“None of this matters, and we’re all going to die.”With only three days left until the predicted apocalypse, the small town of Franklin Springs, Georgia, has become a wasteland of abandoned cars, abandoned homes, abandoned businesses, and abandoned people. People like Rainbow Williams.Rain isn’t afraid of dying. In fact, she’s looking forward to it. If she can just outrun her pain until April 23, … outrun her pain until April 23, she’ll never have to feel it at all.
“Supplies. Shelter. Self-defense.”
Wes Parker has survived every horrible thing this life has thrown at him with nothing more than his resourcefulness and disarming good looks. Why should the end of the world be any different? All he needs are some basic supplies, shelter, and a sucker willing to help him out, which is exactly what he finds when he returns to his hometown of Franklin Springs.
As society crumbles, dangers mount, and secrets refuse to stay buried, two lost souls are thrust together in a twist of fate—one who will do anything to survive and one who can’t wait to die.
Perhaps, together, they can learn how to live.
Before their time runs out.
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BB Easton annihilates! Praying for Rain is an action-packed, emotional, gritty apocalyptic romance that will grip you right from the start! End-of-the-world reads are my favorite and Easton doesn’t disappoint! She ruins the world in the most unique and twisted way, but makes it all better by giving us Wes and Rain’s sweet love story! Five WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE stars!
So far my absolute best read of 2019!
Consider us hooked. Addicted. Dying for more!!! BB Easton absolutely slays with Praying for Rain! A genius, unique premise with complex, intriguing characters, this story took us on the ride of our lives, and we CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE!!
Praying for Rain (The Rain Trilogy, #1)
What would you do if you found out the exact date that the world would end? Would you live every day as if it were your last? Would you gather those you loved closer, wringing out every drop of love and happiness you could? Or would you just languish your days, waiting for the inevitable end?
Rainbow, just like everyone else in the world, knew that doomsday was coming. And she couldn’t wait! She was tired of living in pain and misery and if she could just make it to that day, then it would all be over and she’d find some peace. What was she running from? Why was she suffering so much heartache?
Wes knew pain. They were closely acquainted. But he wasn’t running. He intended to survive, come what may. His only concerns were food, shelter and survival. That is until he saves a young woman from a violent mob and all his plans go up in smoke. It’s no longer just about him. He’s part of a team and pretty soon, he’s concerned with providing Rain with some sort of happiness, even if she believes it’s fleeting.
This is my first read from BB Easton and I freaking loved it!! She brought these characters to life so easily. They weren’t one dimensional and she gifted us with their good, their bad, and their ugly, allowing us to fall in love with them AND their flaws. The apocalypse is coming and these two, in the midst of chaos and the stench of death, have found each other. But falling in love and being together doesn’t solve their woes and I can’t wait to see what happens next in their story!
I’ve been chomping at the bit to get more of BB Easton’s words the second I finished Suit last year. So, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Praying for Rain. And she kills this book. I didn’t even know that there was a genre for apocalyptic/romance? I’m thinking BB Easton like the badass she is just created it and it slayed. There were so many layers to this story. Emotional. Gritty. Sexy. Rain and Wes are these two complex characters with secrets and baggage and demons and I love how effortlessly their stories are told. I had pretty high expectations going into this book due to the huge shoes of her prior works and BB Easton absolutely shattered them. This book was phenomenal and I can’t wait for more of Rain and Wes!
BB….
Gah girl…I had this series on my TBR too long..and after I seen that the books would be going off of KU by the end of the month..I was like.. It’s time to read and damn, I was not disappointed.
I love me some Wes and Rain. BB knows how to suck you in and fall in love with her crazy ass characters!! I was reading on the edge of my seat dying to know what was going to Happen on April 23rd..lol.
And to top it off..how crazy is it that I picked this book up at this time in the world..with all this social distancing…ppl told to stay in their homes…groceries hard to find…goodness I was like what the Hell..lol
Sooo good!!!
WOW! This is a new to me author, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but being glued to the pages would be an understatement. The cover was gorgeous to begin with, but the story unexpectedly gripped me from the first word! Now I need the second book as a matter of urgency! I fell in love with the characters and the story-line is something I’ve not read before so I thoroughly enjoyed it. Plenty of angst and action to keep you interested with a bit of swoon and sexiness too! I would highly recommend you get in on this action!
