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A Gentle Rain
by
Deborah Smith (Goodreads Author)
Big contemporary southern romance from bestselling women's fiction author Deborah Smith (A PLACE TO CALL HOME, SWEET HUSH, THE CROSSROADS CAFE.) A Connecticut heiress learns she's adopted. Her birth parents are mentally handicapped ranch workers in northern Florida. She gets a job at the ranch under a false name in order to learn more about her parents. To her surprise she...more
Paperback, 371 pages
Published
November 1st 2007
by BelleBooks
(first published September 1st 2007)
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retard ranch!!
this is the best romance novel i have ever read. which really only means it is better than this.(now that i have learned how to do that, i am going to link to every part of the internet, given time...) and sarah palin will probably hate this review. but the fact of the matter is, i love the word "retard". i think it is a funny-sounding word, along with "renal", "swizzle" and "filbert". but i don't want any angry facebook letters (because i am not even on facebook, so it will do you...more
this is the best romance novel i have ever read. which really only means it is better than this.(now that i have learned how to do that, i am going to link to every part of the internet, given time...) and sarah palin will probably hate this review. but the fact of the matter is, i love the word "retard". i think it is a funny-sounding word, along with "renal", "swizzle" and "filbert". but i don't want any angry facebook letters (because i am not even on facebook, so it will do you...more
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I found this book through a very dubious connection, I needed a book with "G" for the title in a challenge and "G" was proving to be a very hard letter to find, so I randomly started to type words that began with "G" that would fit and found this book. Then when I started to read this book I didn't expect to really like it, just plow through it to reach my goal, so imagine my surprise when 50 pages in I really liked it and it just got better and better as the book went.
Kara, born into the super...more
Kara, born into the super...more
After the death of her parents, Kara Whittenbrook was shocked to discover that she and been adopted. This information in hand, she started out to Florida because she had to know more about them, even though she had been told they were mentally handicapped, and she needed to know why she had been given up for adoption. The Thocco Ranch was home to several ranch hands with mental handicaps such as Down Syndrome or Autism, but somehow Ben Thocco saw that each of his employees has their own special...more
A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith
A Gentle Rain is not my typical read. It is too sentimental, too sappy a love story. That’s why it took me so long to read it. Having said that, I don’t regret reading it. That is, I do not regret getting this book through the early reviewer program at Library Thing. I would never have picked it up on my own but A Gentle Rain wasn’t half bad.
I think the thing I liked most about it is its structure and the way story unfolds. It switches back and forth between the vi...more
A Gentle Rain is not my typical read. It is too sentimental, too sappy a love story. That’s why it took me so long to read it. Having said that, I don’t regret reading it. That is, I do not regret getting this book through the early reviewer program at Library Thing. I would never have picked it up on my own but A Gentle Rain wasn’t half bad.
I think the thing I liked most about it is its structure and the way story unfolds. It switches back and forth between the vi...more
Not a story in my usual style, but a good book nonetheless. I think a great part of its appeal for me stemmed from its setting in my native Florida. So much of her descriptive prose detailed Florida's natural swamps and forests where I grew up but the sweet tale was a little too sweet for me. I liked her characters, they seemed real and flawed, but essentially good. Bits of humor saved it from true drama, though the issue of mental handicappedness and how those individuals interact with and are...more
Well, if there isn't a Thocco ranch in Florida, there ought to be. A Gentle Rain captured me immediately from Kara's birth to her discovery that her birth parents were not your average mother and father. When Ben Thocco looks down and sees his baby brother for the first time and forms a protective bond, I defy anyone with a heart to set this book down. Written with charm and wit and just darn good storytelling, Ms. Smith had me choked up one minute and laughing the next. From Kara's ability to s...more
I had to read this book for my readers’ advisory class and I must say I enjoyed it a lot more than I initially thought I would. I think I was biased off the bat into liking Kara when I read she had a master’s in library science and world cultures (since I’m an Anthropology major and am getting a degree in library science). Be that as it may, I did like Kara’s selflessness and passion to protect those she loved. In terms of the writing, I really liked Smith’s use of language and imagery in the wa...more
Já acabei o A Doçura de Chuva.
