Out of the Storm: A Short Story Anthology - A Review

Published - February 2015, HopeSprings Books
Author - Various authors
Title - Out of the Storm
Format - ebook, paper
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Summary from Goodreads
An anthology featuring the winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" contest, sponsored by a chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Contemporary category:
1st place: "Squall Line" by Jim Hamlett (Contemporary)
2nd place: "Dorothy's Carol" by Terrie Todd (Women's Fiction)
3rd place: "A Rumspringa Storm" by Steve Hooley (Amish)
4th place: "Tempest Tossed" by Annette O'Hare (Women's Fiction)

Speculative category (Fantasy / SciFi):
1st place: "The Grumpy Chronicles" by Susan Lyttek (Fantasy)
2nd place: "The Great Storm" by Karla Rose (SciFi)
3rd place: "Oddman" by Carla Hoch (SciFi)
4th place: "Aperture" by Linda Kozar (SciFi)

Others category:
1st place: "Just West of Clovis" by Ralph D. James (Western)
2nd place: "Husband Hunting" by Crystal L. Barnes (Western)
3rd place: "Detention" by Gretchen Engel (YA / Fantasy)
4th place: "Fire in a Storm" by Angela K. Couch (Historical)

Proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to the Scholarship Fund of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

My Thoughts:
I've never read an anthology quite like this before. There is a little bit of everything. There are some that were better than others. There were some stories I didn't care for at all. But still, I was able to find a couple of delightful gems to enjoy.

My personal favorites were The Grumpy Chronicles, The Great Storm, Husband Hunting, Detention, and Squall Line. The stories were not at all what I expected when I agreed to review this book. One of the stories completely left me hanging wanting more when it ended. 

I received the Kindle copy of this book for free from the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of all genres, Christian fiction, short story fans

Overall rating - 4 stars