Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Riverbend Road - Review

Riverbend Road (Haven Point #4) by RaeAnne Thayne

Rating:  Very Good
Source: Publisher
Description:  Protecting the streets of Haven Point isn't just a job for police officer Wyn Bailey, it's a family tradition.  But lately she's found herself wanting more, especially from her boss- and overprotective brother's best friend - sexy chief of police, Cade Emmett.The only problem is getting Cade to view her as more than just a little sister.  Cade's hands-off approach with Wyn isn't from lack of attraction.  But his complicated past has forced him to conceal his desire.  When Wyn is harmed in the line of duty, Cade realizes the depth of his feelings, but can he let his guard down long enough to embrace the love he secretly craves? (from Goodreads)

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I love RaeAnne Thayne's books and I've been wanting to get to know Wyn better as she's been a side character in the earlier books in this series.

My Impression:  RaeAnne Thayne's novels are essentially the book equivalent of a perfectly cold fruity drink on a hot day while sitting by the pool.  They're sweet and refreshing with enough of a tang to keep it from being sappy.  This is one of my favorite romance tropes - Cade is Wyn's brother's best friend and they've known each other forever.  In fact Cade spent so much time at the Bailey house he might as well have been one of the family except that Wyn definitely never sees him as a brother and Cade just doesn't think of Wyn as a little sister.  They both want so much more from their relationship.  However, the reasons for not becoming involved are pretty solid.  Cade can't become involved with one of his employees.  He's well aware of the consequences both on an ethical level and on a practical level and neither of them are the type to get involved and hide it.  Plus, there's something shadowy reaching into the present from the night that Wyn's father, Chief of Police John Bailey, was injured on the job.
While all this is going on a new resident moves to Haven Point and Wyn's sure there's something not quite right with the very guarded Andi Montgomery and her two children.  When Wyn gets a 7 day suspension for disobeying a direct order she uses the time to get to know Andi as well as figuring out what she wants to do for the rest of her life.
This isn't the most unique story.  I've read the good man who was a bad boy from a rough family plot before and I've read the bad boy turned law enforcement who still feels like he has a lot to prove plot before.  However, while it didn't feel unique it didn't feel like "this again".  Thayne infuses her characters and her stories with so much heart that they really come alive and I connected with Wyn right away.  It was also really fun to check in with the characters from previous books.  I loved checking in with Devin, Eliza, and MacKenzie but I didn't feel like I had to remember their stories to enjoy them.  If you haven't read the previous books you could jump right in here and be fine though I have a feeling you'd be rushing to pick up the previous books when you finished this one!
If you enjoy women's fiction with lots of heart, likable characters, and an entertaining plot RaeAnne Thayne is an author you should not miss!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely!  I've loved every book I've read by her and I'm looking forward to catching up on the books I haven't read yet.  Plus, I saw who the next book was going to be about and I'm so excited!

Would I Recommend this Book?: Definitely!  These are total comfort reads without being to much fluff.

25 comments:

  1. Something about covers like these make me feel comfy and ready to sit on the beach with a Mai Tai, or in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. Sometimes you just want to read a great book that's not heavily drizzled with a lot of drama, so I would definitely pick this one up. Great review! Hugs...RO

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    1. I get the same feeling reading these books! Thayne is a favorite of mine!

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  2. This series has been becoming more popular and catching my eye.

    Katherine, I was just thinking about this yesterday. (I've dabbled just a bit in two of Robyn Carr's series- Virgin River & Thunder Point, and one in Lisa Kleypas contemporary series). I want to find a contemporary small town series-- I love series!-- and I want one that doesn't have (over the top) jumping into bed and fantasizing about body parts, but also not too syrupy sweet boring.

    I'm putting you on the spot here, sorry, but do you have a recommendation(s) for me? Or any of your followers have a thought on this? You came to my mind as "an authority" on these types of reads :)

    By the way, I loved your description of comparing a book to a summer drink-- right on!

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    1. This would be a good series and she has another that is good too though I haven't read as much of it. This one focuses a little more on the attraction but they're not tumbling into bed and if they do it's very fade to black. Have you read The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs? There are only 2 but I'm hoping there will be more. I'll have to ponder this some more. There are a lot of great contemps but a lot of them have a fairly high heat level.

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    2. I didn't mean to put you on the spot with this. It's just when I go to the library it's overwhelming, and if I had the name of a first book or an author to check out, I might wind up with a good series to fall back on when the mood hits.

      I know you are a person who reads this genre sometimes(also Lark). If something else comes to you, thanks! If not, thanks also!

      I'm putting this series by Thayne, book #1, on my to-look-for list now. I'm definitely not prudish and don't mind a few sensual scenes; I just don't want to read a whole page of body part descriptions, if you know what I mean :)

      And no, I've read Wiggs several times, but not The Apple Orchard one yet. Going on the list too.

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    3. Just sticking my nose in :) One author I've been wanting to try is Emily March. Her Eternity Springs series is on my list. I checked GR and saw the term "mild steam" so perhaps it's not too heavy with body part descriptions ;-)

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    4. Yes for sure Mary. Emily March is great, mild steam and mostly in early books.

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    5. No worries! I don't feel on the spot at all! I second Emily March. I love her books. They're a little darker than Thayne's books though more in a character's past than the book itself. I've read some Sherryl Woods too that I really liked. It had older characters with a lot of character development and I really enjoyed it but then I tried another and really disliked it so I'm a little hesitant to recommend her.

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  3. "RaeAnne Thayne's novels are essentially the book equivalent of a perfectly cold fruity drink on a hot day while sitting by the pool." What a fun way to describe this book. You sold me on this series. I'm going to give her another try.

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    1. Have you tried her before and not loved her? If so I didn't find it very different books but I've really enjoyed all her books. Not every author really clicks with all of us.

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  4. And thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy, daily schedule to watch me and Jellybean's book podcast. She's been wanting to "be famous," LOL.

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    1. Last night I was so happy she wanted to look for book on the library's website. I reminded her she has lists of books she wants to read so she won't have to dig through aisles of spines.

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    2. Does she use her lists? My kids were awful about remembering the books they wanted. She was so cute in the podcast! I really enjoyed it.

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  5. I enjoyed this one and look forward to future books - some foreshadowing with Wyn's siblings making appearances in this book. My review posts first week of July.

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    1. I'm very intrigued by the mentions of Wyn's siblings! I really looking forward to the next book!

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  6. Ah always nice to have a side character take centre stage and have their story told. I must try RaeAnne T again, perhaps this series would be a good place to retry her.

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    1. I really enjoyed this one though so far I've pretty much love every book of hers I've read. I hope If you try this you enjoy it.

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  7. I want to read this! I love Thayne's books too.I can't wait to find out more about Wyn.

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    1. I really enjoyed this! It's nice to read a nice book about nice people and Thayne never lets me down.

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  8. I have read one book by this author so far, and enjoyed it. It was a Christmas story. This one sounds good. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. She does fantastic Christmas stories though this one is good too!

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  9. I love this author and really need to get back to reading her books. They are always so good.

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    1. They really are! I know I'm in for a good story anytime I start one of her books!

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  10. I have read some of her previous books and enjoyed them but it has been a while. I really need to pick them up again and this sounds wonderful.

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  11. I'm not a romance fan, but occasionally pick one up as a partially mindless diversion. This one could be a beach read!

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