Sometimes it takes a new beginning
Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off.
Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off.
to reach a happily-ever-after
Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love—he even has the old song lyrics to prove it—but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all?
Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love—he even has the old song lyrics to prove it—but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all?
My thoughts:
Jackson is the first in a spin off series (from the Eternity Springs series) about Redemption, Texas, featuring the McBrides of Texas. This is Jackson and Caroline's story. They have both come to Redemption, Texas broken and in need of starting over. For the most part, I enjoyed the story. It held up well as a stand alone. I have not read any of the Eternity Springs books, but I don't feel you need to to follow this spin-off.
This is an enjoyable story about second chances and rebuilding your life after devastating loss. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it picks up at about the 30% mark. I loved what Jackson and his cousins decided to do with the land after they inherited it. It will make for a great setting for the series. What I enjoyed most about this book was the time it took for the relationship to develop between Jackson and Caroline. It wasn't rushed and they had a great HEA. The other characters in the book added a lot to the story. I look forward to reading their stories in the future. After the epilogue, I'm hoping Tucker's story is next.
This is an enjoyable story about second chances and rebuilding your life after devastating loss. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it picks up at about the 30% mark. I loved what Jackson and his cousins decided to do with the land after they inherited it. It will make for a great setting for the series. What I enjoyed most about this book was the time it took for the relationship to develop between Jackson and Caroline. It wasn't rushed and they had a great HEA. The other characters in the book added a lot to the story. I look forward to reading their stories in the future. After the epilogue, I'm hoping Tucker's story is next.
Chapter One Excerpt
Nashville, Tennessee
Bang. The judge’s gavel fell and officially crushed
Jackson McBride’s heart. He closed his eyes. Bleak despair washed over him. Up
until this very moment, he hadn’t believed she’d take it this far.
He’d thought she’d come to her senses. He’d thought she
would recognize that this proposal was not only nonsense, but truly insane.
He’d believed that somewhere deep inside of her, she still had a spark of
humanity. That she wouldn’t do this to him. To them. He’d been wrong.
Damn her. Damn her and the yes-men she surrounded herself
with. Damn them all to hell and back.
The enormity of what had just happened washed over him. Oh,
God, how will
I survive this?
On the heels of his anguish came the rage. It erupted hot as
lava, and it fired his blood and blurred his vision with a red haze of fury.
He’d never hit a woman in his life. Never come close, despite plenty of
provocation from her direction. In that moment had she been within reach, he
might have lived up her accusations.
It scared the crap out of him. That’s what she’s brought
me to.
Abruptly, he shoved back his chair so hard that it teetered,
almost falling over. He strode toward the courtroom exit. “Jackson? Jackson,
wait!” his attorney called, hurrying after him.
Jackson waved her off and didn’t stop. There was nothing
left to be said. Nothing left to be done. No place left to go.
No little girl waiting at home to hug and cuddle and kiss
good night.
The tap on the toes of Jackson’s boots clacked against the
tile floor of the courthouse as his long-legged strides ate up the hallway. He
shunned the elevator for the stairs and descended three flights at a rapid
pace, then headed for the building’s exit. In a foolish bit of positive
thinking, he’d driven his SUV to the courthouse this morning. Now the sight of
the safety booster seat in the back seat made him want to kick a rock into next
week.
He didn’t want to go home to a quiet, empty house. He
shouldn’t go to a bar. Alcohol on top of his current mood could be a dangerous
combination. Somebody probably would get hurt.
He got into the car and started the engine. For a long
moment he sat unmoving, staring blindly through the windshield, his hands
squeezing the steering wheel so hard that it should have cracked. When his
phone rang, he ignored it.
A couple of minutes later, it rang a second time. Again, he
ignored it. When it happened a third time, he finally glanced at the display to
see who was calling. His cousin. Okay, maybe he would answer it.
“Hello, Boone.”
“How did the hearing go?”
Jackson couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat, so he
said nothing.
Following a moment’s silence, Boone got the message. He
muttered a curse, and then said, “I’m sorry, man. So damn sorry.”
“Well, it is what it is.”
“You can take another run at it.”
“Yeah.” In three years. Three years. Might as well be three
decades. He cleared his throat and changed the subject. “So, how are things in
Eternity Springs?”
“Good. They’re good. My friend Celeste Blessing visited my
office a few minutes ago and spoke of her granite-headed cousin. Naturally, I
thought of you.”
“Naturally,” Jackson dryly replied. But he felt a little
less alone.
“Do you have plans this weekend? I could use your help with
something.”
Pretty convenient timing. Knowing Boone, he had a spy in the
courtroom. But Jackson wasn’t in the position to ignore the bone he’d been
thrown. “I’m free. Whatcha got?”
“I’d like you to meet me at home.”
Jackson straightened in surprise. “You’re going back to the
ranch?”
“No. Not there. I’m never going back there. However, I am
talking about Texas. The Hill Country in particular. A little town west of
Austin called Redemption.”
“Redemption, Texas?” Jackson repeated. For some weird
reason, his heart gave a little skip. “Why there?”
“It’s a long story. Too long for a phone call. I’ll give you
the entire skinny when I see you. When can you get there?”
After today’s debacle, Jackson had absolutely no reason to
remain in Nashville. “When do you want me there?”
“I’ll be in later today. I’m in Austin now. I’ve been
helping a friend with a project. I have a flight back to Colorado Sunday
evening. The earlier you can get here the better, but I’ll make anything work.”
Jackson figured the distance and the drive time. “I’ll meet
you tomorrow afternoon. Where?”
“Great. I’ll text you the info when we hang up. Bring
camping gear.”
When a sound behind him had Jackson glancing up into the
rearview mirror and the booster seat caught his notice, he made an instant
decision. “Can’t. I’ll be on my bike.”
“You’re gonna ride your motorcycle all the way from
Nashville?”
“Yes, I think I am.”
“Okay. I’ll bring stuff for both of us.” Boone hesitated a
moment and added, “Hang in there,
Jackson. It’ll get better.”
No, I don’t think it will. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jackson ended the call and finally put his SUV in gear and
backed out of the parking place. With the distraction of the call behind him,
fury returned, and by the time he reached home, he felt like a volcano about to
explode.
He threw a handful of things into his tail bag, filled his
wallet with cash from his stash, and ten minutes after his arrival, he fired up
his bike and took his broken heart and headed out of Nashville. He left behind
his home, his work, and his one reason for living, his six-year-old daughter,
Haley.
From Jackson. Copyright © 2019 by Emily
March and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
Author Bio:
Emily March is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of the heartwarming Eternity Springs series. A graduate of Texas A&M
University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño
relish has made her a tailgating legend.
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