Transporting its readers into a believable and supportive community to deal with the challenging topic of domestic abuse, Normandie Fischer’s Heavy Weather provides quite an emotional and worthwhile read. Though abuse is always tragic and disheartening, Fischer’s novel manages to beautifully captivate and engage with a tale of friendship and courage and mothering. Rich in well-written detail and characterization, Heavy Weather would be a wonderful, page-turning read for any fan of women’s fiction looking for a moving and heartfelt book. I quite enjoyed the journey through its pages and found it quite hard to put down, so I certainly recommend it.

Five Stars is not a high enough rating for this marvelous book – quality writing of this caliber calls for at least a double rating of 10.  It was breathtaking.  I adored every sentence of this meticulously crafted story, and there was not a wasted word on the 403 superbly written pages.  The narrative was so descriptive and enthralling, I could hear the dog’s bark, see and feel the lightning in the sky, and smell the water in the bay.  Ms. Fischer’s characters are appealing, knowable, clever, enticing, and expertly developed and detailed.  The story was deeply moving if not intoxicating, with numerous tragedies and losses that fathomed my emotions in a manner that had me in tears several times – a remarkable achievement given my rather cold heart.  I ached for the little boy most of all, denied a childhood, yet ever insightful, aware, and protective of his family.  But my favorite character proved to be the unexpectedly complex policeman with a penchant for the finer things, and excellent tastes in food, creature comforts, music, and the soft touches and kindnesses that were exactly what these broken people were in dire need of.  Heavy Weather is my first Normandie Fischer read, but it certainly will not be my last.  I hope she is busy working on a sequel as I am already in need of a return visit to Beaufort.

I'm no stranger to Normandie Fischer's writing. I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing her book, Sailing Out of Darkness a little over a year ago and I loved it. I ...started reading [Heavy Weather] one morning this week and was done with it the following night. I literally (in the purest use of the word!) read the last ten or so pages by the light of my phone while my husband slept so I wouldn't have to go to bed without closure.

THAT's how good the book is. (Read the full review at the link below.)

A persistent theme in writing and drama is the battle between good and evil as it works out in human decisions about doing the right thing or the wrong thing. It is not always as simple as knowing that stealing is wrong or feeding the hungry is right. There are so many variations on the question that the number of possible stories is infinite.

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It is much more satisfying to read stories in which there is a redemptive outcome. Normandie Fischer’s newest novel, Heavy Weather, scheduled for release on March 15, not only explores the question of what is right and what is wrong, but it actually provides some hope that there is an answer to the question. Fischer’s newest novel lives up to all the implications of the metaphor established by the title. It gives new meaning to Tolstoy’s observation that “every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” While the unhappiness in each family that populates Heavy Weather is certainly unique, the hopelessness that destroyed Anna Karenina’s family is not able to gain traction in Fischer’s story of people whose faith is stretched very thin in a battle against deep, aggressive evil.

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In the richness of characters and lush settings, this story compares well with A River Runs Through It, another study in dealing with personal storms. Fischer’s story, however, has more positive spiritual energy. The characters in A River Runs Through It seem to be very much at the mercy of the storm forces in their lives, while Fischer’s characters demonstrate the same wisdom in their lives as that of seasoned sailors who heave to during a storm. A sailor facing a storm configures the sails to avoid being overpowered in the storm while using some of the storm’s own energy to keep the boat calm and safe.

(Read the rest of the review at the link below.)

A heavy, suspenseful North Carolina novel about parenthood, human connection, and how to make peace with the cards you’re dealt. 

I was taken with the southern environs – smooth, relaxing, slow easy feel. Even a slight twang detected, food, hospitality, strong sense of community, weather all richly depicted.

Fischer captured the ravages of abuse in a plausible and affecting manner. A serious topic handled deftly without over exploiting creating a circus. You feel every blow, the palatable fear, the guilt and shame, the quick and passing judgement Annie Mac suffered.

Great characterization. You are well acquainted with the players personalities, psychologically, emotionally along with well drawn backstory’s. An immediate rapport between the reader and characters is undeniable, their joys and sorrows will be yours as well. Their faith, hope and strength and resilience is infectious.

The multi story lines intersecting with Roy worked well, Fischer smartly weaved an intricate drama with numerous characters and secondary plots seamlessly.

A well balanced story with a beautiful theme of pliancy, hope and faith, a community pulling together offering hospitality and just plain kindness in small gestures warms your heart. Fischer possesses an interactive style, engaging with lots of dimension in her characters creating a powerful yet warm read leaving you with renewed hope.

I have kind of been on a Southern fiction reading binge lately so this one caught my eye. I knew I would enjoy it as I have all of the other Southern fiction I have read lately but I didn't realize that I would love it as much as I did. 

The story starts off with a very intense scene which drew me into the story and made me want to keep reading. Annie Mac has suffered horrible things at the hands of her estranged husband and is left for dead. 

'Evil existed. Real evil, the black-and-white kind without any gray, where a man lost his humanity and acted as if he'd signed on the devil's dotted line. It seemed that Royce Bingham was one of those.'

The community comes together to support Annie and her children while the authorities are trying to track down Roy. I was so engrossed in the story and by the characters that I felt like I was right there along with them. I experienced the joys and sorrow that the characters did. I also felt the anxiety and fear that they felt when that evil person showed his hand. 

I was sometimes so wrapped up in the intensity of the story that I couldn't allow my eyes to wander ahead on the page because I didn't want to know what was going to happen. I had to let the story unfold naturally the way is was supposed to. So ... wow! That was amazing to feel that way and to be so into the story that I was nervous right along with the characters. 

This is the second book that the author has written in her Carolina Coast series. I didn't feel at all confused by not having read the first book but I now want to go back and read the first book, Becalmed, so I can visit this world again and learn more about the wonderful characters. I really hope there will be more stories after this one.