I’m only now just recovering enough to write a few words about this gripping and thrilling novel by Cienna Collins.

 With the aid of her sister, Georgia Wright escapes the clutches of violent and controlling Andreas to Far North Queensland. There she manages to start a new life as a nanny to young Reilly whose father, kind-hearted Daniel has a few issues of his own. Together with housekeeper Margie the family quickly embraces her.

Georgia handles the dynamics of the household, a spiteful ex-wife and makes friends with Nayla. However, Andreas has other ideas about letting her go and when a full-scale cyclone looms things get very interesting.

Collins cleverly alternates the chapters with background snippets about Georgia’s life with Andreas and this creates a slow building tension from the beginning. Like Georgia, we the reader are never quite settled and relaxed with her new life. The relationships she builds with Daniel, Reilly and Margie are touching and engaging. Indeed, all the characters are well drawn.  We are also privileged to be in Georgia’s head feeling every bit of her uncertainty and insecurity making sure we never entirely relax.

The description of the tropics is vivid and I felt like I was there or maybe since I was in chilly Melbourne, I just wished I was there.

 “The day’s torrid heat is yet to kick in and lift the overnight rain from the shrubs, drops large and glassy on russet and emerald leaves.”

The second half of the book is a heart-racer when things quickly spiral out of control as Georgia’s races to survive in the middle of a violent and deadly tropical cyclone.

The writing is beautiful and this page-turner never lets you be. An excellent read and highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy and I leave this honest review voluntarily.