Reviews

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

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zbmorgan's review against another edition

5.0

Rarely does a book this ambitious deliver, but I was floored at how well Ms. Carr creates the world of Virgin River. Unlike other small town romances, this is not about a small town, or even an urban/suburban area that feels like a small town (a la Debbie Macomber) it's about a remote area in Northern California that is surrounded by a river, towering redwoods, and illegal pot growers. Unlike anything I've ever read, this tale of a young widowed mid-wife who cannot have children has enough detail about midwifery and country medicine to make it fascinating before the romance even begins. The not-in-the-slightest bit silly characters who live in and around Virgin River are fascinating, and while numerous, skillfully handled. The heroines's relationship with the old doctor who can not longer handle the job but doesn't want help is particularly well done.

lostinfrance's review against another edition

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3.0

I feel like this should come with a disclaimer....this is a Harlequin Romance.....and yes, in my world, that means a cheesy romance with stereotypical characters....ravishing sex scenes and pretty bad writing. I did NOT know this was Harlequin....(I realized it when I finished the book), and honestly....I want to be more open to different genres and figure out why some people LOVE this type of writing, so I am happy to finally read one. Plus....my sister and I guiltily enjoyed the TV show, so of course the book had to follow.
A heartbroken widowed nurse moves to a gorgeous part of North California to work as a nurse with room and board included....finds that the cabin she was promised is a wreck and the doctor she was hired to help does NOT want her about. She steps into the only place for food/drink in her town....and of course befriends the very handsome bar owner and tender.....who does his best to convince her to stay. She finds a baby....and helps a group of dangerous homeless people....falls in love, wrestles with if she should stay..... sheesh, this is a romance novel. Of course there is a happy ending and nakedness.
I didn't care for the main character....she is too wishy-washy and predictable. I guess that is why this genre bothers me. Once you read the first couple chapters, you can predict what will happen....and how they will get there. Maybe that is why some people love it? Safe? I will read another book or two in the series...I want to give it a chance.....but I definitely won't push this to win any prizes.
Read.....if you need some cheese, romance, and flannel wearing men in your life.

Popsugar 2020: A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads

captainorla's review against another edition

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5.0

After watching the series on Netflix, I knew I just had to read this book. Absolutely loved it!

manicpixienightmaregirl's review against another edition

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Very misogynistic, and cringy as hell.

thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition

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Now a Netflix original series, Virgin River is in the vein of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. Mel Monroe is a big-time nurse practitioner from L.A. who is looking to escape her harried past. She finds herself in small-town Virgin River working with the town doctor who is nearing retirement. She realizes her mistake in moving early on, and would have left long ago if it weren’t for an abandoned newborn on the front steps of the clinic, and friendly face Jack Sheridan who is proving a valuable friend – and maybe more – to Mel.