A GENTLE RAIN by Deborah Smith
Deborah Smith is one of Georgia's most satisfying authors. Any book that she writes is going to have a completely involving plot, a cast of characters that will satisfy every need, and a variety of emotions that will touch your heart, mind and spirit. Her latest novel A GENTLE RAIN does all this and more.
When you pick up A GENTLE RAIN be prepared to become prisoner to its heartrending story. This is a book that is almost a fairy tale as it involves a beautiful heiress, a handsome rancher, and a supporting cast of special people who will charm you and make you wish you could read their story forever. It is Deborah Smith's best book to date and that is going some as she wrote the wonderful novels SWEET HUSH, THE CROSSROADS CAFÉ, and WHEN VENUS FELL.
The story focuses on Kara Whittenbrook who was born to wealth. Her parents were environmentalists who worked in the rain forests of South America. When she was in her early thirties they were killed in a plane crash. Shortly thereafter she discovered she had been adopted at birth.
Her real parents are a couple named Mac and Lily. They live on a ranch close to Orlando, Florida. The owner of the ranch is a man named Ben Thocco. He is single and devotes most of his time to the ranch and caring for his younger brother Joey. Joey is mentally challenged and also has health problems. Because of Joey's special needs and Ben's love for him, he has also opened up his ranch to other people like Joey. This includes Mac and Lily.
Kara goes to the ranch under an assumed name in order to find out more about her birth parents. She accidentally meets Ben and accepts an offer from him to work at the ranch. There she becomes involved in the lives of Mac, Lily, Joey and Ben as well as the others who live and work there.
The ins and outs of the story are too special to be revealed. But the love story between Ben and Kara is a unique one and the love she feels for the other people at the ranch is tender and touching too.
This story touched my heart in a way few novels do. It is an affirmation of the goodness of people. It is a tale of hope for some who are considered hopeless. It is a testament to the kindness within us and to the richness that our lives can have. It also contradicts the stereotype that all wealthy people are heartless, and gives us glimpses of miracles that can occur.
You can't read A GENTLE RAIN without being touched by it. When you have finished it you will want to share it with someone close to you. Deborah Smith is a gifted writer but more than that she is someone who lets us view the best in humankind. If you have never read her books before, then now is the time to jump in with A GENTLE RAIN.
A GENTLE RAIN is published by Belle Books. It contains 372 pages and sells for $16.95.