Storms of Malhado

by Maria Elena Sandovici

"Taking place entirely on a beautifully moody Galveston Island, Ms. Sandovici weaves three simultaneous stories with ease. With a timeless tale, ethereal language, and complicated characters, readers will be entranced by this modern ghost story. How many times can the past repeat itself? How do we recognize people through generations? The author tackles this topic amid a backdrop of violent nature and intangible dreamscapes." Courtney Brandt, Author of THE QUEENOF ENGLAND: CORONATION, GRAND TOUR, ASCENSION
“Three women, three great storms, and one house, haunted by forbidden love and frustrated ambition. Get ready to be swept away by Sandovici’s foray into Galveston Island’s tempestuous history in this tale of lives intertwined across time.” Donna Dechen Birdwell, Author of NOT KNOWING

Galveston Island, Texas, September 2008
Katie doesn’t believe in ghosts.
And she certainly doesn’t believe the rumors that her family’s home is haunted, despite its tragic history: two young women who lived there in different eras died in hurricanes – one during Hurricane Carla in 1961, one during the Great Storm of 1900, the greatest natural disaster to befall the United States.
But that was the past. A fact Katie reminds herself of when she returns to Galveston to await Hurricane Ike with her parents and boyfriend in her family’s Broadway mansion, hoping to rekindle her flailing relationship. While Katie is not afraid of the ghost stories she’s heard, she is afraid of the monster storm approaching. As even die-hard Islanders evacuate, her fears grow. Fear of the looming hurricane. Fear that she’s talentless as a painter. Fear that her relationship with her boyfriend is already over. As Katie struggles against her fears, the past whispers to her of the women who died there, and the haunting similarities they share with Katie’s own life.
Through three different timelines, Storms of Malhado weaves a story of Galveston’s past, underscoring its danger and isolation, as well as its remarkable resilience, its capacity for both nostalgia and reinvention. Full of contradictions, at once insular and open to the world, Galveston Island is as much a character of the novel as Katie, Suzanne, Betty, their lovers, and their confidantes.

Maria Elena Sandovici is a full-time writer, artist, and gallery owner living in Houston, Texas. Her previous works of fiction are Dogs with Bagels, Stray Dogs and Lonely Beaches, Lost Path to Solitude, The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, and Lone Wolf. She is also the author of Stop and Smell the Garbage, a volume of poetry in the voice of her dog, Holly Golightly. You can follow her daily adventures on her blog HaveWatercolorsWillTravel.blog.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Paranormal, American, Contemporary

252 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2020

About the author

Maria Elena Sandovici has been loitering around Galveston Island for twenty years now. In this time, she's befriended some very interesting people, learned many Island stories, and made up many more. Have you heard about the horses, for example? If you visit the historic Leage Kempner House, the Broadway mansion that inspired Storms of Malhado, you might just hear their hoofbeats going up the stairs. Or not. Island lore, fiction, and history blend seemslessly in a universe scented with sea salt, jasmine, and perhaps the faintest whiff of manure.
Recently, the author has acquired a tiny Island cottage that survived the Great Storm of 1900 and resolves to spend more time on Galveston Island, giving historic walking tours, doing book signings, and soaking up inspiration. We'll let you know how that goes.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review can be found on my blog All the Ups and Downs.)
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I admit that when I read the book synopsis for Storms of Malhado by Maria Elena Sandovici and saw there were ghosts involved, I knew I had to read this book! While I felt it was not so much of a ghost story but something more supernatural, it was still a great read!

