Jillian Matlock had it made. She was the protege of a
software mogul who groomed her right after college to
become an integral part of his very successful business.
Her expertise in public relations helped the company grow
and in the meantime made her a somewhat wealthy young
woman. Having come from nothing, hers was truly a rags to
riches story. Her private life suffered as she climbed the
corporate ladder, there was just not enough hours in a day
to allow for relationships. But she had finally opened up
to Kurt, a young man in her department, after he had
diligently pursued a personal relationship with her.
Of course they had to be discreet, after all it was against
company policy but Jillian regarded Kurt as her boyfriend
and totally trusted that what they shared was special. She
was totally unprepared for his little surprise -- a sexual
harassment claim. Loneliness had made her careless and left
her vulnerable to a man who had, as it turned out, carefully
orchestrated a plan to advance his career at the expense of
hers.
Now faced with a leave of absence, Jillian decided she
needed time to get her head back together and heal her
somewhat broken heart. She wound up back in Virgin River, a
place where she and her sister Kelly had spent a wonderful
week. Quiet and secluded, it was just the place. But what
Jillian actually found there was the promise of a renewed
purpose. Not only a possible career option but, if she was
very lucky, a fulfilling personal life as well. What she
never expected was to reignite her love of gardening and to
find Colin Riordan, one of the amazing local Riordan boys.
Colin was in Virgin River to heal body and soul after a life
threatening military accident. He was probably facing a
future without his first love, flying. He, like Jillian,
was looking for something that could replace what had been
lost. Neither was looking for any commitment or
relationship but their friendship and mutual respect was
quickly taking on a life of its own. No matter how fleeting
their time together was going to be both agreed on taking
their friendship to the next level. But Jillian knew she
was just biding her time with Colin and this time she was
determined not to let her heart get broken when he
ultimately left.
This is yet another in the Virgin River series and I have
to marvel how Robyn Carr can make each one so very special.
Could be her development of remarkable characters that grow
with each book. Could be the way she avoids easy answers
for complex relationship issues. Just be assured that you
will never be disappointed in any of these stories and will
definitely be back for the next installment. Keep them
coming Robyn.
SOMETIMES LOVE TAKES ROOT IN UNEXPECTED PLACES—IF YOU’LL
ONLY LET IT GROW
Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a
horrific helicopter crash, the scars of which he bears
inside and out. His family is wonderfully supportive, but
it’s his art than truly soothes his troubled soul.
Stung personally and professionally by an ill-advised
affair, PR guru Jillian Matlock arrived in town via golden
parachute. She’s bought an old Victorian with a promising
garden and is looking forward to cultivating something other
than a corporate brand.
When Jillian finds Colin at his easel in her yard, there’s
an instant connection. But both are holding romance at arm’s
length— looking to simplify, not complicate, their lives.
And Jill may yet be lured back to Silicon Valley...
No one arrives in Virgin River without a story, and no one
leaves—if they ever do—unchanged.
I am a huge fan of Robyn Carr, and have been since the publication of the first Virgin River novel.
With the release of Wild Man Creek I have found my personal favorite for the 2011 releases.
It's nice to see that sometimes even heroes have flaws, and need to work through them. While it couldn't have been easy to write such a flawed character struggling with addiction Ms. Carr didn't back off the subject, and showed the daily struggle to keep sober and to keep family in perspective.
When I turned the last page of Wild Man Creek I was for the moment satisfied with my Virgin River trip, but anxious for Harvest Moon. (Sandi Shilhanek 1:38pm February 7, 2011)