Welcome back to Grace Valley, California, where the best things in life never change…
Here in this peaceful community, folks look out for one another like family, though sometimes a little too well. In a town like this, it's hard to keep a secret—but Dr. June Hudson has managed to keep one heck of a humdinger.…
Though visits from her secret lover, undercover DEA agent Jim Post, are as clandestine as they are passionate, somehow it fits with her demanding schedule as the town's doctor—a calling that requires an innate ability to exist on caffeine, sticky buns and nerves of steel.
But how can a secret lover compete with a flesh-and-blood heartthrob from her past? June's old flame has just returned to town after twenty years—and he's divorced. June is seriously rattled. So when the town's most devoted wife takes buckshot to her husband and some human bones turn up in her aunt Myrna's backyard, she's almost happy for the distraction.
Sooner or later, love will have its way in Grace Valley. It always does.
Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series and Sullivan's Crossing series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel, THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB, will be released in January 2024. The new hit Sullivan's Crossing TV series (season 1) inspired by Robyn's book series was released in the USA in the fall of 2023! Plus, season 5 of the worldwide fan-favorite Virgin River TV Series is now streaming on Netflix (July 2023) with two holiday episodes coming November 30, 2023. Both TV series have been renewed for another season! Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at https://www.robyncarr.com/.
*****Spoilers if you haven't read the first book.*****
June's high school sweetheart, Chris, is back in town with his twin teenage boys, now divorced. He broke her heart years ago by running off with a fellow classmate getting married while June was away at college. Everyone in town speculates on whether June and Chris will get back together. June while still really ticked at him, she's still a little curious at what might have been, especially since he's been asking around if she's single. June's man, Jim, has hopeful news, but still can have little contact until all is settled with his job.
Chris was a piece of work, and his boys were nothing but trouble! Even if I were interested in Chris I'd run for the hills because of those horrid boys! By the end of the story all the trouble making comes to an end in a spectacular way. I'm wondering how this will affect their attitudes in the next book.
The Mulls made a lot of progress, living in town now and the kids attending school. Jurea had her first operation with amazing results, but there's also a setback for their family that I hope will be settled in the last book. This little family deserves happiness!
Aunt Myrna had a lot of excitement over her long lost ex, Morton Claypool. I loved how things came together in the end.
Dr. John Stone, June's partner, gets himself into the doghouse with his wife Susan. He really needed a good smack for his pigheadedness! It was a little funny to watch him dig a hole.
I'm loving this series! I'll be sad when I finish the last book.
Sigue en la línea de su predecesora. A un ritmo ameno, seguimos las aventuras de nuestros personajes de Grace Valley. Además, se suman nuevos personajes que abren nuevas subtramas e historias.
No sé que tiene estos libros pero sin ninguna historia muy sorprendente ni tampoco mucha acción, consigue engancharme y hacerme pasar un buen rato. Se lee fácilmente y casi sin darte cuenta. También tiene sus puntos flojos como el comportamiento a veces infantil de algunos personajes, (toda la trama relacionada con Chris y los gemelos me ha exasperado bastante), el romance (poco creíble y sin desarrollo apenas) y cómo se resuelven algunas tramas (como la de la tía Myrna o la de Blythe) que me parece un poco absurdo. Sin embargo, también tiene personajes interesantes como Tom y toda la familia Mull.
En resumen, es un nadismo donde se relata historias de personajes con un tono tan positivo que resulta poco creíble. Narra situaciones un tanto exageradas e irreales, pero que justamente son el tipo de novela que busco ahora (las que tienen un mensaje positivo al final). No mentiré, no son las mejores novelas ni la mejor historia. Es más, si lo hubiera leído en otro momento de mi vida, seguramente me resultarían aburridas. Pero si lo que quieres es una novela que se lee fácil con personajes encantadores y que muestran el lado bueno de la vida, es tu lectura.
Finalizaré la trilogía para poner punto y final a los queridos y peculiares vecinos de Grace Valley.
If you are expecting to read a romance then you will be sorely disappointed as this trilogy is more a saga based around a town and its people. Having already read the first in the series I was well aware of that, but I was more interested in catching up with everyone and reading about their lives and other goings on.
What I am really enjoying is learning more about the people I had briefly met in the Virgin River series, in particular Dr John Stone, Pastor Harry Shipton and Sheriff Tom Toopeek and his family.
As always a great story as I have come to expect from Robyn Carr.
Robyn Carr is a master at telling these small-town people stories. Despite the lack of a solid romance I was sucked into the story and the people. This is the kind of series you'd love to be reading in front of a warm fire on a cold winter night.
Series Note: This series MUST be read in order.
