The Sound of Rain

Judd Markley's brother, Joe, died in a mine cave-in.  Judd vowed never to go back into a mine and so he headed south to Myrtle Beach.  He started working for a timber company that allowed him to use his gift for mechanics.

Larkin Heyward is the daughter of Judd's boss, but she wants to make her life count for more than just being a candy striper at the hospital.  She wants to go to the Appalachians and help those in need there.

Sarah Loudin Thomas writes of the Appalachians with a personal knowledge of the culture and the background of the peoples.  The Sound of Rain encompasses the history of post-war America along with the devestation of Hurricane Hazel on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She also takes on the interpersonal relationships within families and shows how they work or don't work--how dysfunction can turn around and become fully functional through conflict and its resolution.

Larkin's conflict is with her father because she wants to join her brother in Kentucky, but her father has disowned him and will disown her if she goes to him. 

Judd's conflict is with the mines, the dangers and the life on the edge of disaster, as well as the cave-in that took his brother's life. 

Sarah's writing is of such quality that it engages the reader from the very first page to the back flyleaf.  Her characters are realistic and quite likable--with a few exceptions.  Her settings are spot on for detail and involvement.  Her plot moves at a good pace--not at all frenetic.  This is a five star book with two thumbs up and no hurricanes to mess up your home.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.