Book Review & Blog Tour: Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak (ARC)

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be participating in Harlequin’s 2019 Winter Tour, which is hosted by the amazing team at TLC Book Tours! Be sure to check out the other amazing holiday reads in this line up as well as the exclusive excerpt that I have for you below!

Christmas in Silver Springs

Author: Brenda Novak

Publication Date: 29 October 2019

Genre: Adult Fiction – Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance

Pages: 432

Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin Books)

Come home to Silver Springs for the holidays, where broken hearts learn to love again…together.

So much for forever. When Harper Devlin’s rock star husband ditches her on his way to the top, she takes her two daughters to her sister’s place in Silver Springs for the holidays, hoping family can heal her broken heart. But comfort comes in unexpected places when she crosses paths with Tobias Richardson.

The moment Tobias spots Harper, he recognizes a sadness he knows all too well. After spending thirteen years in prison paying for his regretful past, Tobias is ready to make amends, and maybe helping Harper is the way to do it. But offering her a shoulder to cry on ignites a powerful attraction and a desire neither saw coming.

Fearing her reaction, Tobias doesn’t divulge his ex-con status, let alone the shameful details. So when Harper’s ex shows up in Silver Springs and reveals the truth in a bid to win her back, Tobias is sure he’s lost her for good. But maybe this Christmas he’ll receive the forgiveness—and the love—he deserves.

This was my first foray into Brenda Novak’s writing, and it most certainly will not be my last.

Harper Devlin has devoted the last ten years of her life to her husband and the love of her life, Axel. With her help, Axel has achieved rockstar status as the world renowned lead singer of rock band Pulse. Now Axel wants to take advantage of that rockstar lifestyle, so goodbye marriage and to make matters worse, it’s all over the tabloids. A heartbroken Harper decides to take her two daughters to Silver Springs, California to celebrate Christmas with her sister’s family in hopes that Axel will change his mind.

Tobias Richardson was released from prison five months ago. He was incarcerated as a teenager for a tragic accident. Since his release, Tobias is determined to make something of his life and stay out of trouble. As Tobias is having lunch at the local diner, he sees Harper and recognizes the sadness and despair that is written across her face. He hands her a white rose and offers words of encouragement. What started as a selfless act from one broken soul recognizing another turns into an unexpected relationship that neither one saw coming.

This was the perfect heartwarming story for this holiday season. I always love a story that features redemption and growth, and that is exactly what I got with Harper and Tobias. Both of them are haunted by theirs pasts and their decisions. Harper has to deal with a failed marriage and the aftermath associated with it. Tobias still grapples with his teenage decisions and experiences that he had in prison. While their paths crossing was unexpected, it is what they both needed and the gradual buildup of their romance was something to behold. I loved watching these two grow together.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fantastic romance that reminds us that we can find love in the most unexpected places and after the darkest of times then definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for my tour invite. Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing a copy for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Grab your copy of Christmas in Silver Springs here!

Excerpt

Tobias Richardson couldn’t help noticing the petite blonde sitting at the old-fashioned counter of the diner—and not just because she was pretty. He was sure he’d never seen her before. With a population of seven thousand, Silver Springs wasn’t small enough that he’d recognize everybody, especially because he’d only been living here for five months. The town seemed to have gotten a lot smaller since the weather turned, though. It didn’t snow in this part of California, but it was the rainy season and the region was experiencing colder than normal temperatures. Tourists weren’t interested in visiting when it was chill and damp, and the same went for the many residents of LA, ninety minutes to the southeast, who had vacation homes here. This month, and probably for the next two or three, he guessed Silver Springs would be limited to the locals.

He blew on his hands, trying to warm them while waiting for the coffee he’d ordered when he first sat down. He’d managed to squeeze in a hike after work.

He didn’t care that it was dark and wet by the time he was on his way back. He had a headlight to guide him to the trailhead and was willing to put up with the rain. But he was chilled to the bone. After such an arduous hike, he was starving, too, and craving a hot shower.

Again, he glanced toward the counter. He didn’t want the woman to catch him staring, but something about her—besides her looks—drew his attention.

She didn’t seem happy…

“Here you go.” Willow Sanhurst, the barely eighteen-year-old girl who worked evenings at the Eatery, stepped between him and the woman who intrigued him, smiled broadly and put his cup on the table with a flourish. “Warming up yet?”

“Starting to.”

“I can’t believe you’ve been out hiking. It’s December!”

“Little bit of rain never hurt anybody.”

He’d traded out his muddy hiking books for a pair of clean shoes before coming into the restaurant. Other than that, he was only a little damp, so he wasn’t sure why she was making such a big deal of it.

“You must really like the outdoors.”

“I do,” he said.

“So do I.”

He got the impression he was supposed to follow that up with an invitation to go hiking with him sometime, but he didn’t.

Even though they’d already discussed his hike when he’d sat down and she’d brought him water, and the diner was full of people waiting for a chance to order, she didn’t move away as most waitresses would.

Before bringing the coffee to his lips, he looked up to see if there was something she needed.

As soon as their eyes met, she blushed a deep red, wiped her hands on her ruffled white apron and mumbled some remark about being careful not to burn himself—that the coffee was hot—before hurrying away.