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Tsunami

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December 26, 2004.It's just another day in paradise. Mitch and Amber couldn't be happier. They are newlyweds, expecting their first child and honeymooning in Thailand.As they enjoy their romantic getaway on the peaceful island, plans are made for their future together. But on the morning of Boxing Day, December 26, 2004, tragedy strikes. The remote and peaceful island is struck with one of the worlds largest and deadliest earthquakes which triggers a devastating Tsunami.Amber is trapped in her hotel room and is unable to contact Mitch. She slowly starts to panic, causing stress to her unborn child. As the Tsunami causes mass destruction across the island, Amber finds herself going into premature labor. Suddenly, the newlywed's romantic honeymoon, becomes an emotionally gripping race for survival.

70 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2018

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31 people want to read

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J.O. Mantel

43 books311 followers

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5 stars
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14 (23%)
3 stars
13 (22%)
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6 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up.
2,897 reviews434 followers
March 17, 2017
This is a very short story that is only 43 pages, but, don't be mistaken as there is a lot in this that pulls a punch.

Amber and her husband are enjoying a well enough break over the Christmas holidays in Thailand. Amber is 6 months pregnant. Spending time together before their child is born and the commitments to child rearing start.

But things turn in such a way that their life will never be the same again.

This story is taken from inspired by the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 which left so much devastation and lives lost. THIS IS, HOWEVER A FICTIONAL story but with the actual awful historical event surrounding it.

Very moving, very heartbreaking.
Profile Image for Annie.
727 reviews20 followers
March 4, 2017
A short story I was able to read in one sitting and would like to rate 4.5 stars. A harrowing, heartbreaking and gripping story that was inspired by the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 where more than 225 000 lives were lost across 14 countries from both earthquake and tsunami. The effects of this were seen as far as Antartica and North America and by February 2015, official search rescue efforts ceased, marking this as one of the deadliest disasters in recorded history. This story is set in Thailand where Mitch and Amber are celebrating their honeymoon when disaster strikes. Although the storyline was fiction, what I really enjoyed was the accurate referencing of the event and the storyline itself was realistic. My eyes welled up in tears whilst reading this and it really put me there. With some scenes and themes covered in the story, I recommend this to an adult reading audience, aged 18+ - a great and gripping story!
Profile Image for Jojo Reeves.
1,142 reviews21 followers
February 3, 2017
Mitch and his new, pregnant wife, Amber are on their dream honeymoon in Patong, Thailand over Xmas holiday.
On boxing day at breakfast everything starts to shake as the tremors of an earthquake hit. It leaves Amber shaken so she decides to rest in their room while Mitch goes for a swim in the sea. That's when the tsunami hits! Amber is screaming for Mitch and scanning the beach from her balcony, when the water starts coming in her room. As. She is calling for help the shock triggers her labour, Amber is taken to hospital, her baby's life hand in the balance, her husband missing and she is alone in a foreign country to deal with the aftermath of this disaster.
This story will have you in tears as the drama unfolds. Although it's a work of fiction it's based around the true Events of boxing day 2004.. The author writes in such a descriptive style that you feel Amber's anguish and fear, you Sense the commotion and chaos going on around her as she comes to term with the life changing events. I would highly recommend Tsunami
Profile Image for Gemma Downing.
52 reviews6 followers
February 3, 2017
One word for this short story – WOW.

It follows Amber who is 6 months pregnant and is enjoying the sun and sea of Thailand along with her husband Mitch. They are on their dream honeymoon and soaking up every bit of time together before parenthood. Little do they know of the events that are about to unfold on Boxing Day and change the course of their lives forever.

At only 43 pages long, this story packs a huge punch with powerful emotions surging through it. It manages to capture the feelings of Amber brilliantly and I found myself swept up in her plight and couldn’t help but cry along with her as the day continues. This is an exceptionally well written story. It is written with sensitivity taking into account the fact that it is based on true tragic events and makes you feel just a snippet of what people who lived through this catastrophe actually experienced. Well done J.O on a great story.
Profile Image for Vonia.
37 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2017
I found the story griping the protagonist go to have their honey moon in a place of dreams beaches and atmospheric delight they share their love meet other tourist and enjoy themselves the first few days. sudenly... well the event from that point are part of history and the writer brings you along your emotions your angst will they survive will the baby what will happen the story is short but gripping. enjoy one click worthy for sure I promise and mr J o Mantel your Rocked!<3
Profile Image for Tina J.
1,341 reviews173 followers
March 16, 2017
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ALMOST-FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
A black wave, bold title, faint author font. Nothing eye-catching. The title caught my eye and although it sounds like a mix of a couple movies I'd seen, also Based on True Events, I was still drawn to it.

