Susan's Review of Emily March's Christmas Wishing Tree

Sometimes life’s most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began…

From USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn’t hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications —until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they’ll both find the miracle they’ve been looking for all along…

A delightful Christmas novel in the New York Times bestselling Eternity Springs series.



Author Bio:

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

Keep in touch with Emily March on Social Media!

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Emily March’s The Christmas Wishing Tree is set in Eternity Springs, Colorado. The characters, setting, romance and the mystery drew me into this warm, feel good story. The novel’s message of spreading hope and love throughout the year touched my heart.

While helping Angel Rest’s owner Celeste Blessing decorate for the holidays; Devin Murphy rescues her when she slips on ice and falls into Angel Creek. Celeste is unharmed but Devin’s cellphone is ruined. Celeste has a special Christmas message for Devin; she tells him not to give up on his dreams. She hands him a prepaid cellphone and she tells him answer the phone when he hears Christmas bells. Six-year old Reilly Stockton calls Santa hotline and tells Santa/Devin that he wants a Dad for Christmas. Loved the conversations between Devin and Reilly—who tells Devin an angel gave him Santa’s phone number.

Emily March carefully weaves in a cyber doxing thread into the storyline. Although the harassment is targeted at Reilly’s mom, Dr. Jenna Stockton; the stalker terrifies Reilly and shakes both Reilly and Jenna to the core. Jenna’s primary concern is for her son’s safety. Emily March’s mother-son dialogue is fabulous; I could feel the strong bond between Jenna and Reilly. I was moved to tears when the Stockton family was swatted. Jenna and Reilly head to Eternity Springs to for Christmas. They meet Celeste and she shows them to their cottage and invites them to choose a Christmas tree from her property.

Loved the magical chapter when Celeste introduces the Stocktons to Cam Murphy and his son Michael; who are Santa/Devin’s father and brother. Celeste, Jenna and Reilly enjoy their sleigh ride with Cam and Michael as they search for their Christmas tree. Emily March’s descriptive voice shines as Celeste explains the spiritual story of the Christmas Wishing Tree.

Devin, Jenna and Reilly meet when the Stocktons return to Eternity Springs after a second swatting incident. Jenna confides in Devin about the harassment and stalking incidents. Devin assembles a group of friends who uncover the identity of the stalker. I liked that the romance between Devin and Jenna was a slow burn. Devin surprises Jenna with a cruise when they head to Bella Vita for a wedding. The chapter was fabulous and oh so very romantic!

I adored the characters and the small town community in The Christmas Wishing Tree. Celeste’s magic and healing powers strengthened the bond between Devin, Jenna and Reilly. Although Devin’s business was in Australia; he travelled to Eternity Springs to celebrate family events and holidays. He considered Eternity Springs home. Jenna and Reilly were looking for a safe haven to call home and Eternity Springs welcomed them with open arms. The novel is well -paced and the story lines blend seamlessly. Emily March does a wonderful job balancing the stalker thread, the multiple pregnancies and Devin and Jenna’s journey from friends to lovers. Living in Eternity Springs had such a positive effect on Reilly-he became more confident in himself and he believed in himself. The conclusion to the novel was perfect! I laughed, cried and smiled as I read the last pages.

The Christmas Wishing Tree is a perfect holiday read! It’s got all the feels; a beautiful setting, engaging characters, romance and a little boy’s Christmas Wish! Celeste’s magic brings three people together and teaches them to believe in the Christmas spirit all year long.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Susan's Review of One Step Away by Cindy Kirk

Two Truths and a Lie

Cornelia “Nell” Ambrose is happy to have kissed her past goodbye. True.
She’s worked hard to forge a new, normal life for herself as an attorney in Hazel Green. True
Nell is 100% happy on her own and not at all interested in getting serious with the town’s most eligible bachelor, Leo Pomeroy. Lie.

