Former Rain (Rain Trilogy, 1) (Rain (Butterfly Press)) [Paperback]

Vanessa Miller (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rain (Butterfly Press) | Publication Date: May 1, 2003

When it Rains it pours, just ask Elizabeth Underwood or Nina Lewis. They thought the unfaithful men in their lives caused their storms, but as they are forced on a journey of self-examination, they realize that something greater than a do right man is needed to heal the hurts that trouble their souls. Kenneth Underwood and Isaac Walker want to rid themselves of the selfish, ungrateful women in their lives. Kenneth, a successful businessman, is planning to divorce Elizabeth, his wife of 7 years. Isaac, a man of the street and Nina's former lover, has a more final solution to rid himself of his problem. Will they allow the grace of God to heal and restore the shattered lives they have created, or are they forever destined to go through the storm?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vanessa Miller is an accomplished playwright. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don't Turn Your Back on God and Can't You Hear Them Crying. She is a graduate of Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communications

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Butterfly Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972885005
• ISBN-13: 978-0972885003
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,841,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The first of three rain storms!, September 28, 2003

By 

K. Kimbrough "kkimbr7" (Bakersfield, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Former Rain (Rain Trilogy, 1) (Rain (Butterfly Press)) (Paperback)

In Vanessa Miller's novel Former Rain, we are introduced to two couples, Kenneth and Elizabeth Underwood and Nina Lewis and Isaac Walker, whose lives are spinning out of control. Kenneth has been unfaithful to Elizabeth, something he seemingly got from his father. And Elizabeth is a Prime A B****, which was one of the things that sent Kenneth into the arms of another. Nina is a naive young thing that gets involved with Isaac, a heartless cold drug dealer. When she realizes that she needs to get out of the lifestyle that she created with him, she finds that he is not going to just let her leave. In this story both of these couples hit road bumps that are definitely relationship wreckers but will they allow the grace of God to make the difference in their lives?

Vanessa Miller tells an engaging realistic story of how people respond when they are hurt and bitter. How they lash out and do things that you cannot take back and always regret. However once she introduces God into the lives of these people, the dramatic fiction takes a backseat to scriptures, sermons, and bible lessons. The excessive use of these elements distracted from the story and everything that was played out in the dramatic seemed to be laid out in the scripture or in a "Christian" explanation. The reader is even subjected to that actual voice of God giving direction and a visit to hell. Despite these things, I appreciated the story and the storytelling. The ending was a real stretch that fit like an afterthought, although it may play a part in the anticipation of the sequel in the planned Rain trilogy.

I would recommend this book to other Christians and those who are open to Christianity. It would be a definite plus for book clubs that exist in churches. This book offers much to be discussed.

Kotanya
APOOO Bookclub

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real People with Real Issues - This book is Real Good - An author who shows with God anything is possible!, June 21, 2011

By 

SEDivineDiva - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Former Rain (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

I'm sure you've read the descriptions and reviews of others. I won't lie after reading a few other books, I slept on this one and the skills of Vanessa Miller. Big mistake! I am not into those African-American books dealing with the dirt that goes on in many of our communities. So I was turned off and closed my mind to this book but after having finished all my other books and being on a business trip, I thought I'd go ahead and read it. I thought I wouldn't like this book because of the setting and the characters. I feel as though, many (Christian) books have pretty boring/slow/uneventful beginnings, often taking forever to get to the nitty gritty while pushing religion so much that your drowning out the story line leaving you struggling to make it through the book. This is not the case with Former Rain or Vanessa Miller's Rain series. She doesn't forsake the importance of including messages in connection with God or christianity but does it in a real, down-to-earth, believable manner which we in the real (not novel) world would have encounters with God ourselves.

The characters pull you in and there are a few twists and turns. Even though a couple of twists are a little predictable, the book leaves you wanting more and now I am here to buy the rest of the series. Make sure you read these in order though Vanessa Miller provides you the background and snippets from the other books to help you understand where's she's going it's best to read them in this correct order: Former Rain, Abundant Rain, Latter Rain, Rain Storm and Through the Storm. It's a good read that deserves 5 stars that will make you appreciate that God reaches out and uses all people. That's what His people are comprised of, real people with real issues facing the consequences of their actions but experiencing His grace and mercy through the rain!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, February 22, 2006

By 

kneenuh "Reader Reader Reader" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Former Rain (Rain Trilogy, 1) (Rain (Butterfly Press)) (Paperback)

I must say that I totally enjoyed this book. It was soooo good. I read in about a day and a half. I was ready to get through so that I could read the other two books in the series. The book makes you take a look at yourself and really think about forgiveness. This is definitely a book club read.