Christmas in Eternity Springs

September 5, 2016
March inflicts excessive tragedy on the protagonists of her smalltown Christmas contemporary, linked to her Eternity Springs series (Reunion Pass). When Claire Branham finds out her fiancé is already married, she flees Texas for the friendly haven of Eternity Springs, Colo. Claire has also suffered through the deaths of her father and sister and the neglect of her mother. Christmas is hard for her to endure, but she faces this challenge by opening a year-round Christmas shop full of charming angels and ornaments. Single father Jax Lancaster’s son, Nicholas, barely survives a Christmastime car accident that kills Jax’s former wife. While looking for help, Nicholas is attacked by wolves. The traumatic experience leaves the boy afraid of dogs and Christmas. A sanitarium in Eternity Springs provides physical healing for Nicholas, but the Lancasters need the emotionally healing power of love; likewise, Claire’s new life as a successful retailer is going well, but she needs the Lancasters’ help to face the demons in her past and move forward. Both Claire and Jax have given up on romance, and Nicholas on family, but the magic of the season and the affectionate support provided by residents of Eternity Springs brings them all the gift of a love that will last a lifetime. The pile of pathos is unnecessary; small-town coziness and holiday spirit would have been plenty to carry this otherwise endearing story. Agents: Meg Ruley and Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency.