San Diego is hit by an earthquake that leaves the city in ruins. With rescue uncertain, a small pocket of survivors must band together in order to stay alive. Lauren Boyer is on a run with her EMT partner when the earthquake hits. After the first shock, she frees herself with the help of Garrett Wright, an Iraqi War veteran. Together they gather the survivors and supplies needed for them to stay alive. Their rag-tag group includes a pregnant teen who's due any day now, an old-man and his granddaughter, and a young man in a coma. They must also contend with a group of ex-cons who've escaped from a prison work vehicle who will stop at nothing to remain free.

AFTERSHOCK by Jill Sorenson brings the aftermath of devastation down to a personal level where the myriad reactions to stress and fear can bring out the true character of a person and this ties directly into Lauren and Garrett's romance. These two come together at a critical moment when all the outward labels are stripped away and mean nothing. All that matters is surviving and protecting those who can't protect themselves and this is where the story triumphs. Lauren is a strong female lead who must let go of the past and learn that she is worthy of being loved. Garrett is a broken man, unable to forgive or forget his mistakes. Together they must learn to trust each other not only with their survival but with their past that still haunts them.

Lauren and Garrett chemistry is immediate and hot (I'm staying away from the 'earth-shattering' analogies, although I've wanted to type them, because Ms. Sorenson's writing isn't clichéd and her review shouldn't be either), and while that attraction stays strong throughout, I love the layers of sweetness and respect that underlies it. There are secrets between them, but those secrets don't hide the truth of their character.

Jill Sorenson assembles a wonderful mix of characters that captures the scope of humanity. Two of my favorites are Owen and Penny. Owen is an escaped convict and Penny is a pregnant teen and yet they're interaction with each other is touching. Again, the labels are stripped away so we see these two characters for who they are and while neither will ever fully escape from their past, they're not bound by it so that dictates their future.

Brilliantly set against the devastation of an earthquake, AFTERSHOCK reveals the spirit of survival and humanity and shows that outward labels don't always reveal the true character. Sexy, touching, and packed with tension, AFTERSHOCK is a great romance.