| Title | : | Saving Rain |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 494 |
| Publication | : | Published July 14, 2023 |
Are you ready for redemption?
My name is Soldier, but I was never meant to be a hero.
From the moment I was born, I was looked at as a beacon of hope, a guiding light—a savior. But that type of pressure can drive a man to desperation, to do things he shouldn’t, and in my case, that’s exactly what happened.
All I ever wanted to be was a good person, someone my grandparents could be proud of, but for a long time, I couldn’t find the strength to be proud of myself.
I paid the price.
I did my time.
Yet ... somehow, I got lucky.
I was given a second chance to do better, to be the man I always believed I could be. And after finding the love I never knew I deserved, I’m starting to wonder if there’s still room for me to be a hero after all ...
Saving Rain Reviews
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I might not be a chemist but I do know that there was no chemistry in this book.
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2.5-3 ⭐️
I saw a reel for this book and was instantly intrigued especially because I love the single mom trope.
Yet so many things went wrong that this isn’t worthy of more than 3 stars.
I felt like the insta love in this book was so superficial and didn’t give me anything. Yes they had a backstory that was a traumatic event for Rain but WHAT?
They fell in love quicker than Cinderella… and Cinderella is love at first sight.
I also sadly felt like Soldier could have had more of a development throughout the story especially at the end.
Also let’s talk about the end because Soldier was not a bad person but there were people in this book that were bad and I hated how in the end everything was resolved.
I also just have an issue with his name but that’s my own personal problem.
Now the things I loved:
- Noah and Soldier’s relationship
- Harry
- Rain’s support
- the extremely sad beginning of this book out of Soldier’s perspective as a child
- how we saw why Soldier did the things he did -
MY REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
❥ 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡 ❥ Is a full length emotional romance book by new to me author Kelsey Kingsley.
After seeing this doing the rounds and oneclicking, was a decision I don’t regret, this had all those teary eyed feels throughout, twists and turns had me inhaling this as though my life depended on it. I couldn’t put it down.
This kickstarts off when Soldier is born into the world by an eighteen year old who faces many addiction problems so it's her parents who come in and take the reigns and raise Soldier. Life was pretty good up to that point, though his mum wasn't much in his life, his grandparents protected him and made things appear as normal as possible. Until their passing when he's thirteen years old and he's living with his mother.
From this point onwards his life is spiraling down a rabbit hole. Even at such a young age he had to become the man of the house because his pill popping mother wasn't capable. He only had one constant in his life and that was his best friend Billy.
At the age of eighteen just before things take a turn for the worst he steps in when many didn't and saved a girl named Rain, that night left him scarred for life, a night that resonated deep within him, so deep that when he's incarcerated at the age of twenty-two she's still on his mind.
One prison guard stood out amongst the rest, but that didn't really show until Soldier is released at the age of thirty and this very guard goes above and beyond to help him get on his feet.
When he meets Rain again after so many years so many feels detonated.
My heart was put through the wringer for everything Soldier had endured, I felt everything this author hoped I would. So many moments my heart just ached
A slow burn, unique, unputdownable, heartbreaking, beautiful in its entirety! Definitely worth reading.
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4.5 stars
For such a long book, I really flew through Saving Rain. It’s one of those stories that captivated me from the start. A lot of the book doesn’t feel like a romance, more like the story of a man’s youth, fall, and redemption.
Soldier is born to a teenage mother who never could get it together. Raised by his grandparents, his childhood was okay. Until it wasn’t. Growing up in his teenage years was hard and he made mistakes that he paid for dearly. Now he’s in his early thirties and it’s time for his second chance.
I never found Soldier to be a bad guy, just a guy who tried to do what he thought was best when there were no good choices to make. I loved his romance and second chance at life. This story was emotional and I was in tears more than once, but the end left a big smile on my face. This was a beautiful story and I’m so glad I picked it up. -
abandoned my entire to do list today to read this in one sitting and wow 5/5 ★!!
darker/angstier small town town romance about an ex-con w a hero complex who just got out of prison and the single mom who lives next door. two people with hearts of gold who just need a win in life and they find each other. but haunts from their pasts are trying to catch up to them. really had me on the edge of my seat there the last 20% whew. UGH it was SO GOOD. -
DNF@42%
This was too insta love for me. I enjoyed reading about his background though. -
Rain + Soldier
The book starts the day Soldier was born.
