Second Chance Pass (Virgin River)

I read my first Robyn Carr book a few months ago and she's been a wonderful discovery . I didn't think I'd find anyone as good as Susan Elizabeth Philips. I've gotten every book in the Virgin River series. I couldn't put this book down once I started. She makes Virgin River sound so fabulous that I'd move there tomorrow if it really existed.

A great continuation of the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. I look forward to each story about my favorite VR characters--Jack, Mel, Preacher, and their families and brothers from their Marine days . This is the story of Paul and Vanni, continuing with Vanni's Dad, the General and her brother Tom. Paul's buddy, Joe reappears with a love interest--Vanni's best friend, Nikki. I look forward to Walt's and Joe's story along with more about Mike and Brie's new arrival. Can't wait for the new release!

THE VIRGIN RIVER SERIES (Contemporary):

Virgin River

Shelter Mountain

Whispering Rock

A Virgin River Christmas

Second Chance Pass

Temptation Ridge (March 2009)

Paradise Valley (April 2009)

Definitely read these in order. You can skip the Christmas book without losing the storyline, but it is a great story on it's own. My review will most benefit people who are familiar with the Virgin River series.

I was really looking forward to reuniting with the characters of the Virgin River series. After reading "Second Chance Pass", I'm having mixed feeling about reading the next book in the series. Half of this book was emotionally touching, fun, and powerful. The other half was painfully boring, repetitive, and pointless.

Here is what I would describe as "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" of it all:

"The Good":
All of the main characters from the first three books are present in some portion of "Second Chance Pass". After feeling disappointed about not hearing anything about Ricky and Christopher in the Christmas book, I was glad to see them both back even though they each played very small roles. Actually, Ricky and Jack have a short fishing scene, then a farewell as Ricky leaves for Iraq, that turned out to be one of the most emotionally charged points of the whole book. Excellent writing!

The main couple, Vanessa and Paul, had real substance. As the widow and the best friend off Matthew (killed in Iraq) they share a grief that never waivers. Even after admitting to Vanessa that he was in love with her, Paul looks to Matt's grave and towards heaven with a promise to "do right by her". Even after Paul marries her, he weeps at Matt's grave and confesses that, as much as he loves her, he would gladly live forever loving her from a far if it would bring his "brother" back. Again, amazing writing.

"The Bad":
I spent a lot of a pages skimming through repetition. Scenes that happened in past books, and even scenes that occurred right in this very book, were repeated in detail as if we readers have no memory of what happened. An event would take place in one scene, then the characters would tell other characters about it in full detail in another scene. Why not just say "He explained the event to his friends..." Why did we need to reread the whole past scene over again in the dialogue? Poor writing like this made many scenes boring.

Be prepared for a majorly repetitious birth control/health lesson. "Use two forms of birth control..." Again and again it is brought up. The condom, the pill, the IUD... We get it. Breastfeed or die. We get treated to at least 3 breastfeeding scenes per chapter. (Yes, it is a beautiful thing. But it gets tedious when we are waiting for a story to unfold.) Despite all of the b.c. lessons, EVERYONE is either pregnant or lactating.

"The Ugly":
Unfortunately, Robyn Carr seems to have fallen into the common mistake of believing we like to see women treat their men like dissident children. The men walk around with their mouths shut like badly whipped mutts. In one case, when Paul's buddy Joe needed advice, Vanessa says that Paul isn't allowed to help Joe. "He's under orders!" [direct quote] not to speak to Joe because Vanessa is mad at Joe. Paul almost relents because he wants "to be able to have sex again in the future." I just can't find anything appealing about a thoroughly whipped man.

"He's under orders!" ????? Seriously?!?!

I actually have a strong dislike for Mel (lead female from the original "Virgin River" book) after reading "Second Chance Pass". She's a midwife. Often the one giving out the lectures about b.c. But she spends the whole book bitching about how her husband got her pregnant "without her permission". Ummm... I'm pretty sure she was aware that unprotected sex = pregnancy. I know it was meant to be a standing joke, but it wore me out. Mel didn't have a single kind or affectionate word for Jack in this entire 400 page book. Meanwhile, he ran in circles loving and taking care of her. How many times did Mel repeat that she would "shoot him" if he "did this" to her again? Enough is enough.

After all of the ups and downs of being locked to a powerful scene, then wanting to rip out pages that annoyed or bored me, I'm drained.

This is the 5th book in the series I have read and it is like a different author wrote it. The first three were good, fourth okay, this book don't waste your time or money on. skips all over, too many stories, choppy writing.

FYI - this is NOT a new book. I read this a couple of years ago. Once again the store has failed to notify readers that this is the digital version of a book which was previously printed. They also failed to notify me when I ordered it that I had already purchase this is paperback. Shame on the store. I love Robyn Carr and I love the Virgin River series so I was very disappointed that I had already read this book.

I have read the other books in this series and wanted to keep reading to see want happens with everyone. I didn't like this one. It is to sugar coated. and WHY does every chapter have something about nursing?! One part was SO OVER THE TOP with Jack and Mel!!! Come on!! GROSS! And I know teenage sex is a reality these days but reading about 2 teens having sex in such a graphic way was just WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!! There is Teen sex in every book, so far this one was the worst. This author should be ashamed! I don't think I will be reading any more books in this series!

