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Thunder Point #8
A New Hope
Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again. In this brand-new story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope.
After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.
In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.
But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.
After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.
In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.
But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2015
About the author
Robyn Carr
206 books11.6k followers 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/.
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/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 558 reviews
July 19, 2022
Ginger Dysart is slowly recovering from the loss of her child on top of the disintegration of her ill-advised marriage. Working in the Thunder Point flower shop and being around a network of interesting and supportive women has raised her from a dark abyss. When she "meets" Matt Lacoumette at his sister's wedding reception, it's an unlikely encounter between two people rebounding from painful life events.
I loved this story for several reasons.
The books in this series always provide me with a reliable reading experience. I can count on a strong sense of community and family, heartwarming moments and likable characters. I loved everything about Ginger and Matt's romance and rise from despair. It was a lovely return to Thunder Point.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I loved this story for several reasons.
First, Ginger's descent into severe depression was understandable, presenting a very realistic response to the loss of a child. When her cousin, Ray Anne, steps in and moves her to Thunder Point, it begins an extraordinary healing process that exemplifies the best the community has to offer. The town embraces Ginger without pity, just giving her a reason to get up each day and breathe.
Next, when Matt comes to Thunder Point to try and make amends to Ginger for his boorish behavior at the wedding reception, we're introduced to one of the most unconventional, intense characters I've come across. He's passionate, unpredictable and charming but his behavior can also border on oddness at times. Though he's got some serious issues stemming from his first marriage, his romance with Ginger is a delight.
Lastly, family is again a strong theme and both Ginger and Matt are surrounded by caring members who are an important part of their lives. They're a major aspect of the story and make a very big difference.
The books in this series always provide me with a reliable reading experience. I can count on a strong sense of community and family, heartwarming moments and likable characters. I loved everything about Ginger and Matt's romance and rise from despair. It was a lovely return to Thunder Point.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
March 2, 2021
A new Hope is a beautiful adult romance story. It has many depth moral messages about marriage, love and expectation. For me it speaks sometimes lust/ adoration is not enough to survive marriage. But honesty and communication do have major contribution to success of marriage.
The relationship that builds between Matt and Ginger is slow. I enjoy it very much with such thoughtful conversation. I love seeing their friendship building into something much more and at the end acceptance and forgiveness. Both POV have different view and opinion. It is such relieve to finally hear the truth when times is right. Truth sets you free.
I had a bad experience with Miss Carr previous book. A New Hope gives me... well... new hope to pick up her other book.
4 stars
The relationship that builds between Matt and Ginger is slow. I enjoy it very much with such thoughtful conversation. I love seeing their friendship building into something much more and at the end acceptance and forgiveness. Both POV have different view and opinion. It is such relieve to finally hear the truth when times is right. Truth sets you free.
I had a bad experience with Miss Carr previous book. A New Hope gives me... well... new hope to pick up her other book.
4 stars
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July 7, 2024I like the way Carr interweaves the continuing stories of characters occupying the same setting in a series, as in the Virgin River series and here in the Thunder Point series. Mostly, Carr's characters are ordinary, decent people who work for a living, a high school teacher, a florist, a farmer, a woman who lost a child to SIDS. These books are like peanuts; you can't stop with just one because the characters are always relatable and capable and attractive, and because Carr always plays fair and lets you know the rest of their story in subsequent books.
In the last book she introduced her first wealthy character, whose unimaginable wealth played havoc with the hero's head, although no question it's better to have money if you have ALS. That character is the center of one of the main plot lines here, along with the usual introduction of new characters to carry the series forward. There's a very attractive young man named Charlie I'd like to see more of.
My one caveat with this series is the many, many (one per book, even) accidental pregnancies, that almost invariably end in marriage and HEA. After a while there is a feeling of bumping up pretty hard against reality.
In the last book she introduced her first wealthy character, whose unimaginable wealth played havoc with the hero's head, although no question it's better to have money if you have ALS. That character is the center of one of the main plot lines here, along with the usual introduction of new characters to carry the series forward. There's a very attractive young man named Charlie I'd like to see more of.
My one caveat with this series is the many, many (one per book, even) accidental pregnancies, that almost invariably end in marriage and HEA. After a while there is a feeling of bumping up pretty hard against reality.
July 7, 2020
Great upbeat romance.... 8th is the series, on to the last!
November 8, 2023
Thunder Point #8 A New Hope
3🌟
3🌟
June 30, 2015
Piper's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
A New Hope is the eighth book in Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning. I have enjoyed all the books so far, and I was so looking forward to Ginger’s story after meeting her in the previous book. I fell in love with Ginger and my heart broke for her as she came to Thunder Point to put her life back together after the loss of her marriage and her infant son. Sadly this book was such a let-down for me.
Have you ever read a book that you just could not put your finger on why you didn’t like it? That happened with me after finishing A New Hope. I can’t tell you oh I didn’t like this book because of… When I finished the book I just thought that’s it. That’s Ginger’s story. That is what I waited for. I just felt blah, and that has never really happened to me after reading Robyn Carr. I was kind of thrown off by it. I just felt that Ginger’s story could have been so much more. I could not decide if I liked Ginger with Matt or not. I could not even decide if I liked Matt for that matter. For me there was just something missing and still after finishing the book weeks ago and re-reading parts, I just can’t put my finger on it. It just did nothing for me and I hate to say that, because I love Robyn Carr and her writing. I can’t tell you how many times I recommend her Virgin River series as well as this series to others looking for great contemporary romance.
I did enjoy seeing into the lives of the past couples. I am still missing the interaction between the teens, who are now in college. I will say even after being let-down with Ginger’s story, Ms. Carr still managed to get me interested in Lin and Charlie who will be the focus of Wildest Dreams the next book in the series.
My blah feelings for A New Hope will not stop me from continuing to read this series. I am still very much looking forward to see what happens with Lin and Charlie.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
A New Hope is the eighth book in Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning. I have enjoyed all the books so far, and I was so looking forward to Ginger’s story after meeting her in the previous book. I fell in love with Ginger and my heart broke for her as she came to Thunder Point to put her life back together after the loss of her marriage and her infant son. Sadly this book was such a let-down for me.
Have you ever read a book that you just could not put your finger on why you didn’t like it? That happened with me after finishing A New Hope. I can’t tell you oh I didn’t like this book because of… When I finished the book I just thought that’s it. That’s Ginger’s story. That is what I waited for. I just felt blah, and that has never really happened to me after reading Robyn Carr. I was kind of thrown off by it. I just felt that Ginger’s story could have been so much more. I could not decide if I liked Ginger with Matt or not. I could not even decide if I liked Matt for that matter. For me there was just something missing and still after finishing the book weeks ago and re-reading parts, I just can’t put my finger on it. It just did nothing for me and I hate to say that, because I love Robyn Carr and her writing. I can’t tell you how many times I recommend her Virgin River series as well as this series to others looking for great contemporary romance.
I did enjoy seeing into the lives of the past couples. I am still missing the interaction between the teens, who are now in college. I will say even after being let-down with Ginger’s story, Ms. Carr still managed to get me interested in Lin and Charlie who will be the focus of Wildest Dreams the next book in the series.
My blah feelings for A New Hope will not stop me from continuing to read this series. I am still very much looking forward to see what happens with Lin and Charlie.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
June 5, 2015
A New Hope is a marvelous story of new beginnings.
After facing a double dose of tremendous and life altering grief, where do you turn? For Ginger Dysart, it was Thunder Point.
I guess you could say, Ginger is learning to live again when Matt stumbles into Ginger's path. Together they learn that even with deep hurt life still goes on.
Heartfelt, sexy and wonderfully real, the people you meet at Thunder Point will stick with you long after the story ends.
For me, I love Carr's ability to bring a community alive in her work. Every story draws us deeper into the heart of that community making us yearn for more.
I received this ARC copy of A New Hope from Mira in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
Written by: Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point
Sequence in Series: Book 8
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
ISBN-10: 0778317366
ISBN-13: 978-0778317364
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com
After facing a double dose of tremendous and life altering grief, where do you turn? For Ginger Dysart, it was Thunder Point.