His mom was only 18 years old with a lot of addiction problems. But his grandparents were the best and he had a pretty great childhood. But when he was only 13 they were both dead and he had to move into a tiny crap place with his mom.
He wanted to be the good man his grandpa raised him to be, but life wasn't easy.
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Ugh. I ugly cried so bad through the first few chapters!
That poor adorable little boy!
And then once his grandparents are gone life just sucks.
He has to do illegal stuff because his mom is just not able to pay the rent or do anything really.
And then really bad things happen and ten years later Soldier just tries to be the man his grandpa wanted him to be.
And it's looking good. He finds his place and his people.
But is this his final happy end or is the bad stuff still not done with him?
I loved this book.
It was so sweet and sad and heartbreaking and you just want to jump into the pages and save that poor boy. Ugh. He just wants to be a good man and life constantly throws the worst things in his way.
This was a beautiful life and love story.
Soldier is the most perfect anti hero book boyfriend!
Noah and Rain and Harry are the perfect co-stars.
I so need to see this as a movie one day!
Also, idiot me didn't even know who the heroine was going to be - but to be fair, we don't meet her until 12% of the book and then just for a second! LOL!
And also for those of you worried that this is a military/war kind of book. Nope. Soldier is just his name!
I would've wanted a tiny little bit more at the end. Before the epilogue. No idea what - but just a little more.
But I still loved reading this so much!
SAVING RAIN was such a great book.
Sweet + heartbreaking + dangerous + adorable + beautiful and all the things! READ IT!
💜
💜
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I read A LOT of books, and I'm just being honest when I say that I can read a 5-star book and within hours, I can forget the characters' names. Once in a while though, I'll read a book...meet a character...and I'll just know that I'll never forget them. Soldier. That's a name that I'll never forget.
I'm honestly not sure how I should proceed with this review. For one, I can barely see through my swollen eyes or breathe through my stuffy nose. My face is stained with tears and I feel like I've run an emotional marathon, but let me try...
Soldier was born to be a hero, a protector, a savior. He feels the need to protect at all costs, but some people just can't be saved, and maybe Soldier just needs someone to try to save him.
That's all I'm telling you about this story, because you really just need to read it for yourself. I will warn you that there are triggers galore in this book, so read with caution. I will also tell you that this is a heavy, heartbreaking, gut wrenching masterpiece. Second chance is one of my favorite tropes, and at it's core, that's what this story is. It's a second chance at life. It's a reminder that life is sometimes cruel and unfair, but behind the darkest of shadows, sometimes the light will shine through. It's a story of redemption and forgiveness, and above all, it's a story of love. This truly is a beautifully heartbreaking love story.
I've said for years that Kelsey Kingsley is one of the most talented authors out there today. As I've read her books over time, her passion, talent and writing has only continued to grow. With this book though? She has truly undone herself. This isn't just some romance novel that you read and forget. I lived this book right along with Soldier and Rain. Every disappointment, heartbreak, fear...I felt it all. I sat through so much of this story with a lump in my throat and a sense of foreboding hanging over my head. I thought I knew where this story was headed, only to be surprised again and again. I wanted to get to the end, but I didn't want the story to be over. This is just one of those books that I'll never forget. -
4.5 ⭐
Maybe I should have written this review when I finished reading this book. Even though I enjoyed it, I have a memory of a fish, and I already started forgetting it.
Anyway, this is Soldier(H)'s story from literally the moment he was born. It was so sad; it had been a while since I cried because of a book, and by the end of this one, I was a freaking mess.
I loved how the author's writing was so simple yet deep. It makes you feel every emotion Soldier felt.
We tend to judge others by their past mistakes. This book was eye-opening, showing that sometimes we should give each other a chance, that we can change and become much better versions of ourselves, and that the past should stay in the past.
Soldier was a character who felt so real. What he went through was heartbreaking; he may have made mistakes, but he's an amazing person who carried a big responsibility and guilt at a young age. I loved his character development; the change from the beginning to the end of the book was beautiful.
Rain, the love interest, I didn't get to connect with her much because the book was from the hero's point of view. But it doesn't mean that I didn't like her; she was the change the hero needed, she was his person, and she made him happy.
This book was full of angst, but it was worth it.
If you're in the mood for a good cry, this book is for you!
