Rain Shadow Paperback – March 8, 2012

I will definitely be re-reading "Rain Shadow" again! It doesn't matter that Rain is a horse and that Taylor is a young lady, they both are actually very similar. They both have been hurt and let down by the very people in their lives who should have protected them and loved them unconditionally. They both have trust issues and they both carry scars, one though carries them more internally while the other has more visible scars. I loved how descriptive the author was, when Taylor laid her head on Rain's back and breathed in her smell and heard her heartbeat I could almost smell and hear what Taylor could. I truly savored this book, I didn't want to read through it too fast as I didn't want to miss one single thing in it and I also didn't want this book to end too soon. I actually would limit myself on how many pages I'd read in a sitting the closer I came to the end. As Taylor and Rain both started healing from their hurts I found myself letting go of some of the "hurts" in my own life, you truly can't help but be touched by this story. This is a book that speaks right to your heart! The human/animal bond and the healing that very often takes place as a result of that bond is an amazing, wonderful thing! There is a note at the end that gives more detail about the "real life" inspiration for this book and also a very informative guide about treating trauma with horses "Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy". I hope you will enjoy this book just as much as I did!

I have very mixed feelings about this book.On the one hand, I thought the characters were very well-written. The heroine's internal struggles were believable, and her emotional journey was slow but riveting. All addition characters were well fleshed out, and the dialogue was excellent.On t'other hand, there seemed to be a 'pro-life' message running through the book that felt rather heavy handed. The heroine's main point of anguish is the abortion she had a year before the book begins. Now, I recognise that this can be a very hard choice for some women (especially young ones), and that some do regret their decision. However, other elements of the story, such as a seeming distaste for prenatal testing to detect profound birth defects, the later element of adoption, and the idea that ALL women at the clinic were traumatized, made it seem as if the REAL story here was that abortion is wrong and soul-destroying. This is not a view I share.That said, the plot was good and, as I mentioned, I felt the characters were well written. I didn't think there was enough about the horse, Rain, though. Much more of the story is about the emotional development and growth of the characters, as well as their relationship to each other.I also did not like the ending. I feel she sold something that was of historical and emotional significance to her family and therefore her loved ones. It felt jarring to me and was not the uplifting end note I had expected.Overall, I'd recommend it if readers feel they can wade through the 'pro-life' message, with the understanding that this book's primary character is NOT the horse. If you're looking for the horse's journey on every page, you will be disappointed.

I enjoyed Rain Shadow because it portrays forgiveness and hope from a dual perspective: the main character's and the horse's. In a cruel world where decisions are often made without much thought, one human's decision to shoot the horse in the head leaving it for dead in the wilderness, and another human's decision to abort her baby leaving her in a spiritual wilderness lead to the creation of suspicion in the horse and overwhelming guilt in the human. These two elements, suspicion and guilt, bring the blind horse and the human together in a way that allows the human to forgive herself and permits a reestablishing of trust between the horse and his human.

Wonderful story about the struggles and trials of a young woman venturing on her own. Taylor is strong and confident and follows her own path despite being pulled by the influences of family. The writer writes very eloquently and her style pulls you into this lovely story which I enjoyed very much.

I belong to an equine rescue group. Horses have a way of thanking you for saving them. Out of a herd of rescues recently done by us.There was an old stallion that had been tied to a tree for 1 and 1/2 years. He was so thankful, he was brushed, watered, fed, hayed and loved on, he struggled to stay with us, but sadly on the second day he could not go any more. But at least he left here with some food in his stomach and lots of hugging and talking to. I shall always remember him, and his ability to love a human.

I loved that this book told the story of a young womans transformation from feeling isolated and unloved to a rebirthing of sorts for herself. If you love horses, you will love to read this inspiring story. Treat yourself to a special book !

This was such a lovely read. A very unlikeable young lady is transformed by the trust of an abused horse. Many potentially sensitive issues are covered in the story line, but generally they are handled in a warm, persuasive way as we see the heroine slowly mature (often against her own inclinations) without becoming sappy or preachy. Suitable for teens and up.

It was not what assumed it would be when I read the synopsis. I thought it would be more about the recovery of a young woman in pain and instead it was about a love story, a bit stretched out for my taste. Great read for someone who loves horses and love stories.