July Read: Storm Warning by David Bell

 

I went out of my usual reading zone for this new thriller by David Bell. From the publisher:

"Jacob Powell is racing to get off the island as a hurricane approaches. When he finds his friend Dallas, the building manager, dead from a blow to the skull, Jacob realizes there's more than the hurricane to fear. The murderer is likely still on the island, maybe even inside the nearly abandoned building."

This novel takes place off the coast of Florida, on a small island that has a few large apartment buildings on it. A massive hurricane is coming ashore, and only a few people are left in the one remaining building that is occupied. The owners of the buildings have let the buildings fall into disrepair as they prepare to sell the property and make a  whole lot of money. However, something fishy is going on, and now with the hurricane approaching, Jacob knows he's the only one who can keep the remaining residents safe as the building threatens to crumble down around them.

I've never felt more muggy and *blech* wet and chilled as I did reading this novel. The author definitely puts you into the space of a massive hurricane; no power, driving winds and rain, and an apartment that is falling apart and just plain gross. Add in a group of people who are scared and distrustful--and a few murders--and it intensifies the tension throughout the novel. Who do you trust? 

I enjoyed this novel and would recommend David Bell to those who like a thriller where everyday people are caught up in circumstances beyond their control, and they have to bring their "A" game and become the hero in order to survive. It's a quick read and fast paced. 

A big thanks to Penguin/Random House & Berkley for an advanced copy of this novel. It's sure to be a great vacation read--just not in hurricane season. 

Rating: 4/6 for a tension-filled adventure where it's man vs. nature, man vs. man, and heck, even man vs. self. You don't know who to trust or what's going to happen--pick this up for a thrill ride. 

Available in trade paperback, ebook, and audio

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July Read: Storm Warning by David Bell

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

I had to take a break from all the heavy fiction I've been reading, so I picked this novel up at the bookstore and finally sat down and finished it yesterday.  Wendy Wax has written a lot of novels, usually a bit lighthearted and enjoyable stories about women, life changes, and potential love interests.  

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey takes place in the Alexander, a historic apartment building in Atlanta.  The Alexander is a very nice place to live--it even includes a concierge, Edward.  He's there to do whatever the owners of the apartments need or want him to do.  He's also a main character in the novel.  He decides to start a Sunday evening showing of Downton Abbey so that people can meet each other and become friends.  Enter Samantha, Brooke, and Claire.  Each women has just moved into the Alexander and hasn't made friends with anyone else.  Samantha has been married for 25 years to a very wealthy man and has the most expensive and luxurious apartment in the building.  She spends her days exercising, having lunch with her snooty mother-in-law, and tries to keep her adult brother and sister from ruining their lives through pure laziness.  Did she do them wrong marrying her husband at a weak moment in her life?  Her attitude of gratefulness towards her husband for rescuing her all those years ago is slowly becoming an unsatisfactory state of marriage.

Brooke is newly divorced with two small girls.  Her husband dumped her after she put him through medical school, and now has a shiny new girlfriend who is everything Brooke never was--and her ex is a grade-A jerk.  She's feeling lost and completely alone with no direction.

Claire is an empty-nester who sold her home and moved into a compact little apartment at the Alexander.  She's taking a year off to write her third romance novel while her daughter attends college in Chicago.  Her problem?  A major case of writer's block.  

Slowly, through Sunday nights watching Downton Abbey and Wednesday pizza nights, the three women get to know each other, become friends, and support each other through a year of changes and unexpected surprises.  Edward is their guiding force, using his expertise as a concierge to work wonders and help each woman find happiness.  

This novel was entertaining, but nothing was a surprise.  I was particularly irritated after awhile with Samantha.  Speak up, woman!  God!  And Claire, who spent all her time walking around parks and ignoring her computer.  I get that a person can be stuck while writing, but she never even tried to write anything down for her novel and instead just kept panicking until she started to ignore her issue and lied to everyone about her progress.  Just being honest would have pushed her along much quicker towards a resolution.

I will read more Wendy Wax novels.   This one was just fine, but no fireworks or edge of your seat happenings.  

Rating:  6/10 Hopefully, there will be another novel featuring Edward.  His story is not finished.

Available in paperback and e-book.

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While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax