Book Review: The Hurricane by RJ Prescott 3/5 Stars

 So, I read this because the title  "The Hurricane" fits nicely into my water theme. 

Does it have anything to do with actual hurricanes?  No. Most assuredly no. 

If I really want to spin it, I could probably discuss how often we use water associated terms to describe non-water events, people, things. I don't think I want to delve into things that deeply. 

This is an average, enjoyable sports romance set in the UK.  There's nothing unique about it at all, and for me, that was actually what made it enjoyable.  My mind didn't have to work with this one.

Emily is a broken fragile girl who remains fantastically attractive and fragile. She's struggling financially but she does have her apparent talent for math going for her as she forges ahead in her mathematics degree. Despite her very bad circumstances, she remains physically attractive and unfailingly kind and nice to every one who approaches her, all the time. 

Cormac O'Connell is an undisciplined boxer who grew up with an alcoholic mother. He's desperately seeking a feeling of home.

One day he seems Emily being kind to a homeless man, and decides she is going to be the one for him. 

And he falls hard and fast. Emily falls hard but requires some convincing. 

Together they become stronger. Predictably, both have huge amounts of emotional intelligence and their relationship quickly become bullet proof. (This is honestly the part that really is not that believable, as most folks packing that much trauma between the two of them would have more communication issues/trust issues etc, but this is a novel, it's ok!) Both of them speak to each other as if they had a degree in "trauma -informed" therapy. This novel which is a series of stand-alone but interconnected romances  was put out in 2016- which I think we can all agree was a very different time. 

I enjoyed O'Connell's obsession with Emily and I enjoyed that it was a welcome obsession. I enjoyed the moments where  together they conquered his horrid mother and her vicious step-father on the way to a happy-ever-after ending. 

Pearl Hewitt reads the novel in the audio book, and I think she did a pretty good job with the narration, though maybe I could have used a bit less of the high pitch. That said, it was a clean and clear narration, and easy to follow. 

  I learned nothing about water! 

Do I recommend?  YES - if you want a spicy contemporary romance about overcoming obstacles. No- if you are looking for anything more nuanced. 

STATS

First Published : February 2016

Pages: 432

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Death, parental neglect, alcohol, SA, poverty, violence, sexual content, family drama, toxic relationships.