This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Super sweet and romantic, but with a heavy dose of heartache.

I gotta be honest, in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it through. Heavy subject matter that made me very uncomfortable. But I kept at it and I’m so glad I did.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed my 14th visit to Eternity Spring's, CO as much as I did my first. This book centers on Ali and Mac Timberlakes (one of my favorite ES couples stories!) daughter Caitlin, and introduces Eternity Springs newest resident, Josh Tarkington. Their funny, heartwarming journey to finding happiness with each other was a pleasure to read. Caitlin grew up in a completely different environment than Josh, and finding a way to accept each others differences teaches a lesson in considering the other persons fears and insecurities before passing judgement. As always, Celeste Blessing is there to give her sage advice that seems to pull everything together when they listen to her. And in the end, they always do! If you have not read this series, start today!

Such a sweet read! First time reading a book by Emily March and sure did not disappoint! Can’t wait to check out more titles.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. Caitlin Timberlake is a bridesmaid and is back in Colorado in Telluride and by chance gets stuck in a gondola with a very handsome man, Josh Tarkington, who has a handicapped dog named Penny. She invites him to the wedding as her plus 1 and the chemistry is amazing between the 2 of them until her parents show up unexpectedly. Caitlin has been planning on moving back home to Eternity Springs, Colorado but hasn’t told anyone and once she finds out that Josh also lives there, she is set on a mission to marry him. What she doesn’t know is that Josh has a deep, dark secret that he has been hiding from everyone. This book is not just a love story, it is also about facing your demons and letting others in. This is a very well written book, while some of the diary excerpts were about drugs, molestation and other unpleasant topics, it helped shape the character.

Caitlyn Timberlake has decided to walk away from a successful career in NY to return home to Eternity Springs. She wants to be closer to family. Josh Tarkington has settled In the little town hoping for a quiet uneventful life. Josh and Caitlyn meet when Caitlyn is at an event wedding as a bridesmaid. Immediate sparks fly, but they have no idea they are going to end up in the same town. Josh has had a traumatic past and has no interest in a permanent relationship.

This is a romance so we know how it is going to end. Josh has a lot of issues to overcome but he is a likable character and his heart is in the right place. There is great chemistry between Josh and Caitlyn. There are a few bumps along the road, but if you are looking for a good romance this book is for you. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I thought this would be a small-town novel – and indeed it is (Eternity Springs) – but the slow unveiling of its deeply psychologically scarred hero, Josh, makes it much more interesting.
I liked the way the author created this couple with opposing intentions in the beginning (Caitlin, the heroine, is sure Josh is the one, while Josh has no intention whatsoever of committing to any woman).
Even with a multitude of characters from previous stories, which I haven’t read, I had no problem keeping up with the story and watch how Josh overcomes tragedy and beats destiny.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

I have not read any of the previous books in this series but this book worked as a stand alone.

Caitlin was a relatable heroine. She is is trying to find balance between respecting her parents and living her own life.Her family dynamic is a familiar one and I liked seeing her father's growth as well.The other character's were fine and If I had read previous books I would probably relate to them more.

Josh is an engaging hero.He has a dark past and secrets that put him at odds with Caitlin's father and himself. I wanted to smack him sometimes for not being open about things but he came into his own as well.

The tone is strange going into the middle of the book.The first part is clean but with obvious sexual tension and then low level sex scenes pop up.It was a turn I wasn't expecting but it didn't take away to much for it.I recommend.

Love this book hit close to home in some parts of the story heart filled and tear jerker moments. This my favorite series from Emily! Highly recommend the whole series as well. My favorite characters was Josh actually! loved it from the beginning to the end! Pretty cover! Hope you get your copy 2/27/18!

This might be viewed as spoilerish, but it needs to be said: this book contains talk and thoughts of suicide by more than one character, and that could be highly triggering to some readers. There's also talk of child molestation (in the past) and a very insensitive, crass comment about pneumonia and elderly people that could also be triggering. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, PLEASE consider your own emotional self-care before reading this one.

This book starts out as a really cute, fun story which made me think this was going to be a light-hearted read, but when the story shifts to Eternity Springs, the tone definitely changes to more dramatic and angst-filled than I expected from the blurb. A lot of things happened in this story, it felt like a non-stop whirlwind at times, but it was a really good story despite the non-stop drama.

Caitlin was really likable, if a bit naive about how things work in the real world. Josh was a mess, but he was really likable despite his many flaws. I found myself rooting for both of them, no matter how blindly idealistic Caitlin was or how gloom-and-doom Josh was. Despite all of the dark topics addressed in this book, the story was interesting, and the way that Josh dealt with his demons was surprising but really well-written. Celeste was also fabulous. Not being familiar with the larger series didn't take away from how much I liked her as a character.

If you enjoy a women's fiction style book that deals with some darker life issues, you would probably enjoy this book. Again, please just keep your own self-care in mind.

I requested and was very generously granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this book.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have said this before and it is worth repeating. READ THIS SERIES! Everything about the town and the characters will suck you in. Josh and Caitlin were so much fun to read about. Josh's past is absolutely heartbreaking. To see what he survived and conquered made me like him more. If course sweet Celeste is always there to show love and support. We all need our very own Celeste. A great addition to the series.

