Review of Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7) by Robyn Carr
Paradise Valley is the seventh book in the series Virgin River.
Marine corporal Rick Sudder's military career ended suddenly on the battlefield. Instead of the carefree boy who left, the man returning is hard and angry, believing his future to be as bleak as the changes he sees in his body. But the passion and commitment of the young lady who never gave up on him could be what finally brings him home.
At the same time, a man with a shady past, Dan Brady, arrives in Virgin River to start over. He knows people already, and they don't all have good opinions of him. But Dan wants a chance to begin again in a town with heart that will keep out the type of man he used to be. He never expected to meet a beautiful woman just as troubled as himself.
Virgin River offers both men a home, a chance to begin again, and the ability to heal from the past.
This is probably my least favorite of the books so far, though that hardly says anything bad about the book. It's just really good instead of fantastic.
Rick, or Ricky as Jack calls him, is a character who's been involved in the story since the first novel when he was sixteen and working for Jack. We saw the beginning of his relationship with his girlfriend, Liz, and the tragedy they lived through when she gave birth to a stillborn son at fifteen. They never wavered, even when Rick joined the Marines, and when Jack got the call that Rick was hurt in battle, Liz proved her love over and over. It hurt so much to see Rick push her away, especially in the cruel ways he did it, as he tried to deal with his life-altering injury. The pain it caused him to do so just made me hurt more for the both of them.
My only problem with the story was how neatly the tides turned for Rick. He hit rock bottom in his relationships, was shown what an ass he was being—and I was with the story to that point—but after that it was like a switch flipped and he went from angry and sullen to mostly positive and good outlook. The psychology of an injury like that is far more complicated than that—even I know that and I've never known anyone who's gone through it. Sure, a switch can flip so perception changes, but it doesn't fix things overnight, and it seemed to for Rick.
Dan's story was more interesting. He's been seen in Virgin River before, in most of the books in fact, and when I made the connection of who he actually was in relation to the story, my jaw just about hit the floor. He was the last character I would have expected to be a protagonist. The views on him were complex because he'd done some great, heroic things, and he also had a very bad reputation. The way Robyn Carr eased the reader into Dan's head, giving more of him just a little at a time, was fantastic. We got to know him a little at a time, inch by inch, until he revealed his character fully at the end. I loved the way she approached it, and I wish I could write character development that carefully deliberate. To me, it was masterful.
The story also contained the continuation of the story of Abby and Cameron as they prepare for their coming twins. Their relationship had an unconventional start, but a satisfying path throughout this novel. I loved every scene they were in.
Another continuing love story I'm enjoying is that of the older characters Walt and Muriel, both around sixty years old. He's a retired general, and she's a movie star, but they seem absolutely made for each other. I love every moment between them.
With all the new characters, there has been less and less room for Jack and Mel, which has in some ways been sad and in other ways has taken the series in new directions. I have characters I'm hoping will appear as protagonists, and I'm always looking forward to meeting new ones.
This is one of my favorite romance series I've ever read, and I can't wait to read another.
Comments
Post a Comment