The Hurricane

Wow! I actually had never heard of this author & when I purchased there was only one review but something about the cover & synopsis drew me in...and I'm SO glad I took a chance on it. I've been in such a book slump, not liking the books I've read lately & just going back & re-reading old favorites. I just couldn't put this book down! The story isn't groundbreaking....we've all read books with similar plots....fighter falls head over heels for emotionally unavailable girl who's running from a nasty past....but somehow this book felt different & fresh. The hero & heroine were written perfectly....no whiny heroine or cocky manwhore "everyone worship me" hero. O'Connell had insecurities & a vulnerability that made him seem so sweet & Emily survived & escaped horrific abuse by her step-father that made it almost impossible for her to make friends or really even talk to people. But the two of them together....it just worked. The secondary characters were great....sometimes authors will throw in secondary characters as filler but we actually get to know & love all the secondary characters in this book. Their courtship is fast but it's not instalove really (if you know me or have read any if my reviews, you know how much I HATE instalove)....it feels like a slow build & Con & Em are friends for a little while before jumping into anything else. There is no cheating, no constant break up & make ups, no bitchy ex causing major problems (there IS a girl he rejected who has words with Emily but she doesn't cause huge problems) no stupid misunderstandings to keep the couple apart...in other words, none of the usual dreaded & unnecessary drama that some authors use to stir things up & shake up the main couple.....I'm SO over all those story lines. This is just a really great book, a definite 5 stars & I know you will love it as much as I did.

When a person reads so much like I do, that the books tend to get all mixed up in their heads..it’s just frustrating. I find myself looking for books that stand out..that grab me and that keep me in their clutches so that when it ends I am breathless and can’t stop thinking about them. I can honestly say that having read thousands of books that there are only a small amount that really affected me like this. This book The Hurricane is on a very short list of those books that have totally swept me away and kept me there. The Hurricane…and well like the storm it’s named after this book left my heart in utter shambles. It’s come into my mind and wreaked havoc. I read this book luckily months before release and haven’t had one day that has gone by since that I’ve not thought about O’Connell and Emily. But not just this amazing couple. I’ve also thought so much about this family that Ms. Prescott created. Characters that I want to visit again and stories that can't wait to be told. So to start off this ranting raving review..I first want to say a hugeto R. J. Prescott for writing a story that will stay with me forever. When I saw the cover and blurb of this story I had this extreme urge and wanted it like right now! I wanted disclaimers like immediately because I avoid stories with cheating and sex outside the main couple. Ms. Prescott set my mind at ease and I was excited to dive right in. These characters Emily and O'Connell completely captivated me. The way they built first a friendship to falling head over heels in love made me cry and swoon so many times.0'Connell was huge..in body and spirit and I loved him from the beginning. From the moment that Con ..said these words.If you need time, then I’ll give you time. If you need friendship, then I’ll give you friendship. But you’re mine, and when the time is right, when you’re ready, I’m coming for you.” This was me.. He kept me swooning this entire book, I kid you not!Emily was a shell of a person. O'Connell filled this empty shell with so much beauty that it's as if she woke up from a long sleep and started seeing the world again. She saw in O'Connell that he was a good man and even though they were strangers..her heart just felt this strong connection from the start.I gave him something to protect, and he gave me something to cherish.O'Connell was so fiercely protective and never once let Em forget this. This is one of the most important traits that my leading men could have. He was a true hero. He was the true example of my perfect alpha. I believe because this love story grew from the sweetest foundation of friendship that it led to such passion when these two finally came together. For Emily this was a healing love and for O'Connell this was love defined.They filled the empty places inside of each other and every page I found my self holding my breath because I fully believed in them and wanted to see them find their HEA.This was so much more than a romance it was a story about belonging.The way the friends took Emily in was so endearing. Her relationship with every character was so beautifully developed. I felt like I was sucked into this amazing group of misfits right along with her.. watching as they became a steadfast family.Where blood relations betrayed them both ..these friends were the glue that put Em and Con back together.RJ Prescott has written an epic romance here with beauty and healing and characters that will burrow themselves into your heart. This one will go down as one of the most romantic yet emotional and uplifting reads ever for me. I will be eagerly awaiting the next thing she writes with so much anticipation.

At first I enjoyed it, but after a while it really seemed to drag. I felt like I was always waiting for something to happen. Maybe because their romance just didn’t carry the story like it was supposed to.When something big finally did happen, I was put off by it. The author was trying to “keep it real” I think, but ended up making the ending very unfulfilling. Readers don’t read for reality, they read to escape from reality. I would rather see a guy succeed at saving the day and protecting the girl than totally fail and the girl have to live possible long-term consequences, yet somehow that is ok because she...learned something? Stayed strong for those she loved? Like that makes it all ok.Time to go read some PNR where they don’t remotely value reality.I don’t recommend buying this book.

