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Hurricane Kiss
For sixteen-year-old Jillian McKay, the threat of Hurricane Danielle means a long car ride with her neighbors--including River Daughtry, the former star quarterback of Harrison High. The guy who was headed to glory until suddenly he disappeared to a West Texas juvenile detention center. Once cocky and flirtatious, he's now silent and angry. When their evacuation route is gridlocked, River is the first to recognize the danger they're in. Together he and Jillian set out to seek shelter in their abandoned high school. As they wait out the storm, they confront the past and realize survival is about more than just staying alive--it's about fighting for yourself.
Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 2016
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About the author
Deborah Blumenthal
41 books142 followersDeborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who now divides her time between writing children's books and adult novels. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue.
Blumenthal lives in New York City.
Blumenthal lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 2, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company and NetGalley.)
This was a YA story about a girl, a hurricane, and the boy next door.
Jillian was an okay character, although it took me a while to warm to her, I don’t know why. I did like River, although it was pretty obvious that the reasons behind his stay in juvie were going to turn out to be bogus.
The storyline in this was about Jillian and River running from a hurricane, and taking shelter at their school to try and stay safe. They had lots of chats and we found out the mystery behind River’s stay at juvie, and how Jill really felt about her boyfriend, and we did get a bit of romance too, and a little bit of action. The pace was quite slow though, and the book did drag a bit in places.
The ending to this was okay, although there were some casualties of the hurricane.
6.5 out of 10
“You don’t have to be Einstein to know if we stay here we’ll be buried. This is a death trap.”
This was a YA story about a girl, a hurricane, and the boy next door.
Jillian was an okay character, although it took me a while to warm to her, I don’t know why. I did like River, although it was pretty obvious that the reasons behind his stay in juvie were going to turn out to be bogus.
The storyline in this was about Jillian and River running from a hurricane, and taking shelter at their school to try and stay safe. They had lots of chats and we found out the mystery behind River’s stay at juvie, and how Jill really felt about her boyfriend, and we did get a bit of romance too, and a little bit of action. The pace was quite slow though, and the book did drag a bit in places.
The ending to this was okay, although there were some casualties of the hurricane.
6.5 out of 10
April 21, 2016
I really hated this book. I hated the characters and every single choice they made and every thought they had. They were just so dumb. I found the guy horrendously unattractive. The girl sucked because she was just as dumb and crazy as he was, and she didn't even have an excuse.
The plot was surprisingly boring and strange, given that I was expecting a cool survival story. Instead I got two idiots bumbling around in a hurricane, running outside to yell at the storm, calling it a bitch, and basically playing musical chairs with different flooding first floor rooms that they kept shutting themselves inside. I was actually rooting for them not to survive by the end because they were so dumb and annoying. The plot could have been really cool - we could have seen two teens be crafty and smart in their survival techniques, but it was like they were trying to die.
Ayy just what was this book? What were theses characters? And what was this plot? Just no. If it wasn't so short I wouldn't have finished it, but I was bored and figured it couldn't get worse if I kept reading. But I was wrong. I wish I could get those three hours back. Also the cover and title are misleading - there was only one lame kiss at the very end, and I didn't even want it to happen by that point.
The plot was surprisingly boring and strange, given that I was expecting a cool survival story. Instead I got two idiots bumbling around in a hurricane, running outside to yell at the storm, calling it a bitch, and basically playing musical chairs with different flooding first floor rooms that they kept shutting themselves inside. I was actually rooting for them not to survive by the end because they were so dumb and annoying. The plot could have been really cool - we could have seen two teens be crafty and smart in their survival techniques, but it was like they were trying to die.
Ayy just what was this book? What were theses characters? And what was this plot? Just no. If it wasn't so short I wouldn't have finished it, but I was bored and figured it couldn't get worse if I kept reading. But I was wrong. I wish I could get those three hours back. Also the cover and title are misleading - there was only one lame kiss at the very end, and I didn't even want it to happen by that point.
February 25, 2016
I couldn't really relate to either of thew characters or their actions.
Jillian's whole POV was basically repeated questions and blaming herself for everything.
And River was the typical broken boy who wouldn't open up until the last ten pages.
I couldn't understand why they continuously kept running outside and all around during a hurricane whenever there was a noise. :/
Not my cup of tea is all
Jillian's whole POV was basically repeated questions and blaming herself for everything.
And River was the typical broken boy who wouldn't open up until the last ten pages.
I couldn't understand why they continuously kept running outside and all around during a hurricane whenever there was a noise. :/
Not my cup of tea is all
February 25, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
The characters in this were okay, but there were times when I wondered where their common sense was.
Parts of this bored me, but the majority of it was alright.
Overall, An okay read.
The characters in this were okay, but there were times when I wondered where their common sense was.
Parts of this bored me, but the majority of it was alright.
Overall, An okay read.
March 14, 2016
Wow. I can't really say much else. Everything was just too way over the top and unrealistic for my liking. I felt like some was done for shock value but all it did was make me giggle and roll my eyes. This book was definitely not for me. On the plus it is a fast read.
March 25, 2016
Dear Readers,
Hurricane Kiss is closer to my heart than any of my other books.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, I was living a few hours away in Houston. Only weeks later, another monster storm — Hurricane Rita — would send me fleeing. But the highway out was gridlocked. I had to decide: stay put — or head back into the storm.
Hurricane Kiss was inspired by my story. Jillian and River depend on each other to survive, and their harrowing ordeal brings their darkest secrets, and passions, to light.
I hope you enjoy it.
DB
Hurricane Kiss is closer to my heart than any of my other books.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, I was living a few hours away in Houston. Only weeks later, another monster storm — Hurricane Rita — would send me fleeing. But the highway out was gridlocked. I had to decide: stay put — or head back into the storm.
Hurricane Kiss was inspired by my story. Jillian and River depend on each other to survive, and their harrowing ordeal brings their darkest secrets, and passions, to light.
I hope you enjoy it.
