Redwood Bend (A Virgin River Novel)

I have read every one of the Virgin River Books....and I had my date circled on the calender when this book came out. Maybe my expectations were too high, because I LOVE the Virgin River Series. I might be in the minority here....but I really loved the books in which there were multiple stories going on and we got to catch a glimpse of all of our favorites. This book focused on two characters and I must say....I did not really like either character. Sure we got a glimpse of Murial and Walt....and Jack is always around, but that was it. My biggest gripe is that we have had several books in which Robyn Carr focuses on Woman's issues and the character Mel giving good solid advise. WHY THEN did we have to watch our "Heroine" find herself pregnant??? Even worse...another woman hiding the pregnancy because she needed to "figure things out." PLEASE I beg of Robyn Carr....go back to the early books and let us fall back in love with the TOWN and the great people that make up the town. This book was a lot of dribble, boring dialogue, and characters that we really do not care about.

I so enjoyed this Virgin River Series that when I finish I'm sad because Ive left the people, hoping another book will be written as soon as I finish the one on hand. I feel I know them all so well, I miss dinner at Jack's bar, and what preacher is cooking for that night for everyone, all the fun and conversations with the town's people and all of Virgin Rivers. Hopefully this series can continue until you cant think of the possibility of another wonderful story.

I have read all of Robyn Carr's Virgin River books. I love going back to Virgin River in her stories and her romances are always fun to read. I can't wait for the next one in April-I will read that one in a day too!

I can't believe this got low reviews! This is a wonderful addition to the Virgin River series! One of the best. Robyn Carr has got me hooked and frankly I don't know how she keeps these stories (relatively) fresh!

There is a good blend of what we love about Virgin River but also two unique characters who get over their fears and "issues" to make a relationship work.

Thank you Robyn Carr!

I am so hooked on the "Virgin River" series that I try to read them real slow. (OK, that never works!!) I just keep checking for a new installment. Certainly was not disappointed in this one ~ just as great as all the others. Loved it!!

Robyn Carr again had my attention from the first chapter. She has a way of making you relate to her characters and care about how their lives develop. Virgin River is a wonderful place to live and grow in spite of, or because of the citizens' prior experiences in life( not all of them good). You are accepted for who you are now. I've read the entire Virgin River Series and enjoy these additions. Relax, read and enjoy.

I believe I have read all of the Virgin River books and I have liked everyone of them. I really like the fact that characters from past books show up in future books. Definitely recommend books by Robyn Carr.

Katie Malone has packed up her Vermont house and is headed West to Virgin River and her brother Conner. Now, with two hungry five-year-olds and a spate of rain coming down, her travel along the beautiful mountain road is stopped short by a flat tire. While Katie struggles to change the tire, she encounters four bikers on a road trip. Since she can't even loosen the tire's lug nuts and cell service is non-existent, she waves them down. The first biker, an enormous man, insists on changing the tire and enlists his buddies to help. While two of them place safety markers along the road, the fourth biker, Dylan helps with the tire. When Katie gets a look at Dylan, her senses go into overdrive. Dylan Childress is a hottie whose arresting face could grace any billboard. Katie thinks she recognizes him as a child film star.

Dylan loves biking and flying. With his partner Lang, and maintenance operator Stu, Dylan takes off from their charter air service in Montana to go on a bikers' holiday with Walt who insisted on accompanying the men on their annual road trip. They're headed to Virgin River and Riordan's cabins as their base of operations for this year's trip. It might well be their last, because with the downturn in the economy, the charter business is struggling.

Katie is ensconced in Mel's old cabin and son is introduced to the townspeople. She loves Virgin River but is concerned about what she'll do for work. She feels it's important to step out on her own.

Dylan finds Katie drop-dead perfect, but with a family history of failed relationships and selfishness, he knows he's not the man for her. Katie thinks otherwise, but she also needs to make decisions for herself, and caring for her twin boys is paramount on her list of priorities. Can these two people who feel so much for each other work out their differences?

Once again, the fabulous Robyn Carr has crafted a story to warm the hearts of her readers. Redwood Bend combines delightful characters with the fabulous Virgin River setting and old characters from previous stories to create a stunning romance. Is the road to happiness easy. Certainly not, but Dylan's and Katie's struggles are believable and poignant. I loved this story and was sad to see it end.

Ms Carr has a remarkable talent for letting the reader see into the workings of a small and delightful town. Virgin River has become very real to many of us who have read the entire series. While new characters develop, she reintroduces old one in supporting roles but still manages to keep the romance of the current couple front and center.

As soon as I finished Hidden Summit, I wondered what happened to Conner’s sister Katie. Well, she is the subject of this great addition to the Virgin River series. Katie is an Army Green Beret widow with 5-year-old twin boys that were born just after their father died. She is a great mom, but is a little lonely for someone to share her life with, especially now that her brother Conner has found Leslie. Whoever she might find has to accept her as a package of three: her and her boys.

She decides to move to Virgin River to be near Conner and to figure out her next step in life. Her boys love Uncle Conner and Katie immediately becomes fast friends with Leslie. She has a flat tire on her way into Virgin River, and while attempting to change it, a group of bikers come by and offers to help. Sparks immediately start to fly between Katie and Dylan, one of the bikers.
Dylan has his own history and problems to figure out. A former child star yanked out of Hollywood by his Grandmother after his best friend dies of an overdose. She buys a ranch in the middle of nowhere to raise Dylan out of the Hollywood hype and his various parents, stepparents, half and stepsiblings, none of which really care about him. He learns to love it and builds his own tiny airport and charter airline. However, the bad economy has taken its toll on his business and he has to find another way to raise money to keep the business afloat.

Dylan is the prototypical “no strings” romance lead. His family life was so disastrous he doesn’t think he is capable of lasting love. On this point he and Katie are exact opposites, she only wants someone who will commit to her and her boys. Despite this, they slowly get to know each other and find a real attraction. Katie finally gives in, knowing that her heart will be broken when he inevitably leaves.

This is a romance story, so let’s just say there a few surprises but we eventually get to their HEA. There are several funny scenes here, a lot of Katie dealing with the rambunctious boys, a mama bear with triplets who keep going through Katie’s front yard, and Conner and Dylan fighting it out at a significant plot twist and then both of them telling Jack they do not want his advice! So funny to see Jack deal with that!

I am deducting one star because of SPOILER ALERT
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the plot twist of Katie’s surprise pregnancy. Robyn Carr has used this plot twist too many times in this series. I wish she had found something new.

