Lauren K. Denton: Hurricane Season

By Kelly Bridgewater

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their desire for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for “just two weeks,” Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world—and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home as a single mom.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that will change her family’s future, even as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm and their hearts. Hurricane Season is the story of one family’s unconventional journey to healing—and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I read and enjoyed Lauren Denton's debut novel The Hideaway. It was a neat Women's Fiction novel with rich characterization and an unique setting. So I knew what I was getting into when reading her second book, Hurricane Season. A southern setting with interesting characters is what I expected from Denton, and she delivered.

The writing was clear and concise. I had no problem visualizing the setting and watching Betsy and Ty interact with each other and the little girls on their farm. The farm came to life and made for a rich setting for this story.

The characters of Jenna and Betsy were rich and literary in nature. Denton does a great job at bringing the character's deepest sorrows to life and allow me to understand their dilemma even though I haven't dealt with their exact issues. I could feel Betsy's struggle with wanting kids of her own. I could feel Jenna's desire to seek her artist outlet. I loved the struggle between Ty and Betsy as a married couple. Denton does a great job at inviting into their lives and their internal struggles.

The plot flowed well and kept me entertained. I had a hard time putting the novel down. I kept thinking the worst would happen with Jenna and Betsy. One of the two problems I had with the plot was the happy ending. Too easy for what the plot has been leading up to. My other problem was the idea of the symbolism of Hurricane Season. It also felt very anti-climatic of an idea. I think the whole hurricane thing should be more important to the novel instead of something coming in the background. Then 95 percent into the novel, it makes it appearance and then disappears.

Overall, Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton is a character rich novel filled with an interesting and heart-felt plot I really enjoyed. But the ending and the hurricane element left something to be desired. If you enjoyed Denton's debut novel, The Hideaway, then this book might be right up your aisle. Fans of Catherine West and Julie Cantrell, I believe, might enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars