Reading order · 7 books · 2007 to 2021 · Set in the fictional Virgin River, California
Virgin River Books in Order
The Virgin River novels are set in a small town in the mountains of northern California, full of former Marines, kind neighbours and second chances.
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Series facts
- Books
- 7
- Published
- 2007 to 2021
- First book
- Virgin River
- Latest
- Return to Virgin River (2021)
- Setting
- Set in the fictional Virgin River, California
The reading order
Every Virgin River book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
7 books · Set in the fictional Virgin River, California
- 1Virgin River2007Mel Monroe, a widowed nurse practitioner and midwife, takes a job in a tiny mountain town, and the first thing she finds is an abandoned baby on the doctor’s porch.Buy on Amazon
- 2Shelter Mountain2007Paige Lassiter arrives in Virgin River with her young son, fleeing her violent husband, and Jack’s cook, Preacher, decides to protect them.Buy on Amazon
- 3Whispering Rock2007With Mike Valenzuela and Brie SheridanBrie Sheridan, Jack’s sister, a lawyer recovering from a violent attack, comes to Virgin River, and Mike Valenzuela, a former policeman, wants to help her heal.Buy on Amazon
- 4A Virgin River Christmas2008With Marcie Sullivan and Ian BuchananMarcie Sullivan comes to the mountains to find Ian Buchanan, the Marine who saved her husband’s life in Iraq.Buy on Amazon
- 5Second Chance Pass2008Paul Haggerty has always loved Vanessa, his best friend’s widow.Buy on Amazon
- 6Temptation Ridge2008With Luke RiordanLuke Riordan, a former army pilot, buys some cabins in Virgin River and meets Shelby.Buy on Amazon
- 7Return to Virgin River2021Kaylee Sloan, a novelist, rents a house in Virgin River, hoping to recover from her losses.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Virgin River.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Mike Valenzuela | Brie Sheridan | Marcie Sullivan | Ian Buchanan | Luke Riordan | Mel Monroe | Jack Sheridan | John "Preacher" Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Virgin River | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||||
| 2 Shelter Mountain | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||||
| 3 Whispering Rock | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 4 A Virgin River Christmas | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 5 Second Chance Pass | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||||
| 6 Temptation Ridge | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 7 Return to Virgin River | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Virgin River books
11 characters from Robyn Carr’s chart, with the number of Virgin River books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Mike ValenzuelaFormer policeman | 1 | Whispering Rock 2007 |
| Brie SheridanJack's sister, a prosecutor | 1 | Whispering Rock 2007 |
| Marcie SullivanWidow searching for her husband's sergeant | 1 | A Virgin River Christmas 2008 |
| Ian BuchananReclusive former Marine | 1 | A Virgin River Christmas 2008 |
| Luke RiordanHelicopter pilot | 1 | Temptation Ridge 2008 |
| Mel MonroeNurse practitioner and midwife | 7 | Virgin River 2007 |
| Jack SheridanFormer Marine who owns the bar | 7 | Virgin River 2007 |
| John "Preacher" MiddletonJack's cook | 7 | Virgin River 2007 |
| Paige LassiterWoman fleeing an abusive husband | 7 | Virgin River 2007 |
| Doc MullinsThe town's elderly doctor | 7 | Virgin River 2007 |
| Rick SudderYoung Marine | 1 | Second Chance Pass 2008 |