Gale Force (Weather Warden, Book 7)

Ms. Caine continues to entertain with this installment of the Weather Warden series. The plot continues to develop along unexpected paths. I'm pleased to see a local writer doing so well.

Rachael's books are like a chocolate treat for the mind. There has been some criticisms over the fact that yet again we end with a cliffhanger. Well, all I can say is that's what makes them great and keeps me coming back for more. I see each new book as another chapter. I usually read books that are much longer so a small 300 pager is an afternoon read for me. My only frustration is having to wait for the next one! However, compared to some authors who take 3 to 4 years per book Rachael keeps cranking them out at a nice steady pace, not too rushed but just right to keep me satisfied. I would suggest that if you are new to the series and are a fast reader like I am that you buy all 7 books now as once you start you can't put them down and there aren't too many all night bookstores out there to satisfy that midnight "oh my God! I have to find out what happens next!" book buying frenzy.

Excellent, as were the others in this series; this one was more action-packed, similar to the early books. A couple of observations: It relies heavily on the previous novels, and if you don't know those story lines and characters you'd miss a lot. I strongly recommend that you read the whole set in order. The number of secondary characters has reached the point where most are treated in a rather cursory manner, although Lewis, Kevin and especially Cherise have good-sized roles here. SPOILERS: There are (once again) major unresolved issues at the end, with Joanne (once again) infected and about to launch herself against the bad guy. This is rather frustrating, since it'll probably be a year before the next book comes out. The whole coming out to the news media thing is kinda lame, and lamely done. Presumably this will make more sense in retrospect, in subsequent books.

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is back in another action packed paranormal/urban fantasy adventure. And with her Djinn lover David sticking by Joanne's side way more than usual and a wedding for the pair on the horizon, there's a healthy helping of romance. Neither the Wardens or the Djinn are happy about the upcoming nuptials, there's been a high toll paid by both groups -- the Djinn remember the eons they suffered as slaves to the Wardens and the Wardens are still mourning many of their ranks slaughtered by Djinn in the Djinn revolt. The result is that current association between the groups is an uneasy one at best and there is not a lot of support for the planned union. So it won't be all lists and dress shopping for Joanne, whose magic is controling Earth, Wind and Fire not surly supernaturals. And if wrangling the guest list with the animosity on both sides of the aisle isn't enough to add to Joanne's bridal woes, there's a new mysterious and extremely powerful group threatening the world. This time Joanne and the Wardens are on their own in the fight -- David and the rest of the magical Djinn will be no help -- there's the equivalent of a 'no see me' spell blinding all Djinn to the danger. Gale Force has much more the feel of the earlier books in the Weather Warden series and I enjoyed this book every bit as much as I did the first four or so -- Joanne gets to use her magic, and I just love David, Louis and Cherise. The only problem with the book and the reason I dropped my rating half a star, was that the resolution of the final crisis in the story didn't make sense given the villan's motives in earlier attacks, although I'm glad that there were more survivors than there should have been. Also the last sortie in the battle added a twist that seems to have brought us full circle in the overarching plot arc and leaves us, yet again, hanging at the end of the book. For some reason I thought that Gale Force was going to be the final book in the Weather Warden series - possibly because Caine is starting a new Djinn series with Undone (Outcast Season, Book 1), but from the cliff hanger ending, I guess I was wrong. Despite the ending and the sense that we will be feeling some déjà vu in the next book, as an old foe resurfaces and a vow threatens the future of both the Wardens and the Djinn, I'm still game for another go-round and I'll be ready for the next episode in the Weather Warden saga when it hits the shelves.