Wildest Dreams (Thunder Point)

Robyn Carr is an author who never, ever disappoints her readers, and Wildest Dreams, the latest chapter in the Thunder Point series, is no exception. With unique characters facing real-life problems while dealing with all the emotions and fears, the hopes and dreams that each of us can relate to, Carr has once again created a beautiful, emotionally compelling snapshot of life in the close-knit community of Thunder Point, Oregon. She revisits residents readers have quickly grown to love, while introducing new characters who quickly take their places in the reader’s heart.

I absolutely loved Lin Su. As a mom who raised a son with serious allergies, I know what it's like to worry about your child whenever they're out of your sight, eating at someone else's house, doing things where you just know something awful is going to happen. Lin Su is exactly how any mom can be with fears for her child--she's controlling because she's frightened, and that makes her afraid to love Blake, one of the most appealing heroes Robyn Carr has written. I love that he's a triathlete--they're a whole different breed of man, and Blake definitely fits the type. What's really fun is that I was reading this book, an advance uncorrected proof, the week of the Vineman Triathlon here in Sonoma County, CA, where I live. It brought Blake's race to life even more!

On a personal note, I can never read Carr’s books just once, because I don’t want to put them away on the bookshelf. They tend to sit out within reach, where I can leaf through favorite scenes for weeks after I’ve read the story. And yes, I’m a Luddite and insist on print. Just looking at the spines reminds me of the stories inside. This one is definitely a keeper. I have all my Virgin River and Thunder Bay books lined up on my bookshelf, and at some point I'm going to start with the very first books and read straight through to the end. Again. Because I did that with the Virgin River stories once already.

Blake Smiley, professional triathlete, has searched the country for the right place to call home. Thunder Point has what he needs to put down the roots he's never had.

Lin Su Simmons and her teenage son, Charlie, are fixtures at Winnie Banks' (Grace's mother) house as Lin Su nurses Winnie through ALS. A single mother, Lin Su is proud of taking charge and never showing weakness. But Charlie is asking questions about his family history—questions she doesn't want to answer.

3.5 stars overall and those were mostly for Charlie. I loved Charlie ... great, great kid. We were introduced to Lin Su and Charlie in Thunder Point book #8. Wildest Dreams is a deeper look into their story.

While I liked Blake and Lin Su individually I didn't feel the love connection between them and couldn't quite see them as a couple. It took far too long into the book (more than 1/2 of the Kindle) for them to even get together. That's very rare with this series ... for the relationship to take so long to develop. The relationship felt slapped together. There was the "we can't be together" scene and then very quickly there was the happily ever after. Too fast and I wasn't buying it. I just really don't like Blake and Lin Su as a couple.

We are given a glimpse into the other Thunder Point residents that we've grown to love. However, it was almost like Ms. Carr realized she hadn't given much of an update and quickly added it to the end of the book. These updates were not inserted smoothly into the story as they've been in the other books.

This wasn't my favorite book in the series but I still look forward to the next :)

ARC provided by NetGalley

3 stars---WILDEST DREAMS is the ninth installment in Robyn Carr’s contemporary, adult Thunder Point romance series focusing on the people in and around Thunder Point. This is triathlete Blake Smiley, and single mother/home care nurse Lin Su Simmons’s storyline. WILDEST DREAMS can be read as a standalone; any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person point of view WILDEST DREAMS is an ensemble storyline that focuses on Lin Su Simmons and her relationship with the people of Thunder Point-and more specifically Winnie, Grace and Winnie’s new neighbor Blake Smiley. Lin Su is Winnie’s nurse; a health care worker who tends to Winnie’s needs as her symptoms of ALS begins to worsen. With the arrival of Winnie’s new neighbor-triathlete Blake Smiley-Lin Su’s son Charlie begins a complicated friendship with the newest resident of Thunder Point. As Charlie’s friendship with Blake deepens, Lin Su finds herself oddly attracted to the first man in her life in close to fourteen years.

Lin Su is an over protective single mother whose only child has some issues with asthma and breathing difficulties. As Charlie begins to assert his independence as any fourteen year old wants to assert, Lin Su is reluctant to give up control of her son to anyone including Blake Smiley who assigns himself Charlie’s mentor and trainer. Lin Su, like many heroines, has a past clouded in betrayal and heartbreak, and with it comes the inability to trust or open her heart to new possibilities. Lin Su’s acerbic and vitriol attitude towards Blake was off putting and a big negative to my overall enjoyment of this storyline.

The relationship, and thusly the storyline, was very, very slow to develop. Blake’s attraction to Lin Su is immediate but our heroine is less than receptive to Blake’s smile and charms. As a character, Blake felt more like a secondary or supporting character rather than the storyline hero as the majority of the focus was on Lin Su’s relationship with Charlie, Winnie and the people of Thunder Point. The limited love scene is mostly implied.

WILDEST DREAMS is an ensemble storyline that also looks at several continuing stories from previous installments; there are three impending births, and Winnie’s health continues to deteriorate over time. If you are a fan of the Thunder Point series you will enjoy revisiting the cast of characters; if you are new to the series, there may be some confusion as to the ‘relationships’ and connections but Robyn reveals some of the background and history of these other characters.

I did have some issues with this particular storyline. The ending felt a little rushed in comparison to the rest of the book; there was a big reveal and a promise for the future that basically leaves the reader hanging wondering what will happen next. The conflict between Lin Su, Blake and Charlie, once again, revealed a caustic side to the storyline heroine that was troublesome and problematic. The ‘physical descriptions’ of Blake and Lin Su were limited; the character development was interesting but I need a starting point from which to ‘imagine’ my storyline characters. I had a difficult time picturing Blake from the start.

Wildest Dreams, Robyn Carr’s latest stop in Thunder Point, pairs up Blake Smiley and Lin Su Simmons, both of whom were introduced in an earlier book in the series. The languorous romance between the hardworking single mom and the champion triathlete is sweet but it is teenage Charlie who manages to steal readers’ hearts.

Lin Su is working as a home health care nurse and she meets Blake when he moves in next door to her patient Winnie Banks. Lin Su’s fourteen year old son Charlie is immediately enthralled with him but her first few encounters with Blake are adversarial. She is extremely overprotective of Charlie due to his asthma and weakened immune system and although he is doing much better, she refuses to let the poor boy spread his wings. Lin Su is great with Winnie but in her personal life, she is secretive, inflexible and judgmental. She is also extremely proud and getting her to accept help from anyone is next to impossible. Quite frankly, Lin Su is frustrating, stubborn and almost impossible to like for much of the story.

Blake is a dedicated athlete but he knows his career is beginning to wind down and buying a house is just the first step for the next stage in his life. He has come a long way from his very humble childhood and he is committed to helping other underprivileged youths. He is a genuinely caring and compassionate man who might have overstepped with Charlie initially, but to be fair, Charlie was not exactly forthcoming about his health issues. Blake is pretty unflappable and while he understands Lin Su’s concerns, he presents a calm and well thought out rebuttal to her somewhat irrational fears for Charlie’s health.

Charlie is a super smart kid who has a good head on his shoulders. He is aware of his limitations but he is also ready to be an active participant in his life. He is also incredibly curious about his family but Lin Su flat out refuses to discuss her past with him. When his curiosity gets the better of him, Charlie takes matters into his own hands but he is ill prepared for his mother’s response to the information he uncovers.

The storyline of Wildest Dreams is interesting and unique but it is very slow paced. The triathlon aspect is well researched but these details sometimes overwhelm the rest of the story. There are multiple mentions of characters from previous installments of the Thunder Point series and while it is nice to catch up with them, these peeks are a bit of a distraction from the main storyline.

The relationship between Lin Su and Blake builds at a leisurely pace but their romance does not develop until nearly the end of the novel. Once Lin Su begins dating Blake, she begins to soften somewhat but she still remains tightlipped about her past. Things are going smoothly between the couple until Charlie’s revelations and in the aftermath, Lin Su is quick to end things with Blake. The resolution of these issues occurs in an unexpected but realistic fashion and Robyn Carr wraps up Wildest Dreams with a heartwarming epilogue that is sure to delight readers.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Wildest Dreams is #9 in the Thunder Point series. This one is the story of Lin Su and her son Charlie. It also continues the story of Winnie, Grace and their family. Blake Smiley is the triathlete who has arrived next door, we met him briefly in the previous book. Now he is in Thunder Point permanently.

Lin Su is the nurse to Winnie and an excellent one. She is a great mother to Charlie, but just somewhat over protective and controlling. He is fourteen and beginning to want a little more independence. Charlie was a character I loved, he was so caring and respectful towards his mother, but also ready to spread his wings a little. Lin Su has had a very challenging time since she became pregnant with Charlie. She is gritty and feisty, but a little proud and unbending. I loved all the growth and development for Lin Su as the story evolved.

Blake is a talented athlete and he and Charlie bond, Charlie admires him and they form a very understanding relationship. However Lin Su sees some of this as interference and she is vocal when she disapproves. Blake himself has not come from an easy background, growing up in a very poor area. He loves to help out youth from poor areas and help them to rise above and go places they never thought they could.

We also catch up with some other inhabitants of this small town and its a time when there are three babies due just before Christmas. I love seeing into their lives as they live out their 'happily ever after'! All is not going too well in the Sileski household, Seth's parents are still not getting on and one of them is threatening divorce.

I loved this book as much as the others, once I started reading I was pretty much engrossed and immersed again in the lives of these people. The romance is low key and beautiful, it is part of the package but doesn't provide the whole focus. If you like that, then you'll enjoy this, if you like romance to be more to the front, maybe this book isn't for you.

I thought perhaps events at the end were too quickly wrapped up. Personally I thought the new arrivals in various forms could have made a very nice Christmas novella!
I received a copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley, however in no way did this influence my review.

Note: Series reading order follows at end of review.

WILDEST DREAMS is the story of Lin Su Simmons, the nurse-caretaker of Grace's mom, Winnie. To best appreciate this story, I recommend that the series be read in order, especially in light of the developing plotlines of all the secondary characters. Lin Su's charming son Charlie features prominently in this story, as he befriends new next-door neighbor Blake Smiley, an Ironman professional competitive athlete. Blake's immediate attraction to Lin Su is supported by the fact that he is ready to settle down and find "the one," and is even happy to find his "one plus son," but he is impeded by a tremendous amount of baggage carried by Lin Su. She's got serious insecurities regarding her ability to trust, to love then lose others, and huge roadblocks regarding her son's health and activities, her own history, and the conditions of her employment. Lin Su rationalizes her fears and insecurities in order to allow her to isolate herself and her son...and she lies, to others and to herself, about her family history and her past with Charlie's father. Although I sympathized with Lin Su, I did not like her nearly as much as I have appreciated all of Carr's other Thunder Point heroines, and this detracted from the story for me.

Conversely, Blake is a terrific hero, and the best parts of the story for me were those dealing with Blake's character development as he works toward reaching his professional goals, closing old chapters of his romantic past, and gently and with great care, developing a relationship with Lin Su.

Charlie's struggle to gain some independence was a high point in WILDEST DREAMS, and gave the story its most funny and touching moments.

I have read the comments of a number of other reviewers who were discouraged by the length of time it took the H/h to get together and share even a first kiss. I consider myself a patient reader if the payoff was worth it, so I accepted the author's pacing. I must say, however, that the ending was a great letdown for me. I've read all of Miss Carr's series, and she does end some books far more abruptly than others. I enjoy a complete ending, or an epilogue, but I am more than willing to accept a cliffhanger as well. This ending, however, was none of those things. Unfortunately, after a rushed and somewhat difficult to believe final event at the very end of the story, we are given the most abrupt, two-sentence HEA which I can ever remember reading. I literally checked and rechecked my Kindle, thinking my "next page" touchscreen location was faulty. When I verified that I was at the final location number point of the book, I was truly shocked. This is the first Robyn Carr book which I have been tempted to rate at less than a 4; the last scene of the book and the unfinished, awkward feeling to the ending are the cause. The hero's charm, the interesting and educational value of the author's writing regarding Blake's athletic career, and the humor and pathos of Charlie's scenes allowed me to rate this story at 4 stars. I'm hoping for a return to form and a stronger story as I await the next Thunder Point novel.

Until then, if you have not read Miss Carr's (earlier) Virgin River series, then I recommend that you run, not walk, to get the first novel in the series, also titled Virgin River. For me, it is Miss Carr's finest novel. I still long for a visit back to that special place, and hope that one day Miss Carr will spend some with those wonderful characters again.

THUNDER POINT SERIES READING ORDER (this series is best read in order):
1. The Wanderer - retired Army pilot (Hank) Cooper & pilot Sara Dupre
2. The Newcomer -- Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain & waitress Gina James
3. The Hero -- coach Spencer Lawson & single mom Devon McAllister
4. The Chance -- auto mechanic Eric Gentry & FBI agent Laine Carrington
5. The Promise -- Dr. Scott Grant & PA Peyton Lacoumette
6. The Homecoming -- Deputy Sheriff Seth Sileski & HS guidance counselor Iris McKinley
7. One Wish -- HS teacher Troy Headly & florist Grace Dillon
8. A New Hope -– Ginger Dysart (Ray Anne’s ‘niece”) & Matt Lacoumette
9. Wildest Dreams -- triathelete Blake Smiley and Lin Su Simmons (Winnie’s caregiver)

**I received a complimentary e-copy of A NEW HOPE from MIRA in exchange for my honest review.**

I'm a huge fan of author Robyn Carr. I've read all of her standalone books and I've read her different series books. (I want to live either in Virgin River or in Thunder Point.)

WILDEST DREAMS is the 9th book in the Thunder Point series. Author Carr has a definite talent in creating locales that show up in your dreams - and characters that might be your next door neighbors. They are easy to relate to. They have issues. They have dreams.

Blake Smiley is an Ironman, a triathlete, who just had a house built in Thunder Point. There he gets to know Charlie, a 14 year-old who has health issues and an overprotective mother. I liked the details in the book about triathlons - interesting.

Charlie's mom is Lin Su Simmons, a nurse who is working next door to Blake, taking care of Winnie, who has Lou Gehrig's disease. And she thinks Blake is pretty darn handsome.

I do have to write that Lin Su was one of my least favorite characters in Carr's books, very controlling and rather unlikable. And there were parts of the romance in the story that came across as forced and rushed.

Also, the ending was too abrupt. Usually each of Carr's books in her series almost standalone but this one has one heck of a cliffhanger.

But, even with its drawbacks, it was fun visiting Thunder Point again. We revisited characters from the other eight books in the series and we were able to catch up on their lives.

So, the book is worth reading. It's just not the best book in the series.

NOTE: I received this book from MIRA Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite writers in this genre and this series is one of my favorites. This book fell short of her normal excellence. In fact, this was my least favorite Thunder Point installment because Lin Su made it hard to truly enjoy her perseverance and tenacity. The characters make this series so engrossing and Lin Su made me want to shake her a bit.

Lin Su was definitely a survivor and hard worker, but she took the "Lone ranger" thing to the next level. Life had dealt her some blows and she found herself a single mother estranged from her adopted family. I suspect, Charlie is the only one she has, so fear of losing him made her so controlling.

Blake had to overcome much to become the best in his sport, and he begins mentoring charlie much to Lin Su's dismay. Lin Su resented Charlie listening anyone else but slowly she loosened the reins of Charlie enough to see him blossom under Blake's guidance.

Can Lin Su learn to let someone else into their lives after the betrayals she faced in her past?

She is my least favorite heroine in the series and they are my least favorite couple. Blake was everything I love in a hero. He was handsome, athletic, hard working, sexy, smart, generous and loved mentoring the disadvantaged. I kept thinking "girl, you need to snatch that up!" Blake was a really great guy and frankly speaking, I didn't see why he had to have Lin Suh since she was prickly. I supposed he had to conquer the challenge. I didn't feel the chemistry at all. I actually liked them better as individuals because they are both hard working and self sacrificing. I like Blake in Charlie's life, but the romance with Lin Su was undercooked and lacked that hotness that I am used to in this series.

Emotional wounds and restless souls find healing and home in the small town of Thunder Point.

Blake Smiley, rich and famous in the triathlon world, never really had a stable home of his own until he bought the house next door to Winnie, Grace and Troy that overlooks the beach and Pacific Ocean at Thunder Point. Deeming it a good place for his needs, he soon found it did for more than meet his needs. It connected him with people and community and with Lin Su and her son Charlie. If you’ve read the previous book in this series, you already know these two as survivors with tremendous potential.

Lin Su is a private nurse who tends Winnie, who has ALS but refuses to give in to it with every ounce of strength she has. Charlie and Winnie have bridged the gap of generational difference and are wonderful friends. Lin Su is secretive, stubbornly independent, and super protective of Charlie who has health issues. His taking to Blake with such enthusiasm does not make her happy.

Of course, all the caring, meddling characters of Thunder Point are woven into this compelling story of the birth and growth of love that brings the struggling, stubborn Lin Su and Blake, who learned to run for survival, together. Charlie is very much a part of it all as are Winnie and Mikhail, Winnie’s true “knight in shining armor.”

Robyn Carr, with her usual skillful crafting, creates a compelling story line, manages a huge cast of humanlike characters, and gives the reader realistic drama with humor and heart. Her ability to create believable and unique characters and situations pulls the reader into the action and emotions and gives a vicarious journey to be remembered. GOOD Reading!

originally posted at long and short reviews

Single mother Lin Su Simmons is the home care nurse for Winnie Banks, Grace Headly's wealthy mother who is suffering from ALS. Her 14-year old son, Charlie, is a great kid but underdeveloped because of his asthma condition. When triathlon athlete Blake Smiley moves next door to Winnie, he and Charlie quickly form a wonderful relationship. Though Lin Su is also attracted, she's challenged by this man who wants her to ease up control of her son to let him develop and get stronger.

Family is a strong theme in this story, one that provides challenges to Amerasian Lin Su who was adopted at age three. She's estranged from her adopted family, unclear about her biological mother and has no contact with her son's father. I completely understood Lin Su's overprotective nature when it came to her son's health as his issues were scary and real. Her reluctance to let go was a combination of a need for control and motherly instincts (which were dead on most of the time).

What was tougher to understand was Lin Su's dogged stubbornness in understanding the difference between generosity and charity. She struggled financially and lived in a dangerous neighborhood, which made her resistance in allowing others who considered her family or friend just maddening. It was also hard to connect to her burgeoning relationship with Blake because she just wasn't that friendly or nice. Charlie was the glue as he was just a wonderful teen with an infectious personality. I'm not sure there would have been a Lin Su and Blake without him.

I think this is the last book in this series as many of the other Thunder Point characters either have an appearance here or summary updates provided. I liked this story even though the romance was tepid. The strength of the other aspects made this an enjoyable reading experience. I've loved this series and the spirit of community present in every story was a foundation in this one. 3.5 stars

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

2.5 stars
This is my least favorite book of the Thunder Point series. The first Robyn Carr book I read was The Newcomer, not understanding how she writes, and how the stories and characters are all intermingled in this small town. However, she is a talented author overall, and I have grown to love the cast of characters and stories in the Thunder Point series... until this one.

Yikes! Lin Su is so, so, so unlikable and controlling! As written, she has no redeeming qualities other than her son, Charlie, and the fact that she's a competent nurse. I can't comprehend the supposed "attraction" between Lin Su and Blake Smiley. The author failed to convince me why they should even be together beyond they had similar backgrounds. There was no love between these two other than forced words printed on the page about 2/3 of the way through the story. Blake was a great hero, and Charlie is fantastic. It was also great catching up with the other cast of characters, and parts of the story were good. I'm not confident, however, that the others really liked Lin Su, other than feeling compassion for her circumstances and appreciating her nursing skills.

I also thought this book was very repetitive in narration with respect to Lin Su: her upbringing, her job, her circumstances in life, and controlling thoughts/actions with Charlie. It was tiring, and failed to provide any reasonable character growth. I was really disappointed, and great characters like Blake and Charlie were wasted.

Then entire thing wraps up too quickly in the epilogue, and I just didn't buy Lin Su's magical transformation or why Blake even felt invested. Not convincing or the best story by this author!

Welcome back to Thunder Point, a small town with a real big kick! Carr brings romance and the trials of living to life in a big way. Her descriptions invite readers to the Oregon coast. The interwoven stories that make up this novel allowed me to get even closer to characters we’ve previously met while falling in love with new ones. I loved the look at an Iron Man from the competitor’s side. Carr makes it approachable while still showing the intensity and stress of it.

I love the way that Carr develops people. Their true selves really shine through. The different yet similarly hopeless pasts of the main characters that they rise above, in epically different manners, added a sense of convergence to the tale. Lin Su’s personality definitely made her stand out even more. Charlie’s increased presence in the tale was also a big hit with me. I loved seeing him come into his own. I found the complexity of Blake’s character so endearing. There was just so much more to him than meets the eye. I loved it.

Carr has definitely created a winner with this one. This novel will definitely become a staple in my library, being read & re-read time and time again. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to all those who enjoy small town romance.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

I love Thunder Point series. There is one couple who fall in love but there is such a good cast of characters that you get to see and know again. There is fun, drama, romance and deals with real problems.
We met Lin Su Simmons and her teenage son Charlie when she came to be Winnie's nurse. She hides her past and trials she is going through. But no one lets her do that.

Charlie has a lot of health problems mainly asthma. He loves his computer and looks forward to going to school in Thunder Bay than his old school. He and Winnie really get along.

Blake Smiley has bought the house next to Winnie's He runs Ironman races and trains really hard. He is also giving back too. He likes Charley right off the bat.

Winnie suffers from LS. Winnie was a champion skater. She has moved to Thunder Point to reconnect with her daughter Grace. Grace and Troy live in the bottom of the house too. Also Grace's Olympic coach Mikhail has come to stay and be with Winnie in this time of her life.

We see Grace, Iris & Payton have there babies.

I will read more books by Robyn Carr in the future. I have read all of Thunder Point series & Virgin River series .

I was given Wildest Dreams to read by Net Galley & Harlequin. In return I agreed to give a honest review of Wildest Dreams.

3.5 STARS

I have mixed feelings about WILDEST DREAMS, the latest book in Robyn Carr’s popular Thunder Point series. In many ways, I enjoyed the book as much as I have the others in the series. But I was uncomfortable with one aspect of the heroine’s character, and that took away a little of the enjoyment – not a lot, but it dimmed it a bit.

I really like Blake, the hero of this novel. He’s a professional triathlete who has overcome childhood poverty and hardship to make it to the elite level of the sport. Along the way, he’s learned a lot people and what motivates them. He’s observant, honorable, self-disciplined, ambitious in his sport but also dedicated to helping kids in need – any kind of need. He’s almost too good to be true, but he has enough small flaws to make him believable.

Lin Su, the heroine, also has poverty and hardship in her past – but also the opposite. What she didn’t have much of as a child was affection, and it shows. She’s a very loving, caring person; you can see it in her fierce, protective love for Charlie and in the way she takes care of Winnie. But at the same time, she’s stubbornly proud and independent as well as very reticent: she is keeping secrets about her past and her family even from Charlie, and about their present situation from everyone else, and she is determined not to ask for or even accept help.

She’s also. . . I don’t want to say she’s too protective of Charlie, because I understand that she had to be when he was younger, given the severity of his asthma. But now that he’s older and not quite as vulnerable, she’s having a hard time lightening up on the protectiveness. I get that, too; I’ve struggled with the same thing, and my daughter didn’t have a chronic illness. She did go through a severe, almost life-threatening one as a child, though. As a parent, it takes a long time to get over that kind of fear – but I think we can all relate to the desire to protect our child from any harm. What bothered me about Lin Su is that she has some serious control issues, in one part of the book in particular. Don’t get me wrong – she’s not abusive in any way, but she can’t stand to have her authority over Charlie flouted by anyone, and that bothered me. He’s fourteen, for heaven’s sake – he’s well on the way to becoming an adult, and he’s not being disrespectful, just holding to his own opinions and friends. I kept thinking that Lin Su needs to be in counseling to deal with her fears and find a healthier way of coming to terms with her past.

It’s interesting that Blake and Lin Su have such different and yet such similar experiences – poverty and abandonment, mainly. It certainly makes Blake more able to understand Lin Su than he might otherwise have been – probably a good thing.

Charlie, Lin Su’s son, is a delight. He’s not perfect; like any teenage boy, he wants to push his boundaries a bit, but on the whole he’s a wonderful, intelligent, and observant young man. I loved watching him blossom and become more confident throughout the book, and even the way he stood up to his mother when something really mattered to him. I also loved the developing friendships in the novel: between new neighbor Blake and Lin Su, the heroine; between Charlie and Blake; between Charlie and Lin Su’s employer and patient, Winnie; and between Winnie and Lin Su. And I adore the relationship between Winnie and Mikhail, her daughter’s former skating coach. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, there’s a very deep love there, and the give-and-take and banter of an old established pair who are very different but still like and respect each other.

I always like finding out what the other residents of Thunder Point are up to – and three couples are up to quite a bit, since they’re all expecting their first child. We see Grace (Winnie’s daughter) and her husband Troy a fair bit, since they live in an apartment in Winnie’s house (One Wish), and we see a little of Peyton Grant and her husband, Scott (The Promise). Given Winnie’s ALS and Charlie’s asthma, we see a fair bit of Scott in his doctor role, as well. Iris and Seth Sileski are the third expectant couple (The Homecoming), and their situation – or at least Iris’s – is complicated by discord between Seth’s parents.

The final resolution of the conflict between Lin Su and Blake (hey, it’s a romance – you knew there would be a confict; that’s not a spoiler!) was heartwarming but also felt too sudden and too easy. But I loved the epilogue; it even made me tear up a little.

As of July 2015, there was no indication on Robyn Carr’s blog of what’s next – will she continue the Thunder Point series or start something new? Either way, I’m there. Carr is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors; her books are autobuys for me. Even when I don’t love every aspect of a story or character, as in this case, I still enjoy her books!

ETA: Carr is starting a new series, Sullivan's Crossing. The first book comes out in April 2016.

REVIEW ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 7/27/15 on The Bookwyrm's Hoard blog

A Thunder Point story that focuses on Blake Smiley, an Ironman contestant who finds Thunder Point and buys a house overlooking the ocean for its peace and quiet. Next door lives Winnie, suffering from ALS and attended by Lin Su, an Amerasian single mother who's also raising her 14-yr-old son, Charlie, who suffers from Asthma. Shortly after they meet, Charlie has an asthma attack. After the doctor contends that Charlie needs to begin a progressive exercise program that will enable him to run without succumbing to another attack. Blake offers to help the boy, recalling how his races away from the drug dealers of his growing-up neighborhood helped him being to love running.

But Lin Su isn't sure that's wise, particularly since it means she will have to be around Blake. In her stubborn insistence on going it alone, she reveals her fear about succumbing to her attraction to the man.Charlie's desire to find out who he really is and what really happened to his mother after her adoption by an American family forms the final crisis that forces Lin Su into acknowledging how she feels about her past and her future.

For Lin Su Simmons, working in Thunder Point was a blessing. As fixtures at Winnie Banks’ house, Lin Su tries to keep as professional as possible as she nurses Winnie through the realities of ALS. Her son, Charlie is the light of her life and as a single parent; she has built up walls around her heart as well as her life, never showing weakness to anyone. But when professional triathlete Blake Smiley moves next door, Lin Su finds that her heart skips a beat each time he smiles at her. But Lin Su is determined she will need no man to make a home. When Charlie enlists Blake in trying to get out from under his mom’s over protectiveness, Lin Su sees red. But there is more to Blake than meets the eye and it will take the meddling of friends in Thunder Point and Charlie to show her that Blake just might be the perfect man to take a chance on.

I love Robyn Carr’s books as they are filled with relatable characters and entertaining storylines. I normally enjoy my time in Thunder Point but in WILDEST DREAMS, I wasn’t as enamored as I was in the past books. It might have been that I wasn’t too keen on Blake as a hero and it took to almost being 2/3rds of the way through the story to finally enjoy him as Lin Su’s love interest. Also I felt the relationship between Lin Su and Blake felt, at times, a bit forced. Their connection was just tenuous at times and it felt like I couldn’t get behind their relationship like I have done with past couples in the series. That spark I saw with the other couples took some time to materialize for me and to get behind with. I did like the scenes with Charlie and the rest of the Thunder Point residents. Charlie was smart, chaffing to get out from under Lin Su’s watchful eye and experience life. He was a delight to enjoy reading and I am hoping we see more of him in future books. The writing was as good as ever and the author does a great job in letting the readers know what happened to some of the main characters from past Thunder Point books in WILDEST DREAMS. I love revisiting with them and seeing what is going on with them after their books were done.

WILDEST DREAMS may not have been my favorite Thunder Point story but it is still an entertaining one that I enjoyed. The characters were interesting mix of new and old that delighted me. Plus we got to see some familiar faces pop up that showed that there may something going on in future books that intrigued me. I also loved the relationship between Winnie and Mikhail. These two strong and proud people show such tenderness towards one another and I loved how the author incorporates it in the storyline. The scenes where Winnie just steamrolls over Lin Su and manages her life at times was a treat to read and enhanced the storyline a bit more. WILDEST DREAMS is a story of a woman learning to trust her heart, to let her barriers down to experience life’s joy and love. Even though this wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still an enjoyable story. Ms. Carr delivers a story filled with real life issues that people are dealing with and I, for one, am anxious to see where the series goes next.

I received a complimentary book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have read every one of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River books, and now I am reading all of her Thunder Point books. I thoroughly enjoy her both series because they all take place in a small town where everyone knows each other. This town is interesting because they take great pleasure in celebrating EVERY holiday, big or small. In fact, they have a person strictly in charge of taking care of planning and producing each celebration.

I also love Mayor Marsha who is in all of the Thunder Point books. She is a strange woman in that she seems to know everything that is going on around town and with each person in town. She even knows long held private secrets!. I assume (or at least hope) that someday, at the end of the series, we will find out her mystery. However, knowing Robyn Carr’s style, she is just as likely to never tell us and leave us still wondering.

This story is about Lin Su, an Asian American, who is a nurse for Winnie Banks. Winnie is a rich former champion skater who suffers from ALS. Their new next door neighbor is Blake Smiley who is a professional triathlete. Lin Su’s young son, Charley, has a major case of asthma which has kept him from doing anything more strenuous then using his computer. Lin Su is very overprotective of Charlie and refuses to let him take any chances. The backgrounds of Lin Su and Blake are very complicated and difficutl to explain. You will have to read the book yourself to find out all of that information.

Another commonality among Robyn Carr’s books is that the women are all very strong and can handle their own life and their own problems without a man. Lin Su takes it a step further because she is a very stubborn, controlling person with a “chip on her shoulder.” Blake is less rigid than Lin Su; he is willing to compromise and work with people so everyone is agreeable.

Blake adores Charlie and helps him build up his body so he will be strong enough to stand up to his asthma, per his doctor’s orders. He is also falling in love with Lin Su. Lin Su is falling in love with gentle, caring, patient Blake but refuses to admit it.

One of the major things I love about this story is the way that Winnie’s family, Lin Su’s family and Blake all act like they have been friends for year. Winnie loves having Charlie around for company even as she thinks of Lin Su as a second daughter. This is a wonderful story of neighborly love and lasting friendship which has everyone helping everyone else as if they were family instead of newly met strangers. It is also a story which emphasizes the ethics and morality that we think of when we think of a small town like Thunder Point.

This is a stand-alone book with a happy ending and no cliffhanger. However most of these characters were in the author’s last book. Reading that book first will help you better understand, appreciate and enjoy the plot and all of its characters. In fact, I would suggest you read all of the other books in this series after you have read these two books because there is no doubt that Ms. Carr is not yet finished with this series. Thank goodness!

A great life lesson in the story, how you can overcome the most difficult situations in life, if you determined to do so.
This story, while the blurb indicates is about Blake and Lin Su, is more of a summary and an update on all the previous characters in the series. Blake and Lin Su's relationship is really slow to develop, they go from dislike to interest to a first alone meeting by 70% of the story.
Blake is truly the perfect hero. He is not only handsome, sexy and successful. He is also kind, patience, caring, generous, all around great guy. His development with the training is shown with a great detail, also his mental and emotional development is evident, how he leaves his past relationships, and wants to build something more solid, permanent, life-lasting. I loved his relationship with Charlie, Lin Su's son. It was genuine, mentoring, and real. Charlie was the absolute star of the story, such a charismatic and charming young man.
Lin Su is not easy to like. She is stubborn, inflexible, and headstrong. To the point that she is willing to uproot her life, just to make a point. She has an extreme need for constant control, doesn't listen others well, and at times her stubborn streaks come off selfish. I wanted to shake her so many times.
With lots of detailed updates with the people from the series, there was also detailed training information into triathlon and Ironman competition. I found it interesting, to the point, but I wish there would have been more about the relationship developing between Blake and Lin Su. They get surprisingly little time and focus in the book, considering there's also time for a great conflict in their shortly viewed romance. A conflict that came to such an abrupt ending, overcome by just a one hug. And since there was pages, if not chapters devoted for triathlon training, and so many detailed visits with the secondary characters, that didn't have anything to do with the main story line, I kind of expected more developed relationship as well.
~ Three Spoons

Wildest Dreams is the 9th book in Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series. The main characters are Blake, a world-class athlete and new Thunder Point resident, and Lin Su, nurse to Blake’s neighbor. The two meet and the attraction is almost immediate – at least in Blake’s case. Lin Su is a single mother who is determined to make the best life for her son Charlie and that means she’s not interested in a relationship. So, even though she likes Blake and might be a little attracted to him, that’s not going to happen. She’s controlled her life since she was eighteen after all. Charlie and Blake might have a say in that though.

I thought the characters were believable. Reading about the triathlons Blake competed in was very interesting. I appreciated the details of Lin Su’s care of her patient Winnie who has ALS. We also catch up with three pregnant women (featured in previous books) who are due to give birth very soon. But the stars are Blake and Lin Su. These two were more alike than they imagined and yet pride and stubbornness might prevent a wonderful relationship. Will Lin Su start to realize life can be good and allow herself to trust Blake? I enjoyed finding out.

I liked Wildest Dreams and recommend it to fans of Robyn Carr and contemporary, small town romance. It could stand alone but it involves characters from One Wish (book #7 in the series) so you might want to read that book first. I recommend the entire series! *I received a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Attention: This romance is perfectly safe for men to read. In fact, if you're into competitive individual athletics or triathlons you'll learn something new I expect. More than safe, it is an excellent read ... or listen.

Robyn Carr is the only "romance" author whose books I've read in any number. Why do I keep coming back? Because, in addition to love triumphing, Ms. Carr always takes on several social issues. And then presents multiple takes on how people respond, which isn't often well. Although her books do have the requisite HEA (that's "happily ever after" ending, guys), she makes it clear that such endings are not possible without considerable human effort. No divine intervention.

Without telling you what happens, let me ask you these questions: ever had an awful Thanksgiving dinner? Or, know anyone who is getting divorced after a zillion years of marriage? There is plenty of reality mixed in with (for my male taste) a bit too much dreaming of, having, and then recalling the first kiss. The problems of single motherhood get a going over herein although I wouldn't say that they are the focus of the novel; what I do know from having read other Carr books is that she devotes a lot of time & plot space to the problems of single fatherhood in other books.

My disclaimer: I bought the book (actually, I listened to it on Audible), and I wasn't asked to review it.

Note: Series reading order follows at end of review.

WILDEST DREAMS is the story of Lin Su Simmons, the nurse-caretaker of Grace's mom, Winnie. To best appreciate this story, I recommend that the series be read in order, especially in light of the developing plotlines of all the secondary characters. Lin Su's charming son Charlie features prominently in this story, as he befriends new next-door neighbor Blake Smiley, an Ironman professional competitive athlete. Blake's immediate attraction to Lin Su is supported by the fact that he is ready to settle down and find "the one," and is even happy to find his "one plus son," but he is impeded by a tremendous amount of baggage carried by Lin Su. She's got serious insecurities regarding her ability to trust, to love then lose others, and huge roadblocks regarding her son's health and activities, her own history, and the conditions of her employment. Lin Su rationalizes her fears and insecurities in order to allow her to isolate herself and her son...and she lies, to others and to herself, about her family history and her past with Charlie's father. Although I sympathized with Lin Su, I did not like her nearly as much as I have appreciated all of Carr's other Thunder Point heroines, and this detracted from the story for me.

Conversely, Blake is a terrific hero, and the best parts of the story for me were those dealing with Blake's character development as he works toward reaching his professional goals, closing old chapters of his romantic past, and gently and with great care, developing a relationship with Lin Su.

Charlie's struggle to gain some independence was a high point in WILDEST DREAMS, and gave the story its most funny and touching moments.

I have read the comments of a number of other reviewers who were discouraged by the length of time it took the H/h to get together and share even a first kiss. I consider myself a patient reader if the payoff was worth it, so I accepted the author's pacing. I must say, however, that the ending was a great letdown for me. I've read all of Miss Carr's series, and she does end some books far more abruptly than others. I enjoy a complete ending, or an epilogue, but I am more than willing to accept a cliffhanger as well. This ending, however, was none of those things. Unfortunately, after a rushed and somewhat difficult to believe final event at the very end of the story, we are given the most abrupt, two-sentence HEA which I can ever remember reading. I literally checked and rechecked my Kindle, thinking my "next page" touchscreen location was faulty. When I verified that I was at the final location number point of the book, I was truly shocked. This is the first Robyn Carr book which I have been tempted to rate at less than a 4; the last scene of the book and the unfinished, awkward feeling to the ending are the cause. The hero's charm, the interesting and educational value of the author's writing regarding Blake's athletic career, and the humor and pathos of Charlie's scenes allowed me to rate this story at 4 stars. I'm hoping for a return to form and a stronger story as I await the next Thunder Point novel.

Until then, if you have not read Miss Carr's (earlier) Virgin River series, then I recommend that you run, not walk, to get the first novel in the series, also titled Virgin River. For me, it is Miss Carr's finest novel. I still long for a visit back to that special place, and hope that one day Miss Carr will spend some with those wonderful characters again.

THUNDER POINT SERIES READING ORDER (this series is best read in order):
1. The Wanderer - retired Army pilot (Hank) Cooper & pilot Sara Dupre
2. The Newcomer -- Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain & waitress Gina James
3. The Hero -- coach Spencer Lawson & single mom Devon McAllister
4. The Chance -- auto mechanic Eric Gentry & FBI agent Laine Carrington
5. The Promise -- Dr. Scott Grant & PA Peyton Lacoumette
6. The Homecoming -- Deputy Sheriff Seth Sileski & HS guidance counselor Iris McKinley
7. One Wish -- HS teacher Troy Headly & florist Grace Dillon
8. A New Hope -– Ginger Dysart (Ray Anne’s ‘niece”) & Matt Lacoumette
9. Wildest Dreams -- triathelete Blake Smiley and Lin Su Simmons (Winnie’s caregiver)

**I received a complimentary e-copy of A NEW HOPE from MIRA in exchange for my honest review.**

I'm a huge fan of author Robyn Carr. I've read all of her standalone books and I've read her different series books. (I want to live either in Virgin River or in Thunder Point.)

WILDEST DREAMS is the 9th book in the Thunder Point series. Author Carr has a definite talent in creating locales that show up in your dreams - and characters that might be your next door neighbors. They are easy to relate to. They have issues. They have dreams.

Blake Smiley is an Ironman, a triathlete, who just had a house built in Thunder Point. There he gets to know Charlie, a 14 year-old who has health issues and an overprotective mother. I liked the details in the book about triathlons - interesting.

Charlie's mom is Lin Su Simmons, a nurse who is working next door to Blake, taking care of Winnie, who has Lou Gehrig's disease. And she thinks Blake is pretty darn handsome.

I do have to write that Lin Su was one of my least favorite characters in Carr's books, very controlling and rather unlikable. And there were parts of the romance in the story that came across as forced and rushed.

Also, the ending was too abrupt. Usually each of Carr's books in her series almost standalone but this one has one heck of a cliffhanger.

But, even with its drawbacks, it was fun visiting Thunder Point again. We revisited characters from the other eight books in the series and we were able to catch up on their lives.

So, the book is worth reading. It's just not the best book in the series.

NOTE: I received this book from MIRA Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite writers in this genre and this series is one of my favorites. This book fell short of her normal excellence. In fact, this was my least favorite Thunder Point installment because Lin Su made it hard to truly enjoy her perseverance and tenacity. The characters make this series so engrossing and Lin Su made me want to shake her a bit.

Lin Su was definitely a survivor and hard worker, but she took the "Lone ranger" thing to the next level. Life had dealt her some blows and she found herself a single mother estranged from her adopted family. I suspect, Charlie is the only one she has, so fear of losing him made her so controlling.

Blake had to overcome much to become the best in his sport, and he begins mentoring charlie much to Lin Su's dismay. Lin Su resented Charlie listening anyone else but slowly she loosened the reins of Charlie enough to see him blossom under Blake's guidance.

Can Lin Su learn to let someone else into their lives after the betrayals she faced in her past?

She is my least favorite heroine in the series and they are my least favorite couple. Blake was everything I love in a hero. He was handsome, athletic, hard working, sexy, smart, generous and loved mentoring the disadvantaged. I kept thinking "girl, you need to snatch that up!" Blake was a really great guy and frankly speaking, I didn't see why he had to have Lin Suh since she was prickly. I supposed he had to conquer the challenge. I didn't feel the chemistry at all. I actually liked them better as individuals because they are both hard working and self sacrificing. I like Blake in Charlie's life, but the romance with Lin Su was undercooked and lacked that hotness that I am used to in this series.

Emotional wounds and restless souls find healing and home in the small town of Thunder Point.

Blake Smiley, rich and famous in the triathlon world, never really had a stable home of his own until he bought the house next door to Winnie, Grace and Troy that overlooks the beach and Pacific Ocean at Thunder Point. Deeming it a good place for his needs, he soon found it did for more than meet his needs. It connected him with people and community and with Lin Su and her son Charlie. If you’ve read the previous book in this series, you already know these two as survivors with tremendous potential.

Lin Su is a private nurse who tends Winnie, who has ALS but refuses to give in to it with every ounce of strength she has. Charlie and Winnie have bridged the gap of generational difference and are wonderful friends. Lin Su is secretive, stubbornly independent, and super protective of Charlie who has health issues. His taking to Blake with such enthusiasm does not make her happy.

Of course, all the caring, meddling characters of Thunder Point are woven into this compelling story of the birth and growth of love that brings the struggling, stubborn Lin Su and Blake, who learned to run for survival, together. Charlie is very much a part of it all as are Winnie and Mikhail, Winnie’s true “knight in shining armor.”

Robyn Carr, with her usual skillful crafting, creates a compelling story line, manages a huge cast of humanlike characters, and gives the reader realistic drama with humor and heart. Her ability to create believable and unique characters and situations pulls the reader into the action and emotions and gives a vicarious journey to be remembered. GOOD Reading!

originally posted at long and short reviews

Single mother Lin Su Simmons is the home care nurse for Winnie Banks, Grace Headly's wealthy mother who is suffering from ALS. Her 14-year old son, Charlie, is a great kid but underdeveloped because of his asthma condition. When triathlon athlete Blake Smiley moves next door to Winnie, he and Charlie quickly form a wonderful relationship. Though Lin Su is also attracted, she's challenged by this man who wants her to ease up control of her son to let him develop and get stronger.

Family is a strong theme in this story, one that provides challenges to Amerasian Lin Su who was adopted at age three. She's estranged from her adopted family, unclear about her biological mother and has no contact with her son's father. I completely understood Lin Su's overprotective nature when it came to her son's health as his issues were scary and real. Her reluctance to let go was a combination of a need for control and motherly instincts (which were dead on most of the time).

What was tougher to understand was Lin Su's dogged stubbornness in understanding the difference between generosity and charity. She struggled financially and lived in a dangerous neighborhood, which made her resistance in allowing others who considered her family or friend just maddening. It was also hard to connect to her burgeoning relationship with Blake because she just wasn't that friendly or nice. Charlie was the glue as he was just a wonderful teen with an infectious personality. I'm not sure there would have been a Lin Su and Blake without him.

I think this is the last book in this series as many of the other Thunder Point characters either have an appearance here or summary updates provided. I liked this story even though the romance was tepid. The strength of the other aspects made this an enjoyable reading experience. I've loved this series and the spirit of community present in every story was a foundation in this one. 3.5 stars

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

2.5 stars
This is my least favorite book of the Thunder Point series. The first Robyn Carr book I read was The Newcomer, not understanding how she writes, and how the stories and characters are all intermingled in this small town. However, she is a talented author overall, and I have grown to love the cast of characters and stories in the Thunder Point series... until this one.

Yikes! Lin Su is so, so, so unlikable and controlling! As written, she has no redeeming qualities other than her son, Charlie, and the fact that she's a competent nurse. I can't comprehend the supposed "attraction" between Lin Su and Blake Smiley. The author failed to convince me why they should even be together beyond they had similar backgrounds. There was no love between these two other than forced words printed on the page about 2/3 of the way through the story. Blake was a great hero, and Charlie is fantastic. It was also great catching up with the other cast of characters, and parts of the story were good. I'm not confident, however, that the others really liked Lin Su, other than feeling compassion for her circumstances and appreciating her nursing skills.

I also thought this book was very repetitive in narration with respect to Lin Su: her upbringing, her job, her circumstances in life, and controlling thoughts/actions with Charlie. It was tiring, and failed to provide any reasonable character growth. I was really disappointed, and great characters like Blake and Charlie were wasted.

Then entire thing wraps up too quickly in the epilogue, and I just didn't buy Lin Su's magical transformation or why Blake even felt invested. Not convincing or the best story by this author!

Welcome back to Thunder Point, a small town with a real big kick! Carr brings romance and the trials of living to life in a big way. Her descriptions invite readers to the Oregon coast. The interwoven stories that make up this novel allowed me to get even closer to characters we’ve previously met while falling in love with new ones. I loved the look at an Iron Man from the competitor’s side. Carr makes it approachable while still showing the intensity and stress of it.

I love the way that Carr develops people. Their true selves really shine through. The different yet similarly hopeless pasts of the main characters that they rise above, in epically different manners, added a sense of convergence to the tale. Lin Su’s personality definitely made her stand out even more. Charlie’s increased presence in the tale was also a big hit with me. I loved seeing him come into his own. I found the complexity of Blake’s character so endearing. There was just so much more to him than meets the eye. I loved it.

Carr has definitely created a winner with this one. This novel will definitely become a staple in my library, being read & re-read time and time again. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to all those who enjoy small town romance.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

I love Thunder Point series. There is one couple who fall in love but there is such a good cast of characters that you get to see and know again. There is fun, drama, romance and deals with real problems.
We met Lin Su Simmons and her teenage son Charlie when she came to be Winnie's nurse. She hides her past and trials she is going through. But no one lets her do that.

Charlie has a lot of health problems mainly asthma. He loves his computer and looks forward to going to school in Thunder Bay than his old school. He and Winnie really get along.

Blake Smiley has bought the house next to Winnie's He runs Ironman races and trains really hard. He is also giving back too. He likes Charley right off the bat.

Winnie suffers from LS. Winnie was a champion skater. She has moved to Thunder Point to reconnect with her daughter Grace. Grace and Troy live in the bottom of the house too. Also Grace's Olympic coach Mikhail has come to stay and be with Winnie in this time of her life.

We see Grace, Iris & Payton have there babies.

I will read more books by Robyn Carr in the future. I have read all of Thunder Point series & Virgin River series .

I was given Wildest Dreams to read by Net Galley & Harlequin. In return I agreed to give a honest review of Wildest Dreams.

3.5 STARS

I have mixed feelings about WILDEST DREAMS, the latest book in Robyn Carr’s popular Thunder Point series. In many ways, I enjoyed the book as much as I have the others in the series. But I was uncomfortable with one aspect of the heroine’s character, and that took away a little of the enjoyment – not a lot, but it dimmed it a bit.

I really like Blake, the hero of this novel. He’s a professional triathlete who has overcome childhood poverty and hardship to make it to the elite level of the sport. Along the way, he’s learned a lot people and what motivates them. He’s observant, honorable, self-disciplined, ambitious in his sport but also dedicated to helping kids in need – any kind of need. He’s almost too good to be true, but he has enough small flaws to make him believable.

Lin Su, the heroine, also has poverty and hardship in her past – but also the opposite. What she didn’t have much of as a child was affection, and it shows. She’s a very loving, caring person; you can see it in her fierce, protective love for Charlie and in the way she takes care of Winnie. But at the same time, she’s stubbornly proud and independent as well as very reticent: she is keeping secrets about her past and her family even from Charlie, and about their present situation from everyone else, and she is determined not to ask for or even accept help.

She’s also. . . I don’t want to say she’s too protective of Charlie, because I understand that she had to be when he was younger, given the severity of his asthma. But now that he’s older and not quite as vulnerable, she’s having a hard time lightening up on the protectiveness. I get that, too; I’ve struggled with the same thing, and my daughter didn’t have a chronic illness. She did go through a severe, almost life-threatening one as a child, though. As a parent, it takes a long time to get over that kind of fear – but I think we can all relate to the desire to protect our child from any harm. What bothered me about Lin Su is that she has some serious control issues, in one part of the book in particular. Don’t get me wrong – she’s not abusive in any way, but she can’t stand to have her authority over Charlie flouted by anyone, and that bothered me. He’s fourteen, for heaven’s sake – he’s well on the way to becoming an adult, and he’s not being disrespectful, just holding to his own opinions and friends. I kept thinking that Lin Su needs to be in counseling to deal with her fears and find a healthier way of coming to terms with her past.

It’s interesting that Blake and Lin Su have such different and yet such similar experiences – poverty and abandonment, mainly. It certainly makes Blake more able to understand Lin Su than he might otherwise have been – probably a good thing.

Charlie, Lin Su’s son, is a delight. He’s not perfect; like any teenage boy, he wants to push his boundaries a bit, but on the whole he’s a wonderful, intelligent, and observant young man. I loved watching him blossom and become more confident throughout the book, and even the way he stood up to his mother when something really mattered to him. I also loved the developing friendships in the novel: between new neighbor Blake and Lin Su, the heroine; between Charlie and Blake; between Charlie and Lin Su’s employer and patient, Winnie; and between Winnie and Lin Su. And I adore the relationship between Winnie and Mikhail, her daughter’s former skating coach. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, there’s a very deep love there, and the give-and-take and banter of an old established pair who are very different but still like and respect each other.

I always like finding out what the other residents of Thunder Point are up to – and three couples are up to quite a bit, since they’re all expecting their first child. We see Grace (Winnie’s daughter) and her husband Troy a fair bit, since they live in an apartment in Winnie’s house (One Wish), and we see a little of Peyton Grant and her husband, Scott (The Promise). Given Winnie’s ALS and Charlie’s asthma, we see a fair bit of Scott in his doctor role, as well. Iris and Seth Sileski are the third expectant couple (The Homecoming), and their situation – or at least Iris’s – is complicated by discord between Seth’s parents.

The final resolution of the conflict between Lin Su and Blake (hey, it’s a romance – you knew there would be a confict; that’s not a spoiler!) was heartwarming but also felt too sudden and too easy. But I loved the epilogue; it even made me tear up a little.

As of July 2015, there was no indication on Robyn Carr’s blog of what’s next – will she continue the Thunder Point series or start something new? Either way, I’m there. Carr is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors; her books are autobuys for me. Even when I don’t love every aspect of a story or character, as in this case, I still enjoy her books!

ETA: Carr is starting a new series, Sullivan's Crossing. The first book comes out in April 2016.

REVIEW ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 7/27/15 on The Bookwyrm's Hoard blog

A Thunder Point story that focuses on Blake Smiley, an Ironman contestant who finds Thunder Point and buys a house overlooking the ocean for its peace and quiet. Next door lives Winnie, suffering from ALS and attended by Lin Su, an Amerasian single mother who's also raising her 14-yr-old son, Charlie, who suffers from Asthma. Shortly after they meet, Charlie has an asthma attack. After the doctor contends that Charlie needs to begin a progressive exercise program that will enable him to run without succumbing to another attack. Blake offers to help the boy, recalling how his races away from the drug dealers of his growing-up neighborhood helped him being to love running.

But Lin Su isn't sure that's wise, particularly since it means she will have to be around Blake. In her stubborn insistence on going it alone, she reveals her fear about succumbing to her attraction to the man.Charlie's desire to find out who he really is and what really happened to his mother after her adoption by an American family forms the final crisis that forces Lin Su into acknowledging how she feels about her past and her future.

For Lin Su Simmons, working in Thunder Point was a blessing. As fixtures at Winnie Banks’ house, Lin Su tries to keep as professional as possible as she nurses Winnie through the realities of ALS. Her son, Charlie is the light of her life and as a single parent; she has built up walls around her heart as well as her life, never showing weakness to anyone. But when professional triathlete Blake Smiley moves next door, Lin Su finds that her heart skips a beat each time he smiles at her. But Lin Su is determined she will need no man to make a home. When Charlie enlists Blake in trying to get out from under his mom’s over protectiveness, Lin Su sees red. But there is more to Blake than meets the eye and it will take the meddling of friends in Thunder Point and Charlie to show her that Blake just might be the perfect man to take a chance on.

I love Robyn Carr’s books as they are filled with relatable characters and entertaining storylines. I normally enjoy my time in Thunder Point but in WILDEST DREAMS, I wasn’t as enamored as I was in the past books. It might have been that I wasn’t too keen on Blake as a hero and it took to almost being 2/3rds of the way through the story to finally enjoy him as Lin Su’s love interest. Also I felt the relationship between Lin Su and Blake felt, at times, a bit forced. Their connection was just tenuous at times and it felt like I couldn’t get behind their relationship like I have done with past couples in the series. That spark I saw with the other couples took some time to materialize for me and to get behind with. I did like the scenes with Charlie and the rest of the Thunder Point residents. Charlie was smart, chaffing to get out from under Lin Su’s watchful eye and experience life. He was a delight to enjoy reading and I am hoping we see more of him in future books. The writing was as good as ever and the author does a great job in letting the readers know what happened to some of the main characters from past Thunder Point books in WILDEST DREAMS. I love revisiting with them and seeing what is going on with them after their books were done.

WILDEST DREAMS may not have been my favorite Thunder Point story but it is still an entertaining one that I enjoyed. The characters were interesting mix of new and old that delighted me. Plus we got to see some familiar faces pop up that showed that there may something going on in future books that intrigued me. I also loved the relationship between Winnie and Mikhail. These two strong and proud people show such tenderness towards one another and I loved how the author incorporates it in the storyline. The scenes where Winnie just steamrolls over Lin Su and manages her life at times was a treat to read and enhanced the storyline a bit more. WILDEST DREAMS is a story of a woman learning to trust her heart, to let her barriers down to experience life’s joy and love. Even though this wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still an enjoyable story. Ms. Carr delivers a story filled with real life issues that people are dealing with and I, for one, am anxious to see where the series goes next.

I received a complimentary book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have read every one of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River books, and now I am reading all of her Thunder Point books. I thoroughly enjoy her both series because they all take place in a small town where everyone knows each other. This town is interesting because they take great pleasure in celebrating EVERY holiday, big or small. In fact, they have a person strictly in charge of taking care of planning and producing each celebration.

I also love Mayor Marsha who is in all of the Thunder Point books. She is a strange woman in that she seems to know everything that is going on around town and with each person in town. She even knows long held private secrets!. I assume (or at least hope) that someday, at the end of the series, we will find out her mystery. However, knowing Robyn Carr’s style, she is just as likely to never tell us and leave us still wondering.

This story is about Lin Su, an Asian American, who is a nurse for Winnie Banks. Winnie is a rich former champion skater who suffers from ALS. Their new next door neighbor is Blake Smiley who is a professional triathlete. Lin Su’s young son, Charley, has a major case of asthma which has kept him from doing anything more strenuous then using his computer. Lin Su is very overprotective of Charlie and refuses to let him take any chances. The backgrounds of Lin Su and Blake are very complicated and difficutl to explain. You will have to read the book yourself to find out all of that information.

Another commonality among Robyn Carr’s books is that the women are all very strong and can handle their own life and their own problems without a man. Lin Su takes it a step further because she is a very stubborn, controlling person with a “chip on her shoulder.” Blake is less rigid than Lin Su; he is willing to compromise and work with people so everyone is agreeable.

Blake adores Charlie and helps him build up his body so he will be strong enough to stand up to his asthma, per his doctor’s orders. He is also falling in love with Lin Su. Lin Su is falling in love with gentle, caring, patient Blake but refuses to admit it.

One of the major things I love about this story is the way that Winnie’s family, Lin Su’s family and Blake all act like they have been friends for year. Winnie loves having Charlie around for company even as she thinks of Lin Su as a second daughter. This is a wonderful story of neighborly love and lasting friendship which has everyone helping everyone else as if they were family instead of newly met strangers. It is also a story which emphasizes the ethics and morality that we think of when we think of a small town like Thunder Point.

This is a stand-alone book with a happy ending and no cliffhanger. However most of these characters were in the author’s last book. Reading that book first will help you better understand, appreciate and enjoy the plot and all of its characters. In fact, I would suggest you read all of the other books in this series after you have read these two books because there is no doubt that Ms. Carr is not yet finished with this series. Thank goodness!

A great life lesson in the story, how you can overcome the most difficult situations in life, if you determined to do so.
This story, while the blurb indicates is about Blake and Lin Su, is more of a summary and an update on all the previous characters in the series. Blake and Lin Su's relationship is really slow to develop, they go from dislike to interest to a first alone meeting by 70% of the story.
Blake is truly the perfect hero. He is not only handsome, sexy and successful. He is also kind, patience, caring, generous, all around great guy. His development with the training is shown with a great detail, also his mental and emotional development is evident, how he leaves his past relationships, and wants to build something more solid, permanent, life-lasting. I loved his relationship with Charlie, Lin Su's son. It was genuine, mentoring, and real. Charlie was the absolute star of the story, such a charismatic and charming young man.
Lin Su is not easy to like. She is stubborn, inflexible, and headstrong. To the point that she is willing to uproot her life, just to make a point. She has an extreme need for constant control, doesn't listen others well, and at times her stubborn streaks come off selfish. I wanted to shake her so many times.
With lots of detailed updates with the people from the series, there was also detailed training information into triathlon and Ironman competition. I found it interesting, to the point, but I wish there would have been more about the relationship developing between Blake and Lin Su. They get surprisingly little time and focus in the book, considering there's also time for a great conflict in their shortly viewed romance. A conflict that came to such an abrupt ending, overcome by just a one hug. And since there was pages, if not chapters devoted for triathlon training, and so many detailed visits with the secondary characters, that didn't have anything to do with the main story line, I kind of expected more developed relationship as well.
~ Three Spoons

Wildest Dreams is the 9th book in Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series. The main characters are Blake, a world-class athlete and new Thunder Point resident, and Lin Su, nurse to Blake’s neighbor. The two meet and the attraction is almost immediate – at least in Blake’s case. Lin Su is a single mother who is determined to make the best life for her son Charlie and that means she’s not interested in a relationship. So, even though she likes Blake and might be a little attracted to him, that’s not going to happen. She’s controlled her life since she was eighteen after all. Charlie and Blake might have a say in that though.

I thought the characters were believable. Reading about the triathlons Blake competed in was very interesting. I appreciated the details of Lin Su’s care of her patient Winnie who has ALS. We also catch up with three pregnant women (featured in previous books) who are due to give birth very soon. But the stars are Blake and Lin Su. These two were more alike than they imagined and yet pride and stubbornness might prevent a wonderful relationship. Will Lin Su start to realize life can be good and allow herself to trust Blake? I enjoyed finding out.

I liked Wildest Dreams and recommend it to fans of Robyn Carr and contemporary, small town romance. It could stand alone but it involves characters from One Wish (book #7 in the series) so you might want to read that book first. I recommend the entire series! *I received a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Attention: This romance is perfectly safe for men to read. In fact, if you're into competitive individual athletics or triathlons you'll learn something new I expect. More than safe, it is an excellent read ... or listen.

Robyn Carr is the only "romance" author whose books I've read in any number. Why do I keep coming back? Because, in addition to love triumphing, Ms. Carr always takes on several social issues. And then presents multiple takes on how people respond, which isn't often well. Although her books do have the requisite HEA (that's "happily ever after" ending, guys), she makes it clear that such endings are not possible without considerable human effort. No divine intervention.

Without telling you what happens, let me ask you these questions: ever had an awful Thanksgiving dinner? Or, know anyone who is getting divorced after a zillion years of marriage? There is plenty of reality mixed in with (for my male taste) a bit too much dreaming of, having, and then recalling the first kiss. The problems of single motherhood get a going over herein although I wouldn't say that they are the focus of the novel; what I do know from having read other Carr books is that she devotes a lot of time & plot space to the problems of single fatherhood in other books.

My disclaimer: I bought the book (actually, I listened to it on Audible), and I wasn't asked to review it.

This is my favorite Thunder Point Novel and that's saying a lot. Fourteen year old Charlie Simmons jumped out for me in A New Hope. I couldn't wait to hear more about him.
His mother Lin Su takes center stage in Wildest Dreams and she's a wonderful heroine. I could not put this book down.
Lin Su was separated from birth family shortly after coming to America from Vietnam. Her new adoptive family took away everything except a small square of silk. They even gave her a new, more acceptable, Vietnamese name. Raised with wealth and very little love, abandoned by her boyfriend when she became pregnant, rearing a sick child on her own, Lin Su is a survivor of the first order. When the family she works for, offers her friendship and extended family, Lin Su doesn't find it easy to accept. When Professional Tri-Athlete Blake Smiley moves next door and shows an interest in her son, Su Lin is all prickles.
She's fighting her attraction to a man who seems too perfect and her own conviction that her future doesn't include love.
As usual in a Thunder Point novel, we follow many threads. Winnie Banks and her struggle with ALS, her daughter Grace and husband Troy. A lot of the joy of Robyn's writing is in the community she creates and it's always a joy to re-visit other stories. I knew nothing about Triathletes and learning how Blake came to be one and his struggle up from nothing moved and fascinated me.
Loved. Loved. Loved. Ten stars.

This is my favorite Thunder Point Novel so far. Fourteen year old Charlie Simmons jumped out for me in A New Hope. I couldn't wait to hear more about him.
His mother Lin Su takes center stage in Wildest Dreams and she's a wonderful heroine. I could not put this book down.
Lin Su was separated from birth family shortly after coming to America from Vietnam. Her new adoptive family took away everything except a small square of silk. They even gave her a new, more acceptable, Vietnamese name. Raised with wealth and very little love, abandoned by her boyfriend when she became pregnant, rearing a sick child on her own, Lin Su is a survivor of the first order. When the family she works for, offers her friendship and extended family, Lin Su doesn't find it easy to accept. When Professional Tri-Athlete Blake Smiley moves next door and shows an interest in her son, Su Lin is all prickles.
She's fighting her attraction to a man who seems too perfect and her own conviction that her future doesn't include love.
As usual in a Thunder Point novel, we follow many threads. Winnie Banks and her struggle with ALS, her daughter Grace and husband Troy. A lot of the joy of Robyn's writing is in the community she creates and it's always a joy to re-visit other stories. I knew nothing about Triathletes and learning how Blake came to be one and his struggle up from nothing moved and fascinated me.

I confess. I am a Robyn Carr fan. I love her Thunder Point series with the characters I have come to love. I admire the research that must have taken place to provide the detail necessary to bring Blake Smiley’s character to life as an Iron Man competitor. I had a little problem accepting Charlie as a 14-year-old young man imbued with the maturity of someone of a decade older. His mother, Lin Su, was well crafted as the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant adopted by a well-to-do family. Her struggles shaped her and gave her character depth. Well done! The story line moved smoothly and realistically from the opening paragraph until near the end. It is in the closing scenes that, for me, this story lost its magic. It was almost as if the author was notified that the manuscript had to be shipped by noon the following day. Too many loose ends were tied together too quickly, major sub story lines were hastily concluded, and the story train came to a screeching halt. That final process changed my four star rating (I rarely give five stars) to three stars.

Loved the connection between the hero, Blake, and the heroine's son Charlie. It was great that Blake was comfortable with kids and understood where Charlie was coming from even though he didn't have kids and he was an only child. I actually think it helped him feel a kinship with Charlie that they both had no siblings. But Charlie's mom is strong where Blake's was not.

As much as Lin Su could drive me crazy with her overprotectiveness of Charlie, I could also understand where she was coming from. It's hard to let our kids grow up, especially when they have health issues. Blake was wonderful through it all when he could have easily thrown in "I told you so" or two along the way.

Of course, as is inevitable in a romance book, the heroine did something very annoying and totally blew some things out of proportion. But in this case, it seemed to fit with her personality already...her overprotective nature and her private nature.

I know Robyn Carr is releasing the first of a new series soon and I cannot wait. I always enjoy her stories. I'm excited to meet a whole new cast of characters.

Thunder Point is somewhere I wouldn't mind living, and that is one of Robyn Carr's talents - the ability to craft beautifully detailed settings. The other reason her books are auto-buys for me is that they are always character driven and the characters are wonderfully layered and interesting. In Wildest Dreams, Robyn managed to make me change my mind about the heroine. I started out thinking she was cold and controlling, and that I couldn't warm up to her. By the end of this well written novel, and because of the depths uncovered by the hero (a lovely mature, layered character as well), I found myself on her side! Another great romance, the only drawback to the book is that there is a cliffhanger!!! Please note that is not typical of Ms. Carr's work, and luckily the conclusion will publish soon!
*I was lucky to request and receive my copy through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

No matter what life throws in our path we can survive and persevere but we also need to learn to love those that care about us, forgive those that have hurt us and accept that there are things we cannot change. I have enjoyed reading this series and hope there are more stories to come.

I have read all the books in the Virgin River Series (of which I have read and re-read), and this series, Thunder Point. This book was okay but not my favorite.

Although interesting, the in-depth discussion of training for the triathlon was way too long. It was like the book was about Blake and his desire to win a competition, then all of a sudden the author remembered it was supposed to be about him and Lin Su. It just didn’t flow well at all. There was just too much crammed into the book to give any one topic justice. And then the ending…so abrupt! Strange that just before this book I read another author that has a long running series, and he ended just as abruptly. Must be the new tactic to keep readers interested instead of leaving them satisfied.

[bookcover:Wildest Dreams|24314741] [book:Wildest Dreams|24314741] by Robyn Carr in paperback.
The latest in the Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr. It was great to see how the characters evolved, grew and developed in this book. This is a great book of love, forgiveness, understanding, friendship and community. I hope she won't leave us hanging on and this to be her last in the series. A wonderful, heartwarming, fast read. 5 stars

I was given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book, I loved it from beginning to end. We get to catch up with past characters and see how they are all doing. Blake has decided to make Thunder Point his home, he meets his new neighbor's nurse, Lin Su. She's had a rough life and is kind of prickly and overprotective of her son. They don't start out to great but in the end things go a different way. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more.

I think that I have read every single contemporary book Robyn Carr has written. She wrote some historical romance books quite awhile ago and I don't enjoy those. I loved her Virgin River series, I was so sad that it ended. Thunder Point is great occasionally you will see a character from Virgin River in Thunder Point. These books can all be read as standalones. This book is a great addition to the Thunder Point series.

i didn't care for this book. the characters didn't draw me in. the pace was so slow i thought about quitting .Su Lin was such a pain, so exacting ,i started wishing Charlie would run away. the romance was forced and boring.i have been a fan of Robyn Carr but after this crappy offering, now, not so much.

Not my favorite from Thunder Point.

I enjoyed hearing about everyone else more so then Lin Su and Blake. Charlie and Winnie stole the book from the main characters!!

Will I read the next though? Yes probably but I won't be first in line

Robyn Carr never dissapoints! Coming back to Thunder Point is always like coming home. Lin Su and Blakes story was all about trust and forgiveness. Lin Su is a strong willed and stubborn woman and Blake is a self made triathlete with a heart as big as Texas. A beautiful story of two people learning to trust and forgive.

While I anticipate each release and usually love her stories, this one was a disappointment to me. I was quite irritated with the last few pages. I agree with another reviewer the tale wasn't very smooth and the author seemed to be trying too hard to give updates involving earlier characters. I just did not like how abruptly it ended. I expected another chapter or an epilogue to make more sense of how it ended. It was as if she wrote the prescribed number of pages, got bored and wrote a few short sentences to finish the story just so she could send it off. Really...after all the development to get the reader up to that point! Too many loose ends

I've always loved Ms Carr's book , but this one seemed kinda choppy. Hard to pin point why I didn't care much for it but I did enjoy getting updates from those we have grown to love. And it ended kinda weird? I dunno it wasn't a fav that's for sure. I kinda wish I would have just waited for it to come in thru the library than to have spent the 7.00. But it won't stop me from buying the next one , I just hope it's better.

this was one of the best books so far it brought me to tears and I felt like I was living lin-su life it was deep and loving and made you think about the people in your life A MUST READ BY ALL you will not be sorry

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors. Her books are an automatic buy. This book was a disappointment.I could not find any type of love connection between Blake and Lin Sue. Since I am not an author, I can't explain why. Maybe the characters needed to do more to show their connection. Actions not words? Anyway, I will absolutely continue to buy Robyn's books. When she is good she is mighty good indeed.

I have followed this series from the beginning and I will admit this is not my favorite. It seemed a little to rushed and not enough romance as in some of the prior books in this series. It almost seemed like she felt the need to write a book for these characters but couldn't figure out how to make it long enough. This might have been better as just a short novella. That being said, I'm sure I'll read her next one!

I have followed this series from the beginning and I will admit this is not my favorite. It seemed a little to rushed and not enough romance as in some of the prior books in this series. It almost seemed like she felt the need to write a book for these characters but couldn't figure out how to make it long enough. This might have been better as just a short novella. That being said, I'm sure I'll read her next one!

I so enjoy all of Robyn Carr's books, and I like this one as well. I loved all the players in the book except Lin Su. It was one of the few times I was almost hoping the main couple would not get together, Blake deserved better, but was very happy for Charlie.
Also, I thought the ending was very abrupt, I would like to have seen the ending fleshed out a bit more, and would have preferred to have nothing of Gwen and Norm.
I hope there will be more Thunder Point books, and maybe a Christmas reunion sometime for our friends in Virgin River. But whatever is next coming from Robyn Carr I know I will enjoy reading.

Wildest Dreams is by Robin Carr. It is a Thunder Bay series novel. Thunder Bay is located along the Pacific Coast of Oregon. It is a small but cosmopolitan community which had its ups and downs. The people here are overtly friendly and helpful. They want to help others as they themselves were helped.
Lin Su and her son Charlie are welcomed with open arms by Winnie Banks and her family. Winnie was once an ice skating star as was her daughter, Grace. Grace was now the owner of the local floral shop and married to a high school teacher, Troy Headly. Mikhail, a retired Russian ice skating coach who had coached both Winnie and Grace, was a trusted friend and more of the family. The “family” was rounded out by next door neighbor, Spencer Lawson, the local football coach and athletic director. Lin Su Simmons came as a nurse for Winnie who has ALS. Winnie welcomed fourteen year old Charlie into her life. Charlie has asthma and has had a sedimentary life because of it. He was really into computers and could find anything on it. Lin Su was able to start a small savings account due to this job. She hoped to be able to move out of the shabby mobile home she and Charlie currently lived in. However, she was proud and would not take charity and was very protective of her son.
Blake Smiley was looking for a home base. He was a triathlon winner and spent his life training and running in events. He wanted a home for the first time in his life where he could train and finally have a life outside of his events. Here, in Thunder Bay, he had the ability to swim, run, and bike in a relatively high altitude. He could swim in the ocean and also in the high school facilities. He didn’t want to be a stranger to his neighbors and was happy to meet Charlie who he thought lived next door. Through Charlie, he met his neighbors and Charlie’s mother Lin Su. His life may never be the same.
Secrets surround the group. Charlie was looking for his Vietnamese family and his mother’s adopted family as well as his own father. Lin Su was not to know this as she was secretive about her previous life. She told Charlie what he needed to know or what she perceived that to be. Blake is attacted to Lin Su; but he had no idea what she felt. Lin Su wanted her past to stay in the past, although she sometimes wondered about her birth mother. She didn’t want any romantic attachment as she didn’t trust them. She could get along with only Charlie.
This is possibly the best of the series yet. I just hope Robin Carr keeps Thunder Bay alive and well with new characters such as Ronaldo Germain.

My Review:
Nine books into this series and I've read every single one and in just about every book, I have the same complaint...I don't want to see all the sporadic, random points of view from every person in the town.

And because I complain about that every time, I guess I either need to get over it or stop reading the series, because that's simply the way Robyn Carr has chosen to write this series.

At this point, I will say that when we go into one of those 'other' pov's, I simply start skimming...because you know what, I don't really care about the stress between Gwen and Norm caused by their surprise cruise. That doesn't affect the main characters...at all...and thus, I DO NOT CARE. Ugh. I could even overlook it if that side-story had ANYthing to do with the main story, but I can't even think of a time when they even interacted in the story. It's just the random points of view and tidbits about the characters from Thunder Point that are seemingly just thrown into the stories at random...every single book. Please stop with that... These books would be so much better without those random POV's.

But this book was 'mainly' about Blake and Lin Su. Overall, I enjoyed their story. It worked for me that they both had such harsh backgrounds even though it doesn't seem like it on the surface.

I loved that Blake recognized that fact first. I adored Blake. He's a world-champion tri-athlete and I found him so alpha and sexy. I love the way that he connects with Charlie, Lin Su's 14 yo son. His work with underprivileged kids was fantastic. I also loved the detail that went into his races and training and simply the experience into his mind during a race. Bravo to Robyn Carr for those details.

I had a harder time with Lin Su. She's a tough, rigid woman. She's had to be to survive what she has, and I understood that, but she never ever relaxed...not even during the tender moments with Blake. As a result, i had a really hard time connecting with her. She should have only been 32 years old in the story, but she was written so that she came across as a 65 yo bitter woman. She felt so old and unforgiving in the story and I really couldn't deal with her actions at the end with Blake. She's just so...rigid.

So again...another mixed review for a Thunder Point book. I want to enjoy this series. I like the set-up and the town. And for the most part, I really enjoy the characters. But there's just something... It may be time for me to step back and spend my time reading something else.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Blake Smiley, a professional triathlete, has decided to call Thunder Point home. His new neighbor Winnie Banks, has a daytime nurse who intrigues Blake. Lin Su Simmons has had a rough life, but has done very well for herself and her son by becoming a nurse, even though they still struggle financially. She's done everything herself and resents help that is offered that she sees as interference. Blake has to show her that he can be the man she and her son Charlie need.

The Thunder Point Series has a hold on my heart, and I love each new book. While I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and loved Blake, this was probably my least favorite of the series to date. I found Lin Sue frustrating at times. I understood where some of her feelings came from, but she took so long to get past them! I loved the relationship that developed between Charlie and Blake. Charlie has been an intriguing character in the last few books, and I enjoy him! I felt that the ending on this one was a bit rushed. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

You may just get tired of hearing me say this, but I loved this installment. Each book in the Thunderpoint series builds on the previous one, but you actually could read them independently. In Wildest Dreams, we get to read about Lin Su and Blakes romance, while catching up on the birth of all the babies in town.

I do not read very many series. The stories really have to grab me and reel me in for me to read more than one book in a series. The Thunderpoint series does that. The books are well-written and flow at a nice pace. I found quite a bit of humor in this book which I enjoyed. You feel like you are a resident of Thunderpoint and know the characters.

I am giving Wildest Dreams five stars. Unfortunately, I read Wildest Dreams and One Wish out of sequence. I am wondering who the next couple will be.

"(Charlie) He was grinning like a fool. 'You almost made it,' he said. 'Almost made it through the whole lecture without getting your Mama on.' Lin Su sighed wearily. She wondered if she'd survive his teenage years. The onset of testosterone was seriously impacting his sweetness."

ARC provided by NetGalley

Lin Su is the nurse taking care of Winnie. Her son Charlie has many medical conditions. She has feared for his life all alone. No support. She has landed in Thunder Point. The town of you have no secrets and everyone helps each other. Lin Su is doomed to fail. Not only is Winnie in her care but she has formed a bond with Charlie. Now the new neighbor is Blake Smiley. He is a triathlete. With the advice of Dr Grant, Blake offers to help Charlie build up his resistance and immune system. Lin Su feels her controlled world is spinning out of control. Until a very sexy neighbor starts a full court press. Some surprises come at the end. Love all the babies that were born.

I have read all of the Thunder Pointe books so far and am addicted to them. Can't wait for the next one. While waiting, I just started the Virgin River series. Loved book 1. Robyn has a great way of writing romance novels in a classy way.

I've read every book in the Thunder Points series and, though the turned out to be very predictable, I enjoyed them. However, "Wildest Dreams" is terrible. The character of Lin Su is so annoying that I can't even finish the book.