Paradise Valley (Virgin River, #7) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Apr 14, 2009 Shawna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama, older-mature-hero-and-heroine, series-virgin-river, hh-doctor-nurse-shrink-medical, hh-resist-cause-im-no-good-for-you, sweet-romance-left-smile-on-my-face, syrupy-sweet-sentimental-schmaltz, hh-widow-or-widower

5 stars – Contemporary Romance

Paradise Valley is perhaps the darkest and most depressing book of the series so far and it’s very light on romance.

I really enjoyed the sweet, funny dynamics of Muriel and Walt’s relationship, but I didn’t necessarily want them as the main spotlight couple.

Rick’s traumatic ordeal in Iraq and subsequent downward spiral into anger, depression, and despair is truly heartbreaking. Rick and Liz have already endured so much together, and I’ve been rooting for their HEA. ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2008 Auntee rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 2009_reads

I can't believe these words are coming from my keyboard, but I was actually a little disappointed with this one. Don't get me wrong, Robyn Carr can write the most mundane stuff about Virgin River and I'd still be interested enough to read it, but I was nearly half way through this book before things really started to happen. And yes, I like the older couple, retired Army General Walt and former movie star Muriel, but I don't want them to be the front-burner romance. And sorry to any sixty-someth I can't believe these words are coming from my keyboard, but I was actually a little disappointed with this one. Don't get me wrong, Robyn Carr can write the most mundane stuff about Virgin River and I'd still be interested enough to read it, but I was nearly half way through this book before things really started to happen. And yes, I like the older couple, retired Army General Walt and former movie star Muriel, but I don't want them to be the front-burner romance. And sorry to any sixty-somethings out there, but I don't really care to go beyond the bedroom door with them either.:)

I think part of the problem for me with this book is the lack of a new romance. Three of the four couples that this book was focused on--Walt and Muriel, Rick and Liz, and Cameron and Abby--had already established a relationship, so there was no wooing or courtship or getting to know you excitement like there was in the previous book ("Temptation Ridge") between Luke and Shelby. And yes, the beginning of a relationship between marijuana grower/ex-con Dan "Shady" Brady and alcoholic Cheryl Creighton was included, but didn't go much beyond the hand holding stage. We finally get the backstory on "Shady Brady", and while it all made sense with how and why he got involved in growing marijuana, I was just expecting something...more exciting? Turns out he was just an average guy with some unusual circumstances, needing to make a quick buck. Somehow I had the feeling that he was going to be an undercover DEA agent or something more...heroic. And while he turned out to be a good guy while trying to turn his life around and fit into the community of Virgin River, the jury's still out for me about his romance with Cheryl.

Not much unusual was revealed about the reason Cheryl was an alcoholic either. No big tragedy in her life to turn her to the bottle or anything like that, just a woman who started drinking in her teens who had an addictive personality. And just like my feelings for Walt and Muriel, I like Dan and Cheryl as a couple, but I just can't see them carrying a book on their own. I don't know if they will be the main couple in the next book or if their budding romance will be in the background, but I just don't see them as the "A" couple.

As far as Cameron and Abby, whose story actually started way back in "Second Chance Pass", I liked them for the most part. Cameron was a prince of a guy, and I didn't know why Abby had to fight him so long. I wanted to slap her a couple of times and tell her "Wake up, girl, this guy is everything you need!" I didn't care for her b***** attitude towards him, and I was glad when her friend Vanni talked some sense into her. I think she was darn lucky to have a guy like Cameron, and thankfuuly, it wasn't long before she realized it too. And they did end up having some hot, sweet moments together too--as much as an eight month pregnant woman can have, anyway.:)

And finally, young Rick and Liz...these two have had a long, tough road together, and with this book it actually got tougher. After what happened to him in Iraq, I totally understood Rick's self pity. What happened to him was an awfully tough pill to swallow. And while it was often sad and brought a few tears to my eyes, I enjoyed reading about his struggles and his worries about his future, and yes, even his nasty attitude. I felt Robyn Carr did a good job of getting inside the mind of a wounded vet, and I was interested to see how Rick's story played out. I was happy to see that Liz was the strong one in the relationship, and she didn't put up with Rick's crap. I had a few doubts that Rick would get his act together, but a surprising person helped turn him around, and show him all was not lost just because of his disability.

Luckily, Jack played a nice supporting (but meddling) role in this book. I always enjoy reading about Jack and Mel, and all the other characters from Virgin River that we've come to know and love. A big hint was dropped about the characters for a follow up book too. Seems like a preacher may be coming to town to take over an old abandoned church. I'm trying to think if there are any single, available women in town--maybe Vanni has some more friends?

So, not a bad book, but I was hoping for a little more romance, a little more steam. It looks like three of these four stories are all but wrapped up with HEAs, so it's time to bring some new blood to Virgin River. Hopefully a couple of Jack's Marine buddies or Luke's brothers will decide to settle in Virgin River, and one of the ladies in town is bound to have a friend...and we can watch the sparks fly again. Not many sparks flying in this one, but if you enjoy Robyn Carr, you'll still find this a worthwhile read--just not her very best.--4 stars. ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2008 jenjn79 rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, info-full, 2009, published-2009, genre-romance-drama, stars-4, author-robyn-carr, series-virgin-river

What to say...what to say...I find myself a bit torn on my feelings for this book. Because I liked it a lot. It was a quick, enjoyable read with characters I love. At the same time, I was disappointed in it and somewhat frustrated because it wasn't what I expected, or what I necessarily wanted.

Paradise Valley is the seventh book in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, and the third and final book in the most recent trilogy. This book basically picks up threads started in previous books, which makes ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 17, 2012 Julianna rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, desert-island-keepers, read-2012

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Every return visit I've made to Virgin River so far has been a pleasant and enjoyable one, and Paradise Valley was no exception. I only had a few small complaints (hence the half star deduction). The first is that the back cover blurb made it sound like this book was going to be Rick and Liz's story, and after all this young couple has been through, I was really looking forward to them having a book that was virtually all their own. However, this wasn't quite Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Every return visit I've made to Virgin River so far has been a pleasant and enjoyable one, and Paradise Valley was no exception. I only had a few small complaints (hence the half star deduction). The first is that the back cover blurb made it sound like this book was going to be Rick and Liz's story, and after all this young couple has been through, I was really looking forward to them having a book that was virtually all their own. However, this wasn't quite the case. I suppose there was a bit more focus given to their romance, but really this book contained an ensemble of couples. In addition to Rick and Liz weathering through another trial, there is also major relationship progression for Cameron and Abby and Walt and Muriel, as well as a brand new romance for two secondary characters who have been a part of Virgin River since the first book of the series. I can't complain too much though, because I really liked all four couples. Another little issue I had is that there was very little romance for the first half of the book, so it takes a while for things to really get going. The three established couples spend most of this time in conflict, but about halfway through the reader is finally treated to some really deep emotion and more of the tender, heart-stopping romance I've come to expect from the Virgin River series. Lastly, I was a tad disappointed that Rick and Liz didn't get a reunion love scene after they finally worked everything out, especially since they were ostensibly the “main” couple. Overall though, all of my little criticisms were far outweighed by the sheer joy of revisiting these characters, so it was still a great story.

Rick has definitely grown up, but it hasn't been an easy road for him in the least. He's now a wounded warrior both in body and spirit and spends a little time indulging in some self-pity. He's been through so much in his short life that now he thinks he's bad luck for everyone and that they're better off without him. He ends up pushing away nearly everyone he's ever cared about, including Liz and Jack, even though all they want to do is love and support him. The back and forth struggle that Rick goes through, one minute longing to have any small connection he can to Liz, like listening to her phone messages over and over, and the next, ruthlessly tamping down his feelings for her, was very realistic and well-done. He never stopped loving her but believed he wasn't good for her and she could do better. Rick ends up treating Jack like dirt too, but eventually he comes to his senses in a dramatic, heart-wrenching moment.

For her part, Liz has been completely committed and faithful to Rick through his Marine training and tour of Iraq. She didn't hesitate to go to Germany the minute she got word of him being wounded and didn't even flinch at the sight of his severe injury. She's a strong young woman who has weathered through all the bad times with Rick and is determined to not give up on him even when he won't answer his phone or speak to her. She never stops trying until he breaks her heart face-to-face, but even then, deep down, she couldn't stop loving him. That kind of loyalty is very rare in one so young, which in my book makes her a great heroine. It was also why it was difficult to handle the way Rick treated her, but in spite of that, I still understood his pain too.

