This novel started out a little slower than Carr's other Virgin River stories. The rehash of the end of the previous book is fine to start, but the will they-won't they of Paul and Vanni got under my skin, especially when you know what is going to happen. The angst is thick enough to cut with a knife, and when they finally do get together (no spoiler here, they get together only about a third of the way through) you wonder what else is around the bend. Joe and Nikki come out of nowhere, and that's a nice way to pass the book, as well as lots and lots of babies, of course. The story progresses pretty smoothly though all that, even if it feels a little cheesy at times. I loved seeing all the characters from the first three books make appearances and seeing their lives progressing. All of their stories are far from over, and I look forward to reading about new characters being thrown into the Virgin River mix.