I felt that the plot for Storms of Malhado was fairly original. The reader is taken through three different points in time starting in 1900 with Suzanne's story, followed by 1961 with Betty's story, and then to 2008 with Katie's story. We learn of how each woman is with a man that is slippery and unobtainable yet each woman yearns to make the relationship work. Each story leads up to a horrible hurricane from each year. What will each woman sacrifice for love, and will it lead up to their demise? Storms of Malhado is full of life lessons, the strongest being that those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. There is so much symbolism throughout this novel which I didn't catch some of it until I finished reading and reflected back on what I had just read. Sandovici does a fantastic job at painting a beautiful picture of what life was like for each woman. It's easy to get lost in the narrative and forget you're only reading about the characters instead of living their life! The only thing about the plot that lets it down a little is the ending. It just felt a bit messy and confusing. I can't go into great detail because of spoilers. The ending, while I believe in what happened, just seemed a little far fetched and a little too neat if that makes sense. Three people experiencing the same thing at the same time and calling each other by different names, well, it just seemed kind of out there. I wish I could go into more detail, but I really don't want to give too much away. However, all loose ends are tied up by the end of book, and it becomes obvious how all three narratives within Storms of Malhado are related.

The majority of the characters in Storms of Malhado were well fleshed out and very realistic feeling. I enjoyed reading about Suzanne, Josephine, and Desmond. Suzanne was an interesting character to read about, but there were times she made me angry especially towards her ending. I could actually feel how much she loved and longed after Desmond. I just felt that she could be a little selfish at times. However, I feel that we've all been a little selfish when it comes to love. I could really feel how much Josephine loved Suzanne and wanted the best for her. Josephine was such a great character! Betty, Edna, and Cornelius also had an interesting story line. I felt like I connected with Betty the most. I could feel her frustration with Carl seeping through the pages as well as how much she wanted Cornelius no matter how frustrating he was. I loved Edna the most though, and it made me wish I had an Edna in my life to care for me and be there for me. Betty seemed to not have her head in the clouds as much as Suzanne did which was nice. The narrative I felt that was a little underdeveloped was that of Katie, her boyfriend George, and her mother. We don't get to read much about them until the very end. I would have liked more insight into George and Katie's relationship before the storm hits. The reader gets all this backstory into Suzanne's and Desmond's relationship as well as Betty's and Cornelius' relationship, yet there isn't much back story for Katie and George. All of a sudden towards the ending, we are told that Katie and George have a rocky relationship. I wanted to know why it was so rocky instead of just little bits and pieces. Katie's and George's relationship just felt like it was missing so much. The relationship between Katie and her mother also felt lacking. If her relationship was a strong with her mother as the relationship between Suzanne and Josephine as well as the relationship between Betty and Edna, it did not come across that way in the book. Katie's relationships just felt rushed.

Trigger warnings for Storms of Malhado include infidelity, adultery, alcohol use, death, drug use, some light profanity, and sexual situations (although not graphic).

All in all, Storms of Malhado is a highly interesting read that will leave you hooked on each and every word. It grabs you by the hand and doesn't let go until the end. With fantastic writing, a highly interesting plot, and entertaining characters, Storms of Malhado is a must read. I would definitely recommend Storms of Malhado by Maria Elena Sandovici to those aged 16+ who are after a book that will leave them thinking about it long after they are done reading it.
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(A special thank you to Lone Star Literary Life and Maria Elena Sandovici for providing me with a paperback of Storms of Malhado in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)

[Christena · Rating 4 out of 5]

"....She could look at the ships forever. She could get lost imagining the wares they carried, trying to guess their places of origin, the shades and colors of other waters they'd encountered on their way to the brownish hues of Galveston Bay...."

I swear I kept thinking the ocean was calling to me during my reading of Storms of Malhado by Maria Elena Sandovici.

So what is Malhado? Within the book, there is mention of it just once that I found. What this reference is the debatable name of Galveston Island from historical times. Malhado Island or Isle of Misfortune known as current-day Galveston Island was the name applied by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca to an island off the Texas coast where he shipwrecked in November 1528. The location of this landform has often been the subject of heated debate since the 1920s. You can read more about that here:

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/onlin...

Back to the book at hand. This is the third book I have read by Elena. She’s refined her writing appreciably with the Storms of Malhado. I was immersed with every chapter and sensed so much of Galveston from the feel of the sand to the smells of the oleanders, to those grackles squawks, to the often oppressive heat.

