Review - Second Chance Pass

Title: Second Chance Pass
Author: Robyn Carr
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: C+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy from the RT Book Convention.

Second Chance Pass is the fifth book in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. Readers were introduced to Vanessa and Paul in the third book in the series. Paul was Vanessa's husband's best friend. He secretly has loved Vanessa through the years but has suffered in silence not wanting to ruin the friendships he has with both her and Matt. Things change with Vanessa's husband, Matt and Paul's best friend is killed in combat. Time has passed and Paul isn't sure if Vanessa is ready to move on and maybe accept him in a new role other than friendship. Little does Paul know that Vanessa is more than ready.

All right, I have to admit that this book irked me. As far as Paul and Vanessa's relationship went I thought things were just a mess. Initially, Paul and Vanessa had a pretty big obstacle to overcome if they were going have a lasting relationship based on love. But not only do they have the death of their husband/best friend hanging over them, Paul has an unexpected complication in his life back in Grants Pass. It really irked me that these characters had to deal with this situation, like they didn't have enough to deal with already.

The other major complication I had with the book was that there had to be at least five other storylines competing with Paul and Vanessa's. There were characters from past books getting significant page time. There were also new characters setting up future books getting significant page time. The actual relationship between Paul and Vanessa couldn't have been more than a few chapters and the above previous issue was basically washed away in the rain. Really, I think this has been my least favorite book in the series. Now having said all that, Robyn Carr's writing is still as fabulous as ever. Her characters are as wonderful as ever. It is probably a testament as to why I am so annoyed. I guess this book just seemed more transitional than anything and I felt that Vanessa and Paul didn't get the book they deserved.

Review - A Virgin River Christmas

Title: A Virgin River Christmas
Author: Robyn Carr
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from Paperbackswap.com

A Virgin River Christmas is the fourth book in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. I absolutely adore this series. The men are the stuff of legends and it is such a feel-good treat to read. Even though this series is so great, I feel that this book can stand on its own. You really don't need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy this story. However, I do highly recommend them, but this is a fine place to see if Robyn Carr is an author for you.

Marcie Sullivan decides that she must find Ian Buchanan, the man who saved her husband’s life. See a few years back, Marcie's husband Bobby was severely injured in Afghanistan. Ian managed to get Bobby to safety but was devastated to learn that Bobby was paralyzed and never came out of the coma. Bobby considered Ian his hero and best friend. Marcie and Ian were pen pals during the years Marcie nursed Bobby. Then Bobby passed away and Marcie feels that she can't move on until she finds Ian and gives him Bobby's collection of baseball cards.

I picked up this book because I was in the mood for a Christmas read to get me in the holiday spirit and plus I love this series and Robyn Carr's writing. It was a no brainer. I am very happy I chose it because it was such a sweet story. Marcie and Ian are great characters and it was a treat to read their story.

Marcie is a little fire-cracker who once gets an idea into her head cannot be distracted. A little pit-bull is our Marcie. Ian on the other hand is a self contained mystery who wants nothing but isolation. His world is tilted upside down when Marcie disrupts his quaint, or maybe a better word is rustic, existence. These two have a large obstacle to overcome - that being the death of Bobby - but work things out and they do. It is a heartwarming story to say the least. I highly recommend this series and this book. Enjoy!

Review - Whispering Rock

Title: Whispering Rock
Author: Robyn Carr
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Whispering Rock is the third book in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. These books are definitely interconnected and I don't recommend reading this one without having read the other two books in the series first. Brie and Mike have known each other for years now. Mike is a good friend to Brie's brother Jack. Mike has always had feelings for Brie since he first met her even though she was married. Mike kept his distance since it was obvious Brie was in love with her husband. Now Brie is divorced from Brad after she found out he was cheating on her with her best friend. Brie was devastated by that betrayal. Brie focused on her job as a prosecutor for the attorney DA. She was working hard to put a serial rapist behind bars, only he walked. He came after Brie and brutally raped and beat her. Brie needs to heal from this attack and Mike is there to help her.

This summary is actually only the beginning of what is going on in this book as Whispering Rock once again heads back to the town of Virgin River. There are familiar characters such as Mel and Jack, Preacher and Page (Preacher totally cracks me up in this book) as well as a host of new characters' that get story time in this book. This can be a positive and negative to the book. On the one hand, I love the sense of community that Virgin River has to offer. It is great to read about all the different characters and what is going on in their lives. The bad thing is that it leaves less time for the main romance with Mike and Brie. I think as long as the reader is already an established fan of Carr's work, they will be happy with Whispering Rock.

I love how Carr was able to connect Brie's rape and tie it into what was happening within the teen community of Virgin River. Mike is hired as a law officer and he investigates a series of date rapes that have happened locally. This establishes new relationships and characters and might eventually lead to future books. All in all I thought this was a solid read. I enjoy revisiting this town and its inhabitants.

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Shelter Mountain

Title: Shelter Mountain
Author: Robyn Carr
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: A
Sensuality: Warm

Shelter Mountain is book two of Robyn Carr's Virgin River Series. Paige Lassiter is on the run from her abusive husband. She takes her three year old son and one little suitcase and drives away hoping to never set eyes on him again. She has a plan to change her identity and start a new life. As she is headed to Spokane, she gets lost on the back mountain roads and finds herself in Virgin River. She sees a light on at a bar and pulls over to get something to eat. After Preacher, the co-owner of the bar takes one look at her, he knows she is in trouble. He wants to do what he can to help her and offers her a room with a lock, if she wants to stay.

Shelter Mountain is a wonderful read. Robyn Carr captivates the reader with a deep emotional connection to richly drawn characters. Paige has a ton of baggage coming from an abusive marriage. Her relationship with Preacher slowly grows as they get to know each other. Paige and Preacher couldn't be more perfect for each other. Paige needs someone who is strong, yet patient and Preacher is exactly this. He is slow and steady and somehow anticipates exactly what Paige needs.

The story doesn't just focus on Paige and Preacher, it also tells the story of the other town folk. Mel and Jack play a large roll in this story as do Rick and Liz, whom readers met in Virgin River. Also, there is the new addition of Mike, a former Navy buddy of Jack and Preacher. Ms. Carr is an awesome storyteller and I love reading about these characters. This is one series I will definitely be sticking with.

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Series Sunday - Virgin River

The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr takes place in the quaint little mountain town of Virgin River, California. This series is straight contemporary and deals with a wide range of subjects from substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, teenage pregnancy and many more. Readers will be easily drawn into the stories with characters who are richly drawn with compelling struggles.

So far, I have only had to pleasure of reading two of the books in this delightful series and I have loved each one. From my experience, I would suggest reading this series in order. The stories tend to blend together continuing where one left off. Each book does have a lead female and lead male protagonist with a conclusive story. But there are secondary characters that continue story lines throughout the books. Everything is smoothly touched on so if you do jump in the middle or go a long time between books, the story still comes seamlessly together.

Series Reading Order:

1. Virgin River (Mel and Jack)
2. Shelter Mountain (Paige and Preacher)
3. Whispering Rock (Brie and Mike)
4. A Virgin River Christmas (Marcie and Ian)
5. Second Chance Pass (Vanni and Paul)
6. Tempation Ridge (Shelby and Luke)
7. Paradise Valley (Liz and Rick)

Review - Virgin River

Title: Virgin River
Author: Robyn Carr
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot

Virgin River is book one in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. Melinda Monroe needs a drastic change in her life. When she sees and add for a Nurse Midwife in the tiny mountain town of Virgin River, she jumps at the chance. Melinda's husband died less than a year ago. They both worked in the ER for a large hospital in Los Angeles. She has been a city girl all her life. After she gets one look at the cabin she is supposed to live in, Mel wants nothing more than to high-tail it the heck out of there. Only the next morning someone leaves a newborn on Doc's front porch. She vows to stay until someone can take the baby. After she stays on a few weeks the town starts to grow on her and she gradually builds up a friendship with the local bar owner Jack. He was once a marine and has his own demons to battle.

Virgin River is the heart wrenching story of one woman's struggle to move past the death of her husband and begin to live her life again. Mel is attracted to Jack and enjoys his friendship, but she has so much baggage that she doesn't think she can be what Jack wants in a woman. She feels guilty for having these feelings for Jack when she still loves Mark, her husband. Melinda is one strong woman though and deals with these issues head on. Never did I feel sorry for her. I just wanted her to be happy. Fortunately, Jack is so patient and understanding. He never pushes her and allows himself to be there for her when she needs it. Jack is a wonderful man and he is just what Mel needs to heal.

Virgin River is so much more than just Melinda's story. The town itself plays a huge role in the book. It almost feels like a character itself. The images Carr paints of the town were all very vivid. I had no problem at all picturing the redwoods and winding roads. There are many interesting characters that live in this town that only serve to enhance the story. Mel's patients, Doc Mullins, Ricky and Preacher, even the bad guy Calvin, all create a wonderful backdrop for Melinda and Jack's romance. I felt very invested in these characters and I hope to see them again.

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