TEST
If there’s one thing Lisa Kleypas knows about, it’s love—real love, not the sex-is-love substitute that many romances preach these days. As the narrator says toward the end of the book, “Love was the secret behind everything…,” and it’s that secret that all lovers must discover for themselves.
The journey toward the secret often isn’t pleasant as glass artist Lucy Marinn discovers when her boyfriend of two years dumps her for her younger sister Alice. Suddenly Lucy has to move out of the house in Friday Harbor, Washington, and relocate overnight so Alice can move in.
Lucy moves in with her good friends Justine and Zoe who are running an inn. As she mopes and regroups, her friends try to fix her up with the eligible men on the island, particularly vineyard owner Sam Nolan. Lucy’s ex also thinks Sam would be perfect for her since Sam owes him a favor.
At this point die-hard romance readers’ hackles go up. Oh, no! The Big Secret—that the ex asked Sam to wine and dine Lucy—is about to ruin the book by making the plot the same old same old. Fortunately, the author is not the run-of-the-mill author, and ho-hum plotting is averted. Sam listens to the ex, and then turns around and tells Lucy what the loser suggested. Sam is nothing if not the most wonderful guy in the world. Sure, he likes Lucy and would like to hook up with her. But he isn’t playing games to do it.
In fact, both he and Lucy agree that they aren’t looking for love. Maybe a good time, but definitely not commitment. Lucy’s busy rebuilding her life and becoming stronger for the ex’s defection. Sam is working hard to build his vineyard and is one of three sons and a daughter by alcoholic parents. He’s seen what a hell-hole commitment can be.
Although each has magical power—Lucy in the unwitting ability to change her glass into living creatures and Sam in being able to make any plant grow and flourish—they don’t see magic in their ordinary lives or in their relationship. However, when Lucy is hit by a car and needs almost constant attention which her friends or family can’t provide, Sam steps up to help her and take her into his home where she is charmed by his orphaned niece and ultimately Sam himself.
Unlike books where the protagonists fall in love and in bed quickly, Rainshadow Road portrays a realistic look at the journey and the honest emotions of two people who are conquering their pasts in order to take the leap of faith and trust that true love demands.
If it’s a sign of how much the book affected me, I found myself looking up classes in glasswork because Kleypas made it sound so enriching and fulfilling.
The worst thing about the novel? The teaser for the next in the series. I realized I was going to have to wait until the summer to read the next book. All I can say is write faster, Lisa!
Grade: A
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Subtle
Review Date: 08/03/12
Publication Date: 2012/03
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
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I’ve never read this and it’s on sale for the first time ever. I’m interested that we rated it subtle for sex. None of her other books are less than warm. Is this really that closed door?
I wouldn’t rate it as subtle, although I suppose it’s subjective and there’s no exact definition. I’d probably rate it as Warm.
I went back to check and opened the book up to a page at random and there was on-page oral sex and on-page intercourse.
I think that the previous novella in this series may have been subtle although I’d have to go back and check! One of the later books in the series, Crystal Cove, may have received a Hot rating for some light bondage. I have read the series twice, but it’s been a few years. I do remember that Crystal Cove was my favorite. For awhile, there was supposed to be another in the series called Lightning Bay but I don’t know what happened to that! It never appeared.
Thanks. I suspect our rating is an error!