Note to me: Soldier gave Rain sunflowers on their first date
-“Why are you looking at me like that?”
-“Like what?”
-“Like you’re seeing me for the first time all over again,”
-“Maybe I am.”
-“What do you see now?”
-“What do I see?
I see my hope,
I see my dreams,
I see my salvation and redemption,
I see the stars,
I see the way they pierce the darkness with light, making the night beautiful when it would otherwise be haunting and terrible.” -
Wow!!! If you had told me a week ago I was going to fall in love with a character that would surpass Warrior Blue, I would’ve said there’s no way. Well… it happened. Soldier is that character that you root for from the beginning. I’m not sure I remember reading a story that in the beginning we have them as a child. Soldier sucked me into his story. I absolutely loved Harry. The characters from River Canyon, you just can’t help but love them. Ray & Noah were perfect for him. Their stories came together, and you don’t see how until the end.
This story is so good. Seeing it through Soldier’s eyes had me in tears, laughing, or ready to throw things mad. This author is so good at creating the world around her characters. We fall in love with all of them. I think we all know someone with a drug problem, and all we want is to save them. This book shows how frustrating it is. -
Edit for second time around. Listened to the audio the week it came back and it was just as amazing second time around. Kelsey is a storyteller unlike no other. The audio was amazing and put all my feelings into the tone of their voice. To hear it was something else entirely. ♾️ stars. Always.
• • •
I read this book in one sitting and I’m just sitting here… in awe. Ms. Kingsley, what was in this book? Because I’m still sitting here trying to process everything and I’m shook. It was like a dream?
Kelsey gave us a beautiful story about forgiveness through a man named Solider who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. From the very beginning, as a baby, the weight of the world was put on him and instead of learning how to get rid of it, he just kept piling it to.
This book starts out as Solider is being born, but then continues to jump through the years. His pivotal moments in life are told and then something tragic happens and leads him to prison for close to a decade. During that time he befriends a guard who basically takes him in and he continues to write to someone who, for all intents and purposes, doesn’t even exist. (She does, but he didn’t know that.) when he gets out of prison, that’s when the real plot of this book starts. It’s who he works for, what town he goes to, who his neighbors are, and more. There’s two people in particular that he shows interest in - the little boy who was the first person to show him kindness at the grocery store… and his mom. I’ll leave it there.
This is a beautiful story about forgiveness. People forgiving him, him forgiving himself, and then acceptance too - the people in this town can choose to think of him in one way, but they soon realize how wrong they are. And he has to accept who he is, too.
Also, Solider is a 6’7” broody, morally grey, tattooed hero. I’ll leave that with you to mull over.
I don’t want to give away much because really it’s a remarkable story. I don’t think I’ve read anything this good in a while and I think it’s one of my top 2023 reads now.
P.S. have you read In the Weeds (Lovelight farms 2) by B.K. Borison? Because I essentially picture Solider as Beckett but with a dark past. I hope that sells you.
Thank you Kelsey for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. You’ve officially become one of my auto-buy authors. You’re amazing.
5⭐️ 1🌶️
Tropes
- Just out of prison
- Single mom
- Small town
- Second chance(ish)
- Hero’s POV -
i put this off for a few day bc i honestly thought i wouldn’t like it but it was really good!!
this book is all told in the mmc (soldier) pov. honestly this author is the best one (maybe only?) that i’ve read that does the male pov so well.
the first 30%ish of the book is soldiers back story. time jumps through his childhood that showcase specific/life altering events. his mom is an addict and young (18) when she had soldier and unfortunately never could get clean. soldiers childhood was fine up until both of his grandparents died and he was left solely with his mother. when he was old enough he dropped out of high school and started working to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and the bills paid. 😭 no kid should go through what he did. diane did not deserve her son, ever since he was born she told him he was to save her and soldier did so again and again throughout the whole book.
he eventually started taking from his moms pill stash to sell them for more money. he did this for years until it all came to a head one night when he was 21. his mom had stolen all his savings and used it on drugs. (he was saving to get them out of the shitty town they lived in in hopes of a better life elsewhere)
unfortunately his friend had taken a pill on their way to sell them and it was laced and he died. soldier then spent 10 years in prison.
we don’t meet the fmc (rain) again (they first meet in a time jump when she is 15 and soldier is 18) until he’s out of prison and living in a new town where she also relocated. she’s a single mom to a 12 year old and becomes his new neighbor.
