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Caught between a hurricane and a deadly secret, Rick Harris struggles against a ticking clock when the wrong people show up at his door looking for shelter. As the storm closes in wreaking havoc on Pensacola, Florida, he has to make a choice between saving their lives and exposing a secret that could cost him everything.

37 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2016

53 people are currently reading
90 people want to read

About the author

K.J. Waters

11 books765 followers

KJ Waters is the international best-selling author of Stealing Time, Shattering Time, Killing Time, and short story Blow. Her books have been described as “breathtakingly original,” with “edge of your seat” action, and “characters are so well-written that they seem like real people.” Her Stealing Time Series books are often found on the Amazon best seller list next to Outlander and Michael Crichton’s Dragon’s Teeth and has reached #1 international bestselling status.

In addition to her writing, she is the runs KJ Waters Consultancy and the co-host of the podcast Blondie and the Brit (now making a comeback on TikTok), and provides author consulting services covering branding, social media, and publishing.

She has a Master’s in Business and over 22 years of experience in the marketing field. Before quitting her job to raise a family and work on writing she was the Director of Marketing and communications for a national behavioral healthcare company. For free chapters and giveaways visit her website at kjwaters.com.

Sign up for her newsletter for exclusive content and the first five chapters at www.kjwaters.com.

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5 stars
34 (37%)
4 stars
27 (29%)
3 stars
17 (18%)
2 stars
11 (12%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Karen’s Library.
1,311 reviews210 followers
August 7, 2016
Action packed short story about the intensity of Hurricane Ivan. I was so immersed in the tale, I had to look up to check that my roof was still there once I had finished. Waters is a great story teller!
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,480 reviews81 followers
October 1, 2024
An intense, adrenaline soaked short story of a man, two uninvited guests and Hurricane Ivan. Will they all survive or will Ivan crush them in it's path? And will Rick be able to hide his dark secret whilst offering refuge? An incredible tale of an unrelenting force of nature, and kudos to the author who managed to weave her spell and make you feel like you were really there.
Profile Image for Suzanne Kelman.
Author 17 books643 followers
April 15, 2016
KJ Water does it again! In this nail-biting, page-turning, action-packed, bestselling short story, Waters manages to take you from the height and fright of a full blown hurricane to a cleverly-woven backstory in the heat of a Mexican Summer. Not unlike in her first novel, Stealing Time, she had an incredible ability to create dramatic yet captivating storytelling that propels you through the story which has more twists and turns then the hurricane itself, finishing with a climatic conclusion you never saw coming.
Profile Image for Aliya DalRae.
Author 34 books450 followers
February 11, 2017
So, yeah, have I mentioned I don’t usually like short stories? Well, here I am, once again sucked in by the power of a page turning mind blowing (pardon the pun) short. Waters delivers a hurricane force punch with this one, providing the reader with edge-of-your-seat tension as an actual hurricane places our main character, Rick Harris, between the proverbial rock and the hard place. Tension builds as the winds howl, and the ending is one you won’t see coming. Recommended to anyone who’s up for a wild ride.
Profile Image for Carly Compass.
Author 12 books98 followers
August 8, 2018
Action packed thriller

This short story is a action packed thriller with bonus chapters from K J Waters new book, Shattered Time. Recommended.
Profile Image for Karen Ingalls.
Author 10 books79 followers
November 28, 2017
A short story that takes place in the panhandle of Florida during Hurricane Ivan. There was not really a plot or message to the story, but more just a realistic telling of what it could be like to live through a hurricane. The author tried to introduce a sub-plot about a young lady named Rosa and AK-47's and drug lords that he supposedly killed. It was a rather strange addition that had no real beginning or ending.
I have read Shattering Time by Ms. Waters and I know her to be a fine writer. I think this short story could have read better with more about how the three men did or did not survive the hurricane rather than introducing us to Rosa and the drug lords. Her descriptions of the ravages of the storm were well written and kept me interested in the book.
Profile Image for Lana.
2,844 reviews61 followers
December 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this short story once again based in Florida during a hurricane which was causing such devastation. Rick is hiding a secret when a guy he knows turns up out of the blue asking for shelter and with him he brings, of all people, a cop! Rick is torn between offering sanctuary, turning them away, or being caught. I love that this book gives us some background to Rick's past, at the same time as keeping us on biting our nails during the storm. The ending to this novel is not what i was expecting at all! So it is a real thriller with a twist at the end which I really enjoyed but just wished it was a longer novel as I do so enjoy KJ Waters thrillers.
Profile Image for Jay Williams.
1,718 reviews34 followers
February 20, 2018
Despite its brevity, there is no end of action in this story as surviving a vicious hurricane become the least of the worries for the protagonist. The descriptions of the action and devastation are very detailed. The characters are a little one-dimensional, but reveal big difference from their appearance. The story is interrupted for a flashback to a dalliance in Mexico to explain the unusual items hidden in the closet. When the end is reached, I had to catch my breath.
Profile Image for Mary Schmidt.
Author 19 books92 followers
September 16, 2024
Shirt but frightening

This is the second book written by this author that I've read. I loved the one with Ronnie and time travel hurricane style. This book is a short yet frightening read. Hurricane Ivan was bad. What happens is devastating. I can't imagine being in a storm of that magnitude for endless hours. I was in a half mile, wide, direct hit tornado, and that was scary. Ivan was worse. Add in side stories and you realize anything can happen in a hurricane.
Profile Image for Mary Pummill.
46 reviews
March 17, 2018
Blow--A Short Story

Interesting story about what happens during a hurricane and what different people go through during one, their fears, their reactions and what the damages of the storm does. You often hear how some people refuse to leave their homes and close to "ride" it out. This might change their mind. I would have pitched the guns and let the storm take them though
Profile Image for Barbara  Daniels Dena.
645 reviews29 followers
December 18, 2021
The author pulls you right into Hurricane Ivan and makes you feel the force of Mother Nature. Awesome storytelling in short story form. Well worth the time to read if you are a weather junkie and have never been in any fierce form of storms. This will fill in those gaps for you. I am eager to read Ms. Waters full-length novels revolving around hurricanes.
Profile Image for Sentinelle23.
2,114 reviews33 followers
October 20, 2024
🌬🌪Rather captivating.


