After having binge watched the tv series on Netflix, I was really excited to read the book that inspired it. Jack doesn’t come across as quite so likeable in the book, whereas we get a better insight into Mel’s character, which is just lovely. She is so relatable, with such a heartbreaking back story, that you can’t help but want her to find love with Jack. The small town setting is just lovely and I love the way the author weaves in quirky secondary characters to add interest. It’s a wonderful story that really tugs at your emotions.

Recently widowed Mel has come to Virgin River for a new start, to escape the memories and loss in LA and start anew. Only when she arrives things aren’t quite as she expected and it’s going to take a lot of warmth and love to make Mel not only accept the small town, but also embrace a new romance as well.

I read the first few books in this series years ago and remember quite enjoying them. I also LOVED the Netflix show so when Mills and Boon offered me a copy I jumped at the chance to revisit the small, cosy town of Virgin River.

Only it wasn’t quite what I remembered.

I adored the small town feel of the story, all the various people helping each other in times of need. It was wonderful to read that sense of community, and heart-warming to read about them all welcoming Mel in the beginning. I also really enjoyed reading about Mel and her job, and thought her grief was handled amazingly well. But there’s also a small downside to the emotions in this book and I think it’s because of the way Robyn Carr writes. She has a very distant sort of third person perspective that makes it difficult to really get in the mind of the characters, which made it very difficult to understand and like a certain character.

And this character, for me, was Jack, our ‘hero’. Honestly, he starts off as a bit of an arse. He doesn’t come across well at all, and the way he thinks of the women in his life is awful. He did redeem himself a bit towards the end but it was still very hard for me to warm up to him, especially as a romantic love interest.

I did love all the other characters introduced though, and am very interested in reading about Preacher’s story.

All in all, this was a cosy, slow-paced small town romance and if you’re a fan of the show you’ll definitely like this too. Just keep in mind that it was originally published 20 years ago and some of the characters’ ways of thinking is a bit dated.

Having watched the series, I was desperate to get my hands on this book and wasn't disappointed. It's heartwarming and makes you want to move up in the mountains and make Virgin River your home too.

It has been years since I picked up the first Virgin River book by Robyn Carr. I was in my teens when I picked up the first book and experienced the joy that is Virgin River. Mills & Boon sent me a review copy of the first book to celebrate the release of the Netflix show, and it was all the excuse I needed to jump back in.

To give you an idea of the series, the books can all be read as standalone, but have a common themes of fresh starts, people finding their place in Virgin River, and bringing together found families. It's the best type of story, and although I stopped reading at around the seventh book, it's a series that I think about often. It brings a smile to my face.

I have no idea why I stopped reading this series - I think college had a lot to do with it!

Now that there is a fancy new Netflix series based on the book, I decided to go back to where it all started and read Virgin River by Robyn Carr, then watch the series. In a single weekend. Because why not.

Supplies
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (gifted)
Charged tablet with Netflix
Tea
Ginger Nut biscuits
Chopped melon for snacks
Rosé wine for drinks

Virgin River by Robyn Carr cover

Friday Night
Yes, the weekend for me starts the moment I get in from work on a Friday. And this Friday it starts with a cup of tea and a book.

It's winter and it's freezing, so I'm curled up in a blanket and I'm using a travel mug to keep my tea warm and avoid spills. I'm nibbling on ginger nut biscuits to keep my energy up. I'm going to start the book tonight and see how far I get before my attention wanders (I have a very short attention span).
Mel squinted into the rain and darkness, creeping along the narrow, twisting, muddle, tree-enshrouded road and for the hundredth time thought, am I out of my mind?
It was all going well until I blinked and it was too hours later and my tea was cold. I had gotten so engrossed in the story that I was almost one third through. I had forgotten how much I absolutely love the writing style and how Melinda's character comes out so much in the narration.

I gulped down my cold tea, grabbed myself some dinner, and started a bath running. Time for stage two of my Friday night!

With lavender bath salts and a large glass of wine, I sank down and continued reading on until my bath was cold and my glass was empty. Now over half way through I got out, dried myself off, put on my comfiest pyjamas and got in to bed.

