Sounds like a great book, Pamela. This one is going on my TBR list.

Thanks for the review. I'll keep my eyes open.

It was just okay for me. I have about two million things I'd rather read about than pap smears and pregnancies - and as the series goes on, that's all there is.

Robyn Carr is an astoundingly talented writer, but I don't like her women's health bonanza.

Plus I hate Mary Sue, self-righteous, ‘I’m going to force every woman in town to have her breasts examined’ Mel. Books three and four (the Christmas one) are my favourites.

Whoops, forgot.

I do agree though about the heroines. I like women to be women, men to be men. Women can be tough without being She-Men.

When it comes down to it, most women who read these books would never be running around with guns, kicking arse, saving the world with their brawn. Better authors (like you!) can maintain femininity and keep their characters strong.

But Mel is awful. In a later book she tells another woman she’s ‘unusual’ for being a virgin in her mid-twenties – tells her right after she’s forced her to have a pap smear. It’s so unprofessional and unkind. Robyn Carr won’t acknowledge not all women want marriage and babies before twenty-five.

I guess I was never going to love this series though, because I don't like babies, don't want babies, and have never understood women who are obsessed with them. I don't understand why it's considered ‘normal’ for a woman to be desperate to reproduce, and you’re considered defective if you don’t want it. Those expectations are never put on men! I feel I deserve to believe I'm a worthwhile person regardless of whether or not I reproduce.

Hi, Jennie — It really enjoyed it1 I hope you do get the time to read it.

Hi, Ronlyn — I know you'll love Jack and Preacher. :-)

Hi, SN — Absolutely, women have value even if they don't want to have kids. I think the romance genre doesn't offer a lot of depictions (other than Eve as in "Roarke and Eve") who aren't actively wanting babies.

In reality, more and more women are making that choice. On the one hand, I envy their lack of stretch marks and financial well being. On the other, I love my boys and would rip my own heart out for them.

For a long time, I couldn't imagine myself having kids. I say "a long time" — that was my teen years. I hated babysitting people's little bratty kids. Then I got gobsmacked by hormones or something at 20 and all I could think about was babies. Had two, and that cured me. :-)

My mother was a L&D nurse, and I have several friends who are certified nurse midwives. I've thought of leaving journalism and going back to school for two years to become one myself because there are places in the world where CNMs save lives every day. (One of my friends runs a midwifery clinic in Uganda near the IDP camps and is a true hero in my eyes.) That seems so much more relevant than journalism, but...

Forcing people to have PAPs -- that's awkward. I guess I'll have to see how her character unfolds. I wonder if the author is taking on the issue in a "public service" sort of way.

And THANK YOU for saying that I keep my heroines feminine but strong. She-roes just don't do it for me, but my heroines have been called wimps. I've always felt they were pretty strong women — even if they do have a penchant for tears that they inherited from their author. (I cry at the drop of a hat! So does my sister.)

I guess one other thing I enjoyed in the book was her reference to women from prison being brought in and shackled to their hospital beds...

That is, of course, an issue dear to my heart.

I loved this book and I ended up devouring the whole series. As with any series, some books are better than others. I think what I really like about the series is the sense of community that she created in Virgin River. It's a utopia that sounds too good to be true.

I understand SN's reaction because the series does seem to be all about the babies. It often made me wonder why *I* liked it so well, LOL. I guess it comes down to good writing, an attractive setting, and characters with great chemistry.

P.S. Hope you're feeling well!

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll put it on my TBR list!

Oh, and I don't like macho women heroes either. I guess because I just can't relate. If I were in the situations some of these heroines are put in (yours come to mind), I'd be a complete mess! I think your women are very strong. But there are the biological facts of life as well. Not very many 120 pound women (who live ordinary lives and aren't police officers or military personnel) can take on a 225 pound man who's all muscle and trained to be a killer. It's not realistic. And, if it were me, I'd be curled up in the fetal position, sucking my thumb. Your heroines are amazing!

Oh, and about the crying thing....I cry at everything. I was always afraid whenever I was anchoring or reporting that I would burst into tears on the air. And, to paraphrase Tom Hanks..."There's no crying in broadcasting!" But let me tell you...some stories were tough.

I agree with you on the Virgin River series, I devoured all 10 and loved them all. I understand there are 3 new ones in 2011. But you, Ms. Clare, are my all time favorite author. I have read 280 romances in 8 months, thanks to my kindle, including your 4 I-Team series, which are phenomenal, and 2 of your historicals, the rest will be read soon. You are an amazing author and I love your blogs. Thank you. J. Emerson

Hi, Phyl — Interesting that you enjoyed it despite the baby boom. I think the idea of a close-knit community is compelling to most people because few of us have that. I'm glad to know I have some good books ahead of me. The characters did have chemistry, for sure. And I really adored them.

I am feeling better. It's slow but sure. My next checkup is Nov. 2. I still get tired very easily. Thanks so much for the good wishes!

Hi, Diane — I'm glad to know I'm not the only crybaby. I once got choked up while delivering the address at a college graduation ceremony. Man, was that every embarrassing. Wanted. To. Die.

I think doing broadcast would be tough that way. I can cry my eyes out while I write a column or an article and no one knows. But if I were on the air or on the TV...

When we covered the Columbine Massacre, I lasted three days — and then I flipping lost it. We're talking sobs.

Hi, J Emerson — Oh, my goodness! Thank you so much. I am so glad to know you've enjoyed my stories that much. I don't even know what to say. I do try to put everything I have into them.

I will say that 280 books in that short a period of time is amazing. That's a LOT of reading.

Hopefully, you'll enjoy the other historicals and BREAKING POINT, too.

Thanks for your very kind words. You made my evening.

P.S. to J — I'm glad you enjoy the blogs, too. I really had no idea what I was doing when I started writing this blog, but it turned into just a very relaxed way of communicating with you all — and a great place to display man-chest now and again. ;-)

I've never read any of Robyn's books, but I've heard people rave about them for a while now.

This is one of my favorite sereis. All of her books are just so heartwarming. They're the romance version of a toasty, warm blanket!