**Nona's Review of Summer Rain**
Happy Friday, everyone! Today I am happy to review Summer Rain, a romance
anthology edited by Sarah Frantz. The contributing authors are donating their proceeds from this volume to support RAINN (The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.
Pink Kayak Press
June 9, 2014
ISBN-10: 1941361005
ISBN-13: 978-1941361009
$3.99
ISBN-10: 1941361005
ISBN-13: 978-1941361009
$3.99
What happens when love gets caught in the rain?
In this romance anthology, RITA-Award winning author Molly O’Keefe shows us the power of a city thunderstorm from the top of a skyscraper, while Amy Jo Cousins soaks us in a rain in Spain. New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox’s heroine is devastated by a winter storm, while a summer thunderstorm grants Alexandra Haughton’s hero and heroine a second chance at love. Rain sparks self-awareness in the robot in Charlotte Stein’s story and allows Mary Ann Rivers’s heroine to fall in love with her hero and her own art. Rain causes romance between the college students in Audra North’s and Shari Slade’s stories, while romance causes rain in Cecilia Tan’s myth-inspired tale of a sacrifice to a demi-god. Nine romance novelettes, edited by Sarah Frantz.
In this romance anthology, RITA-Award winning author Molly O’Keefe shows us the power of a city thunderstorm from the top of a skyscraper, while Amy Jo Cousins soaks us in a rain in Spain. New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox’s heroine is devastated by a winter storm, while a summer thunderstorm grants Alexandra Haughton’s hero and heroine a second chance at love. Rain sparks self-awareness in the robot in Charlotte Stein’s story and allows Mary Ann Rivers’s heroine to fall in love with her hero and her own art. Rain causes romance between the college students in Audra North’s and Shari Slade’s stories, while romance causes rain in Cecilia Tan’s myth-inspired tale of a sacrifice to a demi-god. Nine romance novelettes, edited by Sarah Frantz.
In Redemption
by Ruthie
Knox, Jessie and Mike have a hot “no strings” affair. They both feel like “losers”
in life and use sex to temporarily escape their sense of failure. This was a hot and heart wrenching story of people struggling to forgive their past mistakes in order to give hope and real intimacy a chance.
The Heart of It by Molly O’Keefe is another story
about how sex can be used to create distance or bring closeness, while also
touching on the after effects of abuse. Until he meets Elena, Gabe, an abuse
survivor, can only have sex when he’s drunk. Though he seeks a stronger
connection with her, her own past makes her hold him at arms length. This was another take that tugged the heartstrings, but was ultimately hopeful.
Sacrifice by Cecilia Tan is a historical threaded
with mythological and paranormal tones and deals with the importance of consent.
Real Feelings by Charlotte Stein also addresses
consent and objectification in a science fiction/fantasy themed story about a
lonely woman who seeks closeness with an android.
Rainy Season by Mary Ann Rivers features
a woman who knows how to give to others but isn’t sure how to help herself. This
story addressed the fact that so many women are “givers” who spend so much time helping others they put their own needs last.
The Rain in Spain by Amy Jo Cousins addressed physical
and emotional distance between spouses, and differences in expectations. The city
of Sevilla was a charming backdrop for the story.
Fitting In by Audra North was about shame
that burdens two young people who’ve been victimized by small-mindedness and
bigotry. Stas spends most of his energy trying to fit in, but questions himself
when he meets Leila, who refuses to let others judge her choices. Props to the author for taking on some controversial topics without backing down.
Private Study by Shari Slade took on double
standards and the internet in the story of a young woman who fears being “slut
shamed” by a guy she likes when he glimpses her sex vlog.
Storm Warning by Alexandra Haughton had Amy
fighting feelings of failure and betrayal as she struggles with her attraction
to Tom, someone she once trusted until he bitterly disappointed her.
The purpose behind this volume is wonderfully admirable, but what about the stories themselves? Some of them are very sexy, some edgy, some sweet. But all of them address some important issues and make the reader think.
Even
though serious issues are addressed (trigger warnings are included) none of the
stories skimped on romance. Let’s face it, we romance readers want the emotion,
the angst, the sexy. These tales did not disappoint, and though thought-provoking,
none of them felt didactic. The variety of stories will appeal to a broad array
of tastes. Every reader will have her own favorites.
I highly
recommend Summer Rain as a fantastic
read and a fantastic way to help an organization that assists so many survivors
of abuse.
If you
would like to find out more about RAINN, please go to www.rainn.org
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.
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