Review: The Family Gathering by Robyn Carr

The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3) by Robyn Carr
Publication date: April 17th 2018
Publisher: Mira Books
My rating: 4 Stars
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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.

My Thoughts:

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!