Eyes of a Stranger

Autumn Rain #0.5

by Rachel Ann Nunes

On the first day of her new life, Tawnia McKnight finds herself in Oregon, her fifth state in ten years. Another new job, new friends, a heartache left far behind. Maybe in Portland she can at last find what she is looking for. Maybe she can even forget Bret Winn. But when a tragic bridge collapse rocks the city, Tawnia is thrust back in to the life of the man she thought she'd never see again. Then Bret introduces her to the eccentric Autumn Rain- a stranger with inexplicably familiar eyes- and Tawnia finds herself drawn into a web of confusion and deceit. Autumn's suffering over her mission father seems to be real, but there is much that cannot be explained. Will Tawnia find what she is looking for, or will everything she is beginning to care about slip once again from her grasp?

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Lds, Christian Fiction, Clean Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2008

About the author

Rachel Ann Nunes (pronounced noon-esh) learned to read when she was four and by seventh grade knew she was going to be an author. Now as a stay-at-home mother of seven, it isn't easy to find time to write, but she will trade washing dishes or weeding the garden for an hour at the computer any day! Her only rule about writing is to never eat chocolate at the computer. "Since I love chocolate and writing," she jokes, "my family might never see me again."

Rachel has over sixty published books, including the popular Ariana series and the award-winning picture book Daughter of a King. She enjoys hiking, swimming, spending time with her family, reading, and visiting far off places.

For more information or to join her e-mailing list, visit http://www.RachelAnnNunes.com.

Reviews

[Kayla Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I’ve read all the other books, it was so fun to go back and read the prequel I missed!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is by an LDS author, it has no religion in it at all, which kind of disappointed me. It's a fast read, and I really enjoyed it, although some parts of it were very predictable. I've liked all of Nunes' books I've read so far.

It's about a young woman who was adopted and has felt kind of lost and alone all of her life. When she moves to Portland, she meets another young woman who looks very much like her. It's also about a bridge blowing up and has a little romance thrown in, too.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first part, the middle part not quite as much and then it picked up again at the end.

[Hollie Robb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable. Very predictable.


On the first day of her new life, Tawnia McKnight finds herself in Oregon, her fifth state in ten years. Another new job, new friends, a heartache left far behind. Maybe in Portland she can at last find what she is looking for. Maybe she can even forget Bret Winn. But when a tragic bridge collapse rocks the city, Tawnia is thrust back into the life of the man she thought she'd never see again. Then Bret introduces her to the eccentric Autumn Rain — a stranger with inexplicably familiar eyes — and Tawnia finds herself drawn into a web of confusion and deceit. Autumn's suffering over her missing father seems to be real, but there is much that cannot be explained. Will Tawnia find what she is looking for, or will everything she is beginning to care about slip once again from her grasp?

What happens the person with the familiar eyes is her twin sister. The doctor who delivered them split them up after their birth mother died during child birth.

Now as for the tragedy in Portland a bridge exploded and peopled died and it was a conspiracy, with an inside job. The people involved with the conspiracy? A firefighter, a government employee, and a what she calls herself "a true American" (how sick is that). The target the Governor. But he lives (good thing).

Bret and Tawnia gets back together. And Autumn and Jake get together.

Now if you have read this you wont need to read the book and be board like I was. It made the book long.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for book group and I'm glad I did. It was a fun little mystery.

The book starts out with a tragic bridge collapse. Many people are killed or injured. Several are missing. Bret, an expert on bridges, is called in to figure out what happened. He agrees to come because it gives him an excuse to see Tawnia again. He and Tawnia had broken up a few months before but he still kinda likes her. While there, he sees Autumn. Autumn had been on the bridge when it collapsed. She got out, her father didn't. He's still among the missing. Autumn hangs out by the river watching and waiting for them to find her father. Bret sees her, mistakes her for Tawnia and is amazed by the striking resemblance.

The book follows these three through the story of trying to piece together why the bridge collapsed and why Tawnia and Autumn look so much alike.

