#Review: Becoming Rain by K.A. Tucker - 4 Wine Glasses!

Title: Becoming Rain
Series: Burying Water #2
Author: K.A. Tucker 
Format: eBook/Paperback, 384 pages
Published: March 3rd 2015 by Atria Books
ISBN: 147677420X
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Crystal
Source: Netgalley
Rating: _ out of 5 Wine Glasses

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. 

Crystal's Thoughts:  
Becoming Rain is an edgy, suspense driven new adult romance that perfectly captures the feelings of a forbidden love. 

Luke Boone can't wait to finally be let in on his uncle Rust's business dealings. He knows there is more then just the garage and the menial work he performs there. It may not be all on the up and up, with the Russian mobster looking men that his uncle likes to hang out with, but the booze, money, and women more then make up for the risk. Just when Luke finally gets his in though, he meets Rain Martines. A beautiful down to earth socialite that makes Luke question the things he always thought he wanted in life. Was their meeting just a coincidence though? 
Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game in the D.C. major crime unit, but when she has the opportunity to go undercover in a west coast car theft ring she jumps at it. This is her chance to prove herself and hopefully advance her career into the F.B.I. It's easy to to adapt to the life of Rain. Million dollar condos, fancy clothes, expensive cars, she can almost see how easy it would be to fall into a life of crime to have it all. And Luke is far from the corrupt criminal she imagined. Getting close to him wasn't hard, and staying close is even easier. When Rain's feelings start getting a little too real for Clara though she has to decided, should she follow her head, that of a professional law enforcement agent? Or her heart, who doesn't see labels such as right or wrong?

Becoming Rain was such a wonderful, and well-written story from  K.A. Tucker! It encompassed two people from two very different walks of life that incredibly find a love worth fighting for in less then optimal circumstances. 

At the start of the story Clara's outlook of life was black and white; there was right and wrong, good and bad. When she had to become Rain though, she realized that there are shades of grey to life as well. And navigating through those shades isn't so easy. After all, she was expecting to take down a cold blooded killer and unmerciful criminal. What she found instead was a young man with stars in his eyes, who just wanted to emulate his Uncle, the man who raised him. We first met Luke in Burying Water, as Jesse's friend and old roommate. In that story Luke comes off as both vapid and shallow, and maybe a little naive. But if you looked closely at his character you could see that there was a good heart under that pretty face. In Becoming Rain we see more of that heart of Luke's, and it is big and golden. There was a lot of character development and growth throughout the story. Clara/Rain's view of life, of right and wrong, took a total 180 while Luke's character grew and grew. Especially when Luke started having reservations about following in his uncle's foot steps. I loved reading about this couple. 

With Luke's heart and charm, not to mention his hello-sexiness, he starts to win Rain over until Rain no longer sees a target, a number, but a man she could love. This adds some sizzling tension to the plot through the push and pull Rain struggles with. Does she keep to her cover to take Luke and his uncle down, to avenge a husband and father who lost his life because of them, and uphold the trust of her team? Or does she give in to the feelings she is starting to have for Luke, and try to save him from the destructive path his uncle is leading him down? Her future is on the line and she has to decide which is more important to her; her career or her heart? The author really delves into the consequences of the choices you make in life and the path those choices lead you down. 

With dual point-of-views throughout the story readers get a good insight on what each character is experiencing. The attraction between Luke and Rain is raw. Devastating lies and betrayals bring considerable emotions out while the both the romantic suspense and scene suspense kept me turning the pages. The pacing is steady as pieces of the plot slowly click together. The only point in the story that I did not like was the ending. It was wrapped up in a little over one page with the epilogue and I was left wanting. Otherwise though, Becoming Rain was a smart, sexy, and gripping read that spectacularly wove romance and suspense together. 


Reading Order:
Burying Water, Burying Water #1 - Review | Purchase
Becoming Rain, Burying Water #2