Rating: 3.5 stars __Contains explicit graphic sexual content
Note: Continued story with new hero. 18th in the Virgin River series of more than 20 books.
WARNING: Soap-opera style format is confusing unless you read the series in order.

EASY READ. Engaging storyline, likable characters, familiar supporting cast for those reading the series, and a sweet, but predictable ending. HOWEVER, the vocabulary is weak, some minor details are inconsistent, the brawl between the hero and the heroine's brother is a bit much, and the unexpected pregnancy ploy is getting really old in this series. The hero is sometimes a little too arrogant and the heroine too much of a people-pleasing push-over, and honestly, what responsible parent lets a five-year-olds watch the PG-13 movie Avatar.

THE STORY follows once famous child actor, now airport owner and pilot, Dylan Childress, widow and single mother, Katie Malone, and her five-year-old twins, Andy and Mitch. Dylan and Katie meet when she and the kids are stranded by the side of the road, and Dylan and his biker group stop to help. Dylan finds Katie's sassy, independent, common sense persona unlike anyone he has ever known and convinces her a hot, no-strings fling is what both of them want. But things gradually change as this former bad-boy begins to realize he is no longer the spoiled, emotionally stunted, product of his dysfunctional Hollywood family. That he has grown into a caring man of integrity and responsibility. A man who want a future with Katie and her kids.

OVERALL, a sweet, but typical Virgin River romance with another unexpected pregnancy. The VIRGIN RIVER series includes more than 20 books starting with Virgin River (2007).

You may also enjoy the complex characters and storytelling of N. Bruhns, A. Stuart, or E. Palfrey. For sweet, funny, heart touching romances, try Susan Fox, Cara Colter, or Nikki Logan.

18th book in the Well loved Virgin River series. It is not necessary to have read previous titles. In this story Katie and her twin boys have come to Virgin River to be with her brother and his girlfriend. On her way there she gets a flat tire and meets Dylan a biker gang happening to be passing her on the highway. Later while she's in town she runs into Dylan and they eventually embark on a temporary relationship due to the fact his home is in Montana and he is out in Virgin River for business. As time goes by both realize nothing about this relationship is temporary but both are fighting their own personal demons until they finally see some truth. Loved seeing Jack Preacher a glimpse of Melinda Paul and Mike.

Robyn Carr is one of my favourite authors. Reading her books is like going home to your parents house and having your favourite meal. Its warm and cozy. The characters are ones you know and are anxious to hear more about. I would love to live in Virgin River where everyone is your friend and everyone helps you when in need. Its a town that sets the example of how all small towns should be like. Not to mention the landscape appears to be gorgeous and breathtaking.

Redwood Bend delivers all the things I've grown to love about Virgin. You have the strong female lead who falls for the alpha male that realises he needs to compromise to make the relationship work. I wanted to read Katie's story after reading Hidden Summit which featured her brother Connor as the main character. Katie has had a rough go of things the past few years but it hasn't left her cynical or down on herself. She's a very spunky, sassy and independent mother to two twin boys. She moved to Virgin River to be closer to her brother and his fiance.

On her way to Virgin River she gets a flat tire. Dylan helps her change it in the rain. This chance meeting is what sealed their fate as a couple. They both fight the spark from the beginning both for different reasons. Dylan is a child star that feels like he doesn't have anything to give a single mother and has a family curse of not being able to stay married. He is the last one to realize he has fallen for Katie and the boys too. Dylan is a very kind and generous man that does not know his own potential until Katie shows him. You get to hear about past couples in the series and how they are doing and you get to meet a new set of characters that come with Dylan and Katie. Her twins are firecrackers that are full of spirit and fun.

I really enjoyed Redwood Bend not just as another book in the Virgin River series but as a book on its own. The characters have substance and are real. You really get to know the characters in a way that you don't get from other authors. I know that I could meet Katie on the street that is how real she is betrayed in the novel. Carr once again does not disappoint. I always finish her novels feeling satisfied but longing for the next installment in her long running series. Old fans will love Katie and Dylan and new readers will instantly fall in love with the chemistry they have. The love story of Katie and Dylan is full of bends in the road which makes the book aptly named. I will be very upset when this series ends!

Review by Aubrey
Book Provided by NetGalley
Review Originally Posted @ Romancing the Book

Another homerun by Robyn Carr. Usually when she keeps the regular Virgin River residents too far on the outside of the story I don't like the story as much, but this book was an exception to that rule. We still see Jack, Mel, Preacher and a few of the others. Just not very often and they are not too involved with the story. I loved the characters of Katie and Dylan so much it didn't matter to me this time.

I must admit I was waiting and waiting (and waiting) for Murial to come up at some point. That was delayed longer than I would have liked. But that wasn't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Katie has such a strong, sassy personality. Yet she didn't come across as a hard-nosed jerk or anything. I could still see her tender heart through it all. And Dylan is so fragile at first, he just doesn't realize it - and that's part of his appeal.

Jack always tells guys that Virgin River has a way of drastically changing a man. I think his cabin is even more magical than the town. Some of my favorite stories have come from that cabin.

This is a title well down a series about an American town called Virgin River. However it reads perfectly well as a standalone.
A young mother, widowed while pregnant with twins when her soldier husband was killed overseas, is determined to make a new life for her little family, and comes to live in the community of Virgin River. Katie Malone is not worried about coping because firstly, she is well able to change oil or do other physical labour, and secondly her brother Conner lives in Virgin River with his soon-to-be fiancee.
Driving to town however Katie has a flat tyre at a bend in the road surrounded by towering redwoods, and the isolated spot means she has to change the wheel herself. Rain is falling, the twin five-year-old boys are hungry and her phone can't get a signal, and the lugs on her SUV are not shifting. A group of bikers rides by and politely stop and help, the four helmeted and booted lads being sympathetic to any fellow traveller.
Later when she has arrived and settled in town, Katie sees the bikers again and thanks them. They are on tour from Montana, and one seems awfully familiar.
Dylan Childress was a Hollywood child actor and colossal brat several years ago. Thanks to a grandmother who dragged him away when his best friend died of an overdose, he has settled to a new life, piloting and maintaining planes on his own small airfield in Montana. Now the recession is eating away at his company's profits and he is touring other small airfields looking for a solution. He's phobic about commitment because of his dysfunctional family but Katie strikes him as being pretty special, twins and all.
Katie wasn't expecting to start a relationship, and has no intention of being a one-night-stand, but she can't deny that Dylan gets under her skin even more now than he did when she was thirteen and watching him on television. But Hollywood is calling him, and he needs the money...
This is enjoyably well written and the characters and backgrounds are well detailed, as is the environment, bears, woods and all.