While pitched as a ghost story it falls into the realm of a reincarnation story. The story is woven around three women who live in different decades and all are experiencing forbidden love. The story entwines the stories of these women in 1900, 1961, and 2008 which are in turn during significant hurricane and storm years for Galveston.

Women have romantic storms of the heart, especially Katie, Betty, and Suzanne in this story. The Storms of Malhado conveys each of these woman’s journeys during their unsettled love to finding acceptance for many aspects of their lives. Elena’s writing is expressive and poetic with her storytelling.

I love it when authors spark me to do some research of my own. And Elena did a fantastic job at making me look into the history of the Weather Bureau or National Weather Service. I literally had no clue about the intensive history at monitoring our weather dating back to 1849. You can read more about that history here:

https://www.weather.gov/timeline

This book is for all the women who have ridden in a romantic storm of their own like they have just been through a hurricane. And, it gives you hope that maybe reincarnation can be possible or is possible. Most importantly the Storms of Malhado will make the perfect beach read when we get back to normal.

Lastly, there are horses in the story.

[Clueless Gent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storms of Malhado is a brilliant tale of three storylines separated only by time, that culminates in a “perfect storm” climax! Some readers may say that the pacing is slow, but anyone who has lived along the Gulf of Mexico knows that time is just naturally a little slower there. However, when the time comes for the pace to quicken, it takes off on a sprint.

Each storyline has its own set of characters. Each storyline has its own plot. Sandovici takes us from one story to the next, and then back, almost as if all the stories occur simultaneously. But they each occur decades apart. During the first few chapters I wondered how that was possible and where was this going. There were so many parallels it couldn’t be coincidence.

Regardless of the time each story took place, the author did an amazing job of bringing us into each story. With her description, Sandovici has us smell the salt in the air, feel the scorching Texas heat, hear the crashing waves, see the incredible colors in a blooming garden. But she also took us deep into the main characters.

All of the main characters were women. Yes, men had some prominent roles, but the character at the heart of each story was a woman. I think they were more similar than they were different. At least, they were similar in the traits where it really mattered. They were insecure. They were obsessed with forbidden love. They made decisions with their hearts. They were brazen in their attempts to capture and hold on to the love they sought. I could go on, but I’ll let you discover on your own.

Each storyline contains a hurricane, and there’s a lot of talk about past hurricanes among the characters, but the storms actually have very small roles. Storms like these usually take on the role of antagonist, and to an extent they probably do in this book. However, the real antagonist in these stories is the love each woman craves. I do not mean that “love” as a person. It is the emotion they seek that batters them.

The final few chapters, where the author ties everything together, are like the freshness following a storm. The air is cleansed. The light returns. And life goes on.

Storms of Malhado is an imaginative story, and it is told very well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has loved, particularly if they gravitate to the surreal.

[Ruthie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Caring was what made life complicated.”

 Storms of Malhado by Maria Elena Sandovici is a maelstrom of lives interconnected throughout time in Galveston, Texas. Suzanne during the Big Storm in 1900, Betty during Hurrican Carla in 1961, and Katie during Hurrican Ike in 2008 face the storms of life sometimes head on and sometimes obliquely but always with the desire to love and be loved. The literal storms during these three times change lives, landscapes, and dreams, but they also churn up relationships between these three young ladies, their loves, and their devoted companions.

Everything about Storms of Malhado is beautiful and filled with raw emotions, desires, mistakes, fear, and love. How are Suzanne, Betty, and Katie connected through by time and storms? That discovery is a sensational journey into their lives, their similarities, and their desperate fear of abandonment by the men they love. But they are connected in another special way, and unraveling that connection throughout the story is a mesmerizing experience that needs to be savored.

Sandovici tells a tale that leaves the reader reeling from the complicated entanglements yet marveling at how seamlessly the stories of these three women are woven together into a lyrical novel about following your heart, even if that means scandal, heartache, and even death. A mansion on Galveston Island and artistic talent connect the three women, giving the overall story a solid anchor amidst the agitation of both the actual storms and the often reckless choices these three face. The characters are all fantastic and full of depth and intriguing personalities. Outside of the three women, their loves—Desmond, Cornelius, and George, respectively—are all tempests in themselves, giving off volatile anger one minute and then tender love the next.

