This book won't be released until 2/22/11, but I had a chance to read the ARC. It is superb!
This was my first Robyn Carr novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved Harvest Moon! Great writing, wonderful characters and a meaty story to sink your teeth into, so to speak.
This newest Virgin River story features Kelly Mattock, sous chef at a post San Francisco restaurant, who receives some distressing news, awakens in the hospital and is told she must simplify her life. She retreats to her sister’s old Victorian home in Virgin River. Along the way, she stops at the local bar and meets handsome Lief Holbrook, a new Virgin River resident. Two martinis mixed with her prescription drugs knock her for a loop and Lief offers to drive her to her sister’s.
Jillian has converted her property to an organic garden. The house she shares with Colin. Both are happy to have Kelly there and anxious to help in any way they can. Widower, Lief is fascinated by Kelly, but he’s having his own difficulties parenting stepdaughter Courtney, now in her Goth mode. Still he stops by to see how she’s doing.
Once at Jillian’s Kelly takes over her sister’s kitchen and soon a mouthwatering array of soups, sauces, preserves and more pour out of the kitchen. Kelly at first feels she needs to find a job, but soon she discovers the joy in cooking in her sister’s kitchen and offering her food items to the locals. Jillian encourages her and plans for a joint venture between the two.
Meanwhile, Lief becomes more and more interested in Kelly. The feeling is mutual, however, Courtney’s problems threaten to keep them apart. Lief and Courtney visit a counselor, Lief introduces his daughter to horseback riding with Lilly, a wise Native American. Gradually, Courtney begins to change, but she remains unfriendly to Kelly. How they work it out is part of the beauty of this story.
Ms. Carr’s characters sparkle. Even the secondary characters are pure gold. Her knowledge of human nature makes Kelly’s, Lief’s and Courtney’s journeys very, very special. While this is a romance, the sex doesn’t overwhelm the wonderful story. Each character seems perfect in their role and there’s enough interest to keep the pages turning. The talented Ms. Carr deals with the various situations with compassion and realism which makes Harvest Moon a superb read.
Brava Ms. Carr, you are on my automatic read list.
