Wednesday 28 October 2015

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review ~ The Weight of Rain by Mariah Dietz


Title: The Weight Of Rain
Author: Mariah Dietz
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: October 27, 2015

Book Description:

One night changed my life—one that I barely remember. 

When I close my eyes, my mind paints a picture of his smile and shades the contours of his hands, the deep scar around his bicep. 

I'm an artist, yet my hands are unsteady. With his presence, he has unknowingly broken that something inside of me that makes me who I am. 

Being around him is like standing in a rainstorm. First the drops tickle my skin, and then they coat me, refusing to be ignored. Finally, they soak into me, reaching parts of me I don’t think anyone has ever touched.

When dreams turn into reality, will the picture in my mind transfer to paper?


Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25604762-the-weight-of-rain

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Excerpt:
 
“Why are you fidgeting again?” Allie’s scolding is in the form of a whisper but still reaches my ears as a yell because I know by the sharp look in her eye that she’s ready to stab me with a pin if I don’t stop.
“Sorry,” I whisper. I work to ignore an itch on the back of my neck and another on my shoulder. As I think about how much I hate standing still and why I didn’t see King at all today though he always works in the home office on Fridays, I feel several more tickles across my skin that arise because I know I can’t move.
My eyes scan over the large space that we’re filling. There are at least two hundred other students in here, each with a model who, like me, is standing atop a crate, making a select few of us even more uncomfortably tall. Several people look perfectly relaxed as they stand completely still, their shoulders back and chins raised as though they’re already on stage. My eyes trace over each of them, noticing their poise, boldness, and beauty.

“She’s really pretty.”

Allie’s looks up at me with minimal interest. “Who?”

“The girl over there with the dark blond hair.” I nod in the direction of where she’s standing.

“You’re an artist, Lo. She’s definitely pretty, but her confidence is what makes her stand out so much.”
Allie’s comment makes me stare longer at the girl, noticing her eyes are a little too close together, and her forehead too short to be what is believed to be the definition of attractive. It brings me to hate those ignorant facts even more because she is beautiful, and I’m grateful she seems to believe so without meeting the dictated standards.

“Lo,” Allie hisses in warning, making my hand drop from where it’s rubbing across my mostly bare thigh.

“You should really consider asking Kenzie.”

“I would have if I had known you have ADHD. What’s with you?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s because you can’t draw, huh?” My attention drops to Allie as she places another pin along the hemline.
“That’s definitely not helping.”

“When do you think you’ll be able to hold a pencil again? Are your professors freaking out?”

“I don’t know. I’m hoping by the end of this week so I can draw while I’m home for Christmas.”
“Are you excited?”

Her gaze remains fixed on the dress as I raise my eyebrows, her question sinking into my thoughts. “I guess. I don’t know.”

“You don’t talk about your family much.” Allie’s eyes dart to mine for just a fraction of a second, but I’m sure it’s long enough to notice mine working to evade contact.
“There’s not a whole lot to say.”

“What happened to your mom this week?” I feel her briefly glance up again before moving her hands to a new spot where she begins measuring the fabric for the next pin.

“Something came up. I’m sure I’ll see her after the holidays. You know how this time of year is.”

She places a white chalk pencil between her teeth and nods slowly as if debating that it’s the correct response. She frees it again, intently focusing on the fabric, and places a careful mark. “You aren’t mad?”

I shrug, earning a glare from her that I return with a frown. Her lips fall open into a laugh. “You just need to focus on someone and mentally draw them; otherwise, you’re never going to make it out of here tonight, at least not without a thousand pinholes.”
My neck twists as I look around the room again. There are so many people in here. So much beauty, anticipation, desire, and passion: things I seek for my own inspiration, yet when I close my eyes and start sketching lines across my imagination, they don’t make up anyone that’s in here. I think I’d be surprised at this point if they ever do again. 

There are times like yesterday when I genuinely wish I hated him. Hell, he’s been a jackass to me enough that I could justifiably say I do, and anyone would be able to understand where I’m coming from. Then again, that would also require having someone to discuss my feelings for and interactions with him.
I wish I hadn’t been exposed to the kinder sides of him.

I wish I didn’t see how he acts around Mercedes to witness his unconditional love for her.

I wish my memories of that night were fading rather than becoming clearer.

I wish I wasn’t falling for this asshole.

I wish he’d fall for me.
 
Play List:
 
 
Our Review:
 
Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“You’re so afraid to be in the spotlight, you just sit in everyone else’s shadow.”


Mariah Dietz is one of those authors that I “discovered” in the very beginning and I have read and devoured her books one by one. She is one of those authors that never fails to deliver and once again she has taken me on another emotional rollercoaster. While this one is not as emotional as her previous stories what this book does have is some great dialogue, great banter, BMX stunt riders, a really cute kid and some fantastic side characters that really made this book the complete package.

Lo was a quiet, studious woman. She had fought to be where she was and was determined to make it work. Having come from a family of ranchers she was expected to follow in the family footsteps, but Lo had an incredible talent and huge aspirations. She didn’t want to be a rancher; she wanted to be an artist. Her work was insanely amazing, but she was coy about it all, she couldn’t see just how good she was, her self-esteem and confidence were at an all-time low. Lo had such a huge heart though, but it had been trampled on by those that should have loved her, as you see her heart slowly start to beat again, you cannot help but champion her along. Her relationship with King’s niece was fantastic and these two really got under each-others skin, but in a good way…a much needed way.


“People who say that blood is thicker than friendship have never known what it’s like to have an asshole as a parent.”


Lo’s roommate drags her to a party, trying to get Lo to lighten up and enjoy herself rather than stay in her room painting or working. Lo meets a guy, she has had a few drinks, but she is in control and she sleeps with him, totally out of character. This guy spoke to her, called out to her, she couldn’t resist and it was such an alien feeling that she had to explore it. They exchanged numbers…he lost his phone and his number rubbed off her hand. After months of trying to find out the identity of the other fate has other ideas, their paths cross once again.

 
“I wish I wasn’t falling for this asshole. I wish he’d fall for me.”


I’m not going to say any more as you need to read it for yourself, but after months of thinking the other didn’t care it was always going to be tricky. Mariah Dietz always brings these characters to life as if they were your friends and family, not only do you get a story but you get a life. Her books are more about emotional connections, thoughts and feelings rather than just the sex. She always manages to instil her characters into your heart and they take such a tight grip that you just don’t want to let them go.

                         
“Conveniences build pain and resentment. Love is only made to bend so far.”


King was adorable, he had his bad boy persona but underneath he was teddy bear. He too had never felt a connection like he had that night; he had a hard time believing that Lo never made contact again. His pride is wounded; his machismo dented, but once they set eyes on each other again, that night just comes back into sharp, vivid focus in all its technicolour glory. Of course we have the angst and the misunderstandings, no book would be complete without but when this man loves, he loves hard and his relationship with his niece was adorable and only makes you love him all the more.

I was totally immersed into the world of the Knight’s, BMXing is not a sport that is commonly featured and I thought that this was a great diversion away from the emotional side and really balanced this book out. As I said above the dialogue was fantastic and really brought these characters to life. Dialogue can either make or break a book and it definitely made this one. Once again, another fab read from Mariah Dietz and I’m hoping that some of the other characters in this book get their own story too, you never know, hopefully this won’t be the last I see of this family.

 About the Author:
 
Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.  

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them. 

Author Links:

Website: http://www.mariahdietz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mariah-Dietz-317058868472780/timeline/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MariahDietz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8474696.Mariah_Dietz

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