I only meant to read another few chapters as it was getting late, but I ended up reading until around two o'clock in the morning when I turned the last page.

Saturday
Even though I stayed up way too late reading on Friday night, I'm up with the sun. Because I am excited. Today is the day I start on my Netflix journey.

I had a super weird dream where babies just turned up on my doorstep every morning, and by the time I woke the house in my dream had babies on every surface. It was weird.

After breakfast, I settled down on the couch with a huge cup of tea and started the Netflix series on the big TV.

I paced myself pretty well, I made a cup of tea for every episode, and after the third episode I took my dog out for a walk.

I do have to say that the characters are not quite as I imagined them - but that's something that happens with most adaptations. I'm finding it easy to see the show and the book as separate, but I love how the show still has the same general vibes. Also the scenery? Wow. Take me there please, I am even more in love with the setting.

Sunday
We're on the final stretch. Today is my Lazy Day and I have no plans except for watching Virgin River. I am so glad that past me made time for this, because honestly I love it. It's a weekend of self-care and love and warm fuzzies. And wine.

I have six more episodes to get through, and with each episode almost an hour long I don't have much time as I still have to get everything sorted for work again on Monday. With this in mind, I have breakfast in bed and watch two episodes on my tablet. Or, I intend to watch two episodes. What I end up doing is watching four, taking a nap because I'm so comfortable and content, and then make myself a late lunch and walk the dog.

When I get back in, I run myself a bath, pour in some bubbles, pour myself a glass of wine, and precariously balance my tablet on my bath shelf. I like a bit of danger, but also my tablet is seven years old and I need a proper excuse to get a new one.

Two hours and a cold bath later I am done.

I can't believe it's over, and I kind of want to do it all again.

As much as I am a big rereader of books, I am also a big rewatcher of shows and films that I enjoy. Along with Reign and Empresses in the Palace, I feel like Virgin River could easily be on my R U OK HUN? list of go-to shows.

Have you read or watched Virgin River?

This was the perfect escapism! Just what I needed.
I got completely lost in Virgin River, with Mel and Jack and the residents.
Mel is a very likeable, relatable character with a story to tell and I loved learning about her past and then where the future will take her.
Jack, oh don't we wish we had a Jack in our lives? Again he has a past..... basically the characters are very well developed even the residents!
I can see why this has been made into a series, it works really well and I personally loved both the book and the tv series.
I am now going to start book 2 ready for season 2! ... I can not wait to return to Virgin River.

This is book one in The Virgin River Series and it is Melinda and Jack's story and wow what another brilliant book in The Virgin River Series. Melinda has been recently widowed and she needs to get away so when she sees an advert for a nurse/midwife in Virgin River she decides to just go for it but things don't always go as planned. Jack is a former U.S. Marine and runs the bar in Virgin River and he is smitten by Melinda but will it all work out of not. Robyn Carr is a brilliant author and writer and I look forward to reading more of her books.
I voluntarily reviewed an Arc copy of this book.

Loved it!
I admit I had mixed feelings about reading this as I’d watched the Netflix tv show based on the series and I loved it, but I’d heard that people either loved the tv or the book. But I couldn’t keep away I needed to know. I’m so pleased I did, I loved every minute of it. Having character point of reference from the tv show helped me enjoy it as the characters were already developed in my mind. There were some very large differences in this book to the tv show, the whole Mel and Jack story line is wrapped up in the book and I have to say, I grinned from ear to ear. I can certainly see why it’s been such a sensational hit and I just wish I’d gotten to it years ago. I loved the detail in the descriptions of the area, the details of procedures and the wonderful friendships. I can’t wait to visit them all again in the next book.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr is a contemporary novel about community, grief and new beginnings. It is the first book in the Virgin River series which promises to be heart-warming.
The area of Virgin River represents a complete change of life as a character tries to overcome a devastating loss. From big city and a busy ER to a sleepy mountain town with just one doctor, the contrast could not be greater. However there are still similar problems with unsavoury situations and not always as safe as it may at first seem. There are still challenges to face and situations to overcome.
There are some huge hearts within the novel – hearts that look for the best in others as they try to improve and save lives.
The sense of community runs through out. Most people offer a warm welcome to strangers. Needs are met as a town pulls together.
The heroine is a plucky young woman with an air of vulnerability. You cannot help but love her as she looks for the best in everyone she meets.
It is never too late to have a new beginning. We may fear leaving the old behind but we will never move forward if we keep one foot in the past.
Virgin River was a charming novel with heart-warming characters. It will leave you smiling.
A word of caution: there were ‘bedroom’ scenes with far too much detail for me, so I just skipped over these pages. It did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel which was positively charming.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

When I binge watched Virgin River on Netflix during Lockdown I had no idea it was based on a book! It’s a great series about second chances and learning to trust again....and of course the book is even better!
There are some minor changes to plots and characters. There is one major event which doesn’t take place in the Netflix series (probably too controversial for a mainstream TV show) but certainly makes for dramatic reading. The book describes Mel’s gradual settling into her new role as a nurse practitioner/midwife in the small, friendly, town of Virgin River and deals well with describing the sometimes eventful nature of the job. It’s an easy, enjoyable read- just as easy to binge read as the show to binge watch!
I’m delighted to find out there is a whole series of Virgin River books as well as a second series on Netflix. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for helping me realise this!

A Netflix Original Series
Read the book that started it all!

Virgin River is the perfect getaway place. It's beautiful views, it's wonderful townsfolk and it's just so friendly. Mel, recently divorced, wants that fresh start. She decides to move from her busy city life to Virgin River but things go wrong pretty much as soon as she arrives. With no home and no friends she accepts help from the local lad Jack.

This story is a real 'hug in a book'. Uplifting, romantic, family bonds and friends for life. This book is pure escapism. I love the characters, I love the setting. I love the book.

Didnt take me tong to get through this book. I loved the tv show but this book was great. It didnt take me long to read it but i loved it. The story was fabulous such a light hearted book to dive into

I loved the book and rated it 4 stars. It was a lovely, emotional story and I fell in love with the characters and the community spirit. A great romance for anyone that wants an easy book to read.

Virgin River begins with a familiar and popular trope in the romance genre, of grieving widow, starting over in a small town, away from everything she knew before. Bereaved Melinda, takes up a midwife and nurse practitioner post in a remote rural small town Virgin River. She is promised cosy accommodation, a thriving medical practice in need of her skills and a lovely town to live in.

What she finds is less than ideal. Layered on top of her perilous emotional state, she feels like getting back in her car and heading back to the city, even if the memories there are too painful to live with.

An emotional event makes her stay in the short term because she's not a quitter, but a consummate professional and big-hearted woman. Little by little the town and its inhabitants draw her in and she begins to enjoy the generosity, caring spirit of a small town, even if is accompanied by gossip and well-meant interference.

This idyllic story, which captures the small town ethos, has authentic, relatable characters, who you long to know more about. They are why it is an engaging read. There are many other books in this series, so it is likely your favourite will get their own story told, in a later book.

The romance is gentle and sensitive taking account of Melinda's loss. Although it reflects conservative values to women, this is in keeping with the culture and setting. Contemporary issues are explored too, again viewed from a small town point of view, which is interesting and realistic.

There is a successful TV series based on the Virgin River books, and the quality of the characters and charm of the contemporary story shows why this is the case.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon in return for an honest review.

I liked this book and thought it a interesting storyline, although a woman moving to a small town after heartbreak is a common theme amongst romance novels.
Especially if the town is very isolated as this gives more opportunity for excitement and crises. Amd here we are in the wilds of California with drug growing and lots of woods, wild animals, hunting, shooting and fishing and all the opportunities for stories they bring.
The one thing I would mention is that this series - of which this is the first book in a series of 18(!!) is now also on TV and the TV version is nothing like the book - after episode one. You can see the novel’s events in the TV version, but tey are much magnified or changed, and no doubt some are in follow on books. So don’t watch TV first!
I thought that the story had some interesting sub-plots and was well written within its genre.
As an English person I would like to point out that some Americans have no idea of the concept of a normal sized house when they think that 1200 square foot is cosy and cocoon like. This is the size of an average UK 3 bedroomed house...