Praying for Rain starts with a BANG! The apocalypse has began. Death has arrived. The world is on fire. A scene right out of The Walking Dead minus the zombies of course.
It is April 20th and everyone waits with bated breath for the 23rd, the end of the world. For that’s all the human population seems to dream about now a days. Death. Hunger. Everything is chaos as everyone awaits the four horsemen to end it all.
First, we meet Rain. She awakes from one of those horrific nightmares that soon comes true as she finds herself being beaten by a crazy mob and saved by this beautiful dark angel.
Wes is stubborn as all hell. He’s a fighter. A survivor. Life has taught him to put up his guard yet Rain is slowly breaking down the walls that surround Wes’ hardness. Rain is also strong. She’s resilient. Since meeting Wes the attraction has been there. Silently lurking… But Wes gets angry with himself because he knows he’s reaching the breaking point where he can no longer fight his feelings for her. Rain quickly falls for his strength and now, more than ever, she will not let him go regardless of how quickly Wes pulls away and isolates himself. Simply put, they’re a train wreck. Broken and flawed but somehow they make sense.
My first read by B.B. Easton, but surely it won’t be my last as she possesses a unique writing style that will make you feel everything all at once!! This book starts off slow, however, you can’t help but become invested as the characters and their survival becomes important. B.B. Easton transports you into a dark world ravaged by death, destruction, and survival. She’ll have you on the edge of your seat throughout this novel while craving for the next!
What, what, what?! I am just in awe BB, of your stunning visionary writing skills! Of course you would take something like an apocalypse and put your own spunky, messed up twist on it! I could of been given this book without knowing the author and still been able to tell it was your work because of your unique writing. I could definitely feel a little badass BB in Rain’s character. Lol This story had me hooked from the beginning! I was so intrigued about what the heck was going to happen and couldn’t put it down! I could picture everything perfectly in my mind and it was scary as hell to think this could actually be a reality one day. There was so much emotion, angst, fear, violence and uncertainty in this book that it had me on edge always wondering what’s around the next corner. I thoroughly enjoyed the hell out of this book! It’s a definite must read!
BB Easton has a way with words. She can weave a story that not only captures your attention, but drags you under the surface until you can’t help but live and breath inside the world.
This story was magical. Two broken characters in one extremely broke world. One struggling to survive, the other struggling just to make it until the end.
“When you’re three days away from the apocalypse, there’s not much to look forward to.”
Wes shows up in Rain’s life at the perfect time, if she were trying to live. He saves her, kidnaps her, uses her as a tool as he is trying to survive. He pushes her away, sure she’ll be the death of him if she stays, only to realize she might just be the one to save him.
I absolutely loved Wes and Rain. At the same time, I wanted to beat them both upside the head. Both their stories are devastating, and it broke my heart as each one was slowly revealed. These two are strong through all their weaknesses, and survivors through and through.
“What could you possibly prioritize over surviving?”
“Living.”
The ending left me ready to dive off the cliff with my tattered fingernails and fractured heart in tow. This book was a wild ride, and I’m dying to read more.
Let me start by saying, in all my long life as a reader, I’ve never touched this particular genre.
I DON’T like Pnr/Dystopian/Fantasy/Shifter books ….EVER !!
I stay far away from them for the simple reason that I can’t understand or identify with their setting, plot, dialogues, lingo, etc.
Shit I’m Never Going to Think About Again Because None of This Matters and We’re All Going to Die Anyways
So WHY did I pick this book to read?
Because I blindly trust the author for her narration skills. She can tell a story…and tell it well!
I did not EVEN FOR A MINUTE realise it was a dystopian or Apocalyptic story (if I’m wrong in genre naming, pardon my ignorance, I’ve NO IDEA about this genre)
So anyway, I opened the first page and couldn’t close till the last!!
It hooked me !
Lined me !
Sinkered me !
