A Virgin River Christmas (A Virgin River Novel)

Robin Carr is such a great writer. This book was great. Enjoyed reading it tremendously. Ian's is such a man's man & Marcie do strong, full of spite & doesn't give up. Love these two new characters.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It's refreshing to follow a series and still get little pieces of previous character's lives. You definitely get that here! It was a bit hard to figure out at first because this story takes place in the middle of another, but I caught up pretty quick!

Just because the date says October 2013 does not mean it is a new book. Don't be fooled. I hate when a book is "reissued" but the real publication date is not revealed. I read this when it first came out in 2008 so was not happy when I paid for it again thinking it was a new book and then realized it was not new. I wish the store was more honest about this kind of republication.

There is something about the Virgin River books that keeps me coming back. Romance novels are not my usual go to, but there is just something about these people. I love how Robyn Carr weaves previous storylines with new books and reminds the readers just enough without going overboard as to how everyone is connected.

This time out Marcie Sullivan is traveling through the small mountain communities of Northern California in hopes of finding Ian Buchanan – the man that dragged Marcie’s husband to safety during a gun battle in Fallujah.

In the four years since that has happened, Marcie has not regretted one day of the time that she had spent with her husband and his shattered body. To her, it was three more years to love him, but to Ian it was torture. He has regretted saving Bobby’s life. He knew when he went in to retrieve Bobby that it was just a shell, that the man that he respected was no longer there.

It has now been a year since Bobby died peacefully and Marcie wants to find the man that she had written letters to, to thank him and of all things to give him Bobby’s baseball cards.

Ian no longer looks like the handsome man in the photo that she has, what she eventually finds is a broken man, but yet, Marcie sees more. Once she pushed past the unshorn mountain man, she found a damaged lonely sole and when no one is looking this man sings like an angel.

There is no deep story here, just a heartwarming narration of two people that are both wounded and longing at the same time and a small community that opens their arms and welcomes them in like one of their own.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. The previous two had built upon characters that had been previously introduced, while this one started with unknowns. In many ways, this could be read as a stand alone. There was small cameos made of of prior characters, but they didn't take over the story and have POVs. This felt like a story told outside the regularly scheduled storyline. Not that that's a bad thing, but I was confused for a moment when a character that had died in a previous book was suddenly alive again. Needless to say this story happens within the timeline of the last book.

Marcie and Ian have a charmingly lovely story. I laughed, sighed and even shed a few tears for these two lost souls working so hard to find their place in a world that has been torn asunder by the injury and eventual death of a man they both loved. There was even a beautiful message about finding and following the star that will light your path out of the darkness, that transcended the spiritual message it was couched in. I know I seem a bit mushy, but I just couldn't help it. This book was full of the feels and knew how to use them for maximum response.

The narration continues to be superb, bringing the characters to life in way that made them even more relate-able and real. This is a book that really brings home the spirit of the Christmas season. I can see myself reaching for this book year after year, eager to remember back the magic. 5 stars.

This series is so touching. I was reading on the author's website this series made ten years this year and decide to catch up on titles I haven't read before and boy it was like coming home again. Marcie has become a widow in her twenties as her husband dies from his injuries from being in the marine. She goes in search of his best friend who has abandoned them after bringing her husband home she want to find why and found so much more from Ian who became a recluse living far away from everyone. It's comical how she ends up staying with him but this storyline was so believable and touching.

Most of the story of this book revolves around Marcie & Ian, with just a few supporting roles by the usual Virgin River cast of characters. I enjoyed Marcie’s unusual take on being the window of a severely wounded veteran. It was refreshing to see her know that even though her husband’s body was damaged beyond fixing, his spirit was not only there but comforted by the rotating group of friends and relatives that helped take care of him for four years. When she describes the peacefulness of Bobby’s final passing, it brought me to tears. I loved seeing Ian’s growth from a wild man who actually growled at her when she finally found him to a loving caring guy, finally able to try facing the world again. Wonderful ending!

Marcie Sullivan is down to her last few dollars and running on fumes when she finally tracks down Ian Buchanan, her recently deceased husband's military hero and mentor. Unfriendly and hairy, Ian is living in exclusion in a mountain cabin without electricity or running water, having shut himself off from family and friends. Marcie hopes to find closure by giving Ian some of her late husband's possessions and asking him why he deserted the man he served with and rescued. But first she has to get him to open up to her.

A Virgin River Christmas works better as a stand alone novel than the first three, as the Virgin River characters only have brief cameos. In fact, this book's timeline overlaps with book 3, which seemed odd. This book is the weakest of the series, so far. The premise--a widow trying to get past her husband's death--is too reminiscent of the first book, and I felt impatient with all the explanation of the characters' histories, the memories, and the repetition.

WARNING: some vague spoilers follow... While the rustic conditions are unusual and sometimes humorous, the outhouse trips, chamber pot, and sponge baths don't exactly create a romantic mood (I kept wondering if and how they wash their hands after using the outhouse), and there isn't enough sexual build up or even flirting before the characters jump in the sack, literally and figuratively. Then the two fall in love ridiculously quickly (a pet peeve of mine), and the book ends before the emotionally wounded hero has begun to work out half his problems. I hope Marcie and Ian show up again in the next book so we can find out what happens to them. While I didn't like this book as much, I'm not giving up on the series, which I still think is emotionally intelligent and well written.

I loved Marcie. I loved Ian. I loved Marcie's devotion to her late husband, and to the man who brought him home and then fell off the map. I loved her determination to find Ian. To tell Ian his father was dying so he could try to see him one more time, and then to promptly switch her allegiance and stand behind Ian's reasons for not wanting to see his father. For not trying to change Ian, for accepting him exactly as he was.

I cried a lot during this short book. Not because it was sad, but because it was just so emotional. So good. So very very good

How could I possibly go through the Christmas season without reading this book especially since I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of this book up until a few weeks ago. Thankfully the series doesn't dictate that we have to read the books in sequential order.

This was by far my favourite Christmas-themed book this year! I love Robyn Carr and this series. I think that she's created a magical world that happens in a tiny town full of people with big hearts. I found myself drawn into the story once again like always even though this was book was shorter than her other books in the series.

