Heavy Weather

A Carolina Coast Novel, Book #2

By Normandie Fischer

ISBN #9780986141607

http://www.normandiefischer.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer jerjen

Synopsis:  

Death, life, family, domestic abuse–Heavy Weather explores all these themes in a memorable and compelling narrative. When Annie Mac’s life explodes like a storm at sea, she is helpless to fight back. Left for dead, her two children targeted by her abuser, her life appears to be over. The people who help her show her how to weather a storm that she cannot control.

It takes a town to save a child. That town is Beaufort, North Carolina.

Annie Mac’s estranged husband vows that nothing will stop him from getting his baby girl. Not Annie Mac and certainly not that boy of hers.

Only four blocks away, Hannah Morgan lives in comfort with her husband and dog, making pottery and waiting for her best friend to come home. When she discovers the two children cowering in the bushes and their mama left for dead, it doesn’t take her long to set her coterie of do-gooders to some extra-strength do-gooding. Add in Clay, a lonely police lieutenant yanked out of his comfort zone and into the heart of this small family, and who knows what will happen?

From the author of Becalmed comes this latest tale of the Carolina coast, introducing some new characters to love–and to loathe. (Goodreads)

Review:

Annie Mac lives in Beaufort, North Carolina, with her two children. She is planning on divorcing her abusive husband, Roy, and getting her children away from him.  But Roy has plans of his own, wanting to take his daughter, Katie, away from Beaufort and Annie Mac.  Even though he beats Annie Mac to within an inch of her life, he does not get Katie, because her brother, Ty, has taken her and hidden her and himself.  When Hannah is walking her dog, the dog finds the two children hiding in the bushes.   When Annie Mac asks Hannah, someone she does not even know, to take her children and keep them safe, Hannah does as she is asked.  When Hannah and her family of friends realize how serious the situation is with Annie Mac, they band together to help not only the children but Annie Mac as well.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional.  Most of them have heartache in their pasts, but they have been able to overcome the pain and move on with their lives. Hannah and her husband Matt have lost children and know that is a tragedy that you never get over.  Annie Mac is an abused woman who is trying to break away from her abuser and keep her children safe.  Their lives have been hard but they are willing to do whatever it takes to come out triumphant.  I really liked the fact that this book is about of group of friends that have such deep rooted ties and and such loving relationships with each other that they have become a family.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read, but I felt it was a bit long, at 410 pages.  Each chapter is written from one of the main character’s perspective: Hannah, Clay, Annie Mac and Roy.  This style worked very well and I enjoyed the fact that it was written in this manner.  I think it helped to create tension and suspense.  Each chapter brought me closer to the explosive conclusion and I got more anxious with each chapter I finished. The author is very talented in creating a suspenseful atmosphere with the written word.

This book tackles a very heavy social issue, that of abuse.  At times, starting at the first chapter, it was difficult reading about this issue.  But it is such an important issue facing our society today that it was something that needs to be addressed.  The book also weaves a tale full of love, hope, friendship and suspense perfectly to create a very compelling read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an inspirational, suspenseful thriller.  This is the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely be checking of more of her works.