No other way to describe it. I was heavily invested in Rain’s survival and rooted staunchly for Wes’s Lifer Luck. More than that, I was so mesmerized by the vivid imagery that BB created with sheer imagination and words and put it all on paper. I was reading it but I was IMAGINING every fiery explosion, every brutal fight, her hunger, his anger, their kisses, sounds of gunshots, revs of the engines, gallops of the horses, sounds of banners unfurling, even the damn grass blade twined around her finger!!!!!…..
I could SEE IT ALL!!
That’s how picturesque her writing was. It’s an oxymoron when you can SEE the WORDS jump up and play out like a hologram.
Her plot was so slick and thrilling & dialogues sassy and sensitive. I’ve found a new fave author
Rain & Wes’s first interaction is surprisingly violent and they somehow end up together as reluctant travellers on the debris filled road through Crazytown. Lurking in their nightmares are Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, chasing their heels every night. It’s just a matter of 3 days when everything would come to an end anyways.
“Four monstrous black horses are barreling toward me through the forest— heads down, smoke pouring from their flared nostrils— ripping through the brambles and branches like party streamers. They leave nothing but flames and scorched earth in their wake as their faceless, cloaked riders point their weapons —a sword, a scythe, a mace, and a flaming club—toward the colorless sky.”
So why attach yourself or feel anything or fall in love ?
But as they say- Shit Happens !
“Three Rs: rioters, rapists, and rabid dogs. The dogs don’t really have rabies, but so many people have died in the weeks leading up to April 23 that their pets are starting to band together and hunt as a team.”
The world has gone mad, arsonists and looters rule the chaotic world. Survivalist instincts make them selfish and dangerous
“Supplies, shelter, self-defense”. take priority over decency, humanity and loyalty
Amidst all of this chaos are Wes & Rain in their bubble in a crumbling house.
I have to mention something noteworthy here. Pay close attention to the first sex act scene between rainbow and Wes. Passion is at boiling point, mercury rising due to adrenaline rush and the scene starts with Wes stunned by the feelings threatening to burst in his chest. He justifies it with his own insecurity. His abandonment issues threaten to dilute his sensories but he is soon overpowered. He rationalises everything by going from insecurity to detachment to euphoria.
The scene ebbs and flows riding on feverish waves, which is side by side with hot frenzied breaths. All through this, Rainbow remains single mindedly focused on him. Her mind and body are inarguably aligned, but Wes goes through with tumultous emotions and all of that is influenced by what is happening outside their bubble, in the crazytown. It’s like that scene was a bridge between hopelessness and hope, bodies joined at the onset end up with souls getting attached and they start feeling hope for the first time that they MAY survive merely by the strength of their joint spirits.
What a wonderful, marvelous execution of the scene.
I just adored Wes & Rain. She’s a lamb lost in the butchery, her deadline fast approaching. Her soft hearted, loyal and sunny personality completely enamoured me. Unassuming and tenacious, I’d want her on my side if I’m in that Situation ever
Sugar cookies. She laughs like a farm animal . She looks like a discarded porcelain doll that raided a teenage boy’s closet. And she smells like fucking sugar cookies.
Wes is hardcore, strong but so vulnerable, I cried tears for him, wanted him to snuggle in my arms…omg Wesson, I love you so hard!!!
Her embrace on my bare chest makes me feel like I’ve been skinned alive. I’m nothing but raw pink meat in her arms. My scales, my fur, my leathery hide … it’s all been ripped away. Rain’s touch penetrates through every layer of defense I thought I had, reaching places that have never seen the light of day.
I’m embarssingly rambling about a book I had no intention of reading if I hadn’t met BB and her personal Ken-Doll in D.C. As much as her books are exceptionally good, her personality had me crushing hard on her. Sweetest and guileless, she just radiates goodness.
That may or may not have influenced my maiden venture into this uncharted genre waters…i ain’t telling.
So! GO AND READ THIS BOOK!! If a Dystopian atheist like me can kneel and pray, so can you!!
5 stars for the Fifth Hooded Horseman of the Apocalypse
***5 ‘You Were My Mission’ Stars***
I’m honestly not entirely sure where to start this review, but the best place my brain is suggesting is to state that I was hooked from the very first page.
