Hurricane Hole

Romantic Sailing Mystery #2

by R.P. Dahlke

While anxiously awaiting confirmation on the renewal of her TV contract, Leila Hunter Standiford, opts for a sail on the boat she and her sister co -own in Mexico. But when she impetuously invites a family friend, and fugitive from justice, Gabe Alexander, as crew, she has no idea of the trouble that will follow. Now, at the end of her vacation in Puerto Felice, all she wants is to get Gabe off her boat.

Then a beautiful vintage Alden sails into the anchorage, and though she admires the boat, and the handsome captain, she doesn't realize the lovely yacht will soon burn to the water line, or that a dead body will be found below, or that the captain, who may or may not be the killer, might also be the man of her dreams.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Contemporary, Amazon

199 pages, ebook

Published October 12, 2013

About the author

I write the Dead Red Mystery series,
and a romantic sailing mystery trilogy starting with A Dangerous Harbor and now Hurricane Hole. I LOVE to hear from readers! e-mail me: rp@rpdahlke.com

Join my private monthly newsletter and get FREE stuff!
http://rpdahlke.com

or e-mail me: rp@rpdahlke.com

Reviews

[Nancy Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoy what RP Dahlke writes. This book was harder for me to follow than her Dead series books because it's heavily into sailing terminology and I know nothing of that world, but her characters make the extra reading effort worthwhile. RP is a master at creating engaging characters who get themselves in entertaining messes.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An Exciting High Action Suspense"

This story has more action and thrills than I expected. I could not put it down. While Hurricane Ursula is threatening the Sea of Cortez, Leila Hunter Standiford, a soap opera actress, is looking for some relaxation while her manager and TV moguls review and ponder on her contract. The family yacht, "Pilgrim" is moored in Ensenada in Baja California, 70 miles south of San Diego. She's under so much pressure and wonders if she has any career left now that she's an oldster of 38; her career just might be in jeopardy. She has a crew mate, Gabe Alexander, help sail the yacht further south to Puerto Felice, where it is then safely anchored. After a week or more, Gabe starts to feel like a leech and she wants him off the yacht, anywhere else. If need be, she is skilled to move "Pilgrim" into a marina and have it trucked back up to the states. But Gabe is stalling and becoming a freeloader. One afternoon a large classic sailing vessel arrives at the harbor and drops the hook and securely sets the anchor on the bottom. Obviously well captained by solo sailor, Ari Starns. As he motors past "Pilgrim" in his Zodiac, Leila notices how attractive he is. While Ari is ashore that evening his yacht bursts into flames, right down to the hull, when rains arrive to dampen the flames. Leila offers Ari a bunk and shower for the night, and in the morning Ari will help her find her dinghy which had been 'borrowed' by a fellow sailor during the chaos in the bay because of the fire. Gabe isn't thrilled with the idea ... he's apparently jealous, having to give up the settee to Ari and him relegated to the fore-deck on the hammock. Can Ari really have caused the fire on his own yacht? Who is found dead in the burned out cabin? The mystery begins ... and so does some romance, but will it be with Ari, or with Gabe? This is such an exciting story which I simply loved. It becomes very intense with high action continuing to the end which you'll rapidly want to reach. The plot development is excellent, story line potent and engaging, writing quality is superb and the pace vigorous. Highly recommend!

[Cheryl Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and how the story includes the environment--such as the water, the topography, the country, the hurricane, as well as the characters. I won't summarize the story as others do that; I will just say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. I read a lot of books, sometimes three a week, and tend to forget the stories. I haven't forgotten this one even though this review is written four weeks after I read the book. And, I like that the previous story in the series is mentioned--the two sisters' lives, loves, and careers. It gives you a chance to reflect on where the last one left off Also, it is nice to pick up a story and not have to remember the last one in order to enjoy it.

