Schicksalsstürme in Thunder Point

Thunder Point #6

by Robyn Carr

Als Kinder und Jugendliche waren Iris McKinley und Seth Sileski unzertrennlich - bis zu jenem verhängnisvollen Abschlussball. Seit siebzehn Jahren herrscht Funkstille zwischen ihnen. Daher Iris war es nur recht, dass Seth für eine Sportlerkarriere das kleine Thunder Point verließ. Jetzt kehrt Seth nach all den Jahren in seinen Heimatort zurück und Iris ist gezwungen, sich ihren Gefühlen für ihren einstigen Vertrauten und heimlichen Schwarm zu stellen …

"Robyn Carr schreibt wie immer ganz wunderbar über Figuren, die uns durch ihre menschlichen kleinen Schwächen nur noch sympathischer werden."
Publishers Weekly

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Adult

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2014

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

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homecoming is a long homecoming. It takes me forever to finish this book. I slowly like Miss Carr story telling. So far her story telling is not like the other contemporary adult romance. Her approach to a subject is gentle with a small town feels.

I do like Seth. He is easy to be liked. A popular jock who had his dream crushed. His interaction with Irish ia cute and tender. Slowly he won her heart. I would love to see more Toby in the future.

4 stars

[Auntee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to follow closer to release date, but just a few observations for now:

*To be honest, while the Thunder Point series is good, it doesn't seem to have the same quality of romance that Virgin River does.

*There seems to be a theme with these books--we have an issue to portray/discuss--in this one, it's dating violence--and then almost on the back burner, there's the romance. And a rather mild romance in the heat department.:( I'd rather see more in the romance department, less issues.

*Hate to keep comparing it to Virgin River (but how can you not?), but this town doesn't have a character quite as compelling as Jack from Virgin River. I thought Coop was going to be 'the guy', but he was barely mentioned in this one.

*And (horrors) at times I found it a wee bit boring. The H/h, Seth and Iris, were interesting enough--childhood friends turned lovers, but their love story was rather ho-hum with not all that much conflict. Iris was carrying this grudge for 17 long years against Seth, and at times I kept thinking to myself "just let it go already, he was a young, dumb 17-year-old" and" he can't read your mind--tell him why you're so pissed with him!" Seth was a really good guy, quite honorable, and I thought any woman would be lucky to have him.

*I'm still waiting for one of the stories in this series to really knock my socks off. So far, I'm feeling that these have all been good, but I'm really hoping for (unrealistically?) great. 3 1/2 to 4 stars.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robyn Carr's one of my all-time favorite authors and her "Virgin River" series I could read over and over again.
Small-town romance is this author's specialty and in the "Thunder Point" series she takes us to the coast of Oregon.
Seth Sileski leaves Thunder Point as a football star to play in the NFL and after a tragic accident returns years later as the towns deputy sheriff. One of his goals is to reconnect with Iris McKinley who had been his best friend since they were children. They had a hurtful disagreement in their senior year of high school, which destroyed their friendship, and now Seth is convinced that Iris is the love of his life. Can he convince her too?
Robyn Carr has always created such wonderful, memorable characters and Seth Sileski has to be one of her best. He is an admirable man with the best outlook on life.
I look forward to the next book in the Thunder Point series.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Book Nympho

Quick summary
Seth Sileski was once a high school football phenom in Thunder Point, actually excelling in college and playing with the Seattle Seahawks before a tragic accident sidelined him. Now he's back home as the new deputy sheriff in charge, hoping to repair his fractured relationships with his father and his once best friend, Iris McKinley.

Story conflict
Seth and Iris were best friends and neighbors since they were 4-years old until a heartbreaking incident involving their senior prom. It's been 17 years but Iris still hasn't let go of her resentment. (You just know there's more to this.) She's a high school counselor who's dealing with what looks to be a student suffering in some abusive relationship.

What I liked
Both Seth and Iris are extremely well developed characters, which is one of Carr's strengths in most of her stories, and even their broken relationship was nicely portrayed. Their journey back to friendship and eventually lovers hooked me because their individual transformations were so interesting. The secondary story of the student abuse provided insight about the challenges faced by school officials in how to identify and cope with the issue. And, of course, the updates about the other relationships are always a treat, another Carr staple.