O título deste livro não poderia ser mais indicado. É mesmo uma doçura. Já tinha lido o outro livro da autora que foi publicado em Portugal, com o título Segredos do Passado e também tinha gostado muito. Por essa mesma razão, não poderia deixar de ler este tão aclamado, Doçura.
E não me arrependo do ter feito. Muito pelo contrário. É um livro lindo, do início ao fim.
Suscitou-me vários sentimentos, todos eles contraditórios, mas que foram importantes para eu viver...more
O título deste livro não poderia ser mais indicado. É mesmo uma doçura. Já tinha lido o outro livro da autora que foi publicado em Portugal, com o título Segredos do Passado e também tinha gostado muito. Por essa mesma razão, não poderia deixar de ler este tão aclamado, Doçura.
E não me arrependo do ter feito. Muito pelo contrário. É um livro lindo, do início ao fim.
Suscitou-me vários sentimentos, todos eles contraditórios, mas que foram importantes para eu viver...more
This book was not a favorite of mine. I found it to be lengthy and predictable. I didn't feel a big connection with the characters (despite having a son of my own with mental retardation). I was sadly surprised that the protagonist didn't *really* consider the feelings of her adoptive parents until over 300 pages into the book! But of course they were fine with all that happened...the book was full of happy endings....one after the other. One a bigger fantasy than the last.[return]I thought the...more
This book surprised me because I was afraid this book would be one I would be included in a genre I don't much care for, one I define for my own purposes as "goody, goody." I find "goody, goody" stories hard to define but usually recognize them when I see them. "A Gentle Rain" leans a little in that direction but then redeems itself with charming characters and loads of lighthearted quips and comments. The main protagonists are involved in a predictable romance but they are surrounded by splashy...more
Started last afternoon and couldn't stop till get to the end.
Really fantastic book.
So gentle, so sweet.
There are words that has left me with blurry eyes, a warm heart and a grin on my face all at once.
Really fantastic book.
So gentle, so sweet.
There are words that has left me with blurry eyes, a warm heart and a grin on my face all at once.
Aug 10, 2011
Marisa Martins
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
leituras-2011
Apesar de ter crescido no seio de uma família abastada, Kara Whittenbrook teve os pés sempre bem assentes na terra. Filha de um casal de ambientalistas muito conhecidos pelo seu trabalho, Kara não só teve o previlégio de frequentar os melhores colégios, como também de viver alguns anos na selva amazónica.
Após a morte dos pais, descobre que foi adopdata e decide partir à procura dos pais biológicos. Uma aventura para conhecer as origens, que não lhe trará apenas uns pais "especiais", mas toda uma...more
Após a morte dos pais, descobre que foi adopdata e decide partir à procura dos pais biológicos. Uma aventura para conhecer as origens, que não lhe trará apenas uns pais "especiais", mas toda uma...more
" Quando uma jovem que ser uma heroína nem a perseverança de quarenta famílias à sua volta a consegue impedir." Jane Austen
Adorei esse livro, e nessa minha pequena resenha pretendo demostrar pelo menos um pouco do que sentir ao ler esse livro lindo.
Exitem autoras que nos fazem sonhar, outras que nós fazem ter pesadelos, existem autoras que nós fazem ter fé e outras que nós fazem perdem a mesma. Que nós levam além das nossa expectativas, e fazem a cada virar de pagina uma nova experiencia de fé e...more
Adorei esse livro, e nessa minha pequena resenha pretendo demostrar pelo menos um pouco do que sentir ao ler esse livro lindo.
