Praise for RITA>® award-winning author Robyn CARR
The American Library Associationâs Booklist names Virgin River one of 2007âs top ten romances.
âThe Virgin River books are so compellingâI
connected instantly with the characters and just wanted more and more and more.â âNew York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
âVirgin River is sexy, tense, emotional and satisfying. I canât wait for more!â âNew York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers
âRobyn Carr writes a beautiful romance entangled
with passion and intrigue.â âNew York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler
âJennifer is a beautifully drawn character whose
interior journey is wonderful to behold.â âRT Book Reviews on Runaway Mistress
âThis is one author who proves a Carr can fly.â
âBook Reviewer on Blue Skies
âRobyn Carr provides readers [with] a powerful,
thought-provoking work of contemporary fiction.â âMidwest Book Review on Deep in the Valley
âA remarkable storyteller.â
âLibrary Journal
âA warm, wonderful book about womenâs
friendships, love and family. I adored it!â âNew York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips on The House on Olive Street
âA delightfully funny novel.â
âMidwest Book Review on The Wedding Party
Dear Reader,
It was such an honour to be asked to create a Christmas story that would take place in Virgin River, especially because, in my mind, the miracle of Christmas is synonymous with that special town. Virgin River seems to be a place of kindness, friendship, love and miracles.
In this story youâll meet Ian and Marcie, two courageous people who have weathered too many storms in their young lives. Both of them need two things to help them get to a place of peace and happiness: namely, faith and love. Between them they have a lot of history but, at the same time, theyâre just getting to know one another. And what they find in their renewed relationship could bring them closer to the peace and serenity they both need so much.
The Virgin River novels are part of an ongoing series, and A Virgin River Christmas is a special addition to that series. While many of the well-known Virgin River characters are present in this book, you donât have to read the first three in the series to feel at home here. But for those of you who have started at the beginning, and have waited patiently for this next book, let me put you in the time frame. A Virgin River Christmas takes place just a few weeks before Christmasâright in the middle of Whispering Rock, the third book in the continuing series.
Christmas can mean many different things to each of us. For Marcie and Ian, Iâve tried to create a special time for two people who couldnât be more deserving.
It was a privilege to create this story. I hope youâll treasure it.
My best wishes to you and yours,
Robyn Carr
A Virgin River Christmas is dedicated to Kris and Edna Kitna, with deep gratitude for your help, your incomparable hospitality and your friendship.
Marcie stood beside her lime-green Volkswagen, shivering in the November chill, the morning sun barely over the horizon. She was packed and ready, as excited as she was scared about this undertaking. In the backseat she had a small cooler with snacks and sodas. There was a case of bottled water in the trunk and a thermos of coffee on the passenger seat. Sheâd brought a sleeping bag just in case the motel bedding wasnât to her standards; the clothes sheâd packed in her duffel were mostly jeans, sweatshirts, heavy socks and boots, all appropriate for tramping around small mountain towns. She was itching to hit the road, but her younger brother, Drew, and her older sister, Erin, were stretching out the goodbyes.
âYou have the phone cards I gave you? In case you donât have good cell reception?â Erin asked.
âGot âem.â
âSure you have enough money?â
âIâll be fine.â
âThanksgiving is in less than two weeks.â
âIt shouldnât take that long,â Marcie said, because if she said anything else, there would be yet another showdown. âI figure Iâm going to find Ian pretty quick. I think I have his location narrowed down.â
âRethink this, Marcie,â Erin said, giving it one last try. âI know some of the best private detectives in the businessâthe law firm employs them all the time. We could locate Ian and have the things you want to give him delivered.â
âWeâve been over this,â Marcie said. âI want to see him, talk to him.â
âWe could find him first and then you couldââ
âTell her, Drew,â Marcie implored.
Drew took a breath. âSheâs going to find him, talk to him, find out whatâs going on with him, spend some time with him, give him the baseball cards, show him the letter, and then sheâll come home.â
âBut we couldââ
Marcie put a hand on her older sisterâs arm and looked at her with determined green eyes. âStop. I canât move on until I do this, and do it my way, not your way. Weâre done talking about it. I know you think itâs dumb, but itâs what Iâm going to do.â She leaned toward Erin and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Erin, so sleek, beautiful, accomplished and sophisticatedâso nothing like Marcieâhad been like a mother to her since she was a little girl. She had a hard time leaving off the mothering. âDonât worryâthereâs nothing to worry about. Iâll be careful. I wonât be gone long.â