This book had nice elements but overall it was lacking.Despite the title, The Hurricane only has 2 chapters from his POV...the epilogue and prologue, and I wouldn't say it focusses heavily on him as a boxer.It's female lead is often referred to as 'sunshine', (which is nauseating) and by about 3 of the characters. It should be a special name for her by Cormac really, or Danny, but not both and then half the fighters.Another annoying trope used here is that every man in the area fancies her. It's boring.There are some sweet moments of dialogue but overall makes you want to vomit- it's just too much sugar.The sex scenes make me feel nothing.Despite Sunshine being Welsh, the book is written with US english and not British, another example of the poor editing. Gray, customize, panties, school. It' s grey, customise, pants and university. Why do authors do this? It makes a book feel schizophrenic as I know the character is British but she speaks in American. ???? Just weird.Typos/ missing words too, leaves you a bit muddled and the formatting is out.Disappointing, as you can tell by this awful review.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.Emily thinks she's weak but this is the furthest thing from the truth. What that girl has been through takes real strength to continue standing upright. When she meets O'Connell she hasn't found her core strength yet, but with his love and belief in her she stands taller than she ever has before.I wish these characters were real because I want to go to Driscolls's gym, not to exercise you understand. I want to go bowling with them, head to the pub and just be part of that world because what RJ Prescott has given us is a family to believe in.Definitely a world I will visit again and again.

It's full of the true meaning of family, which if you're from a broken home as so many of the characters are family isn't something you're born with but something you acquire. The strength of all the friendships made me reaching for the tissues, and was a real pleasure to see develop.Emily is AMAZING! She is so sweet and caring, always trying to protect herself which makes her endearing to all who know her. Her desire to stay free from her past makes her make some unwise decisions, but thankfully she slowly learns to extend her friendship circle, and in doing so finding the true meaning of family. I loved how she was doing her best to improve her life, but eventually accepts help from others, especially when they give her things in such a way it would be rude for her to say no. You'll need more tissues for the heartwarming moments which are many.The level of protection Emily gains from simply knowing Danny increases tenfold when she agrees to work for him and meets his ragtag version of family. While the flashbacks of her traumatic past are emotionally hard to read, they helped reveal little by little why she is so fearful of men. At first her new friends don't know her full history, but they sense that there's a reason for her timidness: they respect that and help her gain confidence in herself, more so O'Connell who has a similar tricky situation which also unravels as the story progress. More tissue moments!He really is different to Emily. It was nice to see a softer side to him, it helps him fully understand Emily, although it takes her almost forever to accept just how much he loves her. While Emily may take her time trusting people and seem timid, she has an inner strength and passion for life which is drawn out as her new friendships deepen, which prove useful when she has to face her inner and outer demons.I may not necessarily approve of boxing (neither does Emily) but it can help channel aggression and keep people off the streets and out of trouble. The way almost everyone in Danny's work is desperate to take care of Emily is sweet, innuendos aside they are a good bunch. And the title can apply to both Emily and O'ConnellI'm hoping this comes out on audiobook as I can't wait to reread it, it's that good. Definitely one for your shelf!I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner [...]

What a cracking debut!!Emily has been in hiding for a few years from a monstrous past. She keeps herself isolated to avoid being noticed. O’Connell has had a tough life growing up with an alcoholic mother – boxing has been his saving grace.Emily slowly emerges from her shell when new friends force themselves upon her and push her outside her comfort zone to experience new things. I loved the boxing gang and the uni gang – how much of a family unit they provided for Emily.I loved the fragile Emily and tough O’Connell together. Loved how they were so much stronger and better together; how complete they were together. The love and relationship between them felt natural and inevitable. They had fantastic chemistry but their feelings for one another were really swoonworthy!This was an awesome book – well-paced and gritty, with some horrific moments offset by the sweetest and most tender of moments. The author really brings out all the emotions in the reader – humour, fear, excitement, hate, and most of all love. Oh, the love!! Honestly, CANNOT WAIT for the follow up book!

Escape into my Reads Book BlogI saw The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott on one of my favourite author’s news feeds on FB and it was getting high praises, so of course I had to one click because I’m also a sucker when it comes to mma romance.The prologue pulled me right in with O’Connells thoughts and I soon found myself turning the pages and swept deep into the story. Emily McCarthy fears her past will catch up with her so she lives in fear and keeps herself hidden, avoiding as much human contact as possible. Whilst studying for her maths degree Emily waitresses to meet her living and education expenses but her wage just about covers her basic needs. Meeting Danny a regular at Daisy’s café helps Emily to come out of her shell and he offers her a job at his boxing gym to do his accounts as she is a maths whizz.What follows after as you follow Emily and O’Connell’s journey is a storyline with the right mix of pain, drama, angst, revenge and humour, fight action, seeing those sexy abs during workout sessions that make you melt, a sweet and swoon worthy alpha man, hilarious secondary characters, and plenty of hot sexy scenes. This was a brilliant debut novel by the author so if you are a fan of Real by Katy Evans and the Redemption series by Sarah Castille I think you will love this. I felt like I was in the Rocky movie as the writing was so creative and raw pulling in my emotions so thumbs up for me now can I please get the second book Aftermath!