At the end, in 2008, Katie, her boyfriend, George, and her mother face the wrath of Hurricane Ike, but that storm does more than pummel Galveston. Dreams and emotions and tossed up as well, changing  their lives forever as they merge with the past and wonder at both the fragility and strength of true devotion.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

[Gayle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful story, with many different aspects to it. It is historical fiction, stories of love and obsession all with suspense. I really liked the different time lines and the stories of Suzanne, Betty and Katie, and how they all converged into one. The writing is so good you can feel the young women's anxiety, their obsessions and also the oppressive summer heat and humidity of the Texas Gulf. You will want to read this in one sitting - it is very hard to put down.
I received an ARC and voluntarily provided this review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so immersed in this story that I didn't want it to end. Sandovici has the power to grab you in a heart pounding story and keep you wanting more. I would highly recommend it.

[Linda Loretz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed Storms of Malhado after receiving a free copy. It was easy to engage in the story set during three different times—1900, 1961, and 2008—years of hurricanes that affected Galveston Island. The island and the storms can be considered characters since they are described with many details and have attributes that moved the story's plot. I was absorbed by the descriptions of the wealthy and poor on the island during the three timeframes. The island, like many other communities, has a de facto class system that survives the decades. The assumptions about and relationships with the Black domestic workers do not change too much from 1900 to 1961, yet give the reader much to ponder. I was bothered by some of the stereotypes associated with Josephine, Edna, and Cornelius. Yet, I think the author wanted the reader to examine these stereotypes since the protagonists suffered inner turmoil regarding their relationships with these Black characters and society's attitudes toward African Americans. In the 2008 section, I wanted to see improvement in the racial tensions prominent in the 1900 and 1961 parts of the story. Although there were some changes in views, the cultural developments were not notable. This lack of growth probably reflects life as it is. There are certain enlightened characters or members of society, but many racial issues have not sufficiently evolved over the years, and the narrative reflects this.
There were several themes and conflicts common to the three eras of the story that enriched the story and made it a worthwhile read:

-Mother/daughter relationships were significant in all three segments of the story. In the first two, the mothers are irritants in the lives of Suzanne and Betty. Both women desire to grow away from their mothers and have little regard for their opinions. In the 2008 storyline, Katie's mother is a source of inspiration and validation. Katie's mother shares anecdotes and gives advice that is valued and worthwhile.
-Sometimes there a fine line between ancient beliefs and modern religion. Sorcery, healing, ghosts, and spirituality are touched upon when characters discover rosary beads and statues, and there is a connection between these items and the roles of Esmerelda and the Mexican woman, the curanderas or healers in 1900 and 1961. There are also connections between Catholic saints/statues and the gods/amulets of other island beliefs. Some of the characters' confusion and comments provided insight into how religions develop among communities of people who dwell on an island but come from different places. More importantly, modern churches remain some of the most segregated elements of society. Some of the issues, such as the race of Jesus or the importance of saints, mentioned by the characters, make statements about societal topics. The ghost stories mentioned in multiple angles of the story are essential to the outcome of the narrative.
-Choosing and loving an "appropriate" spouse was a large part of Suzanne's story in the 1900 segment. Would Suzanne settle for a marriage set up by her parents, or would rebelliousness rule her life? In the 1961 section, Betty seems to have chosen a spouse that suits her mother's wishes and allows her to live a comfortable life, but she is quite unhappy. In 2008, Katie is still figuring it all out and has pointed opinions from her parents and her community about what should guide her choices.
-Artistic expression is also a prominent theme throughout the three substories. Who decides whether one has a talent and is there value in expressing oneself via art even if the world doesn't consider you to have an exceptional ability? There is significance to the many blank canvasses and partial artworks mentioned in Katie, Suzanne, and Betty's lives.
-Storms are used both literally and metaphorically throughout this novel. Literal storms are significant threats to the lives of islanders. However, stormy characters are bothering the three main characters as much as the impending physical storms. Sandovici provides descriptions as depicted in these quotes:
"Though he was not from here, George was like the water. Never the same. But just when you tired of its brown unattractive color, it'd treat you to an unexpected afternoon of Caribbean blue."
"Cornelius was not a boy, Cornelius Swain, the gardener, was a full-grown man. But a man young enough to envision a different world, a world where his pride and his talent would not be at odds with his race."
"How could a girl like her ever dance with a rogue like him [Desmond]? He was not invited to parties by any of the respectable families."

