A Rainbow Above Us

I have always loved armchair traveling south and going back to Blessings, Sharon Sala’s sweet, small Georgia town, and the setting for all of her Blessings novels, and this novel is no exception, and if you’re not already hooked on a town where people care for, gossip about, show up when help is needed, gather together to celebrate, mourn and support one another, I suggest you start now, preferably with the first book in the series, although each one works as a standalone, you’ll meet some of these characters again and again as the series progresses. A Rainbow Above Us, the 8th novel in this series gets 4.5 stars from this reader.

In this novel, we meet Bowie James, the illegitimate, unclaimed, and unwanted son of Randall Boone, whose mother fled Blessings with him years ago, almost immediately after Bowie was nearly beaten to death by Randall’s son, Judson Boone, and Jud’s two sons, Emmitt and Melvin, egged on by Randall, Bowie’s birth father, who had raped Bowie’s mother, impregnated her, denied the rape, the subsequent birth of his son, and totally instilled hatred for his victim and her son in his own son and grandchildren, Emmitt and Melvin, who made young Bowie’s life a living hell.

One day after Bowie’s 18th birthday, Bowie’s mother committed suicide, and Bowie vowed to never return to Blessings. He eventually became a successful building contractor, but upon hearing that his grandmother, Pearl, and his aunt, Ella, were forced to live in an old age home after having the family home destroyed by a hurricane, he did return to Blessings to help them by rebuilding their home, and he’s surprised to find pretty, twenty-something, Rowan, living with and helping them.

Extremely sheltered and innocent, Rowan lost everything, including her father to that same hurricane, and has been caring for Bowie’s grandmother and aunt as if they were her family, lacking any true blood relatives of her own. She’s been traumatized by the experience, but remains helpful, sweet and upbeat, and the fact that Bowie is attracted to her and she to him comes as no surprise. Bowie, who is always on the move because of this business, shows up in Blessings with his huge motor home, and is quick to move Pearl, Ella and Rowan into it–surprised that Rowan already feels like a member of the family and that she truly has been a blessing to his beloved grandmother and aunt.

Not everyone in Blessings is happy about Bowie’s return or the fact that despite the denials of the Boone family, he’s apparently the spitting image of his grandfather, Randall, and no sooner is he back in town when Jud’s two sons, Emmitt and Melvin, reared in hatred for Bowie, attempt to accost him at the local diner. Bowie is no longer a child, advises them not to start anything inside the diner, and no sooner are they outside when they attempt to use a baseball bat on Bowie, who immobilizes both in short order, one with a karate chop to the neck and the other by a well placed punch, breaking Emmitt’s nose. The police are quick to arrest them, but that same evening, Bowie’s SUV is keyed by Junior, Emmitt’s son, who’s been raised on the same hatred Randall instilled in his family, and in retaliation for Bowie breaking his father’s nose–and that’s just for starters.

What follows is as sweet, charming and heartwarming a novel, as are all the other Blessings novels, where we again meet up with some of the town residents featured in earlier ones, like attorney Peanut Butterman, and big-hearted Ruby, who runs Curl Up and Dye, the local beauty salon, where Ruby tries to stem the gossip, and where Ms. Sala, manages to insert herself and her novels into the story, which was a totally unexpected treat. There’s also the quickly formed attraction and attachment of Bowie to Rowan. Bowie’s return to town also sets off a string of additional unexpected events as the Boone family finally has to get its comeuppance in ways this reader never saw coming, and what a comeuppance it is.

This is a novel that Ms. Sala’s fans will love, myself among them, and I’m very pleased to recommend it to them, as well as to those for whom this novel will be their first time reading one of Sharon Sala’s amazingly addictive novels.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

It was so good to visit Blessings, GA, where love brings people together. Where folks can sort through life’s trials, form new bonds, and heal old hurts. Bowie James and his mother left town when he was fifteen, torn apart physically and mentally by the hatred of an old blood feud they didn’t even understand. Now, twenty years later, his loving Gran and Aunt Ella’s home is destroyed by hurricane floods, and even though he swore to never return, he will come home to rebuild for his only remaining family. Rowan Harper lost her father and her home in the same storm. Now she’s alone in the world. These two damaged souls are strong and loving people, and face old secrets and new dangers together.

Sharon Sala creates wonderful characters that wrap you in their journey. You laugh and cry as you travel together with them through their story. These two are made for each other, and I rooted for their happily-ever-after. I’m glad to see there’s another Blessings story coming in December. I’ll be happy to visit there again soon!

Absolutely adored this heartwarming, emotionally engaging, pull you into the moment romantic journey filled with devastation and renewal…. rebuilding is never fun or easy but this group of intriguing and charmingly real charters make this journey entertaining. Loved this reading experience!