Call me Stormy. For today, anyway. Because tomorrow I might be someone else.
I can't tell you my real name, because I don't know what it is. The truth of the matter is that I don’t know who I am.
You might be wondering how that can be. Join the club.
My memories begin with overhearing two men planning my murder. You heard me, my murder. I get away from them, but just barely. The only things in my possession are a duffel bag with obscene amounts of cash and a wallet with four driver’s licenses. All with my picture. Don’t ask me how or why I have them – or even if any of them are real – because I don’t know.
I don’t know much of anything.
All I know is those men want me dead. For reasons still unknown to me. So I’ll run. And I’ll keep running until I can piece my fractured mind back together.
But how do you go about remembering the things that most people already know?
Candle Sutton writes suspense novels from a Christian worldview. While her primary goal is to entertain, Biblical themes are woven throughout in a non-preachy fashion. She firmly believes that fiction is a powerful tool and that God can and does use it to encourage, challenge, convict, and change His people.
Sutton is a Christian saved by grace, who loves Jesus and tries to live for Him. The beauty of God's creation captivates her, especially anything having to do with water. She enjoys a simple and quiet life in the United States.
Many thanks to Jamie Lee Grey for suggesting your books. This is not ordinarily my genre but I will never miss any of your books again! I was captured by the suspense immediately and the pace was just right. Fast, but taking time to build characters made this book so well written, having so much depth, that I am hooked for all time as a fan. I love the addition of Scripture at just the right times and places! If you’re wondering if her books are worth trying, don’t hesitate!
This book started off with a bang, in several ways. Waking up face down in the back seat of a car, our main character hears from the two men in the front seat that they plan to kill her. Plus she has no idea how she got there nor who she is. What she does know is she has a splitting headache and her wrists are handcuffed behind her. She has no idea why she knows how to get get her hands free, but she does and manages to escape, then attacked when she flew. Her ability to defend herself, then render her attacker immobilized also baffles her. How does she know how to do what she just did? Why can’t she remember who she is or why people want her dead? And why is this duffel bag she grabbed from the backseat full of money? And why does the contents of her purse have three different IDs with different names?
Flying to Reno, as far as she can from Charleston, might keep her pursuers at bay for a while. She becomes Stormy, a woman who for some reason knows how to bartend and waitress. At her new employer's restaurant she does both and makes friends still trying to keep her secrets because who can she trust?
This was a fascinating book. Was it Christian fiction? Absolutely! Some of the best gospel presentations I’ve read in a long time. Was it what I’m entirely comfortable with regarding faith? Um, whew, not entirely. Why the author used a bar as the setting for most of the book was confusing to me. Several Christians served alcohol nightly. It just didn’t sit right with me.
Then it got a bit different with several supernatural events (we'll call them miracles) that were a bit far fetched. But God was glorified and the salvation story was very well explained.
Suspense? Yes, lots of it! Characters? Terrific! And the writing was very good. Except for a couple situations and venue choices in the book I really enjoyed reading this. I even shed a tear or two.
This was a Prequel that holds up to scrutiny and it’s not a figment that collapses when placed alongside the other books in the series. I love a book that grabs the reader from the start and that is what this book did. The suspense, the vulnerability, the indecision and struggles are what the reader experiences right along with Stormy. We know what is happening as Stormy knows what is happening and that put me in the center of the story.
The foil to all the “nebulous bad guys” was the crew from the restaurant. The comradery of the staff was nice and for many of the staff the restaurant was more than a job, it was healing and nurturing, in fact, world changing. There was a hint of a budding romance and for me, I liked that it didn’t become a fait accompli as the couple only knew each other for such a short time, but you were left with the possibility of a future, which seemed just right.
The clincher was the faith exhibited by key characters. These people shared the good news of the gospel in a comfortable, natural manner, but also in a forthright way. This book was totally satisfying. We see the idea that God rules in the affairs of men. I rated it a 4.5 rounded to 5.0.
Audra witnesses a killing and is captured and threatened with a bullet or being thrown over a bridge. She escapes but cannot remember her name. To add to the confusion, she has a duffle bag with money and several different driver's licenses.
She flies to Reno, Nevada and finds a job as a waitress/bar tender. There she meets several friends, Zac, Sam, Drew, and Charlie her boss. Eventually another helper comes, Malachi. He leads her to Christ. The witnessing that Malachi does is some of the best evangelism that I have ever read.
The book is extremely slow moving for a good 1/2 of the book. My most disappointing aspect was the lack of conclusion of the romance. Do they get together? Do they not find a way to continue their romance? since this is a prequel, I thought the first book on the series would continue this relationship, but it doesn't seem to do so in the few pages that I went ahead to try to read.
An example of witnessing and answering questions that many new Christians deal with.
Candle Sutton knows how to write a suspenseful mystery! I should not have tried to finish it before going to sleep because it did not induce slumber, but quite the opposite. I really like Sutton's writing! The lower rating has nothing to do with her brilliant ability to communicate, but has everything to do with the plausibility of the story. Yes, I believe that God can do miracles! And I believe that God's mercy is all about us, but sometimes in Christian novels those become the "super power" and all obstacles are overcome too easily. Also, poor Stormy got beaten up way too many times. Then when the pastor-in-training could also be an excellent bar tender, that didn't sit well. One of the characters also lost loved ones because of drunk driving, but also worked at the bar. That piece didn't fit. It was like you can drink, but just don't be irresponsible. Well, I wish that worked.
