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Cascadia
EPIC Award Winner
Dr. Rob Elwood, a respected geologist, has studied the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a dangerous fault off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, for years. Now he’s having repeated nightmares of a massive earthquake and tsunami striking the region. Knowing he’s placing his reputation and career at risk, he goes public with his premonitions.
The quake fails to occur and Rob fears he’s lost everything. But the disaster does strike, just not when expected, and Rob finds himself not only vindicated, but hurled abruptly into a life-and-death rescue mission with his private aircraft.
Rob’s story intersects with several others, including that of a retired fighter pilot attempting to make amends to a woman he jilted twenty-five years earlier, and another of an elderly black man searching for legendary buried treasure along the rugged Oregon coast.
Dr. Rob Elwood, a respected geologist, has studied the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a dangerous fault off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, for years. Now he’s having repeated nightmares of a massive earthquake and tsunami striking the region. Knowing he’s placing his reputation and career at risk, he goes public with his premonitions.
The quake fails to occur and Rob fears he’s lost everything. But the disaster does strike, just not when expected, and Rob finds himself not only vindicated, but hurled abruptly into a life-and-death rescue mission with his private aircraft.
Rob’s story intersects with several others, including that of a retired fighter pilot attempting to make amends to a woman he jilted twenty-five years earlier, and another of an elderly black man searching for legendary buried treasure along the rugged Oregon coast.
234 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2016
About the author
H.W. "Buzz" Bernard
9 books60 followersH. W. “Buzz” Bernard is a best-selling, award-winning novelist.
His debut novel, EYEWALL, which one reviewer called a “perfect summer beach read,” was published in May 2011 and went on to become a number-one bestseller in Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Three of his next four novels won EPIC eBook awards in the suspense/thriller category.
In 2020, with the publication of WHEN HEROES FLEW, Buzz switched from writing suspense/thriller novels to WWII historical fiction. WHEN HEROES FLEW was awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
His next two books, WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS (2021) and WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD (2022) completed the WHEN HEROES FLEW trilogy. THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS also garnered a Gold Medal from the MWSA.
Buzz is currently at work on his fourth WWII historical fiction novel, DOWN A DARK ROAD. It’s scheduled to be released in May 2023.
Before becoming a novelist, Buzz worked at The Weather Channel as a senior meteorologist for thirteen years. Prior to that, he served as a weather officer in the U.S. Air Force for over three decades. He attained the rank of colonel and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit.
Buzz is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association as well as a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, Willamette Writers, the Military Writers Society of America, and International Thriller Writers.
Although a native Oregonian, Buzz lived for 35 years in Atlanta, and now resides in Kennewick, Washington, with his wife Barbara and their fuzzy Shih Tzu, Stormy . . . who doesn’t live up to his name.
Buzz's Website can be found at www.buzzbernard.com.
His debut novel, EYEWALL, which one reviewer called a “perfect summer beach read,” was published in May 2011 and went on to become a number-one bestseller in Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Three of his next four novels won EPIC eBook awards in the suspense/thriller category.
In 2020, with the publication of WHEN HEROES FLEW, Buzz switched from writing suspense/thriller novels to WWII historical fiction. WHEN HEROES FLEW was awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
His next two books, WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS (2021) and WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD (2022) completed the WHEN HEROES FLEW trilogy. THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS also garnered a Gold Medal from the MWSA.
Buzz is currently at work on his fourth WWII historical fiction novel, DOWN A DARK ROAD. It’s scheduled to be released in May 2023.
Before becoming a novelist, Buzz worked at The Weather Channel as a senior meteorologist for thirteen years. Prior to that, he served as a weather officer in the U.S. Air Force for over three decades. He attained the rank of colonel and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit.
Buzz is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association as well as a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, Willamette Writers, the Military Writers Society of America, and International Thriller Writers.
Although a native Oregonian, Buzz lived for 35 years in Atlanta, and now resides in Kennewick, Washington, with his wife Barbara and their fuzzy Shih Tzu, Stormy . . . who doesn’t live up to his name.
Buzz's Website can be found at www.buzzbernard.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 9, 2017
Buzz Bernard knows how to tell a story and keep you interested, and itching for more. This book made me feel for the characters and the elements they were dealing with.
The full review will be posted on The Page Turner February 16, 2017 as part of Mystery Thriller week.
The full review will be posted on The Page Turner February 16, 2017 as part of Mystery Thriller week.
October 30, 2016
Cascadia is the new thriller from author and Oregon native H.W. “Buzz” Bernard, a former weather officer with the U.S. Air Force for over 30 years, and a senior meteorologist at the Weather Channel for 13 years. Since publication of his debut novel Eyewall in 2011, Bernard has released a total of five thriller novels, with Cascadia being the latest, slated for release in July of 2016.
Bernard’s latest novel is based on the premise of a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami striking in the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. The central character, Dr. Rob Elwood, is a successful geologist who has suddenly become haunted by very explicit and repetitive nightmares of a massive earthquake tsunami obliterating the coastline of the northwestern U.S. during the busy Independence Day Weekend. Despite being a scientist who relies on hard facts, Rob cannot help but feel that he has received some kind of supernatural premonition that a 500-year “big one” is going to strike. He struggles with the decision of whether to make this ‘prophecy’ he may have been given public in the hopes of saving innocent lives, though putting his career at risk on the one hand, or keeping his visions to himself and possibly allowing untold numbers of people to die needlessly if it indeed comes true on the other. In addition to his inner conflicts, Rob clashes with his family, his colleagues, and local officials about his decision.
Intertwined with Rob’s story are those of two other men: one a down-on-his-luck Vietnam veteran named Neahkahnie Johnny, who may have stumbled on the solution to a centuries-old puzzle which may finally turn his life around, and the other is Shack, a retired military pilot who has made a trip to Oregon to make right a wrong he committed long ago when he was a self-absorbed young flyboy. The potential for a massive earthquake and tsunami in the Cascadia Subduction Zone carries with it the potential to forever change the lives of Rob, Johnny, Shack, and everyone living in the Pacific Northwest. There are so many great parts to Cascadia that I would like to share, but at the risk of spoiling the plot, I will leave to the reader to check out the details.
Cascadia is a great showcase for Buzz Bernard’s background in environmental science and his talent for writing thrillers. It is clear that he put a great deal of time and research into making Cascadia as scientifically accurate as possible. He expertly weaves scientific information into the story without detracting from the plot, and his characters are immediately relatable. Bernard’s descriptions of the terrain of the coastal Pacific Northwest virtually transport the reader there, and his action sequences are terrific. A series of scenes involving Rob in his small airplane is especially riveting, and kept me up reading much later than I had planned. His pacing of the story is excellent. There were no slow sections that made me want to skip forward at any point in the novel.
A few things held me back from giving Cascadia a full five stars. To be frank, I did find a few aspects of the story to be a bit ‘out there’ compared to the rest of the novel, particularly Rob’s willingness to take such huge professional risks based on nothing more than a series of dreams, and the appearance of a mysterious woman named Cassie at various points in the story. There were a few times when I found that that Bernard’s characters’ speaking patterns did not sound natural in places. For example, the occasional placement of mid-sentence dependent clauses came across to me sounding more like something a person would write, as opposed to something they would say. I also thought that Bernard had a tendency to occasionally wax a bit too eloquent in his physical descriptions.
With memories of the massive December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean that claimed nearly a quarter million lives still relatively fresh, Cascadia is a novel that can really set the reader on edge, especially if they or someone they know lives near the ocean. In Cascadia, Buzz Bernard has successfully done what the author of a good thriller does: exploits the possible and makes the reader wonder ‘what if’. I love a good disaster novel, and this one did not disappoint. Fun, exhilarating and informative, Cascadia is well-worth your time.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary advance copy of Cascadia in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I am not connected with Buzz Bernard, his representation, or his publisher Bell Bridge Books in any way, and I did not receive any monetary gain from this review.
Bernard’s latest novel is based on the premise of a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami striking in the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. The central character, Dr. Rob Elwood, is a successful geologist who has suddenly become haunted by very explicit and repetitive nightmares of a massive earthquake tsunami obliterating the coastline of the northwestern U.S. during the busy Independence Day Weekend. Despite being a scientist who relies on hard facts, Rob cannot help but feel that he has received some kind of supernatural premonition that a 500-year “big one” is going to strike. He struggles with the decision of whether to make this ‘prophecy’ he may have been given public in the hopes of saving innocent lives, though putting his career at risk on the one hand, or keeping his visions to himself and possibly allowing untold numbers of people to die needlessly if it indeed comes true on the other. In addition to his inner conflicts, Rob clashes with his family, his colleagues, and local officials about his decision.
Intertwined with Rob’s story are those of two other men: one a down-on-his-luck Vietnam veteran named Neahkahnie Johnny, who may have stumbled on the solution to a centuries-old puzzle which may finally turn his life around, and the other is Shack, a retired military pilot who has made a trip to Oregon to make right a wrong he committed long ago when he was a self-absorbed young flyboy. The potential for a massive earthquake and tsunami in the Cascadia Subduction Zone carries with it the potential to forever change the lives of Rob, Johnny, Shack, and everyone living in the Pacific Northwest. There are so many great parts to Cascadia that I would like to share, but at the risk of spoiling the plot, I will leave to the reader to check out the details.
Cascadia is a great showcase for Buzz Bernard’s background in environmental science and his talent for writing thrillers. It is clear that he put a great deal of time and research into making Cascadia as scientifically accurate as possible. He expertly weaves scientific information into the story without detracting from the plot, and his characters are immediately relatable. Bernard’s descriptions of the terrain of the coastal Pacific Northwest virtually transport the reader there, and his action sequences are terrific. A series of scenes involving Rob in his small airplane is especially riveting, and kept me up reading much later than I had planned. His pacing of the story is excellent. There were no slow sections that made me want to skip forward at any point in the novel.
A few things held me back from giving Cascadia a full five stars. To be frank, I did find a few aspects of the story to be a bit ‘out there’ compared to the rest of the novel, particularly Rob’s willingness to take such huge professional risks based on nothing more than a series of dreams, and the appearance of a mysterious woman named Cassie at various points in the story. There were a few times when I found that that Bernard’s characters’ speaking patterns did not sound natural in places. For example, the occasional placement of mid-sentence dependent clauses came across to me sounding more like something a person would write, as opposed to something they would say. I also thought that Bernard had a tendency to occasionally wax a bit too eloquent in his physical descriptions.
With memories of the massive December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean that claimed nearly a quarter million lives still relatively fresh, Cascadia is a novel that can really set the reader on edge, especially if they or someone they know lives near the ocean. In Cascadia, Buzz Bernard has successfully done what the author of a good thriller does: exploits the possible and makes the reader wonder ‘what if’. I love a good disaster novel, and this one did not disappoint. Fun, exhilarating and informative, Cascadia is well-worth your time.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary advance copy of Cascadia in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I am not connected with Buzz Bernard, his representation, or his publisher Bell Bridge Books in any way, and I did not receive any monetary gain from this review.
July 7, 2016
Finished reading: July 5th 2016
“There are events that occur in our lives we absolutely can't explain, that don't make sense, at least to us. But that doesn't mean they didn't happen or that we made them up, or that we're tripping off into Far-Fetched Land.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 11, 2016
Buzz Bernard holds a special spot in my book-loving heart. His first book was one of the first books I read for the purpose of giving a review. I was interested in it because the setting was St. Simons Island, GA. I have family there and it is where my husband and I spent our honeymoon. At the time, I took a chance on a new author and he took a chance on me as a new reviewer. Then two years later, I interviewed him to promote his second book, PLAGUE. He is a delightful person and I enjoyed that opportunity. Now, here I am reviewing his fifth book five years after it all began.
"Buzz" Bernard is a former senior meteorologist for The Weather Channel and prior to that, he was a weather officer with the Air Force. His weather experience is lengthy and makes it only natural for him to write about weather catastrophes. In his newest book, CASCADIA, his setting is the beautiful Oregon Coastline. Bernard introduces us to Rob, a geologist, who has "visions" of a megaquake followed by a tsunami that hits his beloved Manzanita area. The quake appears in his dreams as bigger than the one researchers have studied that hit the same coastal area in the 1700's. Johnny is one of those men who has been studying the area, looking for the buried treasure left behind by the Native Americans after the quake hit in the 1700's. We also meet a retired Air Force veteran who comes to Manzanita to make amends with his past. These characters and others converge on Manzanita over 4th of July weekend and their lives will collide in a way none of them expected.
CASCADIA is fast-paced and doesn't bog you down with the technical side of earthquakes. It gives you enough information to understand the devastating effects of a megaquake on the entire coastline. In the Prologue, we are given a folktale that has been passed down through generations of Native Americans foretelling the power of a megaquake and forthcoming tsunami. The "Thunderbird and Whale" narrative gives the reader a perspective of understanding the weather long before we had seismology and meteorologists.
CASCADIA is predictable in the way that murder mysteries are predictable. You know that a murder is going to happen you just don't know who is going to die and who committed the murder. I know enough about Bernard's books that I know the earthquake is coming or there wouldn't be a story to tell. You just don't know how all the characters are going to connect and what will happen to each of them once the quake hits.
Bernard packs a powerful story into a quick read that can easily be consumed over a weekend. You just may not want to read it if you are traveling to the Northwest Coastal Region. Save it for when you get home.
"Buzz" Bernard is a former senior meteorologist for The Weather Channel and prior to that, he was a weather officer with the Air Force. His weather experience is lengthy and makes it only natural for him to write about weather catastrophes. In his newest book, CASCADIA, his setting is the beautiful Oregon Coastline. Bernard introduces us to Rob, a geologist, who has "visions" of a megaquake followed by a tsunami that hits his beloved Manzanita area. The quake appears in his dreams as bigger than the one researchers have studied that hit the same coastal area in the 1700's. Johnny is one of those men who has been studying the area, looking for the buried treasure left behind by the Native Americans after the quake hit in the 1700's. We also meet a retired Air Force veteran who comes to Manzanita to make amends with his past. These characters and others converge on Manzanita over 4th of July weekend and their lives will collide in a way none of them expected.
CASCADIA is fast-paced and doesn't bog you down with the technical side of earthquakes. It gives you enough information to understand the devastating effects of a megaquake on the entire coastline. In the Prologue, we are given a folktale that has been passed down through generations of Native Americans foretelling the power of a megaquake and forthcoming tsunami. The "Thunderbird and Whale" narrative gives the reader a perspective of understanding the weather long before we had seismology and meteorologists.
CASCADIA is predictable in the way that murder mysteries are predictable. You know that a murder is going to happen you just don't know who is going to die and who committed the murder. I know enough about Bernard's books that I know the earthquake is coming or there wouldn't be a story to tell. You just don't know how all the characters are going to connect and what will happen to each of them once the quake hits.
Bernard packs a powerful story into a quick read that can easily be consumed over a weekend. You just may not want to read it if you are traveling to the Northwest Coastal Region. Save it for when you get home.
