The prologue in Reap the Wind is filled with dramatic, exciting moments as it sets up the massive storm, the effects of which prove to be a pivotal part of the plot and challenge everyone in the story. The author has a knack for writing vivid description that puts the reader in the midst of the buffeting of a super-storm that burst out of a Cat 1 hurricane. The tension is intense, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to the people in that storm-tracker helicopter. I thought they would be the main players in the story, but they weren’t. There was only a brief mention in a weather report about the weather watching team that went down and a comment or two by other characters wondering if anyone on the team survived. It’s only until the epilogue that the reader finds out what happened to the people in that helicopter.

Framing a story between an engrossing prologue and satisfying epilogue is a good writers tool. However, it didn’t quite work for me with this book because after reading that exciting prologue, I was let down by the discovery that the people were only bit players.

The storm certainly does connect to the other characters and drives the plot through some harrowing moments. The combination of the threat of the storm and the ticking-clock element in the story is a good one. It keeps a reader engrossed and eager to read on to discover how things are going to work out. Will Josh make it through the hurricane, and then the blizzard, to get to his girlfriend Keisha who is in the hospital with complications of her pregnancy? Will she make it through the next few weeks to be able to give her baby a better chance at survival? Will they work out their relationship? What will Josh decide to do about his growing unhappiness with the legal work he is currently doing?

Those are the questions that kept me reading despite the fact that I found some of the characterizations uneven. At times, Josh and his friend, Geoff come across as mature adults able to handle themselves in challenging situations, like driving through those horrible storms. Then there are times they become too much like young teenagers in their antics and bantering.

Even though some of the bantering and childish impulses are fun to read, and understandable due to the stress of the precarious position the harrowing drive put them in, they don’t always come across as professionals at a law firm. Neither does their boss Diane. And the way Keisha’s former boyfriend, Anthony, interacts with her at the hospital crosses a doctor’s professional bounds.

The last chapter in the book is the best portrayal of Josh as a grown up. I really like the way he steps up to being a responsible father and the choices he makes for his future as an attorney. That chapter also offers a wonderful resolution of the love triangle. Not going to say what. You’ll just have to read the book to find out. It’s worth it.

Joel Burcat's new novel Reap the Wind is described as "The Perfect Storm meets The Firm," and that's accurate to a point, but I feel like it's more a mixture of those two stories with a soupçon of No Exit. At only 215 pages, it's a fast read, but a meaty one with thrills, spills, and chills of various intensities.

Told from the perspective of two main characters, Josh and Keisha, and engaged couple who are about to have a baby, this story quickly splits into parallel plots when Josh is delayed in Houston after a business trip, and Keisha has a medical emergency on her flight to Philadelphia.

Keisha's story then becomes a medical tale – she's injured, about to have a baby, and stuck in a hospital in Cincinnati (she had a layover there) where she has to confront her past and make choices about her future. Meanwhile, Josh conscripts his friend Greg to join him on a mad dash from Houston to Cincinnati so he can be there for Keisha. When their colleague Diane insinuates herself into their trip, which they make in a second-hand limousine – it becomes the worst road trio ever. And did I mention that there's a major hurricane disrupting weather in the entire eastern third of the United States?

Josh and Keisha are both written as sympathetic, if flawed, characters, and I found myself rooting for a romantic comedy ending, even though this novel is more of a thriller with a lot of emotional undertones.

Greg, Diane, and Abdul (the limo driver) are all interesting, though clearly created to serve the narrative. I wasn't terribly invested in either of their stories and felt like their purpose was more to be obstacles in Josh's path than fully realized human beings. Despite this, the novel is richer for their presence. Without them, you'd just have a lonely guy driving through a storm.

The storm, Hurricane Epsilon, is a character in its own right, and author Burcat did a fantastic job of making it the villain and the catalyst without ever actually personifying it. Yes, it felt at times like the weather was taunting all of these characters, but it was just the well-crafted perception the author created. Climate change and the government and corporate responses to it is also part of the connective tissue of this novel. Perhaps, then, Climate Change is the villain, and the hurricane is its henchman.

Overall, I felt this was an interesting novel. It starts off slow but ends up careening through plot points like a car fishtailing on a storm-drenched highway. It kept my attention, and I would definitely read more of Burcat's work.

