The newest chapter in the Lee Jarrett odyssey
After years spent unraveling family mysteries in the mountains of West Virginia, Lee Jarrett has retreated to the Florida Keys, where he’s grieving the loss of his wife, learning to fly-fish for tarpon, and trying to rebuild a life shaped by sorrow, memory, and the tides. When he meets Mary Lou — a woman fighting to free herself from her own past — their connection sparks a journey of hope, forgiveness, and second chances.
Together, they set their sights on Montana, a place where starting fresh still feels possible. Along the way, they’re joined by Lee’s aging uncle, who serves as a quiet spiritual guide, and a mysterious young man adopted from a monastery — a figure who may be clairvoyant, may be a savant, or may simply be wonderfully unpredictable.
Written in a timeless, literary style reminiscent of Sinclair Lewis, Saul Bellow, and Norman Mailer, It Also Takes the Rain blends rugged landscapes, emotional depth, humor, and grace. It’s a story about redemption, love after loss, and the courage it takes to begin again beneath wide-open skies.
“In Bonnell’s gripping tale of revenge, murder, and redemption, he also takes an insightful look at human suffering and truth… a good read.”
— Dale Sexton, owner of Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop
Made in Montana
About the Author
Jerry “J.C.” Bonnell was born and raised in Weston, West Virginia. His early loves were basketball, fishing, and creative writing. After attending St. Patrick’s School in Weston, he enrolled at Glenville State Teachers College in 1950, later graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan.
He served in the U.S. Navy, then spent his career teaching English Literature in the Baltimore County school system. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Maryland and continued teaching until retirement.
Bonnell has known deep loss, having outlived both his wife and his son, and now treasures time with his grandson, Christopher. Recently widowed, he divides his days between Montana and the Florida Keys, where he pursues fly-fishing and story writing—two currents that flow powerfully through his novels.