The Romance Dish: Emily March

Showing posts with label Emily March. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Review - - Second Chance Season

Second Chance Season

by Emily March

Lake in the Clouds - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 5, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Zoey Hillcrest thought the hard part was over once she and her fiancé, Cooper, settled on a venue for their destination wedding. But as the date approaches, Zoey faces professional burnout, her estranged mother’s terminal illness, and a worrisome distance from her fiancé. When presented with an excuse to return to Colorado, she flees to the peaceful lakeside hotel to figure out what she truly wants in life.

After all the hard work Genevieve Prentice and her sister Helen McDaniel put into renovating their rustic waterfront lodge, the two finally have time to take a breath and celebrate the lives they’ve built in Lake in the Clouds, Colorado. Then a chance run-in with their latest bride turns their lives upside down.

Helen has never laid eyes on Zoey before, but something about her feels familiar. And when the three women uncover a devastating family secret, they must make peace with the past in order to fully embrace what the future has to offer.

PJ's Thoughts:

Emily March takes readers on another heart-tugging, emotional journey in this third book of her Lake in the Clouds series. I love the way she weaves generations together within this family, giving equal consideration to all ages. And, I especially love that the pillars of the three books are sisters with decades of life behind them. Sisters who still have a thirst for life, for adventure, and for new romantic opportunities.

Second Chance Season brings new characters to Lake in the Clouds and into Genevieve and Helen's life, bringing unexpected revelations with them. March seamlessly weaves Zoey's journey into those of Helen, Genevieve, and their family, keeping me eagerly turning pages. All of these characters - and their stories - are compelling. March has a way of creating characters who seem so real. I feel as if I know them personally, become invested in their well being, ache when they are hurt, and cheer their happiness.

You could read Second Chance Season as a standalone but I'm glad I read the three books in order, especially because Helen's and Genevieve's stories - as well as their sibling relationship - unfolds over the course of the three books. The emotional impact of Second Chance Season was much greater having that understanding of where they started and how far they've come. The books, in order, are: The Getaway, Balancing Act, and Second Chance Season (click the titles to read my reviews). I highly recommend all three.

Friday, December 1, 2023

Review - - Balancing Act

Balancing Act

by Emily March

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Genevieve Prentice is learning that reinventing herself is a bit like downsizing a house. Deciding what to keep and what needs to go gets complicated. After settling into life in Lake in the Clouds, Colorado, with her sister’s help, she’s finally finding her balance. But Genevieve’s newfound steadiness is threatened when her daughter Willow unexpectedly arrives carrying a mountain of emotional baggage.

Willow Eldridge needs a fresh start, but that can’t happen until she comes clean about her family’s secrets. Thankfully, between caring for her two young children and planning her brother’s wedding, Willow has plenty of reasons to delay the uncomfortable heart-to-heart with her mother. Yet when Willow grows close to her kind but standoffish neighbor and suspects he is keeping secrets of his own, she realizes there’s no moving forward without facing what came before…

Can Genevieve and Willow jettison the pain of the past to create the future they so desperately crave? Beneath the crystal blue skies of Lake in the Clouds, anything seems possible.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been reading this author for almost thirty years, first as historical romance author Geralyn Dawson and more recently as Emily March. Never has she failed to give me a story I could happily immerse myself into. Her current series, as the Eternity Springs books that preceded it, brings all the feelings and I am here for them.

March excels at creating family connections. In this book especially, I love how we see the stories unfold from the perspective of multiple generations. It was easy for me to connect with Genevieve, a widow of a certain age struggling to find her identity now that her children are adults and on their own. But March makes it equally easy to relate to Willow, a young single mother dealing with heavy emotional baggage as well as her young son, an inquisitive chatterbox with more worry than a child should have to shoulder. Add in a reclusive - but very hot - neighbor with plenty of emotional baggage of his own, an undeniable chemistry with Willow, and an endearing soft spot for little kids and puppies, and you have the heart-tugging recipe for romance, family, finding one's place, and happily-ever-afters. Not, however, until all of these characters navigate the unexpected obstacles life has chosen to place in their way.

Those obstacles are one of the things I enjoy about March's writing. Her characters' journeys have real, relatable layers as do the characters themselves. We're only two books into this new series but I'm already wholly invested in them and their well being. I'm eager to watch Genevieve find her footing...and her joy. I'm curious to discover what life has in store for her two remaining single children. And I'm wondering just what role neighboring rancher, Gage will play in it all.