I had most of the bad guys in this book pegged but Nunes still managed to throw a twist in there I didn't see coming.

[Darla · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Genre:fiction/mystery) I feel bad that I am only giving this 2 stars, but for me it was a lukewarm read. The story deals with twin sisters and the supposed connection that they have despite not knowing about the others existence until they meet when grown-up. It has several story lines going on at the same time. A bridge mysteriously collapses, killing many people and so one of the main characters is actively trying to pinpoint the cause of the bridge failure. Then you have the twins trying to uncover the mystery of how they were separated at birth and that whole story. There is also the romantic storylines for the twins going on as well. But I didn't find any of it really compelling.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning, this book had me hooked. The plot was awesome and had me guessing the whole time. It was a mystery as to what was going to happen next. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars was because it is hard for me to believe that the FBI would miss such a clues in real life. I also cannot believe that the FBI would not be able to get the story from the main guy, whom I can't say without giving the story away. Also, I don't think that Bret would have gotten off, seeing how he knew everything and didn't tell anyone, but it is fiction. My favorite part though is the romance and the family togetherness.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this woman moves to a new town on the same day there's this massive bridge collapse which claims several lives. She soon meets this stranger and discovers a secret that's been kept from her since she was born and her and this stranger then set out to reveal all the details of this "secret" Meanwhile an old friend of the main character tries to solve the mystery behind the bridge collapse.
Not really a suspenseful read and kinda slow, but the person behind the bridge collapse is quite shocking!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most exciting book, but better than the one about Bret's sister Liana. I definately prefer Nunes LDS novels BY FAR! I probably would give it a 2 1/2 star rating if that were possible. I feel bad rating it so low because I adore Rachel Ann Nunes. She has written some of my most favorite LDS novels. But I guess I just don't enjoy her style when she's writing for the masses instead of the LDS audiences. It's pretty slow moving and somewhat predictable, and I didn't fall in love with a single one of the characters -- except maybe for Winter. But he's dead before the book even begins.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read another book about Summer Rain and was hoping that this first book would give me a little more insight into how she got her special talent. There was a decent love story and mystery involved but nothing amazing. I will probably try one more in this series and then that will be enough for me. No sex, some kissing. Plenty of violence with the bridge collapsing and people dying, also shooting and potential kidnapping, and they describe a body that has been decomposing in the water for quite a while. No language.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me with its layers of stories. From adoptees learning the truth about their origins to a pretty solid whodunnit bridge collapse as well as some good relationship issues - both familial and romantic, I enjoyed it.

[Julie Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping story from the beginning.
Tawnia and Autumn grow up in different states, totally separate lives, and there's no reason they should meet, but they do when Tawnia takes a job in Portland, Oregon. Her first day in town, being "directionally challenged," she finds herself off-course by a few streets when a bridge collapses. Autumn, who lives in Portland, isn't so lucky. She's in her car with her father on the bridge when it goes down.
Then we have Bret, an engineer in Nevada, where Tawnia lived before accepting the job in Portland. He's called to Portland to help with the bridge investigation. He and Tawnia have a past, and there's no reason for her to think she's going to see him again any time soon, but everyone seems to have a connection to the collapse in one way or another, and the unexpected always seems to happen.
This story is a beautiful mess of romance and suspense. There seems to be too much going on for things to come together, but come together they do, in some unexpected ways.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not horrible. Pretty slow and I think the ending was pretty horribly written. This is a prequel book, though, so I’m thinking it’s main purpose is to introduce and give background for the characters in “Imprints”.

This book also seemed to be a plug for organic food. Because it was mentioned every other page. That got a bit old.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting story, though predictable in many parts. The ending was rushed and not as satisfying as I was hoping for. But it was an engaging, diverting read to capture my attention during stay-at-home orders. This is the first book I've read by this author (I think), and I'll try some of her other books as well.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in Love! I love the storyline and the characters. Throwing in a mystery makes it that much more compelling! I had a hard time putting this one down. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading one book a little out of order, I have been reading the rest of the Autumn Rain series. Perfect for my current mood.

