Promise Canyon

Carr's 11th Virgin River novel (after 2010's Moonlight Road) reads less like a story and more like a history book. Chapters of background lead to more chapters about horse colic, the characteristics of hoarders, and posttraumatic stress. Interesting characters pop up, but aren't really part of the story. And somewhere in there is the rather sweet tale of Clay Tahoma and Lilly Yazhi. Clay, a 34-year-old Navajo veterinarian, moves to Virgin River from Los Angeles after a failed marriage; Lilly, 27 and Hopi, has lived in the tiny Northern California town most of her life. The two bond over the rehabilitation of two troubled horses. There's a misunderstanding or two, and old hurts are aired at length, but this is more of a look through a window or a long gossip over coffee than a tightly plotted narrative. (Jan.)