In a split second, a person of generally good character makes a poor decision that then comes to haunt him and his family. A classic fable attached to a new and engaging storyline - two wrongs don't make a right. Definitely worth a read this summer - you won't regret it.

This was a hard book to read because of the angst and impending dread of some bad deed being revealed. I would have probably liked the story better if there was more background on Russell up front. I think if I had connected with Russell's character it would have changed the way I felt about the story.

When Russell came back from Iraq, he worked hard to build a good life for himself. He went to college and got a business degree on the G.I. Bill. He got married, and he and his wife had a couple of beautiful girls. He found a good job as a foreman for a rock splitting quarry, with a promise of promotion. And now he and his wife are expecting another baby. 

So when Russell got the news that the quarry was being sold to some Chinese businessmen, and he was losing his job and his health insurance, he was devastated. He was so upset that he refused his boss's offer of a ride home and took off on his motorcycle, despite the heavy rain. That's how he ended up almost getting hit by a car on the main road. That's how he decided to take the back road with the house where the pit bull was chained up outside. The house where the beautiful young woman was outside dancing naked.

And when she fell down into the mud in front of the house, Russell waited to see if she got up. When she didn't get back up, that's how Russell went to check on her and ended up carrying her into the house where she would be safe. And that's how he saw the shoe boxes of cash piled up in the bathroom. And that's how he ended up stealing thousands of dollars from what he thought was a drug house. 

He wasn't a thief. He didn't intend to steal a box of cash. He just panicked. He was about to lose his job. He was about to lose his health insurance. He was about to have another baby. He didn't think. He just grabbed and ran. 

And then he stewed in regret for weeks. It was a stupid thing to do. It put him and his family in jeopardy. And now he has to figure a way out, even if it costs him everything. 

Only the Rain by Randall Silvis is a powerful story of the damage that life can do, particularly for those who are subjected to war. It's an in-depth look at the choices we make when we let fear and despair get the better of us and how the consequences of those choices can reach those around us. 

I liked Only the Rain, but it wasn't the easiest book to read. Russell as a character carried a lot of pain and secrets, and being inside his head all the time was a challenge. I did consider giving up a time or two, but I'm glad I made it to the end. The ending does a lot to redeem some of its more maudlin moments. It's a shorter novel, less than 200 pages, so it's a quick read. But it is very emotional. I decided to read it because I read Silvis' Two Days Gone last year, and I really loved that one. I'd recommend that over this, but I'm sure that there are those who will like this novel better. I do like Silvis' ability to create a strong character and his way with story, so I will continue to recommend his books. 

I was granted galleys for this book, but I also snagged the audio version on sale, I enjoyed listening to it, if you're a fan of audio books, it's a fast listen and a great way to get caught up in the story! 



Galleys for Only the Rain were provided by Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I started off lost in the rainy, grassy lush coulee with three of my Traveling Sisters reading Only The Rain and this turned out to be quite the interesting read for me when we clearly were left lost in different coulees. Often in our sister reads we have different thoughts and views on the books we read and usually I can see both sides of the coulee however for this read I really struggled with my thoughts on this one.

Through an email from our main character Russell to his army buddy Spencer, we learn of a desperate decision referred to as a “victimless crime” from the description of this book that Russell makes, that sets off a chain of events resulting from that decision. This has me asking myself if this could really be considered a victimless crime when these types of criminals are involved. Russell remembers and shares some war stories and I did find that interesting. We all liked the flow of the book and found it an interesting way to really get into Russell’s mind however once in his thoughts things started to go sideways for me. To me, it felt like he was justifying his actions to some very serious moral decisions and explaining how bad he felt about the things he did or didn’t do. I went from enjoying this one to being annoyed.

There are some good dynamics here in this story and we all agreed we loved the tender relationship Russell had with his grandparents and that added a nice touch to the story we all enjoyed. We all loved Pop, such an interesting, strong, witty and wise character. I felt the dynamics between Russell and his wife Cindy was just too much drama there. I listened to some of this one and had to switch to reading it when this became too annoying for me.

Things did start to pick up for me with the ending and things turned exciting and I was satisfied with the ending but it didn’t save this one for me. I still recommend this one as my TS really enjoyed this one and were left in the rain in the lush coulee. For me, I was left annoyed soaking wet in the barren coulee.

Published January 1, 2018

Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Randall Silvis for a copy to read and review.

All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...