I guess you could say, Ginger is learning to live again when Matt stumbles into Ginger's path. Together they learn that even with deep hurt life still goes on.
Heartfelt, sexy and wonderfully real, the people you meet at Thunder Point will stick with you long after the story ends.
For me, I love Carr's ability to bring a community alive in her work. Every story draws us deeper into the heart of that community making us yearn for more.
I received this ARC copy of A New Hope from Mira in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
Written by: Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point
Sequence in Series: Book 8
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
ISBN-10: 0778317366
ISBN-13: 978-0778317364
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 23, 2015
Reviewed for THC Reviews
A New Hope, the latest installment in Robyn Carr's Thunder Point series, isn't one of my favorites, but it was a nice visit to this tranquil seaside town. In general, of late, Ms. Carr's writing hasn't enthralled me in quite the same way that many of her Virgin River books did. There are few of the Thunder Point books that have made it to keeper status for me so far, so I asked myself why I still keep coming back. I think it's because I'm far enough into the series that I'm invested in a lot of the characters' lives and I do love this little town, maybe not quite the same way that I love Virgin River, but it's still a lovely place that would be fun to visit if it were real. While there are sometimes things that annoy me or make me roll my eyes, it's like a soap opera that I keep returning to, because I just have to know what's going on in the lives of the characters I've met so far and because I want to know who else might come to town next. Also, Ms. Carr's books are easy comfort reads that seem familiar, so even if they're not perfect, I'm in it for the long haul, at least for now.
We were introduced to Ginger in the previous book of the series, One Wish. At her parents urging, she came to town to visit her father's cousin Ray Anne, who is like an aunt to her. Ginger was recently divorced and had also lost her baby to SIDS and was having trouble coping with her grief. Ray Anne's upbeat take on life and a new job in Grace's flower shop gave Ginger a new lease on life. When A New Hope opens, she's mostly recovered, but she isn't sure what, if anything, she still feels for her ex. She attends Scott and Peyton's (The Promise) wedding reception, where she has an inauspicious first meeting with Peyton's brother, Matt, when he gets drunk as a skunk and tries to grope her. She gives him a shove, which causes him to topple over, hitting his head on the table and knocking him out cold. When he comes to Thunder Point a few days later to apologize for his behavior, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Overall, I liked Ginger and thought she was a sweet woman, who unlike Matt's ex-wife, seemed perfectly suited to his temperament and lifestyle. The main thing she did that gave me pause though, was when she changed her cell phone number after Matt gave her a brief text reply and nothing more, following their first romantic interlude. It seemed like a juvenile move to me that only served to stir up a little conflict. I understood her being over waiting on a guy after what her ex put her through, but given that she shared several weeks of friendship and deep conversations with Matt, I think she owed it to him to at least give the guy a chance to explain. There could have been dozens of reasons why he might have given her such a reply, and knowing that he'd gone through a lot of pain with his own divorce, I don't think she was being fair at all. She tries to explain it away, saying that she wasn't really trying to punish Matt, but it came off as more of a weak excuse and game playing to me. Once that incident was over, Ginger evened out more. The only other small quibble I had with her behavior was that she didn't tell Matt when it was the anniversary of the death of her baby and just left him wondering why she was acting sullen. Otherwise, I think she was a pretty strong woman, who I admired for being willing to go live with Matt on the family farm and share his life there.
Matt has been through some painful losses of his own. He thought that he'd found the perfect woman for him in his ex-wife, but she turned out to be a prissy snob who didn't like his family's farm and couldn't deal with him spending so many hours there, when she wanted to party. They fought a lot after marrying, but it wasn't until she did something that Matt felt was a complete betrayal of trust and unforgivable (unfortunately I figured out what it was very easily) that he walked away from their marriage and didn't look back. Now he harbors a lot of anger toward her that he has to work through before he can have a successful relationship with Ginger. Overall, Matt was a good guy, who just picked the wrong person to marry the first time. In general, he made sense to me, and even when he kind of blew Ginger off for a week after they got closer (the phone number changing incident), I understood that he just needed a little time to come to terms with his feelings for her and that he was scared of how fast things were progressing and of possibly getting hurt again. Once he realized he needed to stop comparing Ginger to Natalie, he was instantly contrite and willing to jump through hoops to get in touch with Ginger since she'd made it difficult for him. I liked that he didn't let her go or let her actions get in the way of what they shared. I also liked his protectiveness toward her with regards to her ex. I think the thing I liked most was when he figured out that Ginger was sullen because of the anniversary of her baby's death and again jumped through hoops to find the grave site and go visit it, which led to a sweet moment where he was able to comfort her.
As a couple, it took a while for things to get moving between Matt and Ginger. I'm all for building a friendship before jumping into something more, especially after the painful divorces both of them went through, but sometimes it felt like they were a little too far into the friend zone. They talked on the phone a lot and went out together sometimes, but in those early chapters, I didn't feel much of a spark of romantic connection between them. It's not until Matt comes to Thunder Point unexpectedly to see Ginger and takes her to the look-out over the ocean that things started to come together for me. Then Ginger did the lame-brained thing with the phone numbers. When Matt finally gets his butt in gear and comes after her, I was a little disappointed that their first love scene took place before any discussion of Ginger's reasons for changing her number or of Matt's issues that led to him not communicating for a week. After that, their relationship got much better for me, but I have to admit that sometimes it seemed a little mundane. All they really have to do is work through the issues with their exes, so that they aren't bringing that baggage into their future as a couple. I certainly wouldn't have minded a little more excitement for them and a few more scenes for them in general, as occasionally, it felt like they were getting lost in the shuffle of other characters' lives.
Whereas the last few Thunder Point books didn't seem to have as many other characters' POVs, A New Hope stepped away from Matt and Ginger pretty often. We get lots of Grace and Troy (One Wish), as well as Grace's mother, Winnie. Grace and Troy finish their new house and get Winnie moved in, after which they get married. Since Ginger works for Grace and is good friends with her, lots of scenes take place in the flower shop or at Grace's house. Grace's old Russian coach, Mikhail, who harbors some enigmatic affection for Winnie, comes for a long visit and doesn't seem inclined to leave anytime soon, so I bet he'll probably be seen in the background a lot in future books. Since Peyton is Matt's sister, she's seen occasionally as well. Unfortunately, Peyton kind of annoyed me with how hard she was on her brother. I know she was trying to be protective of Ginger after all the other woman had been through, but I just didn't really see a truly good reason for her poor treatment of Matt. Luckily, it's only a few scenes and they make up after she finally realizes that Matt is serious about Ginger. We're also introduced to Lin Su (the heroine of the next book, Wildest Dreams), who becomes Winnie's private nurse, and her geeky teenage son, Charlie. They've been through some rough times, but Lin Su is a proud woman who doesn't like to take handouts. She's also incredibly protective of her son, who's suffered from health problems all his life. The lonely Charlie is at least temporarily befriended by Frank, who's on summer break from MIT. It was nice to see a little of him and the college kids from Thunder Point again.
There are a few pet peeves I have with Robyn Carr's writing style, some that I see over and over in her work and some that are particular to a specific book. This time around there were times that her dialogue and narrative felt uneven. There are often large swaths of one or the other, instead of intermingling them more smoothly and evenly. Unfortunately, she's never been great at blocking, and those issues cropped up again in this book. When you have long passages of dialogue, blocking helps immensely in being able to visualize a scene, as well as what the characters are doing or thinking while they're talking. Many of the dialogue passages in this book are lacking this all-important element, so it's just lots of talking. The last thing that annoyed me a bit was her frequent lists of things or actions, especially in dialogue. In my experience, most people don't just start listing off things in casual conversation, particularly as frequently as these characters do. Since I was reading an ARC, hopefully some of these things were corrected before the book went to its final printing. As a small aside, (and this admittedly has nothing to do with the author), whoever designed the cover should have thought twice about putting a dog on it. It's a nice cover in general, but since there is no dog in the story, having one on the cover is rather disingenuous IMHO.