It is my firm belief that Robyn Carr has a gift and the way that she makes creates her characters is amazing. I really loved Marcie she was just so likeable and despite being tiny she really did have as Ian said "the strength of a thousand soldiers" because of all she went through when her husband was wounded in battle. I think the romance between the two of them was perfect because they did things by their own rules they didn't lay out a five year plan but chose to wing it in a sense and let whatever happens happen. I think it was very touching how they helped each other through their pain. Marcie succeeded in bringing Ian out of his shell and helped restore him to his former self.

The fact that this book was set in my favourite little made up town around Christmas time made it a winner in my books. It had all the magic of the other books in this series but with a little bit of a Christmas miracle put in for good measure. I was so glad to see some familiar faces in the story like Mel, Jack, Doc, Preacher, Mike etc. They added more to the story in my opinion. Reading this was like coming home :) A great Christmas romance written by a wonderful author. If you haven't read this book or this series yet I strongly urge you to do so if you like Contemporary Romance, plus the author likes to add in a few steamy bits too as a bonus!

I listened to the audio version of this book and first of all, I have to say that I loved the narrator.
Second, I used to read Robyn Carr's historicals, but have not read any of her contemporaries. After listening to this book, I now know why I was drawn to her books in the first place. The characters (hero and heroine as well as secondary) are very interesting and well-developed, with lots of different facets to their personalities. Ian is hurting over Bobby's death, so he cuts himself off from people, yet he cares about the citizens of Virgin River. Marcie had to deal with so much--her husband's illness and death, but she wants closure. The hero and heroine have problems, but they joke around, too, and I love characters who have a good sense of humor. The only joking I didn't think was funny was when Ian made fun of Marcie when she got burned trying to start the stove. Since my hair caught on fire when I was a teenager when I was cooking lunch for myself on a gas stove (and I had to be in the hospital for seven weeks), I didn't think it was right of Ian to laugh.

This was especially poignant to me because although my husband did not serve in the military, he had cancer and we didn't find out until it was in stage 4. He went to the hospital in June 2001, and passed away in August 2001. He was sick before that, but no one could figure out what was wrong. So when I listened to this book, I thought about my husband, and had a lot of great memories.
A beautiful story--I'll be reading more of Robyn Carr's contemporary books.

Marcie Sullivan needs closure after her husband's death, and seeks out his Marine buddy Ian in Virgin River. He is living as a recluse, secluded in a tiny cabin in the woods and is NOT happy to see her. She is tenacious and refuses to leave, eventually staying; ever hopeful that she can draw him out. I liked both of these characters and the transformation of Ian, physically and emotionally, as he begins to heal is touching. Marcie has been through so much, yet she chooses to experience life to its fullest. Loved the part where she sees/hears Ian singing Christmas songs. So romantic!
I'm digging how Virgin River is a haven for wounded/retired marines. Simper Fidelis rings true in this community and the men are willing to go to bat for a brother. Love how Ms. Carr lets you keep up with the community as you read the books in this series.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

I LOVED A Virgin River Christmas. Hands down my favourite of the series so far. I thought it was crazy reading a Christmas book in July but it made no difference for the love I felt for this story. It had me on so many levels. I also loved how in the story the cabin is described almost as exactly as the front cover is shown. Isn't the cover awesome!

I was also wondering how I was going to feel about this story when the couple were two brand new characters that weren't introduced to Virgin River as of yet. I started reading and I was thinking to myself, 'who are these Marcie and Ian characters?' Never fear, they were amazing! Also, A Virgin River Christmas can totally be read as a stand alone so it will make my Christmas recommended reading list.

I don't even know where to start here. Lets start off with Marcie. What a doll. A marine widow at just twenty three, she was on a soul searching mission looking for her deceased husband's best friend, Ian. Ian served with her husband, Bobby in Iraq and he had saved his life. However, saving his life only resulted with Bobby being paralyzed and severely brain injured living on for an extra three years. The guilt Ian suffered weighed heavily on his shoulders. Ian had so many buried emotions that he basically ended up living like a hermit in the mountains trying to hide away from the world. Even the other retired marines in Virgin River didn't know he was up there deep in the woods.

Picture Grizzly Adams. Yeah that is pretty much the state of Ian's appearance when he first meets Marcie. He even growled at her like a big bear. What a transformation Ian experiences. Not just in appearance but in personality as well. Grumpy and uncommunicative he won't even talk to Marcie about Ian or Iraq. Unfortunately (or luckily) she gets sick with the flu and he ends up being stuck with her surrounded by snow in his bare bones cabin. He takes cares of her and clearly demonstrates his well hidden soft side.

Marcie and Ian's banter was superb. She is such a talkative firecracker and that leaves Ian's head spinning. She can't be quiet and he is used to going days without talking to anyone. I was smirking so much. Marcie had an amazing personality. She is strong and genuine. She is just what Ian needs to bring him around.

There are some tear jerkers scenes that just brought the book together excellently. Simply touching. I would say A Virgin River Christmas is an outstanding wintertime story full of forgiveness and learning to move forward. You don't need to wait for the cold season to enjoy. It warmed my heart and weather and season had nothing to do with it.

The readers are still treated to a few of the regular characters. There are no real updates on their lives but they do play off as great secondary characters. They definitely enhanced the story.

Teasers: stuck in outhouse, propane stove blast in face, bath time strip down, Christmas tree serenade

A year ago Marcie said a final goodbye to her husband, Bobby, after four years in a nursing home. This Christmas she is heading to Virgin River to find Ian Buchanan, the man who saved her husband's life and gave her the gift of four more years with him.

Ian Buchanan disappeared as soon as his unit arrived stateside and he stopped answering Marcie's letters. She is determined to find him and thank him for the extra time she was allowed with her husband. Without Ian, that would not have been possible. Ian views this situation quite differently. He blames himself for not letting the severely injured Bobby die and it broke him knowing that Bobby would live out his life in a nursing home, unable to eat, speak or move.

Marcie finds Ian living off the land in a mountain cabin. He is not at all happy to see her, believing he has failed her and Bobby.

I absolutely loved this story, such a sweet romance. I highly recommend this book.

