Port of Refuge

Storm Ketchum Adventures #2

by Garrett Dennis

Welcome to PORT OF REFUGE - another light and quirky island mystery steeped in Outer Banks culture, from the author who took you to PORT STARBIRD.

Storm Ketchum, a damaged emigre to Hatteras Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks, generally prefers to stay close to home and mind his own business - but he unexpectedly finds himself entangled with a cult-like coven of modern-day Roanoke Island witches when a relative of his paramour meets an untimely end on church property.

Is the High Priestess of the Croatoan Covenant Church really in contact with the departed spirits of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island? Are the members of her church really from both this world and the next? Or is she just a con artist preying on gullible Wiccan acolytes - and is she a killer? A desire to provide closure for the family drives Ketch to once again call on his amateur sleuthing skills to conjure up answers to these and other questions, in the process risking the physical and spiritual well-being of both himself and the one he loves.

Join Ketch, his loyal dog Jack, and his Kinnakeet Boatyard friends as they embark on a bewitching new adventure in the picturesque Outer Banks, where intrigue continues to cast its spell on them all.

Genres: Mystery

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2015

Reviews

[Curly's Ramblings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second story with great character, plot, and storyline development. The story kept my interest the entire time with Ketch, Kari, and the gang as they get entangled into another mystery. The audio narrator did a fantastic job. This book can be read on its own but I'd recommend reading The books in order.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on the Audiobool. Port of Refuge was an enjoyable story with a steady pace. I like how the Author incorporates the history of the Outer Banks into his tale and since I have visited that area some things were familiar to me which made it all the more interesting. Bob Johnson's narration brought the characters to life and I was able to distinguish between them easily which I like. I will definitely be purchasing more of both Author and Narrators work in the future. I was given a free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous adventure is slipped into this one so that there are no serious gaps in understanding the characters or their bonding, and although the first one was good, this one is even better. The story line is different from most, the location is not ordinary either, and the characters certainly are. The publisher's blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers, but that can't begin to prepare you for all the suspense and laughs. Excellent read!
I have it in Whispersync, and I think that Bob Johnson does a fantastic audio interpretation.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Kindle Unlimited, have read 1 & 2, probably freebies from somewhere.

PORT STARBIRD: A Storm Ketchum Adventure (Storm Ketchum Adventures Book 1)
PORT OF REFUGE: A Storm Ketchum Adventure (Storm Ketchum Adventures Book 2)
THE PORT FEE: A Storm Ketchum Adventure (Storm Ketchum Adventures Book 3)
THE STORM KETCHUM ADVENTURES: Volumes 1 & 2
THE STORM KETCHUM ADVENTURES: Volumes 1-3

AN OLDE CHRISTMAS CAROL: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 1) - THE SAD BLUE BOAT: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 2) - CORA'S TREE: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 3)

[Angelique McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great writing!!!

Love this second book! The tale was once again well thought out and engaging! I am a real pagan witch and hesitant to read at first, but love when the bad or gals get their due! Thanks for a fun read!

[Lynda]

A very interesting plot, developed around very unique characters. The story moves along a good pace, and is over too quickly. If you like tales with lots of interesting tidbits of information in them you'll love this collection. A great way to pass the time.

[Julia Dawn Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a trip this book was!

Reading this book was a trip into spying, grave robbing and everything in between. Pets were treated humanely and not hurt in this tale.

[Don Childrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this second book about Ketch, Kari, and their ragtag gang of friends. Being familiar with the Outer Banks setting and the main characters made this a fast, fun read. Port of Refuge can stand alone, but reading Port Starbird first adds a lot to the experience. Looking forward to more from Mr. Dennis!

