#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr delivers an emotional and triumphant novel about the fierce power of a mother’s love.A summer rental, a new beginning… guardian to a five-year-old named Noah. With no experience at motherhood, she’s terrified she’s not up to the challenge. She and Noah need time to get to know each other, so she decides to rent a country house with stunning views on a lake in rural Colorado.
When they arrive at the house, they are greeted by the owner, a handsome man who promises to stay out of their way. But his clumsy Great Dane, Romeo, has other ideas and Noah immediately bonds with the lovable dog. As Hannah learns to become a mother, Owen Abrams, who is recovering from his own grief, can’t help but be drawn out of his solitude by his guests.
But life throws more challenges at this unlikely trio and they are tested in ways they never thought possible. All three will discover their strengths and, despite their differences, they will fight to become a family. And the people of Sullivan’s Crossing will rally around them to offer all of the support they need.
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An enjoyable visit to a delightful small town… Wonderful Characters… Go Helen! Glad I got to meet you…
This is the latest book in the Sullivan’s Crossing series. Read then in order as you’ll become familiar with the wonderful characters
Awesome book
I loved this book. This entire series (Sullivan’s Crossing) is phenomenal but this one in particular just put it over the top. I loved the characters and how their paths crossed. Loss, instant family and self growth by all the characters is the name of the game in this book.
Hannah Russell is a successful sales manager living in Minneapolis. While her career is on track, her love life hasn’t been all that shiny and recently took a major nose dive. As she plans to take some time off and return to Colorado, the lovely site of her last business trip, one of her best friends dies suddenly, leaving 5-year son, Noah, in her care. Hannah decides to keep the planned trip intact so she and Noah can have a chance to bond and grieve. She’d booked the house owned by freelance photographer Owen Abrams who’d planned to be out of town but his plans changed and he’s not traveling but will stay in the attached barn.
I loved returning to Sullivan’s Crossing and it was the perfect place for Hannah and Noah to find respite. With its strong sense of community and natural beauty, it set the stage for both of them to heal and experience the outreach from the residents. Owen also had experienced a tragedy years ago and had never fully recovered from it. The relationship he created with Noah pulled some serious heartstrings, almost eclipsing his romance with Hannah but not really. And then there was his dog, Romeo, an adorable and lovable Great Dane who really was a scene stealer. This story has all of the elements that normally keeps me enthralled…and I was.
I chose to listen to this story because it’s narrated by Thèrése Plummer who is fabulous normally and in her performance here. She masters the young Noah while credibly delivering the male voices along with the others. She provided distinctive qualities for all the major characters, helping to define them beyond the pages. I’m committed to listening to the series here after.
I loved everything about this story. It wasn’t all sweetness and light as Hannah and Noah experience some real threats and challenges. It grabbed me from the start, wouldn’t let go and I finished it in a day. Carr is a master at writing compelling small town romance and she doesn’t miss here.
(Thanks to Recorded Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Sullivan’s Crossing is a wonderful place to visit. Small towns are wonderful because the percentage of nice people greatly out run the nasty ones. These stories could happen.
What a beautiful book! Like most of this authors books, it captured me in the first chapter and didn’t let go. Great characters and storyline. I love this series. This can be read and enjoyed even if you haven’t read the previous books. Loved it!
Sweet story of love, healing, and family. Hannah is a busy sales exec for a medical equipment company. Her life is going as planned, with her wedding approaching rapidly, and her career on track for a promotion. Then she returns early from a less than satisfactory team-building exercise to find her fiancé in bed with her assistant. This is followed by the unexpected death of her best friend, leaving Hannah as the guardian of Erin’s five-year-old son Noah. Determined to do the motherhood thing right, Hannah rents a house near Sullivan’s Crossing, takes family leave from her job, and gives herself and Noah a chance to grieve their loss and get to know each other.