I totally loved this book. Katie came down to virgin rivers to be close to her brot
her way there she had trouble and a men on bikes stopped to help her, what she didnt expect was to fall for the man named Dylan.
Dylan was a man living in Montana owner of a charter plane business. While his buisness was in trouble and he was trying to figure things out he couldnt stop thinking of katie..there were ups and down but in the end everything worked out.

I'll preface my thoughts by saying that this is the first in the series that I have read...I am not sure if jumping in at book 18 was a detriment...but I honestly didn't feel like I missed out on anything or was lost by not knowing the back stories of the other characters.

In this novel we meet the widowed Katie and her two twin boys as they move to the small town where her brother Conner lives. She then not only has to worry about settling in and making a new life for herself and her boys but also deal with the attentions of "bad Boy" Dylan.

This book was well written and flowed very nicely. I also loved the rural setting and could easily imagine myself living there. All of the characters and supporting characters were lovely although not very strong presences.

The romance and subsequent "obstacles" to be overcome were a bit annoying...but I find this typical with a lot of romance books where the only real obstacle is thick-headedness. I tend to prefer books where there is more of a pressing or dangerous obstacle rather than one that could be solved by a simple conversation or self examination.

All in all this was a very pleasant and enjoyable read. I can see why this series is so popular...this book was an easy comfortable read...perfect for summer.

NOTE: I recieved a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Teen celeb heartthrob gone wild Dylan was rescued from Hollywood madness at 16 by his formidable grandmother, and brought to live in small-town Montana. He fell in love with flying, and opened a small aviation company with a buddy. Now the recession's hit, and it's struggling to stay in business. As a distraction, and to canvas other small airfields for tips on how they are surviving, Dylan joins a motorcyle tour of Northern California.

Widowed Katie Malone is coming to Virgin River with her twin boys to spend the summer with her brother Conner, who's recently moved there. When her tire goes flat on a remote road, in the rain and with no cell coverage, she could change the damn tire herself, except the lug nuts are too tight.

Dylan rides to the rescue, and it doesn't hurt that, back in the day, Katie had a mad crush on the boy, not that she's admitting it. I really like Carr's way of giving 30-somethings a reasonable romance; they aren't heads over snatch into boinking right away, though they are plenty interested - they know enough to be cautious with their hearts, and to not get the kids emotionally involved with a man who's supposed to be just passing through.

Good sparks, condoms (yeah for safe sex!), motorcycle tours, and an angry momma bear make for a fun ride.

Katie Malone and her two boys have been displaced since they had to go into hiding after her brother witnessed a murder. Now that the situation has come to a conclusion she is free to make a life anywhere. First stop is taking her boys to visit their uncle in Virgin River. Since her husband died before the twins birth uncle Conner has been their only male influence. She is excited about the trip but not certain she wants to settle in Virgin River with her brother. Windy roads, a rain storm and a flat tire get things off to a wonderful start in Virgin River for Katie and her boys.

Ex-kid celebrity Dylan Childress is on a motorcycle road trip with his best buds. The trip lands him in Virgin River where he gets off to an auspicious start helping out one pretty woman change a tire in a rain storm. With his aviation business suffering in hard economic times Dylan must evaluate his life and decide if he's willing to step back into the spotlight to save his business but first he must contend with these pesky feelings he has for a certain mom of twin boys.

Dylan never claimed to be a family man or the settling down type and Katie thinks she's okay with that until things become more serious than she ever intended. With so many things up in the air is it possible for Dylan and Katie to find true love or will this just be a fling they will never forget?

Robyn Carr continues her wonderful Virgin River series with Redwood Bend, another beautiful love story. Katie and Dylan are both newcomers to Virgin River and I thoroughly enjoyed their introduction to the people that I have grown to love. Poor Katie's had a rough go of it since the death of her husband. Raising her boys hasn't been easy and she's had some mishaps in the love department. Dylan is the perfect man for Katie; unfortunately, he doesn't think he's perfect for anyone because of his genetics. There is a scene in the beginning at McDonald's and I just laughed hysterically because only when you've been around some rambunctious kids can you appreciate this scene to the fullest. I just loved viewing this from Dylan's perspective considering his view on having a family of his own.

Ms. Carr does heartwarming romance like no other! Redwood Bend is blissful! Virgin River is better than ever! I love it when the town has to come together for something. I have only felt that kind of camaraderie with the Virgin River series. I continue to return to this series because Ms. Carr gives me the type of story that wraps your heart up and gives it a good squeeze. Bikers, bears, seduction, pain, planes, laughter and love, Redwood Bend has all the key ingredients for a scrumptious read!

Reviewed by Miranda
For Joyfully Reviewed

4.5 out of 5 stars! A romantic, heart-warming, sweet, and enticing novel that makes you wish there was more to read about! I fell in love with the main characters while getting to enjoy the brief updates of the other characters around the town. To tell you the truth, even though I requested to read/review this book from NetGalley because I wanted to see what happened to Virgin River's characters after I read Temptation Ridge (Virgin River), book 6 in the Virgin River Series, I was still a little worried that I would be disappointed in this novel as I was with the previous novel. Therefore, I am delighted to say I was really impressed with how this story was written, how the plot was laid out, and the antics that the characters of Virgin River got into!

The only flaw I found in this book, and it almost made me not enjoy this book as much as I did, was when Katie found out her big surprise! She doesn't handle it well at all. So much so, that I was very annoyed with her. However, I was very happy with how it all turned around once Dylan came back to make amends.

I would recommend this book to ANYONE who likes contemporary romance novels, and to those who are already fans of the Virgin River series!! Read it!!

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
(read more of this review and a teaser on my blog)

Another book from the Virgin River series, and I loved this one just as much as the last one. Sweet love stories that can be a little predictable, but if you are looking for a little romance, without the explicit steamy, these are great.

The last one I read was centered around Conner and in this one we get to meet and fall in love with his sister Katie Malone. I love when a series continues through the eyes of another character because you can dive in quick because you already know most of the characters, but you get to see plot development through another set of eyes. Katie is a single mom of twin boys and she is single because her husband died in the war. With a chance encounter with a bad boy actor, she is swept up into a romance. While their relationship was a roller coaster, it was pleasant and enjoyable instead of jerky and annoying.

I would definitely recommend this one from the series, but I would say you may want to read Hidden Summit first, so you know the full back story of Conner and Katie.

How could she be so stupid? Waiting months for a man only to find out that he's gay? Okay, okay, it should have been obvious when he spent all of that time with her and never kissed her... but Katie Malone had wanted peace and he gave it to her - in spades.
Dylan Childress, on the other hand, does not invoke any sort of peaceful emotions. Passion. Anger. Adventure. But not peace. This arrogant bad boy has been there and done that. He'd be perfect - if Katie wanted a man and if he wasn't dead set on remaining single.

But Katie won't bend for another man... well, except for her twin boys.

Hott Review
I can't help but to adore a single mom who takes responsibility for herself and her children. A woman who gave her husband to our country. A woman who goes all in every single day. A woman who hasn't been with a man for years because they just couldn't be more important than her kids.

Yes, this is one character that I adored - one of the many in Virgin River.

Katie Malone and her boys are joining Connor in Virgin River. Having lived so far away from Connor during the last book Hidden Summit, Katie has decided that was too far away and wants to be closer to Connor and Leslie. On her way there a flat tire and a biker stumble into her path. The child actor Dylan is now flying planes for a living and biking up in Virgin River with some friends when he meets the widow Katie Malone and something about her attracts him. She is everything he avoids a mother of children, he vows time and again to her that he won't settle down but something about Katie makes him wonder. This book is a great add to the Virgin River series. Reminds me alot of Sherryl Woods and Debbie Macomber. Another great author who has a knack for writing tasteful romance.

Robyn Carr has proven to be very dependable writer, producing books you want to read every time. I love the Virgin River series of novels and always look forward to reading a new one. It's a good read when you can count on the characters to do the right thing and belong to a community that truly cares about its people, wherever they came from. I liked the characters and the unflappable mother who's the main character. Her life has some chaotic moments, but all is well in the end. I recommend this book as well as the entire series.

We've come back to Virgin River - this is my second foray there, the first being Hidden Summit. Katie Malone is Conner Danson's sister who has come out to Virgin River to make a new start and so her twin sons can be closer to their uncle. Katie and Dylan Childress, who is a child TV star, meet unexpectedly when her van gets a flat tire on her way into town. He and his biker buddies help out and from the first moment he looked in her eyes, he couldn't stop thinking of her. And she of him. How could this work - a child actor who fears commitment like the plague and a young widowed mother who is trying to succeed on her own?

Redwood Bend is a sweet romance in which you will be captivated by the new main characters and happy to see some returning faces. I loved Katie's strength - she's an army widow who raised twin boys on her own - and her ability to put her children above all else...even her happiness. Unfortunately, not all mothers can do so, but Katie's an excellent mother and a loving friend and sister. I loved the twins, Dylan's grandmother, and her driver! I thought they brought real humor and liveliness to the story. Just when you've stopped looking, something wonderful can fall into your lap. Dylan and Katie's story is a prime example. A well-done and relaxing read, I was happy to visit Virgin River again in Redwood Bend.

Katie Malone and Dylan Childress' story. Katie is Conner's sister (book 17)now that things did not work out for her out East where she no longer has to be in witness protection, she decides to move near Conner while she decides what to do with her life.

Dylan is on the road with Walt (book 17)on a Harley Davidson club mountain trip when the gang stops to help Katie who is stranded on the side of the road with her twin boys. Dylan is trying to decide what to do with his life. Should he give up on his pilot business or should he go back to the Hollywood glamour and make a movie to try and save his business. Does he have time to be involved with a wodowed mother of two? What follows is one of Ms Carr best stories.

I have enjoyed Robyn Carr's Virgin River series so much. I only gave one of the books a bad review...and I'm very happy to be able to write a good review for another book in this wonderful series! The story and characters rang true (like other books in the series, the characters are people I'd like to know)...I really cared about Katie and Dylan...By the end, I appreciated Dylan's new awareness, and I smiled at the Epilogue (of course, if I'm not happy with the ending, I can't recommend a romance book, ;)).

I know Robyn Carr is a very popular contemporary romance writer, so when I had the opportunity to read one of her books from the Virgin River series, I was very excited.

I think it's always difficult to write a romance about a widow...specially if she has kids and her husband was practically perfect. I always want the characters to connect and have a beautiful romance, but also I want the guy to have a good relationship with the kids. In this case, I wanted to read more about the twins and Dylan together...they liked and accepted each other, but there was something missing.

But I still enjoyed it. Dylan was a great guy, even when he had troubles with commitment and Katie was very sweet and caring, but she was so hard to get! The romance was very sweet and had a couple of hot moments, and they were many obstacles to overcome. Dylan was the character I was most interested, he was a teenager actor and now he has his own business. I'm not sure what Katie does for living, except taking care of her kids.... Also, Katie's brother was sort of funny to read.

Overall, Redwood Bend is a light and sweet story about making decisions, commitment, second chances. It's easy to read, and if you want to read a story with a HEA ending, this one is for you.

Another return to Virgin River! As always, the town is wonderful...though some of its residents drive me crazy. The central characters of this one are Katie Malone, widowed mother of five year-old twins, and Dylan Childress, a former child star turned rancher and pilot. Katie's moved to Virgin River--temporarily, perhaps she thinks at first--to be closer to her brother Conner, who moved to town (also temporarily, or so he thought) in the previous book in the series, Hidden Summit.

I loved Dylan. He had major issues with commitment, but for the most part it was a mental block with him--he'd experienced such disastrous relationships among his crazy Hollywood relatives for all his life that he's convinced he'd be a bad candidate for any "real" relationships of his own. He pretty much steers clear, figuring he's doomed to failure, and makes sure that every woman he gets involved with understands that a relationship is out of the question. Though his hangups are understandable, the way he's been living his life thus far makes it perfectly close to everyone around him that he's nothing like the rest of his family at all. He's stable, grounded, and more than capable of having lasting and meaningful relationships. Dylan just needs to be convinced of this, and the process by which it all happens made sense to me. Dylan pretty much earned the four-star round up, as far as I was concerned.

Enter Katie. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book. Her relationship with her boys was fantastic, and she seemed well-grounded and clear about what she wanted out of life. Then she got involved with Dylan, who she knew from the start was going to be leaving town. She claimed to be fine with this, telling him over and over again that yes, she understood that it would not be a lasting thing. So...Dylan leaves.

This is where my frustration with the story began. Honestly, if Dylan hadn't continued to be such a strong, stand-up kind of guy I would have given it 2 1/2 instead of 3 1/2 (Dylan earned the half-star round up all on his own.)

(Slight spoiler alert--you may want to skip the next part, though I'll try not to give too much away)

Katie was upset that he left. Understandable, but again, he'd been clear on this. Then she finds some tabloids that show him living up the Hollywood life once again. Okay, yes, this would be upsetting, but who doesn't know that those magazines at the very least stretch the truth? When he calls to talk to her, saying he wants to try and continue their relationship on some level, does she ask him about them to get his perspective? No, she just shuts him down. And then when she finds out a rather huge plot point that he should definitely know about sooner rather than later, she refuses to tell him for the time being. When he comes back to try to make it work with her, she completely shuts him down. At that point, I was ready to chuck her across the room. She was being completely over the top about it, but didn't seem to recognize this at all. As a widow with small children, I totally get the whole putting your kids first thing. I'm with her there, they do have to come first. But she took it way out into total irrational land, and it was frustrating. At that point Dylan wasn't at all a threat to her boys, and in fact by keeping him away she was becoming the obstacle in the way of what could be best for her own child. Dylan had been honest with her from the start, and now was bound and determined to prove to her what should have been obvious to the rest of the world from the start (and indeed was obvious, to his grandmother and closest friends--everyone who knew him best, which should have included her, shouldn't it?) Argh.

(spoiler over)

All's well that ends well, and this book does--but there is a certain degree of frustration with the characters before we get to that point. In all it is a decent addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing what else Ms. Carr has in store for the town.

Redwood Bend (Virgin River). By Robyn Carr. MiraBooks, 2012. 384 pages. $7.99

Readers met army widow, Katie Malone, when her brother Connor was forced to go into hiding after witnessing a crime and for their safety, Katie and her five-year-old twins got sent to Vermont. Katie got a job working for a pediatric dentist with whom she had begun to think she could build a future. Well, that didn't turn out exactly how she planned it; first, she thought he was painfully slow about moving things to the next level - they hadn't even kissed! Then, after many attempts to move things along, she had to learn from his sister that he was gay and was trying not to bring attention to himself in his small town, which made her realize that she'd been out of the dating scene since the death of her husband before the boys were born. Katie realized her boys need a father figure and her brother Connor, her only living relative, was the only choice, so off they went to Virgin River.

The roads to Virgin River are not the friendliest to drive on good weather, let alone in the rain that was coming down during Katie's drive up the steep curves of the mountain roads. This is how she ended up with a flat. Normally, she could handle it no problem, but the lug nuts always gave a small woman like her problems; Katie knows this could spell trouble. Just when she thinks she will be out here for a while, a group of motorcycle riding men arrive; Katie's first thoughts - a gang. Luckily, they offer to help; the one with the dreamy blue eyes immediately catches her attention. Dylan Childress, former Hollywood child-star, current owner of an airplane charter business, is there to lend a hand alongside his buddies. Dylan's business is suffering and he's in the area to rethink things, a motorcycle trip with friends is just the thing he needs to recharge.

All roads leading to Virgin River; it seems as if Katie and Dylan will continue to run into each other. At first they're both hesitant to get in too deep; Katie has her boys to think about and Dylan is hung up on the fact that he is not relationship material because of his troubled childhood and bad memories involving his family life - there's also his business to think about and a possible return to Hollywood. Both have a lot to work through, but the sparks between them are flying. With the town of Virgin River as the setting, along with all the residents as the cast, including Katie's protective brother Connor, this 18th installment of the series is an enjoyable read that draws readers into a charming community of caring people who are there for one another. Robyn Carr creates yet another story that shows characters who survive hardships that life throws at them and manage to find love, even if they think they may not deserve it.

I have really enjoyed this series, having read books 1-15 in one week. This book, like the others, has drawn me into the world created by Robyn Carr and made me want to continue reading nonstop until I found out how the story ended. I really like how the characters have real-life problems and how their struggles come with life lessons. Nobody is perfect in Virgin River, and that is why I think I enjoy the series the most.

**ARC**

Katie Malone decided that the best thing she could do for her five-year old twin boys was to give them a better sense of family after all they had been through. (In Hidden Summit, she was shipped off from Sacramento to Vermont when her brother, Connor Danson, needed witness protection.) So, she packed up her belongings and moved to join her brother in Virgin River, at least for the time being.

On her way up the mountain, Katie has a flat and Dylan Childress is one of four vacationing bikers who stopped to help. She specifically notices and recognizes him as a former child actor who she'd had a crush on as a pre-teen but she doesn't let on that she knows who he is. They later run into each other again at Jack's Bar and Dylan takes it from there.

These are two people who are essentially in the same place but one doesn't know it. Katie is ready for stability, community and commitment. Dylan comes from such a dysfunctional family, he doesn't believe that he has it in his DNA to have a successful, committed relationship in the long term. But everything about his present life just screams solid and committed. Both enter into a "commitment free" relationship, knowing Dylan will soon be returning to his home and business in Montana. When the time comes for him to leave, neither can admit to each other that it was more than a "fling."

There was something oddly comfortable about Katie and Dylan's relationship, even though it felt temporary a lot of the time and when it appeared to go south. These two characters were so really well defined you felt you knew the paths they were going to have to take to come to terms with each other, no matter how painful. It's not predictable but it's terribly honest. Carr took time and paid attention to the nuances of the characters and the developing emotions and ensured the details were in sync with their histories.

Many of the characters from past stories appear in supporting roles to this romance. However, missing are the other secondary story lines that I find critical to each book, where the residents we've come to know and love have substantive roles going forward. Even some of the new characters introduced here could have had more page time (Dylan's grandmother, Adele; Walt the biker). It's a drawback though largely compensated for by the depth of Katie and Dylan's story.

I was glad to see Katie get her own romance and this one was well done. I just hope we haven't seen the last of her and Dylan.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)

I was SO glad to be back in Virgin River! I did have to stop reading other stories and catch up because I was behind a few books. Being immersed in Virgin River and being with my old friends again was wonderful.

Redwood Bend is the story of Kaite and Dylan. I love Katie and Dylan and of course I want to be BFF's with Katie and all the girls in Virgin River. Katie has 5 year old twin boys and lost her husband Charlie in war. Her brother Conner has always been close, so Katie is heading to Virgin River from Vermont to be closer to Conner and his new love Leslie. Dylan is a former child star who was taken away from Hollywood by his grandmother Adele (LOVE her and Randy!) to live in Montana, even though Adele is a movie star as well.

Katie and Dylan meet when he and his friends who are on a bike ride stop to help with a flat tire, and for Katie seeing Dylan that first time was all it took. I loved watching the relationship between Katie and Dylan grow. Dylan feels like he is not long term material because of his parents many marriages and relationships. He is so wonderful with Katie and her boys but it takes a lot of ups and downs for him realize he is worth the happines he finds with Katie and the boys. I enjoyed the back and forth between these two. Katie makes Dylan work for it! Katie is a strong women, like all of the Virgin River women, even after all she has been through. I love that she always puts her boys first and does things on her own. She can even change the oil in her SUV! I loved the relationship between her and her brother Conner. Even when Conner is a bit over protective she loves him anyway and tells him to butt out.

Another great story from Robyn Carr. I know somewhere out there is a real Virgin River and I want to vist, but until then I will just have to read these wonderful stories. I did miss some of my old friends. This book is really based around Katie and Dylan and I liked that, but did miss the second story we are used to in older Virgin River books, but I was not disappointed in the story. Once again I laughed out loud and cried a little. I am always so amazed how I just fall in love with these stories. Robyn Carr pulls you in and you just do not want it to end! I am looking forward to Nora and Tom's story next.

Try as I might - this Virgin River book did not have the believable story line other editions do. A widowed mother …. falls for a biker who was once a TV heart throb ? Take me back to Jack and Mel ….. please !!

Katie Malone finally feels that she is getting her life back on track after her husband's death, the burning of the family hardware store, and hiding out in Vermont to avoid being a target in a murder case. Now, she and her twin sons can finally join her brother, so they will be near family again. On the way to Virgin River, California, her SUV has a flat. It's raining, her cell gets no reception, and she can't budge the lug nuts. Who comes roaring up but motorcycle riding Dylan Childress? A spoiled child actor who was pulled away from L.A. by his actress grandmother, he feels that his life is missing something, but is absolutely against the idea of marriage and family. Too many of his family members have been divorced and remarried with way too many blended families. In the end, the attraction and caring between Katie and Dylan is strong enough to overcome his fears. The down-to-earth townspeople of Virgin River are there to provide help and humor throughout the story.

Katie and Dylan are likable characters and their attraction makes for some steamy reading. Her respect for what he sees as his limitations, and his attempts to go beyond them endear them to the reader. Situations with her sons, a mama bear, Grandmother Adele, her driver Randy, and Jack and Preacher at the restaurant/bar in town add fun dialogue to the story.

*Complimentary copy received for this review, does not affect my opinion in any way*

Redwood Bend is a solid entry in the Virgin River series. It is not the best in the series, but it has all the ingredients that make these books comforting, enjoyable and perfect to help you relax. When I started Redwood Bend I had gone through some hard days at work and this story was the perfect escape.

Redwood Bend revisits the story of Katie, Conner's sister. We first saw Conner and Kate in Hidden Summit. Katie makes the move to Virgin River with her young twin boys and stays at the magical A-Frame cabin in the clearing, the very same cabin that Mel stayed at back in book 1. We get some of Preacher's cooking, some of Jack's bartender jokes, lots of Conner and Leslie and a good amount of build-up and angst involving the focus couple - -Dylan and Katie.

Dylan is a former childhood and teenage TV and movie star. But former is they key, he lives a very different lifestyle but his past haunts him (after all he is a hero in a Virgin River book!). Katie is trying to move on in her life, get past losing her husband and raise her sons. Dylan and Katie's lives collide and the result is some great heat, a cute romance and some very touchy scenes.

So while this is not the best Virgin River book I have read, it is still entertaining, fun and moves the story arc along. Fans will enjoy definitely enjoy it. It can also be read as a standalone, Robyn Carr catches readers up with detailed recaps.

I do have a few complaints. I know the set up for these stories is simple and maybe that is the point for these comfort reads. But sometimes, it does get old: two individuals with difficult pasts, the road into Virgin River is fraught with danger so accidents and flat tires happen, Preacher cooks up good food for strangers, Jack is wise and knows a couple will hook up before they do, there more than likely is an unplanned pregnancy, groups of men enjoy fishing and hunting bonding trips, the wise family friend counsels the heroine on her choices and missteps, and no matter what curve balls are thrown the heroine she always always smiles.

Another complaint, at the beginning of the story I was not sure which male character was going to be the hero of the story and who was doing the talking - -Walt or Dylan. Maybe it was because I had a review copy and this was later fixed.

But the predictability of these books plays into the comfort. We may know the set-up, we may know the resolution, but there is something so realistic about the struggles the couples in this series go through. The setting is perfect, the characters are often close to perfect, but the road to the relationship is not perfect. Of course we know the couple will get there and that is what makes reading these books as comforting as hot chocolate on a cold and stormy night.

I do recommend this book for fans of the series, fans of lite make-over stories, fans of small town romance and fans of contemporary romance. And I look forward to the next Virgin River story which will be out in just a few months!

I was really liking this book. Characters, particularly the male lead, was not the typical VR alpha male former military (not that I have anything against military) of the other books. The female lead was more or less a meld of Vanni and I forget her name--the stripper who married the preacher. Typical strong single mother, doesn't need a man, but meets one whom she can't resist. Man, however, wasn't paying attention in high school biology, because he is convinced that he is missing the commitment gene. All this considered, however, I'm good with the story at this point. And so far, no Mel to give internal exams or complain to anyone who will listen about Jack (who, in my mind, is up for sainthood for putting up with her). However, the good old standby--unintended pregnancy--rears it's familiar and ugly head. Guy is, naturally, long gone, assumed to never return. This is where the hackles on my neck really start to go wild--female goes to Mel, decides she can do the parent thing on her own, and doesn't need the guy. She just can't tell him *sniff, sniff* because he doesn't want kids and he never called or anything. Naturally the guy realizes the error of his ways, comes back begging her forgiveness, gets beaten up by the brother, saves kid from getting eaten by a bear, and all live happily ever after.

I will give Katie (female lead) credit for telling the guy before she is great with child or the kid is born and develops a severe speech impediment (see previous VR book). And he has a reasonably normal reaction, which she seems to be slightly understanding about.

The thing that most disappoints me with this book, and the series in general is--WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS TOWN?? My question is--what is it with unplanned pregnancy in this place?? IS there something about California pollution that destroys latex? I haven't stopped to count but, out of approximately 17 books, at least half have unplanned pregnancies in them, both from the main characters and side characters. And the ones who DO want to get pregnant can't! How perverse is Mother Nature that she tortures these unfortunate people thus?

Posted on Book Chelle.

Redwood Bend is the 18th book in Robyn Carr's Virgin Rivers series. It amazes me that Carr can still tell a story that is refreshing and new. I've said it before that these books have become my guilty pleasure. I welcome each couple with open arms, and am always ready to escape into the wonderful this wonderful town. While some scenarios may seem familiar, each character is a unique individual that brings something new to the little town. In this case, I fell in love with Katie and her twin boys.

Redwood Bend is about reluctant love, in my opinion. It is about picking up the pieces of a past life, and moving on. Katie Malone has done it several times now, and she will do it again for her boys. We first met Katie in the last Virgin River book, Hidden Summit. The danger has passed, and she is stopping by Virgin River to spend a little quality time with her brother, Conner, before she decides where she'll end up next. But fortunately for Katie, love has other plans.

I know mothers like Katie, and I felt a connection towards her. I fell in love with her strength as a single mother, her gigantic love of her sons, and for her larger than life personality. She was realistic, and like I said, like many mothers that I know. Her boys were unruly at times, but she knew how to handle them. And like most things, she knew what she wanted and how to get it. She was a mature adult, not afraid to have a little fun.

Dylan, I thought, was a good match for her. He had a good head on his shoulders, but I felt that Dylan brought Katie out of her comfort zone. Katie needed to be loved fast and steamy, without obligation. On the other side of that equation, Dylan needed to know how to be loved. They were both reluctant to open their hearts, all because of their past and their current situations.

Robyn Carr's characters always feel real, to me. Carr places them in realistic situations and characterizes them with real emotion. Whether they are past characters, or new ones, I always feel a connection to them. There's magic within the city limits of Virgin River, and most of the time, I find myself wishing I lived within their close and quaint community.

To add to what I said, I feel that the writing compliments the characters. For example, Katie and Dylan were low-key in comparison to the other main characters. While the attraction instant, it wasn't a quick and aggressive whirlwind romance. Instead, Katie and Dylan's romantic relationship was quiet and subtle.

Redwood Bend is a great read. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Robyn Carr knows how to take you away and show you a different type of love. Why don't you visit Carr and the folks over at Virgin River. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay.

Katie Malone has moved to Virgin River to be near her big brother Connor. Katie and her twin boys were forced to move from their home when Connor became the sole witness to a murder and was threatened by the killer. Katie was widowed when her husband was killed overseas in the Army and she wants to settle down and rebuild her family life. On her way to VR, she gets a flat on her SUV and is rescued by a group of bikers, one of whom she recognizes as a former child star she had a crush on.
Dylan Childress left Hollywood when his grandmother Adele swept in and took him to live with her. Dylan was a big TV star whose best friend had just died at the age of 15 from a drug overdose/suicide attempt. Living with his grandmother taught Dylan how to have a normal life away from his fame obsessed mother and step siblings. Dylan owns an air transport business in Montana and is in VR for a holiday. Neither he nor Katie want to start a relationship that will go nowhere because of their different goals in life, but they can't keep away from each other. It seems to be a romance that is doomed to cause unhappiness and misery but who listens to their head when the attraction is so strong....
One of the things I like about Ms. Carr's Virgin River books is the slice of life aspect they have. As in the real world, life goes on for all of the secondary characters while the hero and heroine are going through whatever angst they are into. The community plays a part in the story and many times is instrumental in having the couples work out their issues. Dylan and Katie found normalcy and continuity in Virgin River which made it possible for them to come together when their own insecurities would have kept them apart. This book has a satisfying and realistic ending that fits in with the rest of the series.

The book got off to a slow start with a ridiculous storyline about a guy who was a child star in Hollywood--blah blah and I thought Robyn Carr had lost her mojo. I stuck with it and the story improved and after a few chapters got better and Carr hit her stride. I'm glad I finished the book. Not her best but satisfying.

In this wonderful novel, Katie Malone, the widowed mother of 5-year-old twin boys, moves to Virgin River. On the drive in, she meets a man she recognizes, and she's sure has him all figured out--but does she? She is very tempted to give in to the temptation for an undoubtedly temporary romantic fling. Dylan Childress is sure he has himself all figured out--but does he? As his growing relationship with Katie throws him into confusion, Dylan begins to reassess himself in light of a past he believed would forever bar him from a relationship with her.

From the first book I read by Robyn Carr, I was captivated by her ability to transport the reader to a time and place, a community in northern California that's too good to be true, but still comes across as utterly real. I have never been a fan of fictional series, but, perhaps because I started from the beginning, I adore this one. The proof is that I'm always sorry to read that last page of every book. Robyn Carr has a genius for plotting around realistic emotional issues that her richly developed characters deal with. Character growth is the key factor here. Her novels are like a vacation--to a place full of natural beauty that would set off my asthma and send me straight to the ER in real life! Okay, it's a completely homogenous community, everyone's straight, white, young, healthy, and practically every new Virgin City resident seems to have a healthy bankroll somewhere, but that's okay. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool city girl, but I love every minute of my time in Virgin River and Ms. Carr's other fully imagined locales.

In Redwood Bend, we get to know Katie Malone and her twins better. In the last novel, Hidden Summit we met and fell in love with her brother Conner. After the danger has passed, she decides to bring her boys to Virgin River to be closer to their uncle Conner. Katie is an Army widow, and a recent encounter with her boss, has made her step back and reevaluate her non-existent love life. I loved this novel and feel in love with the characters and a new place called Payne, Montana.

On the way up the winding hills of California to Virgin River, Katie gets a flat tire. She's more than capable of changing it, but the lug nuts won't come loose. Her five foot, athletic frame just isn't power enough to handle the torque tightened lugs. To make matters worse, she is at a dangerous curve and it's raining. As she struggles with what to do, she hears the roar of engines and turns to see a biker gang heading her way. Their leader, Walt, quickly takes control of the situation and asks Dylan to lighten the load before they jack it up. When Dylan takes off his helmet, Katie loses her breathe. It's him, Dylan Childress the childhood movie star who she crushed on as a teen and he is gorgeous. Dylan takes a long look at her, and she suddenly becomes aware of the wet view her t-shirt is giving her. He takes off his jacket and covers her up...the story that unfolds is delicious. The heat between Dylan and Katie was incredible and watching them figure things out kept me turning the pages late into the night.

