Hurricane Ron

by C.J. Hatch

Critics agree. Hurricane Ron is one pulse-pounding thrill ride:

"...a tale that will appeal to a wide range of readers. HURRICANE RON is a fast action romp that will keep readers turning pages as quickly as they can.”
Over My Dead Body Mystery Magazine

"Author CJ Hatch's language is vivid, his voice original... the grit is so real, you want to go scrub it off… Can't wait for the next book…!"
Merry Jones, Author - The Nanny Murders

Investigative reporter Ron McKee didn’t expect to be fired for reporting the truth, but truth is inconvenient for the corrupt, local sheriff, and so it becomes for Ron. Still, he takes it all in stride until he finds his wife has run off with their son. After taking his frustrations out on his wife's lover, and following that with a deadly run-in with a group of local vigilantes, Ron finds himself on the run and things only get worse with every decision he makes.

Ron’s attempts to stay ahead of an ensuing law enforcement dragnet take him and his prized Harley-Davidson "Betsy" on a punishing journey through the backwoods of Alabama to the Carolina mountains. Just as he feel he’s run far enough and hopes to return home, Ron must try to steer clear of trouble long enough to rebuild the battered Betsy and himself, before he can race home to face the murderous sheriff who now has his son and wife in "protective custody," all while a Category-Three hurricane tears apart his hometown.

242 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2015

About the author

CJ Hatch is an author, a life-long "motorcycle enthusiast," and a +25-year veteran of broadcasting, journalism, and public relations. He grew up in the Gulf Coast town of Mobile, Alabama, which serves as the inspiration for the fictional town of Pelican found in his novel Hurricane Ron. CJ is a decorated veteran of Operation Desert Storm and numerous other military operations, and presently serves as Regional Communications Director, operates his own public relations business, and writes fiction and non-fiction.
CJ revived his first motorcycle from a rolling wreck and a box of parts bought for $365 in 1986. He bought his first Harley Davidson while stationed in Germany, where he rode with a wonderfully-ragtag mix of folks across the continent, including the Alps, France, and Belgium. His current project is a 1991 Screaming Eagle XLH1200 he found rusting on the side of the road and is in the process of making roadworthy once again.

Reviews

[Merry Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you pick up Hurricane Ron, hold onto your hat. Be prepared for a bumpy ride through rough terrain while you're ambushed by good guys who are really bad and bad guys who really aren't, a barrage of ex-military and twisted law enforcement, and bikers, betrayers, liars and loners. Author CJ Hatch's language is vivid, his voice original, his characters real. You get the sense, as you hang on for dear life to your ebook or paper edition, that the story is authentic. The details of weaponry, military, weather and mechanics are accurate. The setting, no matter where he takes you, is genuine. And the grit is so real, you want to go scrub it off. The deeper into trouble and more desperate Ron gets, the nastier and more determined his adversaries. By the end, you're caught in the hurricane with him, ducking for cover as you cheer him on. Can't wait for the next book by CJ Hatch!

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the author is an alum of the high school I attended and set the story in my hometown (with a fictional name). My expectations were pretty low for his first book - nothing personal about CJ. I've just known a lot of people who were going to try their hand at writing a novel, and their efforts were pretty dismal. Thankfully, CJ is an exception to that rule. He is a good writer and his story held my interest and, at times, had me on the edge of my seat.

That said, I probably would never have chosen to read this book without the hometown connection. It's definitely not chick lit. This is a man's book with lots of manly motorcycle chases, military references, and shoot'em ups. Not really my cup of tea. But once I started, I wanted to see how it would turn out. I appreciated that Ron's character was so real. He was a military guy through and through, but also had a soft side. He loved his son deeply and would do whatever it took to get him back.

Hatch's writing style made for quick, easy reading. His chapters are short and action-packed, urging the story to move forward. The parallel storylines with Ron and the hurricane both descending on Pelican at the same time made for a fitting analogy. Hatch left the story ready for a sequel to follow. Will I read it? Probably not. But I know guys who would...

Hatch should sell this as a screenplay to a movie producer. It would make a great action flick! I hear they're filming a lot of movies in Mobile these days...

[Michael Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I know Mr. Hatch personally.
When he learned Hurricane Ron had found a publisher, I was very happy and excited for him.
Then he handed me a copy.
It's an incredible act of bravery for someone to share with you something they have created.
I sort of panicked. What if I didn't like it?
Well I borrowed some of that bravery and jumped right into Hurricane Ron.
All those concerns seem very petty, now.
I truly enjoyed it, even more; I sincerely liked it.
It's a world I know very little about (military life, motorcycle culture, local journalism, gangs) all told with an intelligent and engaging honesty. The characters and their situations are clear, sharp and plausible.
If there was a false note, I couldn't hear it.
Hurricane Ron is a great first effort and a damn good read.
Now if we can convince Mr. Hatch to write a cookbook.

[Iain Parke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollicking read, as good and bad cops, military and bikers clash in this all action adventure, while the elemental forces of nature come sweeping in. Great entertainment.

[Lucille Larkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bell ringer! I couldn't put it down even in the middle of the night. Fast moving, action packed it is the story of veteran Ron whose army experiences gifted him with angst as well as combat skills to fight anything. Damn good thing as he gets into all kinds of trouble with a corrupt Southern sheriff, armed small town bullies who block him and his motorcycle from passing thru, a gangster motorcycle clique made up of malcontent and malevolant veterans who know how to fight as well as he does. It is kind of the Wild West on two wheels instead of a horse. The story is wonderfully complex but told in such colorful detail that I can still see the cabin in the woods, the motorcycle repair shop in a cave, the damage done by the hurricane winds and rain and big, bearded Ron as he braves all to get his son back to safety. I was emotionally drained and exhausted when I hit the last page. A great adventure.