September 25, 2016
Everytime I read one of Mr. Bernards books, I am amazed at how knowledgeable he is and how he can write a story that could very well and most likely will happen.
"The Cascadia subduction zone, a 680-mile fault that runs 50 miles off the coast of the Pacific Northwest -- from Cape Mendocino in California to Vancouver Island in southern British Columbia -- has experienced a cluster of four massive earthquakes during the past 1,600 years."
Cascadia starts out in the Clatsop Indian Village, January 1700, which is along the Oregon Coase near present day Seaside. Legend has it that Thunderbird and Whale is a story about a massive earthquake, Thunderbird and the huge tsunami, Whale that follows. This is a story that has been handed down amongst the tribe for over 300 years and it is predicted that another quake and tsunami is due again.
Dr. Rob Elwood, a respected geologist has studied Cascadia extensively and is having nightmares about a huge earthquake. It is not a nightmare that happens once but happens frequently so it is actually a premonition. He wants to go public with his premonition but who will believe him? He struggles with this information but eventually does go public with it. People, of course, do not believe this will happen. Rob has predicted that this phenomenon will happen on the July 4th holiday. The holiday comes and goes and nothing happens until the next day.
Rob and his son are caught in the hugest earthquake to take place but narrowly escape in an airplane. The devastation is horrible, the worst that anyone can imagine in the US. Rob ends up in a rescue mission that could not only kill him but the woman that he has rescued.
With a cast of characters that you will like, a retired fighter pilot and the woman he jilted twenty-five years ago, to a black man who is looking for buried pirate treasure, you will get swept up, literally, into another nail-biting, edge of your seat story about nature's fury. Not only will you get involved in the story but you may even learn a bit of the force of nature that are earthquakes and tsunamis.
Like I said before, once I get into one of Buzz Bernard's books, they are hard to put down. Well researched and edge of your seat unputdownable! If you like a story that is exciting, you absolutely have to read Cascadia. I loved it!
"The Cascadia subduction zone, a 680-mile fault that runs 50 miles off the coast of the Pacific Northwest -- from Cape Mendocino in California to Vancouver Island in southern British Columbia -- has experienced a cluster of four massive earthquakes during the past 1,600 years."
Cascadia starts out in the Clatsop Indian Village, January 1700, which is along the Oregon Coase near present day Seaside. Legend has it that Thunderbird and Whale is a story about a massive earthquake, Thunderbird and the huge tsunami, Whale that follows. This is a story that has been handed down amongst the tribe for over 300 years and it is predicted that another quake and tsunami is due again.
Dr. Rob Elwood, a respected geologist has studied Cascadia extensively and is having nightmares about a huge earthquake. It is not a nightmare that happens once but happens frequently so it is actually a premonition. He wants to go public with his premonition but who will believe him? He struggles with this information but eventually does go public with it. People, of course, do not believe this will happen. Rob has predicted that this phenomenon will happen on the July 4th holiday. The holiday comes and goes and nothing happens until the next day.
Rob and his son are caught in the hugest earthquake to take place but narrowly escape in an airplane. The devastation is horrible, the worst that anyone can imagine in the US. Rob ends up in a rescue mission that could not only kill him but the woman that he has rescued.
With a cast of characters that you will like, a retired fighter pilot and the woman he jilted twenty-five years ago, to a black man who is looking for buried pirate treasure, you will get swept up, literally, into another nail-biting, edge of your seat story about nature's fury. Not only will you get involved in the story but you may even learn a bit of the force of nature that are earthquakes and tsunamis.
Like I said before, once I get into one of Buzz Bernard's books, they are hard to put down. Well researched and edge of your seat unputdownable! If you like a story that is exciting, you absolutely have to read Cascadia. I loved it!
August 13, 2016
All I can say is wow! This book kept me up reading late and I was reluctant to put it down. I am a huge fan of disaster fiction and this book really delivers. The difference is that this book describes a very real scenario as this disaster WILL happen one day.
Dr. Rob Elwood who is a well known and respected geologist keeps having persistent nightmares about the "Big One" that is due to happen on the West Coast of North America. After consulting with a close friend who was in the clergy and listening to his own heart, Dr. Elwood decides to go public with his premonition and risks his reputation and his livelihood. It just so happens that he gets the day wrong and people are definitely not prepared for what happens next on the following day.
What follows is an action-packed and heartbreaking account of the human toll as people scramble to not only survive the massive earthquake but the tsunami that follows.
The book is made stronger by the author's character development and the scientifically accurate information he provides from much research.
What is amazing about this book is that H.W. "Buzz" Bernard not only gives a warning based on scientific fact but is also able to create fictional characters who you end up caring about. This is really a must read. I received a copy of this novel for free from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Rob Elwood who is a well known and respected geologist keeps having persistent nightmares about the "Big One" that is due to happen on the West Coast of North America. After consulting with a close friend who was in the clergy and listening to his own heart, Dr. Elwood decides to go public with his premonition and risks his reputation and his livelihood. It just so happens that he gets the day wrong and people are definitely not prepared for what happens next on the following day.