This is the first book that I read by Emily March. I think I found my new favorite author! “The First Kiss of Spring” is the 14th book in the Eternity Springs Series, yet I fell into the story and did not need any other information, other than what was provided to me to enjoy this story fully.
“The First Kiss of Spring” is more than a simple romance story. It borders on the edge of a Women’s Fiction novel in my opinion. The story has a couple plots that are very serious and heart wrenching.
Caitlin Timberlake and Josh Tarkington are immediately attracted to each other when they are in a broken ski gondola when both of them are away from their hometown. By fate, they are reunited later and the sparks between them are still there. The story takes us from their first meeting to when they are finally committed to each other. (It is a romance book, so you know they will be a couple before the book ends, right?) What a journey it is!
Josh has many issues from his childhood, which are still a present cross for him to bare. Caitlin has finally discovered what she wants to do with her life, which brings her to move back home to Eternity Springs, where Josh is living.
This was an amazing story, written so well and was a joy to read and experience. I am so happy that Netgalley.com awarded me an advance reader’s copy of this book. I thank them and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for this wonderful gift of a new author. I will definitely catch up on this series and explore Emily March’s other books.

Emily March writes simply delightful and enjoyable books that revolve around the people of the fictitious town of Eternity Springs, Colorado. Central to each story is Celeste Blessing who brings wit and wisdom to each situation seemingly weaving a magical spell on it.
In First Kiss of Spring, Josh Tarkington and Caitlin Timberlake meet by chance on a stalled gondola. He has chosen to live a life unencumbered by his troubled newsworthy youth although it follows him and tempers his everyday struggles. Caitlin is returning home to Eternity Springs after finally finding her true calling separate from the constraints and desires of her parents. As they form a relationship, the past for Josh may interrupt and destroy all they have made.

The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March, the 14th book in the Eternity Springs series. A new to me author. Even though I hadn't read any of the previous books in this series I was able to still enjoy this book. I liked the character development between the characters it was perfect for the storyline. I look forward to reading other books in this series and more by Emily March.

I enjoy Eternity Springs and the people who live there. Emily March has another winner about complex issues being an impediment to loving relationships. The journal entries at the beginning of chapters are startling, and set an ominous undertone for the body of the book. Always though, with Emily March, there is hope. I had to skip over the sex to thoroughly enjoy the wonderful and ultimately uplifting story.

The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March is an emotionally charged story. I found myself feeling every motion displayed in the scenes. The characters provoke me into loving them. Their attitudes, relationships, fears, and troubles were believable. Family, work, and love are greatly balanced here. A family going through a tough journey and a young man fighting off a lifetime issue...had me hooked.
I laughed and cried.

Emily March presented her characters in a three-dimensional way. They felt like real people. Caitlin is coddled by her parents. She's the only daughter they have and they love her fiercely. Sometimes, too much. Caitlin needed her parents to support her leaving her current job to go after her dreams. At first their reaction, sent her feeling frustrated. She wanted them to be happy for her...and her father thought her mechanic man, got her pregnant. The thing was, Caitlin would like that after she married the mechanic first, though. But proving to her parents that she can be successful and getting her man to love her, has proven to be difficult.

Josh has had a difficult lifetime. His mother made a bad choice and with that choice she plunged her young son into the world of darkness. Only when Josh got adopted did he make it out into the light. But just when he thought his life was great, it took the rug from his feet twice. Josh fell several times but his faults made him more human. His craving for Caitlin proved he was just a man who wanted to love her and be loved back. But Josh has to learn to accept his past, get help, and decide if he wants Caitlin to be his forever...otherwise he might just lose everything he cares about...

Then, there's Caitlin's dad, who is suffering. He won't open up about it with his kids. He has his own journey of acceptance to follow, just like Josh has. Finding courage to accept and discuss it will be the break it moment for this character and his family.

Fear, courage, and love are major themes of this novel. The First Kiss of Spring is a sad yet sweet contemporary tale. I was hooked. Overall, I would recommend it to all readers.

I'm usually pretty anal about reading series books in order, but when I received an email from NetGalley that this book was available for forty-eight hours I immediately downloaded it. I've not previously read anything by this author, but I've heard good things about her, and one friend compared her to Robyn Carr, so I was excited to give her a try.

Each chapter is prefaced with a short “Journal Entry”. We don't know at first which character is journaling, but they threw me a little off kilter at first with hints of past child abuse. Once I got past that though, I enjoyed the story. And not having read the previous books in the series wasn't an issue at all. I suspect some of the supporting characters might have been the heroes/heroines of previous books, but this one can definitely stand on it's own.

Caitlin meets Josh, and his dog Penny, who is in a little doggy wheelchair, while in Telluride for a wedding, when they are trapped together in a gondola. Like Caitlin, that first meeting with Josh had me hooked on him immediately. He's good looking, he's funny, and who wouldn't fall for a man who loves a little dog like Penny?

In a lot of romance novels the hero is the dogged pursuer. He meets a woman and knows right away that she's the one, and he sets out to convince her of that, while she resists because she's been burned before. Here, it's Caitlin who decides early on that Josh is the one. The last thing he wants is a relationship, and he's not a happy camper when he learns that Caitlin has moved to Eternity Springs to be near her parents and brother.

Of course you know how it will all end, because it is a romance, after all. But the journey to that ending was very enjoyable. The writing is a bit breezy, and I especially enjoyed Caitlin's interactions with her brother. The subject matter does get a little deep, as Josh has a lot of baggage, but it was never sensationalized and was thoughtfully handled. I'm going to have to look for the first book in the series and then go on from there!

Spring arrival in Eternity Springs1
Combine the magical healing powers of Eternity Springs and an ambitious and beautiful young woman with a sexy mechanic and a delicious story is born! Emily March delivers the newest title in the series that is easy to read and hard to put down. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title prior to publication---I just loved it!

I love this series. Emily March just keeps getting better and better. Her books are so full of emotion and family. I always have pre orders for any of her new releases. She is always a customer favorite

My review can be seen at RT Book Reviews

A sweet story that continues the Eternity Springs Series. Two unlikely people meet under unexpected circumstances. A typical "friends with benefits" plot, where problems are brought to life and tackled. A romance with a bit more depth than some.