(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In steamy northern Queensland, Conor is rebuilding his shattered life. Working at Cooktown's youth centre has given him the chance to make a difference again, and the opportunity to flirt with Dr Kristy Dark. The local GP is hiding her own secrets and struggling to raise her feisty teenage daughter alone.
When a severe cyclone menaces the coast, threatening to destroy everything in its path, tensions come to a head – and the weather is not the only danger. Cut off from the world and with her life on the line, Kristy will have to summon her courage and place her trust in Conor, or they'll both lose someone they love.

Australian romantic suspense novels aren't in over-abundance, so to come across such a good one was very pleasing. What was so good about it? So glad you asked, let's discuss them:

* Location, location, location: Australia is not an easy country to describe. I really do believe only an Australian could do these locations justice. Far North Queensland is a beautiful place and one that the author just gets perfectly. I felt like I was there, the whole time.

* Characters: I do prefer books that have mature characters who are struggling with their own issues. I like characters that come across as interesting and worth knowing - not the annoying "I'm so hot you could cook an egg on me" farmer guy, or the "I look like a librarian until I remove my glasses then - WHOA!!!!" women. One dimensional characters are a dime-a-dozen. What the author has done here with Conor and Kristy is give us two people that we all can relate to. A single mother, dealing with a teenage girl and a heartbreaking loss, a man who is working at a youth centre, trying to rebuild his life. We know these people. We know these towns. It is great writing to be able to do that.

* The storm: The heart of the suspense side of the story, this aspect of the story was excellent. The emotional side of having to leave their homes, the rush to get whatever they could out before the storm touched down, and the fear of what would be there when they returned was well told. On the back of that, Kristy's trust issues and Connor's past rise again, bringing their budding relationship to a head...

I really did enjoy this story. I certainly think it is worth recommending, for sure!


Paul
ARH