The bottom line
The romance is the highlight here and is underwhelmed by the secondary storylines. Seth and Iris are pretty appealing and I enjoyed their banter. While the story about the abused teenager was well done, the ending resolution felt a bit rushed and I'm still a bit uncertain about one of the outcomes. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this story and return to Thunder Point.

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

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big Robyn Carr fan, so this pains me...

The Homecoming was flat. Seth was flat, and his clueless but sensitive personality didn't seem to match with his sporadic aggression (alpha stuff in the bedroom; cop stuff at crime scenes). His character just didn't work for me.

Iris was awesome, though, and I liked her relationships with school staff and students. Brava to Carr for writing a smart, strong, intuitive guidance counselor who has her students' interests at heart. And I admire that Carr addressed domestic abuse in an authentic way.

Because I liked Iris and didn't like Seth, I couldn't get into their romance. And the subplot of Troy and Grace looking for love confused me. Did they like each other or not?

All in all, I struggled to finish, and I did that only because I'm a sucker for a happily ever after. The ending was happy, but disappointing and disjointed as far as writing goes.

I loved the Virgin River series, but Thunder Point is inconsistent, and doesn't measure up, in my opinion.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
When I discovered that The Homecoming was a friends to lovers romance, I had high hopes that it would finally become another Robyn Carr keeper for me. This is one of my favorite romance tropes and after reading a long string of Ms. Carr's books this year that have been pretty good but not great, I really thought this one was going to break that streak and become a big winner. It started off well, and I really did enjoy the fact that Seth and Iris had been best friends since childhood. During those early chapters, I was eager to get back to reading it every time I had to put it down, but eventually it started to slow down for me, and in the end, it kind of fizzled out. Even though there were few character perspectives outside of Seth's and Iris's (the author seems to be getting away from her trademark multiple POVs), I still felt like there was a little too much focus on other characters and subplots and not nearly enough romance, sexual tension, and conflict to make our main couple truly stand out. Overall, The Homecoming has edged out Wild Man Creek for my favorite Robyn Carr book I've read this year, but it still didn't have quite enough gas to make it to keeper status for me.

Iris is a headstrong, independent woman. As a girl and later a teen, she was somewhat awkward and a bit of a tomboy. She fell for Seth when she was quite young and always wished he would see her as something more than his best friend and next-door neighbor. During their senior year of high school, she rescued him from a party when he got drunk after breaking up with his girlfriend. In his drunken stupor, Seth declared that he loved Iris and wanted to take her to the prom, and then proceeded to make love to her. The next day, he was back together with his girlfriend and taking the other girl to the prom, while it was abundantly clear to Iris that he had no memory of the night before with her. At that point, she refused to be friends with him anymore and although they've seen each other from time to time when he came to visit his family, they've mostly been out of touch for seventeen long years until Seth returns to Thunder Point as the new deputy sheriff. Even after all this time and even though they've each dated other people, Iris is still nursing a grudge against Seth. I can't say that I blamed Iris much for being upset with Seth for what he did to her even if he was under the influence of alcohol. After all, she'd loved him since she was just a girl and essentially felt like he'd used her that night, but there were times when I felt like her actions were just a tad immature, especially for a trained high school counselor. I think she was getting a little too caught up in the hurtful memories of her teenage self and not allowing herself to feel as an adult would. She realizes pretty quickly that she's still in love with Seth and never has, nor probably ever will, love anyone else, but she also fears that he just wants to be friends and may hurt her again if she allows him to get too close. Iris keeping Seth at arm's length was somewhat understandable given the circumstances, but it didn't really leave much room for actual romance or even sexual tension to build between them.

