About Me
- Pamela Clare
- I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.
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Saturday, October 23, 2010
Argh! Someone please confiscate my TBR!
Shelter Mountain by Robyn CarrMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I hate myself. I read this entire book in a few big gulps rather than working on the novel that is already late to New York. Go me.
Why? Well, for starters, I've gotten really attached to the whole damned town of Virgin River. I had to see what would happen to Mel and Jack and Preacher and Paige and their buddy Mike and poor Rick and Liz.
The book weaves together all of these couples and their story lines, and it's told from a myriad of perspectives. So while the story ostensibly focused on Preacher and Paige, there was a lot to the story that didn't involve them.
Paige is the quintessential abused wife who accidentally winds up in Virgin River at Jack's bar while trying to escape her S.O.B. of a husband. She and her little boy come under Preacher's protection — and the relationship between them builds over time, first as she goes about trying to set up a life free of abuse and then later as she and Preacher fall in love.
As with the first book in this series, Virgin River, I enjoyed the midwifery aspects of the story. And it was good to see the issue of spousal abuse — I like that more than the term "domestic violence," which sounds friendlier somehow — explored with authenticity. It's a topic I've covered a lot as a journalist, and Paige seems to go through all the classic responses.
Because we get all these characters' continuing stories, there are ups and downs for everyone. I couldn't stop from getting teared up over the tragedy that befalls Rick and Liz.
But I need to NOT buy the next one until I'm done with my own book, because clearly once I start I'm just done writing until I'm done reading. If that makes any sense....
So I end the evening with the glow of having read a wonderful book and the all-consuming guilt of an author who made precisely zero progress on her own manuscript today.
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7 comments:
Hi Pamela
I ordered the Virgin River series the other day. I was looking to take something on holidays with me to read and these books sound great from all the reviews. I hope to start reading the first book as soon as it comes in the post.
Don't feel guilty about taking timeout to read these books you enjoy. Sometimes doing things we want to do make us better at the things we have to do. It's good to hear that you took time for yourself.
I've been interested in this series since I read your post the other day for the first book, Virgin River. I actually looked for them in my local B/N but did not buy them. Like you, when I get my nose in a book, everything fades to the background and before I know it, it's time to get the kids from school, and there are still dishes in the sink, laundry to be done, and the dreaded, bills to pay. Learned the hard way on that when after two or three months of $30 late charges on a credit card bill. :(
I agree with Di P, though....it's been a crazy time for you. If you needed to loose yourself in a book for a bit, so be it! Have a great weekend!
Hi, Di — I bet this series would be perfect for Christmas. If you start just a bit ahead of the holiday, you'll be able to read the Christmas story. I know there's one in the series. It's very homey and comforting. And thanks for letting me off the hook. I still feel guilty, but I'm not a machine. It's hard for me to take breaks.
Let me know what you think of the books.
Hi, Lisa — Oh, I hate those late charges. I think of them as a kind of tax on spacey people. Sometimes when I'm really busy I just forget stuff. Like bills. Or license plate tags. This is shaping up to be an enjoyable series, so I hope you like it!
This series is like crack, I tell you. LOL, I know exactly how you feel! And I sure hope there are move Virgin River stories in the pipeline.
I was up until 1.30 in the morning reading this one the other day, on a work night! So tired the next day, but so worth it!
I loved the first few in this series, then liked the next ones, then finally encountered one I threw against a wall. OH well! I still love the early books and re-read them!
Hi Pamela,
I heard so many good things about this series I had to pick them up! Just this past week I started with first book and I'm quickly moving through the series! I'm completely addicted...I love how you continue to hear how her past characters are doing in each book!