For maximum enjoyment, I strongly recommend reading book one in this series, The Getaway, followed by Balancing Act.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Review - - The Getaway

The Getaway

by Emily March

Lake in the Clouds - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: September 6, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Widowed young, Genevieve Prentice dedicated her life to raising her four children. Now, though, they’re all grown and scattered to the wind, and Genevieve is ready for a change. In a flash of inspiration, she puts her home on the market and heads to Lake in the Clouds, Colorado, to renovate a rustic waterfront lodge with her sister. But just as they begin, Genevieve gets the shock of a lifetime: the arrival of her son.

Jake Prentice built a career out of being dependable, one that left him perennially stressed and overworked. Finally heeding his mother’s words of wisdom, he’s quit his job and is ready to find out what truly makes him happy. And now, as he stands surrounded by open sky and fresh, pine-scented air, he’s got no regrets . . . until former colleague Tess Crenshaw appears at the lake, forcing him to reassess what—and who—he really wants.

As they work together to renovate the lodge, Genevieve and Jake embark on a heartfelt and inspiring journey to learn about themselves, each other, and the true meaning of family.

PJ's Thoughts:

Emily March is one of my favorite authors, writing heart-tugging, family-centric stories that always take me on an emotional journey and never fail to leave me with a happy, satisfied smile.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this book and appreciate the fact that characters of different generations not only have compelling life journeys but the potential for romantic ones as well. Genevieve, Jake, and Tessa are all at different points in their lives - and careers - but all still very relatable to me as a reader. I appreciate how March takes her time with each of them individually while also giving care to the development of their relationships, both romantic and familial.

I enjoy how March weaves all the members of the Prentice family in and out of the story, slowly beginning to peel back the layers of their relationships and whetting our appetites with glimpses of new - and continuing - journeys in future books. She's so good at creating the love, rivalry, hurt feelings, and steadfast support among members of a family unit. I'm eager to watch how they all evolve over the course of the series.

Genevieve is the character I probably most closely identify with. It's so satisfying to watch her emerge from her cocoon, begin to discover her own value as a person - apart from her role as a mother - and embrace new adventures and dreams. If you're a fan of The Sound of Music (as I am) you will probably find yourself singing along and enjoying her adventures vicariously. I did. I'm excited to tag along as she continues to spread her wings and excited to discover what March has in store for her next.

The Getaway launches March's new Lake in the Clouds series and I am already hooked. While this first book centers primarily on Genevieve and her oldest son, Jake, we're also given the opportunity to meet and begin to get to know Jake's siblings as well as Genevieve's sister. By the end of the book I was completely invested in this family, intrigued by a neighboring family, and excited to watch all of their journeys play out over the course of the series. The tie-in to Eternity Springs and a couple cameo appearances are delightful bonuses that fans of the Eternity Springs series are sure to enjoy.

If you enjoy feel-good contemporary stories with relatable characters you can cheer for, complex family dynamics that tug at your heart, romance, emotional depth, and happy endings, don't miss Emily March's The Getaway. It's a keeper.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Review - - BOONE

BOONE: ETERNITY SPRINGS

THE MCBRIDES OF TEXAS - Book 3

by Emily March

Publisher: St. Martin's

Release Date: December 29, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

With his smooth talk, rugged good looks, and deep pockets, native Texan Boone McBride appears to be a man who has it all. Few people know about the heartbreak behind his decision to leave home, family, and career for the isolation of a small town in the Colorado Rockies. Luckily, time and life in Eternity Springs has worked its healing magic upon his wounded soul, so when he meets obviously troubled Hannah Dupree, Boone sees a chance to pay his good fortune forward. The last thing he anticipates is tumbling into love.

Tragedy has taken everything Hannah loves, and her will to keep going is failing. So when Boone strides into her life determined to save her, it’s easier to go along with him than to resist. Soon she is drawn into the fabric of life in Eternity Springs, and as her spirit begins to heal, her strength returns, and she’s able to go toe-to-toe with this hardheaded, big-hearted Texan. But just when love blooms and happiness is within their grasp, shadows from the past threaten. Hannah and Boone must stand strong and united in order to defeat old ghosts―if they are to create a brand-new life together.

PJ's Thoughts:

Oh, my heart. I've been reading Emily March's books for a long time. Her Eternity Springs stories touch a special chord within my soul, taking me on journeys that restore my faith in love, forgiveness, redemption, and hope. But, even among my many Eternity Springs favorites, this story is special.

Hannah and Boone are firmly implanted in my heart, not to be forgotten anytime soon. The trials life has placed in their paths have been devastating and even though they are at different points in their healing when they meet they both still have miles to go. March guides them with care and sensitivity, along with well-placed humor and burgeoning joy, from a barren landscape to one overflowing with new growth and possibilities. I loved them together.