AVRC is my first Robyn Carr book which would make me---you guessed it, a Robyn Carr virgin. Anyways, this isn't the type of contemporary romance I usually read (I like a bit of action, suspense or the occasional vampire in my mix) However the Virgin River series is so hugely popular and was recommended to me by a ton of people so I just had to check it out.

...And I'm happy to say that except for the author's unusual fixation with an outhouse I got sucked right into this heart tugging romance. Enough so that I didn't want to read anything else when I finished and have since gone back to start the series at the beginning. Yes this is book #4 in a series of 13 (and counting) however that didn't seem to have any bearing on this particular story (I think because it's a special Christmas edition). Sure there were a few characters I might have enjoyed more if I'd know their `story' but this stood just fine on its own and centered pretty much solely on Ian and Marcie's heartbreaking journey of love and healing.

The best word I could use to describe Robyn Carr's writing is comfortable. It's just relaxed and easy and felt like I was reading about friends or I imagine if you're well into the series like coming home. Carr never once had me shaking my head thinking that's wrong or ridiculous or the H/h would never do that. The story flows very well too, is funny in parts and heart wrenching in others and except for letting the outhouse become a character of its own, left me wanting more. I feel like Carr could become the sort of author I'd pick up when nothing else is striking my fancy and know that I'd enjoy it.

Marcie Sullivan is looking for closure; she's come to Virgin River to find her husbands Sergeant and best friend. The man responsible for saving Bobby in Iraq and giving her three years to say goodbye while he slowly died from his battle injuries. As Marcie cared for her husband she forged a friendship (through letters) with his sergeant Ian, pouring out her heart, frustrations and sadness to a man she'd never met. Then suddenly the letters stopped and soon her husband was gone too. Now a year later Marcie still can't seem to move on with her life, she's decided she has to find Ian. To talk to him about what happened over there and make sure he`s okay.

But locating Ian hasn't been easy, nobody's seen him for years and his family has all but written him off. After following several leads Marcie at last finds her hero but he doesn't want to be found and definitely doesn't want to be reminded of Iraq. Ian's living far off the grid of society, a recluse in a rundown cabin in the woods with no amenities. Yes that's right an ....outhouse (dun dun dah) Ian Growls at Marcie to leave him alone, sounding much like the bear he now resembles what with all that hair but Marcie refuses to go until she completes her mission .Of course this leads to her almost freezing to death, catching hypothermia and Ian having to save and care for her until she's better (It is a romance after all)

Marcie's character is a bit of a goof and I really liked her and her adventures with living in a rustic cabin. I didn't however find this quite as romantic as I'm sure others will as I have lived in the bush without power and it loses its appeal mighty fast especially in the winter. So while some might think it quaint that they cook on a woodstove, and read by candlelight I cringed. Anyways you don't need to know much else, all the townsfolk turn up in one way or another and Marcie and Ian forge into a new type of friendship, one with benefits. Oh and it all happens right around Christmas. Sigh.

I really loved this book and hope the characters of Ian and Marcie get a bit more attention in other stories in this series.

It's hard for me to judge if you would have to read the previous books to be able to enjoy this one, but since the "main" Virgin River players are more like supporting cast in this one (and it's time frame is really in the middle of book 3) I don't think you do. But why would you skip the first three great books?

That being said, if you have not read this one because you don't think you'll get enough of the residents you've grown to love don't worry. They're in there quite a bit...just not overly represented.

This story was so sweet and made me cry quite a bit. Yes, it's obvious from the start that the story is going to be about the main characters finding love. But we know that going into pretty much every romance book we read. It's the journey that makes this story so special.

Marcie's husband, Bobby, came back from war in Iraq with a spinal injury and in critical condition, he never recovered. For more than three years Marcie cared for him and nursed him, always grateful for the time they still had. The person responsible for that time was Bobby's best friend and Sergeant, Ian. Ian had saved Bobby in Iraq and he managed to look in on or write Marcie when he had the chance. Then suddenly he went missing. No one had seen or heard from Ian in years. It's been almost a year since Bobby has passed away and Marcie has made it her mission to find Ian. She wants to talk to him about what happened, make sure he's OK and finally have some closure.

Her search leads her to the northern California mountain town called Virgin River. She finds her man, though hardly recognizable, and begins the last chapter of her healing process.

This is the 4th Virgin River book, though the time frame takes place approximately midway through the 3rd book, Whispering Rock. Marcie is a feisty little heroine and although she has been through the unthinkable she is a modern day Pollyanna. She never regretted that her husband came home to her half alive, instead she savored and embraced each second they were given.

Ian has his battle scars, but his emotional scars are what have him living a hermit like existence in the mountains. Taking one day at a time, he never stood a chance when Marcie came knocking on his door. Two people dealing with loss in very different ways, manage to find some common ground and help one another more than they anticipated.

This was a fantastic addition to the series. The scenes written about Bobby are painful to read. I had tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart. The writing made it so real I couldn't keep from sobbing. Despite the depressing nature that brings these two people together, the book was full of laughs. Marcie is sarcastic and sassy and she and Ian had me cracking up. Visits from the Virgin River folks we have come to know and love only enhance this tale. A wonderful Christmas tale; friendship, love, healing and happily ever after.

Cherise Everhard November 2008

Four stars for this book. Basically it's what you hope for with a Christmas romance--touching, heart felt, but not too cheesy. Chronologically, it's fourth in the Virgin River series though there's an overlapping timeline with Whispering Rock (number 3). As far as I can tell it could stand on it's own equally well.

After her husband passes away following three years of extreme disability, Marcie is ready to do something radicle to help herself move on. She decides to seek out her late husband's best friend, Ian, who disappeared shortly after her husband was declared permanently disabled. Ian was with Bobby in Iraq, and was responsible for carrying to safety when he was severely injured. In the aftermath he blames himself for Bobby's disability and isolates himself in grief and guilt. When Marcie shows up on the doorstep of his tiny one room cabin, he really just wants to get rid of her. But circumstances and Marie's determination bring them together.

