Customer Reviews

Sunshine & Rain (Triple Crown Publications Presents)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I totally enjoyed reading "Sunshine & Rain". Man did these two girls have it rough. Both girls become orphaned and forced into the sometime seedy, vile world of foster care. Luckily for them, they hit the jackpot (cha ching) when they're placed in the home of Cathy, a WGP (white ghetto princess ... LOL) with a heart of gold.

Although both are beautiful, the two are as different as night and day and they soon become friends. Sunshine, the more refined of the two, is gifted and an overachiever. Rain is sociable, courageous and madly in love with a street thug named Terrance.

Brian/Brianna would be my favorite character. He/she was too much ... way too much. LOL

Dawn's debut is fantastic. I anticipate enjoying her work for years to come.

PS Don't let the cover deter you. LOL

After reading the teaser on the back of the book, and being told that the book was good by a book store employee, I picked this one up.

The story I got was different from the one I expected. The story was mild, and I guess I expected it to be more "spicy"/"extra crispy" (?).

Both characters were surprisingly likable, although the men in the book left much to be desired. There wasn't one decent man in the entire book. The one "man" who was cool, wasn't sure if he was a man or a woman. Go figure.

This wasn't a quick read for me. I kept putting the book down and coming back days later. However, it was okay. I wouldn't suggest that anybody not buy the book. I would just caution that the story is pretty mild.

Picture it a cold, dreary night and you go to bed with your family intact only to wake up and find yourself in hell. Sunshine & Rain by Dawn Desiree is full of devastation, cryptic circumstances, love, betrayal and hope for a brighter day.

Meet Sunshine and Rain, two young women who are faced with turmoil and destruction when their lives are turned upside down. They are introduced to Ms. Cathy, a foster mom, who takes them in and nurtures them. She also provides them with a look into how ballers live. Growing up in poverty and dealing with their parents' battle with drugs these two become divas in the making. But how can Ms. Cathy provide them with such a lavish lifestyle on foster care funds? Ms. Cathy is hiding a secret that could send the girls spinning back to the life that they were running away from.

Can these young women resist temptation and grow up to their full potential? Will they make Ms. Cathy proud or will they fall victim to the fast life, drugs and quick money that seems to surround them? Welcome to the lives of the underdogs! Ms. Desiree introduces us into the lives of two separate women who are forced into foster care, and the outcome is nothing short of amazing.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves fast-paced, racy novels. You will not be able to put this one down.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

HI ME AND MY FRIENDS WERE READING THIS BOOK AND IT WAS SOOOOOOOO GOOD I MEAN WHOEVER READS THIS SHOULD READ THE BOOK.I LOVED THE PT WHEN SUNSHINE AND TERRANCE WERE IN THE BEDROOM AND RAIN AND CATHY CAME IN AND CAUGHT THEM.THAT WAS SO FUNNY I ALMOST CRIED.BUT THIS BOOK SHOWS A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS AND STUFF LIKE THAT WELL I JUST THINK THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD AND MANY PEOPLE SHOULD READ IT.EXCEPT FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR CHILDREN

FOR THIS TO BE DAWN FIRST NOVEL I WAS QUITE IMPRESSED!!!I NEVER EXPECTED HOW THE BOOK ENDED, I ENJOYED IT AND TOWARDS THE END IT WAS HARD TO PUT DOWN, I WOULD DEFINETELY READ HER NEXT NOVEL!!!

I thought this book was great. Sad, funny and a happy ending. Sunshine was a strong woman and Rain was a feisty lady, but they got thru the hard times and finally made it to the goodtimes. I really enjoyed reading this book. Cant wait to read another one of Dawn Desiree books, keep up the good work I give this book a 5 star.

This story was a good one but is was so predictable and very unrealistic. The author didnt keep up with all the characrters and still left me asking questions at the end. There was a surprise twist at the end that was too shocking and unbelievable because there were no clues that led up to it

I LOVED THIS BOOK,A RAW STORY TOLD OF BAD BREAKS, SIBLING LOVE,TUST AND LIFE -LONG FRIENSHIP!!!!!! IT MADE ME CRY AND CHEER.ANYONE READING THIS REVIEW, THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY WORTH UR $$$$$!!!!!

SUNSHINE & RAIN introduces us to two young divas who come from different lifestyles and different parts of the streets of Washington, DC and have more in common than even they realize. We meet Sunshine who is dealing with her single mother's deadly illness and imminent death. Once her mother passes away, Sunshine becomes a ward of the state and is placed in a foster home with Cathy. Sunshine is a sweet girl with an innocent heart of gold and tries to find the best in everyone she meets.

Rain Consise, on the other hand, has a heart of steel and does not really trust anyone. Rain is also being raised in a single parent home, but it is her father who is caring for her and her two younger brothers. Her father, Jim Concise meets an untimely death caused by a drug overdose which leaves Rain and her younger brothers orphans as well. They also become wards of the state and are placed in foster care. After an ordeal with Rain's first foster home, she is then moved to another foster home where she meets Sunshine. Sunshine and Rain are as different as night and day.

Sunshine and Rain have a rocky initial meeting at their new foster home, but they create a bond that seems like it will last for years to come. They quickly become friends and sisters in their newfound situation. Cathy is leading a secret life of her own, but she manages to nurture and care for these young women as her own. She shows them the finer things in life and also teaches them to be respectable and honorable young women.

Dawn Desiree's debut novel, SUNSHINE AND RAIN, was a fast read, but the characters were not fully developed and there were a few editing issues. She did not give a good background into most of the characters which would have made this book even better. She did show us how Sunshine and Rain dealt with death, betrayal, love, and sweet temptation. This book, overall, had some twists and turns, some I could figure out before they happened, but others I did not see coming. I was surprised by the ending, but it did leave the door open for both Sunshine and Rain to come back as characters in another book.

Reviewed by Patrice M. Harlson
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Dawn Desiree delivers a fast paced drama filled debut novel featuring two orphaned young ladies with collaborating names.

She introduces us to Sunshine, the lighter version of the two, who still has an innocence about her despite the tragic events that places her in the home of a seemingly harmless foster mom. Cathy is young, jazzy, cool peeps and definitely a rare jewel in the dismal system of child placement.

Rain is a street smart youth that has had to stand up and be mother and father to two siblings due to her mother's untimely death and her father's crack addiction. Upon their father's accidental death, the siblings are temporarily thrust into a filthy home until Rain's brother defends her and commits murder thus causing the three to be separated. Rain is transferred to Cathy's care and the story begins.....

Ms. Desiree entertains her readers as she unveils the secret life of Cathy as the girls blindly become entangled in a dangerous scenario. She captures your attention and retains it as the curiosity of how each domino will fall and she further enchants you with the scene stealer, 'Brian-Briana', who is definitely endearing.

Sunshine and Rain is really an enjoyable read. However, it seems as though there could have been more interaction shown between the characters to strengthen the readers understanding of certain scenes and feelings. You never fully connected with the characters and their emotions due to lack of development. This book was very entertaining and the storyline was very original. But upon completion, you're still left questioning why some things happened. Sunshine and Rain was very entertaining and filled with drama, murder, and humor. I look forward to future work from this author and am impressed with her debut novel. Dawn Desiree has great potential for growth and success in the urban literary field.

Reviewed by Tazzytbossye
for Urban Reviews