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Rain Falls #1
Rain Falls
ASIN B00HX82ZV4 moved to the most recent edition
India Bell is looking for a regular writing gig to supplement her royalties. She ends up with two assignments - one, to interview up-and-coming lesbian romance writer Tegan Lowry, and the other? To win a bet to write her own lesbian romance, thus securing for herself a job as an editor.
There's a bit of an issue with the second of those. India writes science fiction, not romance. There's none of that confusing touchy-feely stuff in her science fiction novels. Hell, she doesn't even read romance, and as for the lesbian aspect, she's not sure how to define her sexuality, but if she's a lesbian, then she's so far in the closet, she doesn't even know where the door is. Maybe Tegan could give her some pointers on writing all those sex scenes she's probably going to have to stick in there?
Tegan is thrilled to be interviewed, even by the awkward and socially-inept India. Not that Tegan views herself as anyone's fantasy - she's on crutches, and who would be interested in a cripple? Her deeply romantic fantasies are all lived out on the page. But when India suddenly asks if Tegan will join her in her writing cabin to get some serious work done, she jumps at the chance to leave her horrible basement apartment behind to concentrate on her writing in comfort and peace, with the fascinating, if rather emotionally-unavailable, India Bell.
In the gorgeous cabin on the outskirts of the small tourist town of Rain Falls, Colorado, the two women find themselves struggling with temptation and absurdity. It's a situation they never thought they'd find outside of a romance novel.
India Bell is looking for a regular writing gig to supplement her royalties. She ends up with two assignments - one, to interview up-and-coming lesbian romance writer Tegan Lowry, and the other? To win a bet to write her own lesbian romance, thus securing for herself a job as an editor.
There's a bit of an issue with the second of those. India writes science fiction, not romance. There's none of that confusing touchy-feely stuff in her science fiction novels. Hell, she doesn't even read romance, and as for the lesbian aspect, she's not sure how to define her sexuality, but if she's a lesbian, then she's so far in the closet, she doesn't even know where the door is. Maybe Tegan could give her some pointers on writing all those sex scenes she's probably going to have to stick in there?
Tegan is thrilled to be interviewed, even by the awkward and socially-inept India. Not that Tegan views herself as anyone's fantasy - she's on crutches, and who would be interested in a cripple? Her deeply romantic fantasies are all lived out on the page. But when India suddenly asks if Tegan will join her in her writing cabin to get some serious work done, she jumps at the chance to leave her horrible basement apartment behind to concentrate on her writing in comfort and peace, with the fascinating, if rather emotionally-unavailable, India Bell.
In the gorgeous cabin on the outskirts of the small tourist town of Rain Falls, Colorado, the two women find themselves struggling with temptation and absurdity. It's a situation they never thought they'd find outside of a romance novel.
275 pages, ebook
First published January 16, 2014
34 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Kelli Jae Baeli
123 books146 followers"To me, failing to learn to use the tools one’s craft shows laziness and disrespect for the reader. There are, however, no issues of that sort where Baeli’s writing is concerned. It’s rare to these days to find a writer whose style is technically so nearly perfect, but who’s also a damned good storyteller. I doubt if she is even capable of writing poorly." ~W. Spice
Even after 36 novels, I always try to write the sort of book I would want to read. My favorite thing to do is take a common trope and turn it on its ear. Where you expect a zig, I give you a zag. In my pages, you will find strong female characters, ethical dilemmas, and realistic storylines often filled with adventure and intense pacing, tempered by witty dialog, and happy endings. All are hallmarks of my work.
As a Bestselling Genre-Hopping Indie Author, I’ve enjoyed a sales position in the top 5% of lesbian writers, but I write crossover and mainstream fiction and have authored 26 nonfiction books, as well. All 36 of my FemFic novels have been bestsellers in the genres of domestic suspense, domestic thriller, women's adventure, romantic suspense, apocalyptic, speculative, lesfic, lesbian romance, and science fiction. I’m also a mixed-media artist (mostly clay and abstract painting) and former performing singer-songwriter with over 200 songs.
My wife, Melissa Walker-Baeli, is a budding author in her own right, and we have several co-writing projects coming soon. We live with two dogs, (Noodle and Whatnot) and two cats, (Poppet and Chicklet) on ten acres in the gorgeous Northwoods of Michigan.
Even after 36 novels, I always try to write the sort of book I would want to read. My favorite thing to do is take a common trope and turn it on its ear. Where you expect a zig, I give you a zag. In my pages, you will find strong female characters, ethical dilemmas, and realistic storylines often filled with adventure and intense pacing, tempered by witty dialog, and happy endings. All are hallmarks of my work.
As a Bestselling Genre-Hopping Indie Author, I’ve enjoyed a sales position in the top 5% of lesbian writers, but I write crossover and mainstream fiction and have authored 26 nonfiction books, as well. All 36 of my FemFic novels have been bestsellers in the genres of domestic suspense, domestic thriller, women's adventure, romantic suspense, apocalyptic, speculative, lesfic, lesbian romance, and science fiction. I’m also a mixed-media artist (mostly clay and abstract painting) and former performing singer-songwriter with over 200 songs.
My wife, Melissa Walker-Baeli, is a budding author in her own right, and we have several co-writing projects coming soon. We live with two dogs, (Noodle and Whatnot) and two cats, (Poppet and Chicklet) on ten acres in the gorgeous Northwoods of Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 4, 2017
3.8 stars. I think this is the first book I've read where one of the mains has some kind of disability. It was non standard and therefore interesting to read about something new.
