Christmas In Eternity Springs
CHRISTMAS IN ETERNITY SPRINGS is the newest book in the ETERNITY SPRINGS series. Being able to experience a love story during the holiday season can be the greatest gift of all. ♥ Reviewed by Diana S., 5 Hearts, a RECOMMENDED READ
Claire Branham hasn’t celebrated Christmas since she was a child, because of the loss of her little sister. Having found a new love while in her thirties and being engaged has made her believe again. When she finds out her fiancé is already married, her happiness is ruined again in the season. Leaving Dallas, Texas, behind, Claire runs away from her hurt, but knows not where to go. Running into Celeste Blessing at a gas station where she loses control and is bawling hysterically, is the greatest day of her life. Moving to Eternity Springs and opening a Christmas store is a way to start her life over.
Jax Lancaster abandoned his career in the military to care for his young son after his ex-wife’s death. Moving to Eternity Springs where his son has found some peace seems to be the thing to do. Becoming a handyman around town is the best that he could do to support his son in the small community.
Meeting up with Claire by accident at the hot tub is a pleasant surprise and Jax hopes they can have an affair while he is in town. Claire has secrets that she doesn’t want to reveal but she is tired of being alone so she wants a fling with Jax. Learning about Jax’s son’s trauma brought on by his mother’s tragic death, Claire wants to try and help him find happiness in Christmas again. Claire and Jax enter into a mistletoe affair to help them cope through the holiday season.
CHRISTMAS IN ETERNITY SPRINGS is a story everyone will enjoy reading during the Christmas season. It is a story of family obligations, newfound love and hope for the healing of a child. I believe this book needs to be read every year to bring back the hope and happiness that the year may have tried to take away.
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An Excerpt
Prologue
December
Dallas, Texas
The fragrance of Christmas swept into the house along with the tree that the garden center’s deliverymen carried inside. As they placed the twelve- foot- tall blue spruce into the stand she’d positioned in front of the living room picture window, Claire Branham allowed herself to reflect on the once- upon- a- time memories triggered by the scent.
Days of Christmas Past. Such happy times— laughter and excitement and family traditions. A home filled with love. All lost, wiped away by the reality of illness and death and broken hearts.
As she watched the workers secure the tree to the stand, she reflected upon what a momentous occasion this was for her. She hadn’t put up a Christmas tree in a very long time. For Claire, Black Friday didn’t represent the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It signified the day the doctor’s office called and changed the lives of everyone she loved.
Fifteen Christmases had passed since that first life-altering year. Some years, she’d gone through the motions of participation, even though her heart wasn’t in it. Other years, she did her best to ignore it entirely. Mostly, she’d muddled through, grumpy and unhappy and counting the days until the season was over for another year.
“That should do it,” said the deliveryman, stepping back from the tree. He handed Claire a little green bottle of preservative. “Mix this with water according to the directions. Add water as needed. Doesn’t hurt to check it every day, but it needs to be watered at least every other day.”
“Thank you.”
“You picked a pretty one, Ms. Branham. You have a perfect spot for a tree in this home. Now . . .” He flipped a page on his clipboard. “Are we decorating the tree, too, or just doing the outdoor lighting and decorations?”
“You’re hanging the outdoor lights and helping with the high things inside the house. I’m saving the tree to decorate until my fiancé gets home from a business trip tomorrow.”
Claire showed him the outdoor decorations in her garage, then went back inside to begin draping garland on the staircase. Anticipation made her feel like a child on Christmas morning. It had been years since she’d decorated a tree, and she couldn’t wait to do it again. This year, Claire wasn’t spending her holiday season with her Grinch on. She was going all Elf. Because for the first time in forever, the thought of the holiday season made Claire happy.
It started on Black Friday. Rather than launching her usual month- long depression, Black Friday this year got Claire off to a joyful holiday start. After she and Landon ran the Turkey Trot 10K on Thanksgiving morning, she’d sent him off to the airport with a kiss and a turkey sandwich so he could make his early afternoon flight to the West Coast where he had meetings scheduled with movie executives. Friday morning, rather than lie in bed with her covers over her head as in years past, Claire had bounded out of bed early, joined the shopping hoards, and had a ball doing it.
It set the tone for her days as she anticipated Landon’s return. Claire was happy and excited and joyful. With Landon’s help, she had climbed her way out of the valley of loss and loneliness and found her happiness. Now, she was finding her Christmas spirit again.
Copyright © 2016 by Emily March and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
♥
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