Review + Blog Tour + Giveaway: Waterproof by Amber Garr

 

A new adult dystopian by Amber Garr.

"Fantastic storyline and characters"

"Riveting"

"Hooked from the beginning"

"Intense and intriguing"

"Another stay up all night read by Amber Garr"

Buy Now at Amazon or Smashwords

Dying of thirst is the new reality.

Five years after the last drop of clean water disappeared, global societies collapsed and nuclear war shattered all hope of recovery. In a place now only a skeleton of its former self, survivors fight to avoid capture by the government. Forced to work in factories that produce the only drinking water available, those who go in, never come out.

Zach and Vivienne have lived as deserters since they were teenagers. Fighting amongst their own and scrounging for the necessities of life, they’ve learned to rely on each other in every way. Yet when tragedy strikes and the true objectives of the government facility are revealed, their world is ripped apart.

A fate once thought to hold their demise may be the sole answer to their survival. Who can they trust? Who can they believe?

In this life, it pays to be waterproof.

Review:
What would happen if all of the Earth's water was either gone or contaminated? In Waterproof this is the reality that Zach and Vivienne have faced for the last five years. Living amongst their group of "deserters", or people that have defied the government's mandatory draft for laborers, they have to not only survive the prospect of no water, but also the wilderness, being caught by the government and other groups like themselves just trying to survive. Zach and Vee have known each other from middle school, before the wars started and the water disappeared. It takes a tragedy for them to figure out they fell in love with each other a long time ago and act on it, but that bliss won't last very long. Their small group, however, is ambushed by mercenaries and as much as they fight back to not be captured, half of them are subdued and brought to the government facility. What happens in this place, which they call Oasis One, is a mystery but most deserters think it's a place where they work you to the ground....and then six feet under. Is everything as it appears? Or is something different about this place than any of the stories lead them to believe? And can they find their psuedo-family and escape before it's too late? Find out when you read this epic Dystopian tale!

These characters were AWESOME! I think I loved every one of them, but bear with me here. Zach is just adorable. He is a laid back but compassionate guy that everyone likes (most of the time :P ) and it is obvious that he cares about everyone in their group with all of his heart. He may get himself into trouble every now and again, especially when it comes to Vivienne, at the end of the day he is going to be the one that comes through and is there for everyone else. Vee on the other hand is the one you want on your side in the event of an Apocalypse, she is just everything you need to survive. Fighting is her specialty, a leader when necessary, and she has this sense of purpose when it comes to sticking up for others even if that means breaking some knees and a few black eyes. I loved Vivienne because she was a kick-ass chick that you can picture surviving anything, but she has the softer side when it comes to both Zach and Hunter, the youngest of their family. Hunter, Sasha, Max, Jackson and Trevor all weasel their way into your heart at some point throughout this book and really make it something special. The supporting characters are just as important to the story as the main ones and I think that's wonderful. Your not left feeling like you needed something else to add to this plot because you have all these other characters to fill those voids and lead the story in different directions.Let me put it this way: if one of these characters dies, I am going to be upset! If I care about a character that much than it has got to be a good thing.

What I loved the most about this book was that is was different and there are so many directions in which to take the story. I've read  A LOT of post-apocalyptic/dystopian/alternative fictions books lately, and I can't say I have ever read a story about water and what it means for the world as a whole. That's wicked cool because in a genre that is so popular currently, it is really hard not to read 6 or 7 books and think "I've read this before." That doesn't happen with Waterproof. The story is original, that characters are developed and I am so invested in this story that I have been thinking something I have never really thought about in a book before: novellas or short stories. I would LOVE to have short stories about so many things in this book:

Zach and Vivienne in high school
Zach and Vivienne's families leaving for West Virginia
Joining the group they live with now
All the other characters joining their group
Riley's escape from Oasis One
Sasha and Max falling in love

I could literally go on and on about all the stories I want to know more about. I have the habit of always wanting more information and background in the back but this is the first time I would invite more and more stories from this world and I think that's a credit to this book that not only do I want a sequel so we find out what happens to these characters, but I also want any other story you'll give me to explore this world further! If my enthusiasm for Waterproof doesn't get you to read this book, I'm not entirely sure what will! - My Opinion-Buy it!



About the author:

Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of Waterproof,  The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, and the upcoming Death Warden Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Stalk Amber Online:

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GIVEAWAY!


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 The Story Behind Waterproof:

As you probably already know, I work as a scientist in my other life. Over the years, my research has often focused on the conservation and restoration of aquatic species. And a lot of that time, their issues have stemmed from contaminated water or excess pollution in the environment.

For several years, I’ve wanted to write a book about what would happen to the world when humans began fighting over drinking water. And I say began, but really, it has already begun. Do you know you have to purchase water rights in some states out west when you buy property?

Have you ever experienced water restrictions in your neighborhood? Or did you know that several countries are already considered water-stressed? It’s happening, and just to show you how scary it is, here are some facts to consider: 

1)      1 billion people currently don’t have access to clean drinking water.

2)      3.4 million people die from water related diseases each year.

3)      By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in a water-stressed county.

4)      An American taking a 5 minute shower uses more water than the average person living in a developing country uses in an entire day.

5)      Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries without adequate legal or institutional arrangements regarding water utilization.

6)      By 2020, California will face a water shortage as great as the amount they consume today.

Worried yet? I know I am. So anyway…back to Waterproof.  What will happen when the water disappears? How will society react? What unique science may evolve out of this type of tragedy? All questions I’ve asked myself for years and then had a chance to answer (or hint at) in this book.

I also wanted to highlight the idea of friendship and romance rising up out of the chaos. At a time when the survivors have to fight for every second of their life, I thought it would be nice for them to find some type of comfort in their closest friends. No time for love triangles or petty games when you’re being hunted!

So as you read this book and start thinking more about the water shortages (as I did!), check out these sites to see what little things you can do so that some day we aren’t deserters running for our lives!

100+ Ways to Conserve Water

25 Ways to Conserve Water in the Home and Yard

*Sources: www.water.org; www.worldwatercouncil.org; www.fao.org