Paradise Valley - Robyn Carr

Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraq--his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. The carefree boy is gone, replaced by a man who believes his future is as bleak as his mirror image. But can the passion and commitment of a young woman who has never given up on him mend his broken body and shattered heart?As the people of Virgin River rally around Rick, another recent arrival tests the tightly knit mountain town's famous welcoming spirit. Dan Brady has a questionable past, and he's looking for a place to start over. He'd like it to be Virgin River...if he can find a way in. But he never expects to find it in the arms of a woman who was as much an outcast as himself.
For a favorite son returned from war and an outsider looking for a home, Virgin River offers them a chance to make peace with the men they once were...and to find the dreams they thought they'd lost.

This story left me a bit annoyed with Carr. I think Rick and Lizzie deserved their own book after all they went through in the previous stories. And the same goes for Dan Brady which she had  lead me to believe to be some king of undercover cop. I was still a good story but considering the baggage all those characters carried with them I think, like this, we never got as deep as we could have in knowing them and watching them heal.

In the Rick and Lizzie story I especially liked Lizzie, she did a lot of growing up since the first time she appeared in these stories and considering Rick's behaviour she was the sensible, grown up one in this story. I had a good laugh that they shared the same therapist without knowing it. And I was very happy when things finally started to get on the right track.

Dan and Cheryl's story I felt really deserved more time. And maybe we get that in the future because here they mostly get to know each other as friends. But I felt they had built a strong foundation so maybe Cheryl can heal and make a good life for herself. Their ending felt a bit like a cliffhanger...

Grade: 3/5