Whispering Rock (Virgin River, #3)

by Robyn Carr

[ibeforem]

There is a LOT going on in this book, and I don't think it served it well.

First, you have the main characters, Mike and Brie. Mike is a Marine/retired LAPD cop who is in Virgin River after being shot on the job and needing a good place to recover. Brie is the sister of his good friend Jack. She was a prominent prosecutor until being attacked raped by a man she couldn't convict (not really a spoiler, it happens first thing in the book). They spend the whole book dancing around each other as Mike (also a victim of a violent crime) tries to gently help her recover and hopes she'll fall in love with him a long the way. Which, duh.

But along with them there are so many other things going on. There's Jack and Mel's story. There's Preacher and Paige. There's the General, Vanessa, and Tommy. There's Tommy and his girlfriend Brenda. There's Jack and Mike's friend Paul. There's something sinister happening among the area teens. And we'll throw in a couple of other townspeople for good measure. IT'S TOO MUCH.

I think the love story really suffered from lack of conflict. Sure, there is some external conflict affecting both Mike and Brie, but there is absolutely no conflict between the two of them. I need a little spice with my sugar, please.

Overall, it's not bad, just not the best. I like Robyn Carr's books if I want a pleasant, gentle romance with interconnecting characters, but I guess this one was just a little too gentle. I'll definitely read more (I've already started the next one).