Rain

by A.L. Woods

Allegra
I’m afraid of nothing and everything.
When that car accident changed my life twelve years ago—I thought it was over.
Dom saved me.
I used to think that I could save him, too.
He was the only one who could see me.
But then Nate came along and saw me, too.
One is my past.
Only one will be my future.
I want them both—only one of them can keep me.
Eventually, I’ll have to choose.
Even if it burns me alive.

Dom
A car accident nearly killed her.
So the monster became what she needed: a hero.
But little girls grow up to whisper I love you’s and forever’s.
I should have never touched my best friend’s little sister.
When my actions threatened her safety, I did the only thing I could think of: I married her behind her older brother’s back.
A fire and a five-year prison sentence changed everything.
She threw away our vows, so I plotted my revenge.
There was only one thing I didn’t factor in upon my release.
Him.

Nate
I’ve spent the last eleven years on the run from my past.
I bed unsuspecting women and rob them in their sleep.
My mistake was underestimating Allegra.
She beats me at my own game.
When circumstances find me at her mercy, I’m determined to erase the tattoo of her pretty hazel eyes and her body under mine from my memory.
But Allegra’s fire isn’t easily forgettable.
And I’m not the only one who feels that way.
We both want her.
Only one of us can keep her.
May the best man win.


Content and trigger warning: Rain has some elements of BDSM, metamour, kinky sex, and graphic violent scenes. It also contains scenes that depict domestic abuse, sexual assault, abuse of substances, religious references, discussions and idealizations of suicide, aquaphobia, and mental health issues.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Abuse, Contemporary, Mental Health, Contemporary Romance

823 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2021

About the author

A.L. Woods is an international bestselling author of dark and contemporary rollercoaster romances, caffeine aficionado, and collector of Sailor Moon paraphernalia.

She lives outside of Toronto, Ontario with her 9lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia.

She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner, and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.

Website: https://amandawrites.ca/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-w...
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaLWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalwrites/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/22739...

Reviews

[♡Gabi♡ [life & work is chaotic hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✰ rounded up

what an emotional rollercoaster this was. holy shit is all I have to say!!! the way I DEVOURED this book is actually wild. this love triangle had me in its grip and wouldn’t let go until I got to the very end. this book was heavy, dark, emotional, beautiful, depressing, ANGSTY AF, frustrating, very questionable at times, pissed me off with some of the dialogue out of the MMCs—dom and nate—and just had me at the edge of my metaphorical seat wondering who our FMC—allegra— was going to end up with: when one was her past and all she has ever known, their dynamic made up of co-dependency, toxicity, all-consuming passion and love, pleasure and pain, and the other, a glimpse into her potential future with happiness, pure reciprocated love, and freedom from all her demons, fears, and worries.

I’m actually shocked that the person I was rooting for ended up being the one she chose ajdkwks and I was so happy with her decision bc our FMC allegra deserved it so badly. that beautiful and unconditional love, that didn’t hurt, or leave her wondering.🥺

time to jump into the second book and I have no idea wtf is about to go down between dom, allegra, and nate?!?❤️‍🩹

tropes:
-brother’s best friend
-age gap (10 years)
-love triangle that will have you anxious AF
-very possessive, toxic, and morally gray MMC
-MFM scene between our two MMCs and FMC
-angst galore
-spicy af
-confused, indecisive, and heartbroken FMC

this book is dark and intense with the content so check TW!!

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. L. Woods, you have my attention!!!

Rain is raw, real, and unlike anything I've read before! It's not often that someone's writing style stands out to me as unique, but that's exactly the case with this author. Her writing alone deserves 5 stars!

This story is heavy, dark, and saturated in melancholy. It's set in Boston in a town where people are born, get stuck, and die with unfilled dreams. The characters lives are steeped in trauma and tragedy. Everything feels realistic, gritty, and intense.

A. L. Woods takes you on a legit journey with Allegra, Dominic, and Nate. This book is long, but I would have gladly read hundreds more pages of their story. I felt every bit of pain, love, suffering, and hope the author wanted me to feel. She pushed me into these characters' hearts and souls leaving me no choice but to love them...even when they didn't deserve it or maybe especially then.