[J.L. Greger · Rating 5 out of 5]

TV star Leila Standiford is fleeing the paparazzi and waiting for a decision from a Hollywood studio when she sails into Puerto Felice, Mexico. And then the action explodes; there are sunken treasure ships, hidden identities, murders, fires, attempted and successful kidnappings, and an approaching hurricane.

Despite all the excitement, this is a book about mistakes in communications between men and women, parents and their children, and employers and staff. The flawed, interesting characters are complex and worth knowing, especially as they grow to face their challenges.

[Nicola McDonagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really have much to say about this book. Not because it is bad, but because it is what it is - an easy read and enjoyable thriller/humour/romance story. It is the second book in a trilogy and tells the story of a soap star actress who decides to go on vacation with her sister on a boat in Mexico…no. I don't need to go into any more detail since the story is told on the first page of the book. I have not read the first one, so I am not sure whether or not the two books link.

However, I was confused by the opening chapter, it's a weather and shipping forecast. Plus it is a very short and not a good way to begin a novel, in my opinion. I was puzzled as to why RP Dahlke, chose to start her book with something so boring. I was not engaged and would have not read any further as a reader. As a reviewer, I was bound to. I was glad that I did though, for as the story progressed I became interested in the characters and what would happen to them. This is thanks to the quality of the writing. I would suggest that the author makes chapter one more exciting and ditches the weather broadcast, so as to grab the reader's attention.

For the most part, characters are well described as are locations, and the plot is unveiled as the characters interact with events that occur. I liked the parrot more than the humans - it was sassy. Although I did think that Gabe was well described as a shallow and self-centred bloke. Leila too is shown as shallow, but as events occur they both develop satisfactorily.

There was overall, a nice nautical feel to the narrative and the dialogue was okay and believable for the most part. I did enjoy some of the physical descriptions, they really made me feel like I was there: "While a waning harvest moon drifted in and out of donut-shaped clouds, pirates, skeletons, and princesses crisscrossed the calm bay like colorful water bugs. Laughter rang out as the kids chanted, "Trick or treat!""

There are a few typos here and there, which RP Dahlke may want to fix, but not so much that it effects the enjoyment of the book. I didn't care too much for the long passages of exposition to get the backstory across for each character, this was particular noticeable with Gabe and Katy: "Leila laughed. "Well, at least Katy was in love. You, on the other hand, had it planned down to the last detail. You talked a naïve college girl out of her money and then threw her out of her own car so you could go it alone into Canada. It would've all been so terribly funny, except she was my little sister and you broke her heart.""

I prefer to see scenes rather than be told. Perhaps RP Dahlke could take a few of these long paragraphs of 'telling' and replace them with actual action scenes of memory, just to break it up a bit and keep the narrative flowing.
The plot takes a while to get going, and for me it really began when there is a fire on board the boat and a burnt body is found. Was it murder or just a failed robbery? Does the attractive stranger, Arri, that Leila is enamored with have something to do with it all? Has Gabe run out on her stealing a car in the process?

In general the plotline is good and the pace is lively. The characters slowly grew on me and I really got to like Gabe, even though at first he comes across as a selfish free loader, he actually turns out to be more than he appears. The main character, Leila is also engaging enough and she too ends up showing that she has more to offer than just looks.

All in all it is a fast paced yarn with mystery, murder and romance and although it wasn't my cup of tea, I liked the easy style and simple plotline. Also there was quite a lot of humour and a funny ending. If there hadn't have been then I would have stopped reading much earlier on. Definitely a book to take on holiday and read on the beach.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny skies, tropical waters, beautiful sailing vessels, sounds like paradise, doesn’t it? When a beautiful place for some R&R south of the Border becomes the site for murder, kidnappings and burning boats, the impending hurricane becomes the bitter icing on the gritty sand cake. Hurricane Hole by R. P. Dahlke is a romantic mystery filled with characters of all shapes and sizes and quirks, but somehow it all meshes together in a gloriously entertaining read that moves too fast and is too twisted to get boring!

