Synopsis
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.
Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end.
Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.
Review
4 out of 5 stars
Some people may argue that After the Rain is the love story of Avelino and Nate, two people whose lives have taken them down very unexpected paths and in the end find love. But I would argue this is more a story about a broken, lost, young girl who is drowning in life, who needs help, love, direction and more importantly forgiveness from herself. Yes there is a love story, but for me what I walked away with was an example of the importance of finding balance in life, learning to fight for what you want and that there is more to life than just work!
Death, guilt, anger and depression are all strong emotions and have the power to cause a person to literally lose sight of themselves. Avelino is beyond lost and Nate's unexpected arrival is somewhat a catalyst, a tiny step which stirs emotions, which pushes her towards a future. But it's not an easy journey and it takes what seems like forever for Avelino to wake up and become her old self!
I loved the concept of this story, I loved watching Nate finally open his eyes and realize there is more to life than work. It truly was beautiful to see how his emotion and love for Avelino shape him into a more complete man. Finding something to live for other than yourself was his lesson and once he learned, once he realized he was in love, I really fell for him as a character.
My favorite part of this book was the end. It's when I first felt connected to the characters, I wish I could have had more time with Nate and Avelino finally on the same page at the same time! Reading Nate's inner most thoughts, watching him grow, and the way in which Renee Carlino tells this part of the story was truly unforgettable. My only complaint was not feeling emotionally connected to the characters. I wish I could pinpoint why, but I'm just not sure. If you're looking for a good read with a very sweet HEA then take a chance on After the Rain.
About Author Renee Carlino
Renée Carlino lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.
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