The Newcomer (Thunder Point)

I have read all of the Virgin River books and have also enjoyed the first two in this series. They are an easy read but I find them interesting and am waiting for the next book in this series coming out in August.

I just wasted a week on reading this book. There was no climax and all the characters are boring. Let me save you a read. It is about a boring small town and simple drama with some life lessons. End of story.

I just wasted a week on reading this book. There was no climax and all the characters are boring. Let me save you a read. It is about a boring small town and simple drama with some life lessons. End of story.

The relationships were largely missing. The deep conversations where problems are solved, characters fall in love and community is formed. This book is more of a laundry list of parental nightmares and relationship kunudrums that a variety of people discuss. Robyn Carr can masterfully deal with tough issues, but I did not find this to be that kind of book

The relationships were largely missing. The deep conversations where problems are solved, characters fall in love and community is formed. This book is more of a laundry list of parental nightmares and relationship kunudrums that a variety of people discuss. Robyn Carr can masterfully deal with tough issues, but I did not find this to be that kind of book

I did not even realize I purchased this item. The placement for these tranactions makes accidental purchases entirely too easy. There's no chance to verify your purchase so the consumer is trapped. I'm very disappointed in the store. Beware consumer. I'll be acting on this now that I know.

My Review:
I'll admit. I don't know what to do with this series as far as reviews go. I set the book down at the 29% point when I was reading and decided at that point, that this simply wasn't a series for me. By the end of the book, I changed my mind, but these are books are NOT typical romance. And that doesn't make them bad, but the reader needs to go into them knowing that. These books are far more along the lines of a soap opera. They tell the story of a bunch of character concurrently and in this particular book, it meant throwing as much drama at those characters as humanly possible. It is definitely not my favorite style of book...at all, but I will admit the book kept my interest and was entertaining overall.

This book continues the story of the couples that we met in book #1, Gina & Mac and Sarah & Coop...as well as all their teenage kids and we see a LOT of drama through the teenage lives in this one. Seriously....think soap opera going into this book because there is a LOT of drama from a LOT of different angles. Truly it got to be a little bit much for me. BUT that being said, like with soap operas I found myself riveted to the story. There's a reason I never turn them on in the first place.

And this review is sounding like the book, meandering all over the place. So, the review:

1. Overall, I DO really like these characters and the setting of Thundering Point.

2. I wish that Robyn Carr would settle though and focus on one main story per book. Maybe then it wouldn't feel so soap opera-ish.

3. There are WAY TOO MANY POV's in this book...that's just a personal pet peeve. But seriously, stick to 2-4 and the book would feel much more cohesive.

4. The Newcomer?? Wtf?? Who was that supposed to be? My only guess was that it was Coop because at one point at the end of the book they call him that, but the first book was The Wanderer which was also him and that makes it sound like the series revolves around him and it totally does NOT! I did not get the title.

5. The next book in the series is The Hero and from the description follows Spencer, who we meet in this book. I really liked him as a character, but am really torn as to whether or not I will read more in this series. That book will also have to take place at least six months into the future to work for me with his story line that we saw in this book.

Overall, to me, this book was disappointing, but Robyn Carr is an amazing writer. She weaves the story amazingly well so that as you read, you are in this small town with these characters. My issues with the book were purely based on the subjective things, not on the writing. This is simply not a style of book that I enjoy.

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

I've told you guys how in love I am with Robyn Carr's Virgin River series...she's so amazing at her characterization!
You pity some of them, your heart breaks for others, and she can make me DESPISE some.
And she's not dissapointing me on that front with this series ~ BUT I'm not thrilled with the hero/heroine relationships in this one. I wouldn't dream of telling an author what to write, but I've come to expect that when I read one of Robyn Carr's books I'm going to get a full relationship story in ONE book. And yes, their story/relationships might continue to grow in later books, but the main characters get the HEA, the full relationship...and I'm not feeling this so far. I am growing to love this town already, I actually CRIED during this one...so don't misunderstand me.
It's a fabulous book, but I felt like Mac and Gina took a back seat to the continuation of Cooper and Sarah from The Wanderer. We got sneak peeks at their budding relationship in book 1, but not enough to pull the focus off Sarah and Coop...to me this book was more of a stepping stone, a building and getting to know the town.
Will I get the next story? Oh, yeah, I can't WAIT for it!
Do I hope it will focus more on the hero/heroine for that story? YES!!
So yes, you WANT and NEED to read this. It's a great STORY, just not a great romance.
LOL, have I totally confused you now??

I just know that I'm totally addicted to Robyn Carr now!

A brief read of the continuing saga of Thunder Point makes it sound like a daytime soap opera but I was curious to try one more outing. The community of Thunder Point is styled as an isolated self-sufficient burg where everyone knows everyone else, people mind everyone's business but their own, but also take care of one another. Being Deputy Sherif Roger MacCain in that context means knowing implicitly who the troublemakers are and otherwise protecting drunks from themselves and keeping partying teens safe.

Being identified as Deputy Yummy Pants hardly makes an officer the object of respect. But with all the objectification of good looking women why shouldn't female writers play tit for tat. In Big Stone Gap Adriana Trigiania refers to a handsome man as having a figure that made Levis sing. Pity that hunk was gay.

Started reading this book purely out of curiosity and was instantly hooked. If you don't mind the bedroom gymnastics these books are a good read. Covered is teenage sex, sexting, and the recently defined online practice of ghosting. Definitely written from a woman's perspective.

I haven't read The Wanderer (though I've read others of Carr's books and really liked them), and with romance, in general, I'm used to companion type books rather than more direct sequels. With that, it made it harder to get into this book, since I was supposed to already know these characters, and their previous struggles, rather than starting fresh. That did hurt me really getting into it, and I do wish I had known in advance to have read The Wanderer first, so I could've enjoyed this one more. Coupled with that are all the problems the characters face, making this one feel like less a romance and more like a book about multiple characters going through some really awful times. Certainly a kind of read I enjoy, but it's hard to shift mindsets when you go into a book thinking it'll be something different.

That being said, I liked the characters once I got into this one, and wouldn't mind going back and reading The Wanderer now. As with previous books of Carr's, the writing pulled me in, and had an easy flow to it. There's also a lot of focus on the family's of these characters, like Mac and Gina's daughters, who are best friends and at the start, unaware of their parents shifting from friends to more. And while this was unexpected in a way, in that it's a bigger chunk of the story than I'm used to in romances, once I got into the book I really liked the layer all this added. Similarly, Cooper's son is dating Mac's daughter, which intertwines all these characters more, and adds more complications to the two romances in this book (well, 3 if you count Landon and Eve). What happens with one couple would have effects on another, and in that sense, I really liked the layers Carr worked into this one.

So while this one didn't hit with me as much as I had hoped, partly due to not having read The Wanderer and not realizing I really needed to, there are many great elements to this and some really strong characterizations. Though it's not the typical series type romance seen, eliminating the expectations that come with that will likely allow readers to fall right into this story and enjoy it.

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr is the second book in the Thunder Point series. The first being The Wanderer. And for this reader it is another Hit. Instead of focusing on one couple like most Romance novels do. This one continues to follow the relationships of a number of couples. And all of these relationships will be tested in one way or another.

While Mac and Gina's relationship moves steadily along, they both have family emergencies that need to be addressed. Mac's ex has arrived in town after abandoning Mac and the children ten years ago. Claiming to want to get to know her children. While Gina's daughter "Ashley"suffers a severe heartbreak and cruel practical joke that leaves her devastated.

Cooper and Sarah are falling more in love, but both will have life changing news. A call from Cooper's father will have him making a trip back to Texas. Where he will come face to face with a major shock. Sarah's career will have her facing difficult decisions, for her and Landon. And where will this leave her and Cooper?

You also have the young loves of Landon and Eve. Along with those young teenage hormones. And Ashley's relationship with Downy will fall apart, with an unsuspecting friend coming forward to help her through this.

A few of the Thunder Point citizens will have to come face to face with Exes, even if they want this trip down memory lane or not. And not all of these meetings will be a good thing.
Some have gripping news, some have their own selfish agendas and others have grown up and come through in a time of need.