Summary: Just as local town doctor June Hudson is settling into the idea of being in love with an undercover DEA agent, her old high school flame, Chris, comes blowing back into down, newly divorced with twin sons in tow. June's never quite forgiven him for deserting her, and is baffled when he immediately starts trying to woo her. She's got enough on her mind; she doesn't need to deal with him!
First, her Aunt Myrna is under suspicion for murder because of some old bones found in her yard. Then there's the Mull family, who aren't quite past there troubles yet. June's friend Justine must face the truth of her condition. Some teenage vandals are causing havoc all over town. And that's just some of it. Things are definitely never dull in Grace Valley!
Review: Like the last book, this one is anemic if you're looking for romance. Jim is absent for most of the story and he and June have very few scenes together. And even the few scenes they do have together are kinda blah. There's just not a very romantic feel to the book. For those of you who have read the Virgin River books and thought they were low on romance, these ones are even more so. Which, yes, is rather disappointing. I prefer romance in my books, but I didn't mind it too much. Carr knows how to tell a wonderful story that made up for the lack in the romance department.
There's not really a lot for me to comment on. There's no suspense element to the story, no murder mystery, little romance...not a whole lot to complicate things. It's a simple story about the town of Grace Valley and all the goings on there. And okay, I have to back up and say there is a little bit of a murder mystery...forgot about that...but it's very low tension, and I thought it was rather obvious how it was going to work out.
But anyway, this book is about people and small-town life. The vagaries of being a doctor in a town where most people have no insurance, the mountain people afraid to live in the real world, the secrets, the workings of small-town law. It's mostly a meandering story about all that. Which might sound boring and to some it would be, but Carr manages to tell it all in a very engaging way. I was sucked into all that was happening...wondering how Myrna would deal with bones being found in her yard, if the Mulls would pull themselves together, and all that. Just a very down home story.
I look forward to reading the last installment of the series. I'm hoping it'll have a bit more romance with Jim finally coming back to Grace Valley for good.
Dr. June Hudson is busy with the clinic, but she does have time for visits from her secret lover. DEA Agent Jim Post is working undercover and can't be seen with June. Since contact is minimal, June is left without word from him for weeks. But June's old boyfriend is back in town and is looking to pick up where they left off.
This is the second book in the Grace Valley Trilogy. The trilogy is more or less one big book cut in three parts, so you must read them in order. In this book, Dr. John Stone's wife helps out at the clinic, much to his chagrin. Bones are found in Aunt Myrna's garden which lead people to believe she killed her missing husband twenty years ago. Birdie's grandsons move into her home and cause havoc throughout town. These stories might not sound that interesting, but I was very entertained. My rating: 4 Stars.
What can I possibly say about this narrator that I haven’t already gushed about before? I would not still be listening to this series if it were not for her. LOVE her voice and what she can do with it! I’ve fallen in love with these characters because of her!
Second installment with the same characters, more drama, lots of laughter, some tears and a bit of mystery. The romance isn’t even really a thing but sits on the back burner. I should quit mentioning it since I know what I’m getting into but I do hold out hope that each new book is going to have a little more romance. I still enjoyed it and can’t wait to find out how all of the town folks end up.
Robyn Carr has sucked me into this world. I love a good small town book/series and she knows how to do them right.
I love that there is always something going on, like there is never a dull moment. The characters are so enjoyable that you just want to stay with them. It's too bad this is just a trilogy.
No me ha durado nada y además me ha sacado del bloqueo lector, bendita sea Robyn Carr. Disfruté mucho de la historia, qué bien narra esta mujer; abarca un montón de tramas sin profundizar demasiado en ellas sin que eso signifique ser superficial, las desarrolla de una forma estupenda y no deja hilos sueltos. Esta historia en particular me ha recordado a Gilmore Girls, por eso de pueblo pequeño y encantador en el que todo el mundo se conoce y en el que ocurre de todo; ha sido muy divertido conocerlo. Ahora quiero los otros.
I know I reference Virgin River a lot but its because I love that series so very much and when I started this one it just reminds me so much of that one. But unlike Virgin River this series is mostly about Dr. June Hudson and the town.
We get a lot of different character points of views but mostly its June’s and you want to keep reading because she is so mysterious but charming and witting and she just makes you want to know what is going to happen next not only with her but with the town.
This book had some pretty sad things happen, I laughed, I teared up, I yelled. Ahh I do love a good Robyn Carr book what can I say something about the way this lady writes has me a super fan I swear it.
I don’t want to give too much away about the book just know that we do get more of the DEA Agent and we get a more about her Aunt and if there really is her husband buried in the backyard.. mwhahaha ..
