ARC Review: Hidden Summit

Hidden Summit
Robyn Carr
Contemporary Romance
Virgin River Series/Book 17
Harlequin/December 27, 2011

From Goodreads ~

Sick of running into her cheery ex-husband and his new wife, Leslie Petruso accepts a job at the Virgin River branch of Haggerty Construction and takes the high road right out of town. Now she's got Paul Haggerty's business running like a well-oiled machine. In fact, things are so busy Paul jumps at the chance to hire an extra set of hands.

Just like Leslie, Conner Danson has been burned by love. But if Leslie was disappointed by her relationship going bad, Conner was decimated. He's got no time for women…although he spends an awful lot of time pretending not to notice Leslie. And she's pretty busy "ignoring" the chemistry between them.

According to Conner and Leslie, they have only one thing in common—they're done with love. But everyone in Virgin River can see that things are heating up at Haggerty Construction. And as far as Paul Haggerty can tell, the best thing he can do is hang on to his hard hat and watch the sparks fly!

When I read the blurb for Hidden Summit I was so thrilled to see a heroine with my name! I can't tell you how rare it is. I don't remember ever read a romance with a heroine named Leslie. But that's just a bonus since this is Robyn Carr's Virgin River series.

If you have to hide out, Virgin River, California isn't a bad place to do it. Conner Danson has lost everything and is now pretending to be someone else. I was expecting him to be a bitter recluse but he surprised me. He's friendly with the locals and slowly becomes part of the community. In doing so he also starts a friendship/romance with his co-worker Leslie Petruso.

Leslie Petruso is leaving her past behind for a new start in Virgin River. Her ex-husband is a complete ass, I couldn't believe some of the stunts this guy pulled! He definitely had a few screws loose. What she finds is a new home, new friends and a new guy. She hit the jackpot! She's smart, funny and a good friend. She's an easy heroine to like.

The romance is sweet and easy. Surprisingly it was Connor doing the chasing. I thought it would be Leslie trying to pull him out of his shell but it turned out he just couldn't resist her! She's the one who tries to put the breaks on and it makes sense since her ex is El Wackjob! Conner is persistent and woos Leslie, giving her every reason to say yes. I liked how Carr kept the power in this romance equal, with both saying how they felt and actually talking about their past relationships and the difficulties they have to over come.

It was great seeing the Virgin River gang. Jack is still as friendly, and nosy, as can be and Mel is there to rein him in. Brie got some page time, since she is Conner's local contact. And there are some fairly new residents that we got to see more of. Leslie and Conner fit right in with this close-knit community.

There is a suspense plot running through the story but much of the time I forgot about it. It stayed mainly in the background until near the end. The resolution to the plot felt rushed. It was the weakest part of the story. The main focus is on the developing romance between Leslie and Conner. Carr does do a nice job of including the other residents without loosing sight of the romance.

Hidden Summit is another terrific addition to this beloved series.

Rating: B+

Virgin River Series ~

1. Virgin River
2. Shelter Mountain
3. Whispering Rock
4. A Virgin River Christmas
5. Second Chance Pass
6. Temptation Ridge
7. Paradise Valley
8. Under the Christmas Tree (novella in That Holiday Feeling)
9. Forbidden Falls
10. Angel's Peak
11. Moonlight Road
12. Midnight Confessions (novella in Midnight Kiss)
13. Promise Canyon
14. Wild Man Creek
15. Harvest Moon
16. Bring Me Home for Christmas
17. Hidden Summit
18. Redwood Bend (February 28, 2012)
19. Sunrise Point (April 24, 2012)