Customer Reviews

Angel's Peak (Virgin River)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I am really struggling to finish this book. I've loved all of the Virgin River stories, and the last book Forbidden Falls (where did the author get that title), was wonderful. This book is completely different. There is no plot and no character development.

The main female character, Franci, is extremely unlikable. Years before the story begins, she finds out she is pregnant with Sean's child, a guy she has been dating seriously for two years. Instead of telling him she's pregnant, she picks a fight, telling him she's ready to get married, and if he's not, the relationship is over and he'll never see her again. At 28 he isn't ready to get married and have kids, even though he loves her and is happy in the relationship. After a nasty fight, she pretty much disappears without a trace. He never gets over her, and 4 years later bumps into her. When he finds her, she is extremely hostile, and if not for his persistence, I guess he never would have found out he had a daughter. The author works hard to convince us that Sean is the bad guy in this, and to defend Franci's actions, but it just doesn't work.

The rest of the story is told in a reflective voice ... blah, blah, blah, with the author telling us what happens instead of anything ever happening. Other characters traipse in and out of the story, watering things down and filling up pages, but not really adding to the plot. For instance, she has a "stable" boyfriend who is 40 and who, by the way, doesn't want marriage or more kids. There's also a grandma who's urgent to deal with. We never really get to know Franci, and she and Sean don't grow into their relationship, it's just there all of a sudden. There's no real chemistry.

Anyway, maybe the last 100 pages are fantastic, but I don't think I'm going to get to them. This was a very disappointing installment of what has previously been a very charming series.

Angel's Peak, another in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series is proof that the books keep getting better and better. This is the story of hotshot U-2 pilot Sean Riordan and Franci Duncan. Together as a couple for two years, Franci wanted marriage and children; Sean felt they were committed, but he didn't want the ring or the rug rats. The romance ended badly with things said that finished the relationship. What wasn't said, on Franci's part, is that she was pregnant. Feeling Sean wasn't committed, she didn't want him to "do the honorable thing" if his heart wasn't in it, so she fled to her mother's. Vivian and her daughter moved north and found work in Eureka and Redding-Vivian as a medical assistant in a doctor's office, and Franci, after daughter Rosie was born, as a flight nurse running medical helicopter runs. Meanwhile, Sean is burning up excess leave from Beale Air Force Base in Virgin River. He hasn't forgotten Franci, and after making a couple of attempts to locate her, he's been on his own except for a few less-than satisfactory short-term relationships. One night he stops at a bar in Arcata to give brother Luke and his new wife Shelby some space and discovers Franci with a group of women. She is not happy to see him, and not inclined to share that she has his daughter-at least not yet.

After a kerfuffle in a supermarket parking lot where Sean takes a beating from a trucker protecting Franci, he persuades her to give him a call so they can talk.

Franci has a dinner date with a college professor that ends badly, and when the professor drives her home, Sean is parked across the street. He follows her to the door and she reluctantly lets him in to talk but doesn't tell him about Rosie. The talk turns passionate as Sean turns on the charm, and they spend an incredible night together. However, the next morning, Vivian, who lives four houses down, returns Rosie to Franci's, and Sean gets the shock of a lifetime. He has absolutely no idea how to talk to a child, but soon discovers he wants to get to know this three and a half-year-old pixie with the Riordan red hair and green eyes-his "Wide Iwish Rose". Some help from Jack's regulars starts him on his way, and as the days pass cocky Sean discovers an entirely different side of him. Winning over Franci is a different matter.

Other Virgin River regulars make appearances and there are family gatherings, friendships made and lasting commitments in unexpected places. I particularly enjoyed Maureen Riordan's awakening from almost nun to enlightened. Her friendship with Vivian was wonderful. And George Davenport is a wonderful addition to the Virgin River family. We get a glimpse of Noah Kincaid and Ellie, also Dan Brady and Cheryl Chreighton. This is a delightful "feel good" book that gets two thumbs way up from me.

U-2 pilot stationed at Beale Air Force Base, Sean Riordan remains in Virgin River after being the best man at his brother Luke's wedding (see Temptation Ridge) as he has six weeks of lose or lose leave to kill. He stops at a restaurant's bar for a drink when four women enter the establishment. One of them is flight nurse Franci Duncan who four year ago demanded they go to the next level in their relationship or end it; he reacted by telling her not to let the door slam into her butt. She left and vanished from Luke AFB in Phoenix; he went on to Beale regretting what he lost.

Sean demands Franci explain why she left so abruptly after they split up. She wants him to leave her alone though she still loves him. However, he is stunned when she explains he is the father of little Rosie who she has raised as a single mom. He wants in his daughter's life, but Franci distrusts Sean and wonders if he is mature enough to have the staying power to be a part of his son's life. Sean knows he has a second chance to rectify his biggest mistake as he wants both of his females in his life permanently.

Once readers accept the opening coincidence that the lovers when they were in Arizona meet by chance in remote Northern California, fans will enjoy the story line is emotionally driven by a strong cast. Sean is terrific as he regrets what he blew and is appreciative that he has a second chance. Franci on the other hand does not want to give him one. Well written, Robyn Carr provides a delightful Virgin River entry as she overcomes an overused trite premise of a dad unaware of siring a precious child with a super cast especially the lead couple who make for a fine tale.

Harriet Klausner

I am usually a big fan of the Virgin River books, but this one is just god awful! It feels rushed and filled with so much blah filler, compared to others in the series. There are some cute moments, and the usual suspects make an appearance or two every once in a while. But the two main characters are so boring, and lack substance. Plus the whole "been hiding/lying about your kid for 4 years" storyline is dumb and played out so much everywhere else. I'm slogging through it at a snails pace, when usually I blow through these books. The main characters talk in circles too much. It is really hard to read between the two of them. And the side direction the story takes with the main characters mother is very jolting and feels rushed as well. At the point that whole story is getting introduced, the main story is just picking up. I'll most likely read the next one after this, and probably the next set whenever they come out. While I know these books aren't winning a pulitzer anytime soon, I did expect more from Carr.

I really like this series, and this is one of my favorite books in the series. Franci is a likeable character and a very good mother - someone who made hard choices under difficult circumstances. Sean is extremely sexy and very likable - he used to be very self-absorbed but changes and grows throughout the book. I also enjoyed all of the story lines that feature the regular Virgin River characters and places. All in all, a good addition to the series.

Sean Riordan, Luke's younger brother, comes to Virgin River for a visit and one night when he steps out to a neighboring town for a little action, he runs into his former lover, Franci Duncan. To say her response was cool is an understatement. Their breakup was pretty bad and she hid her pregnancy from him. Now, four years later, Franci has to prepare to reveal that secret and deal with the fallout from her deception.

I loved this story. Sean is what you'd call "breezy," not really someone who has even thought about being in a committed relationship, which is why Franci walked and hid the pregnancy. What made the story interesting was the evolution of Sean from an irresponsible playboy to someone who truly wants to step up as a father and win Franci back. There are some great moments involving their precocious daughter, Rosie, who is a riot. We also see the beginning of a wonderful storyline involving Maureen Riordan, the brothers' mother, and a romantic interest.

This is one of my favorites of the series. It's well written with great dialogue and the family dynamics are classic. I was sorry to see this one end.

I liked this story. Robyn Carr tends to have her heroines forgive and forget a little sooner than I would like for the conflict to be resolved so that the rest of the story gets sugary sweet, but when I just want a feel good romance I always reach for Robyn Carr :)

At all the bad reviews this book is getting. I seriously think that all the people who have said that this book didn't take place IN virgin river and that it DIDN'T have enough of the virgin river characters NEVER read the book! This takes in several places in virgin river and characters from other books do pop up in what seemed like every other chapter! so I am completely baffled at those reviews.

With that said I have to say that I enjoyed this book like I've enjoyed every other book in this series. It was full of love, heartache, troubles and tribulations and it simply made you feel good!

Although I do not agree with keeping a child away from it's parent for any reason I understand why she made the choice she did.

This was another 5 star review for me!

Next book please!

This was another book I was unable to put down. I looked over the reviews and was surprised at how upset people were over Virgin River not being the center stage of this book. The characters all tied into the community, and hidden pregnancies are one of the main storylines in this genre. I can't be offended by it, and commend the author for making it thus far into the series without using it previously I will continue to read Robyn Carr, and truly enjoy her books.

This book was downloaded to my kindle at 2 am on the 26th, so I had it all day, but I put off reading it because of the plot. Finally last night I started to read it.

I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. I didn't like the initial set up, and there is one scene when the hero & heroine meet in a grocery store that I thought was over the top. And quite honestly I thought both the hero & heroine acted like immature children but then the story just grabbed hold of me and I couldn't put it down. I love the character growth that Ms. Carr showcases so well.

Some people don't enjoy the multiple threads and at times I have gotten tired of all the people in her books. But I thought the balance was excellent. And this book seems like a perfect set up for the next book.

If I had to pick a reason why Robyn Carr's book work so well for me, it would be that the characters seem like real people. People that I would want to have as neighbors.

I initially rated this book a B + but tonight I plan on re-reading it or at least parts of it. Anytime I feel that way about a book, then it is an A read for me.