Both main characters where well developed but I felt there was something lacking. India is presented as antisocial and she's always been like that while Tegan is all around perfect except for her disability and family history. I felt that there should've been a reason for India's antisocial tendencies especially because her sister is socially well adjusted. Meanwhile Tegan has self-esteem issues for obvious reasons but besides that she's the model human being. Then there's also the issue of India almost completely changing her character after falling in love. Sure, people change, but this seemed like a complete 180°.
And the god awful trope of the obsessed, powerful and evil heterosexual man who's not getting the message. It's overused, please stop. Or at least give him a reason for his actions because there were none in this book. He's a cartoon villain.
Despite all I've mentioned I really enjoyed their relationship. How they established a friendship first and how it escalated to something more intimate and then love. Their relationship is well thought out. The setting is also lovely, most lesfic romance books are set in the city so reading about nature and it's beauty was refreshing.
Overall a satisfying read even with all the bad aspects I've mentioned.
Both main characters where well developed but I felt there was something lacking. India is presented as antisocial and she's always been like that while Tegan is all around perfect except for her disability and family history. I felt that there should've been a reason for India's antisocial tendencies especially because her sister is socially well adjusted. Meanwhile Tegan has self-esteem issues for obvious reasons but besides that she's the model human being. Then there's also the issue of India almost completely changing her character after falling in love. Sure, people change, but this seemed like a complete 180°.
And the god awful trope of the obsessed, powerful and evil heterosexual man who's not getting the message. It's overused, please stop. Or at least give him a reason for his actions because there were none in this book. He's a cartoon villain.
Despite all I've mentioned I really enjoyed their relationship. How they established a friendship first and how it escalated to something more intimate and then love. Their relationship is well thought out. The setting is also lovely, most lesfic romance books are set in the city so reading about nature and it's beauty was refreshing.
Overall a satisfying read even with all the bad aspects I've mentioned.
November 18, 2014
Really, really enjoyed this book. Loved the start, the dialogue was sparkling and had a real zip to it. This book is titled a "Dramedy" and delivers on both the drama and comedy.
I loved India.
Really assured writing and wonderful main characters.
Great read, off to purchase more of this author's work.
I loved India.
Really assured writing and wonderful main characters.
Great read, off to purchase more of this author's work.
January 18, 2015
Overall I mostly enjoyed this book, though there were a few niggles that kind of irked me and discouraged me from giving it a higher rating.
I liked the characters, especially Tegan. They were well constructed for the most part, sympathetic and appealing. The set up was interesting, the dialog didn't feel off, the romance quite sweet. It was nice to read about people with difficulties to get over, though the book didn't linger in self pity or dwell too much on what could have been some very depressing moments in the main character's lives. I felt the balance was right in that aspect. And Tegan really was quite adorable.
As for the niggles, I wasn't keen on the whole Napoleon plotline. I understand why it was included - to add drama and tension - but I think these two women were strong enough and interesting enough to power the story by themselves without the need for added friction from an outside source. It felt like a bit of an addition tagged on later, rather than imperative to the story as a whole. I would have liked to read about India's unfolding emotions a bit more, rather than it feel a tad rushed. I was expecting more depth and anguish where it came to her and this new, weird thing called love she was experiencing. Just my opinion, though.
Also, really wasn't keen on the little rants about negative reviews (apparently negative reviews are less about the quality of a book, and more about the stupidity of the reader), and the Amazon policy about return/refunds on kindle books. It didn't seem to come from the characters. I felt like I was suddenly reading the author's blog and it pulled me right out of the story, and sat with me, leaving a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the time I spent reading it. Perhaps a novel is the wrong forum for such things, even though the author just may have a point about the refund policy.
Anyway, as I said I enjoyed the story, it just didn't blow me away or leave me tingling with good feelings the way I was hoping it would. Great main characters, though. They will certainly stick around in my memory for some time.
(This is where I wish they did half stars on this site. 3 seems too measly, but it wasn't a 4 for me, sorry)
I liked the characters, especially Tegan. They were well constructed for the most part, sympathetic and appealing. The set up was interesting, the dialog didn't feel off, the romance quite sweet. It was nice to read about people with difficulties to get over, though the book didn't linger in self pity or dwell too much on what could have been some very depressing moments in the main character's lives. I felt the balance was right in that aspect. And Tegan really was quite adorable.
As for the niggles, I wasn't keen on the whole Napoleon plotline. I understand why it was included - to add drama and tension - but I think these two women were strong enough and interesting enough to power the story by themselves without the need for added friction from an outside source. It felt like a bit of an addition tagged on later, rather than imperative to the story as a whole. I would have liked to read about India's unfolding emotions a bit more, rather than it feel a tad rushed. I was expecting more depth and anguish where it came to her and this new, weird thing called love she was experiencing. Just my opinion, though.
Also, really wasn't keen on the little rants about negative reviews (apparently negative reviews are less about the quality of a book, and more about the stupidity of the reader), and the Amazon policy about return/refunds on kindle books. It didn't seem to come from the characters. I felt like I was suddenly reading the author's blog and it pulled me right out of the story, and sat with me, leaving a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the time I spent reading it. Perhaps a novel is the wrong forum for such things, even though the author just may have a point about the refund policy.
Anyway, as I said I enjoyed the story, it just didn't blow me away or leave me tingling with good feelings the way I was hoping it would. Great main characters, though. They will certainly stick around in my memory for some time.
