Review: Another wonderful and emotional read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2014
Lilian Darcy's River Bend series has continually ripped at my heart. Book 4, After the Rain, is no different. I had been waiting for it, and once it arrived, I couldn't put it down. I wouldn't put it down. Neve Campbell was 18 when she died in an accident after the Prom. The tragedy has had a tremendous impact on her family, friends, and, basically everyone in Marietta, Montana. For Kira Blair, it meant she lost her sister. Four years younger, she never understood Neve or her parents' relationship with her, and always felt she was in her sister's shadow. She worked hard to be the good daughter and ended up married to an older man. Now divorced, she is back in Marietta and working at the "Ranch," a haven for artists and architects. Not able to blame anyone for her sister's death, all her anger and hatred has been focused on her sister's boyfriend, Jay.Casey Jay Brown has the chance of a lifetime to come to the prestigious institute as an architect. Even without that, he needed to return to Marietta and understand why Neve died so tragically. Though her death was ruled an accident, he has many questions and a ton of guilt.When Kira and Casey meet, sparks fly, until Casey realizes Mrs. Blair is his dead girlfriend's sister.Both fight the attraction, but realize that working together maybe they can answer questions and move on.Returning to this series was a wonderful, emotional roller coaster. Darcy revisited characters from the previous stories, and gave a realistic view of the struggle survivors have, especially with two people trying to work a relationship with the guilt and second-guessing.An hugely emotional read, Kira and Casey, and, even Kira's parents, learn about forgiveness: others, and themselves, and moving on. I can't wait for the next book...October? Really?