Evergreen Springs by RaeAnne Thayne Series: Haven Point #3
Published by HQN Books on Sept. 29, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher through NetGalley
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Also in this series: Snow Angel Cove, Redemption Bay, Riverbend Road, Snowfall on Haven Point, Serenity Harbor, Sugar Pine Trail, The Cottages on Silver Beach
Also by this author: A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise, Snow Angel Cove, The Christmas Ranch, Redemption Bay, A Cold Creek Christmas Story, Riverbend Road, Snowfall on Haven Point, The Holiday Gift, Serenity Harbor, Sugar Pine Trail, The Rancher's Christmas Song, The Cottages on Silver Beach, Sleigh Bells Ring
Christmas is the last thing Cole Barrett is thinking about this year. He's barely hanging on trying to care for his two grieving children since his ex-wife died in a tragic accident. For the reclusive Cole, this is no time for gift-giving and celebration—and certainly not for a sunny-natured optimist to blow into his screwed-up life.
In the years since her cancer treatments, physician Devin Shaw has researched the curative powers of Lake Haven's mineral waters. Unfortunately, the hot springs are on Barrett property, forcing Devin to strike a bargain with the ranch's attractively gruff owner: she'll give Cole's children the magical Christmas they deserve, and Cole will allow her patients access to the springs. But can she work her holiday magic to heal the Barrett family's battered hearts—and her own?
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review
Mackenzie Shaw’s sister Devin gets into the Christmas spirit in Evergreen Springs, RaeAnne Thayne’s third book set in Haven Point. I quickly warmed up to both Devin and surly cowboy/rancher Cole Barrett, but the real charmers are Cole’s kids, especially six-year-old Ty. Jazmyn, Ty’s older sister, is prickly and bossy, but given how recently she lost her mother, it’s easy to understand and sympathize with her.
Devin herself is a sweetheart, and Cole is a man doing his best in unfamiliar territory as a single dad. He loves his kids fiercely, but he has a lot of baggage when it comes to his past. Forgiveness is a major theme in this book, along with new beginnings. The latter are very much in evidence, since Cole’s sister Tricia, a childhood friend of Devin’s, is expecting twins. Tricia’s story is closely interwoven with Cole and Devin’s, though it remains a secondary plot line.
Like many of Thayne’s books, this is a sweet rather than steamy romance, but Thayne still conveys the attraction between Devin and Cole – both emotional and physical. That said, I think Devin’s relationship with Cole’s children is almost more compelling; it certainly gets at least as much page time! If you’re looking for a heartwarming Christmas romance, Evergreen Springs is a good place to start.
CHALLENGE: Popsugar #45: A book set during Christmas
About RaeAnne Thayne
RaeAnne Thayne majored in journalism and worked as a reporter, then an editor, before she began writing fiction. She now writes full-time, and lives in the mountains of northern Utah with her family.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- PopSugar 2015 Reading challenge
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
Question – are Devin’s patients cancer patients? And how much page time does cancer get? The story sounds sweet but I prefer my books cancer free.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Bea Reviews Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant
Lark_Bookwyrm
Devin works as a GP and also works in the ER; her main patient in this book is pregnant with twins and having some pregnancy-related issues. No one has cancer currently, although Devin is a survivor and there are some references to how that affected her (significantly, in one respect particularly), and she has some memories – not written as flashbacks – of her childhood bout with it.
Lola
I like it when the kids in a book are well done, they can really make a book shine sometimes. While I like the steamy romances, I also like the sweet ones, especially when the focus on the emotions. This sounds like a sweet christmas romance indeed. Great review!
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Kitchen: Banana Crumble Muffins Recipe
Lark_Bookwyrm
It is indeed. Thayne is really good at the emotional connections.