Storms of Malhado was a good story, but I wished as I was reading that the author hadn't used identical words to describe incidents and occurrences that were common to the three stories. I would have liked to have been able to figure out some of the commonalities on my own. I thought that some of the obvious connections between and among the characters were a detraction and possibly better suited to young adult literature.

[Suzanne Ondrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page-turner! Sandovici masterfully weaves three eras of women who lived in the same house and went through storms and love affairs. There are many lush details of food, plants, scents, water. This novel features women painters as central characters, something not common in literature; it also deals with taboo loves. I enjoyed the insights into the artistic life. The threat of the impending storm is palpable throughout the novel and leaves you in suspense for it to strike!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book about Galveston and its mystical effect on the lives of its inhabitants. Having lived in Galveston myself, I was transported back to my own experiences there. The author did an amazing job describing life on the island vividly and with imagination. The characters are deep and relatable making for a magical and interesting read.

[Paula Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book - it's a great, romantic read! I stayed up all night to finish it and see what happens!

Storms of Malhado intertwines the lives of three beautiful, smart and strong women, Katie, Suzanne and Betty, three hurricanes (the Great Storm of 1900, Hurricane Carla in 1961 and Hurricane Ike in 2008). All three of the women are artists who love to paint and draw and create. They are caught up in a mysterious time arch - the story follows their fates, friendships and loves across time.

The novel shifts over three time periods - the Great Storm of 1900, Hurricane Carla in 1961 and Hurricane Ike in 2008. Katie, Suzanne and Betty have all lived in the imposing Victorian mansion, a house that has survived the great storms on Galveston Island, …”a vast and magical universe, the small island containing more wonder than the whole world itself…”

There’s a storm – and trouble - brewing in each woman’s lives … they take a chance and break out from the bonds of convention that rule their lives and find freedom, great romances with handsome and dangerous men, enjoy strong bonds of love and friendship with magical and wise women, horses who escape a great storm, butterfly gardens, ghosts, and a beautiful world, all connected to Galveston Island and to a mysterious – and haunted - Victorian mansion– it’s truly a wonderful and charming story of survival, daring fate and taking a chance on finding happiness.

I also loved the cover of the book - it's an original painting by the author. Elena Sandovici is a multi-talented writer and artist - she has a great imagination and can really take you to magical places.

[Yvonne Dupont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly so caught up into the story of three generations. I have lived in this area and on Broadway St in Galveston in a house with spirits ? The house was built after the great storm. I have been there thru storms.
In your bones you feel what is in a house.
This book was wow to me as a slow read. I loved each page thru the changes of history . The story draws you i. To immerse yourself for more and more.
I was delighted by the history and ideas set forth because I too know about the history and her ideas of reincarnation. This kinda blew my mind while reading . I understand this maybe more than most. The story pulls you along with grace, details and the idea of art thru three separate life journeys .
Such a joy for me to read and so greatly enjoy before bed.
This is a great one you can not miss. Even at a two or three page at night before sleep you want more. Kinda like wanting some great chocolate. This is a must read!!! Trust me .

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book on many different levels. It really doesn't fit neatly into any one category either. On the surface, it's about the hurricanes that have hit Galveston since 1900 but the undercurrents of feminism and racism in America are the real story. This is a powerful novel and I have already bought copies for my daughters.

