Geralyn Dawson

This is one sweet, romantic read with a bit of suspense and mystery thrown in for good measure. It reads like a good Hallmark Christmas movie with a touch of a Hitchcock twist. There's also a bit of magic at play (so it would seem) which the residents of Eternity Springs casually attribute to one of its mature and eccentric residents. They've learned not to doubt nor to question this woman's nuggets of wisdom and the strange coincidences which surround her.

Meanwhile, a boy longing for a dad show more ignites the magic with an eleventh hour phone call to Santa. Mayhem ensues and greater forces than they themselves have drawn Jenna and Devin into intersecting orbits. The attraction is immediate and sexual tension - palpable. With considerable restraint, reason prevails and thwarts the frustrated couple. Yet, with so many obstacles, will love prevail?

This 15th book in the "Eternity Springs" series, easily stands alone where the reader is not a-sea for having missed the previous 14 stories. There are moments of humor, wisdom, terror and utter joy. A truly charming story that will warm a readers heart.

I am grateful to author Emily March, publisher St. Martin's Press and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a free advance reading copy of this book. There generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone. show less

This was a terrific conclusion to the McBrides of Texas subset of the Eternity Springs series. It is a story of love, loss, and healing. Boone is one of the three McBride cousins who inherited the land called Enchanted Canyon back in Texas. Boone doesn't spend much time there, having moved to Eternity Springs, Colorado, after a devastating loss sent him looking for peace and escape. After five years, he's gained the reputation of a smooth-talking, charming ladies' man, but also a man with a show more big heart. He's ready to move past the pain of his past and is advised that the best way to do so is to "be a light" for someone else.

Hannah has been on the run from her past for three years. After a tragedy took everything that mattered from her, she feels no hope of happiness in her future. She has reached the end of her rope and contemplates her options as she stares at Eternity Springs from the overlook at Lover's Leap.

When Boone sees Hannah standing there, he's compelled to stop. As soon as he gets close to her, he recognizes the pain in her eyes. I loved how Boone stepped into her circle and began talking to her, distracting her from her thoughts. Some of his conversation was pretty ridiculous, but he was desperate to pull her back to the land of the living. I loved how he talked to her about Eternity Springs and encouraged her to explore the town. He even goes as far as to offer to rent her the guest cabin on his property. Boone is quite the steamroller, and he soon has her settled in and ready to explore.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hannah and Boone. The connection is there from the start, thanks to their similar pasts. Boone is further along the road to healing and quickly realizes that Hannah is someone very special. I loved seeing how his kindness and empathy helped Hannah begin to live again. There is a little bump in the road when someone from Boone's past throws a life-changing curveball into his world. It is something that Hannah feels that she isn't equipped to handle. I appreciated how Boone tries so hard not to push her too quickly out of her comfort zone. As a result, she adjusts faster than she expects.

I especially enjoyed Boone's determination to romance Hannah. When Boone makes a decision, he goes all-in, and this was no exception. There were some sweet scenes of them together, from stargazing to glamping. Hannah helps Boone out of several crises that also serve to bring them closer together. I loved seeing the effects of Boone's attention as Hannah's formerly dark existence began to add color and light. Like Boone, when Hannah makes a decision, she commits fully. Their big moment at the end is fantastic, with a fun twist that I didn't see coming. I laughed out loud at Boone's reaction, especially his comment about his cousins. There's one last crisis they have to deal with, but by doing so together, they banish the last of their ghosts and move ahead in a life full of love.

I've never read any of the Eternity Springs books but will have to do so. I'd like to know more about Celeste, who plays an integral part in all three McBride books. I liked what I read about the town and its people and look forward to getting to know more about them. I especially enjoyed the way the women of the town rallied to help Boone with an emergency.

There wasn't much time spent in Enchanted Canyon, but that doesn't mean Tucker and Jackson were left out of the book. Both of them have their moments to shine. I loved how Boone called them for advice when he panicked a little about his feelings for Hannah. They provided an excellent combination of teasing, which he deserved, and truth, which he needed. show less

Every Emily March book is better than the last. I’ve learned by now that thinking I’ll read a couple of chapters at a time is nonsense. When I start I know I will read straight through.
I say it in all my reviews of Emily March’s books so it probably sounds like a broken record, but not even a chapter in and I start getting that warm, fuzzy at-home-again feeling. Eternity Springs and Redemption are places I feel I’ve been, places I know, places I feel safe, and when I’m there I’m show more surrounded by people I know and love and trust and care so much about.

Boone is no exception. Yes, I read it straight through, and I cried through about half of it. Sad crying, happy crying, hopeful crying. And when I finished I was completely satisfied. Boone is the final book in the Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas trilogy. Just like Jackson and Tucker, Boone McBride is a big, handsome, capable tough guy, someone who will take care of things. But he’s not really so tough. He’s been through some tough times, though, and has worked very hard to overcome them. He’s got a good career, good place to live and good friends, but he’s just shy of that perfect contentment he craves. He’s big-hearted and kind and caring, and we want him to be happy.

Hannah Dupree is passing through. She’s always passing through somewhere, because she’s been through some tough times, too, and stopping and settling in is not on her to-do list. But when Boone and Hannah meet he recognizes another wounded soul and wants to pay back a little of what he’s received from Eternity Springs and the folks who live there and in Redemption. Neither one of them is thinking about love. But we are – we see it before they do, and what fun it is to watch them dance around it. To spend time with two truly nice people who have so much to give.

In addition to wonderful locations and wonderful characters, with Boone and all of the Eternity Springs books you get the bonus of a solid story, things that feel real happening to people that seem real. You get to peek back at the characters you already know and see how they’re doing, and meet new characters you know from the start you’ll love. The writing is excellent, the plot smooth and the characters deep and well-developed. What a joy and pleasure these books are. Thanks to author Emily March and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Boone via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. All opinions are my own. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Each book stands alone, but do yourself a favor and read them all to meet everyone in Eternity Springs and Redemption. You’ll be so happy you did. In 2020 especially, I want to live in Eternity Springs or Redemption. Everyone would wear masks without having to be nagged, they would help each other like they always do while responsibly and safely social distancing, and no one would be hoarding toilet paper. show less

Terrific book. This is the story of the second McBride cousin, Tucker. Though he originally planned to make the military his career, his most recent posting convinced him otherwise. Pushing papers was a pain, but what got to him most was the backstabbing, political vipers he had to deal with. So he pulled the plug but is now feeling a bit lost and unsure of what comes next. So he heads for Redemption and the land that he and his cousins own, looking for peace and inspiration. He did not show more expect to come across a damsel in distress along the way.

Gillian is having a bad day. After an argument with her fiancé over wedding plans, she compounds her problems by wrecking her car in the middle of nowhere. Undeterred, she hikes off in the direction of town, high heels and all. She doesn't expect a knight on his trusty steed to come to her rescue.

I loved the first meeting between Gillian and Tucker. There are sparks, but Tucker doesn't act on them because he's an honorable guy, and she's engaged. However, there is plenty of banter between them, and he pours on the flirty charm. Several months pass with Gillian and Tucker seeing each other occasionally, including on New Year's Eve. The cracks in her relationship with Jeremy become more pronounced. The final betrayal comes when Jeremy, as the bank representative, sells a property that Gillian had plans for without telling her. I ached for Gillian but was happy that she finally saw Jeremy for the snake he was. What was most eye-opening for Gillian was the realization that she was less upset over the loss of Jeremy than she was the loss of the property and her dreams for it. To find out that it was Tucker who bought the property was an additional blow. I liked her face-off with him. Her enthusiasm for her plans made Tucker want her all the more. Now that she is no longer engaged, he is ready to go into pursuit mode.

I loved the development of the relationship between Tucker and Gillian. It was smooth, and it wasn't easy, but it was beautiful. Tucker has a good understanding of Gillian from the beginning. When Gillian went into a deep funk over the end of her dreams, Tucker conspired with her mother to pull her out of it. I loved what they came up with, and it certainly did the trick. Gillian regained a bit of her spark, and Tucker makes sure she knows of his interest. But Gillian's confidence in herself and her judgment is shot, and she is afraid to jump into a new relationship. I loved Tucker's patience as he agrees to be friends while she works through it. They spend some time together over the next few weeks, growing closer, but with Gillian always keeping that bit of distance between them. I thoroughly enjoyed it when Tucker introduced Gillian to the joys of hiking. Her resistance was funny, and his cajoling was sweet. It's so apparent that Tucker is head over heels for her, but Gillian can't let go of her fears.

Things take a turn when the proof of Jeremy's betrayal blindsides Gillian. I loved that she ran to Tucker, knowing in her heart that she could trust him. I loved how he took control of everything and gave Gillian the perfect escape experience. There ended up being more to the trip than planned, and though she was all-in at first, she freaked out the next day. I ached for Tucker, who thought that he had finally won his fair lady. His patience was incredible as he gave Gillian the time she wanted. I was frustrated with Gillian because she coasted along, not really giving the issue the time it deserved. I loved what finally opened her eyes and gave Gillian her confidence back. There were still some things to work out between them, but they talked them out with the result of coming out stronger on the other side. I loved that discussion and how it showed the changes they both experienced.

There was also a lead-in to the next book with Boone. I can't wait to read it and see how he handles that unexpected complication to his life. show less