Celeste, once again, is her instrument of guidance, imparting wisdom and gently nudging both Boone and Hannah in a direction that will ultimately bring them the love, and peace, they deserve. I especially enjoyed how she uses color to help illustrate Hannah's navigation of the various stages of her healing.

March brought these characters to life for me. I cried with them, laughed with them, mourned and rejoiced with them. This is a story filled with deep, all-encompassing emotion. I felt the gravity of it, the grief and hopelessness at the beginning of the journey, yet wasn't smothered by it. There are pockets of hope and laughter strategically sprinkled throughout, reminding them - and me - that even in the midst of overwhelming grief, there is still the possibility of joy in the distance.

I loved the romantic journey between these two characters who are clearly meant to be together. I adored Boone with his caring heart, unabashedly flirtatious ways, and surprising vulnerability. Hannah won my admiration and heart with her courage in the face of unbelievable grief. Each time her heart opened a little bit more I wanted to stand up and cheer...then give her a big hug. The icing on the cinnamon roll is how she turns the tables on Boone in the end and takes control of their future. One of my favorite scenes and indicative of how far she has come from their first encounter. These two are each the light that helps guide the other out of the darkness, fully embracing the sweet memories of those they loved and lost, and celebrating the uplifting love and joy of their future together.

Don't be frightened off by the fact that this is the 18th book in the Eternity Springs series. Boone's and Hannah's story can definitely be enjoyed on its own.

Note: There are serious and possibly triggering topics in this book, including suicide, failed adoption, and death of children. None of these events occur on the page but both main characters are dealing with the grief and emotions caused by them.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Blog Tour Review - - TUCKER

TUCKER
by Emily March
The McBrides of Texas - Book 2
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date: February 25, 2020
Reviewed by PJ

Hope springs eternal in this enchanting Texas town.

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue when an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs…

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime. . .until death do they part.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm really enjoying the new community of characters March has brought to her Eternity Springs series through this connected - but standalone - trilogy. I fell in love with her McBride family before she created Eternity Springs so it's been fun to follow second generation McBride cousins Jackson and Tucker (and next up, Boone) as they navigate the trials of starting over and finding love in Enchanted Canyon.

I fell hard for Tucker. He's such a good guy: sexy, honorable, and caring. He's a bit lost when he arrives in Redemption, having retired from the Army and not sure what he wants to do with the rest of his life. March does a good job of showing his evolution. I love how much he cares for his family. His relationship with Jackson's young daughter is especially poignant. I also love how well he knows Gillian, often better than she knows herself.

Gillian took longer to warm up to. She runs a successful business but personally, she's a mess. For almost half the book she's engaged to someone else and when that ends (he's a cheating jerk), it sends her self-confidence and trust in her own decisions into a spiral. I understood her caution with Tucker (their romantic relationship doesn't begin until after her engagement ends) but I grew frustrated with how she treats him and his feelings for her. She comes around in the end but I wanted more evidence of her investment in their relationship. I'm hoping to see that in the final book of the trilogy.

March infused the story with plenty of good humor and heart-tugging emotion to keep me engaged and gives readers a peek into Boone's dilemma that has me eagerly anticipating his story in the next chapter of the McBrides of Texas.

You don't have to have read the Eternity Springs books - or the earlier McBride books - to enjoy TUCKER. I do, however, recommend reading JACKSON first for a better understanding of characters from JACKSON whose stories continue in TUCKER.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

BUY LINKS

Macmillan: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250314932

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250314933?tag=macmillan-20

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternity-springs-emily-march/1132730238;jsessionid=9CB8E792D66DAE517D48FA46AF244A7C.prodny_store01-atgap02?ean=9781250314932#/

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781250314932?AID=42121&PID=7992675&cjevent=0a0b322d393511ea828c00f10a24060e

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250314932?aff=macmillan

Powell’s: https://www.powells.com/book/eternity-springs-the-mcbrides-of-texas-tucker-9781250314932?partnerid=33241

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @emilymarchbooks (https://twitter.com/emilymarchbooks?lang=en)

Facebook: @emilymarchbooks (https://www.facebook.com/emilymarchbooks/)

Instagram: @emilymarchbooks (https://www.instagram.com/emilymarchbooks/?hl=en)

Author Website: https://emilymarch.com/

Macmillan Author Page: https://us.macmillan.com/author/emilymarch

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Tour Review - - JACKSON

JACKSON
by Emily March
Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas - Book 1
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Sometimes it takes a new beginning

Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline's new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off.

to reach a happily-ever-after

Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he's been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love - he even has the old song lyrics to prove it - but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who's moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption's healing magic is true...and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all?