Exitem autoras que nos fazem sonhar, outras que nós fazem ter pesadelos, existem autoras que nós fazem ter fé e outras que nós fazem perdem a mesma. Que nós levam além das nossa expectativas, e fazem a cada virar de pagina uma nova experiencia de fé e...more
Excellent book. I began reading it and didn't know what to think of it based on how it started. I found myself not sure if I wanted to read this book about a rich young heiress to a wealthy family who did good things by throwing their money around. But wow, was this an eye opener! As the book unfolded, it ended up being a story about finding yourself in the vast world, becoming happy, meeting people, entering into their lives and learning to love them and yourself in the end while finding true h...more
Com a morte dos seus pais, Kara Whittenbrook vê-se perante uma dura realidade: para além do facto de descobrir que foi adoptada, descobre também que os seus pais biológicos são deficientes mentais. Com o objectivo de conhecê-los e descobrir os motivos que os levaram a dá-la para adopção, Kara parte para o rancho da Flórida (e não Califórnia, como a sinopse refere) onde Mac e Lily residem.
Ao chegar ao rancho, Kara depara-se com um conjunto de pessoas muito especiais: para além de Ben Thocco, o do...more
Ao chegar ao rancho, Kara depara-se com um conjunto de pessoas muito especiais: para além de Ben Thocco, o do...more
This story of mentally challenged adults and a love between two people who need each other really touched me. The theme of being different and being loved and accepted anyway is one that we should all be reminded of from time to time. The book drew me in because of the people, but there was also so much story to tell. Ben is fighting to save his ranch and his brother’s life and Kara is trying to come to terms with her wealth and what is best for her birth parents.
there's more on my blog http://...more
there's more on my blog http://...more
Thirty-something Kara Whittenbrook was born to two world renowned Naturalists who also happen to be American billionaires. She has always felt loved but has never quite fit into her extended, famous family. When both parents are tragically killed in a plane crash in the jungles of South America, Kara is devastated. She learns she is adopted and further, that both of her birth parents are still alive and mentally handicapped. She sets out on a journey of personal growth, familial and romantic lov...more
I loved this book. Maybe I'm a little hormonal right now, but I cried several times reading this one. LOL. It was considerable more well-written than most romance novels with highly developed secondary characters. There were many layers to these individuals and to the plot lines that made them seem realistic even when they were outlandish. The author's writing style is incredibly descriptive and the characters were charming. This really makes me want to read more from the author.
I couldn't tell...more
I couldn't tell...more
Desde Junho que sempre que ia à biblioteca, perguntava se este livro estava disponível. Desde Junho que a resposta era sempre a mesma: “Desculpe, mas de momento o livro está indisponível”.
Da última vez o livro finalmente estava disponível, por isso não hesitei em lhe deitar a mão. Já tinha ouvido opiniões bastante favoráveis- “esse livro é tããããõoooo lindo”, “esse livro é muito doce”, “ai, adorei!”- que não estava disposta a arriscar a que alguém o levasse...outra vez.
Assim sendo, comecei o liv...more
Da última vez o livro finalmente estava disponível, por isso não hesitei em lhe deitar a mão. Já tinha ouvido opiniões bastante favoráveis- “esse livro é tããããõoooo lindo”, “esse livro é muito doce”, “ai, adorei!”- que não estava disposta a arriscar a que alguém o levasse...outra vez.
Assim sendo, comecei o liv...more
Kara Whittenbrook pertence a uma família abastada, o que a facilitou em vários aspectos, contudo também a colocou numa fasquia elevada, onde qualquer erro ou imperfeição eram dignos de nota. Quando perde os seus pais, famosos ambientalistas, descobre a verdade sobre o seu nascimento, o facto de ter sido adoptada, o que a leva a encetar uma viagem rumo ao local onde os seus pais biológicos habitam com o intuito de os conhecer e tentar compreender o que os levou a dá-la para a adopção.
Por sua vez,...more
Por sua vez,...more
I've never read a book by this Author and must admit I only downloaded it to my Kindle as it was a 99c Daily Deal special. However I must say I found it really enjoyable. The Author's kind handling of the slightly different people is admirable. My favourite characters were not the main characters, but actually Mac & Lily. It just goes to show that no matter who you are or what difficulties you face, love has no boundaries. Lovely book. I will definitely purchase more books by Deborah Smith.