The house is owned by Owen, a brilliant photographer who rents his home while he travels. His most recent trip was canceled, leaving Owen at loose ends. Rather than cancel the rental, Owen stays in his studio, leaving the house to Hannah and Noah. He promises to keep out of their way, but his dog Romeo and Noah have other plans. Owen quickly finds himself drawn into Hannah and Noah’s lives.
I loved the development of the relationship between Owen and Hannah. They are attracted to each other from the moment they met, but with only a two-week stay planned, neither is prepared to do anything about it. They attempt to bury the attraction and quickly form a satisfying friendship. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, from quiet morning coffee on the porch to outings with Noah. By the time the two weeks are up, both Owen and Hannah acknowledge that there is something special between them. Owen convinces Hannah that she and Noah should stay for the summer and see where it goes. Owen also shares the tragedy he experienced twelve years earlier that changed his life.
The romance between Owen and Hannah is a slow-burning one. I liked that they took their time to get to know each other. Owen is a sensitive man who excels at understanding other people’s feelings. Both he and Hannah keep their lines of communication open, talking about issues before they become problems. I loved that Owen was there for Hannah, supporting her without taking over. I liked the way that he made his feelings clear, and his hopes for the future, without putting any pressure on Hannah. This enabled Hannah to regain trust in her feelings and her judgment.
Things aren’t all rainbows and flowers though. Hannah became Noah’s guardian because Erin was estranged from her family. Her mother was emotionally abusive and showed an undeniable preference for Erin’s brother. Roger was physically and emotionally abusive, as well as an addict and criminal. Erin’s will made it clear that her family was to have no contact with Noah. Hannah was shocked when Erin’s mother, Victoria, challenged her for custody and was suspicious of her motives. Hannah’s protective instincts were fierce and I liked seeing her inner strength revealed. Hannah’s new friends rallied around her to help however they could. I especially liked Helen’s methods, which were unconventional but effective. There was a twist to the resolution that I didn’t see coming but really enjoyed.
Noah was adorable. I liked watching him bond with both Hannah and Owen. It was terrific to see that he and Hannah were able to talk about their grief at the same time they built their own relationship. He wasn’t a perfect child, which was refreshing. His actions were realistic for his age, with the occasional meltdown and bits of stubbornness. I loved the way that he and Romeo bonded. It was so much fun to see the two of them together. Noah’s explanations of Romeo’s clumsiness to others were always amusing. I ached a bit for him when he talked about being different from other kids, and loved seeing the changes he experienced while at the lake.
I enjoyed seeing various characters from earlier books. Even though I have only read the first book and this one, I never felt lost. There was enough information given to enlighten without bogging things down in recaps. It did whet my appetite to go back and read the others.
I just spent three months with the folks at Sullivan’s Crossing, CO. It was the best vaca ever! Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. A lot of families intertwined up there but that just means more love to go around. Since I had such a swell time I’m hoping I can go back again! I definitely recommend this book. Enjoy!
Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors. I loved this book. It is a sad story, with humorous moments, and a with a wonderful ending.
I love every book Robin Carr has written. Every book gets better and better
I love all her books!!
I have enjoyed all of the books in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series, but I think “The Country Guesthouse” may be my favorite one so far. It is a sweet story populated with well-developed, likeable characters, and despite the amount of tragedy in this book, the overall tone remained upbeat. I especially loved how the individual characters came together to create a family of their own choosing. I have always believed that family is what you make it; the people you love and who love you don’t have to be limited to those related by blood. This story serves as an excellent demonstration of that idea.
The female lead character, Hannah, was carrying a fair amount of emotional baggage due to two failed engagements, but I admired how she stepped up to care for her best friend’s young son, Noah, when he needed her the most. The relationship Hannah and Noah developed was adorable, and I really appreciated that she tried to keep memories of his birth mother alive for him while still establishing her own place in his life. Noah was a great kid, and surprisingly adaptable given the circumstances. He seemed to thrive under Hannah’s care.
Owen, the male lead character, had suffered more than his fair share of tragedy years earlier, but I loved that he managed to find comfort in his photography career and heal enough to make a place in his heart for Hannah and Noah. I also thought it was really sweet that Owen and his ex-wife were still in touch and managed to maintain such a cordial, caring relationship. It seemed like they still loved each other, just in a different way from when they were married. In a way, they acted like siblings and really seemed to want what was best for each other.
In addition, I enjoyed the mystery of what was going on with Noah’s grandmother and her motivation for trying to establish a relationship with him. It was great to spend time with some of the characters from earlier books in the series too, particularly Sully and Helen. They were so kind and welcoming when Hannah and Noah came to stay in Timberlake, eventually becoming something like surrogate grandparents.
Hopefully this is not the last we will see of these characters! I can’t wait to see what happens next in Sullivan’s Crossing.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Robyn Carr never disappoints. If you like family sagas, I recommend this book.
Enjoyed it from beginning to end.
A boy, a dog, a woman, a man, romance. What’s not to love? Add in the ‘already in love with’ Sullivan’s Crossing and all our favorite characters…this should have been a 5-star read. Unfortunately for me, although it was good, it wasn’t a best effort, in my opinion. I will say it got better the further I read, and that’s why I’m giving it 4-stars.
I could have done without the whole prologue, and I usually LOVE prologues. I kept waiting for more references to the prologue and except for the cheating fiancé and the house, it was pretty much just extra pages.
I did like the story. There was sadness, hope, joy, romance, angst, mystery, and ultimately happiness. Important issues were touched on, in-vitro births, parental neglect, female bonding, child abduction, wills, and inheritance. These were all handled expertly.
Just because I thought there was an issue with the prologue doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. It was for all the reasons I stated above. I just felt like I was missing something.
I’m a fan of Ms. Carr and will absolutely keep purchasing and reading her books. So many people have written stellar reviews of this work and if I leave out my issue with the prologue…I guess mine would be stellar as well.
Book 5 of Sullivan’s Crossing was awesome! I listened to the audible version of this book and loved it! Robyn Carr is a master at her craft. The characters she has created are so real and lovable. I love settling into her books and meeting new friends. Thank you for another beautiful installment in this series!
One of my favorite authors, Robyn Carr creates emotionally diverse plots that keep you guessing. This heartwarming story was entertaining and inspirational.
I have read many Robyn Carr books but this one is my favorite so far. I loved the characters, the setting, and most of all the story. A mother dies leaving her son with her best friend. The best friend has very little experience with children, but she opens her heart, loves, and protects the little boy. There was never any doubt that Hannah would become an amazing mother to Noah.
When Owen comes into the story, I knew where it was headed. He was amazing with Noah and sweet with Hannah. The attraction between them was there from the beginning but it was more slow burn. They took their time, got to know each other, and always kept Noah in the front of the minds. Everything they did revolved around the happiness and safety of Noah. The love blossomed and got tested but there was never any real doubt on where it was headed.
While Hannah, Owen, and Noah were the main characters, the townspeople and their friends were just as important to the story and added to the happenings. Robyn Carr did an amazing job of giving backstories while not making it so winded that you forgot what was important. I loved seeing how everyone came together to keep this family safe and happy.
The twists and turns in the story were wonderful. There were many things that I didn’t see coming and I loved how it all came together perfectly. The Country Guesthouse is a sweet and easy read. It is the perfect book for someone looking to lose themselves in a cute town, with a sweet boy, and amazing townspeople.
A truly beautiful story about a young woman who “inherits” her best friends son. She takes him on vacation right away to Sullivan’s Crossing where we get to see all our old friends and also a new one. Owen is a photographer who
Had a devastating loss in his life.
Warm and well written. I enjoyed it.
Noah’s handicap gives us a look at strength in children. There is so much more to this book. I recommend it.