Informed Risk / A Hero for Sophie Jones

by Robyn Carr, Christine Rimmer

PLAYING WITH FIRE
Mike Cavanaugh was a firefighter; it was his job to rescue people. Though inviting them home wasn't usually part of the job description. But when he pulled Christine Palmer out of her burning house, something about the gutsy single mom made him want to protect her, to make her life a little better. Only somehow Chris and her family ended up giving Mike's life new meaning, and he was happier than he'd been in years.

But Chris was smart and resourceful. She'd get back on her own two feet-sooner rather than later. And when she no longer needed Mike's support, would she still want his love?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Anthologies, Fiction, Audiobook, Drama

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published April 28, 2013

About the author

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series and Sullivan's Crossing series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel, THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB, will be released in January 2024. The new hit Sullivan's Crossing TV series (season 1) inspired by Robyn's book series was released in the USA in the fall of 2023! Plus, season 5 of the worldwide fan-favorite Virgin River TV Series is now streaming on Netflix (July 2023) with two holiday episodes coming November 30, 2023. Both TV series have been renewed for another season!
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at https://www.robyncarr.com/.

Reviews

[Joyce Kleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

heerlijk een luisterboek luisteren tijdens het schoonmaken

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh
Safe read
But meh

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing, and the characters. However the story itself was just... slow. Painfully so. I managed about seventy pages then dnf'd. This just wasn't what I hoped it would be. 2.5 stars rounded up.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual Harlequin romances

This book is actually reprints of two romances: "Informed Risk" by Robyn Carr, originally published in 1989 and "A Hero for Sophie Jones" by Christine Rimmer, originally published in 1998.

INFORMED RISK

I love Robyn Carr and have read all of her books that I can find. This one fits in the middle somewhere on my "like" scale. Well developed characters, a solid storyline, some tears shed along the way. I liked Mike and Chris, Chris' children and especially Cheeks, the dog. Did I enjoy it as much as "The House on Olive Street" published in 1999 or her newer Virgin River series? No, but then this is one of her older books and I liked it just fine.

A HERO FOR SOPHIE JONES

This is the first book I've read by Rimmer and I enjoyed it for the most part. I thought Sophie,the heroine, was a bit wimpy at first and Sinclair, the hero, a jerk but by the end of the story everything tied together. I liked it well enough that I'm going to try and track down other books of hers.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read Informed risk, probably a 3.25, it started with a premise I loved. Firefighter saves a family from being homeless, but then it got weird. Lost Heiress? Really.

Only lesson in there is pride, pride and more pride. At the end I wasn't really happy with this group, but there were parts that saved it from bombing.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually two novels in one: Informed Risk by Robyn Carr and A Hero for Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer. I decided to read it because I have been reading Robyn Carr's novels -- both the Virgin River and Thunder Point series and her stand-alone novels. Without getting into specifics about the stories, my three star rating reflects the fact that I really liked Informed Risk and would have given it 4 stars by itself, but I thought A Hero for Sophie Jones was so so, too cutesy for my tastes.

On a side note, I have now pretty much covered the Robin Carr catalog, with the exception of her older historical novels. I know that she has many fans who absolutely love the Virgin River and Thunder Point books. From my point of view most of her best writing has been done in the standalone novels and the Grace River trilogy. The Virgin River series started out strong but got mixed results toward the end, and I suspect that might be due in part to the growing number of characters that must be managed towards the end of a long-running series.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 * - Didn't realize this was originally published in 1989. Since I was in college then, not that big a deal for me. :-D Slightly dated but not too bad. Thought it was entertaining but the conflict felt a bit contrived. Heroine was a bit on the wring the hands/whine but not so much she made me switch off the book. I enjoyed Little Mike. Carrie (daughter) was awesome. Ms. Carr has definitely grown as a writer but you can see rock steady roots of her talent in this older work.

[Season · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, here is the deal with this story. Good story, but it was too much for me for just one story. I felt that Ms. Carr try to add too many elements into the story instead of just focusing on one thing. Overall it was an enjoyable read, but not one of her best.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know when!!

[Becky Tatar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two so so early 80s and 90s stories from writers Robin Carr snd Christine Rimmer. In Carr's Informed Risk, Chris Palmer is a down on her luck single mom of two who finds herself in dire straights when her rental home catches fire. Enter Mike Cavanaugh, firefighter who, as his family knows is a fixer, offers his home to Chris for a place to stay until she can get back on her feet. But Chris isn't quite whom she seems, and a tabloid story brings her past smack in her face. The question is how will Mike react?
In Rimmer's A Hero for Sophie Jones, Sinclair Riker has built a reputation of ruthlessness and legal but dirty tactics to get what he wants. And his old family farm, now leased by Sophie Jones, is his next target. But meeting Sophie provides an instant spark, and on day 2, they are falling into bed. But Sophie is unaware of Sinclair's plan until his ex fiancee fills Sophie in.
Both not so great, a lot of immovable testosterone happening.

[Shirlene]

Informed Risk: Christine Palmer was working on a book she was writing when it was cold so she finally turned on the furnace. It smelled bad and she soon realized that it was smoke and her rental house was on fire. She quickly got her children, Carrie was 5 and Kyle was 3, into her car. She went back inside to throw the food out of the fridge and stuffed her computer and research into it. She ended up passing out and was rescued by firefighter Mike Cavanaugh. Chris was fairly new it town so she had no one to call for help or a place to stay so she was taken to the firehouse for the night. Mike's wife and daughter had been killed in a car accident ten years previous so he told her that she and her children could move into his place until Christmas. It was now early November. Chris agreed.
Mike was attracted to Mike just as she was attracted to him. He was 6 ft. 2 and weighed 195 lbs. He was a big guy with a soft heart. Carrie reminded him of his own daughter and he wanted a family again. His family had tried to set him up with women but he hadn't taken to any of them.
Chris had been married before. Her husband had been a con man. She had grown up with her father and then her aunt until she went to college and her father died. She inherited almost $4 million and her husband took every bit of it and ran off. He was found about a year later and she divorced him. There was no money to collect from him so she never got any money and worked at various jobs to keep a roof over her and her kids heads. She had to sue her aunt to get her money so she didn't call Florence and tell her that they needed help. Chris had too much pride to do that. Her husband hadn't even known that she had Kyle.
There was a boating accident and it was assumed that her ex was dead along with his wife. The news reports said that it was Chris. They didn't know that she had divorced him. Chris finally called Flo to let her know that she was alive, divorced and had 2 kids. Flo had been like a sister to Chris and wanted to see her immediately. Chris put her off a few days so that she could have time to tell Mike.
Chris and Mike were sleeping together by now and Mike told Chris that he was in love with her. Chris told Mike that she didn't trust her judgment of men and was reluctant to saying she was in love. She wasn't sure she believed in happily ever after at this point. She wanted to support herself and her children. She didn't want to be dependent on anyone. She met Mike's family and was surprised at how well they accepted her.
Flo came to visit and Mike and her clashed. Mike was very self-conscious about Flo having so much money. He was having trouble accepting Chris now that he knew that she could get along just fine without him. He was a little short with Chris and finally told her what the problem was and that he would work on it. Chris wasn't convinced that he could accept her, all of her. So, she left to go back to Chicago and her aunt just two days before Christmas.
Flo had flown into Sacramento to spend Christmas with Chris, Mike and the kids. She asked Chris if her and her first husband had ever fought. She admitted that they hadn't. Flo told Chris that it said a lot that Mike was willing to admit to having a problem and that he would work on it. She convinced Chris to give him a chance. They ended up driving to the cabin where Mike was going to spend Christmas alone and Chris agreed to marry him.
A Hero for Sophie Jones:
Sophie leased some property once owned by the Riker family and she had boarders that were people as well as horses. She showed movies in the barn on the weekends. One weekend she had a visitor and found out it was Sinclair Riker. She showed him around the place and they almost spent the night together but they ended up waiting until the second night together to have sex. Sin avoided telling her that he had bought the property back and she was now leasing the property from his company. He was quite taken with her and didn't know how to tell her. They spent most of the week they met together.
Sophie and most of the folks around knew that Sinclair had been the one to find his father in the attic where he committed suicide. He was around 6 years old and his father killed himself after losing the ranch. His mother turned herself into a whore soon after his death. Sin had lost all respect for her and they weren't close.
Sinclair's ex-fiancee had him located by a private detective and she wanted him back. She showed up at his hotel and took her clothes off and didn't get a reaction from him. She got angry and went to Sophie and told her that Sin owned the property and was using her until her figured out how to best make an offer to get her to leave. Sophie was upset of course. Sin told Sophie that she could stay as long as she liked and he would do nothing to make her leave.
Sophie was broken hearted and didn't know what to do. She got advice from her uncle telling her to go to him. She was surprised because she felt that she had been wronged and he needed to apologize to her. She thought about it and went to LA to see him. She went to tell him she wanted him back but ended up asking him if he wanted to become partners with her. He agreed and came back after a few days. They worked together for a few days and he had some contractors come in to take some measurements of the house for some remodel work. After a few days, Sophie did ask Sin if he wanted her back and he told her that he did. He was ready to move on from his company in LA and move onto his property full-time and see if he could manage it with Sophie as his wife.
It was Oggie Jones 81st birthday party on Oct. 9th and he told Sophie that he was going to LA to visit a nephew. The bride and groom-to-be were toasted that night.