Their lives aren't easy. They all have shit to overcome, and none of them are perfect people. Not even close. Their individual fucked up childhoods resulted in various mental health/emotional issues, unhealthy coping mechanisms, tendencies towards violence, run-ins with the law, and codependencies. Relationships of any kind aren't easy for them. Some of them have a harder time than others even looking after themselves.

The love triangle between these three fucking hurt. There isn't a clear choice for Allegra to make, at least not to me. I personally believe she could have found happiness with either man.

We're probably supposed to believe there was only one guy that would give her everything she needed in the end, but I believe there was another version of the story that could have taken place. That being said, I'm happy with the outcome, and I think my feeling the way I do is a testament to the author's incredible writing. In a well done love triangle, there shouldn't be an obvious choice.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that I appreciated the way everything was handled. Everyone was given the respect they deserved, and that was important to me. I couldn't have asked for a better ending.

It's been months since I read Rain, and I still think about it. It was beautifully told and brilliantly written. I won't hesitate to pick up anything else from this author, and you shouldn't either. Her talent was evident on every page of this book, and I can only imagine what she has in store for us in the future.

If you're a fan of complicated, emotional love stories, this one's for you!

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book played games with meeee! My pressure is high, I'm angry, exhausted, and I feel crazy. This was a messy love triangle but damn it it was sooo badly good!!! I was desperate to find out who the heroine was going to end up with and at the end of it? My heart walked away with some bruises. Was it worth it? Hell yea.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! This book show us how the toxic relationship can be worthless! At the end what’s matters is the happiness you get from your self.
It’s worth reading.

[SimplyƝì₭ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books move you in ways you didn't realize until they are done. This was beyond an epic read. This was an improved coming of age story, trapped inside a cruel love triangle that gripped my heart. The characters were so real, you might think you knew them. The town so common it could be anywhere in the USA. A place in Massachusetts, but like other places. People were born there then fell victim to the trap we call life and stayed stuck on stupid for eternity.

I had not read A.L. Woods before. But my God this woman wrote each sentence with meaning and emotion. You fall into this cadence of scenery and beautiful dialogue. You need patience to read this story. You have to abandon your distractions and get lost in this world. You need to allow her tell the story the way she wants you to know it. It's tragic, dark and twisted. But so bittersweet in the end.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The longest standalone that I've read..
It's heavy and not my cup of tea..
I kept skimming from the start and thought I have found something in the middle..but at the end, I didn't!
All the characters acted bad except Ethan..each character has their baggage, it's hard to read!

[The Smutbrarians · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels 5
Steam 5
Storyline 5
Overall Rating 5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie

I was really torn on how to rate this story. I am honestly still conflicted but the writing alone deserves more than five stars. This book was definitely not an easy read and not just because it’s one of the longest I’ve read in a while. There was just so much tucked between the pages of this story. I was completely overwhelmed and at times maybe a bit thrown off and confused. I loved the promise of a dark romance with an intense love triangle and believe me we do get that and a lot more. While it was not necessarily as dark as I hoped, there was still a heavy and intense sadness that lingered throughout most of the book.

“I’m not a hero. I’m not even the villain - I’m the lesson. The final one she had to learn.”

The author gives quite a few trigger warnings for this book, and I think those were definitely needed. This book is dark, gritty and so raw. These characters have layers of emotional trauma and a lot of mental health issues. The author didn’t sugarcoat anything. It is as real as it gets and some parts of this story are painful.

“How much love have I expended on a man who would never love me back the way I wanted because he didn’t know how.”

Allegra grew up with her brother raising her after some really shitty things happened in their past. Dom is her brother’s best friend. He's ten years older than her and she knows he could easily break what little is left of her. I’d like to say Dom's the good guy but the fact is he’s not. Not at first or shit, maybe ever, but it’s not his fault. I thought some fucked up shit happened to Allegra in her past but after learning about Dom, it all just spiraled. When I thought things could not get any crazier or more of a fucked up roller coaster ride, the author introduces Nate. One hell of an intense love triangle here. There was just so much going on that sometimes it was too much. All three have such darkness and trauma from their past almost suffocating them. But somehow between all the loss and chaos, there is also this beautiful love. I don’t really want to go any further into detail because it’s a story you need to just dive into. I hope you’re a little bit prepared for how it flows. I loved it. I hated it. I am really not sure. It was intense, emotional, confusing and sad and maybe a tad too long. The writing was absolutely brilliant. Although it didn’t end the way I hoped, it’s a story that will stick with me for a while and the author's note at the end is a must read for this one.

[mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watching a 2.5 hour movie of this book would have sufficed.

[Auj · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, I am halfway done...at page 411 LOL

8/6/23: I feel that Chapter 34 should end Book 1, leaving the story on a cliffhanger. That's 505 pages, lol

I wonder if I manifested this book into my life because I might have been thinking about how it would be nice to read a good love triangle novel as I hadn't read one in what seems like years. Then I signed up for this ARC from BookSirens and somehow wasn't deterred by the length (when normally, 823 pages, especially by an author I had never read before me, would scare me off).

One of my favorite parts about this novel was how the heroine wasn't your typical gorgeous girl. One of the heroes, Nate, even thought she was ugly or nothing to look at when he first met her, and then he realized how special her features were. She had no curves, had small breasts and ass, but was tall and lanky. In the beginning, she seemed almost boring (personality-wise), and I was wondering how I was going to read an 823-page novel with this FMC. And how 2 guys were going to be so interested in her to make a love triangle!

I hated (!!) Nate at the beginning of the book and wondered how the author would redeem him. Both heroes were a bit messed up and had dark pasts. But so did our heroine.

The writing was great too, eloquent and poetic in some places. However, there were a few grammatical errors, but of course, some errors will slip through when the book is 823 pages long.

One thing I also really liked about the book was that I didn't know who the heroine was going to end up with and that had me turning the pages. I had to know!! I almost stayed up until 3 am last night just to find out who she ended up with. Dom seemed the obvious choice, but they seemed so toxic together, and if it hadn't worked out five years ago, why would it work out now? Dom sabotaged his chance with Allegra by wanting to show her how bad he was by fucking other women, so she'd stay away from him. I want to read a love triangle romance novel where the heroine ends with the original guy! Don't go with the tried and true of it being the new guy she ends up with. Manifesting this, lol.

Anyway, I liked Dom better, though I get why the author had to choose Nate. Even though I liked Dom in the book better, in real life, Nate would have probably been my man. I wish Allegra had ended up with Dom. Poor dude :/

The sex scenes were HOT, and the story had the perfect amount of sex scenes to plot. There was even one MFM scene, though I don't understand how smushing two large cocks into one vagina is possible .

This was a really good book and the author should be proud of herself because even though it was long, it didn't feel like 823 pages. I think had it been shorter, we would have lost a lot.

Thank you, BookSirens, for another author to keep my eye on! I want to read the next book, but I don't like hearing that the characters have more conflict to overcome ://

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Dark, gritty, raw, and in your face emotional. Rain does not hold back. It is a torrential downpour of trauma, grief, and mental health issues mixed in with some of the hottest bedroom times that all center around an amazing young woman.

Rain is a story that contains a blend of past and present storylines that all weave together to give the reader a clear roadmap to where each character came from, how they ended up where they are at, and where they are headed in the future. Rain is a big book, which can seem daunting, and yet it's needed to braid all three tales together perfectly.

Allegra is certainly the center of the book. Dom and Nate orbit around her and yet Allegra suffers from feeling alone and neglected much of her life. While I went back and forth between both liking and disliking both guys at different points in the story, there was one person I stood hard and fast on never liking; her brother, Terry. Sorry, not sorry.

If you looked at Dom and Nate as two sides of the same coin, where Allegra had to flip it to choose, they both had different qualities that made that choice nearly impossible. Dom is dark, possessive, and believes himself to be a non-redeemable monster. His one concession has pretty much always been Allegra, however, he just doesn't know how to express or even say "I love you," the one thing Allegra wants more than anything. Take away the love aspect, he's been her protector, pretty much her guardian, and been all of her firsts.

Nate is a different side of that same coin. He actually makes Allegra smile, pushes her boundaries, and wants better for her. This is a new development in Nate's life as for the past decade he's only thought of himself and what's in his pants. He too doesn't believe in love, but it's certainly not on a dark level like Dom. Nate is quirky and his internal musings always brought a chuckle out of me. While he just rolled into town and hasn't known Allegra long, there is something that says he wants more time with her, but is it worth risking those pesky things called feelings?

There is a long path to the decisions Allegra has to make and there were times I wanted to jump in and help because clearly this girl needed more guidance than the people living around her. Seriously though, the trigger warnings are no joke. Rain delves into the very deep end of mental illness, domestic abuse, and other topics that could be triggers for some readers. If you just love reading, jump into the storm and enjoy the rain.

[Nisha's Books and Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of proofreading for @amandalwrites and I have been dying to leave my review of this book.

If you’ve read Amanda’s prior work you know she did more than write a story. She gave you an entire world. This book you get the same thing. It’s a big book but I couldn’t help but DEVOUR it. Late nights. Early mornings. I couldn’t get enough.

We are introduced to Allegra who has been through some things. She is the embodiment of all our fears which makes Amanda’s characters so real. Allegra is insecure and dealing with childhood traumas that have impacted her adult life but all while having this subtle undertone of confidence that she isn’t ready to unleash yet but as a reader you can see it’s there. She just needs to be set free.

Dom and Nate….the two men who are willing to ruin each other if it means keeping Allegra. As I read this book I had several moments where I was like “Ok….I kinda like Dom…..no wait….I like Nate…..oh geez….wtf!” You will 100% be on the edge of your seat conflicted with who you should love more.

Now for the GOOD GOOD stuff! The damn HEAT in this book is another level. I truly was not expecting what I read but it was so masterfully well done that I was fanning myself. 🔥no no…🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!

This book is hefty but it holds its own… Amanda’s time and research for certain dialects and scenes…you can tell she wanted to get it right.

Bottom line, this was one of my top reads so far of 2021!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+🌪+💥

Preorder this book now! Don’t wait! You’ll be happy when it hits your kindle on June 30. Clear your calendar because you won’t be able to put this down!

[Angie S H aka Feelin A Little Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allegra Sharp has had a not so great childhood. Her father left once her mother’s mental illness took a hold of her life. Her mother, couldn’t handle it and took matters into her own hands. This left Allegra damaged both emotionally and physically.

Her saviour was not her brother, Terry, but his best friend, Dom.

Dom knew he was not an ideal man and tried his hardest to push Allegra away as she got older. 10 years older than Allegra should have been enough to steer her onto a different path but she wanted to love the man who had saved her all those years ago. Most of all, she wanted his love. He couldn’t give it. He didn’t know how.

One night a drifter makes his way into town. Let’s tell it like it is, he’s a thief. Nate lays it down for the weakest of women and then takes his payment without them knowing. However, he tries his luck with Allegra and karma comes rolling in to collect.

Nate, Dom and Allegra all learn from one another about love, loss, generational trauma, toxic relationships, strength, control, power and how detrimental it can be when confusing love with dependency.
There are many TW’s in Rain so please proceed with caution.

I wanted to cry many times, I wanted to scream many times and I even became angry a few times. This book will definitely have you in your feelings. The sex, well, it was grade A. Right up my road. Especially that one scene... you’ll know what I’m talking about once you’ve read it.

[Tina Podratz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly for the ABSOLUTE LIFE. OF.MYSELF. I can't understand why this steaming pile of absolute GARBAGE has such a high rating?!?! Can someone please, ANYONE help me understand why people like this crap??? I am around 30 percent in to this idiotic mess and I can't take it anymore. I'm done. I'm DNF ING this waste of paper. The poor trees that were sacrificed to produce this abomination...
It makes me want to absolutely 💯 😫 😩 cry.Im not trying to shame dark Romance here,really im not.I just don't understand why or how people can actually like this poorly written excuse for a book???? To make myself even more clear here, what on earth did we need for the first 9 almost 10 chapters of the hot mess of a book to be the 3 main characters of it to explain over and over again that they are "Messed up awful people ". Why ?? I don't get it...why did that point have to be repeated SO MANY TIMES?? We )the readers of this joke of a "book " aren't stupid. I cannot fully express just how much I absolutely hated these characters. Again, I totally get that this was supposed to be a dark Romance...BUT people I beg of you ...there's much better books under this genre out there..go forth and find them. Don't bother with this book. I certainly wish that I never would have. And, its totally disappointing, because when I started reading it, I was really hoping to enjoy/love it. That sadly didn't happen 😕 😞.

[JA George · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not often that I read a forward or authors note. In fact I can count on one hand the amount of times I have. But this book, you need to. If I hadn’t read the authors note I do not think I’d feel the way I do right now. I don’t know if I’d have the same connection to the characters. This book takes you on a really emotional journey of deep mental health issues and what inter-generational trauma truly look likes. In reflection I think I struggled, at times, with each character because I kept slipping into therapist brain. It felt like I was at work. So for that reason I was slow to digest the book, and at times either resentful towards the book or irritated I couldn’t just scream omg girl go to a therapist. I would advise to pay attention to the TWs (as you always should) particularly if you have significant mental health issues within the family system. This book will push your buttons. I was convinced I couldn’t be impacted by a dark romance… and then I read this book. As I process that I think that is a testament to the authors writing. She was able to make me squirm because the trauma was so real in the book.

But let’s get to the real question. The smut? Dark. Gritty. And oh so good. Particularly the ending. Holy sh*t that was hot and I. Was. Here. For. It. If you know my rating system this was 100% 3/5 Carolina reapers.

[Jenny Lovez Bookz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was so complicated and messy, yet you couldn't help but get consumed by it. It took me a little long to get through and there was so much going on with the different characters and timeline. All these characters were so broken and dealt with such crazy trauma. I gotta say I enjoyed Nate's POV the most. He was initially introduced as sort of a villain but quickly won me over. His backstory was so sad and you couldn't help but root for him. The only thing I would change in the ending was the fact that Allegra didn't necessarily choose, the decision was basically made for her. I agree with who she ended up with, but I would've liked to have seen her fight for him.

[Ruchika Mahajan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allegra just couldn't decide between Dominic and Nate.
She couldn't leave her hometown ,didn't go to college ,kept on moaning and cribbing .she was very irritating stillboth Dom and Nate were mad for her.
Even the male protagonists if we can call them that were pathetic.
Allegra was intimate with both of them ,cheating them ...
The story drags after a while.
There was not a single character I could like even Terry ,so called elder brother was unlikable.
I haven't written so many bad things about a book but thus story was beyond me.
It had so many triggers .

[JMC]

DNF

[Booksaddict2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is dark, angsty, intense, romantic, steamy, emotional and with a lot of drama. Each character has a dark past that will tug the hearts of its readers. Their struggles are beautifully narrated by the author. The story gripping and the readers will find it difficult to the book down put down. The readers will go through an emotional roller coaster reading this story. This is a highly recommended book for readers who like this genre.

Personal Take:
This book had everything that a reader like me wants jn a story. I couldn't decide which character I liked the most in this story, during a few chapters I liked one character and with the next chapters I completely changed my mind. Even though this book was really long, it was difficult for me to put the book. My heart clenched reading what all the characters have been through and was so happy that everyone got their happy ending. This was my first book by this author and I am looking forward to read more of her books.


This is a review against the ARC provided.

[κris ☄ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you dive into this book, I highly suggest and recommend you read the author's note first to be aware of what this book could give or has to offer for everyone. NO JOKE. READ IT.

