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A Thunder Point Novel

This was my first Robyn Carr book and I will definitely be back for more.

The Homecoming is a contemporary romance set in a small town in Oregon and is part of a series. Of course I haven’t read any of the other books but that didn’t seem to mar my enjoyment here.

Seth was the most popular boy in school and ended up leaving college to play football for the pros. A car accident changed his life forever. Seth’s injuries were significant and he ends up with several surgeries and one leg shorter than the other. But that doesn’t stop him from applying to the Sheriff’s department. He won’t take no for an answer, and eventually he gets hired.

When the opportunity arises to return home as the Sheriff of Thunder Point, he leaps at the chance, both to be near his parents and his closest childhood friend, Iris. They haven’t spoken in many years, and Seth misses her.

Iris is still angry at what happened during their senior year in high school. Iris ran into Seth at a party after he and girlfriend broke up. She saw he was getting drunk, so she pulled him out of there to take him home. Seth invited her to the prom, but got back together with the girlfriend the next day and they went to prom instead. Worst of all, he had no memory of that night. Or the fact that he and Iris had sex. The bottom line is that Iris has been in love with Seth for as long as she remembers, but she is terribly afraid of getting hurt again.

Iris is a guidance counselor at the high school where they both went and is beloved by her students. Having been a gawky teenager, she remembers too well how difficult a journey it is through adolescence. Iris and Seth’s relationship take some interesting turns along the way to the inevitably happy ending.

What was most interesting to me about this book was they way the intricacies of friendship and the loss of a friend were explored. Whenever I hear about women who have friends for 30, 40 years or more, I’m always awed. I have lost friends over the years, found them again (thank you, Facebook) but can honestly say I do not have a real friendship that has lasted that long – other than my husband. I understand things change, sometimes we are at different points in our lives and we don’t have the same things in common, or there are geographical moves away, although with social media that no longer seems to be a problem. We have had couple friends, husbands and wives, who were incredibly close only to have them push away, without my understanding why. I have always regretted the loss of a friend, and Carr helped me realize that I am not alone, a funny thing to find out at 55+ years of age.

I found this a very thought provoking read, and a good story. More Thunder Point novels are out there, and plenty of others too. Carr is a prolific writer, and I am a most grateful reader.

12/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE HOMECOMING by Robyn Carr. Berkley (December 8, 2015).  ISBN 978-0399174483. 352p.

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Jury of His Peers & Any Sunday

This is a “two book collection” rebranded under a new title and cover with a new copyright date of 2012. Originally these were published separately under Jury of His Peers (1986) and Any Sunday (1988.) There is a sweet note from the author explaining how her daughter read these and loved them, and they decided to update the books, thus the reissue and new copyright.

Having read them, I can attest to the fact that they do not feel dated at all and I can understand why Debbie’s daughter enjoyed them. There is just no denying that Debbie writes a good love story.

Jury of His Peers is about a young woman on jury duty, who runs into her old high school nemesis. Caroline and Ted grew up together, but she always found him too perfect and constantly needled him. Ted grows up into a very good looking, kind man and when they meet again Caroline is shocked at the attraction she feels. She fights it every step of the way but Ted is a patient man.

Any Sunday features Marjorie, a young, independent woman who hasn’t been feeling well for a while. Her closest friend finally forces her into a doctor’s appointment with her own doctor. Dr. Sam is an ob/gyn and when it turns out Marjorie’s problem is an appendix about to rupture, he refers to a colleague, but assists with the surgery. Marjorie has no family, and Dr. Sam finds something about her most appealing so he takes care of her – going way above and beyond what most mortal doctors do. Quickly he realizes he can’t be her doctor and her boyfriend, and since he envisions a life with her, he forces her to find a new doctor. There are a few more hitches in their path to happiness, but happiness they find.

These are two quick reads and like all of Macomber’s books, very sweet, romantic love stories without a hint of sex. Give it to your grandmother or teenage daughter without a qualm.

12/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE UNEXPECTED HUSBAND by Debbie Macomber. Mira; Reissue edition (May 29, 2012). ISBN 978-0778313410. 368p.

Four Chanukah Love Stories

I love holiday romances, but I can’t remember reading any Chanukah romances before so I was delighted to find this downloadable egalley. As far as I can tell, there is no print edition so download from your favorite bookseller.

A synopsis from the publisher:

This December, take a break from dreidel spinning, gelt winning, and latke eating to experience the joy of Chanukah. When you fall in love during the Festival of Lights, the world burns a whole lot brighter.

Miracle by Megan Hart: It’s definitely not love at first sight for Amanda and her cute but mysterious new neighbor, Ben. Can a Chanukah miracle show them that getting off on the wrong foot doesn’t mean they can’t walk the same road?

A Dose of Gelt by Jennifer Gracen: Lawyers in love, Shari Cohen and Evan Sonntag are happy together. But in a moment of doubt, he pushes her away—then soon realizes he made a huge mistake. To win her back, it might take something like a Chanukah miracle.

Home for Chanukah by Stacey Agdern: When impulsive interior designer Molly Baker-Stein barges into Jon Adelman’s apartment and his life intent on planning the best Chanukah party their building has ever seen, neither expects that together they just might discover a Home for Chanukah.

All I Got by KK Hendin: All Tamar expected from her Israel vacation was time to hang out with one of her besties and to act like a tourist, cheesy t-shirt and all, in her two favorite cities. She definitely was not expecting to fall for Avi, a handsome soldier who’s more than she ever dreamed.

I didn’t love this book. “Miracle” was a bit rough going, it felt forced and didn’t flow properly. The characters were too one-dimensional.

I enjoyed “A Dose of Gelt,” the characters were somewhat developed and the story was fun until the abrupt ending.

I liked “Home for Chanukah” but again, like “Miracle,” the characters weren’t developed and it didn’t feel quite natural or real, but the story was good.

The last story, “All I Got” was set in Israel and I didn’t understand why there were quotes scattered throughout the story – I didn’t know who was being quoted (all that was offered were initials) and why they were necessary to the story. The Israeli aspect was interesting, but I don’t speak Hebrew and didn’t understand most of the Hebrew words, beyond what I could figure out from the story. Didn’t love this one either.

But given the dearth of Chanukah romances, if you like that sort of thing, go for it.

 Note: ebook only

12/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

BURNING BRIGHT by Megan Hart, KK Hendin, Stacey Agdern, and Jennifer Gracen. Avon Impulse (December 1, 2015). HarperCollins Publishers. ASIN: B015WXSMPE. Print Length: 248 pages