[catherine fiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant read.

Nice to read a book with no cursing or profanity. Like the colorful characters and the final outcome in the epilogue.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is 2 books by different authors. Both books had very little depth, slow to read. Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors but this book was not typical of her prior stories.

[JoAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book with a bonus, A Hero For Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer. I was only going to read the first one but I thought what the heck I will give the second book a try. I liked it.

In Informed Risk, Chris Palmer is a hard working, divorced mom of two little kids. They are living in a run down house while she works days at the grocery store and writes a novel at night. The furnace starts a fire in the house on the first cold night of the fall. Chris gets the kids out of the house and into the car where they will be safe. But she remembers the laptop and all her hard work on the book. She runs back into the house and gathers her stuff and throws it into the refrigerator. On her way out, she passes out a bit. Then a fireman rescues her. The house is burnt to the ground. Since it was during the night she was only wearing a shirt and panties. What are they going to do? Chris has about $12 in the bank. They have no where to go.
Mike Cavanaugh is the fireman that rescued her. He offers the little family his house to stay in. Chris wonders what he wants from her. He stays at the firehouse most of the time and he can stay with his parents on his days off. Gradually, they get to know one another. Her kids love him and he likes being around them. Will they become a couple? Chris has a past that she does not talk a lot about. Mike had a family but they died in a car accident ten years ago. Is he trying to replace them?

In A Hero For Sophie Jones, Sophie runs Mountain Star, a vacation getaway on a ranch. It was owned by some teachers but they sold it to a corporation in LA. She has a lease on 5 acres for the next ten years so she is not worried. One night a man shows up. For Sophie it is love at first sight. Sinclair Riker is the owner of the land. He has come to throw her off. But he is drawn to Sophie. He never gets around to telling her the truth of why he is in the area. The first night they have amazing sex. They cannot get enough of each other. Everything is going pretty well until his ex shows up and tells Sophie the truth. What will she do?

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informed Risk (3.25stars)
With no luck or support system, single mom of two toddlers, Christine Palmer’s new to town, working as a cashier by day and, struggling writer by night. With no family or friends, Chris loses even that when the dilapidated house she’s been renting goes up in flames. Firefighter Mike Cavanaugh is in time to save her life but nothing else.

Solitary Mike lost his wife and daughter in car crash a decade ago and won’t recommit to anyone despite his large family doing their best to change his mind. Unable to find help for the newly homeless Palmer family, Mike offers his home having lost his heart to the poppets and their pup. Mom’s not bad either plus Christmas isn’t far away

Unless you count the number of exhausting pity-parties Christine held in too many of her scenes, there really aren’t any surprises in this clean, soft romance even after Chris’ big secret is spilled, (and the emotional baggage switches). This reader would suggest a class of wine, a comfy chair and this book on a chilly or rainy day.
A Hero for Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer (3stars)
Small town hotel owner Sophie Jones’ slightly disheveled appearance struck Sinclair ‘Sin’ Riker as enchanting and he wasn’t alone in being distracted once their eyes met. But Sin had a reason or being there and being enchanted by a slip of a woman that’s not his type won’t distract him from his task that will upset Sophie’s life.