Leila, a daytime soap opera actress, between contracts takes some time out to re-group. When her sister’s ex, a self-anointed ladies’ man comes along as her crew, the fugitive from justice and petty thief, Gabe, brings just the right amount of humor and bravado to this tale. Gabe was supposed to jump ship in Mexico, but he keeps coming back like a well-tossed boomerang, cramping Leila’s budding love life with the handsome and roguish looking Ari, whose boat has been mysteriously burned out and contains the charred of a local transvestite, handyman. The deeper these unlikely heroes dig into the activities around the island and the more they uncover about a sunken ship and its contents, the more likely it is that someone else will become food for the fishes. As the stakes grow even higher and time is running out to beat the impending hurricane, the race against time and the odds becomes an all-out sprint and the time for unveiling secrets has come, but will it matter if they are all killed? Only the heart can answer that.

R. P. Dahlke has a way with words! She is able to build her world, develop her characters in a uniquely entertaining way! She gives each one their own special flavor and charm, then turns them all loose, only to rein them in when the chips are down and sands of the hourglass are trickling out those last few grains! A little romance, a little humor, a lot of mystery, shady characters and it all adds up to a wonderful escape.


Series: Romantic Mystery Sailing Trilogy - Book 2
Publication Date: September 28, 2013
Publisher: Dead Bear Publishing
Genre: Adult Mystery/Romance
Number of Pages: 199
Available from: Amazon

[J.C. Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of author R.P. Dahlke’s books for quite some time now. I keep coming back for more because of her ability to create well-rounded, readable characters who are wonderfully and realistically flawed. Each one of them, the good guys and bad, have such interesting personalities that when I settle in to read a new novel, I am excited to learn more about the continuing characters and eager to be introduced to her new ones. I was rewarded with this newest novel which unsurprisingly boasts an engaging cast of personalities. There is lovely Leila, the soap actress who chooses to spend some time on her father’s sailboat while awaiting the outcome of her new contract, and the smart and sexy Ari who is postponing familial obligations and sorting out things from his past by rebuilding and sailing a beautiful vintage boat. There’s Gabe, who is tagging along with Leila and not quite sure himself whether he’s a loyal and trustworthy friend or a charming ladies’ man with a talent for pickpocketing, and the sweet, young boy named Teddy who has a heart of gold to go along with his adorable lisp. These are just a few of the characters that make up another of R.P. Dahlke’s memorable and remarkable tales.

The novels in the Pilgrim’s Progress series are sailing adventures and exciting mysteries that not only appeal to the reader’s inner sleuth but their desire for a beautiful atmosphere and a lively, colorful plot. It is obvious that Dahlke herself is a seasoned sailor. The terminology she uses intrigues those of us who are less knowledgeable about life on the water and thoroughly engaging for those who are. Puerto Felice, the Mexican town that is the setting for this novel, comes to life in the author’s narrative with its scary alleyways, sleazy bars and beautiful scenery.

Hurricane Hole is a well-crafted mystery with enough characters to keep a reader engaged but not overwhelmed, and a subtle humor that will keep a smile on your face throughout the book. There is romance and danger and a sweet and funny ending that left me very satisfied. In Hurricane Hole, R.P. Dahlke continues where she left off in A Dangerous Harbor. While either book can be read on its own, I highly recommend the pair of them.

The sound of waves against a hull, the smell of the sea, romance, mystery and humor all mixed in with a sprinkling of Spanish and a hurricane to boot. I simply can’t come up with anything that’s missing in this well told tale. If you enjoy a great read, you will definitely be satisfied with Hurricane Hole.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get set for a rollicking good yarn!

Leila Stanford, daytime “soap” actress, is awaiting the outcome of negotiations for renewal of her contract. She decides to take a sailing holiday on the boat belonging to her and sister, Kate. Leila’s mistake is to take family friend and fugitive from justice, the light-fingered Gabe Alexander along as crew, because now she can’t get rid of him! When they arrive at Puerto Felice, Leila tries to shed Gabe, but he is having none of it. After all, unless he can con someone or steal a fat wallet, he has nowhere else to stay but on the boat with Leila – and food.

Unbeknownst to them, a hurricane is bearing down on the harbour.
A gorgeous yacht sails into the harbour bringing with it mystery, death and the man–Leila hopes–of her dreams, captain Ari Sterns. That evening the yacht, “Pilgrim,” catches on fire. Leila gives Ari sanctuary on her boat, displacing Gabe who is wildly jealous, as he has to give up his bed–the settee– and sleep in the hammock on deck.

The children of a family whose boat is also moored in the harbour, go out trick or treating and are the witnesses to a the presence on the “Pilgrim” of a man, well known in the community, who is later found to have burned to death in the fire.

The mystery deepens with the machinations of a suspicious trio who are trying to get Ari to dive for them. The story is that a boat of theirs went down previously and they want their belongings back, but what are they really after?

This well-written and paced story is very easy to read and most enjoyable; the characters are likable and the ending is an absolute hoot!

Available only as an e-book, and excellent value at $2.99

***

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was not sure how it would go but after a couple of pages, it caught my interest and I could not stop reading it. It was sweet and had a good story behind it. The characters were easy to like, even Gabe who seemed to just be playing everyone and could easily have turned out to be a bad guy. But instead, he grew and changed and turned out to be a very good guy.

[L.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of this writer since I picked up her first book. I have to say, this was another enjoyable read with a good plot with lovable, realistic characters. This was a good read from start to finish and I was annoyed with the interruptions when my own life intruded, as I wanted to see how it ended.

Another good job!

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romantic mystery set in Mexico. Good character development, interesting chemistry, lots of twists and turns. A fun lazy afternoon read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells a simple love story but a more complex mystery.

[Charlyna Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurricane hole

I enjoyed reading this book and love all the action on the sea. This book is a romantic mystery with a little twist. I hope you enjoy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't keep me away.

Ya know how a movie starts a little slow but you keep watching.....well this will having you sitting on the edge of your chair at times. Being in Mexico must really be a difficult living experience. Between scorching hot summers, cold winters, and hurricanes I guess there is some beauty in between.

This story is second in this series, Katy has gone back to San Francisco to the PD and to her job. Leila has decided to take some time off and a little leisure time for herself and of course Gabe is along, ya know to help her out. Of course, things never go as you wanted do they?

Gabe is himself and throughout finds himself in deep water. It's Halloween and the kids all get dressed up for the occasion and have fun with parents taking them around to the docked boats for trick or treat. As the night comes to a close a huge fire burst out on one of the boats and it I involves a murder. The owner thankfully was not on board but comes to the docks to see it burning and it all begins from there. I am not meaning to leave you hanging but I want you to enjoy this book as much as I did. There us some romance here, some yucky scenes, and a lot of suspense. And, it doesn't turn out the way you may think.

Now, just be aware that there are a few words not correctly spaced and a couple of typos. That being said if you can overlook those this is a good book.

[Karel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurricane Hole

While the book was interesting, it was a bit confusing at times. Also the proofing reading, at times, was bad enough that it confused the reading. The characters were done well and the plot was full of adventure and romance. If you can look past the few flaws, I think you would enjoy the book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

PG 17 one sex scene, some language. Not a good title.

[Caro Lyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

DNF’d at 27%. Lots of drama, but the formatting was hard to read. The writing style needs some work. Not interesting enough to keep slogging.

[Bill & Lanier Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Fast paced, good twists & turns, loved the characters.

[Andi Houtsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is in association with The Review Board.

Somewhere I once read you should never open a book with weather unless you plan to make that weather an integral part of your plot, as if it was a character unto itself. So when Hurricane Hole opened with a passage about an impending hurricane I worried… for only a few seconds, until Dahlke’s writing came into full swing and swept me away with the tides.

The second in what appears to be a trilogy revolving around the main character of Leila Hunter Standiford, a soap opera star, and a score of other characters who move in and out of plots with fluid ease, Hurricane Hole reads as a true romantic mystery. While Hurricane Hole does not allow much time for introduction to the characters or refreshing the plot of the previous book it was easy to get caught up in the current happenings. Dahlke does a stand-out job in picking up characters from the previous story and continuing on with them in such a way that knowing exactly what happened in the first book becomes irrelevant. Dahlke brings Leila, Gabe, Ari and the host of other characters to life through a fast paced, intrigue and suspense-laden plot set in the faux-Mexican city of Puerto Felice.

It was all too easy to become ensconced in the writing. Dahlke has paid an admirable amount of attention to editing and the appearance of her text. Editing misses were miniscule allowing the story to shine through as it should. The dynamics between Leila and Gabe were at once amusing, endearing, and periodically exasperating; a perfectly sculpted complex relationship that comes across exactly as it is meant to. The budding and sensually charged romance between Leila and Ari provided a comfortable and much appreciated contrast, allowing an outsider’s look into Leila and Gabe’s relationship. Having never read the first book in the series I found Ari’s perspective and curiosity regarding Leila and Gabe’s shared past and relationship especially pertinent.

Dahlke has written a marvelous romantic mystery, leaving no element of the genre unexplored and no loose ends untied. The plot moves from one event to the next with precision writing and handling so that I never questioned the validity of any character’s involvement, motivations, personality or even existence within the story.

Even though this is the second in a trilogy of books, Hurricane Hole can and does stand on its own as a mystery novel unto itself, needing no bookends to support it. If you’re dropping into this series in the middle as I am, Dahlke gives you enough of a hook to make you wish you’d read the first and resolve to buy it and the third to provide what will surely be a masterful conclusion for a host of well-envisioned and written characters.

[Harmony Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review by Harmony Kent
On Behalf of The Review Board

HURRICANE HOLE
BY R.P. DAHLKE

Romantic Mystery

This is the second book in the Romantic Sailing Mystery series, yet works well as a standalone novel. I haven’t read the first book, and don’t feel that I missed anything vital to this story. Meet Leila Hunter Standiford, a famous actress whose career is on hold. Meet Gabe Alexander, a shady character from the past with a propensity for finding trouble. Leila makes the mistake of inviting him along on her sailing holiday, and has to anchor outside the safety of the main marina in Puerto Felice to avoid any questions about him from the local authorities. Then a stranger comes along: the handsome lone captain breezes into the anchorage on a beautiful, vintage Alden. Pretty soon, intrigue and danger abound. The lovely yacht burns to the water line, and then a dead body is found aboard the wreck. Is the gorgeous captain the killer or a victim? Leila finds herself drawn to Ari, the erstwhile captain of the destroyed boat. Is he the man of her dreams? Or her worst nightmare? On top of all this, a late season hurricane is bearing down on the small bay. Of this you can be sure: turbulent waters lay ahead.


The plot, pacing and character development were all done well, and I found this an enjoyable read. However, the prose is written predominantly in a passive style, which detracts from the engagement of the reading considerably. The author has also used split infinitives and comma splicing as the norm rather than the exception. There were a number of sentences with words missing, extra words, or that were clumsily written. Here is one example of a sentence that has been incompletely edited:
“Oh Gabe. I’m so glad. And please, let me say how I’m sorry I am that I ever doubted you.”
A little proof reading would have weeded out many such errors, as it would too with the numerous typos to be found throughout.

The Verdict:


The author shows great promise, and can spin a good yarn. If you enjoy romance, mysteries and reading about sailing, then you will more than likely enjoy this book. Unfortunately the lack of editing and proofreading lets the book down badly. In awarding 3 out of 5 stars, I am saying that I feel the book would be worth buying if you are able to overlook the mistakes, and simply enjoy the story.

