Book Review: Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River Book 11) by Robyn Carr

This is a sweet little romance that showcases the needs of single mothers.

Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River Book 11)

by Robyn Carr

File Size: 246 KB

Print Length: 74 pages

Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases (April 30, 2010)

ASIN: B003JTHMO6

Genre: Romance Novella

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes readers back to her beloved Virgin River country in this heartwarming tribute to Rhonda Clemons, founder of Zoë Institute and a winner of a Harlequin More Than Words award.
By discovering a seed of compassion and nurturing it to effect real change, the dedicated women selected as Harlequin More Than Words award recipients make our world a better place. To celebrate their accomplishments, bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing short stories inspired by their lives and work.
This special eBook is yours at no charge because Harlequin is committed to celebrating women’s efforts and supporting the causes that are meaningful to them. By sharing Rhonda Clemons's story, we hope to turn awareness into action and mobilize others to make a difference.
To find out more or to nominate a woman you know, please visit www.HarlequinMoreThanWords.com.

Review:
Dory Finn is a single mother who was able to escape her abusive and controlling husband with the help of the Zoe Institute, a women’s shelter. She was also fortunate to inherit a small home from her uncle on the outskirts of Fortuna, near Virgin River. Dory works hard as a grocery clerk to pay household bills and take care of her eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old son. Dory has little extra time since she spends her spare time and energy at the local women’s shelter group that she helped to establish in her community.

Dory has a new neighbor, handsome firefighter Clay, who is eager to be friendly. Dory doesn’t trust any man’s motives and pushes Clay away to the point of rudeness. Finally she realizes that her kids adore him and he has been nothing but nice and kind. She decides it is okay to be friends and allow things to develop from there.

Actually, I thought the beginning of the book was confusing although it was intended to introduce the real life person who was the founder of the Zoe Institute and the inspiration for this story. Although Dory may have helped establish the local support program she still has a ways to go to becoming healed of her own negative reactions. There is a sweet story as the relationship develops for Dory and Clay. Clay is a wonderful guy and steps right into a role with the children even though he has to learn to be patient with Dory.

Much of the energy of the book is spent promoting the need to help all single mothers, and lauding the program that helps especially those with no support structure. I liked the cameo appearances of a couple of characters that I recognized from the first Virgin River that I read earlier this year. The romance is sweet and the tone is typical small town, down-to-earth Robyn Carr. But clearly the whole plot is a platform for the chosen cause. Still, I enjoyed the quick read and give credit for the author’s effort to shed light on the difficulties faced by single mothers.

This is Book 9 for my TBR Pile Challenge (three more after this one). It is a free novella which has been on my Kindle shelf since 2010.