I struggled with how to rate this novel. I have read Elizabeth Goddard before and usually enjoy her novels which is why I chose to request the ARC from a site I often request through.

I liked the two main characters (Remi and Hawk) and the dynamic between brothers Hawk and Cole. Unlike most suspense novels, I did think that the action in this story was more believable than most that I've read--or at least it felt that way reading it. Rating it just on the story, I probably would give it 4 stars BUT . . .

I know it's petty to mark down because of items outside the story but by the time I actually started to read the book, whoever offered the title should feel lucky I actually did read it because I was about ready to just say "F" it which leads to . . .

My biggest gripe is the format that the ARC came in--I was provided a link which turned out to be through NetGalley (even though the ARC was awarded via a different website). This, in turn, required me to sign up for NetGalley's site in order to access it (something I hadn't counted on having to do as most other links allowed the file to be downloaded directly). Once I registered for and gained access to NetGalley's site--a process that took 15-30 minutes in and of itself--and tried to download the file, I discovered it was a restricted pdf format which my computer couldn't or wouldn't open and when I tried to find a program to open that extension, my computer wouldn't allow me to download it (because the OS isn't recent enough)--NetGalley claims a version of Adobe Acrobat will open it, but it didn't seem to work that way on my computer (and I found that FAQ much later while looking for something else). So then I tried to send it to my kindle app--but the kindle app never seemed to receive the file that NetGalley claimed was sent. By now, I'd wasted another 30 or so minutes trying to get the file so I could read the book. (Oh, and most of NetGalley's FAQ answers--not at all helpful). I finally decided I would have to download the NetGalley app to one of my devices. Managed to get it onto my phone and open the file but was left with text so tiny--I had to go get reading glasses just to be able to read it--because even though I added the same app to my tablet, while trying to get the book to open on it, it kept asking for a passcode to open the book (restricted file) and no matter what I tried I couldn't get it to go past that screen to let me access the book on the tablet! By this point, I was afraid to close the file on my phone because I wasn't sure I'd ever get it to open back up!

Note: I received an ARC through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Christian Fiction Done (Mostly) Right. To know where I'm coming from, know that I grew up primarily reading Christian Fiction. I'm talking Frank Peretti, Bill Myers, Josh McDowell type stuff in the 90s Christian Fiction market. Hyper, *hyper* preachy... less focus on the actual action at times. As I matured, I found Ted Dekker and Randall Ingermanson and Jeremy Robinson - guys that were able to tell a Christian tale, but focused on getting the actual *action* and *story* right, and while the Christian elements were also important, they also didn't overshadow the actual story. (Not that Peretti/ Myers/ McDowell don't have powerful stories themselves - they absolutely do, and there are reasons those guys are legends in that particular genre.)

So now we get to *this* book and... it is far more on par with the second group than the first. This is a Frieda McFadden / Steena Holmes / Kimberly Belle / Hannah Mary McKinnon / Holly S Roberts twisty action-suspense that is going to keep you on your toes through literally the last words of the book... *and* it is going to have its main characters frequently praying and talking about God. (Jesus, not as much, Mary, not once that I remember - more of a general Judeo-Christian "God" than any specific denomination's variant.) Where i say Goddard got it "mostly" right here is that even for my own tastes and with my own background, the God stuff seemed a bit forced and stiff *at times*, while in other situations was at least as believable as most Hallmarkie type tales and certainly more believable than bringing dinosaurs back from extinction or some galactic civil war long ago and far away.

I understand Goddard has had an extensive career before this book, but this is the first book I've read from her... and it absolutely won't be the last. Mostly because I have to see exactly how this particular series goes now that I'm so invested in these characters and trying to figure out all that is going on. Because even after all these 350 ish pages, the story Goddard crafts here is absolutely setting up at least a sequel, and seemingly likely at least a trilogy. There's just so many things left "open" - resolved enough for this particular story to feel complete, but dangling enough that it is clear the author intends to speak more on these matters... and as a reader, I want her to. Yesterday would have been great. ;)

Overall truly a well done action/ suspense type book that uses its overall concept and the titular storm well, if not quite in the evocative atmospheric sense that some writers make it a point to add in (sometimes at the expense of story, to be clear, and sometimes genuinely enhancing the story). Here, it is used more to enhance the sense of urgency and danger than anything... and that is perfectly ok and within expected norms. Truly a fun, fast paced book that may mention God too much for some - but I have seen at least some instances of this book being clearly labeled as Christian Fiction, so that should be warning enough for those types of readers.

Very much recommended. ( )