Well mercy, not your average fluffy, feel good Christmas story. This one was rough and tough, pulled at the heartstrings though. Very well written. A good read.

“Christmas in Silver Springs” by Brenda Novak

This is Tobias and Harper’s story. Tobias in newly released from prison and Harper is newly divorced but some sort of chemistry ignites the very first time they meet.

I loved both of their stories individually and together. The author definitely kept these two main characters well developed and true to their nature, as she does with all of the other characters. She also has multiple storylines which she carries well and she does not drop them nor do they get lost amongst several others. They all come to a final ending.

This was an enjoyable and engaging read, yet there were some slow sections and almost repetitive discussions that occurred several times throughout the novel. While it didn’t affect the overall read, it was distracting at times.

A good holiday read and it was nice to see where Tobias was now and how Harper chose to change her life. They both deserve some happiness in their lives...

Rating: 4.4
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

* I voluntarily chose to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts, opinions, the review and rating are all my own.

This is book 6 in the Silver Springs series. It's a story about forgiveness and new love.

I had trouble getting into this story. I got tired of Tobias' constant whining about his past, and how he was sure that Harper wouldn't have anything to do with him if she knew. Harper couldn't figure out what she wanted: her ex-husband, rock star Axel; or new friend/lover, the enigmatic Tobias. Then there's Tobias' relationship with Atticus and their plan to have Tobias carry Atticus, who is in a wheelchair due to an accident caused by Tobias years ago, up Half Dome.

I'm halfway through the book but I'm having trouble picking it up again. I've enjoyed the previous books in the series, there's just something about this one I don't like. I'll probably skip ahead to the final chapters just to be sure that what I hope will happen, does actually happen!

I love the Silver Springs series and this is a nice addition. This author writes characters with depth. There is romance but it's the realistic kind. Couples and people have struggles. Brenda Novak writes these things well. I wasn't to sure about this couple at first. I felt like Harper may not be able to grow. I was happily proven wrong. This is a great holiday read by a must read author.

Anyone that knows me knows that I love author Brenda Novak's books and her series Silver Springs is one of my all-time favorites. So when I was asked to be part of this tour, I jumped at the chance to review this very book. I knew I would love it and I was so right in that assumption. The best thing about these books to me are her characters, I always fall in love with all of them and I'm always finding myself rooting for the ones to be together. I just can't help it!

Her writing style just flows in all of her books and Christmas in Silver Springs is the perfect read fora cold night. I snuggled in and started reading it as soon as I got my hand on it and wasn't able to put it down. I had to know what was going to happen with Harper. I had to know what was going to happen with her ex and the new guy Tobias. The story unfolds in the perfect way and I just couldn't get enough of these characters and the storyline.

I do know one thing Tobias is one of my favorites now! Just saying, I adore him. He deserved to have this story told for him and I'm so glad that she did. I have so many amazing things to say about this author and her books. If you haven't read any of the Silver Springs series trust me you're missing out.

Christmas in Silver Springs is the perfect Christmas story, make sure you go out and get your copy today! It's a must-read! I can't get enough of this series and I can't wait for more. That's a hint, Brenda! LOL (I'm joking...I think LOL)

Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak is Book 6 in the Silver Springs Series. This is a contemporary romance christmas story. If your looking for a fluffy sweet christmas story, this is not the book for you. As with all of Brenda Novak's books, it is well written with complex, fleshed out characters. This acts as a stand alone story if you have not read the other books but I do think you will have a better reading experience with some back story.

Welcome to the town where broken hearts and healing souls go hand in hand. Novak has a gift for stated the obvious with a spoonful of turpentine sprinkled with the sweetest hint of sugar. Christmas in Silver Springs delivers some harsh truths with a lyrical tongue and an empathetic ear. For Tobias and Elle real world heartache could lead two bruised souls to find their own brand of fairytale. Sweet gets complicated, but love makes it all worthwhile.

As with all Brenda Novak’s books, this one is well written, but I didn’t connect with the characters or the story.

I struggled with Harper’s character. She claims to be desperately in love with her rock star ex, to the point where she can barely function without him, and yet she falls for Tobias upon first sight. The rest of the story is pretty much the drama of a love triangle.

Harper’s and Tobias’s characters are well developed, but Axel’s character is a rock star stereotype with little depth. I badly wanted more from him.

The pace is slow until the last few chapters, when things erupt in an emotional confrontation.

The story does offer thoughtful content on love and forgiveness, and I loved Tobias’s character. Overall, though, the book was just okay for me.

This is the sixth book in the Silver Springs series. I've really enjoyed this series and this was a good, little bit of Christmas addition. I would definitely recommend this second chance Holiday romance!

