All the Little Raindrops: A Novel

Well, DANG!! Please heed any content and trigger warnings on this one because it's a thriller and it's dark and contains content that will be a no go for many. But with that....WOW!! I couldn't stop reading/listening to this one and want to know what goes on in the mind of sweet Mia Sheridan. ;)

I was first drawn to All the Little Raindrops from the author herself. I love her romances, but I also like her dark side. Next was the cover that I found absolutely stunning. BUT, then you open the pages, or in my case start the audio....that's where the beauty ends. You are thrown into a story that I would call Hunger Games, trafficking style. It is brutal and horrendous and left me with my jaw open. Told in multiple POVs we follow Noelle and Evan as they are kidnapped and held against their will in cages and forced to make horrible decisions in order to survive what is being thrown upon them. But why were these teenagers taken and what could it mean that they are two people that have had a past that was already connected?

Ms Sheridan immediately dropped us into storm and then took us into a darkness that even I couldn't fathom. She crafted it in such a way that we not only got to experience the trauma, but we also got to be there for the resilience these characters held. From their trauma came a bond. A reverse Stockholm syndrome, if you will. After an intense escape, Sheridan provided us with a journey that spanned years and with that came a story of survival, PTSD and searching for answers.

This is a story that immediately pulled me in and didn't let me go until the very end. The narrators captured the complete essence of the characters and the story. I have to wonder if they are all right after their performances of this brutal journey of two people that found a connection within the dark. I liked how the author sprinkled clues throughout and still held enough back to make me wonder how everything was going to come together in the end. This wasn't just a story about Noelle and Evan, but about a past that was equally disturbing. Although this was a thriller, we do get some romance, but that was never at the forefront. I'm glad we got something that held a little bit of light within the dark.

Overall, this was a great psychological thriller that was executed well. From the plot, to the characters, to the span in timeline, Sheridan proves to up her game each time she dives into the thriller genre. Highly recommend if you can stomach it. And if you're an audio listener, the narrators brought this story to life with their cinematic performances.

This book was a remarkable read, full of intricate plots and well-developed characters. From the first page, I was hooked by the unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The narrative skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, delivering surprises that completely change the story's direction just when you think you have it all figured out. The depth of the characters made them incredibly real and relatable, and the vividly described settings immersed me in a world that felt almost cinematic. Tackling profound themes and exploring the complexities of human nature, this book is a masterful blend of suspense, drama, and emotion that challenges the mind and stirs the heart. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

I really liked the idea of this one. I was super ready to see how things played out. I have to admit that I was a little taken aback because it came in a romance book box I received and while it has some romance it is more thriller if you ask me. The romance is just like a side quest that the story doesn't even need to function. At first I thought the book was going to give off some similar vibes to Still Beating, but it quickly showed that was not going to be the case. Which is totally fine, I just think that would have been more of the romance element. The writing was good and intriguing and it kept you invested pretty early on, but like something was missing.

I think it was hard to make their kidnap and escape such a pivotal thing, but it takes up less than 40% of the book. I will admit I was glad we didn't get graphic and descriptive scenes really of their torture, but it also just felt like we didn't get a foundation for any of the attachment between them. After they are out we don't really see much of relationship between them and they've had no contact until Evan beings looking into their kidnapping more. At this point we get a couple unnecessary plot twists that also don't add to the story and then an investigation that seems to take like 80% of the book.

It seemed like it took forever to figure out who was behind everything all while we get random bits of another game currently happening. I also want to say that it felt like some of the reveals on their kidnapping were just supposed to be for shock value with no real motivation for why. I think more of the backstory on the Collector and the game would have been more useful. However, overall it was an engaging story. I just was missing some things that would have nailed it for me.

Someone is collecting people and putting them in cages. Taken from their homes and rented by wealthy men. Noelle and Evan were eighteen years old when they found themselves in a dark room living inside a cage. Caged next to the enemy. They knew each other. His father killed her mother. Rather than suffer for the crimes of his father they worked together. They found themselves part of organized crime. … The first part of the story is dark and twisted focusing on the survival of Noelle and Evan. It was an interesting read. There’s fear and uncertainty about why they were taken. It’s creepy and horrifying given they don’t understand what is happening. To call this a dark story requires digging deep into the psychological depths of what is happening to each of them and the toll it’s taking on there bodies. There’s more at play than just two people connecting by trauma. … It’s designed to read as a puzzle to solve. This read gave me Saw movie vibes. The Collector, The Players, and The Viewers. The unknown has become a deliciously wicked game. This was a puzzle worth completing. The tangled clues were difficult to decipher. It’s a tongue twister. … The story takes a turn in part two after they escape and try to rebuild their lives as free people. As was stated before more is at stake than them being abducted to live in cages and rented. Something far more sinister is at play. It’s a multilayered story embodying romance, mystery, trauma bond, secrets, and crime of passion. I enjoy blended stories combining various genres into one especially uniting the dark thriller genre with a lighter softer romance. Mia Sheridan writes a compelling dark story about two eighteen year old bonded together by trauma. That link ties them back to their fathers. … The narrators is comprised of multiple voice actors all bringing this story to life in a way that had me pleased. I’m an eyes and ears person who enjoys following along with the ebook. Having these talented voices in my ears was a great experience. I’ve grown to appreciate audiobooks especially when it’s a thriller or mystery. It’s second best to watching a movie.

Straight off the bat, all the little raindrops threw me for a loop and I was sucked right into this book. The beginning had I was so confused but so intrigued that I DID NOT want to put it down. I then got to the middle and it was a bit slower than the beginning and sort of boring but everyone told me to keep going and boy am I GLAD I did because this book ughh this book is soo good. I can’t even describe it in a way that I feel it should be described. It will have you thinking you know things and then boom you have to rethink everything. I’m upset about the end. I’m upset that Mia didn’t go more into detail reaction of someone telling another person something. Besides the ending, I loved all of it. I recommend it!

I'm giving this book 4⭐'s, even though it's pretty much a 3½⭐, at best. I enjoyed the story and the characters... for the most part. However, some of this book was cheesy. Hallmark mystery cheesy, and it made me want to reach for the Lactaid. Lactose intolerance is no joke! Seriously though, it really was like one of those Hallmark movies. Enemies become friends, and it continues to evolve from there. I really enjoyed the thriller/mystery of the book, but the fluff in between was way too over the top for my liking.

I’d like to rate this novel 3.5 if half-point ratings were allowed. It is a very dark novel, but one that redeemed itself by the end. It was definitely gripping, and I found it hard to put down..even though I had to from time to time to get away from the dark subject matter.

However, there’s a big, glaring problem. Reading this felt like two separate novels…or maybe a Part 1 and Part 2. There’s huge plot that lasts the first half of the novel (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers), then the novel takes a different turn and it becomes an entirely different plot. Yes, both storylines are connected, but I didn’t feel the transition (or perhaps lack of transition) worked for me.

Anyway, it was entertaining, and I don’t regret the time spent reading this novel.