Angel's Rest - Emily March

Book Blurb:
Gabriel Callahan has lost everything that mattered. All he wants is solitude on an isolated mountain estate. Instead, he gets a neighbor. Vibrant, no-nonsense Nic Sullivan is Eternity Springs’ veterinarian, and she has an uncanny plan to lure this talented architect back to the world of the living. First with a dog, next with a renovation project, and, finally, with a night of passion that ends with a surprise.

Now a man still raw from tragedy must face the biggest struggle of his heart. Can he forgive himself and believe in the power of second chances? Dare he trust in the promise of a future and a brand-new family here in Eternity Springs?

My own words:

Angel's Rest is the first in the Eternity Springs series.  Gabe is staying at his friend's house in Eternity Springs to help himself regroup after the loss of his wife and son.  When Gabe feels that he can no longer go on, and it is time to end his own suffering, he is stopped in the middle of taking his own life by a goofy boxer dog that Gabe can't help but smile at.  A few days later, this same boxer is caught in a bear trap, thus enters the town vet, Nic.  Gabe brings the dog to Nic to fix him up, but is strangely drawn to this new stranger.  Meanwhile, the town of Eternity Springs is in serious trouble, the town pitches together to bring it back and add more tourism, but for that to happen, Nic has to convince Gabe he is the right man for the job and that the town needs him.  As the project gets under way, Nic and Gabe form an easy friendship, and Gabe starts to heal.  When Christmas rolls around, Gabe and Nic are caught in a night of passion that neither of them will forget because....surprise, here comes baby.  Gabe, not sure that he can ever give his heart again, gives Nic the only thing he can, his name.  Will Gabe ever let himself fully heal so that he can love again?  Will Nic have the patience to heal the man she loves before she enters the delivery room?

Notable Quote:

"You look like you are trying to sneak a beach ball in to a rock concert, only you didn't get the memo to bring the inflatable kind"...."A really big beachball."  (got to love kids, so completely honest)

Review:

I really liked this story.  At times the storyline was a bit whimsy for my taste, almost took one an angelic feel, like the author wanted you to believe in fairy tales, but it wasn't the main focus of the story.  The main characters were great, Gabe was so broken and was looking for something he didn't know he was needing and Nic was so battered from a recent betrayal and old daddy wounds.  The secondary characters were delightful.  It was so nice to meet so many townsfolk and get a "feel" for Eternity Springs.  The camaraderie and friendships had a Virgin River (Robyn Carr) feel.  This book had it all, an epic love story, a mystery by way of a 100 year old dead bride, and a town banding together to make their town great again.