[Kristine Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Sandovici's best writing yet with complex, but not fully likable characters. Mulling this one over before I write the review.

[Bookgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fiction reader but read this one because it takes place in my town, Galveston, Texas.

While I didn’t love the characters as other reviewers did, I definitely had strong feelings about them and, to me, that’s what makes a book good! I was most curious about the supporting women characters, of whom we only get a glimpse. The final mother figure, the only one of the three who is actually a mother, expresses the lesson all three main characters needed to learn, in my opinion, never put someone else’s needs above your own. I’m not convinced the lesson was learned in the end.

So many tidbits of Galveston sprinkled throughout, just enough to titillate. I’d have enjoyed more exposition on the history, context and details about many items mentioned such as the Broadway mansions built by wealthy families when Galveston was a leading port of commerce in the late 1800’s, Mardi Gras celebrations, the amazing Broadway cemetery that draws locals and tourists alike every spring with its blankets of yellow flowers, and the historical significance of both the Hurricane of 1900 and Hurricane Ike of 2008 (the former was the deadliest natural disaster in the US for many decades and changed the course of Galveston history forever; the later was the 6th most costly storm in the US and was largely neglected by the national media at the time because of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy on Monday, two days after the storm struck Sept 13, 2008 - people as close as Houston thought the storm was minor because there was no national coverage, and very little local, after two days.) Even Carla, the middle Hurricane in the story in 1961, is to this day the most severe Atlantic Hurricane hitting the USA based on the Hurricane Intensity scale AND a little known newsman named Dan Rather reported about the storm live, the first time a hurricane was broadcast live! (Of course this is all just my preference for non-fiction shining through! Maybe others would be intrigued enough to research the history themselves...)

Definitely would recommend the book for a summer escape read!

[Jessie hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I loved this book even with its supernatural bent. Normally not a fan, Ms. Sandovici had a way of doing weaving her ideas in that were quite good. I share her love of Galveston,,above many other beaches I’ve seen. Just a perfect book for me!

[Dede Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of three women from different time periods linked through Galveston Island and hurricanes.
I don’t think the woman in the current time received enough of the story. And then it was confusing at the end when the author tried to tie all the stories together. It could have been done better.
That being said if hurricanes and reincarnation interest you, you’ll like this book.

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the three stories. The first one was my absolute favourite, I dived into it completely.
Definetly a must read!

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three lives. Three chances. Three storms.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I honestly wasn't quite sure if I would like it. I chose to review it because, I thought it would be a fun way to visit a place, Galveston, where I spent many a summer as a child and two I wanted to read this ghostly story. If you know a little of Galveston's history, you know it is rife with Ghost or ghostly tales. How exactly would the author weave a story that has romance, ghosts, and three significant hurricanes to make landfall in Texas - The Great Storm of 1900, Hurricane Carla and, Hurricane Ike?

Well, color me surprised when the story truly turned out to be about reincarnation, not a ghost or three. The story opens with Katie, her parents, and her boyfriend all gathering at their mansion in Galveston to weather Hurricane Ike in 2008. Katie is a bit neurotic, but not really sure why. Katie's father believed the mansion was haunted, but neither Katie nor her mother had ever experienced any such thing. My overactive Gemini mind kept coming up with different scenarios, but none so fantastic as the reality. In meeting the three women- Suzanne, Betty & Katie-at the center of this story, we find that they all have some interesting similarities. They were all artists. They all wanted men who were unobtainable. They were all wildly dissatisfied with their lives. Suzanne wanted more than the confines of high society. Betty wanted more than her mundane existence. Katy just wanted something.. anything that stopped her anxiety and grounded her.

I like that the author left these little bread crumbs of familiarity for the reader to pick up. My favorite was "He's no good for me. He's no good for himself." I swear it's something that I've said in my own life. Each woman had a female counterpart that coddled and pacified her on some level. I also like that as I read I would go on google and refresh my memory of certain real-life events i.e. the devastation each Hurricane inflicted in Southeast Texas. I absolutely loved how the author revealed the connection between all three stories and their characters.