I was slightly disappointed that the scenes with the Weather Service hurricane hunter that bookended the novel were there only to demonstrate the capriciousness of weather and the danger of not heeding warnings – I would love to read an entire book about that crew.

Goes well with: Hot roast beef sandwiches and steak fries.

If you have ever lived through a major storm (hurricane, tornado, etc), then you will be able to appreciate this novel from Joel Burcat. While the focus of the novel is the storm, there is also the interpersonal dynamics between several of the characters. 

Josh is an ambitious attorney, but at the same time, he wants a good work-life balance. His fiancee, Keisha, is pregnant with their child. Their relationship is interesting, but not without struggles, especially from the parents. His are Jewish, but admittedly, not practicing. Keisha is African-American with helicopter parents. However, there is something in their relationship that binds them together. All is well until Keisha decides to leave Houston, where Josh is for a conference, ahead of a major storm about to hit the shores. She is eight months pregnant and wants to be closer to home in case the baby decides to make an early appearance. This is where everything goes awry. 

Living in Texas, we are no strangers to some crazy storms. Everyone has heard of the hurricanes that hit Houston and New Orleans. It was not a pretty sight when everything was said and done. This storm is giving signs of being very similar. If it were me, I would have holed up in the hotel in Houston until everything passed. They were in a Four Seasons, after all! However, that would not have made for an interesting tale. Keisha flew out and ended up in the hospital in Cincinnati. This has Josh worried to no end, and he makes the (not so smart) decision to drive, in a major storm, from Houston to Cincinnati. Luckily, he has a friend and coworker who will go with him, so he won't drive this alone. Originally, it would have been the two of them on this trip until their boss, Diane, forces her way into the situation. I will state that I do not like Diane. There are many reasons, but some would take away from the story, and I don't want to reveal too much. Let's just say she is very bossy, more than what could be considered appropriate for anyone. So, the three set off in the car for an adventure.

I had to chuckle at some of the observations by the characters on the drive. They nailed the driving habits of Texans and the love for guns. There are many humorous moments peppered throughout their journey. While perfect conditions would have allowed them to make the trip in a reasonable amount of time, the weather slowed down their travels. There is nothing like a road trip to bring out people's true personalities. 

While this band of characters is on their journey, Keisha has her own issues to deal with in the hospital. She never expected to see her former boyfriend at the hospital and as her OB/GYN while there. He crosses some ethical lines, in my opinion. But seeing him brings Keisha to a crossroads, and she has to decide which road to follow. I am not too surprised at how that situation resolved itself, but it was probably the best outcome.

There is a prologue and an epilogue that seemingly have nothing to do with the crux of the story other than to share another perspective on how someone survived the storm. I am not sure why they were included.

The book was told from the POV of Josh and Keisha. While there are two other main characters, Geoff and Diane, their story is included to a minor degree. Maybe not as in-depth as Josh and Keisha, but it is really their story to be told.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and if you like books about major storms, you just might like this one. We give it 4 paws up.

While the book's polished appearance suggests professionalism, its content fails to deliver. The summary's oversharing robs the narrative of any suspense, leaving readers with little to anticipate. Character development is lacking, rendering them unmemorable and unrelatable. The story's pace drags, particularly in the initial chapters, making it a struggle to maintain interest. Despite its promising facade, this book falls short of expectations, offering little in the way of excitement or engagement. It's a dull journey. Three stars for presentation, but the substance leaves much to be desired."

While this book starts slow, It builds to a fevered pitch by the middle of the book and offers some surprises along the way. We hear about the story from two of the characters so I might have liked to hear from some of the others but that does not take away from the story and the adventure of driving cross country through the mother of all storms. All together the book drew me in and kept my interest throughout.

EDGE OF YOUR SEAT……That was not what I was expecting! Joel Burcat took the topic of climate change, of all things, and had me hooked! The twists and turns of his story took me on a road of unexpected surprises with each turn of the page. Joel Brcat has knocked this one into the atmosphere! Another great book by a great author.

Reap The Wind was ok. It started out so hard to follow but I gave it two stars because by the middle to the end of the book it was easier. It read kind of like a sharknado type story. Diane and Anthony gave me the creeps.

I enjoyed the characters interacting with each other on their trip thru a massive storm. Other than that it was silly love story in the background that made no sense to me. Quick read though, but can't really recommend it
Thanks NetGally for advance copy.