A charming romance, A Rainbow Above Us, is the perfect book! The author did a great job in weaving a believable story, and crafting well-developed characters. I'm now invested and hope to read more from this author in the future.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

Bowie James left Blessings, GA, as a teenager, vowing never to return, until he received a letter from his grams and Aunt Ella explaining their house had been destroyed by a hurricane. Bowie just happens to be a builder, and there's nothing he won't do for his family, but the welcoming committee waiting for him when he returns to Blessings is the same that ran him out of town. Bowie isn't that scrawny kid anymore, and the welcoming committee is in for a big surprise when they try to take on Bowie this time.

Rowan lost her mom as a child and it's always been her and her father and their farm. The hurricane destroyed their farm and took her father, so she's all alone in the world until she meets Ella and Pearl. When Bowie goes to get “his girls” from the nursing home where they've been staying to take them to live with him in his RV during the house renovation, Rowan is automatically included.

I truly didn’t know if my heart would survive because this book was one emotional hit after another. It holds so much love, so many special moments, and is a story of redemption, second chances and the power of love. Don’t be mistaken, there is also an abundance of pain, sorrow, hatred, anger and the most vile evil, but it only serves to make the good that much better and the love more precious. This is one of those stories that will fill your heart, leave you with a smile, and stay with you long after the last page. Don’t miss this heart warming, uplifting, truly special read!

Sharon Sala writes a wonderful small town series with these books. This is my second of the series & I have read them out of order, however, you don't feel like you have missed so much that you can't follow along. Coming from a small town myself, I love how the people in her stories are quick to help out when there is a crisis or to do so just to be neighborly. The people are friendly, although somewhat held back to newcomers, but it doesn't take them long to welcome them into the fold of this close knit community. The characters are not perfect, but their flaws make them believable. These are the stories that I prefer to read, because even though they take me through a variety of emotions, they have a happy ending.

This is the first book I have read by Sharon Sala and I found it to be such a sweet read. Small town feuds filled with a tender romance. However, I found that it took me much longer to read than other books so I would say it was an average read overall.

It is easy to see why Bowie James had sworn to never return to his hometown of Blessings, Georgia when he is physically attacked by two of his uncles the same evening he does return to help his grandmother and aunt put their lives back together after Hurricane Fanny. However, Bowie has learned to protect himself and he is most capable of taking care of both women as well as a displaced young woman, Rowan, who has befriended his family. Rowan has been protected by her father and has some hard life lessons ahead but she and Bowie share a powerful attraction and can look forward to a new life together.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

I have always loved armchair traveling south and going back to Blessings, Sharon Sala's sweet, small Georgia town, and the setting for all of her Blessings novels, and this novel is no exception, and if you're not already hooked on a town where people care for, gossip about, show up when help is needed, gather together to celebrate, mourn and support one another, I suggest you start now, preferably with the first book in the series, although each one works as a standalone, you'll meet some of these characters again and again as the series progresses. A Rainbow Above Us, the 8th novel in this series gets 4.5 stars from this reader.

In this novel, we meet Bowie James, the illegitimate, unclaimed, and unwanted son of Randall Boone, whose mother fled Blessings with him years ago, almost immediately after Bowie was nearly beaten to death by Randall's son, Judson Boone, and Jud's two sons, Emmitt and Melvin, egged on by Randall, Bowie's birth father, who had raped Bowie's mother, impregnated her, denied the rape, the subsequent birth of his son, and totally instilled hatred for his victim and her son in his own son and grandchildren, Emmitt and Melvin, who made young Bowie's life a living hell.

One day after Bowie's 18th birthday, Bowie's mother committed suicide, and Bowie vowed to never return to Blessings. He eventually became a successful building contractor, but upon hearing that his grandmother, Pearl, and his aunt, Ella, were forced to live in an old age home after having the family home destroyed by a hurricane, he did return to Blessings to help them by rebuilding their home, and he's surprised to find pretty, twenty-something, Rowan, living with and helping them.

