Before the Storm

by Leslie Tentler

With the slow start and some over-dramatic moments between characters throughout the beginning of the book, I had started getting wary of how the rest of the story would play out.  There was the potential for a love triangle, a frustratingly childish sibling rivalry, and one of those rich and snooty high society mothers who is just mean because she can be.

Meanwhile, most of the book felt a little dragged out since the main suspense conflict was simply floating around in the background.  We spend a whole lot more time looking into the angsty romance and the tenuously fragile relationship between a set of brothers.

Surprisingly, when I was about to give up on this book being any good, things began to pick up midway, and got kind of exciting.  There were still a lot of events that defy logic a big, and still a whole lot of angst-ridden romantic drama.

At the least there was an emotional climax that might have gotten me a bit teary-eyed, but when it comes to kids in a work of fiction, I find I'm getting soft.  Kids and animals.  And this book manages to present an adorable young girl who is having a post traumatic reaction to her mother's death from a few years prior to this book's setting--apparently, ever since a tragic accident that took said mother's life, the little girl had just stopped talking.

The events surrounding the little girl's recovery, I wish could have been explored a bit more.  Of course, this is a romantic suspense about our main couple, so... yeah...  But what little we get to see about how the little girl starts talking again was quite touching... even if slightly incredible.

All-in-all, the book was enjoyable, kept my attention, and had me breezing through it.


***

Booklikes-opoly

Roll #8:  Water Works says to read a book with water on the cover.
This book features water on the cover.

Page Count:  336
Cash Award:  $3.00

Updated Bank Balance:  $42.00

See Also:  Freebie Roll Activities

No Matter How Far You Run, The Past Will Find You

Leslie Tentler is back with another story of romance and suspense…this time in a small Southern beach town called Rarity Cove. What happens when a woman on the run has her dangerous secrets finally catch up with her? Find out in Before the Storm by Leslie Tentler…

About BEFORE THE STORM

Six years earlier, Trina Grissom disappeared, on the run for her life. Now living under an assumed identity—as Samantha Marsh—she still struggles with the dark secret she harbors and the fear she might one day be found. When she moves to the coastal town of Rarity Cove, South Carolina, to open a café, a handsome widower begins to chip away at the walls she’s built to protect herself.

Mark St. Clair lost his wife two years ago in a tragic accident. Head of the grand St. Clair resort, he distracts himself from his lingering grief by running the family business and caring for his troubled young daughter...until a beautiful restaurateur sets up shop in town. Before meeting Samantha, Mark was convinced he could never be drawn to another woman. But as his attraction to Samantha grows, the mystery surrounding her deepens.

As the two begin a hesitant courtship, double perils emerge. Someone from Samantha’s lurid past comes calling, threatening to expose her. And a powerful hurricane is forming in the Atlantic with the small beach town in its path. Trapped in the storm by the brutal man who wants vengeance on Samantha, she and Mark must fight for their lives.

On Sale in Digital and Print: October 20, 2015

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BEFORE THE STORM – EXCERPT TWO

The phone rang inside the house. Excusing herself, Mercer went inside to answer it. Samantha leaned her head against the swing’s back and closed her eyes. The afternoon’s warmth soaked into her bones. She needed to remember this place, absorb it into her memory so she had something to hold on to if she made the decision to run. Samantha thought of the way she’d felt falling asleep in Mark’s arms, in his bed. He represented a security she’d never had, an ideal of what her life might have been like if she hadn’t been born Trina Grissom and ended up where she did.

She’d slept poorly last night and must have dozed off, because she woke to the squawking of gulls. Samantha glimpsed the portly man who stood on one of the sand dunes nearest the bungalow’s property. He wore baggy bathing trunks and a flowered Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned to reveal his bulging, hairy belly. A pair of binoculars hung around his thick neck. Although the floppy sunhat put his face in shadow, Samantha felt her heart beat harder inside her chest. Lenny. He smiled, more of a grinning leer, and he used two fingers of his right hand to point at his own eyes. Then he pointed back to her.

I’m watching you.

