Annie Rains Follow

3.75stars-THROUGH THE SNOW GLOBE by Annie Rains is a contemporary, adult, women’s slightly paranormal fiction story line focusing on physical therapist Diana Merriman.

Told from omniscient third person perspective (Diana) THROUGH THE SNOW GLOBE follows Diana Merriman, a physical therapist who lives in Snow Haven, North Carolina. Diana Merriman is struggling with her job, her fiance and her direction in life ,and is doomed to repeat the day an accident left her fiance in a coma. December 4th is repeat on an endless loop when a visit from her neighbor on Christmas Eve finds Diana getting what she wished for, but at a cost. As Diana attempts to change the events that lead up to her fiancé’s accident, Diana will discover she isn’t the only person reliving the same day or heart break in their life.

THROUGH THE SNOW GLOBE focuses on new discoveries, new family, new paths, and new friendships. The sweet and gentle yet familiar premise blends a bit of ‘Groundhog Day’ with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, as our heroine believes her own life is an endless cycle of the same but a wish reveals that change may be necessary when the heart begins beating anew.

3.5 stars--THE SUMMER COTTAGE is the first instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SOMERSET LANE romance series-a spin off from the author’s SWEETWATER SPRINGS series. This is attorney Jake Fletcher, and divorcee/single mother/ and property manager Trisha Langly’s story line. You do not have to have read the previous series to follow the current time line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Trisha and Jake) THE SUMMER COTTAGE follows single mother/divorcee Trisha Langly as she and her seven-year old son Petey embark on a new life away her home town of Sweetwater Springs where the demons from her past refuse to let go. As the new property manager for Somerset Rental Cottages Trisha finds herself looking at a long list of repairs as the cottages have fallen into a state of disarray and ruin but Trisha never expected to meet her boss’s grandson, attorney Jake Fletcher, the man with whom Trisha will fall in love. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Trisha and Jake, and the potential fall-out when the past is revealed, and Trisha finds herself looking for a new job and a new place to live.

Trisha Langy’s life was destroyed by the sins of the past, sins of her ex-husband, and in this our heroine hopes to start anew in the small town set against Somerset Lake but no matter where they go, the past continues to rear its’ ugly head, reflecting upon our heroine who is paying the penalty for her ex-husband’s crime. Jake Fletcher never wanted to return to the place that held both good and bad memories but his grandmother’s failing health means Jake and the family are hoping to sell the Somerset Cottage Rentals. Meeting single mother Trisha Langly stirs something deep within our story line hero but Trisha’s secrets are about to be exposed, and with it the family refuses to accept that she is an innocent in everything from the past.

The relationship between Trisha and Jake is one of immediate attraction but Trisha is in no position to start a romantic affair. Jake is only in town for a few weeks, just long enough to sell the rentals, and move on with his life but neither one expected to find the other. There are no $ex scenes and only a few chaste kisses.

The secondary and supporting characters include Trisha’s son Petey, Jake’s grandma Vi, and his uncle Tim, local nudist Mr. S, as well as the local busy bodies and soon to be friends-Moira, Tess, Lucy and Della Rose.

THE SUMMER COTTAGE is a slow building, and sweet story of second chances. The premise is engaging; the characters are energetic; the romance is innocent and mostly platonic, and here in lies a bit of a problem-I didn’t feel the attraction; I didn’t sense the love, the romance or anything sexually appealing between our leading couple. Trisha gave off mixed signals and continued to push our hero until the very end; Jake agreed to friendship, and they walked through the story more as acquaintances than anything else.