When Seth returns to Thunder Point, the first person he wants to see is Iris. He deeply misses the friendship they shared and realizes he lost something special when she refused to be his friend anymore. Although he's had vivid dreams of making love to Iris over the years, he doesn't remember anything about the drunken sex they shared that night in high school. He thinks she's still upset with him over not taking her to the prom, so it's difficult for him to understand where she's coming from. The moment Seth gets back, he goes on a single-minded pursuit of Iris, trying to make it clear how much he wants her back, and I had to give him kudos for his persistence in the face of her prickliness. Although it was obvious through his thoughts and actions that Seth wanted Iris as more than a friend, it just didn't quite come out that way on an emotional level. Overall, Seth was a very nice and likable guy, who cared about Iris, his family, his friends, and his town, but he didn't really do anything that made him stand out in my mind. He had no real internal conflicts to speak of. He's simply a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. Even the conflict with his dad over past mistakes that is hinted at in the cover blurb and his scars from the car accident that ended his football career aren't really that big of a deal.

As with all of the Robyn Carr books I've read this year, I felt like the weak link was the romance. Don't get me wrong, they were a cute couple and all, but I just didn't really feel the romance all that much. IMHO, Seth and Iris stayed in the friend zone a little too long. I was glad that it didn't take forever for the truth about their drunken teenage love-making to come out, and when it does Seth feels really bad about it. Once this happened, I thought it was opening the door for Seth to make some truly romantic overtures to show Iris just how much she means to him, but this still didn't exactly happen. Admittedly, it was sweet how he brought her food, medicine, etc. to help out when she was sick, but because he doesn't want to get sick too, he keeps at a distance physically speaking. From an emotional standpoint, they both keep each other at arm's length, him because he didn't want to push her too hard, too fast and her because she's afraid he's going to hurt her again. Unfortunately, this made it difficult for me to feel any romance building between them. Even their introspections are lacking any real romanticism or sexual tension. At this point, I couldn't help feeling that anything would have helped: longing looks, friendly touches that wreak havoc on the other's body, a hug, or even a peck on the cheek, but sadly nothing of that nature materialized. Their first love scene was kind of cute and sweet, but it seemed to happen too fast, not in the sense that it was too soon in the story (that actually took a while), but in the sense that I just didn't feel much emotion building up to it. It was a simple case of Iris finally revealing that she had feelings for Seth, him bringing her some flowers, and them falling into bed. After that, everything was hunky-dory between them with no real obstacles to overcome. I simply felt like there were several missed opportunities for the author to deepen this couple's connection that didn't ever come to fruition.

As I mentioned earlier, there wasn't a whole lot in the way of secondary POVs. The only ones I remember were Iris's friend, Grace, who now owns the local flower shop that used to belong to Iris's mother, and Iris's ex-boyfriend and teacher colleague, Troy. These two hang out a bit during the story and if the Thunder Point series continues (which I have every reason to believe it will), I suspect they'll become the hero and heroine of the next book. I liked Grace and felt like she was a good sounding board for Iris. Troy seemed nice too, but where I had a bit of a problem with him is that early in the story he's kind of a third wheel. He's still trying to court Iris even though it's obvious he's not the man for her. I think perhaps the author was trying to use him to add a bit of conflict, but IMO, he came off as more of an annoying distraction to Seth and Iris rebuilding their relationship. I also didn't really need to hear how much Iris enjoyed Troy's company, and more importantly, how much she'd enjoyed sex with him. Once would have been enough, if it even needed to be mentioned at all, but she ends up thinking about it multiple times, which only served to further dilute her connection to Seth. It also made Troy and Iris trying to remain friends a rather awkward prospect to my way of thinking.

The other main subplot that I thought had some potential centered around Rachel, a student at Iris's school and as it happens, the daughter of Seth's ex-girlfriend, who appears to possibly be the victim of some kind of abuse. When this storyline got started, I thought it was pretty interesting and gave Iris something to do outside of her relationship with Seth. Of course, Seth got pulled into it too, since he's the local law enforcement officer. Where it all kind of fell apart for me though, was in the final chapters, which read more like a public service announcement about teenage dating abuse. Also, the climax to this subplot could have been very tense, but instead it was rather dull with Troy really being the one who saved the day instead of Seth.

