All the Little Raindrops

By Mia Sheridan

ISBN# 9781662508233

Author’s Website:  https://miasheridan.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Evan and Noelle were enemies, but not because of anything they did.  Their parents ruined their families and set the course.  Noelle’s mother and Evan’s father were having an affair and one night Leonard Sinclair shot and killed Megan Meyer.  Noelle’s father used their entire life savings, and mortgaged their home and his business to pay for legal fees to get justice for Megan.  However, Leonard was filthy rich and had no problem paying for the best lawyers money could buy.  He got off scott-free.  Megan’s death was ruled to be a horrible accident.  It left her father barely scraping by while Leonard continued to live his life of luxury and privilege.  

Evan and Noelle never talked to one another.  However, that changes when they are both kidnapped and kept caged next to each as part of some sick rich man’s game.  The two must work together if they are ever to survive.  They form an unexpected bond, a comfort to each other in a situation they can’t control.  And, when one of those rich men watching, sends them the things they need to escape, they do what they must.  They will escape or be killed in the attempt.  Lucky for them they are successful.

“People thought they watched reality TV, but there was very little reality to it. It was scripted and edited to lead the watcher toward predetermined conclusions.”

The teens find it difficult to adjust back into normal life, but still find comfort in each other.  They know it’s wrong and try to fight it.  

Seven years later Evan has gone against his father’s plans for him and has become a private investigator.  He is still trying to solve his and Noelle’s case in his spare time.  And, when his investigations take him back to the only girl he’s ever loved, everything changes.  Can they finally figure out who was involved?  Who put them in those cages?  And, can the two finally take a chance at love?

I thought this book had an interesting concept and overall, it was a decent read.  There were definitely things that could be improved though.

The two teenagers had already been taken when the book began.   So, the first 100 pages or so was about them learning to survive and learning to lean on each other and, then their eventual escape.  The kids were raped and beaten, but thankfully the book did not give too many gory details, just enough to let you know it happened.  Definitely be mindful of any triggers, if you’re considering reading this though.

The collector that watched them and helped them help themselves to escape was probably one of the more interesting and duplicitous characters in the entire book.  I would have definitely welcomed a bit more of him, although it probably would have given some of the ending away.

I liked Evan a lot.  For being a kid that grew up in privilege, he was rather down-to-earth and loyal.  At least to Noelle.  Aria would disagree with the loyal thing.  I felt like everyone seemed to dump on Evan though.  Aria had no real right to get mad at him because she was waiting for him to come around and want to be with her.  It’s not like he asked her to wait for him or anything.  And, I hated how Noelle kept pushing him away and the secrets she kept were unforgivable.  Yet, he barely broke stride when he found out.  I guess love *IS* blind. 

“She was beautiful, and she was so torn in so many different directions. They’d seen each other’s souls, and maybe once you’d seen a soul, it belonged to you in some profound way that could be felt but not explained. He knew her. He understood every facet. She was imperfect, but so was he. She was fearful and extraordinarily brave. She was scarred inside, but she was his. It had been true then, and it was true now. It would be his greatest truth for the remainder of his days, and he would not deny it again.”

I honestly felt that I needed more at the end of this book.  I wanted to see a confrontation between Evan and “Fontane”.  Instead, Evan and Noelle sat and watched someone else clean up the mess and finally end the suffering of so many.  It was a little too neat and tidy for my liking and I wanted to see our hero get his hands dirty.  I don’t feel we got enough closure on this story and what these kids went through.  In the end, it was an entertaining read, but it could have been even better.