I thought the characters worked well overall and was enjoying the journey with them.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc of this exciting read. What a page turner.
I never read book one of this duo however you can easily pick up from book2, as the author does a brilliant job of filling in to give you the background.
Daniel is now back with the family with their son, Sam. They're headed for Buffalo but will they get there and what will be their challenges?
The ending I had to say did have me she'd a few tears no spoilers here but it really pulled at my heart in so many ways, for an author to make you pass through so many emotions and be hugely drawn to the characters is brilliant writing.
I was highly invested in Daniel and Alex's story that I completely binge read this emotional rollercoaster of a book.
I can't praise the author high enough.
Kerry Kennedy Author

This is almost a vision of the future. Nuclear bombs and explosions leave the world in a state of pollution and death. It is very much person set against person trying to survive in an absolutely alien world where food isn’t safe, water may be poisoned and violence is about. The book is about the survival of one family and how they get through the months after they have to feel their home. It does look at how to live with noting, totally off grid and cope with that fear. The book is more about the family relationships, what people regret, how children grow before their time and get their own life within the whole. It isn’t for the feint hearted but is a book filled with love and understanding.

Katie Hewitt, you wrote such a darling story! I fell in love with the main character, and her story just gave me all the feels. I would love to sit and chat for coffee to hear all about how you came up with such an adorable story. Add this to your TBR lists.

Having been lucky enough to get an arc of the first book I was so excited to be picked to read The Midnight Hour and I was right to be excited!
The journey continues and the group head to try and find somewhere safe to settle, it is not plain sailing and they are all affected in different ways, emotionally and physically.
This really is a story of patience, hope and resilience and shows the depth of humanity.
An excellent example of how a good book is when written well.
Highly recommended

This book is absolutely terrifying, even given the uplifting conclusion. A well written story with great locales and historical points of interest and excellent off the page descriptions of the locales Daniel and his family traveled through, I loved the collection of people who became family, which captures your heart and mind. The examples of faults and forgiveness, indomitable spirit and personal drive carry the story. I pray that there are never true life events that come even close to what happened in this story. Every reader will walk away changed, hopefully in a solid way.
I highly recommend this book.
My thanks to Storm a publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

Second book in the Lost Lake Series, I was wondering where this go after the first.
In an attempt not to ruin the first, let's just say the first book had a plot line I was NOT expecting, but resolved enough that I was surprised to see a seocnd.

While a good read and definitely entertaining, it felt like I was reading a different series. It reminds me of The Martian with the amount of storyline based on overcoming physical challenges to survive.

Still a very good book, I wish I had read them back to back and may have felt it was a 4 or 5 star book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read prior to publication in return for my honest review

I loved the first book in this series and had been hoping for a sequel. I'd been checking Netgalley for it as soon as I knew it was coming out and was desperately hoping I'd be approved. All that to say that I had really high hopes for this sequel and I can gladly say that it did not disappoint. I only stopped reading to sleep and go to work.

We rejoin Alex and her family pretty much where we left them at the end of The Last Stars in the Sky. They have escaped the attack on their cabin and are working out what to do next. I don't want to give anything away; the unknowns of this new world are what makes it an exciting read. What I will say is that the family continue to face difficult, life-changing decisions and lurch from one unknown to the next, making the best of what they have where possible. I liked how the family relationships mostly felt pretty realistic. Yes, they have survived and understand that they need to work together but it isn't all rosy and they still have disagreements as you'd expect with any family.

I really enjoyed returning to this family in the world Kate Hewitt has created and as much as I'd happily read another book in this series, I feel that another book isn't needed in the same way that this sequel was. I would also say that you really need to read The Last Stars in the Sky in order to understand and enjoy this book.

I found it difficult to read this book till the end. It is not bad, but the storyline felt like the story of modern pioneers (like English colonies in the old days) surviving through more powerful weapons and more sophisticated violence. All the developments (psychological and social) seemed a bit predictable. Though I usually really like the author's novels, this one was definitely not for me.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

I was curious to see where this book would head now that Daniel and Sam had returned and the families house was violated. The development of the children through the process was an interesting read, and Alex's journey was very emotional. It is always worthwhile for the reader to wonder how they would cope with the various challenges that this family faced. Beyond the obvious physical needs , this book also focuses on what do people really need to be happy and feel worthwhile. It was good to find out what Daniel went through to bring Sam and Jenny back, and the depravity and sadness he witnessed was predictable and expected. I liked how the book ended on a note of hope. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and freely review.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I'd read the first of this series, and liked it, mainly due to the fact that I didn't see the nuclear war and resulting chaos happening -- it came out of the blue. This story is both a continuation of the family saga and some flashbacks, primarily to Daniel and Sam's journey to rejoin the family. Honestly, i was a little bored for most of the book. The mom felt a little shrewish and looking for fault everywhere, and I was having difficulty staying with the story. However, the last several chapters were partially redeeming -- there was some real emotions evident which made some sense and contributed to the story. I just wish more of the tale was like this.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

A wonderful follow up on her last book ,very vivid scary at times ,certainly puts one thinking what would happen if the events in her books came to pass .

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gripping. Emotional. Amazing.

Book #2 in the series that follows Alex and her family and how they survive after nuclear warfare has shaken the US and Canada. When your life is at stake, do you do what’s ‘right’ or do you try everything you can to survive? These characters grappled with those decisions practically every chapter. A number of chapters traveled back in time, when Daniel made the trek to go and find their son Sam at college, rescued him, and brought him back home. Those intense chapters made it very clear that America had turned into a war-torn desolate land.

One of the best books I’ve read this year! I tore through it in two days. Highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this. It comes out in January 2025. Thanks to Storm Publishing, the author & NetGalley for this ARC. #booksbyashleynicole