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405th out of 947 books
—
1,419 voters
Thunder and Rain
by
Charles Martin (Goodreads Author)
Third generation Texas Ranger Tyler Steele is the last of a dying breed-- a modern day cowboy hero living in a world that doesn't quite understand his powerful sense of right and wrong and instinct to defend those who can't defend themselves. Despite his strong moral compass, Ty has trouble seeing his greatest weakness. His hard outer shell, the one essential to his work,...more
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
April 3rd 2012
by Center Street
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I'm a big fan of Charles Martin and usually love his books, so I hate to say that I only liked this one. I appreciated the themes and issues in this book: forgiveness, redemption, marriage and divorce, abuse, etc. I appreciated the hard decisions that Tyler Steele has to make, and the moral strength in those decisions. However, I just didn't fall in love with the characters as I usually do. Maybe it's because I read it on the heels of my favorite book of his, When Crickets Cry, that I'd reread f...more
If you have ever wanted to pick up and book and have it completely capture your attention until you find yourself turning pages faster and faster because the story is that intense you want to know how it will end, then pick up Charles Martin's latest novel, Thunder and Rain. This is the perfect summer read for those of you that love a contemporary suspenseful love story of a Texas Ranger and a single mother and her daughter looking to find a way to start a new life. The only problem is the ex-bo...more
Readers who have loved previous books by Charles Martin are going to absolutely love his latest book, "Thunder and Rain". And, readers who haven't enjoyed his previous books are also going to love this book - guaranteed!
Martin has penned a story that will grab you from the first page, engage your mind and your heart, and have you devouring the book as fast as you can read, because it's just that good. The plot is outstanding, with carefully crafted scenes, moving dialogue, and descriptions that...more
Martin has penned a story that will grab you from the first page, engage your mind and your heart, and have you devouring the book as fast as you can read, because it's just that good. The plot is outstanding, with carefully crafted scenes, moving dialogue, and descriptions that...more
Tyler Steele is a retired Ranger who runs a cattle ranch with his 11 year old son Brodie and an ex-con named Dumps who helps to care for Brodie when Tyler is away. Tyler's wife Andie is currently in rehab and Tyler is trying to figure out how to tell Brodie that Andie won't be coming home as they will be getting a divorce. Tyler runs into Samantha, who's car is broken down and he helps her and her daughter Hope to a gas station. He is there to save them when Samantha and Hope almost get abducted...more
After a quiet divorce from crazy-train wife Andie, Ty chooses to retire from the Texas Rangers. Worry of financial stress and the loss of his identity, Ty really doesn't know how to move forward or be an improved father ranch man. He knows what he has given up....what he's lost, what he's gained, but nothing makes sense anymore. All that changes one night when he meets Sam and Hope, a mother and young daughter on the run from a man who violated them and will stop at nothing to get them back. For...more
Tyler Steele is a third generation Texas ranger. He's polite to women, good with a gun, has a strong moral compass, and raises cows. He's living in a world where he almost doesn't quite fit in due to his beliefs and his compassion. Recently retired he's a single father living on his ranch raising his 11 year old son, Brodie. Having lived much of his life singularly focused on fighting the bad guys he has seen his failures and desires to live intentionally and raise his son with him in the pictur...more
Picked this up on a whim at the library yesterday evening. Never heard of this author before. I was pretty much sucked in and blown away. It's a beautifully written moving story of a man's life. We get deep inside the head of retired Texas Ranger Tyler Steele as he tries to make his way through life with his notions of black and white, no grey. There's love and marriage, divorce, fatherhood, bad guys, good guys, what it means to be a man and a Ranger. The story is told from Tyler's POV with some...more
It takes talent to teach without learners' eyes glazing over. Charles again creates a fictional world that could be real... set in a beautiful (cultural and geographic) part of the country. He instructs by bringing the reader on a journey through pain, loss and metamorphasis, compelling you to bond with the characters and to see your own journey, mirrored in theirs. Rarely do I sit down to read a good work of fiction and come away both entertained (after all, reading so often is a "great escape"...more
I discovered Charles Martin when I read his first book, The Dead Don't Dance, published by Thomas Nelson. I saw the title at my local library, and became intrigued with the cover, so I brought it home.
That was one time, I did right in judging a book by it's cover and I fell head over heels for Charles's writing.
Since that first book, I have eagerly awaited every single new release. My favorite thus far? Hard to choose but I would rate The Mountain Between Us right up there with When Crickets C...more
That was one time, I did right in judging a book by it's cover and I fell head over heels for Charles's writing.