I loved this story of love and redemption and accepting you who are and where you came from. This book is about an heiress whose parents die and leave her to discover that she was adopted. As she she searches for her biological parents she learns about what matters most. I love how we learn in this book about how wise mentally handicapped people can be and how much we can learn from them. This is a powerful book, although there are a few steamy scenes.
An enjoyable story, especially if you like Catherine Anderson's stories about the disabled. By the end, it was a little far-fetched, but enjoyable nonetheless. The setup took so long, that the struggles with identity and forgiveness took so little time as to seem miraculous rather than heart-felt. All the characters were likable, and generally stayed true to their strengths and weaknesses. I wish the author had shared some of the confrontations.
I skimmed the last quarter, hoping it might get better. It didn't. The heroine is annoying, and the big conflict (that the hero might not be able to accept a woman with money) was completely out of the blue. The book was insulting to adoptive families, patronizing to mentally challenged people, and, worst of all, boring. I liked the first few chapters, but after that, it just kept getting worse and worse.
Oh well. Back to the Romance-hunting drawing board.
Oh well. Back to the Romance-hunting drawing board.
While this story seems extermely far fetched, it is wonderful at the same time! I enjoyed the healthy dose of progressive politics as well. This book was a nice surprise! I'm glad I finally took it off the pile of books I bought at last year's local book sale. I recommend it for anyone who is prepared to suspend reality for a while and be taken in by the beautiful writing and captivated by the story of Kara/Karen as she travels home.
Este livro é fantástico, sem dúvida, um dos melhores que tenho lido, lindo, lindo! É um livro que quero guardar com carinho!
Só podia era ter desenvolvido um pouco mais, a relação entre a Kara e o Ben, tipo Nora Roberts, tirando isso é de uma sensibilidade e afecto tocantes. Que personagens ricas, que nos ficam no coração!
Recomendo vivamente a todos os que gostam de um bom livro, muito viciante e com grandes afectos e causas nobres.
Só podia era ter desenvolvido um pouco mais, a relação entre a Kara e o Ben, tipo Nora Roberts, tirando isso é de uma sensibilidade e afecto tocantes. Que personagens ricas, que nos ficam no coração!
Recomendo vivamente a todos os que gostam de um bom livro, muito viciante e com grandes afectos e causas nobres.
This book intrigued me as soon as I read that the main character (Kara, Karen...etc.) was adopted & goes in search of her birth parents. I too, have had that experience (sadly, I'm not an heiress!) and was pleasantly surprised.
Through her journey she falls in love and learns who she really is & what matters most in life.
The authors development of characters who are mentally handicapped is wise and accurate for some. I appreciate her detail in how wise they can be and what they can teach...more
Through her journey she falls in love and learns who she really is & what matters most in life.
The authors development of characters who are mentally handicapped is wise and accurate for some. I appreciate her detail in how wise they can be and what they can teach...more
This is not your typical romance novel. It was more of a feel-good book, complete with a happy ending, impossible dreams coming true, people finding their place in a sometimes cruel world, people standing up for themselves and others, and people realizing that they are perfect just as they are. I liked the characters and enjoyed myself reading it.
I enjoyed this book. There was some love making, but at least the authur didn't over do it. The Florida setting was interesting. The idea of a young women going to find her retarded birth parents attracted me to the novel. The Kindle version of the book kept skipping words at the tops of a lot of pages. It was nice to see love and compasion for people with different abilites.
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Deborah Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home, Sweet Hush, The Crossroads Cafe, A Gentle Rain and other acclaimed romantic novels portraying life and love in the modern Appalachian South. A native Georgian, Deborah is a former newspaper editor who turned to novel-writing with great success.
With more than 35 romance, women's fiction and fantasy novels to her credit,...more
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“A vida é fugaz. A vida é preciosa. Temos de gozar cada momento. A sensualidade de respirar, de sentir, de querer.”
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