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Sullivan's Crossing #3
The Family Gathering
Listening Length: 10 hours and 8 minutes
An exceptional storyteller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr beautifully captures the emotionally charged, complex dynamics that come with being part of any family. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears as they discover what it means to be loved, supported and accepted by the people who mean the most.
Having left the military, Dakota Jones is at a crossroads in his life. With his elder brother and youngest sister happily settled in Sullivan’s Crossing, he shows up hoping to clear his head before moving on to his next adventure. But, like every visitor to the Crossing, he’s immediately drawn to the down-to-earth people and the seemingly simple way of life.
Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.
When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.
An exceptional storyteller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr beautifully captures the emotionally charged, complex dynamics that come with being part of any family. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears as they discover what it means to be loved, supported and accepted by the people who mean the most.
Having left the military, Dakota Jones is at a crossroads in his life. With his elder brother and youngest sister happily settled in Sullivan’s Crossing, he shows up hoping to clear his head before moving on to his next adventure. But, like every visitor to the Crossing, he’s immediately drawn to the down-to-earth people and the seemingly simple way of life.
Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.
When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.
Audible Audio
First published April 17, 2018
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About the author
Robyn Carr
169 books12.1k 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 879 reviews
January 25, 2018
3.5 stars
"In our family, we don't hide crazy...we put it on the porch and give it a cocktail."
-Anonymous
The family gathering is the third book in the Sullivan's Crossing series, but it works very well as a standalone novel. Having said that, I do recommend reading the first two books (What we find and Any Day Now) as they introduce the reader to characters that are seen in this book and provide you with their backstory. Robyn Carr builds a community in her books centered around family members; so, with each book in the series we see characters we already know and watch them interacting with the new characters.
The Family Gathering is mainly about Dakota Jones who has recently left the military and reconnecting with his family. While having a drink he sets his eyes on an attractive bartender named Sid who has an interesting back story herself. While these are the two main characters, the book also touches on the love story of Tom and Lola.
I'll admit it, I enjoy a good romance book. I especially enjoy Robyn Carr books because she builds a community of characters who interact with each other. Her books are not only about people but also about their town, their sense of community, and their relationships with others. Her characters are well rounded and believable. I also love that she touches on heavy subjects and this book was no exception. This book touched on divorce, adoption, stalking, betrayal, marriage, starting over, and mental illness.
Thank you to Harlequin-Romance and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
"In our family, we don't hide crazy...we put it on the porch and give it a cocktail."
-Anonymous
The family gathering is the third book in the Sullivan's Crossing series, but it works very well as a standalone novel. Having said that, I do recommend reading the first two books (What we find and Any Day Now) as they introduce the reader to characters that are seen in this book and provide you with their backstory. Robyn Carr builds a community in her books centered around family members; so, with each book in the series we see characters we already know and watch them interacting with the new characters.
The Family Gathering is mainly about Dakota Jones who has recently left the military and reconnecting with his family. While having a drink he sets his eyes on an attractive bartender named Sid who has an interesting back story herself. While these are the two main characters, the book also touches on the love story of Tom and Lola.
I'll admit it, I enjoy a good romance book. I especially enjoy Robyn Carr books because she builds a community of characters who interact with each other. Her books are not only about people but also about their town, their sense of community, and their relationships with others. Her characters are well rounded and believable. I also love that she touches on heavy subjects and this book was no exception. This book touched on divorce, adoption, stalking, betrayal, marriage, starting over, and mental illness.
Thank you to Harlequin-Romance and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 5, 2018
Ahhhhh, I did not want this story to end. This is the third installment of the Sullivan's Crossing series and it picked up from the previous books. For the fans of Ms. Carr, you are taken on a journey through thoughtful storytelling as you connect and fall in love with all of the characters in the series, similar to her Virgin River series.
This installment centers around Dakota Jones, brother of Cal and Sierra, from books one and two. He decides to take a break and visit his siblings with the intention that he will leave soon. He is finding that his reconnection with his family is prompting him to plant roots. He develops a routine , gets to know the people in the community even some women who want to be more than friends. But he becomes attracted to a woman who is helping her brothers business.
Sid has moved on with her brother to help him with his two kids and she works at the bar that he owns. She is trying to recover from a terrible divorce that left her leaving a meaningful career and she doesn't believe she can trust again. Falling into a new routine with her brother a f his family feels safe and she wants to stay safe.
Dakota is frequenting the bar several times a week with the hopes that he can convince Sid to go out with him. The two develop a friendship that feels authentic and unforced. This is what I love about this author's writing style. She tells the story at a pace that allows you to enjoy the development of the story. No rush, and you're finding yourself connected with the characters. They feel like people you know and the hardships and challenges and insecurities coupled with the small life victories make you feel and hope and cheer for this community of amazing people.
I love this series and I hope Ms. Carr will continue to give us more in Sullivan's Crossing.
This installment centers around Dakota Jones, brother of Cal and Sierra, from books one and two. He decides to take a break and visit his siblings with the intention that he will leave soon. He is finding that his reconnection with his family is prompting him to plant roots. He develops a routine , gets to know the people in the community even some women who want to be more than friends. But he becomes attracted to a woman who is helping her brothers business.
Sid has moved on with her brother to help him with his two kids and she works at the bar that he owns. She is trying to recover from a terrible divorce that left her leaving a meaningful career and she doesn't believe she can trust again. Falling into a new routine with her brother a f his family feels safe and she wants to stay safe.
Dakota is frequenting the bar several times a week with the hopes that he can convince Sid to go out with him. The two develop a friendship that feels authentic and unforced. This is what I love about this author's writing style. She tells the story at a pace that allows you to enjoy the development of the story. No rush, and you're finding yourself connected with the characters. They feel like people you know and the hardships and challenges and insecurities coupled with the small life victories make you feel and hope and cheer for this community of amazing people.
I love this series and I hope Ms. Carr will continue to give us more in Sullivan's Crossing.
March 11, 2018
We’re back at Sullivan’s Crossing in Timberlake, Colorado, this time focused on Dakota Jones. He’s the elusive brother of Cal and Sierra who left home as soon as he became of age and has never returned. He’s an Army Ranger recently discharged from the service and comes to visit his siblings, not certain (as usual) how long he’ll stay. But, a surprising thing happens to him this time. He begins bonding with his extended family and others in the community, a first for him. And, he’s becoming drawn to the attractive bartender at the bar and grill, though she’s keeping him at arm’s length.
I really enjoyed this story as it’s not only about Dakota but, typical of a Carr novel, has several other storylines in motion. All of the Jones siblings were profoundly impacted by their parents’ dysfunction, manifesting itself differently in each of them. Dakota has avoided establishing roots and meaningful relationships with his brother and sisters. It was interesting to follow his transformation as he immersed himself in their extended lives (babies, spouses, their spouses’ families), giving him an alternate image of family, so diametrically opposite of his childhood experiences. Even more intriguing was his developing relationship with Sidney (Sid) who had her own baggage and made him work hard for her attention.
The story tackles mental illness with meaningful insight and doesn’t pretty up the outcomes when sister Sedona makes her appearance. It was sometimes frightening but always enlightening. I learned a lot about what schizophrenia is and isn’t and how other disorders (anxiety, depression, OCD) can develop and create behaviors that look normal but can be anything but.
There’s other drama that just makes this a layered and richer story. I love the community and family that’s been created by the Joneses despite their tragic upbringing. There’s a strong message here about resilience and not falling victim to your circumstances. I love this series and certainly found this story appealing on so many levels.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review)
I really enjoyed this story as it’s not only about Dakota but, typical of a Carr novel, has several other storylines in motion. All of the Jones siblings were profoundly impacted by their parents’ dysfunction, manifesting itself differently in each of them. Dakota has avoided establishing roots and meaningful relationships with his brother and sisters. It was interesting to follow his transformation as he immersed himself in their extended lives (babies, spouses, their spouses’ families), giving him an alternate image of family, so diametrically opposite of his childhood experiences. Even more intriguing was his developing relationship with Sidney (Sid) who had her own baggage and made him work hard for her attention.
The story tackles mental illness with meaningful insight and doesn’t pretty up the outcomes when sister Sedona makes her appearance. It was sometimes frightening but always enlightening. I learned a lot about what schizophrenia is and isn’t and how other disorders (anxiety, depression, OCD) can develop and create behaviors that look normal but can be anything but.
There’s other drama that just makes this a layered and richer story. I love the community and family that’s been created by the Joneses despite their tragic upbringing. There’s a strong message here about resilience and not falling victim to your circumstances. I love this series and certainly found this story appealing on so many levels.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review)
February 8, 2024
Dakota Jones has an older brother and younger sister who have settled in Sullivan’s Crossing in Timberlake, Colorado, so when he is at a crossroads after leaving the military, Dakota heads there hoping to gain some perspective before moving on. But life has a way of throwing up curve balls. One comes in the form of Sid, a bartender who works with her brother Rob. As a new single man in town Dakota is a target for a couple of the single women in the area. But the one he finds himself attracted to appears to not want to know him. Maybe he is just no good at relationships, he thinks. After all he is starting to realise how little he really knows about his family after years apart. There are secrets he had no idea about. He has his own secrets and issues too.
There are a number of characters to keep track of and sometimes it was distracting changing from one to the other, even though the other family members and their stories were interesting. Also I could have done without the emphasis on sex scenes.
So, in the end just three stars from me. I really liked the setting and most of the characters but found Neely and Alyssa one dimensional and unbelievable. However there are some interesting themes dealt with about family, community, medical issues etc. I am equally sure a lot of people are going to love it.
There are a number of characters to keep track of and sometimes it was distracting changing from one to the other, even though the other family members and their stories were interesting. Also I could have done without the emphasis on sex scenes.
So, in the end just three stars from me. I really liked the setting and most of the characters but found Neely and Alyssa one dimensional and unbelievable. However there are some interesting themes dealt with about family, community, medical issues etc. I am equally sure a lot of people are going to love it.
May 13, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the third book in the series of “Sullivan’s Crossing.” I’m very happy to say I loved the third book as much as the last two. I fell in love with all the characters, how each one worked through their challenges in life and especially the unconventional love they have for one another.
This is the third book in the series of “Sullivan’s Crossing.” I’m very happy to say I loved the third book as much as the last two. I fell in love with all the characters, how each one worked through their challenges in life and especially the unconventional love they have for one another.
January 16, 2018
Very satisfying reading--now this was a story I could sink my teeth into.
.
Mainly this story was about returning Army Ranger Dakota (Cody) Jones and his search for his place in this world, and him finding the life he didn't think he wanted--until he found the woman who he couldn't live without.
Dakota turns up at Sullivan's Crossing where two of his three siblings (Cal--What We Find, and Sierra--Any Day Now) have now settled and have happy and fulfilling lives. Dakota thinks he'll stay awhile and visit with the siblings who he rarely sees, just until he figures out what's next for him. And then he meets pretty barmaid Sid, who is way more than she appears to be...and suddenly Dakota's in no hurry to leave.
This book deals with a lot of issues (divorce, betrayal, mental illness, blended families, stalking, adoption, death....and those are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head!) and as RC tends to do, includes a bunch of subplots involving other than the main characters. Which was ok with me--I was really moved by the subplot involving Dakota's older sister Sedona, and the sometimes heartbreaking one about youngest sister Sierra and husband-to-be Connie and their quest for a family.
I enjoyed Dakota and Sid's unexpected love story. Neither were looking for love, both had issues to work out, and both were such good people that it was easy to root for them. I loved the detail and back story that RC provided--it made ithem very easy to relate to and understand these two characters.
If you enjoy epic family sagas, and love Robyn Carr's other works, you're sure to enjoy this one. It wrapped up just a tad too soon for me, but still, a very entertaining 4 1/2 star read for me.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review
.
Mainly this story was about returning Army Ranger Dakota (Cody) Jones and his search for his place in this world, and him finding the life he didn't think he wanted--until he found the woman who he couldn't live without.
Dakota turns up at Sullivan's Crossing where two of his three siblings (Cal--What We Find, and Sierra--Any Day Now) have now settled and have happy and fulfilling lives. Dakota thinks he'll stay awhile and visit with the siblings who he rarely sees, just until he figures out what's next for him. And then he meets pretty barmaid Sid, who is way more than she appears to be...and suddenly Dakota's in no hurry to leave.
This book deals with a lot of issues (divorce, betrayal, mental illness, blended families, stalking, adoption, death....and those are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head!) and as RC tends to do, includes a bunch of subplots involving other than the main characters. Which was ok with me--I was really moved by the subplot involving Dakota's older sister Sedona, and the sometimes heartbreaking one about youngest sister Sierra and husband-to-be Connie and their quest for a family.
I enjoyed Dakota and Sid's unexpected love story. Neither were looking for love, both had issues to work out, and both were such good people that it was easy to root for them. I loved the detail and back story that RC provided--it made ithem very easy to relate to and understand these two characters.
If you enjoy epic family sagas, and love Robyn Carr's other works, you're sure to enjoy this one. It wrapped up just a tad too soon for me, but still, a very entertaining 4 1/2 star read for me.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2018
Robyn Carr is one of my all-time favorite contemporary romance writers. She writes realistic romances that warm your heart, usually set in a quaint small town with an abundance of lovable secondary characters. The Family Gathering is the third book in the Sullivan’s Crossing series and centered on another one of the Jones’ siblings, Dakota.
Dakota distanced himself from his wacko parents as soon as he was old enough to enlist in the army and hasn’t been around his brother and two sisters in quite some time. The circumstances surrounding his discharge from the army and a tragic love lost has made Dakota re-examine his life and reestablish a connection with his brother and sisters. Luckily for Dakota Cal and Sierra have settled in the same place, Timberlake, and so he sets off there thinking he might spend a few weeks. Being around his brother and sister and their mates, as well as the charm of Timberlake and its residents, feels right and so Dakota starts making more permanent arrangements.
There is no shortage of women in Timberlake, and two take and immediate interest in Dakota, but he only has eyes for, Sidney, a bartender at the local watering hole. Unfortunately for Dakota, Sid isn’t much interested in starting a relationship since the end of her marriage just about destroyed her. Also, unfortunately, the two woman, Neely and Alyssa, who are interested aren’t what you’d call a picture of sanity. Dakota deals with these two nut-jobs while trying to get to know Sid and patiently wait for her to come around.
I love Robyn Carr’s leading men. They have a protective streak without the usual over-the-top alpha-assholery you find in a lot of romances. Watching Dakota and Sid slowly build to a romance was a delight. Dakota was a sweet guy, patient and understanding. Also, he was smart about the Neely and Alyssa who were complete psychos!
There’s were several side stories in The Family Gathering, a standard in Carr’s stories, which were just as interesting and engaging as Dakota and Sid’s story. Sierra and Sedona, Dakota’s sisters have issues, both happy and sad to work through, and Tom Canaday and Lola sort out romance and merging families. I think the only negative about The Family Gathering is I wanted more! I wanted to see a little more of Dakota and Sid’s future, but with any luck Ms. Carr will write another installment and I’ll get to catch up with these characters I’ve come to know and love!
A copy was kindly provided by Mira Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Dakota distanced himself from his wacko parents as soon as he was old enough to enlist in the army and hasn’t been around his brother and two sisters in quite some time. The circumstances surrounding his discharge from the army and a tragic love lost has made Dakota re-examine his life and reestablish a connection with his brother and sisters. Luckily for Dakota Cal and Sierra have settled in the same place, Timberlake, and so he sets off there thinking he might spend a few weeks. Being around his brother and sister and their mates, as well as the charm of Timberlake and its residents, feels right and so Dakota starts making more permanent arrangements.
There is no shortage of women in Timberlake, and two take and immediate interest in Dakota, but he only has eyes for, Sidney, a bartender at the local watering hole. Unfortunately for Dakota, Sid isn’t much interested in starting a relationship since the end of her marriage just about destroyed her. Also, unfortunately, the two woman, Neely and Alyssa, who are interested aren’t what you’d call a picture of sanity. Dakota deals with these two nut-jobs while trying to get to know Sid and patiently wait for her to come around.
I love Robyn Carr’s leading men. They have a protective streak without the usual over-the-top alpha-assholery you find in a lot of romances. Watching Dakota and Sid slowly build to a romance was a delight. Dakota was a sweet guy, patient and understanding. Also, he was smart about the Neely and Alyssa who were complete psychos!
There’s were several side stories in The Family Gathering, a standard in Carr’s stories, which were just as interesting and engaging as Dakota and Sid’s story. Sierra and Sedona, Dakota’s sisters have issues, both happy and sad to work through, and Tom Canaday and Lola sort out romance and merging families. I think the only negative about The Family Gathering is I wanted more! I wanted to see a little more of Dakota and Sid’s future, but with any luck Ms. Carr will write another installment and I’ll get to catch up with these characters I’ve come to know and love!
A copy was kindly provided by Mira Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
May 21, 2018
The Family Gathering
Robyn Carr
Received from Netgalley
THE FAMILY GATHERING is the third book in the Sullivan’s Crossing series. I was so excited to find out Robyn Carr had a new series about to begin and Sullivan’s Crossing has been so much fun to read. Robyn is my favorite author and I devour everything she writes. I’ve never read a Robyn Carr book I didn’t love. THE FAMILY GATHERING is a heart warming addition to what is becoming a wonderful series.
THE FAMILY GATHERING takes place in Colorado and the way Robyn Carr describes the scenery had me feeling like I was sitting right there in the woods by the campground and enjoying a warm fire. I could almost taste the s’mores. The plot is multi layered and will have you not being able to put this wonderful story down until the very last page. THE FAMILY GATHERING touches on divorce, adoption, stalking, betrayal, marriage, starting over, and mental illness. The story is about returning Army Ranger Dakota Jones and his search for his place in this world, and him finding the life he didn’t think he wanted–until he found the woman who he couldn’t live without.
I truly got lost while reading THE FAMILY GATHERING and found myself in Colorado with Sid and Dakota and all the wonderful secondary characters who I know are going to become my friends as the series continues. Keep the tissues close by because as secrets are revealed, I was an emotional wreck. I’m so excited to read the next story in this series and learn more about my new friends. Robyn Carr always pulls me right in and hooks me from the very first page. She is an auto buy author for me and her characters always feel so real. They aren’t perfect and while they all have flaws they are also very lovable. I can not wait to continue this series!
Robyn Carr
Received from Netgalley
THE FAMILY GATHERING is the third book in the Sullivan’s Crossing series. I was so excited to find out Robyn Carr had a new series about to begin and Sullivan’s Crossing has been so much fun to read. Robyn is my favorite author and I devour everything she writes. I’ve never read a Robyn Carr book I didn’t love. THE FAMILY GATHERING is a heart warming addition to what is becoming a wonderful series.
THE FAMILY GATHERING takes place in Colorado and the way Robyn Carr describes the scenery had me feeling like I was sitting right there in the woods by the campground and enjoying a warm fire. I could almost taste the s’mores. The plot is multi layered and will have you not being able to put this wonderful story down until the very last page. THE FAMILY GATHERING touches on divorce, adoption, stalking, betrayal, marriage, starting over, and mental illness. The story is about returning Army Ranger Dakota Jones and his search for his place in this world, and him finding the life he didn’t think he wanted–until he found the woman who he couldn’t live without.
I truly got lost while reading THE FAMILY GATHERING and found myself in Colorado with Sid and Dakota and all the wonderful secondary characters who I know are going to become my friends as the series continues. Keep the tissues close by because as secrets are revealed, I was an emotional wreck. I’m so excited to read the next story in this series and learn more about my new friends. Robyn Carr always pulls me right in and hooks me from the very first page. She is an auto buy author for me and her characters always feel so real. They aren’t perfect and while they all have flaws they are also very lovable. I can not wait to continue this series!
April 3, 2018
Recently retired Army Ranger, Dakota Jones, heads to Sullivan’s Crossing to spend some time with his siblings. He is surprised with the connection that begins to grow between him and his sibs but is even more surprised by his attraction to the local bar tender…even though she’s giving him a tough time of it.
There is a lot of smiles and laughs but its tinged with the seriousness of growing up in a dysfunctional family and the effect it had on all the family members years later.
Dakota never set up a place to call home. Carr masterfully captures Dakota’s transformation from a traveling man to one who wants roots.
Carr is the queen of outstanding emotional contemporary romance storytelling. She writes sweet and fun capturing the down-home feel that makes the written words feel like your friends, family and the neighbor right next door.
I received this ARC of The Family Gathering from HARLEQUIN - MIRA. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Family Gathering is set for publication April 17, 2018.
My rating: 4 stars
Written by: Robyn Carr
Series: Sullivan's Crossing
Sequence in Series: Book 3
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: April 17, 2018
ISBN-10: 0778330761
ISBN-13: 978-0778330769
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Gatheri...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
There is a lot of smiles and laughs but its tinged with the seriousness of growing up in a dysfunctional family and the effect it had on all the family members years later.
Dakota never set up a place to call home. Carr masterfully captures Dakota’s transformation from a traveling man to one who wants roots.
Carr is the queen of outstanding emotional contemporary romance storytelling. She writes sweet and fun capturing the down-home feel that makes the written words feel like your friends, family and the neighbor right next door.
I received this ARC of The Family Gathering from HARLEQUIN - MIRA. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Family Gathering is set for publication April 17, 2018.
My rating: 4 stars
Written by: Robyn Carr
Series: Sullivan's Crossing
Sequence in Series: Book 3
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: April 17, 2018
ISBN-10: 0778330761
ISBN-13: 978-0778330769
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Gatheri...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
April 26, 2018
Yikes I loved it.
Every so often I look forward to reading a certain book and then feel a little let down when I read it. Not so with The Family Gathering, #3 in Robyn Carr's Sullivan's Crossing. I love, love, loved every word of it.
I've come to love this little community and the spirit that exists among them. And I really looked forward to brother Dakota's story and it was everything that I wanted and more. Yes more! Because we had updates of Maggie and Cal and little Elizabeth. We saw Sully from time to time, and Connie and Sierra's story is furthered and in such a way that had my heart hurting and hoping at the same time. And then the last sister Sedona - what a story for her too. Such a strong sense of family and community - my kind of read.
If that all sounds like you couldn't read this one without reading the previous two books - well you could because Robyn Carr does fill you in a unobtrusive way. However I am so happy to have followed the story from the beginning.
As soon as Dakota arrives and finds himself a little cabin in the woods I was hooked. Made me remember such a cabin in the Virgin River series. I loved how he talks straight and tells people (women mostly) where he's at with them or not as the case may be. I loved Sid too, she's had a knock back but in reality she is a very intelligent and strong woman.
All the characters have such interesting back stories and it impinges on their lives now. This is not just some light romance, this is a story about people - their highs and lows and struggles. And their ultimate arrival on the path to redemption. And of course there is romance and in such a perfect way.
I loved all the characters, Robyn Carr even includes the perfect nun, plus the oddest character around, we've met her in previous books and she is every bit as weird in this one, but has she finally met her match?
If you are a Robyn Carr fan this one is certainly for you. If you like a heart warming and emotional read, great characters and plenty to keep you involved in the plot then I say .... read it!
Every so often I look forward to reading a certain book and then feel a little let down when I read it. Not so with The Family Gathering, #3 in Robyn Carr's Sullivan's Crossing. I love, love, loved every word of it.
I've come to love this little community and the spirit that exists among them. And I really looked forward to brother Dakota's story and it was everything that I wanted and more. Yes more! Because we had updates of Maggie and Cal and little Elizabeth. We saw Sully from time to time, and Connie and Sierra's story is furthered and in such a way that had my heart hurting and hoping at the same time. And then the last sister Sedona - what a story for her too. Such a strong sense of family and community - my kind of read.
If that all sounds like you couldn't read this one without reading the previous two books - well you could because Robyn Carr does fill you in a unobtrusive way. However I am so happy to have followed the story from the beginning.
As soon as Dakota arrives and finds himself a little cabin in the woods I was hooked. Made me remember such a cabin in the Virgin River series. I loved how he talks straight and tells people (women mostly) where he's at with them or not as the case may be. I loved Sid too, she's had a knock back but in reality she is a very intelligent and strong woman.
All the characters have such interesting back stories and it impinges on their lives now. This is not just some light romance, this is a story about people - their highs and lows and struggles. And their ultimate arrival on the path to redemption. And of course there is romance and in such a perfect way.
I loved all the characters, Robyn Carr even includes the perfect nun, plus the oddest character around, we've met her in previous books and she is every bit as weird in this one, but has she finally met her match?
