First line: Mike Valenzuela was up and had his Jeep SUV packed long before sunrise.
Synopsis from Goodreads: The tightly knit community of Virgin River has been a safe haven for more than a few lost souls over the years—and there’s always room for one more…
A decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty, but has found hope and healing in Virgin River. When he agrees to become the town’s first cop, he does so knowing it’s time he settled down. Twice divorced and the lover of too many women, he secretly longs for the kind of commitment and happiness his marine buddies have found—a woman who can tie up his heart forever. He finds that woman in Brie Sheridan, a Sacramento prosecutor who understands his drive to protect and serve. Virgin River becomes a safe haven for Brie after nearly losing her life at the hands of a crazed criminal. Though tough and courageous, she’s got some fears she can’t escape—but now she has someone who will shower her just what it means to trust again.
Mike will do anything to help Brie free herself from painful memories. Passionate, strong and gentle, he vows to give back to her what she’s so selflessly given him—her heart, and with it, a new beginning.
My thoughts: This is the third book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this little mountain town. I like how even though each book focuses on the romance of one couple, it is an on-going tale of the town of Virgin River as a whole. This means a lot of extended stories of old characters and the introduction of brand new ones – exactly the reason why I love reading series!
In Whispering Rock, the main focus is on the tender love story between Jack’s former Marine buddy Mike Valenzuela and Jack’s little sister and Sacramento attorney Brie. Both made brief appearances in the previous books, but now we get to find out their stories. Brie suffers a horrible trauma and, with Mike’s help, comes to Virgin River to heal emotionally. With Mike’s patience, devotion, understanding, and love, he helps Brie to trust and love again.
There are a few subplots in the book as well. The most significant ones being a teenage serial rapist that former cop Mike has a hand in investigating, and also a sad turn when another Marine buddy is killed in Iraq, leaving behind a distraught pregnant wife and a best friend from Oregon who both grieve him – do I dare hope that this is possibly a set-up for a future book?
I love visiting Virgin River – I feel that I have been given an opportunity to really know these characters and the town of Virgin River personally and am already looking forward to my next visit!
(I purchased this e-book.)
Books in this series:
- Virgin River 11. Moonlight Road
- Shelter Mountain 12. Midnight Confessions
- Whispering Rock 13. Promise Canyon
- A Virgin River Christmas 14. Wild Man Creek
- Second Chance Pass 15. Harvest Moon
- Temptation Ridge 16. Bring Me Home for Christmas
- Paradise Valley 17. Hidden Summit
- Under the Christmas Tree 18. Redwood Bend – due out Feb 2012
- Forbidden Falls 19. Sunrise Point – due out Apr 2012
- Angel’s Peak
