The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing, #3)

by Robyn Carr

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.

• ISBN10: 0778330761
• ISBN13: 9780778330769
• Publish Date: 17 April 2018
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Mira Books
• Edition: Original ed.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lorelei's Lit Lair]

I finished reading THE FAMILY GATHERING by Robyn Carr and it’s fantastic! I laughed, swooned, was amused, loved seeing all the siblings in this series together, facing challenges and celebrating happy moments. I ended THE FAMILY GATHERING with happy tears streaming down my cheeks. A very satisfying and emotional story.
Robyn Carr’s stories are not only great romances that entertain, but they're also an example of how people should engage with others. I'm always happy when her stories evoke in me a sense of being the best I can be, as a mother, daughter, wife, neighbor and friend. There are always valuable life lessons.
I love the Sullivan’s Crossing series!

[kimbacaffeinate]

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