2.5 Stars
Robyn Carr’s books are usually like warm hugs for me, warm and comforting. THE COUNTRY GUESTHOUSE felt like a one-armed hug, a little halfhearted. I still got some warm and fuzzy feels, but without the usual Carr magic.
For some context, this is the fifth book in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series, and if I had realized that the book was a part of that particular series, I probably would have passed on reviewing it. This is actually the highest I’ve rated a book in this series so far, so I will focus on the positives first.
What I liked: The heroine! Hannah is grounded, mature, smart. She keeps getting dealt tough hands and keeps rising above. She worked to build her relationship with Noah, her ward, and was definitely the most three-dimensional character in the book. I liked the hero’s relationship with his ex-wife; it was nice to see two amicable people who used to be married.
What I didn’t like: Carr’s books are all about emotion and, sadly, that’s the part that fell flat for me. The romance felt lukewarm at best, especially on the hero’s side. He has a tragic backstory, but other than that, his emotions were so… surface. Also, the villain was ridiculous. I couldn’t get by it! Honestly, they were practically twirling a metaphorical evil mustache at points. They were like a cartoon character by the end.
Overall, I liked this book. I don’t love this series. It’s just kind of boring. Carr is a great author, but meh.
**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Romance Reader 