Robyn Carr

Nobody writes about female friendships better than Robyn Carr and her latest novel, The Friendship Club, is a perfect example.

Marni hosts a successful cooking show on television. Like Ina Garten ( The Barefoot Contessa), the show is filmed in her own home, where she is ably assisted by Ellen, who has been with her for twenty years. Ellen is creative with food but has no desire to appear on camera, she is happy to leave that to Marni.

Sophia is interning with Marni and hopes to have a career in broadcast journalism. Marni's daughter Bella is anxiously awaiting the birth of her first child with her husband Jason.

Although Marni has very successful career, her love life could use some work. She was widowed at a young age and now is divorced from her second husband after she caught him cheating on her. Ellen was a longtime caregiver for her seriously ill husband and is wary about getting into a new relationship.

Sophia is excited about a new man in her life, but soon discovers that he is possessive and potentially dangerous. Marni had experience with that with her first husband and begins to worry about Sophia. Bella has concerns about her own marriage as well.

As the story progresses, Marni finds herself unexpectedly attracted to a new man in her life and Ellen's retired firefighter neighbor would like to start a romance with her. Marni jumps in with both feet and encourages Ellen not to let her past get in the way of a possible happy future.

I liked that we see relationships at all stages and ages- young Sophia, Bella and her husband as they await the birth of a baby, and Marni and Ellen in the 60s opening up their hearts to new possibilities.

Robyn Carr's characters are always so interesting, and seeing older women excited about new romance is enjoyable and refreshing to read. And no matter how long ago you went through a pregnancy, you can relate to Bella's situation. Carr's male characters are well drawn and realistic too.

I enjoy foodie books, and reading about Marni and Ellen's recipes and Ellen's volunteer work feeding people fleeing wildfires was fascinating. The Friendship Club is a wonderful book to gift to your girlfriends on Galentine's Day, I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Winter 2024 Blog Tours.… (meer)

I watched the first episode of the television adaptation of this series a few years ago. It felt like something I'd sooner read than view, so I left the series for my wife to devour (she loves it!) and added this book to my ever-expanding reading list.
Skip to 2024. "Virgin River" finally made it to the top of my list. I've just finished reading it, and I'm happy I decided to do so.

Melinda is a midwife/nurse practitioner. She was married to Mark, a Doctor, and they work together and love together, and everything is perfect.

Tragedy strikes. Mark is senselessly gunned down when he stumbles upon a robbery-in-progress. Melinda is shattered. She decides to leave the ruins of her life behind and take a position in a remote township, assisting the community's sole medical practitioner.

When Melinda arrives in Virgin River, she hates everything about the place and regrets her actions, including selling her city home and disposing of most of her possessions. She decides she cannot stay and resolves to leave as soon as she can extricate herself from her commitment.

This is a story of found family, and I loved accompanying Melinda on her journey as she begins to see beneath the surface of where her life has brought her and reassess her values and self-worth. It is also a story of infatuation that blooms into love.

The day-to-day events in this book revolve around Melinda's work as a midwife and nurse practitioner. We see how she impacts the lives of the women of Virgin River, and pregnancy and childbirth are prominent and repeated themes.
The romance between Melinda and Jack, ex-marine and restauranteur, is a slow burn. If you're looking for sex in the first chapter, then this is probably not the book for you, but when they finally get to it, it's worth the wait.

As I only saw the first episode of the TV adaptation of this series, I don't know how closely it follows this book. I know that Melinda and Jack's relationship is central to the ongoing series, but I understand the focus of the written series switches to a different couple for each book. I prefer fully self-contained stories to drawn-out epics, so this suits me well, and I'm looking forward to continuing with this series.… (meer)