Los Angeles native Melinda Monroe needs an escape from her life after her husband dies in a robbery. Mel answers an ad for a nurse practitioner/midwife needed to assist a doctor in a small town called Virgin River, which seems like the perfect solution to her problems. She sells her house and her clothes, gets rid of her husband's things, and drives up into the mountains of California. Mel has an idea of what she can expect from small-town life. A slower pace in her work. Clean air and quiet time to herself. And best of all, a respite from the violence and despair she sees every day as a nurse in one of LA's biggest hospitals. But life in Virgin River turns out to be different than she expected, and she soon learns that small towns have drama of their own...

Former marine Jack Sheridan is the proprietor of Virgin River's only bar and restaurant (which is eerily reminiscent of Luke's place in the Gilmore Girls), and one of the only single, attractive men in the small town. When Mel shows up, Jack he finds himself instantly attracted to her. He has always been the sort of guy who didn't form attachments with women, and made it known from the start, but when Mel comes into town he can't help but fall for her. And suddenly convincing this city girl that small-town life is a good idea becomes his sole mission...

VIRGIN RIVER is the first in a series, followed by Shelter Mountain and Whispering Rock. This book reminded me instantly of the Gilmore Girls, which I love, with its small town charm and close-knit relationships. Mel is grieving when she shows up in town, and she's using Virgin River as a way of rebuilding the life that she's lost. When she shows up, however, she quickly learns that it's not going to be that easy. The doctor that she's supposed to assist is a surly older man who doesn't want any help, the cabin she's been promised rent free is falling apart and covered in dust, and the quaint small town that she's expecting isn't nearly as endearing as it appeared in the photos. Mel has to learn to look past outside appearances and see the town for what it can be. And Jack is a guy's guy who likes fishing, scotch, hanging with the guys, and running his own business. He's not looking for love, and he has a woman in the next town over who satisfies his physical needs. But he can't help but want to protect Mel and figure out what makes her so sad. He wants her to stay in Virgin River and he finds himself falling for her right away.

This book was endearing, entertaining, and heart-wrenching. Some of the scenes as Mel works through losing her husband tore at my heart, but Jack was always there to hehlp her pick up the pieces. Also, the supporting characters in VIRGIN RIVER were just as interesting as the hero and heroine. Between the crotchety old doctor, Jack's former marine buddy Preacher, and Hope McCrea (who lured Mel into Virgin River in the first place), I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Shelter Mountain. If you like stories about small-town life and close-knit communities, I think you'll definitely enjoy VIRGIN RIVER.

Book Summary

Welcome back to Virgin River with the book that started it all…

Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against a backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad, she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving—the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.

But a tiny baby abandoned on a front porch changes her plans…and former marine Jack Sheridan cements them into place.

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