Wanted [Kindle Edition]

Jason Halstead (Author)

Book Description

Book 1 in the Wanted series

Sergeant First Class Carl Waters left the army behind before the bomb went off in L.A. He lived off the grid, avoiding the fallout from the bombs and the Burnout Fever that ravaged the world. With the occasional trespasser to keep his skills sharp, life was smooth and settled and exactly how he wanted it.

All that changed when three stragglers showed up that he didn't have the heart to turn away. Two children led by a shepherd who had lost her own way, Carl felt the sins of his past had finally come calling. Especially when it turned out the children had their own demons in pursuit.

On the run once again, they must survive the North American badlands, an enemy with unlimited resources, and each other. Ultimately it will come down to Carl to decide just how much he is willing to sacrifice for the safety of his charges.

Look for these other Wanted books:
Book 1: Wanted
Book 2: Ice Princess
Book 3: Bounty
Or pick up all 3 at once in the Wanted Trilogy

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This sci-fi book kept me engrossed from beginning to end" - Kim D.

"the characters feel real and the story is fun." - David Caldwell

"a lot more interesting than most of the mindless expensive action bestsellers that people seem to lap up." - Jon Lorisen

""Wanted" helped me forget the time I was spending on the treadmill! Thanks!" - SistahPoet

From the Author

Wanted was a compromise between some of the post-apocalyptic ideas I wanted to write and something I felt I could get away with realistically. Then I met the characters (in my head, don't worry, they're not real). Once Jessie and Carl fleshed themselves out to me I realized there was no way they were going to leave me alone. Especially Jessie. Wow, she just wouldn't stop talking until I finally finished the book!

And then she started in again after a while. Look for the sequel, Ice Princess!

Cover art by Willsin Rowe.

Proof I listen to my readers - as of 3/2/2012 I've submitted a re-edited version of Wanted to amend numerous minor discrepancies.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 489 KB
• Print Length: 247 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Novel Concept Publishing LLC (May 22, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0053KJ2QU
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,490 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Hard Science Fiction
  • #40 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Adventure

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Sci-Fi July 12, 2011

By Kim D.

Format:Kindle Edition

This sci-fi book kept me engrossed from beginning to end. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and very believable. The author took care to provide enough background on each of the characters so that the reader can understand what makes them tick. I read this book on an airplane, and was actually irritated when the plane landed because I was so wrapped up in the storyline! This is my first read by this author (Jason Halstead), but I've already bought another of his books. I hope there's a sequel to "Wanted," as I was definitely left wanting more of the story and characters.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - Definitely not what I expected October 25, 2011

By Diana Oswald

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Although this is said to be Sci Fi, I really think it is a small part. It was more of a human relations story. the 5 main characters were interwoven amazingly well. You loved and hated with equal passion and all the twists and turns kept your finger ready to flip that page quickly.

Have you ever finished a book and wanted to scream at the writer for more details??? That was this book for me...I was so wrapped up in the characters that when the book ended I felt like I just lost a friend.

Can wait to read more!! Keep 'em coming, Mr. Halstead.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Good teaser racket February 2, 2012

By slartiB

Format:Kindle Edition

Not bad as a start... but it isn't a book. This one ends abruptly with no resolution. If you want the end, you need to buy the sequel. That marketing ploy is REALLY annoying to me- particularly considering what I've read in the reviews of that sequel-- it's evidently a short, "get it over with" ending that doesn't integrate well with "Wanted". The reviews were so bad that I didn't even buy it.
The writing in "Wanted" isn't bad, but not great either- kind of cliche at times and the characters were Hollywood deep. Annoying number of typos and bad spell-check word substitutions. Advice to author: 1) Combine the two and work on the ending. 2) Have someone edit it for you. 3) Quit watching so much TV.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining June 17, 2011

By Jon Lorisen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't write very many reviews but I didn't see one for this book yet. Bought it on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. No complaints about the writing and the book was entertaining. Maybe a little light on plot and back story but a lot more interesting than most of the mindless expensive action bestsellers that people seem to lap up. Very worth reading for the price, looking forward to a possible sequel and will be looking at the rest of the author's books.

Keep up the good work!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Too Many Tears December 12, 2011

By JAM

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Post apocalypse stories can be riveting, engaging, and interesting due to the characters inventiveness, or survival experience to overcome obstacles. This story pits a bizarre group of people together in an aimless journey with as much time spent sorting out the character's "feelings" for one another and their own inner demons as blowing away scum bags.

Take the ex Iraq war female soldier who has transformed herself into the most widely recognized and appreciated porn queen of the time (and who should know not to go into anarchy wasteland with just a halter top and a running automobile) is tearing up about every other page as she lets the loner Mr Macho save her and her unlikely friends. There are no sex scenes but a lot of talk about trying to get Mr Macho to lighten up and try it out.

I actually thought this might really be a closet chick book, but there are a lot of bodies getting splattered. Typically, one or two stars I rate, I don't (can't) finish. This book saved me the trouble by truncating the story by a "to be continued" ploy - see the next book. I had stayed with the read (beyond my better judgment) just to see how these characters resolve their predicament. Thank you, author, for putting me out of my misery.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Could not relate to Main characters December 17, 2011

By Harmony

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just could not relate to the main characters at all. Jessie the female lead is supposed to be a war veteran with addiction problems. From the beginning of the book she makes one poor choice after another. From going into a dangerous desert and getting her boyfriend killed to offering her body to the first guy to come along as "payment" for helping her. She goes to help at a plane crash for selfish reasons and looses her car in the process. By half way throught the book I am hoping she ends up dead. None of the rest of the characters impressed me either.

The world didn't impress me either, there was no real description of the post-apocolypse world. No desperate striving for survivial and overcoming tragedy.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A lesson to read sample pages February 18, 2012

By Kaitlyn

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The synopsis was decent, the cover was decent, so I just grabbed it without reading the sample pages... that'll teach me.

The beginning is so jumpy and confusing - I gave up at the end of chapter 2. There's some good ideas and several good lines, but they just don't fix the rest of it. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I figure I should at least have an idea of backstory by the 3rd chapter.

The 2 characters I've met so far, Carl and Jesse, also both seem bi-polar. Carl is totally emotionally detached one minute, next minute he's feedin Jesse and actin like he needs to protect her. Then Jesse, cursing at Carl and screaming she's no ghetto whore right after she offered to screw him for saving her.

Just too jumbly and confused for me, sorry.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars mediocre February 14, 2012

By ilbob

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't know what book the 4 and 5 star reviewers were reading. This is not a horrible read, but it is not that great. I got it for free, so I don't feel cheated or anything.

It had a lot of potential, but wasted most of it with completely unbelievable things that go on. I can buy into some of that, after all, it is fiction. But make it at least plausible for me.

You might like it if you are a fan of other comic book style action like Mack Bolan or The Destroyer. It is not anywhere near as good as they are at that genre.

I understand there is a sequel. I won't be wasting my time on it.

The thing is that the author does have some talent and some of the work shows considerable creativity, but it just is not put together that well, at least for me.

More About the Author

Short version: Jason Halstead is a science fiction and fantasy author who spends his free time with his wife and two children, writing, and powerlifting.

Long version: Jason's always wanted to write, but making a living at it seemed unobtainable. So instead of writing fiction, he turned to writing code. That paid the rent and let him dabble in fiction.

The common theme shared by almost every great writer is perseverance. Refusing to accept denial by traditional publishing and agents, Jason was finally accepted at a publisher that was harnessing the cresting wave of ebooks. That ride, although bumpy, gave him the experience and knowledge necessary to strike out and improve his craft.

Jason now has multiple books out and regularly helps out other budding authors struggling to makes sense of the industry. He's a stickler on editing and professionalism, but also believes wholeheartedly that his readers aren't just customers, they're his friends. He wants to know them and encourages them to visit his website (http://www.booksbyjason.com), his blog (http://booksbyjason.wordpress.com), and even more to email him ([e-mail]) so he can interact with them. His books come from his imagination and from his heart, and more than one of his friends has inspired him and shown up for at least a cameo appearance in one of his titles.