Charles Martin has crafted a beautiful story of sacrifice, forgiveness, love and redemption. He is becoming one of my favorite authors very quickly. I've only read this one and The Mountain Between Us, but both have been exceptional reads for me.

This story is about two brothers, Joseph and Bobby, whose father left their family when they were under ten years old. Their mother raised them as best she could. Joseph went off to Vietnam while Bobby ended up becoming a Senator. There is a secret buried deep in their past that no one knows. The background of the Vietnam War and Joseph's service there were heartbreaking and left innumerable scars on Joseph. He suffers from PTSD and has dealt with both abuse and addiction. This is also about Joseph and Allie who were inseparable growing up, but multiple things have kept them apart.

Martin's writing will steal your heart. The story has been said to be a re-imagining of the tale of The Prodigal Son. I highly recommend this book!

Many thanks to Charles Martin and Thomas Nelson - FICTION through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

A novel that has many facets; substance abuse, family issues, immigration, Vietnam draft, and poverty. One would not think an author could adequately put all of this in one book, but Martin did. The novel was well written and engaging.

This has got to be the best book I've read this year!!! Wow!!! 5 stars does not do this book justice. Charles Martin...you've gained a new fan! This book's characters are so memorable & lovable you'll feel like you're a part of the book. The story is very well thought out and developed with all the characters gracefully blending in and out of the story. KUDOS!!!!

”It don't feel right, but it's not wrong.
It's just hard to start again this far along.
Brick by brick, the letting go,
As you walk away from everything you know
When you release resistance
And you lean into the wind,
Till the roof begins to crumble,
And the rain comes pourin' in,
And you sit there in the rubble,
Till the rubble feels like home
That's how you learn to live alone
That's how you learn to live alone
That's how you learn to live alone”
How You Learn to Live Alone , Jonathan Jackson, Songwriters: Mary Gauthier / Gretchen Peters

One of the books I read near the end of last year was Charles Martin’s ’The Mountain Between Us’ which I enjoyed, and I’d had other books of his on my radar after reading some glowing reviews of his books, so when the opportunity arose to read his ‘Send Down the Rain’ I took it.

The prologue shares the beginning of this story, through the eyes of Joseph, who is nine; his brother Bobby was eleven, and the day their father leaves, taking most everything that was his.

When Bobby comes to share the news with Joseph, he brings a jug of milk and a package of Oreos. Comfort food. They ate their cookies, drinking out of the jug, sitting on the shore while the waves rolled up, stirring the breeze across their skin, trying to absorb the meaning of what had just happened.

”I made a fist, crushing a cookie. Grinding it to powder. When the pieces spilled out between my fingers onto the beach, a physical and very real pain pierced my chest.

Fifty-three years later, it would stop.”

Once upon a time, Joseph and Allie were young, with visions for the future despite the war raging, updates on the news every night. When Joseph left for Vietnam, he gave Allie his ’67 Corvette, with no strings. But years have passed since then, and the last time he was back home in Cape San Blas he walked in just in time to see his brother exchanging vows with Allie.

One night, he finds himself helping a young mother and her two young children get to Florida, where they have relatives who can help them. And as he is on his way back to his childhood home, he spies the billowing smoke filling the air of a recent collision between an 18-wheeler with a full load of oil and a rock wall made out of boulders meant to resist the heavy winds and beating rains of hurricanes. Eventually, he will be told that the driver was the second husband of Allie.

This is a tender story, filled alternately with heartbreak and love, with forgiveness offered, and received. A story of broken hearts, healing, and of the destructive nature of hate and war, and the healing force of love, and the healing power of redemption: at its heart, it is a re-imagining of the tale of The Prodigal Son.

The stories of Vietnam are the background of this story, the story of Joseph’s battles there, and the ones he faces upon his return, the ones he continues to fight on his own these many years later. There is another background story of undocumented immigrants. All of these are woven together with the themes of this story into a lovingly told story of a love and a life that were lost, and a path to a new life and love found.

Sometimes, as much as we want to let go of painful memories, we can’t seem to bring ourselves to let them go. Sometimes we have reasons that others would understand, but there are times that pain becomes an integral part of ourselves, and we become reluctant to let them go. Afraid of what comes after the letting go – will we just be empty, or will we find a healthier way to fill those holes?

Martin’s writing is somewhat unique in that he eschews profanity and doesn’t dwell on sex, but in this story he tackles some other issues including addiction, physical abuse, and PTSD, but nothing is overly graphic. There are some war scenes that include war-related events, but even these are shown without an abundance of gruesome details. I believe he has a large Christian following, which appreciate the uplifting, inspiring messages of his stories, but I think this story would appeal to anyone.



Pub Date: 08 MAY 2018


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Thomas Nelson Fiction

Send Down The Rain
Charles Martin


MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUBLISHER Thomas Nelson
PUBLISHED May 8, 2018

A masterful love story draped in sacrifice, secrets, suffering, solitude and healing.

SUMMARY
Allie’s second husband is killed tragically when his 18-wheeler crashes into the rocks near their home in Cape San Blas, Florida. The tanker was full of fuel in the explosion could be seen a hundred miles away. Allie had already lost the beloved waterfront restaurant her parents started, and now losing her husband might just push her over the edge.

Joseph’s time in Vietnam left him with scars that will never heal. No matter what he does he can’t pull himself out of the wreckage of his former life. He is to far gone. He isolates himself in a remote and rustic cabin in North Carolina, and listens to a popular nighttime radio call-in show. After midnight one snowy evening Roscoe, Joseph’s dog, hears a sound from the woods. Joseph and Roscoe rescue a mother and her two children lost in the woods. He further helps them make their way back to family in Florida. While in Florida he is near enough to witness the fiery crash of the 18-wheeler. He knows that his childhood sweetheart may need him, but it’s been a long time and the secrets of his life may be to hard for her to bear.

REVIEW
It’s always a pleasure to read a book written by Charles Martin. Send Down the Rain is no exception. It is a powerful and moving story with a troubled and flawed character whose generosity and sacrifices will earn your respect and admiration. It’s a gritty and breathless ride with up and downs, exploring issues of family secrets, the struggles of Vietnam combat veterans, PTSD, abandonment and violence. Martin subtlety introduces issues of faith, compassion and forgiveness. Much of the book takes place on Cape San Blas, Florida which is my home away from home, and one of Florida’s best beaches, rocks and all! Charles Martin fans will love this one, as will anyone who appreciates love stories or family drama. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Charles Martin for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars
Allie and Joseph were childhood sweethearts whose lives were interrupted when Joseph was sent to Vietnam. Allie has had two disastrous marriages and a failed business. Joseph suffers from severe PTSD after four tours of duty in Vietnam. His life is one of pain, feelings of unworthiness for being alive, helping others and forgiveness.
There is so much good about this book starting from the first page, you are drawn into the story as Martin, once again begins to weave his tale of lives filled with pain and betrayal yet tender and poignant at the same time. The characters are deeply complex and utterly believable. Charles Martin deftly tells the story of PTSD in a way I have personally never read. This book has many surprises and a very surprising outcome, I sure didn’t see it coming but made perfect sense.
I wouldn’t characterize this book as Christian. Nothing in the book is unchristian, however, there is literally nothing to make you think “Wow, what a great Christian fiction book”. The last book of Martin’s I read was “The Long Way Home” which is overwhelmingly Christian, it was a bit disappointing when I realized this one is not. There was no mention of faith or God. The book was clean with no swearing or sex which is always appreciated. I truly appreciate an author talented enough to create a story so good that sex and swearing is not necessary.

Send Down the Rain is a phenomenal book that will appeal to many people. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was extremely well written and captured me from the first page and held me until the last one! I am definitely going to seek out more of the author’s work.

Charles Martin is a good storyteller. His latest book, Send Down the Rain, kept me involved and wanting to continue reading. As I read, I would think, why did he/she do that? Say that? What’s really going on? I wanted to keep reading to find out.
The only thing critical I can say about this book is it reminded me in some ways of 2017’s Long Way gone, which I think is my favorite by this author. In fact, in the early part of this book, one character says to our protagonist something about being “a long way gone.” Was this coincidence, or is this something Charles Martin is fond of doing? I don’t know.
Good book. You won’t be disappointed.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.com.

Allie has lived a hard life, from an abusive, alcoholic, gambler of a father, to two failed marriages, and a debt that she can't dig her family's restaurant out of. When her childhood friend and sweetheart, Joseph, shows up in her life again with a scarred past of his own, can either of them set their paths straight and find new life?



This is a tough book to review. There was a lot more violence than I expected. A lot. And it was of some pretty ugly varieties. Drugs, war, PTSD; very real-to-life, but hard to read. There was also a lot less God then I expected. In fact, I'm not sure He was really mentioned explicitly at all in the book. However, if there was an overall theme to this story, it was in the repeated occurence of characters getting what they "needed," or "did not deserve," and having others, instead, take what they deserved. There isn't a much more Christian theme than that one. In addition, Joseph talks about evil a lot, and how evil cannot dispose of evil, only love can do that.



Even with my struggles to write about this book, I think it's one that will stick with me. It's difficult to talk about the most important parts of the story without spoiling it, but it will make the reader consider what they've sacrificed for others, and consider the sacrifices made on their behalves.



I give this book a conflicted 4 stars. The characters and the heart of the story made it a compelling read, but the dark parts are haunting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Classic Charles Martin...SEND DOWN THE RAIN is full of hope and inspiration. Dreams and reality. Pick it up and treat yourself to soulful emotion. You will be glad that you did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After reading so much recommendations about Charles Martin, I was excited to be chosen to read and review his upcoming book – Send Down the Rain - as my first Netgalley choice.

I must admit it took a couple of chapters for me to get into the book. It seemed a bit tedious to follow the jump between unconnected stories and characters. However, I was momentarily captivated by the brokenness of the characters described in this book and was motivated to see how these characters will be brought together in this story. It is filled with enough twists throughout the book to keep you hooked until the very end. Although some things I could see coming, the way Charles’ was able to play it out was beautifully thought out and written.

It is always interesting to read about the aftermath of war and the effects it leaves on the war veterans. In this book, Charles Martin not only writes about the after effects the war has left on Joe – who survived 4 years in service, but he also touches on the effects it leaves on family members who lost loved ones in the war, especially with no knowledge of what happened to those dear loved ones.

I look forward to reading more of Charles Martin’s novels.

Charles Martin continues to amaze me. My first reaction after finishing this new book of his was “Wow!” It's different from his other books in many ways (which I can't tell you without giving away too much), but he still makes the reader laugh, cry, gasp, and hang on for dear life.

It took me a little while to get into the story, due to the fact that he weaves together 3 major plot threads which seem to be miles apart at first. The weaving gets kind of tangled at times, and I wondered how he was ever going to resolve everything. Just when things seemed to be working out, he'd throw in another plot twist!

It also amazes me how Martin can write so knowledgeably about things he's never experienced personally.

I highly recommend “Send Down the Rain,” but be warned that it will be hard to put down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charles Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I don't even have to read the descriptions of his books before I start reading them because I know it will be good regardless of what its about. So I literally had no idea what this was about before I dove in. And guess what? I loved it. As usual, he has crafted an unforgettable emotional and dramatic story in Send Down the Rain. From the beginning I was pulled into the story, reading about the various characters and wondering how they'd all tie together. I loved Jo-Jo, the main character, as well as the rest of the "family". Charles Martin creates complex characters that feel real. I always get emotionally invested in them, and this book didn't disappoint in that aspect. Send Down the Rain is a beautiful and heartbreaking story by a phenomenal author.
I received a complimentary copy if this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I don’t think it’s possible for me to not love a Charles Martin book. His writing seeps to my core and squeezes every drop of emotion out of me.

Send Down the Rain is beautifully written, entwining two stories together and sealing them with passion and everything heart-squeezing. I love Jo Jo Brooks and his compassionate soul. He’s a great main character that won’t soon be forgotten.

This is a great read, oozing with powerful themes and overflowing with heart. Get your tissues ready. You’ll need them.

5 Stars

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 352
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.

Like life, Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin is rarely neat, tidy, or straight forward which allows the story to grab your attention and not let go until the final pages. The book follows a Vietnam veteran named Joseph “Jo-Jo” Brooks’ journey from his solitary life in the North Carolina mountains to his childhood hometown of Cape San Blas, FL. After finding a woman and her two children in the woods, Joseph makes the decision to not only protect them from the abusive and controlling drug dealer who is after them but to help reunite the three with extended family in another state. This sets in motion the tricks and turns that really elevate this novel. I was impressed with a few twists Martin included that actually caught me off guard. While sometimes a little confusing, I was quite impressed with how secondary characters were given more backstory and history from their point of view. It was much better than just introducing flat people to the narrative. Overall, I thought the tale finding lost love after decades apart was emotionally gripping, and I found myself rooting for the redemption of everyone involved. This is a fast read that would be perfect for the beach or by the pool on a hot summer afternoon.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I stumbled upon Charles Martin from a book club choice years ago. Since I read that first one, I have read every book he has written. He is truly an author that a person can relate to. You can imagine my excitement to finally read this latest book of his.

In true Charles fashion the beginning pulled me in. There were a lot of questions that were not being answered through a complete story line. Then, a whole different story line started and I found myself wondering what happened to the people in the beginning of the book. Slowly the stories came together and wove such a beautiful masterpiece. Before I realized it, I was reading a parable of the prodigal son. Redemption and forgiveness are found throughout this story. I read the entire book in two days without realizing I had come to the end. I truly felt invested in the characters and even though the story was painful at times, there was beauty in the ashes.

This will be one of my favorite books he has written.

I received an advanced reader copy to review.

I liked this book a lot but it was not my favorite Charles Martin book. I work in a High School library so I do not think this is a good book to purchase for them to read. I thought some of the topics would be a little to hard for them to read.

This is a hauntingly mesmerizing story of a man’s decision and the emotional path to his redemption. You will laugh, cry, howl at the injustice of it all, but come to the same conclusion he does. What is the conclusion you ask? The answer lies in the pages of this beautiful story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Highly recommended!

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in turn for a review. Don't want to give a thing away. Read this book. Now!! SO great!

Wow! This novel, Send Down the Rain, by Charles Martin was exceptional. It made me cry, laugh, and cry some more. It made me gasp, think, pause and reflect. It is honestly the best components of all books rolled into one. The characters are likeable and very memorable. The story plot grabs at the beginning and never dulls throughout the book. Send Down the Rain is described as a prodigal son story; however, in my opinion it is more. It is a story that teaches by examples of compassion, selflessness, grace, forgiveness, love, and bravery. As Martin so graciously shares, we are given what we need not what we deserve. Readers will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.