The Shepard — Darrel Sparkman

In This World, There are Three Kinds of People -- Sheep, Wolves... and Shepherds.

Mason Law works for the Army, specializing in rescuing people from out-of-the-way places. When he walks out of the jungle with his latest charges in tow, he is greeted with the news that his wife has died of a strange illness. He is immediately transported back to Missouri. Once he's home he finds the world, as he used to know it, is unraveling. With no fuel for transport, no electricity, and most importantly, very little food, he can see society coming apart right before his eyes.

With barely time to get his wits about him, General Slade requests that Mason extract his daughter from Springfield and take her to Sanctuary, a safe house built on Lake Stockton. Since Mason owes the general a solid, he accepts the mission. He resolves to complete the task, or die trying.

Alice Slade is an Army combat veteran, battlefield nurse, and emergency room nurse. Short, blond, busty, and irreverent, she is used to getting her way -- or all hell breaks loose until she does. When they meet, sparks fly, and the game is on.

In the course of rescuing the young lady and leading her to safety, Mason confronts rogue military units and hordes of starving people out of their minds with fear. Thrown into this mix, he has to endure instant lust turning into near-instant love, betrayal at a most unexpected time, and reconciliation. It may have been easier to just eat a bullet.

The Shepherd is an action-packed thrill ride that starts fast and hurtles to a breakneck finish. Buckle up and hang on for your life.