Ready to take a chance on love again?Rachel Milligan fell head over heels…once. Then her happy world crashed in around her, leaving her reeling and wondering if she’d survive.That was three years ago. The pretty nurse has pulled herself up from the ashes and built a solid life for herself. As a nurse. As a volunteer. As a temporary foster mom.When ex-baseball sensation Derek Rossi shows up in … Derek Rossi shows up in Jackson Hole for much needed R&R, love is the last thing on the sexy superstar’s agenda. With three broken engagements under his belt, he’s pretty much given up on the whole happily-ever-after thing.
Neither he nor Rachel is ready for romance. But they’re not the only ones with skin in the game. When love blooms, thanks to Joy and the power of a perfectly aimed baseball, Derek and Rachel are forced to face their fears. Will they slide into home plate together? Or walk away?
more
A cute story about a little orphan girl desperate for a family of her own. She connives to bring two of her favorite people together and sparks fly. Some sex but no foul language. A happily ever after ending.
Each book Cindy has written has an impact on my heart. This one truly hit my heart. Children always know what they want in parents and know a child is placed in foster care all due to the fact that they either do not have any blood relatives or the ones they do are worthless. I could never understand how someone would deny love to a child whose parent were killed in an accident. Rachel and Derek are just volunteering but without realizing they are helping each out more with Joy’s help. The story is about Rachel, Derek and Joy. The story starts off funny with Joy accidentally throwing a baseball towards Derek’s head. Rachel is in the medical profession and immediately attends to him. Derek is a baseball player who is in their town to get away from everyone especially as he just called it off with his last fiancée. Rachel has been a widower since the love of her life passed away but is also the foster mom to Joy, who lost her parent and was taken away from her only blood relatives. Joy doesn’t want to lose Rachel and has taken a liking to Derek as Rachel has too, so she comes up with a plan that must work in two weeks as this is when she will be shipped off to another family. The story is funny and will have you laughing out and crying at the same time. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
A heart warming romance that is the perfect holiday read. Rachel a young widow who is a foster mom, to Joy for the holiday season meets exprofessional baseball player, Derek. A friendship sparks into a FWB and little matchmaking from Joy turns into a HEA for all.
Loved this book, great characters who both had pasts that they had to let go to have a wonderful future. This story is all about family, friends and the Christmas season. I read through my kindle unlimited. I highly recommend.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it. Apt title for this precious holiday novel. I am in awe at the way Cindy Kirk can give you everything you need in a story including the things you didn’t know you needed. This book covers all the bases, literally. Derek Rossi is a retired pro baseball player turned sportscaster looking for some peace and quiet over the holidays. Rachel Milligan is a widower, foster mom and an ER nurse. She has taken the days off to spend time with her foster child, Joy. Joy is expected to move to another foster home after the holidays but if she gets her way, Jackson Hole will be her forever home.
Joy with the help of her new best friend, Addie, contrive a match making plan for the record books. As always there are some glitches to every plan. Derek is coming off a series of very public breakups and Rachel has not gotten over losing the love of her life.
This book captures your heart and makes you want to find this quaint town and spy on this very eclectic group. The element of surprise is very present. It is hard to figure out exactly where this story goes and that’s how it grabs you. Readers will love this adorable holiday novel and will most definitely look forward to reading moire about Jackson Hole.
Derek Rossi is laying low. He needs to stay out of the spotlight. The tabloids have it all wrong so he is running a baseball camp in Wyoming. Little did he know that he would find in this small community everything he was searching for. Rachel Milligan is an ER nurse and is hosting an emergency foster placement. Joy just wraps her fingers around your heart. If they don’t find a home for her, she will be placed in a group home. All she wants for Christmas is to be adopted by Rachel and Derek. Joy and her friend Addie are so precious. Their plan, get them to marry each other. With the power of prayer and mistletoe, Joy gets everything she wanted for Christmas.
