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Rainey Bell #1
Rainey Days
Rainey Days is the first novel in the Rainey Bell Thriller Series. After its first publication in 2010, the second in the series followed, Rainey Nights, a 2011 Lambda Literary Award Finalist.
This is the second edition of Rainey Days. No major changes to the story were undertaken, but an editor did go through and clean it up a bit.
Special Agent Rainey Bell is on medical leave and has been for over a year, after a horrific attack left her scarred both inside and out. She drinks too much and hasn't had a good night's sleep in months. On a hung-over morning, in June, a request for help from an old friend plunges Rainey back into the world of stalkers, rapist, and serial killers. The next thirteen days will change Rainey's life forever, if she survives. On top of all that, the woman she is supposed to protect brings out feelings Rainey didn't know she had. Thrown together, by a bizarre series of events, they learn to depend on each other for survival.
This is the second edition of Rainey Days. No major changes to the story were undertaken, but an editor did go through and clean it up a bit.
Special Agent Rainey Bell is on medical leave and has been for over a year, after a horrific attack left her scarred both inside and out. She drinks too much and hasn't had a good night's sleep in months. On a hung-over morning, in June, a request for help from an old friend plunges Rainey back into the world of stalkers, rapist, and serial killers. The next thirteen days will change Rainey's life forever, if she survives. On top of all that, the woman she is supposed to protect brings out feelings Rainey didn't know she had. Thrown together, by a bizarre series of events, they learn to depend on each other for survival.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2010
49 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
R.E. Bradshaw
26 books240 followersHow did a girl from the Outer Banks of North Carolina end up writing contemporary women's fiction in Oklahoma? Well, there has to be a woman involved. Bradshaw began her writing career in 2010, after leaving Theatre and teaching. Since then, her novels ranging from the popular romance, Waking Up Gray, to the Lambda Literary Award Finalists, thriller Rainey Nights and mystery Molly: House on Fire, have remained among Amazon’s bestsellers in lesbian fiction. All of Bradshaw’s books, thus far, are set in her beloved home state of North Carolina. She was transplanted from the coast to the Heartland by the love of her life, an Oklahoma girl, with whom she celebrate twenty-five years in June 2013. They have a son, Jon, and share their home with two dogs and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 25, 2020
I've never read a mystery-romance before this. Here the mystery was interesting, the romance was not. Rainey and Katie made a connection way too soon and way too easily. It took them like 3 days to go from 'hello' to 'i love you and lets spent the rest of our lives together'. But there was enough suspense to keep me reading. Some of the dialogues were really cliché. The whodunit ended up being a big let down. It was the first person I thought would be.
June 15, 2018
1.5 stars. Just... no. The plot holes, the flat characters, the lack of emotional depth in their relationship. The events that are so unrealistic I can't suspend my disbelief, the awkward dialogue, the trivialization of rape The tone dissonance with how it goes from shallow fluff to and then back to fluff again until it's time for some again. Nothing worked for me in this book. Just... no.
March 11, 2018
I'm a little confused by this book. Parts of it are dark and gritty, fitting for a mystery/thriller and then there are parts which are light and fluffy and I don't know how to mesh them in my head. Rainey Bell runs a bounty hunter agency which she inherited from her father. She is on medical leave from the FBI because she is the only surviving victim of a vicious serial killer who is still at large. She struggles with nightmares and is permanently scarred both mentally and physically.
She is hired by an old school friend to try and catch a stalker who is sending photos and notes to his wife, Katie. Rainey reluctantly takes the job because her agency doesn't do that kind of work. When she meets Kate for the first time she is struck by her attraction to her. Rainey is straight, Katie is straight and married.
I've only read one other book by Bradshaw (Before It Stains) and I enjoyed both the story and the writing. I'm quite conflicted by this so I'm going to read the second in this series and see how it goes. 3.5 rounded up.
Warning: There is a fair amount of violence and the serial killer is a rapist.
She is hired by an old school friend to try and catch a stalker who is sending photos and notes to his wife, Katie. Rainey reluctantly takes the job because her agency doesn't do that kind of work. When she meets Kate for the first time she is struck by her attraction to her. Rainey is straight, Katie is straight and married.
I've only read one other book by Bradshaw (Before It Stains) and I enjoyed both the story and the writing. I'm quite conflicted by this so I'm going to read the second in this series and see how it goes. 3.5 rounded up.
Warning: There is a fair amount of violence and the serial killer is a rapist.
January 29, 2015
I don't usually review books that I don't finish. However sometimes I do feel it's necessary to say why one book wasn't good enough to keep me interested.
I read a bit more than half of Rainey Days. And even during that first half I was struggling not to skip chapters. Here's why:
- the story felt like something I've read a thousand times before, with the usual elements that come with a lesbian thriller: the most relevant is the broody detective traumatised by a near death experience/an encounter with a criminal, who has nightmares that SUDDENLY disappear the first time she sleeps next to her soon-to-be lover (cliché narration depicting Rainey's reaction that morning after "wow, I wonder why I didn't have nightmares yesterday. Probably because *insert naive stupidity*")
- I can't believe Rainey isn't gay. I'm not into generalisation, but some signs cannot be wrong. Sorry but I can't really picture Rainey loving being in bed with a man's "hairy legs" intertwined with her own. This just didn't fit. Someone like her just cannot realise she's gay this late in life.
- the story is so unrealistic, nothing happens as I feel it would in real life. It's all very dramatic, overdramatic. Characters cry for stupid things, characters laugh in unbelievable places. A tough FBI agent breaks down in front of the person she's supposed to protect right there in that person's bedroom practically on the day they meet. The story is too rough, too blunt, not nearly subtle enough to be described as well written. The dialogues are corny and do not feel real. I felt like watching a soap opera.
Things happen WAY too fast between Rainey and Katie... I can believe that an attraction can be too strong to be controlled and can take people by surprise in a really short time. But this was not well executed. When I thought Katie was charming and gorgeous in the beginning, I ended up finding her ridiculous. She's overly touchy, not even days after meeting the agent, sees Rainey naked and kisses her between her breasts just like that, and then a few hours (days?) later they're already making out on the bed. Already saying cheesy things like "I don't know what it is between us but I don't want to lose you". I didn't believe in this romance.
I just cringed a lot....
That was such a disappointment because I loved Bradshaw's book Molly which I rated 5 stars. But I was equally disappointed with Waking Up Gray...and for the same reasons too. It seems Molly was unfortunately an exception, maybe Bradshaw had more inspiration when writing it...
I read a bit more than half of Rainey Days. And even during that first half I was struggling not to skip chapters. Here's why:
- the story felt like something I've read a thousand times before, with the usual elements that come with a lesbian thriller: the most relevant is the broody detective traumatised by a near death experience/an encounter with a criminal, who has nightmares that SUDDENLY disappear the first time she sleeps next to her soon-to-be lover (cliché narration depicting Rainey's reaction that morning after "wow, I wonder why I didn't have nightmares yesterday. Probably because *insert naive stupidity*")
- I can't believe Rainey isn't gay. I'm not into generalisation, but some signs cannot be wrong. Sorry but I can't really picture Rainey loving being in bed with a man's "hairy legs" intertwined with her own. This just didn't fit. Someone like her just cannot realise she's gay this late in life.
- the story is so unrealistic, nothing happens as I feel it would in real life. It's all very dramatic, overdramatic. Characters cry for stupid things, characters laugh in unbelievable places. A tough FBI agent breaks down in front of the person she's supposed to protect right there in that person's bedroom practically on the day they meet. The story is too rough, too blunt, not nearly subtle enough to be described as well written. The dialogues are corny and do not feel real. I felt like watching a soap opera.
Things happen WAY too fast between Rainey and Katie... I can believe that an attraction can be too strong to be controlled and can take people by surprise in a really short time. But this was not well executed. When I thought Katie was charming and gorgeous in the beginning, I ended up finding her ridiculous. She's overly touchy, not even days after meeting the agent, sees Rainey naked and kisses her between her breasts just like that, and then a few hours (days?) later they're already making out on the bed. Already saying cheesy things like "I don't know what it is between us but I don't want to lose you". I didn't believe in this romance.
I just cringed a lot....
That was such a disappointment because I loved Bradshaw's book Molly which I rated 5 stars. But I was equally disappointed with Waking Up Gray...and for the same reasons too. It seems Molly was unfortunately an exception, maybe Bradshaw had more inspiration when writing it...
February 7, 2022
The start to an amazing series! I highly recommend. At times it would be a little dull and hard to keep reading but the plot twists and moments of reveal are all worth it! In every book of this series!
March 10, 2017
Want my review? Here, YUCK!
April 18, 2014
Even though this book gets many positive reviews, for me this was not a keeper.
Even though I quite understand why others like it so much, I must judge it involving my personal taste, and what I'm looking for in a book to be satisfied.
So it's not the quality of the book that falls short, it's just me.
My problems with this book are:
With the introduction of Rainey's character I was very sure that she was gay. She was "one of the guy's", "tough as nails", former agent. Her reaction to Katie and how she approached her beauty were obvious. In my mind Rainey would never fit with a guy. Then with I learned that she was straight, I was more then a little confused.
Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with a straight character but it just didn't fit in with the character of Rainey.
My next problem was that there was no build up between Rainey and Katie. In the first part of the book there was no romance at all. And then when they meet everything happens to fast. The first kiss, first time making love and the words "I love you" all happen at a pace that for me didn't felt realistic. It had more potential, because I thought Rainey and Katie were a nice match.
After my first problems it was hard to read and still have my heart in it. I kept trying to find things I did like.
I must admit it was great as a thriller, but not as a romance.
For me the balance between both the suspense and romance have to be right. For me it wasn't, so that was my main problem.
As far as reading more books by R.E. Bradshaw, there will be no problem because I have read more of her work to know that she is an excellent writer. So with this book I blame it all on me and my crazy taste in romance.
Even though I quite understand why others like it so much, I must judge it involving my personal taste, and what I'm looking for in a book to be satisfied.
So it's not the quality of the book that falls short, it's just me.
My problems with this book are:
With the introduction of Rainey's character I was very sure that she was gay. She was "one of the guy's", "tough as nails", former agent. Her reaction to Katie and how she approached her beauty were obvious. In my mind Rainey would never fit with a guy. Then with I learned that she was straight, I was more then a little confused.
Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with a straight character but it just didn't fit in with the character of Rainey.
My next problem was that there was no build up between Rainey and Katie. In the first part of the book there was no romance at all. And then when they meet everything happens to fast. The first kiss, first time making love and the words "I love you" all happen at a pace that for me didn't felt realistic. It had more potential, because I thought Rainey and Katie were a nice match.
After my first problems it was hard to read and still have my heart in it. I kept trying to find things I did like.
I must admit it was great as a thriller, but not as a romance.
For me the balance between both the suspense and romance have to be right. For me it wasn't, so that was my main problem.
As far as reading more books by R.E. Bradshaw, there will be no problem because I have read more of her work to know that she is an excellent writer. So with this book I blame it all on me and my crazy taste in romance.
April 14, 2022
4 stars
A great thriller, a mediocre romance.
It was a bit too insta-love for my tastes and the mystery was fairly obvious, but the thriller had awesome pacing and buildup, so I was happy.
A great thriller, a mediocre romance.
It was a bit too insta-love for my tastes and the mystery was fairly obvious, but the thriller had awesome pacing and buildup, so I was happy.
August 19, 2018
Contains physical and emotional abuse towards woman, and can go into detail. Its can get dark and deep at points. So if your sensitive towards these issues, don't read. I find Bradshaw's books either a hit or miss, I did enjoy this one tho, even tho the story is very familiar, after racking my brain its similar to another book I've read this year, a book by Sybil Smith.
Anyway....
Pros.....
*Gripping story line, keeps you engaged
*There is chemistry between the to 2 main characters. (there is a but......)
*Its (to a point) realistic. And its written well. Not overloaded with unnecessary shit that you get in some books
*There are other likable characters in the story that works with the plot of the story. This book doesn't overload you with lots of information about them. The characters are there for a reason and its kept simple
Cons....
* Wow... well, lets see... the feelings between the 2 main leads are like a flick of a switch. One minute, there both straight... next thing you no, they are all googly eyes across the kitchen table, playing footsie and shagging the same day, afterneither of them being attracted to another woman before... but if you can get passed that, the attraction is there through out the book.
* Its predictable. I figured it all out very early on...
Anyway....
Pros.....
*Gripping story line, keeps you engaged
*There is chemistry between the to 2 main characters. (there is a but......)
*Its (to a point) realistic. And its written well. Not overloaded with unnecessary shit that you get in some books
*There are other likable characters in the story that works with the plot of the story. This book doesn't overload you with lots of information about them. The characters are there for a reason and its kept simple
Cons....
* Wow... well, lets see... the feelings between the 2 main leads are like a flick of a switch. One minute, there both straight... next thing you no, they are all googly eyes across the kitchen table, playing footsie and shagging the same day, afterneither of them being attracted to another woman before... but if you can get passed that, the attraction is there through out the book.
* Its predictable. I figured it all out very early on...
December 16, 2017
Well, how to explain this.. It's not a detective book, not a horror book or a romance book, what is it? I'm still not sure.
I'm that annoying person commenting on the movie saying facts about the progress and whatever and if it was a movie I could probably skip from the first ten minutes, say what would happen and I'd be right. Very predictable plot, but it still got me entertained enough to finish the book. Maybe it was meant to be shocking and making you read the book again and go "wow, I didn't realize that", but it only made it slightly boring and a little let down.
As a romance book it wouldn't work that well either, because of the really unrealistic situation.
I'm sorry, I'll probably stick with my sunny days and read a different series/book from this author, I would never recommend for this book to have a sequel to be honest.
I'm that annoying person commenting on the movie saying facts about the progress and whatever and if it was a movie I could probably skip from the first ten minutes, say what would happen and I'd be right. Very predictable plot, but it still got me entertained enough to finish the book. Maybe it was meant to be shocking and making you read the book again and go "wow, I didn't realize that", but it only made it slightly boring and a little let down.
As a romance book it wouldn't work that well either, because of the really unrealistic situation.
I'm sorry, I'll probably stick with my sunny days and read a different series/book from this author, I would never recommend for this book to have a sequel to be honest.
March 30, 2021
TW:
-offensive language/labels used for Asians (Vietnamese in particular)
-explicit description of rape
A suspense/thriller with uneven pacing. This story's strength was in developing Rainey's character, background and the camaraderie with people she works closely with. There was little sleuthing on Rainey's part, instead, a significant portion of the narrative was on the romance arc.
I found the plot similar to novels of this genre read in the 80s/90s which was surprising since the novel was published in 2010.
-offensive language/labels used for Asians (Vietnamese in particular)
-explicit description of rape
A suspense/thriller with uneven pacing. This story's strength was in developing Rainey's character, background and the camaraderie with people she works closely with. There was little sleuthing on Rainey's part, instead, a significant portion of the narrative was on the romance arc.
I found the plot similar to novels of this genre read in the 80s/90s which was surprising since the novel was published in 2010.
October 25, 2017
This is my first Bradshaw book, and I dislike it almost as much as I liked it. Pun intended.
I am gonna try and enjoy the ride, hopping the next books of the series are better.
I liked the way it's written. I liked the main character mostly. I liked some minor characters... a lot. I mean, everybody needs an Ernie in the background.
Still, the storyline was so obvious it hurt my teeth.... a lot !!!!
So now I warn you : BEWARE SPOILERS
and I had a real hard time to connect with the school teacher-wife of politician- -ever-busy-cook-resilient victim (twice!!)-trust found baby - and -greatest-gal-ever and so on.... Katie character
Third element in the no way side : Why those two women go from rape to lesbianism ?
I don't agree at all !!! The author could have pick something else ! and made at least one of them a bisexual grrr.
I don't disagree with coming out late in your life. I disagree with using trauma-raped victimes going from raped by a man to instant crush on a woman. Twice !
Still, despite that, their interaction is really sweet (but the all raping theme was also so maddening. )
So like or dislike ? I still don't know. But this book sure made me passionate.
I am gonna try and enjoy the ride, hopping the next books of the series are better.
I liked the way it's written. I liked the main character mostly. I liked some minor characters... a lot. I mean, everybody needs an Ernie in the background.
Still, the storyline was so obvious it hurt my teeth.... a lot !!!!
So now I warn you : BEWARE SPOILERS
and I had a real hard time to connect with the school teacher-wife of politician- -ever-busy-cook-resilient victim (twice!!)-trust found baby - and -greatest-gal-ever and so on.... Katie character
Third element in the no way side : Why those two women go from rape to lesbianism ?
I don't agree at all !!! The author could have pick something else ! and made at least one of them a bisexual grrr.
I don't disagree with coming out late in your life. I disagree with using trauma-raped victimes going from raped by a man to instant crush on a woman. Twice !
Still, despite that, their interaction is really sweet (but the all raping theme was also so maddening. )
So like or dislike ? I still don't know. But this book sure made me passionate.
July 16, 2011
First novel I've read of Bradshaw's. Her protagonist, Rainey Bell, is an FBI Special Agent on whom Bradshaw clearly did her homework. Having written mysteries/police procedurals I know it's a fine line between too much professional detail and not enough to sound authentic. Bradshaw gets it just right.
Her writing is sound and well-paced. I read this on my Nook and though the formatting was sloppy enough to be a distraction, I don't know enough about e-publishing to know if that's just the way it uploaded on my reader or if that's something Bradshaw can correct and reload. (Lessons learned - I had to do that with my first e-book - twice. And a third, cleaner version is in the works.) I can overlook formatting issues because the writing is solid, but what dropped this from 4-stars (really liked) to 3 (liked) was plot.
POSSIBLE SPOILER!!
In Rainey's psychological profile of the perp Bradshaw basically tells us who the bad person is. I kept reading, hoping it was a red herring, and though there was an attempt at one toward the end, it was too little, too late. I'm not an overly smart reader, pretty slow to tell the truth, so if I can figure out the baddy from the get-go I suspect a lot of other readers will too. And if I saw it right away, why didn't a highly trained FBI Agent?
OKAY - SPOILER'S OVER
All in all, Rainey Days is a solid read. Try it. You might not have the same issue I did. Even if you do, Bradshaw's basic story and her ability to string the reader along to the end, make it a worthwhile read. I hope she fixes the above flaw in her sequel as I'm looking forward to what Rainey does next.
Her writing is sound and well-paced. I read this on my Nook and though the formatting was sloppy enough to be a distraction, I don't know enough about e-publishing to know if that's just the way it uploaded on my reader or if that's something Bradshaw can correct and reload. (Lessons learned - I had to do that with my first e-book - twice. And a third, cleaner version is in the works.) I can overlook formatting issues because the writing is solid, but what dropped this from 4-stars (really liked) to 3 (liked) was plot.
POSSIBLE SPOILER!!
In Rainey's psychological profile of the perp Bradshaw basically tells us who the bad person is. I kept reading, hoping it was a red herring, and though there was an attempt at one toward the end, it was too little, too late. I'm not an overly smart reader, pretty slow to tell the truth, so if I can figure out the baddy from the get-go I suspect a lot of other readers will too. And if I saw it right away, why didn't a highly trained FBI Agent?
OKAY - SPOILER'S OVER
All in all, Rainey Days is a solid read. Try it. You might not have the same issue I did. Even if you do, Bradshaw's basic story and her ability to string the reader along to the end, make it a worthwhile read. I hope she fixes the above flaw in her sequel as I'm looking forward to what Rainey does next.
September 5, 2011
Mysteries and thrillers are not my kinds of books. They are the elements of nightmares for me. But I have read and enjoyed other books by R.E. Bradshaw. Decky has done it again. I read it in one day. I had previously read about 5% of the book before but had left it for a time when I knew it didn't have to replace my bedtime book, though parts would have been ok. ;)
I had to reread it from the beginning and was tied up in the story until the end.
Now I can hardly wait to read Rainey Nights!
I had to reread it from the beginning and was tied up in the story until the end.
Now I can hardly wait to read Rainey Nights!
August 1, 2016
I didn't like it very much:
1. It's nice the way the author describe all details... But just it's not my thing.
2. I knew the killer since the beginning (all right that I did the same assumption in another book and ended up being someone that I didn't thought about it, that was what I was hopping for in this one, but not happen).
3. The romance part... It's not developed quite,well maybe because is just the first.
1. It's nice the way the author describe all details... But just it's not my thing.
2. I knew the killer since the beginning (all right that I did the same assumption in another book and ended up being someone that I didn't thought about it, that was what I was hopping for in this one, but not happen).
