Official Review: December Rain by A.L. Goulden

autumnmarie · Post by **autumnmarie** » 28 Dec 2014, 21:25

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "December Rain" by A.L. Goulden.]

4 out of 4 stars

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“December Rain” is the second installment in the August Fog series written by author A.L Goulden. I did not read this book’s predecessor, but I don’t think this marred my reading experience all that much. I would even go as far as to say that “December Rain” can be picked up and read as a stand alone novel, although the cliffhanger ending certainly entices one into keeping tabs on the series future installments.

Monica and Alex Waters are a couple struggling to piece back together the remnants of their marriage after instances of infidelity by both parties. Upon a revisitation to their honeymoon destination in Hawaii, the urgency of the situation is catalyzed by a chance encounter with Monica’s former lover, and newly successful painter, Quinn. Upon observing their interaction, it is at this point that Alex realizes Monica will never fully be his and swiftly puts an end to their relationship. For Monica, the idea of severing herself from the comfortable life she has established with high school sweetheart Alex is earth shattering.

Monica, with the help of her friend Robin, begins to settle into her new life in a sublet apartment. In a weekend orchestrated by her closest friends, Monica’s drunken recklessness comes to a head when she begins galavanting around like a boisterous college girl and flaunting herself in front of her friend Rianne’s husband, Jack. Enter Quinn like a crashing wave, and Monica is quickly swept off her feet (quite literally), and plunked on his couch only to awake the next morning in her acknowledged dream house.

Despite her initial precaution, Monica quickly falls back into the familiarity of her relationship with Quinn as if no time has passed at all. Between the quintessential warmth of a New England Christmas spent with Quinn’s family, to the exotic tranquility of their time in Hawaii, Monica begins to question the plausibility (and the price tag) of the perfect life Quinn has presented her. Has true, unadulterated happiness finally found Monica, or is there a detrimental secret buried in Quinn’s carefully manicured life that will bring it all crashing down?

“December Rain” is fueled by its’ heavy sensuality. Goulden certainly does not hold back when it comes to detailing lovemaking scenes, but I found them to be appropriately placed and tasteful enough for seasoned romance readers. Not only this, but the creativity expressed in the elusive underground scene of voyeurism gave the novel’s sensuality a more dynamic and provoking face. Monica’s introspective thinking provides her character depth and encourages empathy with the reader. The myriad questions and doubts she has in respect to her failed relationship with Alex and her rekindled love affair with Quinn are very associable and I found myself feeling very deeply for her. I wanted very badly to know how the character's ended up so the cliffhanger absolutely killed me.

That being said, there were times in this novel where slight grammatical errors disrupted the otherwise seamless flow of the story, but I’m sure these can be easily ironed out (if they haven’t been already.) I found it a little hard to keep track of side characters and their situations, almost feel as if there may be more present than necessary- but this may just be because I did not read the first novel-which I intend to do, along with the sequel when it is released. I give this novel 4 out of 4 stars!

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Skillian · Post by **Skillian** » 03 Jan 2015, 18:14

I love that despite reading the initial book in the series you felt so strongly for this one... rendering it 4 out of 4 stars. That always registers well in my mind for the quality of the book. Thanks for the review!