Teal Flores is desperate for two things—control over her gift of weather, and a date to her ex’s wedding. The first isn’t possible until she finds her long-lost mother, but the second has a very handsome last-ditch solution: Carter Velasquez.

Carter needs Teal too. His chance at receiving an inheritance is dependent on him being married by age thirty (blame his traditional Cuban grandmother), so who better to pose as his wife than Teal? But fake marriage and cohabitation prove tricky when mutual attraction charges the atmosphere—quite literally for Teal, whose volatile emotions cause lightning strikes.

Together, Teal and Carter embark on a quest to find her mother and the answers she’s searching for. But along the way, they’ll discover something even better: a love that can weather any storm.

In Lightning in Her Hands, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland has created an authentic and loving sequel to Witch of Wild Things as she writes second sister Teal’s story. Just as with the first novel, family is at the heart of this novel, exploring magnificent gifts and complex relationships. 

One of the most lovely aspects to this novel is how much Teal has repaired her relationship with her sisters in this narrative. Even though she struggles with her emotions and feels like she hasn’t done enough, one of the beautiful themes is that she is enough for her sisters. I love how authentically the writing develops Teal, illustrating how being bipolar affects her and how she has survived abuse. The author doesn’t flinch from how that impacts Teal and her relationships either. 

The relationship with Carter is developed with simmering tension until it explodes off the page. Neither Teal or Carter are one dimensional. Both are authentic reflections of their latin heritage and that is shown with love in this novel. The book also shows some of the flaws in the culture, the embracing of masochism and putting the men first. And I love how the writer has the characters overcome that aspect to create a healthy relationship. Both Teal and Carter are emotional and passionate and that is thoroughly explored in a steamy fashion. 

If you like stories with complex relationships, authentic culture and a loving romance between best friends, this is the novel for you. If you read Witch of Wild Things, then you will love this sequel focusing on Teal. It is authentic and loving but most of all, it is a beautiful story that focuses on family and a loving relationship between Teal and Carter. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 lightning strikes