2019: #17 – A Virgin River Christmas (Robyn Carr)

A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #04
Published by Harlequin MIRA on October 29, 2013
Genres: contemporary romance
Pages: 320


Also by this author: Whispering Rock, Deep in the Valley, Just Over the Mountain, Down by the River, One Wish
Also in this series: Whispering Rock

Last Christmas Marcie Sullivan said a final goodbye to her husband, Bobby. This Christmas she wants to find the man who saved his life and gave her three more years to love him.
 
Fellow marine Ian Buchanan dragged Bobby's shattered body onto a medical transport four years ago, then disappeared once their unit arrived stateside. Since then, Marcie's letters to Ian have gone unanswered.
 
Marcie tracks Ian to the tiny mountain town of Virgin River and finds a man as wounded emotionally as Bobby was physically. As Marcie pushes her way into his reclusive life, she discovers a sweet soul beneath a rough exterior.
 
Ian doesn't know what to make of the determined young widow who forces him to look into his painful past and the uncertain future. But it is a season of miracles and maybe, just maybe, it's time to banish the ghosts and open his heart.

This installment in the Virgin River series isn’t centered around the core group of characters, but no worries, they’re still around! This was a nice story that isn’t too Christmas-y or too unrealistic or too long. If you’re looking for a Christmas-themed romance this coming winter, this would be a good choice.

Other Reviews:

• “I love how Robyn Carr writes romance stories while taking on some rather serious topics. In A Virgin River Christmas, she deals with what families of injured soldiers go through and the emotional scars a lot of returning soldiers bear.” — Always With a Book
• “Other than the romance being on the weak side, the only other thing that bugs me a little about the Virgin River series in general is that Robyn Carr isn’t quite as good at writing introverted characters as some other authors I’ve read.” — The Hope Chest Reviews
• “It is a heartwarming story to say the least. I highly recommend this series and this book.” — Romance Rookie