Harper Devlin is trying hard to get over the idea of her famous rock star husband, Axel, wanting a divorce. With the final divorce date only days away Harper and her two young daughters head to Silver Springs, CA to stay with her sister and her family for Christmas. While sitting in the local cafe Harper meets Tobias Richardson and is instantly smitten. Although Harper is still in love with Axel, Tobias is making her feel things that she hasn't felt in a long time.

Tobias loves spending time with Harper but he is reluctant to tell her that he was just released from prison five months ago. Just when it looks like Harper and Tobias may get the happy ending that they both deserve, trouble from her past comes rushing back full force. Harper is going to have to really dig deep down to see if she should be back with Axel and the okay life she was living or for once in her life do something for herself and dive in head first into a relationship with Tobias. It's a rough and bumpy road but finally Harper ends up with the perfect happy ending she was meant to have.

I loved Harper and Tobias. They are both characters who have been hurt in life and really deserve a happy ending. I also adored the secondary story with Atticus....what a great thing to do! Overall, this was another great story in this series!

Top marks for the beautiful festive cover. Absolutely loved this book. It was great. I hadn’t read the others in the series but I’m happy to say it made no difference to me getting right in there and enjoying it. Perfect for these cold dark nights.

This was actually the sixth book in the Silver Springs series. I didn't feel lost, despite not having read the first five books yet.

In this book, we meet Harper Devlin, soon to be ex-wife of famous rocker Axel Devlin. While they met and had two children before fame had consumed their life, now he has filed for divorce and she feels like she'll never rediscover the love they once had. She goes to spend the holidays with her sister in Silver Springs and meets Tobias. He seems perfect in every way, which means he must have a BIG secret.

His big secret is a criminal history, but not too criminal. Bad choices fueled by a sad childhood have convinced him that his past makes him undeserving of her love. See why I love holiday stories? True love again eventually prevails. I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Mira Books and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Ugh do you know how angry I get when I have to witness characters dealing with a pretty much NOT WORTHY SIGNIFICANT OTHER like this?! I know that I was going to have to deal with it because of the synopsis of course but oh my gosh, this just broke me. Like after standing by her husband before he was famous and being there for him while he worked on HIS dream, he just ups and leaves her like “deuces, homie, I’m out” just like that? Ugh, my heart breaks for Harper and her girls. Thanks a lot, “dad.”

Oh I should also say that this is the sixth book in the Silver Springs series, which I didn’t know when I first signed up for this tour, BUT it can read as a standalone for the most part so I don’t anticipate any issues with not being able to enjoy it without knowing the back history of the previous five books. Someone tell me why I keep writing super long run on sentences…

Anyway.

And then not only do we have Harper trying to deal with this kind of betrayal and heartbreak, but we have Tobias who recently got out of prison – who was there for 13 years! – who sees something of a kindred spirit in Harper. It’s the beginnings of a love story folks, just in time for the holidays. But would someone like Tobias be willing to divulge his past like that to a stranger that he wants to get to know better? Would it mean that Harper would see him differently once she knows the truth? Is dating an ex-con worse than being left by an up and coming rock star?

Who knows, really, but you’ll have to read this to find out.

Tobias was in prison longer than Sirius Black. That’s a long time, folks.

Also it seems like there may have been a change in the main character’s name between Harper and Elle, so… yeah just know they are supposed to be the same person!

I’ll admit I was a tad bit skeptical coming into this book. This is the sixth book in a series. I am still getting used to the idea of reading series out of order! With my background in reading fantasy this is a big no-no, however romance series really lend themselves to reading in any order and this is no exception thankfully!

Besides the series number, I was also a bit skeptical of reading a contemporary romance. While I’ve really delved into romances this year, I’ve rarely been able to get really invested in a contemporary storyline or characters. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and now I need to read more of Novak’s work.

My favorite part of this book was how Novak really tapped into the idea of how love can be redemptive and make us our best selves. Within mere chapters I was rooting for the hero and heroine. I really appreciate when a romance author, or any author really, can get me fully invested in the characters early on. The book is definitely character driven, which I liked because I liked the characters. However, I could see this as a drawback for some readers.

Moreover, while Harper and Tobias might differ from myself and people I know, I felt like their struggles whether it’s recovering from a failed relationship or battling our own self-image, were really relatable. This book made me realize that I need my contemporary romance to be relatable and believable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it helped to take my mind off the stress finals. If you’re looking for a quick read, with characters that feel read, and second-chance love you’ll love this holiday read! I will definitely be looking to more of Novak’s Silver Springs series!