Now what didn't work for me on any level was the ending. Yes. My questions were answered, but I was enjoying the ride and it seemed to put together. Hmmm, I'll probably think of a better term once I've sat with it some more.

All in all, this was a good read that moved quickly and transitioned well, which can be hard to do when constantly switching time periods. The story was simply well written. The story also had the added benefit of touching on a few elements that added realism to the story like interracial relationships, racism, and adultery. I would recommend this story to anyone.

Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tour/Literary Life & Maria Elena Sandovici for the ARC and opportunity to participate in the Tour.

[Lorilei Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storms of Malhado is the second book that I have ready by Maria Elena Sandovici. I read Lost Path to Solitude almost exactly four years ago and remember being very impressed with Sandovici’s excellent storytelling and her talent for writing natural dialogue. Those two traits are present in this latest book and Sandovici has certainly honed her craft to create such a fascinating story.

As a Houston native (a far north suburbanite, at the least) I was a little annoyed with Katie’s decision to leave Houston in order to weather the storm of Hurricane Ike in Galveston of all places. When Ike was about to hit, distant relatives of mine left Galveston to hunker down with my family, so Katie’s reverse evacuation didn’t make sense to me. But alas, there would be no story if she acted rationally. The story spans three different timelines and takes place in the same mansion on the Island.

I recall wishing with Sandovici’s previous book that she had used character names at the beginning of chapters when she switched POV because it sometimes became confusing. I was happy to see that she gave us the year and a short description of what was happening at each break in this book. I also was delighted to see that her characters had names indicative of the times that they lived in. Names like Desmond and Esmeralda feel distinctly 1900s while names such as Betty and Edna are perfect for the 1960s. Details like those are among the many that Sandovici thoroughly researched so that the reader could be transported without the rude shock of glaring inaccuracies.

Authenticity is obviously important to Sandovici as her vivid details of Galveston across the timeline ring true when compared to the photographs I have viewed and the stories that I have read in museums and historical landmarks. The relationships between the characters within each era and spanning across the three time periods are intricate and bursting with color. Which makes sense when you take into account that the main character and the author herself are artists.

I don’t want to go into specifics and ruin the ending for you but I felt like the point where everything merged felt a little too perfect, for lack of a better word. When I have read about similar phenomena in real life accounts or fiction, there usually isn’t so much clarity, especially when multiple people are involved. There, I will zip my lips now and let you see for yourself.

I think that this book would resound with practically any reader, but I think that it would truly affect those who are into the supernatural or very realistic historical fiction (the kind that borders on nonfiction when it comes to details). This is not your fluffy historical fiction, which you might have guessed since it takes place during times of devastation. However, I like how it leaves you feeling hopeful, like seeing a rainbow after the storm.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story set in a beautiful location spanning 3 different timescales. The main protagonists in all 3 parts of the story are women with the men in their lives as the supporting cast. All three stories are the build up to storms (and storms in the three relationships) on Galveston island with the ending being the perfect storm and final resolution to the story. It is very well told and beautifully written. The characters are true to their respective times and the norms of their eras. Galveston is not a place that has ever crossed my consciousness and I didn’t even realise it was island, but the descriptions make me sorry I have never visited! There is a paranormal element to the book which adds an extra dimension to the story. Thanks to Hidden Gems and the author for giving me a free copy of the book in return for my honest review.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Galveston, Texas seen through the lens of three time frames (The Great Storm of 1900, Hurricane Carla in 1961, and Hurricane Ike in 2008) sets the stage for this book. During each of the build up to these events, there is a parallel story line with three insecure, fragile (and sometimes whiny) female protagonists who find themselves addicted to three men who talk down to them and treat them with disrespect while they engage in questionable, dangerous, and illegal activities. I lived not far from Galveston in the 1960's and while I expect there were women who couldn't find their way out of difficult situations without becoming dependent on troublesome men, there were many others who became self-reliant. I did not like any of the main characters and found the redundancy among the women and situations tiresome. Additionally, my Kindle version was replete with typos/ grammatical errors.

