Book Review: Buried by Brenda Rothert

I enjoyed this book although I don’t think the title really fits what happened to the five characters in the bunker. They were not buried. I guess one could argue that they were buried under the emotional stressors that being locked in a doomsday bunker for months. I really don’t get the title. Maybe I’m dense or stupid. I keep going back to what the author meant by buried. It couldn’t be literal since they were not actually buried–just underground. The only thing I can come up with is a more figurative or back to the emotional aspect. Even after the characters are released, in a way they are still trapped. One could make an agrument for the buried being how the characters are emotionally trapped within themselves for various reasons.

Derek Heaton is one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL. He loves the outdoors which is why he bought a secluded cabin in northeastern Colorado. A gift to his father is adding an underground bunker–something his father has always wanted. The last thing he could ever imagine was being locked in it for months with four other people.

Erin Morrison is doing her uncle Cal a favor by delivering these groceries from our family farm, winery, and grocery store. What Cal didn’t know was that the delivery would be to the famous football player’s underground bunker. Had Cal known that he would have made the delivery himself since Erin has clausterphobia from incidents with her mother as a child. Those incidents lead Erin to living with her uncle, aunt, and their two sons. One thing Erin planned to do after completing her delivery was making the trek to Camp Caroline–a camp for kids who have suffered various forms of abuse. The camp teaches kids numerous outdoor activities including hiking. Being locked underground was more than difficult for Erin with her clausterphobia although she was able to overcome it–to a certain degree. The bunker is HUGE!! Derek had an indoor track.

Things happen in the bunker that changes both Erin and Derek. One bunker member has a kidney disease which is slowly killing this person. One member is the mastermind behind why the group is locked in the bunker to begin with. Derek must fight off advances from his assistant. Erin tries to resist the sexual tension emanating between her and Derek.

Can the two of them resist each other? What happens when the doors unlock? How will their relationship survive when he plays football in New York and she lives in Colorado? How did they get locked in there in the first place? How will they get out? How much will their lives change due to this incident?