DB
April 30, 2016
* I received this book as a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Oh boy. I usually love a good contemporary romance. Characters you fall in love with who you want to be your best friends falling for each other against the odds and figuring out who they are in the world as individuals and together...it's totally my thing. But this book was totally not my thing.
Now the setting is great: Houston, Texas with the threat of a category five hurricane headed its way. In nearly landlocked Indiana (hey we've got some Lake Michigan coast) hurricanes are not a weather threat I'm well versed in. However, I was a senior in high school when Hurricane Katrina forever changed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Nearly a year later, the summer after graduation and before college, I went to Louisiana with a church group to muck and repair roofs on homes. I had never experienced devastation of that magnitude. Whole neighborhoods abandoned like ghost towns. Trash (which really wasn't trash, but remnants of entire lives) everywhere. Even a shrimp boat resting in the middle of a residential street. Maybe it was remembering my time there working after the storm that piqued my interest in this title. Maybe I wanted a good story of two teens surviving and finding love in the process. In this case, what I wanted and what I got were very different, and unpleasantly so.
I just didn't like River or Jillian. Sure, they both had endured hardships that could have made them reliable: loss of parents, pressures from coaches, being wrongfully accused...but they just felt flat to me. I found River to be more creepy than romantic (creepiness had nothing to do with his PTSD from being in juvie). I mean the spring before the hurricane, he hid a field to catch her off guard when they were playing Frisbee because he, "wanted to kiss her before she could think about what was happening." WHAT?! And he knew she had a boyfriend but didn't care because "she was hot and I wanted her." SERIOUSLY??? EW!! That's not romantic. It's stalker-ish and rude and disrespectful.
Not that Jillian is any better. When they seek refuge together in their high school to ride out the storm, she's still with her boyfriend, yet makes out with River. Like a lot. Okay, maybe I'll cut her some slack that she was realizing that she didn't feel the same way for Aiden as he did about her and she and River had that "we could die at any second" mentality, but still. My yuck factor with Jillian was why she started dating Aiden in the first place. She let him cheat off of her in math class because, "It wasn't like he was studying to be a brain surgeon." (p. 139) Girl. No. Cheating is bad, mmmkay? And helping a boy cheat because he's not particularly bright but is a cute basketball player? Double and triple no! How does that help him? Or her?
This book has some redemption in more of the broad topics it hit even if the main characters weren't the best. Blumenthal hits on the corruption in our criminal justice system in relation to private prisons, PTSD, learning to rebuild and trust after live hands you a whole mess lemons, and giving faces to natural disaster survivors and victims. I feel like this book could have been a lot better if the characters had been more developed.
For me, this was less "love at category five" (p. 241) and more love at category what just happened here? If you're looking for a great contemporary romance where life throws a mess of things at the characters and they still come out on top, check out anything by Katie McGarry or Sarah Dessen.
Oh boy. I usually love a good contemporary romance. Characters you fall in love with who you want to be your best friends falling for each other against the odds and figuring out who they are in the world as individuals and together...it's totally my thing. But this book was totally not my thing.
Now the setting is great: Houston, Texas with the threat of a category five hurricane headed its way. In nearly landlocked Indiana (hey we've got some Lake Michigan coast) hurricanes are not a weather threat I'm well versed in. However, I was a senior in high school when Hurricane Katrina forever changed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Nearly a year later, the summer after graduation and before college, I went to Louisiana with a church group to muck and repair roofs on homes. I had never experienced devastation of that magnitude. Whole neighborhoods abandoned like ghost towns. Trash (which really wasn't trash, but remnants of entire lives) everywhere. Even a shrimp boat resting in the middle of a residential street. Maybe it was remembering my time there working after the storm that piqued my interest in this title. Maybe I wanted a good story of two teens surviving and finding love in the process. In this case, what I wanted and what I got were very different, and unpleasantly so.
I just didn't like River or Jillian. Sure, they both had endured hardships that could have made them reliable: loss of parents, pressures from coaches, being wrongfully accused...but they just felt flat to me. I found River to be more creepy than romantic (creepiness had nothing to do with his PTSD from being in juvie). I mean the spring before the hurricane, he hid a field to catch her off guard when they were playing Frisbee because he, "wanted to kiss her before she could think about what was happening." WHAT?! And he knew she had a boyfriend but didn't care because "she was hot and I wanted her." SERIOUSLY??? EW!! That's not romantic. It's stalker-ish and rude and disrespectful.
Not that Jillian is any better. When they seek refuge together in their high school to ride out the storm, she's still with her boyfriend, yet makes out with River. Like a lot. Okay, maybe I'll cut her some slack that she was realizing that she didn't feel the same way for Aiden as he did about her and she and River had that "we could die at any second" mentality, but still. My yuck factor with Jillian was why she started dating Aiden in the first place. She let him cheat off of her in math class because, "It wasn't like he was studying to be a brain surgeon." (p. 139) Girl. No. Cheating is bad, mmmkay? And helping a boy cheat because he's not particularly bright but is a cute basketball player? Double and triple no! How does that help him? Or her?
This book has some redemption in more of the broad topics it hit even if the main characters weren't the best. Blumenthal hits on the corruption in our criminal justice system in relation to private prisons, PTSD, learning to rebuild and trust after live hands you a whole mess lemons, and giving faces to natural disaster survivors and victims. I feel like this book could have been a lot better if the characters had been more developed.
For me, this was less "love at category five" (p. 241) and more love at category what just happened here? If you're looking for a great contemporary romance where life throws a mess of things at the characters and they still come out on top, check out anything by Katie McGarry or Sarah Dessen.
December 26, 2016
Hurricane Danielle is on the way and people need to be evacuated. Jillian is among the people who are trying to get away to a safer place. She has to accept a car ride with her neighbors because her mother has to be elsewhere and can't leave the area. This means she has to be in the car with River who used to be a promising football player at her high school. He was looking at a bright future until several months in a juvenile detention center ended that dream. He liked to have fun and was flirty and confident, but his time in prison has changed him. He's angry and reckless plus he doesn't like to talk. It's going to be a difficult drive for Jillian.
