Rain Falls by Kelli Jae Baeli

Rain Falls
by Kelli Jae Baeli
Pages: 275
Date: January 16 2014
Publisher: Lesbian Literati Press
Series: Rain Falls (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Read: June 15 2015

A gimp and a psychopath roll into a bar and . . .

Okay, one, I got somewhat tired of how often Tegan called herself a gimp, but that didn't really annoy me. Too much. Two, India Bell isn't actually a psychopath, she just has massive defensive walls around her emotions that just maker her appear to be emotionless. Wow this was a bad start, now I don't know where to go. heh.

Okay, story. India is a writer/book store owner/journalist/editor. Tegan is a successful lesbian romance author. India is hired by . . um . .. hmm. She's supposed to do a story about Tegan. Hired by India's publisher, I believe Brad Walker is the guy's name. But . . . I never did figure out where this "story" was supposed to go. On the publisher's website? On bathroom walls? Where? I didn't get the impression that Walker had a paper to go along with his book publishing business, so I overlooked that part when I read the book. Chalked it up to "it doesn't matter."

Tegan is happy with the idea of being interviewed. Figured it might help sales. Is horrified with the idea of India actually interviewing her in her crap dungeon, as she is very embarrassed at having to live in such a situation. So begs India to allow the interview to take place elsewhere. So, the interview takes place in India's cabin.

Meanwhile, the publisher also has made a "bet" with India. Write a romance novel. Sell at least 100 copies. Do so, be made highest paid editor at publishing company (that highest paid part got tossed in there at some point, then dropped almost immediately, I'm not sure if that's actually part of the bet).

A chance comment leads to India offering Tegan the chance to use her cabin to finish her most recent book. While India works on her own. India wants to do that because she figured she'd tap into Tegan's knowledge to help her write her romance novel. Tegan wants to do that because she lives in a dump and can't currently write because the really loud noises all around her at home.

By the way, ever think being a writer is the easy life? Getting paid to just put stuff on paper? Well, I never did, but . . um. Right. So, despite being a successful lesbian romance writer, Tegan lives in what she calls "The Dungeon." The basement in her mother's house. Driving a crap car. Living a crap live. With an abusive mother, one who steals her money and gives away Tegan's cats without telling Tegan where the cats went. The mother, being the massive bitch she is, probably actually ate them instead of gave them away (there is no indication that the mother ate the cats).

Tegan finishes her book. Goes home. Learns mother rented out her room/basement/dirt hole. Moved all her worldly possessions into garage. The garage that doesn't have a door. So anyone could come by and get it. Tegan sits in a chair crying. Receives call from India to see if she is "settling in". India gets odd responses from Tegan, who then hangs up abruptly on India. India's confused and worried. Drives by. Finds the crying Tegan. Learns of situation. Loads her into her car. Drives her to her cabin. Installs her in cabin.

At this point, India and Tegan are no more than possibly friends. If that. Though both seem to have vague feelings of arousal about the other. Though India's cat appears to love Tegan.

Meanwhile a guy named Napoleon bugs the hell out of India. Getting all up in her face. Ticketing her (Napoleon's a sherriff deputy), and otherwise harassing her. Stealing her clothing when she goes skinny dipping, etc. Napoleon is a massive jackass. Tegan and India must "deal" with this "outside tension" while also dealing with their developing sexual tension. With each other, that is, not with Napoleon. No one has sexual tension with or for Napoleon (to clarify, Napoleon desires to hump India, which is in and of itself sexual tension, I suppose, but India does not desire to be humped . . . again by Napoleon. Um, I guess there's a vague level of sexual tension there). Napoleon is a massive loser who would do the world a favor by dropping dead. He refuses to drop dead. No one is happy about this stubborn resistance from this reasonable demand.

Interesting book. Took a while to warm up to India. I kind of liked Tegan from the beginning, though the dive into self-pity, and gimpness was something of a hurdle to pass through.

Books like this apparently need someone like Napoleon around. Or some "outside tension" of some kind. Maybe a massive snowstorm. Maybe angry porcupines. Something. Still, I thought there was enough outside pressure already without needing Napoleon. The loser mother. The rotten financial situation Tegan finds herself in. The somewhat barely covering expenses (while also living in a paid off cabin that only requires paying taxes on) situation India is in. The bet with the publisher, etc.

Some of what Napoleon provided could have been provided by other means. It's an old cabin. Maybe the cat leaned against some window a little too hard and it popped out. And that's why the cat got out. India mentioned that the town was quite conservative. Maybe some random person could have made faces at India and Tegan (or something; didn't even need to be real disapproval, just appear to be to India). Causing India to make a big deal about kissing Tegan in public. Those two things were important enough to the story to keep somehow. The rest of the problems Napoleon added could just be swept away as not needed.

To be fair, I am not sure if the removal of Napoleon would push me to make this a five star book, but it would likely have allowed me to come closer to doing so. As it is, I probably would give the book somewhere between 4.25 and 4.65 stars. Which basically means nothing. Unless there were half stars. Then I'd rate this 4.5 stars.