Other than my few complaints, I did enjoy my visit to Thunder Point. As I said before, I feel like I've become sufficiently invested in the lives of the characters to keep coming back. Even though Matt and Ginger weren't necessarily a stand-out hero and heroine for me, I did like them as both individual characters and as a couple. With them living on the Lacoumette farm, four hours away from Thunder Point, we probably won't see as much of them as some of the other characters, but hopefully they won't be complete strangers in future books. Now I look forward to seeing what's in store for Lin Su and Charlie when the new book is released next month.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.
A New Hope, the latest installment in Robyn Carr's Thunder Point series, isn't one of my favorites, but it was a nice visit to this tranquil seaside town. In general, of late, Ms. Carr's writing hasn't enthralled me in quite the same way that many of her Virgin River books did. There are few of the Thunder Point books that have made it to keeper status for me so far, so I asked myself why I still keep coming back. I think it's because I'm far enough into the series that I'm invested in a lot of the characters' lives and I do love this little town, maybe not quite the same way that I love Virgin River, but it's still a lovely place that would be fun to visit if it were real. While there are sometimes things that annoy me or make me roll my eyes, it's like a soap opera that I keep returning to, because I just have to know what's going on in the lives of the characters I've met so far and because I want to know who else might come to town next. Also, Ms. Carr's books are easy comfort reads that seem familiar, so even if they're not perfect, I'm in it for the long haul, at least for now.
We were introduced to Ginger in the previous book of the series, One Wish. At her parents urging, she came to town to visit her father's cousin Ray Anne, who is like an aunt to her. Ginger was recently divorced and had also lost her baby to SIDS and was having trouble coping with her grief. Ray Anne's upbeat take on life and a new job in Grace's flower shop gave Ginger a new lease on life. When A New Hope opens, she's mostly recovered, but she isn't sure what, if anything, she still feels for her ex. She attends Scott and Peyton's (The Promise) wedding reception, where she has an inauspicious first meeting with Peyton's brother, Matt, when he gets drunk as a skunk and tries to grope her. She gives him a shove, which causes him to topple over, hitting his head on the table and knocking him out cold. When he comes to Thunder Point a few days later to apologize for his behavior, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Overall, I liked Ginger and thought she was a sweet woman, who unlike Matt's ex-wife, seemed perfectly suited to his temperament and lifestyle. The main thing she did that gave me pause though, was when she changed her cell phone number after Matt gave her a brief text reply and nothing more, following their first romantic interlude. It seemed like a juvenile move to me that only served to stir up a little conflict. I understood her being over waiting on a guy after what her ex put her through, but given that she shared several weeks of friendship and deep conversations with Matt, I think she owed it to him to at least give the guy a chance to explain. There could have been dozens of reasons why he might have given her such a reply, and knowing that he'd gone through a lot of pain with his own divorce, I don't think she was being fair at all. She tries to explain it away, saying that she wasn't really trying to punish Matt, but it came off as more of a weak excuse and game playing to me. Once that incident was over, Ginger evened out more. The only other small quibble I had with her behavior was that she didn't tell Matt when it was the anniversary of the death of her baby and just left him wondering why she was acting sullen. Otherwise, I think she was a pretty strong woman, who I admired for being willing to go live with Matt on the family farm and share his life there.
Matt has been through some painful losses of his own. He thought that he'd found the perfect woman for him in his ex-wife, but she turned out to be a prissy snob who didn't like his family's farm and couldn't deal with him spending so many hours there, when she wanted to party. They fought a lot after marrying, but it wasn't until she did something that Matt felt was a complete betrayal of trust and unforgivable (unfortunately I figured out what it was very easily) that he walked away from their marriage and didn't look back. Now he harbors a lot of anger toward her that he has to work through before he can have a successful relationship with Ginger. Overall, Matt was a good guy, who just picked the wrong person to marry the first time. In general, he made sense to me, and even when he kind of blew Ginger off for a week after they got closer (the phone number changing incident), I understood that he just needed a little time to come to terms with his feelings for her and that he was scared of how fast things were progressing and of possibly getting hurt again. Once he realized he needed to stop comparing Ginger to Natalie, he was instantly contrite and willing to jump through hoops to get in touch with Ginger since she'd made it difficult for him. I liked that he didn't let her go or let her actions get in the way of what they shared. I also liked his protectiveness toward her with regards to her ex. I think the thing I liked most was when he figured out that Ginger was sullen because of the anniversary of her baby's death and again jumped through hoops to find the grave site and go visit it, which led to a sweet moment where he was able to comfort her.
As a couple, it took a while for things to get moving between Matt and Ginger. I'm all for building a friendship before jumping into something more, especially after the painful divorces both of them went through, but sometimes it felt like they were a little too far into the friend zone. They talked on the phone a lot and went out together sometimes, but in those early chapters, I didn't feel much of a spark of romantic connection between them. It's not until Matt comes to Thunder Point unexpectedly to see Ginger and takes her to the look-out over the ocean that things started to come together for me. Then Ginger did the lame-brained thing with the phone numbers. When Matt finally gets his butt in gear and comes after her, I was a little disappointed that their first love scene took place before any discussion of Ginger's reasons for changing her number or of Matt's issues that led to him not communicating for a week. After that, their relationship got much better for me, but I have to admit that sometimes it seemed a little mundane. All they really have to do is work through the issues with their exes, so that they aren't bringing that baggage into their future as a couple. I certainly wouldn't have minded a little more excitement for them and a few more scenes for them in general, as occasionally, it felt like they were getting lost in the shuffle of other characters' lives.
Whereas the last few Thunder Point books didn't seem to have as many other characters' POVs, A New Hope stepped away from Matt and Ginger pretty often. We get lots of Grace and Troy (One Wish), as well as Grace's mother, Winnie. Grace and Troy finish their new house and get Winnie moved in, after which they get married. Since Ginger works for Grace and is good friends with her, lots of scenes take place in the flower shop or at Grace's house. Grace's old Russian coach, Mikhail, who harbors some enigmatic affection for Winnie, comes for a long visit and doesn't seem inclined to leave anytime soon, so I bet he'll probably be seen in the background a lot in future books. Since Peyton is Matt's sister, she's seen occasionally as well. Unfortunately, Peyton kind of annoyed me with how hard she was on her brother. I know she was trying to be protective of Ginger after all the other woman had been through, but I just didn't really see a truly good reason for her poor treatment of Matt. Luckily, it's only a few scenes and they make up after she finally realizes that Matt is serious about Ginger. We're also introduced to Lin Su (the heroine of the next book, Wildest Dreams), who becomes Winnie's private nurse, and her geeky teenage son, Charlie. They've been through some rough times, but Lin Su is a proud woman who doesn't like to take handouts. She's also incredibly protective of her son, who's suffered from health problems all his life. The lonely Charlie is at least temporarily befriended by Frank, who's on summer break from MIT. It was nice to see a little of him and the college kids from Thunder Point again.
There are a few pet peeves I have with Robyn Carr's writing style, some that I see over and over in her work and some that are particular to a specific book. This time around there were times that her dialogue and narrative felt uneven. There are often large swaths of one or the other, instead of intermingling them more smoothly and evenly. Unfortunately, she's never been great at blocking, and those issues cropped up again in this book. When you have long passages of dialogue, blocking helps immensely in being able to visualize a scene, as well as what the characters are doing or thinking while they're talking. Many of the dialogue passages in this book are lacking this all-important element, so it's just lots of talking. The last thing that annoyed me a bit was her frequent lists of things or actions, especially in dialogue. In my experience, most people don't just start listing off things in casual conversation, particularly as frequently as these characters do. Since I was reading an ARC, hopefully some of these things were corrected before the book went to its final printing. As a small aside, (and this admittedly has nothing to do with the author), whoever designed the cover should have thought twice about putting a dog on it. It's a nice cover in general, but since there is no dog in the story, having one on the cover is rather disingenuous IMHO.
