My Kind of Christmas

My Kind of Christmas is the newest Virgin River book from author Robyn Carr. The publisher is Harlequin MIRA. From the back cover.~

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and-tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman.

Except the woman who has caught Patrick's attention is Jack Sheridan's very attractive niece.

Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she'd never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man!

Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River-style!

I’m a huge fan of Robyn Carr and thank my friend Paula every single time I pick up a new book in this series. Without Paula raving about this series, I might have missed out on it with so many fabulous contemporary romances out right now. Luckily, I listened and was hooked before I even finished the first book. Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read My Kind of Christmas before the release date.

I love the Riordan brothers and was really pumped to get Patrick’s story and even happier it was this year’s Christmas story in Virgin River. The fact Jack’s niece Angie was the woman he fell for only made it better.  Angie is in Virgin River to continue her recovery from a life-altering car wreck. Patrick is on leave from the Navy following the loss of his best friend and wingman. While neither is looking for a long-term relationship, they can’t fight their attraction to one another. I really loved seeing so many of my favorite Virgin River characters in this story. With so many family members in town, Angie and Paddy became the focus of them all the more time they spent together. Neither Angie nor Paddy would let their families showing up keep them from being together. I was really loved the chemistry between Angie and Paddy whether they were making love or just spending time together.

My Kind of Christmas is yet another winner in the Virgin River series.  I loved getting 4 new books in the Virgin River series this year and really can’t wait to see what happens next with this series. For more information about Robyn Carr or her books, check out her website.

Sunrise Point

Sunrise Point is the newest book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. From the back cover.~

Former marine Tom Cavanaugh has come home to Virgin River, ready to take over his family's apple orchard and settle down. He knows just what the perfect woman will be like: sweet, decent, maybe a little naive. The marrying kind.

Nothing like Nora Crane. So why can't he keep his eyes off the striking single mother?

Nora may not have finished college, but she graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. She's been through tough times and she'll do whatever it takes to support her family, including helping with harvest time at the Cavanaughs' orchard. She's always kept a single-minded focus on staying afloat…but suddenly her thoughts keep drifting back to rugged, opinionated Tom Cavanaugh.

Both Nora and Tom have their own ideas of what family means. But they're about to prove each other completely wrong.…

I was lucky enough to get an early copy from NetGalley. Of course, this means I have almost a year to wait for the next Virgin River book (hoping we get more), but I was super excited to read Sunrise Point early.

Sunrise Point was another winner from Carr. In fact, this is one of my favorite in the series. I’ve been waiting for Nora’s story since she showed up in Virgin River with her little girls. I loved not only getting to spend more time with Nora, but also learning about her family. Nora’s life starts to change for the better once she secures a job working at the Cavanaughs’ orchard…thanks to Tom’s grandmother Maxie.

Tom is hesitant to hire Nora to work at the orchard. She really isn’t built for picking apples, but Maxie tells him he has to give her a chance. Tom is looking to settle down with what he thinks is the right woman. He thinks he wants an educated sophisticated woman, yet the single mother of 2 precious little girls is the only person he can think about. Nora has lived a tough life, and doesn’t think she is good enough for someone like Tom.

Luckily, both realize their feelings for each other before things can get too messed up. Tom and Nora have the best chemistry together. I felt like their friendship only helped them to when they took the steps to take their relationship to the next level. I loved how sweet and hot they were when they finally made love.

I love the relationships that grow with each book in the Virgin River series. The town has always felt like a family to me and I loved watching the family grow once again. The official release date for Sunrise Point is April 24, 2012 and can be purchased from your favorite online retailer or local bookstore.

Redwood Bend

Redwood Bend is the newest release in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. From the back cover.~

Katie Malone and her twin boys' trip along the beautiful mountain roads to Virgin River is stopped short by a tire as flat as her failed romance. To make matters worse, the rain has set in, the boys are hungry and Katie is having trouble putting on a spare. As she stands at the side of the road pondering her next move, she hears a distinct rumble. The sight of the sexy, leather-clad bikers who pull up beside her puts her imagination into overdrive.

Dylan Childress and his buddies are on the motorcycle trip of a lifetime. But the sight of a woman in distress stops them in their tracks. And while the guys are checking out her car, she and Dylan are checking out one another.

In one brief moment, the world tilts on its axis and any previous plans Katie and Dylan might have had for their futures are left at the side of the road.

I’m a big fan of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. In fact she is an auto-buy author for me, and I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Redwood Bend from NetGalley. I really enjoyed this latest story from the Virgin River series.

Katie Malone is such a strong woman. Not only is she the mother of twin 5 year old boys, but she is a widow who has been raising her boys alone their entire lives. She has moved to Virgin River for the summer for her kids to be closer to her brother, Conner. Dylan was a child television star until his grandmother pulled him away from the business after one of his friends died when they were teenagers. Katie recognizes Dylan as soon as she meets him, but never gives him any impression that she knows he was a TV star.

Neither Katie nor Dylan is looking for anything serious when they first meet. Katie is willing to have a fling with Dylan for as long as he is in town. Of course neither is prepared for how strong the attraction is or how important the other person becomes. Add in a major surprise, and we get to see what both Katie and Dylan are really made of. I loved how as much as Dylan thought he could leave Katie and her boys behind, he has them in his thoughts almost non-stop.

The release date for Redwood Bend is set for February 28, 2012 in both print and digital formats. Fans of Robyn Carr will love this latest installation in her Virgin River series. I also think it reads well as a stand-alone story.

Hidden Summit

Hidden Summit is the newest release from Robyn Carr’s wonderful Virgin River series. From the author’s website.~

Sick of running into her cheery ex-husband and his new wife, Leslie Petruso accepts a job at the Virgin River branch of Haggerty Construction and takes the high road right out of town. Now she's got Paul Haggerty's business running like a well-oiled machine. In fact, things are so busy Paul jumps at the chance to hire an extra set of hands.

Just like Leslie, Conner Danson has been burned by love. But if Leslie was disappointed by her relationship going bad, Conner was decimated. He's got no time for women…although he spends an awful lot of time pretending not to notice Leslie. And she's pretty busy "ignoring" the chemistry between them.

According to Conner and Leslie, they have only one thing in common—they're done with love. But everyone in Virgin River can see that things are heating up at Haggerty Construction. And as far as Paul Haggerty can tell, the best thing he can do is hang on to his hard hat and watch the sparks fly!

I love each and every visit to Virgin River. I get to see so many of my favorite characters from past books and we always get to meet someone new. Leslie and Conner are the newest residents to Virgin River. Conner is in Virgin River waiting to go home to testify against a murderer. Leslie is in Virgin River trying to get away from her ex-husband who thinks they should still be friends, even though he cheated on her and is now re-married with a baby on the way.

Conner was told not to start up any relationships while in hiding, and since he has trust issues when it comes to women, he didn’t expect it to come into play. However, he is attracted to Leslie from the first time he sees her, and Leslie seems to be just as attracted to Conner. Conner and Leslie take things slow for a while, but soon can’t keep their hands off one another.

Of course Leslie’s ex keeps showing up in town and Conner still has to go back home to testify as the only eye witness, but  Leslie and Conner both know they have finally found the one. Conner knows he has to share the truth about his past with Leslie before he has to leave town to testify, and Leslie keeps his secret for him. Leslie and Conner have the full support from everyone in Virgin River as soon as they move to town. I love how welcoming everyone in Virgin River is to new people.

Robyn Carr gives her readers another winner with Hidden Summit. Once again, we will get 3 books from the Virgin River series starting with Hidden Summit on December 27, 2011. Redwood Bend is set for release in March 2012 followed by Sunrise Point in May 2012.

Bring Me Home for Christmas

Bring Me Home for Christmas is the latest book in Robyn Carr’s popular Virgin River series. From the back cover.~

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list: getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on.

So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters.

As the power of Christmas envelopes the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. And the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

I love visiting with so many of my favorite characters in Virgin River. Bring Me Home for Christmas is the perfect Christmas treat for Virgin River fans. You get to see many of the original characters that we sometimes just get glimpses of now that Virgin River is growing larger. I love the new characters that are making Virgin River their home, but still enjoy seeing Jack, Mel, Preacher, and Paige and seeing what is going on with their families.

I’ve liked Denny since he showed up in Virgin River. Becca had guts in my opinion. She shows up on an all-guy hunting trip to see if she is really over Denny, especially since she is at a point in her relationship with her current boyfriend, Doug that could be moving in the marriage direction. However, Becca knows she can’t move forward with her life until she settles things with Denny. Of course, the fact that both Becca and Denny still love one another is the most important thing for either of them. Plus, Becca’s current boyfriend Doug is a total tool. For some reason it takes Becca breaking her ankle and having to stay in Virgin River for her to realize just how much of a tool Doug really is.

It was sweet and yet still hot to watch Denny and Becca discover one another again. Since neither really every stopped loving the other, they also never lost their attraction for one another. Their love making was hot, sweet, or playful depending on their moods. Becca finds herself falling in love with the town and people of Virgin River the longer she and Denny are together.  Jack even offers to build her a school so she can teach the elementary school-aged kids in town. Although, Becca has always planned on going back to San Diego, she soon realizes that home for her might just be a small town with the man of her dreams.

With each trip to Virgin River, I too fall more in love with the town. Denny and Becca are so perfect for one another and they are a perfect fit for the town. Bring Me Home for Christmas helped get me in the Christmas spirit very early. I love reading Christmas stories and after reading Denny and Becca’s story, I’m ready for more Christmas/holiday stories. 