(This is where I wish they did half stars on this site. 3 seems too measly, but it wasn't a 4 for me, sorry)
April 8, 2014
I loved the writing style in this novel. The author uses vivid descriptions, placing me right in the scene along with the characters. She molded 'real' characters with flaws, personality, and desires that kept me worried, happy, sad, and rooting for them every step of the way.
August 22, 2015
Plunging into a new niche genre is always a little odd. You start off without knowing the rules and expectations so it's hard to say how good your first experiences really are—at least as it relates to that niche. Which means you can be prone to making hasty judgments and generalizations that don't apply or that simply mark you as an outsider. I'll try to avoid these obvious pitfalls, but probably won't, entirely.
For the most part, I enjoyed this romance as a romance. The appellation "dramedy" is a good one because there's a base of sweetness here but with a decent dose of drama that verged on over-the-top. Both India and Tegan are charming in their individual ways and I was happy to see how well they fit each other. Their strengths go well against each others' weaknesses and that made it easy to root for them and their growing relationship. They didn't have much beyond insecurities holding them back from being with each other, though, so that part of the story was straightforward and almost by-the-numbers. This acted as the base of the story and was very sweet and slow-developing (in a good way).
The drama parts didn't work as well, though. Tegan's backstory was a bit one-note, for example. Her life pretty much sucked and in an unrelenting kind of way. Yeah, she was "strong" to endure, but it also felt like she was weak not to be working more to get out of the pit her life had become. Like, for example, finding where her father ended up if only to divert those monthly payments to herself rather than her greedy, abusive mother.
Also over-the-top was the odious Napoleon. Without any redeeming value, I couldn't help feeling that he was more plot device than person. He shows up, wreaks havoc, then glides out again to prepare for his next mustache-twirling appearance. This isn't helped by him being so very stupid while he was at it.
One thing that surprised me in this novel was a couple of pot-shots taken by the two main characters at the lesbian reading audience. I mean, there were some seriously derogatory moments in there that I found more than a little surprising. Not as derogatory as towards Republicans, of course.
So yeah, I thought the drama was a bit much. The slow-burn romance kept me engaged, though, so I was happy.
A note about genre and format: I liked the first romance for lesbians I read and wanted to find another. I'm not a huge fan of short-form stories, and so looked for something more book-lengthed. I had the very devil of a time finding anything more than a novella, however. Tellingly, if you cut all the needless drama in this story, you'd be left with a reasonably tight novella. I find that strange, but interesting. Probably not interesting enough that I'll try much more in this niche, however (seriously, not a fan of novellas).
A note about Steamy: Mid level steam for me. There were two explicit sex scenes but another handful of very short, uh, interludes as well. I don't know if that's the author or another facet of this particular niche, but I found that interestingly different.
For the most part, I enjoyed this romance as a romance. The appellation "dramedy" is a good one because there's a base of sweetness here but with a decent dose of drama that verged on over-the-top. Both India and Tegan are charming in their individual ways and I was happy to see how well they fit each other. Their strengths go well against each others' weaknesses and that made it easy to root for them and their growing relationship. They didn't have much beyond insecurities holding them back from being with each other, though, so that part of the story was straightforward and almost by-the-numbers. This acted as the base of the story and was very sweet and slow-developing (in a good way).
The drama parts didn't work as well, though. Tegan's backstory was a bit one-note, for example. Her life pretty much sucked and in an unrelenting kind of way. Yeah, she was "strong" to endure, but it also felt like she was weak not to be working more to get out of the pit her life had become. Like, for example, finding where her father ended up if only to divert those monthly payments to herself rather than her greedy, abusive mother.
Also over-the-top was the odious Napoleon. Without any redeeming value, I couldn't help feeling that he was more plot device than person. He shows up, wreaks havoc, then glides out again to prepare for his next mustache-twirling appearance. This isn't helped by him being so very stupid while he was at it.
One thing that surprised me in this novel was a couple of pot-shots taken by the two main characters at the lesbian reading audience. I mean, there were some seriously derogatory moments in there that I found more than a little surprising. Not as derogatory as towards Republicans, of course.
So yeah, I thought the drama was a bit much. The slow-burn romance kept me engaged, though, so I was happy.
A note about genre and format: I liked the first romance for lesbians I read and wanted to find another. I'm not a huge fan of short-form stories, and so looked for something more book-lengthed. I had the very devil of a time finding anything more than a novella, however. Tellingly, if you cut all the needless drama in this story, you'd be left with a reasonably tight novella. I find that strange, but interesting. Probably not interesting enough that I'll try much more in this niche, however (seriously, not a fan of novellas).
A note about Steamy: Mid level steam for me. There were two explicit sex scenes but another handful of very short, uh, interludes as well. I don't know if that's the author or another facet of this particular niche, but I found that interestingly different.
January 31, 2014
I really enjoyed this novel. In fact there are a few things about it that I thought were awesome. I think "dramedy" is the perfect descriptor for Rain Falls. There is nice balance of humor to go along with the angst. I still find myself laughing at some of the scenes. Just wait till you get to the part mentioning the 'suction cups' lol. I think I spent most of the time reading this novel with a smile on my face.
India as a character was incredibly attractive to me. At first she seems standoffish; which she is, but eventually she warms to Tegan in spite of herself. I think I just loved India because there was so much more to her than what see during our first impressions. By the second half of the novel I don't think there is a lesbian on the planet who wouldn't want to be romanced by India.