Overall, The Homecoming was a decent read. It was better for me than the last two Thunder Point books. The last three of Robyn Carr's books I've read were way too similar in plot and characters, so I have to give the author an A for effort in creating a different kind of story with different types of characters, which made for a more engaging reading experience. Unfortunately though, she only gets a C+ from me on the execution, because the characters and their romance fell a little flat for me. If Ms. Carr had deepened her characterizations a little more especially in the area of the relationship building it would have been a definite keeper for sure, but as is, The Homecoming gets a B (aka four stars) from me.

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publicist via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robyn Carr’s books are a perfect way to relax during hot summer days. When you add the wonderful narration by the amazing Therese Plummer, you get a book that is undemanding, but interesting enough to follow you anywhere. I’ve been jumping back and forth through this series, which is something I never do, but whichever installment I choose, fun and romance is pretty much guaranteed.

Seth and Iris have been best friends since childhood, despite their often diverging paths. They understood each other and supported each other through everything, until Seth ruined it all during their senior year in high school. For 17 years after that, the two have been cordial at best, and even though Seth had repeatedly tried to fix what was wrong between them, Iris wouldn’t let him come close. Now that Seth is back in Thunder Point, though, Iris has little choice but to give him a chance to show how much he’s changed. We get to watch them find their footing again, restart a tentative friendship that can, and definitely will grow to become something more.

As usual, everything about Thunder Point is warm and familiar. We see some of our previous heroes and heroines live their happy lives and we also get hints of those that are yet to come. Carr incorporates a few secondary storylines through Iris’ job as a high school counselor and Seth’s job as the town’s deputy sheriff. There are old flames, new friends, a touch of conflict and some resentment within Seth’s family that needs to be resolved. The whole atmosphere feels much like coming home after a long absence, and it’s my very favorite thing about this series.

I already mentioned Therese Plummer’s perfect narration, but it bears repeating. She is most memorable for her excellent male voices and her light-hearted tone that matches the mood in these books perfectly. She makes 10 hours fly by and I could probably listen to her for days on end. The very best narrators add something to the story, and Plummer is definitely one of them.

I have yet to read Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series, but I have no doubt I’ll enjoy it just as much, if not more than Thunder Point. For now, I have scheduled one more return to my favorite small town and I already know it’s going to be pleasant.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thunder Point #6 The Homecoming
5🌟

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book featured "new" characters. Scott and Iris grew up in Thunderpoint and we're best friends until a HUGE miscommunication and event changed their friendship.

Scott went on to be a pro-footbal player and Iris stayed in Thunderpoint. Now Scott's football came to end and he moved back home to take Mac's position as Mac got promoted to Coquille.

When Iris sees Scotf in town all those feelings came rushing back. Can she forgive Scott for the mistake that He made 17 years ago and can they see each other for the grown up people they are now?

I love Therese Plummer as the narrator for these series. While I loved the story, I had issues with the MCs. I can't believe Iris carried a grudge for 17 years and I can't believe Scott didn't work harder to find out why his best friend cut him out of her life. But it was a good story nonetheless

[Kate Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I can't put a book down until I finish it, it's clearly five stars. THE HOMECOMING, latest in the Thunder Point series, qualified in spades. Perhaps why I'm so bleary-eyed today. Seth Sileski comes home to Thunder Point intent in getting his father to understand what really happened with a car accident ended his pro-football career with the Seahawks. A second goal is to make up with his former best friend. Since their senior year right before the prom, Iris McKinley, now a high school counselor, has had nothing but scowls for him. But he's always loved her. Or has he? Maybe what he feels is just what being a good friend should feel. (Guess again, Seth.)

When he finally learns WHY Iris is so prickly with him, he's abashed and will do whatever he can so she'll forgive him.

When two high schoolers become involved in a violent encounter, confirming what Iris had suspected, how both Iris and Seth, now the Deputy Sheriff in town, resolve the situation also provides the vehicle by which they come to the ultimate conclusion to their slowly-evolving relationship.

If you want to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and FORCED to sit and read until you finish the book, pick up THE HOMECOMING. You won't regret it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Reni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robyn Carr does it again. Another great story involving the Thunder Point family. I'm enjoying this series as much as VR.