Fans of Novak's other Silver Springs books will enjoy this Christmastime treat. Both Tobias and Harper are starting over. Tobias spent his young adult years in prison as a result of an accidental shooting while high on drugs. His pre-prison life left a lot to be desired, and he is doing his best to make a new life for himself, and as we all know, for someone with a prison record, that's hard. Harper's life was great--married to a guy she loved, who just happened to be a wealthy and famous musician--until he dumps her and their children for greener pastures.

Of course, as a Christmas romance, we know the ending is going to be happy, but not with a bump or two from the famous ex, and from the landlord's son who seems to be heading to the place Tobias just left.

The themes of forgiveness and atonement are also here, carried over from the previous book in the series and I liked the way they played out.

While certainly no literary classic (but you knew that looking at the cover) this was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Grade: B.

Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley

Christmas in Silver Springs brings a bit of redemption and second chances. This one isn't really what I would consider a Christmas romance. It's Christmastime, but the romance is more about moving on and learning your own heart. I will say that I didn't much care for the timing on Harper's end. It reminded me of an old expression I heard once - the best way to get over one man is to find another. It was just too much like a rebound relationship. That said, Tobias is such a sweetheart that I couldn't help but root for him. He does have a jaded past, and I liked that the author didn't make him the victim in it all. He's paid for his mistakes, and he's only looking to get on with his life. Despite the bad timing on Harper's end, I still liked her. She had some stuff to work through and did the best she could with what she had. I may have started with reservations about it, but Brenda Novak certainly won me over with a romance that is just the right mix of sweet and sexy, and a couple that is thoroughly lovable, faults and all.

Christmas in Silver Spring by Brenda Novak is the sixth book in the Silver Spring series. I did not read the previous books in the series; however, I had no issues jumping into this installment. However, it featured characters from the previous book. As this was not my first time reading the author’s work, I expected to have a good time with this story and she did not disappoint.

Tobias Richardson spent thirteen years of his life in prison. It has been five months since his release, and it will be his first Christmas as a free man. His time spent in prison was because of a horrible mistake he made when he was seventeen years old. Due to the seriousness of the incident, they tried him as an adult. Since his release, he has managed to get his life on track with the help of his family and friends. However, the guilt of his past weighs heavily on him, especially when he sees the victim of his actions regularly.
He grappled with loneliness, but avoided relationships, as he believed he was not worthy.
Then one night he laid eyes on a beautiful and sad woman. Despite his attraction towards her, he knew he was not the right man for her. However, she appeared in need of a friend, and there was no law against friendship.

Harper Devlin is in the midst of a divorce after her husband of ten years decided that their marriage was no longer working. This was after she dedicated her life to help him achieve his goal of being a famous rock star. Now that he has the fame, money, and women, his wife and daughters have become a liability. As a result, Harper came to spend Christmas with her sister in Silver Springs and in the process tried to come to grips with the changes in her life. Then she meets Tobias, a meeting that will forever change her life.

I found this to be an emotional read. I felt Tobias’s guilt and insecurities throughout the story. He kept blaming himself even when others did not. I loved how the author gave readers a glimpse into his struggles while in prison, which made his pain more realistic.

My heart broke for Harper. It could not have been easy for her watching the man whom she dedicated her life to for ten years push her aside for fame, money and groupies.
A man who did not care one iota about his family.

I was skeptical at first about Harper and Tobias forming a relationship. After all, she was going through a divorce and not in a good place for any relationship. However, their time spent together proved therapeutic for Harper, and as time went, they proved to be good for each other. She came to recognize that she deserved better. Harper knew nothing of Tobias’s past and he kept it secret out of fear. I was nervous the whole time knowing his secret would come to light and the impact it would have on his and Harper’s relationship.

One of the things that made this story so emotional for me was healing and forgiveness Tobias received from persons whom his actions affected directly and indirectly thirteen years ago.

Conclusion/Recommendation.
This was a great read and one I would recommend to persons looking for a Christmas romance with all the feels.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed Novak's latest Silver Springs book. It had a little Christmas and a lot of heart. There were themes of repentance and forgiveness, but also being able to let go of a toxic situation. Harper is hiding out in Silver Springs with her daughters as she waits for her divorce from one of the biggest rock stars in the world to be finalized. While there, she meets Tobias, a man pretty fresh out of jail but with a story would warm the heart of any cynic. As the two start a clandestine relationship, they're faced with mounting pressure from the outside, as well as the feelings they're dealing with, which are much stronger than they ever expected.

I enjoyed this one, as I do any time an author gives both POVs...that said, her decision to include Axel's POV towards the end confused me a bit. At times the story seemed to drag a little with Harper's back and forth and I wished we had seen a little more about the repercussions of what happened (especially with Susan), but I'm assuming we will get more of that when Novak writes Atticus's story. All in all, a sweet holiday read.

After thirteen long years in prison, a man gets to celebrate the Christmas holidays in freedom for the first time since he was a teenager. A woman comes to town to heal a broken heart after her husband of many years lets his rockstar fame put his family aside. I was captivated and eager to see how things turned out for this pair and try a new to me author all in one.
Review

Christmas in Silver Springs is the sixth book in the series about the inhabitants of a small California town a little distance from LA. This read standalone just fine, but I could see how it was tied in with the previous story about the hero’s brother.

Tobias Richardson made a horrible mistake years before when he was a teenager and ended up turning a guy into a paraplegic which he served time for as an adult. Out of prison for five months now, he’s struggling against loneliness and guilt along with the real temptation to slip off the straight and narrow. He has his landlord at the orchard farm and his brother’s family who believes in him. He has dreams and plans if he can just hang in there especially when he sees the family he hurt all the time in a small town. Then, he catches sight of a beautiful woman with sad eyes and knows she is way out of his league, but he can befriend her, right? She doesn’t need to know about his past since this is just temporary until she returns home.

Harper Devlin thought being married to her college sweetheart, having his two children, and supporting him through thick and thin on his rise to rock stardom would be enough. But, then he told her he wanted a divorce and started the proceedings. She decides to spend the holiday with her sister’s family where she can have support and lick her wounds. She was hoping for a miracle even as the divorce deadline approached. Then, through a series of encounters with a handsome man who makes her feel comfortable and at peace from the moment she meets him, she begins to realize that her life would not be over if she was divorced. Besides, she deserves a bit of fun with a great guy at least for the holidays. Tobias seems too good to be true, but she’s falling for him.

I wasn’t prepared for how much this book would give me the feels. I knew that it would dig a bit deeper than the average holiday romance when I read that blurb about their situations, but the author made it all personal so that I was right there for how Tobias felt about his past mistakes, his struggles to reintegrate to life outside prison, and even the brief glimpses of what life in prison had been like. Then, there’s Harper who gets pushed aside in her husband’s rise to glory and fame and how that felt especially knowing he was unfaithful and didn’t seem to care about keeping his family together. I liked how their story was set among a cast of well-developed secondary characters, too.

I had a moment near the beginning when I kept side-eying Harper for her hot and cold deal with Tobias because she was a serious hot mess and needed to get her head on straight before she tangled with a man even for what she thought was a one night stand. Then, later, it was Tobias’ turn when I kept getting fidgety knowing his keeping his ex-con status and story to himself was going to blow up in his face. I do get it and it made sense not to over-share when he thought it was a one and done or a holiday fling, but when they started looking at longer… yeah, time to cough up the deets.

As much as I loved Tobias and Harper’s romance, and I surely did even though it was complicated with her pending divorce, rebound troubles, and Tobias’ secret, the best part of this story was the healing that happened when the man Tobias’ harmed and went to prison for, shared a special project with Tobias that helped Tobias finally start to emotionally heal.

All in all, this one exceeded expectation and now I have a new author to hunt up her backlist for this series and her other books, which of course, I have several on the shelf already. This is for those who want a holiday romance with some depth and a cast of characters and setting that are thoroughly engaging.

My thanks to Harlequin MIRA for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an easy five star read for me because of how easily I fell in love with Tobias and Elle. They were both characters that I was rooting for and wanted them to realize that their past doesn't have to define their whole lives. I obviously loved both of them individually but I also really enjoyed their romance. They were so honest with their feelings for each other and making sure that Elle was truly ready to move on.

Christmas in Silver Springs is the sixth book in a series set in Silver Springs and is a companion novel to the fifth book because they both contain the same set of characters (except for Elle and her family). I really enjoyed how well connected everyone is and all the drama that serves as the backdrop to Tobias's backstory. My heart broke for Tobias and all the things he has gone through because of a terrible mistake he made as a teenager. He struggles so much with forgiving himself and also trying to heal from a broken childhood. He was a character that you can't help but root for, especially since the way he treats Elle is what every man should strive to.

Elle also a great support system since she and her daughters are staying with her sister and her family. Elle's sister is the voice of reason and most of the time she was saying what I was thinking. Elle is stuck trying to reconcile losing her husband and the family that she had built and having an unexpected connection with Tobias. The author does a really great job making the reader feel the pain Elle and Tobias are in. I just wanted to shake them and tell them that they deserve to be happy so just move on. But of course that's not how real life works and the book was very authentic to that.