Source: Publisher
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
A Netflix Original Series!
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.
I am not going to lie, this wasn't a favourite and I'd seen the show before reading the first book in this series and couldn't help but compare the two. I didn't hate it, though, and did end up finishing it quite quickly because I was invested in Jack and Mel and their relationship... but I've read better. This is not a new favourite and I think maybe the show worked better for me.
First off, I found at times the description of women and their bodies to be a little uncomfortable. Jack instantly was eyeing Mel up when she was in his bar. She was rain-soaked and not exactly in a chatty mood. I mean, the checking out wasn’t questionable, at a bar folks check each other out. But some of the descriptions used when he saw made him sound a little skeevy. And then when you see how he views Charmaine, his booty call woman he has in Clear River, and then I began to dislike him. She's referred to as older and a little past it and he basically says she looks a little trashy and I'm like ‘dude, you're sleeping with her yet you're being a dick about her. She's too good for you’. He did later mention that appearances are deceiving and that she is actually such a good woman but it was so critical. And then Mel looks at a 14-year-old girl and mentions the way she dressed has her thinking she should be on birth control but she'd hardly spoken to her. I guess it made me a little uncomfortable at times. I know we can all get a bit judgemental initially meeting folks but I didn’t like it. Thankfully, my rough start to the book didn’t carry on through. Things got better and Jack grew on me. But Mel and Jack are not my favourite couple ever. If the show is to be believed, I do want to read Preacher’s romance as that sounds interesting.
Then there was the fact Mel fell so easily pregnant when it was mentioned she struggled with her husband. It just didn't feel believable. It was a convenient ending that was nice but did have me rolling my eyes.
It wasn’t all bad, though. I liked the differences to the show. Jack was more likeable in that he split with Charmaine before growing close to Mel. I know I said he felt a bit skeevy eyeing up Mel as soon as he met her, but I also found that he was more respectable. he didn’t emotionally cheat on his girlfriend and he wasn’t messing her about. He was honest with what he wanted and when it seemed like he could have feelings elsewhere he did something about it. And Doc was easier to like in his grumpy ways in this book. You get to know him and although he’s a curmudgeon, he was nice from the very start. I did miss the relationship between Doc and Hope in the book, though. That added a nice dynamic between the two and explained Hope’s motives way better. We hardly got to see her in the books.
Look, it’s a mixed bag one with this one. I did enjoy it and I’ll probably continue reading more of the books… but the show definitely ironed out a couple of things… but then the book did other things better. It was alright, and I read the whole thing and did enjoy myself so that’s the main thing. But the TV series? It was just kind of bingeable and maybe not the most ground-breaking show, but you know those shoes you end up curling up watching in your PJs? This is one of them. I suppose the books are the same, they aren’t groundbreaking but you end up curling up in your PJs and speeding right on through to the end and you’re always left happy by the end.
Have you read this? Tell me your thoughts if I should continue the series. And what was the last book you read where the TV/movie adaptation was better?
Source: Netgalley/Purchased
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
The thing is, the letters don't always tell me truths about myself. Sometimes they tell me truths about other people. And Reid Sutherland is - was - one of those people.In the last year, Meg Mackworth's beautiful hand-lettering skills have seen her rocket to social media fame, and now she has a booming business crafting stationery for the stars. But she has a secret: sometimes, she just can't resist hiding messages in her work. Slightly unprofessional, maybe - but harmless. Right?Analyst Reid Sutherland and his gorgeous fiancée had their future mapped out. Until he noticed a pattern in his wedding invitation that made him think twice.When Meg looks up from her desk one day and sees Reid standing in front of her with no wedding ring, holding the invitation she created, she thinks that her career is over.But her life may be about to begin . . .Escape into a beautiful world of craft and romance that will grab hold of your heart and never let go.
Welcome to my first review of the year and it’s reviewing the first book I read this year. In fact, the first book I read in about a month. And it was a good one.
This was my longest read in a while. Not in terms of length but just the amount of time I spent reading it. A major slump hit, while I was reading yet it in no way, impacted my enjoyment of this book which is an actual rarity. Usually, the longer I spend reading the book the more chance of me getting bored (I know, for shame). Although I can't call it unputdownable, I could tell if my slump hadn't hit I would have flown through reading. I think I might have preferred reading it at a slower pace. I so rarely spend my time reading books slowly so I felt like I was savouring the story by experiencing it in smaller chunks. I felt like my connection to Meg was stronger for spending longer with her. And Reid? I felt like I was over analysing things as if he was a man I liked. I spent so much more time thinking about where their romance would go next it was sort of like the anticipation for the next date. When can I get my next dose of Meg and Reid cuteness?