I love Robyn Carr's writing style. Along with the romance you have, some humor, friendships, family and a community that comes together for each other. And at times, yes I can admit I wanted to "bitch slap" a couple of the characters. Trust me when I say they deserved it. Which shows what a really good writer Robyn is to make a reader feel such emotions. She also writes such a beautiful description of Thunder Point, it is so real you feel like you are living there. I have to admit I would love to visit a place like Thunder Point, and maybe kick back at Ben & Cooper's.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series! The Hero due out in August 27, 2013

5/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When we return to Thunder Point, Cooper is settling into his new beach front property and the bar is up and running. He is still dating Sarah and life is good till life throws them a curve-ball. Mac MacCain the deputy sheriff has started dating Gina James and the two are happily juggling their romance and the children but things are about to get rocky. With a tender romance budding can these two survive. The tale that unfolds kept me on edge as Carr touches on some sensitive subjects and opens old wounds.

One of the things I enjoy about Carr's small-town series is the way she continues to flesh-out and mold her characters. We met Mac, Gina and their families in the previous book but this time we get inside their heads and watch them handled difficult situations. It makes them endearing. A character I loathed in the first book reveals a softer side. Sarah is at a crossroads and must make decisions and we see her struggle. Cooper's life changes and watching how he handles things made me fall for him even more. I really want to see their relationship develop further and I am hoping we see more in the next novel. The romance this time was very PG and I missed those heated scenes. The thread concerning Gina's daughter was gut-wrenching and realistic. I love how Carr makes me connect and experience what the characters are feeling and why.

A lot of the residents in Thunder Point are having problems and facing decisions. Carr seamlessly delivers all of these carefully woven threads. Each thread is well developed, and unravels naturally. You cannot help but become invested in the characters and this added a delightful suspense to the tale as I searched for a happy ending. I appreciated Carr's research into some of the difficult situations her characters faced and the realistic way they were portrayed. While I haven't yet felt the passionate connection to Thunder Point that I felt with Virgin River, I am slowly becoming caught up in the characters and cannot wait for book three. ARC provided by publisher in exchange for unbiased review which originally published at caffeinated book reviewer dot com.

Rating: A-

After reading the first book in the series, The Wanderer, I was looking forward to reading Mac and Gina's story and was happy I didn't have to wait too long for it. It turns out it's not just Mac and Gina but we also see Cooper and Sarah's from The Wanderer and the progression of their relationship. Both couples have obstacles to overcome and a blending of families. I wouldn't say the focus is an even split between the couples but Sara and Cooper definitely get plenty of page time. Usually, I don't like so much of the focus taken off what I consider, and what the blurb implies, is the main couple. But Carr does well in making the reader care about both couples and want to know what will happen to them.

One of my favorite romance tropes is the friends-to-lovers. Gina and Mac embody this. They know each other so well but as friends, their relationship takes on a different tone once they become lovers. There is still that base of friendship but it become even deeper as they become closer. Carr keeps that friendship going strong when Gina and Mac encounter difficulties in their romance.

The combining of the families is handled well. There is never any doubt of Mac's love and devotion to his kids. It's obvious he will do anything for them. As is Gina's devotion to her daughter. Gina's relationship with her daughter Ashley takes on a tough subject. Carr gives it enough time to unfold without overwhelming the romance. Then there's Mac's ex-wife, well, I could have done without her and didn't completely approve of how Mac handled the situation.

There are a number of coincidences and events that may have been intended to be a surprise but were fairly obvious but the overall story is well paced. The secondary characters are such an essential part of the story, adding much love, humor, wisdom and stability to Thunder Point. Another enjoyable addition for Ms. Carr's new series.

4 STARS
I like A Thunder Point series. This book follows Wanderer with the same characters and a few new ones. I want to keep reading and learning what happens next? Their are a lot of changes that happens in the characters lives, some good and some bad. It is not a story of one couple meeting and falling in love, but a few relationships are continuing.

The plot of the story is complicated. Deputy sheriff Mac his ex-wife shows up in town after leaving him and their three kids 10 years ago without a word since. She walks into the café where Gina was working.

Gina has problems of her own with her daughter. Sarah has to decide some tough choices coming up with her career, she has to decide what would be best for her and Landon. Cooper loves his new life running the bar and having Sarah in his life. He gets thrown some changes that he did not see coming.

The cast of characters are all different ages and stages of life. Some character that I was iffy about in Wanderer now I pity for awhile I hated him. Their are a few new characters that I really like and admire. Can't wait to see more of them. Other new characters I hope we have seen the last of them. Their are a lot of twists and turns and don't want to say too much and ruin some of the fun of discovery of story lines.

Cooper has always been ready to move on but he has set down some really nice roots. He is living above the bar now. He has made himself part of the community.

I picked up the book and did not want to put it down till I was through and then I wished it had not ended I want to read more about thunder Point. I did read the description of book 3 and can't wait till it comes out. Robyn builds a nice community of characters that you want to keep coming back to. Their were a few love scenes that I skipped over.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
06/25/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin MIRA 368 pages ISBN:0778314529

The Newcomer is the second book in the Thunder Point series. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one was a bit more...almost too melodramatic for me. The way it was written was a bit much for me at times. Overall I still enjoyed it, I was just disappointed it was not as good as the first book.

The story starts off not with Mac and Gina, but with Cooper and Sarah. Really this book is as much about them as it is about Mac and Gina, and their kids. I actually liked that in this series. It is something I normally don't like. I normally like the story to just focus on one couple, but with this it just worked to have the story be about everyone. Sarah finds out pretty quick that she could be reassigned to the east coast. She doesn't share this with anyone, not wanting Cooper to have to give up her or his business, and not wanting Landon to worry about his senior year of high school. Throughout the book Sarah struggles with this decision, to go if it comes to that or to retire, and once she finally tells Cooper what is going on everything is so much better. They are really great together, and Cooper has some drama of his own to deal with.

Mac and Gina are super close, having gotten together in the last book. Mac's ex-wife shows up in town suddenly, so Mac does some sleuthing to find out why she is really there. The synopsis makes it seem like she stirs up lots of drama, and maybe disrupts Mac and Gina, but she really doesn't. She causes some, but Mac never wavers from his love for Gina.

The main storyline in this book? The one I didn't really like because it seemed too over the top? Ashley, Gina's daughter. She was dating Downy, who is away at college, only to suddenly have him break up with her when he finds another girl in college. The way everything is written about the breakup and how Ashley deals with it was just so...it was just too much for me. I could take that she takes this not well, and need help, needs counseling, but the way it is spoken about was just too much. Gina finds out that Downy broke up with Ashley while Ashley is on her way home from seeing him. It is then many paragraphs about how horrible this is, how her daughter is going to be so distraught, how this is the worst thing to ever happen we are all going to die. Well not that last bit, but it was so....I understand parents being upset when bad things happen to their children, but the way it was written was just like it is the end of the world! It is hard to find the right words to describe it. If it was just taken down a notch it would have been fine, but since it was a huge storyline in this book it made me not like it as much as I would have otherwise. It was just a bit over the top for me the way it was written. I would have liked to have had more story of the adults in this book.

Overall the synopsis is a bit misleading. It is really the story of Ashley, Gina's daughter. Yes, Mac and Gina are in there, as well as Cooper and Sarah, but Ashley really seems to take center stage. It was just an alright read, and a bit disappointing since I liked the first book so much. I will give book three a try to see if it gets better, which hopefully it does.

This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland

This installment didn't enthrall me as much as the first book in the series. There was too much going on and was overall not balanced even though everything ironed out by book's end. For example, the process to get to the answer to Sarah's dilemma in the beginning of the book seemed to promise a great anticipatory romance resolution. There was a solution but before getting there, we had to read through the heavy subject of Ashley's emotional dealings with sexting, the arrivals of exes and their baggage, more new characters, and yes, definitely chaos as the blurb stated. I see the concept of giving more details on characters for background and depth. I just felt that the emphasis went to the wrong people and not enough for others. It made for a stressful read. Also, the cursing, however minimal, bothered me this time.

Yet with all the chaos, I still enjoyed the Thunder Point arena of towns people and find myself interested in their lives. You know why? Because they came alive in my head. Life does throw us fastballs, screwballs, and curveballs so it was interesting to see how they would play out. Hence, beyond nitpicking the incongruence of character page time, you find most of these small town residences going through challenges of substance. Plus the romance department was generally satisfyingly hot and the budding ones cute. I still have enough love for Thunder Point to see it through to the very end.