Other than my few complaints, I did enjoy my visit to Thunder Point. As I said before, I feel like I've become sufficiently invested in the lives of the characters to keep coming back. Even though Matt and Ginger weren't necessarily a stand-out hero and heroine for me, I did like them as both individual characters and as a couple. With them living on the Lacoumette farm, four hours away from Thunder Point, we probably won't see as much of them as some of the other characters, but hopefully they won't be complete strangers in future books. Now I look forward to seeing what's in store for Lin Su and Charlie when the new book is released next month.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2019
MATT LACOUMETTE
GINGER DYSART
Listen 17/5/19 | 4 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Book synopsis: Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again. In this brand-new story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope.
After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.
In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.
But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.
GINGER DYSART
Listen 17/5/19 | 4 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Book synopsis: Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again. In this brand-new story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope.
After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.
In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.
But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.
April 25, 2021
What a great addition to the Thunder Point Series! I loved it! Ginger and Matt were wonderful together, and just what each other needed. I loved reading about their sweet romance, and seeing Ginger come alive again and Matt get over his heartbreak.
Ginger Dysart has been able to power through some of the grief over her son's death after coming to Thunder Point. She has a job that she is enjoying with a florist, and she is excited about assisting with a wedding. The bride's drunken brother puts a damper on her enjoyment, but he later shows up at the flower shop to apologize. Ginger sees that Matt isn't typically the lout she met at the wedding, and soon a friendship springs up between them. As it turns to more, a lovely and sweet romance develops, but both of them have things in their pasts to overcome before they can look to the future.
This was a good one! Ginger and Matt were great characters, and the romance between them was tender and heartwarming. This is one of my favorites of the series to date. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.
Ginger Dysart has been able to power through some of the grief over her son's death after coming to Thunder Point. She has a job that she is enjoying with a florist, and she is excited about assisting with a wedding. The bride's drunken brother puts a damper on her enjoyment, but he later shows up at the flower shop to apologize. Ginger sees that Matt isn't typically the lout she met at the wedding, and soon a friendship springs up between them. As it turns to more, a lovely and sweet romance develops, but both of them have things in their pasts to overcome before they can look to the future.
This was a good one! Ginger and Matt were great characters, and the romance between them was tender and heartwarming. This is one of my favorites of the series to date. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 8, 2015
A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, POIGNANT STORY OF HOPE, COURAGE, AND SECOND CHANCES
SERIES READING ORDER APPEARS AT THE END OF THIS REVIEW!
Robyn Carr is in top form in her eighth entry in the Thunder Point series. A NEW HOPE brings Ginger Dysart, the ‘niece’ of real estate agent Ray Anne, to the Lacoumette farm for the wild and wonderful Basque heritage celebration that is the marriage of Dr. Scott Grant and Peyton Lacoumette. At the wedding, a very drunk, unruly man embarrasses himself by propositioning and groping Ginger. Although Ginger takes it in stride, the man feels remorseful for his out-of-character behavior, and he decides to drive to Thunder Point to find Ginger, with the thought of apologizing in person.
When Ginger meets Matt, he looks and acts quite differently from the drunken clod who humiliated himself at the wedding. Matt does more than apologize…he asks Ginger to dinner, and later reflects on his surprise, not knowing why he made such an impulsive invitation. Fans of Robyn Carr’s writing know, however! Carr gives her characters time to figure themselves out and come to their own conclusions, especially when they are working through a broken heart, as Matt is doing. Matt spontaneously explains to Ginger at their first meeting that he’s nursing a broken heart, having just been through a bitter divorce. He goes on to explain that he’d been married himself in the same orchard in which Peyton and Scott were married, and he simply couldn’t handle the memories or the malaise he felt. Thus begins the friendship, and eventual romance, of Ginger and Matt.
What makes A NEW HOPE so marvelous are the brilliant characterizations Carr develops for Matt and Ginger. Ginger is a heartbroken shell of a woman, only just now starting to develop the will to live again, after suffering a devastating personal loss. Ginger is possibly Carr’s most touching character in years, and her journey back to life is reminiscent of Mel’s journey in Carr’s fabulous VIRGIN RIVER book. Matt, however, is no Jack (Mel’s love); he is not in possession of his whole heart, and isn’t ready for a relationship. Matt is bitter and angry about his divorce, has unresolved issues, and a heartbreak of his own that he does not even let himself think about, let along face, for most of the novel. Matt has become fearful of commitment and jaded regarding his belief in love and marriage, to the point of denying to himself his true feelings for Ginger. Watching Ginger regain her emotional footing, take a chance on love again, and work her gentle, nurturing magic on Matt, is truly a joy to read. An outstanding aspect of Ginger’s character development is that she doesn’t look to Matt as the solution to her problems and her loneliness; she is a strong young woman who for the first time is, despite her damage, taking ownership of her personal happiness. Matt’s painful, realistic development as he faces his anger and fear is equally as affecting. It is not a smooth road to their HEA. Carr does a bang-up job of developing her main characters here; both Matt and Ginger are splendidly drawn.
The story is greatly enhanced by the appearance and involvement (not just cameos) of some of our other Thunder Point favorites…Grace and Troy, Winnie and her new young friend Charlie, Scott and Peyton, Ray Anne, and most notably her beau, Al Michel, whose own loss of his son to SIDS makes him the one individual uniquely qualified to offer support to Ginger when her memories threaten the fragile emotional progress she has made.
For this reader, A NEW HOPE is the finest, most heartwarming of the Thunder Point novels to date. It is a beautifully written, poignant story of hope, courage, and second chances. A joyfully-given five stars!
AUDIOPHILES: I highly recommend the audiobook narration (I purchase the ones I want to re-"read" from Audible.com, but they are all also produced in audio CD versions carried by many public libraries). I've listened to each title in the series; they're narrated by the incomparable Therese Plummer, who brings every character to life. And if you haven't read the VIRGIN RIVER series, RUN to your book provider and find it! For a list of the correct Virgin River series reading order, please see my review of the first book, titled VIRGIN RIVER; for me, it's Miss Carr's finest book.
THUNDER POINT SERIES READING ORDER (this series is best read in order):
1. The Wanderer - retired Army pilot (Hank) Cooper & pilot Sara Dupre
2. The Newcomer -- Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain & waitress Gina James
3. The Hero -- coach Spencer Lawson & single mom Devon McAllister
4. The Chance -- auto mechanic Eric Gentry & FBI agent Laine Carrington
5. The Promise -- Dr. Scott Grant & PA Peyton Lacoumette
6. The Homecoming -- Deputy Sheriff Seth Sileski & HS guidance counselor Iris McKinley
7. One Wish -- HS teacher Troy Headly & florist Grace Dillon
8. A New Hope -– Ginger Dysart (Ray Anne’s ‘niece”) & Matt Lacoumette
9. Wildest Dreams -- triathelete Blake Smiley and Lin Su Simmons (Winnie’s caregiver) -- to be published 8/25/15
**I received a complimentary e-copy of A NEW HOPE from MIRA in exchange for my honest review, but I've already ordered my own copy to put on my Robyn Carr shrine -- I mean, shelf!**
SERIES READING ORDER APPEARS AT THE END OF THIS REVIEW!
Robyn Carr is in top form in her eighth entry in the Thunder Point series. A NEW HOPE brings Ginger Dysart, the ‘niece’ of real estate agent Ray Anne, to the Lacoumette farm for the wild and wonderful Basque heritage celebration that is the marriage of Dr. Scott Grant and Peyton Lacoumette. At the wedding, a very drunk, unruly man embarrasses himself by propositioning and groping Ginger. Although Ginger takes it in stride, the man feels remorseful for his out-of-character behavior, and he decides to drive to Thunder Point to find Ginger, with the thought of apologizing in person.
When Ginger meets Matt, he looks and acts quite differently from the drunken clod who humiliated himself at the wedding. Matt does more than apologize…he asks Ginger to dinner, and later reflects on his surprise, not knowing why he made such an impulsive invitation. Fans of Robyn Carr’s writing know, however! Carr gives her characters time to figure themselves out and come to their own conclusions, especially when they are working through a broken heart, as Matt is doing. Matt spontaneously explains to Ginger at their first meeting that he’s nursing a broken heart, having just been through a bitter divorce. He goes on to explain that he’d been married himself in the same orchard in which Peyton and Scott were married, and he simply couldn’t handle the memories or the malaise he felt. Thus begins the friendship, and eventual romance, of Ginger and Matt.
