Tag Archives: Robyn Carr

Spotlight – Holidays in Virgin River

29 Thursday Sep 2022

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A special gift Christmas hardcover anthology of 2 Virgin River novellas by #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr plus an introduction from the author and select recipes and explanations of the holiday traditions celebrated in Virgin River.

Holidays in Virgin River

Virgin River series

by Robyn Carr

ISBN: 9780778387176

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Blurb:

Contains two Virgin River novellas: Under the Christmas Tree and Midnight Confessions along with at least 10 recipes and anecdotes written by Robyn Carr about why the recipes are special to specific characters from VR. We’ll also have an introduction written by Robyn explaining why she wrote Virgin River in the first place and why it resonates so strongly with audiences today. Examples of recipes are: The VR cookie exchange (Gingerbread cookies, Traditional Scottish Shortbread, Lemon Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookies) Hot drinks to enjoy as they decorate the town Christmas tree (mulled wine, homemade hot chocolate) Preacher’s famous meatloaf and garlic mash, to name a few.

BookShop: https://bookshop.org/books/holidays-in-virgin-river-romance-stories-for-the-holidays/9780778387176 
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9780778387176_holidays-in-virgin-river.html    
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holidays-in-virgin-river-robyn-carr/1141697248?ean=9780778387176 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Holidays-Virgin-River-Romance-Stories-ebook/dp/B09SVB8K6Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=holidays+in+virgin+river+robyn+carr&qid=1663355498&sprefix=holidays+in+vir%2Caps%2C384&sr=8-1 
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Holidays-Virgin-River/Robyn-Carr/9780778387176?id=8292090795540 
Powell’s: https://www.powells.com/book/holidays-in-virgin-river-9780778387176

*****

Excerpt:

Because of a box full of cold, hungry, barely moving puppies, Annie had all but forgotten the reason she’d ended up in Virgin River. It was three weeks till Christmas and her three older brothers, their wives and their kids would descend on her parents’ farm for the holiday. Today was one of her two days off a week from the beauty shop. Yesterday, Sunday, she’d baked with her mom all day and today she’d gotten up early to make a couple of big casseroles her mom could freeze for the holiday company. Today, she’d planned to cook with her mom, maybe take one of her two horses out for a ride and say hello to Erasmus, her blue-ribbon bull. Erasmus was very old now and every hello could be the last. Then she’d planned to stay for dinner with her folks, something she did at least once a week. Being the youngest and only unmarried one of the McKenzie kids and also the only one who lived nearby, the task of looking in on Mom and Dad fell to her.

But here she was, hearthside, managing a box of newborn puppies. Jack rustled up the formula and cereal and a couple of warm towels from the dryer. Preacher provided the shallow bowls and mixed up the formula. She and Chris fed a couple of puppies at a time, coaxing them to lap up the food. She requisitioned an eyedropper from the medical clinic across the street for the pups who didn’t catch on to lapping up dinner.

Jack put in a call to a fellow he knew who was a veterinarian, and it turned out Annie knew him, too. Old Doc Jensen had put in regular appearances out at the farm since before she was born. Back in her dad’s younger days, he’d kept a thriving but small dairy farm. Lots of cows, a few horses, dogs and cats, goats and one ornery old bull. Jensen was a large-animal vet, but he’d be able to at least check out these puppies.

Annie asked Jack to also give her mom a call and explain what was holding her up. Her mom would laugh, knowing her daughter so well. Nothing would pry Annie away from a box of needy newborn puppies.

As the dinner hour approached, she couldn’t help but notice that the puppies were drawing a crowd. People stopped by where she sat at the hearth, asked for the story, reached into the box to ruffle the soft fur or even pick up a puppy. Annie wasn’t sure so much handling was a good idea, but as long as she could keep the little kids, particularly David, from mishandling them, she felt she’d at least won the battle if not the war.

“This bar has needed mascots for a long time,” someone said.

“Eight of ’em. Donner, Prancer, Comet, Vixen, and…

whoever.”

“Which one is Comet?” Chris asked. “Dad? Can I have Comet?”

“No. We operate an eating-and-drinking establishment,” Preacher said.

“Awww, Dad! Dad, come on. Please, Dad. I’ll do everything. I’ll sleep with him. I’ll make sure he’s nice. Please.”

“Christopher…”

“Please. Please? I never asked for anything before.”

“You ask for everything, as a matter of fact,” Preacher corrected him. “And get most of it.”

“Boy shouldn’t grow up without a dog,” someone said.

“Teaches responsibility and discipline,” was another comment.

“It’s not like he’d be in the kitchen all the time.”

“I run a ranch. Little hair in the potatoes never put me off.” Laughter sounded all around.

Four of the eight pups were doing real well; they were wriggling around with renewed strength and had lapped up some of the formula thickened with cereal. Two were trying to recover from what was certainly hunger and hypothermia; Annie managed to get a little food into them with an eyedropper. Two others were breathing, their hearts beating, but not only were they small, they were weak and listless. She dripped a little food into their tiny mouths and then tucked them under her shirt to keep them warm, hoping they might mistake her for their mother for now, all the time wondering if old Doc Jensen would ever show.

When yet another gust of wind blew in the opened front door, Annie momentarily forgot all about the puppies. Some of the best male eye candy she’d chanced upon in a long while had just walked into Jack’s Bar. He looked vaguely familiar, too. She wondered if maybe she’d seen him in a movie or on TV or something. He walked right up to the bar, and Jack greeted him enthusiastically.

“Hey, Nate! How’s it going? You get those plane tickets yet?”

“I took care of that a long time ago.” He laughed. “I’ve been looking forward to this forever. Before too long I’m going to be lying on a Nassau beach in the middle of a hundred string bikinis. I dream about it.”

“One of those Club Med things?” Jack asked.

“Nah.” He laughed again. “A few people from school. I haven’t seen most of them in years. We hardly keep in touch, but one of them put this holiday together and, since I was available, it sounded like an excellent idea. The guy who made the arrangements got one of those all-inclusive hotel deals—food, drinks, everything included except activities like deep-sea fishing or scuba diving—for when I’m not just lying on the sand, looking around at beautiful women in tiny bathing suits.”

“Good for you,” Jack said. “Beer?”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Nate replied. And then, like the answer to a prayer she didn’t even know she’d uttered, he carried his beer right over to where she sat with the box of puppies. “Hello,” he said.

She swallowed, looking up. It was hard to tell how tall he was from her sitting position, but certainly over six feet. Annie noticed things like that because she was tall. His hair was dark brown; his eyes were an even darker brown and surrounded with loads of thick black lashes. Her mother called eyes like that “bedroom eyes.” He lifted his brows as he looked down at her. Then he smiled and revealed a dimple in one cheek.

“I said hello,” he repeated.

She coughed herself out of her stupor. “Hi.”

He frowned slightly. “Hey, I think you cut my hair once.”

“Possible. That’s what I do for a living.”

“Yeah, you did,” he said. “I remember now.”

“What was the problem with the haircut?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Don’t know that there was a problem,” he replied.

“Then why didn’t you come back?”

He chuckled. “Okay, we argued about the stuff you wanted to put in it. I didn’t want it, you told me I did. You won and I went out of there looking all spiky. When I touched my head, it was like I had meringue in my hair.”

“Product,” she explained. “We call it product. It’s in style.”

“Yeah? I’m not, I guess,” he said, sitting down on the raised hearth on the other side of the box. He reached in and picked up a puppy. “I don’t like product in my hair.”

“Your hands clean?” she asked him.

He gave her a startled look. Then his eyes slowly wandered from her face to her chest and he smiled slightly. “Um, I think you’re moving,” he said. “Or maybe you’re just very excited to meet me.” And then he grinned playfully.

“Oh, you’re funny,” Annie replied, reaching under her sweater to pull out a tiny squirming animal. “You make up that line all by your little self?”

He tilted his head and took the puppy out of her hands. “I’d say at least part border collie. Looks like mostly border collie, but they can take on other characteristics as they get older. Cute,” he observed. “Plenty of pastoral breeds around here.”

“Those two are the weakest of the bunch, so please be careful. I’m waiting for the vet.”

He balanced two little puppies in one big hand and pulled a pair of glasses out of the pocket of his suede jacket. “I’m the vet.” He slipped on his glasses and, holding both pups upside down, looked at their eyes, mouth, ears and pushed on their bellies with a finger.

She was speechless for a minute. “You’re not old Doc Jensen.”

“Nathaniel Junior,” he said. “Nate. You know my father?” he asked, still concentrating on the puppies. He put them in the box and picked up two more, repeating the process.

“He…ah… My folks have a farm down by Alder Point. Hey! I grew up there! Not all that far from Doc’s clinic and stable. Shouldn’t I know you?”

He looked over the tops of his glasses. “I don’t know. How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“Well, there you go. I’m thirty-two. Got a few years on you. Where’d you go to school?”

“Fortuna. You?”

“Valley.” He laughed. “I guess you can call me old Doc Jensen now.” And there was that grin again. No way he could have grown up within fifty miles of her farm without her knowing him. He was too delicious-looking.

“I have older brothers,” she said. “Beau, Brad and Jim McKenzie. All older than you.”

At first he was startled at this news, then he broke into a wide smile. Then he laughed. “Are you that skinny, fuzzy-haired, freckle-faced, tin-mouthed pain in the neck who always followed Beau and Brad around?”

Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.

“No,” he said, laughing. “That must have been someone else. Your hair isn’t pumpkin orange. And you’re not all that…” He paused for a second, then said, “Got your braces off, I see.” By her frown, he realized he hadn’t scored with that comment.

“Where is your father? I want a second opinion!”

“Okay, you’re not so skinny anymore, either.” He smiled, proud of himself.

“Very, very old joke, sparky,” she said.

