reneek84's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say it was kind of predictable but it was a nice read and I enjoyed it.
chartsh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kdf_333's review against another edition
3.0
soooo i read [b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775] and thought it was cute and wanted to read the start of the series. turns out the Caine's started in the hope's crossing series and not the haven point series.
ok the entire hope's crossing series was like a hallmark movie with a lil nicholas sparks thrown in. cuz in hallmark there is not as much bad stuff going like folks dying and whatnot, nick sparks likes death or dismemberment or some awful tragedy.
i enjoyed the hope's crossing series for that hallmark feel.
they were cute. they are good lil romances. no graphic sex, a lil bit of violence. a lot of dogs, kids, and family members. and nothing was mysterious. oh she tried, but nope. she tried to be all nicholas sparks and throw in some twists but nope it was hallmark. you saw the "surprises" coming a mile away. i really liked the big family and small picturesque town aspect. so hallmark.
even though i read them all one after another, the stories and characters were sufficiently different that i could enjoy each one.
not so with the haven point series. they have all the same stuff yet the no hallmark feels. except for the first one in the series([b:Snow Angel Cove|20821540|Snow Angel Cove (Haven Point, #1)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406525511s/20821540.jpg|40167366])and the last one[b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775]). (both of which have Caine's in them- like everyone of the hope crossing series does.) i am almost done with that series and it sucks. it started out very good with adian caine but it went downhill form there. why? cuz every book was VERY similar to the first one. i am literally recognizing entire phrasing. (like i am positive she used some of the exact sentences in all the books!) the lead characters all remind me of the previous leads. and they are so very quick to judge. like how can you be attracted to a person and feel this "hunger" (she uses that word A LOT) when you think they are mean or nasty or uptight or something else very unpleasant? the situations are even similar (crutches for everyone!) also every book is i really NEED help but i don't want your help but i guess i'll take it and try to be grateful and oh now i am in love.
i am saddened by this since i really enjoyed hope's crossing and the first and last book in the haven point series. oh welll...
ok the entire hope's crossing series was like a hallmark movie with a lil nicholas sparks thrown in. cuz in hallmark there is not as much bad stuff going like folks dying and whatnot, nick sparks likes death or dismemberment or some awful tragedy.
i enjoyed the hope's crossing series for that hallmark feel.
they were cute. they are good lil romances. no graphic sex, a lil bit of violence. a lot of dogs, kids, and family members. and nothing was mysterious. oh she tried, but nope. she tried to be all nicholas sparks and throw in some twists but nope it was hallmark. you saw the "surprises" coming a mile away. i really liked the big family and small picturesque town aspect. so hallmark.
even though i read them all one after another, the stories and characters were sufficiently different that i could enjoy each one.
not so with the haven point series. they have all the same stuff yet the no hallmark feels. except for the first one in the series([b:Snow Angel Cove|20821540|Snow Angel Cove (Haven Point, #1)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406525511s/20821540.jpg|40167366])and the last one[b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775]). (both of which have Caine's in them- like everyone of the hope crossing series does.) i am almost done with that series and it sucks. it started out very good with adian caine but it went downhill form there. why? cuz every book was VERY similar to the first one. i am literally recognizing entire phrasing. (like i am positive she used some of the exact sentences in all the books!) the lead characters all remind me of the previous leads. and they are so very quick to judge. like how can you be attracted to a person and feel this "hunger" (she uses that word A LOT) when you think they are mean or nasty or uptight or something else very unpleasant? the situations are even similar (crutches for everyone!) also every book is i really NEED help but i don't want your help but i guess i'll take it and try to be grateful and oh now i am in love.
i am saddened by this since i really enjoyed hope's crossing and the first and last book in the haven point series. oh welll...
ccgwalt's review against another edition
2.0
2.5*
While the writing isn't all bad, the author predominantly tells instead of shows. There are too many minor and major info dumps, and too many little schmaltzy anecdotes inserted in the middle of conversations. The book is riddled with cardboard characters, each one more stereotyped than the last. The small town atmosphere vacillates between heartwarming and mean-spirited.
Claire is way too "perfect." She thinks it's a major character flaw in herself that she can't be "true friends" with her ex-husband's much younger, bimbo wife. She lets her ex-husband, mother and others treat her like an incompetent child because she doesn't want to say anything "unkind" to them.
Riley is a better character, although not unusual or unique. There's also some very real emotional angst in the book that centers around a car wreck. This is the best written part of the book. Unfortunately, the solution Claire comes up with to "help the town heal" was right out of a Micky Rooney/Judy Garland movie. "I know! Let's put on a show!"
This book has made-for-TV movie written all over it, complete with B-list actors. I truly enjoyed Thayne's book, [b:Dancing In The Moonlight (Cowboys of Cold Creek, #2)|614751|Dancing In The Moonlight (Cowboys of Cold Creek, #2) (Silhouette Special Edition)|RaeAnne Thayne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176339224s/614751.jpg|601192], and was happy to see this longer novel. Unfortunately, I think her writing style works best in the shorter form of the series romance, where info dumps and heartwarming rabbit trails have to be kept to a minimum.
While the writing isn't all bad, the author predominantly tells instead of shows. There are too many minor and major info dumps, and too many little schmaltzy anecdotes inserted in the middle of conversations. The book is riddled with cardboard characters, each one more stereotyped than the last. The small town atmosphere vacillates between heartwarming and mean-spirited.
Claire is way too "perfect." She thinks it's a major character flaw in herself that she can't be "true friends" with her ex-husband's much younger, bimbo wife. She lets her ex-husband, mother and others treat her like an incompetent child because she doesn't want to say anything "unkind" to them.
Riley is a better character, although not unusual or unique. There's also some very real emotional angst in the book that centers around a car wreck. This is the best written part of the book. Unfortunately, the solution Claire comes up with to "help the town heal" was right out of a Micky Rooney/Judy Garland movie. "I know! Let's put on a show!"
This book has made-for-TV movie written all over it, complete with B-list actors. I truly enjoyed Thayne's book, [b:Dancing In The Moonlight (Cowboys of Cold Creek, #2)|614751|Dancing In The Moonlight (Cowboys of Cold Creek, #2) (Silhouette Special Edition)|RaeAnne Thayne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176339224s/614751.jpg|601192], and was happy to see this longer novel. Unfortunately, I think her writing style works best in the shorter form of the series romance, where info dumps and heartwarming rabbit trails have to be kept to a minimum.
gemmalaszlo's review against another edition
4.0
Got this for free as part of the "Tell Harlequin" reader panel. I honestly wasn't expecting much, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Small-town theme without the tired cliche of "big evil corporation out to destroy perfect small town", which I can't stand. Good characters, no stupid misunderstandings, no cheating (that seems to be the conflict for a lot of contemporary romances). I'll be on the lookout for more books by this author.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes a sweet, happy ever after romance is the perfect antidote to a bad day. Blackberry Summer introduces the small town of Hope's Crossing in Colorado. While it's residents are not immune to the pitfalls of contemporary society - the global financial crisis, political machinations, divorce and crime - it is essentially a community, where familiarity with friends and neighbours has a special type of charm. For Claire Bradford, raising her two children while her ex husband starts a new family with his new, much younger wife, Hope's Crossing is home. When her bead store, String Fever, is vandalised, the new chief of police, Riley McKnight arrives to investigate and Claire is horrified by her immediate attraction to her best friend's little brother. Riley has been away for fifteen years and the hellion he once was has grown into a fine man, who realises that his adolescent crush on Claire has never really gone away.
Of course there is no smooth road to love for this pair. Claire's self esteem is low as a result of her divorce and she is concerned about the appropriateness of her attraction to a younger man. Riley is struggling to live down his teenage bad boy reputation and the shadow of his father's desertion. A tragedy that directly involves the two brings them closer together but both stagger under the weight of their respective baggage. It's a predictable, though enjoyable, pattern of the expected I don't/ I can't/ I couldn't /I do.
Thayne is clearly establishing opportunities within the supporting characters to create future pairings for a series I would compare to Debbie Macombers Cedar Cove series. Blackberry Summer is a contemporary, cozy romance that provided me with a few hours of much needed relaxation. Romance fans are sure to enjoy this introduction to the Hope's Crossing community.
Of course there is no smooth road to love for this pair. Claire's self esteem is low as a result of her divorce and she is concerned about the appropriateness of her attraction to a younger man. Riley is struggling to live down his teenage bad boy reputation and the shadow of his father's desertion. A tragedy that directly involves the two brings them closer together but both stagger under the weight of their respective baggage. It's a predictable, though enjoyable, pattern of the expected I don't/ I can't/ I couldn't /I do.
Thayne is clearly establishing opportunities within the supporting characters to create future pairings for a series I would compare to Debbie Macombers Cedar Cove series. Blackberry Summer is a contemporary, cozy romance that provided me with a few hours of much needed relaxation. Romance fans are sure to enjoy this introduction to the Hope's Crossing community.
bookmarklit's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Even though they’re two different series set in different small towns, it’s easy to compare this to the Haven Point series by Thayne. This one was written first and honestly I think it shows; her writing style improves by Haven Point. I loved the Hope’s Crossing setting and can’t wait to meet more people/shops/restaurants with each book. I don’t think it was as developed right off the bat, but I still have a good picture of the cute Colorado town. I loved Riley and Claire, even if they were dumb at times like typical romance MCs are. A little weak in a lot of areas, but an enjoyable story overall.
sarahreadsalotofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A very well-written story with a horrible & tearful gut-punch thrown in for good measure. Life isn't all rainbows and unicorns, and neither is this book. But I'm already looking forward to reading the rest of the series!