Review: Nice balance of suspense, romance and faith
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 4, 2013
An author's note at the start of this Christian novel offers encouragement through faith to readers suffering trials and loss. The story continues that encouragement as the protagonist slowly overcomes all the losses in her life. Returning home after six years away, Vera has found her sister dying in the same hospital where her mother died before. But she also finds the man she almost married, still waiting for her, still offering support despite an earlier betrayal. Emotional conflicts ensue, comforting words vying with need until the mistakes of mis-communication can be rectified. Then, just as Vera's storms are calmed, more tragedies occur, and the fight to find a killer begins, before he or she can continue their killing spree.Vera's prayers are well-timed and well-rendered, making her a comfortably believable, non-preachy protagonist. She's well-read too, though she often wishes she "could recall the title or the author." I'm sure I'd like her if we met. Meanwhile, lots of historical and geographic detail center the story in time and place, while medical terminology and quickly resolved disasters bend that detailed reality into the TV world of rapid-fire resolution.Calm Before the Storm offers lots of drama, serious faith, exciting action and intriguing mystery, plus a pleasing romance, with an enjoyable and faithful resolution.Disclosure: I bought this quickly when I learned it was free, having long intended to read it.