What makes A NEW HOPE so marvelous are the brilliant characterizations Carr develops for Matt and Ginger. Ginger is a heartbroken shell of a woman, only just now starting to develop the will to live again, after suffering a devastating personal loss. Ginger is possibly Carr’s most touching character in years, and her journey back to life is reminiscent of Mel’s journey in Carr’s fabulous VIRGIN RIVER book. Matt, however, is no Jack (Mel’s love); he is not in possession of his whole heart, and isn’t ready for a relationship. Matt is bitter and angry about his divorce, has unresolved issues, and a heartbreak of his own that he does not even let himself think about, let along face, for most of the novel. Matt has become fearful of commitment and jaded regarding his belief in love and marriage, to the point of denying to himself his true feelings for Ginger. Watching Ginger regain her emotional footing, take a chance on love again, and work her gentle, nurturing magic on Matt, is truly a joy to read. An outstanding aspect of Ginger’s character development is that she doesn’t look to Matt as the solution to her problems and her loneliness; she is a strong young woman who for the first time is, despite her damage, taking ownership of her personal happiness. Matt’s painful, realistic development as he faces his anger and fear is equally as affecting. It is not a smooth road to their HEA. Carr does a bang-up job of developing her main characters here; both Matt and Ginger are splendidly drawn.
The story is greatly enhanced by the appearance and involvement (not just cameos) of some of our other Thunder Point favorites…Grace and Troy, Winnie and her new young friend Charlie, Scott and Peyton, Ray Anne, and most notably her beau, Al Michel, whose own loss of his son to SIDS makes him the one individual uniquely qualified to offer support to Ginger when her memories threaten the fragile emotional progress she has made.
For this reader, A NEW HOPE is the finest, most heartwarming of the Thunder Point novels to date. It is a beautifully written, poignant story of hope, courage, and second chances. A joyfully-given five stars!
AUDIOPHILES: I highly recommend the audiobook narration (I purchase the ones I want to re-"read" from Audible.com, but they are all also produced in audio CD versions carried by many public libraries). I've listened to each title in the series; they're narrated by the incomparable Therese Plummer, who brings every character to life. And if you haven't read the VIRGIN RIVER series, RUN to your book provider and find it! For a list of the correct Virgin River series reading order, please see my review of the first book, titled VIRGIN RIVER; for me, it's Miss Carr's finest book.
THUNDER POINT SERIES READING ORDER (this series is best read in order):
1. The Wanderer - retired Army pilot (Hank) Cooper & pilot Sara Dupre
2. The Newcomer -- Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain & waitress Gina James
3. The Hero -- coach Spencer Lawson & single mom Devon McAllister
4. The Chance -- auto mechanic Eric Gentry & FBI agent Laine Carrington
5. The Promise -- Dr. Scott Grant & PA Peyton Lacoumette
6. The Homecoming -- Deputy Sheriff Seth Sileski & HS guidance counselor Iris McKinley
7. One Wish -- HS teacher Troy Headly & florist Grace Dillon
8. A New Hope -– Ginger Dysart (Ray Anne’s ‘niece”) & Matt Lacoumette
9. Wildest Dreams -- triathelete Blake Smiley and Lin Su Simmons (Winnie’s caregiver) -- to be published 8/25/15
**I received a complimentary e-copy of A NEW HOPE from MIRA in exchange for my honest review, but I've already ordered my own copy to put on my Robyn Carr shrine -- I mean, shelf!**
February 10, 2024
It's a 2.5 🌟 rating.... Honestly, I'm glad there is only one more book left of the Thunder Point series because I'm over it.
I didn't find the main characters all that likeable.. I kept forgetting that our FMC was called Ginger because we still got to see Grace and Troy and all the characters from the last book that when Ginger came up, it took me a minute to recognize this was her story. Then there's Mad Matt, our down to earth man whore reeling from a messy divorce....he was better than Troy but still meh. SIGH.
I didn't find the main characters all that likeable.. I kept forgetting that our FMC was called Ginger because we still got to see Grace and Troy and all the characters from the last book that when Ginger came up, it took me a minute to recognize this was her story. Then there's Mad Matt, our down to earth man whore reeling from a messy divorce....he was better than Troy but still meh. SIGH.
August 12, 2015
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
The Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr just keeps getting better and better. I swear each book is better than the one before it. A New Hope, the eighth book of this series, has it all. The characters are very likeable and the story is well written. It all just feels so real and honest. And the best thing about this series and this book is Ms. Carr brings back all of the characters that we've come to love from the previous books, so we get to keep track of how life is going for them. Heads up, have tissues on hand. Even though we have the awesome characters and the sweet love story this book touches on some pretty deep topics and you will cry!
Ginger Dysart lost her baby boy and came to Thunder Point to stay with her aunt for a short time for no other reason than to ease her parent's mind. Ever since that horrible morning Ginger had become a walking shell of a woman. It seemed impossible that visiting her aunt could help her heal and regain a hold on her fragile emotions, but Thunder Point and the amazing people that live there worked their magic and that's exactly what was happening. She found a job working in the florist shop that gave her purpose and helped her to make new friends. Her friendship with Matt was yet another unexpected gift. The longer they're friends Ginger feels more, but isn't positive that she's ready to take the next step.
Matt Lacoumette comes from a huge, boisterous family that considers marriage and commitment sacred. This makes his failed marriage all the more devastating. Since the divorce Matt just can't seem to let go and move on. He's angry, ashamed and lost. Ironically is how he fatefully meets Ginger. Drunk and angry at his sister's wedding Matt propositions Ginger and then promptly passes out at her feet. Once sober he knows he owes her an apology and sets out to do just that. Having no idea this intention changes his life forever. The friendship he finds with Ginger is like none that he has ever known. More than that the feelings she brings out of him scare him to death. His past has made him afraid to trust his own judgement. Matt is left floundering and with options other than to overcome his past or lose the woman that will make the rest of his life everything he's ever dreamed for.
I loved Matt! Yes, he was a stupid guy at times and floundered. That made him all the more human and sympathetic. Ginger was so much stronger than she gave herself credit for. Sadly enough circumstances tested this strength over and over. I really admired her. She felt the pain and even drowned in it for a while, but she didn't let it stop her from trying.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest review.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
The Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr just keeps getting better and better. I swear each book is better than the one before it. A New Hope, the eighth book of this series, has it all. The characters are very likeable and the story is well written. It all just feels so real and honest. And the best thing about this series and this book is Ms. Carr brings back all of the characters that we've come to love from the previous books, so we get to keep track of how life is going for them. Heads up, have tissues on hand. Even though we have the awesome characters and the sweet love story this book touches on some pretty deep topics and you will cry!
Ginger Dysart lost her baby boy and came to Thunder Point to stay with her aunt for a short time for no other reason than to ease her parent's mind. Ever since that horrible morning Ginger had become a walking shell of a woman. It seemed impossible that visiting her aunt could help her heal and regain a hold on her fragile emotions, but Thunder Point and the amazing people that live there worked their magic and that's exactly what was happening. She found a job working in the florist shop that gave her purpose and helped her to make new friends. Her friendship with Matt was yet another unexpected gift. The longer they're friends Ginger feels more, but isn't positive that she's ready to take the next step.
Matt Lacoumette comes from a huge, boisterous family that considers marriage and commitment sacred. This makes his failed marriage all the more devastating. Since the divorce Matt just can't seem to let go and move on. He's angry, ashamed and lost. Ironically is how he fatefully meets Ginger. Drunk and angry at his sister's wedding Matt propositions Ginger and then promptly passes out at her feet. Once sober he knows he owes her an apology and sets out to do just that. Having no idea this intention changes his life forever. The friendship he finds with Ginger is like none that he has ever known. More than that the feelings she brings out of him scare him to death. His past has made him afraid to trust his own judgement. Matt is left floundering and with options other than to overcome his past or lose the woman that will make the rest of his life everything he's ever dreamed for.
