Review: My Kind of Christmas by Robyn Carr

My Kind of Christmas by Robyn Carr

Mira

October 2012

Format: Paperback, 320 pages

First line: “I think a little vacation in Virgin River is exactly what Angie needs,” Sam Sheridan announced as he looked around the table at his family, all gathered at his home for Thanksgiving dinner.

From the back cover: Patrick Riordan always thought that nothing could match the adrenaline rush he gets from his job. But this Christmas, Patrick’s pulse is really racing…

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and-tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman.

Except the woman who has caught Patrick’s attention is Jack Sheridan’s very attractive niece.

Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she’d never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants – and the kind of man!

Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas – until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie – and for Christmas, Virgin River-style!

Thoughts: This is the 20th book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. One of the challenges that I had joined in 2012 was Finish the Series, and I was determined to finish this particular series. Having read 18 of the books in this series in one year was a lot, but I loved each and every one of them and never felt that they became repetitive or the same old. Yes, they all involve someone coming to Virgin River to get away from something, but they each had such unique journeys and they all seemed to find their happily-ever-after.

In My Kind of Christmas, we finally get the last of the Riordan boys’ story. Patrick is in Virgin River on leave from the Navy, dealing with the loss of his best friend in action. Angie has come to Virgin River to get away from her over-bearing mother, who happens to be Jack’s sister. Having recently had a near brush with death, she just needs time to sort things out. Neither is looking for anything permanent but love has other plans. Their story is sweet and slow and not without it’s bumps along the way.

There is also another storyline that was very sweet. The young daughter of a local family has an awful scar across her face, but the family has no money to take care of it. Angie, coming into contact with the girl, wants to do something and sets about getting the funding for the surgery. And in true Virgin River fashion, everyone that can, helps out.

With each installment of this series, I feel more at home in Virgin River. I love that, while we meet new characters each time, we also get to catch up with those that we’ve met previously. There were a few new characters this time that are mentioned so briefly, it is as if Robyn Carr is setting out a teaser. Perhaps some of these characters will be getting their own stories down the line! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for this charming little town…and I hope, now that I am all caught up, that we don‘t need to wait too long!

For those that like to read series…what is your favorite contemporary series? I feel like I am in withdrawal now that I’ve read all the Virgin River books and need another good series to get caught up with.

(I purchased this book.)

Books in this series:

1. Virgin River                                   11.1   Sheltering Hearts
2. Shelter Mountain                         12.  Midnight Confessions
3. Whispering Rock                          13.  Promise Canyon
4. A Virgin River Christmas          14.  Wild Man Creek
5. Second Chance Pass                    15.  Harvest Moon
6. Temptation Ridge                        16.  Bring Me Home for Christmas
7. Paradise Valley                             17.  Hidden Summit     
8. Under the Christmas Tree        18.  Redwood Bend
9. Forbidden Falls                            19.  Sunrise Point
10. Angel’s Peak                                   20.  My Kind of Christmas 
11. Moonlight Road