3. The romance part... It's not developed quite,well maybe because is just the first.
May 5, 2024
Like a Xena fanfiction and Criminal Minds Crossover
The first book I could not stop yelling that they should check out the most obvious person ever in this case. They literally have it all in hand and yet they toss it aside as if impossible. It was frustrating. But to be honest I'm not there so much for the crime as I am in the paring of the two women. It is very much a product of its time so reading this book you have to remember that this is the southern states and lesbians were not as widely accepted as today. There was still a stigmata on the word gay. But he writer doesn't get so focused on the draw backs so much as that its both two women that believed themselves to have been straight and their instinct connection takes over.
This first book is more of a world building of character and relationships. Read this to get to the second one, I promise the characters gets better, the world building evolves and we learn more of Rainey career. But it's the crime is what really draws me in on the sequel.
The first book I could not stop yelling that they should check out the most obvious person ever in this case. They literally have it all in hand and yet they toss it aside as if impossible. It was frustrating. But to be honest I'm not there so much for the crime as I am in the paring of the two women. It is very much a product of its time so reading this book you have to remember that this is the southern states and lesbians were not as widely accepted as today. There was still a stigmata on the word gay. But he writer doesn't get so focused on the draw backs so much as that its both two women that believed themselves to have been straight and their instinct connection takes over.
This first book is more of a world building of character and relationships. Read this to get to the second one, I promise the characters gets better, the world building evolves and we learn more of Rainey career. But it's the crime is what really draws me in on the sequel.
March 20, 2021
I enjoyed the this thriller, I was sure who it was and then I had some doubts. Of course that is what makes this book thrilling.
Rainey Bell is a very strong and interesting character. Loved that the character was well thought out and we were given enough background history to really get a feel for Rainey.
Rainey is on sabbatical from the FBI following a horrendous serial killer case. She returns home after her father’s death and takes over his Bail Bondsman business with her dad’s best friend as her partner.
An old friend from High School hires her to try and find the man stalking his wive.
Then The Serial Killer is back on the scene. Is her back for Rainey or her friend’s wife??
Rainey Bell is a very strong and interesting character. Loved that the character was well thought out and we were given enough background history to really get a feel for Rainey.
Rainey is on sabbatical from the FBI following a horrendous serial killer case. She returns home after her father’s death and takes over his Bail Bondsman business with her dad’s best friend as her partner.
An old friend from High School hires her to try and find the man stalking his wive.
Then The Serial Killer is back on the scene. Is her back for Rainey or her friend’s wife??
September 7, 2017
Loved this book, cant wait to get started on the rest of the series. Thought the characters of the 2 female leads where awesome especially Rainey. Im a sucker for those with dark, painfull histories but still manage to survive with the qualities that matter intact and can love and be loved. The whole stalker/returning killer plot was really well done. That plus the angst of a budding romance between the female, slighty flawed and damaged leads kept those pages well and truly turning.
June 28, 2022
A los 3 o 4 capítulos ya es muy claro quién es el asesino, pocos capítulos después lo confirmás, pero ni Rainey, que se dedica a eso ni todo el FBI se dan cuenta. Eso en cuanto a la parte policial.
La parte romántica está bien si consideramos que en 2 días están locamente enamoradas. La química, 10 pts.
La parte romántica está bien si consideramos que en 2 días están locamente enamoradas. La química, 10 pts.
November 6, 2025
Whoah! 4.5 stars
'Rainey Days' is not for the faint of heart.
It's terrifying and gripping.
The mains are strong beautiful women.
The mystery and plot twists kept me guessing.
Rainey is a FBI behavioural agent that analysis serial killers. it was very informative. The suspense had me hiding under the covers
TW: Rape, assault
'Rainey Days' is not for the faint of heart.
It's terrifying and gripping.
The mains are strong beautiful women.
The mystery and plot twists kept me guessing.
Rainey is a FBI behavioural agent that analysis serial killers. it was very informative. The suspense had me hiding under the covers
TW: Rape, assault
February 29, 2020
Knew it
I like this author and this isn’t her best. I knew the culprit from the initial event, I hate it when that happens. Still, I’ll try the next one too, like I said I enjoy the author.
I like this author and this isn’t her best. I knew the culprit from the initial event, I hate it when that happens. Still, I’ll try the next one too, like I said I enjoy the author.
January 4, 2018
Love this book. Did not want to put it down. Great characters.
May 3, 2019
His name was JW so of course this happened
June 23, 2023
2.5 Stars
March 9, 2017
Requires a dose of suspended reality for the catalyst to work, otherwise I really liked it. I'm assuming Criminal Minds fans would like it. Heavy topic for some readers.