I loved Matt! Yes, he was a stupid guy at times and floundered. That made him all the more human and sympathetic. Ginger was so much stronger than she gave herself credit for. Sadly enough circumstances tested this strength over and over. I really admired her. She felt the pain and even drowned in it for a while, but she didn't let it stop her from trying.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest review.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
July 1, 2015
A New Hope is the eighth book in the Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr and one that I was excited to read. In the previous novel, we meet Ginger Dysart and her story just about broke my heart so I was eager to see her find her happy. Two damaged characters, tender moments and a slow-burning romance had me completely swept up in the romance A New Hope delivered.
I have said this before, but it bears repeating, Robyn Carr’s small-town romances always make me feel like I am coming home. She creates these wonderful small-towns with folks you long to visit. When I open a novel in this series I am immediately transported to Copper’s place where I sit on the porch, sip ice tea and catch up. While each of these books can be read as a standalone and focus on one couple, I think you would miss out on the bonding that occurs between the reader and the town.
Ginger is finally healing and our tale begins at the Lacoumette Wedding where she is unexpected accosted by the bride’s brother Matt, who may have had a few too many. Ginger’s response only reaffirmed my feeling for her. The tale really gets interesting when Matt shows up at the flower shop to apologize. A slow friendship develops between these two damaged characters. I loved how it unfolded and had to laugh at friends and family’s interference. The little town of Thunder Point is very protective of Ginger. Unless you are Rae Ann, who believes a good toss in the hay cures all.
Carr made their growing relationship feel genuine as they confessed their secrets, shared their pain and declared they would never love again. Ha, we all know how those declarations go. Their romance was sweet and weaved in heat beside tender moments that gave me the feels.
Of course, we could not return to Thunder Point without updates from townsfolk. We get updates on Grace and Dillon who are working on getting her Momma situated and I loved seeing the couple again. We see development in their relationship as well, but my lips are sealed. You will need to discover those for yourself. Carr also introduced a new character Lin Lu and her son. Of course, she already has me caring for this proud woman and I cannot wait for their story.
A New Hope combined the perfect romance with small-town charm and I was sadden to reach the end. Wildest Dreams is the next book and will feature Lin Lu’s story. It releases in August of 2015 and I for one cannot wait.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
I have said this before, but it bears repeating, Robyn Carr’s small-town romances always make me feel like I am coming home. She creates these wonderful small-towns with folks you long to visit. When I open a novel in this series I am immediately transported to Copper’s place where I sit on the porch, sip ice tea and catch up. While each of these books can be read as a standalone and focus on one couple, I think you would miss out on the bonding that occurs between the reader and the town.
Ginger is finally healing and our tale begins at the Lacoumette Wedding where she is unexpected accosted by the bride’s brother Matt, who may have had a few too many. Ginger’s response only reaffirmed my feeling for her. The tale really gets interesting when Matt shows up at the flower shop to apologize. A slow friendship develops between these two damaged characters. I loved how it unfolded and had to laugh at friends and family’s interference. The little town of Thunder Point is very protective of Ginger. Unless you are Rae Ann, who believes a good toss in the hay cures all.
Carr made their growing relationship feel genuine as they confessed their secrets, shared their pain and declared they would never love again. Ha, we all know how those declarations go. Their romance was sweet and weaved in heat beside tender moments that gave me the feels.
Of course, we could not return to Thunder Point without updates from townsfolk. We get updates on Grace and Dillon who are working on getting her Momma situated and I loved seeing the couple again. We see development in their relationship as well, but my lips are sealed. You will need to discover those for yourself. Carr also introduced a new character Lin Lu and her son. Of course, she already has me caring for this proud woman and I cannot wait for their story.
A New Hope combined the perfect romance with small-town charm and I was sadden to reach the end. Wildest Dreams is the next book and will feature Lin Lu’s story. It releases in August of 2015 and I for one cannot wait.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
July 14, 2015
I only have two issues with this book.
1. Their relationship seemed to move a little quick. Like he asked her to marry him like reeeeally soon.
2. There's a dog on the cover. There's no dog in the book. Am I the only one that was bothered by that?
Anyways... Loved it, of course. I'm addicted to Thunder Point! Can't wait for the next book! :)
1. Their relationship seemed to move a little quick. Like he asked her to marry him like reeeeally soon.
2. There's a dog on the cover. There's no dog in the book. Am I the only one that was bothered by that?
Anyways... Loved it, of course. I'm addicted to Thunder Point! Can't wait for the next book! :)
October 1, 2015
The dialog between the h/h just didn't seem real, it read like total fiction to me. So therefore it bugged the heck out of me. Yes, yes I know that this is fiction, but it seemed more fiction than contemporary fiction ought to be...lol. I can't explain it any better. :-)
August 26, 2015
3.5 stars
December 15, 2016
I think I need to take a break from this series.
April 4, 2017
Excellent
Another fantastic book in the Thunder Point series! Ginger and Matt are a great pair and the way they help each other heal is heartwarming. Definitely a recommended read.
Another fantastic book in the Thunder Point series! Ginger and Matt are a great pair and the way they help each other heal is heartwarming. Definitely a recommended read.
February 15, 2018
3.5 stars
September 16, 2019
I have read many other books in the series although not in the correct order but I had met the main character of the story in a precious book. While I think I prefer Carr's Virgin River series over the Thunder Point series just a little, I am happy to read any of them and find they do not disappoint. In this volume Ginger Dysart is just beginning to move out of a deep depressions following the departure of her musician ex-husband and the loss of her infant to SIDS. When she meets Matt Lacoumette in a most inauspicious way (he was seriously drunk) no one could have predicted that these two would have anything in common and yet they both were dealing with loss, grief and a need for hope to keep on going. I enjoyed seeing them find their happy ever after.
April 30, 2016
Book 8 is the second chance at love for two characters previously mentioned in book 7. Ginger Dysart moved to Thunder Point to live with her cousin Ray Anne, following the loss of her 4-month son and the dissolution of her marriage. Ginger was deeply depressed and her family hoped that the change of scenery and time with her cousin Ray Anne would help Ginger find the will to continue to live.
Ginger began working at Grace’s flower shop and slowly started finding a reason to get out of bed every morning. Her wedding assignment was Peyton Lacoumette’s wedding (the Promise, Book 5), and Ginger was having a good time until she had a run in with a drunk Matt Lacoumette.
Matt was one of Peyton Lacoumette’s younger brothers and the only one in the family to have gotten a divorce, which made him feel like a failure. He withdrew emotionally from the family and nursed his broken heart with drink. When Matt hit on Grace, it turned into an embarrassing debacle at the wedding reception that ended with Matt being knocked out. To redeem himself, Matt showed up to Grace’s flower shop to apologize to Ginger and her graciousness struck a chord. Matt resolved to get to know Grace as friends, as both were kindred spirits trying to rebuild their lives following painful losses.
One of the things that I love about this series is that while it’s formulaic and a tad predictable, each character has their own story about overcoming the obstacles in their life. The support of family and friends in the backbone of this series and the community definitely add levity to each story.
Therese Plummer is perfect for this series and her voice is so melodious, it feels like poetry. She makes me want to listen to every book she has narrated and at the same time find other series by Robyn Carr.
At first I found Matt to be self-righteous and lacking insight into his own shortcomings whereas Ginger was too nice and indulgent. But as each character evolved, they began growing as individuals. It’s always a pleasure to see characters develop and make better choices. This book was another hit in the series and I can’t wait for the next one.
*Special Thanks to Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley for the review copy.
Ginger began working at Grace’s flower shop and slowly started finding a reason to get out of bed every morning. Her wedding assignment was Peyton Lacoumette’s wedding (the Promise, Book 5), and Ginger was having a good time until she had a run in with a drunk Matt Lacoumette.