I loved the character of Katie. She is tough, a great Mom and able to handle just about anything. She has great insight and despite her best intentions she falls for Dylan. Dylan, has had a troubled life and had never been in a committed relationship, in fact he is pretty sure his DNA prevents him from long term commitments. He's come a long way from his Hollywood bad boy days but can he commit? Dylan is a pilot and owns an airport and ranch in Payne, Montana. Due to the economy his business is in trouble. His best friend and father of five needs an income and Dylan would do just about anything to keep his business afloat; even return to Hollywood to do a movie; a place he swore never to return to.

I always enjoy my visits to Virgin River and recommend Redwood Bend to fans of small town contemporary romances. Each of the Virgin River series novels can easily be read as a standalone. I am secretly hoping that Robyn Carr writes a new series about Payne, Montana. Carr has such a gift for bringing characters and plots to her novels that bring you hours of enjoyable reading and draw you back again and again.

I want to thank netGalley and Harlequin publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is a return to Carr's best form, with vivid central characters and very understandable plot issues. There isn't much of the wider cast of characters, although of course everyone cycles through Jack's Bar with the usual comments. And there is the usual scary event close to the end where the whole town pulls together. But it doesn't feel hackneyed, the two young children are believable not cloying, and the hero and heroine are wonderful.

For Carr fans, this is a great opportunity to curl up and enjoy.

p.s. One caveat: There was a consistent incorrect substitution of "I" for "me"; for example, "he said to Dylan and I." Surely someone could have checked for the proper word......

I just discovered Lauren Carr and will attempt to read all her books. Altho, they all do have a common theme, it is interesting to see how each book's character is woven into the final chapter. I also like the fact that she writes about combat veterans, as I'm one from the Vietnam era.

As with other Virgin River novels, this was pleasant enough to read, with nice people and an interesting twist with a former child actor as the hero. However, I found very little tension in this story, no reason to care about the people other than they were nice folks. Has this series lost its edge for author Carr?

So enjoying this series. Almost at the end. Would love it to continue. Not a spoiler, but in a later book in this series a character is introduced in the Virgin River who later becomes the "Jack-like" character in Thunder Point. Will anxiously await more books by Robyn Carr.

Although I get tired of series that go on so long, about a town where everyone gets along and all problems are surmountable (a little too far out) , this book is a winner. Great characters, great romance. Hot hero with believable issues. I felt a little sad at the end. Makes me want to keep reading the series. Maybe more characters in Montana.

Katie Malone moved across the country to escape the criminals that burned down the hardware store she and her brother inherited from their parents. Now with the resolution of that problem, Katie and her twin five-year-old sons move back across the country to live near her brother. Driving up into the mountains, Katie has a flat. Motorcyclists traveling the same road, stop to help. After one of the men catch Katie's eye, she is taken by surprise when they pull into the same town where her brother lives, sparking the beginning of a temporary or not relationship.

Redwood Bend is Robyn Carr's second novel in her Vrigin River series, but it works as a stand alone novel as well. Carr's descriptions of the scenery and the interesting characters add to the novel, raising it to an above average romance. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it for any woman looking for a fun diversion.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

I like the concept of a continuing story that is also a stand alone book. Adding characters along the way keeps my interest, a lets see how many more scenarios the author creates. I enjoy this series it is light reading with all the emotions life holds.

Excitement around every turn. just when it seems you have it all figured out, there's another surprise waiting. The characters are believable, even down to the movie star! I hope this won't be this author.'s last Virgin River novel.

You are a gifted writer Robyn Carr. I loved every book, from the first one I picked up to the last book I read. I can truly can say they all have made me laugh, cry and sometimes sad to know that I am coming to the end. Love the town...the characters seem to come alive in every book, easy reading but difficult to put down. Please continue to write and entertain us with your stories. You truly have a special gift!

This is my first book by the author. It was a very enjoyable read, light, entertaining, and kept me wanting to read 'just one more page'. I'll be looking for other book by Robyn to continue the series.

Robyn Carr is a delightful storyteller with down to earth characters that become almost like old friends you hate to say goodbye to at the end.
Fortunately for all of her fans she's a prolific writer whose wonderful series keeps getting better and better.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The story line was easy to follow and the characters came alive. Robyn Carr, in my opinion, is one author to watch and continue to read over the years!

I have read all the books in this series. I absolutely loved this book. It was funny at times . I found myself laughing out loud at the quick wit that these characters had. Can't wait for the next book. I just love Robyn Carr's books. This is my favorite series out of all she has written. Keep the books coming. I'm a huge fan for life.

From the beginning to the end of this book I was captivated by the community. As a former teacher, I found the writing exceptional. I also loved the how the main character handled life with twin boys, talk about a multi-tasker! The love story was real, and the setting was breath-taking. I got so I wanted to visit the area. Excellent read. We also have bears in our backyard- how I understand!

Robyn Carr does not disappoint. I enjoy reading the VIrgin RIver series. I would definitely recommend this series to friends. She writes about life in a small-town and how the community bands together .

I totally loved this book. Katie came down to virgin rivers to be close to her brot
her way there she had trouble and a men on bikes stopped to help her, what she didnt expect was to fall for the man named Dylan.
Dylan was a man living in Montana owner of a charter plane business. While his buisness was in trouble and he was trying to figure things out he couldnt stop thinking of katie..there were ups and down but in the end everything worked out.

Katie Malone and Dylan Childress' story. Katie is Conner's sister (book 17)now that things did not work out for her out East where she no longer has to be in witness protection, she decides to move near Conner while she decides what to do with her life.

Dylan is on the road with Walt (book 17)on a Harley Davidson club mountain trip when the gang stops to help Katie who is stranded on the side of the road with her twin boys. Dylan is trying to decide what to do with his life. Should he give up on his pilot business or should he go back to the Hollywood glamour and make a movie to try and save his business. Does he have time to be involved with a wodowed mother of two? What follows is one of Ms Carr best stories.

Enjoyed the romance. Characters were dynamic and interesting. Each added to a very good plot and interesting conclusion. Location was wonderful and descriptions gave the reader a glimpse of the simple but fulfilling life in small town America.