The thing I am most impressed with in this novel is the treatment of Tegan. I've read a few other authors who have courageously attempted to give their characters some kind of condition that limits their ability to function in the world. Very few have dived in quite like this. Due to an accident she had as a teenager, Tegan requires crutches to walk. If she isn't careful she could be laid up in bed for days or worse, the hospital. She spends most of her time writing romances and dreaming of something she never expects to have, a girlfriend who stays the night and is there everyday.
This was awesome. I really felt Tegan's pain and admired the strength and humor in which she approached life. At first glance I thought that India would intimidate her, but that never happened. She more than held her own in all of their interactions.
There was plenty of great dialogue in this novel. As a reader I love well written dialogue and have to applaud the author for writing several great scenes. On top of that there are quite a few rich secondary characters who each had just enough personality so that you could get a sense of who they were and what their relationship with India is like. Also...I thought the naming of all the characters was great. :)
Editing was a small issue in the book. A few mistakes like missing the letter 'T' in the word 'the' would pop up. Its a minor complaint because I was never taken out of the story. I also could have done without the major threat that was presented in the second half of the book. The first half was light hearted and fun, while the second half was darker and I felt like the two halves were slightly disjointed. I kind of wish the laughs had continued.
Still this is a 5 star book for me. I really loved the sweet relationship between India and Tegan and I think without a doubt that I will read this author again.
India as a character was incredibly attractive to me. At first she seems standoffish; which she is, but eventually she warms to Tegan in spite of herself. I think I just loved India because there was so much more to her than what see during our first impressions. By the second half of the novel I don't think there is a lesbian on the planet who wouldn't want to be romanced by India.
The thing I am most impressed with in this novel is the treatment of Tegan. I've read a few other authors who have courageously attempted to give their characters some kind of condition that limits their ability to function in the world. Very few have dived in quite like this. Due to an accident she had as a teenager, Tegan requires crutches to walk. If she isn't careful she could be laid up in bed for days or worse, the hospital. She spends most of her time writing romances and dreaming of something she never expects to have, a girlfriend who stays the night and is there everyday.
This was awesome. I really felt Tegan's pain and admired the strength and humor in which she approached life. At first glance I thought that India would intimidate her, but that never happened. She more than held her own in all of their interactions.
There was plenty of great dialogue in this novel. As a reader I love well written dialogue and have to applaud the author for writing several great scenes. On top of that there are quite a few rich secondary characters who each had just enough personality so that you could get a sense of who they were and what their relationship with India is like. Also...I thought the naming of all the characters was great. :)
Editing was a small issue in the book. A few mistakes like missing the letter 'T' in the word 'the' would pop up. Its a minor complaint because I was never taken out of the story. I also could have done without the major threat that was presented in the second half of the book. The first half was light hearted and fun, while the second half was darker and I felt like the two halves were slightly disjointed. I kind of wish the laughs had continued.
Still this is a 5 star book for me. I really loved the sweet relationship between India and Tegan and I think without a doubt that I will read this author again.
February 24, 2015
3.5 rounded to 4.
Rain Falls was a nice surprise. I didn't expect much from it: the blurb didn't appeal to me much, and the cover and title just put me off. That's probably why I'm giving it more than 3 stars, really, because I like being proved wrong.
There are some really lovely moments in this book. At times, it was incredibly delightful to read. Both characters' stories are quite tragic but the tone of the book is mainly light. There were times I laughed really hard, and other times I just smiled stupidly.
That's not to say this story doesn't have flaws. It has lots of them. But the good stuff was enough to make me want to keep reading until the wee hours of the morning.
However, let's be clear: this story is not that great a romance novel. I had a great time reading it, it's quite entertaining, but it lacks a lot of things I look for in love stories (which is quite ironic seeing as the book's about this writer learning about romance and how to write about it):
- I liked the second half of the book a lot more than the first. In the beginning I really didn't like either of the characters. I found Tegan quite dull and I found India really frustrating. I've always had a hard time with late bloomers, I guess. I never understood how anyone could realise they're sexually attracted to a certain gender so late in life. I understand the concept of denial, that some people bury their desires so deep they don't even feel them anymore. But in this case, India doesn't care much about being gay, she's just this clueless, arrogant, cynical, seemingly asexual sociopath. Yes, that's a lot of derogatory adjectives, but she really does come off this way.
But I loved her in the second part of the book, where she opens up, finds herself, understands about love, and becomes this insatiable beast.
The only problem was, the transition between both parts was really abrupt. It felt like she woke up one day thinking "I have feelings for Tegan, I'll just go with it", and it bothered me. How could she be this overly typical closed off character for half of the book, and then this sweet romantic woman the second half? Kelli Jar Baeli simplified it too much. It's not all so black and white in life.
- We don't know much about Tegan, apart from some superficial stuff. Mainly, she has no money and has a horrible mother. I would have liked to know more about her beyond her obvious insecurities since her accident. What does she like? What does she do in her spare time? does she have any friends? is she happy? has she ever been in love?
I like knowing the characters of the book at a deeper level, to feel like they're part of my world as well. I didn't get that feeling with Tegan and India.
Also, I like knowing how the characters look like (beyond "she's a brunette and she's a blonde"). It might seem trivial to some people, but to me, it's essential to be able to understand where the attraction comes from. There's none of that in Rain Falls.
- India complains about lesbian romance books being predictable, and Tegan insists that she doesn't follow the typical formula. I think it's fair to say that's also the writer's opinion.
But, I just have to say... this book IS predictable and it DOES follow the lesbian romance formula. Girl meets girl. They annoy each other at first. Don't understand each other, because they're clearly on opposite sides of the romance spectrum. That's what keeps them apart: India is so deep in the closet it seems she'll never find her way out of it. But they find their way around the obstacle: they live with each other, so obviously, India's bound to open up a little. And they get together and live happily ever after...
