"A stormy and romantic tale"

One dark and rainy night, Claire Lambert walks out of a dating agency, smack dab into the middle of a murder. She then has to run for her life, as the enraged killer comes after her. Through some lucky chance, she escapes but sustains a bad injury to her head. Unfortunately, the killer gets her purse and ID and decides to make her his next target.

DCPD Detective Sean Richter has been tracking for some time a series of unrelated murders which appear to have some curious common points. This leads him to believe that he's stumbled onto a serial killer. The latest attack fits the profile perfectly, except this time, they have a witness in the form of Claire. Unfortunately, when Claire wakes up in the hospital, she has no recollection of witnessing the murder.

Sean's in the uncomfortable position of protecting a potential witness while nudging her lost memory, and at the same time battling an overwhelming attraction toward her. Claire too feels the tug of attraction, but tries her best to ignore it. But when the sadistic killer begins a game of stalking and taunting her, Claire and Sean are thrown into close proximity, and their feelings can no longer be denied. Will love make them careless? Or will it make them stronger?

For her debut novel, Heather Lowell has done a 'killer' job and has proved that she's more than capable of following in her famous mother Elizabeth Lowell's footsteps. And while on this subject, it has to be said that though Heather's book belongs to the same genre of romantic suspense that her mother writes in, this novel has a freshness and a more modern feel to it than any of Elizabeth's books.

This novelty lies not only in the gripping treatment of the not-so-fresh plot, but also in the language and the overall development of the story. There is suspense from the very first page of the book and it's maintained till the very exciting and pulse-pounding ending. Romance and passion are also plentiful and since it's also a bit forbidden, it adds a thrilling frame to the story. Claire is a very strong heroine, and her determination, cool and rational thinking under extremely dangerous circumstances are a delight while her refusal to be a victim is an absolute inspiration to read about. Sean is a bit more clichéd as he's the protective overbearing kind of hero, but in hooking up with Claire he shows an unexpected spirit and ultimately renders himself worthy of such a woman. The menacing and deranged villain is also a major player in this drama and his actions are well-documented and chillingly portrayed.

Making maximum use of all the right elements as well as her abundant writing skills, in When the Storm Breaks Heather Lowell has shown herself to be a formidable writer and novelist. This reviewer, for one, will wait with great interest to see if her forthcoming books match the high standards she's set with this one.

Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
Posted November 20, 2003

Summary

A serial killer has one obsession . . .

Claire Lambert walked into a nightmare on a rainy night in Washington, D.C. Stumbling upon a killer in the midst of his latest bloody crime, she ran for her life—but not before a head injury caused her to lose her memory, along with her purse and ID. Now a monster knows who Claire is . . . and where she lives.

Waking up in a hospital room the day after being attacked—her mind stripped of all memory of what happened to her—Claire can only listen with horror to the scenario Detective Sean Richter unfolds before her. A law officer fiercely dedicated to ending the wave of brutal killings that has struck the city, Sean knows that this brave and beautiful woman holds the key to stopping the murderer before he can strike again. Claire is the only victim who has seen the killer's face and lived—which is why Sean needs her help and will risk everything to protect her . . .

And why a depraved, relentless animal is determined that Claire Lambert must die.