Lenny traveled down the dune and out of sight. The swing rocked as Samantha stood, her knees wobbly. He was shadowing her, just like he’d said. Her eyes scoured the tourists who walked past, but Lenny had disappeared into the crowd.

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Author Bio:

Leslie Tentler is also the author of FALLEN as well as the Chasing Evil Trilogy (MIDNIGHT CALLER, MIDNIGHT FEAR and EDGE OF MIDNIGHT). She was a finalist for Best First Novel at ThrillerFest 2012, and is a two-time finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Maggie Award of Excellence.

Leslie is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Novelists, Inc. A native of East Tennessee, she currently resides in Atlanta.

Connect with Leslie: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

By:  Leslie Tentler

ISBN: 9780990639046

Series:  Rarity Cove #1

Publisher:  Left Field Press

Publication Date:  10/20/2015

Format: e-book

My Rating: 5 Stars

**Blog Tour Stop ** Oct 20

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A special thank you to NetGalley, and Barclay Publicity for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Loved the Cover!

Join Me, Oct 20 BEFORE THE STORM Blog Tour Stop for Giveaways, Goodies, Excerpt, and More!

Talented Leslie Tentler returns following her smashing crime thriller, Fallen, landing on my Top 30 Book List of 2014, with a riveting new series, (Rarity Cove #1), set in a small southern resort town on the outskirts of Charleston, SC -- BEFORE THE STORM. A solid drama, from deep human emotions, mystery, danger, crime, and romantic suspense rolled into page–turner, as the past rears its ugly head, at the most inopportune time.

Meet the Main Characters:

Samantha Marsh, (aka Tina Grissom) keeps to her herself, a natural beauty, moving to the small coastal town of Rarity Cove, SC to open a café. She is ready for a fresh start and her life seems to finally be back on track. Her life dream is finally coming true as she escapes a horrific past. She has changed her looks, her body, and her identity. Now Ms. Marsh is the woman with the "to die for cupcakes"- and now her landlord, has found more than her cupcakes quite intriguing. However, she cannot have a normal relationship. She has to continue to look over her shoulder, as she senses someone is following her.

Six years later, after escaping her past, she finally has Café Bella on Main Street, and is a successful business woman. No one knows her real story, and she wants to keep it that way. She is mysterious. She has put all she has, into her new café and keeps her distance, living in a small apartment over the café, not getting too close to anyone. She lives in fear every day, of her past coming to find her. (Tentler keeps you in suspense, as to the nature of her dark secret, which is peeled back layer by layer, for an ongoing mystery which goes much deeper). Can she pass up on a future love affair, due to her fear, which holds her back? She cannot put Mark’s family in danger.

Mark St. Clair does not care about dating –his goal is to bury himself in his work as the driving force behind the century old Hotel Grand St. Clair Resort, the family business, and the premier vacation destination on the Atlantic seacoast some forty minutes outside of Charleston. He is still grieving for his late wife of two years. Top on his list of worries is his five-year-old troubled young daughter, Emily--who has not spoken since his wife was killed in a car accident.

Mark’s mother, Olivia the family matriarch is the typical Southern society snob---(Dorothea Benton Frank fans will relate); if you know Charleston—you will understand; wanting Mark to date again, and sticks her nose in his business trying to fix him up with the Southern’s finest—white pearls and "Bless Your Heart" type. Mixing with the most elite and country club set, she does not care for Mark’s newfound friendship, and strong attraction to the new woman in town. She is determined to find out more about her background, and a more suitable companion. Only the best for her son.

Carter, Mark’s brother, a soap opera star is accustomed to having his way with all the women; with his fake airbrushed looks and charm. He and his brother are rivals, from years past, both dating Mark’s former wife. Now Carter is back in town for a movie shoot, and meddling in Mark’s affairs. Will he once again, try to hit on Mark’s new woman?

Then of course there is Mercer, Mark’s sister who has her own private relationship with older professor, Jonathan.

