Down by the River (A Grace Valley Novel)

Enjoyable Classic Robyn Carr. Easy to follow stand-alone. Some violence, no drag-you-down drama.

Entertaining storyline of small town living pulling together for the greater good of all.

Believable characters with distinct personalities. Thought-provoking and humorous dialogue.

I will re-read this book and always look forward to works by this author.

The teambuilding event planned by Carlisle, Bonner & Associates at the Duck Lake Lodge near Bear Bones, Alaska could prove divisive as managing partner Graham Bonner will use the off site to choose the next senior partner. One of the three attorneys in the running for a senior slot is Lisa Vaughn, who feels strongly this is not a good way to select. She also has bigger personal issues with the location chosen by top management that overlooks the Wild River where her mom and baby sister drowned twenty-six years ago and the lodge is owned by Mitch Baxter, her former fiancé who dropped her last year when he relocated from Fort Lauderdale.

Lisa falls into the Wild River with its strong rapids. Mitch knows something is wrong and follows her by kayak until he jumps in to complete the rescue. The powerful current had carried the pair several miles from his lodge, but they survive the water. As they struggle with the ordeal of getting back to the lodge, Lisa believes someone deliberately nudged her into the icy water. Though Mitch initially leans towards her accidentally tripping; he soon believes his Lisa is in peril from an unknown adversary who will try anything to kill her, but neither know why.

Down River is an exhilarating romantic suspense thriller as the audience wonders along with the heroine why this location and who wants her dead. Faster than the raging Wild River and yet filled with vivid descriptions of the Talkeetna Mountains, readers will feel transported to the home of Sarah Palin. Karen Harper provides a powerful who is doing it and why that sub-genre fans appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

Seems like everyone living in Grace Valley, California knows that Dr. June Hudson slept with an unknown man last night. June's partner in a local medical practice, Dr. John Stone, also confirmed she is four months pregnant. The amused and embarrassed June plans to introduce her beloved retired law enforcement agent Jim Post to her family and friends as she knows the town waits for them to show up at the café.
At about the same time June's octogenarian Aunt Myrna Hudson Claypool plans to soon present her mystery man to the crowd. Meanwhile, a druggie causes problems for everyone and a flood may destroy the town. In that atmosphere the townsfolk adopts Jim, though he had "deflowered" a favorite daughter, as if he lived there for life.
This is an interesting look at small town life with a touch of suspense thrown in on the side. The story line ambles slowly for most of the novel though the flood and the actions of a miscreant add suspense at the end. Readers see favorites from previous Grave Valley tales while also get deep inside the psyche of the key cast members to their inner essence. Robyn Carr shines a strong spotlight on life in small town California.
Harriet Klausner

Sometimes in small towns, gossip spreads so fast that your neighbors now what you have done before you do. However, that is not always the case. For example, town doctor June Hudson managed to keep her secret romance hidden so well that no one knew about it until she was several months pregnant. Fortunately, by the time it was noticed, the father had returned to June's life. Now that Jim Post retired from the DEA, he wanted to make a new life in Grace Valley with June and his child. Hopefully, they can make it to the alter before the baby makes it to the world.
June is not alone in having secrets. Her Aunt Myrna has a hidden love as well, and the preacher is hiding something too. There is plenty to keep the tongue waggers busy, plus danger comes from natural and man made causes to keep life interesting.
**** With more tension than the Mitford series that this book could be compared to, Ms. Carr holds the readers' interests from page one. The suspense is mild, just enough to keep things from getting boring, and her portrayal of small town life seems well researched and accurate. ****

This is the story of a community. June is the central character but not its complete focus. This is not a typical Romance Novel.

Skipped to Book three in the Grace Valley Series because book two wasn’t available at the library. I don’t seem to have missed much. June’s lover finally shows up and the fun and games begin. Somehow the second half of the book seems to drag for this reader.

Dr. June Hudson's pregnancy has already begun showing and now her secret lover, Jim Post, is home with her in Grace Valley. Everyone wants to know about this mystery man but June and Jim are keeping his DEA past a secret. The biggest question on the town's mind, however, is when is the wedding? Meanwhile, there are a few other secrets in this small town as well as both the town pastor, Harry, and June's Aunt Myrna, will have theirs revealed. And whatever will become of the Forrest family?

Ah, the town of Grace Valley! It's a wonderful, sleepy little town that reaches right into your soul and yanks hard on your emotions. Who can't help but love these folks, as they deal with everyday situations in a most humbling, even endearing way?

Robyn Carr once again tackles some sensitive issues. She doesn't shirk away from life and both the joys and heartaches that living entails. As the folks of Grace Valley handle their issues, it is almost cathartic at times. The residents of Grace Valley have become almost real to the reader as their stories unfold gradually over the course of the series.