This book really made me want to sit down with my bullet journal and just get creative. The book just felt inspiring and I feel like it was the way it was written. I was in Meg's head and her creative thinking was catching. I wanted to write and draw and plan! I love a book inspiring you along with an awesome story. And it made me want to go out walking. To look at signs and see the lettering around me. It also made me want to drop a whole bunch of money on a flight to NYC (again). So, you know, inspirational. This book was inspiring and I just wish that level of inspiration had stayed with me for longer than a couple of weeks. I do still keep trying to walk about and noticing the things around me, though. So I guess this book changed me? We’ll see how long that lasts, though.
I did love how although Meg was quiet and averse to confrontation she did totally call out Reid when he cracked on with the potential mansplaining. And then later on you learn his ways aren't rude that's just his awkwardness coming through. It was so lovely seeing them both grow and come out of their shells and the twists and turns in each of their stories was wonderful to see. They were just these adorable awkward couple who had so much going on and it was nice to see a couple slowly coming out of their shell and once you realise they’re both crushing on each other and that’s why there’s something weird going on because they’re holding back from letting all of their feelings coming out. And then you later learn there’s more going on with Reid and that’s why he’s been reserved and almost shady.
I won’t lie. I did wonder when I started if I was gonna be reading a romance with no chemistry. Thankfully they had that spark but it was slow to come out. It was subtle. At first, they were skirting one another and they slowly had this small connection. Then, like I said, it all came out and once they’d admitted their feelings I was loving the romance. I think that’s where my reading picked up when they admitted their feelings and I was loving them together even though there were obstacles to their relationship.
Ugh, I’ve probably epically failed with this one reviewing. I don’t want to give any spoilers away on the story because I honestly loved being surprised and going into this one pretty blind. It was such a charming, creative read and I don’t know if it was the characters giving me that vibe or the writing, but whatever it was it worked for me. I am so glad I began my reading year on a high and definitely recommend.
Have you read this, what did you think? And what was your first read of the year?
I feel like I have done so many ‘I’m back from hiatus’ posts lately. Oh well, I won’t apologise for it. Life fully got busy and sadly, the blog was the thing that had to be pushed to one side while I focused on other stuff. It’s cool, I’m back now and hoping to post one or two times a week,
How is it the middle of January already? I actually did intend to come back to blogging the beginning of this year… or actually, the end of last year and then the beginning of this year and now here we are. Like two weeks into the month and I’m here and ready yo chat to you guys So let’s catch up! Why have I been gone? What have I been doing?
I bought a house!
I know I spoke about my house shopping journey and then began to get a bit quiet about it but that’s because it was both so stressful, but I was constantly scared that something would go wrong and my purchase would fall through. I had problems with the survey revealing a possible wall removal and I was chasing building regulation certificates. Then I was constantly worried I should be doing something while I was waiting for my solicitor to get answers. I’d originally hoped to have the house before Christmas and then I fully expected for it to drag out and for me to not have it until January and then last minute the week before Christmas my solicitor was saying to me that he could try and push it through before Christmas and I had a mad panic of getting the money across and trying to sort time off from work to collect the keys and then I had a house the day before my work Christmas party!
It was mental.
It’s safe to say that it was a stressful few days and blogging and reading was not the first thing on my mind. And the house pretty much has taken over my life and will be taking over my life for weeks I do not doubt. This does mean I’ve only read two books so far this year (I’ve started a third, though) and I’ve not blogged in so long I’m a little scared that I’ve forgotten how.
Anyway, enough with this moving business, I swear buying a house has made me boring. I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and I was saying how all I seem to talk about are house-related things. I’ll get excited about the latest house purchase and talk about it constantly. Luckily for me, she’s having a baby so she’s talking constantly about her baby purchases so at least we’ve both becoming boring together.
Let’s not talk about houses, though! The other reason for my absence is because I got sick over Christmas.
I had the absolute worst cold, I haven’t felt that awful in ages. I woke up Christmas day with no voice and I’d managed to drag myself downstairs to myself a Lemsip and I had to sit down twice because I had gone all dizzy. It was not a fun time for me. The Lemsip and ibuprofen managed to kick in for me but having a cold when you want to be opening presents and enjoying yourself is not fun. I got through the day and did have fun with my family, though. I just wish I had felt better. And the cold also meant my house progress was slow. I went shopping with friends not long after Christmas when I thought I was feeling better and honestly, worst decision. It totally drained me.
So that’s where I’ve been. House shopping and feeling sick. I’m back at work now and still struggling through trying to get into a good routine but I have exciting appliance and furniture deliveries in my future. I’ve watched so many moving vlog videos during this whole process. In fact, one of my favourite YouTubers has bought a house around the same time as me and it’s so nice seeing someone else struggling through this first house moving drama. I feel a little less alone doing it, but I still haven’t braved beginning the process of redecorating, the other YouTubers I’ve been watching may motivate me with their fun DIY videos and that. I’m mostly spending my days crying that I’m poor and dreading trying to catch up on all those missed posts.
What have you been doing while I’m away? I don’t have enough hours in the day to catch up on every single missed blog post so please link me to your latest posts and I promise to stop on by.
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