I absolutely loved Marcie--best part about the book. She's reckless, optimistic, tough and relentless. You can't help but cheer her on a bit. Ian is a great counterpart to her--he's surly, reclusive, and uncooperative. Yet he can't help but care for Marcie. Unlike in some of Carr's other books, the main focus is soley on this couple and their unlikley romance. I really enjoyed that, though of course I like her other books as well. The plot dragged at a few points, but kept me interested for the most part. Bottom line, this is a really sweet little love story

Almost four years ago, Ian Buchanan carried his friend and fellow soldier, under fire, to a medical transport helicopter. His heroism earned him the the highest honors from the US government but when he came home and saw Bobby's broken body, he believed he had selfishly sentenced him to a life trapped in a useless cage. He couldn't stand the guilt and left. Ian knew his friend had died that day in Fallujah, but he wouldn't leave his fallen brother behind. In his mind, he has not only sentenced Bobby to life as an invalid, he also destroyed the life of Bobby's young and vibrant wife. But Marcie Sullivan is incredibly grateful to Ian. Not only did her husband's best friend save his life, he enabled her to spend three more years with him before he finally passed on. Ian allowed her to have closure so often denied military widows and now, almost a year to the date of Bobby's death, she wants closure with Ian. She wants to know why her husband's best friend disappeared and she's determined to find him and let him know how much he meant to her and Bobby.

Just thinking about this book is making me teary eyed again. Get out your hanky because if you're anything like me, you're going to end up a sobbing wreck.

Marcie was the toughest little girl on the playground and as an adult, she's as tenacious as a bulldog. She fearlessly sets out on her mission to find Ian and she doesn't let things like no food and no gas money stop her. Her meandering search brings her to the town of Virgin River and lo and behold, she finds Ian. Only this mountainman looks nothing like the cleanshaven, handsome marine she remembers. This man is huge and scruffy plus a touch crazy. It appears Ian might have been isolated up in the mountains for too long because when he sees Marcie, he honest to God roars at her.

Make no mistake about it, Ian is a bum. Robyn Carr takes us out of the charmingly rustic, country elegance of Jack's Bar and drops us in hillbilly hell. Ian lives in a shack that doesn't have indoor plumbing and he hasn't had an actual shower in years. If he wants to hit the head during the winter he has to shovel his way through the snow to get to it. But not only does Robyn Carr make me forget all that, she makes me like it. She's woven another warm and cozy story and I loved every second of it. Ian is as trapped in his own pain as Bobby was trapped in his body and when Marcie bursts back into his world, I loved reading about how she slowly charmed him back to life. Most of A Virgin River Christmas is about Ian and Marcie, and the town of Virgin River and all of our favorite characters play only a small part. This begins during the middle of Whispering Rock and since all our favorite characters are busy during their own stories at the time, this leaves Ian and Marcie very much on their own. I actually appreciated that and I liked focusing on just one couple again and since Ian and Marcie were fun to be with, it was certainly not a hardship.

The humor in A Virgin River Christmas is still as fun as any previous book. This one will make you laugh and I suggest you enjoy it because this one will also make you cry like never before. I honestly wanted to grab onto any soldier I could find and just give them a hug and say, "thank you."

This story ends on a beautiful note. The happily ever after between Ian and Marcie still has a few rough roads ahead but I closed this book feeling better and happier than I did before reading it, so I highly recommend this as yet another must have book by Robyn Carr. A Virgin River Christmas will make you cry and and then make you laugh and will leave you with the knowledge and hope that everything will be all right again.

A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS is my first introduction to Robyn Carr, and I enjoyed the book. Good writing, likeable characters, good pacing. I found the basic premise for the story to be believable: Marcie Sullivan wants to find her late husband's best friend and former Marine commander so that she can find some closure and move on. Marcie is psychologically healthy and sound. Due to her husband's near vegetative state, she had plenty of time to slowly grieve his loss even during the remaining years of his life, and in the year since his death, she's found a measure of peace. But she's still bothered by this sense of unfinished business, because Ian Buchanan, who had been her husband's friend and Marcie's friend (through letters) as well, just disappeared out of her life without a word. She wants to track him down, let him know of her husband's passing, and give him a possession of her husband's that she knew Ian would value. Through sheer tenancity, Marcie does locate Ian, and a series of unfortunate events allows her to spend some much needed time with him in a secluded cabin. Gradually, they have time to get to know one another again -- this time in person -- and to eventually talk about the past, even though Ian is very resistent to doing so. In their shared experiences, both past and present, they develop feelings for one another that strengthen into love. Love in ten days? Well, it works the way Carr writes it. Of the two characters, I found Marcie to be the better developed and believable of the two, but Ian was certainly appealing on a number of levels.

My only real criticism of the book is just that it was too long for me for the amount of plot/story Carr included. I'd have rated the story higher if it had been about 100 pages shorter. To me, it read like a novella that just didn't know when to end. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book enough to want to check out others in this series and by this author.

Four years ago in the battle of Fallujah, US Marine Ian Buchanan risked his life to save his brother in arms Bobby Sullivan. Three years after that heroism, never having recovered from his wounds twenty-six years old Bobby died. His widow Marcie grieved her loss even before he passed away as she knew he would never recover.

Over the years Marcie sent letters to Ian thanking him, but all returned unopened; he simply vanished. Obstinate and resolute, Marcie decides to find Ian to personally thank him. She traces him to Virgin River; Ian is unhappy to see her as he lives the life of a hermit selling firewood. He needs to forget Iraq, especially Fallujah and Bobby. Marcie feels a deep need to save his soul; in her mind he is not living. As they fall in love, she needs to persuade him to let go of the past so they can share a future.

The return to the small isolated Redwoods town of Virgin River is a triumph as the lead couple is as complex a pair of characters as one is apt to read. Especially intricate is the former marine who suffers from a deep post traumatic stress disorder from what he did and saw in Fallujah. With some jocularity to lighten the tense tale, readers will relish the spending Christmas with a Virgin River romance.

Harriet Klausner

Although I really do not read many romance novels, every once in a while, a feel good story is just what I need. Last month I read Robyn Carr's: Virgin River (#1 in a series), and really enjoyed the story. So much so, that I purchased: book #2 - Shelter Mountain, and Book #3 - Whispering Rock. I haven't read them yet.

Virgin River Christmas, is Book #4 of the series, however, I don't think I missed anything reading this one out of sequence.

In this story we meet Marcie Sullivan for lost her young husband Bobby last Christmas. This Christmas she sets out for Virgin River with very little money in her pocket. She has gone to Virgin River to find Ian Buchanan, a fellow Marine of Bobbys, who saved his life by dragging his shattered body in Fallujah for years earlier. By this heroic act, Marcie was able to be with in her life Bobby for three more years.

Since then Ian has seemed to have gone missing, and Marcie's letters to him have gone unanswered. Marcie tracks Ian down in the tiny mountain town and finds an emotionally wounded man. She pushes her way into his reclusive life and finds a kind, but damaged soul beneath hiss rough exterior. And, of course, Christmas is the season of miracles, and in Virgin River, that is no exception.

The story was a predictable, but I still enjoyed the book very much.

Marcie Sullivan has been searching for Ian Buchanan, the best friend of her deceased husband. Ian saved Bobby's life in Fallujah, brought him back home to Marcie, and then disappeared. Marcie wants to deliver Bobby's treasured baseball card collection to Ian and understand why he deserted them during Bobby's last years of life.

Ian is tucked away in Virgin River, quietly living life on the outskirts. Marcie is a reminder of a past he wants to forget, but Marcie's stubborn nature just won't let go. Maybe this Christmas will be one to remember....

No one does contemporary romance quite like Robyn Carr! Her Virgin River series exemplifies why she is so beloved and A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS only continues her tradition of producing superb romances.

While A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone, the nuances of the town and the various people populating Virgin River will be better appreciated if read in the context of the series as a whole. Part of what makes the Virgin River series so unique is the town itself as it is practically a character. Robyn Carr captures the beauty and the harshness of a small, isolated town and brings it vividly alive. Ian and Marcie are perfect additions to such a town as they both have their own burdens to bear.

A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS isn't always an easy read but it's a very satisfying one. Ian's journey hasn't been an easy one and the emotional scars run deep. Only a woman as stubborn as Marcie could break through his barriers. Robyn Carr shows the grieving and healing processes quite well, almost too well as there are some scenes that should come with a warning that Kleenex will be needed. A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS is a tearjerker that is highly recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

What a beautiful story. It's based on the finding one person who survived the war in Iraq and the man he saved that eventually died afterwards due to his injuries. It's not a sad story, there is some sexual context to you, but not overly filthy throughout the whole story. I felt it was beautifully written and also held a lot of meaning for me. Will look into more of this writers books.

Robyn Carr takes on what happens to men, and the women, who love them when they come back damaged from war. This story is about second chances. The heroine is recovering from losing the love of her life to a horrible war wound.....but it took him three years to die. She never forgot that he was living on borrowed time but cherished each hour. She then travels to the small community of Virgin River to give one of his fellow soldiers her sweetheart's baseball cards and finds another damaged man. She does not give up on this man even though he tries very hard to get her to do so. In all her books Carr gives a happily ever after. The sweetest thing happens at the end of the book. I hope you will read it and find out what I am talking about

Life has many turns and detours. Sometimes it is hard to move forward until you have dealt with the past. Trust in yourself, examine where you've been, what you've been through and then decide where you want to go. You may be surprised with the answer!!!

Marcie Sullivan is on a mission to find her recently deceased husband's hero and mentor, who disappeared four years earlier. She's not exactly clear about what's driving her to seek out Ian Buchanan but Marcie feels certain she will have closure once she finds him.

The story centers around Marcie and Ian, who she finds isolated on a mountain in Virgin River. Over time, Ian cannot help but be influenced by Marcie's spirit and he slowly transforms. Their love story isn't easy or conventional but it is heartwarming. The ending leaves something to be desired but I assume will have more answers in future books.

There was less continuing character involvement than earlier books but I would rate this 3.5 stars.

Most of the Virgin River Books come in 3'st. Not A Virgin River Christmas. It is between the first trilogy and the second. Ian is a marine so he fits the type and Marcie is a great female character. She needs to get on with her life now that her husband Bobby is gone (he came back from Iraq wounded and non responsive). She feels that she has unfinished business with Ian before she can move on and that sets the stage for the story. There are some of the usual Virgin River characters and the first Virgin River Christmas tree. It is a nice feel good story like all of the others in the series.

A beautiful story. I think Marcie and Ian stole a piece of my heart by the time I finished the last page. I might have a book hangover.
Thank you to Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup for not only recommending this book, but also gifting it to me. It's my first 5 star of 2017. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Warriors can be injured in many ways. The ends and beginnings can be quite messy. And achieving the glimmer of hope for a new friend with oneself and connecting with your chosen family and community is something very special.... Ian realized this, in time. Just​ in time with Marcie's help.

This is the fourth book I've read in the Virgin River series. They can be read alone but I'd suggest reading them in order. The town is growing an ensemble of characters that hold each book in the series together.
In this book, Robyn Carr delivers another couple who seem mismatched but find their way into a HEA.

The setting in this small California mountain town is vividly described. The hand full of main characters in the book had experienced love, loss and death and are trying to find meaning and direction for their lives after crises. Again a wonderful story of our need for love and connection to others.

Two main characters: Marcie Sullivan - she must find Ian Buchanan.
Her search takes her to the Virgin River area.
Here we meet old friends again.

Ian doesn't want to have to face his feelings about his friend, Bobby Sullivan.
He just wanted to be left alone, which, of course didn't happen. Marcie kept stirring up old memories.
She also has young brother, Drew, who seemed to understand her reasons for locating Ian. And a sister, Erin, who worries about her.

We meet again a wonderful bunch of characters woven into beautiful human story.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED along with the 3 other Virgin River books and the begining 3 Grass Valley stories. three more books coming in 09.

Another really good story in an ongoing series. Can be read alone but made richer by knowing the good characters that are from previous books. This story brings you back to the simple life. I say simple but the work is hard but time is spent in a pleasant way, not hectic, slower pace and appreciation of the beauty that surrounds them. Well written, enjoyable read that keeps you turning the pages looking forward to the next one.

I was looking for a new series and a review on the store pointed me to this one. Thanks.