Matt was one of Peyton Lacoumette’s younger brothers and the only one in the family to have gotten a divorce, which made him feel like a failure. He withdrew emotionally from the family and nursed his broken heart with drink. When Matt hit on Grace, it turned into an embarrassing debacle at the wedding reception that ended with Matt being knocked out. To redeem himself, Matt showed up to Grace’s flower shop to apologize to Ginger and her graciousness struck a chord. Matt resolved to get to know Grace as friends, as both were kindred spirits trying to rebuild their lives following painful losses.
One of the things that I love about this series is that while it’s formulaic and a tad predictable, each character has their own story about overcoming the obstacles in their life. The support of family and friends in the backbone of this series and the community definitely add levity to each story.
Therese Plummer is perfect for this series and her voice is so melodious, it feels like poetry. She makes me want to listen to every book she has narrated and at the same time find other series by Robyn Carr.
At first I found Matt to be self-righteous and lacking insight into his own shortcomings whereas Ginger was too nice and indulgent. But as each character evolved, they began growing as individuals. It’s always a pleasure to see characters develop and make better choices. This book was another hit in the series and I can’t wait for the next one.
*Special Thanks to Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley for the review copy.
August 20, 2015
I liked this a lot. You definitely have to have read the previous books, as there are too many characters and not enough back story otherwise. However, I really appreciated how Ginger grew from wasting away from grief to a self-assured woman who refused to put up with behavior that didn't help her. Matt moved from complete jerk to a guy who had lost his way to a man knowing where he wants to go, to a man ready to go there. It takes him a bit longer as he's unwilling to let go of his bitterness.
One of the things that bothered me about Phoebe's story was the strange and unbelievable change in her ex. That didn't happen here, which felt much more realistic. What happens is that Ginger and Matt both have to come to terms with their own changes and let go of the past.
We also get to spend some time with Grace, a bit with Phoebe, with Grace's mother and coach, and get to know the nurse hired for Grace's mother along with her son. There's going to be an interesting story when we get to it. And it looks like the next book with be about Lin Su, her son Charlie, and a professional triathlete we see from a distance in this book. Yea!
One of the things that bothered me about Phoebe's story was the strange and unbelievable change in her ex. That didn't happen here, which felt much more realistic. What happens is that Ginger and Matt both have to come to terms with their own changes and let go of the past.
We also get to spend some time with Grace, a bit with Phoebe, with Grace's mother and coach, and get to know the nurse hired for Grace's mother along with her son. There's going to be an interesting story when we get to it. And it looks like the next book with be about Lin Su, her son Charlie, and a professional triathlete we see from a distance in this book. Yea!
July 10, 2015
I really liked this one, a sweet story. It wasn't just one story line but multiple story lines weaving together. It reminded me of Carr's Virgin River series where you always get to visit with the characters from the books earlier in the series. I wasn't a huge fan of this series in the beginning but it's really growing on me and I look forward to the next book. Robyn Carr is one of my must read authors.
April 30, 2016
Well, that was just so sweet! I liked the characters, especially Ginger - loved how she came into her own during this story. Matt, like many heroes, needed a good kick to get there himself. But he got there and that was pretty sweet too. Robyn Carr's books are like comfort food for me and that was just perfect was I was trying to take it easy to recover from a cold. Therese Plummer's narration adds so much to the experience too.
July 6, 2015
Ms.Carr and I have just had an amicable parting of the ways. I wish her well.
July 17, 2015
Ginger Dysart came to Thunder Point unwillingly, compelled by her mourning and grief-stricken parents to try to make a fresh start in a new location. Her aunt welcomed her with open arms, helping her to find her feet again after a bitter divorce and the unexpected loss of her only child. While she might have found a job she enjoys and made new friends, Ginger is not looking for love again—ever. So when Matt Lacoumette drunkenly hits on her at a friend’s wedding, it’s understandable that Ginger takes offence and knocks him to the floor. It’s also understandable that she’s unimpressed when Matt visits Thunder Point to apologise for his actions. Pushed by her aunt to take Matt up on his offer of dinner, Ginger is suspired to find that Matt isn’t as bad as she initially thought.
Matt has done some embarrassing things since his marriage failed, but attempting to grope a guest at his sister’s wedding is possibly the worst. He barely remembers Ginger, but he’s determined to make amends for his behaviour. His explanation—that the wedding reminded him too much of his own, causing him to drown his sorrows in alcohol—strikes a chord with Ginger, who admits that she’s also recently divorced. Although neither of them wants to dwell on past mistakes, he’s comforted to know that they actually have something in common. Ginger feels like a kindred spirit, and Matt finds himself coming up with reasons to visit his sister in Thunder Point—in spite of her urgings to stay away from Ginger. Ginger, too, is vehement that she isn’t looking for a new relationship. But should they let their failed first marriages get in the way of a new beginning?
While I wasn’t completely hooked on the Thunder Point series to begin with, the last three books have been absolutely outstanding. Ginger was introduced in the last book, One Wish, and I was pleased to discover that I wouldn’t have to wait long for her story to be told. Both her and Matt have very emotional back stories, and although I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this book, I will warn that it does deal with the issue of child loss through SIDS. If this is an issue that’s close to your heart, this book may be difficult to read. Although I don’t have any personal experience of this subject, I did feel that it was approached very well. As always with Robyn Carr, she gets to the heart of her issues and makes you truly understand the pain her characters have experienced.
On the surface, Ginger’s issues are pretty typical—she married someone she was utterly besotted with, but who wasn’t truly committed to their relationship, and they ended up getting divorced when he refused to be a responsible husband and father. She returned to her parents’ home to raise her child. Ginger’s story gets a lot more complicated when her baby dies unexpectedly in his sleep. At the point at which she arrives in Thunder Point, Ginger has been in mourning for eight months and unable to feel motivated to do anything with her life. At the beginning of A New Hope, she’s found a job she enjoys and made some new friends, but she’s still extremely cautious. She might be comfortable where she is, but that doesn’t mean that she’s ready to risk getting emotionally involved with someone again. And, more importantly, she can’t imagine ever having another child in case she’s forced to go through the pain of losing another baby. Honestly, I don’t think I’d feel any differently if I were in Ginger’s position. She’s a brave woman, and I could understand the barriers she put around herself.
While Ginger’s backstory was introduced in the last book, Matt’s took a while to emerge. We quickly learn that he and his wife got divorced within a year of their marriage, and the explanation that’s given is that their lifestyles couldn’t mesh together—he is a farmer who works farmer’s hours, she’s an aspiring model who wants to party every night. It’s hinted that there’s another reason behind the divorce, but it took a long time to be revealed. I liked Matt, I won’t lie about that. At times I felt like he pursued Ginger a little too hard, especially considering her background and her insistence that she didn’t want to date anyone. I got frustrated with him towards the end of the book, but when his “secret” was finally revealed, it made him a whole lot more sympathetic. I won’t spoil this secret for potential readers, but I appreciated that we got to see how truly broken Matt was by his wife’s deception, and the way in which he worked through it. Unlike Ginger who let her grief take over her life, Matt had bottled his up and turned it into rage. It was interesting to see the two sides of grief portrayed, and as someone who isn’t a big fan of the macho alpha hero, I definitely enjoyed seeing a guy getting in touch with his emotions.
As individual characters, Ginger and Matt are fantastic. They have dozens of flaws, screwed up backgrounds—ultimately, they’re real people. Although I did feel like Matt was a bit pushy at times, the beginning of their relationship was pretty innocent. As boring as it might seem, they spent a lot of time just talking on the phone, or hanging out on Matt’s family farm. Some of Robyn Carr’s characters leap into bed pretty quickly, so it was a nice change to have such an innocent beginning to their relationship. I do feel a bit torn about how quickly things moved from talking on the phone to being in a relationship. Given how much Ginger insisted she wasn’t ready to date, she changed her mind very quickly. They go from insisting they don’t want to date, to planning their future together in a matter of a couple of months. For other couples in this series, the speed at which the relationship developed might make sense, but I felt that given their background, it was all a bit quick. A bit more hesitancy, or perhaps not having everything tied up neatly in a bow at the end of the book, might have made more sense. (Hint to writers: you don’t need to have your characters planning a wedding by the end of the final chapter, especially if your book is in a series. It’s cool—we’ll still be happy for the hero and heroine).
