Vanessa Rutledge, supported by the Virgin River community during her darkest days, now seeks a promising future.

Yearning for a fresh start and experiencing empty-nest syndrome, Erin Foley decides to temporarily retreat to a secluded and upgraded cabin near Virgin River. Her plan is to focus on self-discovery rather than getting involved with anyone she meets in the remote mountain area. When I first began to write The Fish Ladder, it was because of a hard-to-describe feeling that I should be travelling upstream, and also that I should be documenting the journey. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for when I first set out; certainly not what I eventually found. I could not have anticipated what I would learn about the human heart – my own, and other people’s. And I can’t pretend to be an expert on rivers. I am an enthusiastic amateur, and my knowledge of waterways is almost entirely heuristic. Having said that, I have been comforted by water all my life. Clay Tahoma, a Navajo with a deep connection to the wild beauty of Virgin River, is thrilled to join the community as their new veterinary assistant. While he is warmly embraced by everyone in town, there is one person who remains resistant: Lilly Yazhi. Having encountered her fair share of traditional men, Lilly is uninterested in getting involved with someone like Clay, whom she believes uses his earthy and alluring demeanor to charm wealthy women. Despite her reservations, Lilly can’t deny her attraction to Clay, especially when she witnesses his exceptional talent for working with horses. However, she is determined not to let him control her. A River follows a young girl with an imagination bigger than the city she lives in. Beautiful illustrations tell the story of a child as she turns the river running through her home into a magical world. Floating through different spaces, she ultimately discovers that inspiration lies not only in the outside world but within her very own bedroom, too.Soon though we've zipped past the factories and the surrounding land gives way to hills and green valleys; then to jungle and a waterfall before we head out between mangrove trees to the open sea. To say I was not the correct audience for this book is a serious understatement. Don’t even call me a wrongreader either because the blurb was responsible for making me think it was going to go all . . . . I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I don’t know what magic the Iowa Writer’s Workshop has harnessed, but their graduates are some of the most pure and brilliant writers working today. Heller is one of those gems.

A RIVER is a magical book, a pretty book. A RIVER begins with an artist sitting at a desk in front of two windows. Flowing off to the left and right is green hued river that is weaving it's way through a city. It's not clear whether the figure is an adult or a child. It seems 'female' but not markedly so. Four years ago, air force lovers Franci Duncan and Sean Riordan reached a critical impasse in their relationship. Franci desired marriage and a family, while Sean was reluctant to commit. However, a chance encounter reignites their passionate chemistry, revealing that the intensity between them hasn’t diminished. Engaging in gardening and cooking with Jillian’s heirloom vegetables brings Kelly joy, but the small-town atmosphere of Virgin River feels vastly different from bustling San Francisco. However, her perspective changes when she encounters Lief Holbrook, a ruggedly handsome widower who doesn’t fit the mold of a sophisticated screenwriter. Despite his appealing nature, Lief comes with a challenging stepdaughter named Courtney. Courtney’s rebellious behavior has caused their move from Los Angeles, and she continues to stir up trouble in Virgin River. As Tom and Nora spend more time together, they begin to challenge and surprise each other. They discover that their initial perceptions were mistaken and that love can defy expectations. Through their journey, they learn the true meaning of family and find themselves embracing a connection neither of them anticipated. Virgin River Book 20: My Kind of Christmas (2013)However, a wildfire changes the tone of their trip, adding a sense of unease that intensifies when, after hearing a couple arguing, they attempt to warn them of the fire, but can’t seem to locate them in the fog. The next day they encounter a man paddling alone on the river, who claims his wife has gone missing. Then there is the ending. Unlike a lot of thrillers with literary aspirations – which this book certainly has – there is no ambiguity or confusion regarding the outcome. Heller lays it out plainly, tying all his threads together. Unfortunately, the finale is too abrupt and far too implausible for my tastes, and fails to give The River the staying power in my mind that it might otherwise have earned.