- There wasn't much chemistry. Admittedly, at first India is not a very sexual being (or so she thinks) so it's understandable that she's not going to be attracted to a stranger just like that. But, I like it better when there's tension from the beginning. Here, their love and attraction seems forced by the circumstances.
A nice fun read, but not my favorite love story.
Rain Falls was a nice surprise. I didn't expect much from it: the blurb didn't appeal to me much, and the cover and title just put me off. That's probably why I'm giving it more than 3 stars, really, because I like being proved wrong.
There are some really lovely moments in this book. At times, it was incredibly delightful to read. Both characters' stories are quite tragic but the tone of the book is mainly light. There were times I laughed really hard, and other times I just smiled stupidly.
That's not to say this story doesn't have flaws. It has lots of them. But the good stuff was enough to make me want to keep reading until the wee hours of the morning.
However, let's be clear: this story is not that great a romance novel. I had a great time reading it, it's quite entertaining, but it lacks a lot of things I look for in love stories (which is quite ironic seeing as the book's about this writer learning about romance and how to write about it):
- I liked the second half of the book a lot more than the first. In the beginning I really didn't like either of the characters. I found Tegan quite dull and I found India really frustrating. I've always had a hard time with late bloomers, I guess. I never understood how anyone could realise they're sexually attracted to a certain gender so late in life. I understand the concept of denial, that some people bury their desires so deep they don't even feel them anymore. But in this case, India doesn't care much about being gay, she's just this clueless, arrogant, cynical, seemingly asexual sociopath. Yes, that's a lot of derogatory adjectives, but she really does come off this way.
But I loved her in the second part of the book, where she opens up, finds herself, understands about love, and becomes this insatiable beast.
The only problem was, the transition between both parts was really abrupt. It felt like she woke up one day thinking "I have feelings for Tegan, I'll just go with it", and it bothered me. How could she be this overly typical closed off character for half of the book, and then this sweet romantic woman the second half? Kelli Jar Baeli simplified it too much. It's not all so black and white in life.
- We don't know much about Tegan, apart from some superficial stuff. Mainly, she has no money and has a horrible mother. I would have liked to know more about her beyond her obvious insecurities since her accident. What does she like? What does she do in her spare time? does she have any friends? is she happy? has she ever been in love?
I like knowing the characters of the book at a deeper level, to feel like they're part of my world as well. I didn't get that feeling with Tegan and India.
Also, I like knowing how the characters look like (beyond "she's a brunette and she's a blonde"). It might seem trivial to some people, but to me, it's essential to be able to understand where the attraction comes from. There's none of that in Rain Falls.
- India complains about lesbian romance books being predictable, and Tegan insists that she doesn't follow the typical formula. I think it's fair to say that's also the writer's opinion.
But, I just have to say... this book IS predictable and it DOES follow the lesbian romance formula. Girl meets girl. They annoy each other at first. Don't understand each other, because they're clearly on opposite sides of the romance spectrum. That's what keeps them apart: India is so deep in the closet it seems she'll never find her way out of it. But they find their way around the obstacle: they live with each other, so obviously, India's bound to open up a little. And they get together and live happily ever after...
- There wasn't much chemistry. Admittedly, at first India is not a very sexual being (or so she thinks) so it's understandable that she's not going to be attracted to a stranger just like that. But, I like it better when there's tension from the beginning. Here, their love and attraction seems forced by the circumstances.
A nice fun read, but not my favorite love story.
March 22, 2020
Smooth
If I had one word to describe this novel, ‘this would be “smooth”: from the visual descriptions, the constant rainfall abound in Rain Falls to the dialogues between India and Tegan, a serene sort of smoothness saturated every page, every moment in this novel. Even through the grisly, violet moments, I still felt the calmness that hinted at hope and happiness at the end of the tunnel. Kelli Jae Baeli’s unique and unorthodox writing style was refreshing and immensely enjoyable, especially with the inclusion of Chapter 20 (!). I’m looking forward to reading more of her novels. :)
If I had one word to describe this novel, ‘this would be “smooth”: from the visual descriptions, the constant rainfall abound in Rain Falls to the dialogues between India and Tegan, a serene sort of smoothness saturated every page, every moment in this novel. Even through the grisly, violet moments, I still felt the calmness that hinted at hope and happiness at the end of the tunnel. Kelli Jae Baeli’s unique and unorthodox writing style was refreshing and immensely enjoyable, especially with the inclusion of Chapter 20 (!). I’m looking forward to reading more of her novels. :)
April 18, 2020
A stunning book which was excellent - really enjoyed the dialogue, the background stories and the pace of the tale. Really looking forward to book 2.
January 24, 2014
SHARING THESE FIRST REVIEWs ON AMAZON and elsewhere:
5.0 out of 5 stars THOUGHT PROVOKING FUNNY AND HOT ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE! January 20, 2014
By DEE
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is my first time reading this authors work but.. it certainly won't be my last. This is a story about 2 handicapped people. One is crippled mentally while the other physically. This book gives you their journey on how they both managed to heal each other. I laughed felt warm and held my breath as well as cheered though out the book. Looking forward to reading more of her reads... So if you are looking for something different than the usual this book is definitely a great find.
From a reader in Virtual Living Room group:
"Currently I'm reading Rain Falls by Kelli Jae Baeli (who happens to have a very cool name imho). This has turned out to be a great decision. Funny with quirky characters."
