Miracle Creek Christmas by Krista Lynne Jensen

 

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?

Broken hearts and lives are mended as the town of Miracle Creek comes together to celebrate a Christmas to remember.

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It's my first Christmas book this year!  Yeah, it's kinda early and I am definitely NOT ready to jump into winter and Christmas just yet but I really loved this book and I would read it any time of the year because it's that good.

You get a sense right from the very beginning that these characters, especially Mark, are dealing with some heavy things.  Even though their struggles are apparent right from the start, I love how the details and emotions reveal themselves in layers throughout the book.  It made this book feel meatier and less fluffy.

Mark and Riley are great characters.  They are easy to like and easy to root for.  I loved how their relationship developed naturally.  It felt real and even though I don't have the same experiences, I have felt similar emotions which allowed me to connect with the characters.  The author did an excellent job with the characters and emotions of this book. The overall feelings of healing and hope were present even when the characters hit emotional lows.

 
I was invested and interested in this story from start to finish.  It was so hard to put it down and when I did, I was thinking about it and wanting to get back.  I love when that happens.  This book will be on my favorite list for the year for sure.  I loved this book!

 Content:  kissing, mention of peril and death.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Krista writes contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy. She 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 hike, and lives ot make the best of what she’s been given. Find her on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.