Monday, December 15, 2014

Review: 'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season (Virgin River - Books 8 & 12) by Robyn Carr

Publication Date: 10/28/2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Genre: Contemporary Romance
File Size: 444 KB
ASIN: B00OP85WQU

(Received for an honest review from  Harlequin Mira)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Robyn Carr on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Virgin River

  1. Virgin River
  2. Shelter Mountain
  3. Whispering Rock
  4. A Virgin River Christmas
  5. Second Chance Pass
  6. Temptation Ridge
  7. Paradise Valley
  8. Under the Christmas Tree (in That Holiday     Feeling and 'Tis the Season)
  9. Forbidden Falls
10. Angel's Peak
11. Moonlight Road
12. Midnight Confessions (in Midnight Kiss and 'Tis the Season)
13. Promise Canyon
14. Wild Man Creek
15. Harvest Moon
16. Bring Me Home For Christmas
17. Hidden Summit
18. Redwood Bend
19. Sunrise Point
20. My Kind of Christmas

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, 'Tis the Season, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Revisit Virgin River with two beloved holiday stories from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr. Included is the bonus novella Backward Glance—available digitally for the first time. 

'Tis the season for family, friendship and the thrill of a holiday romance… 
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 a surprise left under the Christmas tree is about to bring two special people together! 
Midnight Confessions 

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. 

So join us in Virgin River this year, where Robyn Carr's trademark humor, warmth and sincerity will have you celebrating the festive season in your favorite mountain town.

Thoughts:

Fans of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, will enjoy the reprint of two Virgin River stories and a third unrelated tale in 'Tis the Season. Under the Christmas Tree and Midnight Confessions are spaced one year apart, in Virgin River, while Backward Glances is an unrelated story from earlier in Carr's career. Carr gives readers three great small town romances just in time for Christmas! If you are looking for a Christmas read that is heart warming, festive and filled with sincerity and love, this just might be the book for you.

What I liked:

Virgin River has long been one of my favorite small town romance series'. Robyn Carr has created a town that just resonates with readers. The characters are down to earth and live normal lives. They could be your next door neighbors or friends down the road. She has a knack for bringing every day life into focus and that's something I find enjoyable to read about. Sometimes I don't want the story of the millionaire or the princess. Sometimes I want the country doctor, or the bar owner or even the local hairstylist and this series really fills that spot. 

In 'Tis the Season readers are treated to a reprint of two Virgin River, Christmas stories, just in time for the holiday season. Now, if you've been a fan of the series for a long time you may have read both stories, but it is always nice to have them together in one place. Both are quick reads during a very hectic time of year. When you just a couple of hours to squeeze in some Christmas romance that's often just what you need.

Under the Christmas Tree is essentially the 8th book in the Virgin River series. Though it is a little shorter than the average book. It's a great story for the holidays involving Christmas puppies named after Santa's reindeer and a couple of childhood acquaintances that renew their interest in each other while caring for them. I loved hunky veterinarian Nate Jensen. It's an attractive quality to have a man who loves animals. Carr knows how to pick them for sure. It was nice to meet Annie who lives a few towns over from Virgin River, and is a hairstylist. These two knew each other as children, but they are all grown up now and the sparks do fly.

Midnight Confessions is the story of Nate's niece who is visiting for the holidays one year later. Nate and Annie want to attend the festivities at Jack's bar in Vrigin River, but Sunny is trying to heal after a bad breakup. When she goes along just to get out, she meets Drew, a college student who is holed up for the winter and studying his heart out. The romance was sweet and romantic and seeing Drew try to draw Sunny out and help to deal with her past was heartwarming. Robyn Carr knows how to pull those heart strings for sure.

Backward Glances is a previous story written by Robyn Carr back in the early part of her career. It is the story of a young woman raising twins and her matchmaking mother and friends. Leigh is struggling through a divorce when her mother asks her to visit. What she doesn't know is that John a man from her past is going to be there. I loved Jesse and machinations to make Leigh happy again. There was a lot of humor in this one, as well as love. It is an early effort by the author and does not have the cohesiveness and smoothness of Carr's later books, but it is still a great story for any time of the year.

Bottom Line:

Whether it is a reprint or a new story I love Robyn Carr's writing style and her characters. It was nice to go back to Jack's bar and see all of the characters I know and love from the Virgin River series in both those stories. I love the big Christmas tree and it's patriotic theme and the amazing way the town comes together for the holidays. The third story was heartwarming and full of tenderness as two people got a second chance at happiness. What else could you ask for in a great Christmas read?

'Tis the Season is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





About the Author:


Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr’s website at www.RobynCarr.com.

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