Review - The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

The Clouds Roll Away 

The second book, in Sibella Giorello's Raleigh Harmon series, The Clouds Roll Away finds Raleigh back in her hometown of Richmond, Virgina after closing her assignment in Seattle.  She is immediately pulled in investigating a cross burning at a celebrities estate.  With this new case and her still unhappy boss at the Bureau, Detective Harmon receives anything but a peaceful homecoming. The deeper Raleigh gets into the case the more she realizes there is more to be found.  On top of everything at work, her personal life leaves something to be desired.  Her mother falls into the holiday spirit, something she hasn't done since the death of her husband and Raleigh's former boyfriend vies for her attention.  What more will this case uncover?  Will Raleigh let Demott back in her life? Most of all will she survive till Christmas?  Read The Clouds Roll Away to find out for yourself.

This is the first Sibella Giorello book that I have read, but I was pleasantly surprised. Giorello's use of imagery and visuals is astounding.  She truly allows her readers to visualize Raleigh's surroundings and feel what is happening rather than just assuming.  Giorello's characters are well built and there is a depth to Raleigh Harmon that is hard to find with many leads.  Giorello also has a very comfortable, even balance of themes in her book.  I never felt that the romance was too stifling and definitely did not feel that the action was too much to handle.  Even though this is listed as religious fiction, I didn't feel that the religious elements were ever overwhelming.  Giorello's writing is well structured and her plot and themes are believable.  Never did I feel that any of the FBI and case elements were fictional or far-fetching.  All in all I was very pleased with this book, and I would gladly read more from Sibella Giorello in the future.  Giorello is definitely one to keep an eye on.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”