> > Looking Deeper < <

POV ~> Third-person

The lead couple are Australian, honeymooning in Thailand over Christmas. Amber is 6 months pregnant. There is a secondary couple (Chloe and Dan), also from Australia, enjoying a getaway from the kids for a week that Amber and Mitch meet on the first day. Unfortunately, we never learn their outcome. As the title suggests, this story is based on the deadly Indonesian Tsunami back in 2004.
The plot felt stiff, the dialogue seemed scripted. It was hard to connect with either of the characters as they were written and the writer's style seemed inconsistent. Some of this may be because there was no back story so we did not get the opportunity to get to know them before all of this, and so few words and/or pages to build the novella presented.
It's hard to do such a tragic event any justice when the finished product is less than 50 pages, therefore the story fell a little due to lack of supporting elements. While the main couple are void of unresolved issues, there were some minor things that did not quite hit the mark for me.
Overall, not a terrible story, but neither was it unique.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.8 ~ Stars: 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from Enticing Journey and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
Profile Image for Amalie Pearce.
5 reviews16 followers
January 30, 2017
Tsunami was an interesting read for me. I’m usually not one to read a short story but was intrigued by the topic as I remember the media around this tragedy.

This was a great read and I found myself finishing it before I realised where the time had gone. The writing flowed really well and you are sucked into the story along with the characters.

What I liked:
You really feel like this could be you and I found my emotions around this added to the story.

What I would have liked more of:
It was great as a short story but it could also have been longer without feeling drawn out. I felt like the end was a little rushed and could have had a bit more explaining around the how and why things did and didn’t occur.

If you are looking for a quick but emotional read, then this is a book for you.
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
March 24, 2017
Mitch and Amber are newlyweds honeymooning in Thailand. They are very happy, and six months along with a child, until tragedy strikes, as one of the world's largest earthquakes happens, which in turn, triggers a deadly Tsunami. Since this is a super quick read, that's all I'm giving because otherwise spoilers would come out. Although it's super short, it packs a huge punch in that time, and my nerves were on edge. J.O. Mantel's talented writing style had me in tears more than once. And although it's based on the tragedy on Boxing Day in 2014, it's fiction, but I did have to keep reminding myself of that, as she caught the terror of the chaos and danger perfectly. It's super hard to type up a review for this one, but I will end with HIGHLY RECOMMENDING Tsunami, however, have kleenex handy.
Profile Image for Marnie.
1,285 reviews30 followers
November 19, 2018
Short, punchy and heartfelt.

This heartfelt short novella of a young couple with every promise and every dream of a promising future in front of them could be anyone’s story, at any time. You just don’t know when it’s your time.

J. O Mantel put together a beautifully tragic story based on the actual events, where 225, 000 people across 14 countries lost their lives in what is known to be one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. 4 Stars.
Profile Image for Jessica .
1,046 reviews21 followers
December 17, 2018
Wow this story is gripping and takes you on an emotional roller-coaster. This is a very short story about 40 pages but don't let that stop you from reading it. It packs a punch and may have you in tears. This has real life moments that happened with the fiction of a story intertwined. I don't want to put to much in my review because I don't want to put anything that could be a spoiler. This story takes us on a honeymoon of Mitch and Amber.
Profile Image for Ashley .
1,150 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2017
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily writing a review.

As a disclaimer this book is short, very very short. But This is an amazing short story! This story is inspired from the 2004 tsunami, which led to so much destruction and lives lost. This is not a happy love story. This is a necessary and beautiful story. I highly recommend reading it. And even if it turns out not to be your cup of tea, it's only about 50 pages.

I am so glad to have gotten the opportunity to have read this story and experienced Mantel's work.
Profile Image for Stacey Broadbent.
Author 67 books250 followers
January 12, 2019
3.5 stars for this short and sweet novella!

Based on the tragic Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand, this short story tells the tale of Amber and Mitch - a couple on their honeymoon. These two are expecting their first baby, and Amber finds herself quite uncomfortable at times - perhaps her body's way of warning her what's about to happen.
We get to see things from her POV at the time of impact, which I think was nicely done. I would have liked to see a little more detail about the event as it was happening - perhaps even switching to the other couple they made friends with, as we don't actually find out what happened to them.

I was able to read the entire thing in one sitting, which was fantastic for what I wanted. A good short read that will keep you interested.
Profile Image for Tabitha.
635 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2021
Tsunami

The storyline concept was good, but the storytelling seemed rushed. For me, the story did not have enough details to get the full effect of the drama associated with the Tsunami's aftermath. The story seemed to need more apprehension and angst.
However, one thing I truly enjoyed was the ending. I love a happy ending no matter how long or short a story is or is not.
Profile Image for Laura Reinhart .
427 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2017
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest 8. I liked the story and the character. I did find that the story dragged a bit in the beginning but overall it was a good book. If you have a bit of free time and are looking for a really quick read them this could be what you are looking for.

Profile Image for Helen Simpson.
1,223 reviews41 followers
December 12, 2018
WOW THIS BOOK WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. MADE ME THINK HOW THOSE PEOPLE FELT THROUGH THAT TERRIBLE TIME. WROTE FROM A PREGNANT WOMAN'S POINT OF VIEW, I FELT FOR HER. WOULD OF WISHED THIS BOOK WAS LONGER TO DELVE MORE INTO THE STORY.
Profile Image for Ria Alexander.
2,670 reviews51 followers
February 15, 2017
Life emerges from the darkness of a tragedy

December 26th 2004, a date that will be forever remembered in the minds of many. A date when 250,000 plus people perished and many more had their lives changed forever. The date an earthquake caused a tsunami to hit the coastlines of many Asian countries and cause a tragedy beyond all belief.

J.O Mantel's Tsunami touches on the fictional story of an Australian couple caught up in this phenomenal disaster. Amber and Mitch are newlyweds and are enjoying their honeymoon in Thailand. Amber is six months pregnant with their first child, so this is their last chance for some alone time prior to the baby's arrival.

What ensues is a tale that will tear your heart apart and have you reaching for the tissues - so have them nearby. Amber and Mitch's story will take you on the proverbial emotional rollercoaster ride - you will experience laughter, joy, pain, anguish and fear through every word that Mr Mantel has written.

It is only a short novella, but Mr Mantel has been able to put so much into it that you will be emotionally exhausted once it has finished. BRILLIANT is the only way to describe this story.

FIVE STARS.
75 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2017
This is a wonderful time for Amber and Mitch who are enjoying their honeymoon when disaster happens on the island where they are staying. The book encompasses the events of the Boxing Day tsunami and brings to you a small glimpse into what these people went through. I found that the author has written the storyline with a deep understanding of the emotions Amber and Mitch were going through so much that you were able to relate to the characters and the storyline of what happens when dealing with a disaster. The author has captured the devastation of the tsunami on the area and the people experiencing it with such sensitivity, you can imagine yourself there and going through what they are experiencing. The emotions they go through makes you laugh, cry, and believe in miracles. The book is only a novella and you are taken into the story quickly but it is extremely well written. I didn't feel like I was missing anything and I wasn't left wondering what happened. The story flowed very well and was beautifully written. The author has taken you into Amber and Mitch lives and the event that changed them (WARNING you will need tissues to finish the book). This is now the third book from this author I have read and they just keep getting better and better. I cannot wait to find out where this author takes me on my next journey. The sky's the limit for this person and he is fast becoming someone to watch out for.

Profile Image for Kimberly O'connell.
107 reviews
February 3, 2017
I received this book to post an honest review and I have to say I absolutely enjoyed it. The author made you feel like you were really experiencing the tsunami as you read it through his characters eyes. The only thing I wish I had was more because it was too short.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,406 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2017
An event that makes world wide news told with a personal twist. Whats meant to be a celebration of a couples love and commitment turns into a race for survival in conditions that are less than ideal. A well told story with all the feels.
Profile Image for Jennifer Richey.
1,992 reviews
January 31, 2017
Wow!!

Amber & Mitch go on their honeymoon and a natural disaster happen! And even worse she goes into labor! She has a baby girl and goes home without the love of her life. But he finds her. I definally cried. Very sweet sweet story
Profile Image for Rae Sontheyon.
263 reviews18 followers
March 25, 2017
Short Story Based On Tragic World Disaster . . .

Short reads are always hard to review fairly, because they don't have the benefit of page length to truly engage the reader. With that being said, this story didn't hit it's main point till halfway through and then ended on a quick note.

My main issue is that the main couple's sex life is in more detail than the actual natural disaster. Don't get me wrong I'm okay with a couple being on their honeymoon/babymoon. However, when the story is supposed to be focused on how they survive something unimaginable, I'd prefer more content on that portion of the book. Especially when I was pulled into that part of the story wondering if they would have a HEA, I truly could have done without knowing just how hot and heavy they could get every time they were alone or together.
Profile Image for Sheridan.
582 reviews16 followers
October 16, 2017
What an amazing short story! This would of been an epic book if it was longer but it was still a great read!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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