Maybe it’s just because I loved the last three books so much, but A New Hope didn’t completely wow me. I did really enjoy it, and I felt that Robyn Carr expertly dealt with some really tough issues, but the romance isn’t one of my favourites in the Thunder Point series. As always, I loved catching up with characters from previous books, and I’m looking forward to Lin Su’s story in Wildest Dreams. Even if I don’t fall in love with every book, I know that Robyn Carr’s stories make fantastic comfort reads, especially on warm summer days.
Disclaimer: This is a mainstream novel and contains scenes of a sexual nature and some profane language.
Review title provided by Harlequin MIRA and Little Bird Publicity.
Matt has done some embarrassing things since his marriage failed, but attempting to grope a guest at his sister’s wedding is possibly the worst. He barely remembers Ginger, but he’s determined to make amends for his behaviour. His explanation—that the wedding reminded him too much of his own, causing him to drown his sorrows in alcohol—strikes a chord with Ginger, who admits that she’s also recently divorced. Although neither of them wants to dwell on past mistakes, he’s comforted to know that they actually have something in common. Ginger feels like a kindred spirit, and Matt finds himself coming up with reasons to visit his sister in Thunder Point—in spite of her urgings to stay away from Ginger. Ginger, too, is vehement that she isn’t looking for a new relationship. But should they let their failed first marriages get in the way of a new beginning?
While I wasn’t completely hooked on the Thunder Point series to begin with, the last three books have been absolutely outstanding. Ginger was introduced in the last book, One Wish, and I was pleased to discover that I wouldn’t have to wait long for her story to be told. Both her and Matt have very emotional back stories, and although I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this book, I will warn that it does deal with the issue of child loss through SIDS. If this is an issue that’s close to your heart, this book may be difficult to read. Although I don’t have any personal experience of this subject, I did feel that it was approached very well. As always with Robyn Carr, she gets to the heart of her issues and makes you truly understand the pain her characters have experienced.
On the surface, Ginger’s issues are pretty typical—she married someone she was utterly besotted with, but who wasn’t truly committed to their relationship, and they ended up getting divorced when he refused to be a responsible husband and father. She returned to her parents’ home to raise her child. Ginger’s story gets a lot more complicated when her baby dies unexpectedly in his sleep. At the point at which she arrives in Thunder Point, Ginger has been in mourning for eight months and unable to feel motivated to do anything with her life. At the beginning of A New Hope, she’s found a job she enjoys and made some new friends, but she’s still extremely cautious. She might be comfortable where she is, but that doesn’t mean that she’s ready to risk getting emotionally involved with someone again. And, more importantly, she can’t imagine ever having another child in case she’s forced to go through the pain of losing another baby. Honestly, I don’t think I’d feel any differently if I were in Ginger’s position. She’s a brave woman, and I could understand the barriers she put around herself.
While Ginger’s backstory was introduced in the last book, Matt’s took a while to emerge. We quickly learn that he and his wife got divorced within a year of their marriage, and the explanation that’s given is that their lifestyles couldn’t mesh together—he is a farmer who works farmer’s hours, she’s an aspiring model who wants to party every night. It’s hinted that there’s another reason behind the divorce, but it took a long time to be revealed. I liked Matt, I won’t lie about that. At times I felt like he pursued Ginger a little too hard, especially considering her background and her insistence that she didn’t want to date anyone. I got frustrated with him towards the end of the book, but when his “secret” was finally revealed, it made him a whole lot more sympathetic. I won’t spoil this secret for potential readers, but I appreciated that we got to see how truly broken Matt was by his wife’s deception, and the way in which he worked through it. Unlike Ginger who let her grief take over her life, Matt had bottled his up and turned it into rage. It was interesting to see the two sides of grief portrayed, and as someone who isn’t a big fan of the macho alpha hero, I definitely enjoyed seeing a guy getting in touch with his emotions.
As individual characters, Ginger and Matt are fantastic. They have dozens of flaws, screwed up backgrounds—ultimately, they’re real people. Although I did feel like Matt was a bit pushy at times, the beginning of their relationship was pretty innocent. As boring as it might seem, they spent a lot of time just talking on the phone, or hanging out on Matt’s family farm. Some of Robyn Carr’s characters leap into bed pretty quickly, so it was a nice change to have such an innocent beginning to their relationship. I do feel a bit torn about how quickly things moved from talking on the phone to being in a relationship. Given how much Ginger insisted she wasn’t ready to date, she changed her mind very quickly. They go from insisting they don’t want to date, to planning their future together in a matter of a couple of months. For other couples in this series, the speed at which the relationship developed might make sense, but I felt that given their background, it was all a bit quick. A bit more hesitancy, or perhaps not having everything tied up neatly in a bow at the end of the book, might have made more sense. (Hint to writers: you don’t need to have your characters planning a wedding by the end of the final chapter, especially if your book is in a series. It’s cool—we’ll still be happy for the hero and heroine).
Maybe it’s just because I loved the last three books so much, but A New Hope didn’t completely wow me. I did really enjoy it, and I felt that Robyn Carr expertly dealt with some really tough issues, but the romance isn’t one of my favourites in the Thunder Point series. As always, I loved catching up with characters from previous books, and I’m looking forward to Lin Su’s story in Wildest Dreams. Even if I don’t fall in love with every book, I know that Robyn Carr’s stories make fantastic comfort reads, especially on warm summer days.
Disclaimer: This is a mainstream novel and contains scenes of a sexual nature and some profane language.
Review title provided by Harlequin MIRA and Little Bird Publicity.
September 24, 2018
Carr continues to satisfy in this story of two very damaged people who work through their issues in order to become good partners for each other. Ginger Dysart lost an infant to SIDS but lost her husband long before that. He was never interested in becoming a father and was only barely interested in being a husband. His only love was in becoming a rock star. Matt Lacoumette married a gorgeous woman who was upfront about not wanting anything to do with his family's farm. Matt was fine with that but he didn't know that he couldn't separate himself from the farm. When his wife did something completely unforgivable, that love turned to a deep-seated hate. But that didn't mean the two didn't set off sparks with one another. Slowly but surely, they brought each other to life but Ginger realized that if they didn't get past their first marriages, their second wouldn't stand a chance. The story was emotional but also real. While I don't think it is that easy to get over a first marriage, I think it is truly important to admit your part in what happened, your part in the expectations. For Matt this was especially hard because he couldn't see that he had any fault until he realized that while he had was willing to give his wife whatever she wanted, he hadn't been willing to listen. It was a good story and I am looking forward to the final book in the series.
June 16, 2019
This was another great story in the Thunder Point series, touching on sensitive topics. Ginger Dysart has been staying in Thunder Point with her aunt, Raye-Ann, after losing her baby to SIDS. She's finally finding ways to get out of bed in the morning, while working at Grace's flower shop. She meets Matt Lacoumette, Peyton's brother, at Peyton's wedding. Matt has been a bear ever since his divorce and he takes the opportunity of a wedding to get stinking drunk and makes a pass at Ginger. When he travels to TP to apologize, the two start to become friends, and then something more. But both have been burned in the past and neither is eager to go through a broken romance again. As always, I love the characters in these stories and how those from previous books keep popping up in this wonderful little town. This book had some sadness in it, but also laughter and joy seeing people find a way to move past tragedies.
January 18, 2021
Loved Loved it Robyn Carr has done it again with her book about Ginger Dysart finding love again after moving to Thunder Point to recover after loss of her baby Josh. She is working for Grace at the flower shop. Grace is now pregnant her mum moved to thunder point and is being cared for by a Nurse. Ginger finds love with Matt Lacoumette when they meet at his sister Paytons wedding when he so drunk that he groops her. He goes to Thunder Point to apologize for his behavior and find himself falling for Ginger. I like how their relationship builds up throughout the book how they both have to heal after their divorces , and relationship with their ex's before moving on together. I like also how she features the community of Thunder Point and introduce new characters as well.
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