An emotional holiday read. For example, the emergency fostering situation. I am not judging. I know it is necessary, but it broke my heart. The thought of a child feeling lost and unwanted to begin with possibly making a connection only to have to leave again. I know there are different circumstances under which emergency fostering has to occur, but this made me sad.
I felt for Rachel with her friends telling her she needed to move on. I have never lost a spouse. But, losing anyone you love and having people tell you it’s time to move on, just doesn’t sit right.
Derek seemed nice enough, I couldn’t understand why he would get messages from someone he wasn’t sure about and not confirm them. I don’t mean to ask if the message came from Rachel, just confirm if what she said was what she really wanted. There would be nothing strange in that since they both went back and for so much.
Then we have Derek wanting to foster or adopt Joy. I thought that was great. I know Rachel was a temporary situation for Joy, but as someone he was falling for, shouldn’t he have mentioned it to Rachel?
Just thoughts I had as I was reading. I am glad they got their HEA. There was romance, a sense of family and friendship, within a small town.
What a sweet and steamy romance for Christmas!
Derek plays baseball. Rachel is an ER Nurse, her foster daughter, Joy threw a ball, accidentally hitting Derek. Rachel gives him a check, and takes him to dinner to monitor him. They start spending time together, and then develop into Friends with Benefits. Rachel is a widow, her husband Tom was killed. She realizes she loves Derek, and needs to talk to him. Joy wants Rachel and Derek to get married so she can stay with them. Derek says he will become her foster dad, and take her back to LA, and Rachel can go back to work at the hospital. They talk to each other, and say some important words, ask importants questions, and say more important words.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
In the beginning of this story Rachel is a foster mom to Joy. It was sweet to read about their bond develop as they spend quality time together. I couldn’t help but wonder if she would be able to give up custody of Joy when the time came. Then when they come into contact with Derek unexpectedly the story line becomes more and more intriguing. I loved this sweet romance and could not put the book down as I watched their love grow not only for each other but for Joy as well. As simple as their romance seemed to come reading about their fears kept me intrigued and interested and wanting to figure out the end throughout the book. I highly recommend this first book and new series from Cindy!! You won’t regret it! I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This is such a lovely story full of love, romance and kindness. Joy is such a cute, lovely and sneaky girl and I love how she brings the characters together. I don’t like spoilers so I don’t to say more about the book. The important thing is that is a great story worth reading a million times. I love it. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
This is definitely a feel-good holiday book, and I enjoyed reading it to get me in the holiday spirit. Joy, a foster child ends up living with Rachel for a month due to the foster care system. In the midst of Rachel and Joy getting to know each other, they meet Mr. Derek Rossi, a baseball star that decided to spend a few weeks in Rachel’s little town. Joy fits right in, makes friends, and can’t imagine leaving Rachel in January, so she and her best friend Addie hatch a plan to change what was certain to be the future.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher and author, but I promise this review is all my own!
This book has three main characters: Rachel Milligan, Derek Rossi, and Joy. Rachel is a widow, her husband having died three years ago. His death overwhelmed Rachel. A nurse, Rachel is just getting back to life, and is a short-term foster parent to Joy. Derek is a retired baseball player who has been engaged three times. Rachel and Derek meet each other at a baseball clinic, and Derek is attracted to Rachel. The aptly-named Joy wants a forever home, sees the connection between Rachel and Derek, and sets out to play matchmaker.
This is a sweet story with a hotness factor. Can Rachel finally move on from her husband’s death, and see past Derek’s reputation? Can Derek convince Rachel he is worth taking a chance on? Can Joy’s machinations bring two adults together who will adopt Joy? There are a number of steamy scenes between Rachel and Derek that document their mutual attraction.
I greatly enjoyed this story of the budding romance between Rachel and Derek, helped along by the joyful scheming of Joy. Joy’s character elevated this story and made the story special.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing the book.
