The Homecoming - Robyn Carr (Mira - Sept 2014)

Series: Thunder Point (Book 6)

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?

Excellent story of redemption and second chances. Seth and Iris had been best friends all their lives, up until their senior year in high school. They played and teased and talked, sharing all aspects of their lives. By the time they were in high school, Seth was the popular football star, while Iris was the shy nerd with the huge crush on him. They were still friends, though it was hard on her when he came to her with his girl problems. Then one night he got drunk after breaking up with his girlfriend and Iris came to his rescue before his parents could see him like that. He was lost in an alcohol haze when he put the moves on her, with things progressing as they usually do. He also promised to take her to the prom, a promise that was forgotten along with all the other events of that night. He broke her heart when he made up with his girlfriend the next day, and never understood why she was so furious with him and ending their friendship.

His football career sent him to the pros, but a terrible car accident ended that career very early on. He then decided to go into police work and has become the new deputy in charge of the Thunder Point office. This gives him the chance to come home and try to repair his reputation with the town, his father, and especially Iris. He has never forgotten her, and really wants a chance to make things right with her.

Iris became a school guidance counselor and came home to work at the local high school. She is great with the kids, especially since she still remembers what things were like when she was in school. Iris has never forgotten what Seth did. Having him move back to Thunder Point brings back the hurt every time she sees him. She tells him flat out that she doesn't want to see him or talk to him, and is frustrated when he ignores her wishes. She finally blows her top at him and lets him know exactly what happened all those years ago. He's horrified, and determined to make things up to her. Iris just wants him to leave her alone because she's discovered the old feelings are still there. She doesn't want to risk falling deeper for him and having him walk away again.

I loved Seth's determination. He has finally realized that Iris was the one for him all along, but he has to convince her of that. He starts out by trying to repair their friendship, somewhat awkwardly but very sweet. There are some pretty funny moments as he tries to show her how he's changed. I especially loved the sweetness he showed when she was sick and he was taking care of her. He slowly works his way back into her life, but then has to figure out a way to move beyond friendship. That scene ended up being one of the funniest in the book.

I got a little frustrated with Iris because she would not let the past go. She has spent seventeen years thinking about what happened and being mad at him. She knows she is being stupid about it, but doesn't seem to be able to stop herself. As their friendship is slowly rebuilt she falls the rest of the way in love with him and is afraid of what will happen to her when he walks away again. I liked the way that she finally worked up the courage to lay her feelings out for him and what happened when she did.

One of my favorite things about the book was the transformation of Seth from the cocky kid to the kind and caring man that he is now. He was obviously very happy in his new profession and it showed in everything he did. There weren't too many events showing him at his work, but the ones that were there were fantastic. The first one, where he broke up the fight between the two men showed Iris as nothing else could just what the new Seth was made of. Another facet of the new Seth was his friendship with Oscar and what it said about his sense of responsibility. Seth was also determined to repair his relationship with his father, and that seemed to be the most difficult task of all. Even that event had its moments of laughter.

I loved the romance between Seth and Iris. Though it had it rocky start, because they had been friends for so long it really didn't take long for it to develop. Being with Seth gave Iris the sense of family she hadn't had since her mother's death. Seth had family, but Iris gave him back his feelings of being part of something special. I really loved the way that they could talk to each other about anything and just be there for each other when they'd had a bad day. I loved seeing Iris get involved in trying to help Seth with his father.

There was a secondary storyline that had Iris dealing with a case of suspected abuse of one of her high schoolers. She was really worried about this young lady and the best way to handle the case while keeping her safe. She agonized over it, especially when she discovered the abuser was not who she expected it to be. There were some very tense moments as the situation was dealt with and the final confrontation was really scary.

The Promise - Robyn Carr (Mira - June 2014)

Series: Thunder Point (Book 5)

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.

I loved this story - I have been waiting for Scott to get his his own happy ever after. I love Robyn Carr's Virgin River, and have found that Thunder Point is just as great a place to visit. The people are friendly and welcoming and watch out for each other. That is just what Scott had been looking for when he moved to Thunder Point.

Scott's wife had died four years earlier when his daughter was born. For awhile he was just barely making it from day to day. Then he realized that he needed to make some changes. There were a couple things driving his decision. First, his mother and mother-in-law were driving him crazy.  They were so competitive for the children's attention that he had no peace. Second, he wanted to be able to spend more time with his kids, which meant that a busy city practice wasn't a good fit.  When he discovered that Thunder Point needed a doctor for its clinic, it was a perfect fit. The only thing it didn't really have was much scope for dating.

Peyton was looking for a temporary job while she decides what to do with her future. She is a physician's assistant who had just ended a three year relationship with a man who was a doctor and her boss. She was in love with him, but as much as she had tried to connect with his children, it just didn't happen. Then she found out he was also cheating on her. She sees Scott's ad for a PA and decides to check it out. It's like nothing she's ever done before, but she's willing to give it a try.

I loved how quickly Peyton became an important part of the town. She discovers that she has missed the small town atmosphere like the one she grew up in, now that she's been away from it for awhile. The values are much more like what she was used to, and the further away she was from her former relationship, the more she realized how wrong it had been for her. She's still not planning to get involved with Scott, not matter how appealing she finds him. But he and his family are so different that she quickly finds herself getting attached. 

I liked the way that she and Scott became friends first. Scott was attracted to her from the first, but a rather funny misunderstanding made him think she was out of reach. Once that was straightened out, I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and learn just how much they had in common.  That's not to say they didn't each have their issues. Peyton was still very wary of risking her heart with a man who had children. She also has a very caring heart that makes it hard to refuse to help someone in need, and this causes some trouble when one of her ex's kids comes to her with a crisis.  Scott has some problems believing that Peyton would be willing to pass up a much better job in order to stay in Thunder Point. He also has a little bit of an inferiority complex when he tries to compare himself to her ex.

I loved seeing the two of them keep getting closer, but got a bit frustrated when neither seemed to actually be talking to the other. A little bit better communication would have gone a long way toward reducing their problems.  Scott makes some pretty big assumptions that get him into trouble. 

I loved the secondary characters. Peyton's family was especially great. It was easy to see that her values came from her big family and the way that they believed in hard work and accountability. It was also fun to see Scott and his kids get swept up in the whole group when everyone came together for the harvest. I also enjoyed seeing more of other residents of Thunder Point. No big info dumps, just the day to day exposure to others, such as Cooper and Sarah, who have their baby, and Gina and Mac and the job change he is going through. That also brings the return of a character who will likely have his own book soon. Gina's mom Carrie has a crisis that has help coming from an unexpected direction. I'm looking forward to seeing what might come from that wrinkle.

The Chance - Robyn Carr (Mira - Feb 2014)

Series: Thunder Point (Book 4)

With 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.

Really good book. Laine first appeared in the previous book, The Hero, as the undercover FBI agent who helped Devon and others escape from the commune. She was shot during the operation and has returned to Thunder Point to recover. She had been put on desk duty which she hated, so she has taken a year's leave of absence to finish her recovery and decide what she wants to do now. Eric sold his business in Eugene and has moved to Thunder Point to be closer to his daughter. Neither is looking for a relationship, but the chemistry between them is too strong to ignore.

I loved both Laine and Eric. Laine is trying to figure out what she wants to do next. The undercover operation took a lot out of her besides the injury she sustained and she isn't sure that she wants to continue as an agent. She liked what she saw of Thunder Point and has gone there for her recovery time. It also gets her away from her father, who has always given her grief about her profession. She is drawn to Eric from the first time she met him, and she can see that he's interested too. I loved the way that she asked him out when he didn't move fast enough for her. 

Eric is a pretty laid back kind of guy. After a less than stellar youth that earned him a stint in prison he has turned his life around. He spends most of his time building his new business and trying to spend time with his teenage daughter. He encounters Laine several times and is more attracted each time. He doesn't consider himself a good bet relationship wise, so he tries to keep his distance from Laine. That doesn't work, and they are soon deeply involved with each other.

I really liked to developing romance between them. They are honest with each other about their expectations, which reduces their chances of conflict. Those that they do have they are able to resolve fairly easily by talking things out. She is surprised by his prison record, but she doesn't let it stop her from getting to know Eric better. Laine's job as an FBI agent surprises Eric, and he has a hard time at first accepting that she constantly puts herself into dangerous situations. I loved her demonstration of how well she can take care of herself and Eric's reaction to it. It was a great illustration of how well the two of them suit each other. Though they started out as simply two adults enjoying each other's company, they soon found themselves in a much deeper relationship than they expected. I loved Eric's support of Laine as she dealt with her issues with her father. Laine's difficult relationship with her father takes an interesting turn when he shows up in Thunder Point. When those issues pulled them apart, their unhappiness at being separated was obvious. Eric worries that Laine won't be able to return to Thunder Point and he can't leave as he gets to spend time with his daughter. I was really rooting for them to get their HEA, and loved the way it worked out at the end.

I loved seeing Laine's relationships with various members of her family. As her relationship with Eric changes her, her relationships with her family change also. I loved seeing the discussions she had with her sister-in-law as they finally got to know each other. The changes she went through also affected the way she looked at her father and their relationship. Her pain as she deals with him is heartbreaking but also makes the resolution of that story line very satisfying.

There are also two wonderful side stories. An old friend and employee of Eric's shows up to work with him and takes a liking to Ray Anne. She has always been an interesting character with her flamboyant clothing and direct attitude. She and Al hit it off in an unexpected way, and I really enjoyed seeing the way she changes around him. Al is an interesting guy who has some issues that cause him some insecurity around her. Al also takes an interest in helping a teenage employee of Eric's who is dealing with some major family issues. He does what he feels he can, but those same issues make him feel that he can't do more. I loved seeing him finally get the courage to reach out for a second chance.