The Hurricane

She was the Sunshine in the eye of a hurricane…

Emily kept wondering why?After all she was the one running late today and I’m never late for work and I felt so terrible and on top of all that I was darn near frozen to boot.
However I quickly went about topping off cups of coffee before talking to one of my regular customers; but today he wasn’t sitting alone.
He was a mountain of a man and he made me extremely nervous; growing up in the kind of home I came from it didn’t take me long to develop certain traits.
The fact I’m still using those techniques even now; especially when I found myself in socially awkward situations.
As soon as my customers were gone;
the girl who worked the other section started braying at me because she couldn’t understand why a man like him was sitting in my section.
Honestly I didn’t have a clue who he was or even why he sat where he did and I really didn’t have time to care.
As much as I’ve enjoyed my job I have big and better plans for myself; which included graduating from a reputable school.
Even when I was terrified beyond belief and was desperate to be a wallflower I realized I couldn’t keep on living that way.
Because I’m hoping not to let me history to define my bright future.
My first night at my new job was almost my last because I seriously considered running for the hills.
Danny never explained what kind of business he owned but then again I never really thought to ask.
So here I am in a teeny tiny office which happens to be not that far from a room full of sweaty men beating on things and maybe even each other.
I couldn’t believe Cormac when he insisted that he was supposed to be walking me home, and I wasn’t having it.
Now I knew Danny meant well but seriously to give out my private information but then he played the old man card.
Wow talk about guilt tripping someone Danny just played me like some grand fiddle.
First of I’m not a good time girl; the party scene isn’t my thing but I was willing to give it a chance.
However I was done; my friend left me for the guy she liked and not knowing many other people I was ready to leave when I’d surprising heard him.
Cormac….
Its pretty sad when neither one of your parents care much beyond their own selfish desires.
And of course my dad was barely a footnote during my childhood then there’s my mom who had her own priorities that usually didn’t include me.
Sometimes the best messages don’t always make since until the right person delivers it then its like a total epiphany.
I knew I scared Emily when we first meet however I’ve noticed she’s slowly but surely she’s become less skittish and honestly I want her to know my true intentions because I’m not going anywhere.
Still I was worried that once I shared my sorrowful history with Cormac that he might look at me differently; even though he kept trying to reassure me that would never happen in a million years.
I should have known the minute my mom showed up for my match that she had some hidden agenda and once she realized I wasn’t falling for her act; she turned her attention towards someone else.
Nope… Just no way I’m not about to let the best woman in my life think she can shove me out the door.
Cormac knew I was still terrified my past wasn’t quite in the past as I’d had hoped but he came up with a brilliant idea.
And I’m so super happy with my new last name and the the gorgeous mountain of a man that came with it.
Unfortunately I’d been to excited and preoccupied that I left my guard down when the unthinkable happens.
But I’m not willing to give up because I know no matter what I can survive anything.

It isn’t the first time that I have read The Hurricane and I believe that one of the signs of a great book is that you experience all the feels as if it was the first time of reading. Oh My Word I just couldn’t put this book down…… again!! With The Fire coming later this year, I felt that was the perfect excuse to put my tbr list to one side and re-read this series. I’ve always said that this book is a top favourite of mine and reading this again has just confirmed that.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell – what I would give to have him in my corner! I loved seeing the change in him once he had found the woman of his dreams. Not only do we see Con want to change his ways out of the ring but in it too, and I loved how Emily was the motivation he needed to up his game and training program and aim to make his dreams come true!
Emily McCarthy has had the most horrific upbringing. Moving to London to escape her past and realise her ambitions was a huge step for her, but she’s scared and is forever looking over her shoulder. Meeting Con and his friends would have been daunting for anyone but I loved how quickly he, Danny and all the guys made her part of their family. Con didn’t want Em just to be a part of their group but had intentions of making a future with her. They have lots to work through before that could even be a possibility and I was really rooting for them both from the very beginning.

This book is emotional. There are scenes that were tough to read but were necessary and made me feel and understand exactly what was happening and the reasons behind decisions that were made. I smiled lots, laughed, had butterflies in my stomach and felt the angst too. This book had everything, and I hope I don’t leave it a few years before I pick it up again for another re-read.

Emily is working double shifts to make money to finish her education. Waiting tables does not come easy as Emily is so shy she can barely speak to her customers, but one cantankerous old man breaches her silence and they become unlikely friends. Through this friendship he offers her a job as the bookkeeper at his gym. A job that requires her to hold her own among a group of rowdy young men. One of those men is up and coming fighter Cormac “The Hurricane” O’Connell. He has had his eye on this sweet quiet waitress and when she lands in his path he makes every effort to be her friend.

This novel really surprised me. The cover fooled me, making me think this novel would be all “romance”. It was more of a slow burn novel. These characters were from the wrong side of the tracks, so there was some coarse language, but the pace of the novel was slow and easy, just as you’d imagine a guy like O’Connell would have to be to approach a girl like Emily. He eased his way into her heart which made this novel different and kept me engaged.

There was also some seriousness to the reasons why Emily was so gun shy. She came from an abusive background, which made her falling for O’Connell kind of unrealistic, but again, the pace of the story made me overlook that fact. As she began to trust him, I did too. He wasn’t really the hard ass he portrayed himself to be.

Another aspect of this story that I really liked was her relationship to the gym owner Danny. Although a grumpy character he was really the father she always wanted and their little one on one scenes were sweet, really adding to the depth of Emily’s character. If you are looking for a sports romance with character depth and heart, this is a great fit. I have not read a novel by R.J. Prescott previously and didn’t have any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised that The Hurricane had the depth and emotional impact of a Kristen Callihan or J.T. Geissinger novel. I really enjoyed this discovery and look forward to reading more.