5 all the stars book

There are some books you read because they have gotten so much hype you just can't pass them up.There are some books you read because a friend, or a family member recommends them. Then there are books you read just for the beauty of the writing, the ease in which he author tells his or her story, the emotions that stir inside you are you turn the pages. Only the Rain is one of those books. It comes at you slowly, pulling you into the story of a young veteran, a father, a husband who finds himself in the middle of a problem created because he loves his family and needs to protect and provide for them

Russell, the main character in this tale finds money stashed in a meth house. He takes it, a victimless crime really, and that money that is so needed by him and his family. Russell has just lost his job, has two young daughters, and a wife who is expecting baby number three. How could he not take the money? And yet, Russell struggles with his conscience, struggles with the impact of what he has done, and when the meth dealers come after him, his life and family are in jeopardy. Russell has a grandfather, the man who raised him, who is the impetus behind the man that Russell is and wants to be. He also have the memory of a man who was the leader of his company while serving in the army overseas.

Told with tenderness and a certain amount of grit, this story was wonderfully done and had this reader rooting for Russell, his family , and Pops.

Thank you to Randall Silvis who provided this reader with hours of reading pleasure and to the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this awesome book.

Good quick read that will make you think about what you would do under the circumstances Russell faces. Silvis uses an interesting technique= emails- to tell the story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, and Randall Silvis for the opportunity to read and review this book - thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Written as one long chapter, basically as emails from the subject of the book to his war buddy talking about how one decision changed the course of his life.

Russell is a war vet who came back with lots of internal scars and a drive to do well for his family. When the plant he works for closes down, he sees all his hard work and future hope crashing down with no outs. On his way home from work that day, he happens on a stranger, dancing in the rain. When he decides to stop and help, he sets in motion a series of events from which he may not recover.

I liked the way the story spun out, as we learned about Russell's past as well as the current events. I loved Pop - absolutely the best character of the book.

The things you do when your back is to the wall...

Russell Blystone is an average guy. He has some nightmares from the time he served in Iraq but he's home now with a wife he adores, two little girls, and another baby on the way. He also has a grandfather living in assisted living that he loves and respects.

He has a good job at the quarry, he and his wife bought a new home, and he's content.

Then the s**t hits the fan. The Chinese buy out the quarry and the employees lose their jobs. And there's all kinds of payments due AND one of his daughters needs a tonsillectomy (and he doesn't have health insurance any more).

So when the opportunity arises for him to pick up some cash, he takes the money even though he knows it's wrong.

This was a well-told story about an everyday man fighting his inner demons plus some scumballs that are real life.

The author developed the main characters - Russell, his wife Cindy, and his grandfather Pops - with care and sympathy. The story was a quick read and held my interest from page one. I recommend it highly.

I received this book from Amazon Publishing through Net Galley plus through the Amazon First Reads program in the hopes that I would read the book and leave an unbiased review.

A naked woman dancing in the rain half out of her mind. Shoebox after shoebox filled with money. An Iraq War veteran losing his job at the local plant with a family to feed and another child on the way. It's a story of temptation like Eve with the snake and the apple and what happens when a man in desperate straits - at the end of that string of luck - succumbs and what happens when guilt and fear consume him step after step. All the right ingredients, but the soup tastes a bit flat with the narrative, which takes the form of a long letter to a war buddy, perhaps not fully conveying the tension and excitement.

I was excited to have the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book on NetGalley.

“Only the Rain” by Randall Silvis is the type of novel that rocks the reader to the core and keeps her turning pages all night long to find out what happens next. Silvis is a gifted storyteller. He breathes life into each of the characters, making them pop from the page. His beautiful prose shines, adding an elegance to the reading experience: “It should be one of the laws of Physics: A body at rest tends to stay at rest until acted upon by a naked lady dancing in the rain.”

The protagonist, Russell, is the kind-hearted person we see in the guy next door and in ourselves. He’s a hard worker, a good father and husband, and a veteran. Russell is relatable and likable despite his flaws. He looks unflinchingly at the good, bad, and ugly decisions he makes throughout the story. The motivations behind his choices are crystal clear and his emotions as he deals with the consequences are raw and real.

The story helps us recall our own weaknesses and sketchy decisions, while providing us with the strength to deal with the consequences of our actions. By following Russell on his journey, the reader can’t help by be affected and extrapolate his situation to her own life.

“Only the Rain” is a keeper shelf book.