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 4 out of 5]

hotness rating 3 out of 5

How does she do it? How does every book in this series just keep getting better and better. The Homecoming, book six in the Thunder Point series brings us Seth's story. Seth wasn't mentioned a lot in the previous books, so I didn't know what to expect or anticipate. After reading this book I am pretty sure Seth is my favorite. I know, I know! I say that a lot with these books, but I'm sure this time. Probably. Maybe.

Seth Sileski had it all and lost it all in a horrific car crash. Losing his pro-football career and almost his life was bad, but even worse was knowing that he played a part in the accident even though the other guy was the one at fault. Through hard work and determination Seth rehabbed and got a job as a Sheriff and now he's finally been appointed as sheriff back in his hometown. Seth knows that it's probably too late to make amends with his dad, but he misses his family and is happy to be given a chance at coming home, again. And when he sets his sights on his best friend from high school, who just upped and stopped talking to him, Seth is finally starting to feel alive, again.

Iris McKinley lost her virginity and her best friend all in the same weekend. She's older and wiser now. She's over it! Or so she thought. Now, that Seth is back in town and showing up everywhere she is she confesses, if only to herself, that she may not be over it or Seth as much as she thought.

I loved Seth and the man that he is. Once Iris confesses to him what caused her to give up their friendship all those years before he steps up and tries to make amends. I love his sense of humor and his loyalty. Iris was funny and I loved how she didn't over-dramatize the whole situation and let it go. Don't get me wrong I felt for her and she had every right to be mad, but the fact that she was able to see the situation for what it was knowing the type of man Seth was and accepting his apology really showed character. I laughed out loud when Iris got sick and Seth came to take care of her. The banter between these two was as fun as the attraction.

This book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley.com.

You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com

[Pam Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 The Homecoming Stars

I very much liked this story. I am a fan of second chance romance’s. This book just was sweet and a little sad but what I loved about it is that it is also real.

The guidance counsellor doesn’t always have all the answers but she is there for and ear or someone to get advice from. I really liked how friendly she was with everyone.

But she was real too, when her old friend comes back she doesn’t through any punches she tells him like it is. And how much he hurt her. She isn’t looking for their friendship back but he is persistent and doesn’t give us at all. (Which just made me like him all the more.)

This book also deals with some heavy issues, like accidents (cars) and abuse. I liked how it wasn’t a side note it was our in the open and talked about discussed and with possible solutions.

I love Therese Plummer she just puts so much emotion into her performance’s you can’t help but love the book based on that alone.

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

Once they were best friends
He crushed her then moved away
Can she forgive him?

Another winner
Series, but could stand alone
I love Thunder Point!

Rereading series August 2015. Still love it!

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and through it have become a fan of this author. I've become quite invested in this unique cast of characters that live in Thunder Point and look forward to the next book in the series!

[ShoSho · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The problem with the series is that everything is shallow and on the surface . There are a lot of subjects that can be turned into great story lines but we only get glimpses of them. There is no in-depth for anything !

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Ohhhh…I liked Seth a lot. Smart, give him flaw that doesn’t get him down. Yes! McKinley was usually cool but at times she became that typical ‘crazy broad’ that makes me crazy but luckily she didn’t stick to it too long.
I truly appreciate the way Robyn Carr weaves the various characters from the past and the subtle way she slips future protagonists into the story. It all feels so darn cohesive like real life.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of redemption and second chances. Seth and Iris had been best friends all their lives, up until their senior year in high school. They played and teased and talked, sharing all aspects of their lives. By the time they were in high school, Seth was the popular football star, while Iris was the shy nerd with the huge crush on him. They were still friends, though it was hard on her when he came to her with his girl problems. Then one night he got drunk after breaking up with his girlfriend and Iris came to his rescue before his parents could see him like that. He was lost in an alcohol haze when he put the moves on her, with things progressing as they usually do. He also promised to take her to the prom, a promise that was forgotten along with all the other events of that night. He broke her heart when he made up with his girlfriend the next day, and never understood why she was so furious with him and ending their friendship.

His football career sent him to the pros, but a terrible car accident ended that career very early on. He then decided to go into police work and has become the new deputy in charge of the Thunder Point office. This gives him the chance to come home and try to repair his reputation with the town, his father, and especially Iris. He has never forgotten her, and really wants a chance to make things right with her.