"THOUGHT PROVOKING FUNNY AND HOT ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE!" ~DEE on Amazon
Sam Hall: Read it last night - in one go! Couldn't put it down. Bloody brilliant.
Suzie Carr
Yesterday near Elkridge, MD
Kelli Jae Baeli wow, am LOVING Rain Falls. Loving it. You have a refreshing writing style.
TT Thomas I'm halfway through it---liking it a lot! Some wonderful laugh---howl---out loud scenes! Good job!
Diana Simmonds Meanwhile Kelli Jae - I've just got to the immortal line "Well as long as you don't call it a Panty Hamster, you're golden."
4.0 out of 5 stars Don't pass this one by January 23, 2014
By LT
Amazon Verified Purchase
At the price I purchased on the whim....could not have been happier. Good story and loved the characters (and their names). Parts of the book has me laughing out loud, others had me cringing. Fantastic. Looking forward to reading more about India and Tegan and others in Rain Falls.
5.0 out of 5 stars THOUGHT PROVOKING FUNNY AND HOT ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE! January 20, 2014
By DEE
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is my first time reading this authors work but.. it certainly won't be my last. This is a story about 2 handicapped people. One is crippled mentally while the other physically. This book gives you their journey on how they both managed to heal each other. I laughed felt warm and held my breath as well as cheered though out the book. Looking forward to reading more of her reads... So if you are looking for something different than the usual this book is definitely a great find.
From a reader in Virtual Living Room group:
"Currently I'm reading Rain Falls by Kelli Jae Baeli (who happens to have a very cool name imho). This has turned out to be a great decision. Funny with quirky characters."
"THOUGHT PROVOKING FUNNY AND HOT ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE!" ~DEE on Amazon
Sam Hall: Read it last night - in one go! Couldn't put it down. Bloody brilliant.
Suzie Carr
Yesterday near Elkridge, MD
Kelli Jae Baeli wow, am LOVING Rain Falls. Loving it. You have a refreshing writing style.
TT Thomas I'm halfway through it---liking it a lot! Some wonderful laugh---howl---out loud scenes! Good job!
Diana Simmonds Meanwhile Kelli Jae - I've just got to the immortal line "Well as long as you don't call it a Panty Hamster, you're golden."
4.0 out of 5 stars Don't pass this one by January 23, 2014
By LT
Amazon Verified Purchase
At the price I purchased on the whim....could not have been happier. Good story and loved the characters (and their names). Parts of the book has me laughing out loud, others had me cringing. Fantastic. Looking forward to reading more about India and Tegan and others in Rain Falls.
October 21, 2017
For a book about an arguably demi- or greyromantic/sexual lesbian, this book is surprisingly aphobic, not to mention amatonormative. It stereotypes being acespec as being unable to love (including family and friends), to be around people, and to be happy. It conflates what it calls sociopathy with asexuality, and humanity with romantic love. It nonsensically supposes that not having experienced crushes, romantic and/or sexual attraction, or love renders someone unable to understand it and write about it.
I'm also not sure how stereotypically toxic it is in its portrayal of disability. I was overall uncomfortable with how the author had the disabled character put herself down (seeing herself as pitiful in her attempts to socialize and find an intimate partner) so that her love interest seemed "not like other women"... Oh, and her fixation on exercising, so as not to "give in and give up" and become "chubby" and develop complications, with the blatant implication that it makes her good cripple...
I'm also not sure how stereotypically toxic it is in its portrayal of disability. I was overall uncomfortable with how the author had the disabled character put herself down (seeing herself as pitiful in her attempts to socialize and find an intimate partner) so that her love interest seemed "not like other women"... Oh, and her fixation on exercising, so as not to "give in and give up" and become "chubby" and develop complications, with the blatant implication that it makes her good cripple...
August 27, 2016
A gimp and a psychopath roll into a bar and . . .
Okay, one, I got somewhat tired of how often Tegan called herself a gimp, but that didn't really annoy me. Too much. Two, India Bell isn't actually a psychopath, she just has massive defensive walls around her emotions that just maker her appear to be emotionless. Wow this was a bad start, now I don't know where to go. heh.
Okay, story. India is a writer/book store owner/journalist/editor. Tegan is a successful lesbian romance author. India is hired by . . um . .. hmm. She's supposed to do a story about Tegan. Hired by India's publisher, I believe Brad Walker is the guy's name. But . . . I never did figure out where this "story" was supposed to go. On the publisher's website? On bathroom walls? Where? I didn't get the impression that Walker had a paper to go along with his book publishing business, so I overlooked that part when I read the book. Chalked it up to "it doesn't matter."
Tegan is happy with the idea of being interviewed. Figured it might help sales. Is horrified with the idea of India actually interviewing her in her crap dungeon, as she is very embarrassed at having to live in such a situation. So begs India to allow the interview to take place elsewhere. So, the interview takes place in India's cabin.
Meanwhile, the publisher also has made a "bet" with India. Write a romance novel. Sell at least 100 copies. Do so, be made highest paid editor at publishing company (that highest paid part got tossed in there at some point, then dropped almost immediately, I'm not sure if that's actually part of the bet).
A chance comment leads to India offering Tegan the chance to use her cabin to finish her most recent book. While India works on her own. India wants to do that because she figured she'd tap into Tegan's knowledge to help her write her romance novel. Tegan wants to do that because she lives in a dump and can't currently write because the really loud noises all around her at home.