A frightened Chip and Rich listened to Hurricane Ivan raging outside.

Would the house resist?...

**********

A surprisingly captivating short read that recounts a frightening moment in the life of a main character, Rick, who is definitely very lucky...

To discover.
Profile Image for karin whitehead.
1,100 reviews10 followers
April 26, 2019
Blow by K.J. Waters

Well written, quick easy read. The author did a good job of describing the hurricane Ivan, and the three men's terror while hiding in a closet. Enjoyed the short story.
759 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2019
Whoa!

What a storm! I'm not sure I liked this story. It really seems like an awful way to die, especially since Ricks friend came over to wait out the storm. Not only was this a very short story but the ending was not happy.
Profile Image for Tiffany Hannick.
761 reviews6 followers
February 19, 2021
Quick intense read

This book will not take long to read but it will keep you wondering what will happen next. It is filled with action and will keep you guessing on what trouble the storm will cause next.
Profile Image for Jenna.
413 reviews16 followers
July 11, 2017
Wild!

I found this a terrifying story of living through a hurricane, what could happen even when you think you're safe.
Profile Image for Mark.
126 reviews
July 17, 2017
Could have been great

To short, needed much more. Ended like there should have been more. Was just getting interesting & boom it was done.
Profile Image for Susi.
46 reviews6 followers
July 18, 2017
Blow

I felt as though I was in the midst of the hurricane with the characters. Not fun -- thrilling, but NOT fun!
Profile Image for Bob Morton.
Author 6 books4 followers
July 26, 2017
Why

Not sure I understand why this story was written. Very confusing and did not make a lot of sense to me.
42 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2017
Interesting read

Too short! I liked it, but it just started to get interesting when it stops. Have to get the full books, just to find out what happens.
Profile Image for Lonnia.
156 reviews4 followers
September 9, 2021
Short story caught in a hurricane, AK-47 to hid, friend brings cop over to wait out storm. Pretty stressful. Liked it.
627 reviews6 followers
September 9, 2022
A strange and bizarre story. I'm glad it was short.
Profile Image for Pam.
180 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2025
Very short read. Have a couple more of author’s books down loaded. Will need to see how this ties into a time travel story

Profile Image for Linda Dunn.
100 reviews5 followers
February 24, 2026
In the world of thrillers, there is "ticking clock" suspense, and then there is the claustrophobic, bone-rattling dread found in Blow.

The palpable tension is start to finish in the short story.
Profile Image for Yvette Calleiro.
Author 13 books64 followers
November 9, 2017
This one was hard to rate for me because it is such a short story. I read the author's first book, Stealing Time, and I thought this short story was going to be about those characters. I don't recall any of these characters in the first book, but maybe my memory is failing me. So, that was a little disappointing for me. The author warns us at the beginning that since it is a short story, her flashbacks would be very short. As expected, I wanted more details. It's not the author's fault; I just love long novels. lol!

So, taking into account that I wanted more than what the author offered, I decided to not judge the book by my unreasonable desires. Therefore, I decided to give it four stars. The writing is fantastic! The author really pulls you into the moment and holds you there (with your heart in your throat) for the duration of the story. As someone who has lived through several hurricanes (and has feared living through the horrific events that happened in this story), I was completely gripped by the scene. I felt like the ending was too abrupt and a little too convenient, but it was still a great enough short story to be worth the read!
Profile Image for Barbara Ann.
Author 22 books187 followers
July 28, 2017
This short story was written as a bridge between the author's two novels about hurricanes. Its setting takes place in the middle of Hurricane Ivan, a Category 4 hurricane, which took place in Pensacola, Florida, in September 2004. Loosely based on the memories of an actual storm survivor, this fictional account places the reader in a terrifying situation. Rick is barricaded in his home His friend Chip seeks shelter with him.. Rick doesn't know that Chip is bringing his friend Buck, who is a cop. Why should that bother Rick? He has a deep, dark secret hidden in the house, which could land him in deep trouble if discovered. The reader is given the backstory in flashbacks artfully woven in the narrative. The characters are remarkably well developed. Readers feel the tension build as the hurricane intensifies and Rick's secret is slowly revealed.

While I haven't read either of the two novels, this short story does a fine job of standing alone as a well-written thriller. Perfect afternoon read for young adult and adult audiences.
Profile Image for Lene Blackthorn .
1,862 reviews7 followers
January 6, 2017
An awesome short story exposing turbulent events in turbulent times.
During hurricane Ivan, Rick provides shelter to two men appearing at his door...and their presence is not utterly welcome. Torn between a deadly secret and deadly weather, Rick is desperate to solve his troubling situation at any cost.
Quick, fast-pacing read packed with action and drama and set in life-threating situation that provides an enjoyable moment lost in the pages. I loved it!
3,831 reviews45 followers
September 11, 2018
😨 Short, nail-biting story of a storm with terrifying consequences💨🌊🌀 😲
September 10, 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

😱Wow! I so did not expect the finale! This tale of three men hunkering down to face a powerful storm was exciting and provided heartpounding descriptions of a huge hurricane's approach. Rick's flashbacks to another dangerous, totally unrelated time seemed unnecessary, but I generally found it a taut and exciting read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews