false 3440882 0778325733 9780778325734 213 45 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256070002m/3440882.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3440882.A_Virgin_River_Christmas 107767 Robyn Carr 2339 404 Finished. 0 2008-10-31T12:34:40-07:00 63716 285 2008-10-31T12:34:40-07:00 Very emotional--after reading the letters...oh boy. 0 2008-10-31T06:02:43-07:00 63000 240 2008-10-31T06:02:43-07:00 I thought this book was about Vanessa and Paul Haggerty. Could not remember their names and they are mentioned on pages 130/131. 1 2008-10-30T19:12:54-07:00 62391 135 2008-10-30T19:12:54-07:00 Marcie is staying at the cabin with Ian. Just had chicken soup together. 0 2008-10-30T05:45:05-07:00 60765 93 2008-10-30T05:45:05-07:00 4 4 false Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Jun 15 09:13:50 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 31 12:50:41 -0700 2008
The main characters were all right. Ian turned himself into a recluse and chose to live--alone--on the mountain in a cabin without any amenities. He was almost barbaric with the roaring... Marcie's character was very likable and I admired her fortitude in sticking with her goal of finding Ian--despite the lack of sibling support. (Erin needed to get a life).

The author says in the beginning that this would be a great story to pick up and begin the series...I disagree. If I had not read (and loved) the Virgin River series I would have hated this book. As it was, what I enjoyed most was reading about the previous series characters.

Mel and Jack (my favorites), Mike and Brie, Paige and John (Preacher), Doc, etc., were all in this one. The main plot to this story just did not hold my interest: tortured past from the hero; invalid war hero and subsequent death; war and all its horrors; reclusive mountain people, grouchy old men.

And it could have used another chapter or two to finish the blasted story!

The story had me boo-hooing through some very sad parts near the ending, so it touched me emotionally; that's the justification for 4 stars from This Reader.

]]>