[Casia Pickering · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would think from the blurb that this book is a romance, but really, it's not. It's more of an adventure/mystery that has romantic elements. Leila is an actress, vacationing in Mexico while she waits for her contract to be accepted. Gabe is her dead beat ex-brother in law who has a bad history with crime. And Leila's love interest is Ari, a cute diver with other issues.

The mystery is a hodge-podge of two things. There is the mystery of the Contessa, a woman whose boat sank during a hurricane. The mystery is that she wants something up from her sunken boat, but divers keep disappearing once they are in her employ. The next mystery is the death of a friend of Leila's, who happened to be on Ari's boat on the time (a stranger to Ari, mind you). And, of course, there is the romance between Ari and Leila.

Honestly, I only found the issue with the Contessa interesting. There was something about her that kept naggling and I wanted to explore that. I wish the author was able to delve into that as well as the romance a bit more. Though you do get answers and they are good answers, I just wish there was a bit more beef. However, I love a certain scene with Gabe having to go incognito (it's funny).

This book is a quick read with more excitement towards the end. It's a tad bit slow moving, but that doesn't take away from the story. I'm sure I would like it more if I read the first book in the trilogy before this one. I can't wait to see who the third book is about. I'm kind of hoping Gabe is in that one too. I'm liking Gabe.

[Cecile Sune · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leila Hunter Standiford, a beautiful soap opera actress, is on vacation sailing in Mexico with her friend Gabe Alexander. They have just arrived in Puerto Felice when a boat is destroyed in a fire, and a body is found below. Luckily, the ship’s handsome owner, Ari Starns, wasn’t on board. When Leila offers to help him, she soon discovers that he turns out to be the man who could boost her acting career. Meanwhile, an arms dealer is in town, and is looking for a diver to salvage the precious cargo of a shipwreck located in the Sea of Cortez before a hurricane hits the area. Things get complicated when a kidnapping occurs, and Leila and Ari fall for each other.

Hurricane Hole is the second book in the Romantic Mystery Sailing Trilogy. This is a fast paced mystery, but I thought parts of the story were a bit far-fetched. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I thought some of Gabe’s actions were a bit of a stretch, especially his fate at the end of the book. In addition, the fact that Leila and Ari were in the same Mexican town just when her agent called her about him was too coincidental. However, the story is entertaining, and keeps the reader on the edge of her/his seat. I certainly wanted to know how it would end.

To read the full review and participate in the giveaway, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).

[William Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is highly recommended. The plot is nicely complex, and the author develops characters a reader can love or detest. Leila Hunter Standiford, the television actress turned martial arts defender and rescuer, manages to change her goals from contract negotiations to concern for people she has just met. Ari Starros, diving expert with other hidden attributes, has a number of admirable traits. Gabe Alexander is kind of a guy in the middle who frustrates everyone, including the reader, as a result of his self-satisfied lifestyle coupled with occasional glimpses of an underlying conscience.
The characters come into interaction aboard watercraft off Puerto Felice in the Gulf of California. Burning yachts, fisticuffs, and gunshots spice up the hot Mexican atmosphere.
The antagonists are truly evil, and the reader will keep hoping, and urging, the good guys to get to the treasure ahead of the bad guys. And, of course, the hurricane.

[P Karr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurricane Hole is a nautical mystery, and if you are a habitual sailor who spends time on a yacht, you will feel right at home. Its Halloween but a late season hurricane is about to hit Baja California and the islands near the Western coast of Mexico. The impending storm is nothing compared to the chain of whirlwind events that are stirred up.

Read more at A Million Kindle Books

[LLona Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed to start with more sailing vocabulary than story, but once I got into it, the story floated up and turned into a great adventure with an interesting mix of characters,locations, and plot twists to send me back for the 1st and 3rd books in the series. I suspect if I had read Book-1 first, the soap-star character would have been more likable up front.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action packed story.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great author. Waiting for the next book.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy, adventurous book to read.

[Pernette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story but not as much as R.P. Dahlke's Dead Red series. Loved the location of the story and the characters. Plausible story.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel. I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley MA