Northern Heat. Helene Young

Northern Heat
Helene Young
Published: Penguin Australia
Date: May 2015
Format: Kindle
Pages: 368
Genre: Romantic suspense
Source: Own book

In steamy northern Queensland, Conor is living under an assumed name and rebuilding his shattered life. Working at Cooktown's youth centre has given him the chance to make a difference again, and a chance to flirt with Dr Kristy Dark.

After tragedy tore her family apart, Kristy fled to Cooktown with her feisty teenage daughter, Abby. She hoped being part of the small community would help them both heal, but Abby's sports coach is turning out to be a compelling distraction.

When a severe cyclone menaces the coast, threatening to destroy everything in its path, tensions come to a head – and the weather is not the only danger in Cooktown. Cut off from the world and with her life on the line, Kristy will have to summon her courage and place her trust in Conor, or they'll both lose someone they love.

Northern Heat is a fantastic romantic suspense novel set in the eastern coast of Australia above Cairns. Having read Safe Harbour, a previous book by Helene Young I guessed it was going to be action packed. I also surmised that characters could die, because Helene Young doesn't seem to hold back when it comes to the seamier side of life.

I enjoyed this novel very much. Kristy is a local doctor and has a daughter Abby who is in early adolescence and has those problems that go along with that age. Was a little surprised to see Kristy just let one issue ride, but perhaps wiser than  I know!

Conor we met in Safe Harbour so it was great to carry on his story, if you haven't read that one it doesn't matter too much as Helene Young does give you enough to either help you take up this book, or in my case just gives that jog to memory that helps a reader remember. Loved Conor and his part in this story, if he is trying to atone for previous mistakes he has paid in full to my way of thinking.

Action packed and yes there are baddies, most likely you could give that a capital B! Does anyone die you'll have to read the book for yourself to check that out. One of the baddies has a wife who is also friendly with Kristy and there is a daughter who is a good friend of Abby.    There is a domestic violence situation in this family that is echoed in Kristy's life in the past. It is partly what draws Kristy and Freya together. Tension! Tension!

The description of the local setting and the weather in a cyclone is detailed and really adds authenticity and drama to the story. All in all it is  fast paced, has fully fledged characters and issues that just pull you in. Loved the action of the cavalry in one of those last showdown moments. A fitting end to someone!