Sensing that her law student boyfriend is about to pop the question and unsure of her feelings for an old flame, second-grade teacher Becca Timm talks her twin brother into taking her on a guys-only hunting and fishing trip with his ex-Marine buddies. Her secret goal? To see Denny Cutler, her former boyfriend who has settled in Virgin River, and to assure herself that the fire that once burned so hotly between them is definitely extinguished. But when a broken ankle keeps Becca in town longer than she expected, she reluctantly moves in with Denny. The enforced togetherness gives them time to sort out their past-and make sure they don't let another chance at happiness slip through their fingers. VERDICT Virgin River once again springs to vivid life, this time with all the warmth and sparkle of the holiday season, as the talented Carr weaves another touching, insightful tale of love, understanding, and forgiveness and offers a couple a welcoming place to call home. Carr (Harvest Moon) lives in Las Vegas. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As Carr continues her extremely popular, long-running Virgin River series (Forbidden Falls, 2010), it's Thanksgiving, Becca Timm has lost her job, and her boyfriend is hinting at marriage. So she impulsively crashes her twin-brother Rich's hunting trip in picturesque Virgin River. Her agenda: to face Denny Cutler, the man who broke her heart, and find out why she can't get him out of her mind. Denny is appalled. He finally has his act together after a difficult childhood, the loss of his beloved mom to cancer, and Becca's cutting dismissal when he returned from Afghanistan. He feels valued in Virgin River, and it's home. But he is still in love with Becca, and when she breaks her ankle, Denny becomes her self-appointed caregiver, while Becca's enforced inactivity allows her to reexamine her own culpability for their failed relationship. Carr's contemporary romance draws on the power of the holidays, the meaning of home, and the support of community, offering another heartwarming Virgin River tale.--Welch, Lynne Copyright 2010 Booklist