The Country Guesthouse

Written by Robyn Carr

Narrated by Thérèse Plummer

#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr delivers an emotional and triumphant novel about the fierce power of a mother’s love.

A summer rental, a new beginning…

Hannah Russell’s carefully crafted plans for her life have been upended without warning. When her best friend died suddenly, Hannah became guardian to a five-year-old named Noah. With no experience at motherhood, she’s terrified she’s not up to the challenge. She and Noah need time to get to know each other, so she decides to rent a country house with stunning views on a lake in rural Colorado.

When they arrive at the house, they are greeted by the owner, a handsome man who promises to stay out of their way. But his clumsy Great Dane, Romeo, has other ideas and Noah immediately bonds with the lovable dog. As Hannah learns to become a mother, Owen Abrams, who is recovering from his own grief, can’t help but be drawn out of his solitude by his guests.

But life throws more challenges at this unlikely trio and they are tested in ways they never thought possible. All three will discover their strengths and, despite their differences, they will fight to become a family. And the people of Sullivan’s Crossing will rally around them to offer all of the support they need.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980035985

Robyn Carr

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women's fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan's Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at www.RobynCarr.com.

Reviews for The Country Guesthouse

[kipryda · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Something was lacking for me here. Romance felt like a minor point. The book concentrated on Noah, the orphaned boy, and his guardianship issues. There was almost more interaction between Hannah and Victoria than between Hannah and Owen. I would classify is as a feel good book, and without that much romance it could have been women's fiction, but it doesn't quite hit the right note. It's not a romantic suspense either though there are some elements of that. I felt that it strived to be something more than a romance, but in the end, I'm afraid, it became less.

[Lorelei's Lit Lair · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hannah grieves for the loss of her best friend, and is now the legal guardian of a smart and charismatic young boy with Cerebral Palsy named Noah. To get to know each other better they go to The Country Guesthouse to bond. Surprised is the owner, Owen, who finds himself attracted to Hannah and charmed by Noah, and there’s also this big Great Dane who wins Noah’s heart and helps him cope with the loss of his mother and watches over him and keeps him company.
Everything seems to go fine until Noah’s grandmother has not so good intentions.
Owen has also dealt with some tragedy in his life, and Hannah and Noah will slowly learn to get around to finding a better future.
I really enjoy the way Robyn Carr delivers such an entertaining way of touching on an array of social and family topics filled with drama, love family and community. There’s a bit of suspense in this story. The narrator did an amazing job. I always look forward to listening to future books.

[Donna Keevers Driver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

No wonder Robyn Carr is top in her field... I can't believe it's taken me this long (I'm 55) to discover the writer who is now my favourite author. Not one cliche; I cannot express with words -- I'll try grunting and moaning a little to get my point across ;) -- how stoked I was with that. I've grown to expect cliches in novels and movies, especially where romance is involved, so much so that it's been a long time since I completed reading a full length novel... then came The Country Guesthouse! I was cynical for awhile, as I listened to the beautifully read novel, thinking, "Here comes the cliche," but it never came. Not one.

Robyn Carr, as a reader and as an author, and as a woman, I bow to your talents, and stand to applaud you.

I loved this story! I don't want to let the characters go. Great story. So well written.

Also, it must be said, Therese Plummer is a delight to listen to; I will be seeking out more audios with her voice.

[valerie carra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book! Love the story line. A must read. You will not regret it!

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was looking for some fluff to listen to and boy was this some fluff. When Hannah Russell comes back early from a work trip to find her fiance in bed with one of her employees - her world comes crashing down. It gets even worse when she discovers that her best friend has unexpectedly died and she now has custody of her 5 year old child with special needs. Talk about a curve-ball. She's trying to bond with Noah so she decides to rent a nice guesthouse in the mountains for a couple weekend so they can learn to love and trust each other. She ends up meeting the owner of the house and his big dog and suddenly the world seems even brighter. They start to fall hard and Hannah will have some tough choices to make on what she wants her future to look like. Do she and Noah have room for Own, his dog, and their beautiful house (who wouldn't?!?). Sappy, predictable, repetitive, and slow. The "twist" at the end was obvious. Perfect for fans of happy fluff with a little bit of spice (a few sex scenes - mildly graphic).

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW! Number 5 of this series and it was not a disappointment! I'm wishing I could find a campground to visit like Sully's and will miss this series if this is the last!

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Country Guesthouse by Robyn Carr is a heartwarming romance of friendship, healing and love. This fifth installment in the Sullivan's Crossing series can be read as a standalone.

Thirty-five year old Hannah Russell has just broken her engagement when her best friend, Erin Waters, unexpectedly passes away.  Now the guardian of Erin's five year old son Noah, Hannah decides to rent a lakeside house in Colorado so she and Noah can settle into their life. Unbeknownst to Hannah, the home's owner, photographer Owen Abrams and his goofy but lovable dog Romeo, are about to become an integral part of both her and Noah's healing process.

With two broken engagements behind her, Hannah is not looking for love as she figures out her and Noah's future. But Owen soon becomes a fixture in their daily routine as she sorts out key aspects of Noah's care.  She looks forward to spending time with Owen, but Noah remains her priority. Uncertain about how her career will fit in with motherhood, Hannah and Noah extend their time with Owen in order to decide her next steps.

Following a tragedy, Owen now leads a very solitary life both at home and during his travels.  He has not had a serious relationship since his divorce and he is content with the status quo. Owen is surprised by how quickly Noah and Hannah become an cherished part of his life.  Will Owen be able to convince Hannah and Noah to take a chance on a new life with him?

Hannah, Noah and Owen's tranquility is disturbed when Erin's estranged mother enters their lives. Hannah will do anything to protect Noah and she is grateful for the love and support of her new friends  in Sullivan's Crossing.  With the full protection of Owen and her friends, Hannah is prepared to do whatever it takes to shield Noah from his grandmother.

The Country Guesthouse is a charming novel of new beginnings. Hannah, Noah and Owen are delightful characters who are vibrantly developed and easy to root for. The storyline is well-written and engaging.  The setting is idyllic and vividly springs to life. Robyn Carr brings this heartfelt novel to an uplifting conclusion. A wonderful addition to the Sullivan's Crossing series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet story of love, healing, and family. Hannah is a busy sales exec for a medical equipment company. Her life is going as planned, with her wedding approaching rapidly, and her career on track for a promotion. Then she returns early from a less than satisfactory team-building exercise to find her fiancé in bed with her assistant. This is followed by the unexpected death of her best friend, leaving Hannah as the guardian of Erin's five-year-old son Noah. Determined to do the motherhood thing right, Hannah rents a house near Sullivan's Crossing, takes family leave from her job, and gives herself and Noah a chance to grieve their loss and get to know each other.The house is owned by Owen, a brilliant photographer who rents his home while he travels. His most recent trip was canceled, leaving Owen at loose ends. Rather than cancel the rental, Owen stays in his studio, leaving the house to Hannah and Noah. He promises to keep out of their way, but his dog Romeo and Noah have other plans. Owen quickly finds himself drawn into Hannah and Noah's lives.I loved the development of the relationship between Owen and Hannah. They are attracted to each other from the moment they met, but with only a two-week stay planned, neither is prepared to do anything about it. They attempt to bury the attraction and quickly form a satisfying friendship. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, from quiet morning coffee on the porch to outings with Noah. By the time the two weeks are up, both Owen and Hannah acknowledge that there is something special between them. Owen convinces Hannah that she and Noah should stay for the summer and see where it goes. Owen also shares the tragedy he experienced twelve years earlier that changed his life.The romance between Owen and Hannah is a slow-burning one. I liked that they took their time to get to know each other. Owen is a sensitive man who excels at understanding other people's feelings. Both he and Hannah keep their lines of communication open, talking about issues before they become problems. I loved that Owen was there for Hannah, supporting her without taking over. I liked the way that he made his feelings clear, and his hopes for the future, without putting any pressure on Hannah. This enabled Hannah to regain trust in her feelings and her judgment.Things aren't all rainbows and flowers though. Hannah became Noah's guardian because Erin was estranged from her family. Her mother was emotionally abusive and showed an undeniable preference for Erin's brother. Roger was physically and emotionally abusive, as well as an addict and criminal. Erin's will made it clear that her family was to have no contact with Noah. Hannah was shocked when Erin's mother, Victoria, challenged her for custody and was suspicious of her motives. Hannah's protective instincts were fierce and I liked seeing her inner strength revealed. Hannah's new friends rallied around her to help however they could. I especially liked Helen's methods, which were unconventional but effective. There was a twist to the resolution that I didn't see coming but really enjoyed.Noah was adorable. I liked watching him bond with both Hannah and Owen. It was terrific to see that he and Hannah were able to talk about their grief at the same time they built their own relationship. He wasn't a perfect child, which was refreshing. His actions were realistic for his age, with the occasional meltdown and bits of stubbornness. I loved the way that he and Romeo bonded. It was so much fun to see the two of them together. Noah's explanations of Romeo's clumsiness to others were always amusing. I ached a bit for him when he talked about being different from other kids, and loved seeing the changes he experienced while at the lake.I enjoyed seeing various characters from earlier books. Even though I have only read the first book and this one, I never felt lost. There was enough information given to enlighten without bogging things down in recaps. It did whet my appetite to go back and read the others.