And I was.
I wanted to find out not only what started this apocalypse is on the horizon frenzy, but also what the hell was going on with Rain because she most definitely had things going on that would not be put to rest any time soon.
And then there was Wes…
He wants to be a lone wolf with an intense desperation, and for the most part succeeds, but also has this spark of need in him that takes him a while to figure out what to do with.
As for Rain and Wes together..well, I loved them for a plethora of reasons, even though there was a whole bunch of push/pull going on for the mass majority of the book, and am happy that this was simply the first installment of their story because they have quite a few things to work through before they can have anything close to a HEA ~ something they both definitely deserve, even as the world goes crazy.
And as for the story/backstory… I have to admit that I was all kinds of confused (and still kind of am) even after the big reveal of what may or may not be going on, but I’m definitely looking forward to when all of those pieces of the puzzle are revealed.
This is my first read by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The writing is engaging and I was sucked into the story, willingly fell down the rabbit hole and had no desire to claw my way out. The dual first person POV’s were well done and the pacing of the story was good. As this is pre-apocalypse the crazy is high and there are things that could possibly triggers for some, so be prepared. This is a trilogy, something that escaped my notice (How, I have no clue, but…), so the end of this one has a cliffy of sorts, which was done well, and has me wanting/needing to know what will happen next. So, it’s time to #practicepatience until book two is released.
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Mind blown! This is an EPIC beginning to what is gearing up to be an absorbing and captivating series!
From beginning to end, I was wrapped up in this story! It is completely original and unlike anything I have read before.
BB Easton nailed this story!
On the edge of apocalypse, the world as we know it, is being destroyed. There is looting, people killing people and destruction everywhere.
Not to mention that every human has been having nightmares for a year now about the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Rain is one of these people waiting to die. Coping by taking narcotics, she has no hope.
Wes has a game plan. Supplies, shelter and self-defence. That’s it.
When these two meet, a kernel of hope is planted. But hope is fickle.
Can they hold onto their glimmer of hope, find love and survive the apocalypse? It all seems a little bit too much to ask for.
Praying for Rain is by far the most original and captivating story I’ve read this year! A total must read.
If you have never read a BB Easton story before, heck even if you have, you won’t want to miss this new and exciting first book in the Praying fo Rain trilogy.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Praying for Rain by B.B. Easton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book: Praying for Rain
Author: B.B. Easton
Type: Book #1 in The Rain Trilogy
POV: First Person – Dual
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Triggers: murder, suicide, death of a baby, drug use.
Age: Rain – 19; Wes – 22.
“Why are you doing all this for me?” How do I answer that without sounding even crazier than he already suspects that I am?
Because I think I might be in love with you.
Because, before I met you, I hadn’t smiled in a month.
Because I don’t want to lose you.
Because you’re my only reason for living.
Sometimes, some books just grab your attention from the get go and completely suck you in. Praying for Rain is one of those books. I’ve read books by B.B. Easton before and once again, she blew me away with her writing skills and her complex world building and the extremely likeable and broken characters. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it. The anticipation and suspense was so strong, I felt like biting my nails (but I refrained, barely). The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because I was not a fan of the ending. It felt a bit lackluster for me. But otherwise, this book is a page-turner.
“When I look into that beautiful, hopeful, frightened face, the only thing I see is everything I’ve ever wanted. Us.”
The main protagonists, Rain and Wes, were both so damaged and complex. My heart hurt seeing what they both went through. Their pain, and their backstories were all stuck in my head. The chemistry between them was sizzling and I loved how there were elements of humor woven throughout the book. I think without those moments, the story would’ve been too gloomy. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Also, kudos to the author for her writing style. Some people just have a way with words.
“She coils my shirt in both fists. Burrows her face into my neck. Her breath comes in short, hot bursts as she giggles against my skin. Her nose is cold. And all I can do is watch in humiliation as the meat puppet I live inside of tips its face down and smells her fucking hair.”
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Wow. I did not see this book coming. It was unbelievably good. The world this author created and what happens over the course of the pages blew me away. Book 2 is just as good. I can’t wait for book 3 coming up, which I’ve pre-ordered. Totally amazing book.