[Donna Birdwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three women, three great storms, and one house, haunted by forbidden love and frustrated ambition. Get ready to be swept away by Sandovici’s foray into Galveston Island’s tempestuous history in this tale of lives intertwined across time. Each woman's story could be a novella on its own, but then you'd miss the intricacies shared among them. A great read for fans of historical fiction and the Gulf Coast!

[Diana Petty-stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is strange and fascinating at the same time. Set on Galveston Island in 1900(The Great Storm), 1961(Carla) and 2008(Ike) when it was slammed by the worst hurricanes ever. The story follows three women, Suzanna, Betty and Katie and their depictable lovers each of which are reincarnated during the storms. It all centers around a beautiful old Victorian house on Broadway

[Lone Star Literary Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.571 stars.

[Gina Popp · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Storms of Malhado" by Maria Elena Sandovici is a real page turner. I read the whole book in one weekend.

[A.Borroel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I have not ventured to Galveston, Texas in a hot minute. I have been wanting to go, I just haven't gotten around to it and it doesn't look like I'm going to get there any time in the immediate future. Luckily, I read a beautiful book that takes place in Galveston so that I can travel there in my imagination.

Not only did I travel to Galveston, but I traveled through 3 different timelines. The book dealt with 3 sets of characters from 3 sets of timeline whose red thread connects them at the end of the book through the events of 3 different hurricanes, The Great Storm (1900), Hurrican Carla (1961), and Hurricane Ike (2008). The author does a fabulous job of traveling back and forth between the different times without having the reader get too confused or sounding choppy. All characters had their own personality in each timeline, even if they were all supposed to be the same characters. Of course, they did have some of the same characteristics, they were still their own person and that made me happy to read because sometimes I wonder if when I die, will I come back in a different timeline until the world ends?

The imagery in this book is also something to rave about. I could distinctly create each decade's surroundings, how everyone looked, what everyone wore and what the house of Malhado looked like as time passed on. The author does a great job at painting the picture for you, much like our main character likes to paint and she does it well. Made me want to really visit Galveston.

There was nothing really wrong with this book, the only thing for me was the ending. I thought that while I understood the ending and why everything happened, I thought it was a little corny, but that's just me.

Despite my opinion about the ending, it was still a great and interesting book that you will not be able to put down once you start. It was not what I had thought it was going to be when I first read the synopsis. I thought it was going to be more ghosty it wasn't but it turned out to be even better than a ghost story. Defintiley recommend putting this on your list of books to read. Until next time, Happy Reading!

[Pat Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange story

Three time periods. Different people living on an island. A tornado is forecast. Everybody is advised to evacuate the island. One old house has withstood previous tornadoes, since the turn of the century, so its current residents decide to stay.
The story has flashes of overlapping links between the three different periods, as if vague memories impinge themselves over the current period.
I found this story disturbing because I do not like paranormal beliefs. As a Christian I believe differently. I actually stopped reading right near the end. I did not particularly enjoy this story although the author attempted something rather clever.

[Tl Hippler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure I’ve ever gotten to 85% finished with a book and seriously considered just not coming back for more. While the dual (triplicate) storyline is intriguing in theory, I found myself dragged down by it as the novel progressed. It literally is history repeating itself with the same characters just in different time periods with the modern day thread being unwieldy and cumbersome.
And the ending? What ending?

[Joseph Mcclure · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A haunting, beautifully written tribute to Galveston’s storms and the women they shape.

Storms of Malhado is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. Told through the eyes of three women living in the same Galveston mansion—each facing a historic hurricane—this novel weaves together art, love, loss, and the eerie weight of memory in a way that feels both timeless and intimate.

[Jennifer K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book it follows three story lines and jumps back-and-forth in time. The ending was interesting but I felt in several places that it took to long to get there it’s a good book to read if you’re not aware of the plates of women in history for the last century but again it was long-winded for those of us Who are aware.