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REVIEW: Hurricane Dreams, by Julia McBryant

Title: Hurricane Dreams

Series: Southern Sediction Book Four

Author: Julia McBryant

Genre: Comtemporary

LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay

Publisher: Self

Pages: 62

Reviewer: Maryann

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About The Book

Audie Currell, the only son of one of the richest families in Charleston, runs off from his parent’s wine tasting with his father’s business associate’s son, Calhoun Chatterton, another well-off teenager from Savannah. They start dating in secret.

But Audie’s abusive childhood stands in the way of an authentic relationship — as does their family’s homophobia. They have to hide their relationship while coping with Audie’s trauma.

Can two naive teenagers manage such a difficult task?

The Review

Audie Currell comes from a very wealthy family that resides in Charleston.  Audie is not impressed or does he care about the wine tasting event that his parents are hosting.  Bored as ever he makes his escape from the lavish party, as he knows he won’t be missed.

Calhoun Chatterton resides in Savannah, where he also shares in his families wealth.  He’s attending the wine tasting event with his father and hoping to meet up with friends. 

As Audie makes his escape he spies Calhoun and he’s curious about the young man.  Audie introduces himself and both hit it off, discussing college, studies and what they like to do.  Audie suggests leaving the party as he knows his parents won’t care where he’s off too. They eventually wind up at Calhoun’s hotel room and from there they discover a connection but neither is sure where it will lead them.

Julia McBryant is a new author, for me.  She brings an emotional story of two young men who are finding their first love, struggling with real life issues and growing up.  Calhoun is more of an easy going personality where Audie can easily influence him into doing new things.  Audie’s personality is a little more complex, as he has fears from abuse both physical and mental which makes him feel that he will never be loved.  Both deal with the issue of not being “out”. 

This was a quick read and at first I felt that Audie was telling the story but then it seemed to drift to a third party narration. I thought that sort of took away from Audie’s character and the emotion he felt about his life, family and Calhoun. One thing that really stood out was the gradual conversations of Audie and Calhoun, as they learned more about each other and not making their story just about the physical relationship.   

There are several books in the “Southern Seduction” series but I don’t believe they need to be read before this one, because they are about different characters.  “Hurricane Dreams” focuses on Audie and Calhoun only.  I don’t know if the author has plans for more from Audie and Calhoun but I would like to see how their relationship progresses and see where life takes them.

The Reviewer

Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California.  Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018.  My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen.  New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. 

Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age I always liked to read.  I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King and many other authors. My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012.  She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series.

Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone” by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book! As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me.  But if a blurb peaks my interest I will read the book. My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing.

I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading. I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews.  One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group.  Joining her site was such an eye opener.  I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre.  

Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.  But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.

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