When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees an advert for a midwife in the remote town of Virgin River, she quickly decides that it might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergise the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realising she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.