Storm Rising By Ronie Kendig

Storm Rising
by Ronie Kendig
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764231872

When I had the opportunity to accept Storm Rising for review from Bethany House, I was pretty excited. I hadn't read any of Ronie's books and I'd heard what a great author she was. As you know, most of the books I read are historical fiction, but every now and again I get an itch for something different. Storm Rising fit that bill.

Summary:

Does an Ancient Book of Prophecy Hold the Answers to Saving the World . . . Or Predict Its Destruction? 
Mentioned in the pages of the Old Testament but lost to history, the Book of the Wars has resurfaced, and its pages hold secrets--and dangers--never before seen on earth. 

Tasked with capturing the ancient text, former Navy SEAL Leif Metcalfe is once more given command of his own team. But their best efforts are ruined when a notorious Bulgarian operative known as Viorica snatches the volume right out from under them.

Iskra "Viorica" Todorova is determined to use the book to secure the thing that matters most--freedom. But a series of strange storms erupts around the globe, and the coming dangers foretold in the text threaten crops, lives, and entire nations. Though both are haunted by secrets of the past and neither trusts the other, Leif and Iskra must form an uneasy alliance to thwart impending disaster. However, the truth hidden in centuries-old words could unleash a storm of their own destruction.

My Review:

Do you like books that grip you from start to finish? Have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what's about to happen? If so, then Storm Rising is the book for you. Starting with the prologue, it's an action packed adventure until the epilogue!

Not having read Ronie Kendig's books before I wasn't prepared to be "all in" with the story. To be honest, my mind kept going back to the characters during my day when I was reading. Have you ever had that happen? Your mind wanders to the fictional characters you're reading about, and you're wondering what they're doing? lol As if they're doing anything without you reading the book.

I think for me, that's how great this writing is. The characters were brought to life through Ronie's writing. Leif, the former Navy SEAL, who has 6 months of his life missing from his memory. That's part of the storyline that I'm committed to. There's also something else fascinating about him that I hope will be answered in the books yet to come. The author and those who have read the book already should know what I'm referencing.

Then there's Iskra. The life she's lead - the terrible things she's done and been through - she's such a fighter. It's easy to see why she and Leif have a hard time building any trust. There's just something so "set apart" about her. Something that makes me want to cheer her on. Tenacity. Maybe that's it. Strange that I would hope a bit of her would be in me.

Next there's the rest of the special ops team who the readers get to know and you root for. I like that they're present throughout the entire story so that we become invested in them as well. Each one for their own reason, but trust me, you're going to like each one of them

Of course, what would a story like this be if we weren't questioning those in authority and wondering if they're for or against the team. Who can be trusted at all throughout this book? And of course, I have to mention the Book of Wars which is what this series is all about. I never even knew this was mentioned in Numbers. I read where it's mentioned, but don't understand it at all. How cool that the author ran with it as a storyline!

There is some romance in the story as well. When I'm reading books like this I tend to gloss over those parts. I mean, I realize it's an important part of the story and we get to know the characters better, but when the romance parts show up I tend to read over them a bit quicker. I'm in it for the action! hahahaha

I've already read the summary for book 2 which comes out in March 2020 and I'm on high alert! The only hard part about this book was finishing it so quickly. I enjoyed it so much I wasn't ready for it to end. Today has almost been like an adrenaline rush that I'm coming off of as I read the epilogue. This book is absolutely a must-read this summer!

About the Author:

Ronie Kendig (www.roniekendig.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up an army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband live a short train ride from New York City with their children and a retired military working dog. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.