Cover Image: Christmas in Silver Springs

Christmas in Silver Springs

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I was provided with an ARC of this title from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this is a solid, feel good contemporary romance. The main characters, Tobias and Harper, both have emotional baggage they need to work through before they can have a healthy relationship.

Tobias is an ex-con, and he stays aloof from the community because of the stigma. Harper invested her entire self to launch her soon to be ex-husband's rock star career - and he has decided he wants the hook-up lifestyle more than a wife and family.

Harper is torn because her kids still love their enigmatic father, and indulging in her feelings for Tobias feels suspiciously like betrayal. Tobias is finally opening up his heart to trust again, but maybe with the wrong woman.

I empathized with Tobias, but wanted to berate Harper at times for her blindness.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great holiday story. It was the first title that I have read from Brenda Novak but I can tell you that it won't be the last. This title was full of wonderful romance, healing, and redemption. The three POVs all shine though until the very end. I loved all the characters and the story. This is one to curl up with a fuzzy blanket and a hot drink.

Was this review helpful?

This is book 6 in the Silver Springs series,This is a sweet, steamy, almost insta-love type of story. It has amazing characters and is set in a beautiful little town that I did not no I needed in my life.

Was this review helpful?

This series is a slow burn of a romance and Christmas in Silver Springs is no exception. I was excited for Tobias story as we got a glimpse of it in the previous book. It's sad and I really wanted him to get an HEA. This is a story of discovery, redemption, and second chances. The heroine was not what I expected but so much more. A newly single mom, she's doing the best to keep the peace between her family and her ex-husband. Navigating these new waters is not easy and she turns to her sister in Silver Springs for help. Tobias has been slowly rebuilding his life after being away for so long. He is immediately drawn to Elle and together they try to look beyond their hurts. It's a journey not a destination and this series illustrates that. Elle and Tobias have PLENTY of obstacles and the plot doesn't hold back.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas in Silver Springs is book 6 in Brenda Novak’s Silver Springs series. It could stand alone but there are characters who figure into this novel who were featured in previous books so if you’ve read the series in order you’ll appreciate the context even more.

Tobias Richardson is looking for a second chance at life. He paid the price for horrible choices and results when he was a teen. Now released from prison he yearns that fresh start and he wants to make amends. He didn’t count on meeting Harper. She doesn’t know anything about his past but knows she likes the person he is. Recently divorced and the mother of two young girls she’s spending the Christmas holiday in Silver Springs with her sister and family. Can this new friendship with Tobias grow into something more? What happens when Harper’s ex-husband has second thoughts about their divorce? Tobias’s past might come back to haunt him and could effect his relationship with Harper.

It’s a bit of a soap opera (as the world of Silver Springs turns) but if you’re a fan of the series I think you’ll enjoy the latest installment. I like a character who earns a second chance at a good life. Tobias was easy to cheer on.

Was this review helpful?

I am a fan of Brenda Novak's books. I love how she crafts such flawed characters and make you fall in love with them. Tobias needs a second chance and though he has a supportive family, he can't forgive himself for his past action. He doesn't feel he deserves love until he meets Harper and feels a connection from first sight. Harper is a divorcee who feels she is in love with her ex-husband, who is a rock star. She is drawn to Tobias' caring nature.
The dynamics of this story wouldn't have worked as a romance if the author didn't have the writing chops to have you rooting for the characters and their journey to real love.
Thank you, Netgalley. Thank you, Harlequin.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas in Silver Springs is the sixth book in the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak. The main characters are Tobias and Elle. While each book in the series is a stand-alone, I believe that if you read/have read Unforgettable You (book 5 in the series) before you pick this one you will have a better understanding of Tobias as a character and what drives him to act and think as he does. Elle has been divorced for less than a year and she is still trying to get used to her new life. When your ex-husband is a rockstar is hard to keep some distance. She is visiting her sister with her 2 daughters in Silver Springs and she is not supposed to stay permanentely, but fate has other plans for her.

I would have loved this book if it wasn't for one not so little thing. Elle is too hung up on her ex and a part of her for most of the book seems to not be able to let him go. I know that it is not easy to forget 12 years of marriage, but her ex cheated on her and it was obvious that he was sleeping with other women while trying to get back into her life, so I don't understand why she couldn't let go. Another thing I didn't like was the forgiveness part. I wanted Elle to forgive Tobias 100% on her own and not because someone pushed her to. It felt forced and Tobias deserved better. He is a man who deeply regretted his actions in the past and has spent a lot of time making up for them. He needed some love and affection.

The best part of the book was the angst. A lot of time has passed since I got the chance to read a book with some good angst and this one did it for me! I swear I can almost cry from that alone since I have been trying to find something like this. My original rating for the book was three stars, but as I am writing this review, I came to the conclusion that an angst so good that the book deserves a better rating!

Would I recommend the book? Yes and no. I am a little conflicted on this, so I guess a maybe will do. Some people want to know stuff like this, so I will add that neither had an extended love life (I cringed as I said that, but Amazon has some strict rules).

Was this review helpful?

