Virgin River still going strong, but I didn't feel as much love as in the other 12 books. I feel guilty giving anything in the Virgin River series less than perfect remarks because I am so obsessed, but 4 stars is still awesome as was the book Harvest Moon, but it just wasn't as "awesome" as the others. It is hard not to compare how I felt throughout this book to the others, even though I never put it down it wasn't as exciting.

Lief and Kelly were well developed characters. They both moved to Virgin River to get away from stressful lives in LA and San Francisco. Kelly and Leif seemed like an old married couple to me, good chemistry and very comfortable, not that hot, hot passion that I have felt in the past books. Even though there was a romance the meat of this book was about a messed up emotional teenager, Leif's step-daughter Courtney, and how her emotional state of feeling unwanted affected everyone around her. Even though Courtney was a pain in the a$$ and caused a lot of trouble for Leif and Kelly's relationship you couldn't help, but sympathize with her and root for her to find the love, safety, and comfort she deserved. Robyn Carr still got me all choked up in the end.

I will be dying waiting another nine months or however long it takes for more stories about VR. I am hoping Brenda/Tom, Denny, Gabe, and Patrick Riordan will be in the next group.

Share/Like this Review?

Enjoyable and triumphant: The book deals with real-life issues such as career dissatisfaction, family, challenges of raising a teenager, and love.

Share/Like this Review?

This is only my second book by Carr and I'm very impressed. It's a very character-driven book and they are very well-developed. Usually kids kind of take a back seat in romance novels but I really think Courtney is as much of a central character as Lief or Kelly. There are no real bad guys or good guys, just real people (well, except for Courtney's biological father. He was pretty slimy).

Good read, couldn't put it down. Very sweet book.

Share/Like this Review?

Being unable to take the pressure, Sous-Chef Kelly Matlock quits her job and retreats to Virgin River to visit her sister, Jillian. With nothing to do, Kelly raids Jill's garden and begins making her own relishes, hoping to market them locally. When Widower Lief Holbrook meets Kelly, he finds himself interested in a woman for the first time since his wife died. But his teenage step-daughter, Courtney, is not a fan of any woman who pulls her father's focus away from her.

I enjoyed this book in the Virgin River series. Usually Robyn Carr will give us several different story threads to follow, but this time the story was very focused. Both Kelly and Lief are well-drawn characters, but I thought the story was less a romance and more about Courtney and her problems. The scenes between Courtney and her psychologist were excellent. I kept hoping her life would turn around and she would realize how much her step-father loved her. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

Share/Like this Review?

I have been reading all the Virgin River books

They are a recent discovery for me... what a treat!!!

Newcomers meeting with the settlers; good small town stuff
The things dreams are made of!!! FMK

Share/Like this Review?

I am hooked on the Virgin River series and this one was as fun to read as the first. After getting to know everyone it is hard to wait for the next book once you get started. It is really nice if you start from book #1 but you can really pick up just about anywhere and still enjoy the read. This book deals with a rebellious step daughter and this is the reason Kelly has left her job as sous-chef and has moved to Virgin River but Courtney the bratty teenager still finds trouble where ever she is, and Kelly has now to deal with a new chef. This is a comfortable book and just flows. Can't wait for my next book to come so i can visit Virgin River again.

Share/Like this Review?