When traffic is stuck there's nowhere to go. River knows they will be in danger if they stay on the highway. There's no chance they will reach their destination in time and Dannielle is coming closer. He takes a brave and bold decision, instead of getting away from the storm he tries to run right back into it. Jillian has only got a few minutes to make up her mind, will she go with him and try to look for shelter or will she stay waiting for the traffic to clear up, even though that means she would risk being trapped with thousands of other people on the highway?
Hurricane Kiss is a thrilling read about two people who used to like each other very much. When River's football career ended before it properly started he stopped reaching out to anyone, including his neighbor Jillian. She wants to understand him, to know what happened. The extreme weather conditions and not knowing if they will survive brings them closer. I loved the way Deborah Blumenthal describes the fear of the main characters, but also the adrenaline rush that comes with having to survive a dangerous situation.
Hurricane Kiss put me on the edge of my seat, it's such a gripping read. River and Jillian are in an unsafe situation that can end badly any minute, but they still don't forget to notice there's beauty in it at the same time. River's destructive behavior and his reluctance to talk together with his obvious traumas made the story even more interesting. Deborah Blumenthal has written a book that's filled with contrasts and opposites. I liked that choice, it works really well. Hurricane Kiss is more than just a convergence of scary scenes, it has a sensitive and romantic part too and eventually everything comes together really well in a fitting ending. I absolutely loved this strong, emotional and powerful story.
When traffic is stuck there's nowhere to go. River knows they will be in danger if they stay on the highway. There's no chance they will reach their destination in time and Dannielle is coming closer. He takes a brave and bold decision, instead of getting away from the storm he tries to run right back into it. Jillian has only got a few minutes to make up her mind, will she go with him and try to look for shelter or will she stay waiting for the traffic to clear up, even though that means she would risk being trapped with thousands of other people on the highway?
Hurricane Kiss is a thrilling read about two people who used to like each other very much. When River's football career ended before it properly started he stopped reaching out to anyone, including his neighbor Jillian. She wants to understand him, to know what happened. The extreme weather conditions and not knowing if they will survive brings them closer. I loved the way Deborah Blumenthal describes the fear of the main characters, but also the adrenaline rush that comes with having to survive a dangerous situation.
Hurricane Kiss put me on the edge of my seat, it's such a gripping read. River and Jillian are in an unsafe situation that can end badly any minute, but they still don't forget to notice there's beauty in it at the same time. River's destructive behavior and his reluctance to talk together with his obvious traumas made the story even more interesting. Deborah Blumenthal has written a book that's filled with contrasts and opposites. I liked that choice, it works really well. Hurricane Kiss is more than just a convergence of scary scenes, it has a sensitive and romantic part too and eventually everything comes together really well in a fitting ending. I absolutely loved this strong, emotional and powerful story.
February 21, 2017
I received this free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
For some reason, I really like novels about natural disasters. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to go through one. But reading about them gives me a doomed feeling, a feeling of survival that is better than any adrenaline story. I think because it's something that can really happen and impact everyone involved.
So I really enjoyed the Hurricane Danielle aspect of this novel.
But I didn't really like the characters of the story all too well... I understand River's issues - I mean a person of authority shouldn't treat students they way this person did and River was really messed up from it. I'm glad things got resolved in that aspect and I shouldn't judge him too harshly, but running outside MULTIPLE times during the storm is insane and he needed to stay inside and safe.
And Jillian is so indecisive. First it was what she was feeling for River even though she is with Aidan. And she did a last minute decision on whether she should follow River or stay put with his father. Jillian needs to make decisions for herself rather than what is best for others. I think she came to that personality by the end of the novel.
So this was a good book. It could have been better, but I've read worse so it's in the middle for me. I'm glad I read an early copy of it and I think a lot of readers will enjoy the storyline.
I also liked that this was based on a true life story...Made it even more eerie!
For some reason, I really like novels about natural disasters. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to go through one. But reading about them gives me a doomed feeling, a feeling of survival that is better than any adrenaline story. I think because it's something that can really happen and impact everyone involved.
So I really enjoyed the Hurricane Danielle aspect of this novel.
But I didn't really like the characters of the story all too well... I understand River's issues - I mean a person of authority shouldn't treat students they way this person did and River was really messed up from it. I'm glad things got resolved in that aspect and I shouldn't judge him too harshly, but running outside MULTIPLE times during the storm is insane and he needed to stay inside and safe.
And Jillian is so indecisive. First it was what she was feeling for River even though she is with Aidan. And she did a last minute decision on whether she should follow River or stay put with his father. Jillian needs to make decisions for herself rather than what is best for others. I think she came to that personality by the end of the novel.
So this was a good book. It could have been better, but I've read worse so it's in the middle for me. I'm glad I read an early copy of it and I think a lot of readers will enjoy the storyline.
I also liked that this was based on a true life story...Made it even more eerie!
June 17, 2016
I received an eARC for review. Thank you!
This is about just what it says it it. A girl, a guy, and a hurricane. I liked this book a lot. It's told with a lot of flashbacks and it's told from the two points of view. I love disaster romances! I like the drama that the hurricane brings.
My problems were: The formatting on the eBook was off. I'm sure this is fixed, but it was a bit difficult to read.
I didn't like how Jillian kept racing after River into danger like a complete idiot. A little common sense please. Honestly, Jillian, as a character, was a bit annoying.
Overall, a fun read.
This is about just what it says it it. A girl, a guy, and a hurricane. I liked this book a lot. It's told with a lot of flashbacks and it's told from the two points of view. I love disaster romances! I like the drama that the hurricane brings.
My problems were: The formatting on the eBook was off. I'm sure this is fixed, but it was a bit difficult to read.
I didn't like how Jillian kept racing after River into danger like a complete idiot. A little common sense please. Honestly, Jillian, as a character, was a bit annoying.
Overall, a fun read.
