A disturbing and thought provoking read that will keep you turning pages. An excellent blend of emotion, suspense, and vivid imagery.
Many thanks to Black Rose Writing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

First thing: I have to admit to having felt a little disappointed that this wasn't a science fiction novel. The main action of this novel take place after a global catastrophe - in this case, a massive solar storm. Naturally its effect was indeed to fry all electronic equipment such as cars and computers. More to the point, there was no more Internet. Dihital fortunes got vaporised. Things had to slowly start anew. Oh, and there were plenty of ruined harvests.

I had hoped the book would have delved a whole lot more into how the world would have been affected on all levels by such an event, and how it would have unfolded.

But nope. Sun-kissed as it is called., is really a device to explain how things were set back by so many years. Like, say, covid.

That then is the backdrop to the story. What it is really about, however, is one woman's extreme and sustained vendetta against an ex - and how this vendetta affects one or more generations.

There are twists, usually on how this particular villain, Darlene, is prepared to go to ruin the one who wronged her.

This is a small, mean world, made meaner through more recent economic and global adversity. It does not always make for comfortable reading - Darlene, whether not she can be considered protagonist or antagonist, is a highly toxic, unpleasant individual with anger issues to say the least, and the menfolk she goes after are pretty shabby characters. But will this toxicity leak down to damage the next generation?

Possibly this novel captures the post-covid zeitgeist in its own way, but its bile does not really edify. And shows up why revenge does not the best rationale for living make.

After a solar storm has changed how people live, Darlene decided to go after the man who deserted her in high school after finding out she was pregnant. Her son Cotton works at a dude ranch and finds out his mothers plan against his father.

What is Darlene willing to do to exact revenge. This is a great read. If you like dystopian or apocalyptic reads, you will enjoy this but it's more of a thriller.

This was an enjoyable read that I enjoyed more than I expected too. It was well written with good character development and good storyline. I look forward to reading more from this author