About the Book:
In 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.
My Comments:
Robyn Carr is one of those authors whose books I grab when I see them on NetGalley. I downloaded this one Wednesday and had it read by Thursday, so it definitely caught my interest and was an engaging read. Like the earlier books in the series, this one is set in a small town on the Oregon coast. Everyone knows everyone and most folks are good. Most folks have something in their past that is less than ideal. None of the featured relationships involve unattached young folks who get together, marry and then have a child. Devon joined a commune and is now the single mother of a child sired by the leader of said commune. Spencer is a widower, and what's more, when his wife was ill they learned that their son was not his son, but rather, Cooper's. Cooper is with Sarah. She's divorced, and has been raising her younger brother all these years. The Sheriff's wife left him and their kids. Now, he is married to Gina, who was impregnated by a high school boyfriend who disappeared, but who is now back, and Gina and Mack are ok with that. Mack's Aunt Lou marries a younger man of a different race. Yes, it is kind of soap-opera-ish but like a soap opera watcher, the reader becomes attached to these folks. While clearly part of a series, the back story isn't necessary to enjoy this story.
I liked both Spencer and Devon. I could see Devon changing in both appearance and attitude as the book progressed. Spencer didn't undergo those big changes but I always liked him--your basic loving Dad and all-around good guy. Things get a little steamy with them a couple of times.
While the whole book was an enjoyable read, this is one where I found the climax scene to be very unrealistic. Without any spoilers, not only could I not see it resolving as it did, I couldn't believe the characters were involved in it. Not surprisingly, it ends happily ever after.
I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade: B- (the minus is for that climax scene).
I used to love Robin Carr but I had trouble with her portrayal of Catholics in her Virgin River Series and I stopped reading. Loved her books but tired of the birth control pills are safe & wonderful & the supposedly Catholic family members went to a protestant/nondenom church. Their older mother was portrayed as uptight (she was a faithful Catholic as opposed to the Cafeteria kind Ms.Carr wrote about.)
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