JACKSON by Emily March Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks Publication Date: June 25, 2019 
From New York Times bestselling author Emily March comes Jackson, the newest novel in the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series.
Sometimes it takes a new beginning Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off. to reach a happily-ever-after Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love—he even has the old song lyrics to prove it—but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all? 
Chapter One
Nashville, Tennessee Bang. The judge’s gavel fell and officially crushed Jackson McBride’s heart. He closed his eyes. Bleak despair washed over him. Up until this very moment, he hadn’t believed she’d take it this far. He’d thought she’d come to her senses. He’d thought she would recognize that this proposal was not only nonsense, but truly insane. He’d believed that somewhere deep inside of her, she still had a spark of humanity. That she wouldn’t do this to him. To them. He’d been wrong. Damn her. Damn her and the yes-men she surrounded herself with. Damn them all to hell and back. The enormity of what had just happened washed over him. Oh, God, how will I survive this? On the heels of his anguish came the rage. It erupted hot as lava, and it fired his blood and blurred his vision with a red haze of fury. He’d never hit a woman in his life. Never come close, despite plenty of provocation from her direction. In that moment had she been within reach, he might have lived up her accusations. It scared the crap out of him. That’s what she’s brought me to. Abruptly, he shoved back his chair so hard that it teetered, almost falling over. He strode toward the courtroom exit. “Jackson? Jackson, wait!” his attorney called, hurrying after him. Jackson waved her off and didn’t stop. There was nothing left to be said. Nothing left to be done. No place left to go. No little girl waiting at home to hug and cuddle and kiss good night. The tap on the toes of Jackson’s boots clacked against the tile floor of the courthouse as his long-legged strides ate up the hallway. He shunned the elevator for the stairs and descended three flights at a rapid pace, then headed for the building’s exit. In a foolish bit of positive thinking, he’d driven his SUV to the courthouse this morning. Now the sight of the safety booster seat in the back seat made him want to kick a rock into next week. He didn’t want to go home to a quiet, empty house. He shouldn’t go to a bar. Alcohol on top of his current mood could be a dangerous combination. Somebody probably would get hurt. He got into the car and started the engine. For a long moment he sat unmoving, staring blindly through the windshield, his hands squeezing the steering wheel so hard that it should have cracked. When his phone rang, he ignored it. A couple of minutes later, it rang a second time. Again, he ignored it. When it happened a third time, he finally glanced at the display to see who was calling. His cousin. Okay, maybe he would answer it. “Hello, Boone.” “How did the hearing go?” Jackson couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat, so he said nothing. Following a moment’s silence, Boone got the message. He muttered a curse, and then said, “I’m sorry, man. So damn sorry.” “Well, it is what it is.” “You can take another run at it.” “Yeah.” In three years. Three years. Might as well be three decades. He cleared his throat and changed the subject. “So, how are things in Eternity Springs?” “Good. They’re good. My friend Celeste Blessing visited my office a few minutes ago and spoke of her granite-headed cousin. Naturally, I thought of you.” “Naturally,” Jackson dryly replied. But he felt a little less alone. “Do you have plans this weekend? I could use your help with something.” Pretty convenient timing. Knowing Boone, he had a spy in the courtroom. But Jackson wasn’t in the position to ignore the bone he’d been thrown. “I’m free. Whatcha got?” “I’d like you to meet me at home.” Jackson straightened in surprise. “You’re going back to the ranch?” “No. Not there. I’m never going back there. However, I am talking about Texas. The Hill Country in particular. A little town west of Austin called Redemption.” “Redemption, Texas?” Jackson repeated. For some weird reason, his heart gave a little skip. “Why there?” “It’s a long story. Too long for a phone call. I’ll give you the entire skinny when I see you. When can you get there?” After today’s debacle, Jackson had absolutely no reason to remain in Nashville. “When do you want me there?” “I’ll be in later today. I’m in Austin now. I’ve been helping a friend with a project. I have a flight back to Colorado Sunday evening. The earlier you can get here the better, but I’ll make anything work.” Jackson figured the distance and the drive time. “I’ll meet you tomorrow afternoon. Where?” “Great. I’ll text you the info when we hang up. Bring camping gear.” When a sound behind him had Jackson glancing up into the rearview mirror and the booster seat caught his notice, he made an instant decision. “Can’t. I’ll be on my bike.” “You’re gonna ride your motorcycle all the way from Nashville?” “Yes, I think I am.” “Okay. I’ll bring stuff for both of us.” Boone hesitated a moment and added, “Hang in there, Jackson. It’ll get better.” No, I don’t think it will. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jackson ended the call and finally put his SUV in gear and backed out of the parking place. With the distraction of the call behind him, fury returned, and by the time he reached home, he felt like a volcano about to explode. He threw a handful of things into his tail bag, filled his wallet with cash from his stash, and ten minutes after his arrival, he fired up his bike and took his broken heart and headed out of Nashville. He left behind his home, his work, and his one reason for living, his six-year-old daughter, Haley. From Jackson. Copyright © 2019 by Emily March and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks. 
A sweet, inspirational women's fiction novel, where family, friends, and small town living are in the front and center of the tale, with second chances and new beginnings for the protagonists. The romance that is mentioned in the blurb does happen, but is on the background, more of an afterthought, that the main event.
This spin-off from the Eternity Springs series lies heavily on the foundation that was laid down in the previous series. The characters and families overlap somewhat, and the vibes of the Eternity Springs are there. The book Jackson is riddled with characters and keeping them all in line came to be a bit of a game to me, like the BYH game at the Thanksgiving table. Both Jackson and Caroline Carruthers are in desperate need of new beginnings and fresh starts. I detest the third-person drama in the romance novels and purposely skip the once I know that have it - considering Jackson's ex is a major part of the tale, and Caroline is married at the beginning of the book, I felt awkward through most of the story, all the way to the arrangement at the last chapter of the book... A major turn off for me, the situation, and the protagonist actions surrounding it. But, the romance between Jackson and Caroline, like I said earlier, is not the main storyline. Yet when it does start to happen way after the halfway mark, it is sweet in nature. The main focus was on Caroline and all the people of the town, the new life Caroline was starting with her new business. The plot is carried on mostly through conversations between people in Redemption, Texas. And I love a great dialog, that is tight and focused and takes the tale forward. Unnecessary ramblings, on the other hand, drive me batty. There is a lot of heartache and sorrow, loss in the story. Jackson's ex provides some angst-filled moment with her diva style demands, but there are also moments of joy and laughter, humor and adorably sweet reactions from Jackson's daughter. Celeste Blessing is there to provide some magical, divine moments, her foretelling eerie at times. I am not sure if this is 'not for me' or misplaced genre and/or a blurb that focus on just one aspect of the whole novel, or not for me because of those two factors, but I thought Jackson felt idle at times, with some elements that were no interest to me. Still, the epilogue gives a romantic conclusion, and I am sure the fans of Women's Fiction will enjoy the story. ~ Three Spoons
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