Luther, one of my favorite characters, has been in prison with a past of his own. He works for Samantha. He was honest about his past, and Samantha knows all too well about second chances and dark pasts. She gives him a second chance working her at her café in town. Olivia, Mark’s mother turns her nose up at his kind, thinking he is a trouble maker. Of course, when there is trouble, everyone looks at him. However, he might just be the one to help this crew out of danger, as a devastating tropical storm approaches. Hint: Could we please bring back Luther for his own story?

We also have more than one villain, with some scores to settle. Devin Leary is a slime ball and he will stop at nothing to find what he is after. There is someone more dangerous than on the surface--a bigger more evil plan of stolen jewels, the Maffia, a cliff, a Cadillac Escalade, money, a brother, pictures of a past life, a motel, and worse, a devastating storm approaching.

A multi-layered story as piece by piece, Sam’s story is exposed. She never wants Mark to learn of her sordid past. Carter starts digging and is the one to investigate into a world of corruption, and old scores which need settling--revenge. Everyone is going in different directions trying to keep their own secrets, and all the while there is a dangerous man in Memphis, Tennessee who is out to find the one who got away, and the stolen jewels.

As most of my fellow reader friends are aware, I am not a romantic chick lit fan. I typically go for crime, legal, and mystery thrillers; however, I will read contemporary romantic suspense (meaning not the romantic fantasy type); the emotional tragedy, mixed with crime, danger, and mystery, which is a nice combination. Ordinary people enduring hardships; overcoming, adversary, even stronger with some humor mixed in. Before the Storm fits this category perfectly. 

I fell in love with Fallen, when introduced to the Atlanta author last year. Being an Atlanta girl myself, growing up in the Carolinas and working for many resorts and hotels (some in Charleston), I loved the this setting, as well. The resort, the café and the culinary parts …. (Perfect subject material for me)….And the well-developed characters. I enjoyed Samantha and Mark’s relationship --two different strong people from different walks of life. Sam’s past was such a vast contrast from her present life, and Leslie does an amazing job flushing out each one.

For me, BEFORE THE STORM is a cross between Nicholas Sparks, Kristin Hannah, Sandra Brown, and Patti Callahan Henry (I know --a range; however, fans of all these will enjoy the mix). I read Spark’s new See Me directly following Before the Storm, and fans will enjoy the strong dynamics of both; characters are determined to survive their past against all odds--for a shot at a new life--when things keep pulling them down back in the mud.

Strong emotional human dynamics, tragedy, suspense, mystery, and thriller sprinkled with complex love relationships ----a character driven book. Sparks and Tentler both know how to build a love story, surrounding by layers of mystery and suspense. I think fans will enjoy the last portion, with the intensity and danger-- as things begin to explode with a few surprises you do not see coming.

What I enjoy about Leslie’s style--her writing is fresh, and contemporary; each of her books deliver something new and different, making her books appeal to a wide audience. Before the Storm is a book you will want to read in one sitting, so set aside the time and curl up for an engaging mystery. I could not put it down until I reached the end.

I am looking forward to the follow up with #2 -- dying to know which character will be featured next!

JDC Blog Tour Stop  Look for more goodies this upcoming week  
Oct 19-30. Join Me here Oct 20 for more!

A Giveaway!   Grand Prize: $25 Amazon or B&N gift card.  Two Runners-up will receive their choice of an ebook from Leslie’s backlist.  Enter Here  for a chance to Win!  ​Read an Excerpt

No Matter How Far You Run  . . .  
         The Past Will Find You                     

Leslie Tentler is back with another story of romance and suspense…this time in a small Southern beach town called Rarity Cove. What happens when a woman on the run has her dangerous secrets finally catch up with her?  
Fnd out in Before the Storm by Leslie Tentler…

Add BEFORE THE STORM to your TBR pile on Goodreads!  

On Sale in Digital and Print: October 20, 2015

Amazon       B&N         Kobo       iBooks

Award-Winning Author of Romantic Suspense 

 About the Author

Leslie is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee. Growing up, she was an avid reader, first of Nancy Drew novels and then surreptitiously devouring her mother’s historical romances at probably too young an age. As she got older, her reading interests moved to contemporary romantic thrillers, which she writes today. 
​
Midnight Caller, the first book in the Chasing Evil trilogy, was honored as a finalist in the 2012 International Thriller Awards at ThrillerFest for Best First Novel. Edge of Midnight, the final book in the trilogy, was a finalist in the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense.
 
