Temptation Ridge
3 Stars

Following the death of her mother, Shelby McIntyre comes to stay with her family in Virgin River until she decides about her future. Ex-army helicopter pilot Luke Riordon arrives in town seeking a quiet and peaceful place to settle after the chaos of military life. Shelby and Luke want completely different things in life, but the heart wants what it wants. . . .

There is too much going on in this series - too many couples, too many storylines and too much angst. The narrative starts out with one pair, but just as the reader becomes immersed, it transitions to the next and then the next. This is not only dizzying, but makes it difficult to truly care about the characters.

In addition to updates on the familiar characters (Mel, Jack, Doc, etc.), this installment focuses on three couples - Shelby and Luke, Cameron and Abby, and Walt and Muriel. Shelby and Luke's romance has tremendous potential, but ultimately falls flat as, to be honest, they are boring. Neither one is a particularly interesting character as his preoccupation with his first marriage is a cliché, and her struggle to get him to accept her makes her seem weak.

Walt and Muriel's story is sweet and endearing, but it is too much considering everything else that is going on.

Cameron and Abby's one-night-stand with consequences story is the best romance of the three. Their sexual attraction is off the charts, and they are both deserving of happiness. Unfortunately, their story ends on a cliffhanger, which is annoying.

Overall, I'm getting worn out on Virgin River and will only continue as I am interested in how things turn out for Cam and Abby. ( )

Not even 2 really, I'm liking these less and less. I shouldn't commit to a series on the strength of one book ( )

Luke and Shelby's story. Luke moves to Virgin River to start over after leaving the service. He meets Shelby who is also starting over and is attracted to her but things she is way to young for him. Walt and Muriel move forward in their relationship. Jack and the gang at the bar are all involved which is what makes this series so great. The characters are active in each book even as new stories get started. ( )

Shelby, retired general Walt's niece, comes to Virgin River for a break after 5 years as her late mother's caregiver. New to town is Black Hawk pilot Luke, who is definitely not the man she should get involved with. But sometimes the wrong man, is really the right one. Back stories of Luke, who finds mentally challenged Art squatting in one of his cabins. Thinking there's more to Art's story, he fixes up the cabin and hires him to help renovate the rest of the cabin string on the river. Back romances with Walt & movie actress Muriel, Cameron's hook up with Abby in a chance meeting in Grant's pass has consequences, and Doc passes away suddenly leaving a doctor vacancy in Virgin River that Cam steps in to fill for a year ( )

I don't think Robyn Carr could write a bad book. This is the second book I have read by her and it is part of her Virgin River series and although I didn't connect with the characters as well in this one as I did in her first book of the series I totally enjoyed this one. Not normally my cuppa this book is a May/December relationship type of book. Luke is 13 years older the Shelby and Carr did an excellent job of acknowledging it. She managed to create a storyline that, granted, had been done in the past with a younger inexperienced woman and an older worldly man, but made it fresh and didn't feel like a 1970's Harlequin Presents. Not that I am dissing those books....I cut my teeth on them, but after so many years my romantic tastes in reading material have grown and matured with me. I didn't think that I would or could like a book where the hero and heroine were so different but I did.

As far as the couple goes....Luke didn't stand a chance against Shelby. She set her sights on him and he tried to resist....tried really hard but in the end gave in (not such a hardship really). Shelby, although inexperienced in relationships she wasn't naive which I appreciated. I liked both Shelby and Luke.

During the course of the book, typical of the series, we experience life in Virgin River, see old friends, meet new friends and witness a major happening that brings that town together. From the books I read, this is a standard theme. I don't mind. It works. But this isn't all that happens. Carr carries the story of Virgin River along where it really doesn't feel formulaic at all. There are plenty of new happenings to keep the series fresh which is good because from what I hear she is continuing the series bringing three new ones out this year and next year....possibly the year after too. Great news for fans.

I cannot recommend this series enough to my fellow romance lovers. I often compare them to Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove books which I also really like. ( )