Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. The synopsis sounded great, the first half of the book was really great and then bam! The book went downhill and turned supernatural? I found out this will be a series and will not be reading any of the others.

DNF - I tried but, this was ultimately not something I was able to gel with as I had hoped. Though I am sure that there is a dedicated audience for it.

Then Came the Thunder is a book that is more than just about the mysterious dangers lurking to disrupt the characters lives. It's really more about the characters themselves, growing and changing as the story unfolds. Set back in time, around 1862, but reads more like modern times, Jessalyn is a lady pining after her beloved Amos, and while he's gone at war, she continues to keep her life going by teaching at the town's school she helped build, even tutoring young and smart Lilah to help keep her busy. Roger is the young preacher in training that befriends Jessalyn, with a few quirks of his own that keeps him quite interesting. Sam Brooks has heard of Three Willows and journeys long and far to find this town that proves to be a journey all on its own, and when he arrives, quickly realizes all is not as it seems. Great novel that kept me interested without feeling bogged down. If anything, it could have been a bit longer to really draw out the concepts, but overall, a success!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

There is a rhythm in the writing of Rachael Huszar. An enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Book Buzz and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amongst the Native Americans there is the legend of the Thunderbird but if you are like me from the other side of the globe that kind of cultural references go completely unnoticed. (In my case it was filed in a back drawer of ,my brain after having read a novel dealing with that legend 20 years ago and after a freshening by our friend Google). Maybe the author can start with a prologue where an old shaman is telling that story centuries before the start of the novel.

The novel itself starts off quite good but then gets a bit rushed leaving one with all kind of questions and in my case "rings a bell somehow". It would have worked better if it had been a bit longer and complicated.

Then Came The Thunder was a surprise. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and I certainly enjoyed the plot twists. Well done.

If you enjoy the movies "Cowboys & Aliens" and "The Village" then you will probably really enjoy "Then Came the Thunder"!

Three Willows is a lush desert town with a secret. Something is attacking and killing the livestock, but it doesn't add up to being a coyote or wolf. Jessalyn Joy is a school teacher whose dream is to give the children all the knowledge they need to branch out into the world, but the weight of her husband's death in the military haunts her. Samuel Brooks is an outlaw, a vagrant, who has heard of the lovely town of Three Willows but can't seem to get directions from anyone on how to get there. When he finally arrives, he finds himself in a desert town teeming with plant life and welcomed with open arms by the town's Founders. As he is offered a room in Jessalyn's home, he realizes the town isn't as perfect as it seems and everyone has secrets that they keep including him, Jess, and the town itself.

I was so, so excited to start this book that I read it in the parking lot while waiting for my husband. With only 160 pages, I started the book thinking that this better be a series. The synopsis of the book sounded so good and just immediately drew me in. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. I'm giving this book two stars because I really enjoyed Sam, Jess, and Roger as characters. They were funny and quirky and made me smile a few times. However, the rest of the book just wasn't that good. I don't know if it felt rushed because it was only 160 pages but I wish that there was more. The entity that was attacking the livestock could have been made into more, but there were only about 3 pages dedicated to it. Then it was over. What?! So annoying.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for feedback! Posted on my Goodreads account as well.

A good, quick read that was entertaining and well edited. While I felt the ending was a bit rushed and could have been drawn out more, it didn't detract from the overall story.