September 29, 2014
Special Agent and Behavioral Analyst Rainey Bell is surprised to see JW Wilson, a high school friend that became a State Representative, walk into her bail bondsman’s office. Rainey is on medical leave after suffering a horrifying attack while on duty. During her leave, Rainey has taken up her father’s bail bondsman business along with her father’s business partner Mackie. Rainey’s father, who was also her best friend, was gunned down while apprehending a fugitive. This happened not too long before Rainey’s attack.
The surprise of seeing JW again, and his reason for being there, is just what Rainey needs in order to break out of her recovering stupor. JW has come to ask Rainey’s help in following his wife Katie. Pictures of Katie have been sent to him, along with notes. Rainey would actually be trailing Katie with the hopes of catching Katie’s stalker. Knowing what it’s like to be made into a victim, Rainey identifies with Katie and will gladly take on this job. But, why does JW not want Katie to know about Rainey following her? It makes sense that he wouldn’t want it known by anyone else; he is a politician in the eye of the media. But, why not tell his wife? Wouldn’t it ease her mind to know that she’s being guarded?
Thinking this will be a routine assignment, Rainey is not ready for where this mission will take her. It is soon discovered that Katie isn’t the only one that has caught the eye of the stalker. He knows that Rainey is now trailing Katie and JW is sent a picture of the two together. This shock is nothing compared to the next to come. A single sheet of paper with a Y on it is left on Rainey’s car; a Y that mirrors the scar on her body. The Y-Man killer is back!
Over a year ago, Rainey and her partner Danny McNally were on a stakeout when Rainey stormed out of the car. It wasn’t even three weeks after her father’s murder so Rainey was angry with everyone and a little on edge with everything. While heading back to the car, Rainey was snatched by the Y-Man and came very close to death. The killer escaped and has laid low until now.
Rainey will not allow what happened to her to happen to anyone else. She vows to protect Katie; this murderer will be stopped. However, close proximity to Katie leads to a relationship that neither woman was expecting. How can Rainey protect herself, let alone protect Katie, when her mind clouds every time Katie’s around?
Rainey Nights is the first book in the Rainey Bell series. Join these two women as they discover a love that they never knew existed and one they will fight to protect.
The surprise of seeing JW again, and his reason for being there, is just what Rainey needs in order to break out of her recovering stupor. JW has come to ask Rainey’s help in following his wife Katie. Pictures of Katie have been sent to him, along with notes. Rainey would actually be trailing Katie with the hopes of catching Katie’s stalker. Knowing what it’s like to be made into a victim, Rainey identifies with Katie and will gladly take on this job. But, why does JW not want Katie to know about Rainey following her? It makes sense that he wouldn’t want it known by anyone else; he is a politician in the eye of the media. But, why not tell his wife? Wouldn’t it ease her mind to know that she’s being guarded?
Thinking this will be a routine assignment, Rainey is not ready for where this mission will take her. It is soon discovered that Katie isn’t the only one that has caught the eye of the stalker. He knows that Rainey is now trailing Katie and JW is sent a picture of the two together. This shock is nothing compared to the next to come. A single sheet of paper with a Y on it is left on Rainey’s car; a Y that mirrors the scar on her body. The Y-Man killer is back!
Over a year ago, Rainey and her partner Danny McNally were on a stakeout when Rainey stormed out of the car. It wasn’t even three weeks after her father’s murder so Rainey was angry with everyone and a little on edge with everything. While heading back to the car, Rainey was snatched by the Y-Man and came very close to death. The killer escaped and has laid low until now.
Rainey will not allow what happened to her to happen to anyone else. She vows to protect Katie; this murderer will be stopped. However, close proximity to Katie leads to a relationship that neither woman was expecting. How can Rainey protect herself, let alone protect Katie, when her mind clouds every time Katie’s around?
Rainey Nights is the first book in the Rainey Bell series. Join these two women as they discover a love that they never knew existed and one they will fight to protect.
March 27, 2015
When I picked up the first book in this series Rainey Days I had absolutely no idea that I would be transported into the world of an exceptional storyteller.