DOWN BY THE RIVER completes this series and brings everything back full circle. While it is more of a women's fiction than a romance series, the Grace Valley series is an uplifting one and DOWN BY THE RIVER finishes the masterpiece first begun in JUST OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Robyn Carr is always dependable to deliver a good read & this book doesn't disappoint. The frantic life of one of the town's doctors, her retired federal agent boyfriend who's the father of her expected baby is the backdrop for this book. Nature plays a big role too and a newcomer to town turns out to be a real scumbag. The town itself and its character plays a role in this plot. Some surprises. Good dialogue. Enjoyable.

With the Grace Valley trilogy completed we will find Dr. June - Dr. Stone and Doc Hudson showing up in the Virgin River Trilogy - way to go RC.

Yup! Dr. June is having crying jags. Now isn't that a sign? Well she is not telling anyone except John Stone and Elmer. Chuckle! but the minute Jim does call she just blurts it out. "We're pregnant!"

It also appears that the preacher, Harry Shipton, a giving, generous soul is finding himself with money troubles.

Conrad Davis seems to open the show with a pregnant wife and two little girls. Erline Davis skinny as a rail and apparently poverty driven.

Sam sets Erline up in a house near the Mulls when Erline and her son are released from the hospital. Jurea Mull takes her under her wing. Conrad turns out to be a rotten pickle. Frank has a melt-down.

Myrna Hudson Claypool turns out to have a secret admirer and invites him to Hudson House for thanksgiving. Boy, is she ticked when he appears. June is notably confused with all the confusion running rife through the community.

Nancy Forrest is turning out to be June's best friend, especially in helping her pick out baby clothes and furniture.
Jim is working with Chris Forrest in finishing up Chris's house for Nancy and his twin sons.
Also with Chris's help, Jim is making a cradle for their baby. This is a secret from June.

Thanksgiving brings out the best in the neighbors who help each other.
Then comes the flood of all floods with destruction and clean-up. With Davis attacking June and Harry Shipton being gone - Chris Forrest finding his place in life and Nancy finding a sense of belonging.

And June finally realizing that she and Jim must get married. [boy, was she dumb]
Wonderful characters - great story - people oriented, not just two parties falling in love - just everyday life of a community.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - enjoy!
Now surprise, surprise! ---- wait till 2009 - VIRGIN RIVER, ERIES 2 - 1 - Second Chance Pass - 2- Temptation Ridge - 3- Paradise Valley - Just waiting for February!

The final installment of Grace Valley saw life, love, challenge, new friends and old.
Town doctor June is pregnant and making a life with her newly returned beau Jim. Jim becomes as much of a fixture in Grace Valley as his intended. This epilogue to the series is filled with the daily life, humor and stories that make visiting the small town of Grace Valley such a treat.
I just wish I knew what happened to the Mulls, Erline and her kids and Frank.

I love stories centered on small towns and was glad to find this series. I have read other series by Robyn Carr and have enjoyed them as much. The only thing I found distracting with this series is the repetitiveness of the story line from one book to the next. I had to skim pages to get back to the story at hand. I would hope that someone would realize when reading a series you should do so chronologically.

Life in a small quaint town with the sweetness of a tight knit community and the drawback of everyone knowing your business. While there's nothing earth shattering about the story, the characters are likeable and the book is an easy and enjoyable read. Good message about the importance of community, family, and friends.

...except more fun and more interesting. I loved the entire trilogy, this book being the third and maybe the best of the three. Definitely read the series in order, otherwise you miss too much.

I'd love to live in Grace Valley. Just enough warts and bad guys to be interesting, but enough really good people to be home. Robyn Carr is very gifted at developing characters and at keeping the plot and subplots clear and holding together. You'll fall in love with June and Jim, her Dad Elmer and Aunt Myrna and the other characters in this book. If you're like me, you won't want it to end.

This is the first Karen Harper book I've read, and I liked it--the adventures in this story would make a good movie. I like to go with the flow of a book, and this one kept my interest because it takes place in Alaska by a group of visiting lawyers who are on a "testing" expedition, with murder included! The author writes with "clean" language and without explicit romantic scenes. I will read more of her books.

The first two books in the trilogy left me hanging. Down by the river brought it all together and a good lead-in for the Virgin River series (which I had read first). Somebody forgot to tell me to read the grace valley books before starting the Virgin River books. The Virgin River series were the best I have read.

Stories about small towns and their folks and all the joys and heart ache that can come is what this author , Robyn Carr does best. Her caricatures in this novel bring out the force of community that hangs together for the greater good. A delightful read indeed.

This book reminded me of the movie a bit of The Edge - only grittier. There were a lot of unexpected turns in this book that left me wondering who the bad guy was - that is a hard thing to do in this day when there are so many books out there with similar genres.