Leslie is a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, The Authors Guild and Novelists, Inc. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Robert, two cats and their dog, Tori.   Connect with Leslie:  Website   Twitter   Goodreads   Facebook  Amazon 

Check out other books from Leslie! 

 FALLEN  

By: Leslie Tentler
ISBN:  9780990639015
Publisher:  Left Field Press
Publication Date:  10/14/2014 
Format: e-book
My Rating:  5 Stars    

My Review

Top Books of 2014 

Buy the Book 

JDCMustReadBooks  Weekend Fall Spotlight   Oct 2-4

Two dynamic authors bring a mix of romance, suspense, mystery, secrets, and complex relationships, coming October,  2015.  Available for Pre-Order Now! 

Some great weekend fall reading - Curl up with a good book while enjoying the much awaited fall season, cool cozy nights, and the colorful autumn backdrop.   

Before the Storm 

By:  Leslie Tentler

ISBN: 9780990639046

Series:  Rarity Cove #1

Publisher:  Left Field

Publication Date:  10/20/2015

Format: e-book

My Rating: Currently Reading

 

From the author of the sensational Fallen

(My Top 2014 30 Books) 

Six years earlier, Trina Grissom disappeared, on the run for her life. Now living under an assumed identity—as Samantha Marsh—she still struggles with the dark secret she harbors and the fear she might one day be found. When she moves to the coastal town of Rarity Cove, South Carolina, to open a café, a handsome widower begins to chip away at the walls she’s built to protect herself.

Mark St. Clair lost his wife two years ago in a tragic accident. Head of the grand St. Clair resort, he distracts himself from his lingering grief by running the family business and caring for his troubled young daughter…until a beautiful restaurateur sets up shop in town. Before meeting Samantha, Mark was convinced he could never be drawn to another woman. But as his attraction to Samantha grows, the mystery surrounding her deepens.

As the two begin a hesitant courtship, double perils emerge. Someone from Samantha’s lurid past comes calling, threatening to expose her. And a powerful hurricane is forming in the Atlantic with the small beach town in its path. Trapped in the storm by the brutal man who wants vengeance on Samantha, she and Mark must fight for their lives.

A special thank you to Left Field and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Good Neighbor 

By: Amy Sue Nathan

ISBN: 1250048583

Publisher:  St Martin’s Press

Publication Date:  10/13/2015

Format: Other

My Rating: Currently Reading

 

From the author of 2013 The Glass Wives the smashing debut of heart and humor 

Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends—and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman—Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.

Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? Then, her blog soars in popularity and she’s given the opportunity to moonlight as an online dating expert. How can she turn it down? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in-real-life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are. That’s when Mrs. Feldman steps in, determined to show her neighbor the havoc that liescan wreak. If Izzy’s honest, she could lose everything, and everyone. Is the truth worth any cost?

 

A special thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Book Blog 

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Synopsis: Someone is assassinating the police officers of Atlanta and Detective Ryan Winter is desperate to solve these crimes when one of his friends is one of the victims while trying to recover from the loss of his son in a tragic accident.

When the shooting of his friend brings him into the ER of his wife, Dr. Lydia Costa, they are both forced to address the grief that wracks them both and try to solve the mysteries of the cop killings before they both become victims of an assassin taking names.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

My opinion: BAM! Leslie Tentler knocks it out of the ballpark again!

Ms. Tentler, in her first indie published book, is the master in balancing romance with mystery in a book that I could recommend across multiple genres.

Her characters continue to be approachable, realistic and down to earth wrapped up in a well developed and complex storyline. I love that she always puts nice twists into her who dunnits that leaves me thinking that I didn't see that ending coming. Fallen is no different.

Source: Author for review

Would I recommend? : Ms. Tentler is a Sisterhood of the Traveling Book favorite author. Her books are recommended to our members on a regular basis to the point we have had to ask her replace worn copies.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone