Monday, December 7, 2009

"Raising Rain" Book Review & Giveaway!


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Raising Rain

Moody Publishers (September 1, 2009)

by

Debbie Fuller Thomas


MY REVIEW:
I loved Debbie's first book, "Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon", it was amazing. "Raising Rain" goes in a whole different direction and stands on its own two feet. The story of 4 college roommates in the 70's who raise a baby together when one of them gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby in a time of abortion frenzy. It's now 37 years later and Rain's mother, Jude, is dying of cancer and she wants to bring everyone together for one last hurrah. It stirs a lot of old memories and not all of them are good. Rain still doesn't know who her father is and now she wants a baby of her own, but her live-in boyfriend of 7 years just moved out. Jude has many issues of her own, just one of which is that she is dying. Bebe was like Rain's mom growing up and now she is dealing with her own two sons moving out, one to college and one to the Marines, which dredge up a whole mess of issues herself. Toni and Mare, the other two roommates have smaller roles in the book, but are a hoot because they just can't keep from pressing each others buttons.

This is a book all about relationships and issues. Abortion is a huge issue, as is marriage and the lack thereof. Debbie deals with a lot of the 70's hot topics- Vietnam, protesting, rallies - and raised my eyebrows a few times.

It's a good book, especially if the 70's meant anything to you, I was born in '75 so I found it really interesting. Debbie is a master at woman's fiction.

*********Special thanks to Moody Press for a review copy of this book! If you would like an opportunity to win a copy, leave a comment telling me where you were in the 70's. Be sure to leave your email address or you won't be entered though! US entries only, sorry - it's getting too expensive to send elsewhere.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debbie writes contemporary fiction from an historic Gold Rush town in Northern California. By day, she manages after school and day camp programs, and she burns the midnight oil to write what she loves. Her first book Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, is a Christy finalist. Raising Rain, her second book became available September 2009.

Debbie has contributed to story collections such as Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul, and Lord, I Was Happy Shallow, along with articles in Coping With Cancer magazine.

She has two teenagers and her husband is the executive pastor on Sonrise Church with 1,000 members. Debbie is a manager at Auburn Area Parks and Recreation.



ABOUT THE BOOK


Raised to be a 'new woman' by her mother and three college roommates in
the 70's amid anti-war protests, feminist rallies, and finals, Rain
Rasmussen discovers that putting her career first has left her overdrawn
at the egg-bank, and her baby fever has now driven off her significant
other.

When her terminally ill mother demands a Celebration of Life before she
dies; they all confront ghosts from the past on a 'stormy' weekend in
Monterey. Bebe, the roommate closest to Rain's heart, revisits choices
that have impacted Rain the most, raising doubts about God's—and her
own—willingness to forgive and to be forgiven.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Raising Rain, go HERE.

29 comments:

rubynreba said...

Please enter me - thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Debbie Fuller Thomas said...

Thanks for the great review! Stop by my new and improved website
http://debbiefullerthomas.com

Anita Yancey said...

I was living at home with my parents and in high school during most of the 70's. Then during the later 70's I got married. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Linda said...

This so interests me as I was a teen during those years. Piques my interest! Please enter me. Thank you.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Winning Readings said...

I was born in 73, so I can relate! Born in Bangladesh; moved to New York (Long Island) four years later.

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/12/raising-rain.html

Anonymous said...

Would enjoy reading this book...thanks for the opportunity.

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Julie said...

I was in high school in the 1970's

aunteegem@yahoo.com

wmmahaney said...

I was born in 1969, so I grew up in the 70's.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Katie said...

I didn't exist in the 70's, but I love reading about different time periods, and this book looks great!

Carole said...

I also enjoyed "Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon" and would very much like to read "Raising Rain." Thank you for your review, Janna, and the chance to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Aik said...

I guess I was still an ovum in my mom's ovary in the 70's!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

hippmom said...

I was a young kid during most of the 70's and we lived much of that time in California. I remember wearing polyester! This book looks really good! I'll be searching it out if I don't win!

Jennifer said...

I was being born and enjoying being a baby in CA in the the 70s!

Anonymous said...

I was born in 1966, I was in my grade school years in the 70's,
I remember having the heavy burden of worrying about the Russian Nuclear bombs. They used to show us movies about nuclear war and it weighed heavy on my mind.

mommiesgotfivechildren at hotmail dot com

Joshlin said...

I was born in 1981, but would still like a chance to win this book. It looks really good.
savingmomssanity at gmail dot com

Sarah said...

I was born in 74 so I was very young but a preachers kid at the time.

arewethereyetla5[at]verizon[dot]net

Melissa said...

I was in elementary and middle schools in the 70s.

My email address is in my Google profile. Thanks for the chance to win!

melissa said...

this book sounds great. I was a child of the 70's and it was very "popular" to abort babies or adopt them out, I applaud these girls.

debijackson said...

please enter me, I'm interested jacksond@nhr3.net

Linda Kish said...

I was in my 20's in the 70's. My sister had a baby back in the 60's and gave it up because that was what you did back then. I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I wasn't born yet, but I love reading about that time in history.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Anne said...

This sounds like a great book.

ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Diana D said...

This sounds like a book I'd enjoy. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Carol M said...

I was married and raising two small children in the seventies! It seems just like yesterday. Now I have seven grandchildren! Thank you for the giveaway!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Ginny said...

I'd like to enter & have a chance of reading this book.

Ginny said...

I have struggled. I worked w/ my first & was able to quit w/ my 2nd. When I quit though I started an online business though. It was even more of a struggle balancing working at home & staying home w/ my kids!

Jolene said...

the '70's were my decade of pregnancy and babies-it was the best time ever! This book sounds great. Enter me

Anonymous said...

I was born in 76.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Janna said...

And the winner is...

rubynreba!