The Color of Rain

by John W. Feist

The Color of Rain is a timeless story of devotion and a triumph of love based on authentic love letters written in the 1800s.

Irene Webb, a college-educated schoolteacher, learns unwelcome news in August of 1896—her friend Allie Wilson has unexpectedly died. “I realize this is no time for letters,” writes Irene in her condolence letter to Allie’s husband, Frank, suddenly a widower with two young sons. And yet, her letter arrives at the perfect time, sparking a renewed friendship.

They begin exchanging letters regularly. Love blossoms. But, Irene’s responsibilities as caregiver to her ageing parents, and Frank’s as banker and father, tie them to their separate towns in northeastern Kansas. Will they ever realize their love story face to face?

Discover Irene and Frank’s love and profound longing in their own words in this historical romance which is a testament to faith, devotion, and traditional American values.

“Feist’s rich writing style stitches historical details, providing a seamless flow from letters-writing to narrative sections that capture everyday life’s realities amid unsettling times. A true-love historical romance that will have readers riveted to the page. Highly recommended!” —Chanticleer Reviews, five stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

John W. Feist is the author of a series of political thrillers, Night Rain, Tokyo (2018), Blind Trust (2019), and Doubt and Debt (2021), plus a literary novel, The Color of Rain (2021), all from Winter Wheat Press. He is a semiretired corporate lawyer living in Falls Church, Virginia.

He grew up as an only child in Horton and Lawrence, Kansas, two of the towns featured in The Color of Rain. He studied philosophy for his AB at the University of Kansas and earned his JD at Stanford Law School.

John’s law career planted the seeds for Night Rain, Tokyo, Blind Trust, and Doubt and Debt, with their lawyer-protagonist, observations of Japanese culture, and high-stakes international business deals. For twenty years, he counseled Kaiser Industries Corporation’s steel fabricating, pipe-making, coal mining, and shipping units. Since 1994 he has been general counsel to a consortium of electric and gas utilities in the US and Canada which sponsor energy efficiency projects in residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Several of Kaiser's international trade projects took John to Japan and Canada. From those experiences, and his few years as a lobbyist in Washington on behalf of Western steelmakers, John drew ideas and impressions for his suspense fiction.

The Color of Rain is set in Kansas, in 1896-97. The origins of that novel are the actual courtship letters exchanged between John’s grandparents: Frank, a Horton banker, and Irene, a Nortonville, Kansas, schoolteacher. For The Color of Rain, John drew on the complete collection of those letters, together with his own recollection of living with Grandmother Irene in the Horton house that is central to the story.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book finding it boring. I kept waiting for it to get more interesting justifying the mostly positive reviews but rather I continued in my longing for it to end.

[Alfredo R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic romantic novel

John Faist is the author of this romantic novel called “The Color of Rain”.

This epistolary novel has got a melancholic tone from the title to the last word. Nonetheless, this is a heart-warming story that made me smile and actually feel Love.

When I read the summary, I was not so enthusiastic about the book but I decide it to give it a try. I was scared I would not be able to relate to the characters, since sometimes it is difficult to get the minds of the people from other periods.

Thanks to Faist’s writing style, not only did I enter the characters’ mind but also, I felt I was living in the 1890s.

I really hope other readers can travel back in time as I did with this reader.

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Amazing true story told through the letters they wrote to each other. Definitely worth the time it took to put it together.

[Agustina Sureda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Color of Rain: A Kansas Courtship in Letters is a wonderful historical romance written by a former lawyer that has a passion for arts, John W. Feist. The story commences with Frank Wilson a local banker, that now is an eligible bachelor and Irene, a very lovable school teacher. They start a long-distance courtship because they live two train connections away. They write letters to each other, twice a week because they can barely see each other.
I am very pleased with this book! A historical novel is always a yes for me, but in this case, I was a little worried that the romance would be too much, but it connects with the story very well. The amount of historical details Feist writes made me feel I was being a part in the story; the amazing letters the lovers write to each other are so beautifully written, they look like poems. The characters are very compelling and are willing to make their relationship in 1890’s happen! This is a great story, very easy to follow and filled with love and day to day life of a long-distance relationship.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So slow!!!!

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to connect to this book. It seemed sluggish to me.

[Rosi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise and historical data but too slow; does not hold my interest.

[MaryCatherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can really appreciate that this novel consisted of actual love letters but it just took a long time to get to the end result.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The letters are real, the story holding them together is fictionalised. The letter writers are the author’s grandparents. Frank’s first wife, and Irene’s friend, Allie, died unexpectedly leaving Frank with two young sons to bring up. When Irene sends a sympathy note they start corresponding and this soon deepens into something stronger. Frank moves quickly from grieving widower to attentive wooer, at least in writing, but finds it difficult to make time to visit with Irene even when she needs him. All of this happens within a year of Allie’s death but I guess things moved quickly back then in the late 19th century. I got annoyed with Frank who was pretty wishy washy about things, and with Irene for being too ‘nice’ and not sticking up for herself enough. But they married and remained married 41 years until Frank’s death. The story takes place in Northern Kansas where I live, between Horton and Nortonville, with forays to St. Josephs and Lawrence. The letters were beautifully written but got to be a bit too much the same.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that John W. Feist is one of my favorite authors. I chose all of his other titles to reread and I fell in love all over. That hasn't changed, but this book was not one of my favorite ones even though I love the idea of this story.
Frank and Irene are both fabulous characters with captivating personalities and the idea of a long-distance relationship can't be beat! However, there just weren’t enough stories between them. Their romance seemed repetitive and contrived. Also, this book did not seem to have the depth and dialogue that I expect from a John’s novels. This is the first book by him that I haven't devoured in one sitting. All in all, this piece of work didn't fill all my expectations but I must admit that he is a talented author with very much potential and a clever mind. I hope the next book brings back the master storyteller. I would give this book three and a half stars but as I don't have that option, I give it 4!

[Aparna Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distant relationships these days are not distant anymore because of the level world had reached. But there was a time when romance was sweeter because the exchange of hearts was mainly through letters. John W. Feist's 'The Color of Rain: A Kansas Courtship in Letters' speak of the couple who had love through letters. Set in the 1890s, Frank Wilson and Irene had met somewhere in life and fell in love. The past was all vein for Frank and he decided to have a single way of life until he met Irene. But the duo is having a long-distance relationship filled with many impediments.

So, the letters play a major role and lead their love life. The book is all romanced with these love letters. I think apart from their love, their understanding of each other was very deep which was evident in the messages they swapped.

[Susel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Color of Rain: A Kansas Courtship in Letters, written by American author John F. Feist, was a beautiful read and a wonderful purchase.
This book tells the love story between Irene, a school teacher, and a handsome banker called Frank. There were so many well-executed, entertaining moments between them that had me smiling and chuckling. I loved their dialogues, excellent banter, and flirting. They seemed so opposite at times but their attraction was undeniable. There were also some seriously romantic moments in this that made me melt.

This story has wonderful characters, rich details, and a strong storyline filled with twists and turns. I was captivated from beginning to end and I feel like this story made me fall in love with historical romance all over again. With entertaining scenes, and a great writing style, this story is a must-read!

[Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not the fault of the author that I give a lower star rating on this book then I perhaps should have. After sending for it from my library I realize that I have read this once already. I had forgotten. Toward the end of my second reading which was more of a skip read, I realize that the book had the same impact upon me that it did the first time: it drove me crazy. That's not the fault of the author, it has more to do with the emotions of two letter writers, two people desperately in love but navigating all of the thoughts and emotions of a second marriage. while the language in the letters mirrors the early 1900s, the emotions belong to our own century. I love that this story ended well. Had either of these two people been less patient or less persistent, their great love would never have come about or survived.

[Taylor K · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Color of Rain: A Kansas Courtship’ by John W. Feist is a beautiful story told through letters written between two lovers in the 1890’s. In between these letters, Feist fills in the details with his narrative storytelling. A long-distance love develops between main character Frank, a widowed banker and Irene, a schoolteacher and friend of Frank’s deceased wife. Facing some trials and tribulations, the story and their love develops slowly but deeply. This book is situated really well in its’ historical context. The writing is well-done, and Feist does a nice job of transitioning between the letter writing and narrative writing. It’s a great historical romance for anyone who enjoys this type of book.

[Nela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Rain by author John W. Feist delves with a truly old-fashioned love story. It is about a distance courtship by letters, in the 1890s, between Frank, a widower banker and Irene, a school teacher.

To tell this romance, the author perfectly weaves letters-writing and narrative sections, and does the excellent job of establishing an exquisite atmosphere for this historical novel. The conversational writing style and the clear tone of narratives made me feel as if I were sitting alongside the teller hearing him recounting the love tale.

To sum up, I earnestly invite readers to go back to love roots and get their own pleasure from this book.

[Carol M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Rain is a unique piece of writing created by John W. Feist. He has witifully created an interesting blend of letter-style writing and narrative sections that capture a must-read love story set in the late XIX Century. The plot revolves around a widower local banker and a local teacher who exchange some courtship letters as they experience an intense long-distance love. Yet, there are some obstacles that stand in their way. I couldn’t stop reading as their love story is riveting and absorbing. What I like the most is that their letters are accompanied by some vivid narrations which expand on their story. 5 stars to this old-fashioned loving story.

[Dani Savante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel; it is without any doubt one of the best romantic stories I have ever read. The writing style and the creation of the characters are excellent.
I found the story very interesting and moving and I liked the fact that the author incorporated the letters the lovers send to each other into the narrative. A divorced banker falls in love with a teacher who lives next to a train stop. However, distance is not an impediment for their love and they decide to build a relationship and it becomes very passionate.
I enjoy romantic novels a lot and I frequently read them but it has been long since I found such a
good one, like this one.

[Santiago Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not the type of romance reader of contemporary novels, but novels such as this one, set in the past and with the touch of an epistolary novel is my thing. I certainly enjoyed this read and the long-distance relationship between Mr. Wilson and Mrs Webb, a widower and a school teacher. I must confess that while I was reading, I was eager to find the following letter between them. I believe that that was what I liked the most. 

The letters and dialogues are quite real life like. The author managed to create such a good story that captivated me from the start. I would love to read more books by him. I would recommend reading The Colour of Rain.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isn't it just so great when we find one of those novels that completely drags us in, makes us fall in love with the characters? This is the case of "The Color of Rain" written by John W. Feist. In it, author Feist tells us the story of Frank Wilson and Irene, who began a long-distance courtship, and who send letters to each other weekly. Letter after letter this love grows without borders.
This love story caught me from the beginning, and I enjoyed each of the chapters, which are beautifully written. The plot is gripping and the characters are well described and drawn. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance stories.

[Susan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Rain is a true-love historical story and tells the story of a man and a woman who doesn’t live far away from each other but they start a courtship through letters they exchange twice a week. These letters are wonderfully written, so much so that they resemble poems.
Author John Feist exposes us to a genius story presented in letters and instances of prose in eleven chapters with all the condiments necessary to make any reader fall in love with the two main characters.
I’m not usually into these types of old romance kind of stories, but this one caught my attention right away, its cover was inviting and the epigraph helped me decide. Loved it!

[Ann Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version which was well done, but didn’t allow for skipping through the address reading with EVERY letter. That got a bit annoying. The story was a sweet romance of a widower and a woman who had been in his home several years before as a boarding teacher. I could relate to both to an extent, she because I’m a woman and sometimes impatient wanting what I want right now, and he because I know the pain of losing your beloved spouse. I wanted to shake him and tell him he clearly needed more time to grieve. He should not have pursued her so soon after his wife’s death.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather charming look at what life was like for two middle-class midwestern people in the waning years of 19th-century Kansas, USA. The format is back-and-forth letters from a widower and a single lady who was a friend of this man's deceased wife. The author, whose ancestors wrote those letters, fills in parts of the story with some conjecture about what might have been their thoughts and actions between letters. The pace of the book mirrors the pace of life at the time, much slower and less frantic than our lives are in the 21st century. A sweet story.

[Wendy Beckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Love 100+ Years Ago

John W. Feist has taken a treasury of old family letters and has constructed the context in which they were written. Based on the letters, he imagined the conversations, concerns and celebrations that were the subject of the letters. The main subject is widower Frank Wilson, his two sons, and the love he feels for a friend of his late wife's.

The circumstances lag a little in the middle but greatly speed up at the end.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful historical romance. A long distance courtship long before cellphones, email, and dating apps were even an option. The past was really brought to life, and I enjoyed following along with the story of the banker and the school teacher. I got to know Frank and Irene so well, that I could swear they were real, and if I was able to step through a portal into the past I could meet both of them. Perfect for historical fiction and historical romance lovers alike.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio
There was drama but not a compelling plot line. The drama felt manufactured and actually created stress for me in the push-pull of this developing relationship…not what I want in an escapist read.
Somewhere along the way I thought I discovered it was a real story (aka nonfiction) which compelled me to listen to the end, when I discovered via the epilogue that it was, in fact, wholly fiction.
It was a disappointing read I wish I had quit instead of finished.

[Susan Garatino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dedication

I did not realize that this was a true story, until the very end. A great love story between Frank and Irene, who came to love each other and support each other despite great losses and obstacles. Irene was dedicated to her love for Frank, who suffered from depression before it had a name.

[TheQueensBooksII · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a sweet story about a man finding another love after his wife's death. Based on a true story, the letters they exchange shed an interesting light on how courtship was conducted around the turn of the century. Not a must-read, but a good vacation or beach read.

[Tosha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what REAL romance looks like. A lot of miss understanding in letters. This book took place in Kansas in the 1800's and would be a good representation of recency romance silliness only true. ALL the letters were real. This book is clean and a bit slow but enjoyable.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on audiobook and loved the 1890s-era language in this epistolary novel of a Kansas courtship.

[Nancy Newman Bricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far the best book
I've read in ages.