I haven’t read a dystopian romance for a while. This was sooo great!!! I loved the concept, with the apocalypse coming (the four horseman) on April 23rd and the world going crazy. Two young people trying to survive together. With their troublesome pasts haunting them. The ending had me freaking out!! I can’t wait for book 2!! Oh, and I loved how short it was, but not too short either. Too many books are so long now. But then there are some that are so short that you don’t get the same character depth. This was perfect. Love, love, loved it!!!!!
This was my first dystopian read and also my first B.B. Easton book. This genre is not something I would normally read, but I decided to take a chance on something new. And I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed it. Praying for Rain was brilliantly written, refreshing, sexy and full of surprises. A real page-turner that hooked me from the get go.
With the end of the world quickly approaching, the town erupts into chaos and pandemonium. Rain has already made peace with the fact that she won’t survive April 23rd. She is just trying make it until then by numbing her mind with a bottle of pills. Anything to keep the pain and memories at bay. Then a chance encounter at the Burger Palace has her crossing paths with Wes, a survivalist/lifer. He only plans to use her to his benefit, but there is just something about her. He is drawn to her, and the newly formed friendship quickly turns into something more. But will they be able to escape death by the hands of the four horsemen?
During the darkest of days, with the world coming to an end, these two found each other. Both were deeply flawed and broken, but as the layers are peeled away, their deep seated issues are explained. I absolutely fell head over heels for these two. The entire time I was reading this, I felt like I was immersed in this world. The world building, the characters, the engrossing story-line, were all perfectly done and held me spellbound from beginning to end. If you’re like me, and this is not something you would normally read… Please take a chance on it. You won’t be disappointed.
I loved Rain and Wes. I don’t know many authors that can make a tortured Hero in a Hawaiian shirt so hot! B.B. Easton has a talent for writing damaged characters who are broken and so different from what I know myself in a way that I also find them strong and relatable. This isn’t your normal romance story and the twist at the end was an interesting turn of events so I am looking forward to the next books. I found the chemistry to be off the charts and at under 250 pages it was a quick read for me.
Freaking fantastic! I absolutely adored this original, beautifully written story. It’s rare to find a post-apocalyptic romance that slays on all levels, but this one absolutely does. Highly recommended!
This book was an apocalyptic HIT!
Anyone who knows me knows I’m sort of a survivalist whacko… I’m a Walking Dead superfan, and I sometimes take my love for the show too seriously, in that I’m completely prepared for an apocalypse situation.
So when I found out one of my FAVORITE authors was writing an apocalypse love story, I was like SIGN ME THE HELL UP!
And let me tell you, guys… she did. not. disappoint.
I was sucked into this story immediately. Rain was troubled and dealing with the hell on Earth occurring around her, so I was instantly on her side. And then the brooding tattooed guy with a gun showed up and my panties disintegrated, as did my hopes of not falling completely in love with him.
Wes is a new book boyfriend for me, so I’ll call him by his full delicious name, Wesson Parker. Um…Yea. Yum. And everyone back off. He’s mine.
Before reading this book, I found myself wondering how BB would go about writing a love story centered around an apocalypse. There are many ways it could be done, I suppose, and you want to make sure it’s realistic, not too over-the-top, while also making it action-packed and riddled with a sense of doom, because hello, it’s the apocalypse.
Well, Mrs. Easton hit this shit out of the park! I physically couldn’t stop reading. While this book is pretty short, I read the whole thing in about a day, meaning it got me out of my book funk! (I’d been reading super slow before this because of stuff going on in my life, but now I’m back, baby! All thanks to my fave author! Muah!)
Anyway I’m getting off topic. This book was a perfectly fun read. Angsty and full of steam and chemistry, but also depressing and nerve-racking at times. Wes and Rain together give me life! The way the whole thing came together at the end, their love rising from the ashes of sadness, was fully perfect. And I LOVE cliffhangers, so I cannot WAIT for the next book! I’ll be preordering that one as soon as it’s available too, don’t you worry!
Apocasized applause for BB Easton on Praying For Rain! Highly recommended and anticipated series!!!