If you are a Robyn Carr fan this one is certainly for you. If you like a heart warming and emotional read, great characters and plenty to keep you involved in the plot then I say .... read it!
April 26, 2018
This is the third book in a series that’s set in an idyllic small town I Colorado, I read the second book last year and was excited to catch up with the characters again. You could easily jump in at any point, these books read fine as a standalone, although it was nice to see some familiar characters as secondary characters this time around. Last book it was Sierra’s story and this one focused on her brother, Dakota.
Carr writes the type of romance novels that I can handle, they’re not over the top gushy or unrealistic with insta love and other overdone tropes. She creates genuine, true to life characters and scenarios that are just so easy to get lost in. Dakota isn’t necessarily looking for love, but he’s not adverse to casual flings and though he has plenty of offers when he moves to town, he has eyes for only one lady, Sid. I like the whole play hard to get storyline but this was deeper than that, it wasn’t two flat characters playing games, it was two damaged grown adults who went into a relationship in a mature fashion, I love that!
This is just a really smooth read, it wasn’t all about the romance there was family issues and several serious complications, lots going on to keep you engaged. Carr is an excellent storyteller, she reels you in and makes you become invested in her characters, I’m totally in love with this little town and it’s residents and can’t wait to catch up with them again!
The Family Gathering in three words: Authentic, Charming and Heartwarming.
Carr writes the type of romance novels that I can handle, they’re not over the top gushy or unrealistic with insta love and other overdone tropes. She creates genuine, true to life characters and scenarios that are just so easy to get lost in. Dakota isn’t necessarily looking for love, but he’s not adverse to casual flings and though he has plenty of offers when he moves to town, he has eyes for only one lady, Sid. I like the whole play hard to get storyline but this was deeper than that, it wasn’t two flat characters playing games, it was two damaged grown adults who went into a relationship in a mature fashion, I love that!
This is just a really smooth read, it wasn’t all about the romance there was family issues and several serious complications, lots going on to keep you engaged. Carr is an excellent storyteller, she reels you in and makes you become invested in her characters, I’m totally in love with this little town and it’s residents and can’t wait to catch up with them again!
The Family Gathering in three words: Authentic, Charming and Heartwarming.
June 12, 2018
It’s always a pleasure to come back to Sullivan’s Crossing. I think Dakota might be my favorite Jones so far, and Sydney a wonderful heroine (not only for him, but also in her own right). I loved her background (smarty-pants physicist) and her masquerading (so to speak) as a bartender while she sorts out the pieces of her life after a major heartache of her own.
Ms. Carr always does an amazing job of weaving complicated and layered family relationships and real-world problems together, all while building an amazing community and cast of supporting characters. If I made a laundry list of issues addressed in this story, it might scare you off or make you think that the pacing would drag or the love story become diluted. Neither is true. This is Ms. Carr’s superpower writer talent—figuring out how to pack everything into a compelling story so that you feel like the world, the people, and the conflicts are part of your world, and that it all unfolds organically (and, of course, with a happy ending).
Dakota and Syd might not have had to overcome insurmountable conflict between them, but they certainly had very real, complicated issues to resolve before a true HEA could be had (including a lot of family drama that required attention). I really like that these books are like a slice of real life rather than more contrived set-ups of so many all-or-nothing romance novels. These kinds of stories give hope that enough love can help us all solve our own real-life messes!
Looking forward to the next installment in this series that seems to get better with each book.
June 19, 2019
RATINGS: 4 STARS
2018; Mira/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
I love Robyn Carr series and writing! I love the small-towns with realistic story lines and endearing characters. Even though each book focuses on a hero and heroine's journey, most of the characters
make appearances in other books. It gives us more of their stories. In the third instalment of Sullivan's Crossing we meet Cal and Sierra's brother, Dakota. He has come to Timberlake, Colorado to put down roots after his military career. As he figures out what he wants to do next he meet bartender, Syd and a few other women. All, but Syd, are ready to settle down with the handsome new comer even if he doesn't want to. I think Carr dealt with this quite well - the scariness felt very real.
All this novel we have Sierra and Connie grappling with parenthood...or rather if they should become parents and if they should adopt instead. All of this while still planning a wedding...and dealing with the fourth Jones sibling, Sedona. Sedona's need for perfection may be more of a disorder than her personality. When she disappears, Dakota decides it is his turn to step up. We also find out more about the Jones's family history. I really enjoyed this book, that I finished it quicker than I wanted, and I really like Therese Plummer's narration.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2018; Mira/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
I love Robyn Carr series and writing! I love the small-towns with realistic story lines and endearing characters. Even though each book focuses on a hero and heroine's journey, most of the characters
make appearances in other books. It gives us more of their stories. In the third instalment of Sullivan's Crossing we meet Cal and Sierra's brother, Dakota. He has come to Timberlake, Colorado to put down roots after his military career. As he figures out what he wants to do next he meet bartender, Syd and a few other women. All, but Syd, are ready to settle down with the handsome new comer even if he doesn't want to. I think Carr dealt with this quite well - the scariness felt very real.
All this novel we have Sierra and Connie grappling with parenthood...or rather if they should become parents and if they should adopt instead. All of this while still planning a wedding...and dealing with the fourth Jones sibling, Sedona. Sedona's need for perfection may be more of a disorder than her personality. When she disappears, Dakota decides it is his turn to step up. We also find out more about the Jones's family history. I really enjoyed this book, that I finished it quicker than I wanted, and I really like Therese Plummer's narration.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
January 28, 2019Not a formal review - I DNF at 50% so I won't be rating this. I loved the first two books in the series but DNF this one based on 3 things that I found problematic. They aren't overtly problematic and I probably wouldn't have even noticed them a few years ago, but now I do notice and I can't overlook them.
1) one of the descriptions of body size and how a man convinced a woman she's beautiful "even though she's overweight" BLECH
2) the depiction of Sunni Muslim culture - I was given feedback by a member of this community if this depiction was stereotype-ridden and was obviously written without enough research.
3) the treatment of an allegation of sexual assault - the way it was handled by the police was so wrong. It's not okay to say about a woman making an allegation that "something seemed off about her, but she is pretty."
In addition, I wasn't loving the mental illness depictions either, but that could just be because I was already feeling uneasy.
I'm not going to quit reading Robyn Carr, and I have a copy of book 4 so I might give that one a shot
1) one of the descriptions of body size and how a man convinced a woman she's beautiful "even though she's overweight" BLECH
2) the depiction of Sunni Muslim culture - I was given feedback by a member of this community if this depiction was stereotype-ridden and was obviously written without enough research.
3) the treatment of an allegation of sexual assault - the way it was handled by the police was so wrong. It's not okay to say about a woman making an allegation that "something seemed off about her, but she is pretty."
In addition, I wasn't loving the mental illness depictions either, but that could just be because I was already feeling uneasy.
I'm not going to quit reading Robyn Carr, and I have a copy of book 4 so I might give that one a shot
May 31, 2018
3.5/5; 4 stars
I enjoy the Sullivan's crossing books. They kind of remind me of the Virgin River series. If you like series set in a small town with repeating characters you will probably like this one. Robyn Carr manages to write 'almost fantasy' in that her people always get their act together and, even though there are flaws here and there, things always work out. Great escapist reading.
I think book 1 was the best of the lot but this was good too.
I enjoy the Sullivan's crossing books. They kind of remind me of the Virgin River series. If you like series set in a small town with repeating characters you will probably like this one. Robyn Carr manages to write 'almost fantasy' in that her people always get their act together and, even though there are flaws here and there, things always work out. Great escapist reading.
I think book 1 was the best of the lot but this was good too.
April 17, 2018
Once again, Carr brings the romance, characters and small town to life. I would love to spend the summer in one the cabins on the lake. I could see myself having a meal in the quaint Colorado town and taking long hikes with my husband. This is one of the things that draws me to Carr's small-town series. Like the Virgin River series, Sullivans Crossing shares siblings, newcomers, and townsfolks making the reader feel as if they are returning for a visit.
With Dakota's story comes some interesting threads. Carr added some suspense which brought back a familiar character that stalked Dakota. Dakota takes an interest in a relationship-shy bartender. I enjoyed the friendship that developed from volunteer work to personal growth. It was fun seeing it slowly turn into more. The suspense angle could have complicated this fragile relationship, and I love that Carr didn't go there. Instead, she gave us level-headed, mature characters.
Of course, we spend times with the Jones and their significant others. We even get to attend a wedding. The Jones children had an unusual childhood with a mentally ill parent, and all of them worry about falling prey to the disease. Carr did an excellent job of showcases mental illness as she highlights symptoms and treatments. She did this while allowing us to experience the effects on self and family. It was well done and carefully researched.
A situation with Connie and Sid had me in tears, but I trusted Carr to take care of them. Sierra has a central part in The Family Gathering that allowed all of the Jones to grow and has our hero longing to connect with family again and to change his long-term outlook.
For me, The Family Gathering was the strongest book of the series to date as we traversed from storyline to storyline. Carr had me wanted to pack my bags and head to Sullivan's Crossing. Each of the books in this series will work as a standalone. Carr does a great job of filling in the backstory. However, I recommend reading them in order of release. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
With Dakota's story comes some interesting threads. Carr added some suspense which brought back a familiar character that stalked Dakota. Dakota takes an interest in a relationship-shy bartender. I enjoyed the friendship that developed from volunteer work to personal growth. It was fun seeing it slowly turn into more. The suspense angle could have complicated this fragile relationship, and I love that Carr didn't go there. Instead, she gave us level-headed, mature characters.
Of course, we spend times with the Jones and their significant others. We even get to attend a wedding. The Jones children had an unusual childhood with a mentally ill parent, and all of them worry about falling prey to the disease. Carr did an excellent job of showcases mental illness as she highlights symptoms and treatments. She did this while allowing us to experience the effects on self and family. It was well done and carefully researched.
A situation with Connie and Sid had me in tears, but I trusted Carr to take care of them. Sierra has a central part in The Family Gathering that allowed all of the Jones to grow and has our hero longing to connect with family again and to change his long-term outlook.
For me, The Family Gathering was the strongest book of the series to date as we traversed from storyline to storyline. Carr had me wanted to pack my bags and head to Sullivan's Crossing. Each of the books in this series will work as a standalone. Carr does a great job of filling in the backstory. However, I recommend reading them in order of release. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 30, 2023
Sullivan's Crossing - The Family Gathering
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
February 11, 2020
After reading several of her books now, I believe I have found my new favorite author. The story flowed well, the characters likable (for the most part), and the book kept my interest the whole way through. Loving this series and can't wait to check out the Virgin River series next.
February 14, 2019
I didn't enjoy the main characters at all, they were boring. If it wasn't for the secondary characters I would have given this 2 stars.
April 16, 2018
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" The Family Gathering is the latest release in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series. I waffled mightily on how to rate this one. The first two books of the series were pleasant. For the most part, I enjoyed them and rated each one four stars, but I felt that they still had some weaknesses that left me wanting more. That said, though, with each new book the series has been getting a little better, and after reading this one, I felt like the author might finally be starting to hit her stride with the Sullivan’s Crossing stories. There was quite a bit going on in The Family Gathering that held my attention pretty well, probably even better than the first two books, but at the same time, I found some similar weaknesses to the previous two books. However, since this book ended up being my favorite of the series thus far and had some emotional and heartwarming moments, I decided it needed to be rated just a bit higher and finally settled on 4.5 stars.
The hero of this book is Dakota Jones, brother of Cal (What We Find) and Sierra (Any Day Now). After getting into a bit of trouble and being discharged from the military, he’s trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. While he contemplates his options, Dakota decides to visit his brother and sister in Timberlake, check things out, and maybe stay a while until something more interesting comes along. He’s always had a bit of wanderlust, but once he’s there with his family and getting to know people in town, he finds it to be a nice place to hang his hat for a while. His decision is only solidified by his burgeoning relationship with the bartender at the local bar and grill. Dakota quickly discovers that she’s all he could want in a woman, and he isn’t averse to the idea of making things more permanent with her. Dakota is similar to a lot of Robyn Carr’s ex-military heroes, some of whom have also been doing a bit of soul-searching. He’s dedicated to his siblings and would do anything to help them out, which I admired. However, most of his backstory is told rather than shown. In addition to his troubles in the military, he also had a serious girlfriend who was killed in a terrorist attack, but I never felt like either event played into who he is now in the way they probably should have. Upon first coming to Timberlake, he also piques the interest of a couple of female troublemakers from the previous book, one of whom turns stalker, which added a touch of intrigue to the story. Mostly Dakota is just an all-around nice guy who was a good hero. I liked him, but he wasn’t necessarily a stand-out to me.
Our heroine is Sidney, known as just Sid to her family and friends. She’s a sister to the owner of the bar and grill, who went through a very ugly divorce, after which she fell into a deep depression. Before that she was a brilliant physicist, working on a highly specialized quantum computing device used to develop artificial intelligence. She had worked her butt off not only for her job but also to put her husband through medical school, only to have him reveal that he’d been having an affair for two years. When the break-up affected her so deeply, Sid’s widowed brother came to California to get her and take her back home to Timberlake where she could heal. She’s been working as his bartender ever since and helping him take care of his two children, while trying to decide whether to go back to her field of expertise. Sid is a no-nonsense girl who is a little reluctant to get involved with Dakota when he first starts flirting with her, which is understandable after what happened to her, but it doesn’t take too long before she can no longer resist his charm. Much like Dakota, she’s dedicated to her family, stepping up to be a mother-figure to her nephews. I would say that the only issue I had with her is that Robyn Carr has never been very accurate in writing introverted characters. She gives lip-service to introverts, but then those characters in her stories who supposedly are, always end up as extroverts anyway. As an introvert myself who has studied personalities extensively and who’s also married to a fellow introvert who’s a techno-geek like Sid, I felt like her character, in that respect, just didn’t ring true. A small percentage of introverts can project an air of extroversion when they want and/or need to, but it’s not possible for us to suddenly get a personality transplant and actually become extroverts in the way I felt was being portrayed in Sid’s character. Also her genius IQ is never really shown in any satisfying way. She could have been just any old small-town girl rather than a Mensa-level brainiac. Sid, like Dakota, is a very nice, likable person, but there were simply aspects of her characterization that I felt needed to go deeper.
Much of the strength of the story and what made it interesting to me were the family interactions, particularly for the Joneses. A lot happens for several different characters besides Dakota and Sid, and most of them get their own POV scenes to play out their parts of the story. Sierra and Connie (Any Day Now) take the next step in their relationship by tying the knot and some other unexpected and very emotional things happen to them as well. I really liked their part of the story, because it tugged at my heartstrings. Sedona, the fourth Jones sibling, who we’ve only heard about up to this point, arrives to attend the wedding, but while she’s visiting, her siblings discover that she’s been hiding some very big secrets. Again, I enjoyed her part of the story, partly because looking out for her gives the other characters something engaging to do, but also because it has an element of mental illness that I found interesting. Cal and Maggie (What We Find), as well as Maggie’s dad, Sully, who became a surrogate father to the Joneses, are mostly in the background, but they help out in a number of different ways. Then there’s Tom and Lola, whose romance has been playing out as secondary characters in all three books. These fortyish divorced parents with six kids between them take their own next relationship step while facing the challenge of figuring out how to blend their families together. Sid’s brother, Rob, seems like a great guy, who could use a little romance of his own, and for the first time with this series, I’m going to speculate that he might become the hero of the next book. Then there are Alyssa and Neely who are the two women who stirred up a bit of trouble for Sierra and Connie in the previous book. We may not have seen the last of Alyssa yet and she was less of a problem in this book, only pursuing Dakota a couple of times. But Neely causes him no end of difficulties when she turns into a stalker which didn’t surprise me in the least. I’m glad Ms. Carr took her character in that direction, because she made an intriguing and kind of creepy villainous character.
As with all the “main” relationships in the Sullivan’s Crossing series so far, I felt like Dakota and Sid’s romance was a little too easy. Dakota is rearing to go right from the start. Sid puts up a token fuss in the beginning, but she acquiesces in fairy short order with no real fall-out or complications besides her still trying to decide on whether to go back to her old career. I never felt any sense of urgency with them, because they fit together in an easy-going way that left no real doubt in my mind that they would get their HEA. As I’ve noticed with many of Robyn Carr’s books, she has a tendency to skim along the surface of the characterizations and relationship development rather then diving deep. This is only exacerbated by her tendency to tell most of the story in very long passages of dialogue with few breaks for blocking or introspection. When she does engage in introspection, the passages are a little too short for my liking and also tend to stay mostly on the surface as well. However, despite these repeated frustrations, I still like her books, mainly because of the small-town atmospheres and the family dynamics. Reading her books is kind of like watching a Hallmark movie. There may not be a great deal of substance, but I know I can almost always count on feeling warm fuzzies at the end. So, I guess maybe Robyn Carr is one of those comfort authors who I can enjoy reading from time to time to get those heartwarming feelings. I’ll look forward to the next book in this series to see if I’m right about Rob being the hero, because IMHO, he’d be a really good one.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"4.5 stars" The Family Gathering is the latest release in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series. I waffled mightily on how to rate this one. The first two books of the series were pleasant. For the most part, I enjoyed them and rated each one four stars, but I felt that they still had some weaknesses that left me wanting more. That said, though, with each new book the series has been getting a little better, and after reading this one, I felt like the author might finally be starting to hit her stride with the Sullivan’s Crossing stories. There was quite a bit going on in The Family Gathering that held my attention pretty well, probably even better than the first two books, but at the same time, I found some similar weaknesses to the previous two books. However, since this book ended up being my favorite of the series thus far and had some emotional and heartwarming moments, I decided it needed to be rated just a bit higher and finally settled on 4.5 stars.
The hero of this book is Dakota Jones, brother of Cal (What We Find) and Sierra (Any Day Now). After getting into a bit of trouble and being discharged from the military, he’s trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. While he contemplates his options, Dakota decides to visit his brother and sister in Timberlake, check things out, and maybe stay a while until something more interesting comes along. He’s always had a bit of wanderlust, but once he’s there with his family and getting to know people in town, he finds it to be a nice place to hang his hat for a while. His decision is only solidified by his burgeoning relationship with the bartender at the local bar and grill. Dakota quickly discovers that she’s all he could want in a woman, and he isn’t averse to the idea of making things more permanent with her. Dakota is similar to a lot of Robyn Carr’s ex-military heroes, some of whom have also been doing a bit of soul-searching. He’s dedicated to his siblings and would do anything to help them out, which I admired. However, most of his backstory is told rather than shown. In addition to his troubles in the military, he also had a serious girlfriend who was killed in a terrorist attack, but I never felt like either event played into who he is now in the way they probably should have. Upon first coming to Timberlake, he also piques the interest of a couple of female troublemakers from the previous book, one of whom turns stalker, which added a touch of intrigue to the story. Mostly Dakota is just an all-around nice guy who was a good hero. I liked him, but he wasn’t necessarily a stand-out to me.
Our heroine is Sidney, known as just Sid to her family and friends. She’s a sister to the owner of the bar and grill, who went through a very ugly divorce, after which she fell into a deep depression. Before that she was a brilliant physicist, working on a highly specialized quantum computing device used to develop artificial intelligence. She had worked her butt off not only for her job but also to put her husband through medical school, only to have him reveal that he’d been having an affair for two years. When the break-up affected her so deeply, Sid’s widowed brother came to California to get her and take her back home to Timberlake where she could heal. She’s been working as his bartender ever since and helping him take care of his two children, while trying to decide whether to go back to her field of expertise. Sid is a no-nonsense girl who is a little reluctant to get involved with Dakota when he first starts flirting with her, which is understandable after what happened to her, but it doesn’t take too long before she can no longer resist his charm. Much like Dakota, she’s dedicated to her family, stepping up to be a mother-figure to her nephews. I would say that the only issue I had with her is that Robyn Carr has never been very accurate in writing introverted characters. She gives lip-service to introverts, but then those characters in her stories who supposedly are, always end up as extroverts anyway. As an introvert myself who has studied personalities extensively and who’s also married to a fellow introvert who’s a techno-geek like Sid, I felt like her character, in that respect, just didn’t ring true. A small percentage of introverts can project an air of extroversion when they want and/or need to, but it’s not possible for us to suddenly get a personality transplant and actually become extroverts in the way I felt was being portrayed in Sid’s character. Also her genius IQ is never really shown in any satisfying way. She could have been just any old small-town girl rather than a Mensa-level brainiac. Sid, like Dakota, is a very nice, likable person, but there were simply aspects of her characterization that I felt needed to go deeper.
Much of the strength of the story and what made it interesting to me were the family interactions, particularly for the Joneses. A lot happens for several different characters besides Dakota and Sid, and most of them get their own POV scenes to play out their parts of the story. Sierra and Connie (Any Day Now) take the next step in their relationship by tying the knot and some other unexpected and very emotional things happen to them as well. I really liked their part of the story, because it tugged at my heartstrings. Sedona, the fourth Jones sibling, who we’ve only heard about up to this point, arrives to attend the wedding, but while she’s visiting, her siblings discover that she’s been hiding some very big secrets. Again, I enjoyed her part of the story, partly because looking out for her gives the other characters something engaging to do, but also because it has an element of mental illness that I found interesting. Cal and Maggie (What We Find), as well as Maggie’s dad, Sully, who became a surrogate father to the Joneses, are mostly in the background, but they help out in a number of different ways. Then there’s Tom and Lola, whose romance has been playing out as secondary characters in all three books. These fortyish divorced parents with six kids between them take their own next relationship step while facing the challenge of figuring out how to blend their families together. Sid’s brother, Rob, seems like a great guy, who could use a little romance of his own, and for the first time with this series, I’m going to speculate that he might become the hero of the next book. Then there are Alyssa and Neely who are the two women who stirred up a bit of trouble for Sierra and Connie in the previous book. We may not have seen the last of Alyssa yet and she was less of a problem in this book, only pursuing Dakota a couple of times. But Neely causes him no end of difficulties when she turns into a stalker which didn’t surprise me in the least. I’m glad Ms. Carr took her character in that direction, because she made an intriguing and kind of creepy villainous character.
As with all the “main” relationships in the Sullivan’s Crossing series so far, I felt like Dakota and Sid’s romance was a little too easy. Dakota is rearing to go right from the start. Sid puts up a token fuss in the beginning, but she acquiesces in fairy short order with no real fall-out or complications besides her still trying to decide on whether to go back to her old career. I never felt any sense of urgency with them, because they fit together in an easy-going way that left no real doubt in my mind that they would get their HEA. As I’ve noticed with many of Robyn Carr’s books, she has a tendency to skim along the surface of the characterizations and relationship development rather then diving deep. This is only exacerbated by her tendency to tell most of the story in very long passages of dialogue with few breaks for blocking or introspection. When she does engage in introspection, the passages are a little too short for my liking and also tend to stay mostly on the surface as well. However, despite these repeated frustrations, I still like her books, mainly because of the small-town atmospheres and the family dynamics. Reading her books is kind of like watching a Hallmark movie. There may not be a great deal of substance, but I know I can almost always count on feeling warm fuzzies at the end. So, I guess maybe Robyn Carr is one of those comfort authors who I can enjoy reading from time to time to get those heartwarming feelings. I’ll look forward to the next book in this series to see if I’m right about Rob being the hero, because IMHO, he’d be a really good one.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2023
I love this series. This book was heartbreaking and sad at times. Thankfully, it resolved with a happy ending. Sid and Dakota were sweet, it was fun watching them build a relationship. I like how Carr builds her family and friends circle. Carr is a master at tying other stories into the main story which just add to the overall enjoyment of the book. Looking forward to the next book.
March 25, 2018
Two things I absolutely love about Robyn Carr’s stories are the powerful sense of family she creates, and the amazing characters who populate those families. I fell in love with the characters in her Virgin River series, and again reading her Thunder Point novels. Sullivan’s Crossing has the same sense of place with a totally unique and yet powerful family—the kind of family we build, not necessarily the one we’re born into. THE FAMILY GATHERING offers both.
The series revolves around the campground and nearby town at Sullivan’s Crossing in Colorado, and while there are a number of siblings involved, each book so far has continued the theme that family doesn’t have to share blood to have a powerful connection. In THE FAMILY GATHERING, Dakota Jones comes to Sullivan’s Crossing to see his brother, and meet his new sister-in-law and their baby. He’s not one to settle and sees this as just another stop along the way.
But Sullivan’s Crossing has a way of drawing people in, of helping them find the roots that have so far eluded them. Dakota is no exception, and before long there is a woman involved. Unfortunately, she’s not the least bit interested in dating.
I absolutely loved the dialog between Dakota and Sid. Their convoluted journey from friendship to love is a trip to be savored. There’s some drama along the way that was unlike anything I’ve read, but I can say without giving anything away that Neely is an absolutely fascinating character—not necessarily in a good way! I find myself going back to reread snippets of the story (I’ve already read the book twice) merely to enjoy the experience “one more time.”
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to any reader who wants to lose themselves in a wonderful story, the kind that leaves you with that “ah” moment at the end. Robyn Carr never fails to deliver!
The series revolves around the campground and nearby town at Sullivan’s Crossing in Colorado, and while there are a number of siblings involved, each book so far has continued the theme that family doesn’t have to share blood to have a powerful connection. In THE FAMILY GATHERING, Dakota Jones comes to Sullivan’s Crossing to see his brother, and meet his new sister-in-law and their baby. He’s not one to settle and sees this as just another stop along the way.
But Sullivan’s Crossing has a way of drawing people in, of helping them find the roots that have so far eluded them. Dakota is no exception, and before long there is a woman involved. Unfortunately, she’s not the least bit interested in dating.
I absolutely loved the dialog between Dakota and Sid. Their convoluted journey from friendship to love is a trip to be savored. There’s some drama along the way that was unlike anything I’ve read, but I can say without giving anything away that Neely is an absolutely fascinating character—not necessarily in a good way! I find myself going back to reread snippets of the story (I’ve already read the book twice) merely to enjoy the experience “one more time.”
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to any reader who wants to lose themselves in a wonderful story, the kind that leaves you with that “ah” moment at the end. Robyn Carr never fails to deliver!
May 2, 2018
Having read and enjoyed Any Day Now, the second book in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series, I told myself I would go back and read the first book, What We Found. I wanted more of the characters and the setting, I wanted to dig deeper into the world. Sadly, I have yet to read What We Found, but when I was given the chance to dive into the third book, The Family Gathering, I was happy to return to the world.
Personally, I would recommend reading at least the prior book before diving into this one. The romance story in this one is certainly a standalone element, having a solid starting and ending point, but there are many other elements intertwined throughout and these relate back to the prior books. In many ways, this is more family saga than romance – although the romance is enjoyable – and due to that a bit of understanding is needed to really appreciate all that occurs throughout this one.
I will be honest and say I was a little bit unsure as to how I would feel about this one at first. Despite loving Any Day Now, I wasn’t crazy about my other Robyn Carr read, The Summer That Made Us. When it took me a while to get into The Family Gathering, I feared we were going to have a repeat performance – a story I could appreciate, but not one I would love. Fortunately, in the end, I was won over by this one.
It takes a few chapters, but once you fall into the story it becomes difficult to put down. You fall in love with the characters, and the deeper you get into the story the more threads that come to light. There were some elements that felt a bit predictable, but as a whole I really enjoyed the way all the elements played out with this one.
As with my prior Robyn Carr reads, I found the main thing that won me over was how realistic the characters were. Many books go for completely outlandish characters and events to keep readers entertained, yet Robyn Carr reflects real life wonderfully. The events are easy to envision and the characters are believable, ensuring you’re sucked deeper into the story and unwilling to take a step back as you’re desperate to see how everything ends.
Dealing with many issues throughout, The Family Gathering quickly won me over and has left me even more in love with the Sullivan’s Crossing crew.
Personally, I would recommend reading at least the prior book before diving into this one. The romance story in this one is certainly a standalone element, having a solid starting and ending point, but there are many other elements intertwined throughout and these relate back to the prior books. In many ways, this is more family saga than romance – although the romance is enjoyable – and due to that a bit of understanding is needed to really appreciate all that occurs throughout this one.
I will be honest and say I was a little bit unsure as to how I would feel about this one at first. Despite loving Any Day Now, I wasn’t crazy about my other Robyn Carr read, The Summer That Made Us. When it took me a while to get into The Family Gathering, I feared we were going to have a repeat performance – a story I could appreciate, but not one I would love. Fortunately, in the end, I was won over by this one.
It takes a few chapters, but once you fall into the story it becomes difficult to put down. You fall in love with the characters, and the deeper you get into the story the more threads that come to light. There were some elements that felt a bit predictable, but as a whole I really enjoyed the way all the elements played out with this one.
As with my prior Robyn Carr reads, I found the main thing that won me over was how realistic the characters were. Many books go for completely outlandish characters and events to keep readers entertained, yet Robyn Carr reflects real life wonderfully. The events are easy to envision and the characters are believable, ensuring you’re sucked deeper into the story and unwilling to take a step back as you’re desperate to see how everything ends.
Dealing with many issues throughout, The Family Gathering quickly won me over and has left me even more in love with the Sullivan’s Crossing crew.
November 21, 2022
I love Carr's books and this series has been so entertaining. I can't wait to watch the series. If you have not read this series yet, I recommend it.
December 15, 2018
You've doubtless heard of #1 NYT bestselling author Robyn Carr. If you haven't and love memorable family sagas, I urge you to read her Sullivan's Crossing series. I particularly love her latest, The Family Gathering, in which Dakota Jones, who has just left the military, comes to the the small town in rural Colorado to figure out what comes next. He finds himself coming to terms with his grown siblings and their complicated past, as well as the prospect of letting someone in and finding love.
May 8, 2019
The Sullivan's Crossing series is really very satisfying. I read #4 before this one, which I normally don't do, but it doesn't seem as important with romances.
Number three was extra satisfying because it wasn't just a romance, it was a story about families. We were also introduced to the married sister, Sedona, and - for some reason - those were the most satisfying scenes in the book (apart from the ones with dogs).
Number three was extra satisfying because it wasn't just a romance, it was a story about families. We were also introduced to the married sister, Sedona, and - for some reason - those were the most satisfying scenes in the book (apart from the ones with dogs).
May 1, 2018
3.5 stars
This year I have tried to read a little more fluffy contempo romances. I’ve sometimes felt that I get pigeon holed into reviewing just historical fiction—don’t get me wrong, historical fiction is my jam but sometimes I need a break and could go for something a little more modern and different just to keep things interesting.
Romances never seem to get old for me and I think a lot of women would agree. It doesn’t matter how cliche or repetitive the romance might seem–theres just something about love and having everything turn out in the end that just makes me happy and gives me hope that romance is still alive n the digital age!
Enter books like The Family Gathering. Sure I feel like I’ve read similar stories before but I enjoy love in all it’s shapes and forms and I never get tired of seeing how individual romances unfold.
When I read this review pitch, I was intrigued by the ‘taming of the shrew’ troupe. Don’t we always want what we can’t have? Dakota sounded kind of like this cocky military guy who loves the female attention he’s getting in a small town but yet he can’t get the woman he really wants….doesn’t this sound like every woman’s fantasy? Well it sounded like mine so I was totally in.
I didn’t really notice that this book was part of a series, lately I’ve started reading a few series midway an had good luck with not feeling lost so I figured that would be the case with this one. I don’t know that I would recommend starting mid series with this one. There were clearly other plots and references to previous books and characters that I felt a little lost. This is a new author to me and according to some of the other reviews I had read, it sounds like it’s pretty typical for this author to carry on multiple story lines throughout multiple books and I would say that I recognized that right away with this one.
But I don’t think that took anything away from the story itself because I still liked it but I think that as a new reader, some of the finer nuances of the plot and the characters were lost on me.
I was surprised that this book was actually more about family than about romance. Yes romance is part of the book but really the emphasis is on family and the relationships between the siblings and their parents. the story itself was emotional but again having come in to this series late in the game, some of the emotional impact was less than what other readers might have felt.
I loved how Carr really drove home the small town feel of this book. Having grown up in a small town myself and then as an adult–traveled, gone to college, and lived other places and then moved back to said small town–I think she does a fantastic job at highlighting the difficulties about ‘coming home again’ and living in a small town and that impact on the characters.
It’s hard for me to rate this book because on one hand I enjoyed it and wanted to give it a 4 star review, but I also felt like I was missing so much of the plot which left me wanting to give it a 3 star review. I decided to split the difference and go with 3.5 stars. I think people who have read the other books in the series might rate it a 4 or 5 star review but without having the total understanding of the characters etc I didn’t feel as emotionally impacted or connected to the town and characters as I had hoped.
