Holly‘s review of The Homecoming
Former Navy SEAL Sax Douchett has returned home to the small coastal town of Shelter Bay, Oregon determined to put war behind him and get on with his life — which is easier said than done when everyone is hailing the former bad boy as a local hero. Adjusting to a new beginning becomes even more difficult when his dog unearths a human bone on the beach below his cliffside home.
It’s a mystery that brings Sheriff Kara Conway, Sax’s secret high school love, back into his life. But as he cautiously reconnects with Kara, and bonds with her young son, another long-held secret in Shelter Bay threatens to destroy their second chance at a forever – after love that was meant to be.
This is the first book in JoAnn Ross’ new Shelter Bay series, a spinoff of her High Risk series, which I’ve never read. There are things that are referenced in this book that must have happened in the other series, but not in a way that made me think I needed to read those books to understand this one.
Sax Douchett’s a former Navy SEAL who has come home with survivors guilt, because his entire unit was killed while he alone was captured and survived. He’s out of the Navy and is planning to regroup in his hometown of Shelter Bay. He has tentative plans to rebuild the restaurant/pub his parents used to own, but mostly he just wants to decompress and heal.
Kara Conway’s a cop who moved back home from California after her father was killed in a hunting accident – a few months after her husband, also a cop, was killed in the line of duty – to take over his position as Sheriff. She only wants a safer, quieter life for her son, and Shelter Bay is nothing if not quiet and safe.
Sax kind of had a crush on Kara back in high school, but she had eyes only for would-be husband, who’d been her sweetheart since grade school. Now that they’re both home and single, Sax is anxious to get to know Kara better. But she’s gun shy. Not only was she devastated by her husband’s murder, but she has a young, impressionable child to think of.
There’s a mystery plot entwined. Sax finds what he thinks might be a human bone on the beach. Through a series of events, they think it might be tied to her father’s death – which they want to believe is an accident but aren’t convinced of.
The romance was wonderful. I loved Sax. Loved loved. He was kind, considerate and protective without being creepy. I think what really grabbed me about him was the way he cared for Kara’s child. He treated Trey like his own, right from the beginning. He’s dealing with ghosts from his past, but he doesn’t let that stop him from living his life. He’s wounded in both heart and soul, but he does his best to put that aside so he can heal.
Kara was great too. She’d been hurt by her husband’s death, but she didn’t take the “I have to mourn” thing to an extreme. Yes, she loved her husband and regretted his loss, but she didn’t feel guilty for having feelings for someone else, or decide she had to be a martyr to his memory.
Something bothered me about Kara the Cop, though. I think that part bothered me because it seemed like the job took a backseat for Kara once she and Sax started getting more serious. Or maybe it was just that the direction of the novel shifted from the investigation to their relationship. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Something about it bothered me, but I can’t pinpoint exactly what. I guess it seemed like she relaxed a lot as sheriff once she and Sax were together, and that bothered me.
I loved the small town setting of Shelter Bay. It was the perfect backdrop to the story. It had it’s problems, but the positives of small town life were really showcased.
This problems dealt with here were real and heartfelt. I was totally caught up in the relationships between Sax and Kara, and Sax and Trey. Not to mention the personal battles they faced. If you’re looking for an emotionally compelling read, look no farther.
4.5 out of 5
The Series:
I have a copy of The Homecoming
This book is available from Signet. You can buy it here
Be sure to check back later, because JoAnn Ross will be here talking about Shelter Bay and giving away more copies! Plus, we have an excerpt!
I’d love to read this one based on your review alone but also b/c I love H/h’s that share a personal history.
Great review. Sounds good. I like how the book has a small town setting and the hero is a former Seal.
Holly, thanks for the lovely review! That was a very personal book for me, so it’s super to hear other people are enjoying Sax and Kara’s story!
As for the sheriff stuff, you made a good point. I thought about that and decided that the town really was normally as slow and easy to watch over as she’d hoped when she moved Trey from California. And when her father had moved his family there. (We once almost moved to a WA town where I had the newspaper mailed to me for several months and one week the entire crime report was — I am NOT making this up! — a plastic pen stolen from the gas station.)
So her relationships with Trey, her mom, and Sax were more essential in her life. If that makes sense. Maybe I should’ve stuck a few more lines in there to explain that. 🙂
This would be a new author for me, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
The reviews for this book have all been great and I am looking forward to reading it.
I hadn’t of the author before your review, but the book sounds good – off to look at what else she’s written.
I’d like to read THE HOMECOMING because I enjoy JoAnn’s books and her SEALS are sooooo darn sexy!
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
Love the premise of this book. Also – oooo a good grade from you!
But even more (most?) important to me, at least for the moment, is that this is a “spin off” book/series that STANDS ALONE. That’s kind of all sorts of amazing and awesome to me. And makes me happy.
I am enjoying the High Risk novels so reading a spin off from them is very enticing. Plus love JoAnn’s writing and the synopsis and review promise a great read!
JoAnn Ross is a new author to me, and after reading your review and the excerpt of “The Homecoming” I would love to read it. I especially like how Sax and Kara knew of each other when they were younger.
adeversmeyer(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’m not reading your review b/c of spoilers, but the fact that you gave it a 4.5 speaks volumes.
I love JoAnn Ross!!
I’d love to read Shelter Bay because I love small town settings and the military aspect. It sounds like a great story.
I would love to read The Homecoming because I love stories set in Oregon, where I live.
I love JoAnn Ross!! She writes good stuff!
Loved the review. Hope to win a copy somewhere with all the copies being give out. LOL.
Stay cool everyone.
Forgot to say, I would love to win a copy because the review sounds great and I love reading about those sexy seals, small towns and a lady cop is a different type of heroine.
I’m a huge JoAnn Ross ho. She’s one of my crack authors.
So glad you liked this book!!
would like to read this book because I enjoy stories with second chances as a theme. Your great makes me all the more intrigued :)!
Pam S
pams00@aol.com
I want to read it because the review sounded like it would be a book I would enjoy and what could be better, a series book, setting small town, a sexy Seal, named Sax, hmmm on that – heehee and a lady cop.
Rosie G.
I would love to read it because the excerpt enticed me and I like seals, small town type books.
Natalie’s Mama
Why I want to read this ? Because I’m always up for A good book from new Authors for me 🙂
And JoAnn, is one of the New Authors (for me !) 🙂
uniquas at ymail dot com
Oh this sounds like the early Virgin River books – Count me in!
I want to read it because it sounds like a great story and I love JoAnn’s books she’s always on my list to buy.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I want to read this book because JoAnn’s books are auto-buys for me!!!I LUV her High Risk books and her Seals. I luv small town reads and I prefer a series over stand alones. Thanks, Sue
I like stories where it is the HERO who used to have a crush on the HEROINE and when they meet again, he finds the crush turn over xs10. Calls for a delish reading ride. 😛
I want to read this books because the hero is a former SEAL and they’re one of my favorite types of heroes and plus I enjoy reading books set in small towns.
I really like JoAnn’s books. I have read several of them in the past and they were all great. I would love to read this one. Great review too!
Good review, you’e got me interested in the book now. Please throw my name in for the giveaway!
I would like to read this book, because your review made it sound so interesting. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Hi JoAnn
I’ve always loved your writing be it rom. susp. or contemp. Reunited lovers is a fave premise as well.
Congrats on this book release.
I am a JoAnn Ross fan and really looking forward to this one. I read the excerpt and it is just the type of story I like–nice normal people caught in extraordinary circumstances. I guess I will have to start haunting the ubs for my copy.
Thank you, JoAnn, for writing such great readable books…
This sounds like a really interesting book. I don’t know why, but I love books where the hero is a SEAL.
I would love to read this because I’m a huge JoAnn fan and have been waiting for this one! Love the cover and the setting!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I would love to read this book due to your great review!
ironss[at]gmail.com
This book has quite a few themes that I enjoy: reformed bad boy, returning military, second chances, and small town romance. It sounds like a great story
castings at mindspring dot com
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http://thebookbinge.com/2010/07/winners-announced.html