i loved how their relationship progressed. they started out slow, building trust and a friendship before they kinda just naturally fell into that next step of a relationship. she’s a great mom and noah was such a good kid. he was only 12 yet had seen too much that he shouldn’t have and tried to protect his mother against anyone who he thought would hurt her.
i liked seeing that noah and soldier had a relationship/friendship outside of soldier dating his mom.
no third act breakup. no ow drama. om drama kinda? rain’s ex/noah’s dad comes around a few times, nothing good ever comes of his visits bc he was an abusive asshole. -
I heard this book was the next big thing. The only big thing I got was a big disappointment. I finished it in one night and I low key just hated it. I wanted to quit so many times but mama didn’t raise no quitter. Like I wish we got more of Rain’s POV. I felt like the chemistry was insta love in a way and I hated that. Also Soldier’s life was depressing af (who TF names a kid solider?!) only this was useless and disappointing.
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DNF @ 63%
This isn’t a terrible story, it’s just not believable. I can suspend disbelief to a huge degree, but even I can’t. I just can’t.
I would say if you liked Archer’s Voice, which I also DNF’ed, then you’ll like this.
It’s from the MMCs perspective only. I think dual POV might’ve saved the book. Unfortunately, the MMC comes across as a man written how a woman would like a man to be with a woman’s voice instead of coming across as masculine and authentic.
He’s NOT morally great. Not even a little bit. He’s as Lily white as they come. Selling drugs in high school just isn’t enough to make him come across as gray. Just a kid trying not to starve. Even his prison time is tame and boring.
But what I really couldn’t get behind was -
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A poignant story about the human journey and the beauty that comes from overcoming adversity. Please make sure to check TW before reading as this book delves into the familial heartbreak surrounding substance abuse.
I really loved the single POV from a male character for a change. I truly appreciate when an author takes on the challenge of writing a morally grey character because that alone is the human experience. We are all a messy combination of good and bad. Soldier’s story is an important one and I loved following his journey and hearing his thoughts. I loved how his narrative grew and evolved as he aged, beginning with childlike opinions and growing into the better educated thoughts of a man who has been shaped by his experiences. I loved all the side characters in River canyon but especially Harry. Rain and Noah are delightful, and their relationship is endearing and genuine. My heart broke for the difficulties they faced. I loved watching Rain and Soldier learn together about the things they were robbed of in their youth. Overall the story was gripping. My only complaint is that it seemed to tie up really quickly in the last few pages, and I wish that the pacing could have been a little more even. -
⭐️Rating: 5/5
✍🏼Author: Kelsey Kingsley
📖Genre: Romantic Suspense
READ THIS BOOK!!
Saving Rain is truly a remarkable book. It's about Soldier, who has had his share of unfortunate events that led him to making poor decisions resulting in a traumatic event that landed him in prison. Soldier has gained his reputation of being a troubled young man, up to no good, but deep down he has the heart of gold and is determined to prove to himself to everyone who has ever doubted him. There is one person in his life, who knows that he's a good person, and that's the girl he once saved- Rain.
After Soldier gets out of prison, he ends up reconnecting with Rain and her adorable son, Noah. He has a chance to start his life over, and this time, it will be better... right? Or will his troubling past come back to interfere with his new life he has built?
This was my first-time reading Kelsey Kingsley, and I feel like I've missed out. Kelsey does a great job storytelling this beautiful, tragic story that literally pulls at your heartstrings. Be prepared to cry! I am so in love with these characters - Soldier, Rain, Harry, little Noah - ahhhh! I need more. I think this book is a great reminder, that you always have the opportunity to rewrite your narrative, even if it feels like the world is against you.
Thank you so much Kelsey for writing this, can't wait to read more of your work! -
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Is it ok if you do the wrong thing for the right reason? This is the crux of Soldier's life. My heart just broke for him and all he endured. He made terrible choices, but perhaps for the right reason, and he paid the price.
While I did enjoy this book, I thought it started out a bit slow. The first several chapters of Soldier's youth kind of slowed the story down, but they were necessary. Once he was released from prison, the story really got going. I just knew things wouldn't be sunshine and roses after that, and at points I had anxiety turning the page, just waiting for the other shoe to drop!