This is the 5th book in the series I have read and it is like a different author wrote it. The first three were good, fourth okay, this book don't waste your time or money on. skips all over, too many stories, choppy writing.

FYI - this is NOT a new book. I read this a couple of years ago. Once again the store has failed to notify readers that this is the digital version of a book which was previously printed. They also failed to notify me when I ordered it that I had already purchase this is paperback. Shame on the store. I love Robyn Carr and I love the Virgin River series so I was very disappointed that I had already read this book.

I have read the other books in this series and wanted to keep reading to see want happens with everyone. I didn't like this one. It is to sugar coated. and WHY does every chapter have something about nursing?! One part was SO OVER THE TOP with Jack and Mel!!! Come on!! GROSS! And I know teenage sex is a reality these days but reading about 2 teens having sex in such a graphic way was just WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!! There is Teen sex in every book, so far this one was the worst. This author should be ashamed! I don't think I will be reading any more books in this series!

I ordered this book as a gift for my daughter. When she finally received the gift, several of the pages fell out because of faulty binding. This was not something I even thought to look at when the book was received in the mail. I assumed that the book would be in excellent condition since it was brand new. Several of the pages had not been properly bound with the rest of the pages. Unfortunately, because the book was a present and she did not receive it until about three weeks after I received it in the mail (she is in college, thus the delay in getting it to her) I believe that my thirty day grace period has expired so I don't even know if I can send this book back for a replacement copy. If I am able to, that would be wonderful, but I have to get it back from her before I can send it back (again, with her away at college, it's easier said than done). In the meantime, I am very leery of ordering any more books online.

You have to read the Virgin River Series in order, otherwise, you get will get a little confused about who's who, and who's with who, and who's doing what. If you skip the Christmas book, you won't lose too much of the storyline, and it's a great story on its own. 

I absolutely love Robyn Carr, but I have mixed feelings about this particular story. Half of it was touching, fun, and powerful, while the other half was painfully boring, repetitive, and seemingly pointless. I actually skimmed through a lot of this book - which I normally HATE to do, but I just couldn't get my head into it.
Okay, so all the main characters from the first three books make an appearance at some point in Second Chance Pass, which I LOVED. The main couple, Vanessa and Paul, were well-written characters who share a very real grief when Vanessa's husband is killed in Iraq. The writing is gripping, tear-jerking, heart-wrenching stuff. I cried my eyes out at the scene when Paul weeps at Matt's grave and confesses that, as much as he loves Vanessa, he would gladly live forever loving her from a distance if it would bring his brother back.

The thing I didn't like about this particular book, was what I saw as man-bashing. I love to read about strong male characters. I love a strong man in real life, and I love a strong hero or set of male characters in a book, but these guys were painted as completely whipped. I often became frustrated with them while reading, talking to the pages like a crazy person, like, "don't let her treat you like that!"

This book had so many ups and downs. I would be sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, gripped by the emotion and turmoil in one chapter, but then be bored and irritated in the next. The book has a great ending, but it's definitely one to read at a leisurely pace, or maybe listen to the audible version when you're on a long road trip.

I loved the first four books in this series, giving three of them five stars on Goodreads, and one of them four stars. But this one was almost a three star. I just didn't love Vanessa and Paul the way I loved Jack and Mel, Preacher and Paige, Marcie and Ian. I'm not sure why, other than I didn't connect with Vanessa the way I did with the previous heroines. But as with the other books, while the main couple are the focus, the narrative still winds out among other residents of Virgin River, so there was plenty of Jack and Mel. In fact, I enjoyed their storyline more than Vanessa and Paul's. I was also happy that one of my favorite characters, the mystery illegal grower, made another brief appearance, and like me, Mike Valenzuela has come to the conclusion that there is more to the grower than what appears on the surface. I'm so hoping to learn more about him and that he gets a book somewhere down the line.

And then Joe came to town, and met Vanessa's friend Nikki, and oh my god I wish this had actually been their book! I loved loved Joe! I love a good grovel, and Joe groveled with the best of them. Joe singlehandedly bumped my rating up to four stars and the book is worth reading for his story alone.

Rating: 1.5 stars __Contains explicit graphic sexual content
Note: 5th in the Virgin River series of more than 20 books.
WARNING: this soap opera style format, with so many supporting characters and subplots, is confusing if you are not reading the series in order.

DISAPPOINTING. Empathetic characters, spectacular setting, dual romances, and an exciting ending. HOWEVER, the storyline lacks focus. The first half of the book the main hero and heroine behave like brainless teenagers which is annoying, both dual romances are shallow and rushed, the supporting cast stories are increasingly repetitious and uninspired with a lot of the women pregnant or nursing, the language deteriorates, and the story just drags in places, all of which detract badly until the action packed ending.

THE STORY revolves around several characters from the previous books. US Marine, Matt Rutledge was killed in action in the last book, so grieving widow, Vanni Rutledge, and Matt's best friend, general contractor, Paul Haggerty, overcome communications problems and a conniving witch, and reveal they are in love. Architect, Joe Benson, embarks on a rocky love-at-first-sight romance with Vanni's best friend, flight attendant, Nikki Jorgensen. Rick's visit after basic and Tom's departure for West Point are dealt with briefly, and Jack and Mel's relationship still holds the storyline together. The surprise danger at the end adds excitement to an otherwise mundane storyline.

OVERALL, disappointing, a mish-mash of under-developed characters and storylines. The VIRGIN RIVER series includes 20 novels and short stories organized into at least five subseries. This second subseries includes, Second Chance pass, Temptation Ridge, and Paradise Valley.

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.

It took me awhile to get through this book, not because it did not appeal to me, it was another great installment in the Virgin River series, I just needed some down time and took it a bit slower.

I love how Robyn Carr uses the side characters of the previous books to create an entire story line for them. The familiar characters are still a focus, but the reader gets to see someone new in a different way. This time out, Paul and Vanni finally bring their attraction to each other to light. If you had not read the previous books, Vanni has recently given birth to her son Matty only months after her husband Matt was killed while serving in Iraq. She has asked Matt’s best friend Paul to help her through her final months of pregnancy and demanded that he stay for the birth. What Vanni did not know at the time was that Paul has been in love with her since the first time that he saw her; the only thing standing in his way was his best friend Matt, whom had gotten to her first.

Intertwined with their story are Mel and Jack and the harrowing birth of their second child. Preacher and Paige and the touching birth of their first child. Young men leaving for military service and college. Young women growing up and slightly older women finding a new chance at romance. Add to all of that, a wild fire that might reach town but not before it threatens the life of a much-loved character.

I am not a romance reader by nature so this series caught me by surprise. I cannot tell you if it is the sense of community and the very likable characters, or if it is something more. All I know is that the books hold my attention and in the back of my mind, I am always trying to figure out whom Robyn Carr will set as her new central characters of her next book.

Do not skip around; this is definitely a series that has to be read in order. Characters are slowly introduced and Robyn Carr does an excellent job in reminding her readers whom everyone, past and present, is. You will have to get used to the men being idealized and the women being just short of saint’s, but that is what romance reading is all about. You will roll your eyes from time to time with all the baby talk, but then again, the men consider it their jobs to be masters of fertility and their women are goddesses.

I love the natural way all aspects of family and marriage come to life in Virgin River. Carr brings the beauty of birth to life just as vividly as she does the sting of betrayal and the beauty of the area.

Carr has created quite the cast of characters for this novel. The conniving, backstabbing nature of some is tempered by the utter loyalty in others. At the same time, everyone seemed so real. Carr never goes off the deep end with extreme characters, they’re all so real. The entire community comes to life as Carr delves into the lives of so many individuals. I thoroughly enjoy how the main characters stand out, yet how everyone’s story is told. The intertwining storylines made the tale even more intriguing for me.

This is one of those rare novels that will stand the test of time. Carr brings life and love to the forefront in such a manner that you cannot ignore it, but one that’s also completely natural.

Second Chance Pass. This was an aptly named title as it was all about second chances. The main story is about Vanessa and Paul. We had met Vanessa in Whispering Rock and mourned with her through the death of her husband, a Marine who died while fighting in the middle east. She was pregnant and gave birth in that book. This book picks up a couple of months after that event.

Vanessa has relied heavily on her husbands best friend Paul. Paul even helped her deliver her son, standing by her through their shared grieving process. Its not unexpected that she starts to look to Paul for more than friendship. Paul has been in love with Vanny for years. But never acted on it because she was his best friend's girl. Even if he did see her first. There are so many hurdles that these two have to overcome - the least of which is their own insecurities about how the other really feels.

As with the other Virgin River books, we reconnect with the other couples from previous books. Especially with Mel and Jack. Mel has her second child in this book, but there was serious complications. Enough that I was very afraid that there might be a character casualty. Then the author does it to us again near the end of the book when there is a forest fire that threatens the life of Jack. This book gave me serious book hangover when I was done. I will be waiting a bit before going to the next book in the series. For me, this was a 4 star read.

As I've mentioned in many other reviews, I love when the author acknowledges the unrealistic aspects of their books by having one or more of the characters talk or think about the elephant in the room. Although this is book #5 in the Virgin River series, more than 5 couples have met in fallen in love so far. I loved this thought that Joe has about 3/4 of the way through the book:

"There was some terrible curse on this place that turned fine, upstanding, confirmed bachelors into ridiculous, desperate men who tripped over a pretty girl and began to instantly think life would not go on if they didn't have her forever."

I love it!

This book is marketed as the story of Paul and Vanni, but it's really the story of them plus so many more couples. As all of the books are, but this one more so than the others I think. In fact, P&V were pretty wrapped up by the time the above quote was thought by Joe. Which makes me wonder why Ms. Carr didn't give Joe his own story as the rest of the guys have gotten. There was definitely enough there that she could have expanded and given more detail so that story could have been its own book. Oh well, enjoyable either way.

It did take me longer to read this one than the others. I'm not sure if that was because A) I have more taking up my time now that the weather is nice, B) I was trying to draw it out knowing that there are still 3 people ahead of me on the waiting list for the next book, or C) the story wasn't as riveting. It may be a combination of them all. Not that I didn't enjoy the book, I think it's obvious by my rating that I did. But since the main story was wrapped up with so much more left of the book there wasn't that strong pull the last 1/4 of the book.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

By this time in the series I have come to really know these characters. I still love the continued updates from the other couples, although I think Jack and Mel from book 1 Virgin River continue to carry the cast. Although Second Chance Pass was technically slated to be Vannie and Paul's story, I feel the first half the book and the second half of the book were completely different stories. It's a good thing I am jotting down my reviews after each book because they are all definitely starting to meld together as one big honking book!

In the first half of Second Chance Pass the focus was primarily getting Paul and Vannie to finally come together as a couple. There were some tough obstacles to overcome but regardless, Paul and Vannie turned out to be stand up characters. I am not sure I would have been as willing as Vannie was regarding Paul's "problem" so I was in awe of how badly she really wanted this to all work out.

Paul sure got himself into a big pickle and I wasn't quite sure how he was going to come out in the end. No spoilers here because it's a great read and I don't want to ruin it.
The second half of the book was a real hodgepodge of stories. The readers will experience some gripping moments from Mel and Jack (and I was really worried that Robyn Carr was going to something drastic here) *wipes forehead* Lets just say, it was tense.

I loved the fabulous update with Preacher and Paige. *squee*

There was some interesting turn of events for the General. *smile* I love when characters that are mature in years get some attention. I sure have to say the Robyn Carr delivers from the teen years right up to the golden years. You have it all in this soap opera of Virgin River.

Big massive lumps in my throat and heart for Rick making his way to Iraq. Wow I am so nervous with that plot line. I adore that guy.

A secondary story that I thought was waaaaay to rushed for Joe and Nikki.
The mysterious drug dealer makes another quick appearance but he is gone as quick as he appears.
I was so hoping that couple from Christmas story would become regulars because so far, that was my favourite story. But the Buchanan's did not appear. I wonder if they ever do come back or if that was just a one time Christmas special book? Anyone know?

Can I just also mention how much I love these covers? I am a visual person and each cover really adds to the story. I love when the cover matches the story that is written in the book and each of the wonderful Virgin River's covers have really aided in my imagination of what the setting resembles. I love it!. On to book 6, Temptation Ridge.

Teasers: Jack delivers baby #2, new house developments, fire!

***SPOILERS ABOUND!!*************

So far I've read the first 5 Virgin River novels in less than a week and what started out as an awesome series has taken a sharp turn on this one. Each book is about one couple from Virgin River, peppered with sub-plots and revisits of other couples. It may help to know the revisits of other couples are SOLELY so you can hear about how their babymaking goes. That's it. Once people get together in Virgin River the ONLY thing important about them is how many babies they can make.

Normally people in Virgin River, while being baby obsessed and really very nosy, are for the most part decent people. Second Chance Pass, the 5th book in the series, is the saga of Paul and Vanni. The two most self-centered and inconsiderate people in Virgin River. It's amazing how just generally awful these two people are.

Just two months after Vanni's husband Matt is killed in Iraq, she jumps into bed with his best friend Paul. This is totally believable, though, because as Vanni says she was pretty much widowed the day he left for Iraq. Wow. Talk about a downer for families with loved ones in the service.

About an hour after they have sex like high schoolers (just 6 weeks after she delivered a baby---go woman go!) they decide to get married and live HEA.
Unfortunately, Paul may or may not have knocked up his booty call, Terri, a few towns over. So he makes a few infrequent phone calls to Terri and purposely makes himself unavailable to her while she's bewildered at being pregnant. Oh no! How will self-centered Paul get on with nailing his dead best friend's wife AND be a barely-there father for his kid? Let's find out!

Vanni's got her own dilemma, too. Not only did she just give birth 6 weeks ago to her dead husband's baby, she's been set up on a date with a handsome, polite, charismatic pediatrician!!!! Oh, the horror! So she goes away with him for the weekend, only to make Paul jealous. I mean this poor guy is perfect in every way. He's patient and kind and frickin' adorable and she uses him then says, "Oh, sorry about that, Cam." Actually, that's not true. She never really apologizes.

And then PAUL uses him, too! During the booty call baby disaster. I swear these two people are hands down the most inconsiderate, self-involved people I've ever heard of. And they spend about 100 pages talking about what they'll be doing with Paul's baby. They don't even mention Terri, the poor woman. It's like she barely exists. She's merely a vessel that is bringing Paul's spawn into the world.

Thank God, though, that Vanni came around to accepting the idea that Paul knocked someone else up. Because about 20 pages before that she basically told Paul that if he wanted to be with her, he'd have to abandon Terri and the baby she's carrying. And about the only decent thing Paul does in the whole book is say, "Sorry, Vanni. I can't do that." And then he goes to Cameron the jilted Pediatrician for help getting an ultrasound.

And Cameron says, "Well, since I'm the only person in this book who's more mature than the fetus in question, I'll help you." And then he punches Paul in the face. No, he doesn't really. He should have, though. I would have. And I'd have smacked Vanni in the mouth while I was at it. But he doesn't do that either. Probably because in every scene that Vanni's in she's either just starting or just wrapping up breastfeeding and everyone knows you shouldn't hit a woman til she puts the baby down.

Seriously, can we get more descriptions of breast feeding? I think once in every chapter is not enough. I need breastfeeding to be depicted or at least mentioned on every single page. 'Cause it's so riveting. I mean, I get it. It's realistic, but I still don't care or want to read about it. It's realistic for people to go number two at least once a day, but I don't want to read about that either. Leave some stuff out, Mrs. Carr, it's okay.

Overall, I love the Virgin River books for what they are. But they do have some annoying problems. Everyone wants babies. Everyone loves babies. Everyone gets pregnant left right and center in these books and it's never, ever a problem. For anyone. Ever. The one time it was a problem for the mom and dad-to-be, the baby died. Nice to not have any real life, LONG TERM consequences in your books.

Terri's booty call baby turned out not to be Paul's. Because Mrs. Carr refuses to write about a couple who is stuck with a baby and trying to make the best of it. Even the woman who ABANDONED her baby in an earlier book because she didn't want it, ultimately came around and decided she DID want it. She's cured! Even post-partum depression is no match for the magic of babies!

At first I thought the whole baby angle was cute, in a way. Then it became a soap box for Carr to preach about homebirth, breastfeeding, mammograms, etc. Then it became pervasive and creepy. And now it's kind of like Virgin River is some sort of Stepford Community where people wander around like zombies but instead of saying "Brains!" they say, "Breed!"

Mike and Brie? They live in an RV, and they're trying to make a baby. The local midwife? 'Accidentally' got pregant while she was still breastfeeding her first baby. And both times her husband figured out she was PG before she did. This doesn't bode well for her career. The first time a midwife looked me in the eye and said, "I accidentally got pregnant twice and didn't even know it," I'd be like, "Well, I think I'll just stick with the OB-GYN two towns over. Thanks, anyway."

The number of babies in these books boggles the mind. Someone's gonna need to open a day care.

I'll keep reading these books, mostly because I want to know what's going to happen with Shady Brady. At least until the word breastfeeding or pregnant appears on every single page, which might actually happen, and then I'll pack up and take my leave of Virgin River.

The one bright spot is, the General and the Movie Star are starting a little something, something. He's 62 and she's 55. So there's at least ONE couple (and probably only one) in Virgin River who is NOT going to have a baby! They won't get their own book though. Because without breastfeeding and pregnancy, their story would only be about 15 pages long. People who don't breed in Virgin River are merely placeholders.

Wow. I hope this series gets back to its roots. Quickly.

Robyn Carr really knows how to write a book that will keep you so engrossed, so much so, that you'll feel as if you're part of the story.

In this book Vanessa finds herself pregnant and all alone, after her military husband is killed overseas. Paul has been in love with her for decades, but she was married to his best friend. Now that her husband is gone, Paul steps in to help her through this loss and also helps her get through the birth of her child.

Mel and Vanni have several long conversations, conversations that are very helpful in getting Vanni over the loss of her husband, and over the guilt of falling in love with someone else so soon after her husbands death.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone, as well as all of the other books in this series.

I have enjoyed the Virgin River books and am looking forward to reading more. However, Second Chance Pass is NOT going to be one I choose to re-read. It's not really that I had any objections to the story itself, but Vanni...wow...NOT a character for me to like! There were many times while reading the book that I was jerked out of the story by the thought that she was a real, uh, bee (if you get me meaning). I just wanted her to shut up already and get over herself. She just did not strike me as a sympathetic character. Paul, at least, called her on her temper, but sheesh...she's not somebody I'd want to be married to for the rest of my life! I also didn't understand how it was possible that Vanni had never met Paul's parents/family before. If Paul and Matt were best friends and had been since they were teenagers, and Matt had spent plenty of time at Paul's home, and Paul's parents loved him like their own...how is it that they'd never have met their "bonus kid's" wife? I would think they'd have been at the wedding at the very least. I dunno. That was just a development that again was very jarring and didn't seem "true" to me. And while I enjoy the fecundity of the residents of Virgin River, I think you could play a drinking game while reading these books: take a swallow every time a baby-related scene pops up. Whoa.

Having said all that, I still really enjoy the characters and Carr's writing style and the world of Virgin River, and I'm very much looking forward to reading more stories. Second Chance Pass was just a big "pass" for me.

How to describe Robyn Carr's Second Chance Pass? I would have to say it's like a hokey, slice of life, wholesome soap opera based in a little mountain town in Northern California. It's a place where no one uses birth control. LOL. Also, almost every storyline in this book has it's roots in previous books so I don't recommend starting with this book if you are new to the Virgin River series.

Second Chance Pass has a lot of different storylines going on and this time around it didn't work for me as well as it did in the first three books. I think I enjoyed the one storyline from A Virgin River Christmas too much. I felt like I was just getting comfortable with a couple and then it would fade to black and then I would be starting anew with a different couple. Our spotlight couple, Paul and Vanessa definitely start off with some problems and that's not even including the little bundle of joy Paul has got going on. I was really looking forward to seeing how their story would unfold but then after I got to know Vanessa, I lost interest. She's kind of a......b**tch. I'm blaming most of my disinterest on her shoulders. I just didn't care for Vanessa and Paul seemed too blah. I also didn't like what happened with Paul and his baby mama. I kind of wondered what was the whole point.

The best part of this book was definitely Preacher and Paige and Tom and Brenda. Tom and Brenda's first time will have you rolling with laughter. If only all seventeen year old guys could have older sisters who could teach them about the Joys of Sex. Preacher and Paige are as lovable and wonderful as always and I loved it whenever they were front and center.

