Ixion, you have been sorely missed! I'll be out all day on Friday, so am submitting my answers early.
1. Vituperative
2. Vitiligo
3. Venereal
4. Vamoose
5. Verandahs
6. Verbena
7. Virginia
Link word: Shaving (penultimate letter in each answer, scrambled)
PS. Have got my fingers crossed that you weren't planning to use any of these words!