Oh, my favorite character this time around was Lou. She was the glue.

**Ebook copy provided by publicist through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read all of Robyn's Virgin River Series, and am now making my way through Thunder Point. The very things I like about Robyn's approach to these series are the things that might not be to every reader's taste - and sometimes she is less successful pulling it off.

Basically, when I read Robyn's series books, it feels like I am an unobtrusive observer of life in a small town - a small town made up of multiple people whose lives are occurring simultaneously. The result is, her stories typically have (at least in theory) a core couple that is the focus of each individual story, but we also see plenty about other town inhabitants and couples that have previously been - or will in future be - the highlighted duo. In the end, I am always glad that I spent the time, but how much I loved a particular book is really a function on 1) did I really like the core couple 2) was there ENOUGH focus on them, and 3) did the other story strands entertain me or feel more annoying and dilutive to the story and its impact.

This was a bit of a mixed bag. I DID like the characters of Mac and Gina, both individually and as a couple. Same for Cooper and Sarah - nice to see more of their story play out. But this teetered on the brink of TOO much focus on the teens. Clearly what was going on in the teens' lives was an integral part of their parents' lives - but at times I found myself impatient for them to move to the side so I could get more "grown up" time.

In the end, I'm glad I read this... I think this was a good addition to the series, and I will read the next installment. But I can absolutely understand the point of view of readers who feel like there are too many characters and too much going on that doesn't involve Mac and Gina.

I am not sure why I am having a difficult time warming up to this series. Maybe because it seems so similar to Virgin Rivers.
It is not that I disliked the book, but it didn't wow me or have the emotional intensity that I experienced with some of Ms. Carr's previous books.
One reason is that I questioned the actions of the characters in more than one incident.
Sarah and Cooper continue their relationship. Sarah is still not able to make the jump to complete trust, and so when a situation comes up she keeps all her worries and concerns to herself, rather than talk about it with Cooper. I found myself irritated with her and thinking in my head "just get over your bad marriage- we all have experienced betrayal or heartbreak."
Cooper is thrown for a loop when an ex-girlfriend contacts him. However, everything is handled with calm civility, really almost too much, for such an emotionally charge situation.
A portion of the book is about Gina's daughter's romantic woes. The characterization from the first book, led me to believe that she had more resilience. Although the situation had glimmers of truth in it. Teenage years are full of emotional intensity and angst.
I have been unable to get excited about Mac and Gina's romance. It doesn't seem like a love affair for the ages, when the hero, even after years of friendship doesn't realize that he cares about the heroine. The ex-wife showing up wasn't a truly big conflict, just an irritant.
Still, Ms. Carr's writing is engaging even if some of the story arcs are not.

First off, I hated Downy. He seemed like such a great guy in the previous novel, with friending Landon when he was being harassed by the football team. Not in this book. Complete and total ass. The more I kept reading about him, the more I wish bad things to happen to him.

I felt so bad for Ashley. How could Downy have claimed to love her and be a party to things his new girlfriend was doing to her?

Cee Jay was a bit odd. She seemed to be able to changes emotions at the drop of a dime. That made me not trust her or her intentions. By the end, I was still left feeling unsure of her and what her plans might be.

Mac and Gina's relationship was pretty uneventful. Sure Mac's ex showed up but it didn't throw a wrench into their relationship like I thought it would. Gina and Mac's biggest issues were blending their families.

Cooper and Sarah also played a large part in this installment, and had some curves come their way. With Sarah, I didn't understand her need to withhold certain information from Cooper. I felt they had a better relationship than that, and she should have felt fine with discussing matters with him sooner. And the curve Cooper was thrown, well he handled it like a champ. He was a real class act. Carr managed to make me love him all the more.

There's only been two books of this series thus far and I've loved both. The characters are so well written that you become invested in their lives and the town. It never fails that when I pick up a Robyn Carr novel, it's like I'm visiting with friends.

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr is book 2 of the Thunder Point Novels, and I love it there!

In The Newcomer by Robyn Carr, we are taken back to Thunder Point and the great mix of people who live there. Although there are many characters in The Newcomer, the plot focuses on two relationships.

Sarah and Cooper, who we met in The Wanderer, continue their relationship, and it is still not a for sure thing! Cooper was never one to settle down, but now it looks like he's doing just that between his beach bar and relationship with Sarah. Sarah is still relationship shy after her divorce. She not only has herself to think about, but her high school age brother Landon who she is raising. Just when things seem to be settling down and they start enjoying a true relationship together, both of them have to deal with unexpected surprises. These surprises have the power to test their growing relationship and their trust in each other. Can their relationship survive what the past has brought and the future might bring?

The Newcomer also brings us deeper into the relationship of Mac and Gina, and all the complexities of that! Mac and Gina have been circling each other for years. Their daughters are best friends, and Mac and Gina are good friends. But Gina has always felt way more than friendship for Mac, and at the end of book one (The Wanderer) she is ready to throw in the towel on that idea, because Mac was just not getting it! By the time we see them again in The Newcomer, they are in a comfortable and happy relationship. They both have pasts that have made moving forward difficult. Gina was a single, teenage mother at a time when few were, and Mac's wife left him and their 3 children, never looking back. The stronger their relationship becomes, the more obstacles are getting thrown up at them, potentially coming between them and taking them away from each other. With unexpected events and people from the past showing up, will Mac and Gina ever get their happily ever after?

I loved this visit back to Thunder Point! Robyn brings her characters to life and writes about real life events that any romance reader can relate to, whether it be teenage pregnancy, divorce, depression, complicated relationships, and of course love! I loved all the characters in The Newcomer, I got a real small town feel when I read The Newcomer and started really looking forward to what would come next for who. Robyn describes Thunder Point so great, I could feel myself out there on a paddle board and smell the ocean mist.

Robyn will manage to surprise you with what happens next, and I love the maturity of all of the characters and how they handle what comes there way. It is so nice to read about characters who are a bit more mature without a lot of relationship drama, who are open and honest with each other.

I highly recommend this series!

5/5 stars

Synopsis from Robyn Carr's website: Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves--suddenly they can't get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost--and not missed-ex--wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. They're wondering if their new feelings for each other can withstand the pressure...but they are not going down without a fight.
Step into the world of Thunder Point, a little town on the Oregon coast where newcomers are welcomed, hearts are broken and mended, and the dramas of everyday life keep the locals laughing, crying and falling in love.

My Thoughts: I still struggle a bit with the fact that this new series of Robyn's is not a traditional romance one. There are multiple romances going on throughout each book and all of them tend to receive equal pages so none really are as featured as the back blurbs might indicate. Despite my struggles Carr's new series does tend to work. Readers just have to understand that if you're looking for a romance where one couple is featured to the Happily Ever After completion they will not find it here. What also works is Carr's ability to create compelling characters and a strong community setting making them extremely real to her readers.

The town of Thunder Point is quaint and a place the reader will long to visit to see and her descriptions of the ocean and beach backdrop are intriguing. The characters' lives are often tremulous and filled with drama but nicely balanced with strength and total likability.

Specific to this installment I did feel that some of the drama felt overwhelming, Ashley's life in particular. The girl just couldn't catch a break and went through hell in this book. Despite what she went through she came out just fine in the end. My biggest problem with all of the drama surrounding her life was once she was out of crisis mode it seemed much of her reasoning felt a bit too mature for her age. Perhaps this was Robyn's way of making Ashley just a one of a kind intelligent and mature young adult but it rang just a little unlikely to me.

In addition, the romance between Cooper and Sarah had two major snafus yet one of them was left dangling at the end making it necessary for the readers to read the next installment to see what happens. However, the romance between Mac and Gina blossomed into a lovely relationship and the reader can't help but cheer them on as they got closer and closer.

Despite these things I had issues with this was a really good book with an intensity that will play with the reader's emotions in a good way. A new reader could pick up this book without reading the first one but if read in order the reader will have more of an appreciation of the character developments.

Thunder Point is in a beautiful part of the Oregon coast. Thus is a book in a series, but enough is explained about the people and the place that each book can be a stand-alone story.

In this one we have the sheriff who is a single dad finding love with another resident, Gina, a single mom.
Robyn Carr does an excellent job in dealing with the emotions of both teenagers and their parents and all the problems that can occur. We are able to feel the love and affection that is felt as well as some of the conflicts.

There is some mention of the problems Vietnam vets had - coming back to a country who did not consider them heroes. It is always appreciated when this is remembered by the public, by those of us that went through that.

The people of Thunder Point really know each other and care about the people of the town. That is a nice read to have.
We do have the mystery of the sheriff's ex-wife returning, looking as though she has plenty of money. Why is this happening when she has ignored him and her 3 children since she left them years ago?
That creates another interest in these pages and makes it an enjoyable book to read.

I selected this based on a previous Robyn Carr book that I enjoyed immensely and since it was about Mac and Gina, I had high hopes.

Maybe my expectations were too high. "The Newcomer" picks up about 9-10 months after "The Wanderer" (the first Thunder Point novel) ends. The opening chapter features Cooper and Sarah, the couple from the first book, and "The Newcomer" actually features them quite a bit along with Mac and Gina.

I'm not really sure what to make of this book. A lot happens in it but it didn't really make sense to me nor did it have much follow up. To be honest, as soon as I was done, I had already forgotten a lot of it because there was nothing much to hold onto or be invested in. I even got tired of Cooper and Sarah and I loved the first book.

I have one more Robyn Carr book to read. I'm hoping it turns this feeling around. Ms Carr showed so much promise for me in the first book so maybe this one is just a dip and the next book will be a return to form.

I loved everything about this book, the second in the Thunder Point series. Robyn Carr understands men and writes male characters that are funny, loyal, protective and sometimes not-so-bright, but she always has a way of redeeming them to the feisty women they fall in love with. Cooper is laid back, sexy and mellow; the perfect man for Sarah and while their romance might be a little rocky, they're both in it for the long haul. Mac is protective of his children, his aunt and Gina, and while he's slow on the uptake, once he figures out he wants Gina, there's no stopping him. I love the men of Thunder Point and Robyn Carr is a must-read author!

The second book in this series concentrates on a couple different sets of characters. Mac and Gina have been dating but could their happiness possibly be destroyed by the return of his ex-wife. Gina's daughter Ashley is really struggling with a first love turned sour. And Sarah is struggling with what to do if she really gets the assignment that has been rumored about. What will that do for her relationship with Cooper not to mention how it could affect her brother Landon. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but I found the book to be quite enjoyable. And I was pretty happy with the conclusion to the book most especially with Ashley in particular.

This was fine for a nice afternoon read. I didn't like it as much as I ended up liking the first book in the series mainly because the lion's share of the book read like a PSA on teenage dating pitfalls.

Like the first book, this one started slow, so much so that I had a hard time sinking into it. The early pages almost read like a laundry list of stuff that people did...."he did this and then she did that and then they did this other thing". So, no, it wasn't catching me.

But eventually the story started to happen. It continues with Cooper and Sarah's romance, which is going along fine. I like Cooper more than I like Sarah -- mainly because Sarah feels like she is the least defined of all the main characters or maybe because she doesn't get as much of a POV as the rest.

I thought the story would center mainly on Mac and Gina. To some extent it did but not as much as I would have liked. Their respective exes make an appearance which is where the majority of the plot for them resides.

However my biggest problem with the book lie with the fact that much of the story was taken over by Gina's 16 y.o. daughter's dating problems. In the first book we met Ashley and Downey who were dating. Downey was a freshman in college while Ash was a junior in high school. In that book Downey was written as a decent level headed guy. Well in this book the author basically does a 180 on him. In the meantime we get treated to a somewhat, imo, pedantic primer on such things a teenage depression, online bullying, birth control, sexting, drug use etc.

On it's own, Ashley and Downey's romantic implosion wouldn't have been so bad and in places it was great drama, but on the whole it veered almost into after school special territory. Hence this was a weakness in this book for me.

When the story shifts back to Mac & Gina or Cooper, the book strengthens. I like the subplots with both the exes and I thought the author built a nice contrast between Mac's ex-wife and Gina's long absent baby daddy.

Cooper also gets a blast from his past that adds a interesting wrinkle to his story going forward. I did think there was a 'tied up in a convenient red bow' element to this plot development that had me rolling my eyes a bit. But still, I liked this plot so much more than the Ashley/Downey thing so I couldn't be too mad at it.

So overall good read. And even though I wasn't thrilled with the teen storyline, I am still looking forward the the next one to see how some of the dangling plot threads will resolve.

I really enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one in the series. I liked that this one dealt with some common issues that teenagers deal with. The author did a good job of writing about these issues as well as other common issues of normal people. Single parenthood, death of a loved one, breakups, past love showing up, etc. Robyn Carr has a way of writing stories about towns that you would love to pick up and move to. Her writing style also flows so that her books read very fast for me. I am really getting into this series and can't wait to see what happens next. There were a few people in this book I did not like - Downy and Cee Jay but we met some new characters who I liked Spencer, Austin and Frank.

This book cover said it is about Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain and his new relationship with Gina James. However, while I do like the secondary characters mentioned and the updates, this book spent equal time on Cooper and Sarah as well. Cooper was a "newcomer" who inherited Ben's bait shop and bar -- Ben was a fixture of Thunder Point until he was killed.

As it is on the cover, it is not a spoiler to note that Mac's long-lost ex-wife comes back into town after 10 years and wants to get re-acquainted with their 3 children. This affects Mac and his 3 kids plus his Aunt Lou in different ways as well as Gina.

But that is not all! Suffice to say there is a bio-father appearing to get to know his child, a main character finding out he has a son now 10 years old and so on.

For me who really, really loved the Thunder Point books at the start, it has now gone way over the top!!

It would seem that everyone is thrown some kind of a curve ball in the second book of the Thunder Point series. Who will survive the curve balls and who won't. You need to read to find out the answer.

Sarah has a tough choice to make. She is up for transfer. How can she possibly expect Landon to transfer for his senior year after all he's been through already? How can she possible leave Cooper and expect Landon to leave Cooper also?

Mac is dealt a curve ball he never saw coming. His ex-wife shows up wanting to see the children she hasn't seen in 10 years. As Mac tries to figure out just what she is up to, he also has to help his children through the situation.

Gina's daughter, Eve goes through a breakup that nearly does her in. Gina has never asked Eve's dad for anything but this time she might just have to.

I recommend you read this second installment. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the third one to come out.

I received a digital copy in return for an honest review.

I always enjoy Robyn Carr books and I did like this one, it just was not one of my favorites. Mac and Gina were great but I just didn't enjoy reading about them as much as I did the couple from the first book in this series, Cooper and Sarah. Cooper and Sarah were in this second book a lot as they work on building on their relationship and finding a future together. They were way more interesting to me than Mac and Gina.

There is also a lot of teenage drama included in the book, the daughters of both Mac and Gina face some difficult situations. My heart really went out to Gina's daughter Ashley and some of my favorite parts of the book involved her. Readers who are not fans of YA may not enjoy all the added teenage drama in this one.

I did enjoy this book but not nearly as much as the first one. I will be reading the next one in the series but if it is not as good as the first one I will probable give up on the Thunder Point books.

In The Newcomer, we pretty much pick up where The Wanderer left off. Unlike a lot of series that finishes off with one pair and moves on to someone new, Carr's series just continues to build. The continuation of existing stories is one of my favorite things about Carr's books, and although she does do a good job of giving new readers the bits of background that they need to keep up, I recommend starting from the beginning. Her characters have such rich and complex lives, with heartbreak and joy and all the complications that go along with loving and living, that you appreciate them so much more being there from the beginning.

For believable, lifelike characters and problems, delivered with Carr's captivating style, The Newcomer is going to thrill ... but be prepared to get caught up in the many lives in Thunder Point and be left wanting more. - Full review available at RomanticReadsandSuch on Wordpress or Booktrib's website.

Thunder Point is one of that series I know I'm going to love. I read the first book, The Wanderer, a couple of weeks ago and really liked it, but now I read The Newcomer and love it!

It follows the characters from the first book. Mac, the sheriff, is enjoying his romance with Gina, until his ex-wife shows up and wants to see the children she abandoned. But that's not the only drama, Gina's daughter is having a very rough year (I cried a lot!), and Sarah needs to make a choice that it's going to affect her brother and Cooper.

I love this series because it's all about family, friendship and romance Also, it's very realistic, with normal characters trying to live with their mistakes, not enough money, sickness, sometimes mean people, but a lot of love. In the end that's the only thing that matters.

Overall, The Newcomer was a great book. There is new drama, lots of romance and friendship, I definitely recommend this series!

`The Newcomer' is the second book in Ms. Carr's new Thunder Point series. The title is a little misleading, as there were really no "newcomers" in the story. `The Newcomer' seems to be a bridge book to show the progress of Mac and Gina's relationship, Cooper and Sarah's relationship, etc. A large part of the book was about Gina's daughter Ashley and her disastrous breakup with Downy. Mac's ex-wife also comes to town under the auspices of seeing her kids, even though she signed away custody years ago. There was a lot of drama, heartache, and secrets in `The Newcomer'. I do enjoy this series, but I think I would have enjoyed more "meat" in this story and less overtly drawn out drama. I'm still going to keep reading this series, because I've grown attached to the characters and care about what happens next to them.

Thunder Point series: The Wanderer (1), The Newcomer (2), The Hero (3)

The Newcomer is book 2 of Thunder Point series and you if you like Robin Carr's Virgin River Series you will love this series. Mac & Gina have to decide when is the right time to get married and Mac is thrown for a loop when is ex-wife comes back in the picture after 10 years.
Sarah and Coop are both having to make like changing decision and they wonder their love for each other will get them through.

I liked that the book centered on the teens and addressed issues that our children are currently dealing with. Robin Carr's books make you want to curl up in front of the fire and read your day away. As always I finished The Newcomer wanting to move to the small town of Thunder Point. This book will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and wanting to read more about the residents of Thunder Point. I am so glad I read this book and I highly recommend it to all.

I liked this book better than Book 1. The storylines were many but they were interesting and compelling. I especially liked that the author took on teen depression with compassion and understanding. There are several teen pregnancies in the series (it seems all the teens were products of young lust) but that allows the character to face safe sex without flinching. I thought the storyline of Cooper being a Dad was a bit of a stretch but it was explained. What kept it from being a 5 star? I think the brooding by lead female, Sarah. She just can't get over some of her past and she broods over a career decision for most of the book. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

The Newcomer is a wonderful story, with lots of great interaction between the characters. One of my favorite moments was when Mac's ex-wife shows up in town and is shown her place by her own daughter: to say, she HAS no place in their family after all she has put them through.

If I could pick one single thing about the book itself, it would have to be that it was a very easy read, mostly because it seemed that while it was a part of a series, it was one of those stories where the narrative stood on its own, rather than being one of those stories where the reader has to read the other books in the series in order to know what is going on.

A very good, easy read that one will enjoy immensely.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars but not enough to round to 4
This story dealt with some pretty tough issues - reappearance of a mother/wife who abandoned her family, job relocation, finding out you had a child you didn't know about, teen depression and mental illness resulting in hospitalization. I felt like Carr handled them with the care they deserved, although each of the issues was complex enough to have it's own book.
Sarah and Cooper's romance just doesn't grab me. I really WANT to be interested in them but they seem flat. Cooper is a great character while Sarah is not. Mac and Gina's romance is great, I was totally routing for them.
Can't wait to see what happens next in Thunder Point

What a great story! I just love Thunder Point, on the Oregon coast. Very entertaining and welcoming place.

Mac McCain is a deputy in this town of 1500. He's also a single dad of three girls. His girlfriend, Gina, has a teenage daughter (Ashley. Ashley has a rough time getting over her boyfriend once he went to college. Sarah, a coast guard, is a single mom to Landon and girlfriend to Cooper. He's the owner of the bar on the beach. It's a fun, family affair, with ups and downs, but I loved every moment. Sarah has a decision to make regarding her job and Landon's future. Cooper meets his ten-year old son for the first time. Mac has to deal with his ex-wife when she suddenly shows up and also his growing love for Gina. The kids have their own problems, too, but with loving parents and friends, everything will be all right.

Ms. Carr, you've done a great job bringing such loving families and the town of Thunder Point, that it makes me want to be there!

This book is part of a series and probably should be read as such. In the first book two couples went through trials and tribulations and came together at the end as solid couples. In this story the couples are solid but everything around them seems to be falling apart-kids, teens, ex wives and former fiancees crawling out of the woodwork-you get the picture. I actually enjoyed this take on a romance story. The couples face things together, work on their relationships and come through it all like adults. It's always interesting to see the after story and this is kind of a whole book of follow up with a lot of twists and turns to keep it interesting. As always, the writing, plotting and pacing are impeccable, the locations are vividly described, and the whole thing comes together to make for a great reading experience.

Second in the Thunder Point series, this story grabs and doesn't let go till the final page. Unforgettable characters, some first introduced in the first of the series (The Wanderer) are reprised here, even as the focus turns on Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain and his longtime friend-now-lover, Gina and their respective families.

An added crises is the dumping of Gina's daughter by her boyfriend after he goes to college, and the intrusion of Mac's ex-wife (a real sleaze) and Gina's former boyfriend and father of her daughter. Happily, he turned his life around.

Prepare to like this story from beginning to end--unless your heart is hard.

Robyn Carr always writes excellent romances. I love the Virgin River series. This is my first Thunder Point, I will have to go back and read #1 now! But I love it. Even though it is a series and it helps and is more fun to read them in order, Carr writes so you can pick any one of them up and get into it instantly. She makes you feel as if you have known the characters forever.

The Newcomer is no different. Mac and Gina. Will they make it? Everyone knows they are meant to be. How much more can two people be in love? Mac's ex shows up though and maybe it wasn't meant to be.

Made me so giddy and so anxious to see what was going to happen. I know what I wanted to happen, but would it? I was hoping Carr wouldn't disappoint! Want to know for yourself? Read it!!

The second book in this series concentrates on a couple different sets of characters. Mac and Gina have been dating but could their happiness possibly be destroyed by the return of his ex-wife. Gina's daughter Ashley is really struggling with a first love turned sour. And Sarah is struggling with what to do if she really gets the assignment that has been rumored about. What will that do for her relationship with Cooper not to mention how it could affect her brother Landon. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but I found the book to be quite enjoyable. And I was pretty happy with the conclusion to the book most especially with Ashley in particular.

This was fine for a nice afternoon read. I didn't like it as much as I ended up liking the first book in the series mainly because the lion's share of the book read like a PSA on teenage dating pitfalls.

Like the first book, this one started slow, so much so that I had a hard time sinking into it. The early pages almost read like a laundry list of stuff that people did...."he did this and then she did that and then they did this other thing". So, no, it wasn't catching me.

But eventually the story started to happen. It continues with Cooper and Sarah's romance, which is going along fine. I like Cooper more than I like Sarah -- mainly because Sarah feels like she is the least defined of all the main characters or maybe because she doesn't get as much of a POV as the rest.

I thought the story would center mainly on Mac and Gina. To some extent it did but not as much as I would have liked. Their respective exes make an appearance which is where the majority of the plot for them resides.

However my biggest problem with the book lie with the fact that much of the story was taken over by Gina's 16 y.o. daughter's dating problems. In the first book we met Ashley and Downey who were dating. Downey was a freshman in college while Ash was a junior in high school. In that book Downey was written as a decent level headed guy. Well in this book the author basically does a 180 on him. In the meantime we get treated to a somewhat, imo, pedantic primer on such things a teenage depression, online bullying, birth control, sexting, drug use etc.

On it's own, Ashley and Downey's romantic implosion wouldn't have been so bad and in places it was great drama, but on the whole it veered almost into after school special territory. Hence this was a weakness in this book for me.

When the story shifts back to Mac & Gina or Cooper, the book strengthens. I like the subplots with both the exes and I thought the author built a nice contrast between Mac's ex-wife and Gina's long absent baby daddy.

Cooper also gets a blast from his past that adds a interesting wrinkle to his story going forward. I did think there was a 'tied up in a convenient red bow' element to this plot development that had me rolling my eyes a bit. But still, I liked this plot so much more than the Ashley/Downey thing so I couldn't be too mad at it.

So overall good read. And even though I wasn't thrilled with the teen storyline, I am still looking forward the the next one to see how some of the dangling plot threads will resolve.

I really enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one in the series. I liked that this one dealt with some common issues that teenagers deal with. The author did a good job of writing about these issues as well as other common issues of normal people. Single parenthood, death of a loved one, breakups, past love showing up, etc. Robyn Carr has a way of writing stories about towns that you would love to pick up and move to. Her writing style also flows so that her books read very fast for me. I am really getting into this series and can't wait to see what happens next. There were a few people in this book I did not like - Downy and Cee Jay but we met some new characters who I liked Spencer, Austin and Frank.

This book cover said it is about Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain and his new relationship with Gina James. However, while I do like the secondary characters mentioned and the updates, this book spent equal time on Cooper and Sarah as well. Cooper was a "newcomer" who inherited Ben's bait shop and bar -- Ben was a fixture of Thunder Point until he was killed.

As it is on the cover, it is not a spoiler to note that Mac's long-lost ex-wife comes back into town after 10 years and wants to get re-acquainted with their 3 children. This affects Mac and his 3 kids plus his Aunt Lou in different ways as well as Gina.

But that is not all! Suffice to say there is a bio-father appearing to get to know his child, a main character finding out he has a son now 10 years old and so on.

For me who really, really loved the Thunder Point books at the start, it has now gone way over the top!!

It would seem that everyone is thrown some kind of a curve ball in the second book of the Thunder Point series. Who will survive the curve balls and who won't. You need to read to find out the answer.

Sarah has a tough choice to make. She is up for transfer. How can she possibly expect Landon to transfer for his senior year after all he's been through already? How can she possible leave Cooper and expect Landon to leave Cooper also?

Mac is dealt a curve ball he never saw coming. His ex-wife shows up wanting to see the children she hasn't seen in 10 years. As Mac tries to figure out just what she is up to, he also has to help his children through the situation.

Gina's daughter, Eve goes through a breakup that nearly does her in. Gina has never asked Eve's dad for anything but this time she might just have to.

I recommend you read this second installment. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the third one to come out.

I received a digital copy in return for an honest review.

I always enjoy Robyn Carr books and I did like this one, it just was not one of my favorites. Mac and Gina were great but I just didn't enjoy reading about them as much as I did the couple from the first book in this series, Cooper and Sarah. Cooper and Sarah were in this second book a lot as they work on building on their relationship and finding a future together. They were way more interesting to me than Mac and Gina.

There is also a lot of teenage drama included in the book, the daughters of both Mac and Gina face some difficult situations. My heart really went out to Gina's daughter Ashley and some of my favorite parts of the book involved her. Readers who are not fans of YA may not enjoy all the added teenage drama in this one.

I did enjoy this book but not nearly as much as the first one. I will be reading the next one in the series but if it is not as good as the first one I will probable give up on the Thunder Point books.

In The Newcomer, we pretty much pick up where The Wanderer left off. Unlike a lot of series that finishes off with one pair and moves on to someone new, Carr's series just continues to build. The continuation of existing stories is one of my favorite things about Carr's books, and although she does do a good job of giving new readers the bits of background that they need to keep up, I recommend starting from the beginning. Her characters have such rich and complex lives, with heartbreak and joy and all the complications that go along with loving and living, that you appreciate them so much more being there from the beginning.

For believable, lifelike characters and problems, delivered with Carr's captivating style, The Newcomer is going to thrill ... but be prepared to get caught up in the many lives in Thunder Point and be left wanting more. - Full review available at RomanticReadsandSuch on Wordpress or Booktrib's website.

Thunder Point is one of that series I know I'm going to love. I read the first book, The Wanderer, a couple of weeks ago and really liked it, but now I read The Newcomer and love it!

It follows the characters from the first book. Mac, the sheriff, is enjoying his romance with Gina, until his ex-wife shows up and wants to see the children she abandoned. But that's not the only drama, Gina's daughter is having a very rough year (I cried a lot!), and Sarah needs to make a choice that it's going to affect her brother and Cooper.

I love this series because it's all about family, friendship and romance Also, it's very realistic, with normal characters trying to live with their mistakes, not enough money, sickness, sometimes mean people, but a lot of love. In the end that's the only thing that matters.

Overall, The Newcomer was a great book. There is new drama, lots of romance and friendship, I definitely recommend this series!

`The Newcomer' is the second book in Ms. Carr's new Thunder Point series. The title is a little misleading, as there were really no "newcomers" in the story. `The Newcomer' seems to be a bridge book to show the progress of Mac and Gina's relationship, Cooper and Sarah's relationship, etc. A large part of the book was about Gina's daughter Ashley and her disastrous breakup with Downy. Mac's ex-wife also comes to town under the auspices of seeing her kids, even though she signed away custody years ago. There was a lot of drama, heartache, and secrets in `The Newcomer'. I do enjoy this series, but I think I would have enjoyed more "meat" in this story and less overtly drawn out drama. I'm still going to keep reading this series, because I've grown attached to the characters and care about what happens next to them.

Thunder Point series: The Wanderer (1), The Newcomer (2), The Hero (3)

The Newcomer is book 2 of Thunder Point series and you if you like Robin Carr's Virgin River Series you will love this series. Mac & Gina have to decide when is the right time to get married and Mac is thrown for a loop when is ex-wife comes back in the picture after 10 years.
Sarah and Coop are both having to make like changing decision and they wonder their love for each other will get them through.

I liked that the book centered on the teens and addressed issues that our children are currently dealing with. Robin Carr's books make you want to curl up in front of the fire and read your day away. As always I finished The Newcomer wanting to move to the small town of Thunder Point. This book will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and wanting to read more about the residents of Thunder Point. I am so glad I read this book and I highly recommend it to all.

I liked this book better than Book 1. The storylines were many but they were interesting and compelling. I especially liked that the author took on teen depression with compassion and understanding. There are several teen pregnancies in the series (it seems all the teens were products of young lust) but that allows the character to face safe sex without flinching. I thought the storyline of Cooper being a Dad was a bit of a stretch but it was explained. What kept it from being a 5 star? I think the brooding by lead female, Sarah. She just can't get over some of her past and she broods over a career decision for most of the book. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

The Newcomer is a wonderful story, with lots of great interaction between the characters. One of my favorite moments was when Mac's ex-wife shows up in town and is shown her place by her own daughter: to say, she HAS no place in their family after all she has put them through.

If I could pick one single thing about the book itself, it would have to be that it was a very easy read, mostly because it seemed that while it was a part of a series, it was one of those stories where the narrative stood on its own, rather than being one of those stories where the reader has to read the other books in the series in order to know what is going on.

A very good, easy read that one will enjoy immensely.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars but not enough to round to 4
This story dealt with some pretty tough issues - reappearance of a mother/wife who abandoned her family, job relocation, finding out you had a child you didn't know about, teen depression and mental illness resulting in hospitalization. I felt like Carr handled them with the care they deserved, although each of the issues was complex enough to have it's own book.
Sarah and Cooper's romance just doesn't grab me. I really WANT to be interested in them but they seem flat. Cooper is a great character while Sarah is not. Mac and Gina's romance is great, I was totally routing for them.
Can't wait to see what happens next in Thunder Point

What a great story! I just love Thunder Point, on the Oregon coast. Very entertaining and welcoming place.

Mac McCain is a deputy in this town of 1500. He's also a single dad of three girls. His girlfriend, Gina, has a teenage daughter (Ashley. Ashley has a rough time getting over her boyfriend once he went to college. Sarah, a coast guard, is a single mom to Landon and girlfriend to Cooper. He's the owner of the bar on the beach. It's a fun, family affair, with ups and downs, but I loved every moment. Sarah has a decision to make regarding her job and Landon's future. Cooper meets his ten-year old son for the first time. Mac has to deal with his ex-wife when she suddenly shows up and also his growing love for Gina. The kids have their own problems, too, but with loving parents and friends, everything will be all right.

Ms. Carr, you've done a great job bringing such loving families and the town of Thunder Point, that it makes me want to be there!

This book is part of a series and probably should be read as such. In the first book two couples went through trials and tribulations and came together at the end as solid couples. In this story the couples are solid but everything around them seems to be falling apart-kids, teens, ex wives and former fiancees crawling out of the woodwork-you get the picture. I actually enjoyed this take on a romance story. The couples face things together, work on their relationships and come through it all like adults. It's always interesting to see the after story and this is kind of a whole book of follow up with a lot of twists and turns to keep it interesting. As always, the writing, plotting and pacing are impeccable, the locations are vividly described, and the whole thing comes together to make for a great reading experience.

Second in the Thunder Point series, this story grabs and doesn't let go till the final page. Unforgettable characters, some first introduced in the first of the series (The Wanderer) are reprised here, even as the focus turns on Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain and his longtime friend-now-lover, Gina and their respective families.

An added crises is the dumping of Gina's daughter by her boyfriend after he goes to college, and the intrusion of Mac's ex-wife (a real sleaze) and Gina's former boyfriend and father of her daughter. Happily, he turned his life around.

Prepare to like this story from beginning to end--unless your heart is hard.

Robyn Carr always writes excellent romances. I love the Virgin River series. This is my first Thunder Point, I will have to go back and read #1 now! But I love it. Even though it is a series and it helps and is more fun to read them in order, Carr writes so you can pick any one of them up and get into it instantly. She makes you feel as if you have known the characters forever.

The Newcomer is no different. Mac and Gina. Will they make it? Everyone knows they are meant to be. How much more can two people be in love? Mac's ex shows up though and maybe it wasn't meant to be.

Made me so giddy and so anxious to see what was going to happen. I know what I wanted to happen, but would it? I was hoping Carr wouldn't disappoint! Want to know for yourself? Read it!!

The Newcomer is the second installment to the Thunder Point series from Robyn Carr. It continues where The Wanderer (Thunder Point)left off with Mac and Gina's growing relationship. They have several obstacles including his first wife returning to town wanting to be a part of the family once again. Gina struggles with her daughter Ashley after her boyfriend breaks up with her and battles cyber bullying bad enough that she wants to want to take her life. Also, Cooper and Sarah's relationship could be at a turning point when she finds out she is up for promotion and a move across the country. Robyn Carr weaves interesting storylines together in the picturesque setting of Oregon. It's an enjoyable series to read.

This is an unusual romance in that it doesn't really focus all that much on the hero and heroine; instead, the focus is on the town in which they live. For those who have read The Wanderer, this book carries on the story of Sarah and Coop in interesting and unexpected ways. It also highlights the difficulties of two single parents trying to find romance amid a messy situation. I was taken aback by the chances to Downy's character given that he was such a good guy in the last book, and I also thought that the story of Mac's ex-wife was a little unresolved- hence the four stars rather than five. That said, an excellent addition to the Thunder Point canon, one that has whetted by appetite for the next installment.

I hadn't planned to read this for at least another three weeks but I just couldn't wait. My instincts were so right!

The Setup
This isn't a series where each story has one central conflict and one significant romance that wraps neatly at the end of the book. There a quite a few characters whose lives are connected either by familial ties, friendship or through the relationships of their children. Most are single parents or are filling that role and are trying to manage a romance while dealing with adult situations and the challenges faced by their teenaged children.

The Issues
Mac and Gina are trying to find time to be with each other though they still haven't quite clued their children in on the change in their relationship from good friends to lovers, well in love:) Both had their children when they were really young (Gina was 16 and Mac was 20) and are both pretty young. His oldest daughter, Eve, is Gina's daughter, Ashley's best friend. Ashley is going through a major turmoil because of her boyfriend and the issues are scary. Gina hasn't seen or heard from Ashley's father since before she was born and now may need to reach out to him. Mac's ex-wife suddenly shows up following a 10-year absence after having abandoned him with three little children at the time.

More Issues
Cooper, the earlier wanderer, is settling into Thunder Point and has finished renovating the beach bar. He's ready to have a lasting commitment with Sarah, the Coast Guard pilot whose job may create issues not only for them but her 16 year old brother, Landon. He's the high school standout quarterback, getting ready for his senior year and hopefully college scouts with scholarship money. Landon is also deeply involved with his girlfriend, Eve; yes, that's Mac's daughter. Cooper also gets stunning news that may turn his life upside down, as well as Sarah's, who still has commitment issues stemming from her last marriage.

Summary
I think you get the picture. What happens in one relationship has an impact on so many others in large and small ways. There were a lot of young adult issues presented in the story that were portrayed in YA and adult points of view, giving more power to the story. I know these people, care about them and am rooting for a good outcome.

I never found a good stopping point so I kept reading until I fell asleep in the wee hours and resumed when I woke up. As satisfying as the ending was, it was disappointing to have it come to a close. I won't delude myself when the third book is released...I'll plan to read it as soon as I get my hands on it. As much as I love the Virgin River series, the loves and lives of the residents of Thunder Point have captured my heart.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

The second in the series that takes place on the Oregon coast, Robyn Carr takes this town to the next level and I couldn't even predict what she was going to do with this great cast of characters. This book gave each of the characters in the town a focus and storyline to move them all forward a little. I was glad to have more depth than just the surface area of learning the people and the town like the first book.

I did enjoy it as I have both the Virgin River series and the first Thunder Point story. This one did seem to have a lot of jumping around and lots of story lines. I would read a little and then put it down and back and forth again. All the other books I have just about read straight through. All in all though I did enjoy the book once I finished it and could see where it would lead into some good stories in the future.

Geez, if you're going to write a book, stick with one subject. I had trouble trying to keep up to 25 characters, the book bounced all over the place, first you were reading the relationship of one couple and then you turn the page and they're gone but another couple and their problems are there. It repeated to much, conversations long and drawn out, and the ending which I wanted so badly just did not come. I'm mad at myself for wasting the time.

Book two in the Thunder Point Series brings in some new characters and get Mac and Gina together at last. Not everything is coming up roses at first. Mac's ex-wife shows up and tries to make her way back into their lives but this is a Robyn Carr book so in the end everything come up OK (not for the ex-wife though). Cooper and Sara are still main characters and are getting closer. A great second book in the Thunder Point series.

Robyn Carr develops characters that are easy to fall in love with and relate to. The Newcomer is the second in the series and I just started reading the Wanderer. But I fell right into place with Gina and Mac and Sarah and Cooper and all the rest. There is drama for a teenage daughter that any mother can relate to, and Robyn did an excellent job describing the feelings and reactions that I would feel in the same situation. I would recommend this author and story to anyone.

Robyn has once more created an ideal cozy neighborhood. She is a magical homemaker. And it saddens me for each story to have to end as a reader can. Truly connect with the amazingly developed characters and story! The experience of investing the time withANY of Carr,s creations is a well. Spent investment that I wouldn't trade for anything! Thanks Robyn Carr you. Are a wondrous gift! I treasure your works!

Each book in the series is a great stand alone. But as you read one book after the other the character development deepens as I learned more about each person. The new comers in each book keep the flow of the plot moving rapidly as it goes. There is more than one new comer in this story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Thunder Point series. I enjoyed this book immensely. I hope you do too.

This is the second book in the Thunder Point series, and I really like it. Just a good read about a small coastal community. I enjoyed the different character involvement and the little twist and turns that make the book enjoyable. I like the Robyn Carr books, they always put a smile on your face..and sometimes, maybe a little tear. Looking forward to the third book...

This is much more than a love story. it's an engrossing drama involving several fleshed out characters with an emphasis on teen characters and their dating. I like the way multiple threads are interwoven. Yes, it's woman's fiction, but I found it readable regardless of reader's gender. It's a comfortable read well suited for the late Summer/early Fall seasons. Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the Thunder Point series. The story once again takes place in a small town called Thunder Point, Oregon. I wanted to read this one because I wanted to know more about the characters from the first book in the series. The author does a good job of keeping the reader pulled into the story. I look forward to future additions to this series.

This series was recommended to me by a friend that had read books by this author in the past. The series started out a little slow for me. Also there seemed to be some errors as far as the setting for the series in Oregon. i.e. all beaches in Oregon belong to the public. The series has grown on me, and I am now looking forward to the next book in the series to be released.

Gina and Mac who where such a great part of the Cooper and Sarah romance in the first Thunder Point novel "The Wanderer" are back and center stage in the 2nd Thunder Point book. And for those who wanted more Sarah and Cooper they are big part of this novel also.

Thank you Robyn Carr - you truly know how to write a series.

I really enjoyed The Newcomer by Robyn Carr. This book picks up where The Wanderer left off. I believe that Robyn Carr makes characters that people can relate to. I think that these characters, whether good or bad, are easy to visualize, as is the small town that they live in. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Another great story by Ms. Carr. I am reading the series a bit out of order but you won't be lost if you do so as well.

The book seemed evenly split between Gina and Mac's story and well as Cooper and Sarah's.

There was a good deal of sadness but that's what makes the happy things that much sweeter.

I love the people in the town. All the plots and subplots. Live is never what we expect. It is good to except life and roll with the punches. It is also good to know that you can learn from your mistakes.
Valerie 1971

Unlike the virgin river series or the Dr. trilogy this series is more melancholy, at least I think so. You end up with a good ending but heartsore, so you've come through it and have relief but not joyous. I hope that makes sense, lol. Still Robyn Carr is a good read author and this is not a repeat of the other series.

The author seems to have lost her focus. At times I thought she was writing for teenagers. At other times I began to feel like I was reading a counseling synopsis. I'm losing patience with the author's efforts. What a shame! The Virgin River series was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, she's lost her creative focus. The last two books were disappointing.

Robyn Carr does not disappoint. I have loved all her books. I read all the Virgin River novels and I look forward to getting to know all the people of Thunder Point. What a great community. I'm packed and ready to move.

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

Book two in the Thunder Point Series brings in some new characters and get Mac and Gina together at last. Not everything is coming up roses at first. Mac's ex-wife shows up and tries to make her way back into their lives but this is a Robyn Carr book so in the end everything come up OK (not for the ex-wife though). Cooper and Sara are still main characters and are getting closer. A great second book in the Thunder Point series.

Robyn Carr develops characters that are easy to fall in love with and relate to. The Newcomer is the second in the series and I just started reading the Wanderer. But I fell right into place with Gina and Mac and Sarah and Cooper and all the rest. There is drama for a teenage daughter that any mother can relate to, and Robyn did an excellent job describing the feelings and reactions that I would feel in the same situation. I would recommend this author and story to anyone.

Robyn has once more created an ideal cozy neighborhood. She is a magical homemaker. And it saddens me for each story to have to end as a reader can. Truly connect with the amazingly developed characters and story! The experience of investing the time withANY of Carr,s creations is a well. Spent investment that I wouldn't trade for anything! Thanks Robyn Carr you. Are a wondrous gift! I treasure your works!

Each book in the series is a great stand alone. But as you read one book after the other the character development deepens as I learned more about each person. The new comers in each book keep the flow of the plot moving rapidly as it goes. There is more than one new comer in this story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Thunder Point series. I enjoyed this book immensely. I hope you do too.

This is the second book in the Thunder Point series, and I really like it. Just a good read about a small coastal community. I enjoyed the different character involvement and the little twist and turns that make the book enjoyable. I like the Robyn Carr books, they always put a smile on your face..and sometimes, maybe a little tear. Looking forward to the third book...

This is much more than a love story. it's an engrossing drama involving several fleshed out characters with an emphasis on teen characters and their dating. I like the way multiple threads are interwoven. Yes, it's woman's fiction, but I found it readable regardless of reader's gender. It's a comfortable read well suited for the late Summer/early Fall seasons. Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the Thunder Point series. The story once again takes place in a small town called Thunder Point, Oregon. I wanted to read this one because I wanted to know more about the characters from the first book in the series. The author does a good job of keeping the reader pulled into the story. I look forward to future additions to this series.

This series was recommended to me by a friend that had read books by this author in the past. The series started out a little slow for me. Also there seemed to be some errors as far as the setting for the series in Oregon. i.e. all beaches in Oregon belong to the public. The series has grown on me, and I am now looking forward to the next book in the series to be released.

Gina and Mac who where such a great part of the Cooper and Sarah romance in the first Thunder Point novel "The Wanderer" are back and center stage in the 2nd Thunder Point book. And for those who wanted more Sarah and Cooper they are big part of this novel also.

Thank you Robyn Carr - you truly know how to write a series.

I really enjoyed The Newcomer by Robyn Carr. This book picks up where The Wanderer left off. I believe that Robyn Carr makes characters that people can relate to. I think that these characters, whether good or bad, are easy to visualize, as is the small town that they live in. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Another great story by Ms. Carr. I am reading the series a bit out of order but you won't be lost if you do so as well.

The book seemed evenly split between Gina and Mac's story and well as Cooper and Sarah's.

There was a good deal of sadness but that's what makes the happy things that much sweeter.

I love the people in the town. All the plots and subplots. Live is never what we expect. It is good to except life and roll with the punches. It is also good to know that you can learn from your mistakes.
Valerie 1971

Unlike the virgin river series or the Dr. trilogy this series is more melancholy, at least I think so. You end up with a good ending but heartsore, so you've come through it and have relief but not joyous. I hope that makes sense, lol. Still Robyn Carr is a good read author and this is not a repeat of the other series.

The author seems to have lost her focus. At times I thought she was writing for teenagers. At other times I began to feel like I was reading a counseling synopsis. I'm losing patience with the author's efforts. What a shame! The Virgin River series was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, she's lost her creative focus. The last two books were disappointing.

Robyn Carr does not disappoint. I have loved all her books. I read all the Virgin River novels and I look forward to getting to know all the people of Thunder Point. What a great community. I'm packed and ready to move.

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

When I read Robyn's first book on the Thunder Point series, I could not wait for her second "The Newcomer" to come in. I was the first person at the local book store to purchase it. It was not even unpacked yet. Now that I have finished reading it, I can't wait for the third one. "The Hero" in August. Once again, I will be there to buy it. I love how she pours so much heart and true life experiences into her books. Robyn brings you face to face with life. Yes.. I love books that take me away from everyday life, because well need to go to far away lands or be in exotic locations with an unimaginable situations and try to figure out the "who done it". Life is hard, and sometimes we need to know just how other's overcome or adapt to what we all have endured at one time or another in our own lives. You have that in this book. It's a beautiful story, a love story with twists and turns that take you around the town to know how everyone is coping. I enjoy that. In Thunder Point, the local town's people who come together to help, to comfort and are not afraid to ask and tell what you they need to get through a day. You don't have just one typical personality in here, you have so many. All of which you will come to know and love. I cried and laughed at the same time. I simply love this series and hope that Miss Carr don't destroy what a lot of us love about these books. The comfort of another's loving arms and helping hands. And that is the richness of how true love is, it always comes through. Be it with a friend or through an old acquaintance from years ago. It shines in this series. In this book, have tissues ready, get ready to laugh out load, and at the end, tears will fall once again. The book comes to a wonderful ending. I waited for that moment thru both of them...Cooper and Sara are so crazy in love, and I can't wait to see where they are heading. For me now, I want to live in Thunder Point and have lunch with Gina and Sara. I would love to watch the family's thrive and overcome what all families do.. go through and sort our what life's strife's deliver them and how they handle it. I only hope that Robyn Carr keeps our main two couples holding tight to the love we have come to know and love.

I read most of Robyn Carr's books. They are good books to pass time. I usually read them in between the more intense serial killer novels. Her books are better than most of the cheesy love stores by other authors.

Really enjoy the description of life on an Oregon coast town. To read about the lives of the people and follow them over a few months time. Robyn Carr does an excellent job leaving a little information so you know another book is coming.

I enjoyed reading The Newcomer. I enjoy reading stories that show positive relationships. Even though these stories are somewhat predictable, there are always twists and surprises. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Really enjoy the description of life on an Oregon coast town. To read about the lives of the people and follow them over a few months time. Robyn Carr does an excellent job leaving a little information so you know another book is coming.

I loved the second in the Thunder Point series. I've grown to love the characters & it had enough suspense to keep me engaged to the end. I can't wait for the third of the series to be released. Robyn Carr has made me feel at home once again.

I have read many books by Robyn Carr, but this book disappointed me a lot. There is too much going on with too many different people. The ending was horrible, and did I mention there are too many characters involved? I'm happy I got this one from the library instead of buying it.

I enjoyed reading The Newcomer. I enjoy reading stories that show positive relationships. Even though these stories are somewhat predictable, there are always twists and surprises. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.