What if the busiest little town you know is the very place that finally lets your heart slow down?
Robyn Carr’s Over the Mountain (Grace Valley Trilogy #2) drops us back into a small town where something is always happening—good gossip, questionable decisions, second chances, and neighbors who absolutely do not mind their own business. Even though it was first published in 2002, the heartbeat still feels current: community, consequences, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up.
Title: Over the Mountain
Series: Grace Valley Trilogy #2
Author: Robyn Carr
Originally Published: 2002 (reprint edition)
Genre: Small-town Romance, Small Town Drama
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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My Review
June Hudson has been Grace Valley’s town doctor for over a decade, and at thirty-seven she’s a one-woman triage center for emergencies and hometown chaos. This installment is less a single-issue plot and more a town in motion—sirens, secrets, doorstep confessions, and those quick side glances that say everything without saying anything.
There’s an old high-school boyfriend, Chris Forrest, who returns with the same charm—and the same blind spots. His twin boys’ antics escalate from mischief into life-threatening trouble, and Carr doesn’t flinch when it’s time for consequences. Those scenes land because they’re messy and human: love without accountability isn’t care; it’s avoidance.
Balancing the noise is Jim—June’s love interest, an undercover DEA agent who moves in and out of her life with little warning. His work keeps him in the shadows, but his feelings for June are unwavering. Their relationship isn’t built on grand gestures but on trust—the kind it takes to love a man whose world is unpredictable. It’s not fireworks; it’s a steady flame, and it gives the novel a romantic undercurrent beneath the small-town swirl.
While Carr gives enough backstory that you could read this as a standalone, it’s best experienced after book one. The layered histories and ongoing arcs carry more weight when you’ve seen them take root in Deep in the Valley.
Quotes That Stuck With Me
“Will you remember that I said I love you? And that I want you forever?”
“You better not get hurt! … With all I have to look forward to? You think I’m crazy?”
Character Spotlight
June Hudson: Competent, compassionate, and completely overcommitted—in the best way. She’s the axis everything spins around, and her personal life finally gets space to breathe.
Jim: June’s love interest, an undercover DEA agent who appears and disappears with little warning. Steady, protective, and deeply in love—he’s the quiet flame beneath Grace Valley’s noise.
Chris Forrest & the Twins: The past knocks with a smile. Charm meets denial, and the boys’ escalating trouble forces a hard look at what responsible love should be.
Subplots & Community Threads
One of the strengths of Grace Valley is that it’s never quiet. Alongside June’s story, Robyn Carr layers in arcs that make the town feel alive:
- Jurea’s Reconstruction: A mountain woman scarred since childhood gets a second chance when June connects her with a visiting surgeon—one of the most moving medical threads in the book.
- John & Susan: A marriage strained by old-fashioned expectations and work roles adds realism about how couples wrestle with change.
- Aunt Myrna: Quirky as ever, now caught in a mystery when bones are discovered in her yard.
- Sam & Justine: Their age-gap marriage hides heartbreak. Justine longed for a baby so badly she put off treatment for cancer—until it was too late. Their arc shifts from town gossip to sobering grief.
- Daniel & Blythe: Their connection carries simmering history; Blythe is both grounding force and secret-keeper, complicating Daniel’s place in town.
- Sarah: A presence who complicates loyalties and adds tension to Daniel’s arc—love in Grace Valley is rarely straightforward.
Why You Should Read
- A small-town story where every neighbor has secrets—and they all matter.
- Romance that’s slow-burn, steady, and anchored by June and Jim’s trust.
- Community drama with heart: from medical rescues to marital struggles.
- Backlist comfort with timeless themes of love, loss, and second chances.
Final Thoughts
Over the Mountain delivers exactly what Robyn Carr does best: a small town that feels like a living, breathing organism where every resident matters. This isn't just June's story—it's Grace Valley's story, with all its messy relationships, quiet heroisms, and the kind of community bonds that both support and complicate your life.
The romance between June and Jim anchors the chaos with steady, mature love built on trust rather than drama. Meanwhile, the subplot weaving—from Jurea's medical journey to the twins' escalating trouble—creates the rich tapestry that makes you want to move to Grace Valley, nosy neighbors and all.
If you're looking for comfort reading with real stakes, genuine emotion, and a town full of people you'll genuinely care about, this is your book. Fair warning: you'll probably want to clear your schedule for the rest of the series.
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