The Newcomer by Robyn Carr (Thunder Point #2)
June 25, 2013
Contemporary
Harlequin
Reviewed by Helyce
In The Newcomer, we return to the idyllic coastal town of Thunder Point and the continuing story of Gina and Mac who got together toward the end of the previous book, The Wanderer. I was thrilled to be getting more of Gina and Mac in this story. I felt much more invested in their uneasy courtship in book one and really wanted to see some of their back story. In typical friends to lovers fashion, Mac and Gina-both single parents-had forged a strong friendship over the years but ignored their attraction to each other for many years until they just could not deny themselves any longer.
As they adapt to the change in their relationship, finding “alone time” is difficult. Mac has three kids, a full time job and Gina has a teenage daughter and runs the local diner. If that wasn’t enough, Mac’s x-wife returns to town wanting to see her children and build a relationship after abandoning them and Mac several years earlier.
I looked forward to more on Mac and Gina. I wanted to feel their relationship change. Both Gina and Mac put everything aside to raise their children, putting themselves last always. It felt like they’d been courting for years and they’d finally realized that they loved each other. Of course, just as they are getting there, Mac’s x-wife Ceejay shows up claiming to want to build a relationship with their children. Though I felt it was important we “meet” Mac’s X, I felt her story line was weak and silly. Though it definitely showed her true colors, I was thrilled that she was there and gone and hopefully we won’t see her again.
But Mac and Gina were not the only focus in this story. Hank and Sarah from book one are also front and center in this book. They are also trying to navigate their new relationship. Sarah is keeping a huge secret from Hank and this kind of rubbed me the wrong way. While I understood Sarah’s torment about what might happen, I would have thought the first thing she should have done was talk it through with Hank and her brother Landon. They would all be affected and would be blindsided in the end. Additionally, Hank receives some news that completely threw me for a loop. It came completely out of left field and while everyone finds their happy place in spite of the “surprise”, I can’t see its purpose except to possibly bring new characters to the town.
An additional side story involved Gina’s daughter Ashley. Ashley is 16 and dealing with missing her boyfriend, Downey, who is a freshman in college. When he breaks her heart, she doesn’t deal with it well and becomes extremely depressed. If that wasn’t enough, Ashley has to deal with some cyber bullying from Downey’s new girlfriend. I thought the issue of depression and getting Ashley the help she needed was well done. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in how the cyber bullying aspect was handled. Today, with all the social media available to our children, this happens all too often. In the story, they knew who was directly responsible, but she was not held accountable at all and received no punishment of any kind.
Robyn Carr is well known for her Virgin River books and I have to admit right up front that I am a huge fan of that series. So I was thrilled to learn that she was starting something new. Upon reading The Wanderer, I immediately saw some similarities in the set up though. A small town, a close knit community where everyone takes care of everyone, and a “lead” character and place that becomes a focal point within the series. I love Ms. Carr’s writing style; she pulls me in from page one and as I read it’s like watching a movie of the week in my head. Each book is a continuation of the previous one and characters have ongoing story lines. We meet new people along the way and get glimpses into their lives and loves-but there is a core group of characters that we see consistently. It’s what keeps me invested in the series.
I’m not quite “there” with this new series yet. I’m intrigued and interested enough to see where she plans to take us in Thunder Point. I don’t feel a strong attachment to these characters yet, and I worry about the similarities in content and style to Virgin River. The Hero is up next.
Rating: C
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Always on my list.