Mayor Leo Pomeroy has devoted his life to helping the people of Hazel Green and pleasing his prominent family—a family currently caught up in a political scandal. Though innocent, it’s up to Leo to restore their good name. He’s convinced Nell is the perfect woman to help him do that. Smart, beautiful, and kind, Nell has become a pillar of the Hazel Green community. While his parents caution she isn’t cut out to be a “political wife”, Nell is the only woman Leo wants by his side.
Leo’s parents aren’t the only ones with concerns. Nell has her own reasons for resisting her feelings for Leo. No one knows about her life prior to Hazel Green, and when shadows of that life suddenly reappear everything Nell has come to love could be in jeopardy. Revealing her most closely guarded secret could bring her one step closer to freedom—or cost her the one man she can’t do without.

---

Nell Ambrose and Leo Pomeroy’s relationship intrigued me in One Fine Day, the first book in the Hazel Green series. I wondered why the attorney and the town mayor were having a secret relationship and when and how it would be revealed! Cindy Kirk brings the characters of Hazel Green to life with her descriptive voice and spot on dialogue. I adored Nell’s story and read it in one sitting.

Nell Ambrose is a child welfare attorney who enjoys bringing the character of Hazel Green, the town matriarch, to life at social events. Her make-up, wig and costumes transform Nell into her other persona who lived in the early 1900’s. I noticed that Nell shifts easily from Hazel to herself and she enjoys being someone else. Nell is a private person; Leo only knows a few vague details of Nell’s life before she came to Hazel Green. In contrast, Leo’s family life is an open book; he’s the mayor of Hazel Green and his father is a senator. He is used to being in the public eye. His life is an open book—Nell’s is not.

I loved reading Nell’s story. Cindy Kirk includes hints about Nell’s childhood throughout the novel and introduces her brother into the storyline seamlessly. As she falls in love with Leo, she tells him bits and pieces about her past. Nell realizes that she is in love with Leo and wants to open up to him but, she is keeping a secret or two from him. Nell and Leo decide to make their relationship public and they begin to attended social and political events together. Nell, Leo and Leo’s parents attend a town event where a photo of the four of them is posted on social media. Nell’s past is revealed because someone from her past recognizes her in the photo. Loved how Nell’s past connected to a present day scandalous political situation for the Pomeroy family. Many of the characters in the novel were impacted when Nell’s identity was revealed.

Cindy Kirk tackles several important issues in this novel; family values, secrets and trust. The reader gets a glimpse of political life and the importance of family from Marty and Tim Pomeroy. The secondary characters in the novel played important roles in Nell and Leo’s lives; each one added depth to the storyline. I am waiting to see what happens to Lilian, Marc and Dixon. Cindy Kirk’s descriptive writing and her honest dialogue makes her characters and their situations relatable. She is able to blend romance and political issues during the story. I was invested in Nell and Leo’s romance and knew he loved her without hesitation.

The suspenseful conclusion of One Step Away took me by surprise—in a good way. Loved the political intrigue piece of the story and its connection to many of the Hazel Green characters. Am looking forward to returning to Hazel Green soon!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book Purchased through Amazon

Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak - Audible Edition

Her Darkest Nightmare

by Brenda Novak

Audible Edition

★★★★★

Evelyn Talbot is the definition of survivor.

Now, she has devoted her life to gathering information.

She wants to find out what makes a psychopathic killer

think the way they do. Why? Is it in the brain? In the

blood? What makes only some people think the way

they do. And not others? What makes them different?

 

Because of Evelyns life experiences, she has only allowed

herself to focus. Only on her goal. Information. To stay

away from her darkest nightmare. 

 

 

But what happens when you are on the way to your

goal and you find yourself sidetracked by a man?

A man you feel drawn to. Can you fall in love?

Evelyn is determined not to allow her guard down. 

 

Amorak is the local law. The only local law. So Evelyn

needs him. Even though he is flirting with her. She is

determined to keep it all professional.

So she can focus on her work.

And she fears that anyone close to her is in danger.

She has to protect others. To keep them at

arms length. But is that enough to protect them?

Who will protect her?

 

Brenda Novak has written a great running story.

With some wonderful narration. Therese Plummer is

a diverse narrator. She puts her best into this series.

 

I bought my copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson