Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

Welcome to Grace Valley, California---where blood runs thicker...ties bind stronger...and love is all the more sweet.

Visitors to the town often remark about the valley's peace and beauty---both of which are plentiful. Unlocked doors, front porches, pies cooling in the windows---this is country life at its finest. But visitors don't always see what lies at the heart of a community. Or just beyond...

June Hudson grew up in Grace Valley, the daughter of the town doctor. Leaving only to get her medical training, she returned home and followed in her father's footsteps. Some might say she chose the easy, comfortable route...but June knows better.

For June, her emergency room is wherever she's needed---or wherever a patient finds her. Always on call, her work is her life, these people her extended family. Which is a good thing, since this is a town where you should have picked your husband in the ninth grade. Grace Valley is not exactly the place to meet eligible men---until an undercover DEA agent suddenly starts appearing at all sorts of strange hours.

Everybody has secrets down in the valley. Now June has one of her own.

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We are planning a “buddy read” of this one, the first in the Grace Valley trilogy - which is a prequel to the Virgin River series.

EXPECT SPOILERS!

Reserved.

I just start with The Virgin River series, and the characters in Grace Valley seems appear a lot in Virgin River, so I think I give it a go, beside the heroine and I shared a name, how could I resist? :D

Neat! I'll join if I can get a copy of it.

Great, June, Pamela, and Judy! Welcome. (I got it on audio, too!)

So, I don't do challenges really well (precious little time to read) but at the RWA convention last week, I needed a quiet place to talk to someone and sat at a table in a small area that had a lot of commotion next to it. When we were done, we walked through the commotion to the exit when someone asked us if we had gotten a bag.

Turned out we sort of crashed Robyn Carr's cocktail party. And we have the bag to prove it!

LOL! Did you get a copy of the book, Abigail?

I loved these books . I'm going to lurk :)

Yay!

No book, alas. :)

Aw. Drat!

First, I have this on audio. Yay!

Second, I put a hold on this at the library - they said it was available - and I went to get it today at a different library than the one to which I usually go (because mine is closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Anyway... it was checked out when I got there! How rude.

So, if anyone has the paperback version, or wants to do percent of the Kindle/eBook for a chapter breakdown, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

So... I listened to the first eight chapters. Do you want to do this in three or four days?

LOL! That's fine, Judy. ☺

Yes, I think it is just the two of us.

So, I think I can finish it by tomorrow. Shall I just post some general "after reading" discussion questions then?

Yes, I've read a lot of the Virgin River series.

I didn't quite make it to the end of the book, but I'm really close. Headed off to bed, so I'll finish it in the morning.

You're going slow ,Lk!I finished this one in less than a day!;)

Yeah. I almost made it, but I had the SU and then I wanted to put the finishing touches on the Mystery challenge. Then I realized I missed last weeks "Next Food Network Star" - and had to catch up with this week's too.

I'm listening to it on audio. I guess I could have increased the speed. And I'm only a few chapters from the end. But, I'm afraid, if I lay down, I'll go to sleep with my iPod playing in my ears. ☺

Lisa Kay wrote: "I'm listening to it on audio. I guess I could have increased the speed. And I'm only a few chapters from the end. But, I'm afraid, if I lay down, I'll go to sleep with my iPod playing in my ears..."

Lol I did that last night !

General Discussion Questions After Finishing Deep in the Valley

Let’s discuss the characters first:

1. How did you like Dr. June Hudson? Her interaction with her family? With her staff? With the townsfolk? What about how she handled the issue that arose with Dr. John Stone? Her dedication to the community? Her concerns about her spinsterhood and her ticking biological clock? Her relationship with Jim Post?

2. Did you like Tom Toopeek, the Grace Valley Police Chief? How about his interactions with his family? With the townsfolk?

3. Who was your favorite characters (other than June or Tom) and storyline? Why?

• Myrna Hudson Claypool: June's aunt, an eccentric mystery author
• Jessica Wiley: Dr June's office manager She's a Goth in a small town
• Elmer Hudson: June's father, the former town doctor
• Charlotte Burnham: Nurse for both Dr Hudsons
• Jerry Powell: town psychologist
• Dr John Stone: hired by June to help out at the clinic
• Susan Stone: Dr John's wife
• Ricky Rios: Grace Valley police deputy
• Corsica Rios: County Social Services worker
• Lee Stafford: Grace Valley police deputy
• Philana Toopeek
• Julianna Dickson
• Birdie Forrest
• The Mulls (Jurea, Clarence, Clinton)
• Justine Roberts
• Leah Craven - and her trial

4. Was there too much domestic violence in this story?

5. What did you think of the “ghost” of Angel Pass? And what of Mikos Silva?

6. How does this series compare to the Virgin River series?

7. Was there enough closure for you at the end?

8. Will you continue with the series? If so, right away or after awhile?

9. How did you rate this book?

10. Do you have a fondness for “small town life”?

@ Judy

#1 - Yes, that is the area I was disappointed in as well.

#2 - I didn't warm up to Tom, maybe because on the audio he sounded so angry with his daughter and others where there was already enough "violence" in the air. I didn't like that he slammed on his breaks when he was angry with his daughter, causing her to lurch into the seat belt. Maybe I'm just being too sensitive, but I don't think you "browbeat" people who are already being abused.

#3 - Me too!

#4 - Yes, too much for me.

#5 - Yes, this would be the only reason I return to this series. I want to find out what happens here.

#6 - Yes, the romance was too quick. It felt like, since it was billed as a romance, the author had to get there fast.

#7 - Yes, felt unfinished.

#9 - Yes, 3.5 for me too! We are on the same wave length.

#10 - Love small town loving.

I think I liked this a bit more than you did. I gave it 4 stars , I loved the small town story and the characters .I wanted to know what's going to happen to June so I jumped to the next one right away!

Yes, ShoSho, I was wondering if there was more on Jim and June in the next one.

the whole 3 books are about Jim and June . It's like one really long book divided in 3. (view spoiler)[the closure will be in the last book (hide spoiler)]

Ah.

You thought there are new H/H in the next books?

Well... I didn't know. But I didn't think this one had a lot of romance in it. Not that I mind the "one foot on the floor" kind of romances. I do like them. I just didn't think the H/h spent that much page time together.

I got this but I haven't actually started it yet. I hope to start it tomorrow.

I just finished it. I like that the book more focusing in June and goings on in Grace Valley rather than her love life. It felt real. Although I think her romance with Jim going too fast. I hope the second book would explore more their romance though. Will be back to your qs later, Lisa.

Great, Pamela. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Super, June. Can't wait.

I am 25% in now. I like it even though I haven't see hide nor hair of a romance in it yet.

Yes, I liked it, too.

Respond to Lisa Kay's General Discussion Questions After Finishing Deep in the Valley

1. How did you like Dr. June Hudson? Her interaction with her family? With her staff? With the townsfolk? What about how she handled the issue that arose with Dr. John Stone? Her dedication to the community? Her concerns about her spinsterhood and her ticking biological clock? Her relationship with Jim Post?
She's okay I think. I like when she's handled her patient, she's fun, but she's a bit timid in other aspect of her life, namely her love life. I find hard to accept her supposed to love relationship with Jim, they barely talk, how on earth they fall in love that quickly? Okay there are people who just knew when they're in love, but still....I don't think Jim and she are two of those people. This one aspect I don't like from this book, unfortunately.
As for how she handled John Stone's issue, I don't like it but I understand her reluctance to confront John directly, she didn't have proof, and she didn't really believe it, but she couldn't hardly ignore the girl's complaint.

2. Did you like Tom Toopeek, the Grace Valley Police Chief? How about his interactions with his family? With the townsfolk?
I'm not really sure, I think he's great friend and a good chief who took his responsibility seriously, but the book didn't really explore his charater apart from Leah's domestic violence

3. Who was your favorite characters (other than June or Tom) and storyline? Why?
I wouldn't call them my favorite, but I personally love The Mulls storyline, it was sad, but unfortunately there are many people, for some reasons, who live like that. I almost cried when read the scene when Jorea talk with the plastic surgeon. It was so beautiful

4. Was there too much domestic violence in this story?
Not really. I think Robyn Carr's focused more about the community respond to domestic violence than the violence itself. Domestic violence is serious crime , I'm glad that many authors write a great novel about this issue, it somewhat help to heighten the awareness of it.

5. What did you think of the “ghost” of Angel Pass? And what of Mikos Silva?
I'm not sure about the ghost part (view spoiler)[ could the "Angel Pass"who help JUne actually the mysterious guy in Virgin River series? I only read book #1 and #2 so I don't know much, but he sound like good candidate. (hide spoiler)]

6. How does this series compare to the Virgin River series?
Both were great, but I think this book isn't finished yet, I think maybe we need to read the entire trilogy to fully understand the characters

7. Was there enough closure for you at the end?
for some, -like the Mulls, Leah, John Stone, - yes. But June's story is far from over.


8. Will you continue with the series? If so, right away or after awhile?
Maybe...

9. How did you rate this book?
Probably 3.5 stars, but I I make it 4 because I think Robyn Carr handled domestic violence issue with great care.

10. Do you have a fondness for “small town life”?
I actually envy people on those fictional small town, they are so warm and fun, I live in small town myself, but most of people I know here is a busybody type who love gossip far too much, it would be great to have someone like Aunt Myrna I think, :D

Does anyone mind if I jump in here? I've been in the hospital and just got out. Can't write (Pain pills lol) so I thought I'd catch up on reading. I read this one years ago, but started it again last night. I rated it a 4 before, but now I'm wondering if it was because I was in the middle of a Robyn Carr marathon. I'm seeing things here that I missed or don't remember.

Hi Jacqueline. I hope you'll feel better.
I'm sure evryone would be glad to have you here, the more the merrier :)

@ June

#1 – Yes, I liked June, too. But I didn’t like how she handled the JS situation. I had to laugh over your comment about her and Jim “barely talking” – very true! While I did enjoy what little there was.

#3 – Yes, I liked the Mulls storyline, too. I teared up over that very same scene. And earlier, when she said she’d want to do it for her kids. Good Gravy Beans, now I’m tearing up again just thinking about it. **sniffle**

#4 – I’m betting you’re right! Makes me want to get back to that series. But I think I’m going to start over on audio with the first one.

#6 – Again, I think you are right.

#9 – Also 3.5 stars for me. Here is a book with ½ stars are really, really needed.

Aw. Sorry, Jacqueline. I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks! I've seen more hospitals in this last year than I've seen in my whole life! Guess sometimes you have to feel worse before you can get better, but better is around the corner.
Funny how I've always been a big reader, but it's times like these that it really pays off. I can leave my troubles in the chair and see what someone else's look like. They're always way worse! And then you get the HEA. All better!

1. I liked June. Her dedication to home, family and community were more than admirable. She's not a martyr, but her life is so public. Did anyone get the impression that part of the allure of Jim was that he was all hers, her only 'private' moments?
2. In this book, I wasn't a Tom Toopeek fan. He seemed very hard, but he's a cop and sees what's out there and maybe that makes him tougher on his family.
3. Myrna!
4. I thought Carr did well in portraying the horror of domestic violence without getting too graphic.
5. I could have done without 'the ghost part', but I know it's a hint of story to come.
6. These were written before Virgin River and while I enjoyed them, you can really see how Carr evolved as a writer and yes, you need all three GV to get the full story.
7. I didn't get closure at all for June and I want to read the next two (yes, I know what happens, but it's been a long time)to see how it comes about.
8. I guess I answered that in #7 lol
9. I think my 4 star will remain, but I think you're right. This is a book where the half star would come in handy!
10. I live in a small town and I love it, but Carr writes about the way a small town is supposed to be, not how it really is. I think we all have a longing for the way things used to be (even if it wasn't)and Carr does a good job of showing us how to aim for that ideal without preaching.

@ Jacqueline

#1 – Oh! I like that about her time with Jim being her only ‘private’ moments.

#2 – Yes, I thought Tom Toopeek was hard, too. I thought I was the only one that felt this way because I listened to the audiobook. Sometimes a character comes across different as determined by the narrator’s tone.

#3 – Myrna was quite a colorful character.

#5 – Ah! We disagree. I liked that part. LOL! I have my doubts as to whether it is a real ghost.

#6 – Excellent point. I like to see the evolution of a writer.

#10 – You’re right. I do think that my enjoyment of small towns is connected to a longing for a similar time.