Hurricane Kiss

By Deborah Blumenthal

For sixteen-year-old Jillian McKay, the threat of Hurricane Danielle means a long car ride with her neighbors—including River Daughtry. Yes, that River Daughtry—the former star quarterback of Harrison High. The guy who was headed to glory until suddenly he disappeared to a West Texas juvenile detention center. The guy she kissed. But he’s a mystery to everyone: once cocky and flirtatious, he’s now silent and angry, a dropout who avoids everyone.

When their evacuation route is stuck in a massive gridlock, however, River is the first to recognize the danger they’re in. Together he and Jillian set out to seek shelter in their abandoned high school. As the weather intensifies, Jillian sees a storm is building inside River as well, and in the dark hallways of the school, they realize survival is about more than just staying alive—it’s about fighting for yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman Company
• Release date: May 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504032261

Deborah Blumenthal

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist, and the author of twenty-three books for adults and children. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times. Her feature stories have appeared in a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines, including The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Family Circle, and Woman’s Day. Deborah lives in New York City.

Reviews for Hurricane Kiss

[jeracafite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. For some reason, I really like novels about natural disasters. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to go through one. But reading about them gives me a doomed feeling, a feeling of survival that is better than any adrenaline story. I think because it's something that can really happen and impact everyone involved. So I really enjoyed the Hurricane Danielle aspect of this novel. But I didn't really like the characters of the story all too well... I understand River's issues - I mean a person of authority shouldn't treat students they way this person did and River was really messed up from it. I'm glad things got resolved in that aspect and I shouldn't judge him too harshly, but running outside MULTIPLE times during the storm is insane and he needed to stay inside and safe. And Jillian is so indecisive. First it was what she was feeling for River even though she is with Aidan. And she did a last minute decision on whether she should follow River or stay put with his father. Jillian needs to make decisions for herself rather than what is best for others. I think she came to that personality by the end of the novel. So this was a good book. It could have been better, but I've read worse so it's in the middle for me. I'm glad I read an early copy of it and I think a lot of readers will enjoy the storyline. I also liked that this was based on a true life story...Made it even more eerie!

[Suze Lavender · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hurricane Danielle is on the way and people need to be evacuated. Jillian is among the people who are trying to get away to a safer place. She has to accept a car ride with her neighbors because her mother has to be elsewhere and can't leave the area. This means she has to be in the car with River who used to be a promising football player at her high school. He was looking at a bright future until several months in a juvenile detention center ended that dream. He liked to have fun and was flirty and confident, but his time in prison has changed him. He's angry and reckless plus he doesn't like to talk. It's going to be a difficult drive for Jillian.

When traffic is stuck there's nowhere to go. River knows they will be in danger if they stay on the highway. There's no chance they will reach their destination in time and Dannielle is coming closer. He takes a brave and bold decision, instead of getting away from the storm he tries to run right back into it. Jillian has only got a few minutes to make up her mind, will she go with him and try to look for shelter or will she stay waiting for the traffic to clear up, even though that means she would risk being trapped with thousands of other people on the highway?

Hurricane Kiss is a thrilling read about two people who used to like each other very much. When River's football career ended before it properly started he stopped reaching out to anyone, including his neighbor Jillian. She wants to understand him, to know what happened. The extreme weather conditions and not knowing if they will survive brings them closer. I loved the way Deborah Blumenthal describes the fear of the main characters, but also the adrenaline rush that comes with having to survive a dangerous situation.

Hurricane Kiss put me on the edge of my seat, it's such a gripping read. River and Jillian are in an unsafe situation that can end badly any minute, but they still don't forget to notice there's beauty in it at the same time. River's destructive behavior and his reluctance to talk together with his obvious traumas made the story even more interesting. Deborah Blumenthal has written a book that's filled with contrasts and opposites. I liked that choice, it works really well. Hurricane Kiss is more than just a convergence of scary scenes, it has a sensitive and romantic part too and eventually everything comes together really well in a fitting ending. I absolutely loved this strong, emotional and powerful story.