By the way, ever think being a writer is the easy life? Getting paid to just put stuff on paper? Well, I never did, but . . um. Right. So, despite being a successful lesbian romance writer, Tegan lives in what she calls "The Dungeon." The basement in her mother's house. Driving a crap car. Living a crap live. With an abusive mother, one who steals her money and gives away Tegan's cats without telling Tegan where the cats went. The mother, being the massive bitch she is, probably actually ate them instead of gave them away (there is no indication that the mother ate the cats).
Meanwhile a guy named Napoleon bugs the hell out of India. Getting all up in her face. Ticketing her (Napoleon's a sherriff deputy), and otherwise harassing her. Stealing her clothing when she goes skinny dipping, etc. Napoleon is a massive jackass. Tegan and India must "deal" with this "outside tension" while also dealing with their developing sexual tension. With each other, that is, not with Napoleon. No one has sexual tension with or for Napoleon (to clarify, Napoleon desires to hump India, which is in and of itself sexual tension, I suppose, but India does not desire to be humped . . . again by Napoleon. Um, I guess there's a vague level of sexual tension there). Napoleon is a massive loser who would do the world a favor by dropping dead. He refuses to drop dead. No one is happy about this stubborn resistance from this reasonable demand.
Interesting book. Took a while to warm up to India. I kind of liked Tegan from the beginning, though the dive into self-pity, and gimpness was something of a hurdle to pass through.
Books like this apparently need someone like Napoleon around. Or some "outside tension" of some kind. Maybe a massive snowstorm. Maybe angry porcupines. Something. Still, I thought there was enough outside pressure already without needing Napoleon. The loser mother. The rotten financial situation Tegan finds herself in. The somewhat barely covering expenses (while also living in a paid off cabin that only requires paying taxes on) situation India is in. The bet with the publisher, etc.
Some of what Napoleon provided could have been provided by other means. It's an old cabin. Maybe the cat leaned against some window a little too hard and it popped out. And that's why the cat got out. India mentioned that the town was quite conservative. Maybe some random person could have made faces at India and Tegan (or something; didn't even need to be real disapproval, just appear to be to India). Causing India to make a big deal about kissing Tegan in public. Those two things were important enough to the story to keep somehow. The rest of the problems Napoleon added could just be swept away as not needed.
To be fair, I am not sure if the removal of Napoleon would push me to make this a five star book, but it would likely have allowed me to come closer to doing so. As it is, I probably would give the book somewhere between 4.25 and 4.65 stars. Which basically means nothing. Unless there were half stars. Then I'd rate this 4.5 stars.
Okay, one, I got somewhat tired of how often Tegan called herself a gimp, but that didn't really annoy me. Too much. Two, India Bell isn't actually a psychopath, she just has massive defensive walls around her emotions that just maker her appear to be emotionless. Wow this was a bad start, now I don't know where to go. heh.
Okay, story. India is a writer/book store owner/journalist/editor. Tegan is a successful lesbian romance author. India is hired by . . um . .. hmm. She's supposed to do a story about Tegan. Hired by India's publisher, I believe Brad Walker is the guy's name. But . . . I never did figure out where this "story" was supposed to go. On the publisher's website? On bathroom walls? Where? I didn't get the impression that Walker had a paper to go along with his book publishing business, so I overlooked that part when I read the book. Chalked it up to "it doesn't matter."
Tegan is happy with the idea of being interviewed. Figured it might help sales. Is horrified with the idea of India actually interviewing her in her crap dungeon, as she is very embarrassed at having to live in such a situation. So begs India to allow the interview to take place elsewhere. So, the interview takes place in India's cabin.
Meanwhile, the publisher also has made a "bet" with India. Write a romance novel. Sell at least 100 copies. Do so, be made highest paid editor at publishing company (that highest paid part got tossed in there at some point, then dropped almost immediately, I'm not sure if that's actually part of the bet).
A chance comment leads to India offering Tegan the chance to use her cabin to finish her most recent book. While India works on her own. India wants to do that because she figured she'd tap into Tegan's knowledge to help her write her romance novel. Tegan wants to do that because she lives in a dump and can't currently write because the really loud noises all around her at home.
By the way, ever think being a writer is the easy life? Getting paid to just put stuff on paper? Well, I never did, but . . um. Right. So, despite being a successful lesbian romance writer, Tegan lives in what she calls "The Dungeon." The basement in her mother's house. Driving a crap car. Living a crap live. With an abusive mother, one who steals her money and gives away Tegan's cats without telling Tegan where the cats went. The mother, being the massive bitch she is, probably actually ate them instead of gave them away (there is no indication that the mother ate the cats).
Meanwhile a guy named Napoleon bugs the hell out of India. Getting all up in her face. Ticketing her (Napoleon's a sherriff deputy), and otherwise harassing her. Stealing her clothing when she goes skinny dipping, etc. Napoleon is a massive jackass. Tegan and India must "deal" with this "outside tension" while also dealing with their developing sexual tension. With each other, that is, not with Napoleon. No one has sexual tension with or for Napoleon (to clarify, Napoleon desires to hump India, which is in and of itself sexual tension, I suppose, but India does not desire to be humped . . . again by Napoleon. Um, I guess there's a vague level of sexual tension there). Napoleon is a massive loser who would do the world a favor by dropping dead. He refuses to drop dead. No one is happy about this stubborn resistance from this reasonable demand.
Interesting book. Took a while to warm up to India. I kind of liked Tegan from the beginning, though the dive into self-pity, and gimpness was something of a hurdle to pass through.
