Customer Reviews

Christmas at Shadow Creek: The Birth Place (Harlequin Superromance No. 1165)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Roxanne Rustand has written an inspiring tale of courage, love and hope!

Her endearing heroine, Joanna, has suffered a series of losses that shake her to the soul. She moves to Shadow Creek to take a new job as Pediatrician at The Birthplace. There, she starts to heal herself, along with her young patients. She uncovers a mystery that threatens to close the clinic and put patients and families at risk. When a young child and his terrified mother turn to her for help, will she have the courage to save them?

Ben, the sexy rancher next door, has his own trials. Managing his ranch is a challenge, requiring dedication 24/7. He also cares for a forgetful aging aunt and a wayward teenage nephew who is apparently hell-bent on a path to self-destruction. Ben has enough on his plate. No more complications, thank you! But when he returns an escape-artist of a horse to its owner, Joanna, it leads him straight to a fascinating woman he just can't ignore.

Sparks of attraction flare instantly. The harder they resist, the more they sizzle. The heat builds until neither can deny it. And when another tiny 'complication' lands on Ben's doorstep, bundled in baby blankets, the tension just keeps on escalating!

Filled with trials, along with humor and tender passion, Ben and Joanna's romance is so compelling! The author weaves a heartwarming story of honor, love of family, and ties that bind through generations, even through life's most difficult challenges.

This enduring romance warmed my heart! I loved it!

Two years ago Johanna Weston tragically lost her newborn son Hunter. Now divorced, she seeks healing working at the Enchantment Pediatric Clinic before restarting her career in California with the position she dreamed of while in medical school. Her soft heart leads the purchase of Galahad, a lame gelding. When Galahad escapes his pen, Johanna meets neighbor Ben Carson, the owner of Shadow Creek Ranch.

Despite his better judgment, Ben was intrigued by Johanna from first sight. But he forsook his dreams of love and marriage when three years ago the woman he loved left him. Now he needs to concentrate in his ranch and raising their horses. There just is not enough time for anything else, no matter how enchanting his new neighbor might be. Good thing he has his priorities straight, or his interest might lead to trouble.

Enchantment, New Mexico brings healing in Roxanne Rustand's CHRISTMAS AT SHADOW CREEK. Fans of the Birthplace series will be charmed by this beautiful tale about second chances. Both Johanna and Ben bear wounds from their past, but once they let their guard down, they discover the power of love to heal. A lovely tale whose beauty transcends the holiday season, CHRISTMAS AT SHADOW CREEK comes very highly recommended.

Realistic, perfectly developed characters are thrown into face-paced story of charming romancing and tantalizing mystery. This novel stirs all the emotions before ending in an satisfying and inspiring conclusion. Two thumbs up!

First of all, this is not really a Christmas book. Yes, they have a Christmas tree, presents, and Swedish cookies in the last chapter. (Ok, the tree does show up a little earlier.) But one chapter does not a Christmas story make! Second, the bad guy is just too bad, being a demented, abusive murderer, while the good guys, frankly, are just not good enough. To me this story also seemed short on emotion between the leading couple. And the multiplicity of subplots leaves you feeling that nothing's ever been fully developed. So many things are just hinted at or skimmed over that this gets to be a frustrating book.