Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton
Published by Thomas Nelson on April 3, 2018
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
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Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have decided to put life’s disappointments behind them. At least in theory. Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, while Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget the longing for motherhood set deep in her heart. But when Betsy’s free-spirited younger sister Jenna drops her young daughters off at the farm to attend a two-week art retreat in Florida, Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.
As those two weeks stretch much farther into the hot Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world and revel in a home that’s suddenly filled with the sound of laughter and life. Meanwhile, record heat promises to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.
Four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She’d once been free to travel and pursue a career in photography, but all that changed with the appearance of two pink lines on a plastic stick and a boyfriend who hit the road. At Halcyon art retreat, she finally has the time and energy to focus on her photography. As the summer continues, she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home with her two children.
When Hurricane Ingrid aims her steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that could affect both her and her children’s futures, and Betsy and Ty find themselves protecting their beloved farm as well as their own hearts.
Sometime ago, I read a book by Lauren K. Denton titled The Hideaway (see review HERE). Because I read so many books, I couldn’t remember the name of the book I had already read, but I remembered that I told myself to jump at the chance to read any future books she might release. When I saw Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton available for review, I quickly seized the opportunity! As it turns out, my mom, Gloria (who also reviews some of the books provided to me), happened to have a free moment to review this book faster than I would be able to, so I gave her the pleasure. Here’s what Gloria had to say:
“With this second Lauren K. Denton novel, Hurricane Season in your hands, get some sweet tea ready as you make yourself comfortable on the porch swing because you will be reading one of the most heartwarming stories of love, family relationships, second chances, reconciliation, acceptance, and healing that you’ve read in a long time. The very believable characters are sisters Jenna and Betsy Franklin and Betsy’s husband, Ty. Two sisters – so complete opposites – each with different hopes and dreams
Betsy is the oldest of the sisters. She’s reliable and dependable, and she and her husband, Ty, are happy working hard together to keep their dairy farm going. The Southern Alabama farm has been in Ty’s family for several years. Their one disappointment is that they have been unable to have children after 5 years of marriage. Betsy carries a deep hurt inside and never talks about how much pain she is feeling.
Then there’s Jenna – a free-spirited, single mother to daughters, Addie and Walsh. She works at a coffee shop to support her family. Jenna wants to attend the Halcyon artist retreat to work on photography, so she asks Betsy to keep Addie and Walsh for two weeks. Betsy doesn’t talk to her husband Ty before she promptly says yes to Jenna’s request.
When Jenna drops the girls off at Betsy and Ty’s farm, Betsy thought she had her sadness and pain under control but she finds that living with the girls causes it all to come back in her mind. The two weeks that Jenna had requested then turn into months, causing Betsy to suffer with feelings of inadequacy. Betsy refuses to talk to Ty about her feelings and he’s so worried about her. Ty is suffering too, and they find the situation affecting their marriage.
In the meantime a huge storm seems to be brewing and it i headed their way. Hurricane Ingrid hits the Alabama coastline and threatens their lives. The relationship between the sisters is nearly ripped apart. Jenna must make a decision. Ty and Betsy are trying to save their dairy farm while repairing their relationship.
This novel is exactly what I love—a southern setting, great characters, and a good plot that flows through. Lauren K. Denton is becoming one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. I can hardly wait!!”
As an aside, I have asked my mother to hold this book for me, because I definitely want to read it. If you would like to, you can read an excerpt of this awesome book HERE!!
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren now lives with her husband and two young daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books. The Hideaway is her first novel.
Be sure to connect with Ms. Denton on her Official Website, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. A positive review was not required. The opinions I have expressed are my own or in this case, my mother’s.
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