December 6, 2015
The cover does not do this book a service - it makes it look like any ordinary romance. This books is so much more :)
December 10, 2015
Absolutely loved it. I couldn't put this down. Heartbreaking story mixed with thrilling survival. Jillian and River make a great couple.
March 23, 2016
Review to come...
December 5, 2021
Hurricane Kiss was a fast paced book about Hurricane Danielle, a category 5 storm headed straight for Houston, TX. The book is not very long so I knew things were going to have to progress quickly for the story to take shape.
Since I live in California, I can relate to earthquakes. Hurricanes are a whole different beast so this book had a completely different element that intrigued me. I grew up in the Midwest and I remember our tornado drills in elementary school. A hurricane seems exceptionally terrifying! Deborah Blumenthal painted a truly believable picture of surviving a frightening hurricane, at least for someone who has never experienced anything like it. Here we have two teenagers who escape from a gridlocked freeway and flee to their high school to try and ride out the hurricane. They both have a strong survival instinct and an unexplored attraction between them, which made Part 2 of the book exceptionally hard to put down.
I had to warm up to Jillian's character a bit before I could decide if I liked her or not. She starts out being very indecisive and the author makes a huge deal about it. However, once she and River are holed up in the high school, her indecision seems to be a non-issue. I did appreciate Jillian's willingness to truly listen to River about what had happened to him and try to help him sort out his problems.
River had me from the start. His brooding and pain was palpable and I was anxious to find out what had brought about that pain and suffering in such a young man. Even with all that he had been through, he still wanted to try and save both his father and Jillian...although he wasn't willing to stick around and sacrifice himself. I didn't understand him getting so angry and physical with Jillian while they were running back to the school, and that was never really explained later in the book.
Jillian and River's attraction was clearly evident and I'm glad it was slowly built up as they were trapped in the school. They made some stupid choices regarding going outside during the bad weather, but they are teenagers who don't always make the best decisions, so I was willing to forgive that. I do think they should have tried to break in to the nurse's office given the injuries both of them sustained during the storm.
My favorite part of the book was the fact that they were able to clear River's name, at least as much as possible considering the circumstances. And those who survived seemed to be on the road to recovering from the horrible things that had happened to them. But I'll admit, I did shed a few tears for those that died.
I really enjoyed Hurricane Kiss and I recommend it for those looking for a quick read. This is not a fluff book though. It's gonna tug on your heartstrings.
Since I live in California, I can relate to earthquakes. Hurricanes are a whole different beast so this book had a completely different element that intrigued me. I grew up in the Midwest and I remember our tornado drills in elementary school. A hurricane seems exceptionally terrifying! Deborah Blumenthal painted a truly believable picture of surviving a frightening hurricane, at least for someone who has never experienced anything like it. Here we have two teenagers who escape from a gridlocked freeway and flee to their high school to try and ride out the hurricane. They both have a strong survival instinct and an unexplored attraction between them, which made Part 2 of the book exceptionally hard to put down.
I had to warm up to Jillian's character a bit before I could decide if I liked her or not. She starts out being very indecisive and the author makes a huge deal about it. However, once she and River are holed up in the high school, her indecision seems to be a non-issue. I did appreciate Jillian's willingness to truly listen to River about what had happened to him and try to help him sort out his problems.
River had me from the start. His brooding and pain was palpable and I was anxious to find out what had brought about that pain and suffering in such a young man. Even with all that he had been through, he still wanted to try and save both his father and Jillian...although he wasn't willing to stick around and sacrifice himself. I didn't understand him getting so angry and physical with Jillian while they were running back to the school, and that was never really explained later in the book.
Jillian and River's attraction was clearly evident and I'm glad it was slowly built up as they were trapped in the school. They made some stupid choices regarding going outside during the bad weather, but they are teenagers who don't always make the best decisions, so I was willing to forgive that. I do think they should have tried to break in to the nurse's office given the injuries both of them sustained during the storm.
My favorite part of the book was the fact that they were able to clear River's name, at least as much as possible considering the circumstances. And those who survived seemed to be on the road to recovering from the horrible things that had happened to them. But I'll admit, I did shed a few tears for those that died.
I really enjoyed Hurricane Kiss and I recommend it for those looking for a quick read. This is not a fluff book though. It's gonna tug on your heartstrings.
April 17, 2020
Definitely not the best book ever written, but I did enjoy it. I think this was a good book for me to start the Stay Home Reading Rush because it was short and I feel accomplished finishing my first book.
I enjoyed seeing River and Jillian's relationship grow and their secrets revealed to one another. I will agree with other reviewers that I didn't understand why the two of them always ran outside (during a hurricane, no less) whenever they heard a noise. I also think this book does a lot more of telling and not showing. A lot of the secrets that are revealed are told in dialogue with one another. Some of the secrets are revealed in flashbacks, but I prefer flashbacks because they put me into the mind of the character.
Definitely not a book to read if you care about the plot. This was more of a character-driven story. Not much happens in regards to the plot. For the majority of the book, they just have conversations and just ask each other a bunch of questions while there is a wall of romantic tension between the two. I did think that the tension between the characters was well displayed; I think the dual perspective helped in that. But after a time, it was a bit frustrating, especially from Jillian's perspective because she blamed herself for some events and doesn't think that River likes her when it is made pretty clear at points that he does.
I did relate to Jillian a bit but I also found her annoying in that she was always asking River probing questions when he seemed he didn't want to talk.
Overall, just an okay read.
I enjoyed seeing River and Jillian's relationship grow and their secrets revealed to one another. I will agree with other reviewers that I didn't understand why the two of them always ran outside (during a hurricane, no less) whenever they heard a noise. I also think this book does a lot more of telling and not showing. A lot of the secrets that are revealed are told in dialogue with one another. Some of the secrets are revealed in flashbacks, but I prefer flashbacks because they put me into the mind of the character.
Definitely not a book to read if you care about the plot. This was more of a character-driven story. Not much happens in regards to the plot. For the majority of the book, they just have conversations and just ask each other a bunch of questions while there is a wall of romantic tension between the two. I did think that the tension between the characters was well displayed; I think the dual perspective helped in that. But after a time, it was a bit frustrating, especially from Jillian's perspective because she blamed herself for some events and doesn't think that River likes her when it is made pretty clear at points that he does.
