Title: Paradise Valley
Author: Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #7
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 9th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: He picked Jack up and got him to safety.

A moving story about survival, forgiveness – and the power of love to heal a wounded spirit

Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraw – his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. The carefree boy is gone, replaced by a man who believes his future is as bleak as his mirror image. But can the passion and commitment of a young woman who has never given up on him mend his broken body and shattered heart?

As the people of Virgin River rally around Rick, another recent arrival tests the tightly knit mountain town’s famous welcoming spirit. Dan Brady has a questionable past, and he’s looking for a place to start over. He’d like it to be Virgin River… if he can find a way in. But he never expects to find it in the arms of a woman who was as much an outcast as himself.

For a favorite son returned from war and an outsider looking for a home, Virgin River offers them a chance to make peace with the men they once were… and to find the dreams they thought they’d lost.

From the blurb on the back cover of this book, and a few of the comments from reviews that I saw. I was honestly expecting this novel to be kind of tragic. At a time when I really wasn’t all that in the mood for tragic. Luckily, however, I was completely wrong. This isn’t tragic. It wasn’t horrible to read. And yes, there are bad moments throughout (which in my opinion makes it a good book), but in the end, there was that same sense of peace, hope and realism that I always seem to get from the Virgin River books.

I’ve been waiting and waiting for more of a movement in Rick and Liz’s relationship. They start off so young and there are so many tragic moments. And, although, even at the conclusion of this story they haven’t quite figured everything out, it was nice to have a whole novel focused on them. Even the secondary character, Brady has a lot to do with Rick and Liz’s story that I seriously didn’t expect. I also loved the final reveal of how his story is so intertwined with Rick’s towards the end. It was an entertaining scene and a thoroughly enjoyable moment.

All throughout this story, and the greater series, I have loved the whole set up of this storyline. It starts off with one couple. And, instead of focusing on the next couple as the story evolves, there is this journey in which each story builds upon the past couples and stories, whilst also adding in a new couple to get hopelessly intertwined with. It’s such a great way to tell a story. And a unique way to share a romance. And, as the series develops, I’m finding that even though Paradise Valley is mostly about Rick and Liz, with Brady’s story built in… it is also about all of the others that I’ve fallen in love with. With hints of more beautiful little stories to come!

I enjoyed this so much and already felt so attached to Rick and Liz that I managed to read this whole book in just one sitting. I don’t even remember pausing to eat dinner. Even though I’m sure that I must have… it seemed to completely speak to me at a time that I needed a story like this. Wonderfully powerful and enjoyable, whilst reminding me of all of the good things in life. A great, surprisingly positive contemporary romance that left me with all the happy feelings I’m getting used to with Robyn Carr’s writing.

Image source: Robyn Carr

Title: Temptation Ridge
Author: Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #6
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 2nd June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: A man walked past them, glanced at them, smiled slightly and moved on.

Welcome back to VIRGIN RIVER with the books that started it all…

Shelby McIntyre has big plans – plans that include finding Mr. Right. Her dream man will have a clean-shaven jaw, creases in his pants and hopefully an advanced degree. What she gets is rugged Luke Riordan.

At twnety-five, after five years as her mother’s caregiver, it’s time for Shelby to experience freedom and adventure. Time for travel, college and romance. But when she visits Virgin River, she runs into Luke Riordan, decidedly not whom she has in mind.

A handsome Blackhawk pilot, Luke exited the army after twenty years, four wars and having been shot out of the sky three times. At thirty-eight he’s tough and jaded. His major was in one-night stands, with a minor in commitment avoidance.

Technically, these two are all wrong for one another. But sometimes what you wants and what you need are two different things… two very good things.

Shelby and her somewhat tragic circumstances are first introduced in Second Chance Pass. So when I found out that Temptation Ridge is all about Shelby and her happily ever after… I was really happy. Particularly when she had just recently lost a mother to ALS. THAT hit quite close to home… so I needed there to be a happy, the world doesn’t suck story for Shelby. And, thank goodness… I got it!!!

Luke is that typical trope of bad boy with commitment issues. The one that when the right girl comes along, changes his stripes and they get their happily ever after. It’s not exactly realistic and it’s kind of cliché. But it does work. Particularly when you have a storyline in which the woman is a virgin and he’s about ten years older than her. Yet, it works. And I didn’t find it painful like I do with some cliché tropes… even then, when he’s making mistakes and stupid decisions because he’s decided what is best for Shelby without talking with her… it made me scream moron. Just a little bit.

Having said that, I did love the ending. I loved how Shelby’s strength and power are shown. And that even though her virginity is kind of a big thing to some in the story – it wasn’t really an issue with her. It’s one of the few stories that has an older virgin in which the tale isn’t tedious. She isn’t saving herself, she isn’t treasuring something that really has no meaning. She’s just not had the opportunity. And she doesn’t feel that she needs to “experience the world” before she falls in love. Like I said, seriously not tedious.

This story also has a great romance begin for another of Shelby’s family members. Walt gets to start moving on with his life. I love that this is a series that features a romance, and a sexual relationship between a couple that is in their 50’s and 60’s. It’s a reminder that relationships are constantly evolving. No matter how old a person is. And it helps to build on the ensemble cast of this series – an ensemble which features people of all ages, sizes and walks of life. Which just melted my happy little heart.

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Title: Second Chance Pass
Author: Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 23rd – 28th May 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: And I didn’t call on purpose.

Welcome back to VIRGIN RIVER with the books that started it all…

The community of VIRGIN RIVER saw Vanessa Rutledge through her darkest days – now she’s looking to a bright future.

In the space of a few months Vanessa buried her husband, Matt, and gave birth to their son – breaking her heart while filling it with a whole new kind of love. But the one man she longs to share this love with now acts as if she doesn’t exist.

Paul Haggerty lives by the marine motto: Semper Fi. Ever faithful to his best friend, he’s done right by Matt’s widow as best he can… considering he’s been secretly in love with her for years. Now, just as he’s about to make his move, another woman has staked her claim on him – a claim that will be tough to escape.

With courage, humility and not a little meddling from the good folks of Virgin River, Vanni and Paul might just get a second chance to have the love they both desire and deserve.

It was nice to finally get to read about Vanessa and Paul. The beginnings of their story is told in Whispering Rock and you automatically start hoping that they will end up together… I really wasn’t expecting so many different highs and lows throughout this story though. And I kind of loved it. It was brilliant and made the whole story impossible to put down.

So far throughout the Virgin River series all of the books have been bit of an ensemble story. But, this took that ensemble feeling to a whole new level. I thought that this would be all about Vanni and Paul, but they quickly resolve their issues, and although there are still a few hurdles to overcome, there are so many other characters who take centre stage throughout the storyline. Each chapter almost has its own lead and mini story.

There were a few moments in this novel that made me kind of want to throw the book out the window. Mostly because Vanessa and Paul are as stupidly stubborn as each other. And there were so many moments that I wanted to reach through the pages of this book and smack them both over the head. I mean, gosh, you make mistakes, and then you should be able to fix them. Not have to run around feeling confused and maybe screwing it all up. Luckily, there were only a few of these moments, and then everything worked out well. But wow, were some of them heart stopping.

Second Chance Pass is a fantastic novel. Although it is mostly about Paul and Vanessa, there are so many great characters that continue to make an appearance. Side stories and main stories that are impossible to forget. Stories that make your heart beat faster and hold your breath at times. At others, the side stories just melt your heart and leave you feeling beautifully, ridiculously happy that you had the pleasure of spending a day in the gorgeous town of Virgin River.

Image source: HarperCollins Australia