Akira’s feelings toward her boss grow more intense, and Kondo, in the face of such unwavering attention, finds that emotions he thought he’d lost long ago are welling up once again, and he meets up with an old college classmate. Meanwhile, Akira clashes with her best friend Kiyan, as she feels the distance between them has grown too much. And so the summer of Akira’s 17th year passes by…

After Rain Falls is BOOK TWO OF TWO in the River of Rain Duet. In order to understand the contents of this book, you must read Follow the River first. This is the conclusion of River and Rain's story.Love has never been important to me. Not because I didn't want it, I just never imagined feeling something so powerful.There was a point where I thought I felt it years ago for the person I trusted most in the world, only to have it shatter in a thousand pieces.But now he's back in my life and I'm certain I was wrong.Because nothing compares to the way I feel about River Lennox. Nothing could have prepared me for the war we waged against one another to turn into a battle to not only find ourselves, but each other.Our prison sentence became our sanctuary from anything-or anyone-who dared to rip us apart.He crawled under my skin, into my heart, and made a home for himself there despite my efforts to stop him.But it doesn't matter now. Not when I find myself being thrown into a chess game I never asked to play with decisions forced on me that no one should have to make.It's not just life and death.It's love and hate.The past and the future.Except...when my past comes knocking with a thirst for vengeance, I start to question if I have a future at all.

Akira Tachibana. 17 years old, high school junior. Akira, awkward when it comes to expressing her feelings, finds herself secretly falling for the manager of the family restaurant where she works, one Masami Kondo, age 45. The curtain rises on the small love story that begins to unfold between Akira, stuck standing on the crossroads of adolescence, and Kondo, at the turning point of his own life…

In After the Rain, celebrated self-care storyteller Alexandra Elle delivers 15 lessons on how to overcome obstacles, build confidence, and cultivate abundance. Part memoir and part guide, Elle shares stirring stories from her own remarkable journey from self-doubt to self-love. This soulful collection is filled with illuminating reflections on loss, fear, bravery, healing, love, acceptance, and more. • Readers follow along her journey as she transforms challenging experiences—a difficult childhood, painful romantic relationships, and single parenting as a young mom—into fuel for her career as a successful entrepreneur and author driven by purpose and pasion • Filled with Elle's signature candor and warmth • Includes empowering affirmations and meditations for readers to practice in their own lives After the Rain is a soulful guide to help you embrace all the beauty, love, and opportunity life has to offer. • Presented in luminous package with a foil case and gold accents • A beautiful gift for anyone on the path to self-discovery, and an uplifting reminder that there is always sunshine after the rain • Perfect for the friend who loves meditating, self-care, journaling, or seeking personal transformation and empowerment • Great for those who loved Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist, 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs, and anything written by Brené Brown, Rupi Kaur, Rachel Hollis, and Elizabeth Gilbert

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth. When eighteen-year-old Avelina Belo meets a charismatic cowboy the summer before her senior year of high school, she doesn’t know that accepting his invitation to dinner will lead to a whirlwind marriage three months later and an exciting new life on a Montana ranch. She also doesn’t know that, in a few short years, fate will send everything crashing down around her. A thousand miles away and fresh out of medical school, Nate Meyers is poised to become UCLA’s next superstar heart surgeon. His laser focus is the key to his success, but it’s also his greatest liability. When a routine surgery ends in disaster, derailing his career, he’s confronted with the hard truth: there’s no one waiting for him at home, no one to help him pick up the pieces. Regrouping on his uncle’s Montana ranch, Nate meets Avelina, a beautiful but mysterious young woman who keeps to herself and barely speaks a word. As he discovers the details of her devastating past, Avelina teaches him more about matters of the heart than he ever knew before. But can they trust each other enough to put everything on the line?

Readers have fallen in love After the Rain: 'I enjoyed this book immensely... Her characters are people you want to spend time with' 'This really tugs on your heartstrings' 'This book is a joy to escape into' 'This is a book that becomes a friend and you never want it to end because you know you will miss their company' ------------------ After the storm it's time for a fresh start . . . First, the clouds... Tara Hunter is a therapist on a mission to restore Longhampton's community spirit after catastrophic flooding. But with her boyfriend AWOL, her family fragmented, and only a cat for company, Tara's own life is crumbling. Then the storm... On top of everything, Tara's father - last seen as he walked out on her when she was ten years old - is suddenly back, with a surprising offer that could change everything. And after the rain... Dr David Dalloway is Longhampton Wellness Centre's new star counsellor. He's charming, caring and has a knack for reading people's minds - which is the last thing Tara needs right now. Will having David and her dad around make for a bigger storm on the horizon? Or is this Tara's chance for a fresh start? 'Beautifully written with humour and insight' Katie Fforde 'Brimming with all the ingredients for the best of novels: love, community spirit, family, friendship and four-legged friends.' Milly Johnson 'Heartwarming and full of hope. Lucy Dillon brings warmth to every page' Sarah Morgan

After the Rain is a graphic novel adaptation of Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor’s short story “On the Road.” During a violent and unexpected storm in a small Nigerian town, the destiny of a Nigerian-American woman named Chioma is revealed . . . and her life is changed forever. She answers a knock at her door and is horrified to see a boy with a severe head wound standing at her doorstep. He reaches for her, and his touch burns like fire. Something is very wrong. Haunted and hunted, Chioma must embrace her heritage in order to survive. John Jennings and David Brame’s graphic novel collaboration uses bold art and colors to powerfully tell this tale of identity and destiny.

Drip, Drop, Plink. The rain stops, and Levi runs outside to play in a stream of rain water. But Polly puts an end to his fun when she doesn't want to share. It's a puddle fight! Until they see that the water is disappearing fast. Truce! They find a way to save the water and discover that it is more fun to play together. After the Rain puts a new twist on the rainy-day picture book about sharing and learning to work together.

Corruption. Secrets. Betrayal. Knowing the number of people I can trust is limited. Not uncommon for an heir to the key of Enclave. I should understand it. Be used to it. Expect it. But somehow I'm still blindsided when I find I've dedicated my life to a lie. To what extent is the proof of our sins buried? I'm not sure. Only as more time passes, I'm worried I'll never learn fact from fiction. It's why I'm taking my place within our brotherhood. Not out of obligation, but as a cover to get what I desperately need. The truth. The only thing standing in my way? A six-foot asshole in Armani with sapphire eyes and a heart of ice and stone. He despises me on principle alone. He's a distraction I crave but can't afford. Yet I doubt the hatred he carries is actually for me. Which makes me want to melt his cold, callous demeanor more. And when I catch a glimpse beneath the surface, I find I'm not the only one searching for answers to unspoken questions. Or keeping secrets. **These Vile Secrets is an enemies-to-lovers MM romance and is the first book of five in the Enclave series. This is a true series and must be read in order. This is Roman's story. This is diving into dark romance and there will be triggering content.

As I stare at the sky and wonder, why am I here? Why is the world spinning and I feel left out? I have gone through so much losing loved ones, wearing a fake smile to cover up the pain. And, as I take one step forward, I slip back two steps. I have gotten up and dusted the dirt off my shoulders and decided I am going to make it. I am determined to see the sunshine. I am on a journey. I am reminded after the rain has washed away my tears, that there is always sunshine after the rain.