Harper has come to Silver Springs to spend some time with her sister to heal her broken heart. Her marriage has fallen apart and she is heartbroken. How did the man whom she has known for so long turned into a cheating rock star. She has given up her life for him and their two girls trying so hard to make things work. Her divorce will be final in a few days and she has no idea what she will do with the rest of her life until one night a handsome stranger hands her a rose in the middle of the street.
Tobias has done his time in prison and is now back in Silver Springs trying to put his life back together. He has a stable job and has his family close by. His friends and family have forgiven him for the terrible incident that sent him to prison but can Tobias forgive himself? One night while he is out having dinner in walks the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
Harper and Tobias start a friendship that soon becomes a whole lot more. Things are heating up when Axel, Harper’s ex-husband decides he might have made a terrible mistake and comes to Silver Springs to try and reconcile his marriage. Will Harper go back to Axel or will she take a chance on Tobias? Will Tobias tell Harper about his past before it’s too late?
This was such a lovely story of loss, heartbreak, friendship and finding love again. This was the sixth book in the series written by Brenda Novak but I had no trouble getting to know the other characters in the book as Ms. Novak did an excellent job of filling the reader in on previous story lines. I’m not excited about going back and starting with the first book in the series. Thank you to Harlequin-Mira, Brenda Novak and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review. I absolutely loved it.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so great to read! This series is so sweet, and I really enjoyed Tobias and Harper's relationship! There was all the drama of her broken marriage, to save it or to let it go, and there's his past, though of course it's a bombshell just waiting to happen!

The fact that this book takes place in December leading up to Christmas, well, there's this festiveness in the air, though Harper is having a hard time feeling it. But even as she's conflicted, she does move past that, and it was great to watch her go on that journey!

Harper has a difficult choice. Stay with her becoming ex-husband, father of her children, or move on. There's the question of if she can trust her ex to not cheat on her again, to really value her and not let fame cloud his judgement. So that's difficult to deal with.

Oh, and there's also Uriah's son, Carl, in the picture. Boy, did he cause trouble! I knew he was up to know good, everyone did, it was just waiting to see just how bad he would go. When it started to happen, it was quite, but I knew vaguely what was coming, and it didn't disappoint! So great to read!

Really enjoyed this book, it was another great time in Silver Springs!

Was this review helpful?

With all of Novak's Silver Springs novels, you get much more than a romance. You get a heartfelt, well-crafted story with real characters in tough but realistic situation that will touch readers on multiple levels. From traumatic pasts and difficulty navigating family dynamics, to messy but passionate love stories. I believe a reader doesn't have to actually read these books in sequence in order to enjoy all of these books but it does add a familiar coming home experience. Visiting with old friends in a place that feels like home.

Was this review helpful?

The ultimate in feel good romance! CHRISTMAS IN SILVER SPRINGS is book six in Brenda Novak's Silver Springs series and brings us the story of Tobias, a reformed bad boy who is trying to start his life anew after surviving his prison sentence, and Harper, the soon to be ex-wife of rock royalty in a heartwarming take on a second chance at love story.

If you've been following along with this series, you will already be very familiar with Tobias and his story. It was really touching to get to watch his struggle to settle into life again only to find true love when he least expected it. I really enjoyed him and felt his turmoil deeply.

Harper is a fairly complex character. She wants her ex back, until she starts getting to know Tobias and sees what a different type of person can bring to a relationship. She's falling hard for him, but when her ex comes back and wants to put their family back together, does she owe it to her kids to try?

I highly recommend this story to anyone enjoying a small town romance filled with easy to relate to characters with well developed story lines and touching moments galore. The entire series has been great and I'm looking forward to more to come.

Was this review helpful?

Brenda Novak has done a wonderful job of bringing us back to Silver Springs for a heart warming love story between Tobias, an ex-con, and newly divorced Harper. She must decide whether she wants to try again with her rock star ex-husband, or pursue a future with Tobias. He believes she won’t want anything to do with him when she finds out he was in prison. It’s fun to revisit the town and it’s residents but I believe you could read and enjoy this book without having read the other 5 books in the series.The characters are lovable and real, and I feel like they could be my friends. I think you could follow the story without having read the first books in the series. I received an advanced reading copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet and well written story that kept me hooked till the last page.
I think that Ms Novak can surely write a book that will keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the story of Toby and Hopper, I rooted for them and think they're well written and realistic characters.
The plot is engrossing, heartwarming and full of Christmas spirit.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

Tobias made a terrible mistake when was was 17 that resulted in him going to prison. Besides Tobias going to prison, the results of his action devastated 2 families. Now Tobias is out and trying to integrate into society. He meets an incredible woman and is torn, he thinks she is too good for him, but the attraction is impossible to resist.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and their interactions. This is story about family and a sweet love story. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun and light holiday read that I thought treated the concept of rock star marriages with kindness and compassion. I loved reading about Harper and her exploration of herself and how she deserved to be treated (or not treated). I sure hope Ms Novak decides to revisit Silver Springs!

Was this review helpful?

Tobias went to prison at age 17 for making a terrible mistake and now that he's finally out he just wants to enjoy breathing fresh air. When he sees Harper, he knows she's too good for him but he can't help looking at her. Her Rockstar husband filed for divorce and she's trying to figure out how to go on as a single mom of 2. Against all odds they find each other and realize it's how someone treats you that counts, not appearances. Sweet holiday love story.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed this newest entry in the Silver Springs series. Tobias spent many years in prison for an irresponsible act that left a young boy paralyzed, while Harper is newly divorced and still not able to accept that her rock star ex-husband gave up on her and their two daughters. They both have complicated family relationships and neither one thinks that a relationship between them has a chance of succeeding, but they keep gravitating toward each other and eventually find that love really does overcome all obstacles.

Was this review helpful?

Brenda Novak's fictional town of Silver Springs has become a place I like to visit. This story is about newly released ex-con, Tobias and newly divorced Harper. Tobias and Harper both have troubles but come together through it all. A simple gesture can mean so much to someone. This is a tale of love and acceptance.

Was this review helpful?