My thoughts:

I've been a fan of Emily March's Eternity Springs series since book one. The characteristics that have sent those books straight to my keeper shelf - complex, endearing characters, heart-tugging story lines, redemption, healing, starting over, and happy-ever-afters - are all on display in this first book of March's new spin-off series, along with a fair amount of humor. Moving from Colorado to the Texas Hill Country, this new series brings readers the stories of three McBride cousins: Jackson, Tucker, and Boone.

March tells this first book in two parts with part one recounting Jackson and Caroline's first meeting as well as the events that lead each of them to move to Redemption. My heart ached for Jackson from the get-go. He's reeling from a heartbreaking child custody decision when we first meet him, is still bitter about his divorce, and has lost the desire to create the music he used to write. For some reason, Caroline, a stranger he bumps into, has lyrics floating through his mind again. Caroline, in Redemption to write a travel article, enjoys talking to Jackson and touring the property he and his cousins plan to turn into an inn, restaurant, and dance hall. They "click" but not in an overtly sexual way. Caroline is married and very much in love with her husband, even though he has Alzheimer's and no longer knows her and Jackson is an honorable man who would never make a play for a married woman, even if he hadn't already sworn off women since his divorce.

The relationship between Caroline and Jackson begins in Part Two which takes place a year after their first meeting and many months after the death of Caroline's husband. I appreciate the time March gives Caroline before bringing her back to Redemption and into Jackson's sphere. As someone who has walked her path, I found her emotions to be very realistic as she begins the next chapter of her life. I also like that her late husband isn't cast aside as if he never existed. Their years together are very much a part of her as the years Jackson was married and his child are an integral part of him. They all weave together to create the individuals Caroline and Jackson now are and the relationship they create together. March uses care and sensitivity as she slowly guides them from acquaintances, to friends, to lovers, to two people embarking upon a life together. I really liked these two, both individually and as a couple, and quickly became invested in their happiness.

As a fan of Eternity Springs, I was delighted with the appearances of cross-over characters in this novel. It's especially fun to watch unflappable Celeste get her feathers ruffled while dealing with her more free-spirited cousin, Angelica. If you haven't read any of the Eternity Springs books, you might find yourself with a little character confusion when many of the Colorado residents converge on Redemption, Texas for the inn's soft opening but, aside from that chapter, this novel stands very well on its own with the vast majority of the characters new to March's fictional world. I enjoyed meeting all of them in JACKSON (even the ones who caused waves) and am already looking forward to the next chapter in Emily March's McBrides of Texas series.

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of the Eternity Springs books?

Do you enjoy stories about characters starting over?

Caroline's next chapter occupation is opening an independent bookstore. What would you choose to do if you had the opportunity to start a new chapter?

One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, June 21, will receive a print copy of JACKSON. (U.S. only)

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Tour Review - - The Christmas Wishing Tree

The Christmas Wishing Tree
by Emily March
An Eternity Springs Novel
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

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…

My thoughts:

If you enjoy feel-good, contemporary romance that tickles your funny bone, tugs at your heartstrings, and surrounds you with a whole community of people with whom you'd like to be friends, there really isn't any better fictional town to visit than Emily March's Eternity Springs.

In this 16th book of the beloved series, March brings readers another second generation love story when unlikely Santa, Devin Murphy finally meets his match in Dr. Jenna Stockton.
I really enjoyed these two. They are likable characters who come to know one another through unlikely calls to Santa made by Jenna's son long before they ever meet in person or even know one another's names. I enjoyed how March created the connection between them, allowing it to build over time before they actually become part of one another's lives, and bringing them together when Jenna and her son have both lost hope. Of course, their path to love is not without some major roadblocks, including the stalker Jenna's running from, her traumatized son, emotional baggage from Devin's past, and the tiny obstacle of Jenna and Devin living on different continents. It's going to take a whole boatload of family and friends (thankfully, Eternity Springs is bursting at the seams with them) to vanquish Jenna's tormentor and help them find their way. Mostly, though, it's going to take two people having the courage to believe, the willingness to compromise, and the strength to fight for their happiness. Luckily for us, Eternity Springs is a place of hope, a place of joy, a place where hearts heal, and unspoken Christmas wishes come true. It's a place I never tire of visiting and a stop I encourage you to add to your holiday reading list.

Don't let the fact that The Christmas Wishing Tree is the 16th book in this long-running series scare you away. While fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy catching up with Eternity Springs residents (exciting news for many of our favorite couples!), those new to the series should have no trouble enjoying Devin and Jenna's story on its own merits.

Are you a fan of the Eternity Springs series?

Jenna's son chooses dog-themed ornaments for his Christmas tree. Do you have a special theme for your tree?