Since that first book, I have eagerly awaited every single new release. My favorite thus far? Hard to choose but I would rate The Mountain Between Us right up there with When Crickets C...more
My thoughts: What I liked about the story was the way the author introduced and tackled tough issues - divorce, indiscriminate sex, pedophilia, homelessness, divorce, adultery, morality, and marriage. Rarely are these issues cut and dried but the protagonist, Ty, cleans up the grays and does not waffle through much of the ethical concerns. I like that he knows right from wrong and follows his convictions even when it's difficult. I also like that each of the above stated issues are approached ca...more
"Unbelievable!! I just finished Thunder & Rain (could not put it down, as picked it up this weekend, and had to get up early on Sunday to finish it before going to church)....it was AMAZING! I have read all Charles Martin's books and each time, not sure how they can get better; however, each one is as good as the last in a unique way.
Charles, you have a God-given talent and with your words speak to many - You fall in love with the characters, especially with Hope and her letters to God, Sam...more
Charles, you have a God-given talent and with your words speak to many - You fall in love with the characters, especially with Hope and her letters to God, Sam...more
I am ashamed that Thunder and Rain and The Mountain Between Us are the only books I have read by this author. If his others are anywhere near the quality of these two, I need to rush out and buy them. While I believe The Mountain Between Us to be a wonderful book, I liked Thunder and Rain even better. I found it to be a heartwarming, emotional story, yet with a nice edge of suspense and action. Tyler Steele was a fantastic character, and seldom have I read a book about a man so with such strengt...more
If you have not read a book by Charles Martin I would recommend starting with this one and you will be hooked. This book introduces you immediately to a strong silent Texas Ranger. It doesn't take long to realize there are many layers to his man and even he has not discovered all of his strengths or completely understood who he is. Not until he meets a troubled mother and her young daughter do the layers start to peel back and you learn more about who Tyler Steele is.
I felt like Charles Martin...more
I felt like Charles Martin...more
Holy smokes!
DIdn't think it was possible for Charles Martin to improve, but he's done it. Stunning story. LOVE the main character. Martin writes men we can look up to, men who choose to do the right thing even when it's very difficult, men who make mistakes and then go back and try to fix what they've broken. THe men in his stories are the kind of men our society desperately needs.
Admittedly, I was not overly excited by the back cover copy. Texas Rangers . . . big deal. Well, now that's I've re...more
DIdn't think it was possible for Charles Martin to improve, but he's done it. Stunning story. LOVE the main character. Martin writes men we can look up to, men who choose to do the right thing even when it's very difficult, men who make mistakes and then go back and try to fix what they've broken. THe men in his stories are the kind of men our society desperately needs.
Admittedly, I was not overly excited by the back cover copy. Texas Rangers . . . big deal. Well, now that's I've re...more
Thunder and Rain is a story told from Tyler Steele's (Texas Ranger/The Cowboy) and from Hope Dyson's point of view. Tyler has been trying to save his marriage. He gave up being a Texas Ranger after a near death incident which also involved the kidnapping of his son Brodie. Unfortunately, he has stepped in too late.
Hope Dyson is a ten year old girl. From the being of the story, the reader can tell, she is a victim of a crime. And if the reader think a little harder, they would know Hope was raped...more
Hope Dyson is a ten year old girl. From the being of the story, the reader can tell, she is a victim of a crime. And if the reader think a little harder, they would know Hope was raped...more
I thought this was another great book by Charles Martin. You have the hero and the woman and child in ditress. Sometimes I thought he made the main character a little too much of a "I am not going to answer your question the way you want, and maybe just beat around the bush," but overall he was a great man. I loved reading the little girls diary entries. They all started, "Dear God." She would poor her heart out to God, and would ask him so many times if he was really there, and if he was, she w...more
Engrossing story that I could not put down. The letters to God were so poignant and meaningful. Second generation Texas Ranger Tyler Steele is the last of a dying breed- a modern day cowboy hero living in a world that doesn't quite understand his powerful sense of right and wrong or his instinct to defend those who can't defend themselves. He does not know how to rebuild from the rubble of his life;enter Samantha and her daughter Hope,on the run from a seemingly inescapable situation.
what they...more
what they...more
A retired Texas Ranger, Tyler Steele lives without his wife but with his son, Brodie in West Texas. His code of honor has kept him from giving the attention his wife needed from him because the job came first. She can't take it anymore and goes her own wrong way. Samantha and her daughter, Hope are running away from a terrible secret and Tyler literally bumps into them. Hope is trying to make things right and writes letters to God in her journal although she isn't too sure that He is listening....more
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I just finished Thunder and Rain and I just don't see where you can ask any more from a book than what this one gives you. Thunder and Rain is amazing, it has great characters, an interesting plot and a heart that makes the reader very involved in the novel. Once I really got into the book (which was about 30 pages in) I found it very hard to put down. In fact I think I only put it down to hear my 6-year-old read his homework to me and when I finally conked myself in the head with my Kindle beca...more
Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors of all time. I love the way he develops his characters slowly, but fully. This book is no exception to that rule. I finished this one this morning, and I kept having to go to my office to get tissues. Why didn't I move them to where I was reading? I guess because I was so absorbed in the story, I couldn't think straight. The book starts a tad slow and confused, but just hold on, it gets real good. I would have to say it is his best ... so far! This is...more
Charles Martin is probably my favorite author and I would read anything he writes, including his grocery list. In this book, I especially enjoyed the taste of Texas, having lived here for most of the last 35 years. He accurately portrayed the sense of honor and responsibility that is common to Texas ranchers. I especially liked the hero's determination to behave in a morally respectful manner toward the heroine, despite her attempts to seduce him. And her thanking him for being the man she neede...more
I did indeed read this book and I read a lot of reviews about it as well. The reason being, I wanted to see if others had a proverbial raised eyebrow about this particular book being in the "Christian-Fiction" genre.