I did not expect to cry while reading a romance, but did. I do not like to cry. The episodes about Bobby were so very hard to take. Even so, I am glad I read it, and will continue the series.

The characters made me feel old. How can anyone manage in one room cabin with no bathroom in the winter? You have got to be young. At the end, I was hoping they would both come to their senses get real jobs and a real house. They need to build a future. This is just existing. What about children?

As you can tell, the writer made me feel for her characters.

When her husband returns home from Iraq battered and broken, with no chance of a full recovery, Marcie Sullivan remains strong. She doesn't mourn prematurely or ask herself "What if?" Instead, Marcy treasures the time that she and Bobby did have together, and tries to make the rest of his life a comfortable one. She visits him in the hospital, reads him stories, and talks to him about her day. And at home, she writes to his best friend from the Marine Corps, Ian Buchanan--a soldier from the same small California town who was so strong and noble he made Bobby want to be a career soldier, even knowing the consequences. Though she doesn't know Ian that well, Marcie feels a connection to him. He's the one who saved Bobby's life by carrying him to safety after a bomb exploded. And Bobby had written to her of Ian, telling her how much he admired the older soldier. It seems only natural to Marcie to form a connection with the man who had such an influence over her husband, and when Ian disappears with no notice or warning, Marcie decides to go after him. Since he was last seen in rural California, she leaves home--against the wishes of her family--to find this man and bring some closure to that part of her life.

Ian Buchanan doesn't want to remember what happened back in Fallujah, and the repercussions of his decision to save his best friend's life, when the result was leaving Bobby with no life at all. Ian's guilt is insurmountable. He earned medals for something that he deems unforgivable. So he retreats into the woods of California, and takes up with an old man who has plenty of land and no help to mind it. When the old man dies, leaving Ian his rustic cabin, which lacks indoor plumbing and other basic necessities, Ian's fine with it. It's what he deserves after the life that he's led, and he's fine with the solitary life that it brings. When Marcie shows up at his front door, stirring up the past and uncovering memories he'd rather keep buried, he's furious. He roars at her and leaves her in the snow. But gradually, with a persistence and stubbornness that rivals his own, Marcie begins to break down the walls that Ian has built around himself. And to help him learn that the past can't hurt you in the present.

When I picked up A Virgin River Christmas, I was at first a little startled that I didn't recognize Marcie and Ian from the previous books. But this book had the same heart, warmth, and richness that I've come to expect from this series, and Marcie was every inch the Virgin River heroine. These female protagonists are strong, level headed, and determined. If they want something, there's no getting in their way, 200-pound marine or no. In order to put the past behind her, Marcie knew that she needed to make sense of why her husband's best friend would just fall off the face of the earth. It was important to her to have closure, and to be sure that Ian was okay, since he was the one who made sure that Bobby was. Forget the fact that a man who moves to the woods and lives on six hundred acres of land by himself doesn't want to be found. Marcie has a goal, and she won't rest until she attains it. And Ian, like the other Virgin River heroes, is a proud, protective hero whose whole life is thrown into question by what happened to him at war. He retreats so that he can find himself, and even knowing that isolation isn't a long-term solution, doesn't stop him from living in the moment. It takes Marcie's determination to pull him back into the land of the living, and I enjoyed every minute of these two battling it out.

A Virgin River Christmas might take a little getting used to for those used to the format established in Virgin River (Virgin River, Book 1),Shelter Mountain (Virgin River, Book 2), and Whispering Rock (Virgin River, Book 3), but I have no doubt that you'll enjoy the journey. You'll see some familiar characters in A Virgin River Christmas, but really this book just continues to build on the strong community foundation that Robyn Carr continues to perfect in this fantastic dramatic series. I've been a fan of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series since the eponymous first book, and I've always described the series as Gilmore Girls with a more dark and twisty edge. If you love stories written with depth, heart, and an established sense of community, A Virgin River Christmas will be an excellent choice.

Next up in this series are:
Second Chance Pass, February 2009
Temptation Ridge (Virgin River Trilogy), March 2009
Paradise Valley, April 2009

I was introduced to the Virgin River series by a co-worker who gave me a book in the middle of the series. When I received my Kindle Fire for Christmas, I decided to read the series from the beginning - starting with the pack of books 1-4. I've enjoyed all of the books so far but I felt like this book should have been #3 instead of #4 because some of the events in book 3 had not happened in book 4.

That being said, I enjoyed this book a great deal and look forward to making my way thru the rest of the series.

I had been reading the series and REALLY enjoying them. This book seemed almost a departure from the "family of charachters" I'd been getting to know if the first 3 books. It's a nice, easy read and I did enjoy it but as I was reading it I was wishing I was on to book 5 and back to "my new friends in Virgin River." If you skip over this book, you will not miss anything from the rest of the gang.

I read a later one of Virgin River and went backwards to begin with Carr's first. It did not disappoint. Borrowed this this from my local library's ebook section, and seamlessly downloaded it to my Kindle via the store. Flawlessly written full-blown characters and a modern, romantic plot. I was born with a red teacher's pencil in hand and couldn't find fault with editing. Highly recommend for a feel-good romance.

There are a few mysteries in the book that won't be cleared up until almost the last chapter. The reading is fast, and the author describes the characters well. The story is such that it will remain with you for a while after reading the book. Some romance, of course!

This book made me cry. It takes a lot to make me cry in a book, but this one did it. I love Robyn Carr's writing. Easy read and you will fall in love with all of the characters - you will just have to read them all and there are a few.... I read them all out of order and I still enjoyed them all.

Robyn Carr is a master story teller with characters you can't help but love. This story is no exception as you get caught up in the tragedies that are part of life. Robyn has you cheering for people and you realize no situation is without hope if you can risk connecting with other people.

I thought this book was really cute. I like Robyn Carr's books, they're very light reading. I wouldn't say this was the next great novel, but I did enjoy it, and read it completely through pretty quickly.

This is the fourth book I've read in the Virgin River series. They can be read alone but I'd suggest reading them in order. The town is growing an ensemble of characters that hold each book in the series together.
In this book, Robyn Carr delivers another couple who seem mismatched but find their way into a HEA.

