Audio Review: The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March

The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March
Narrator: Amy Landon
Series: Eternity Springs #15
Published by Blackstone Audio on 2018-09-25
Length: 10hr and 37min
Reviewing Audiobook from Audible Escape
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2019, 2019 Audiobook Challenge, Beat the Backlist 2019

A delightful Christmas novel in the New York Times bestselling Eternity Springs series from Emily March

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn't hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications-until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they'll both find the miracle they've been looking for all along ...

The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March is a sweet installment to Eternity Springs, capturing the essence of the entire series. Eternity Springs is the place where broken hearts go to mend, and that could not be more true of our two main characters Jenna Stockton and Devin Murphy. Spanning nearly two years, the story begins when a little boy makes a call to Santa asking for a father for Christmas. 

Jenna Stockton is a physician in Nashville, TN. While busy, she is a great mom to her adopted son Reilly. Reilly however is lonely on the nights his mother has to work which prompts his phone call to Santa. Jenna is saddened by this, but knows there is truth behind his request. I love Jenna. She puts Reilly’s needs ahead of her own, always building him up. When a stalker scares Jenna and Reilly from their home in TN, they make their way to Eternity Springs where they meet Reilly’s Santa Claus.

Devin Murphy was home visiting family when he received the first phone call from Reilly. Not wanting to ruin the kid’s Christmas, he played along with him and pretended to be Santa. One phone call led to several more until he truly began to care for the little guy he’d never met. This led to phone calls with his mom which led Devin to question who this woman really was. If I like Jenna, I love Devin. He resides in Australia, living the life a seafarer. Eternity Springs doesn’t have a seacoast, but it does have his family which brings him there often. Devin puts family first and himself second, and this made my heart melt for him just a little. 

The plot of the story really focuses on Jenna and Devin’s relationship as much as Devin’s relationship with Reilly. The stalker adds an edge to the story I didn’t expect from Emily March, but it isn’t overpowering or even suspenseful. It just helps to move the plot along and gets Devin and Jenna in the same town. I love their relationship, how they met, and Reilly. Oh how I love Reilly! He is the same age as my own son, and I found myself smitten with the young man. His enthusiasm and love for Jenna is infectious. This story is as much about Jenna as it is him.

Amy Landon narrates this one, and I love her. Devin’s accent is subtle, but believable. Her tone and inflection bring the characters to life. I almost finished it in one sitting, listening on double speed because I did not want to stop! 

Overall I really enjoyed The Christmas Wishing Tree. Jenna and Devin’s story is sweet and steamy, but Reilly is who really steals the show. If you enjoy holiday romance, I highly recommend you grab this one. While it is the #15 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. 

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