I’m also very excited for the upcoming releases for Virgin River. Robyn once again has 3 Virgin River stories set for release next year. Hidden Summit is set for release in January, and thanks to NetGalley, I have it waiting for me on my kindle. 

Virgin River Series Part 1

My friend Paula has been suggesting Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series almost from the minute we started talking on various blogs. Before we met at RWA last July, she had invited me to go to the Jack’s Bar luncheon with Robyn. I had started reading Robyn’s Grace Valley series, but hadn’t finished it yet, nor had I started the Virgin River books. Right before JR Ward’s Lover Unleashed came out in March, I decided I wanted to take a break from paranormal books until Lover Unleashed came out, so I decided to start on the Virgin River series. I have to say thank you again and again to Paula for introducing me not only to Robyn, but also to her books.

I’ve now read the first 5 books in the series and was hooked from the minute I started reading. I loved Jack from the moment he appeared in Virgin River. I love Jack and Melinda together and love getting to see how they are doing in each of the books in the series. Paula told me I would soon fall for Preacher when I read Shelter Mountain, and she was so right…once again. Preacher “John” and Paige are so sweet together and there is just something about watching a big bear of a man fall totally and completely in love. Next up was Mike and Brie in Whispering Rock. I almost felt sorry for Mike, since Brie is Jack’s baby sister. However, Brie had no problem letting all the men in her life know what she wanted. Brie had survived an assault and rape and with Mike’s love she came back stronger than ever before.

Next up was A Virgin River Christmas. We once again get to see all our favorites from the Virgin River series, and get to meet Marcie and Ian in this book. According to Robyn’s website, it is the 4^th book in the series, but I really think it is more of a stand-alone book.

The 5^th book in the series is Second Chance Pass. Paul had been in love with Vanni from the first moment he saw her. However, his best friend Matt asked her out first, so Paul stepped aside and hid his feelings for his best friend’s wife. After Matt dies in combat, Paul hangs around to help Vanni get through the birth of her son. Of course, Paul still feels guilty about his feelings and it takes Vanni going out with another man to get him moving. I absolutely love Paul and Vanni and can’t wait to see what the future brings for them throughout the series.

I love this series so much and am so glad I finally listened to my friend Paula. I have all the books in the Virgin River series in my TBR pile and am playing catch up. I’m at book 6 and there are currently 15 books in the series, so I’ll get to spend a good bit of time in Virgin River over the next month or so.

Deep in the Valley

Deep in the Valley is the first book in the Grace Valley series by Robyn Carr. From the back cover.~

WELCOME TO GRACE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA-WHERE BLOOD RUNS THICKER…THEIRS ARE STRONGER…AND LOVE IS ALL THE MORE SWEET

Visitors to the town often remark about the valley’s peace and beauty-both of which are plentiful. Unlocked doors, front porches, pies cooling in the windows-this is country life at its finest. But visitors don’t always see what lies at the heart of a community. Or just beyond…

June Hudson grew up in Grace Valley, the daughter of the town doctor. Leaving only to get her medical training, she returned home and followed in her father’s footsteps. Some might say she shoes the easy, comfortable route…but June knows better.

For June, her emergency room is wherever she’s needed-or wherever a patient finds her. She is always on call, her work is her life and these people are her extended family. Which is a good thing, since this is a town where you should have picked your husband in the ninth grade. Grace Valley is not exactly the place to meet eligible men-until an undercover DEA agent suddenly starts appearing at all sorts of strange hours.

Everybody has secrets down in the valley. Now June has one of her own.

I had seen books by Robyn Carr for some time, but until my friend Paula suggested her books, I had not added her to my monster TBR list. I bought the first book in Robyn’s Grace Valley series based on Paula’s suggestion and absolutely couldn’t put it down. I love June and all the residents of Grace Valley. The town and the people in it really made me think of my hometown, which is another small town filled with characters. With Deep in the Valley, you get see pretty much every aspect of a close-knit small town. I absolutely loved the main character June. She is such a strong and independent woman, but still wants a husband and family as any other woman would at her age. When a mysterious man shows up in her clinic with another man with a gunshot wound, June is attracted to the mystery man and must find out more about him. We soon find out Jim is a DEA agent working undercover and he is just as attracted to June as she is to him.

The town must also band together to take care of their own. Whether it is to remove a minister who doesn’t treat the women of the town right, supporting a wife who has been abused for years by her husband, or helping a Vietnam vet get the medical help he and his family need. With the help of her long-time staff, including her father, and the new doctor June hired, Dr. John Stone, the town of Grace Valley is in good hands.

I loved Deep in the Valley so much I ordered the next 2 books in the series as well as the first 2 books in Robyn’s Virgin River series.