I can't remember ever giving a new to me author a 5* rating, but Candle Sutton deserved it for this first book that drew me in with the name, cover and blurb. A beat-up victim, four different identities and amnesia, what a thrilling start to a journey of discovery. Not just to find her true identity, but also her true purpose, and finding her faith in her ultimate Saviour. Picking the name Stormy, she is fortunate to find a job at The Midnight Lounge, meeting amazing people, Charlie, Sam and Drew to name a few. I highlighted so many conversations that all triggered emotions inside of me. A quote from the book that resonated so distinctly, "The hardest part is living through Friday, but always remember that Sunday is coming!"
I didn’t think that I would read this book let alone thoroughly enjoy it. I don’t like books written in the first person but I couldn’t put it down. Watching the book play out through the narrators eyes as intense on so many levels. Betrayal, loss of identity and then hope. A book that describes faith in such a way that’s hard to ignore. Simple and complicated at the same time.
This was a new to me author and I was impressed! I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future. I was captivated by the story. The last few chapters did get a bit preachy for my liking and there is one supernatural element to the story that makes it a bit over the top. Having said that, this was the prequel to a series so perhaps that part will be explained further in the other books. Overall, for me it was a 5-star read.
Trauma induced amnesia drives Candle Sutton"s Shadow of the Storm. Anyone who enjoys hard hitting action between .government agents and the evil in the world may enjoy this Christian novel. If you are open to hear characters with deep, sincere faith live out their convictions while dealing with the stress of heart pounding action read this book. You will not be disappointed
I rarely write a review but this book was so different than the Christian mystery fiction I often read so I felt I needed to write an actual review not just give stars. There was action and intrigue and the main character was not a believer. But as the story unfolds it became clear this was not a Christian man meet Christian woman and trouble ensues. There was trouble for sure but also many different characters that made this book one I’d highly recommend.
I have read three other books by this author and think each one is my favorite as I finish it. But this really is my favorite. Would Stormy remember ? Who could she depend on? Only herself! Believers living out and speaking out the good news of Jesus showed her what was really going on.
This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. It was an amazing mystery and adventure with the added bonus of the truth of the Lord's love for us and His desire to be involved in our lives. The characters were so believable I felt like I knew them. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good clean adventure Story.
Extremely well written over all. Because a lot of the book dealt with memories revealed as nightmares, there were a few times it felt a little disjointed, but that simply added to the drama. There were no loose ends. The Christian message comes through loud and clear, but I hope it doesn't alienate readers.
Does your life ever feel turned upside down? The life Aura Parker up ends in a nightmare that she cannot remember at first. God uses a myriad of situations and people to bring the truth to light. More importantly, Audra is exposed to truth that changes her completely. God always uses all things for our good and His glory.
Loved the pace of this book. Loved how I felt as though I was there in the story. The subtlety of Jesus and how he was brought into the storyline was great. I love how the author made Him seem human so the reader could relate on that level. Would definitely recommend this book.
I have yet to find one of Candle Sutton's books that I can put down once I start it!! She dives right in and you are hooked!! This is a page turner!! It is so well done, and it totally fits the Christian Fiction genre. You never have to question where she is coming from!!
I especially liked this book because of the suspense, the interesting characters and the fact that I didn’t have to read about bulging biceps, sparks flying, or sweaty kisses. It was refreshing to read Christian fiction that didn’t’ mimic pulp fiction. Thanks to the author.
I have just finished the Deadly Alliance series and was invited to to read Shadow of the Storm from there. All these books brought out the love God and Jesus have for us if we would only listen. Thank you.
This story has an interesting twist to it. A young woman with memory lost fleeing for her life finds her answers through working with an unusual mix of people, in an unusual place.
This book has captivating storytelling with interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, page-turning suspense and a hint of romance. The Christian message was well presented at just the right time in the storyline.
The characters were interesting and believable. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. MS Sutton has a God given talent bringing God's truth in an exciting way through her writing.
A good story line about a young lady who experiences a trauma, is left with amnesia from it and tries to pull everything back together. It involves good guys (and a lot of evangelizing) and bad guys ( including a murder). Do angel’s really walk amount us?
I loved this book from the first page, I could barely put it down. It has so many twists and turns and suspense and then the addition of the Faith and spiritual content, not preachy just truth and the way God leads people to bring them to Christ.
If anyone had told me this was a Christian book, I would have thought they were crazy. Amazingly it is a beautiful story of God's love and protection. Dive right in and enjoy.
The characters are easy to imagine and easy to remember. (Not so many that I lost track of who each one was.) The story line was totally fresh and believable. I especially enjoyed the ending. Thanks for a great experience.
What a great book, great author! Candle knows how to keep you reading! Very hard to put down, you never know what is going to happen next. Highly recommend reading and I can't wait to read more by this author!
Candle Sutton's books on the Shadows have been great! Would recommend to anyone who likes to read christian suspense! Thank you Candle for allowing God to use you!