When do you put up your tree?

One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM (EST) September 26 will receive a print paperback copy of The Christmas Wishing Tree. (U.S. only)

Emily March Website

Twitter: @EmilyMarchBooks

Facebook: Emily March

Pinterest: Emily March

Buy Links:

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Blog Tour Review - - The First Kiss of Spring

The First Kiss of Spring

By Emily March
Publisher: St. Martin’s

Release Date: February 27, 2018

Reviewed by Janga

Emily March pairs two characters already familiar to her fans in The First Kiss of Spring, the fourteenth book in her beloved Eternity Springs series. The Timberlake family has been an important part of the Eternity Springs community since Ali Timberlake opened her restaurant there and she and Mac experienced the healing of their troubled marriage there back in the third book in the series (Heartache Falls). The family continued to be recurring characters, and readers especially loved watching the youthful romance of the Timberlake’s younger son Chase and Lori Reese. Chase and Lori finally got their HEA in Reunion Pass (book 11). Now it is the turn of the Timberlake’s youngest child and only daughter, Caitlin, and Josh Tarkington, foster brother of Brick Callahan. (Brick and Lili Howe are the protagonists of the thirteenth book, A Stardance Summer.)

Caitlin flies from New York City, where she has spent the last eight years of her life, to Telluride, Colorado, where she will serve as bridesmaid in the destination wedding of a college friend. Being back in Colorado just serves to confirm her decision to exchange her successful career as a textile designer for a new one as the owner and operator of a daycare center in Eternity Springs. It is an idea that has been simmering since her brother Chase’s disappearance in Chizickstan made her aware that she wanted a different life than the one she had in NYC. Caitlin has high expectations of her trip, but meeting Josh Tarkington when they share an unexpectedly adventurous gondola ride is an unexpected bonus.

Josh thinks some time with the beautiful Caitlin Timberlake will be the perfect addition to his vacation. He agrees to be her plus one at the wedding, and they are poised to allow the sizzling chemistry between them to take its natural course when Ali and Mac and Celeste Blessing appear. Mac’s protective-father reaction is the least of the reasons Josh runs scared when he learns of Caitlin’s Eternity Springs connections. But he can’t run far enough to escape thoughts of her. Shortly after his return to Eternity Springs, he learns that Caitlin is not in New York but next door to Tarkington Automotive where she is preparing to open her daycare center.

Josh has given up on lasting happiness, but Caitlin is convinced that he is “the one.” She lays determined siege to his heart, unaware that Joshua Tarkington was born only when a young boy, abused, traumatized, and abandoned, became the foster son of Paul and Cindy Christopher of Oklahoma City. Josh is fighting many demons, and his dark past still has a firm hold on him. The losses he has sustained as an adult have only added to his conviction that he must move through life alone. Can love triumph over such enormous obstacles?

I’ve been a fan of Emily March’s Eternity Springs series since it began, and I think this book is one of the best in this long-running series. I loved seeing more of the Timberlakes, and I found Caitlin and Josh an immensely appealing couple. Some readers may find the move from their romantic comedy beginnings to the intensity of their later story startling; others will see the contrast as adding complexity. Despite its connections to several other Eternity Springs books, The First Kiss of Spring can easily be read as a standalone.

I think March made some smart choices in this book. She has never shied away from difficult issues, but child abuse, addiction, suicide, and other deaths could have proved too much. March uses entries from Josh’s diaries to reveal the horrors of his early life, thus controlling the emotional impact of his past. As heinous as it was, he has survived. Approaching his past more directly almost certainly would have made the book an ill fit in this heartwarming series. In a similar fashion, Caitlin’s close family ties, innate optimism, and confidence that she is in charge of her life could have made the differences between her and Josh too stark, but reminders of the threat to Ali and Mac’s marriage and Chase’s narrow escape and Mac’s current health scare show that, although Caitlin’s life has been less traumatic than Josh’s, she is not immune to heartache. As usual for this series, the mysterious, benevolent Celeste Blessing makes her presence felt.

If you like small-town contemporary romance that combines sweetness and spice, focuses on a central couple but sets their story in the context of family and community, and includes just a suggestion of the paranormal, I highly recommend this book. Not many series could keep me hoping for more through more than a dozen books, but I finished this fourteenth book eager for another visit to Eternity Springs. I’m delighted that the fifteenth book, The Christmas Wishing Tree, will be released October 2.

Are you reading Emily March's Eternity Springs series?
What's your favorite book or couple in the series?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, March 2 will receive a print copy of The First Kiss of Spring. (U.S. only) (If person chosen has already won at another stop on the tour, a new name will be selected)