I did relate to Jillian a bit but I also found her annoying in that she was always asking River probing questions when he seemed he didn't want to talk.
Overall, just an okay read.
December 4, 2019
Huge spoilers ahead!!!
This book...ugh. It had so much potential. Two people caught in a hurricane-one a good, down to earth girl, the other a sexy bad boy. Clearly there will be tons of romantic tension, and lots of action...yeah, that's not what happened. River, the Male lead, was a huge douche who did nothing but feel sorry for himself throughout the entire book, never taking any steps to right the wrongs done to him. He spends the majority of the book whining. Jillian was a strong, smart protagonist, but the fact that she fell for River's crap took away from all this. She had a decent boyfriend, and it's cool that she wasn't in love with him, but I felt Aidan got a raw deal. He did nothing wrong, yet he was made to be a villain.
As for the hurricane part...it was well done, yet anticlimactic. No one dies. Nothing happens. Overall, it kept my attention, but mostly because I was hoping something would happen.
To sum things up, Hurricane Kiss wasn't a terrible book, but it's not a great book either. I probably wouldn't recommend it to my friends.
This book...ugh. It had so much potential. Two people caught in a hurricane-one a good, down to earth girl, the other a sexy bad boy. Clearly there will be tons of romantic tension, and lots of action...yeah, that's not what happened. River, the Male lead, was a huge douche who did nothing but feel sorry for himself throughout the entire book, never taking any steps to right the wrongs done to him. He spends the majority of the book whining. Jillian was a strong, smart protagonist, but the fact that she fell for River's crap took away from all this. She had a decent boyfriend, and it's cool that she wasn't in love with him, but I felt Aidan got a raw deal. He did nothing wrong, yet he was made to be a villain.
As for the hurricane part...it was well done, yet anticlimactic. No one dies. Nothing happens. Overall, it kept my attention, but mostly because I was hoping something would happen.
To sum things up, Hurricane Kiss wasn't a terrible book, but it's not a great book either. I probably wouldn't recommend it to my friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
The cover of this book makes it look like just another romance but it is much better than that. Jillian and her next door neighbor, River are trying to flee a hurricane when they take shelter in their high school. There is a little history between them, even though Jillian has been seeing someone else. River had been expelled from the school and served time in Juvie prison. There are two lines of suspense in the story. One is the the violent, raging hurricane. The other is the mystery of why River was expelled which we and Jillian don't find out until the end. It is a gripping story and the pages practically turn themselves.
December 23, 2025
I don’t think she knows how to convey the passing of time in words. River would leave and the very next line would be “what was taking River so long?” What?? He literally just left..?
I could not for the life of me make heads or tails of the school layout. Was it dark, was it bright, how did the auditorium open up to the outside when it sounded like they came in from the main doors connected to the school? And what was with those mats? I thought I knew what she was talking about but then they would sit on them even though the water was up to their thighs. Did they float?? Like a raft??
I could not for the life of me make heads or tails of the school layout. Was it dark, was it bright, how did the auditorium open up to the outside when it sounded like they came in from the main doors connected to the school? And what was with those mats? I thought I knew what she was talking about but then they would sit on them even though the water was up to their thighs. Did they float?? Like a raft??
May 2, 2019
I am usually not into any romance type of books, but this book was captivating and exciting! I enjoyed reading Jillian's experiences through the hurricane. It turned out to be an interesting and good storyline.
February 1, 2022
Excellent book
March 10, 2025
It was ok
January 6, 2017
Kind of terrible writing. :-(
August 17, 2016
Oh how I wanted to love Hurricane Kiss. I don’t know what it was about this book but I was really drawn to it (despite the embarrassing cover). I figured this would be a quick, fun read with some good secrets and romance. It was quick but that was about all I got right about this one.
Pros:
Pacing: Let’s be real here; the only good thing about Hurricane Kiss was that it didn’t take long to read. It was slow to start but once I got about 40 pages in, things took off. It’s pretty clear from the summary what you’re getting into as far as the hurricane and the survival part of the story. I will admit that I was so not impressed with the time spent in the car trying to get out of Houston but once River and Jillian took off on their own, things really started to move. Survival stories always intrigue me while also creeping me out. Hurricane Kiss definitely did both of those things. I have to say that that is probably one of the main reasons I didn’t just give up on this one. I wanted to see what would happen to River and Jillian and everyone else in their lives. If nothing else, the story is very captivating.
Cons:
Characters: I felt nothing for River or Jillian. Jillian was judgmental and very closed off. River was tortured and messed up and every other thought in his head was about how bad he was for everyone around him. Put them together and they were not any better. And don’t get me started on their parents. Jillian’s mom would rather stay behind to report than take her kids to safety. Sure she sends them off with someone else so they aren’t trapped in Houston with her but I could not believe that any mom would do that. As for River’s dad, he didn’t even like his son. He wasn’t willing to listen to him and he just believed what everyone else had to say about him. Then he let him run off (literally, run off) in the middle of an evacuation. He didn’t try to stop him or go after him. What kind of dad does that? So yeah, while I disliked both Jillian and River, I disliked their parents even more.
Romance: Can you say insta-love that is totally based on looks alone? Maybe there was more to it than that but all it seemed these two ever thought about was how attractive the other was. I couldn’t see any other good reason they might be interested in each other. They had nothing in common (except for the single parent thing) and to make matters worse, Jillian had a boyfriend! Yeah, she didn’t feel much for him but that doesn’t mean she should just go for another guy without breaking up with him.
