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Burying Water #2

Becoming Rain

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Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

K.A. Tucker

64 books23.2k followers
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.



She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.

Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.

​K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto.

Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 812 reviews
Profile Image for Emily May.
2,097 reviews314k followers
March 26, 2015
Becoming Rain is a book about the worst FBI agent ever. No exaggeration.

I've been in the mood for some romance lately so I've been checking out recent releases that sound interesting. Unfortunately, every book seems to be one more reminder why I keep taking long breaks from the romance genre - there is so much bad. In my experience, though, I have more luck with romances that are combined with other genres - fantasy, historical or mystery - so when I saw that this highly-rated book was romantic suspense, I thought maybe it was time to fall in love.

“I take easy, slow steps, keeping my face calm as I scramble to come up with a story. This is one of my strengths—lying—and yet right now I’m drawing a blank.”

But I did not bargain for the female MC, Clara (aka "Rain") being such a moron. I honestly don't know how she got her job or came out of this undercover mission alive. In the book, she’s undercover with potentially murderous criminals and every few pages she’s like “Oops! Just gave up some info about my personal life! Better fix it with really bad lies." I mean, that's before we even get to the bit where she falls for her target - Luke - because he's PRETTEH. I could be a better FBI agent than her.

We're constantly told how Luke is different from her previous targets because he's gorgeous and charming. According to Clara, that's the difference between the criminals who deserve it and the criminals who are just misunderstood - a pretty face. Oh, give me a break. She's supposed to be a smart, career-focused woman, and yet all of that turns to mush when she's faced with a hot guy.



And that not-so-subtle blow to feminism is nowhere near the end of it. But let me break down the basic plot first before I continue. Clara is an FBI agent going undercover to try and bust a notorious car theft ring in Portland. Luke is the nephew of one of the ring's main guys and his uncle wants him to take over the "business". Clara must worm her way into Luke's life as "Rain" and find out as much information as she can. However, Clara's training could not prepare her for a six-pack and a large penis so, alas, she starts to fall for Luke.

But Clara isn't just stupid, vapid and senseless, oh no, she also hates almost every single woman in the book. She looks down on "that type" of woman:

“These ones stalk through life with their stunning faces and perfect figures—either naturally granted or acquired with the help of a plastic surgeon—with the single goal of climbing the boyfriend ladder until they reach the top and become the wife of a rich husband who will cater to their every high-maintenance need.
They’re vapid.
Insecure.
Unkind.
I can’t stand their type. And I can’t stand the kind of guys who are attracted to them.”


You know what I can't stand? Women who shame other women for NO GOOD FUCKING REASON. Like you're so much better, Clara! You can't even stay on the job for two minutes without getting all caught up in those pretty eyes. Moron.



And this one:

“Maybe she made him breakfast. Maybe they did it again before she made him breakfast. Does that kind of girl even know how to fry an egg?”

What is "that kind of girl", anyway? You mean, the kind that has casual sex with a guy? What the fuck does that have to do with her intelligence or capability of frying an egg? Let me tell you, I'd much rather be the kind of girl who has casual sex than the kind of girl who jeopardizes an entire FBI operation because she couldn't get her shit together and do her job. And, by the way, if she's "that kind of girl", then that would make the guy you're falling for "that kind of guy", right? Or is it supposed to be different with guys? Fuck, you might as well just embroider a flag with "Feminism" and set fire to it.

But I saved the worst quote for last. There's a scene in the book where Clara is with a male colleague who is basically implying - correctly - that she is incapable of doing her job because - incorrectly - women have a tendency to get all caught up in their emotions and fall for their targets. How does Clara react?

“I could get offended, chew him out for treating me like a weak woman, but I know his concern comes from a good place, so I simply smile and nod.”



That's right, ladies. When you're talked down to by your male colleagues, remember that it comes from a good place, so just smile, nod and don't make a fuss.

Almost everything about this book offends me.

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Profile Image for jessica.
2,595 reviews45.4k followers
March 13, 2022
this is such an entertaining story! i dont think ive read a romantic suspense where the undercover cop falls for her assignment, so i found the plot particularly fascinating because of that dynamic.

and luke! oh my gosh. luke. hes so soft with a big heart, but he tries to be so hard and i love him for failing at it. i will say, if i were in his shoes, i would have such a difficult time moving past the deception, but this has the happing ending he deserves, so im okay with how everything is wrapped up.

again, im not the biggest fan of mafia/mob plots when it comes to the crime elements but, similar to the previous book, it works with the story and doesnt feel cheesy. theres a really nice balance between it, the investigation, and the romance.

so all in all, a great addition to the series!

4 stars
Profile Image for Christy.
4,269 reviews35.2k followers
September 27, 2017
4 stars!

description

When I read Burying Water, I remember being blown away by the story. How it was suspenseful, mysterious yet romantic at the same time. Becoming Rain was a little higher on the crime/suspense, but it was still one I really enjoyed.

Luke Boone is Jesse’s best friend and roommate. He was the guy in the first book who you could tell had a good heart, but made some questionable choices. You see, Luke was born into a life of crime. His uncle is trying to groom him to take over the ‘business’, but right now most everything he’s doing is within the law.

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Clara Bertelli- aka Rain is working undercover. She’s trying to make her way into the FBI and this undercover case is just what she needs to give her that push. Her task is simple. Get Luke to talk. Whatever means necessary. She’s young and attractive, so it shouldn’t be too difficult… right? Well, Luke doesn’t make it that easy on her. Luke is focused on more than just girls and seems to show Rain he’s not the guy she thinks he is time and time again.

When she finally does cross his path, she see’s a different side of him. Lines will blur.
I’ve broken one of the most basic rules of undercover work: don’t get emotionally attached to your targets.

Rain is so different from any other girl Luke has met. She makes him want to open up to her. For the first time, he feels like he can trust someone.

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Luke and Rain’s relationship was forbidden to the max. Rain isn’t supposed to care about Luke. Isn’t supposed to want to be with him in that way. He is a criminal. She is a cop. It can’t ever be anything. It can’t ever go anywhere. So why does she feel things for him? Why does she believe deep down he is a good man? And why does she want him so badly?

As things start to heat up between this couple, feelings start to develop. Feelings that are dangerous for Rain to have.

description

Luke and Rain were both characters I enjoyed reading about. Luke is one of those guys that proves you wrong time and time again. I loved his heart. Sure, he’s sexy as hell. He also has some questionable characteristics, but there is no denying that deep down he is a good person. And Rain- she was fantastic. I loved the turmoil she felt, the push and pull of doing the ‘right thing’ and what she felt was right.

