Today I’m sharing my book recommendation for Skye, the first book in Inspy Romance author Heather Gray’s Rainbow Fall series. The second Rainbow Falls book, Olive, released last month. We will be interviewing Heather and talking about Olive in an upcoming StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube episode.
Book Description:
Rainbow Falls…where life is lived in full color.
Skye Blue is tired. She’s worn out from days spent doing what’s expected of her while her heart longs for something else. It doesn’t help that the past has colored her every decision with guilt and fear. When Skye reaches her limit, she packs a bag and runs away from it all…and headlong into Sam.
Sam Madison is a battle-hardened former Marine who can face an enemy combatant without blinking. He is also a man dedicated to serving God by working with those military vets that society often rejects. Samaritan’s Reach, a place that houses and retrains homeless veterans, is the start of Sam’s dream — but an overreaching City Council threatens everything.
How can love develop between a woman who hides from her problems and a man who has never considered backing down?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Skye, the first book in Heather Gray’s Rainbow Falls series. Skye Blue is the CEO of a manufacturing company she inherited from her grandparents in Boise, Idaho. She has completed a MBA, but running the company isn’t her life dream. Skye spent ten years living in Rainbow Falls, Montana, with her late mother before moving away for college, and she decides to return for a short vacation.
On her flight to Rainbow Falls, Skye is seated beside a man, Sam, who she finds scary. Sam is a military veteran who runs a homeless shelter in Rainbow Falls for men who are veterans and need a helping hand in getting back on their feet. Sam is intrigued by Skye, and being a counsellor he recognises that Skye has a story.
Sam invites Skye to visit Samaritan’s Reach and tour the old run down motel they’ve converted into a homeless shelter. He appreciates Skye’s input regarding some of the challenges they’re facing to avoid being closed down by the unsupportive Rainbow Falls City Council.
Skye reconnects with the Rainbow Girls who she was friends with during her school years. The Rainbow Girls and their siblings are named after colors due to something that happened in Rainbow Falls before they were born. Skye ends up staying in town longer than expected, and volunteering at Samaritan’s Reach with Sam.
A fun and fascinating romance develops as Sam and Skye work together and connect on a deeper level. Sam’s faith is strong, and Skye has avoided thinking about God and faith for a long time. Skye’s complex family background means she’s slow to trust, and I loved seeing her having the courage to overcome some of her fears during the story. I recommend Skye to contemporary romance readers who like friends-to-more small town romances with quirky characters and a satisfying story with redemption themes.
Questions for you: Have you read Skye and/or Olive? Have you read many CCR books that include military or veteran characters? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I haven’t yet read either book. I have read many other CCR books with military vets, though! Jo Grafford has a couple of series with them, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, and others.
I have read Val Bodden’s book, Not Until Christmas Morning which is centered around a man who lost his leg in Afghanistan & a woman fostering a troubled teen. I like to read about the real struggles a vet has to work through. Being so prevalent in everyday life I believe it is a good topic to reach a wide reader base. I know I have other books with vets in my TBR stockpile too. These books sound like great reads, thank you for your great review!
Hi, I have not read either. There are very good books out there I love reading CCR books. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
thank you for sharing today. no I have not read either book and now need to look into that
I have both Skye & Olive on my Kindle waiting for me. They’ll be next, as I’m currently reading “The Billionaire’s Nanny” by our own Elizabeth Maddrey!
There have been several Love Inspired novels that feather veterans or military. I think some of my favorite are the K-9 unit ones :-)
Hi, Narelle! I have read both Skye and Olive and enjoyed them thoroughly! Heather (yay, Heather!) has created in Rainbow Falls a setting, like many of the others we have discussed here on IR, which draws you in and makes you want to know more about the characters. She truly has set up enough groundwork for a good series (presumably all the Rainbow girls) but has also opened the door to possible spinoffs in the future. I’m looking forward to the next story in the series.
I have also read some of the stories already mentioned which include military veterans. In some ways, I wonder if we as readers (and authors) can do justice to the burdens that are born by our veterans. Kind of like we men not being able to understand what it’s like to be pregnant :-). I recently came across a book by retired Air Force Chaplain Steve West called “The Bronze Scar”. It is his story of his struggle with PTSD. It is also an attempt to help those who love and treat them to gain some insight and plain technical understanding of what is going on.
Steve West attended our church while stationed here in the Washington, DC area. He was here prior to the events chronicled in his book. He was an upbeat and friendly man with a loving and loved family. Reading just the beginning part of his story has been heart wrenching. It’s a cliche, I know, but not all wounds are on the outside.
With that thought, I offer another welcome to Sarah Monzon with profound thanks for the sacrifice she and her family are making as her husband serves as a Navy chaplain.
not yet
Thank you for sharing. I am not remembering any CCR books. I have read romantic suspense with both. God bless you.
I read Skye when it first came out, and loved it. I was so excited that finally there was another book about Rainbow Falls! Olive did not disappoint, although it wasn’t about the vets. (The Rainbow Girls after all had all kinds of careers, and they are the ones the series is mainly about. )
I’ve read several stories about military vets, but of course my aging mind can’t recall their titles!
I have not read these yet, but military or veteran characters would be welcome.
Hi Trudy, Your series recommendations with military vets sound good. I’m thinking I may have read some by Irene Hannon and Susan May Warren a while ago. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Deb, You’re very welcome. Not Until Christmas Morning is on my list to read this year at Christmas. I agree, readers are interested in military vets stories that address real-to-life struggles and issues. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Heather’s books. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Alicia, We are fortunate to have a wide range of CCR books we can choose to read. I’ll forever be grateful for the invention of the Kindle. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I haven’t read any recently but have some to get to so hopefully soon.
I don’t have any of those books but they sound interesting.
Hi Lori, You’re very welcome, and I hope you’ll have a chance to read Heather’s books soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, The Billionaire’s Nanny is very close to the top of my tbr list. There are so many great books waiting in line in my Kindle, lol. I’ve enjoyed reading Cheryl Wyatt’s LI’s with military characters. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lincoln, I’m looking forward to reading more books in Rainbow Falls, too! PTSD is a complex condition and those who experience it, including our military vets, often don’t have the supports they need because their wounds aren’t visible like a physical injury. In Australia the issue of veteran suicide is often discussed, but sadly it’s also weaponised for political purposes rather than addressing the real issues that impact real people. Thanks for sharing Steve West’s powerful and heartbreaking story. Military spouses, including Sarah, and their families make many sacrifices that often aren’t acknowledged, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. 😊
Hi bn100, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Heather’s books. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, You’re very welcome. Military characters are more common in romantic suspense. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Margaret, I’m glad you enjoyed reading Olive. I love how Heather is drawing out different aspects of the town in each book, and I’m looking forward to reading more books in the series. I search my book recommendations on my blog to remember titles, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Mary, I hope you’ll have a chance to read Heather’s series. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, I hope you’ll have a chance to read them soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sylvain, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Heather’s books. Thanks for commenting. 😊