Heat Lightning

The Bay Harbor Saga #2

by Ruth Coe Chambers

Bay Harbor wasn’t a picture postcard town. The war was an awkward memory, its trenches returning some to the small Florida gulfport, though not the men they used to be. What Bay Harbor’s residents hadn’t expected was the change and tragedy the soldiers would bring home. No one loved Bay Harbor more than twelve year old Anna Lee Owens, daughter of the deputy sheriff. A livewire too observant of Bay Harbor’s secrets, she indulged in death tours, dreamed of lighthouses, and worshiped the tragic Tyler Rose. She played rascal with Tyler’s cousin T. J. at his father’s funeral home, and longed for the grace of the mercurial Lola. Among the tide of soldiers and unexpected travellers, Anna Lee’s youth teeters precariously; Hilton Fields returns to Bay Harbor. Her father’s best friend, he ignites cataclysmic changes leading to an act of heartbreaking betrayal that changes the course of their lives forever.

226 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2013

Reviews

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 4 out of 5]

AIBA Book of the Day: 31 December, 2021: 351/41608

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include HEAT LIGHTNING (The Bay Harbor Saga #2) by RUTH COE CHAMBERS in the library of Awesome Indies' Badge of Approval recipients at http://j.mp/AwesIndBk351

Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“Bay Harbor wasn’t a picture postcard town. The war was an awkward memory, its trenches returning some to the small Florida gulfport, though not the men they used to be. What Bay Harbor’s residents hadn’t expected was the change and tragedy the soldiers would bring home. No one loved Bay Harbor more than twelve year old Anna Lee Owens, daughter of the deputy sheriff. A livewire too observant of Bay Harbor’s secrets, she indulged in death tours, dreamed of lighthouses, and worshiped the tragic Tyler Rose. She played rascal with Tyler’s cousin T. J. at his father’s funeral home, and longed for the grace of the mercurial Lola. Among the tide of soldiers and unexpected travellers, Anna Lee’s youth teeters precariously; Hilton Fields returns to Bay Harbor. Her father’s best friend, he ignites cataclysmic changes leading to an act of heartbreaking betrayal that changes the course of their lives forever.”

MY THOUGHTS:

This story is told through the eyes of young Anna Lee, and offers us her perspective on the affairs, small town gossip, and betrayals within Bay Harbor. If you like literary fiction then you are in for a treat with this 2nd book in the Bay Harbor series. I have not read the 1st book: Chinaberry Album, which is fine as this holds its own perfectly as a stand-alone work. This is a moving read, that pulls you fully into the small town and the lives of its inhabitants.

THE STRUCTURE:

The book is approximately 226 pages in length, and I read it in one comfortable sitting. I found it gripping throughout, even though there are no high points of racing drama – quite simply this excellent book doesn’t need it. The book is written from an omniscient point of view, so that we get to see what everybody is up to, but mostly it shows us life through 12 year old Anna’s eyes. The book has been edited and proofed to a very high standard and reads smoothly and easily.

SUMMARY:

It took me a matter of a few hours to finish this book, partly due to its length but also due to its readability. Although the 2nd in a series, it does not lose anything if the reader comes to this book first. Anna Lee is a character you won’t forget easily, in fact all of the characters come to life as you accompany them along the very realistic streets of Bay Harbor. It paints a sad picture of human foibles, and I am curious to see where the next book will go. I offer a strong 4 out of 5 stars for this book.

4 out of 5 Stars.

[Kate Policani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town of Bay Harbor waits for the return of their fathers, sons, brothers, and fiancés from World War II. While they begin to enjoy the return of freedoms lost through rationing and the war effort, they gradually welcome the men and face the aftermath of battle with them. Some return unable to face the lives they once led, while others come home to build lives they never started.  Through tragedy and renewal readers can join in the dynamics of the people of the town and their relationships. Will the town ever be the same again?

I enjoyed this story and the multifaceted characters Ruth created. Her portrayal of the small town with all the uncomfortable transparency of living really drew me in. The characters' dramas tantalized and made me want to hear more. Their motivations and transgressions pulled me through the tale wondering what would come of it and who would win out in the end.

The structure of the story and the tragedy of the ending confused me a little after the tense but quiet life of the town before everything came unraveled. The author took on a brave task with the myriad characters and their personal dramas, mostly succeeding at separating their individual threads of the tapestry. Throughout, I wondered if Anna Lee really was the main character. Sometimes it seemed as if the book had no main character, though the ending focused on Anna Lee and her impressions. I also felt a little bit of a rush toward the ending to cram in the remainder of Anna Lee's life before her return to the town. Her experiences in Tallahassee and beyond could have made their own book, but I think a time jump would have made more sense.  Sporadic passive writing also added some discontinuity to the narrative.

Whether you love small-town life or hate it, Ruth's tale of a changing society in the confines of a sleepy Florida town will pull you in and make you feel part of their life and dramas.
I recieved this book from the authornfor the purposes of an honest review.