Review: Under a Dark Summer Sky by Vanessa Lafaye

Under a Dark Summer Sky

by Vanessa Lafaye

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Pages: 400

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Huron Key is already weighed down with secrets when a random act of violence and a rush to judgment viscerally tear the town apart. As the little island burns under the sun and the weight of past decisions, a devastating storm based on the third-strongest Atlantic Hurricane on record approaches, matching the anger of men with the full fury of the skies. 


Kritters Thoughts:  A historical fiction with a southern racial twist that kept me intrigued from beginning to end.  A small town in Florida gets turned upside down when a load of veterans are sent their way to build a bridge, but with temporary housing in a hurricane zone, this may not be the best of situations.

I loved the combination of southern racial with a historical event.  There was romance, drama and mother nature all tied up in this book!  Before reading this book, I had no idea that the veterans were organized and put to work like this and am intrigued to find out if this happened often and where - does anyone know when and where else this happened?  

The thing that made this book for me was the slow build.  I knew that there was going to be a hurricane and it was going to be intense, but I loved that the hurricane didn't hit on page one and instead the reader was given the chance to get to know the characters and the town before it hit and caused destruction.  

If you are an avid historical fiction reader, this one felt different and new.  Be aware this large cast of characters had me making a chart to keep everyone straight!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2015 Challenge: 37 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Booksparks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.