I love the narration I know I say that but Therese Plummer is fantastic I wish everyone could listen to a book she narrates you would understand my hero worship I swear it.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
*** First book review. The review of this is a bit down. This is a nice, heartfelt loving story. A nice placement of the action, loving characters - just the negative ones not so lovely throughout their actions -, the life in an idyllic little town where everybody knows everyone, where the community is as important as every single life. I've read the entire trilogy and one can read just only one book - but to discover the every emd one should read all three volumes or, at least the third - even though some of the sweetness of the story will be lost. The real center figure is June, the down doctor, but there are other main characters and a lot of secondary ones - but all important for the development of the story. In this first book one comes to know the characters, some of their history and a bit about their future hopes and plans. If you don't like the story - also I doubt it- you can just let the other two. If you enjoy it, just grab the books and enjoy an evening as a part of a nice community.
*** In this second book, the action and the life in the Valley develops further. There is an introduction of the characters and their story, so one knows what they are reading - in case they begin with this book or there's a period of time between the first and the second volume. We are part - again - of the town and we live together some nice and some not so nice experiences, but we feel good because we are together in there. Through thick and thin...
Dr. June Hudson has a secret lover now - undercover DEA agent Jim Post. June and Jim's relationship is tested by separation and the return of June's old flame who returns to Grace Valley with his two sons in tow, all indications pointing to an interest in rekindling his relationship with June. The really exciting part of this book is actually the human remains found and June's Aunt Myrna's back-yard. What will happen next in this small town?
Everyone speculates that Chris and June are going to get back together but what everyone else doesn't know is that June has herself a secret beau.
The people of the town are shown through in the story it makes the story feel like a normal small town. I enjoyed the story and the characters.
Just Over the Mountain continues where Deep In The Valley left off. We witness what life is like for June Hudson, a thirty-eight year old single doctor, practicing medicine in a remote town in northern California. Like I said before, I think the Grace Valley books are the most outstanding that Robyn Carr has ever written, and she’s never topped it. Not even with the Virgin River books. Well maybe the very first, but after book 3 in VR, it was dragged out and too much focus on couples romance. I love my books to be about community, and the Grace Valley people are a true community, with so much diversity, and so much goodness too. There are no sex scenes, there’s no gratuitous violence. There are only good “nosey” folks, which are always ready to help a neighbor. June continues to meet her secret love, the undercover DEA agent, Jim Post. It’s hard for June to not be able to share her relationship with her family, her elderly father and aunt, and her friends, Dr. John Stone, his wife, Susan, and many others. To make things worse, her former high school sweetheart, Chris Forrest, moves back to town with his 14 year old twins, who are spoiled and who will cause mayhem, and will learn the hard way that being brainless troublemakers can only lead to tragedy. What is important here is the lesson to parents to take responsibility for their kids, and the town will remind Chris of this. One of my favorite people – well there are many – but Tom Topeek, Chief of police and Native American, who personifies how much the town takes care of its people.
Book 2. Robyn Carr is a great storyteller gets you totally involved in this small community. June's partner John Stone is working out and June has fallen in love with an undercover DEA agent who is still her secret. Her old highschool boyfriend, Chris, shows up in town with his two teenaged sons and newly separated from his wife. What she ever saw in this narcissistic ass is beyond me! I figured out the angle about the bones on Aunt Myrna's property early on but it was still fun to watch it unfold. I'm looking forward to the last book.
The Grace Valley Trilogy is a fun change from Robyn Carr's hugely popular Virgin River series. Grace Valley includes all of the town's people and they make fantastic peripheral characters, but essentially each book of the trilogy illustrates another part of June's life.
In this second book June's high school boyfriend has moved back to town with his delinquent sons. Everyone is immediately teasing June that old flames will be rekindled and all that. Of course, no one knows of June's mystery man from book 1. He's still June's little secret.
Meanwhile, June's ex from high school has a mountain of problems of his own. I've never seen a grown man so out of touch with what's going on around him. His marriage is on the rocks and his wife pretty much tells him to take the kids and see how he likes it. What he gets out of that is he can now look for greener pastures, leave his elderly mother to care for his kids, and ignore all of their delinquent behavior. He has so many problems that are coming to a head quickly.
In this second book that town has all kinds of tough situations going on at once. Aunt Myrna's fantastical stories and "lost" husband are also catching up with her. The young florist's illness is catching up with her, Dr Stone gets in a heap of trouble with his wife and our brave mountain family is still dealing with PTSD and getting the family's patriarch on meds. In true Grace Valley fashion they're there for each other through the good and bad times.
