Christmas in Silver Springs

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.

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!