Synopsis
“Virgin River became a safe haven for Sacramento prosecutor Brie Sheridan after she nearly lost her life at the hands of a violent criminal. Though tough and courageous, she has some fears she can’t escape. LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty. When he agrees to become Virgin River’s first cop, he does so knowing it’s time he settled down. Twice divorced and the lover of too many women, he secretly longs for the kind of commitment and happiness his marine buddies have found – a woman who can tie up his heart forever. Mike will do anything to help Brie free herself from painful memories. Passionate, strong and gentle, he vows to give back to her what she’s so selflessly given him – her heart, and with it, a new beginning.”
-Synopsis from back of the book
Review
Whispering Rock is book three in the Virgin River series. When Mike Valenzuela and Brie Sheridan made appearances in the last book, Shelter Mountain, I immediately liked both of them and hoped that their story would feature in a future Virgin River book.
This book starts on a rather intense note, with Brie’s assault in the very first chapter. I wasn’t quite expecting this, but it really kicks off the story. Mike immediately goes to Sacramento to support her in any way that she needs, ultimately becoming her close friend and confidant. We hear a lot about Mike’s past and his reputation as being a bit of a player, and as with the last book, Jack continues to encourage Brie to stay away from him. But Mike has changed since his own injury and emotional turmoil that happened in LA, and has a renewed sense of self and desire to be a better man.
There are numerous other storylines interwoven throughout the book including that of some teenagers in Virgin River who are engaging in dangerous and criminal acts, and on a lighter note, Mel and Jack and their growing family. As with the previous two books, there are so many heavy topics being discussed that it can become a little overwhelming. The domestic issues between different characters, along with the very detailed look at Mel’s career as a midwife can be a bit much. I forgot how heavy some of the topics can be with this series and perhaps it was too heavy for this time of year.
While reading I was again struck by just how different Virgin River on Netflix is from the series! Before I started the book, the series was renewed for two more season. I plan to watch, and to continue reading the books, but I don’t know that I will necessarily prioritize the books after this. It’s a bummer because I just bought book four, but maybe in a few months I will be in the mood to read it.
Hannah's Library 