Book Tour for Chance of Rain by Amber Lin (Review & GIVEAWAY)

I'm thrilled to be hosting Amber Lin again today with her latest release of small town living and reunited lovers in a Chance of Rain.  Keep reading to get my impressions of this book and leave a comment for your chance to win an Amazon GC too!

The only things Natalie Bouchard wants to change are the weekly specials in her Gram’s diner. So when her high school sweetheart strolls back into Dearling, Texas, she allows herself to indulge in a little flirtation, but that’s as far as it goes.

Navy SEAL Sawyer Nolan has returned to sell his father’s land and get the hell out, no matter how enticing he still finds Natalie. Until a storm rolls over the Texas hills, stranding them together at the farm…and the memories of their steamy past  lead to a reunion filled with hot days and long nights.  

Soon Natalie’s so far under Sawyer’s skin he can’t imagine being without her. But he has a lot of history in Dearling he’d like to leave behind, and Natalie is practically married to this town.  If Sawyer wants to be more than just another person who leaves Natalie, he’ll have to give his hometown—and himself—one more chance.

EXCERPT:

“You planning on staying in town long?”
Sawyer paused, as though deciding how much to share. She could have sworn regret flashed briefly in his eyes before he said, “Can’t say that I am.”
And that was that. He had left all those years ago. He would leave again.
She couldn’t possibly be disappointed.
Sawyer turned to her. “I know it’s early, but do you happen to have any of your famous cherry pie? Even after all these years, I still get the craving for it now and then.”
The flattery softened her. Cherry pie was her specialty, not Gram’s. He’d thought of it years later? It was seductive. He was seductive…but also dangerous. She stood on the precipice, ready to fall for him all over again.
“Sorry,” she said. “Fresh out.”
He gave her a rueful look. “Guess I’ll have to come by another time.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Lucy’s eyebrows rise. Her friend knew she always kept a spare pie in the freezer for just this sort of request. But with Sawyer, pie seemed like a slippery, fruit-filled slope.
He took a swig of coffee and set it on the counter. The mug cracked down the side, separating from the handle. She stared at the broken pieces of ceramic, suddenly unable to defend the quality or quaintness of her diner. Unable to defend her own decisions, her dubious leadership. It wasn’t old-fashioned at all. It was cheap, backward, exactly what he must think of this town.
Exactly what he must think of her.
“Shit.” He grabbed the dish towel from her hand and wiped it up. “Sorry about that.”
She wanted to let him, but there was a jerkiness to his movements, an almost frantic edge that hinted at something darker beneath the surface. She caught his hands, and they stilled beneath hers. His gaze lifted to hers.
“It was really good to talk to you, Sawyer. Even if you leave town soon, I’m glad you came by.”
He swallowed. “I’d like to see you again.”
Her heartbeat quickened, and lower, a different kind of pulse strummed through her body. It doesn’t mean anything, she told herself sternly.
She forced a smile. “You know where to find me.”
Because she never ever left.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

After reading her Lost Girls series of books I came to count on Ms. Lin for an intensely emotional read that puts you through the wringer.  Chance of Rain is a quieter story that's no less emotional but doesn't rip your heart out quite as painfully as the books of hers I've read before.  It's a tale of reunited lovers who in some ways are still living in the past which affects their journey to HEA.  With small town idiosynchrocies as the backdrop there's a bit of added charm and a sense of matchmaking surrounding Natalie and Sawyer in the vividly depicted denizens of Dearling.

Natalie and Sawyer might have only had three weeks together but it became a part of their lives and has had them always in each other's thoughts since.  Natalie's life essentially stopped after Sawyer left without a word and it's made her desperate to keep things from changing.  She runs the diner to keep a part of her Gram close as Gram's mind continues to deteriorate.  The diner becomes her haven in an emotional storm of loss that started with Sawyer and continues with Gram and I ached for her.  All she wants is a picture perfect life with a husband and children and deep down she sees only Sawyer in that role.  Until that time though she relies on Dearling to keep her safe and cared for and can't envision being anywhere else as the whole town is her family.

Sawyer couldn't leave Dearling fast enough and the emotional abuse of his father behind.  He left to make something of himself but his father's words have kept him feeling weak.  He doesn't think himself worthy of Natalie even after all the time he's been away and it makes his return even more painful.  He thought by running away from Dearling all those feelings of inadequacy would leave him, but he's discovered that they've always been there and it's time to deal with them head-on if he wants to claim Natalie.  Only by standing together can they finally put the past behind them and move into the future together.

Chance of Rain is a sweet yet immensely sensual read featuring real people dealing with real issues.  There's no big roadblocks or melodrama from others, the conflict is purely internal and therefore more difficult to overcome but more satisfying once they do.  Sawyer needs someone to support him and Natalie does that but also kicks him in the butt when needed to get him to stop hiding behind his past.  She's an admirable heroine and he's a hero worth fighting for and with and I was cheering for them every step of the way.  Under Ms. Lin's talented hand she weaves an almost poetic web that draws readers into this wonderfully atmospheric story and charms them completely.  Along with intensely steamy sexual interludes there's tender and quiet moments that allow for introspection and help us get to know the people Natalie and Sawyer have become apart from each other and who they are around each other now.  Though I wish there had been an epilogue to completely wrap things up this is ultimately a heartwarming story that's different from her previous works but no less impactful.  If you haven't read Ms. Lin's books yet now's the time to start as this book will leave you with a smile on your face!

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Amber Lin writes edgy romance with damaged hearts, redemptive love, and a steamy ever after. RT Book Reviews called her debut novel, Giving It Up, “truly extraordinary.” Amber married her high school sweetheart, gave birth to a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good.

WEBSITE:  http://www.authoramberlin.com/
TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/#!/authoramberlin
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/authoramberlin

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Amber will be awarding a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

-To be entered, leave a comment along with your email addy (no email=no entry).

-Winners will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 4/7!