I just love this book. I haven't read the first 2 books in this series, but if the 2 books are funny as this one, I'll be getting them. June is so very funny, especially that she's pregnant. The things that happens to her while she's pregnant, like trying to sit down on the floor with her big stomach and Jim watching her, or with her and Nancy laughing and she peed in her pants and her emotional roller coaster ride. She's just a hoot. I just love this book. Not to many books can make me laugh in public and this one does.

Keep up the good work Robyn Carr.

YEARS AGO WHEN I READ MY FIRST KAREN HARPER BOOK ABOUT THE HORSE AND BUGGY HIT AND RUN OF AMISH TEENAGERS, I HAVE BEEN ADDICTED TO KAREN HARPERS BOOKS. DOWN RIVER IS NO DIFFERENT. IF YOU WANT MURDER LOVE AND WHODUNNIT MAKE SURE YOU READ DOWN RIVER. I WAS ROOTING FOR MITCH AND LISA EVEN BEFORE MITCH RESCUED LISA AFTER BEING PUSHED INTO THAT RIVER. NOT ONLY DOES HARPER PRODUCE A WONDERFUL LOVE STORY WITH MURDER AND MAYHEM SHE ALSO GIVES YOU A WONDERFUL BIRDS EYE VIEW OF ALASKA. HARPER WILL ALWAYS BE A MUST READ WITH ME. I KNOW the store. COM WILL HAVE ALL KAREN HARPER BOOKS.
TE LATHAM

I enjoyed this book as well as the first two of the trilogy. However, I was disappointed that June didn't have twins. When the sonogram indicated first a girl, then a boy, twins were what I just knew were coming. But I loved it anyway.

YEARS AGO WHEN I READ MY FIRST KAREN HARPER BOOK ABOUT THE HORSE AND BUGGY HIT AND RUN OF AMISH TEENAGERS, I HAVE BEEN ADDICTED TO KAREN HARPERS BOOKS. DOWN RIVER IS NO DIFFERENT. IF YOU WANT MURDER LOVE AND WHODUNNIT MAKE SURE YOU READ DOWN RIVER. I WAS ROOTING FOR MITCH AND LISA EVEN BEFORE MITCH RESCUED LISA AFTER BEING PUSHED INTO THAT RIVER. NOT ONLY DOES HARPER PRODUCE A WONDERFUL LOVE STORY WITH MURDER AND MAYHEM SHE ALSO GIVES YOU A WONDERFUL BIRDS EYE VIEW OF ALASKA. HARPER WILL ALWAYS BE A MUST READ WITH ME. I KNOW the store. COM WILL HAVE ALL KAREN HARPER BOOKS.
TE LATHAM

I enjoyed this book as well as the first two of the trilogy. However, I was disappointed that June didn't have twins. When the sonogram indicated first a girl, then a boy, twins were what I just knew were coming. But I loved it anyway.

This was a very good series..You just had to fall in love with the whole town and Jim was a hero to fall in love with. He was so masculine, yet so very tender & loving. His love for June was Awesome. I wanted to shake June so she would wake up and realize that she loved him and quit putting him off.

I got half way through and had to stop wasting my time on this one. I have no desire to open the cover on book 3 of this series. I did read the Virgin River trilogy and thought they were all very good. Maybe close friends of R. Carr are being nice are leaving the 5 star reviews.

I am very impressed with Robyn Carr's writing style and story lines. Very enjoyable reading. One book flows so completely into the next, yet if you didn't happen to read the one before, there is no getting lost. Very happy with my purchase of this trilogy, and her others as well. Definitely recommended.
Virgin River (Virgin River, Book 1)
Deep in the Valley (Grace Valley Trilogy, Book 1)

I can't put Robyn Carr's books down. I'm not even watching TV. I have to make myself go to bed because I would rather be reading than sleeping. Not complicated but a good story line to keep you wanting to know what happens next.
Pat

I love this series. The characters are realistic, the stories entirely plausible. Relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable reads. Coming home from work and snuggling down with one of these books is absolute bliss! I can't wait for further additions to this series.

Once again a fantastic book by a terrific author, once again you are transported to the small town of Grace Valley where everyone knows everyone and everyone's bussiness, but it all works out in the end!!

Great book, fast read.

I did not enjoy the grace valley series as much as the virgin river. I really love the way robyn carr holds my interest in her different stories but have never enjoyed any as much as the virgin river series. especially the 5 riordan brothers. gin

I was disappointed in the fowl language used and God's name so loosely as a cuss word.

I would have thought her books would have been more pleasant with the titles. I read 1/3 of the first book and threw away the entire set. Clean it up and it might be good.

From the beginning it was very obvious who the killer was. I also got tired of main female character always bringing up her past history. It was explained about 50 times. The book was OK, just ddint live up to Karen Harper's past books.

From the beginning it was very obvious who the killer was. I also got tired of main female character always bringing up her past history. It was explained about 50 times. The book was OK, just ddint live up to Karen Harper's past books.