Story: There were two parts of the story that I just couldn’t get behind. One: I don’t think Jillian and River would have survived the storm. They holed up in their high school and they weren’t prepared at all. They stayed in rooms with windows (isn’t that a big no-no during tornadoes and hurricanes), they had almost no food, and they kept going out into the storm for completely stupid reasons. Oh and when the roof would collapse or windows would shatter, instead of just leaving it alone, they would go to check it out. That makes a lot of sense. The second part was River’s story about what happened to land him in juvie and his time in juvie. His dad is ex-military. I find it hard to believe that he just took the schools word for his sons actions and didn’t fight him getting sent to juvie. Then there were the stories about what happened at juvie. I know I have never spent any time in a juvenile detention facility but it seems like beating them, drugging them senseless, and feeding them food crawling with worms would be frowned upon and easily discovered. What do I know though?
Overall, Hurricane Kiss is not something I’d recommend reading. I could go on and on about this book but I’m going to stop here. I’m just really happy it was a quick read and I didn’t waste too much time with this one.
Pros:
Pacing: Let’s be real here; the only good thing about Hurricane Kiss was that it didn’t take long to read. It was slow to start but once I got about 40 pages in, things took off. It’s pretty clear from the summary what you’re getting into as far as the hurricane and the survival part of the story. I will admit that I was so not impressed with the time spent in the car trying to get out of Houston but once River and Jillian took off on their own, things really started to move. Survival stories always intrigue me while also creeping me out. Hurricane Kiss definitely did both of those things. I have to say that that is probably one of the main reasons I didn’t just give up on this one. I wanted to see what would happen to River and Jillian and everyone else in their lives. If nothing else, the story is very captivating.
Cons:
Characters: I felt nothing for River or Jillian. Jillian was judgmental and very closed off. River was tortured and messed up and every other thought in his head was about how bad he was for everyone around him. Put them together and they were not any better. And don’t get me started on their parents. Jillian’s mom would rather stay behind to report than take her kids to safety. Sure she sends them off with someone else so they aren’t trapped in Houston with her but I could not believe that any mom would do that. As for River’s dad, he didn’t even like his son. He wasn’t willing to listen to him and he just believed what everyone else had to say about him. Then he let him run off (literally, run off) in the middle of an evacuation. He didn’t try to stop him or go after him. What kind of dad does that? So yeah, while I disliked both Jillian and River, I disliked their parents even more.
Romance: Can you say insta-love that is totally based on looks alone? Maybe there was more to it than that but all it seemed these two ever thought about was how attractive the other was. I couldn’t see any other good reason they might be interested in each other. They had nothing in common (except for the single parent thing) and to make matters worse, Jillian had a boyfriend! Yeah, she didn’t feel much for him but that doesn’t mean she should just go for another guy without breaking up with him.
Story: There were two parts of the story that I just couldn’t get behind. One: I don’t think Jillian and River would have survived the storm. They holed up in their high school and they weren’t prepared at all. They stayed in rooms with windows (isn’t that a big no-no during tornadoes and hurricanes), they had almost no food, and they kept going out into the storm for completely stupid reasons. Oh and when the roof would collapse or windows would shatter, instead of just leaving it alone, they would go to check it out. That makes a lot of sense. The second part was River’s story about what happened to land him in juvie and his time in juvie. His dad is ex-military. I find it hard to believe that he just took the schools word for his sons actions and didn’t fight him getting sent to juvie. Then there were the stories about what happened at juvie. I know I have never spent any time in a juvenile detention facility but it seems like beating them, drugging them senseless, and feeding them food crawling with worms would be frowned upon and easily discovered. What do I know though?
Overall, Hurricane Kiss is not something I’d recommend reading. I could go on and on about this book but I’m going to stop here. I’m just really happy it was a quick read and I didn’t waste too much time with this one.
July 8, 2016
A year ago, Jillian and River shared a kiss, one amazing, passionate kiss. Since then, River went from being the star quarterback to an expelled student sent to juvie. Jillian never knew what happened, and now that he's back, he is different.
Hurricane Danielle is bearing down on Texas, and Jillian is forced by her mother to evacuate with River and his father. The quiet, pill pushing River ignores Jillian, until after sitting for hours in unmoving traffic, he asks her to run back to Houston with him and escape the gridlock and certain death.
Together they make it back to their high school, where they try to wait out the storm, but Mother Nature is not kind, and the school partially collapses and floods. As Jillian and River try to survive, River's own personal nightmare is brought to life, and Jillian realizes that his body and soul both need to be saved.
My Thoughts-
The book is told from both Jillian and River's points of view. The reader is able to understand each's underlying emotions and personal battles. The author does a good job telling River's tale in segments, so that his story is stretched out and the reader has to wait for it. Honestly, that is the reason I stayed with this book. I thought it was going to be a survival story, but really it's not. They hang out in a school and don't face much. The real survival that would happen after the hurricane is only brought up in a couple paragraphs at the end of the book. Plus, they don't have to live through any of it, safe in a hotel.
But, River's story, that was something I wanted to know. The time he spent in juvie is horrifying. What could he have done that would have caused such a punishment? I had to know. The answer isn't anything spectacular, but the corruption, that is another tale. Everything boils down to corruption. The need for revenge in both River and us, the reader, is deep. Which is why I was semi-disappointed in the end. The hero of the tale needs to be the one to stick it to the bad guy. Here, there is justice, but it is in a legal sense only. I needed something a bit more to patch up all the feelings of anger and injustice that the author excellently stirred up.
The writing is good, the characters are both well-written with full fleshed out characters, and the hurricane setting is exciting. Plus, the cover of the book gets a huge thumbs up. It is romantic and sexy at the same time. I would totally pick it up in a book store. So, a mixed-review, but it is worth the read. I give it 3.5 stars!
Hurricane Danielle is bearing down on Texas, and Jillian is forced by her mother to evacuate with River and his father. The quiet, pill pushing River ignores Jillian, until after sitting for hours in unmoving traffic, he asks her to run back to Houston with him and escape the gridlock and certain death.
Together they make it back to their high school, where they try to wait out the storm, but Mother Nature is not kind, and the school partially collapses and floods. As Jillian and River try to survive, River's own personal nightmare is brought to life, and Jillian realizes that his body and soul both need to be saved.