[Ranee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the mystery was obvious and Orion as a hot date was creepy but I liked Autumn and Tawnia and Bret’s characters and most of the story

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough book. I had the connection at the beginning. But I didn't get the mystery solved in time. I had bits and pieces figured out.

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of the Imprints/Autumn Rain series written under the name of Teyla Branton, it fills in some gaps that need filling and Is definitely a must read in the series

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had zero expectations when I picked up this book and I had no idea what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised. What this book does well is characters. The plot was predictable, but I enjoyed the journey anyway. A pleasant, feel-good read.

[Rachel Robins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might get some flack for this, but I find a lot of mainstream LDS authors are kind of fluffy, repetitive and I usually don't read all their books. That said, Rachel Nunes writes good books that peak my interest and take me into her world for a day. This book was an easy read but enjoyable, it's the kind of book to read when you are sick and have to stay down because it takes your mind off things but will not change your life or cause you in be in deep thought. BUT-good book, good read, good author. Nothing wrong with easy reads...enough said!

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different book then what Rachel Ann Nunes normally writes. It was more of a mystery then a love story. She did very well and brought some great twists to the story that I didn't see coming, she also brought up twists that I did see coming. For her first "mystery" she did a pretty good job, there were of course still some unaswered questions in my mind by that's the way it goes sometimes.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this one! Its by an LDS author so it's clean, but it isn't a LDS based story. I thought this book did a pretty good job of capturing my attention and I finished it pretty quick. It was a fun mystery story with quite a surprise at the end! I did think that the whole "mystery" between the two sisters wasn't so much a mystery and at the big "ah-ha!" moment in the book I was kinda like, "well, of course we already knew that!" But all in all, I really enjoyed it!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Nunes' novels. This was one of the ones that I liked best. It had mystery, love and a surprise (for me) ending, all rolled into one. However, I wondered why she added some of the characters in the book. It kind of left me hanging on what happened to them. I liked it wasn't all "Molly Mormon" and that the church was not mentioned in this novel. I like Mormon fiction, but sometimes it is good to have a novel with no mention of religion.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Ann Nunes has a great knack for creating an interesting story. I was hooked by chapter 6 and blew through this book quickly. This book made me realize how much I love mysteries--the puzzle factor. I LOVE puzzles. There were two mysteries in this and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. Great character development. Great story development, great reveal action at the end. I look forward to reading the rest of her many, many books!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good adventure story possibilities. A woman, Tawna, makes another move, five in ten years, to Portland, OR. A bridge crossing a river there in destroyed, killing thirty+ people, when a boat runs into the bridge. Her old boyfriend, Bret, an engineer, is called in to examine the bridge to look for why it collapsed. He meets a girl there on the riverbank who looks like Tawna.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book. Kept you guessing till the end if tawnie and brett were going to end up together and what and who were the real cause for the collapse of the portland bridge. That was going on at the same time that Tawnie meets one of the survivors of the collapse. A girl who looks just like her and who was also adopted. Great balance for suspense and romance to keep the reader's interest peaked.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tawnia moves to Portland, Oregon leaving behind all the problems of her relationship with Bret. Because of a tragedy Bret soon follows her to Oregon and runs in another young women that looks exactly like Tawnia. Are these two women twins that has been seperated at birth? or is there another possiblity.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it would be totally wierd to find someone that is my identical. I read another book last year (Identical Twins??) where twins who didn't know they had a twin found each other, though not in this way. I could actually guess the bad guys early on and was glad to find out I was right. I'm not usually one who figures it out in this kind of book. Also a very quick read. I read it in two days.

[Diane Bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those books where the first few pages were interesting, and then it all went downhill from there. By the end of the book, I was wondering why I was still reading it, and only finished out out of the smallest amount of curiousity possible. The characters were OK, but the romance was ho-hum, and the story line was mediocre. Nunes has done better.