The Promise (Thunder Point #5) by Robyn Carr
Contemporary Romance
June 24, 2014
Harlequin
Reviewed by Helyce
Dr. Scott Grant left the hussle and bussle of city life when his wife died, leaving him a single parent to two young children. Needing a simpler, more flexible job, he moved to the beautiful coastal town of Thunder Point where he has a small family practice. The community welcomed him and his children with open arms, thrilled to have a doctor right in the town again. All too soon, however, Dr. Grant realizes that he could really use some help and advertises for a Physician’s assistant. He’s not holding his breath on that though, as he can’t pay very much.
Peyton Lacoumette is not really interested or looking for a job, especially in Thunder Point, when she happens upon the add for a PA, but she’s at loose ends so she takes a drive there to check it out. Having recently ended a long term relationship with a man whom she also worked with, Peyton has set some rules for herself; namely, no dating–especially a man with children. But there is something that attracts her to the town of Thunder Point and she finds herself turning in her resume and accepting an offer to work with Scott for a limited time of three months.
There is definite attraction on Scott’s part. He hasn’t really dated much since his wife died and the dating pool in Thunder Point is basically empty. He also knows, in his heart, that Peyton won’t be sticking around. She’s a highly sought after PA, who worked with a prestigious doctor and can pretty much get a job anywhere. Why would she want to stay?
I admit, initially I saw way too many similarities in this series to Ms. Carr’s Virgin River series. Jack’s Bar is the Beach Bar that Cooper runs; Cooper is Jack, the small town with the generous community, etc. It made a couple of the early books in this series a little less enjoyable for me as I kept finding myself keeping track of the similarities as I read. The book before this one, The Chance, changed my feelings towards this series a bit. Yes, thematically, there are similarities, but I found that storywise the couples being introduced were fresh and not recycled from previous books. I found that to be true in this book as well.
I’ve liked Scott’s character since he arrived with his two children and set up his practice. Though his wife had only been gone a short time, and he missed her terribly, I got the feeling that he would not be alone long. He seemed to notice any available woman and I couldn’t help but speculate if each one would be “the one”. He seemed to not only want a woman in his life, but need one–and not just because he had two young children. He seemed to need the company and the partnership of a relationship–he was not man who would be happy alone.
So I found it intriguing that this author decided on a heroine who was absolutely not looking for a man and most certainly did not want a man with children. Having been burned, big time, by her previous boyfriend who had 3 teenaged children that she’d more than helped to raise over their three year relationship, Peyton is all about Peyton. She’s taking some time, and the sleepy town of Thunder Point is just what she needs to re-group before moving back to the city and getting serious about a job. This is where Ms. Carr excels in her storytelling. Without even realizing it, Peyton falls in love with the town and it’s people. I also loved Peyton’s backstory. She’d grown up on a very successful farm; one of 8 children. She’d grown up with a lot of love and hard work and some of my favorite scenes were the ones with her family; especially the ones with all the food descriptions.
Though predictable, the conflict introduced worked for this story. It confirmed a strength and loyalty in Peyton and I was not at all surprised by her actions even when I wanted her to just walk away and not get involved. It provided the necessary doubt that Scott needed to have about things so that he could prove to himself that he was right all along and Peyton never had any intention of staying. I very much enjoyed what Scott did to make things right.
I still find myself noticing similarities in my reading, but they are not as glaring or obvious as they were in the beginning of this series. As the cast of characters grows, I find I’m really looking forward to returning to the town of Thunder Point.
Rating: B
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This is def. on my list. Love Robyn.
Yay! I hope you enjoy it!