My Thoughts-
The book is told from both Jillian and River's points of view. The reader is able to understand each's underlying emotions and personal battles. The author does a good job telling River's tale in segments, so that his story is stretched out and the reader has to wait for it. Honestly, that is the reason I stayed with this book. I thought it was going to be a survival story, but really it's not. They hang out in a school and don't face much. The real survival that would happen after the hurricane is only brought up in a couple paragraphs at the end of the book. Plus, they don't have to live through any of it, safe in a hotel.
But, River's story, that was something I wanted to know. The time he spent in juvie is horrifying. What could he have done that would have caused such a punishment? I had to know. The answer isn't anything spectacular, but the corruption, that is another tale. Everything boils down to corruption. The need for revenge in both River and us, the reader, is deep. Which is why I was semi-disappointed in the end. The hero of the tale needs to be the one to stick it to the bad guy. Here, there is justice, but it is in a legal sense only. I needed something a bit more to patch up all the feelings of anger and injustice that the author excellently stirred up.
The writing is good, the characters are both well-written with full fleshed out characters, and the hurricane setting is exciting. Plus, the cover of the book gets a huge thumbs up. It is romantic and sexy at the same time. I would totally pick it up in a book store. So, a mixed-review, but it is worth the read. I give it 3.5 stars!
July 13, 2016
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef! Thanks to Media Masters Publicity for the review copy in exchange of an honest opinion.*
Hurricane Kiss was a good read. It caught my attention right away and kept me entertained all the way through the end.
Why I liked it:
It was a fast-paced book. From the beginning of the story, it already announces that the time is ticking and that the hurricane is coming. You can actually feel the pressure along with the characters of the story that the natural disaster is about to be upon them, so the desperation of what to do hits you unprepared.
The theme of the story is fascinating and equally scary. Hurricanes is something that has been one of my biggest fears since I was a child. I don't really know why, because hurricanes with big tornadoes are not a common problem in my corner of Mexico, but just the idea of mass destruction that begins with a few drops combined with wind makes me shudder (even though I love rain!). I blame the influence of TV (Tornado, anyone?) for that. For that matter, I thought it was thrilling the way the main characters acted and the risks they were willing to take to stay safe. I felt myself grow tired running along with them and now I have made a new personal goal to be more fit (just in case).
The romance. Even in this extreme kind of theme, I did enjoy the flashbacks between the two main characters throughout the book. It brought lightness to the story without the whole mess of the hurricane, and ... who am I kidding? I simply enjoy romance.
What didn't do it for me:
I felt that the main female character was a little off sometimes, specially on her way of thinking. As for the main male character, all I could think was: *OMG, poor guy!*, but until the very end of the book because that's when you truly get to know his secret.
Some parts of the happenings inside the book were just a little too much. So much bad luck trapped in those two main characters, but who am I to judge? After all, it wasn't me trapped inside that hell of a storm and with any luck, will never be.
All in all, I believe Hurricane Kiss will attract readers in search of books inspired by events as real as natural disasters, brooding hot guys with a dark past, personal obstacles, light romance, and revelations until the very end of the book.
Hurricane Kiss was a good read. It caught my attention right away and kept me entertained all the way through the end.
Why I liked it:
It was a fast-paced book. From the beginning of the story, it already announces that the time is ticking and that the hurricane is coming. You can actually feel the pressure along with the characters of the story that the natural disaster is about to be upon them, so the desperation of what to do hits you unprepared.
The theme of the story is fascinating and equally scary. Hurricanes is something that has been one of my biggest fears since I was a child. I don't really know why, because hurricanes with big tornadoes are not a common problem in my corner of Mexico, but just the idea of mass destruction that begins with a few drops combined with wind makes me shudder (even though I love rain!). I blame the influence of TV (Tornado, anyone?) for that. For that matter, I thought it was thrilling the way the main characters acted and the risks they were willing to take to stay safe. I felt myself grow tired running along with them and now I have made a new personal goal to be more fit (just in case).
The romance. Even in this extreme kind of theme, I did enjoy the flashbacks between the two main characters throughout the book. It brought lightness to the story without the whole mess of the hurricane, and ... who am I kidding? I simply enjoy romance.
What didn't do it for me:
I felt that the main female character was a little off sometimes, specially on her way of thinking. As for the main male character, all I could think was: *OMG, poor guy!*, but until the very end of the book because that's when you truly get to know his secret.
Some parts of the happenings inside the book were just a little too much. So much bad luck trapped in those two main characters, but who am I to judge? After all, it wasn't me trapped inside that hell of a storm and with any luck, will never be.
All in all, I believe Hurricane Kiss will attract readers in search of books inspired by events as real as natural disasters, brooding hot guys with a dark past, personal obstacles, light romance, and revelations until the very end of the book.
January 6, 2016
Big thanks to Albert Whitman & Company for sending me a copy via Netgalley!
First review of 2016, yay! If natural disaster stories and contemporaries ever had babies, this book would be it. I didn’t know what to expect going into Hurricane Kiss but it gave me so much to enjoy.
It took me a while to get into the book but that might’ve been just me. I didn’t really like the alternating POVs especially as they experienced the same things as they were together for most of the story. It also alternated a lot between flashbacks and the present and it was just really confusing and just made me feel like I was dragging through the book. I get that the flashbacks were meant to add more depth but it really just made the plot slow.
The characters themselves were pretty interesting and I would’ve liked to read about their backstory in other circumstances. I’m a sucker for damaged good boys like River. I love the angst they go through and how we get to see how it’s changed them in some ways but they’re good people at heart, which is just great. This is where the contemporary feels kicked in and really brought the emotion into the book. Honestly though, I didn’t really make much of a connection with the two mains. They were pretty forgettable, cookie cutter contemporary tropes.
The bright point of this book was definitely the hurricane. I loved it. It was so action packed and thrilling and horrifying all in one. I was very scared for River and Jillian at times. The author mentions in the acknowledgements that she drew from people’s and her own experiences of hurricanes which just punched me straight in the guy. I could never imagine these people’s experience until I read this book. It creates such a vivid setting for the readers to go through themselves.
