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    Hurricane Season
    Hurricane Season
    Hurricane Season
    Audiobook10 hours

    Hurricane Season

    Written by Lauren K. Denton

    Narrated by Devon O'Day

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    A USA TODAY bestseller! Hurricane Season is the story of sisterhood, motherhood, and an unconventional journey to healing—and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

    Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their desire for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood.

    But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for “just two weeks,” Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble. As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world—and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

    Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home as a single mom. But when Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that will change her family’s future, even as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm . . . and their hearts.

    Praise for Hurricane Season:

    “A poignant and heartfelt tale of sisterhood, motherhood, and marriage, Hurricane Season deftly examines the role that coming to terms with the past plays in creating a hopeful future. Readers will devour this story of the hurricanes—both literal and figurative—that shape our lives.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, national bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple

    • Full-length contemporary Southern fiction
    • Stand-alone novel
    • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateApr 3, 2018
    ISBN9780785220282
    Author

    Lauren K. Denton

    LAUREN K. DENTON is the author of USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. She was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she’d still rather be at the beach. Website: LaurenKDenton.com; Instagram: LaurenKDentonBooks; Facebook: LaurenKDentonAuthor; Twitter: @LaurenKDenton.

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    Reviews for Hurricane Season

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    • 3/5
      Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton is a 2018 Thomas Nelson publication. Betsy and Ty run the Franklin Dairy Farm located in Southern Alabama. They have made a nice life together, are still in love after nearly a decade of marriage, but there’s still one thing missing from Betsy’s life. When Betsy’s sister, Jenna, calls out of the blue asking if she can watch her daughters for a couple of weeks so she can attend an art retreat, Betsy agrees without really thinking it through or talking to Ty first. When two girls arrive, they bring the farm to life and deepens a longing in Betsy that exposes some cracks in her otherwise stable relationship with Ty. Meanwhile, Jenna rediscovers her photography, seeing a way to provide for her girls with a job she loves- but she’ll have to leave her girls with Betsy for longer than she originally planned…Meanwhile a hurricane is developing- one that could be headed straight for the Franklin Dairy farm-This story explores the relationships between parents and children and siblings and examines the marriage of a couple trying to work through a bitter disappointment to find a common ground again. Jenna may have been the one to have experienced the most personal growth- learning to balance her responsibilities with pursuing her dreams, but for me it was Betsy and Ty that held my heart in their hands. I also liked the relationship between the two sisters, which also showed a lot of character growth as they worked came to realize the way their upbringing shaped them, and how to put preconceived notions, judgments and resentments in the past. The story is a little ‘quiet’ at times, and I failed to fully connect to Jenna’s side of the storyline, becoming as frustrated with her as Ty did. That said, I loved how the author was able to build the emotional tension to coincide with the intensity and path of the hurricane. Both events brought imminent danger and created two separate forms of suspense.Mostly, this is lovely, heartwarming story. The drama is well written and balanced- although there is nothing here that is especially profound or memorable. Still, I loved Ty and enjoyed the realistic look at family and marriage and the gentle life lessons centered around the importance of communication. 3 stars
    • 3/5
      “Hurricane Season” is Lauren K. Denton’s second book. It is a Southern Romance novel. Like “The Hideaway” and “Glory Road” it is a standalone read.

      The story is told from three POVs – Jenna, Betsy, and Ty (Betsy’s husband).

      Betsy and Ty Franklin are the owners of Franklin Dairy. Ty tends the cows and Betsy handles the day to day operations. Approaching 30, Betsy has given up having her own children due to repeated issues in conception.

      Betsy’s younger sister Jenna; is a single mom to two daughters – Addie (5) and Walsh (3). Jenna is working at a coffee shop to support herself and her children.

      Jenna gets an opportunity to pursue her lifelong ambition (photography) at a retreat – but she has to find someone to care for her daughters for two weeks. That’s where Betsy comes in. Reluctantly, Betsy says yes – it is only two weeks.

      Jenna is having her own crisis at the retreat. After being given a rare opportunity to stay longer than the original two (2) weeks and work on her photography, she wonders if she should stay or rush home. She wants to have something to show for her life and feels she won’t get another chance to do something like this again. Jenna misses her children who seem to be adjusting well with Betsy and Ty. But, she isn’t being told the entire story either. Betsy is having issues in dealing with “two little reminders of what my body can’t do”. A very powerful line in this novel. And, that puts a strain on Betsy and Ty’s marriage.

      As weeks drag out, and a hurricane makes its way towards the farm – Ty, Betsy, and Jenna have to sort out what they want in life and what their choices will mean.

      “Hurricane Season” not only refers to the storm season and the approaching storm, but the storms in our personal lives – choices to make, lives affected, and the consequences of such.

      Jenna undoubtedly wants to do more with her life than “serve coffee”, but she also has two small children who rely on her. She leaves her children with her sister without advance notice or discussing the impact it would have on her sister as well as Ty. True Jenna didn’t have much notice – but it should’ve been discussed more thoroughly with her sister. I also feel that Betsy should’ve been more honest with her sister throughout the story.

      Betsy isn’t quite 30 when the story begins and has been trying to have children since she was 25. Seeing and caring for Jenna’s children, brings out some resentment which is understandable to a point, considering Jenna didn’t want kids. If I can be honest, 30 isn’t that old. Some women have kids in their late 30’s to mid 40’s.

      Ty’s frustration was understandable. He knew the infertility issues his wife was having. His primary goal was to protect Betsy. He wasn’t good at communicating what he wanted either. He was wonderful in interacting with the kids though.

      I felt sorry for Addie and Walsh. They adored their mother and didn’t understand what was going on.

      Max and Gregory …

      I felt that while Max was looking out for Jenna and her talent, he was failing to understand that she was the kids’ only caregiver. What did he expect her to do with her kids while she spent even two weeks at Halcyon? What if her sister decided to say no?

      Gregory was another problem – like Max, he was only focused on Jenna’s talent – not her responsibilities. The two guys saw nothing wrong with pawning the kids off on Jenna’s sister, and by extension Jenna saw nothing wrong with it either.

      Denton did a wonderful job with creating family strife as well as the impact of indecisions on our lives, and how it affects those around us. She definitely drove home the point about it appears selfish when we follow dreams/goals, but also about how we should think about more in life than “just making ends meet”.

      Can we fit what we want into what we need? Is pursuing a “dream job” with “the potential” to earn more money worth sacrificing family, and a job that does pay the bills? At one point is it alright to make decisions with others in mind? Or should we only consider ourselves.

      As a fan of Denton’s “Glory Road”, I wanted to read her previous work. This is admittedly the weakest of the three books she has released. It wasn’t a bad read, but it wasn’t as enjoyable as the other two.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton is a thought-provoking novel of healing.

      Betsy Franklin and her husband Ty own a dairy farm in Southern Alabama. They have weathered many storms (both personal and weather related) during the course of their marriage. When Betsy's younger sister, Jenna Sawyer, asks her to keep her two young children, five year old Addie and three year old Walsh, a brewing hurricane is just one of the worries the couple are forced to reckon with over the next several weeks.

      Betsy loves her life on the farm despite the hard work and concerns that plague most farmers.  She and Ty are deeply in love but she has struggled with giving up on a dream that, for unknown reasons, has failed to come to fruition for them. She loves her nieces but taking care of them is a bittersweet ache and she grows frustrated with Jenna's decision to pursue her own goals. Despite their enjoyment of their nieces, Betsy and Ty are forced to face the unhealed wounds they have been ignoring for several months.

      Ty is a sweet man who is devoted to Betsy and the dairy farm. His hard work is finally paying off and the Franklin Dairy has become one of the largest in the area. He has a sixth sense when it comes to predicting a hurricane's path and as he tracks a growing storm in the ocean, Ty must also contend with the tempest building within his home.

      Jenna put her dreams on hold after her unexpected pregnancies.  She is conflicted about leaving the girls in order to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity to  reconnect with her photography. However, Jenna knows a chance like this might not come along again and she wants to explore her options.

