{A Kristin A Book Review} Tempest by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Title: Tempest
Series: Hurricane 1.5
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Self-Published
November 23, 2012

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Synopsis:

Hayden Boudreaux couldn't decide which was worse— that he was falling in love with a mortal or that the only way to break his family's centuries-old curse would be to kill her. Of all that he was certain was the more time he spent with her, the more he knew he would do anything to protect Adriana Alexander, including sacrificing his eternity. What he wouldn't expect was that Luke - his brother that hated Ana, who wanted to kill her - would decide he would want her as his own.

I was lucky enough to have read and reviewed Hurricane  for Jenna-Lynne back in September of 2011. I've been not-so-patiently waiting for the sequel. I fell in love with Adriana, the strong and accepting heroine, and her two heros - Hayden and Luke Boudreaux. To say I was ecstatic when asked to review this novella is an understatement.

Tempest takes place during the time of Hurricane, only told from Hayden's point-of-view. I love getting to know characters on a personal level, and Tempest did just that. Hayden knows what he's supposed to do, but then he realizes he absolutely cannot follow through on a task that would free his entire family from a curse which had plagued them for centuries. He's found his one.  His only one and nothing's coming between them, unless Luke...well, you need to read the books to answer that question.

I've always been fascinated by New Orleans, Voodoo, and Mardi Gras. Okay, the Voodoo fascination is in relation to fictional reading only, to tell the truth, it freaks me out just a tad bit; but I'd love to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The first novel, Hurricane, transported me there. I lived the culture and became quickly fascinated with everything surrounding Hurricane Katrina. The erratic weather, the fear of being trapped, the heartache of losing everything. Tempest doesn't go as in depth but I loved it just the same.

What did I love most about this little novella? The interactions between Hayden and Luke. You don't only get to know Hayden better, but Luke also. You find out what drives his actions from start to finish. Much of the major storyline is bypassed, so I suggest you read Hurricane first, then move right on to Tempest!

See my review for Hurricane HERE!

Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Title: Hurricane
Series: Hurricane #1
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Publisher: Divertir Publishing LLC
Copyright © 2011 by Jenna-Lynne Duncan
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Excerpt:

"I anxiously looked around, my heart palpitating, just in time to see an alligator slink into the green algae covered water that was on either side of us. I swallowed hard, and my heart raced even faster. Alligators were a different type of predator—the one thing I was afraid of. Now I was on my own personal swamp tour. What if my kidnappers left me in the middle of a swamp with five of them creeping up on me? I’ve had that nightmare before and—oh no, if my dreams really are a sign of the future—I couldn’t breathe now."

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see the potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou. Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her? Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future? Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

Jenna-Lynn Duncan begins Hurricane several days before Hurricane Katrina destroys New Orleans. The prologue had me hooked and I found each page full of exciting events and trivia about New Orleans’ culture. I have always wanted to visit New Orleans and now I know I have to, and yes I know this is a purely fictional tale. The characters brought this story to life, allowing you to fall into the story.

• Adriana is a seventeen year old young woman who suffers from loneliness and the insecurities of feeling out of place in her normal world. She begins having precognitions the night before the first day of school which will prove to be true.
• Nikki is one of Adriana’s only friends – a boy-crazy friends at that.
• Marie is another friend of Adriana’s that makes a couple of appearances in the story.
• Hayden Boudreaux is one of the sexy brothers  juswhot moved into town. He has every girl swooning when he walks by. When it comes to Adriana he runs hot and cold…you never know what to expect.
• Luke Boudreaux is the second half of the brotherly duo and it doesn’t sound like he lacking in the looks department either.
• Elizabeth and Christopher are Luke and Hayden’s parents. They look fondly on Adriana, welcoming her openly into their family of mystery.
• Marie Laveau is the Voodoo Queen who cursed generations to a life of murder and immortality.

I fell in love with this mysterious and haunting tale from the very beginning. The prologue is written from one of Adriana’s kidnappers point of view. This took you into the middle of the story so even if the beginning seemed to drag a little – you had to keep reading. This is one of the best uses of a prologue that I have seen in a long time. Bravo to you Ms. Duncan.

New Orleans is one of those places that is naturally surrounded by mystery and culture…from Voodoo to Mardi Gras. The events that took place in Hurricane transported you into that mysterious culture. There were points that I was completely creeped out and points that I wanted nothing more but to get in my car and drive there. And the description leading up to Hurricane Katrina…well it took me back to that time. I felt like I was the one preparing to evacuate.

The Boudreaux brothers are anything but the boys next door. When their attention falls on the wallflower, Adriana, she becomes extremely curious. Not that they gave her any answers, but she asked her questions all the same. I really liked Adriana as a protagonist, she was strong – not in a kick your butt sort of way…but she didn’t whine and she just went with the flow. Once she figured out who she could trust, she was loyal without question or concern.

This is a highly recommended book that will transport you to another place.

*Important note – a part of the proceeds from this book go to the Habitat for Humanity – New Orleans.

*I was given a free e-book by the publisher of Hurricane in return for my honest review.