Spring Rain (Seaside Season #1)

Rating:
Summary: A Book For All Seasons
Review: I was blown away by Spring Rain! I made the mistake of getting near the end around the time I should have been in bed, and wound up staying awake an extra two hours because I simply could not put that book down.

It's hard to say which plotline captivated me more- the romantic tension between Leigh and Clay or the smoldering conflict between Clay and Ted, fueled by severe stubbornness on the part of both brothers over the issue of Ted's homosexuality and brought out now because of Ted's impending death from AIDS.

You never know what to expect from any book dealing with sensitive topics such as AIDS and homosexuality, the author gives these timely issues the attention they deserve without becoming preachy. Through the interaction between Clay and his brother Ted, she gets the reader to see the fine line between righteousness and self-righteousness, and prayerfully, to be able to discern that difference in our own lives.

Not many authors could navigate the maze of family secrets and disagreements without turning their book into one big soap opera, but Gayle Roper has succeeded by treating each plotline with loving care, and giving us a clear look into the hearts of each character, from the youngest to the eldest.

I am eagerly awaiting more books in the SeaSide Seasons series (try to say THAT five times fast!)

Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for the next book in the series!
Review: Spring Rain is a wonderful story of family conflict, blossoming romance and the healing power that faith brings in times of heartache and struggle. Roper's characters are likeable, even charming, but not too perfect to be real. The romantic element--especially between the characters of Julia and David--is heartwarming.

Rating:
Summary: A Captivating Romantic Drama
Review: Ted Wharton is dying of AIDS. With not too much time left, twin brother Clay arrives back in Seaside to try to rebuild his relationship with his brother, damaged because of Clay's attitude toward Ted's lifestyle choices. Meanwhile, this causes a problem for Leigh Spenser. While Ted is her best friend, she is holding a secret from Clay she's not sure if she wants exposed. But with the threatening phone calls Leigh keeps getting, she may have no choice to turn to Clay for help.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I couldn't decide if it was mystery or romance or something else entirely. This is a dysfunctional family drama and romance that pulls you in from the very beginning. While many of the major plot points are easily guessed early on, I had to keep reading to see how things would play out. In fact, I stayed up way too late too many nights in a row to read just a little further.

Frankly, I don't see how Gayle Roper could have written this book. The characters go through so much pain and heartache I could barely deal with it some times. If that's how I felt reading it, I can only image what it was like to write.

Ms. Roper doesn't shy away from tackling such issues as homosexuality and premarital sex. She handles them with honesty both in the consequences and what the Bible says. It was refreshing to see in this novel things I've believed for years regarding sin and the forgiveness God offers to all sinners.

While not the type of book I would normally read, it really got to me. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the themes even when I wasn't reading it. I highly recommend this book.