      Hurricane Season is a captivating novel that is incredibly heartwarming. The storyline is well-written and relatable. The characters are multi-dimensional with realistic flaws and strengths. The farm is an idyllic setting and  Lauren Denton brings it vibrantly to life. The novel's conclusion is heartwarming and quite hopeful. A deeply touching story that I truly enjoyed and highly recommend.
    • 3/5
      Set against the backdrop of an impending storm, this is really the tale of sisters acknowledging what is missing in their lives, and determining whether or not to strive for it one last time. Betsy is married to a dairy farmer, Ty, and really loves her life, except that she has been unable to get pregnant. Her younger sister Jenna, is unmarried, has two kids, works in a coffee shop, but desires to be a photographer. When Jenna has the chance to attend an artists’ retreat one summer, she hurriedly drops the kids off at her sister’s farm and leaves, promising to return in two weeks. But those two weeks stretch into nearly two months. The tale is slow moving, more character driven than plot driven, as each sister lives the life she has wanted; Betsy has the kids and Jenna has her photos. But a storm is approaching, literally and figuratively, as each sister’s decision will affect the rest of her life. Though peopled with interesting characters, the plot is a little lackluster. After building some suspense with the coming hurricane, the end seems a bit hurried and falls a bit flat, and the conclusion doesn’t really conclude anything, leaving it open-ended.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful story that takes takes readers on a journey of discovery. Betsy is my favorite character because of her giving heart. She is a character that many can relate to due to her desire to have a child. Her husband Ty is a hard working man who makes a living by running the Franklin Dairy Farm. The farm reminds me of my granddad's farm I visited every summer. It was a lot of work for him but he was the happiest when he was outdoors.Jenna who is Betsy's sister made me a bit annoyed. She is a single mom with two adorable girls barely making ends meet. When she gets a chance to maybe change her life, she jumps at the oportuity. She leaves her two girls with Betsy and Ty saying she would be back in two weeks. The story centers around the sisters and the emotional struggles they face. I loved how the author used Ty as a strong husband and continually supported his wife. It's hard to say what someone would do if given an opportunity to change their life, but at what expense will it do to the children?The longer Jenna stays away, the closer the children become to their aunt and uncle. Ty could sense the emotional state Betsy was starting to fall in to. Could you leave your children for a period of time in hopes of a better future? There is no guarantee in life, so maybe Jenna had to risk everything to find happiness. I loved the tension the author built as a hurricane threatens Betsy and Ty's place. I have been through several; the last one being Hurricane Harvey. It did major damage to our land and we lost many things. It also made us realize how precious life is. I liked how the tension started rearing its ugly head between Betsy and Ty. When Ty say "I'm never going to be enough for you, am I?" , I cried. The aching in Betsy's heart for a child is consuming her. Is she starting to push her husband away?Jenna is complicated at times. I questioned her decision but in a way I understood. Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and pray that things will work out. The more I got to know Jenna, the more I could identify with her. Is it so wrong to want a better life for yourself? Will Jenna make the correct choice for her and her girls? The book is skillfully written with a beautiful and touching ending. The author has written a story that reflects on faith and family. I loved the characters and how easily the story flowed. I look forward to the next book from this author who writes with beauty and grace.I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
    • 5/5
      The Hideaway was such a good book and I couldn't wait to read Hurricane Season, I tried to wait for hurricane season but as sad as I am that I'm done with the book I will now look forward to February for Lauren's next novel!! I'm not wishing winter back but it will be a refreshing thing when it's published! Another 5 star for me and I love how just when you want to hate a character for a decision they make, you can't because it snow balls to form another story line, and when you think you know the ending, nope. Thank you Lauren, keep up the great work!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed Lauren Denton's debut novel, The Hideaway, and had high hopes for her second novel. I wasn't disappointed. This was a well written novel that kept me turning the pages. It was all about love and family and relationships -not just the relationship between husband and wife but also between sisters who are very different from each other.Betsy and Ty own a dairy farm in southern Alabama. They both work hard to keep the farm running and secure their future. The one part of their lives that has disappointed them is that after 5 years of marriage, they have been unable to have children. Betsy's younger sister, Jenna, always the rebel in the family, drops her two kids off at the farm while she goes on an artist's retreat. Originally she is supposed to be gone for 2 weeks but as it turns into almost 8 weeks, the two little girls become very important to Betsy and Ty and magnify Betsy's depression over not being able to conceive. While Betsy vacillates between being angry at her sister for leaving the two little girls at the farm, she also loves the time she spends with them. As her depression grows, she takes her feelings of inadequacy out on her husband and their relationship becomes strained.This character driven novel is told from three viewpoints - Betsy, Ty and Jenna and we are able to see them all struggle through the summer and deal with their problems and the healing of their relationships. This will be a fantastic beach read (unless you are getting hurricane warnings at the beach) and one that I highly recommend.I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      So what makes a book get a highly recommended rating from me? It must have something special that distinguishes it from the rest. Hurricane Season, the sophomore offering from Lauren K. Denton, is just such a novel. Great characterization, a wonderful sense of place, beautifully written prose, and a story line that is unique and fresh — those are the things that make this book stand out. Certainly it is one of the best books I have read this year.Two sisters are the focus of Hurricane Season. They once shared so much, but have grown apart due to life and . . . neglect. Both are wrapped up in their own lives for sure, but it is the perceptions of what the other has, that has kept the two apart. When younger sister Jenna has the opportunity to find her creative center once again, Betsy, the protector of the two, agrees to keep Jenna’s children for