Extremely sheltered and innocent, Rowan lost everything, including her father to that same hurricane, and has been caring for Bowie's grandmother and aunt as if they were her family, lacking any true blood relatives of her own. She's been traumatized by the experience, but remains helpful, sweet and upbeat, and the fact that Bowie is attracted to her and she to him comes as no surprise. Bowie, who is always on the move because of this business, shows up in Blessings with his huge motor home, and is quick to move Pearl, Ella and Rowan into it--surprised that Rowan already feels like a member of the family and that she truly has been a blessing to his beloved grandmother and aunt.

Not everyone in Blessings is happy about Bowie's return or the fact that despite the denials of the Boone family, he's apparently the spitting image of his grandfather, Randall, and no sooner is he back in town when Jud's two sons, Emmitt and Melvin, reared in hatred for Bowie, attempt to accost him at the local diner. Bowie is no longer a child, advises them not to start anything inside the diner, and no sooner are they outside when they attempt to use a baseball bat on Bowie, who immobilizes both in short order, one with a karate chop to the neck and the other by a well placed punch, breaking Emmitt's nose. The police are quick to arrest them, but that same evening, Bowie's SUV is keyed by Junior, Emmitt's son, who's been raised on the same hatred Randall instilled in his family, and in retaliation for Bowie breaking his father's nose--and that's just for starters.

What follows is as sweet, charming and heartwarming a novel, as are all the other Blessings novels, where we again meet up with some of the town residents featured in earlier ones, like attorney Peanut Butterman, and big-hearted Ruby, who runs Curl Up and Dye, the local beauty salon, where Ruby tries to stem the gossip, and where Ms. Sala, manages to insert herself and her novels into the story, which was a totally unexpected treat. There's also the quickly formed attraction and attachment of Bowie to Rowan. Bowie's return to town also sets off a string of additional unexpected events as the Boone family finally has to get its comeuppance in ways this reader never saw coming, and what a comeuppance it is.

This is a novel that Ms. Sala's fans will love, myself among them, and I'm very pleased to recommend it to them, as well as to those for whom this novel will be their first time reading one of Sharon Sala's amazingly addictive novels.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. A story about how Bowie swore he would never return to the small town he grew up in only to be called back to help his grandmother and aunt rebuild after a hurricane. It stirs up feelings and starts a way to deal with the problem to heal. When Rowan helps get a happy ending for Bowie and his grandmother and aunt.

This is the 1st book the the Blessing series I have read. Now I will have to read the crest because this book was so good. It has warmth, drama, laughter and tears. I highly recommend reading this book, You will fall in love with the main characters, along with some of the side characters.

Thank yo Netgalley for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

This felt very old-fashioned. VERY old-fashioned. A highly sheltered woman, a man who comes in to rescue her, two elderly chaperones who are his relatives. He never once calls her a woman, she’s always a girl. This has nothing to do with being a clean story, it has to do with the wording.

Then there were the details that weren’t right. A camping trailer big enough to have two bathrooms, a washing machine, wood floors, and big enough that she can run through it, yet a Cherokee can pull it? A woman who never knew boys wanted to date her? Sure she was sheltered, but she went to school and students do talk at school. A 15 year old who gets a job and will make up his work for school that he misses because he’s working all day? There are attendance laws, so no that won’t happen. And the sons get a monthly allowance, so why was one getting evicted and having his power turned off?

Despite being heavily flawed, it’s an enjoyable book. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the plot.

A solid community, plenty of heart and clear issues that readers can find easy to empathize with, the characters in these stories bring some ‘repeated’ moments with community members and former ‘stars’ of earlier books while maintaining the simple premise that the new couple will find healing and acceptance in this little town. And so it happens with returning resident Bowie, chased out of town after he started to resemble his father’s family, and his mother’s claims of his paternity as a result of an attack by his father were starting to cause whispers. But the hurricane brought the wandering Bowie back to town to help his grandmother and aunt rebuild the old house he grew up in after the hurricane.

But their time while waiting for Bowie brought another Blessings resident into their mix: Rowan Harper survived flood waters and some pretty gruesome events, including the death of her father, and was brought into Blessings with nothing to her name. Bowie’s Aunt and Grandmother have almost “adopted” Rowan, giving her some sense of family and security that all three women were missing after the hurricane. And while Rowan isn’t someone Bowie knew, he sees that Rowan is both beautiful and kind, and his family is attached, so he includes her in the plans for the rebuild – she’s available to help his family, as they are helping her.

What emerges here is an instant attraction that keeps Bowie on his toes, and as Rowan starts to understand that her father had isolated her for his own selfish reasons, and that Bowie and his family are people who will help her to see the truth, and move forward. While Bowie deals with the house rebuild, caring for his family and coming to rely on Rowan’s presence, in fact, craving it, the two show just how well matched they are. Bowie isn’t inclined to trust anyone, and with his father’s family causing all sorts of issues, his plate is full. Yet Rowan calms him, and keeps him steady with her mix of naivete and confidence, and her penchant for kindness. Sweet, engaging and a lovely read, this is a clean romance with plenty of sparkle and shine, all built around healing, love, and family.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-atF /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Ahhhhhhh this was just such a wonderful book and I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. I didn’t want to put this book down. I just fell in love with this wonderful story and it’s wonderful characters. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

If you have not ever read any of this series, then you need to start now (and of course with book 1).

Blessings GA is a place I'd love to live, the small town atmosphere and how everyone cares for each other is refreshing considering today's society and the turmoil we see in the media.

Blessings is dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane that has devastated many people in the town. Thankfully, one of the residents has a grandson that remodels/builds homes and he is able to come to their rescue. But it isn't as easy as Bowie just showing up to do a job, he has to deal with the past and the hatred of one family in town.

Rowan has her own issues to deal with and the revelation of what her father did/kept from her all those years. Plus the guilt of him dying in the hurricane thinking it was her fault.

Tragic pasts bring Bowie and Rowan together and the obstacles they overcome together make for a good love story. Both are so down to earth and are able to connect on a level that most cannot.

The author does an amazing job of making us laugh, gasp at certain treacherous situations, cry, and always having a villain in the story that makes us mad for what the characters are put through but glad to see the justice in the end.

I had to chuckle when the characters were talking about books and the author made a plug for herself and one character said she needed to put the book on her kindle.

Excellent series and I always love reading these books

Ivana Antolković
10:14 PM (53 minutes ago)
to me

The story ist about Bowie James and Rowan Harper.
Bowie left years ago in the middle of the night with his mother, after he was beaten and his life was threatened. He is back only because his grandmother and aunt asked him for help. Their home was destroyed during Hurricane Fanny and are now living in a nursing home. Here they have taken Rowan , a young woman who lost her father and all her possessions in the hurricane, into their circle. He rescues them and takes them to his luxurious trailer.
Bowie’s return brings back the evil people that chased him away, but he is now a grown, honorable man able to defend himself.

It’s a story of survival, overcoming the odds , finding true love.
It was an interesting red. I would recommend it.👍

This is a very powerful book. Bowie James comes back to Blessings to fix his grandmother’s and Aunt home. Now after being run out of town along with his mother who has since committed suicide. She was raped many years ago and the men who said it did not happen can no longer deny the fact because Bowie James looks like the man who committed that horrible crime. The male family still in town for some reason are still mad at him and want to fight him until they end up in jail. Later the grandmother kicks out the grandfather and slowly what was a family feud with the James family has torn that family apart because of hatred. The other part of the story has Rowan Harper who was displaced because of the hurricane and ended up with the grandmother and the Aunt. You find out that she lost her father but also that her father had been saying that she was not pretty and running off boys for years. Now the healing is starting with her and Bowie. This is a very good and powerful story of who hatred can and will destroy more than just one person. How when you find the right person sometimes the rainbow will appear. Read this wonderful story about life, a very good book with really good characters.

A Rainbow Above Us takes us back to the world of Blessings. Georgia where we learn what happened to the residents after Hurricane Fanny, which features prominently in the previous installment in the series, Forever My Hero. Many in town are dealing with loss and trying to rebuild their homes and lives.

Bowie James has come back to town to help his Grandma Pearl and Aunt Ella repair their home. His love and concern for them is the only thing bringing him back to a town that holds awful memories for Bowie. He meets Rowan Harper, who is also dealing with awful memories, having lost her father in the devastating flooding caused by the hurricane. Pearl and Ella had gotten to know her while they were all sheltering in the town nursing home and have become a surrogate family.

Bowie moves "his girls" into his motor home and gets to work repairing Pearl and Ella's home. Bowie's return is not without drama. Old feuds are resurrected and Bowie must deal with the past while taking care of the present situation. In the midst of all this pathos, Sala had me laughing out loud at the image of Pearl, Ella and Rowan playing strip poker and later getting tipsy together. She develops the relationship between Bowie and Rowan, while bringing us up-to-date with all the residents of Blessings from previous installments. It is a well-written addition to the series.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I am always happy to go spend time in Blessings, Georgia. I love the language and the mannerisms of the people of Blessings, the feeling of community, and the strong sense of right and wrong. In A Rainbow Above Us, Bowie James returns to Blessings having fled with his mother as a teenager in horrific circumstances.

If like me you are a believer in karma, you are going to love this story. Bowie returns to Blessings to help rebuild his grandma's house following the recent hurricane. He is a strong, upstanding man who is after no trouble, but it finds him anyway. Bowie may not be in Blessings for revenge but as a reader, seeing the people who wronged him get what was coming to them, was deeply satisfying. The adages 'revenge is a dish best served cold' and 'success is the best revenge' were going through my mind as I made my way through this story.

A Rainbow Above Us is also a lovely, simple romance. Rowan has led a sheltered life and when she meets Bowie, she has the opportunity for love for the first time. Bowie has never let a woman close to his heart, but he quickly falls for Rowan. Reading about their happiness as they fell in love made me happy. It is beautiful seeing this couple open their hearts to each other and take care of each other.

Sharon Sala has given us another wonderful story from Blessings, Georgia. It gets four stars from me.

Bowie came back to Blessings to help his aunt and grandma after a tornado swept through the town destroying many houses and businesses. When Bowie finds Pearl and Ella in a nursing home with a young woman who lost her father and home in the tornado, he vows to take care of the three of them. This story makes your heart feel good all the way through. I just loved Bowie and Rowan, but Ella and Pearl help make the story complete. Keep them coming, please, Sharon!

This is my fourth in the Blessing Series and I am not disappointed. Ms Sala writes these novels from various characters point of view. I admired that she does not limit it to the hero and heroine. In this episode of Blessings Georgie Bowie James has come back to the town after many years of to the town he grew up in after been run out of town as a teenager along with his mother. The storyline stays true to the previous novel where Blessings had a hurricane. Bowie comes back to repair his grandmother and aunts home that got damaged due to the hurricane. While rescuing them from the nursing home he meets Rowan Harper who his family has befriended and taking under their wings. During the story we find out why the young Rowan ended up in a nursing home and why Bowie has never been back to place he was born. I must say this novel was a even a little more sweeter than the previous ones I have read.. Review on goodreads and amazon.com

Absolutely adored this heartwarming, emotionally engaging, pull you into the moment romantic journey filled with devastation and renewal.... rebuilding is never fun or easy but this group of intriguing and charmingly real charters make this journey entertaining. Loved this reading experience!