Honestly, I had a hard time reading this book because I thought this would be a light and fast-paced read. But, I was wrong. So freaking wrong the whole time reading it. it's long. Rain is a dark romance, angsty, love triangle, and characters with a tragic past. I loved it and I was very impressed how this book wrecked my sanity. The whole premise was mind-blowing, gritty, dark, hardcore, intense, dramatic, unexpected, and promising!

All the books that I've read are nothing compared to this one I wasn't prepared for. I loved all the figures of speech (LOL), I mean I loved this book as a whole, although there are times I think that some people will get noticed the book was over-written or something but I don't mind it because they are one of the best parts that give sparks in this book for me. This book was beautifully written. That's it!

The characters were hardcore. Their struggles from their past were very traumatic, tragic, and painful. I'm torn which character I loved the most because all three of them were so broken but beautiful. Dom was a very complex person, vain, possessive, and self-proclaimed monster, but he was selfless in the end. Nate's the opposite of Dom. He's cocky, dirty, but he's the person who pushes Allegra to be a better person. I really enjoyed the banters among these characters.

What I loved the most was the storyline. It was beautifully written and perfectly laid out by the author herself. The characters' past and present lives were written so that it gives you a more depth understanding of the characters' outward presence and struggles.

Steamy? Smut? Dirty? Hot? Hardcore? Romance? Angsty? This book has it all! *chef's kiss* Utterly and immensely enjoyed it! And that last smut scene, I wasn't prepared for it! I was incredibly surprised. I didn't think it would happen! LOL

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with how this book has been brought to me. This is my first book by the author Amanda and I loved it. Highly recommend for readers looking for a dark and stormy read because Rain is the perfect book for that.

[Ive · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐ because I made it to the end, but omg where to start. first I thought it could be a a lucky surprise, didn't read a triangle romance in a long time and it started promising....and went down pretty quickly.

here's the thing.
the author switches between past and future for all three main characters, that decreases the possibility to get to know them, especially them interacting with each other. there are no really intimate moments.
I don't get why the fmc loves Dom that much. he's just awful to her. and you don't get to know how he was in the past, when she fell in love with him. not a single situation apart from that he saved her life.
Nate is the other asshole but he falls for the fmc. idk why because they barely share time with each other. after six weeks knowing her, he loves her. okay, cool.

the fmc is so so weak. I wanted to pull my hair out. crying all the time and taking her loser boyfriend back. so desperate for love with no backbone. she got the chance to make something out of her life and she did nothing.

and then Don's 180...why? you never know. he even is cool with his dad suddenly and 50 pages before he wanted him to die. ok, cool.

and then the author is obsessed with describing situations with blooming phrases/ words...she does that over and over again in a very obvious and childish way... it's not "goosebumps spread over my body" it's "goosebumps spread like a minefield over my body"..it feels like she wants to fill the pages. she does it all the time, with every shitty word. that killed me.

it's a lot of repetition and inner monologues with the same over and over again. I skimmed from 70% on and was more or less satisfied the "better" guy got the girl in the end and... then I figured she wrote a second part. guess the chaos starts all over again and I am not willing to participate in that mess.

and please all those high ratings? I don't know if I should hope they are from 14 year old girls who don't know better or grown woman who like a messy, imbalanced, awful relationship story. idk what's worse and I really don't know what was to enjoy about this story.

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest, it took me some time to get my thoughts together to write this review because this book was raw, dark, gritty, and emotionally intense.

Rain by A.L. Woods is the story of a complicated love triangle. Allegra, Dom, and Nate are complicated individuals whose stories are interwoven. Allegra had a difficult upbringing and constantly lives in fear. She’s tortured and has long-lasting scars which affect her mental health. Dom is Allegra’s older brother’s best friend, and he’s not your typical hero. He’s kind of a monster, dark, possessive, and most definitely an antihero in this book. Then we have Nate who was difficult to figure out. He’s a thief who cons women by getting them in bed, robbing them, and then leaving them, but he cares for Allegra and only wants the best for her.

