Last Christmas, Marcie Sullivan said a final goodbye to her husband Bobby. This Christmas she’s come to Virgin River to find the man who saved his life and gave her three more years to love him.
Fellow marine Ian Buchanan dragged Bobby’s shattered body onto a medical transport in Fallujah four years ago then disappeared as soon as their unit arrived Stateside. Since then, Marcie’s letters to Ian have gone unanswered.
Marcie tracks Ian to the tiny mountain town of Virgin River and finds a man as wounded emotionally as Bobby was physically. But she is not easily scared off. As Marcie pushes her way into his rugged and reclusive life, she discovers a sweet but damaged soul beneath a rough exterior.
Ian doesn’t know what to make of the determined young widow who forces him to look into the painful past and, what’s worse, the uncertain future. But it is, after all, a season of miracles and maybe, just maybe, it’s time to banish the ghosts and open his heart.
Type: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
Heat: 3 out of 5 Takes a while to heat up
Rating: 5 out of 5
Oh. Damn. This one was just so freaking good! I loved A Virgin River Christmas. Hands down my favorite so far in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. An amazing hero and heroine with heart wrenching pasts that haunt them, a wonderful setting of Virgin River at Christmas, great use of secondary characters and just a lovely story of finding closure and peace, moving on with life and finding someone who heals your soul.
One of the things I loved about this book was that Ian and Marcie weren't going through any current trauma or major event like most of the couples so far in this series. Instead they were each dealing with something from their pasts that affected them both dramatically...the injury and death of Marcie's husband Bobby who was one of the men in Ian's command and his best friend.
This one was a little different. Ian's life is beyond rustic. There are no luxuries, no running water or heat in his one room rustic cabin. Outhouses and days filled with extremely hard labor. It's not an easy life to say the least and he's not an easy man. He's antisocial, growling and broken. Marcie's strength and determination to get through to him was amazing. She handled his outbursts, his silence, the incredibly basic and hard life incredibly well which made me love her all the more. And under all his harsh edges Ian is such a sweet man that's dealing with tremendous guilt and grief. I really loved these two together. Seeing him venture out of his comfort zone and Marcie learning all about roughing it during the winter. How they slowly dealt with their pasts and found something unexpected. Loved it all.
“Well, what am I supposed to do?"A Virgin River Christmas was easily one of my favorite reads so far this year. Carr's writing had me laughing out loud one minute and not just bawling but having to put the book down the next. She did an amazing job of pulling out all kinds of emotional responses and making you really feel them down to your soul. It's a lovely, heartwarming and touching story everyone should experience. Just don't forget to have a box of tissues handy. Definitely one for my keeper shelf!
"Well, you can take a nap, read a little of my book, or close your eyes. Or you could stare--get the thrill of your life."
"She put her hands on her hips. "You really wouldn't care, would you?"
"Not really. A bath is a serious business when it's that much trouble. And it's pretty quick in winter." He started to chuckle.
"What's so funny?" she asked, a little irritated.
"I was just thinking. It's cold enough in here, you might not see that much."
Her cheeks went hot, so she pretended not to understand.
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Do you like reading books that will get your emotions reeling? Or do you like to keep things lighthearted? What's the last read that had you bawling?
I'm loving this series and thought I'd share it with yall.
One lucky follower will get their choice of book from the Virgin River series.
Books are slightly used but in excellent reading condition! Giveaway open until 7/31
I'm loving this series and thought I'd share it with yall.
One lucky follower will get their choice of book from the Virgin River series.
Books are slightly used but in excellent reading condition! Giveaway open until 7/31
Wow, this sounds like an amazing book. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt really was. One of my top 2012 reads easily. Carr really blew me away.
DeleteI much prefer lighthearted things but unfortunately I'm one of "those" people who cry over anything and everything. It doesn't take much to get me to cry.
ReplyDeletedanni0113(at)gmail(dot)com
I like a good mix of them Danni. My momma's like you. Anything can set her crying. Commercials get here A LOT! I'm more a 'gets misty eyed' at a lot of my reads.
DeleteI like both lighthearted and ones that get your emotions reeling. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletenatasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Me too. It just depends on my mood and changes every week :)
DeleteI loveeee a book that makes me cry!! I know it's kind of weird. I have just sobbed over any Nicholas Sparks books. Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteI can't read them all too often but have loved all of the ones that got me like this one did. I'm not quite brave enough to tackle Nicholas Sparks. I know I'd be a bawling mess :)
DeleteThis book sounds really good. I have not read her books yet. Pretty cover. I am another whom crys at Hallmark comercials and such. The last book that had my crying was Dewey The Small Town Library Cat. Usually the type of book that makes me cry is the one I cannot put down. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteSue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh my goodness. I have Dewey on my bookshelf but I'm way too big of a wuss to read it. I know it would have me in a complete mess.
DeleteI loved the cover on this one too. Really all of Carr's covers are gorgeous!
I haven't read any of her books yet but after reading this post I definitely will. Thanks for the chance to win. This book sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like them Wendy. She's an amazing writer and oh man do I love this little town. The characters will blow you away :)
DeleteI like to mix it up - I just like stories to touch my emotions one way or the other (but not too sad).
ReplyDeleteSame here. I don't mind books that have sad parts as long as it all ends nicely. Carr's pretty great at doing that.
DeleteI love finding a book that takes me through a range of emotions. It's the sign of a good read if I'm so invested in the characters that their heartbreak becomes mine. The last book I read that brought on the waterworks was This Fierce Splendor by Iris Johansen
ReplyDeletejune111(at)att(dot)net
I haven't read that one Jolene but I do have Iris Johansen on my TBR list. Will have to check her out soon. I love authors who can get across so much heart and feeling.
DeleteSounds like a great book, thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeletetiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Definitely. It's going to be one of my top reads this year I think :)
DeleteGood luck!
i have read it. very simple, heartfull and warm from robyn carr. More prefer book with lightearted. but sometimes i read emotional too. it depends my moods. :D
ReplyDeletethanks for this giveaway.
Your mood is definitely important. I can't do books like this all the time but once in a while it really hits the spot. Love that.
Delete