Release Day Review & Giveaway: Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker

  I really enjoyed Burying Water so I'm excited to take part in the Release Blitz for K.A. Tucker's BECOMING RAIN! BECOMING RAIN is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, and the second novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster.  I have my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway for my post.

 

 

BECOMING RAIN US BUY LINKS:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Apple | Blio | Books-a-Million | Google

UK BUY LINKS/BECOMING RAIN:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Google | Waterstones | Foyles

About BECOMING RAIN: Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain. Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps. As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

My Thoughts:

Mysteries and romantic suspense have been my first love when I truly became passionate about reading.  I’d stay up into the wee hours of the morning to find out who did it, or to make sure our hero and heroine would come out of their dangerous situation, catch the bad guy, and live happily ever after.  So I’m happy that K.A. Tucker has been taking New Adult into that territory. Becoming Rain was less mysterious and dangerous than Burying Water (the first book in this series), falling more into the category of romance with a bit of danger and suspense thrown in, but definitely an addictive read.   

Clara is a dedicated police officer who finds satisfaction bringing criminals to justice, mostly through undercover work. When the offer to catch and shut down a car theft-ring, one that doesn’t care if they hurt people to make a profit, she jumps at the chance.  Getting close to Luke Boone won’t be as unpalatable as her last marks, even if he is a criminal, because he’s gorgeous.  So Clara assumes the identity of Rain Martines, a rich daddy’s girl living off her father’s dime in a million dollar condo directly across from Luke’s luxury digs.  Clara doesn’t think she’ll have any qualms about deceiving and nailing Luke until she meets him and realizes the situation is not as cut and dry as she thought.  Luke is a genuinely nice guy, someone who cares about others, who is about to get strung up because of his family and their illegal mess. The more Clara/Rain is around Luke the more her heart and conscience won’t allow her to just hang him out to dry. The attraction simmering between them becomes combustible and irresistible. Will Rain be able to keep Luke at arm’s length or will she give in and put her whole career in jeopardy?

We met Luke Boone, Jesse’s best friend, in the last book, Burying Water.  He was an ambitious, ladies man eager to make money and live the glamorous life his uncle dangles in front of him. But he still had a conscience and passed on information to Jesse that ended up saving Water’s life.

Luke has knows not all of his uncle’s business is above board and legal, but he’s not prepared for the tugs at his conscience when all it revealed.  The situation is quickly becoming more dangerous and tangled by the day, making him more and more uncomfortable.  Can he carry on the business as his uncle expects and live with himself?  When Rain shows up in his life and he ends up falling, his doubts and questions take on more urgency.

K.A. Tucker successfully blended this romance full of moral dilemma that made you long for a happy ending.  Both Luke and Rain faced difficult decisions, and at times gave into weaknesses, but I could sympathize with their predicaments. I enjoyed watching them get to know and fall for each other in these dangerous circumstances. Both did the best they could with their circumstances, and I was happy with how it all turned out.

Excerpt:

“Let us know if you have any more problems.” Luke flashes that wide, charming smile that stalls my feet just a little.

Still no mention of connecting again. In fact, I’d say Luke has gone out of his way to skirt the subject. He’s just not interested. That’s all there is to it. Or maybe he’s waiting for me to bring it up again. But if he’s not, then bringing it up will make me look desperate. I’m guessing he doesn’t like desperate women.

Luke Boone has me in a tailspin. No target has ever had me second-guessing myself this much, this early. It’s just the pressure of the case, I remind myself. “I’m sure I will.” I take long, slow steps, ensuring my movements are sleek and appealing, the opposite of my frantic thoughts, as I desperately search for another hook, since nothing I’m casting has caught so far.

“So, when did you say you’re cooking dinner for me?”

I fight the urge to groan with relief but I can’t keep the smile from exploding across my face. “Whenever you call me.” I turn to regard him, to see his smug face—like he knew I was waiting for it all along, like he was toying with me—and nod to the sheet on his desk. “You have my number.”

“I do.” His eyes twinkle. “I’ll call you soon.”

Thank fucking God.

I wait until I’m in my car and around the corner before turning off my wire and squealing like a fourteen-year-old who just got asked out to the movies. I dial Warner to debrief, my heart still racing. It’s standard protocol to call in after every meeting with my target. Up until now, I’ve had nothing but failure to report. And, while this may not seem like much . . .

I think I’m finally in.

 

  BURYING WATER, the first book in this thrilling series…

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

About BURYING WATER: The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away. Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him? Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

About K.A. Tucker: Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.        

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