Jen Stonebreaker’s husband John was killed in a surfing competition twenty-five years ago and Jen hasn’t entered one since. Now she’s ready to compete in the very competition where he lost his life, alongside their twin sons, Brock and Casey.

Casey works in the family restaurant and is a part-time model along with being a professional surfer. He recently exposed some illegal poachers and they are seeking revenge.

Brock is also a big-time surfer but he spends most of his time with Breath of alice, a church and rescue mission he founded that helps with natural disasters. Not everyone appreciates the work he does and he has to keep an eye on his enemies.

As the surfing contest approaches, bad weather is on the way, so much is at risk for the Stonebreakers, on all fronts.

I did not love this book, but maybe if you really appreciate surfing. Or like this author, he has written a bunch of books, so I’m assuming he has some sort of following. I did not buy Casey’s relationship at all….she kidnapped and ransomed your beloved dog. That is really a dealbreaker. You don’t come back from that. The whole premise felt stilted and I just wasn’t a fan.

Both empowering and cautionary, T. Jefferson Parker’s high-stakes thriller examines how far we’ll go (1) to protect those we love, (2) to overcome fear, and (3) to deal with loss and recovery. Parker’s subplot shows readers the ripple effects of standing up for one’s beliefs.

I chose this book because I wanted to know why someone who had witnessed her husband’s death would want to compete in the same contest years later. To me, a non-risk taker, this seemed absurd.

Parker’s book spotlights big wave surfer, Jen Stonebreaker, and her twin sons, Brock and Casey, as they compete in Monsters of the Mavericks, the same contest that killed her husband many years ago.

I appreciated how the author opened up the world of surfing and showed readers what keeps these extreme sports enthusiasts racing to the water, surfboard in hand. I also appreciated how he invited readers into the Stonebreakers’ relationship from the beginning as it connects us to them and the trauma has a bigger impact. As I age, I notice that I have an increased self-preservation drive and I wondered if this was the same for Jen. As the late Fall swell headed for the Pacific coast and the date of the Mavericks neared, would she feel an increase in her anxiety and/or stress? Would her age play a factor? What about the mental impact? I had to find out what this competition would mean for Jen as well as her sons. Could she get closure?

I felt that the subplots and ‘antics’ of her sons at times overpowered Jen’s struggle. As I neared the end, I could see her renewed sense of emotional resilience despite being stripped of everything and experiencing profound loss. The sons’ actions played a part in savoring the sweet success. I closed the book wondering if the occasion arose, would I feel as strongly as Casey about speaking up for what’s right?

This was a deliciously intense and compelling read!

I was gifted this copy by Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.