"Raining Fools"
By Jackie Castle
About the Book:
Bekka Winters hung up the phone. Ethan, her brother, needed her help with his new music production studio. She stared at her already packed bags. Why not? She’d just graduated from college and didn’t exactly have a job to go to. Besides, a music video might look good on her resume when she looked for real work.
Stephen Gaines couldn’t believe Ethan had called him after their last blow up. They’d been music partners once. Stephen had ruined that. It was his expertise to wreck relationships especially those he had with women. Fortunately, Ethan didn’t know about him and Bekka. She was the one woman that had broken through to the deep parts of his heart. If only… how many times had he said that in the past? A fresh start is just what he needed.
Bekka’s mind bubbled with ideas for Ethan’s studio. Not to mention she couldn’t wait to see Ethan and Haley, the woman who’d captured her brother’s heart. But when she pulled into the drive and saw the familiar fancy car that Stephen drove, her heart dropped. There was no way she’d let him back into her life.
My Thoughts:
I am always excited when introduced to new authors, however, I must admit am somewhat nervous when having to review a book by them . What if I don't like the story? What if I don't have anything good to say?? I hate writing negative reviews! Well, after reading just a few pages of "Raining Fools", my worries quickly evaporated!! Whew!! Thank goodness.
This book is the second in The Madison Creek Bed and Breakfast series. Each book is a standalone so can be thoroughly enjoyed without having read any others. Jackie does a good job of capturing the reader's attention within the first few pages. An easy to read, light story is always a welcome addition to my library.
The characters are well developed and realistic, making it easy to identify with them. They grow along with the story and became my friends, ones that sometimes I wanted to hug, ato other times give a good shake and tell them to think!
The plot moves steadily and although it was somewhat different from what I usually read, I enjoyed it and it kept me interested from start to finish. There are just enough complications to keep a reader happy and wondering.
This is a story that emphasizes second chances. We always have them but do we always accept help and take what is offered??
I would highly recommend this book particularly to young audiences. There are definitely lessons to be learned that are examples to all of us.
I am always excited when introduced to new authors, however, I must admit am somewhat nervous when having to review a book by them . What if I don't like the story? What if I don't have anything good to say?? I hate writing negative reviews! Well, after reading just a few pages of "Raining Fools", my worries quickly evaporated!! Whew!! Thank goodness.
This book is the second in The Madison Creek Bed and Breakfast series. Each book is a standalone so can be thoroughly enjoyed without having read any others. Jackie does a good job of capturing the reader's attention within the first few pages. An easy to read, light story is always a welcome addition to my library.
The characters are well developed and realistic, making it easy to identify with them. They grow along with the story and became my friends, ones that sometimes I wanted to hug, ato other times give a good shake and tell them to think!
The plot moves steadily and although it was somewhat different from what I usually read, I enjoyed it and it kept me interested from start to finish. There are just enough complications to keep a reader happy and wondering.
This is a story that emphasizes second chances. We always have them but do we always accept help and take what is offered??
I would highly recommend this book particularly to young audiences. There are definitely lessons to be learned that are examples to all of us.
This ebook was a gift. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.
About the Author:
Jackie Castle looks for the extraordinary in every ordinary day that she experiences. She is the author of The White Road Chronicles a fantasy series, The Sentinel Archives for school-age readers, and newly released Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast romance series. She has also published articles and short stories in numerous magazines. She’s enjoyed many crazy adventures from working as a hairstylist, to her bravest quest: teaching children in daycare and elementary schools. Eventually, she settled down to a somewhat safer pursuit of being a Story-weaver.
Guest Post from Jackie Castle
I’m best known for my fantasy series, The White Road Chronicles, and I love the make-believe world of Alburnium. But as these stories have traveled towards the ending, I’ve decided to venture into a more modern world. I enjoy a good, clean romance as much as anyone else, and I love writing stories about communities where people band together for the greater good.
So, I came up with Madison Creek, a small town on the verge of dying out. But the people there aren’t ready to give up. They decide that if they band together, maybe they can revive their little lakeside town and make it thrive.
My husband is from Michigan. I’m from California. We met in the middle: Texas. He’s adapted quite well to the south, loving the hot summers, hot food, and well, he simply likes being warm. Though I miss my moderate California, I’ve also grown to love Texas. Whenever we travel up north to visit his family, we lament over to lack of flavorful food and the ability to stay warm. (Even in the summer we’ve had to wear winter coats!!)
We are often teased by his family for how we put two syllables into words such as fire, dead and y’all. (Yes, he’s been in Texas long enough now to have developed a bit of a twang). I don’t know how many times we’ve talked about moving up north to open a BBQ joint so there’d be somewhere good to eat. Except, we both hate the cold and I’m sure I’d never survive a Michigan winter. I spent two weeks up there once in December, and swore I’d never do that again. I mean, 4 feet of snow in one night? Good Lord have mercy!
Basically, that’s how I came up with Haley Madison, the blond Texas gal who inherited her grandpop’s farmland in Madison Creek, Michigan. Her life has been one big mess after another and she’s determined to take this opportunity to set things right. She’s lived on ranches for over half her life and loves to cook a lot of food for folks. (My family was always big on cooking lots of food at holiday gatherings, so it just seems natural.)
Haley ends up meeting Ethan Winters, who she calls the handsome Yankee that plays a violin. The first book, Snow Belle is about how they meet. The second book, Raining Fools, continues Ethan and Haley’s story in the background. But in Raining Fools, you’ll meet Ethan’s sister Bekka and his best friend, Stephen Gaines who have a history with each other that neither cares to remember, except those old feelings they had for each other refuse to go away. Bekka, though strong in her faith, is uncertain about what God wants her to do with her life. Stephen, a playboy with a troubled past, appreciates his friend’s strong faith, but believes God doesn’t care about the ‘little people.’ At least, not until a series of mishaps has him taking a second look at the Winters’ beliefs.
What I hope people take away from my story beside an entertaining tale, is that God loves them. That they belong to a kingdom that’s bigger than themselves. That we are stronger together than apart. These are themes that readers can find in my stories.
I have several more ideas for novels and novellas that will continue Haley and Ethan’s story while we meet various people who visit the B&B when they come to Madison Creek hoping to start a new life. My hope is that readers will come to enjoy visiting this quirky little town as much as I do when I write the stories. Texas might have its spicy food and natural ruggedness, but I do love Michigan’s wild beauty and kindhearted folks. I just love it more in the summertime.
Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins entertaining tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild.
Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through her imaginary worlds in search of another story.
Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle’s Story World: www.jackiecastle.com. There you can also sign up for her monthly newsletter.
Blog Stops:
November 3: Quiet Quilter
November 4: Bibliophile Reviews
November 5: Daysong Reflections
November 6: Proud to be an autism mom
November 7: Reviewing Novels Online
November 8: Janet Pecorella
November 8: The Power of Words (Spotlight)
November 9: Moments Dipped in Ink
November 10: A Greater Yes
November 11: Blogging With Carol
November 12: inklings and notions
November 13: Carpe Diem
November 14: Mom Is Forever
November 15: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
November 16: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberation
Enter the Giveaway!
Thank you for reading my book and sharing it with your readers. I wanted to let people know that until Nov. 5th, the first book is going for free, while Raining Fools is still 50% off until this coming weekend, as well. Thanks again, and many blessings.
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