TL;DR: Pretty forgettable. Add to your to reads but may sit there for a while. Needs a certain mood to get into it.
First review of 2016, yay! If natural disaster stories and contemporaries ever had babies, this book would be it. I didn’t know what to expect going into Hurricane Kiss but it gave me so much to enjoy.
It took me a while to get into the book but that might’ve been just me. I didn’t really like the alternating POVs especially as they experienced the same things as they were together for most of the story. It also alternated a lot between flashbacks and the present and it was just really confusing and just made me feel like I was dragging through the book. I get that the flashbacks were meant to add more depth but it really just made the plot slow.
The characters themselves were pretty interesting and I would’ve liked to read about their backstory in other circumstances. I’m a sucker for damaged good boys like River. I love the angst they go through and how we get to see how it’s changed them in some ways but they’re good people at heart, which is just great. This is where the contemporary feels kicked in and really brought the emotion into the book. Honestly though, I didn’t really make much of a connection with the two mains. They were pretty forgettable, cookie cutter contemporary tropes.
The bright point of this book was definitely the hurricane. I loved it. It was so action packed and thrilling and horrifying all in one. I was very scared for River and Jillian at times. The author mentions in the acknowledgements that she drew from people’s and her own experiences of hurricanes which just punched me straight in the guy. I could never imagine these people’s experience until I read this book. It creates such a vivid setting for the readers to go through themselves.
TL;DR: Pretty forgettable. Add to your to reads but may sit there for a while. Needs a certain mood to get into it.
July 4, 2016
Houston is in the path of mega-storm Danielle and the entire city is evacuating. Jillian is going with her neighbor, River, and his father. River used to be a bright, happy boy, before he spent time in prison. After getting stuck on the highway, River and Jillian abandon their car and head back into the city to search for shelter. They take refuge in their school, but the storm is only one of their problems. Stuck together, the secrets they’ve both been holding on to for years finally make their way to the surface.
I requested Hurricane Kiss because it sounded like a good summer read with a healthy dose of romance. For the most part, I was right. The characters have a history together that plays a significant part in the story. The electricity between them is tangible and grows over the course of the book. Even though the time frame of the story is just a couple of days, their relationship makes sense because of all the history that exists between them.
The suspense interspersed throughout the story kept me turning pages. Much of the characters’ trouble came from reckless choices they made. Some things are over the top, and half the story is told in flashbacks. I have a difficult time connecting with books that rely so heavily on flashbacks, especially when so many of them are about the same incident. However, I liked the slow reveal of the reasons behind River’s stint in prison and his transformation into an angry, bitter boy.
This book isn’t without it’s problems, but it is still a good read if you like books about natural disasters and romance.
Content: Strong language, including f-bombs and taking the Lord’s name in vain. There is also violence and references to sex.
Source: I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This did not affect my review in any way.
My blog: Batch of Books
I requested Hurricane Kiss because it sounded like a good summer read with a healthy dose of romance. For the most part, I was right. The characters have a history together that plays a significant part in the story. The electricity between them is tangible and grows over the course of the book. Even though the time frame of the story is just a couple of days, their relationship makes sense because of all the history that exists between them.
The suspense interspersed throughout the story kept me turning pages. Much of the characters’ trouble came from reckless choices they made. Some things are over the top, and half the story is told in flashbacks. I have a difficult time connecting with books that rely so heavily on flashbacks, especially when so many of them are about the same incident. However, I liked the slow reveal of the reasons behind River’s stint in prison and his transformation into an angry, bitter boy.
This book isn’t without it’s problems, but it is still a good read if you like books about natural disasters and romance.
Content: Strong language, including f-bombs and taking the Lord’s name in vain. There is also violence and references to sex.
Source: I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This did not affect my review in any way.
My blog: Batch of Books
September 19, 2016
This book was definitely not for me. On the plus it is a fast read.
August 22, 2016
I mean this probably deserves 1.5 stars from me. But I rounded down. Because I'm unhappy with books not being what I want or delivering on what they promise. This is just another one that disappointed me.
I don't really want to get into it too much, in case you do decide to read it, but I found the characters really unlikeable. Jillian was annoying and indecisive. Like. SO indecisive. Annoyingly so. And this coming from someone who is extremely indecisive is not a good thing. Like. Think! Just once! JUST ONCE I AM BEGGING YOU!
And River. Hmm. I don't even know. He seemed like he could be an interesting character, but he was just really over the top and I mean okay. I get it. You're messed up. You're sooooo messed up. But dude. Seriously. Get a grip.
I did enjoy the hurricane aspect, and thought it was a really cool premise and is very eye-opening, especially since the target audience won't be old enough to remember much about Hurricane Katrina or the devastation and aftermath that comes from category 5 hurricanes. So that was different. And I learned a few things about hurricanes and preparedness that I really hadn't thought about before. So at least that was interesting!
But, sadly, overall this was not a super enjoyable read for me. But I finished it because it was a quick read, and I kind of wanted to see how it all ended. Now I know.
I don't really want to get into it too much, in case you do decide to read it, but I found the characters really unlikeable. Jillian was annoying and indecisive. Like. SO indecisive. Annoyingly so. And this coming from someone who is extremely indecisive is not a good thing. Like. Think! Just once! JUST ONCE I AM BEGGING YOU!
And River. Hmm. I don't even know. He seemed like he could be an interesting character, but he was just really over the top and I mean okay. I get it. You're messed up. You're sooooo messed up. But dude. Seriously. Get a grip.
I did enjoy the hurricane aspect, and thought it was a really cool premise and is very eye-opening, especially since the target audience won't be old enough to remember much about Hurricane Katrina or the devastation and aftermath that comes from category 5 hurricanes. So that was different. And I learned a few things about hurricanes and preparedness that I really hadn't thought about before. So at least that was interesting!
But, sadly, overall this was not a super enjoyable read for me. But I finished it because it was a quick read, and I kind of wanted to see how it all ended. Now I know.
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