The side characters were great, and what I repeatedly say the best part of Kelsey Kingsley books are the cameos from characters past!
All in all this was a great read! -
5 stars
This is the second book I read by Kelsey. This is the first book all year to make me read it one sitting. What an absolute masterpiece. What a beautiful story. When I collect my thoughts I’ll write more. -
All I can say to justify my feelings, I love this with everything fiber of my being.
*only reason I’m giving it 4/5 stars because it was a bit slow at times and needed some fine tuning* -
✩‧₊˚ 𝟐.𝟐𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
★¸.•☆•.¸★ 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 •☆•.★
𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 (H) tried to beat the odds and do something more in life, but the more he tried, it seemed inevitable to end up in a situation similar to his mother's. When he ends up in prison, he needs a source to vent, so one day, out of desperation, he writes letters to the one person I could think of who he'd never wronged, a girl named Rain whom he once saved. 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 (h) was protected by Soldier that day, but her life never got better, but when he ends up in her life again, things start to look better for her and her son, Noah.
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
⋆◦•●♡ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬♡●•◦⋆
I wanted to like this book, but the writing didn’t work out for me. Either that or how the book progressed with the romance when it felt out of place in a book like this. I did admire Soldier’s character and how much he loved his mom when he was a little kid, and it was very sad to see that throughout the years, his perception of her changed when she realized that she was going through an addiction. Everything possible that could go wrong went wrong for Soldier. The people who truly loved and supported him passed away, and he was left alone, especially with the caregiver undergoing an addiction, who wasn’t there for him the way he needed his mother to be. He gave his all for someone who wasn’t willing to do the same, and it wasn't easy to read about someone who has so much potential, but he gave so much to someone who didn’t appreciate what he was doing to save them.
I didn’t love the romance, but I did like the direction of the story's plot. It was interesting to see how people of different upbringings still ended up in the same place, if not worse. Billy grew up with loving parents and a traditional household but fell victim to addiction. Meanwhile, Soldier constantly relied on his grandparents because his mother was an addict. However, he still ended up in jail because he wanted to protect his mother even though she had placed him in that predicament.
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
⋆◦•●♡ 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ♡●•◦⋆
The romance fell out of place because he met Rain once and "saved" her, but that was enough for him to remember her for years. Then he went to jail for nine years and didn't speak to her again, but he wrote letters to recognize the one person he didn't fail — Rain. Their connection didn't make sense to me because their one interaction didn't feel like a defining moment. While it was special for Soldier, it didn't seem like a groundbreaking moment that would lead him to remember him for all these years. However, I like kids and books, so the interactions between Soldier and Noah — Rain's son, were wholesome and my favorite parts. But beyond that, I was not invested in the relationship between Soldier and Rain. It felt like he had a savior complex because he protected her all those years ago, but I don't understand where and why they fell in love. He kept protecting her, and it felt like he was compensating for his past mistakes since he couldn't protect Billy or his mother.
Halfway into the book, he was already thinking about what it would be to call her his wife. I think it was too soon, and the romance has no progression. It actually did not make sense. Besides Rain and Noah being the only people in the town who accepted Soldier after his release, it was the only thing they could bond about. I must say that he deserves all the love in the world after the shitty life that he's had. I genuinely feel bad because he did so much for his mother; he wanted her to get better, and she never did. As a result, he lost a part of himself, but having Rain and Noah in his life made it better for him. He compares him to a Taylor Swift song; he's "This Is Me Trying" because of the part that says, "I got wasted like all my potential" he never wanted to be like his mother. Still, by trying to protect her, he ended up in a similar situation selling drugs to support her. It wasn't his fault; it was just terrible circumstances that he was dealt with, so he deserves Rain and Noah in his life because he hasn't gotten a break in years.
A quote in the book said the Soldier was a little kid in a man's body, which was so accurate the entire time. He seemed to want his mother's validation throughout the book and wanted to be seen. However, the only people to truly see him were Rain and Noah (and Harry), which is why he felt so deeply connected to Rain because he just wanted to be loved in whatever capacity. Even at the end of the book, he wanted his mom's acceptance, and sadly, she passed away before he got that closure. He was waiting for her to love him back because he adored her as a kid and always wanted her to get better, but unfortunately, addiction got the best of her. Soldier got the life he deserved in the end, and that's the only part worth reading. I'm not too concerned about the romance, and more so how he got his life back together with the support of people he cared about and always believed in his innocence.
*•.¸♡ 𝐎͢𝐕͢𝐄͢𝐑͢𝐀͢𝐋͢𝐋͢ ♡¸.•*
I’m unsure if I would recommend this book, mainly because I didn’t love it. However, I don’t want my experience with it to discourage you from reading it. I’m always trusting booktok recs and forming my opinion; this is just another “not great” rec, and that’s fine. -
4.75⭐️
OMGGG😭💖
i cried a lot in the beginning and everytime this man say anything about his past how he feels i cry again. it was really emotional & beautiful at the end and i'm so happy he finally got his happy ending.
it's the first book i read in the male pov and it's the only time i cared for their opinion tbh. -
Is there anything left of my heart??! 😩😭 To say I loved this book is an understatement.
Soldier and Rain were soulmates😍 this book was everything!! -
You will feel absolutely wrung out close to the end of this story. And you’ll feel hopeless. Scared. Sad. So very sad. But then? Hope wakes up again. And the fact that Soldier is able to break the chain, along with an incredibly unexpected person in the end, is enough to make this book one you wish didn’t have to end.
Soldier has spent his entire life protecting. His mom. His friend. A girl. His heart. And what has he gotten for it? Misery. He doesn’t even fight what he deems his deserving penance. All of that proves just how good a person he is, from start to finish. Once his penance has been paid, he’s dealt another blow and needs to find a new start. Luckily, he gets it. And he gets a town that seems to love him as much as he loves it, even though he thinks the people there likely don’t want him around much. He also gets Rain. The girl he once knew has grown into a woman he definitely wants to know, but complications are all around. Is he ever destined to have good in life, or will Soldier always be just short of reaching out to grasp that which he so desperately wants?
This might very well be my favorite book from this author. It’s full of emotions that grab you from the first page and refuse to let go. It’s a man trying to find his way, along with a woman doing the same. It’s second chances. It’s secrets and lies and truths and sacrifice. It’s….life. You won’t even feel the time slipping by while you’re with Soldier and Rain and Noah and Harry and everyone else. You’ll be shocked to find that an hour or more has passed while you’ve been in Soldier’s head. And you’ll feel every bit of fear, sadness, pain, hope, and love that he and Rain both feel by the end. Then you’ll wish for more. -
Saving Rain
Saving Rain was a fabulous book, one of my favorites of the entire year, and then some. The characters were so amazingly written. Soldier is my perfect hero. He has the sweetest, most protective heart. Noah was the sweetest kid and helped make this book everything it is. I loved Harry and the fact that he took Soldier under his wing and helped make him the man he became. I hated Seth and was glad he got what he deserved. Kelsey, you did an amazing job. This is your best book yet. I so can't wait for Stormy's book. -
What a beautifully sad story! Soldier was born into such a tough life and he just really wanted to be loved by his mom and be a good person. This story takes you on his journey from beginning to end and my heart just broke for him with every obstacle that was thrown his way. Not only does this story show us that sometimes good people do bad things, but it also shows us that there are genuinely nice people that see the good in others. I couldn't help but be so proud of the man Soldier became, even when the world was against him. I loved this.
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Soldier was born and his mother named him so he is saving her. He wants to do good and take care of people, but life is funny that way. He saves a girl named Rain from being raped. Soldier’s ends up serving time and meets someone who changes his life. He comes out for his second chance. Soldier meets a woman and her son Noah. Can Soldier make his second chance last or will life get in the way ? Excellent Characters and storyline Highly Recommended Excellent book. I absolutely love Soldier and his character development is amazing. Great supporting character. This book was written beautifully with all the hard and soft edges of life, and flowed beautifully. The characters came off the page and felt so feel. I can honestly say this is the best book I’ve read this year. All the feels.
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Soldier
The heroes name was Soldier. His mother was an addict but his grandparents helped raise him thank goodness so he was lucky in that. But he made mistakes but he really was just trying to keep himself and his Mom alive. He stole her drugs and sold them so they would have food and shelter and electricity and he saved so they could escape their dead end lives. And she was just a junkie and stole all that money he saved and he took all her pills to sell, and they were deadly and his best friend died. He goes to jail for 12 years or less maybe and when he comes out he finds Rain again , a girl he had saved from being assaulted when she was fifteen, and her little boy and finds love. But there is so much more to this story. Evil is stalking him and wants him dead. The relationship between the prison guard Harry, and his family is so priceless but little Noah, Rains son, is just so touching. And his love for Rain and hers for him was beautiful. I ugly cried through parts of this and it really was good. New author for me so I am excited. and I look forward to reading more if she has some. This was free from KU and it was safe. There is attempted sexual assault, drug use, and deaths of loved ones though too. -
This is the first book I've read by Kelsey Kingsley, and it definitely won't be my last! I went into this book not knowing much. She mentioned "6'7 tatted ex con" and I immediately said "I'm reading that!" Lol.
This book starts the day Soldier Mason was born. From his very first day on this earth, it was hard for him. My heart broke being in Soldier's pov when he was 5, 8, 12, and so forth. He had such a hard life. I cried so many times. Kelsey really has a way with words. She made me feel all of his pain and it hurt. Through everything that he went through, he was still such a good person. Deep down all he wanted was to take care of the people he loved and he wanted to be loved in return.
I wanted to beg her to never stop loving me despite it all because if she did, there wouldn’t be a single shred of love for me left in this entire world.
I don't want to go into too much detail about the breakdown of the plot, because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. The side characters, mainly Harry, Noah, and Ray really made this book for me. Without even one of them, he would have had a different life. I felt like I truly knew Soldier and even though he only "lives" in a book, I feel proud for "knowing" him ❤️
You are cared for, Soldier, and as long as I'm around, you will never ever be alone in this world. You will always have somewhere to go. Remember that. -Harry
“I know what to do with pain, Ray,” I said, keeping my tone barely above a whisper. “Give yours to me. Let me carry it, so you don’t have to anymore.”
The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars is because.... there was a lack of spice. This is totally a me thing. Like I said, I've never read a Kelsey Kingsley book, so maybe this is the norm for her books, but I'm used to much more and because of that, I felt like something was missing. With that being said, I still absolutely loved this book.
If you want a deep emotional read, Saving Rain is the perfect book to fill that. Even with the lacking spice, I will continue with this series and read more from Kelsey, because she is such an amazing writer! I read this while on vacation, and I wanted to abandon all of my plans and my family to read this book!
Stars- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (rounding up to 5)
Spice- 🌶🌶
***I was kindly given an ARC and this review is my honest opinion*** -
I’m giving this 4.25 stars. This was the first book I’ve enjoyed that was written entirely in the mmc’s pov. It was less focused on the romance and more focused on the life of the main character, which isn’t usually for me, but I enjoyed it here.
Soldier had a really hard childhood and ends up going to prison, even though he is a good guy with mostly good intentions. This story starts with his childhood and we get to see the pivotal moments that led to his incarceration, like how he grew up, his poor home life, how he got involved in selling drugs, etc. Then he gets released from prison and has to navigate his new life while also still facing this old one. He meets the love of his life and starts fresh in a new town, but we get to see how he still faces so many mental and physical struggles, but also how he overcomes them.
The writing style wasn’t my favourite and maybe if this book was centred on a different subject I wouldn’t enjoyed it as much, but as someone who is literally studying prisons and restorative justice in university, this was a beautiful story with hard truths that I really appreciated. I was sobbing by the last chapter because not only did he get his happy ending but he finally felt like he deserved it 😭😭😭😭😭
If you’re someone who only likes books that are heavy on the romance, I probably wouldn’t read this one. But if you’re looking for a really good story on how someone is sometimes just dealt some shitty cards in life and needs to experience the horrible stuff to get to the good, read this book! -
i’m not sure if i’ve ever read a book that contained a pov from only the man and at first, i didn’t know how i would feel about it. however, soldier’s story and the way it’s told in a chronological perspective throughout the chapters makes it important that it’s in his pov.
(it also made me cry SAUR much)
also, i’m not used to reading books that have little to no spice and, while this book had some (semi) spicy scenes, during those scenes, the main focus was not on the sex factor but rather the intimacy factor if that makes sense?
one thing i didn’t really care much for (and rlly why i didn’t give the book 5 stars) was that because it wasn’t dual pov, it felt like rain’s character wasn’t developed that great. the book’s title is called ‘saving rain’ but like i didn’t feel like it was about rain at all in the sense that it was about soldier, his character growth, his life story, etc, and rain just happened to be there.