Books like this apparently need someone like Napoleon around. Or some "outside tension" of some kind. Maybe a massive snowstorm. Maybe angry porcupines. Something. Still, I thought there was enough outside pressure already without needing Napoleon. The loser mother. The rotten financial situation Tegan finds herself in. The somewhat barely covering expenses (while also living in a paid off cabin that only requires paying taxes on) situation India is in. The bet with the publisher, etc.
Some of what Napoleon provided could have been provided by other means. It's an old cabin. Maybe the cat leaned against some window a little too hard and it popped out. And that's why the cat got out. India mentioned that the town was quite conservative. Maybe some random person could have made faces at India and Tegan (or something; didn't even need to be real disapproval, just appear to be to India). Causing India to make a big deal about kissing Tegan in public. Those two things were important enough to the story to keep somehow. The rest of the problems Napoleon added could just be swept away as not needed.
To be fair, I am not sure if the removal of Napoleon would push me to make this a five star book, but it would likely have allowed me to come closer to doing so. As it is, I probably would give the book somewhere between 4.25 and 4.65 stars. Which basically means nothing. Unless there were half stars. Then I'd rate this 4.5 stars.
November 10, 2016
How.....impressive!
This woman can write. And does it extremely well. Great, great, characters. Great secondary characters. Great story. Just a very good book. I can hardly wait to read the second book. Wish I had discovered her writing sooner. On the plus side it gives me so much more to read. I'll start now.
This woman can write. And does it extremely well. Great, great, characters. Great secondary characters. Great story. Just a very good book. I can hardly wait to read the second book. Wish I had discovered her writing sooner. On the plus side it gives me so much more to read. I'll start now.
April 15, 2021
I liked everything about this book except the romance; I just couldn't see how the two characters got together. Great setting, very interesting background story for each character and really likable secondary characters.
October 22, 2023
Excellent story.
June 15, 2015
I got this book for free on Amazon. It was better than I thought it would be. I think all of the characters were well written and I like that Tegan didn't let her disability affect her. She was my favorite character. I'm pretty fond of Quasar (the cat) too. She sounds adorable!
I like that the author took time to develop their friendship and eventual relationship. There were a few parts of the story that I figured out before they were revealed, but that didn't take away from the story at all. This was an enjoyable read and I want to read the next book in the series.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a nice romance story with doses of drama and comedy mixed in.
I like that the author took time to develop their friendship and eventual relationship. There were a few parts of the story that I figured out before they were revealed, but that didn't take away from the story at all. This was an enjoyable read and I want to read the next book in the series.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a nice romance story with doses of drama and comedy mixed in.
April 14, 2018
Kelli Jae Baeli's "Rain Falls" is a Lump-In-Throat MUST-READ!
The story is beyond moving, heart-tugging. Baeli's writing & storytelling are beyond fulfilling. What a spellbinding romance. Tegan's struggle is written with such depth & heart, it penetrated my soul, my psyche as I flipped through the pages. You could literally feel Tegan's emotions as she goes through her journey, dealing with her growing feelings for India who's seemingly unavailable, & her own fears about her physical disability...
This truly is an unforgettable GEM.
More people need to read it to experience all the feels.
The story is beyond moving, heart-tugging. Baeli's writing & storytelling are beyond fulfilling. What a spellbinding romance. Tegan's struggle is written with such depth & heart, it penetrated my soul, my psyche as I flipped through the pages. You could literally feel Tegan's emotions as she goes through her journey, dealing with her growing feelings for India who's seemingly unavailable, & her own fears about her physical disability...
This truly is an unforgettable GEM.
More people need to read it to experience all the feels.
January 6, 2015
nice change of pace....but.....
While I really appreciated the POV in this story, and there needs to be more stories like it, in the end I was left disappointed.
The writing was good, and I liked the balance between the characters, but I didn't feel any pizzazz. The length was just a scootchy too long for my liking, and I ended up feeling rushed to get to the end.
It didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth, and I think the author is a very fine writer, it just didn't do a lot for me.
While I really appreciated the POV in this story, and there needs to be more stories like it, in the end I was left disappointed.
The writing was good, and I liked the balance between the characters, but I didn't feel any pizzazz. The length was just a scootchy too long for my liking, and I ended up feeling rushed to get to the end.
It didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth, and I think the author is a very fine writer, it just didn't do a lot for me.
April 17, 2016
Once I started reading this, I couldn't help noticing Kelli Jae Baeli's distinct writing style. Her approach to India and Tegan's blossoming romance was laced with a sense of snark and straight-talk. Very cool. I like being surprised.
I warmed to both characters easily and I was giddy for them to look past their mutual annoyance. Tegan's a delight and her home situation readily touched me. That cop dude was scum; India's sister cracked me up. The plot moves along nicely. Humor, love, writing jokes, and sex!
I warmed to both characters easily and I was giddy for them to look past their mutual annoyance. Tegan's a delight and her home situation readily touched me. That cop dude was scum; India's sister cracked me up. The plot moves along nicely. Humor, love, writing jokes, and sex!
March 24, 2017
This had some good humor in it and, overall, was a good read. I found both leads to be interesting characters and it was refreshing to have them be non-conventional love interests. I also appreciated that the author let the characters get to know each other before diving into the romance. Recommend reading.
March 28, 2014
Good story, characters are funny and sweet. I had a good time reading it.
February 28, 2015
Loved it
I was so hooked I read this in one sitting, I love every character and can't wait to read the next one.
I was so hooked I read this in one sitting, I love every character and can't wait to read the next one.
May 17, 2015
Nice to see flawed characters who weren't perfect.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews