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The Sound of Rain
by Sarah Loudin Thomas - In the intense opening pages of this novel, Judd Markley regains consciousness after a mine cave-in, in total darkness. After being rescued and recovering from his injuries, he finds that his younger brother died in the cave-in, and Judd decides he will never go back into the mines again. Instead, he pursues his brother's dream of heading to South Carolina and finds a job working for a timber company in Myrtle Beach. He soon finds a few new friends, and earns respect in the company for his mechanical skills.
One of Judd's new acquaintances is Larkin Heyward, the owner's daughter. Larkin is good-hearted and cheerful, and although she enjoys volunteering at the hospital, she's convinced that she could make a difference and help people in a more significant way. Specifically, she wants to join her brother in Kentucky and help the people of Appalachia. However, she's naive and a little spoiled, and she even uses a bit of trickery to get Judd to help her get to Kentucky and her brother.
It turns out to be an eye-opening experience. Larkin sees what life is like in the mountains first-hand, and questions her ability to connect with people and help them. Her father tracks them down and tries to get Larkin to come home, and Judd reluctantly returns to his job in Myrtle Beach as well. By this time the relationship between Judd and Larkin is deepening, and both of them must seek out God's plan and learn to trust it, and both will need to decide how their hopes and dreams fit into the plan -- and which they may need to set aside if they want to find happiness together.
Once again, Thomas delivers sweet but realistic characters with interesting stories and challenges. There aren't easy answers for the problems they face, and the ups and downs of the relationships and stories reflect that. Judd and Larkin and many of the supporting characters remind of people I have met, and by the end of the book I feel like I know them well and would love to give them a hug or share a cup of coffee with them.
From the publisher:
In the Dark of the Mine, In the Face of Rising Water,
In the Shadows of the Hills, Faith Will See Them Through
Judd Markley knows he can never set foot underground again. The mine collapse that nearly killed him and claimed his brother's life means leaving West Virginia forever. Although that hard Appalachian world is all he knows, he puts it behind him and heads for the open sky of the thriving town of 1954 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Larkin Heyward's life in the beach town is uncomplicated, mostly volunteer work and dancing at the Pavilion. But she dreams of one day doing more and being more -- maybe moving to the hills and hollers of Kentucky to help the poor children of Appalachia. But she's never even met someone who's lived there -- until she encounters Judd, the newest employee at her father's timber company.
Drawn together in the wake of a hurricane that changes Myrtle Beach forever, Judd's and Larkin's dreams pull them in divergent directions. It will take a significant sacrifice to keep them together -- or maybe, it will take a miracle.
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