The setting in this small California mountain town is vividly described. The hand full of main characters in the book had experienced love, loss and death and are trying to find meaning and direction for their lives after crises. Again a wonderful story of our need for love and connection to others.

Two main characters: Marcie Sullivan - she must find Ian Buchanan.
Her search takes her to the Virgin River area.
Here we meet old friends again.

Ian doesn't want to have to face his feelings about his friend, Bobby Sullivan.
He just wanted to be left alone, which, of course didn't happen. Marcie kept stirring up old memories.
She also has young brother, Drew, who seemed to understand her reasons for locating Ian. And a sister, Erin, who worries about her.

We meet again a wonderful bunch of characters woven into beautiful human story.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED along with the 3 other Virgin River books and the begining 3 Grass Valley stories. three more books coming in 09.

Another really good story in an ongoing series. Can be read alone but made richer by knowing the good characters that are from previous books. This story brings you back to the simple life. I say simple but the work is hard but time is spent in a pleasant way, not hectic, slower pace and appreciation of the beauty that surrounds them. Well written, enjoyable read that keeps you turning the pages looking forward to the next one.

I was looking for a new series and a review on the store pointed me to this one. Thanks.

I did not expect to cry while reading a romance, but did. I do not like to cry. The episodes about Bobby were so very hard to take. Even so, I am glad I read it, and will continue the series.

The characters made me feel old. How can anyone manage in one room cabin with no bathroom in the winter? You have got to be young. At the end, I was hoping they would both come to their senses get real jobs and a real house. They need to build a future. This is just existing. What about children?

As you can tell, the writer made me feel for her characters.

When her husband returns home from Iraq battered and broken, with no chance of a full recovery, Marcie Sullivan remains strong. She doesn't mourn prematurely or ask herself "What if?" Instead, Marcy treasures the time that she and Bobby did have together, and tries to make the rest of his life a comfortable one. She visits him in the hospital, reads him stories, and talks to him about her day. And at home, she writes to his best friend from the Marine Corps, Ian Buchanan--a soldier from the same small California town who was so strong and noble he made Bobby want to be a career soldier, even knowing the consequences. Though she doesn't know Ian that well, Marcie feels a connection to him. He's the one who saved Bobby's life by carrying him to safety after a bomb exploded. And Bobby had written to her of Ian, telling her how much he admired the older soldier. It seems only natural to Marcie to form a connection with the man who had such an influence over her husband, and when Ian disappears with no notice or warning, Marcie decides to go after him. Since he was last seen in rural California, she leaves home--against the wishes of her family--to find this man and bring some closure to that part of her life.

Ian Buchanan doesn't want to remember what happened back in Fallujah, and the repercussions of his decision to save his best friend's life, when the result was leaving Bobby with no life at all. Ian's guilt is insurmountable. He earned medals for something that he deems unforgivable. So he retreats into the woods of California, and takes up with an old man who has plenty of land and no help to mind it. When the old man dies, leaving Ian his rustic cabin, which lacks indoor plumbing and other basic necessities, Ian's fine with it. It's what he deserves after the life that he's led, and he's fine with the solitary life that it brings. When Marcie shows up at his front door, stirring up the past and uncovering memories he'd rather keep buried, he's furious. He roars at her and leaves her in the snow. But gradually, with a persistence and stubbornness that rivals his own, Marcie begins to break down the walls that Ian has built around himself. And to help him learn that the past can't hurt you in the present.

When I picked up A Virgin River Christmas, I was at first a little startled that I didn't recognize Marcie and Ian from the previous books. But this book had the same heart, warmth, and richness that I've come to expect from this series, and Marcie was every inch the Virgin River heroine. These female protagonists are strong, level headed, and determined. If they want something, there's no getting in their way, 200-pound marine or no. In order to put the past behind her, Marcie knew that she needed to make sense of why her husband's best friend would just fall off the face of the earth. It was important to her to have closure, and to be sure that Ian was okay, since he was the one who made sure that Bobby was. Forget the fact that a man who moves to the woods and lives on six hundred acres of land by himself doesn't want to be found. Marcie has a goal, and she won't rest until she attains it. And Ian, like the other Virgin River heroes, is a proud, protective hero whose whole life is thrown into question by what happened to him at war. He retreats so that he can find himself, and even knowing that isolation isn't a long-term solution, doesn't stop him from living in the moment. It takes Marcie's determination to pull him back into the land of the living, and I enjoyed every minute of these two battling it out.

A Virgin River Christmas might take a little getting used to for those used to the format established in Virgin River (Virgin River, Book 1),Shelter Mountain (Virgin River, Book 2), and Whispering Rock (Virgin River, Book 3), but I have no doubt that you'll enjoy the journey. You'll see some familiar characters in A Virgin River Christmas, but really this book just continues to build on the strong community foundation that Robyn Carr continues to perfect in this fantastic dramatic series. I've been a fan of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series since the eponymous first book, and I've always described the series as Gilmore Girls with a more dark and twisty edge. If you love stories written with depth, heart, and an established sense of community, A Virgin River Christmas will be an excellent choice.

Next up in this series are:
Second Chance Pass, February 2009
Temptation Ridge (Virgin River Trilogy), March 2009
Paradise Valley, April 2009

I was introduced to the Virgin River series by a co-worker who gave me a book in the middle of the series. When I received my Kindle Fire for Christmas, I decided to read the series from the beginning - starting with the pack of books 1-4. I've enjoyed all of the books so far but I felt like this book should have been #3 instead of #4 because some of the events in book 3 had not happened in book 4.

That being said, I enjoyed this book a great deal and look forward to making my way thru the rest of the series.

I had been reading the series and REALLY enjoying them. This book seemed almost a departure from the "family of charachters" I'd been getting to know if the first 3 books. It's a nice, easy read and I did enjoy it but as I was reading it I was wishing I was on to book 5 and back to "my new friends in Virgin River." If you skip over this book, you will not miss anything from the rest of the gang.

I read a later one of Virgin River and went backwards to begin with Carr's first. It did not disappoint. Borrowed this this from my local library's ebook section, and seamlessly downloaded it to my Kindle via the store. Flawlessly written full-blown characters and a modern, romantic plot. I was born with a red teacher's pencil in hand and couldn't find fault with editing. Highly recommend for a feel-good romance.