This is the story of three traumatized individuals who are broken in many ways. There are two men vying for Allegra’s heart, but only one will be able to capture it. This book had me in all the feels and the details were necessary to paint the whole picture. This well-written story was dark, sad, emotional, with angst, mental health issues, and love. This is a complex, addictive storyline and I could not get enough of it. This is the first book I’ve read by A.L. Woods and it certainly won’t be my last.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Ashlyn Drewek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly don't know where to even start with this review. I’m still kind of reeling from everything. 😆

Having read Amanda's Reflections trilogy, I knew the world we were delving into since most of the characters have cameos in those books. There's so much going on in RAIN, it's hard to sum it all up properly, so I’ll let other/better reviewers take care of that part.

As the story progresses, Allegra has to choose between the dark alphahole Dominic, who she's loved since childhood, or Nate, the newcomer with a truck full of baggage. Each one of them is damaged in some way from unresolved childhood trauma and how they deal with that (or don't deal with it) greatly impacts the story and the choices they make. Not everyone is going to be happy with them and how events unfold, but there's no disputing the fact this book will make you feel all sorts of emotions.

Amanda most definitely has a way with words and painting a vivid scene for her readers. She didn't hold back when addressing sensitive topics like mental health issues and family violence. This book is jam packed with emotions, good, bad, and ugly, like so many of the Greek myths referenced throughout the book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Someday, I would realize I loved them both. And one day, I would have to choose whose heart to destroy."

I'm not going to be able to review this book properly because I can't formulate the words to say how much I fckn enjoyed this book.

To me, this story felt real. Authentic. It's like I was living and breathing this journey along with the characters. And it isn't an easy road that they travel so if you're looking to read this, then strap yourself in.

"I’m not interested in sharing Allegra, and somehow, I knew I’d have to. For now."

This is a triangle, so if it's not what you like to read, then bypass this beauty. But you're missing out. If you like gritty, some darker themes, raw and flawed characters then this is for you.

"Get ready to show me your fire, Hell-raiser. The devil’s coming home to play. And he won’t be so nice this time."

There's no light and fluffy here, you've got morally grey MC's, but that's how we like them right? And the crumbs, the layers, the guessing... All of it. I was here for ALL OF IT.

“I’m bad for you, baby. I’ve always been bad for you.”

This is one of my top reads of the year so far. Read the triggers if you decide to give it a whirl ✌️

[Lyly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trashy characters

I don’t think I’ve ever tapped out of a book so early. I only made it 13% of the way through before I just couldn’t read another word.

The idea of the plot was a good one, but I’m jnot a fan of characters who are are just made up of the worst traits a character can have with no depth. Allegra has a woe is me attitude and actively makes horrible choices, she reads like a moody 14 year old. Nate is a villian who thinks he’s gods gift to women but isn’t endearing, charming, capable, or admirable even as a villian. Dom is clearly just a plot point so he lacks depth but he’s the most likeable character. Allegra is almost likeable from his POV yet from Nate’s POV she’s pathetic. So this is a no go for me.

(For context, bad characters are a hard no for me. Just my preference)

[Anet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was way too long.
It started good and interesting, but then it just went on and on and on.
I had to push through just so I can finish this book, to see how it ends.

It did give me some things to think about, but other than that- it gave me nothing.
I didn’t connect to the story not to the characters.


I don’t even know why I kept reading.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/30/2022)! 🎁

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Amanda’s Reflection Trilogy was incredible... this is just next level🤯. The emotions you feel in this book and the way they are described are insane, you can just see how much has gone into it. All 3 of the main characters are mess and broken in different ways, all trying to heal creating this love triangle. I’m not normally one for love triangles as I find you usually like one love interest more than the other however, I was constantly torn throughout of who I wanted Allegra to pick. I really enjoyed the flickering between past and present with the characters and getting to see how their pasts created who they have become now. I couldn’t have predicted the ending even if I had tried, but I do think the right choice was made no matter how hard it was for them all. I honestly cannot wait to read more by Amanda as I love her writing style and the characters she creates.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a love triangle romance, Allegra had a troubled past but on accident put her on the path of Dom her brothers best friend who became the hero she needed and craved, until he was sent away. Nate had been using women he to run from his passed he didnt care for them or the consequences until Allegra. Now she has two men who want and need her but she can only choose one that will be there for her, through it all the emotions run high, desire and passion flare and dampen - may the best man win. A well written story it is quite lengthy so be prepared for a few nights- or an all nighter. the story draws you in but the character make you stay.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Ziglar · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 WOW, JUST WOW STARS!! This book touched my soul with all the feels....I could not stop reading. I have never read this author before and I am glad I took a chance....all I can say is....Read this book.

