by Robyn Carr
Part of Virgin River, book 7
First published 2009
Rick Sudder comes back to Virgin River broken in body and spirit. The Marine corporal's deployment ended suddenly on an Iraqi battlefield, transforming the lighthearted young man into someone who sees only darkness ahead. He stares into mirrors and finds no hope in his reflection. The woman who never stopped believing in him refuses to abandon him now. She fights to heal both his physical wounds and his damaged heart through her unwavering love and dedication. Meanwhile, Dan Brady arrives in town carrying secrets from his troubled past. He wants Virgin River to become his fresh start, though he doubts the close community will accept him. He never imagines finding acceptance through a woman who knows what it means to be rejected and alone. The townspeople surround Rick with their support while weighing whether to embrace the mysterious newcomer. Both men must confront who they used to be. Rick struggles to reclaim himself after war's trauma. Dan seeks to prove he deserves a second chance. Virgin River becomes the place where a wounded soldier and a man running from his mistakes discover they haven't lost everything. They can still find the futures they thought were gone forever.
Genres: fiction, romance, military-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, second-chance
Setting: Iraq, Virgin River
Period: Contemporary
416 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Mira
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness, war