Rainey Days introduces us to the aloof FBI agent Rainey Blue Bell. On medical leave after a life-changing encounter with a serial killer the previous year, we step into her world as she continues her fight to forget the nightmares and move on with her life. Her struggle to cope often has her looking for answers at the bottom of a tequila bottle .Currently running her deceased fathers bail bond business a request from an old friend may put her back in the firing line.
We also get our first glimpse of the charming Katie Meyers who is unknowingly placed in danger, a pawn in a game where only those with the strongest will to survive have a chance. The two women find themselves enthralled, each captivated by the other and as the story unfolds we join them in their spellbinding attraction.
With fast-paced action scenes and a sophisticated plot that grips the reader Ms Bradshaw has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The series perfectly balances a gentle love story with the ever-present danger that shrouds Rainey Bell.
Each novel has its own menace, its own evil lurking on the pages and as the series develops we learn more about the monsters Rainey Bell had to deal with whilst working with the BAU. We also see the supporting cast grow and evolve as we learn more about them.
The Rainey Bell Thrillers capture the imagination of the reader with such ferocity that resistance to read the complete series to date is futile. As each book comes to an end Ms Bradshaw leaves us with the need to reach for the next instalment.
Rainey Days introduces us to the aloof FBI agent Rainey Blue Bell. On medical leave after a life-changing encounter with a serial killer the previous year, we step into her world as she continues her fight to forget the nightmares and move on with her life. Her struggle to cope often has her looking for answers at the bottom of a tequila bottle .Currently running her deceased fathers bail bond business a request from an old friend may put her back in the firing line.
We also get our first glimpse of the charming Katie Meyers who is unknowingly placed in danger, a pawn in a game where only those with the strongest will to survive have a chance. The two women find themselves enthralled, each captivated by the other and as the story unfolds we join them in their spellbinding attraction.
With fast-paced action scenes and a sophisticated plot that grips the reader Ms Bradshaw has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The series perfectly balances a gentle love story with the ever-present danger that shrouds Rainey Bell.
Each novel has its own menace, its own evil lurking on the pages and as the series develops we learn more about the monsters Rainey Bell had to deal with whilst working with the BAU. We also see the supporting cast grow and evolve as we learn more about them.
The Rainey Bell Thrillers capture the imagination of the reader with such ferocity that resistance to read the complete series to date is futile. As each book comes to an end Ms Bradshaw leaves us with the need to reach for the next instalment.
July 5, 2015
The physically- and psychologically-damaged former FBI agent is not really all that new, but this book was a serviceable enough entry in that category. Rainey Bell, having survived an attack by a serial killer and on leave from the FBI, is hired by an old friend to track down who is stalking his wife and leaving creepy notes and photos about her. The old friend and his wife are on the outs and Rainey and the wife have one of those love at first site situations pop up that inevitably (in these sorts of books) leads to the bedroom. That element was a bit contrived to me, despite the stereotypes about lesbians, ever afters, and U-Hauls. The hunt for the stalker is fairly interesting, although it seemed rather easy to peg who did it without much effort - for an FBI agent who was formerly with the BAU, it seemed a bit off that she didn't clue in and know who the perp was. Some passages of filler information could have used some snipping, bits of the dialogue seemed a bit contrived, and I only picked up one really egregious proofing error ("shuttering" instead of "shuddering", after a sexual encounter). If you have an hour and a half or two hours, you could do worse than reading this. I'm intrigued enough to go ahead and grab the second one to read, which I suppose is about as good an endorsement as there could be.
July 3, 2012
Rainey Bell is hiding from her past, the serial killer that got away, drowning her memories in alcohol.
A favour for a childhood friend brings the killer back into her life and she has to confront her past to save the ones she loves.
What I loved about this book was the characters and the way the way their relationships developed. Bradshaw bases her story on two straight women who fall in love, which defies conventional lesbian wisdom about being born gay but highlights the magic of love at first sight, whatever the gender.
The plot is rather predictable but the narrative still hums along nicely sucking the reader in to the action, drama and romance.
A favour for a childhood friend brings the killer back into her life and she has to confront her past to save the ones she loves.
What I loved about this book was the characters and the way the way their relationships developed. Bradshaw bases her story on two straight women who fall in love, which defies conventional lesbian wisdom about being born gay but highlights the magic of love at first sight, whatever the gender.
The plot is rather predictable but the narrative still hums along nicely sucking the reader in to the action, drama and romance.
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