[Roxanna C Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

༒𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘༒

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡, 𝙧𝙖𝙬, 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙜𝙡𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡.

This is a dark book and it is hard-hitting. However, not necessarily in the 'in your face' shocking moments that leave you reeling way, like many dark books do. Don't get me wrong, there are dark and shocking moments and events, but this book isn't just about jolting you. It's not a fast-paced, punch you in the gut, ride. It goes deeper than that. It's a long book. It's a journey, a commitment to some extent, but it's worth it.

There's some serious 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ in this book. Some light BDSM, MFM and a seriously confident FMC who knows what she wants (at least, sexually) and isn't afraid to make it known.

This is the fourth book I've read by Amanda, having read the three books in the Reflections series. You don't have to read those books to read Rain, but I'm glad I did. Not only had I already had a bit of an introduction to some of the characters and their world, I also had some preconceived opinions (mainly hating Dom) and part of the challenge of this book was to make me like him. 😂

I could read a book without knowing that Amanda had written it, but be able to tell you that it's hers. That's how recognisable her style is. It's very detailed, at times, more than I personally need as a reader, but it didn't district me from the story.

What Amanda ALWAYS makes me do, is feel. That's what I demand from a book. I don't want to read about something bad and decide how I feel about it. I want to be made to feel how the characters are feeling and she nailed that. She put me in their heads.

I loved watching Allegra gain her power, question her views of herself, push herself to heal. The thing I think Amanda is most curious about, is whether she made me like Dom.... Honestly... no 🤷🏻‍♀️🙊 but that's because I'm still #teamraquelandsean and he's still a shit. However, I understand him and I experienced Allegra's feelings for him. He did right in the end, so I'll give him credit for that, even if his methods were somewhat unconventional.

Some readers might be mad about Allegra doing nothing for the five years that Dom was in prison. It does make you dislike her a little to begin with. Let's face it, she could have just left.

However, that wouldn't have worked. She needed Dom to come back before she could move on. If she ran away while he was inside, she would always be running. She would always wonder if he would have still consumed her. He would always be in the background of any relationship - and she would have never found a healthy one.

She had to find her power in Dom's presence. She had to carve her own path in front of him. That was the only way she would know for sure that she could do it. Also, Dom needed to watch her do this, too. He needed to stop seeing her as weak, as a victim, as a possession he owned and needed to keep safe.

Nate was an outlier in terms of the community of Cheltenham, but also in Dom and Allegra's relationship. He would never touch on their history, but then their history wasn't all that good.

Each of them had their demons. They had to come together to heal. Someone was always going to be hurt. They all had a wall up and they all needed to break it down, to allow themselves to feel love and the pain that comes with it, in order to heal and truly move on.

Amanda and I were chatting about my Behind the Wall series and how it was going to be a three book series. She suggested I could just do two books and make the second really long, because Rain is long. My response was that there feels like there's a natural place to stop with my books. A place where the journeys, the pace and direction naturally change. However, I completely agree with her decision to make Rain one long book. There never felt like a point where you should stop, break and start anew. The story really is best told in one sitting.

I know some people will struggle with the time jumps (some people do get thrown by them) but they were the best way to share each character's past, which was crucial to the story.

You couldn't really start in the past and then move on, because there were three different stories to tell. Their pasts had to come out in stages, and yes, there's always a risk of it pulling you out of the present, but they're also essential. I personally don't mind a time jump when they bring you something important - and they did.

If you read the author's note in Amanda's book then you'll know that her books aren't just stories. There's piece of her heart, her life, her experiences in all of them, and you feel it.

Amazing job, lovely!