See my full review here
This year I have tried to read a little more fluffy contempo romances. I’ve sometimes felt that I get pigeon holed into reviewing just historical fiction—don’t get me wrong, historical fiction is my jam but sometimes I need a break and could go for something a little more modern and different just to keep things interesting.
Romances never seem to get old for me and I think a lot of women would agree. It doesn’t matter how cliche or repetitive the romance might seem–theres just something about love and having everything turn out in the end that just makes me happy and gives me hope that romance is still alive n the digital age!
Enter books like The Family Gathering. Sure I feel like I’ve read similar stories before but I enjoy love in all it’s shapes and forms and I never get tired of seeing how individual romances unfold.
When I read this review pitch, I was intrigued by the ‘taming of the shrew’ troupe. Don’t we always want what we can’t have? Dakota sounded kind of like this cocky military guy who loves the female attention he’s getting in a small town but yet he can’t get the woman he really wants….doesn’t this sound like every woman’s fantasy? Well it sounded like mine so I was totally in.
I didn’t really notice that this book was part of a series, lately I’ve started reading a few series midway an had good luck with not feeling lost so I figured that would be the case with this one. I don’t know that I would recommend starting mid series with this one. There were clearly other plots and references to previous books and characters that I felt a little lost. This is a new author to me and according to some of the other reviews I had read, it sounds like it’s pretty typical for this author to carry on multiple story lines throughout multiple books and I would say that I recognized that right away with this one.
But I don’t think that took anything away from the story itself because I still liked it but I think that as a new reader, some of the finer nuances of the plot and the characters were lost on me.
I was surprised that this book was actually more about family than about romance. Yes romance is part of the book but really the emphasis is on family and the relationships between the siblings and their parents. the story itself was emotional but again having come in to this series late in the game, some of the emotional impact was less than what other readers might have felt.
I loved how Carr really drove home the small town feel of this book. Having grown up in a small town myself and then as an adult–traveled, gone to college, and lived other places and then moved back to said small town–I think she does a fantastic job at highlighting the difficulties about ‘coming home again’ and living in a small town and that impact on the characters.
It’s hard for me to rate this book because on one hand I enjoyed it and wanted to give it a 4 star review, but I also felt like I was missing so much of the plot which left me wanting to give it a 3 star review. I decided to split the difference and go with 3.5 stars. I think people who have read the other books in the series might rate it a 4 or 5 star review but without having the total understanding of the characters etc I didn’t feel as emotionally impacted or connected to the town and characters as I had hoped.
See my full review here
June 28, 2018
Having left the military, Dakota Jones is at a crossroads in his life. With his elder brother and youngest sister happily settled in Sullivan’s Crossing, he shows up hoping to clear his head before moving on to his next adventure. But, like every visitor to the Crossing, he’s immediately drawn to the down-to-earth people and the seemingly simple way of life.
Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.
When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.
My Thoughts: I have enjoyed the two previous books in the Sullivan’s Crossing series, so The Family Gathering was a lovely reunion of characters from the past. Each book focuses on a primary character, and the supporting characters are there to fill out the story. The characters feel like old friends at this point, and their issues are very real, ranging from bad relationships to mental illness.
Dakota Jones is an interesting guy who has stayed away from family due to the traumas of their childhood. But some things happened to bring him to Colorado, where two of his siblings reside, and there he begins to feel the warmth of family connections. Especially when some strange events happen that seem to threaten his newfound stability.
I liked Sid, the young bartender who has her own intriguing backstory, and when Dakota and Sid begin to overcome their negative relationships of the past and trust again, I could see good things ahead for them. If the crazy women who are stalking Dakota can be stopped!
How will Dakota’s efforts to help his sister Sedona make him feel more connected? What will happen to further cement the relationship between him and Sid? A delightful 5 star read.
Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.
When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.
My Thoughts: I have enjoyed the two previous books in the Sullivan’s Crossing series, so The Family Gathering was a lovely reunion of characters from the past. Each book focuses on a primary character, and the supporting characters are there to fill out the story. The characters feel like old friends at this point, and their issues are very real, ranging from bad relationships to mental illness.
Dakota Jones is an interesting guy who has stayed away from family due to the traumas of their childhood. But some things happened to bring him to Colorado, where two of his siblings reside, and there he begins to feel the warmth of family connections. Especially when some strange events happen that seem to threaten his newfound stability.
I liked Sid, the young bartender who has her own intriguing backstory, and when Dakota and Sid begin to overcome their negative relationships of the past and trust again, I could see good things ahead for them. If the crazy women who are stalking Dakota can be stopped!
How will Dakota’s efforts to help his sister Sedona make him feel more connected? What will happen to further cement the relationship between him and Sid? A delightful 5 star read.
April 26, 2018
Robyn Carr once again takes us on an emotional journey with her 3rd book in the Sullivan's Crossing series.
I started this book and couldn't put it down. Each page brought the reader into the lives of the Jones siblings and we laughed, cried and shared the joys of family life that her readers could in some way relate to.
This book centers around Dakota Jones, who has left the military and when he finished traveling after his discharge, comes to Sullivan's Crossing to have some time with his brother Cal and his wife and daughter and his sister Sierra and her fiancé's, as well has Sully, Cal's father in law. His oldest sister Sedona, who we learn a little bit more about in this book, comes for the family wedding. Dakota is not looking for anything but just hanging out with family, until he walks into the local Bar and Grill and meets Sid, who is the barmaid and his stay just got all the more interesting.
The Jones family is very complex because of the way they were raised and going through their journeys to find happiness Robyn Carr gives us a look into how family despite having to deal with mental illness, has them finding out as long as they have each other and the people who loves them, then they conquer anything life throws in their path to true happiness.
I started this book and couldn't put it down. Each page brought the reader into the lives of the Jones siblings and we laughed, cried and shared the joys of family life that her readers could in some way relate to.
This book centers around Dakota Jones, who has left the military and when he finished traveling after his discharge, comes to Sullivan's Crossing to have some time with his brother Cal and his wife and daughter and his sister Sierra and her fiancé's, as well has Sully, Cal's father in law. His oldest sister Sedona, who we learn a little bit more about in this book, comes for the family wedding. Dakota is not looking for anything but just hanging out with family, until he walks into the local Bar and Grill and meets Sid, who is the barmaid and his stay just got all the more interesting.
The Jones family is very complex because of the way they were raised and going through their journeys to find happiness Robyn Carr gives us a look into how family despite having to deal with mental illness, has them finding out as long as they have each other and the people who loves them, then they conquer anything life throws in their path to true happiness.
March 3, 2023
#3 in the Sullivan's Crossing romance series
I stuck this series out until now, and I'm finally liking it better! We've met two of the Jones clan (who grew up with their hippie parents)--Cal and Sierra. We revisit with them, but the focus is on Dakota, just returned from the Army and reconnecting with his family after keeping himself pretty isolated from them in recent years. He immediately meets Sid, the local bartender, and sets his sights on her despite her reluctance to start another romance after her divorce. They discover that each is keeping secrets, but their relationship still continues to grow. We also spend quite a bit of time with Sedona (the other Jones sibling) as she struggles with marital and mental health issues. The whole book kept my interest throughout, with plenty of family issues and growth. There wasn't too much mention of the campground, which I thought would be the main location of all of these stories, but it was in the background, with Sully a secondary character. In any case, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. We've already met the doctor, and she sounds like she'll be an entertaining main character.
I stuck this series out until now, and I'm finally liking it better! We've met two of the Jones clan (who grew up with their hippie parents)--Cal and Sierra. We revisit with them, but the focus is on Dakota, just returned from the Army and reconnecting with his family after keeping himself pretty isolated from them in recent years. He immediately meets Sid, the local bartender, and sets his sights on her despite her reluctance to start another romance after her divorce. They discover that each is keeping secrets, but their relationship still continues to grow. We also spend quite a bit of time with Sedona (the other Jones sibling) as she struggles with marital and mental health issues. The whole book kept my interest throughout, with plenty of family issues and growth. There wasn't too much mention of the campground, which I thought would be the main location of all of these stories, but it was in the background, with Sully a secondary character. In any case, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. We've already met the doctor, and she sounds like she'll be an entertaining main character.
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