White Lightning: Episode 2

Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog I was a lot more excited going into this installment then how I feel now. I blame this mostly on the fact that this second episode focuses a lot on Dakota Alvarez and the Senator. From the very beginning we see Dakota as a spoiled brat who couldn’t be bothered to really care about anyone but herself, and I really had no interest in her woes or feelings. WHITE LIGHTNING goes deep into that. A lot of the developments around town revolve around her from what we can see in this installment and I was just glad to see it coming to an end. Yeah, I’m not a Dakota fan. Is it bad to wish that something bad would happen to her already so she gets a good dose of reality already? That being said, I still found the whole setup interesting and I can’t wait for all the secrets to boil over and explode in everyone’s face! Seems like there’s no one there that’s not hiding something that could potential ruin the life they are trying to build or to maintain. I think in the overall storyline, this one didn’t quite provide enough advancement as I was hoping for but I’m ready for the next. spacer

Book 2 starts where we finished - with the Alvarez family coming to terms with Hector's 'disappearance' and the town still reeling from loosing one of their own. Fast paced, the stories move along nicely - new characters are introduced. It all ended far too soon for me - like a soap opera does I suppose .. any UK readers will get this - all that is missing is the 'doof, doof, doof, doof ...' like in Eastenders!! Copy received in exchange for an honest review. This is part of a serial - dont just buy one because it is by your favourite author - read them all - in order!

The soap continues...Lexi Blake picks the plot/story line up right where we left off after Tempest Rising. I picked the book up and away I went to Storm, Texas where everyone knows your name, and secrets and lies are a way of life. I was really interested to see how this project would pan out with each author picking up where the last left off but Lexi paved the way with a seamlessly smooth transition. This serial makes me feel as though I truly am reading a soap opera. I'm provided with an interesting mix of mystery, lies, betrayal and intrigue. Of course the requisite H/h that you love to hate are present, such as Senator Rush and Dakota Alvarez. I don't know who I dislike more right now. I think it goes to Dakota. She is narcissistic, needy, manipulative and disillusioned. In my mind she is a whiny entitled brat who is stomping her feet. The more I read the more I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.

Part two....Wow, I expected it to "feel" different since various authors are writing the books but nope, it was not at all noticeable. This soap opera (really the only way to put it) is awesome. There are characters you love to hate, ones you are rooting for, and others you are glad are gone. The town and characters are brilliantly written, and the twists and turn are so intriguing. I'm actually thinking I should've waited until they all came out to read them but since this is only "season one" I could be waiting years and I'm not about to do that, it's too good. It's like a TV show that I get to read. Get your hands on this series as soon as you can, you won't regret it! I received a copy for an honest review.

Episode 2 in the new Rising Storm serial picks up right where episode 1 left off. Now that we've been introduced to so many characters, I love getting all of their different points of view. After reading this episode I'm definitely hooked. I can't wait to see how everything plays out and who else is keeping secrets! *ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

What another great episode. This episode picks up pretty much where the last one left off and boy is this episode a doozy! A storm is coming and like with any good soap opera, the aftermath will leave you reeling. I can’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away. But, I will say this, this episode really knows how to pull you in. It really sucks you and leaves you begging for more. I am completely addicted to this series and am looking forward to seeing where the next episode will take us! *I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via InkSlinger PR, in exchange for an honest review

Hidden agendas, shady characters, heartbreaking events. Episode 1: Tempest Rising was an introduction into a troubled community of people sent reeling from the death of one of their own. Episode 2: White Lightning digs deeper into not just the repercussions of the accident but the inner workings of two marriages with secrets of their own and the bad choices of one woman. I did not like the Senator. He has smarmy written all oven him and I don't believe his wife is as blind as she pretends to be, she just doesn't care. The way he preys on younger, weaker women makes him a sociopath to me. Dakota needed to get over blaming others and start facing the choices she made and stop relying on others for her happiness. The Rising Storm series is a guilty pleasure that is worth experiencing from the beginning. I received an ARC of White Lightning by Lexi Blake in exchange for an honest review.

The little town of Storm, Texas, is still reeling after the car crash, the Alvarez household is in shambles, but Senator Sebastian Rush doesn’t care much, besides how it affects his chances in the upcoming elections. Cold, calculating, cheating Sebastian, whose perfect political wife Payton seems unaffected by his indifference, but she is getting restless. A long-time good friend is making her reconsider her sexless life. While he’s looking for prey and drinking foul White Lightning moonshine at a nearby town, a nubile blonde catches Sebastian’s roving eye. Things do not happen exactly how he had hoped, but while he thinks he’s got it made, it’s the girl who might be the winner. WHITE LIGHTNING is slower-paced than Episode 1, but no less captivating. Ms. Blake springs quite a few stunners, and lays the groundwork for so many more surprises. Senator Rush’s mother Pamela, however blinded by her admiration for her son and daughter-in-law, the formidable, scheming – and prejudiced – matriarch doesn’t miss a single thing that happens in her town, and is bound to cause a lot of trouble for many people. Senator Rush is a revolting, hypocritical pig; there, I said it, and it is going to be so much fun reading about it! It’s difficult reviewing without giving spoilers, but trust me, things are going to snowball out of control for some of the characters, and I wonder if some “good guys” and “bad guys” are going to cross that fine line that some of them are threading. Sheriff Murphy means well, but you know what they say about the road to hell… Readers who might have missed Episode 1: Tempest Rising, will be able to follow, even though some important bits will elude them, but still it’s not too late. Ms. Blake’s writing is smooth and descriptive; she completely disappears behind the story so it feels like we’re flies on the wall, and the transition between Ms. Kenner and Ms. Blake’s style is absolutely seamless. So much is going to happen; it’s a good thing there’s only one week to wait between instalments, but it’s going to be a long week! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.