The Glass Bottom Boat is the first book in the “Flight to Freedom” series by Laura Thomas. It’s a romantic suspense story. The main characters are Madison and her sister, Chloe. The story is set in Jamaica. The ladies are there for Chloe’s “destination wedding” to Nathan, but there’s a lot more in store than a wedding.

ACTION: This story is action packed from the beginning, when Madison fears that someone is watching her and the action continues to build until it reaches a high point after Chloe and Nathan’s wedding, when danger threatens all of their lives. This is where the suspense kicks in and builds until very near to the end of the story.

ADVENTURE: Adventure is woven throughout this book as the American characters explore a large resort and more on the island of Jamaica. The adventure hits a high as danger threatens and suspense builds, and Madison finds strength in her new relationship with God.

ROMANCE: Romance fills this story in so many ways, but always remains sweet and clean. There is the romance and love between Chloe and Nathan, who are in Jamaica to get married, as well as a romance that begins to bloom between two other characters.

RELIGION: Christianity is clearly expressed in The Glass Bottom Boat as Madison found hope in a church and in God when she felt as though she had lost everything. Christianity continues to be part of the story as Madison’s faith in God continues to grow and as she sends some one or two line prayers to God during her struggles. There are also some shared prayers in dialogue between Madison and Luke, who is a missionary.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Laura Thomas did a great job of creating characters the reader cares about and in creating a story line that hooks the reader and keeps them turning pages to see what will happen next. She also throws in a couple twists and surprises.

I highly recommend The Glass Bottom Boat to readers who enjoy a clean romance with a suspenseful story line. Also, the prayers and few scriptures in this novel are not overbearing or preachy.