There are a few mysteries in the book that won't be cleared up until almost the last chapter. The reading is fast, and the author describes the characters well. The story is such that it will remain with you for a while after reading the book. Some romance, of course!

This book made me cry. It takes a lot to make me cry in a book, but this one did it. I love Robyn Carr's writing. Easy read and you will fall in love with all of the characters - you will just have to read them all and there are a few.... I read them all out of order and I still enjoyed them all.

Robyn Carr is a master story teller with characters you can't help but love. This story is no exception as you get caught up in the tragedies that are part of life. Robyn has you cheering for people and you realize no situation is without hope if you can risk connecting with other people.

I thought this book was really cute. I like Robyn Carr's books, they're very light reading. I wouldn't say this was the next great novel, but I did enjoy it, and read it completely through pretty quickly.

As the author states this is during the timeline of "Whispering Rock." I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if I had read it as a stand alone. I read it after "Whispering Rock" & it fit right into place in the series. I can't put down this series. They are the perfect escape!

I love the Virgin River Series and have read all of the books in the series I have access to; some (including this one) I have read several times. I love seeing many of the characters show up in later books.

Marcie Sullivan travels to Virgin River to seek out the man who saved her husband Bobby's life when he was critically injured in Iraq. Since saving Bobby, Ian Buchannan has withdrawn from everything and everyone and is living the life of a hermit. Ian gave Marcie three more years with Bobby before he died from his injuries, something that Ian feels guilty about, but Marcie is thankful for. Marcie feels she can't move on with her life until she thanks Ian. She didn't expect to find a man who was hurting and didn't understand her gratefulness at saving her husband's life. Can Marcie continue to reach out to this rough and brute man?

Since this is romance, you know the answer to that. Being snowed-in in a little cabin with no electricity, and bang, you have yourself a romance. A Virgin River Christmas is the fourth book in Carr's Virgin River series, and is probably my least favorite of the books so far, but it is still a good book. I thought Marcie was a little too gold-hearted and not real enough. Also, in all the other Virgin River books, before the main characters engage in sexual relations, birth control is discussed or used, but it was never addressed between Marcie and Ian. I was bummed because I thought Carr was setting a precedent in her previous books.

I loved this book. I laughed and got teary eyed. It was a great read. I will say it ended too soon. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

I felt like I was there. Loved Ian and Macie and the struggles they went through.

Another great Virgin River Story. Not as quickly moving as some of the others in the series, but half way through it just took off and many times it had me crying. Wonderful chemistry between the H and h and lots of connections back to the great characters the started Virgin River.

Well, I have read all the books in this series and have enjoyed them however I had to make myself finish this one. Sorry could not get in to reading about a grizzly recluse who growls at people. Come on. A little hard to imagine and think that someone that withdrawn is going to rejoin civilization because of a visitor. Sorry

I have read all of the Virgin River books, and find then a great light read for when something deep and serious is not needed or wanted. I really enjoyed them. Robyn Carr is an excellent author. nuf said?

to curl up with in your favorite reading spot. A book that is set in a small community with old fashion values. Where neighbor helps neighbor. This book got my attention from page 1 where Marcie is packed up and on her way to try to locate her deceased husband Bobby's friend, an ex-Marine named Ian, who saved his life and brought him back to her. A man who chose to leave everyone behind and live a solitary life and Marcie's determination to thank him for the time she was given with Bobby. Robyn has a way of writing that makes it easy to visulize the people and locations. After reading this book, I ordered the previous books written about virgin river.

All I can say is I feel like a member of this community. Excellent story line,strong characters. Each book makes you want to continue following the characters lives. Totally draws you in. On to book 5.

Typical Robyn Carr novel. Light reading. Stranger comes to the small isolated mountain town, hooks up with character. End up together usually with a baby on the way. Plot pretty much the same in all her novels.

I enjoyed the other books in this series and was looking forward to this one. But truly, I should have just reread one of her earlier books. The romance was light. And I don't need expensive trips and cars and jewels in my romance, but a working toilet would be nice. I heard way too much about outhouses, and the "blue pot" for toileting, and "piddled and wiped" to put me in any kind of romantic mood! Add that to a lack of bathing facilities (a sponge bath only goes so far) and I was done with the romancing in this book. Also, not enough was wrapped up at the end for me. Mel and Jack had plenty of money socked away in the first book, and I don't expect everyone to live like that (although plenty of her characters do live on a government pension and a paycheck). But these 2 characters - no job, no training, no plan for job or training, no interest in a job or training, no money, a cabin with no running water, or electricity, and heat only from a wood burning stove. I know this author likes to emphasize the idea of living like pioneers and bartering for healthcare and other needs, and getting by on what you need not all the extras, but this romance was too pioneer-style for me to feel romantic.

Typical Robyn Carr novel. Light reading. Stranger comes to the small isolated mountain town, hooks up with character. End up together usually with a baby on the way. Plot pretty much the same in all her novels.

I enjoyed the other books in this series and was looking forward to this one. But truly, I should have just reread one of her earlier books. The romance was light. And I don't need expensive trips and cars and jewels in my romance, but a working toilet would be nice. I heard way too much about outhouses, and the "blue pot" for toileting, and "piddled and wiped" to put me in any kind of romantic mood! Add that to a lack of bathing facilities (a sponge bath only goes so far) and I was done with the romancing in this book. Also, not enough was wrapped up at the end for me. Mel and Jack had plenty of money socked away in the first book, and I don't expect everyone to live like that (although plenty of her characters do live on a government pension and a paycheck). But these 2 characters - no job, no training, no plan for job or training, no interest in a job or training, no money, a cabin with no running water, or electricity, and heat only from a wood burning stove. I know this author likes to emphasize the idea of living like pioneers and bartering for healthcare and other needs, and getting by on what you need not all the extras, but this romance was too pioneer-style for me to feel romantic.

I have become addicted on the books of Robyn Carr. I have read
them all and look forward to her new series. Her stories are
captivating and tell about real people. You can't put her
books down until the finish.