Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Review - - Angel's Rest

Angel’s Rest
Eternity Springs – Book 1
By Emily March
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: February 15, 2011





When Emily March (then writing as Geralyn Dawson) announced a few years ago that she was taking a sabbatical from writing, I feared that the romance world could be losing one of my favorite writers. I’m delighted to say that is not the case. Returning to her craft with a new name and fresh perspective, March brings us the long-awaited story of John Gabriel Callahan (from her Callahan Brothers romantic suspense series written as Geralyn Dawson) in an emotion-packed, heart-wrenching and, ultimately, uplifting story of loss, hope, friendship and love in Angel’s Rest, the first story in March’s new contemporary Eternity Springs series.

A broken man, widower Gabe Callahan has come to a friend’s mountain retreat near the small, struggling mountain town of Eternity Springs, Colorado to escape the grief, guilt and nightmares of his past but grief isn’t set aside that easily and his demons show no mercy. On a snowy mountainside on what would have been his son’s sixth birthday, Gabe wants nothing more than to end the pain. It will take a miracle to bring him back from the edge and heal his shattered heart.

Following a devastating betrayal by her husband, Veterinarian Nicole (Nic) Sullivan divorces him and returns to the comfort and support of her hometown of Eternity Springs and her steadfast circle of friends. She runs the only animal clinic in town but her clinic, like the rest of Eternity Springs, is barely making ends meet. As winter approaches, she prays that they will find a way to return Eternity Springs to a thriving community but fears it may take a miracle to make it happen.

Retired school teacher, Celeste Blessing is determined to restore hope and faith to the people of Eternity Springs and has the perfect plan to accomplish it: turn her home into a healing center and garden. Sensing that Gabe Callahan needs her help more than most, she convinces Nic to convince Gabe to put his landscape architectural talents to use and take charge of the project. As Nic and Gabe work together, the attraction between them deepens though while Nic embraces it, the wall of pain and anguish around Gabe's heart holds strong…until one fateful day that changes everything, sending them down a path that will either unite them in a deep and abiding love or tear them apart forever.

Angel’s Rest is a story that reached right into my heart, ripped it to shreds then slowly, carefully, piece by piece, stitched it back together again. March skillfully guides a broken man through the layers of his grief in a heartrending, realistic journey from devastation to hope to renewed joy. It isn’t an easy journey but, then, grief never is and I deeply appreciate the fact that the author didn’t sugarcoat that. March excels at getting into the minds of her characters and Gabe and Nic are both compelling characters whom I will not soon forget. I highly recommend their story.

The second book in the Eternity Springs series, Hummingbird Lake, will be released March 22, 2011 with the third book, Heartache Falls coming out April 26, 2011. 

~PJ

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23 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to reading this because I was a fan of her romantic suspense books.

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  2. 'Angel's Rest' looks wonderful. I know I will enjoy.

    marypres@gmail.com

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  3. I hope you enjoy it, Jane. Did you read "A Callahan Christmas", the free download short story on Emily March's website? It takes place the following Christmas after the end of ANGEL'S REST and features all of the Callahans. One word of advice: keep the tissues handy!

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  4. I hope you do, Marybelle. The quality of writing is superb. I think Emily March has a long and successful contemporary career ahead of her.

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  5. Another great review, PJ! I've been looking forward to this book for many months now. I loved the Christmas story, and I'm eager to read the Angel's Rest and the books to follow.

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  6. Great review, PJ! This sounds like a book that I would really enjoy. :)

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  7. Ok this is a new to me author but the story sounds so good. Thanks for the intro and review.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam

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  8. PJ, thank you for the tip on Emily March's website. I loved Agenl's Rest. I was a fan of Geralyn Dawson's Bad Luck Brides but had never read her Callahan trilogy so I went back and read them on my Kindle. I will be happy to shed a tear over the reunion of all the Callahans and look forward to the next two books.

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  9. This looks like a great book! Thanks for the info. I loved the Callahan Christmas story and will be looking forward to this book.

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  10. Thanks, Janga! I've been looking forward to it as well!

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  11. Trisha, I think you would enjoy this one.

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  12. You're welcome, Pam! I hope you'll give her a try and let us know what you think!

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  13. Connie, I discovered Geralyn Dawson several years ago through a guest appearance at Squawk Radio. I loved her sense of humor and natural storytelling ability and immediately began seeking out her historicals then followed her into romantic suspense with her Callahan Brothers series. Now I'm loving her Emily March voice in contemporary.

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  14. Thanks for stopping by, Jessika. Hope you enjoy Angel's Rest!

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  15. I just finished this book and I loved it and am so glad she is back. I was disappointed that at the end she didnt' tell us if the babies were boys, firls or one of each or the names but will gladly wait to find out hopefully in the new book....

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  16. Fabulous review, PJ! It sounds like a wonderful read.

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  17. Wonderful review, PJ! Sounds like a three hankie read. ;-)

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  18. I have been seeing this book around and I really want to read it.

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  19. This sounds like an worthwhile read. We all deal with grief differently and it is always good to see how someone does.

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  20. Great review, PJ! This sounds like a perfect "curl up on the couch with a Snuggie" kind of read. :)

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  21. I purchased th ebook yesterday and read in one day. I could not put the book down to even eat or pet my kitty :) This is a wonderful book.

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  22. This sounds like an worthwhile read. We all deal with grief differently and it is always good to see how someone does.

    Librarypat, as I said in the review, March does an incredible job of getting inside her characters' heads. I didn't just read about Gabe's journey through grief. I actually lived it with him as I read the book.

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  23. I purchased th ebook yesterday and read in one day. I could not put the book down to even eat or pet my kitty :) This is a wonderful book.

    Leslie, I did the same. It's such a riveting story. Even after I finished it, I couldn't bring myself to leave these characters.

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