The synopsis (separating the two authors/stories) and the story itself are similar to a tale Ms. Carr would pen, it’s a soft, western flavored contemporary romance with a few curves, basically well done but predictable. As leads, wide-eyed ‘virginal’ Sophie against big, bad, aptly named city slicker Sin are fine but bland and apparently part of a series.
Rating: 3.25stars

[Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informed Risk gets one star, and that is being generous. I will never read a Robyn Carr book again. I know this is an old book, but she is so derogatory to certain groups of people that I'm not going to read her hate anymore. I've had problems with the Sullivan's Crossing series because of her mistreatment of mental illness. Here it's body shaming. One of the characters actually says, " I know men who want to be married to fat women!" Like that's the most unbelievable thing ever. Does the author realize that half of American women are considered overweight and many of them have very happy, very satisfied husbands. Neither the husband or wife in that situation is defective, IN ANY WAY! I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt that she was just trying to increase the dislike you feel for Flo who says it. But Flo was so terrible there was no need. Then to prove the author is disgusted by overweight women she says one of the main characters, a lovable mother and grandmother, waddles into the kitchen! Really? I won't listen to more of her hateful propaganda. Not to mention she has two characters in the book named 'Chris', why would an author do that? It's in their control to name characters anything.

A Hero for Sophie Jones is a three star. It's cute, not too crazy, and has likable characters. I had to take two stars off for the weird way Sophie becomes the villain at the end and has to humiliate herself. It made no sense and mad me mad. Also, the title is odd, Sophie B is just fine, she doesn't need a hero.

[Kimberli Pacheco · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was so good at first, but the way it ended?? I was kind of glad to finish it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on sarahsbookshelf.com:

I haven’t really read much by Robyn Carr and the stories that I had weren’t interesting enough for me to make the effort to check out her back-list. Boy, I must have read the two duds she wrote because this book, and the other one I read right before it, were fantastic!

In this novel, we meet Chris Palmer, a single mom trying to get her life together after her deadbeat husband rang off with her money and left her with two kids. We meet her as her rental burns down, so naturally there’s a fireman in the picture. The trick with this story is that the firefighter isn’t interested in her for the reasons that you might think, which was definitely one of the reasons I enjoyed this book. I won’t spoil anything, but I loved Carr’s characters and found that once I started this book I had a really tough time putting it down. I loved the Cavanaugh family and all the personalities that came out in the book. I can easily see this book being part of a series (it probably is) because the family was huge.

I know others who have reviewed this book have noted that it was a reissue of an earlier work. Since I’m new to Carr I have no frame of reference. I just thought it was a well-written novel and now I have an excuse (and time) to give her backlist another shot.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Informed Risk” is a 1989 romance novel by Robyn Carr that was featured as part of Harlequin’s “Men In Uniform” series. It revolves around the love that blossoms between an Irish Catholic firefighter named Mike Cavanaugh and the single mother he rescues named Christine Palmer. Christine is a would-be author who’s working on a YA novel while raising two precocious kids.

The plot is filled with situations that normal people probably wouldn’t get into, but are perfectly serviceable in the name of a romance novel. Mike invites Christine to stay at his house with her kids and their dog, Cheeks. All without knowing too much about her. Mike and Christine develop a pseudo-romance almost immediately and fall into bed within a week or so. Again, all without knowing too much about each other. Then, Mike discovers Christine’s secret (which I won’t spoil for future readers).

Mike’s family is uproarious: he’s one of about five kids, all of whom are married or in relationships. The teasing that goes on during a family dinner that Christine attends is funny and real. However, the book really didn’t stick with me all that much. The characters might have been somewhat realistic, particularly Mike, but the situations they got into weren’t, and I began wondering why the author chose this particular plot. I prefer her Virgin River series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informed Risk is about firefighter Mike Cavanaugh and Christine Palmer, a woman he saved from her burning house. When her little blonde daughter reached up to him, it brought back memories of his own daughter who was killed with his wife in an auto accident. He lets Chris and her two children stay in his house and it's not long before they are in a relationship. But when he learns she is an heiress, it makes him feel not needed and insecure. They argue and she gets ready to go to Chicago to stay with her aunt. But her aunt is wise and asks if this is what she really wants. No. She wants and needs Mike.

A Hero for Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer is about Sophie B. Jones who is generous to a fault. She operates a small resort with a movie theater and meets Sinclair Riker. His family used to own the farm until his father lost it. He hung himself and Sinclair found him. He went from nothing to being a multi-millionaire with plans to kick Sophie off the property and build himself a mansion. That was before he met and fell in love with her. He says love is overrated and doesn't tell her he loves her even though she tells him. She went to LA to see him and wanted him to tell her he loved her but she didn't know how to say it and offers him a partnership instead. He returns to the resort and she sees that he does love her.

