BOOK: Waiting for Rain
AUTHOR: Susan Mac Nicol
GENRE: m/m Romance
RELEASE: 24th February 2014
SYNOPSIS
The village of Stamford, the quintessential chocolate box English scene, seemed an impossible dream for foster kid Toby Prentiss. Now he’s found a home among the haystacks and village fairs as the General Manager for the Duck and Drake Hotel. With the fears and demons from his youth hidden away in this bucolic oasis, he’s very protective of who he lets in. Until he stumbles across shirtless carpenter Rain Engel building the hotel’s new custom-designed bar.
Working in the countryside, Rain prepared to face his biggest fear: sheep. He didn’t expect to deal with his second biggest fear: commitment. Toby’s controlled, tough guy façade coupled with his “find happiness where you can” optimism calls to Rain like nothing before. While Rain may be an exhibitionist, his romantic history forces him to hold his emotions close. As their relationship develops, secrets from their pasts drive a wedge between them: the ex-boyfriend who tore apart Rain’s trust and Toby's history with the law. But can the secrets hiding among the quirky villagers bring them together? With missing sheep, pole dancing at the winter festival, and a crippling drought, everyone is waiting for Rain.
REVIEW
My rating = A Foxy Five!
* ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review
Each book I read of Susan Mac Nicol I always finish thinking she can’t get any better than that, yet each time she continues to outwit me and do just that. Waiting for Rain is no exception and my favourite so far. It was absorbing, sexilicious and highly entertaining with lots of laughs throughout.
Toby Prentiss is the general manager of the Duck and Drake Hotel in Stamford which he has worked hard to achieve and make something of himself. After being dragged up through foster homes from a young age since the death of his beloved mother he has had his fair share of traumatic incidents and bigotry. His strength of character just shone through the pages with his dogged determination and resilience to outside pressures and fears. He has the support of his mentor and boss, Simon and his best friend Tammy.
Rain Engel is finally recovering from the breakup of his relationship after his partner just upped and left to go work and live abroad for a better life not knowing that on that same day Rain was about to propose. However nine months down the line Rain has moved out of London, bought a beautiful cottage in Stamford and is slowly but surely building up his carpentry business along with the help of his best friend Lucas.
When Simon contracts Rain to build a new bar for the hotel, he would be unaware of the catalyst this would be for the future of not only Rain and Toby but also himself.
From the first meeting of Toby and Rain I just knew the sparks flying would build to be something spectacular and I was not wrong. Both were headstrong, domineering and not about to take any BS from anyone, especially each other. The chemistry and interaction of both these sexy men was sizzling and explosive. The initial meeting lead to a standoff but finally neither could deny their attraction for each other. What I loved about this relationship was the gradual escalation to a love so strong and unconditional, it just made my heart swoon and gushiness to sprout forth from my mouth!
Now for the dancing, yes there was dancing and lots of sexy dancing. With a pole. Rain was a scintillating exhibitionist on the dance floor and the way that Ms Mac Nicol described this was as if Rain was putting on a private show for me. But he wasn’t, more’s the shame – it was for Toby. Rain was such a sexy, crotch thrusting, hip swaying male specimen, he was in danger of blowing up my kindle and I just loved him! I think the South African twang also did it for me.
“If sex was a liquid, its name was Rain Engel”
There was also plenty of hilarity in this book with laugh out loud moments. Especially the sheep rustling. When first reading that episode I was completely baffled as to why the farmer wanted Toby and Rain to investigate. But then it got more bizarre with the result I was guffawing like a train whistle. As for Rain and his …erm…..sheep issue, oh my word, really? But maybe I shouldn’t have laughed at that. But I did. Shame on me!
As with all good romances there has to be a villain and nobody does a villain like Susan Mac Nicol. This one was abhorrent and as usual the bully was aided by small minded bigots. But with all villains they are sure to get their comeuppance, aren’t they?
The secondary characters actually didn’t feel secondary and some I just wanted to squeeze them close. Especially Simon who I immediately took to my heart and felt a sense of loss with his decision he took. Oh and don’t get me started on the farmer and the taxi drivers who were a revelation and certainly not cast to type!
Yet again Ms Mac Nicol has delivered an amazing story of love, life and humanity. A wonderful addition to any reader’s ‘to read’ shelf.
Gloriously done and a well-deserved five star read for me.
Toby Prentiss is the general manager of the Duck and Drake Hotel in Stamford which he has worked hard to achieve and make something of himself. After being dragged up through foster homes from a young age since the death of his beloved mother he has had his fair share of traumatic incidents and bigotry. His strength of character just shone through the pages with his dogged determination and resilience to outside pressures and fears. He has the support of his mentor and boss, Simon and his best friend Tammy.
Rain Engel is finally recovering from the breakup of his relationship after his partner just upped and left to go work and live abroad for a better life not knowing that on that same day Rain was about to propose. However nine months down the line Rain has moved out of London, bought a beautiful cottage in Stamford and is slowly but surely building up his carpentry business along with the help of his best friend Lucas.
When Simon contracts Rain to build a new bar for the hotel, he would be unaware of the catalyst this would be for the future of not only Rain and Toby but also himself.
From the first meeting of Toby and Rain I just knew the sparks flying would build to be something spectacular and I was not wrong. Both were headstrong, domineering and not about to take any BS from anyone, especially each other. The chemistry and interaction of both these sexy men was sizzling and explosive. The initial meeting lead to a standoff but finally neither could deny their attraction for each other. What I loved about this relationship was the gradual escalation to a love so strong and unconditional, it just made my heart swoon and gushiness to sprout forth from my mouth!
Now for the dancing, yes there was dancing and lots of sexy dancing. With a pole. Rain was a scintillating exhibitionist on the dance floor and the way that Ms Mac Nicol described this was as if Rain was putting on a private show for me. But he wasn’t, more’s the shame – it was for Toby. Rain was such a sexy, crotch thrusting, hip swaying male specimen, he was in danger of blowing up my kindle and I just loved him! I think the South African twang also did it for me.
“If sex was a liquid, its name was Rain Engel”
There was also plenty of hilarity in this book with laugh out loud moments. Especially the sheep rustling. When first reading that episode I was completely baffled as to why the farmer wanted Toby and Rain to investigate. But then it got more bizarre with the result I was guffawing like a train whistle. As for Rain and his …erm…..sheep issue, oh my word, really? But maybe I shouldn’t have laughed at that. But I did. Shame on me!
As with all good romances there has to be a villain and nobody does a villain like Susan Mac Nicol. This one was abhorrent and as usual the bully was aided by small minded bigots. But with all villains they are sure to get their comeuppance, aren’t they?
The secondary characters actually didn’t feel secondary and some I just wanted to squeeze them close. Especially Simon who I immediately took to my heart and felt a sense of loss with his decision he took. Oh and don’t get me started on the farmer and the taxi drivers who were a revelation and certainly not cast to type!
Yet again Ms Mac Nicol has delivered an amazing story of love, life and humanity. A wonderful addition to any reader’s ‘to read’ shelf.
Gloriously done and a well-deserved five star read for me.
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