Tucker is a supreme story teller. She has this way with her writing that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading, to find out whats going to happen with these characters and their lives. This is not just a romance. It’s a complex story that’s full of suspense, mystery and drama. But there is love too. The biggest theme of this story is the choices we make. We all have choices we make in life and they shape the people we become. Luke and Rain had some huge choices to make and I love the path those choices took them on.
I don’t care about any of it. All I want to do is lean forward and kiss him. Steal him away from the bad stuff, convince him to start over because-

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Profile Image for Lady Vigilante (Feifei).
632 reviews2,947 followers
March 4, 2015
4.5 stars!!

description

I really didn’t think I would like this book as much as I did since the first one in this series didn’t wow me, but I stand corrected. K.A. Tucker can write one heck of a romantic suspense read that was a refreshing change to what my usual RS books are like. This book was neither fast-paced nor action-packed (2 qualities I HAVE to have in romantic suspense books) yet the story was equally suspenseful the whole way through and still made my heart race. It might have been my mood because coincidentally, I was reading this book while it was cold and rainy outside and with deep, somber music playing loudly in the background, I felt like I was truly in the mood for this story that meshed a slow burn romance with a clever, suspenseful plot. But whatever the reason, the author delivered an intricately-woven story that made me think hard and feel harder, and I couldn’t be more impressed.

The premise of this story immediately had my attention – the heroine is an undercover agent aiming to bring down a giant car theft ring and its mastermind, but in the process falls for the guy’s nephew and future successor to the organization…love that!! Could a relationship be any more forbidden? ;) The heroine Clara – code name Rain – plans to seduce and hook her claws into the hero Luke and get him to reveal secrets about the theft ring. As she becomes tentative friends with Luke, she gets to see a human side of him that was never documented in her case file about him or his associates…and her determination to bring down this guy and his uncle wavers. I could really feel her inner turmoil and struggle between doing what was lawfully right and what she wanted to do.

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As the plot slowly moves forward, it’s revealed that Luke is nothing like the other men associated with the car theft ring. Unlike the others who are in it for pure greed and power, Luke is fresh to the game and seeing the money, prestige, and other benefits that come with this illegal trade has temporarily blinded him. Because deep down – and Rain knows it too – he’s a sweet, sensitive, and caring man who fell for temptation and just needed an out. And as his tender relationship with Rain develops, the more she feels conflicted about condemning a truly good guy to jail when all she wants is to shield and protect him from getting even deeper into the crime ring.

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This is one of those books where the moment I read the first few chapters, I knew things were not going to end well. I expected a big bomb to drop somewhere in the story when the truth came out, and it did and it was ugly. I don’t even know how to explain why this affected me the way it did, but I was so crushed, like someone dropped a boulder on my heart. I’m chalking it up to the author’s brilliant, fluent writing because it really is wonderful. Even when I wasn’t going gaga over book 1, I couldn’t give it less than 3 stars because the writing was amazing, and that’s something I can count on with every K.A. Tucker book I read. And so with this book, the impact was maximized for me and every new obstacle present that prevented Rain and Luke’s relationship from moving forward saddened me, but also kept me in suspense because I truly didn’t know where the story would go.

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Because most of the book was slow and steady, I was a little annoyed that the last 10% of the story was rushed to tie things up so I can’t give it 5 stars. But the rest of the book? It was perfect for me. If you want a ‘different’ kind of romantic suspense read that focuses heavily on crime tossed in with romance, this is definitely a good one to pick up! Prepare to think. Prepare to feel.

Becoming Rain is the 2nd book in the Burying Water series but can be read as a standalone. Just FYI, I read the first book and remember very little about it and had no problem getting through this book.

ARC provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy | Foxy Blogs.
1,704 reviews1,039 followers
February 10, 2015
Becoming Rain is a suspenseful romance revolving around the world of a high stakes car theft ring. The plot is filtered through dual point of views.

Clara is an undercover officer who has gone incognito, as Rain Matines, to take down this organization. Her success comes with a price of not being able to maintain a normal relationship with a man. While this bothers her to a point, the reward of succeeding in her line of work fuels her fire.

Luke first appears in Burying Water as the best friends to Jesse. Luke’s uncle Rust raised and groomed him to take over both of his businesses; legal and illegal. The appeal of monetary benefit draws Luke into desiring the dangers involved with the illegal activities.

A covert operation is put into place with Rain being the key player in executing the manipulation of this take down. Rain must entice Luke to befriend her and allow her access to his life. Unfortunately, her initial attempts at luring him were failures.

Lines become blurred as Rain divulges deeper into Luke’s life. Her feelings for him crossover from being someone to put behind bars to someone who is a good guy caught up in the wrong crowd.

Just like Burying Water this book takes place in Oregon. Oregon is known for a lot of things and one of those is how GREEN it is. The green is a result of all the rain that’s dumped on Oregon. I love this little interchange between the characters about rain:

“I’ve never met anyone who actually loves rain. It’s kind of weird. But cool, too. I just don’t get it.” ~Luke

“It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain. It washes away dirt, dilutes the toxins in the air, feeds drought. It keeps everything around us alive.” ~Rain

I love how the author used a double entendre with the word rain. Luke also needs “Rain” to help wash away the dirt that surrounds his environment.

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I'm loving The Burying Water series with it's intensity and compelling story line. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Release date: 3/3/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1uxaglG

SERIES:
Burying Water (Burying Water, #1) by K.A. Tucker Becoming Rain (Burying Water, #2) by K.A. Tucker Chasing River
To find when the next one is being released click here.

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Quotes are from uncorrected copy and are subject to change in the final version.

descriptive text here
Profile Image for Beverly.
1,005 reviews790 followers
May 23, 2015
"It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain.”

Becoming Rain is the second book in the Burying Water Series. While in the same series the books focus on different couples and can be read as a standalone. However, I loved Burying Water and highly recommend reading it first.

We originally meet Luke Boone in Burying Water he is Jesse’s roommate and best friend. Luke is a great guy, but he was born and bred to be a criminal. His Uncle Rust helped raise him and treated him as his own son, so he didn’t really have much of a choice in terms of careers. Rust owns some legitimate businesses and when the story begins that is all Luke is involved in, but as Luke proves himself his uncle is gradually letting him in on more of the illegal side of his businesses.



Clara Bertelli is a young upcoming undercover police officer in Washington, D.C., gunning for a position with the FBI. When the opportunity comes for her to go undercover to take down a huge car theft ring in Portland she jumps at the chance. Clara raised in a poor Italian family now has the chance to see how the other half live. She is setup in a million dollar apartment, driving a luxury vehicle, and wearing designer clothes all as apart of her becoming Rain.



The first part of Rain’s mission is attracting Luke, drawing him in. This is one of my favorite parts of the story, as it is one of the first times she learns that there is more to Luke then meets the eye. Rain goes in with the assumption that he is a spoiled playboy and will jump at the chance to meet an attractive female. I love how Luke constantly proves her wrong.

The story progresses with Rain and Luke getting to to know each other. The FBI believes Luke will eventually trust Rain and begin telling her things. The only problem is separating the job from reality, because the more Rain gets to know Luke the more she truly likes him as a person.

I really enjoyed Luke and Rain’s story. There is plenty of angst and drama, but it is all relative to the story and didn’t feel overdone. I actually love the moments where I was on the edge of my seat wondering how things were going to play out, would they get too involved, would Rain be successful in her job, would Luke make the right decisions.



The bond between Luke and Rain is beautiful and I was immediately sold on their chemistry and connection. My favorite moments are when Luke proved Rain wrong and when Rain showed him he could do things differently. I felt like these two were good for each other and needed each other. Luke and Rain have so much in common even though they seem to be on two totally different spectrums.



K.A. Tucker does a fantastic job of telling a story that will leave you guessing as things play out. I was completely blown away with how things ended. While I did see something coming in the end I was actually surprised with the level of depth and suspense. I felt like K.A. Tucker didn't take the easy way out with suspense and drama, it was perfect.

I went into this story expecting more of a love story and I think this one is more on the suspenseful side. That isn’t really a bad thing, but the romance junkie in me wanted more. I do highly recommend this read, but want to include the disclaimer that this is more suspense then romance, in my opinion. Regardless, I did love the connection we do see between Rain and Luke as it is undeniable and captivating. Highly recommend.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Jasmine.
269 reviews688 followers
March 3, 2015
3.5 STARS! ★★★☆



"It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain.”

It's no lie that KA Tucker is one of my top favorite NA authors and after reading her Ten Tiny Breaths series, I almost made it my personal mission to read anything this lady writes. As always with her reads, they're beautifully written and this was no different but somewhow I was left feeling very neutral about this one. In short, I enjoyed it but it just didn't wow-ed me like I did with her previous works.

I was a little wary going into this one since I skipped out on Burying Water but I had buddies who assured me that it could be read as a standalone. Luckily this rang true as I didn't find myself lost while caught up in this read but there will be appearances of MCs from the first instalment. Becoming Rain revolves around Clara Bertelli, an undercover agent who was handpicked for a new case that involves taking down a huge car theft ring in Portland. The only way to get inside is through the notorious criminal named Rust and her target? His nephew, Luke Boone.



Getting Luke's attention wasn't as easy as Clara envisioned and through her numerous attempts of being close proximity to him, they start to do the dance and soon realized that there is more than meets the eye. And when the cop starts falling for the bad boy criminal, it's only a matter of time before the lines are blurred and realise how far one is willing to cross it for love.



I appreciated how the author stepped out from her niche and ventured into the adult romantic suspense genre with this one, having it focused a lot more on the suspense factor over the romance. It was a nice change but at times I did find the plot to be a little dragged out at some parts. However, there were times that the suspense really got me hooked and kept me at the edge of my seat. The dual POVs also helped as we got to see the constant struggle of attraction they had for each other but in an overall manner, I still had issues that their whole relationship almost came about almost too easily without much obstacles and everything was tied up nice and quick at the end.

Overall Becoming Rain had the great elements of a romance suspense read plus with Tucker's seamless writing, I think fans of her work and Burying Water would equally enjoy this one. Still an enjoyable one for me but just not my favorite from her.

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,191 reviews13.4k followers
July 15, 2015
4 STARS

Such a precious sun it is, the one that shines after a cold, harsh rain.


I've been a huge fan of this author since she first released her Ten Tiny Breaths series. Her first book in the Burying Water series was definitely quite a bit different from that and I absolutely devoured it. Burying Water was emotional, suspenseful, and with a wonderful love story at the core of it. Burying Water is also where we were first introduced to Luke Boon, Jesse's somewhat wayward best friend. Luke was always a bit of a question mark as far as some morals go. While you knew he has a heart beneath all that bluster, he was also in the thick of things with trying to finally truly get inside his uncle Rust's business, knowing that not everything he does is legal. But Luke also liked the money that went along with the questionable life style, so what's shaking hands with some criminals. He's grown up around this life, starting with his grandfather.

But while he's trying to gain trust and grow within his uncle's organization, he's being watched. The beautiful blue-eyed brunette in the building across from him is no admirer, however. She's a tough as nails undercover officer, Clara Bertelli, determined to bring an end to Rust Miller's illegal business and everyone that's tied in with it, including his connection with the Russian mob. Her looks allow her for an easy in; attract Luke's attention since research clearly shows she's his 'type', and then try to get the information out of him though their relationship. While Rain may not be her real name, it's certainly fitting...
"It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain.”

Luke is not at all what he appears to be, and it's not long before Rain begins to discover the amazing man that he is and feelings begin to enter the picture. The relationship is definitely a slow burn, considering the forbidden element of it. As Rain begins to see the true man beneath, her focus begins to shift and she lines begin to get crossed. Can she still bring his uncle and his organization down, even at the cost of Luke?
Guilt and happiness go to war inside of me as I fall.
I wonder which one will win.

The developing relationship between Luke and Rain was probably my favorite part of the story, even if it wasn't quite the main focus of it.

I found the real focus of this story to be more on the plot more so than the romance. Don't get me wrong, the romance, while slow building, was certainly still there. But I didn't find that the story centered around it. There is that element of suspense and the additional key players of Elmira, the Russians, and Warner.

While I was questioning Luke in the previous book, I completely fell for him in this one. There was so much depth to his character, and the author did a fantastic job in truly bringing that out.
She's everything I'm used to and yet she's completely new.


I also really loved Rain's character. She was a tough girl without coming off too harsh. It's refreshing to read about a female officer, and an undercover one at that. She was driven and good at her job, and though she was focused on her goal, her feelings for Luke began to shift her focus.
I give in. He's not ready to divulge everything to me. This is just the beginning.
The beginning of a true "us" in his eyes.
And the beginning of the end for Luke Boon

Her internal struggle with her decisions while seeing Luke fall more and more for her was almost bittersweet to read, because you just know that it will not end well.
...I’ve broken one of the most basic rules of undercover work: don’t get emotionally attached to your targets.

This was another engrossing installment for the series and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I do wish that we got perhaps an epilogue at the end of it, but at the same time the ending was extremely fitting. I loved how their ending fit in with how they first met. I did find myself wishing for just a little more romance, but at the same time I really enjoyed the suspense and the story, so it never really took away from my enjoyment of the overall book.

There are quite a few loose ends that I'm thinking will be addressed in the next book and I'm really hoping to get a book for 2 particular characters since they really grabbed my attention in this one . I also really loved being able to catch up with Jesse and Alex and get a few more peaks at their HEA continuation.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,102 reviews897 followers
January 3, 2016
Mysteries and romantic suspense have been my first love when I truly became passionate about reading. I’d stay up into the wee hours of the morning to find out who did it, or to make sure our hero and heroine would come out of their dangerous situation, catch the bad guy, and live happily ever after. So I’m happy that K.A. Tucker has been taking New Adult into that territory. Becoming Rain was less mysterious and dangerous than Burying Water (the first book in this series), falling more into the category of romance with a bit of danger and suspense thrown in, but definitely an addictive read.

Clara is a dedicated police officer who finds satisfaction bringing criminals to justice, mostly through undercover work. When the offer to catch and shut down a car theft-ring, one that doesn’t care if they hurt people to make a profit, she jumps at the chance. Getting close to Luke Boone won’t be as unpalatable as her last marks, even if he is a criminal, because he’s gorgeous. So Clara assumes the identity of Rain Martines, a rich daddy’s girl living off her father’s dime in a million dollar condo directly across from Luke’s luxury digs. Clara doesn’t think she’ll have any qualms about deceiving and nailing Luke until she meets him and realizes the situation is not as cut and dry as she thought. Luke is a genuinely nice guy, someone who cares about others, who is about to get strung up because of his family and their illegal mess. The more Clara/Rain is around Luke the more her heart and conscience won’t allow her to just hang him out to dry. The attraction simmering between them becomes combustible and irresistible. Will Rain be able to keep Luke at arm’s length or will she give in and put her whole career in jeopardy?

We met Luke Boone, Jesse’s best friend, in the last book, Burying Water. He was an ambitious, ladies man eager to make money and live the glamorous life his uncle dangles in front of him. But he still had a conscience and passed on information to Jesse that ended up saving Water’s life.

Luke has knows not all of his uncle’s business is above board and legal, but he’s not prepared for the tugs at his conscience when all it revealed. The situation is quickly becoming more dangerous and tangled by the day, making him more and more uncomfortable. Can he carry on the business as his uncle expects and live with himself? When Rain shows up in his life and he ends up falling, his doubts and questions take on more urgency.

K.A. Tucker successfully blended this romance full of moral dilemma that made you long for a happy ending. Both Luke and Rain faced difficult decisions, and at times gave into weaknesses, but I could sympathize with their predicaments. I enjoyed watching them get to know and fall for each other in these dangerous circumstances. Both did the best they could with their circumstances, and I was happy with how it all turned out.

A copy was kindly provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This review can also be found at The Readers Den.
September 6, 2015
Becoming Rain is the story of an undercover police officer, Clara Bertelli, who has to essentially "become" Rain, a rich socialite, in order to get close to her target. The problem is that the closer she gets, the closer she wants to be.

I was a little apprehensive to read this story because it's about Luke and I didn't really think much of him in the first book, Burying Water. (He was Jesse's roommate and they worked at the garage together.) Let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised. There's a lot more to Luke than just a spoiled playboy living on his Uncle's dime. He has a really sweet and thoughtful side and I really loved that about him.

Clara, aka Rain, is a very capable woman with a strong sense of justice. She needs to do the right thing and her attraction to Luke becomes quite the problem.

The cat and mouse game was really intriguing but I felt that the crime element of the story took over the romance. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it but I was left wanting more romance. It definitely helped getting both their POVs and being able to see how they both felt about things.

Stanley and Licks stole the show though, especially Stanley! What a hilarious dog...I love when authors incorporate animals so thoroughly into a story.

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And it was great getting some scenes with Jesse and Alex. I was happy getting some updates on how things are going with them. And it was great seeing how much they care for Luke.

I was a little taken back when things went down...I certainly didn't expect that to happen. My heart went out to Luke and I loved how Clara took care of him.

The whole time I was wondering how could things ever work out between them and I think KAT did a good job...even if things worked out a little too easily. I really got a kick of how events circled back to Stanley.

Chasing River is the next book in the series and I don't have a clue who it could be about. Possibly Luke's sister? or Warner? or maybe one of the guys at the garage? Who knows but I do know it will be good.


description

Favorite quotes:

♥ “You’re perfect. Almost too perfect … Sometimes I wonder if you’re even real.”

♥ "I'm going to miss you too. And Rain."
Profile Image for Jacqueline's Reads.
2,960 reviews1,525 followers
May 20, 2015
NOW LIVE - > Becoming Rain (Burying Water, #2) by K.A. Tucker AMAZON


4 Under covering Stars

Becoming Rain is a standalone that is part of the Burying Water series

I really liked Becoming Rain. For one, it’s written differently than Burying Water (which I enjoyed as well). Becoming Rain does not have any flashbacks or prologue. You start from the beginning and it is read from start to finish. I loved this.

This is a romance novel, but it has some suspenseful elements too. It’s not overly romance and flowers, but there is some steam. I also liked this too. I felt like K.A. Tucker really developed the characters and I could bond and related to them.

Clara is an undercover officer. She is young and pretty and is the perfect person to try to attract Luke as Rain. Luke works for his uncle Rust who owns a legitimate garage, but Rust also does some non-legitimate business on the side. Luke is slowly getting involved with the illegal activities.

Clara’s job is to get close to Luke and infiltrate the illegal business and shut it down.

I was nervous reading this because I usually don’t like reading a story where there’s a secret throughout the book (Clara working undercover), but it worked for me. I was completely engrossed with the story and I didn’t dwell on the elephant in the room. It was there in the background, but it never hinder my reading experience.

I love Clara and Luke’s relationship. Like I said, it’s a slow building relationship and you get to know them fairly well. Clara has internal struggles, she wants to do her job and put her career first, but slowly Luke is working himself into her heart. I also like how strong Clara is. She carries guns and knows how to defend herself.

No, Luke isn’t the big alpha Hero, but he’s sweet, caring and he just wants to be successful, even though he questions his actions throughout the book.

I liked reading the subplot. I enjoyed trying to figure out what is happening with Rust and the business. I enjoyed the business meetings and trying to figure out who is who and who is doing what. I think I’m just been in a suspenseful mood lately.

Overall, Becoming Rain really worked for me. I enjoyed the pace and the new writing style. K.A. Tucker always keeps it fresh and that’s why she’s one of my favorite authors I will never stop reading.




AN ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

Burying Water (Burying Water, #1) by K.A. Tucker REVIEW | AMAZON
Becoming Rain (Burying Water, #2) by K.A. Tucker AMAZON
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761 reviews1,594 followers
July 18, 2016
Becoming Rain is the second book in the Burying Water series. However, we don't follow water and Jesse again. Different characters are introduced and we get to fully grasp why Jesse's best friend did what he did in the previous book. I'm pretty sure this book was my favourite when I read it last year, that no longer applies, I think. I've always been a sucker for a book, movie or tv show with detectives in it. I just like the mystery. Sure, most of this mystery was explained but I liked the fact that we were still able to work out small things.

Once again in K.A. Tucker's series Burying Water we get the perspectives of both our leads. Going into Clara's head, who is a perpetrator, and Luke, who can be viewed as a victim in my opinion.

Clara, or better known as Rain in this particular book, is a detective. She's aiming to work her way to the FBI, busting pimps and scumbags until the FBI approaches her needing her for their case. Clara fits the profile of the woman they need to infiltrate and find out information via a suspected criminal, Luke. Luke was Jesse's best friend, roommate and the reason Water didn't die in the previous book. In this book he is still trying to learn what his uncle Rust is actually doing on his side business, the one that connects him to the mafia. Clara's job is to become Rain and gain Luke's trust, finding out enough information to bring the entire operation down. However, a romance occurs and begins to really screw both our protagonists over.

Both characters got a tad annoying. In some cases Clara seemed like the worst detective ever, never quite doing her job properly. However, I did enjoy her perspective for the most part of the book. It got tiresome, but that was to be expected the more she grew feelings for Luke. Luke, however, seemed plain stupid and naive in almost every situation. He was constantly needing explaining. The romance between the pair was a tad rushed as well.

Overall, it was a good book. I did enjoy it, despite struggling through parts in this re-read.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,113 reviews1,042 followers
February 23, 2015
“Guilt and happiness go to war inside of me as I fall. I wonder which one will win.”

4 stars


KA Tucker has once again given us an intricate and intense story that I happily lost myself in. This book loosely follows on from Burying Water. Luke was introduced in the last book as the best friend of Jesse, and his story links into the dark and gritty world that formed a part of Burying Water, although this book delves deeper into the dark and dirty underworld of organised crime, with bad guys, even worse guys, lots of plotting, double crosses and a forbidden romance.

Luke’s beloved Uncle runs a number of businesses, one of which is a stolen car ring. Luke is 24 and is being groomed into the business that up until now he has been largely ignorant of. He enjoys the life that his Uncle’s fortune has afforded him, and he is ambitious to make his own mark.

Clara is an undercover agent playing the part of Rain, a rich socialite who just happens to live in the building next door to Luke. Her job is to get close to Luke and gather information that will allow the FBI to bring the ring, and all the men associated with it, down. It is her goal in life to work for the FBI, and this case is high profile, and just may be her ticket in.

The story is a little slow to get going while all of the set up takes place, but once Clara finally gets Luke to take notice of her, things progress pretty quickly. There is a strong attraction between them, and she is being pushed by her superiors to do “whatever it takes” to get the job done, so she throws herself into her mission. And over shared meals, walks in the park, hot kisses and some not-so-innocent displays in front of their bedroom windows, a relationship starts to develop. But Clara-the-cop soon finds herself in over her head as she starts to real have feelings for her target.

I let myself be consumed by all of him. Until I’m no longer a cop and Luke isn’t who he is. I’m just a twenty-six-year-old girl with feelings and needs who’s attracted to this beautiful man.

And Luke, who is feeling very conflicted about the world his Uncle is trying to drag him into, finds himself interested in a woman for more than sex for the first time I his life.

She’s a breath of fresh air in this world that I’m finding myself in, a world in which, when I’m lying in the quiet dark and taking long than usual to fall asleep, doesn’t feel quite right.

I thought the whole love story was really cleverly done. The story is written in dual POV, which I really appreciated because there is so much going on, having both sides of the story makes it all so much more meaningful. I loved the way that Luke fell for Rain, and I really liked the way we got to see Clara and Rain as individual characters who blur together as she gets deeper and deeper into things with Luke.

“You’re perfect. Almost too perfect … Sometimes I wonder if you’re even real.”
I close my eyes with his words … I
am real. At least, parts of who he’s seen are. And this is real, what’s happening between us right now.

More and more, I catch myself trying to imagine a permanent life here. A
real life. With Luke. It always ends with the same damning question: how could that ever work, with him being who he is and me being who I am.
It can’t.

The romance is there and is definitely a major element of the story, but the crime part of the story is a huge focus, and the two storylines entwine together, building to the inevitable moment when you know it’s all going to blow up. My heart was pounding as we approached the big moment, and it’s done so well! KA Tucker gets us right into the hearts and minds of her characters so we feel every little feeling right along with them – guilt, betrayal, the longing and the devastation. And OMG, the feels!

I don’t care about any of it. All I want to do is lean forward and kiss him. Steal him away from the bad stuff, convince him to start over because I believe he isn’t beyond saving yet.
I’m so fucked.

It’s one of those stories where you are not sure how it’s all going to end up, but I was really happy with how it all unfolded. The ending is a little abrupt, but we see all we need to see, and it finishes at a good place.

Fans of the first book will be happy to know that Jesse and Alex both make an appearance, and I enjoyed getting to see them happy together, and I loved the moments with Luke and Jesse together – their friendship is really special.

I’m a huge fan of KA Tucker, and this book certainly disappoint. It’s not as romantic as her other books, but I definitely still felt the emotion between Clara and Luke, and the addition of the crime storyline added a nice complexity to the story – leaving me constantly guessing at who was a bad guy, who was a good guy in a bad situation what was actually going on behind the scenes. It’s all put together really well, and I really enjoyed the ride. I’m looking forward to the next instalment – hopefully featuring the fabulous Warner.

I loved it – 4 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Beatrice.
1,197 reviews1,713 followers
November 18, 2020
Becoming Rain is a great romantic suspense. It's more lighthearted than the usual ones I've read and I like it gives the mystery vibes. Timely it's perfect for this season.

Officer Clara Bertelli is on an undercover mission as Rain Martines to investigate Luke Boone, who's involved for a murder and car theft. She worked hard to achieve the ranks and this is one of the biggest assignments she handled. It's dangerous because there's mafia involved here and getting close with Luke, she got the wrong impression. He's a good guy who got himself in the bad side of things. Lines blurred and the connection between them sparked. 

Falling for her target could hurt them both and ruin her career. As much as she hold back her feelings, Luke is charmingly sexy and genuine. One way or another, she hopes everything will okay between them. Most importantly, she hopes that he'll recognize her feelings for him are real. 

Clara and Luke have a great chemistry. Their romance isn't over the top and the sexual tension develops gradually. All those teasing  are pleasantly entertaining to read. It's obvious Luke can't be a made man. He's naive and too trusting. Clara is more impressive in this book since she's more experienced and perceptive. I love she's composed during moments she's almost blow up her cover. She's witty, intelligent and patient.

I do recommend it and I'm excited for the next one. 
Profile Image for Alex is The Romance Fox.
1,461 reviews1,203 followers
March 28, 2015
What a great follow-up to Burying Water
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I was so looking forward to Luke Boone’s book!!! This is some hot and gorgeous with a bit of badness thrown in!!!
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And Rain…aka Clara!!! What an awesome character. I adored her. She’s strong, kick-ass, funny, sexy…just my kind of woman!!
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This is a suspenseful, thrilling and exciting story of an undercover agent trying to bring down the bad guys…aka Luke Boone and his cahoots. There is nothing glamorous about the characters in this story…. Apart from Luke!!! The Russian mob, gangsters, some good and some really bad guys!!! In the midst of their shenigaans is Luke, deciding whether to be loyal to his family – hell, talk about dysfunctional!!! Starting with his Uncle Rust who is part of the illegal car thefts and more – and staying on the right side of the law.

Loved the build-up in Luke & Rain’s relationship….no insta-love – it grows over a long period of time, which makes it so much more believable.

The plot - of undercover work, the dangers that agents face every day – the characters are so well written and developed that makes them totally believable and real.

Another great series by K A Tucker and I am hoping we get Jesse’s sister story next.
Profile Image for Candace.
1,179 reviews4,772 followers
November 6, 2015
The second book in the series, 'Becoming Rain' focuses on the story of Luke, as he rises to a position of power within his uncle's criminal organization. Finally getting what he's waited years for, he can't help but feel let down by the reality of his new life of crime. More and more, he's wondering if he made the right decision and if he can change his mind.

Clara is the FBI's newest undercover agent to be assigned to infiltrate this notorious international car theft ring. She's upwardly mobile and has advanced rapidly, thanks to her superior work as an undercover police officer. This assignment is critical to her success at the FBI and she has no intention of messing it up, which would surely result in a desk assignment.

When Clara inserts herself into Luke's life as "Rain", a rich socialite living off of her father's dime, she never imagines that she could have feelings for her mark. The more time the two spend together, the more the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred. Soon, she's crossing lines she never thought she'd cross and has lost sight of what she'd ever hoped to accomplish. Her feelings for Luke are stronger than she'd ever imagined and she knows that she must ultimately betray him.

Eventually, the inevitable happens and it hits the fan. Despite being betrayed by the woman he loves, Luke was incredibly forgiving. In some ways it was just too easy for me. The book delivered the happy ending that I wanted, but lacked the angst that I expected, especially given the situation.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was more focused on the crime mystery/thriller aspects, in comparison to 'Burying Water' which focused primarily on the forbidden romance themes. The audio was great and the story was captivating, right from the start. I think the ending wrapped up a little too nicely, which didn't ring true for me. Nonetheless, it was a great story and I enjoyed it immensely.
Profile Image for Carissa.
269 reviews62 followers
March 10, 2015
4.5 Stars

Clara Bertelli a member of the Washington D.C. Criminal Unit has been handpicked by the F.B.I for a high profile criminal undercover case. Under the pseudonym of Rain Martines, she has to get close to her "subject" in order to obtain pertinent information, that will be used to take down a criminal ring. A vibrant, sexy and rich young woman, that lives directly across from her "subject." Clara isn't accustomed to the lifestyle of the rich, but as Rain Martines, it's a lifestyle that she is supposed to be more than accustomed to. Armed with all her accessories, Rain Matines is more than ready to capture the attention of Luke Boone.

*****

Luke Boone, nephew to Rusk Markov, a man who is known as the leader behind one of West Coast's biggest car theft rings. Rusk has been more of a father to him than his own father. His father left when he was young and Rusk stepped in and has been there ever since. Taking care of him and his younger sister and mother. Luke is soon to be stepping into a managerial role in his uncle's businesses. Both the legal and illegal ones.The legal aspect is a renowned car repair garage. The illegal one being a car theft ring. The F.B.I believes Luke is being groomed to step into the illegal side of Rusk's business in a big way.

*******

Clara is on a mission for success. Looking to not only do the right thing but to also advance her career as an F.B.I. agent. She soon learns that being undercover isn't easy. Especially when she starts to have feelings for her target.



Becoming emotionally attached to Luke is a cardinal rule that should never be broken. Yet, the fine line between good and bad never felt so exquisite.



Rain is a breath of fresh air for Luke. She makes is easy and comfortable to be around her. K.A. Tucker portrayed both their warring emotions aptly, giving us insight into their distress. I went on to love that their attraction was secondary to the actual plot of the story. The suspense kept me enthralled and excited to see what happens.

As their attraction grows and the severity and danger of being undercover intensifies, Clara finds herself believing in Luke and the goodness and innocence that is hidden behind his playboy facade. With the intricate criminal web his uncle created, Luke wants so much to live up to his uncle's expectations that he believes anything his uncle tells him. Rain tries to extract ever little bit of pertinent information she can, while protecting Luke in anyway possible. Luke in turn whats Rain by his side. He believes she is perfect for him. But are they both cut out for this lifestyle?....

She’s a breath of fresh air in this world that I’m finding myself in, a world in which, when I’m lying in the quiet dark and taking long than usual to fall asleep, doesn’t feel quite right.

*ARC provided by Ink Slinger PR and Atria books via Netgalley for an honest review* Thanks!
Profile Image for Paula M.
556 reviews630 followers
April 23, 2015
"It always ends with the same damning question: how could that ever work, with him being who he is and me being who I am?"


FYI, I hated the first book. I didn't like it at all because I was bored the whole time. So that's why I was having second thoughts whether I should give this a go or not. I really like the idea of the main character as an FBI agent. Bland characters was my main problem at the first book that's why I was so glad that when I decided to give this a try, I got introduced to badass and funny and authentic characters.

Surprised is an understatement. I didn't expect myself to be so invested to the story. I actually lost sleep over this!! And that, for me, is a sign of a good book. I have no idea why this worked for me but I'll take a guess and say it's because of the plot and the slow-burn romance.

I'm also a fan of Clara/Rain despite her faults. Some might say she's dumb/stupid/no-brainer but I'd say that she's just human who just fallen in love with a guy who can be the perfect guy for her if only the situation and the timing is right. Yes, I did like the romance but I still had some slight problems with it. First is the love interest. I didn't see Luke as a swoony love interest at all. I was actually irritated by him at the first few chapters. He's a stupid rich boy who got spoiled and doesn't know how to survive without money.

But this is where the book became aces to me. The character development is superb. Seeing Luke standing up for himself and his girl and seeing him finally opening his eyes and senses about the whole illegal crap that his uncle is doing made me see him in a different light. Luke Boone suddenly became this alpha male that I want to hug and kiss all over. And for me, he has more attitude than Jesse (the guy from the first book) I was so hurt for Luke at the last few chapters when all the truth was laid out in front of him. Poor Luke baby.

Anyway, I didn't say they're perfect. Not at all. They had their fair share of dumb moments. Especially Rain. But what can I say? Love can make people do stupid things. I was frustrated and I was also feeling sad and hurt for Rain. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT MY EMOTIONS WAS CALLED.

The plot was very impressive! Full of actions and shady people dealing with bad stuff and there are people that died! YES I LOVE IT!!! I was a bit pissed about the ending though. IT WAS SO RUSHED!! Why? Why cramp and do the whole wrapping-up-the-book in just 1 to 2 chapters only? NOT. COOL.

So, this is a lesson for me. Just because the first book of a series (which you can read as standalones) was bad, doesn't mean the following up books would be the same. And one more thing that kept me going: K.A. TUCKER'S AWESOME WRITING. I'm such a FAN!
Profile Image for Bj.
1,219 reviews258 followers
March 2, 2015
4.5 "Undercover Love" Stars! Burying Water, book 1 in the Burying Water Series was one of my top favorite reads in 2014, so when I saw that KA was releasing another book in this series, I , of course, rushed to read it. Proving once again her unique style of engaging her readers with emotionally intricate characters, Becoming Rain delivers an impactful story of two characters arguably on diametrically opposed courses in life, whose paths converge together at a crucial point, calling everything they thought they had been working towards into question. But is a love premised on a stack of lies doomed to fail due to a faulty foundation or will true love find a way to make the impossible possible?

Interestingly, Becoming Rain has a slightly different feel than Burying Water. Whereas the reader goes into Burying Water with blinders leaving him or her to slowly discern what is real and what is fantasy, Becoming Rain is less twisty and more straightforward in its plot. Focusing more on the behind the scenes of the car theft ring with ties to the Russian Mob that is alluded to in Burying Water, and the complex lives of undercover officers, who are on a mission to break up this crime syndicate, this story was more focused on the development and growth of the characters, rather than the suspense.

Luke Boone, being practically raised by his uncle Rust, has been aiming to follow in his footsteps for a very long time. Although Luke is not entirely sure exactly where Rust makes all his money, he is fairly certain that not all of his uncle's businesses are as clean as the mechanic shop Luke works in, and which Rust has alluded he will eventually gift over to Luke. Rust being a 24 year-old who enjoys the fast-life, expensive cars, million dollar condos and rich women, is determined to prove to Rust that he is finally ready to be introduced to Rust's more lucrative, albeit shady, enterprises.

Clara Bertelli is at a turning-point in her career. After routinely excelling in her undercover operations in her local precinct major crime unit, she's asked to go undercover with the FBI for an international case that could open the doors to her moving up the ranks to the FBI full-time. Not like she needs an added incentive to nail criminals, but when she witnesses the devastation of this car-theft ring in person, in the form of a small child who now is living in poverty because his father was killed in a car-jacking gone bad, she is even more eager to put away every single person even remotely tied to this ring. Afterall, any person who could be tied to such a terrible organization must be devoid of any moral redemption right?

Thus, Clara goes undercover as "Rain Martines", a rich socialite who just happens to live across the street from Luke and who fits his type to a T. The fact that he happens to be an extremely fit and good-looking man, will just make what she has to do a little easier than the typical slimy drug-dealers and pimps that she usually busts. But she's not worried, as she's a pro at keeping targets at bay, so it's not like she is going to get that physically close anyway.

However, not everything is what it seems to be, and it doesn't take long for "Rain" to discover that there is a lot more to Luke then just a man who may potentially be tied to an international theft syndicate. Even more perplexing is the fact that he fails to fit her typical "criminal" stereotype. As black and white begin to turn her world grey, Clara comes face to face with her own moral quandaries. Soon Clara will begin to question just how far she is willing to skirt the law when her heart gets involved.

Engaging, angsty and thought provoking, Becoming Rain will cause you to question what is right and wrong, and just how far you would be willing to go to protect someone who your heart begins to fall for. KA Tucker is one of my favorite new adult romance writers. After having read a number of her books, I'm convinced she can't turn out a bad one, and the best part is that each has it's own unique feel to it. I can't wait for Chasing River, the third book in the Burying Water Series!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for a review.
December 29, 2016
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Book Review:
Becoming Rain is a suspenseful read, centering around the world of illegal car sales. As soon as I started reading this book I couldn't wait to get further into it because it's about an undercover cop who fall sin love with her target. This book was really enjoyable to read, but it took me a really long time to get into this one and there were several moments that were just really slow.

Clara Bertonelli's dream is to work for the FBI and this undercover job shadowing Luke Boone, a wealthy nephew of a known criminal and future head of an illegal car sales business, could help her reach her dreams. Her job is easy. Make Luke want her by playing the part of the gold-digging girl, Rain Martines,  he usually takes home and make him talk. But the more time she spends with him, the more she likes him and realizes that he is acutally a good guy who is just starting out working on the dirty side of things for his uncle.

This book is about Luke Boone, Jesse's friend in Burying Water. I would highly recommend you read Burying Water before diving into this one because it provides a lot of set up for the organized crime storyline and you get more background on Luke.

I really liked Rain/Clara a lot! She had a strong moral compass and just wanted to do the right thing. Her internal struggle between doing what was best for her career and following her heart was what propelled me to keep reading. I wanted to know what she chose. The whole book I was just waiting to see what was going to happen when it's revealed that Rain is actually an undercover agent. And while I was excited about that moment, I knew it was going to be so sad for Luke because dang it, I liked him, too.

Luke was brought up in this world of crime and it really wasn't until recently that his uncle started to clue him in on what was really going on. I felt for him too because he was sort of used as a pawn. His uncle put him in dangerous situations without fully revealing the intricacies of the situation.

The romance in this one was a very slow burn, just like the previous novel in the series. Slow burns are the best! This one was filled with a ton of tension because Clara was forced to hold back due to her job but she didn't want to hold back. She fell hard for Luke and her unwanted reluctance to kiss him or go further created this great tension!

* I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Profile Image for FMABookReviews.
637 reviews402 followers
June 18, 2015
Alluring. Mysterious. Heartbreaking.

Becoming Rain was all of those things and more. I was captivated by the mystery, saddened by the guilt and heartache, and thrilled by the suspicion and suspense. A delicious mixture of intrigue and romance, K.A. Tucker developed a story that intrigues from start to finish. One where we experience the story through the eyes of her endearing characters. The plot was thoroughly developed and the pacing perfect.

Clara Bertelli is on an undercover case with the FBI which will make or break her career. Currently a cop in Washington DC, she was asked to take this case. If she is successful, she could move up to a FBI agent. The job - become Rain Martines and help bring down one of the West coasts's most notorious car theft rings. She has her mark - Luke Boone.

Luke works for his uncle Rust, a man who has been more of a father to him than an uncle and a man whose business dealings reach further than just the mechanics garage where Luke works. Luke enjoys the nice cars, nice clothes and condo his uncle provides and while he doesn't know everything his uncle does to provide this lifestyle, Luke does know he wants a part of it.

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When Rain comes into his garage with car troubles and flirts with him, he finds he needs to know more about this woman. A friendship and budding romance begins based on lies and "her cover". Rain knows she has to maintain a balance between her character and her job, but what happens when lines blur and emotions come in to play? How do you maintain that balance? What lies do you tell to maintain it...lies to your mark and yourself?

My heart broke for Luke. Knowing he was falling for Rain was killing me. I knew his heart was going to be broken and waiting and watching it happen gripped my heart. Of course it wasn't easy for her either, I know she felt torn and guilty and unsure, but my heart lies with Luke. I was angry with her and her decisions, whether they were right or wrong. I just wanted them to be together. He was such a great guy. His vulnerability and sensitivity made it all the more heartrending watching it all play out. Knowing he had never wanted to let his heart trust anyone and that he had been taught to not settle down, yet here he was trusting and caring for someone who couldn't give back what he was giving was sad.

A follow-up to Burying Water, I hesitate to admit that this is the first book I have read by this author. But it certainly won't be the last. This was a 5 Star read for me and I can't wait to read more from K. A. Tucker.

Thank you, Atria Books and Netgalley for graciously providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Donna.
1,052 reviews583 followers
April 14, 2015
Is it just me or are there simply not enough books out by K.A. Tucker? Every time I finish one of her books I left want more and that’s because her stories are so addictive and, Becoming Rain is just as addictive as the rest!

Luke Boone knows his Uncle Rust’s business isn’t legal but he doesn’t care, whatever Rust is up to he wants in on it because he wants the lifestyle that comes with it – fast cars, fast girls and fast money.

Clara Bertelli has just been given the opportunity of her career and that’s to take down the people who are running car theft rings within the west coast. Now undercover and posing as Rain Martines, she is ready for her assignment and that’s to get close to Luke Boone. But as Clara gets more involved with Luke, it’s hard to keep her two lives separate especially when she starts falling for her target when she discovers that Luke isn’t what he seems…..

Another fantastic read by K.A. Tucker! Although I do prefer her Ten Tiny Breaths series just because I find them lighter reads than this series, this is still another amazing read and a series that you can really get hooked into.

Becoming Rain was definitely a faster paced book than Burying Water and I really enjoyed it. I loved that I was able to get stuck right into the story and root for the characters from the moment I started and there wasn’t too much of a back story. Maybe this was because I was already familiar with Luke’s character because he stared in Burying Water and Clara was an easy character to like as well as a strong role model. But either way, I definitely enjoyed reading their story more.

It was great watching Luke and Clara's relationship develop. Luke isn't a very trusting person and seeing how he opens up to Clara bit by bit just made me love him all the more. Even though Clara was keeping a lot of secrets, you could tell how much she started to fall for Luke too. She sees that he is not what the FBI seem to think and because of that, she puts a lot of fate in him. They were a great couple to read about! And of course it was great seeing how Alex and Jesse were doing too.

In all, Becoming Rain is a fast-paced and romance filled book and I loved every minute of it. I'm eager to see who book three will be about though, I thought maybe Elmira or even Warren? Either way, I can't wait!

Thank you to Artia Books for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2019
Много хубава книга. Дори ми хареса повече от първата. К.А. Тъкър се очертава като много добър автор на трилъри, които си имат всичко - добре подреден криминален сюжет, подплатен с любовна история. Клара или Рейн е агент под прикритие, която трябва да се внедри в живота на Люк Бун като негово гадже. Роля на пръв поглед доста трудна, но тя съумява да го направи по изключително елегантен начин, по който всеки би й повярвал. А Люк й се доверява напълно, толкова че ми беше много интересно какво ще стане между тях, когато той разбере истината. Не ми се мислеше как ще реагира и колко ще е разочарован, защото тъкмо е намерил жената на живота си. Това поетапно и плавно влюбване между двамата беше изключително вълнуващо, което праави самата книга удоволствие за четене. Съвсем малко не ми достигна за пълни 5*, затова 4,5
Profile Image for Sandra Cortez.
522 reviews53 followers
November 20, 2015
I was halfway through this book and wasn't sure if I was 'feeling' it but KA Tucker did a doozy on me because days later I can't stop thinking of these two. What are they doing? How are they living? Where are they working? LOL. So needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the Water series and it left me with quite the book hangover.
Profile Image for Andzhelika.
108 reviews25 followers
May 30, 2019
Още една добра история от Тъкър. А финалът е просто.. <3
Profile Image for Sammy ⭐️.
925 reviews35 followers
May 14, 2015
4 stars

Becoming Rain is the second instalment in the Burying Water series and although it's a stand alone, I'm glad I'd read Jesse and Alex's story in book 1 before reading this, it isn't essential though, I'm just a little OCD when it comes to series.

Clara Bertelli is a cop, she's been on the force for the last four years and worked undercover for the last two. When the FBI seek her out as the perfect candidate to go undercover in a major car theft ring, she sees this as the opportunity to make a name for herself.

Luke Boone has spent his life trying so hard to follow in his uncle's footsteps. He sees Rust as a man he strives to be and will do anything to show his worth. So when Rust offers to bring him into his big money maker, Luke is willing to do whatever it takes.

Clara, now working undercover as Rain Martines has to do anything she can to get close to Luke, to earn his trust, to crack the case. In DC her targets had always been pimps and drug dealers, she's used to to dealing with scum, but Luke's different and the more time she spends with him, realising he's nothing like the criminals she's used to, the harder it becomes to keep her heart and her job separate.

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Luke isn't your typical Alpha Male, but he defiantly had presence. I loved the slow building relationship and angst as these two realised how much they were falling for each other. The relationship between Luke and Rain couldn't be anymore forbidden in Rain's line of work, it was obvious from the get go that this couldn't end well. The tension building up to the moment the truth came to light had me on the edge of seat and my heart broke for Luke. He took it so badly, he couldn't get to grips with the fact that the woman he'd been falling in love with wasn't real, that she'd gone so far to get what she needed, towards the end I was constantly looking at how long I had left to read and praying that this could be resolved and that everyone got their HEA because K A Tucker was cutting it fine........

Although Romance suspense isn't something I read a lot of, it makes a nice change. This had my brain working in overdrive trying to crack the case right along side Rain and the FBI. There wasn't as much drama and crazy in this compared to other crime related romances I've read in the past, but I really didn't miss it, because the plot was enough keep me hooked and give me those feels you get when you love the couple your reading about.

This is an author that will forever sit on my favourite shelf. If you haven't read any of her work I highly recommend you do, I've loved everything so far and I really hope, that in the future we get Warner's story, I'd love to get inside his head.

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Profile Image for Fanny.
2,386 reviews52 followers
October 15, 2017



Becoming Rain es el segundo libro de los cuatro que forman la serie Burying Water de K. A. Tucker y tiene como protagonistas a Luke ( personaje secundario en el libro anterior ) y Clara ( Rain ).

Llevaba varios meses posponiendo el iniciar esta novela, en parte porque la sinopsis no me terminaba de animar pero tambien porque la historia anterior me gusto pero no cumplio al completo mis expectativas, ahora despues de cuatro meses en mi Kindle al fin lo termine y maldita sea! fue magnifico, definitivamente mi radar de decepciones se equivoco con esta lectura.

La historia de Rain y Luke fue impresionante, desde un principio te atrapa como en una telaraña y no te deja ir hasta que llegas a el final. Me gusto la trama, la accion y la historia de amor aunque me hubiera gustado un epilogo que cerrara mejor la historia, aun asi no me puedo quejar, ya que esta novela fue una sorpresa muuuy agradable, ni en un millon de años hubiera imaginado que me encantaria pero lo hizo!

En fin, una saga que no me convencio del todo con la primera parte pero que con esta continuacion se gano otra fan, en cuanto pueda inicio el tercero, la sinopsis tiene una pinta maravillosa.

3.75 Estrellas!
Profile Image for Dana.
440 reviews300 followers
July 17, 2015

After reading this book I can finally say that I get what all the hype is about surrounding this author. I mean she actually makes New Adult (a title that often leaves me shivering with fear), readable and *gasp* enjoyable without following the extremely overdone formula that many New Adult books follow of Broken lead #1 + Broken lead #2 + insta-love and insta-sex = success?

I was hooked pretty early on in this book, its so different from anything I would have read but I am glad that I gave into the hype and picked this book up. I love that, while New Adult, this book isn't just a poorly masked erotica. I love that the characters are realistic (for the most part). I also thought that the mystery aspect was well thought out.

My only real qualm with this novel was that Rain didn't feel like a realistic cop to me. I just cant picture an FBI agent manipulating her fellow officers, and jeopardizing justice and a murder case all to lust after a ditzy criminal. I mean I love Luke but he's not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Overall despite my grumblings I did like this book. It renews my wavering faith in this genre and it was a super fun read.

Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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