[Laura de Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is two (short) books in one.

The first is Informed Risk by Robyn Carr. I'd give this one 3.5 stars-- it's an early book by the author, and it shows. All the elements that I enjoy in her books were almost there-- the characters were a little flatter, the story a little less complex, the writing a not quite as smooth. Because it is such a short book (and this was presumably a written-to-the recipe basic romance) the secondary characters and the community were not as developed as I have come to expect from her books. Still, I enjoyed reading it, both in and of itself and as a way to see how the author's work has developed.

The second book is A Hero for Sophie by Christine Rimmer. I may be harsh in giving it only 2.5 stars, I think pairing it with Robyn Carr's book didn't do it any favors. This book is exactly what I think of as the stereotype of a romance novel. I've read the basic story before (I'm thinking Elizabeth Lowell has done it better, but I could be misremembering). The people were mostly flat, although there was some fun details in the main character. I never had any real feeling for how/why they fell in love, or really whether there was anything other than physical attraction driving them. It was a smooth, easy read, just with nothing to really draw me in.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice two-in-one book. Informed Risk is the fireman story by Robyn Carr. The heroine's house burns down and the hero carries her out, then offers to let her stay in his house because her daughter reminds him of his, dead in a car wreck 10 years ago. She's still dealing with a bad divorce from a conman who swindled millions from her before vanishing, literally. When the hero learns about the millions, he reacts badly, but they work it out. A Hero for Sophie Jones is by Christine Rimmer, and like most of hers, it's extremely sweet and nice without much plot, but in this one you can see the crash way ahead and know it's going to be a big one. The hero grew up in the house where the heroine is running a ranch resort. She's just leasing the house and outbuildings, but uses a lot of the rest of the ranch. The hero just bought the ranch, including the part she's leasing and has come to get her out. Except he falls for her like a ton of bricks and doesn't even tell her why he's there. They're both nice stories with real conflicts and people who are as nice as we all wish we could be. Until they're not. They're not perfect people, they get scared and angry and all the rest of the human condition, but they deal. The stories are just so squishy...

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of grammar errors and awkward wording (not in the dialog). Lots of telling, not showing. The thinking patterns of the "good" characters were uncomfortably strange. For example, the main guy, who's supposed to be this wholesome but hurt, tough but tender, fireman basically drops everything in his busy fireman life to let this complete stranger and her kids live in his house. This all happens within a 24 hour period or less, btw. Then, a few days later after he's been gone a few days, he comes over for tacos, stares at her booty, and says to himself that he can't wait to have sex with her... As if he's already decided in his mind this is going to happen regardless of her ideas on the matter. Then, on the same night, he's playing around with the kids (complete strangers) as if he's their father. Sense any red flags here??? It just seems kinda creepy and dysfunctional... but the book seems to portray these characters as good and decent and the scenario as... Normal... Sorry... If I were looking for a drama about dysfunctional human interaction or possibly serial killers, maybe, but as a romance, it left me feeling like I paid for a jaguar and got an el Camino with a make shift cab on the back truck bed with a rusted out floor board...

[Bookfanatic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in 1989 and it shows. This is not one of Robyn Carr's best efforts. While I love her Virgin River series, there's something lacking in this stand alone story, Informed Risk. The hero, Mike, is very likable fireman. He's the physically strong yet gentle, loving man that women dream about. The heroine is fine, but too wishy washy for such a strong, decisive man. I wanted someone else for the hero. I think Aunt Florence would have been a better counterpart for the hero! The hero's father, Big Mike, stole every scene he was in with his grumpy one-liners. The ending is abrupt. It leaves quite a number of questions unanswered.

The second story, A Hero For Sophie Jones, is by Christine Rimmer. The heroine is exactly the type of heroine I despise..the overly sweet, innocent woman who only sees the good in everyone even when their darkest secrets are revealed. The hero is your typical rich, tall, dark and handsome man with a wild past. She of course turns him around from his sinful ways. Oh and his name is Sin...short for Sinclair. I found the story predictable.

