Rainshadow Road

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a charming romance that is a delightful story to read. Rainshadow Road is the first book in a trilogy that takes place near the fictional bay of Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. A previous novel entitled Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (October 2010) introduces Mark, Sam and Alex Nolan and tells the story of how Mark and Maggie meet as well as how they become the guardians of their niece Holly. To enjoy this story you do not need to read Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor as Rainshadow Road brings you into the world seamlessly.

Lucy Marinn leads an uneventful life in Friday Harbor as a glass artist. Living with her boyfriend Kevin and believing everything is fine until that one fateful day when Kevin says he needs more than she can give and asks her to move out. At first he claims there is no one else, however eventually he states that there is someone, Lucy’s sister Alice. Lucy and Alice have had a turbulent relationship since they were little when Alice came down with meningitis and she became the child that everyone treated with kid gloves. Lucy grows up with this understanding and consequently protects her heart more than most. With the knowledge that she must move out of Kevin’s house, she asks her friends Zoe and Justine if she can stay at their Bed & Breakfast for awhile.

Sam Nolan grew up in Friday Harbor and has been enjoying his life creating a vineyard and helping his brother Mark raise Holly. Sam and his two brothers were raised in a dysfunctional home where both parents were alcoholics and as such all three have trouble with commitment. However all is not lost as Sam’s brother Mark recently found love with Maggie.

Lucy has a magical affinity with glass which she uses to create beautiful designs that have gained her national attention. At times when she feels stressed or passionate about something the glass has turned into beautiful winged creatures, a colorful hummingbird one time and another time it was fireflies.

Kevin and Alice are feeling the heat from those that care about Lucy so Kevin wants Sam to ask Lucy out on a date to get her mind off the breakup. Sam and Lucy had briefly met so Sam tells Lucy about the arrangement; she in turn is shocked and a little embarrassed. However what really brings Sam and Lucy together is when Lucy is hurt and must be off her feet for several days. Zoe and Justine have a large wedding at their B&B so they ask Sam to take care of Lucy at his place. Since he already feels some attraction toward Lucy, Sam balks at having her that close to him, however with Zoe and Justine’s pleading, he relents. Feeling unwanted and a little embarrassed, Lucy finds herself eventually feeling comfortable with the help of Holly.

With the wedding of Alice and Kevin fast approaching and an artistic grant offer in the works Lucy and Sam have some decisions that must be made about their future. All in all an enjoyable romance full of apprehension, friendship and magic. The characters are believable and I enjoyed catching up with Mark, Maggie and Holly, we even see a troubled Alex who will be the center of the next book.




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Vacation? Really?

So I am off work this week. Not that I want to be or that I would have picked this week but here I am...looking at at week off work.
It's called a Furlough - time off work without pay. Love the time off - hate the without pay. I get it, we are in horrible economic times and I am all for doing my part to help keep my job but sheesh, this is the third in three years. I am beginning to think about my vacation days with these 5 days included. I may miss them if we ever have a year without them.
I have so far been very productive in the first two days. Two closets cleaned and two golf lessons. #WIN.
I plan to shop tomorrow (not spend much) and maybe tackle another closet. Hmmmm. I do have another golf lesson on Thursday and hair appointment on Friday. Wait, I am in the negative now with all this spending and no money.
Well, I will enjoy my week off because I will eventually get to go back to work for pay unlike so many other people in this world.
Have a great week.

Fall

Fall is in the air and it feels wonderful.

My son is home from Iraq and although it is hard to get use to a non-empty nest home again we are enjoying him being around.

I have a day off from work today (Friday) and am looking forward to a nice long weekend full of fun with friends. Starts with going out to eat with friends tonight - and making up some tasty breakfast burritos for tomorrows tailgate party for an early BSU Football game. We are seeking redemption against our loss last year with the UNR Wolfpack. And with my dad being an alumni of Reno - the emails have been flying back and forth!

GO BRONCOS - can't wait to cheer you on and eat those burritos!

Happy Independence Day

Fourth of July has always been a fun summer holiday filled with friends and family. This year is it a little different for me. My son is over in Iraq helping preserve the freedom we enjoy every day. I feel both worry and pride that he decided to do this.

All his life I knew that he wanted to do this. He talked about it from the time he started playing as a kid. While his dad and I tried to steer him in other directions (college after school - come ON!) he was set on joining some type of military. We wanted to be very supportive and when he decided on the National Guard (Army) we were happy for him. He has been over in Iraq for a year and will return in September - he has celebrated many holidays over there, Christmas, Memorial Day he will even celebrate his 21st birthday there (in 4 days) - no drinking - LOL...however I think on the fact that he is there on this celebrated day and hope we all think about our sons and daughters protecting our wonderful country.

Happy 4th everyone!!

Changes

Hi

Changes, changes...the newspaper industry I work in is dying a slow death.  Although I believe the media industry will be around - the way in which we access our information is changing.  No longer will the next generation hold a printed newspaper in their hands to read, my 20 year old son rarely views the newspaper and it is delivered everyday at our house.  We just received word that several of our employees were laid off...and several positions are held open to never be filled or to be filled if and when we bounce back from this downward spiral.  My position so far is staying, however I believe when all the "papers" join together and consolidate processes my job will also go away.  I only hope that as the economy improves there will be something I am interested in.  No worries really it will be a few years and I am getting to the point that I no longer want to "climb" that corporate ladder - I just want to enjoy my life.  

This reminds me that the book publishing business is also changing...I love holding a book in my hands, looking at the cover several times to see what the artist and the writer believe the characters look like, however, I am also beginning to learn to love e-books.  I received an e-reader for Christmas and have downloaded several books and enjoyed the experience just as much and holding a book.  It is a change - but I am OK with changes.  I find myself not being able to look at the cover as much as before, but love to just set it down and not "break" the back of the book by accident - which has happened more than once.   I also find that late in the evening while laying on the bed reading, if I fall asleep I do not loose my place.  :) 

Soon to come - reviews...

New

Hi All

Just starting out on this blog adventure...hope you are patient with me as I navigate through the learning curve of blogging.  A little about me, I am an avid reader and love many different genres.  I started out in my pre-teen years reading about horses and girls who loved them, then in my teens found romances and shocked my mom when she found out the type of romances I was reading...there were no ratings on these like they have in movies - lol.  Branched out to mystery, murder, and detective books in my 20s and 30s while busy with family but always tried to find series because I loved getting to know the characters over several years.

Now that my son has moved out I have found I have much more time to read and have continued my love for books in a series but have added paranormal, urban fantasy and romance (back in my life) and have loved them all.  I will be using this blog as a review site for the many series I am keeping track of and about things going on in my life.  I am following about 50 writers on Twitter and will add more as I find them.  Besides reading I also enjoy my life with my husband of 25 years and we enjoy golfing, snow skiing and boating.

Until next time...