the two week retreat session. But as days stretch into weeks and then months, the two sisters have to confront not only what their futures will look like, but what their pasts have created.Hurricane Season is told in the third person point of view with the emphasis on sisters Jenna and Betsy and Betsy’s husband Ty. This format gives the reader a view of what makes each of these characters act and react. I loved how real each of the characters became to me. The dairy farm on which Ty and Betsy live and the primitive nature preserve that serves as the setting of the artist’s retreat are brought to life in simple, yet elegant descriptions. I felt I was really there experiencing the daily life of the dairy farm and the wonder of an untouched wilderness. Difficult issues that are part and parcel of the human experience — infertility and single motherhood — are uniquely explored. There are no stereotypes here. But it is the relationships between Jenna and Betsy and Betsy and Ty that form the nucleus of the story. And I loved how the author brought about growth and healing for them all. The book does not end in a neat and tidy fashion. There are still lots of questions as to the future of this family. But that is okay with me. I have certain expectations for Jenna, Betsy, and Ty, and I am happy that the author has let me create my own happily-ever-after for the three. ?As stated above, Hurricane Season has it all to provide a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience. This novel lends itself to discussion, so if your book club is looking for a great book, Hurricane Season should top your list.Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to TLC and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      Hurricane Season by Lauren K. DentonSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 5/5 starsBetsy Franklin seemingly has it all. She married her college sweetheart, the only man she has ever really loved, she is active in her church and social community, and she runs a variety of educational programs from she and her husband’s successful dairy farm. Yes, Betsy Franklin seemingly has it all. In the plan for their life, Betsy and her husband, Ty saw a family, tiny humans to populate their inherited home, and grow up in the environs of the farm and community. Children would complete their plan, but it simply hasn’t happened, and the medical community has no explanation for the situation. Even with medical intervention, Betsy hasn’t gotten pregnant, and in the time since the last failure, she has tried to recover emotionally and move forward with her life. Ty is her rock and just when Betsy feels like she, they may be back on track, her somewhat irresponsible sister comes calling with a huge and emotionally charged favor. Until the birth of her daughters, Jenna’s life was a mess with little to no direction. Since the birth of her daughters, Jenna’s life still has no direction and she spends her days slinging fancy drinks as a barista. Jenna loves her daughters, but beyond them, her life isn’t satisfying and if something doesn’t change, she’s in danger of falling back into bad behaviors. When an opportunity of a lifetime comes her way, a retreat to focus on her photography, she calls on her sister, Betsy to look after her girls for the duration of the retreat. Jenna is and has always been oblivious to the problems and concerns of others. Though Betsy has tried, more than once, to tell Jenna of her fertility issues, Jenna hasn’t had time to listen and has no idea how hard it will be for Betsy and Ty to take in her girls. What’s more, when Jenna doesn’t get what she needs out of the first two weeks of the retreat, she extends the stay indefinitely in a voicemail to her sister. With nothing to do but accept the situation and care for two, sweet girls, Betsy and Ty step up to plate and get ready for a full summer of family life. As the days and weeks stretch out before them, Betsy becomes ever more attached to the girls and does her best to deal with emotional turmoil their presence brings. What’s more, Betsy also must deal with the emotions bubbling up regarding her sister and her behavior. Betsy has long supported Jenna and free-spirited nature, but there are extenuating circumstances this time around that Jenna’s selfishness has blinded her to. Betsy wants to support her sister, help her finally find her way in the world, but it can’t be at the cost of her own emotional and mental health. The Bottom Line: The is my second Lauren K. Denton book and, like the first, I couldn’t put this one down. While there is an actual hurricane to be dealt with in this book, the real hurricane is found in the emotions of the sisters, Betsy and Jenna. Told from alternate points of view, Betsy and Jenna’s the story unfolds over the course of Jenna’s retreat and Betsy’s summer. While Jenna is off trying to figure out her life, Betsy is, once again saddled with all the responsibility. Though Betsy gladly takes in Jenna’s girls, she does so at a high cost to herself and her marriage, and this makes her an immediately sympathetic character. Betsy and Ty are the absolute favorites in this read, and I found it hard to have any sympathy or even liking for Jenna. Even when Jenna understands Betsy’s situation, she continues on her own path which makes her even more unlikeable. In this way, Denton is extremely successful in her character development and her characters, for better and worse are one of the reasons I was so involved in this read. To be sure, this isn’t a happy read, but it is an emotionally charged book with so much underlying tension that you are begging for the storm, the actual storm, by the end of the read! This is what I adore about Denton’s writing! She draws you in with brilliantly crafted characters, a tremendously strong plot, and so much tension you just can’t stop reading. If you haven’t been introduced to Lauren K. Denton yet, what are you waiting for?
    • 4/5
      I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.The cover is what caught my eye first but it was the story and characters that I fell in love with. Betsy receives a phone call from her sister Jenna asking if she will watch her nieces. Jenna has a chance to go on a once in a lifetime art retreat and would really like to go, but needs someone to watch her girls. It's only supposed to be for two weeks, but then becomes months. Jenna believes Betsy and her husband Ty have the perfect life, with their relationship and dairy farm. Jenna on the other hand is a single mom of two girls, works at a coffee shop and gave up her true passion, photography. The chapters are told from Jenna, Betsy and Ty's point of view. It was a beautiful and charming story and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Honestly, I could have kept reading about them and would have loved to find out what happened in the next chapter of their lives. The book is about love and family.I loved the writing style and look forward to reading more books by the author. I definitely recommend the book. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and the author, Lauren K. Denton, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.