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has two novels. The first one is by Robyn Carr entitled Informed Risk.
As always,Chris M. Carr has a well-told, good story. Chris is struggling to find out what she wants in life and be independent after her ex-husband stole her inheritance and ran off. Mike, a firefighter rescues Chris from a burning house and asks her two children to live with him since they are homeless. He, too, has issues since he lost his wife and daughter in an accident 10 years ago.
The characters are created well, interesting, and solidly portrayed. T plot reflects love, caring, family, working together, and a sense of community. Ms. Carr creates real situations and relationships. She is a master story teller.
I rate this story a 4 star.


The second story, A Hero for Sophie Jones, is supposed to be a bonus book; however, it is no bonus.
The sex in the 7 of 14 chapters I read borders on disgusting. Sinclair, "Sin", plans to ruin Sophie by taking away her ranch, but thought nothing of bedding her. Unfortunately, Sophie falls for him hook, line and sinker.
The characters and plot are poorly done, and I can only give this book a one star.

[Patricia Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robyn Carr's Informed Risk storyline is very interesting. It was interesting to see a firefighter enjoy his job even knowing that he might die in the line of duty. This does not take away from what is actually happening in this story. There's more to meet the eye in the woman and her family he rescues. The woman is dealing with a lot of garbage she is carrying from another relationship so we have the woman who wants to be independent and do it by herself and the guy who wants to take care of her and her family. It doesn't end there either as someone from the woman's past is introduced and she is not a fan of the man. Then there's the fact that the woman is more than she seems. Makes for interesting reading.
The second story in the book is a good girl meets bad boy and what happens as they embark on a relationship. The good girl is presented as a little over the top but the bad boy is given some redeeming qualities. The good girl has what the bad boy wants and he is willing to do whatever he need to do to get it. So does he or doesn't he and does she or doesn't she. Hmmmm.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Cavanaugh rescues Christine Palmer from a fire in her rental house. When he realizes she has no one in town she can call to help her out he offers to let her stay at his house. She and her two little kids move in along with their dog, Cheeks.

Mike is from a big, loving, Irish catholic family. Chris is an only child who lost her parents some years ago. Her only relative her Aunt Flo and they are estranged because Chris married a jerk who only wanted her money and left her after he ran through her inheritance.

Mike and Chris had a good thing going until her money got in the way of their relationship. Ain't Flo didn't like Mike and Mike didn't like that Chris changed (or so he thought) once she got money. He didn't like her buying stuff for his house and after a particularly bad fire, he let her know just now he felt.

I liked this book. I like just about everything I read by Robyn Carr.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to love everything that Robyn Carr writes and while I didn't find this story as dynamic as the Virgin River series, I still found it to be quite enjoyable. It was nice seeing Chris start to become more sure of herself and who she was. I was proud of her for standing up for herself to Mike and Flo even though it was a hard situation. I really loved watching Mike with the kids and Cheeks. He was so sweet with them that it made my heart ache reading it. Overall I thought this was a nice afternoon read.
I tried to read the second book by Christine Rimmer, but I just couldn't get into it. I may try to read it again sometime soon, but I found myself not liking the characters and now really wanting to know what happened to them. I figure I will try it again in a bit and see if that changes because I really don't like leaving stories unread.

[Ann (Noumena12) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informed Risk by Robyn Carr
I always enjoy Carr's books. Embedded in this story is a glimpse of how close any of us are to being homeless. "The press indicated the homeless situation was getting worse every year. The reported living conditions were terrifying. Hopeless and vile. The one common link among these people seemed to be aloneness, lack of family." And I think it is easy to see how giving a little can make differences for others.

I'm not sure this is an "easy" read but it is definitely worth it.

A Hero for Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer
I haven't read any Rimmer's Jones books and Sophie's story didn't have me rushing out to read them. Oggie was my favorite character in the book which probably explains it. I just couldn't find myself caring all that much about Sophie or Sinclair. And "Sin" just seems like a ridicules name.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A two in one book. Informed Risk by Robyn Carr, is about Mike Cavanaugh, fire fighter, who pulls Christine Palmer out of her burning house. He felt the urge to protect this single mother and her children and make their life better. Mike was happier than he'd been in years. But when Chris got back on her feet would she still want Mike's love?

The second story, A Hero for Sophie Jones, is about Sophie and her Morning Star Resort. A rustic theater, stable to board horses, a large house with rooms to rent. However, she didn't own it. She had leased it for 10 years. However, the owners sold it to Sinclair Riker the son of the first family that owned it and he had plans to oust Sophie and put his plans into motion. But something clicked between him and Sophie, will it be enough to have a happy ending?


Both were good reads.