Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Touch the Lightning
SERIES: The Storm Boys Series #3
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: BlueHeart Press
LENGTH: 208 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2023
BLURB:
Without a working office, Jeremiah is tasked with repairing the automated weather station on Oxley Island. It’s remote, only accessible by boat, and with there being a good chance of crocodiles, he’s dreading it.
Tully, on the other hand, can’t wait.
With a boat licence, his dad’s boat, and two days alone with Jeremiah—and with thunderstorms likely—to Tully, it’s another perfect adventure.
But their plans go awry when Jeremiah’s research gets far too close for comfort. Thirty years ago, the day his life was touched by lightning, he was changed forever.
It’s about to change again, only this time he’s determined to set things right.
REVIEW:
“What’s that noise?”
“It’s just water.”
“It’s not a crocodile testing the structural integrity of the hull?”
I snorted. “No. This isn’t Jaws.”
* * * *
Crocodiles…gulp! You’ll hear plenty of talk about crocodiles because poor Jeremiah is terrified of them. The more his fears escalated, the more amused I became, not because I wanted him to be distressed but because he’s so darn cute! It’s no wonder Tully is head over heels in love with Jeremiah – he’s his perfect partner: intelligent, thoughtful, adorable, handsome, and he loves the adventure of chasing storms. Tully deserves a man as special as Jeremiah because he’s the bee’s knees, too: loving, protective, supportive, patient, and he comes along with a wonderful family who adores Jeremiah.
Touch the Lightning picks up a month after Cyclone Hazer made a direct hit on Darwin. Jeremiah is still feeling irrationally guilty about the death and destruction, even though his actions likely saved countless lives. He feels rudderless and helpless and the fact he can’t work isn’t helping; his office equipment was destroyed in the storm. But then the Bureau of Meteorology needs him to travel to a remote island, uninhabited – except for maybe crocodiles – to assess and possibly make minor repairs to a weather station there. Of course, Tully joins him and the adventure begins.
There are lots of feels – good and bad – in this book, between the tension and fear of the weather on the island and the growing love between the men. One of the themes of this story is family: Jeremiah healing his relationship with his father, and being welcomed into Tully’s large family with open arms. They would all figuratively go to the ends of the earth for him. Every member opens their heart to Jeremiah, but none more so than Tully’s mother with her unconditional love and nurturing. She becomes the mother Jeremiah never had.
Touch the Lightning is a great conclusion to The Storm Boys series, providing plenty of adventure and romance and a heartwarming HEA. It’s a must read if you’re already invested in the series up to this point, and if you haven’t yet begun the series, grab a copy of the prequel novella, Second Chance at First Love, and get started. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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