Cameron and Abby are a pair of sweethearts, who I instantly liked when they hooked up in the last book. Their story picks up exactly where it left off, with Abby still running scared. She's afraid of what her cheating, no-good ex might do if he finds out she's pregnant and violated their prenup just a week before their divorce was final. She's also having a little trouble trusting a man whom she barely knows. These issues, combined with pregnancy hormones, make Abby a little prickly in the beginning, but Cameron is nothing if not patient and persistent. At first, there seems to be a lot of distance between this couple, as Cameron works to try to find a way to just be parenting partners. He doesn't want to completely scare Abby off, but he is insistent, and rightfully so, on being a father to his children. Many men wouldn't do nearly that much, especially if the mother was fighting him on it the way Abby sometimes did. I love the way he was so focused on taking care of Abby throughout the remainder of her pregnancy. He's a very selfless man who always tries to put her needs first and was willing to go anywhere or do anything to stay close to her and the babies, and eventually his gentleness and patience paid off, giving him everything he's ever dreamed of.

Walt and Muriel are proof that love and romance isn't just for the young, but also the young at heart. They enjoy as healthy of a sex life as some of their younger counterparts, and surprisingly, they got the first love scene of the book and were the only one of the four couples to get a full love scene that didn't involve dreams, rough, angry sex, or convolutions to get around a pregnancy. Muriel is still off filming her movie that she hopes will finally win her the Oscar, while Walt pines away in loneliness back in Virgin River. He doesn't think that he can fit into her world full of glitz and glamor, but eventually, he decides to take a chance on this headstrong, independent woman who turns out to have a surprisingly vulnerable side. Whenever this couple gets together around Muriel's' work schedule, they act like a couple of teenagers falling in love for the first time.

Last but not least, we have Dan (aka Shady Brady) who has been there since the beginning. At first, I thought maybe he was an undercover cop or something, but apparently not. He returns to Virgin River after a short stint in prison for illegally growing pot. Understandably, Jack and the others are a little wary of him at first, but they haven't forgotten how he saved Paige's life and helped them in other ways too. Paul was a stand-up guy to take a chance on hiring Dan, and Jack comes around pretty fast as well. I thought Robyn Carr did a great job of redeeming this character into an appealing hero. It seems that deep down he's always had a conscience and good reasons for what he did. Now he's trying to turn over a new leaf. He has a lot in common with the other men of Virgin River and feels especially connected to Rick. Dan also connects with another long-time resident of Virgin River who has felt like just as much of an outcast, the former town drunk, Cheryl. Cheryl is doing really well, post-rehab, but is pretty wary of getting involved with any guy. These two are a couple of emotionally wounded souls on the road to recovery. They develop a deep friendship, taking things really slow while simply enjoying each other's company and getting to know one another.

Paradise Valley wouldn't be a Virgin River book without appearances by all the favorite characters readers have come to love. Jack and Mel, Preacher and Paige, Mike and Brie, Paul and Vanni are all here, supporting their friends and families. We get a lot of the story from Jack's POV as he struggles with figuring out how to help Rick and Liz. Luke and Shelby put in an appearance, announcing plans for a wedding and starting a family. Dotty, old Hope McCray buys the abandoned church to resell on eBay, which I'm sure is a set up for the next full-length novel in the series, Forbidden Falls, in which a new minister comes to town as the hero. As always, these characters have become like a second family in my mind, and I can't wait for my next visit with them when I continue the series. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2009 Christel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009-reads, robyn-carr

Was okay but not what I expected and for Rick to treat Liz the way he does in this book was just really ticking me off. They have been through so much and this is the way he acts. I would have smacked him. But I do believe there are more future books in this series just by the way things are left

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2010 Rochelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2010, man-in-uniform, small-town

I give this about 4.5 stars. I think all the crap with Rick just weighed me down.
I hope Abby and Cameron are shown more in upcoming books! Cheryl and Dan's story doesn't excite me yet, but it's nice that they're finding love.

My favorite line was:
"Cam, there are times Jack rounds up a poker games with some of the guys..."
"Oh?"
She shook her head and as she passed him she said,
"Don't ever play." ...more

Like · see review