Rainshadow Road: A Novel (Friday Harbor)

My coworker loaned me this book when she finished. I enjoyed this book so much I loaned it to my mother. Then I had to buy my own copy (now I have the entire triology) so I can reread whenever I want!

I totally enjoyed reading this book Rainshadow Road (Friday Harbor). It sent a message to me that if you have had a bad experience with a man, not to give up because there is really someone out there that is meant for just you no matter what.

Sometimes a favorite author decides to go in a different direction and you just have to move on. This second book of the Friday Harbor series is also the second most boring book in the series. Lucy was insipid and her friends don't make me want to get to know them any better. Sam, on the other hand, I really disliked. Then, almost as "filler" I had to read about the niece, Holly. Those were the worst parts of the book, both boring and pointless.

I regret spending so much money on this book and will be passing on the rest of the series.

Save yourself - get it from the library before you decide whether it's worth the money.

The book had a good plot with real sibling rivalry and jealousy. It became a little more interesting and imaginative with the small dose of " magic" . I'd love to have that kind of "magic" whether his or hersfor my own.

I loved Rainshadow Road, the follow-up to Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor 1st (first) edition Text Only. The story is charming and well paced, beautifully told with signature Kleypas lyrical prose. I loved the imagery associated with just a hint of magic that danced through the book. Lucy is a great character, wounded but not hopeless. She's determined to get her own stuff straight before she jumps into a relationship with Sam. I also loved how supportive Sam was of Lucy and her work as a glass artist. I look forward to returning to Friday Harbor for the next Nolan brother romance.

Lisa Kleypas is an excellent writer. I have enjoyed her books.
This story is good and keeps moving. I would say it's a good book to read at the beach. Enjoy!!! I hope you like it as much as I did.

The other reviews almost prevented me from reading this, but I'm so glad I did anyway! Lisa Kleypas knows how to write characters with sexual and emotional chemistry! The only thing I disliked was the magic storyline, but I did like how it served to create intimacy between the two characters. If you're a LK fan, or just in search of a good romance, this is a must read!

Lisa Kleypas has the ability and the talent to write some really, really good contemporary romance (see the Travis brothers' trilogy). Her current series, with the second installment "Rainshadow Road", is not a good example of said ability and talent. It's just... not very good.

I'm really disappointed. I didn't love the first book, Christmas in Friday Harbor, but I was holding out hope for this one because, hey - it's Lisa Kleypas. Who didn't love the Hathaways, or the Wallflowers, or - sigh - the Travis brothers?

I don't know what's happened to her writing, but it's definitely gone downhill. Come on, Lisa - give us Joe Travis' book, and make it a good one!

Ms. Kleypas is a master @ writing a heartfelt novel and this one is no exception. She always touches the places we sometimes keep hidden. Whether it is a contemporary story or an historical romance she excels @ both. Glad to re- visit Friday Harbor too. I have read all her novels. This touch of paranormal is exciting. Pick this up; you won't want to put it down!

I have been waiting and waiting for this book...I read it overnight...couldn't put it down. I have read all of Lisa's contemporary books and this one was the best to date...I cant wait for the next one!

What happened to the author with interesting plots, fast, smart dialogue? The person that wrote this book obviously had a deadline to meet. Did any of you really care about the main characters, especially the hero.

And what's with the magic element. I think she got mixed up about what she was writing. I love a good paranormal, or books about magic and love. But this book is as the expression goes--neither fish nor fowl.

Please, please Lisa, come back to the Travis type of book where the love is hot and the dialogue makes you laugh or sigh. Where the characters are developed and the reader can't help but love them. (or envy them. LOL)

Sorry, but knowing the amount of talent Lisa Kleypas has, but didn't use in writing this book, I could only give it 1 star. And obviously the publisher didn't think much of it either, since instead of coming out first as a hardcover, it went straight to paperback.

It is my very strong belief that people should not READ the reviews that came before mine. Being 65 and having read at least a book a week my entire life, I feel qualified to give this warning. To compare the historical novels by Lisa Kleypas against her modern day romances is just plain stupid. Even worse are those who decided that they were so qualified to find great fault in her characters. The 1st of the series, "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor", should be read before this one, "Rainshadow Road". Lisa Kleypas has always found an internal theme to her books that will clutch at a person's heartstrings and at the same time show the reader "how to" and "how not to" solve the problem. Her characters are REAL with all the wonderful and not so wonderful characteristics. TOO MANY of the people who gave their reviews SPOIL the book for the new readers by telling too much of the plot. THIS IS WHY I beg you not to read them. Words are used like "wishwashy" to describe a character. For goodness sakes, that is what made the character so interesting to begin with! This series called "Friday Harbour" will be made of four books. Death, Trust, Betrayal, Love and above all Family are what these books are about. They are not about starry eyed lovers, sex, or a conquoring hero. I truly believe thay are wonderful reading especially on a rainy day!

'Rainshadow Road' tells the story of Sam and Lucy, who meet almost by accident. At the beginning of the novel, Lucy's former boyfriend has just admitted to cheating on her. And Sam is the son of two alcoholics, who does not know what it is like to be deeply loved by someone because his parents virtually ignored him while he was growing up. Sam and Lucy slowly become friends, and when Lucy is involved in a bicycle accident, it is Sam who takes her home to care for her while she recovers. Both Lucy and Sam say that the do not want a long-term, committed relationship, but as they get to know each other better, they realize that they are falling in love with each other.

I read this book after reading 'Dream Lake,' another book in the Friday Harbor series. Many of the events in Rainshadow Road parallel the events from Dream Lake, and some of the same words and sentences even appear in both books. I was disappointed by this, and I think I would have enjoyed reading Rainshadow Road more if Sam and Lucy's story had taken place at a different time from the events of Dream Lake. However, 'R.R.' did give more insight into Sam's childhood, and it provided a different perspective on Sam's troubled brother Alex, which was interesting to read about.

If you read this book, I suggest reading Dream Lake as well, to be able to understand the events that are discussed in both books from several different points of view. But even with the similarities between the two books, Rainshadow Road was still a very interesting read.