Storm Warning

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.