Iris became a school guidance counselor and came home to work at the local high school. She is great with the kids, especially since she still remembers what things were like when she was in school. Iris has never forgotten what Seth did. Having him move back to Thunder Point brings back the hurt every time she sees him. She tells him flat out that she doesn't want to see him or talk to him, and is frustrated when he ignores her wishes. She finally blows her top at him and lets him know exactly what happened all those years ago. He's horrified, and determined to make things up to her. Iris just wants him to leave her alone because she's discovered the old feelings are still there. She doesn't want to risk falling deeper for him and having him walk away again.

I loved Seth's determination. He has finally realized that Iris was the one for him all along, but he has to convince her of that. He starts out by trying to repair their friendship, somewhat awkwardly but very sweet. There are some pretty funny moments as he tries to show her how he's changed. I especially loved the sweetness he showed when she was sick and he was taking care of her. He slowly works his way back into her life, but then has to figure out a way to move beyond friendship. That scene ended up being one of the funniest in the book.

I got a little frustrated with Iris because she would not let the past go. She has spent seventeen years thinking about what happened and being mad at him. She knows she is being stupid about it, but doesn't seem to be able to stop herself. As their friendship is slowly rebuilt she falls the rest of the way in love with him and is afraid of what will happen to her when he walks away again. I liked the way that she finally worked up the courage to lay her feelings out for him and what happened when she did.

One of my favorite things about the book was the transformation of Seth from the cocky kid to the kind and caring man that he is now. He was obviously very happy in his new profession and it showed in everything he did. There weren't too many events showing him at his work, but the ones that were there were fantastic. The first one, where he broke up the fight between the two men showed Iris as nothing else could just what the new Seth was made of. Another facet of the new Seth was his friendship with Oscar and what it said about his sense of responsibility. Seth was also determined to repair his relationship with his father, and that seemed to be the most difficult task of all. Even that event had its moments of laughter.

I loved the romance between Seth and Iris. Though it had it rocky start, because they had been friends for so long it really didn't take long for it to develop. Being with Seth gave Iris the sense of family she hadn't had since her mother's death. Seth had family, but Iris gave him back his feelings of being part of something special. I really loved the way that they could talk to each other about anything and just be there for each other when they'd had a bad day. I loved seeing Iris get involved in trying to help Seth with his father.

There was a secondary storyline that had Iris dealing with a case of suspected abuse of one of her high schoolers. She was really worried about this young lady and the best way to handle the case while keeping her safe. She agonized over it, especially when she discovered the abuser was not who she expected it to be. There were some very tense moments as the situation was dealt with and the final confrontation was really scary.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST THOUGHTS:

So. Damn. Good. I just love the way Seth & Iris work it all out between them. And I love revisiting Thunder Point to see all these familiar places again! CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

REVIEW:

(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

Just after I’d read The Promise, I got The Homecoming for review. I tried to resist it for a couple of days, but finally caved on a random Friday and decided to read it. I kid you not – I devoured that baby from start to finish, without stopping for anything. The novel had a potent combination that worked its magic on me: a fantastic couple to root for + familiar & beloved faces that made appearances + Thunder Point.

Seth’s recently returned to Thunder Point to take over as Sheriff. While he’s been in and out of town over the years to visit his mother, he’s decided to take on a more permanent role. It’s clear that he really cares about Thunder Point and the people in it, but he’s also back for two other reasons: to make things right with his father, and to make things right with Iris. Honestly, it was not at all hard for Seth to win me over. He’s funny (and capable of laughing at himself), he’s loyal, he’s smart, and he’s dedicated to his job and his family. Really, he’s just an adult version of the boy next door, and I found myself utterly charmed.

Iris, on the other hand, has stayed in Thunder Point and works at the high school as a guidance counselor. I love that she chose to dedicate her life to doing something good for others, and that she takes her role very seriously. She’s a smart lady, and reads people very well. I do love that she’s also a bit of a spaz, very forthright about what she thinks, and can also deck a grown man properly. (Seriously, that bit made me laugh!) But Iris has a good heart, if one that has been broken severely before… by one Seth Sileski.

Yes, Seth broke Iris’ heart when they were both still teenagers in high school. And I’ve got to tell you, the how of the situation was really surprising! Make no mistake, I was just as angry at Seth as Iris was for a time. But the thing is, people do make mistakes, and the best they can do is try to make up for them. Witnessing Seth make up for his mistake because he cared about Iris was really heart-warming, and wonderful, and eventually, like Iris, I found myself realizing that Seth Sileski was most definitely still the love of her life.

Clearly, this romance was So. Damn. Good. But it’s also not the only plot arc in The Homecoming! There’s also the matter of Seth’s relationship with his family, and some very serious issues that pop up in the town involving the kids and teens. I liked that these things all felt like an authentic addition to the story, and an integral part of settling readers into the small town of Thunder Point. It made me feel like I was immersed completely in this town and its residents all over again, and nothing could be better.

By the time I finished The Homecoming, I really could not keep the grin off of my face. I honestly just love this place & these characters so very much, and will basically read anything that comes out involving Thunder Point. I’m eager to get my hands on the next one already!

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
I think that this has been my favorite book in this series so far. I really liked this one!

Seth has come home for two reasons...
1. To find some way to connect with his father who has never forgiven him for losing his chances at his NFL career.
2. To reconnect with his childhood and adolescent best friend, Iris. They had a disagreement their senior year in high school over the prom and things have never been the same between them since, even though they were best friends since the age of four.

Everything about the backstory in this one worked for me. Seth was king as a teenager. He literally had life by the balls...fabulous football player and charming with great looks. The problem...he was a teenager so he had the lack of maturity that went along with all that too. Ultimately that cost him a whole heck of a lot, but he's older now and has definitely learned from his mistakes.

One of those mistakes was Iris and unfortunately, Seth has no clue the depth of what he really did on that night before prom...he was drunk and doesn't remember. But Iris wasn't drunk and she can't forgive or forget the fact that she was the only one putting forth an effort in their very one-sided relationship. That night was the final straw for her.

This book is all about second chances and making things right after everything goes completely wrong. Like I said before, everything about the back stories here worked for me. Seth is the character with the huge emotional character arc on this one, but a lot of that growth happened before the book ever started. He is so conscious of how he screwed everything up when he was younger. He only wants to fix that. There is so much to admire about this guy...his relationship and support of Oliver, his entire career choice which was never easy after his injury, his realization that he's never had a woman affect him like Iris and he knows that's something precious that he threw away.

But Iris isn't a pushover. She knows that her heart is in jeopardy when it comes to Seth. Her feelings for him, no matter how mad or hurt she was, have never completely dissolved. I definitely felt for her as she was just trying to protect her heart from shattering again...even in the midst of their rekindling friendship. I also love how up-front she is about everything...even though it can be humiliating. She's not afraid to put herself out there as long as it involves complete honesty.

There's also several side stories going on that I also really enjoyed...the high school abuse, Troy's crush on Iris. I'm hoping Troy and Grace connect eventually. I love Troy and think there's so much more to him that hasn't been revealed yet.

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

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The charm of the Thunder Point series is the feeling of coming home. Carr has written this series around a small Oregon coastal town where everyone knows everyone's business and is always willing to lend a helping hand. The Homecoming is a slight step away from this hometown feel. Although it is a returning home to Thunder Point story, these characters have been absent from previous books so you need to meet and learn all about them from this story itself. I enjoyed The Homecoming but didn't have the same immediate connection to the past characters. Many of the previous characters which normally play large secondary roles are absent or slightly mentioned as well. Carr has definitely taken us away from the familiar to something new.

I received this ARC copy of The Homecoming from Harlequin MIRA in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 26, 2014.

Written by: Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point
Sequence in series: Book 6
Page Count: 352 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Rating: 4 Stars
ISBN-10: 0778316440
ISBN-13: 978-0778316442
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Thunder Point. After reading this, I swear I’m moving here.

