Touch of Rain: An Autumn Rain Mystery

Teyla Branton

Nov 2017 · Imprints Book 1 · White Star Press

About this eBook

Sometimes what you can't see means everything

When a young woman vanishes without a trace, her heartbroken parents turn to the last prospect they can find for hope: Autumn Rain. Autumn reads imprints—emotions left behind on certain objects. Only she can shed light on their daughter’s last thoughts.

But Autumn’s gift makes her life difficult. Everyday activities like opening a door or holding a friend’s keys can send her into turmoil. It doesn’t help that the infuriating Detective Shannon Martin, who Autumn has helped on cases, usually treats her more like a suspect than a consultant. Too often Autumn finds herself retreating to her antiques shop and the company of her best friend, Jake Ryan, to avoid notice.

Private detective Ethan McConnell, whose widowed sister has gone missing under similar circumstances, also comes to Autumn for help, but her involvement sets in motion a series of events that risk not only her own life, but the lives of those she cares about most.

Ratings and reviews

Love this series so far! We have both the original prints, under Teyla's other name, and the reprints (though sadly not all of either one). There are some grammatical issues (at least in the physical copies we have), but the story is highly compelling and flows well. Anyone who loves police shows, especially paranormal ones, might enjoy this series!

Autumn's gift, reading emotions on objects, can often be a taxing burden - physically, mentally and emotionally. Jake, her best friend is able to lessen the burden, while sparking another type of interest! And then there Det. Detective Shannon Martin... Thrilling, gratifying paranormal romance! Admired how Autumn and Tawnia are both spirited, strong women. Crazy about Jake's strength and his feelings for Autumn. 3 1/2 stars, would have been 4 except: Jake's hairstyle is called locks. Calling them dreadlocks is not a good thing. Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the quirkiness of the main character, as well as her special gifts. The story line kept me interested and had some surprising turns I would not have predicted. The book had a little romance mixed with a bit of the paranormal, as well as mystery and thrills, all of which kept me reading to the end and wanting more. I look forward to reading more of Teyla's work, and more in this particular timeline with this particular main character. I don't know if Teyla intends to mix this timeline with some of her other works, but she could definitely make that work.

About the author

Teyla Branton grew up avidly reading science fiction and fantasy and watching Star Trek reruns with her large family. They lived on a little farm where she loved to visit the solitary cow and collect (and juggle) the eggs, usually making it back to the house with most of them intact. On that same farm she once owned thirty-three gerbils and eighteen cats, not a good mix, as it turns out. Teyla always had her nose in a book and daydreamed about someday creating her own worlds. She is now married, mostly grown up, and has seven kids, so life at her house can be very interesting (and loud), but writing keeps her sane. She thrives on the energy and daily amusement offered by her children, the semi-ordered chaos giving her a constant source of writing material. Grabbing any snatch of free time from her hectic life, Teyla writes novels full of mystery, romance, and imagination. She warns her children that if they don’t behave, they just might find themselves in her next book! She’s been known to wear pajamas all day when working on a deadline, and is often distracted enough to burn dinner. (Okay, pretty much 90% of the time.) A sign on her office door reads: DANGER. WRITER AT WORK. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. She loves writing fiction and traveling, and she hopes to write and travel a lot more. She also loves shooting guns, martial arts, and belly dancing. She has worked in the publishing business for over twenty years.