Raintree Description

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Raintree, retired Navy SEAL, is 75% Native American and a card-carrying member of the Choctaw Nation. He returned to Oklahoma to build his home and settle down with the woman of his dreams, but his plans are interrupted when he's falsely imprisoned for murder. A woman buys his house, not knowing that he was the architect and builder. A potential kidnapper lurks in the shadows, and Raintree works to keep her alive upon his release. The better he gets to know her, the more complicated their lives become. He must get back to his roots on the reservation to battle these forces and answer an unavoidable question: could he learn to live again in two cultures, one foot in his Choctaw heritage and one foot in the white man's world?

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Raintree Sneak-Peek

Prologue

To the future inhabitants

My name is Jonathan Raintree. During my years of existing in far-away places, I designed this house. Every detail was etched into my mind. When my travels were over, I purchased this land, and began building my house in 2012, with my own hands. It was a labor of love. My intention was to create a solid, quality home, and when I was finished, bring my bride, the love of my life, here to live and grow old with me. We would experience the harmony and joy of the ages, what is left of goodness in this world.

Years of dreams, along with blood and sweat, are imbedded in every inch of these hand-hewn logs. The stones in this fireplace cried out to me from where they were seated, and I brought them here, to their new home. The woodwork was hand-planed, with love for the woman I haven’t met yet. My final days here, I have been compelled to leave my imprint in the carving above the door.

This is good land. The water from the well is pure. Trees will grow tall, gardens will flourish. Birds will sing their songs. God makes it rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

My one mistake was that of all men. The future is not promised to us. I have to leave here tomorrow, and it is doubtful I will ever return. I leave this place of peace and love in your care. Respect this small piece of earth I am leaving to you. Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads. Be still and the earth will speak to you.

May you find peace and happiness here.

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“He’s out of here by morning,” Harry said as quietly and steely as Rose had been earlier in the day.

“Not your call, brother-mine,” Rose lobbed back in her sweetest voice. Next came the staring match. It was almost tradition. Their gazes locked, blue eyes vs. green. Harry had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He was what some called the Dark

Irish. Black hair and blue eyes. An attractive and imposing combination. The Dark Irish are taller than their fair brothers. Harry and Kevin were both well-over six feet. They favored their Irish mother, who had been four inches taller than Robert, who was of Czech descent. Harry was the more handsome of the two brothers, with chiseled features and a well-proportioned physique. Kevin tended to carry a few extra pounds, which was incongruous, since he owned a chain of premier fitness centers across the US.

The staring match had nothing to do with blinking. It had to do with the eyes being the windows to the soul. Their expressions didn’t change, but their eyes ran the gamut. It was all about seeing into each-others’ souls. Uncharacteristically, Harry broke first. “What the hell, Rose?” Her eyebrows went up as her eyes opened to their widest. “You’ve only known him, what, two days? And I use ‘known’ loosely. And you are going to stand for him over me? What’s going on? Do you have any idea who he is? Did you even read the background check I sent you?”

“No, I didn’t read it. I don’t want to hear anything about him from you. I know what I need to know. I trust him. He’s not going to hurt me. Jon is staying and that’s that. You can go talk to him. Ease your mind. I’m sure he will give you straight answers, if he chooses to answer at all. I know how you can be, Harry. I watched you up close and personal, as you conducted business from my kitchen. Go butt heads, beat your chests, do whatever you have to do. But you cannot tell him to leave. He stays, and on that matter, I WILL stand between you and Jon Raintree. But don’t make me do that, Harry. You know I love you, and I would do anything for you, but not this. Jon stays.”

“Arghhh”. Harry actually grabbed his hair and pulled. “Alright, your way. I’m going over to talk to him. Am I still welcome here? To spend the night?”

“Of course,” Rose said as she got up from the floor, and held a hand out to Harry.

When he stood up, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a hug, as she said in his ear, “Play nice, Harry. Ring the bell. Don’t go in gang busters.”

REVIEW

Diana Lowery - 13 October 2022

The setting of Raintree by Pamela Kessler takes place around 2017 in northeast Oklahoma. The attractive cover alludes to the Native American heritage of Jon Raintree, one of the protagonists in this story. Rose, a transplant from Minnesota, is the first protagonist we meet in Part I of this multi-layered tale.

Part I is a collection of ten letters that Rose secretly writes to the person who built the house she has just purchased. Through these letters, we learn details of Rose's life as she describes how she is trying to maintain the home's integrity during its renovation. These letters have an important role later in the story.

Part II switches to a third-person narrator where we meet Jon Raintree and a host of other characters. The introduction of these other characters provides the framework for the theme of loyalty that is prevalent. The book can be considered both a romance novel and a mystery novel. Elements of diversity and Native American lore are also included.

The complicated tale is hard to summarize without giving away plot spoilers. Multiple relationships are formed, and espionage and betrayal are discovered. Although the story is complicated, there is never a time when the story is hard to follow or the characters' identities are confusing.

I like the drawings and photographs that appear in many of the chapters. They give a sense of realism to the plot. The detailed descriptions of furnishings, food, and clothing add to the visual experience. The characters are so well-developed that I found myself trying to choose a cast for a movie version.

There were times that I was annoyed with the slow pace of the plot, but the enjoyable prose kept me going. There were also times when the coincidental events were hard to accept, but they did create suspense. Neither of these negatives warranted a star deduction.

This love story/mystery thriller has little profanity or sexual content. It does contain enough grammatical errors to earn a star deduction. My rating is three out of four stars. Two other books are planned for this trilogy, and I hope that the author procures better editing before those are published.

Readers who like stories with elements of romance, mystery, suspense, Native American culture, kidnapping, and humor will love this book. It has been a while since I read a book that captivated me so much that I discussed the details with someone who had not even read the book.

Raintree Description

Raintree Sneak-Peek

REVIEW

Diana Lowery - 13 October 2022

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