Carr brings this fantastic world to life in the most complete way. One can easily picture Thunder Point and its surroundings through her intricate yet natural descriptions. The storyline was captivating. Carr combines past heartbreak with present healing to take you on a very emotional ride. Throw in a dash of heat and some unexpected trouble and you have a winner. Carr also tackles some very difficult and touchy subjects that most of us try not to think about in our everyday lives. She does so with tact, but definitely packs a punch.

The history between the characters was heartbreaking. Seeing them go from what was & what might have been to what is was profoundly enriching. I could easily put myself in both the main characters’ shoes. Carr develops them in such a manner that you not only get to know them but can also identify with them. It brings this story to a whole new emotional level.

This is one of those novels that could be read as a standalone or as part of the series. Carr gives you all of the background on the main characters and tells their complete story in this novel. That said, for a deeper context and a more well-rounded view of Thunder Point and its inhabitants, I would suggest reading the series in order.

This is a heart-warming, heartbreaking, healing story. It’s the perfect tale to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea (or glass of wine) and enjoy. I definitely did.

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

[ScarlettReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors and I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I just liked it and almost didn’t finish reading it.

I had a tough time with the first half of the book as the story seemed to drag for me and just didn’t have the feel of Ms. Carr’s writing. The second half of the book was more exciting and read more like a typical Robyn Carr novel.

While Seth and Iris have a rich back story going back to their childhood, I didn’t feel their chemistry. They are good friends whose relationship evolves into lovers, but they are missing that spark that makes a passionate love story memorable.

I liked both characters as individuals. Iris is interesting, strong, and independent and has a passion for working with the high school students. Seth is a dedicated and sweet guy to his family and friends and loves his community. I loved his friendships with Oscar and Robbie and enjoyed seeing how those relationships changed over the years.

I also liked that Ms. Carr had a secondary story of teenage dating abuse, but I think that storyline should have been more prevalent in the book. That is such an important topic that isn’t discussed much and should have been the biggest theme of the story.

Overall, this story did not have the same feel as the other Thunder Point books and was disappointing.

[Catherine Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I confess; I'm a Thunder Point fan. Robyn Carr seldom disappoints me. But I particularly loved this story because it's about a man who totally blew it as a teenager with the only woman he can ever really love. It reminded me of when I was a teenager myself, how deeply a wound to my heart hurt me, and how long it took me to get over it. I totally understood how the heroine felt and why she was so guarded when the love of her life returns home and targets her again. Yet, at the same time, as the mother of two wonderful sons, I could also understand how easily a teenage boy could have screwed up and unwittingly broken the heart of the girl who was his best friend. He loved her even then, but he wasn't mature enough to realize it.

This is a great story! Ms. Carr has a glorious talent for layering her books with wonderful secondary characters and story threads. I highly recommend this book as your next read.

Catherine Anderson
Author of Silver Thaw, A Mystic Creek Novel

[Debbie Oxier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. I had a difficult time getting into the characters and that's never happened with one of her books before. For one thing I found Seth hard to like. The way he treated Iris in the past, the hurt she experienced and then her easy acceptance of his apology just didn't work for me. While the author made a nice statement about the effects of bullying and the consequences of speeding, at times it seemed like she was making more of a public service announcement than telling a story. It made the book drag in places. Hope the next one is back to her usual style.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful book in Carr's amazing Thunder Point Series. As usual, it has fantastic characters, a picturesque setting, and a compelling storyline. I loved both Seth and Iris, and they were wonderful together! It was a very nice second chance at romance storyline, and it was good to see other familiar characters appear. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Kate]

So I am big fan of Robyn Carr. I have all of the Virgin River and Grace Valley books. Up to this book I had also read all of the Thunder Point books. I hate to do this but I did not connect with the characters. Seth actually annoyed me so much that I wanted to scream out loud. I'm really disappointed.

[phoebess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. I liked the heroine almost as much as I liked the hero—Seth was so perfectly flawed and funny I forgot to think more deeply about those supporting stories. Then, chapter seventeen came up and I was like, "Oh, it's that Troy, from the Virgin River series! Well, now I feel stupid for not figuring it out sooner."

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the Thunder Point series. Story and characters were good, as always. Some excellent and timely information related to domestic abuse, teenage driving, etc. but all linked meaningfully to the storyline.