Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraqhis 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.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book This is a continuation of the Virgin River Series and I think it is one of the best books written by Robyn Carr. I have driven in the area this book is suppose to be about and Ms.Carr describes the area wonderfully. (Please don't go on Highway 36 unless you want an E-ticket ride.) Its the story of Cameron and Abby who are about to become the parents of twins and of Rick the Marine and Liz. Rick returns from Iraq an amputee and Ms.Carr describes the torment Rick goes through very well. It is a fast read, but a good read. You also revisit with other characters such as Jack and Mel....more info
well written multi-faceted contemporary tale In Virgin River, Cameron sadly muses how ironic life is. He and his former pediatric partners met at the Davenport Hotel Steak House in Grants Pass while Abby attended a wedding there. Attracted to one another, they had a fling that he thought he outgrew and she never had one before. He sought her out the next day, but she was gone. When Doc Mullins died, he moved to Virgin River to change his lifestyle; Abby arrived soon after carrying his twins. He wants to marry her and raise a family with her, but she rejects his advances.
Marine corporal Rick went to Iraq a boy, but came home early a shattered man who sees a dark future due to the leg. Liz who loves him refuses to accept his rejection as she keeps in her heart what the retired military like Jack and the General (who misses his Muriel while she is in Hollywood) told her; those who love a wounded warrior are wounded too and never leave your loved ones behind. Others like newcomer Dan pray for a fresh start here as people before him have achieved; Cheryl who has a past too gives him hope.
Paraphrasing the early 1960s TV show the naked City, "there are 8 million stories" in the Virgin River community and Robyn Carr nicely balances several of them. The key to this well written multi-faceted contemporary tale is the ensemble cast; for instance the eight players named above are fully developed with different personalities while other returning citizens enhance the current tale. Filled with angst and pathos, fans of Robin Carr's quiet salute to the veterans will enjoy the latest trip to Virgin Rover.
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME Way to go Robyn!!! Wonderful ending to the latest trilogy. I have enjoyed this latest set of books beyond belief. It was so good to see all the old characters from the previous books. If you're a Robyn Carr fan you won't be disappointed....more info
Paradise Valley I thought this most recent in the Vrigin River series would finish the stories of the people left hanging in Temptation Ridge, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Although Rick is home and at the end he and Liz have worked out a compromise, I can't imagine that's all we're ever going to know about them. Same for Dan - Shady Brady and Cheryl. And there's still Walt's son Tom, who was hardly mention in the latest book. So maybe the new Virgin River series, that is promised for the spring 2010, will give us those answers and revisit many of the original characters I've come to look upon as part of my family. It doesn't matter that they are spread out over a long time period. When a new Carr comes out, I reread the previous books in the series to get back up to speed. I should have bought them in hardcover because these paperbacks are going to become worn out over time....more info
Wonderful Does Ms. Carr ever write anything that isn't wonderful? I have to say that of all the series i have read in my lifetime,the Virgin River books have to be my all time favorites. The running thread throughout, home, family, devotion to country are universal and can be felt by anyone who reads them. I can't wait for the next book....more info
A fitting end I didn't like book 5 at all. I didn't read book 6. I was hesitant about reading book 7, but I liked the character of Rick and I wanted to find out about the "mystery pot grower" from other books. This book was a fast read and didn't make me exasperated like book 5 did. I was, however, disappointed with the character of Dan (we all thought he was undercover DEA - so I was bummed to find out he was just a grower). I also thought that Rick handled tragedy so well previously it seemed out of character for him to behave how he did.
Overall, this was an easy enjoyable read, but not as good as the first 3. ...more info
Another wonderful read from Robyn Carr I learned of this Robyn Carr series from a friend on Amazon [thanks, Jen!] and have enjoyed every one of the Virgin River and Grace Valley series. I strongly recommend reading them in order as the characters grow from one book to another and many of the plot points are carried over. In a way, these books are the American equivalent of English "cozies" - with a setting in a small town, nosy neighbors, characters with good values. Most of all, though, Ms. Carr writes about fully-formed, believable people with issues and problems. Are her male characters just a bit too perfect? Well, if your idea of perfection is a tough but good-looking former marine with an incredibly caring attitude toward women and babies, as well as the ability to do almost anything in a house (from construction to cooking)....then, yes, these guys are pretty perfect. Nonetheless, Ms. Carr finds problems for them and for the women in their lives that feel totally real.
This book, the wind-up of the Virgin River stories[or maybe not, if 2010 will see additional books using the same characters], is excellent. I loved the contrasting romances, from the twenty-somethings to the sixty-somethings. While other books in the series touched on such issues as spousal abuse and drugs, this one focuses on the severe injuries of a young soldier who has been to Iraq and how the entire community is affected by his mental and physical health. It's clear Ms. Carr has done her research. Also, the evolution of characters from one book to another is very well-portrayed.
Unlike some reviewers of books in this series, I don't have favorites since all of the books are equally excellent. Strongly recommended!
...more info
Excellent Read!! I've read all the Virgin River books. I was hooked from the first chapter of the first book. I didn't think I could love the series any more. But with Book 7 I fell in love all over again. This was an amazing book. It isn't a story about just one couple; it follows the stories of three couples and our favorites from the previous six books. While you can read this book as a stand alone, it will enhance the emotions and experience more if you go back to the beginning. It will also give you a more in depth understand of certain characters....more info
Military Reality Reading this book helps us without military connections remember the gifts our military families give to the general citizans. God protect our military families....more info
Another Beautiful Story Another wonderful chapter in the lives of the Virgin River township! This story was amazing. Life isn't always perfect and this story of Rick and Liz and Dan and Cheryl reminded us that it isn't and we found that characters we thought we knew were different than they seemed. What a wonderful story with Cam and Abbey falling in love and having their twins and Muriel and Walt cementing their love for each other. It was just beautiful.
We got to visit with all our friends in Virgin River and it will be a frustrating wait until 2010 for the next 3 installments....more info
Carr does it again What a great story. Another in a long line of great Virgin River stories. There was so much emotion in this book, and much of it so timely with the war vet fresh out of Iraq. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that given the choice I would have had less of Walt and Muriel in the book and more of Dan and Cheryl. But then again, maybe Dan and Cheryl will get more time in book #8. I have recommended this book to all of my friends with the qualifier that I think they should begin with the first book in the series and work up to this one. It is just that much better knowing all the back stories to it....more info
Can it have 6 stars! This is the latest gem from one of the best authors of contempory fiction in today's market. I received this book at 11:00 am today and finished it at 5:30 pm, and that is only the first time I will read it! As always, it is wonderful to catch up on old friends. This time though, we learn the story of a character that has appeared since the first Virgin River book, and not only learn his story but welcome him into the Virgin River community. I've been reading every book in this series hoping that Ms. Carr would not let him drift out of the series. Well, she didn't and did a "bang-up" job of doing it!! Have you figured out what character I'm referring to?...more info
good book, but .......... I am an avid Robyn Carr fan, but thought she tried to cover too many story lines in this book. Personally, I was finished with Walt and Muriel after Temptation Ridge - they are okay characters, but not interesting enough for the amount of time she gave them. They could have popped up in the background like so many others whose main stories have already been told.
For me, I would have liked to have had the Rick/Liz and Cameron/Abby continuations covered here and for Dan Brady to have his own book. He is an interesting character, having had so much to overcome in his past; likewise, the new and improved Cheryl. ...more info
excellent reading Another goodie from Robin Carr. Makes me regularly wish there really was a Virgin River community....more info
