10th Annual
Enjoy!
Giveaway #1 is for a
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card
US & Canada only
Giveaway #2 is for one print copy each of
Snowed in For Christmas by Sarah Morgan
All is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne
& Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery
US & Canada Only
Holidays in Virgin River by Robyn Carr
#7.5 #10.5 Virgin River
Contemporary Romance
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 10.4.22
Pages: 368
Rating: 4 stars
Flames: 3
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
BUY IT HERE
GoodReads Blurb:
Celebrate the holidays with this special edition
containing 2 fan-favorite stories from the Virgin River series. Includes
exclusive recipes inspired by the Virgin River characters.
Under the Christmas Tree
With snow falling over the redwood forests, secluded Virgin River is the ideal
place to spend the holidays. Each year, the close-knit community gathers in the
town square to decorate and light a massive tree. Carols are sung, hot
chocolate is shared—and this year, a surprise is about to bring two special
people together. When the townsfolk discover a box of adorable puppies under
the town’s Christmas tree, they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help.
But it’s his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues—and
tails—wagging!
Midnight Confessions
In Virgin River, holiday kisses don’t end with Christmas—there’s still the New
Year’s Eve party at Jack’s Bar to attend. Locals and newcomers alike find themselves
eager for that special countdown…and that midnight kiss.
As the townspeople gather, two lonely revelers decide the best balm for their
broken hearts might just be each other.
BONUS: Includes a special note from Robyn Carr, author of the popular Netflix
series, Virgin River.
Sophia Rose's Review:
Going to Virgin River for the holidays would be a dreamy magical holiday and the next best thing is picking up this gift-worthy special edition with a holiday note from the author, two novellas, and yummy collection of recipes.
Coming from one who
has managed to read a few in order and a few, specifically the holiday season
stories, out of order, I can advise that these stories work well both
standalone and within the series order.
First up, Under the Christmas Tree has a pair rediscovering each other as adults and brought together by a litter of abandoned newborn puppies left under the community Christmas tree. Annie McCarty grew up on her family’s farm loving and caring for animals even though these days she pays the bills by owning and operating a hair salon. She is enthused to save the puppies and see them adopted into good homes so she wrangles Jack and Preacher into keeping them at the bar until arrangements can be made. Meanwhile, the local vet is not the old Doc Jensen she remembers, but his attractive son, Nathaniel, who left for his education and training and is now back to take over the family practice. Annie has to work through a past hurt and Nathaniel is falling, but unsure.
It was a country holiday charmer fitting into the series well with visits from familiar Virgin River faces.
Then, Midnight Confessions, introduces Nathaniel’s embittered, defensive niece, Sunny, who got stood up at the altar the previous New Year’s Eve, but she’s let her uncle and his fiancĂ© coax her out of the house for the New Year’s party at Jack’s bar. There she meets, Drew, a medical resident in the area borrowing his sister’s cabin for a break and discovers she’s not the only one to have a broken engagement. The new year brings healing and love and I was happy to ring in the year in Virgin River for another happily ever after.
Both novellas were
quick reads that are developed well with holiday setting and plotting,
characters who won me from the start, and situations that drew me in with just
enough conflict of the character growth sort that worked well with the warm
holiday vibes and shorter page count.
Incidentally, I see those recipes at the back as a fab gift to series fans who will enjoy seeing food and favorite characters brought together.
All in all, this was
just the sort of romance I revel in for the holiday season and I can recommend
this treat to other contemporary romance lovers.
Author Bio:
Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York
Times bestselling author of sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed
Virgin River series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel A FAMILY AFFAIR was
released in April 2022. The fifth novel, THE FAMILY GATHERING, in her
fan-favorite Sullivan's Crossing Series was released in Jan. 2020 and a
Sullivan's Crossing TV series is in production! The Virgin River TV Series,
season 4 is now streaming on Netflix (July 2022) with season 5 coming in 2023.
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime
Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the
HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides
in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
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It has been so long since I read my first Harlequin Holiday Novel. I hope to one day pick up The Virgin River series.
ReplyDeleteThese are very sweet and comfy. Oh yeah, I can't even remember which one it was or exactly when I got my hands on one.
DeleteI honestly can't remember. Thanks for highlighting these!
ReplyDeleteOur pleasure! Thanks for dropping by, Diane!
DeleteLoved this series and devoured all of them.
ReplyDeleteI am still chipping away at the series with a few each year. Love them for comfort reading.
DeleteProbably college. There was a used bookstore where you could pick them up--a great break from studying!
ReplyDeleteYes! Sensational escape reading. :)
DeleteGreat review! This series has been on my TBR list. My cousin watches the Netflix series and tells me I have to watch it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! I waited a long while to start reading the books in this series. I've managed to read almost all the holiday ones and a couple of the non-holiday (none in order, LOL). I've been told the first book situation is the same and then the two (book/TV) start to go a bit differently though both are really good.
DeleteAwww perfect for the season
ReplyDeleteYou know it, B. It was sweet and country charm.
DeleteI can't remember! Maybe when I was 12? Lol. I first discovered Harlequin at that age and read so many.
ReplyDeleteYou started early! Good for you! :)
DeleteI read my first Harlequin in my late teens early Twenties. I was hooked I have read so many throughout the years. I really enjoy Harlequin during the holidays when I stay in during the cold it's nice to get cuddled up on the sofa and read makes for a relaxing evening.
ReplyDeleteYou said it! These are perfect for cozy reads on a cold winter night. :)
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