GRR Reviews Beautiful Storm (Lightning Strikes #1) by Barbara Freethy

When viewed as strictly a mystery, Beautiful Storm was definitely a success due to an intriguing teaser. However, the romance that followed seems to lack spark.

Alicia Monroe was fascinated by lightning after her father's plane disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico one night in an electrical storm. She moved out of her home in Texas to Miami to be closer to the weather, as a private storm chaser. One night, while chasing a lightning storm, she witnessed what she thought to be a murder. When she got to the scene, she can only find a dog tag belonging to Lilliana Valdez, a US navy JAG attorney missing for two months, and no body. Police tried to restart their investigation which ran cold, but Alicia, haunted by her own demons, vowed to conduct her own investigation, and met Michael Cordero, who is a person of interest because Lilliana contacted him last before her disappearance. The two teamed together to chase down additional clues and realized they stumbled into a conspiracy with two more deaths in Texas, and may have a link to Alicia's own past. Now they must solve the murders... or become the next victims.

The mystery was definitely peeled slowly with layers and layers of deception. However, there was no spark between Alicia and Michael. They are TOO much alike.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Reporter/storm chaser fascinated with lightning found herself drawn into the disappearance of navy lieutenant investigating a double murder, and an investigator who is also involved...

Tropes: conspiracy, reporter, woman in peril, protector, forced proximity

Overall Rating:  4/5