Miracle Creek Christmas by Krista Lynne JensenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holidays
Book Description: When Riley Madigan moves to the sleepy mountain town of Miracle Creek, she hopes her new job as a high school art teacher will help her mend her recently broken heart. A little peace and quiet would be a gift this Christmas season. The last thing on her mind is love.
Former firefighter Mark Rivers has spent the last year recovering from burns sustained during a rescue operation. He’s been trying to piece his life back together but still struggles both emotionally and psychologically. When he meets Riley, he finally sees something that might bring some light back into his life.
When Mark asks Riley to work on a special nativity project, he finds himself falling for her quirky, unaffected ways. Riley doesn’t seem bothered by his scars, but is her affection for him real, or is this just another act of charity? One thing’s for certain, in a small town that views Mark as a fragile hero, it’s hard to pursue a relationship without everyone in his business. And although Riley has sincere feelings for Mark, is she ready to risk her heart?
My thoughts: This is a sweet love story. Riley and Mark have both had experiences that have left them scarred somehow. Riley's scars are on an emotional level and Marks are more on the physical aspects. I believe that because they are both hurting that it helps them to see and understand each other better.
Mark was a firefighter who is now afraid of fire. The description of his accident reminds me of how dangerous and how much we take for granted the men and women who work to protect us. The setting is in a small town. Everyone knows everyone else. The townsfolk look after and protect their own. They also LOVE Christmas, a season that Riley would like to forget existed.
I loved Mark and Riley's story. I loved them as characters and I enjoyed watching them learn, grow, adjust, and find trust. The book reminds me that even when something is broken, that life can be rebuilt around the broken pieces. Sometimes it becomes something better.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Online Purchase Links:
About the Author: Krista writes contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy. She is the author of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE (2012 Whitney Award Finalist), THE ORCHARD (2013 Whitney Award Finalist), FALLING FOR YOU (2014), and KISSES IN THE RAIN (2015 Whitney Award Finalist) through Covenant Communications, Inc.. She has novellas in Love Unexpected: With All My Heart (2014, Covenant), A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letters, and A Yuletide Regency (2014, 2018, Mirror Press), and Christmas Grace (2017, Covenant).Krista has lived in lush Oregon and rugged Wyoming, but Washington is her beloved home state. She likes to choose familiar settings for her stories, and is grateful to have such inspirational places to choose from. She is a mother of six, gramma of three, a gardener and cook, loves to travel, laugh, and lives to make the best of what she's been given.
Krista is a member of LDStorymakers and ANWA.
Author blog: kristalynnejensen.blogspot.com
IG: @kljbooks
This sounds like a great book to read. Thank you Lisa.
ReplyDelete