What follows is an action-packed and heartbreaking account of the human toll as people scramble to not only survive the massive earthquake but the tsunami that follows.
The book is made stronger by the author's character development and the scientifically accurate information he provides from much research.
What is amazing about this book is that H.W. "Buzz" Bernard not only gives a warning based on scientific fact but is also able to create fictional characters who you end up caring about. This is really a must read. I received a copy of this novel for free from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
Full disclosure here: Buzz Bernard is a terrible writer. His characters are shallow, his dialogue is laughable, and his plot points are ridiculous. However, he did get the science right in this book. "Cascadia" is about deadly megathrust earthquakes and ensuing tsunamis that devastate the western region of the Pacific Northwest about every 500 years, some with intervals as short as 250 years! These monster quakes are caused by full-length ruptures of the Cascadia Subduction Zone that lies under the Pacific Ocean, just a few miles off shore, paralleling the coastline, and stretching from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Northern California. The last mega-quake occurred in 1700. And for those who live in western Washington and Oregon, that is very bad news. The 'big" one can happen any day now. This book provides a vivid and gruesome picture of the total devastation and suffering that Northwest coastal towns, and inland cities like Portland and Seattle, will experience.
May 20, 2021
Although you know from the get go that the big event - a devastating earthquake followed by a huge tsunami on America’s Pacific Northwest Coast - is going to happen, and despite the story being wrapped around 4 July and a man urging people to expect the worst who isn’t believed, like a geological retelling of ‘Jaws’, this is a good read. Until a few decades ago, it was thought the ‘big one’ would be in California, but it seems when it happens - and it will because it has throughout history - movement of tectonic plates off the Pacific Coast of Oregon and Washington will be far more destructive. If you like disaster fiction or are interested in reading about the natural scenario described, you should enjoy this novel.
September 1, 2016
I love a great EOTWAWKI book. Disaster books. This ain't one. So, I'm not sure what this is . . . a short story? An outline for a better, more involved novel? A book proposal? It's 200 pages, and just isn't really much more than a hint of a book. I didn't hate it, but it's Paint By Numbers writing at best. Somebody bought on book on how to write a novel, and pounded this out according to those strict rule. So it's dull and ordinary, and the writing isn't good. And the "big rescue ending" is just absurd, and painful to read. The $15.95 price on the back must be a joke, since this should sell for $1.99 as a Kindle book on Amazon. And at that price, not a good deal.
July 18, 2016
Do you like blockbuster disaster movies? Do you ever read a typical “beach book”? If you say yes to either one of these questions, then Cascadia by Buzz Bernard is the perfect summer read for you.
As I was reading Cascadia, I kept saying to myself, “This could make a perfect movie script without any changes at all.” I could picture all my favorite stars in the main roles, and even as some of the minor comic relief characters. This would be a lot of fun. I hope it actually does happen, because this disaster could happen at any time, and the general population should know about the potential danger.
Mr. Bernard has done his research. There is a real danger to the people in the Pacific Northwest, and Cascadia is a warning. He shows what could possibly happen in our lifetime. Maybe it won’t happen this year or next, but sometime within the forseeable future, a major earthquake will happen just offshore and result in a tsunami. This will cause massive damage and kill many people. Is there any way to predict when that will happen? Science can’t, at this time, but maybe there is something else that can send that warning. That is what happens in Cascadia.
I really enjoyed reading Cascadia. It felt a bit formulaic, but so what, most disaster movies are too, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying them. Like any good action book, it starts off slowly, and then it ramps up exponentially as you approach the climax. The characters are likable, if somewhat predictable. But I liked them, and didn’t want any of them to die in the tsunami. Overall, a perfect summer beach book.
I give Cascadia 4 Stars out of 5, and a Big Thumbs Up.
I received an Advance Review Copy from the publisher.
As I was reading Cascadia, I kept saying to myself, “This could make a perfect movie script without any changes at all.” I could picture all my favorite stars in the main roles, and even as some of the minor comic relief characters. This would be a lot of fun. I hope it actually does happen, because this disaster could happen at any time, and the general population should know about the potential danger.
Mr. Bernard has done his research. There is a real danger to the people in the Pacific Northwest, and Cascadia is a warning. He shows what could possibly happen in our lifetime. Maybe it won’t happen this year or next, but sometime within the forseeable future, a major earthquake will happen just offshore and result in a tsunami. This will cause massive damage and kill many people. Is there any way to predict when that will happen? Science can’t, at this time, but maybe there is something else that can send that warning. That is what happens in Cascadia.
I really enjoyed reading Cascadia. It felt a bit formulaic, but so what, most disaster movies are too, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying them. Like any good action book, it starts off slowly, and then it ramps up exponentially as you approach the climax. The characters are likable, if somewhat predictable. But I liked them, and didn’t want any of them to die in the tsunami. Overall, a perfect summer beach book.
I give Cascadia 4 Stars out of 5, and a Big Thumbs Up.
I received an Advance Review Copy from the publisher.
August 22, 2016
This is quite a natural disaster story. I am usually not a huge fan of disaster books. In my experience, many of them start out exciting and then dwindle once the disaster is actually over, losing pace and becoming all about the government's intervention. This book didn't do that, and kept me reading and hoping the best for the characters until the very end.
There are multiple story lines going on in this book at the same time, and they are each fulfilling and handled with care. I found that I really enjoyed each of the characters and their situations equally, which is a rarity. Generally I am more interested in one scenario than another, but with this novel, all the activities work together and make for a very complex, interesting read.
The descriptions of the actual events, first earthquake and then devastating tsunami are described in such detail that you fear looking out the window of your own home whilst reading. I love the Oregon Coast and go there frequently, and the landscape was perfectly detailed by the author.
Over all, this was a great book. Lots of action, lots of tension and the perfect amount of human compassion and endurance. Read it!
This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
There are multiple story lines going on in this book at the same time, and they are each fulfilling and handled with care. I found that I really enjoyed each of the characters and their situations equally, which is a rarity. Generally I am more interested in one scenario than another, but with this novel, all the activities work together and make for a very complex, interesting read.
The descriptions of the actual events, first earthquake and then devastating tsunami are described in such detail that you fear looking out the window of your own home whilst reading. I love the Oregon Coast and go there frequently, and the landscape was perfectly detailed by the author.
Over all, this was a great book. Lots of action, lots of tension and the perfect amount of human compassion and endurance. Read it!
This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 11, 2016
It is time for the Northwest United States to pack their ‘go bags’! When Buzz Bernard writes a novel, you can bet he has done his research and writes from authority. From Northern California to Vancouver, people best be at peace with Jesus because the tsunami is really due. In the story, when everyone thinks Rob is nuts, scoffs and ridicules him, that is when you hear God saying, “Get out!” He sent His messenger(s), whether Rob believed it or not. I have loved every one of Buzz’s books—EYEWALL, PLAGUE, SUPERCELL, and BLIZZARD. When you read one, you must have them all. CASCADIA will heighten your awareness for sure.
July 30, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suffering from disturbing nightmares about massive earthquakes and destruction, geologist Rob Elwood decides to alert the public about his fears. A huge seismic event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone may cost much more than damage to his career. "Buzz" Bernard is a new author for me, but I will be looking out for more of his well-researched and -written prose. Recommended.
Suffering from disturbing nightmares about massive earthquakes and destruction, geologist Rob Elwood decides to alert the public about his fears. A huge seismic event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone may cost much more than damage to his career. "Buzz" Bernard is a new author for me, but I will be looking out for more of his well-researched and -written prose. Recommended.
July 31, 2016
Exceptionally Entertaining
From the very beginning to the last word in this book it will grab your attention and keep it. Breathtaking and heart pounding. Excellent read. Enjoy!
From the very beginning to the last word in this book it will grab your attention and keep it. Breathtaking and heart pounding. Excellent read. Enjoy!
March 22, 2019
Renowned geologist Rob Elwood has a recurring nightmare in which his Washington state beach town is leveled by a devastating earthquake, then drowned by a towering tsunami. The dream has been a part of his life since he lost friends and colleagues in the 2004 Indonesian quake and tsunami, but in the last few weeks it’s become a nightly terror. The dreamscape indicates the disaster will happen during a festive national holiday, just as the July Fourth weekend nears. And precisely who is Cassie, the mysterious woman who shows up as Rob grapples with his choices and introduces herself as a strategic communications specialist from Troy?
A thoughtful man who includes the retired Episcopalian priest Lewis Warren among his friends, Rob consults Lewis about his unshakable belief that the life-threatening event will arrive soon. Lewis suggests he go public, and between a town meeting and a local TV interview, the entire world is soon familiar with Rob’s warnings of doom. Local government officials are infuriated, fellow geologists denounce him, and his usually supportive wife heads home to Oregon to escape the embarrassment. And as Independence Day, Saturday, fades into darkness, even Rob doubts his prediction, fearing he’s tossed away his career and reputation on the basis of a night terror.
Then Sunday morning dawns.
Buzz’s novel features a cast of characters in need of luck, forgiveness, love, and redemption, and the earthquake and oncoming tsunami grants those flawed souls the opportunity to repay their debts. A retired Air Force playboy prepares to die in the wreckage of a house with the girlfriend he abandoned twenty years earlier, while a homeless Vietnam vet who just located the mythic Spanish treasure he’s been seeking for years reluctantly abandons it to save an elderly couple and his beloved dog. While those in charge flee in terror, these men rise to meet the challenges placed before them, finding the strength within themselves to make necessary sacrifices.
As Rob finds himself suddenly reversed from pariah to prophet, he encounters Cassie as the tsunami approaches and realizes how she acquired her strategic communication expertise. In those moments, he finally understands that even those carrying bad news have a calling to fulfill, and he has faithfully executed his duties.
A thoughtful man who includes the retired Episcopalian priest Lewis Warren among his friends, Rob consults Lewis about his unshakable belief that the life-threatening event will arrive soon. Lewis suggests he go public, and between a town meeting and a local TV interview, the entire world is soon familiar with Rob’s warnings of doom. Local government officials are infuriated, fellow geologists denounce him, and his usually supportive wife heads home to Oregon to escape the embarrassment. And as Independence Day, Saturday, fades into darkness, even Rob doubts his prediction, fearing he’s tossed away his career and reputation on the basis of a night terror.
Then Sunday morning dawns.
Buzz’s novel features a cast of characters in need of luck, forgiveness, love, and redemption, and the earthquake and oncoming tsunami grants those flawed souls the opportunity to repay their debts. A retired Air Force playboy prepares to die in the wreckage of a house with the girlfriend he abandoned twenty years earlier, while a homeless Vietnam vet who just located the mythic Spanish treasure he’s been seeking for years reluctantly abandons it to save an elderly couple and his beloved dog. While those in charge flee in terror, these men rise to meet the challenges placed before them, finding the strength within themselves to make necessary sacrifices.
As Rob finds himself suddenly reversed from pariah to prophet, he encounters Cassie as the tsunami approaches and realizes how she acquired her strategic communication expertise. In those moments, he finally understands that even those carrying bad news have a calling to fulfill, and he has faithfully executed his duties.
June 8, 2017
At the time I scheduled this review I had not thought about what I would be teaching in my classroom around the time this review was due. It just worked out that we are reading stories on disasters. My students have been reading about Tsunamis and the earthquakes that cause them, specifically the 2004 tsunami. An interesting point in the article they read dealt with geomythology. Scientist are using stories told by Native Americans to back up stories of earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred in the past. Those were things I thought about as I read this wonderful thriller by “Buzz” Bernard.
One of the reasons I really like his work is you can tell how much research he does. I’m not sure how difficult that is for him with his background. I felt like I was reading a real life event. His main character has to face one of the biggest challenges of his life. Dr. Elwood is a geologist who keeps having nightmares about a quake that devastates the northwest coast. The more he has the dreams the more he believes the quake will actually happen. The challenge he faces is whether he should risk his career to go public with what he ‘believes’ will happen or if he should keep quiet to protect his career. If he is wrong it would be career over. If he doesn’t tell anyone and his dreams come true then he lost the opportunity to save lives. I wondered if meteorologists and geologists every actually go through this. I found it interesting that the “Thunderbird and Whale” reference was also mentioned in the articles my students read. This is such a well-written book I could see it as a movie. I want a book like this that will keep me reading from cover to cover. I enjoy books that are so realistic I wonder how much truth there is to them. I definitely recommend you read this book and any of his other books. You won’t be sorry you checked out this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
One of the reasons I really like his work is you can tell how much research he does. I’m not sure how difficult that is for him with his background. I felt like I was reading a real life event. His main character has to face one of the biggest challenges of his life. Dr. Elwood is a geologist who keeps having nightmares about a quake that devastates the northwest coast. The more he has the dreams the more he believes the quake will actually happen. The challenge he faces is whether he should risk his career to go public with what he ‘believes’ will happen or if he should keep quiet to protect his career. If he is wrong it would be career over. If he doesn’t tell anyone and his dreams come true then he lost the opportunity to save lives. I wondered if meteorologists and geologists every actually go through this. I found it interesting that the “Thunderbird and Whale” reference was also mentioned in the articles my students read. This is such a well-written book I could see it as a movie. I want a book like this that will keep me reading from cover to cover. I enjoy books that are so realistic I wonder how much truth there is to them. I definitely recommend you read this book and any of his other books. You won’t be sorry you checked out this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
October 27, 2016
This story is well-written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you like fast-paced adventure that involves engaging, well-drawn characters, this read's for you. The only reason it took me five days to read it is because I rationed pages because I didn't want it to be over that soon!
I've enjoyed all Buzz Bernard's books so far because most of them are about extreme weather, with which I'm fascinated. He's a retired meteorologist, so he's great at delivering believable, accurate, weather-based stories. So this one is something of a departure for him, but he maintains his usual high level of accuracy and believability. Which makes this a terrifying read, because the story it tells is entirely plausible. In order to say why, I'd have to include spoilers, which I won't because I hate that.
Suffice to say, if you like natural disaster stories, great characters, interesting subplots and the feel of a thriller, this is your next book.
I've enjoyed all Buzz Bernard's books so far because most of them are about extreme weather, with which I'm fascinated. He's a retired meteorologist, so he's great at delivering believable, accurate, weather-based stories. So this one is something of a departure for him, but he maintains his usual high level of accuracy and believability. Which makes this a terrifying read, because the story it tells is entirely plausible. In order to say why, I'd have to include spoilers, which I won't because I hate that.
Suffice to say, if you like natural disaster stories, great characters, interesting subplots and the feel of a thriller, this is your next book.
July 6, 2017
Buzz Bernard’s Cascadia is another page-turning story. His well-written and vivid descriptions paint a picture that allows the reader to visualize the scene. He has a grasp of human nature and personal relationships that brings his characters to life—whether you root for them or not, these people become real. There is humor, pain and despair in this book, all brought to life by an outstanding mastery of words. Yes, he does “teach”—his background and experience make him qualified to do so, but if you’re not interested in learning about the geophysics behind tsunamis and earthquakes, skim over it. I find it fascinating. There’s always something to be learned from Bernard’s novels, and Cascadia is no exception. His story sense is notable and every one of his books is worth the read.