#2 in the series of Grace Valley. A wee No Califonia town full of 'characters'. I am new to Ms Carr's writings and romance novels in general. I really like the stories.
From Overdrive.com Here in this peaceful community, folks look out for one another like family, though sometimes a little too well. In a town like this, it's hard to keep a secret--but Dr. June Hudson has managed to keep one heck of a humdinger....
Though visits from her secret lover, undercover DEA agent Jim Post, are as clandestine as they are passionate, somehow it fits with her demanding schedule as the town's doctor--a calling that requires an innate ability to exist on caffeine, sticky buns and nerves of steel.
But how can a secret lover compete with a flesh-and-blood heartthrob from her past? June's old flame has just returned to town after twenty years--and he's divorced. June is seriously rattled. So when the town's most devoted wife takes buckshot to her husband and some human bones turn up in her aunt Myrna's backyard, she's almost happy for the distraction.
Sooner or later, love will have its way in Grace Valley. It always does.
This second installment of the Grace Valley trilogy continues where Deep In The Valley left off. We witness what life is like for June Hudson, a thirty-eight year old single doctor, practicing medicine in a remote town in northern California. Like I said before, I think the Grace Valley books are the most outstanding that Robyn Carr has ever written, and she’s never topped it. Not even with the Virgin River books. June Hudson is still secretly seeing her "boyfriend", the undercover DEA agent, Jim Post. It’s hard for June to not be able to share her relationship with her family, her elderly father and aunt, and her friends, Dr. John Stone, his wife, Susan, and many others. To make things worse, her former high school sweetheart, Chris Forrest, moves back to town with his 14 year old twins, who are spoiled and who will cause mayhem, and will learn the hard way that being brainless troublemakers can only lead to tragedy. What is important here is the lesson to parents to take responsibility for their kids, and the town will remind Chris of this. One of my favorite people – well there are many – but Tom Topeek, Chief of police and Native American, who personifies how much the town takes care of its people.
Oplæser: Therese Plummer. Kan ikke sige det tit nok: hun er bare fantastisk.
Skøn 2. Bind i serien om Grace Valley og fortællingen om June. Robyn Carr er virkelig god til at bringe stemning ind i sine bøger.
Grace Valley er en by fyldt med almindelige mennesker med masser af holdninger. Når problemer opstår, står byens borgere sammen og hjælper med stort og småt.
What is not to love about Grace Valley and its wonderfully eclectic town folks? Following just after the first in timeline, I loved getting to see June and her friends and family move along and wish I was there. This author just has a way of not only transporting you to the town, but making you feel as if you were part of the town itself. I can't wait to read the conclusion of this series.
Heartwarming. In this story there was the most graphic and realistic description of an automobile accident and the subsequent rescue of the 14 years old twins who had been thrown from the car. Emotional and terrifying as the doctors and neighbors pitched in to help.
As this trilogy evolves, it gets better and better! With such great back story, I just might have to re-read Virgin River again, with entirely new insight :)
Another great Robyn Carr book. I have fallen in love with the Grace Valley residents! In a world so filled with evil, it is nice to read about a community that pulls together for it’s own.
I halfway through not into this book at the moment maybe i will put it down and leave it to finish at later date. I am on page 244. I couldn't get back into so i moved it to my read pile for now.
Just Over the Mountain is Book 2 in Robyn Carr’s Grace Valley trilogy. In this continuation of Deep in the Valley, we see more of the original characters and find them in new and challenging positions.
Dr. June Hudson finds herself falling for DEA agent Jim Post whose visits are sporadic and clandestine, yet passionate. At the same time she fends off advances from former beau Chris who has returned to Grace Valley with two wayward teenage sons. Her nurse Charlotte has a heart attack and is forced to give up her job with Dr. Stone’s ex-nurse wife Susan stepping in against the wishes of her husband. Receptionist Jessie decides she wants to be a doctor and strives to obtain her GED, and Justine is found not to be pregnant but to have ovarian cancer.
The Mulls are persuaded to move in to town: Clarence can be treated with drugs for his post-traumatic stress disorder, and plastic surgery can repair Jurea’s damaged face. Their children start school and begin to thrive, but the transformation seems too much for Clarence who retreats to their shack in the woods.
Meanwhile, a warrant is brought to June’s aunt; it is suspected that her husband who disappeared twenty years earlier might be buried beneath a rhododendron. And between Jim’s occasional nocturnal visits, love blooms, but June is unsure how compatible they might be if they ever get to be together for any length of time.
A near fatal accident brings two old friends together; a tragedy heals old differences and June discovers she’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.
All ends well for the main characters but room is left to solve other problems in Book three which I am eager to begin.