Title: The Weight Of Rain

Author: Mariah Dietz

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Synopsis

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







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







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







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







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

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Excerpt

“Why are you fidgeting again?” Allie’s scolding is in the form of a whisper but still reaches my ears as a yell because I know by the sharp look in her eye that she’s ready to stab me with a pin if I don’t stop.







“Sorry,” I whisper. I work to ignore an itch on the back of my neck and another on my shoulder. As I think about how much I hate standing still and why I didn’t see King at all today though he always works in the home office on Fridays, I feel several more tickles across my skin that arise because I know I can’t move.







My eyes scan over the large space that we’re filling. There are at least two hundred other students in here, each with a model who, like me, is standing atop a crate, making a select few of us even more uncomfortably tall. Several people look perfectly relaxed as they stand completely still, their shoulders back and chins raised as though they’re already on stage. My eyes trace over each of them, noticing their poise, boldness, and beauty.







“She’s really pretty.”







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







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







“You’re an artist, Lo. She’s definitely pretty, but her confidence is what makes her stand out so much.”







Allie’s comment makes me stare longer at the girl, noticing her eyes are a little too close together, and her forehead too short to be what is believed to be the definition of attractive. It brings me to hate those ignorant facts even more because she is beautiful, and I’m grateful she seems to believe so without meeting the dictated standards.







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







“You should really consider asking Kenzie.”







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







“I don’t know.”







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







“That’s definitely not helping.”







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







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







“Are you excited?”







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







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







“There’s not a whole lot to say.”







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







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







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







I shrug, earning a glare from her that I return with a frown. Her lips fall open into a laugh. “You just need to focus on someone and mentally draw them; otherwise, you’re never going to make it out of here tonight, at least not without a thousand pinholes.”







My neck twists as I look around the room again. There are so many people in here. So much beauty, anticipation, desire, and passion: things I seek for my own inspiration, yet when I close my eyes and start sketching lines across my imagination, they don’t make up anyone that’s in here. I think I’d be surprised at this point if they ever do again. There are times like yesterday when I genuinely wish I hated him. Hell, he’s been a jackass to me enough that I could justifiably say I do, and anyone would be able to understand where I’m coming from. Then again, that would also require having someone to discuss my feelings for and interactions with him.







I wish I hadn’t been exposed to the kinder sides of him.







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







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







I wish I wasn’t falling for this asshole.







I wish he’d fall for me.

About The Author

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







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







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

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REVIEW

Lo (Lauren) is a brilliant young woman that you will honestly love everything about her. She's the lead character in this story and words fail me to describe the depth of this story. King is this guy who is actually someone that belongs to a family that sticks together through anything. With love and loss there family is one that you will envy with the passion they share amongst themselves. Lo is on her own and along the way has met a few people who she knows she can trust but kinda feels like a third wheel. Not that Charleigh or Allie have ever made her feel this way it's because she's never been excepted or loved the way she deserves. She's got this personality that just draws you in making you feel as if you are who she is fighting for. She takes a job and meets Mercedes again these characters that this author created are amazing with the comments and wanting to feel nothing but being loved takes you on another journey all over again. Kash is Mercedes dad but Kings brother who is a knight if I'm honest with you because he protects his most treasured gift. Summer is an amazing woman who has fire and spunk but kinda lives in the shadows but just waits. Gahhhhhhhh I could go on about the characters this is how much this whole story hit me. It's powerful because there's so much to absorb in this book. Never give your dreams up in life no matter what anyone says or thinks. If you're put down be kind because in the end there opinions didn't matter to begin with. Life in its self in a journey never be afraid to be who you are or simply play in the rain. Go and feel how refreshing and free it makes you feel jump in mud cleanse your body of all the negative things in your life. Never fight against the rain just renew yourself. This author has a unique ability to make you feel as though your apart of her books she creates an escape from the real world making you feel like a new person by the end. The message is huge and one I completely understand and loved. So please go ahead and one click this amazing book I highly recommend this is one of my top reads for 2015. I have a few this year but this is definitely in my top three. This was given to me as an arc for an honest review from the author. Reviewing for Night and Day book blog http://ndbbr2014.com Stephanie Powell