“Well, you’re out of luck, cupcake. My mom and dad finally realized a dream come true and moved to Arizona where they could have horses and be warm and pay lower taxes. One of my older sisters lives there with her family. I’ve got another sister in Southern California and another one in Nevada. I’m the new old Doc Jensen.”

Now it was coming back to her—Doc Jensen had kids, all older than she was. Too much older for her to have known them in school. But she did vaguely remember the son who came with him to the farm on rare occasions. One corner of her mouth quirked up in a half grin. “Are you that little, pimply, tin-mouthed runt with the squeaky voice who came out to the farm with your dad sometimes?”

He frowned and made a sound. “I was a late bloomer,” he said.

“I’ll say.” She laughed.

Excerpted from Holidays in Virgin River by Robyn Carr.
Copyright © 2022 by Robyn Carr.
Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

*****

Author Info:

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women’s fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at http://www.RobynCarr.com.

Author Website: https://www.robyncarr.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Robyn-Carr-134368309920956/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCarrWriter 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robyncarrwriter/  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/107767.Robyn_Carr?from_search=true

*****

Spotlight – A Family Affair

05 Tuesday Apr 2022

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A Family Affair

by Robyn Carr

ISBN: 9780778331742

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Blurb:

An exceptional storyteller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr beautifully captures the emotionally charged, complex dynamics that come with being part of any family. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears as they discover what it means to be loved, supported and accepted by the people who mean the most.

When a woman notices a young pregant woman attending her husband’s funeral she realizes his mid-life crisis went far beyond his weekend warrior lifestyle. But Carr’s story of a family dealing with their grief is full of surprises and as everyone examines their own beliefs and behavior, they become closer than they ever thought possible. Carr tackles the serious issues women face with humor and heart.

BookShop.org

Harlequin 

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Books-A-Million

Powell’s

*****

Excerpt:

The celebration of life was not held in a funeral parlor or church but rather in a fancy clubhouse in an upscale Mill Valley community. It was furnished with comfortable sofas, chairs, small round accent tables, thick carpet and carefully chosen art. Its primary purpose was for hosting parties. Residents in the community could rent it for events, which Anna had done. There was a huge viewing screen upon which the pictures of Chad’s life played, a hundred and fifty of them, carefully and lovingly chosen by Anna with a little help from the kids. Every picture had Chad in it, starting from old childhood prints she’d inherited from Chad’s mother years ago. She’d glance up to see one of him in a high school football uniform looking the worse for wear with a big grin on his dirty face; she caught a huge blowup of their wedding picture; there was one soon after of him with baby Jessie asleep on his chest. There were many pictures of Chad alone, a few of Chad and Anna, one of a young Anna gazing lovingly up into Chad’s face, several family groupings. The focus was Chad, his life, his accomplishments, his achievements, his happiness, a few of the important people in his life. Chad, Chad, Chad. Just like before he died.

Things had been tense lately, but she remembered those younger years fondly because, although it hadn’t been easy, they had been deeply in love. They met through what can only be described as fate, as destiny. In fact, their meeting was a legendary family story. Anna had been in San Francisco, shopping on her lunch hour down at Fisherman’s Wharf. Shopping but not buying, which was typical for her as she had been and still was very frugal. She loved the sea lions, enjoyed watching tourists, sometimes found bargains at Pier 1, enjoyed the occasional meal on the pier.

On that day, something strange happened. She heard a panicked cry rise from the crowd of tourists on the pier, saw a food truck trundling across the pier without a driver, picking up speed. A man in work clothes and apron was chasing the truck. She only had seconds to take it in. It seemed the food truck, its awning out and moving fast, was headed toward a group of people. Right before her eyes the truck knocked a man off the pier before the truck was stopped by a barricade. 

The man, completely unaware, flew off the dock and into the water below, startling a large number of fat sea lions who had been sunning themselves nearby.

The sea lions scrambled into the water and the man was flailing around in a panic. Someone yelled, “He can’t swim!” Hardly giving it a thought, Anna dropped her purse, kicked off her shoes and jumped off the pier, swimming to the man. Getting to him was no challenge; she practically landed on top of him. But he was hysterical and splashing, kicking and sputtering. “You’re okay, come on,” she said, grabbing his shirt by the collar. But he fought harder and sank, nearly pulling her under with him.

She slapped him in the face and that startled him enough he could let himself be rescued. She slid her arm around his neck and began pulling him to the dock where a couple of men seemed to be standing by to pull him in.

There was a lot of commotion, not to mention honking noises from sea lions. Anna was shivering in her wet clothes and all she could think at the time was how was she going to locate a change of clothes for her afternoon at work. Then there were emergency vehicles and a handsome young police officer draped a blanket around her shoulders and took a report. The near drowning victim was taken away in an ambulance and Anna was given a ride to her apartment by the cute policeman. She was delighted and surprised when the police officer called her a week later. She almost hyperventilated in hope that he’d ask her out.

“The man you pulled out of the water has been in touch. He wants your name,” the officer said.

“He isn’t going to sue me, is he?” she asked.

“I don’t think so,” he said with a laugh. “He seems very grateful. He won’t have any trouble tracking you down but I said I’d ask. He probably wants to thank you.” 

The man’s name was Chad. He was finishing up his PhD at Berkeley while she was working in a law office in the Bay Area. She was twenty-three and he was twenty-seven and she was not prepared for how handsome he was and of course much better put together than when he was dragged out of the water.

He took her to dinner and, as she recalled, their first date was almost like an interview. He wanted to know everything about her and was utterly amazed to learn she’d had a job as a lifeguard in a community pool for exactly one summer when she was a teenager and yet jumped in to save him with total confidence. They fell in love almost instantly. The first time they made love, he asked her to marry him. She didn’t say yes right away, but they knew from the start they were made for each other. What they didn’t know was how many fights they’d have. Very few big fights but many small ones; she thought of them as bickering. They fought about what was on the pizza; a scrape on the side of the car that was not her fault, not even remotely; what kind of vacation they should have and where they should go. As Anna recalled, they always went where Chad wanted to go. They fought about what movie to see, where to eat, what was grumbled under his or her breath.

They fought seriously about his affair. That was in the distant past but it took a long time to get over. Years. But when they finally pledged to stay married, to do their best to make it good, they fell into bed and had the best sex of their lives. And they had Elizabeth.

That experience was how she knew that all the excuses for this current marital rift, no matter what he called it, was probably about another woman and not them growing apart or having divergent needs. He wouldn’t admit it and she had no proof, but she had better than average instincts. She believed he’d gotten all excited at the prospect of falling in love and was rewriting their history to make that acceptable. He was looking for an excuse that would make it reasonable to step outside the bonds of marriage. She could feel it; he’d been involved with someone else.

Excerpted from A Family Affair by Robyn Carr.
Copyright © 2022 by Robyn Carr.
Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

*****

Author Info:

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women’s fiction such as Four Friends, The Summer That Made Us and The View from Alameda Island, as well as the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit her website at robyncarr.com.

Author Website

Twitter: @RCarrWriter

Facebook: Robyn Carr

Instagram: @robyncarrwriter

Goodreads

*****

Book Review – Sunrise on Half Moon Bay

23 Thursday Apr 2020

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Two sisters finding their way … and maybe finding a little love along the way.

*****

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay

by Robyn Carr

ISBN: 9780778309482

Publication Date: 4/14/2020

Publisher: MIRA Books

Blurb:

Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along…

Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.

When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.

Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.

Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.

Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.

Harlequin | Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million
Target | Walmart | Google | iBooks | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

“Has it ever occurred to Scott to get a serious job?” Adele asked. “I mean, forgive me, since I haven’t had a serious job in my life.”

Justine smiled patiently. “Your jobs have all been serious, and without you we’d have been lost. If you hadn’t dedicated yourself to Mom’s care, it would have cost our whole family a fortune. We’re indebted to you. And I agree it would help if Scott worked more than part-time, but I think that ship sailed years ago. He’s only worked part-time since Amber and Olivia came along.”

Adele adored her nieces, ages sixteen and seventeen. She was much closer to them than she was to Justine.

“I’m sorry you’re going through this,” Adele said. “I wish there was something I could do.”

“Well, the thing is, the future is looking very uncertain. I might need your help,” Justine said.

“What could I do?” she asked.

“Adele, I don’t like to push you, but you have to get it together. We have to make some decisions about what you’re going to do, what we’ll do with the house. I realize what I’ve given you for your hard work hasn’t been much, but I don’t know how long I can keep it up—paying for the maintenance on this house, the taxes, a modest income for you… I don’t want to panic prematurely,” Justine said. “Maybe I’ll be able to work everything out without too much hassle, but if I run into trouble… Money could get very tight, Addie. All those promises I made—that I’d help financially while you fix up the house, that I’d give you my half of the proceeds when and if you sold it… I might not be able to come through. I know, I know, I promised you it would be yours after all of your sacrifice, but you wouldn’t want me to ignore the girls’ tuition or not be able to make the mortgage…”

“But Justine!” Adele said. “That’s all I have! And I was considering finishing school myself!” Though if she was honest, she had no plans of any kind.

Justine reached out to her, squeezing her hand. “We’re a long way from me needing money. I just felt it was only fair to tell you what’s going on. If we’re in this together, we can both make it. I swear, I will make this all work out. I’ll make it right.”

But as Adele knew, they had never really been “in it together” in the past, and they wouldn’t be for very long in the future. Addie’s dedication to their parents allowed Justine to devote herself to her career. For that matter, it should be Justine and Scott shoring each other up. At least until Justine had a better idea. But where was Scott today? Golfing? Biking? Bowling?

Adele realized she had some difficult realities to face. When she dropped out of school to help her mother care for her father, she wasn’t being completely altruistic. She’d needed a place to run away to, hiding an unplanned pregnancy and covering her tattered heart. She’d never told her family that her married lover—her psychology professor—had broken down in tears when he explained he couldn’t leave his wife to marry Adele, that the college would probably fire him for having an affair with a student. For her, going home was the only option.

At the time Justine and Scott had been riding the big wave and didn’t lust after the small, old house in Half Moon Bay. That house was chump change to them. So, they worked out a deal. Adele had become her mother’s guardian with a power of attorney. But the will had never been adjusted to reflect just one beneficiary rather than two. In the case of the death of both parents, Adele and Justine would inherit equal equity in the eighty-year-old house and anything left of the life insurance. At the time, of course, neither Adele nor Justine had ever considered the idea that Adele would be needed for very long. But before Adele knew it, eight years had been gobbled up. She was thirty-two and had been caring for her parents since she was twenty-four.

Adele, as guardian, could have escaped by turning over the house, pension, social security to a care facility for her mother and gone out on her own, finding herself a better job and her own place to live. She wasn’t sure if it was her conscience or just inertia that held her in place for so long.

“I just wanted to make sure you understood the circumstances before anything more happens,” Justine said. “And since you don’t have any immediate plans, please don’t list the house for sale or anything. Give me a chance to figure out what’s next. I have children. I’ll do whatever I can to protect them and you. They’re your nieces! They love you so much. I’m sure you want them to get a good education as much as I do.”

Does anyone want me to have a real chance to start over? Adele asked herself. This conversation sounded like Justine was pulling out of their deal.

“I’ll think about this, but Scott has responsibilities, too,” she pointed out.

“He’s been out of the full-time workforce for so long…” Justine said.

“Just the same, we all have to live up to our adult commitments and responsibilities. And you’ve had a highfalutin job for a long time. You’ve made a lot of money. You can recover. I haven’t even begun.”

“I need your help, Addie,” Justine said. “You need to come up with a plan, something we can put in motion. Make plans for your next step, put a little energy into this old house, make suggestions of what we should do with it, everything. Let’s figure out what to do before I find myself short and unable to help. I’m sorry, but we have to move forward.”

Excerpted from Sunrise on Half Moon Bay, Copyright © 2020 by Robyn Carr. Published by MIRA Books.

*****

Review:

I’ll be honest – I didn’t particularly like Addie or Justine at first. Justine seemed a little cold & distant and Addie was ineffectual. But as the story moved along I found myself looking forward to seeing how they would grow and where their lives would end up. (And I think it takes a special sort of skill to create characters that, even though you don’t particularly like them, you can’t help but keep reading about them 🙂 )

Part of the appeal was that the sisters had a chance to discover themselves and build a relationship with each other that due to age difference & circumstances they hadn’t had before. The people they become are more assured and more comfortable with themselves & where they are going with their lives, which makes them much more appealing.

While there isn’t a whole lot romance involved, there is a lot of growth and discovery. It may be difficult, and at times unpleasant, but it’s also real and that is one of the things Carr impressively brings her readers every time.

*****

Author Info:

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women’s fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at www.RobynCarr.com.

Author Website: https://www.robyncarr.com/

Twitter: @RCarrWriter

Facebook: @RobynCarrWriter

Instagram: @RobynCarrWriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/107767.Robyn_Carr?from_search=true

*****

Book Review – A New Hope

02 Sunday Aug 2015

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cover64401-mediumA New Hope

Thunder Point series

by Robyn Carr

Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it’s possible to find yourself again. #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope.

After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she’s excited to be assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.

In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger is swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride’s brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself when he tries to make a pass at Ginger, forcing her to flee the scene in embarrassment.

But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.

Two things that I think are important to note here – 1) if you haven’t read any of the Thunder Point books it is probably a good idea to at least start with One Wish, which is the book before this one, because it has some of the characters from A New Hope but 2) it shouldn’t be an issue because these books are just so darn good that you should be reading them all anyway 🙂

I always feel like a broken record with this series – emotional plots involving realistic characters with real troubles. But when you have something as perfect as this why mess it up, right? And Carr is so talented at bringing a variety of people and their issues to the page, I never feel like I’m getting just a repeat.

We got to know Ginger some in One Wish and I’m thrilled that we get to see her continue to heal, make friends and build a new life for herself. She’s understandably a little unsteady on her feet but she’s making great strides. She shows an amazing sense of self and maturity coming out of the amazing hardships she’s had to face and that is exactly what Matt needs. He’s having to address a few things of his own and meeting Ginger definitely shakes things up for him – living a life he’s not proud of since his divorce, seeing what Ginger has overcome has him re-examining things.

I recommended reading One Wish not just because of Ginger, but we also get a continuation of Grace & Troy’s story, which I loved. It added even more sweetness to an already touching story. Plus they help us get a little sneak peek at the next story. I’ve said this before too, the sense of continuation and community, of old friends and new acquaintances, is one of my favorite parts of this series.

With A New Hope, Carr once again brings us characters that we grow to care about. And I love that even though they help each other, they face their demons themselves. It helps lead to a healthy HEA that left me all giddy and happy and oh-so-ready for the next story.

Book Review – One Wish

28 Saturday Feb 2015

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cover58116-medium#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr delivers another smart, funny, emotional novel about the complexities of life in the small Oregon town of Thunder Point

Grace Dillon was a champion figure skater until she moved to Thunder Point to escape the ruthless world of fame and competition. And though she’s proud of the quiet, self-sufficient life she’s created running a successful flower shop, she knows something is missing. Her life could use a little excitement.

In a community where there are few eligible singles, high school teacher Troy Headly appoints himself Grace’s fun coach. When he suggests a little companionship with no strings attached, Grace is eager to take him up on his offer, and the two enjoy…getting to know each other.

But things get complicated when Grace’s past catches up with her, and she knows that’s not what Troy signed up for. Faced with losing her, Troy realizes Grace is more than just a friend with benefits. He’s determined to help her fight for the life she always wished for but never believed she could have—and maybe they can find real love along the way.

I have not hidden the fact that I love Carr’s Thunder Point series (see The Wanderer, The Newcomer, The Hero, The Chance, The Promise, and The Homecoming).  All of these books are full of real people with real issues – hopes, dreams, troubles and foibles – and One Wish is no different. 

I love the relationship that develops between Grace and Troy.  Though they start as friendly acquaintances, they quickly and easily move into something more.  Once again Carr captures the fluidity of real life, the ease of deepening feelings as time goes by.  But unlike the average person, Grace is keeping a pretty big secret – one that will have an impact on her relationship with Troy.  Captured beautifully, the way they figure out whether they can move on together is very touching and makes for a true Carr ending.

In addition to the fantastic main story, returning readers are also treated to an update on some of their past favorites, plus we get a sneak peek at the next story.  My favorite part is that it doesn’t feel forced and every time a new story comes out I feel like I’m coming home again, visiting old friends and making new ones. 

Emotional, full of warmth and heartbreak, offset with humor and fun, One Wish highlights why Thunder Point is one of my favorite places to visit.  I get giddy at just the notion of a new book and the fact that Carr usually releases at least three a year just makes me so darn happy. 

Book Review – The Homecoming

15 Friday Aug 2014

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cover47637-mediumIn a small town, reputation is everything. In her latest novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr explores the burden placed on a young man returning home to face his mistakes—the first step in claiming the life he was meant to live

At the age of nineteen, Seth Sileski had everything. A superb athlete and scholar, handsome and popular, he was the pride of Thunder Point. Destined for greatness, he lost it all in a terrible accident that put an end to his professional football career when it had barely begun. The people in his hometown have never forgotten what might have been.

Seth has come to terms with the turns his life has taken. But now he’s been presented with an opportunity to return home and show his father—and the people of Thunder Point—he’s become a better, humbler version of his former self.

Winning over his father isn’t the only challenge. Seth must also find a way to convince his childhood neighbor and best friend, Iris McKinley, to forgive him for breaking her heart. With his homecoming, will Seth be able to convince the town, his family and especially Iris that he’s finally ready to be the man who will make them all proud?

I keep saying the same thing about Carr’s books – they are realistic, heart-warming, and addictive.  Every time I pick one up, it is like catching up with old friends and I’m ready for the next one as soon as I finish one.

In The Homecoming, we get to meet Mac’s replacement, Seth, and school counselor, Iris. Seth was mentioned during The Promise, but he doesn’t actually appear until this book and if Iris was in any of the others I don’t remember her.  But that’s OK, I love meeting new friends too.  And that also means that if this is your first Thunder Point book then you’ve chosen a good place to start.

I’ve mentioned it with other books, but the friends-to-lovers plotline is one of my favorites and Carr delivers it beautifully here.  There was a misunderstanding between Seth and Iris in high school that ruined their friendship.  Over the years, Seth realizes that the thing that has been missing from his life is Iris and now that he’s back in town he plans on getting her back.  Iris had feelings for Seth for years and even though she’s tried to move on with other guys, she’s never gotten over those feelings.But she doesn’t believe that he could feel anything romantic for her … after all, he didn’t in high school, so why should he now.

I love these two together.  They had a fantastic friendship and a connection that the years apart couldn’t destroy.  Now they have the chance to make it into more and it is super sweet and fun and sassy and cute.  We also have Seth’s attempt to reconnect with his father and some drama over a high school student who might be abused.  With Iris and Seth’s jobs, it fits in well with their developing relationship.

And that is where the true drama lies because Iris and Seth flow seamlessly into their new relationship and it works so well.  There isn’t too much angst and trouble, just a little bit where she doesn’t really trust his feelings (and a little bit about what caused their rift all those years ago), then a little bit about another guy who has feelings for Iris.  (And I love Troy, I’m pretty sure his will be the next story and I’m looking forward to finding out everything I can about him.)  Otherwise, it is a trademark Carr relationship – so real and so believable, these people could just as easily be your neighbors or friends.

And that, at its basic level, is why I love the Thunder Point books.  It all goes back to how I feel like I’m coming home again – making friends and catching up on the goings on in my favorite little coastal town.  As I mentioned earlier, this is a good place for new readers to start … but you better be ready to go back and read all of the others as well.  Addictive page turners, with characters who have depth and charm, are Carr books at their best.

Book Review – The Promise

02 Saturday Aug 2014

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cover45733-medium#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr returns to Thunder Point with an uplifting story about overcoming loss and finding unexpected love 

Scott Grant has a bustling family practice in the small Oregon community of Thunder Point. The town and its people have embraced the widowed doctor and father of two, his children are thriving, and Scott knows it’s time to move on from his loss. But as the town’s only doctor, the dating pool is limited. That is, until a stunning physician’s assistant applies for a job at his clinic. 

Peyton Lacoumette considers herself entirely out of the dating scene. She’s already been burned by a man with kids, and she’s come to Thunder Point determined not to repeat past mistakes. When Scott offers her a job, at a much lower salary than she’s used to, Peyton is surprisingly eager to accept…at least for now. She’s willing to stay for a three-month trial period while she explores other options. 

Scott and Peyton know the arrangement is temporary—it isn’t enough time to build a real relationship, never mind anything with lasting commitment. But love can blossom faster than you think when the timing is right, and this short visit just might hold the promise of forever.

This series is so realistic and interesting and very addictive.  Like the rest of the books, The Promise is all about the characters – smart, sexy Dr Grant and sassy, independent Peyton.  They have to decide if they want to take the chance on each other and if they can make their lives fit together.

Like most of the people in Thunder Point, both Scott and Peyton are somewhat new to town.  Scott’s been there a couple of years and Peyton is making a stop on her way to her next thing … whatever that may be.  The majority of their troubles comes from some scars that Peyton carries from her last relationship, along with her choice on what to do with her life.  As with any Thunder Point couple, these problems are normal and every day, something you would expect a friend to experience.

We also get updates on some of our other favorite characters as well as a preview of what we can expect to see in The Homecoming.  I think that’s one of the things I like best about these books – we get new characters and old characters, helping to enhance that small town feeling.  These people quickly become good friends and you want to know everything about them – their ups and downs, their happiness and troubles.  You feel like you are taking their journey with them and it is what brings you coming back for more.

If you haven’t read a Thunder Point book before, that’s ok – you can start here … but you are definitely missing out on something great.

Book Review – The Chance

08 Saturday Mar 2014

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cover39769-mediumWith its breathtaking vistas and down-to-earth people, Thunder Point is the perfect place for FBI agent Laine Carrington to recuperate from a gunshot wound and contemplate her future. The locals embraced Laine as one of their own after she risked her life to save a young girl from a dangerous cult. Knowing her wounds go beyond the physical, Laine hopes she’ll fit in for a while and find her true self in a town that feels safe. She may even learn to open her heart to others, something an undercover agent has little time to indulge.

Eric Gentry is also new to Thunder Point. Although he’s a man with a dark past, he’s determined to put down roots and get to know the daughter he only recently discovered. When Laine and Eric meet, their attraction is obvious to everyone. But while the law enforcement agent and the reformed criminal want to make things work, their differences may run too deep…unless they take a chance on each other and find that deep and mysterious bond that belongs to those who choose love over fear.

Let me just say that the FBI/criminal thing really doesn’t go that far in this book. Instead The Chance is about two people with normal, complicated lives who fall in love and have to figure out how to make it work regardless of their other obligations. I think that is my favorite part of Robyn Carr’s characters – they are just like you and me, with normal problems and normal feelings and normal issues. They have to figure out how (or even if) they can make one life together with all the associated complications from two individual ones. It’s sweet and honest and straight-forward and I loved every minute of it.

Laine has some family complications she has to figure out, as well as trying to decide what she wants to do with her job going forward. Considering she’s on a year-long hiatus from her East Coast job, it isn’t surprising that Eric is a little hesitant about what that means for a future together. He’s got a job, friends and family in Thunder Point and he wants to be there at least a little longer. It doesn’t lead to a lot of large scale drama, instead it’s a very real one that could happen to anyone you know.

I really enjoyed both of the main characters (and I’ve never been shy about saying how much I love the rest of them) – Laine is sweet and loving, but being an FBI agent she also has a spine of steel. She’s smart, wily, funny and caring. Eric will be the first to say he was an idiot as a kid but he got his act together and he’s turned into a wonderful man. He’s considerate, loving and quite sexy. He’s smart, hardworking, but he’s learned from his past and come to grips with it. He could be bitter but instead he figured out how to be a better person for it. He takes care of those around him and loves very well.

And while we get some updates on previous characters, although not as much as maybe some of the other books in the series, we mainly focus on the central plot and one other subplot.  It’s a sweet story with a couple of Eric’s workers that just about broke my heart before everything was tied up nicely at the end.  The two storylines worked well together and I didn’t feel cheated or rushed with either of them.

The Chance is part of a series, but I think that you’ll be able to keep up even if you haven’t read any of the previous stories … although I will tell you that you are missing out on something great if you haven’t read the rest.  If you like home-grown, real-life, small-town romances, you can’t miss with Robin Carr.

Book Review – The Hero

17 Monday Feb 2014

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cover32934-mediumIn a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can’t be worse than what they’ve left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need.

As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he’s not looking for anything else. Instead, he’s thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point’s high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he’s gentle and kind just the kind of man who could heal Devon’s wounded heart.

Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it and sometimes, you find a hero.

Reading a book in one of Robyn Carr’s series is like coming home. I love how she gives you your main characters but you also get updates on everyone you’ve met before, as well as an introduction to future stories. It’s probably not the easiest for new readers but I think that she does a pretty decent job of giving you enough information you aren’t totally lost. It’s not as involved as a series that follows one character all through the books, but you do get to keep moving forward with the lives of characters that you’ve met and fell in love with before. It just gives me a warm, happy feeling when I see a new one of her stories on the shelf because I know I’ll be with friends again.

In The Hero, we get to continue with Spencer who we met in The Newcomer. For a man who has had quite a few blows over the recent months, he’s quite well-adjusted and handles the curveballs with maturity. Of course he’s going to have a few man moments, but he’s sweet, caring, and generous. He’s not perfect, but he’s pretty darn close.

We also meet Devon for the first time. On the run from a cult, she lucks into Thunder Point and is welcomed with open arms (as is expected for these people). She’s had a rough few years too but she’s ready to start fresh and the little town is the perfect place to be. And meeting Spencer might be the best thing for both of them. I loved these two together and their growing relationship kept me quickly turning pages.

Carr is an amazingly talented writer, bringing to life not only the people but the community of Thunder Point. I always feel like I’m transported there when I pick up one of her books. They are amazingly detailed (but not too heavy-handed) with believable interactions – full of humor, heart and the occasional touch of heat.

The “Thunder Point” series is full of memorable characters, emotional story-lines and an abundance of realistic moments. The Hero just showcases Carr’s ability to deftly provide readers a vivid look into the lifelike world of her characters with both warmth and humor. You’ll laugh, tear up, and sigh right along with characters who seem to be living almost everyday lives in an everyday place. A place that you will want to visit again and again.

The Newcomer

29 Thursday Aug 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

cover28309-medium

Single dad and Thunder Point’s deputy sheriff “Mac” McCain has worked hard to keep his town safe and his daughter happy. Now he’s found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they’re feeling like teenagers themselves—suddenly they can’t get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac’s long-lost ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. Mac and Gina know they’re meant to be together, but can their newfound love withstand the pressure?

I love Carr’s “Thunder Point” books like I love Susan Mallery’s “Fool’s Gold” series.  And the feel of the books is a lot like I imagine their respective towns to be – while Mallery’s California based town is full of light and sunshine that sometimes masks more serious depths, Carr’s little town in Oregon has times of rain but when the sun comes out it is blindingly beautiful.

In The Newcomer, we pretty much pick up where The Wanderer left off.  Unlike a lot of series that finishes off with one pair and moves on to someone new, Carr’s series just continues to build.  We get more on Hank and Sarah as well as the newest in Mac and Gina’s changing relationship.  And we’re given Gina’s teenage daughter Ashley and her relationship with Downey as he moves away to college and she stays behind at Thunder Point High.  Some may get a little overwhelmed by all that is going on but Carr’s books are all about the community and no one is an island in her stories.

I loved Hank and Sarah so having the chance to explore their relationship further is a real treat.  And we’re left with a bit of a cliffhanger so I know we’ll get to see more of them in the next book (The Hero).  Mac and Gina featured a bit in The Wanderer so it is great to get to see their relationship come to fruition.  Both are strong, loving, family people and I enjoyed watching them figure out how to combine their worlds into one.  Especially since Gina’s world is imploding with the problems Ashley is experiencing with her boyfriend.  It was interesting to see, from an adult’s perspectvie, the pitfalls of teenage dating, espcially in today’s more technological times.  It takes up a decent part of the book so be prepared, but it does directly impact Gina and by association Mac (and even Sarah).  But that is how a small community works so I appreciate the realism.

The continuation of existing stories is one of my favorite things about Carr’s books, and although she does do a good job of giving new readers the bits of background that they need to keep up, I recommend starting from the beginning.  Her characters have such rich and complex lives, with heartbreak and joy and all the complications that go along with loving and living, that you appreciate them so much more being there from the beginning.

For believable, lifelike characters and problems, delivered with Carr’s captivating style, The Newcomer is going to thrill … but be prepared to get caught up in the many lives in Thunder Point and be left wanting more.