Release Day Review: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

The Wanderer
by Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point #1
Publisher : Harlequin 
Publication date: March 26, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary small-town series
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
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From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes Thunder Point-the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you'll never forget. Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands.  Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful.  With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

Robyn Carr is the author of one of my favorite small town romance series Virgin River and when it came to an end after twenty books and five years I was deeply sadden. I worried that her new series Thunder Point would not give me the same warm and fuzzy feeling that Jack and the folks of Virgin River gave me. The Wanderer blasted those fears out of the park, and I am in love with a small beach town nestled on the Oregon coast line and the folks who live there.

The tale begins as Hank Cooper is making his way to Thunder Point after a message that his fellow military buddy has died and left him something. We met Hank previously in Virgin River. He is retired military and a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He has been working odd jobs as a civilian pilot and living out of his trailer. His plan is to find out what happen to his buddy before moving on to the next job. What he finds may just have him rethinking his nomad, no strings life.

Cooper as his friends like to call him is rugged, tall and oh so smexy. He’s been told he has intimacy issues and he would agree. I really liked this noble, stand up guy and he quickly stole my heart. We meet the townsfolk and learn some of their stories. Mac, thirty-six is the police chief and father of three. He married young after his high school sweetheart got pregnant and while he was in for the long haul she was not. He lives with his kids and his hilarious Aunt. Gina is a single mom working at the local diner and putting herself through college. She and Mac are best buddies and she secretly wishes it was more. Sarah is a Coast Guard Rescue pilot and is raising her sixteen year old brother. This strong woman was seriously damaged by her rocky, emotional marriage and is not looking for commitment. We meet other unique characters and I cannot wait to go back. The character interaction, witty banter and romantic moments are all things I adore in Carr's small-town series.

This was a delightful intro to the series, and Carr did an excellent job of introducing us to the characters and town. There were several threads and a few romances in this quaint little seaside town. This was really Sarah and Coopers romance, and things did not really develop between them until about half way through the book. While the wait was killer the romance was sweet,  hot, delicious, and heartwarming. There was bully, a murder and other town drama that kept me completely immersed and of course sold me on this little town. While I can seem similarities in friendships, and settings I think Thunder Point will hold its own against my beloved Virgin River.

Fans of small-towns, romance and endearing characters will love The Wanderer. I am looking forward to The Newcomer the second book in the series scheduled to release on June 25, 2013.

Four cups of diner coffee out of five

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