This should be a Hallmark Christmas movie! From the in medias res beginning to the happily ever after, I loved every moment of this book! So many times, the stories we see are so one-sided that we tend to forget that EVERY person has his or her own baggage, his or her own experiences that are carried along and affects everything that person does This book does an excellent job of helping us see that our baggage makes us into the people we are and that only when we find another person whose baggage works with our own can we truly be happy. It just takes communication and understanding…and love. This book is truly heartwarming, every bit of it. This book made my heart happy, and that is all I ask from the books I read. This book was a success on every level. Thank you, Cindy! Now that this book has me in the spirit, I’m pulling up my recordings and queueing up a Hallmark Christmas movie on my DVR (I record them in July and December so I can watch them all year long). 🙂
I received a preview copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!
This is a Jackson Hole series book that Cindy Kirk originally wrote earlier in her career. She went back and tweaked this story and created a truly wonderful book to read.
This actually picks up in the middle of the series as July and Lexi are already married. This is the story of Rachel (who has been a quiet friend to July and Lexi) and newcomer Derek Rossi. The story has additional dimensions of dealing with foster children, losing a spouse to murder, and the difficulty of finding the right spouse when you have a baseball career.
Just like the Good Hope series, Cindy develops Jackson Hole to feel like you’re being wrapped in a warm hug, yet she still manages to give each town and the people a different feel. I loved reading this book. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
Another great romance! Derrick fell in love quickly, as evidenced by his 3 failed engagements. He was immediately attracted to Rachel, but she still loved her dead husband. Joy is her foster kid she is only supposed to have until the new year. They both want to make Joy happy, especially for the Christmas season, but she and her new friend are plotting to get Rachel and Derrick together. Has a couple of steamy parts, (yay). Well written and as always, a HEA.
“I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.”
I loved this Jackson Hole series by Cindy Kirk, originally released by Silhouette around a decade ago. Somehow, I missed reading this one, but remember all the secondary characters from the rest of the series, as well as their close-knit friendship, in this Wyoming ski town. So, it was fun for me to read, for the first time, the romance between Rachel and Derek, and their engaging matchmaker, eight-year-old Joy, a foster child who manages to wind her way around both their hearts and bring them together. Add in a cute dog and you have a heartwarming holiday story. Kirk digs deep into the issues of the heroine, hero, and little girl, and takes us on a winter- and holiday-filled journey to brings them all what they want for Christmas—a second chance and a happily-ever-after.
I was given a copy of this ARC by the publisher, and I have agreed to write an unbiased review of this book.
Cindy Kirk has delivered a sweet romance that tackles love, loss, betrayal and new beginnings. Rachel lost her husband and infant son three years ago and is not looking for any sort of relationship. When her foster daughter Joy beans Major League pitcher Derek Rossi, she ends up re-evaluating her solitary life. Derek is on a break from relationships, as his latest engagement ended disastrously. When he meets Rachel and Joy, he also re-evaluates his planned six month hiatus from women. All of these characters are very likable and I especially loved Joy and all of her matchmaking. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
Cindy Kirk has written another truly inspirational love story about overcoming grief, loss and betrayal to find love and family. Rachel still mourns her husband who was murdered three years ago and is now a temporary foster mom to Joy. Joy was orphaned young and abandoned by the distant family members who took her in. Derek is the tabloids favorite target because he is a famous baseball player with three broken engagements. The three come together when Joy accidentally hits Derek in the head with a baseball. Neither Derek or Rachel are looking for a relationship other than friendship but Joy has different goals in mind, a permanent family. The story and machinations that follow are entertaining and enjoyable. A great story with dynamic characters.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.
A very heartwarming story of two people finding love when they didn’t think it was possible. Rachel is a young widow who still loves her husband. Derek is a professional athlete who can’t trust that any woman wants him for himself and not what he has. They start slow with friendship and build from there, with the help of Joy, Rachel’s foster daughter. I loved how feelings weren’t minimized, that we got to see what they were thinking and how they were dealing with their issues. It’s a lovely read with a very satisfying ending.
I received an Advance Readers Copy from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.