Perfect feel good love story. I love how the characters have their own demons to overcome before they can love someone else. This book was just like a Hallmark movie.!

3.5 stars.
Quotes (from ARC):
«"In this whole town, you’re the only one who looks at me like a person with burn scars, instead of burn scars walking around like a person.”» (Mark to Riley)
“In that moment, that brief glimpse of before and after, she wanted to tell him he was beautiful, either way. Before and after. Would he ever see that?”

“Miracle Creek Christmas”, by Krista Jensen (Shadow Mountain Publishing), is a clean, sweet romance novel, with a really wounded hero and a practical, down-to-earth and very gentle heroine.
I loved that the author, Krista Jensen, showed how Mark’s scars and burns were a transformation, a change of our once (conventionally) “beautiful boy”, and not ugliness or destruction.
I also liked the caring way the heroine, Riley, looks at Mark and at the pain and rehabilitation he’s been through, and the fact she’s aware of the psychological trauma and understands how he’s still trying to overcome his fears.
It’s great that the author didn’t downplay Mark’s injuries and its effects in his daily life and his mental pain.
I felt there were a lot of things going on in the story, with a very formulaic, annoying antagonist (Dalton) and a general small town atmosphere which was a bit suffocating sometimes.
I liked the secondary characters, but I was more interested in the romantic couple relationship and I found Mark and Riley worried too much with what others might think.

This book reads like a hallmark movie. Take that as you will.

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The main character, Riley comes to the very small town of Miracle Creek to escape a big life in California. There, she comes across the scarred town hero Mark who has been a recluse ever since he suffered third-degree burns in a wildfire. When he asks her to work on a project for Christmas, they become friends and maybe more.

I love a good scarred hero trope and this was no exception. It had all the characteristics I wanted out of this trope, such as hiding his face until the heroine can draw him out of his shell and so on. Also, I really enjoyed the main character, Riley. She was fun and spunky without being too out there, which made her pretty relatable.

However, my main problem with this book was that nothing really happens. There is a very slow start and while the author does build tension in the will they, won't they of a friends-to-lovers romance, there is zero conflict in this book until around 85% of the way through. This made it relatively boring, despite the cute moments.

Additionally, the dialogue didn't always feel authentic. It was a little clunky at times where I would be left wondering if people talked like that, specifically in the male characters. There would be these very awkward transitions to some very serious topics that made them feel less vulnerable.

Overall, I just really wish the stakes were a little higher throughout the book. I would consider reading other books by this author down the road, but this was just okay for me.

2.5/5 stars

Miracle Creek Christmas by Krista Jensen
Book starts out with Mark and he's just making his appearances in town, at bakery and events his niece is doing at a school play.
Others approach him as he tries to stay in the dark shadows ever since the fires. He is known as a hero but he has many nightmares of the fires and those he saved and those he could not save-his best fire fighter friend.
He lives with his dad at the vineyard/orchards and he wants his son to start living again. He wears many special things to help in his skin recovery.
Love hearing of the orchard and other neighboring vineyards and the maintenance they do throughout the year. It's almost the holidays in the late fall and there are many chores to do.
The new art teacher, Riley he had followed one night to ask her to paint a picture for the Christmas gift he wanted to give his dad, led to misunderstandings.
Like the area of the Cascade Mountains as we hope to visit there in several months so interesting to learn more about the area.
Riley has a lot of repairs to do to the house she lives in, from a relative.
Love hearing how he helps her out at her house to make it more secure with wind and cold and fires. Love hearing he lets his guard down along with his hoodie and she likes what she sees.
Priceless moment-his fingertips on her palm so he can feel her hand...misunderstandings and she's ready to just leave for a new job...
So many treasures in this book, it's the small things that grab my attention.
Received this review copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#MiracleCreekChristmas #NetGalley

This is a review in exchange for a free arc copy from netgalley.
I loved this snowy book, it was filled with warmth, love and positivity. It had oodles of love oozing from it to keep me entranced all evening through this horrible time of quarantine.
I enjoyed the characters and especially Cal and Mark’s relationship.
This is the perfect read for those who live a good read with a blanket and a cuppa. It was festive without being too Christmassy.
A perfect read..... please can we have a sequel with Cal and Yvette in more please?

Riley and Mark's first meeting does not go according to plan. At least, if he'd taken the time to plan it I doubt he'd have chosen to have it involve a baseball bat.

Thankfully things improve from there, and the banter between them leaps from the page and keeps you entertained throughout. I could not put this book down. Just when I thought I'd reached a good point to pause, the author had me in tears at a not-altogether-unexpected turn of events.
Happy, sad, angry, tearful; this book gets you right in the feels.
Caution; this book will cause laughter and tears. Read while alone, or among those who won't judge!

A sweet Christmas romance in small town Washington state. Mark had been a firefighter, who had been burned in a horrible accident. Riley is the new art teacher at the high school. When they meet she thinks he is a stalker and approaches him with a baseball bat. He wants her to help recreate a Nativity Set that had been destroyed in the fire. Things can only get better from there. A slimy teacher Dalton adds a little spice to the story, and her dislike of Christmas because of bad memories adds a lot too. Only thing I struggled a bit with was her fear of making a commitment, and how much her actions of hot and cold were painful for Mark. Basically though, I found the story hard to put down, and would highly recommend this one. A good Christmasy book.

What a beautiful Christmas read. I love the predictability of the book; knowing there would be a happy ending. But also knowing I’d have to read with eagerness to get it.
Fireman meets art teacher. They both have issues with relationships but their characters make the story believable.
Great holiday read for the shelf

This heart warming tale set during the Christmas season features genuine struggles and emotions, memorable characters, profound insights and sweet romance.  The story is beautifully written with vivid imagery and is very satisfying.  Its messages are timeless, the narrative is smooth and the book is hard to put down!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

That is worrisome, and dangerous.

I like his dad.

Yes, dropping kids would be bad.

Shallow woman. How do you think he is?

Bah humbug. Her neighbors need to get a life.

That is a wonderful gift for a mother to leave behind.

Ugh, go away, Dalton.

Holy Christmas PTSD! Poor thing!

That was adorably awkward.

I didn't know so much went into dialysis. Poor Carmen.

Attaboy! You're completely right!

Oy, hate her parents already.

I'm glad they made up.

The story of Mark and Riley

She is new in town, so doesn't know Mark and what happened to him in the fire. as it says in the book, she just sees him as a person with burns, not burns with a person attached As they spend more time together he starts to fall for her, but will she be staying in town or running away again?

An emotional read.