THE RAIN SPARROW, I loved the title and after reading the story fully understood the choice of it. It is an intriguing title and compelled me to pick up a copy. The cover provides the right amount of mystery which is an integral part of the story. With promise of rain, storms, a lone bird may sound creepy but throw in a mystery crime writer, an unassuming librarian, a misfit kid and it makes for an interesting story. That's exactly what I got, the format of the story felt like playing an exciting game of 'Tag.' The story is set deep in an out of the way, small Southern town of Tennessee, where big time thriller writer Hayden Winters escapes for inspiration. The small town promises inspiration in its long forgotten, full of intrigue and past secrets hidden in every nook and cranny, waiting to be explored along with the town's abandoned mill and refuge-providing woods.

Hayden gets more than what he bargained for: strange dreams filled with the town's mysterious past trouble him in sleep, the alive and kicking town residents, two in particular distract him and drive him crazy. As he tries to make sense of the dreams, he battles his attraction to the unassuming beautiful librarian Carrie and is occupied with Brody, the kid who dredges up the murky, distasteful memories of his past and brings them closer. The dreams and reality of Hayden are narrated in a mesmerizing format. One moment you are thick in the dreams and stage of the lives post-American Civil War and the next Carrie is distracting Hayden with her bare feet and Brody shaking his insides with fear with his cautious ways.

THE RAIN SPARROW is a beautiful story of three people who have resorted to loneliness against the big bad world but are brought together by circumstances on a dark night full of a raging and lightning storm. At the other end they all emerge winners as they overcome their dark dreary and unsavory pasts. Goes to show that there is hope and a silver lining at the end of the dark clouds. If you love a bit of mystery, small town stories and having a little hope you will enjoy THE RAIN SPARROW on a rainy day.

Book Summary

A stranger's arrival in a small Southern town stirs up old secrets and new dreams in this beautiful story full of hope and haunting mystery, and with the power to win your heart

Renowned yet private, thriller writer Hayden Winters lives a life colored by lies. As he is deeply ashamed of his past, his hunger for an honest relationship and dreams of starting a family remain unsatisfied, and he can trust no one with his secrets. He's determined to outrun his personal demons, but the charming old Peach Orchard Inn and a woman whose presence is as gentle as a sparrow's song stops him in his tracks.

Carrie Riley is afraid of everything from flying to thunderstorms, and pretty much of life itself. But meeting the enigmatic writer staying at the inn emboldens her to learn everything about him. When they discover a vulnerable boy hiding at the inn, Hayden is compelled to help Carrie protect him. Soon they're led to a centuries- old mystery that haunts Hayden's sleep, and his only safe haven is Carrie. As the secrets of the past and present cause their lives to become entwined, all that's left to come to light is love—if the grim truth doesn't tear them apart first.

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