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)
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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.
