Review: Becoming Rain by KA Tucker

Received from InkSlingerPR

Title: Becoming Rain
Series: Burying Water #2
Author: KA Tucker
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: March 2015
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

Luke Boone doesn’t know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he’s finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it’s not exactly legal, Luke’s never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she’s one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she’s just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast’s most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she’ll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle’s footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she’ll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she’ll even want to.

REVIEW

I could really go to town with the use of certain quotes to describe Becoming Rain starting with Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practise to deceive! Even with the best of intentions/motivation lies are the source of pain and regret for everyone concerned.

Having already been introduced to Boone in Burying Water where initial impressions paint him as shallow and money obsessed. Although glimpses of his underlying kindness make you question his true nature. The elements of nature versus nature are very prevalent, brought up in a household that places value on superficial aspects of wealth and possessions while avoiding deeper connections; learned behaviour from the people he loves the most makes him think that a life of crime is acceptable. Yet, underneath you can’t escape noticing Luke’s innate kindness and compassion. Incidents throughout the narrative re-enforce these aspects of Luke’s personality, he really does have a heart of gold. The struggle he faces within himself carrying the guilt of participating in criminal activity and the apprehension/stress it places on his life, constantly looking over his shoulder waiting for the inevitable crash whether from being caught or being stabbed in the back from his so-called associates make a deeper connection with his character. Luke is very easy to love when you dig beneath his frivolous exterior.

Initial impressions would suggest that Clara is Luke’s opposite in every way, she has very high moral standards, viewing the world in black and white rather than shades of grey. Her assumptions about Luke are quickly re-evaluated as she gets to know him. Their connection is deep and very real, making the secrecy and lies all the more devastating.

I loved Clara’s outlook on life (even more so as she revealed more of her true self). She has seen the worse kind of depravity in human nature yet she continues to look for the silver lining in everything – she encourages hope in other people, focusing on the rewards of her job rather than the inadequacies. Positive and negative aspects of the law enforcement shown within the narrative aid this aspect of the plot.

Kathleen provides amazing insight into the life of a law enforcement officer, whether undercover or not, showing just how much strain having such a dangerous job can place on relationships. there were aspects I hadn’t previously considered and it really made me appreciate the people who do these jobs even more. The idea that police officers have trust issues due to their dealings with the dregs of society really hit home for me. Their job basically takes priority over all other aspects of their life, isolating them in a way. It was easy to see how so many officers quickly become jaded and disillusioned having to deal with the darker aspects of human nature all of the time. It gave me a new appreciation of just how emotionally strong and self-reliant police officers have to be.

I really loved how Kathleen layered the story between plot revelations, character development and action. The shorter chapters at the 3/4 mark of the book reflected the increase in action within the plot. Fast paced and compelling barely beginning to cover how ingenious Becoming Rain is.