It seems most of the reviews I read didn't seem to have a problem with it. There was one individual that I found however that said she did not feel comfortable purchasing this author's particular book and putting it in the church library because of Mr. Martin's choice of words and i...more
It seems most of the reviews I read didn't seem to have a problem with it. There was one individual that I found however that said she did not feel comfortable purchasing this author's particular book and putting it in the church library because of Mr. Martin's choice of words and i...more
Wow Wow Wow...I loved this book. At no time did I want to put this book down. I read it at work at the gym, anywhere I had a few minutes I was reading this book. I am so glad it was recommended to me for a challenge I was participating in. I was immersed in a story of a Texas ranger who lived with his son and an ex con. He is dealing with a lot of baggage and trying to raise his son right when he crashes into a woman and her daughter who are on the run. He learns a lot about his relationships an...more
Ty is a Texas Ranger, divorced and father of an 11 yr. old boy. He's had his share of emotional ups and downs and was married to his job when his wife needed him. Of course, he didn't see it at the time and now it is too late.
He has always helped the downtrodden and into his life comes a woman and her daughter who are running scared from a man who turned out to be the opposite of who they thought he was.
Good, Charles Martin! I can never start one of your books without reading it all the way t...more
He has always helped the downtrodden and into his life comes a woman and her daughter who are running scared from a man who turned out to be the opposite of who they thought he was.
Good, Charles Martin! I can never start one of your books without reading it all the way t...more
For a while, this book held steady at four stars for me. For a while, it had hope. But an initially captivating lead character, intriguing supporting personas and a promising plot failed to fit together into a successful end in "Thunder and Rain. " Tyler Steele was a Texas Ranger who truly could inspire -- stoic, brave, vigilant. But there unfolds a disconnect somewhere after the book's first 100 pages or so between the person we expect this retired lawman to be, and the disjointed pieces that c...more
I've read all of Charles Martin's books and enjoyed them. Thunder and Rain is about Ty Steele, a retired Texas Ranger who is always helping the down-trodden. He's divorced and has an eleven year old son. He rescues a troubled mother and her ten year old daughter and helps them get another start in life.
This book is full of characters with flaws who are very real and jump right off the page into your heart. It has suspense, action, romance and is about having second chances in life. I recommend i...more
This book is full of characters with flaws who are very real and jump right off the page into your heart. It has suspense, action, romance and is about having second chances in life. I recommend i...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Apr 25, 2012
Vickie
added it
Another great Martin read! This character was a no holds barred for real Cowboy! Tyler loved John Wayne and mirrored his Hollywood image. He was loving, yet lived life on his terms and could not not be Superman whenever an occasion arose. For all of us who like stories where the bad guy ultimately gets his butt kicked, this character saw to it over and over again, and those who loved him either hung on for the ride, or if they couldn't stomach the drama, went their separate ways.
Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors, but this latest book fell short of my expectations: over-the-top plot lines, corny in places, a few underdeveloped (important) characters, and a terse, staccato style that was probably meant to symbolize Ty's personality and the Rangers in general--but which became annoying. I got tired of reading intentional fragments. Oh, and there was far too much crying in this novel. If you read it, you'll see what I mean.
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I grew up in Jacksonville, FL, on the St. John’s river. Somewhat of a Huck Finn childhood. Most afternoons were spent mullet fishing, canoeing, pegging cars with overripe tangerines—it really got fun when the red tail lights lit and the reverse gears ground metal on metal, or the backyard Superbowl which we replayed most everyday. Through high school, football was my life. School was the avenue th...more
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“She cried easily. Evidence that she felt much, and most often for other people. A rare and beauty filled gift.”
—
6 people liked it
“You rescued me when I thought nobody would. When I thought I wasn't worth the effort. You gave me everything and asked for nothing.'
She pressed her face to mine.
'If this is love on the other side of the rescue, then I want to live it. With you. But,'
She shook her head.
'But if you give you to me, then'-
she placed her palm flat across my chest
-'come heavy”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
She pressed her face to mine.
'If this is love on the other side of the rescue, then I want to live it. With you. But,'
She shook her head.
'But if you give you to me, then'-
she placed her palm flat across my chest
-'come heavy”
Jan 26, 2013 09:12pm
May 06, 2013 06:46am