Review, Interview, and Giveaway: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

The Wanderer, Robyn Carr, AF, 2013, eARC, 384p, Rating=4
Source: provide by marketing/author in exchange for an honest review
Mild adult content:  language and sex

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.

My Review

What a fun read!  I really enjoyed this new series debut.  Small town-beach coast, Thunder Point, was the perfect cozy backdrop to host the lovely characters in this book.  The general plot has been done, a wanderer comes to a small town and contemplates whether he finally found the spot to settle in.  However, the little details of each town residents and their interactions with each other were unique and splendidly developed.  Enough background was given to pull me into the individual storylines and left me emotionally vested.  The people dealt with real life circumstances (bullying, divorce, foul play, comradery, romance, etc.) and the exchange was meaningful.  I'm delighted with the dynamics that the author has presented.  The mild steamy romance wasn't bad either.  Though the main protagonist, Cooper, was interesting, I found Mac to be my favorite character.  There's something about a law enforcing man that just hits a spot (FYI: married to one) and of course dubbed Mr. Yummy Pants by the young citizens added to his charm.  Sure looking forward to reading more about him in the next installment!

This book did deliver what it promised.  It did make me laugh, sigh, and fall in love with the unforgettable small town folks.  So, if you're looking for a new and spicy chick lit that you want to sink your teeth into, then look no further.  Ms Carr is weaving a wonderful series in Thunder Point that you'd want to take along with you to read on your summer vacation trip or just when you want a relaxing read.

Author Interview

Q: You’re known for being an inspiration to new and aspiring writers in all different genres. Is there one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to become a writer?

A: Forget about what’s selling well today and just write what you most love to read!!

Q: One of the things you’re known for is what people in the writing world call “voice.” That is, the unique way you say things so that a lot of time people read what you’re written and say, “I wish I’d said that!” Where does an author’s voice come from? Where does yours come from?

A: It’s attitude, perspective, sometimes personality, the way I perceive a character will sound and the things he/she will believe. It’s simple and yet complicated – I think we get to know an author by her voice, how she sounds and typically tells a story, how she manages and organizes her plots and characters, how she strings words together. But given the differences in characters, it’s not always reflective of the author’s belief system, yet can be reflective of how an author perceives a type of character will sound. Some authors are better than others with dialogue, something I think is similar to perfect or relative pitch – knowing how a lumberjack might talk, how a fireman might talk, how a doctor might communicate, etc.

Q: What would you tell someone who is coming to Thunder Point for the first time? What do you want them to know about the town as they jump into The Wanderer?

A: My husband and I have moved around a lot, thanks to his years in the Air Force and commercial aviation. Have you ever had the experience of living somewhere that just didn’t feel like your town? Or, conversely, landing somewhere that made you think you were meant to be there? When we drove from Texas to Sacramento and crossed over the Sierras into the Sacramento Valley, I remember thinking, Ahhhh, I’m a Californian! I never realized! I was instantly comfortable with the landscape, the people, the climate.

Hank Cooper has always been a wanderer. He’d lived and worked in a lot of beautiful and interesting places, but there’s something about this small coastal town and the people there that just hook him and make him think for the first time in his adult life, Maybe I’m home.

Giveaway

The awesome author through  Little Bird Publicity (thanks Ms Carr; thanks Katie and congrats on baby J!; thanks Sarah for stepping in) is offering my readers a giveaway!  One continental US entrant will win a printed copy of The Wanderer.  But if you can't wait then get your copy today while it's on sale.  For Kindle app users, the ebook's 75% off!  Only $1.99.  Aaahhh, that's a deal!!!!  See link below. 

Must be at least 18 years old to enter.  See form for complete details.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

$1.99 Kindle edition;  Printed