sashabraulov

Angel’s Peak, another in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series is proof that the books keep getting better and better. This is the story of hotshot U-2 pilot Sean Riordan and Franci Duncan. Together as a couple for two years, Franci wanted marriage and children; Sean felt they were committed, but he didn’t want the ring or the rug rats. The romance ended badly with things said that finished the relationship. What wasn’t said, on Franci’s part, is that she was pregnant. Feeling Sean wasn’t committed, she didn’t want him to “do the honorable thing” if his heart wasn’t in it, so she fled to her mother’s. Vivian and her daughter moved north and found work in Eureka and Redding–Vivian as a medical assistant in a doctor’s office, and Franci, after daughter Rosie was born, as a flight nurse running medical helicopter runs. Meanwhile, Sean is burning up excess leave from Beale Air Force Base in Virgin River. He hasn’t forgotten Franci, and after making a couple of attempts to locate her, he’s been on his own except for a few less-than satisfactory short-term relationships. One night he stops at a bar in Arcata to give brother Luke and his new wife Shelby some space and discovers Franci with a group of women. She is not happy to see him, and not inclined to share that she has his daughter–at least not yet. After a kerfuffle in a supermarket parking lot where Sean takes a beating from a trucker protecting Franci, he persuades her to give him a call so they can talk. Franci has a dinner date with a college professor that ends badly, and when the professor drives her home, Sean is parked across the street. He follows her to the door and she reluctantly lets him in to talk but doesn’t tell him about Rosie. The talk turns passionate as Sean turns on the charm, and they spend an incredible night together. However, the next morning, Vivian, who lives four houses down, returns Rosie to Franci’s, and Sean gets the shock of a lifetime. He has absolutely no idea how to talk to a child, but soon discovers he wants to get to know this three and a half-year-old pixie with the Riordan red hair and green eyes–his “Wide Iwish Rose”. Some help from Jack’s regulars starts him on his way, and as the days pass cocky Sean discovers an entirely different side of him. Winning over Franci is a different matter. Other Virgin River regulars make appearances and there are family gatherings, friendships made and lasting commitments in unexpected places. I particularly enjoyed Maureen Riordan’s awakening from almost nun to enlightened. Her friendship with Vivian was wonderful. And George Davenport is a wonderful addition to the Virgin River family. We get a glimpse of Noah Kincaid and Ellie, also Dan Brady and Cheryl Chreighton. This is a delightful “feel good” book that gets two thumbs way up from me.

2022-12-01 12:31