DNF @ 39%Well, I at least made it past my 30% mark! On a positive note -- I really, really enjoyed this H. He was awkwardly sweet and protective, and don't get me started on his relationship with the h's son!! He was awesome.I didn't get that much feel for the h (except pity for the situation she is in), to have an opinion one way or the other about her. I didn't expect her to jump into a relationship right away, but it is just moving way too slow for me. I felt like there was just too much goin...

Quick review...Love how Preacher is such an unconventional man...big, shaved bald, ex marine who now is a cook in his buddy's bar, and perfectly fine with his life. Love even more how instantly protective he is of this woman and little boy.This book danced the edge of brutal in the abuse department. There are no allusions...this punk comes after Paige with a vengeance, and right in the middle of Virgin River. Big no-no there! She's under the protection of not only Preacher, but the whole town.Th...

Loved Preacher's story. It is an absolute must read.John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar for the night when a woman and her three year old son walk in the front door. A former Marine who has seen more than his fair share of pain, Preacher is well aware of a crisis when he sees her walk in. This young mother is covered in bruises and Preacher wants to protect them, and pummel the person who left his mark on her. It doesn't take long for Paige to stir up emotions in this huge tough

I could happily binge this series but I’m pacing myself. The second book, Shelter Mountain was Preacher’s story in the main but it had such a great, interwoven continuation of Jack and Mel’s life, that it was pitched so well. I love the sense of family in Virgin River but apart from the scenery, it’s not idyllic and it feels real.Preacher and consequently Paige’s story was centred on surviving domestic violence; it was a moving start to the story. I felt the emotions of fear and desperation and

Let's get something out of the way first: I liked this book. Whatever bothered me doesn't make this less well written.There is a reason why I am not overly fond of women's fiction genre. It doesn't have to be a sole driving force behind the plot, but in 98% cases there is cheating involved (view spoiler)[ (it is quite possible that's the reason why Outlander is still waiting for me) (hide spoiler)]. Fortunately, the first book didn't have that or I wouldn't have read this one. Let me be clear -

If all the books in this series continue to flow and have such memorable characters as these first two books, I will have no choice but to give every single one of them 5 stars. Very easy to read and follow.

Audiobook: Narrator – Therese PlummerI really enjoy listening to this narrator. She does such an excellent job of not only the female characters, but the male as well. I know it’s all subjective to what each listener likes or dislikes, but her voice fits my ear quite nicely and I could listen to her all day. Add what is a performance, rather than a reading, to the experience and I’m all set to listen to anything she narrates. She certainly sold me on this installment of the series and insures th...

2.5 to 3 Upon rereadI went back and reread this book because the first time I was going thru a book slump and thought maybe I was just being extra critical. Upon a reread I could give it another star or half star because I did like the man couple and the hero was so totally awesome. The problem for me is when a book series when it reminds me of a soap opera in that you have so many side stories and don't totally focus on the main couple. It makes the book longer of course but it can work against...

This is Part II of my Defence of the Romance Novel. Part I is here, and if you want to know why I feel compelled to do this, well, take a look here. And just for NGE because she means so much to me: Here I want to talk about quality of writing. To do this, I'm going to have to compare two extracts. Extract 1A fierce and unseasonably cold September wind blew chilly rain against the windows. Preacher wiped down the bar, and while it was only seven-thirty, it was already dark. No one in Virgin Rive...

Looking at all of my friends' ratings of 4- and 5-stars for this book, I have to wonder if perhaps we may be thinking of different books. To be perfectly fair, I have not read the first book (or any other book) in the Virgin River saga, and perhaps I would have enjoyed this one more had I done so.However.I actually skimmed a large amount of this book. Much of it read as a Public Service Announcement from a Women's Health Clinic mixed with what felt like a narration of some videos from High Schoo...

I hate myself. I read this entire book in a few big gulps rather than working on the novel that is already late to New York. Go me.Why? Well, for starters, I've gotten really attached to the whole damned town of Virgin River. I had to see what would happen to Mel and Jack and Preacher and Paige and their buddy Mike and poor Rick and Liz.The book weaves together all of these couples and their story lines, and it's told from a myriad of perspectives. So while the story ostensibly focused on Preac

I want to live in Virgin River!Loved sweet, gentle Preacher! Paige and Christopher went through so much they deserved a strong, steady, loving man like him. Her ex-husband was a monster! So was her jerk of an older brother!I was thrilled that Jack and Mel's story continued in this installment, and I got to be in on such a wondrous event with them! Rick and Liz's story was sad and tragic. I didn't really get a read on Liz, not much of a personality here, but Rick was amazing. My heart just broke

Losing friends in...5...4...3...2...1... 2.5 stars. Yes, I know. Everyone loves Virgin River. Yet again, I've found another train I won't be jumping on. *cue sadface*I didn't read the first book, so my opinion of the series is only from book 2. Shelter Mountain was a buddy read that I couldn't pass up because of a dear friend and my curiosity to learn about this person's similarities to a character in the book. And that was the best part of reading - getting to see this person's

Very enjoyable series. I'm listening to this on audio and the narrator does a really good job.