Bottom line, I liked this book and I'm already looking forward to reading the next book. The excerpt I read of Shelby and Luke Riordan looks good and I can't wait. Just for some reason this book didn't resonate with me as much as I hoped it would. Not even Mel or Jack could liven this book up. I'm giving it 4 stars because of Tom and Brenda and Preacher and Paige. IMHO They were the best things about this book and I wish they had more screen time.

I finally finished all the stories about the citizens of the Virgin River. I'm sure glad I discovered them when the stories were all written and I didn't have to wait to find out what was next. I really wish there was a Virgin River that I could visit. I didn't read the stories in order and that was okay. Each story stood alone as well as tied the characters together from former stories. I knew when I needed to pay attention when a character dropped in and I knew he/she would be playing an important part later. It was also interesting to know I would be able to read a back story about a character I had not previously read about. I liked the armed forces tie in and the solutions to some of problems they come home with. I like that each story each highlighted a problem that one could reflect on. It's too bad that the Virgin River is only a state of mind, but oh what fun it was to visit.

Book Five in the Virgin River Series by Robyn Carr features another ex-marine, Paul Haggerty, who arrives in town and winds up helping the widow of one of his best friends, Matt Rutledge. Vanessa is pregnant, Matt is dead, and Vanessa isn't sure she can go through the birthing alone. This book seemed to drag a little more than the others, but I'm still hooked on the series.

Babies abound in this the fifth installment of the VIRGIN RIVER SERIES.
Vannessa Rutledge has lost husband Matt to the war in Iraq. Soon after she buries him, she gives birth to his son Matt Jr. With the help of Paul Haggerty she heals and falls in love with him. Meanwhile Mel Sheridan has her baby as does Paige Middleton.

Love is in bloom in the small tight knit town. As usual the reader will be pulled into the fold and makes friends with townsfolk at the turn of every page. Once again I recommend this scintillating tale of love and friendship to all romantics out there and give the story 5 stars.

Fans of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series will be thrilled with this emotional return visit to the small fictional town of Virgin River, set in the mountains of northern California, where life challenges and love triumphs. This fifth book in the series tells the story of Vanni, a young war widow and new mother, and Paul, the best friend of her late husband and the man who has secretly loved her for years. The road to love is rarely smooth and Paul and Vanni have some major obstacles to overcome. While this couple is the primary romantic focus of SECOND CHANCE PASS, the Virgin River series is, at its heart, about all of the people who populate this small mountain town. Favorite characters from previous Virgin River books have important roles in this story, giving the reader plenty of time to catch up with old friends, like Mel and Jack Sheridan, and meet some new ones too.

With SECOND CHANCE PASS, Carr has written a powerful, heartfelt, at times gut-wrenching but ultimately, uplifting story that took my emotions on a roller coaster ride that I never wanted to end. This is a book that, once you start reading, you won't want to put down until you finish and, like those who have settled in Virgin River, once you visit this series, you'll never want to leave.

SECOND CHANCE PASS is scheduled to be released February 1st, followed by TEMPTATION RIDGE (Virgin River, Book 6) on March 1st and PARADISE VALLEY (Virgin River, Book 7) on April 1st. For maximum enjoyment, I highly recommend reading the books in the Virgin River series in order beginning with VIRGIN RIVER, SHELTER MOUNTAIN and WHISPERING ROCK.

I get down home feel good fuzzies, no matter which book in the series I pick up. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Preacher's story, but honestly, this town, and the folks who live in it and find love in it, have wrapped themselves around my heart. When I need a pick-me-up, I grab one of these stories because I know I'll get lost in it and have a heart full of happy when I'm done reading. :)

I really like this series, and I even liked this book. However, of all the stories in the series, this was my least favorite. More than any of the other books, this one seemed really choppy. Only about half of the book was truly Vanni and Paul's story while the rest seemed liked separate short stories thrown together. I really enjoyed Joe and Nikki's side story, and I always like getting caught up with old favorites like Jack and Preacher, but this book as a whole didn't really flow into one main story as the others did. If you follow the series, then you should definitely read this and if you're new to the series start at the first book. I am still anxious for the next installment.

I want to move to Virgin River! Each book in the series carries through with previous characters as it introduces new ones. I can't pick out a favorite character. Each one has qualities and struggles that round them out.

These are becoming consistently 3.5/5.0, rounded up rather than down.

A very enjoyable escape. Nothing heart-stopping to keep one reading into the night, but a nice way to spend a lazy afternoon.

This installment seemed a little more disjointed than the previous ones. While all carry multiple story lines, "Second Chance Pass" incorporated so many that none were allowed to be the focus. Vanni and Paul's story was wonderful but consisted of only a third of the book. Maybe there just wasn't more to say about them but they were such loved characters that it seemed a slight to forget them so soon into the book for other events. Because those events dwelt on other loved characters in whom the reader is also invested,however, the disappointment wasn't enough to round the star count down.

Once again Robyn Carr has penned another fabulous story in her Virgin River narrative. Second Chance Pass, book 5 in the series, pulls together many of the readers hopes and dreams of happiness for the relationships of our beloved individuals who inhabit this totally addictive storyline. The prologue revisits Paul Haggerty and Vanessa Rutledge's relationship, revealing Paul's love for Vanessa, his heartbreak following Vanni's marriage to Matt, a man who is a fellow Marine, and Paul's best friend. Matt, serving in Iraq, had quietly asked Paul in their final video conference to take care of Vanni if anything should happen to him. Shortly thereafter, Matt was killed, leaving Vanni a very pregnant, grieving widow. Paul stays with Vanni at her request until the baby is born, then returns home where he visits a young lady friend, one thing leads to another after much alcohol consumption, and a surprise pregnancy results. Can this really be his child? What will Vanni think when she finds out, which she must if they are to have a genuine relationship.

As always the readers are kept abreast of the myriad events happening in the Virgin River area, and to all of the people whom we have come to sincerely love, and to think of as friends. Mystery rears it's head when it is discovered that the marijuana grower who kidnapped Melinda earlier has one plant growing in his covered and controlled growing area. Who is he, and who does he really work for? A new neighbor, an older, but still glamorous movie star, moves on to the property next to the general, and the general is shocked to see how well she can ride, not to mention her beauty and natural charm. Could there be a romance in the future? Melinda has her baby, but faces a life threatening post partum complication. Will she be saved in time since emergency help is an hour away? Jack is alone with Mel when the tragedy occurs, and her only hope will be his ability to work his way through the crisis until professional help can arrive.

Adventures and romances will occur when the Marines all gather to welcome back their boy from boot camp, and to celebrate life in general. Last but not least, will Paul ever get the courage to tell Vanni how he feels about her, and will Vanni accept his love? I always think that this series cannot get any better than the last book, but each new succession in the series wraps the reader even tighter in the adventures, the friendships, and the true loves that are being discovered in a small perfect area of the world, known as Virgin River. I adored this story. I laughed, cried, and just had a fabulous time experiencing this epic adventure. Please, Ms. Carr, keep on keeping on... We, your loyal and loving readers, long for more, and more, and more...Please?

Posted in February 2009, Mira, Reviews.

This series is only getting better. Once again the reader is pulled into the adventure, love, laughter, and tragedy of life in a town where we all wished we lived: Virgin River

Susiq2, Reviewer, Cata Network Romance

PB/This is the fifth book in the Virgin River series. I was not happy with the beginning of the book. The story of Paul and Vanni was predicable. But then the story delved back into the lives of the very pregnant Mel & Jack. I enjoy the banter between those two characters. The story then updated us on the relationship of Preacher & Paige. The book ends with even more questions about Shady Brady. Overall, it was a little slower that the other books.

Robyn Carr's ability to weave her stories together, both within the book as well as within the series is amazing to me. The people in the book draw you in, the town draws you in. The stories of hope, redemption, and love are prevalent all throughout the book and series. I find myself having a hard time putting the book down.

I am reading all the books in the series & I'm really enjoying the characters. I like that Robyn kepts you in touch with most of the characters from the first books thru her whole series. I'm on book 10 now.

I have read the previous Virgin River books and loved them. But this one doesn't focus enough on the development of the romantic relationship between the two protagonists. Instead, the reader has to wade through character after character and a boatload of backstory for each character. Enough! While I enjoy stories set in and around Virgin River, the whole town doesn't have to appear in each book.

I absolutely love this series. It is outstanding and every book I have read so far has been great. Fantastic characters, great storyline, suspense, heartache, romance, everything. It captured me from the beginning and kept getting better to the end. If you like romance with some suspense, this book is for you.

I love returning to virgin river to see how everyone is doing. That being said, this book might be confusing to those who read out of order. It is more about family, and a whole community than just one couple falling in love. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

You need to read it in order. One of the things I love best about the series is that it keeps involving previous characters as it introduces new ones. These are sweet romance novels with laughter & tears, twists & turns. You can't ask for more in an escape novel!

If you like books tied with a neat little ribbon, then this book is for you. the men all dote over their women until it is nauseating and express their love continuously. everyone finds their own true mate and lives happily ever after. dont get me wrong, i like happy endings but could guess what would happen next without turning the page.

While I enjoyed this book, I got tired of hearing about everyone breastfeeding. At one point Mel isn't available to breastfeed her newborn and she hopes Vanni or Paige breastfeed for her...what's wrong with a bottle and formula!? Geez, plenty of women don't breastfeed and their children turn out fine. All of her female characters do natural homebirths... again what's wrong with birthing in hospital with an epidural? Show some diversity.

The man are all so whipped (another reviewer said this as well)and all of them love pregnant women and want to hear how their labor went. I have never had a man ask me about my labor. It was just too sweet! Robyn needs to mix up it a little.

I'm hoping for something different in the next one.

I have devoured all the other Virgin River books. While waiting for this one to come out, I read all the Grace Valley books. When I got to this one, I was ready to go back to Virgin River. Maybe I should have stayed away!
The other reviewer who said that breastfeeding was touted in every chapter was dead on. I must have read the phrase "put that baby to the breast" at least 25 times. The book should have been over once Paul and Vanni (whose name really bothered me for some reason) got together. Instead, Carr spends another 100 pages talking about all the other characters. There are just too many to keep track of! Then there is the whole part with Jack and Mel. I also started to hate Mel in this book, when they used to be my favorite couple. And the breastfeeding there?!? Grapes of Wrath, this isn't!

*SPOILERS AHEAD*
By the time I got to the pointless wildfire at the end, I started reading a sentence on each page. "Oh no! Will Jack live?" Of course he will!

The subplot with Paul's other child was unnecessary, plus - Vanni was a little too easy on him. "It's okay! We love each other! We'll be together forever no matter what!"

This book seriously made me doubt my pre order of the other books. The next character is Shelby, who I didn't even remember existed...nor am I clear on the relationship between her and Walt. I really have no interest in her life. I would, however, like to find out about the "local grower" who is not what he seems. Once I figure out which book that is, that's the only one I'll read. Hopefully he figures prominently.

If you are a fan of the series, and liked Paul and Vanni together, then read the first half, although be prepared to be frustrated. If you didn't care about them, skip it.

Each of the books in the Virgin River series builds upon another as the lives of the characters intersect from story to story. Besides their kindness to others, useful and enlightening wisdom and attitudes are shared.

After reading the other comments I felt compelled to write my own review. I have read the first four books in this series. I plan on finishing the series out. I have enjoyed the books very much. They are a slice of life and a great story. The comments from other readers about the characters breastfeeding had me a little annoyed. The author chose to include this in her story because it is something she may believe in doing herself. If you chose not to have a natural child birth or to not breastfeed your child, that is your choice, BUT just because you don't choose that doesn't mean it should be excluded from the story. I can't believe that while writing a review of a book people have taken that one theme and choosen it as the part they didn't like. Also, this is fiction and just because in a fictional place there are men who treat their wives or girl friends in a way that all women should be treated doesn't make it wrong. I feel that this is a refreshing story that represents a way of life that I admire.

After reading the first three Virgin river books as well as the Christmas story, I was eagerly awaiting this book. Unfortunately, it has been a disappointment. Although I know that teen sex is a reality, I don't want to read about it...it just seemed wrong. The romance between Vanessa and Paul which began in a previous book has been less than a page turner. Hopefully the next installment will be an improvement.

I enjoyed the first books of this series & the previous series, was looking forward to reading all of them. However, this book should be called 'Everything you never wanted to know about breast feeding'. The story was totally overshadowed with an obsession about breast feeding & once again a natural childbirth. Enough already! If the next one has breast feeding in every chapter I'm not reading any more of the series!

A town full of military... full of pregnant wives and their strapping husbands- which are all friends.
A few tasks must be accomplished, love lost and gained, challenges and accomplishments.
All in a days work for a Carr novel. Which makes ia a nice relaxing read.

It was fun for me because growing up in Humboldt County, northern California, I was familiar with all the towns that were mentioned except for Virgin River which was the fictional town. A good story line and easy reading.

It was fun for me because growing up in Humboldt County, northern California, I was familiar with all the towns that were mentioned except for Virgin River which was the fictional town. A good story line and easy reading.

Robyn Carr continues to delight! After reading some awful stories from other Authors who have tried to write the same type of story lines. I soon realized how well Robyn Carr really writes! Fantastic!

She makes sure that each character is explored to the fullest. So, when I go too the next book in her series, I remember very well about each character she brings to life again! When a new character comes into the picture......the detail in which she portrays the character is like no other!!

Keep them coming Robyn!!!!!

Second Chance Pass is the fifth Virgin River story and it's a winner! Lots of love is in bloom in Virgin River from and Tom and Brenda's young love and first experience with having sex to the general and his budding romance with his movie star neighbor. This was like a visit with old friends and a chance to catch up with their lives - love, weddings and births.

I'm looking forward to Temptation Ridge, the next installment.

I absolutly love this author. I bought her first Virgin River novel by complete chance and now I have to own the rest of her books. She is a fantastic author who will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This a very enjoyable return to a wonderful series. It was great to get to see previous characters and find out how their lives are going. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. But, this is one of my very favorite series.

Robyn Carr brings each character to life and you feel they are your friends and that you actually know them. The back ground of the surrounding area is very vivid and makes you feel you know the town as well. I look forward to the next book. I am currently reading #6.

I really wanted to like this book and forced myself to read it all the way through, but I had to skim quite a bit to get through it.

First, there is a lot of profanity that I find very unsexy and just not neccesary. I'm sorry but Jesus is not a cuss word nor is all the GD words. The F word and S words were used in great frequency.

Second, all of the graphic sex scenes between the teenagers, the unmarried people and men thinking they're in love just because a woman has a nice body is not romance. It's PORN.

Third, The love story between Vanni and Paul was not very well developed and was maybe one third of the book in total.

Fourth, the dramatizing of nursing mothers, and Jack and Mel's whole near death was just disgusting. Then to throw in a forest fire seemed like she was trying to get her page count up.

Much of the story was just stuff happening and I found the characters goals, conflict and resolution contrived.

Lastly, I'm not fond of reading a book that afterwards I feel as if I had been verbally abused with all the cussing and the porn was just over the top.

I usually share my books with friends and family, but this book is going in the recycle bin. I'd be happey to try Robyn Carr again, only if I could be sure I wasn't going to feel assaulted after reading another one of her books.

I'm really disapointed in Mira Publishing who also publishes Debbie Macomber... I guess that's what I was hoping for... I nice sweet read with real characters. This book was not that.