(Book purchased at multi-author event.)
(Book purchased at multi-author event.)
October 25, 2018
Megaearthquake
Reader's need more novels like this. This novel describes with precision just what could happen in a megaquake situation. The characters are real and vivid. The reader is engaged with the characters and the story. This novel is highly recommended and has a wealth of knowledge and information that will actually help the reader in a survival situation.
Reader's need more novels like this. This novel describes with precision just what could happen in a megaquake situation. The characters are real and vivid. The reader is engaged with the characters and the story. This novel is highly recommended and has a wealth of knowledge and information that will actually help the reader in a survival situation.
April 14, 2019
I’ve read Supercell and Blizzard by this author and Supercell is a favorite read so I thought I’d read Cascadia. His descriptions and knowledge made it very easy to picture in my mind. I couldn’t put it down. I think my favorite character was Neahkahnie Johnny and his dog Zurry. I was hoping he’d find the treasure. I found this to be a very good read that kept me engaged until the end.
February 13, 2021
Another thrilling disaster tale
I really enjoy Buzz Bernard's books. They are each about some very accurate and well researched natural disaster and I have faithfully read each and every one. While some have happened in the past, including the very distant past, the others happen more frequently. This is a real page turner.
is a page turner. When can we expect the next one?
I really enjoy Buzz Bernard's books. They are each about some very accurate and well researched natural disaster and I have faithfully read each and every one. While some have happened in the past, including the very distant past, the others happen more frequently. This is a real page turner.
is a page turner. When can we expect the next one?
June 2, 2021
What a ride!
Incredible! Amazing! I could not put this book down even knowing I had to get up early the next morning. Once this book starts, it just doesn’t quit. And the excitement is on the ground, on the water, and in there air, with slaps of realism throughout. I have to say by the time I finished I was grateful I no longer lived in the Pacific Northwest.
Incredible! Amazing! I could not put this book down even knowing I had to get up early the next morning. Once this book starts, it just doesn’t quit. And the excitement is on the ground, on the water, and in there air, with slaps of realism throughout. I have to say by the time I finished I was grateful I no longer lived in the Pacific Northwest.
June 2, 2019
It isn't often that you find a combination of solid science, hair-raising but very believable plot, and fine writing. This one will keep you on the edge of your chair, especially if you live on or near the Pacific Northwest coast.
September 18, 2020
Good read
The characters were believable and you tended to like them. The conflicts real especially in this age of coronavirus 19. I liked that the hero did have to evaluate what was most important.
The characters were believable and you tended to like them. The conflicts real especially in this age of coronavirus 19. I liked that the hero did have to evaluate what was most important.
July 9, 2018
Searching for non-fiction books on Cascadia or The Ring of Fire, I found this fiction novel. Very enjoyable and true on area information. I read quickly as an E-book from the library.
September 7, 2020
Great books to read. fast read and totally enjoy the story line, characters and plot. I have now read all of Buzz Bernard’s books. Enjoyed them all.
May 25, 2021
A fun (and somewhat frightening) story - with a little too much much of the supernatural! But I truly enjoyed the characters and the storyline
January 30, 2022
3 stars. The book started out like a science lecture. It kind of drug out and was pretty boring. It picked up about halfway through but still didn't grab me like I had hoped.
August 18, 2016
This is my first disaster fiction novel for sometime and I am very glad I chose this one. This is a fast paced story of disaster and interlaced human stories. Rob Elwood a geologist who gets a vivid nightmare of disaster hitting his home town and wider area with earthquake and tsunami. Who will believe him and how can he make a difference. A little patience is required early on in the book while you are briefed about the science. The author makes this bearable by expertly mixing it up with the other threads in the story. This not just a disaster, it also has its fair share of thrills, suspense and twists. If you take this on holiday make sure you take other books as well, you finish this very quickly.
November 11, 2016
Wade's Book Club Throwdown - overnight in Manzanita made it all the more real.
Pretty fun read about what will happen to the Pacific Northwest when The Big One finally hits. Takes place in the coastal town of Manzanita. Interesting characters, and really like the spirituality introduced in the form of a woman who seemed to just show up at the perfect time, and touched many lives. A little unbelievable when rescue workers clear trees from the 101 highway so a small plane could land in order to take one woman to a trauma hospital. Still, living in Portland, it was interesting to read about the effects a great earthquake and tsunami will have on our area.
Pretty fun read about what will happen to the Pacific Northwest when The Big One finally hits. Takes place in the coastal town of Manzanita. Interesting characters, and really like the spirituality introduced in the form of a woman who seemed to just show up at the perfect time, and touched many lives. A little unbelievable when rescue workers clear trees from the 101 highway so a small plane could land in order to take one woman to a trauma hospital. Still, living in Portland, it was interesting to read about the effects a great earthquake and tsunami will have on our area.
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