[Susana Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I was disappointed with the change in the narration. I liked the one from the first book and would like it to remain the same though out the series as the story is told in the first person. This new narrator is ok, but it take a bit for us to get familiar with his narration style. His singing skills are also not as good.
Anyway, put that aside, this time the story gets a horror theme that I liked a lot with Ketchum getting himself involved in a cult. We all know how scary these can be and this one is really, really scary. Again, I really could see this being a true story.
The characters pool and relation are getting a bit bigger too. I'm really looking forward for the next adventure!
This stories and short tales, are more fun if read in order, because of the long run story, but the spoilers are not that big, so I would not be afraid to read them as standalones, if you wish.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm and Kari have their relationship tested as Kari's aunt is murdered by a Wiccan church. Ketch meets Kari's mother, Pauline and other new characters as he is drawn into a dangerous investigation. I read the book out of order, so I had a reasonable suspicion about the story. Nonetheless it was exciting and entertaining from start to finish. A few new threads turn up as Strom has his insurance claim denied on his home destroyed in the hurricane, and he discovers he has a grandson he didn't know about that is now orphaned. As in the other books, the islands of the Outer Banks are the main feature of the narrative as Storm turns to the natural beauty of the area to keep his head on straight. The story is very imaginative and unusual. This is a great book.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Port of Refuge (Storm Ketchum Adventures Book 2) is my fifth read from author Garrett Dennis. I've been buying Garrett Dennis books as far back as July of 2014 & never got around to reading one until An Olde Christmas Carol followed immediately by The Sad Blue Boat. Now that I've read 5 Storm Ketchum books I'll be looking to read more & since I own several more that will be no problem. Up next is Dixie Island: A Storm Ketchum Tale (Storm Ketchum Tales Book 4)! I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Virna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from the author to review this audiobook,
This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoy it. Well written, nice characters, with a complicated plot. a little slow and long for my like. There is action and adventure in this novel, toss in a murder, and a mystery for more excitement!. I like the way it unraveled and with a nice narration.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm Ketchum is an interesting main character and his judgement leads him into a series of entertaining and unusual adventures. They include getting himself captured by a "church" based on witchcraft and crime as he tries to help his his girlfriend's mother investigate the death of her aunt. It is a rollicking funny story that will keep you entertained.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ketch is awesome

What a fun read. I share a love of the outer banks, so the setting is perfect. Also do some boating, but not too much of that here. Great storyline with the Wiccans. The touch of romance rounds it out nicely. Good relaxing reading.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very exciting tale of the wanna be private eye, with cases seemingly falling in his lap!

[I-Wa · Rating 2 out of 5]

To many unbelievable situations. Plus, jumping from grave robbing and organ harvesting to stopping for a sandwich. The only redeeming factor in the book is the details about the outer banks

[Kitty_ranma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio version.
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 2 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Fun, exciting book.
It strikes me that there doesn't seem to be a explanation for the stars that are given. So I thought I'd start giving my take on it.
1 horrible no redeeming qualities. So far I've never given a 1.
2 blah but there are redeeming qualities.
3 ok worth reading.
4 great but there's something off.
5 loved it.

So now about this story. It took me awhile to get through this, (See what I had to say about narrator). This is the first book I've Listened/read, by Garrett Dennis but it won't be the last. It is a little confusing as it refers to the previous book many times. I can't wait for more of this series, I want to say more about this story but I absolutely hate spoilers, so I won't do it to you by going into details.
Now about the narrator... I'm afraid he put me to sleep many times. I couldn't listen for more than about 20 minutes or so without nodding off. A nice voice but too soothing.
Reasons I enjoyed this audio book:
Witty, Romantic, Wonderful characters, Great world building, Unpredictable, original, Entertaining, Action-packed, Twisted, Funny.
Bookshelves/tags:
adult, angst, contemporary, humorous, mystery, romance, series, suspense
This Audiobook was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.

[FangirlNation · Rating 1 out of 5]

Port of Refuge by Garrett Dennis picks up where Port Starbird left off, as Storm Ketchum works to recover from a hurricane that set his house adrift. Deciding to buy a houseboat, he sets up  home along with his girlfriend Kari, back in the small fishing town of Avon, North Carolina. Soon after their move, Kari gets word that her great-aunt has passed away after joining a Wiccan group. The funeral strikes Ketch as strange, especially since the group seemed to have spiked the punch with drugs and knew they were piping in something foreign through the air vents. When the family learns that the aunt has left all her estate to what is looking increasingly like a non-Wiccan cult, Ketch decides to investigate further by planting a video bug in the church to record and watch their autumnal equinox ceremony.

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