| Title | : | Hummingbird Lake (Eternity Springs, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0345518365 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345518361 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | First published March 22, 2011 |
Haunted by painful memories, pediatric surgeon Sage Anderson gives up medicine and moves to Eternity Springs. There she finds a place to call home, but even her newfound success as a gifted artist isn’t enough to keep her nightmares at bay. Colt Rafferty is about to change all that.
Eternity Springs is a refuge for Colt, a place to ground himself when the stress of investigating tragedies takes its toll. He has come here for a little R & R, but instead of relaxing, he finds himself fascinated by the mysterious redhead whose secrets beg to be discovered—a beauty running from her past, a heartsick woman in desperate need of the sweet sanctuary of a devoted man’s embrace. And he is just the man to show her the true path to peace—by offering her the healing power of love.
Hummingbird Lake (Eternity Springs, #2) Reviews
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An incredible book and one that I loved!
Eternity Springs, Colorado – Population 828 – “A Little Piece of Heaven in the Colorado Rockies”---
WOW....For me, this was one of the most intensely emotional books I've read. I enjoy “small-town” series and now Emily March is right up there amongst my favorites. While the first in this series was excellent, this one was Amazing!
Eternity Springs is a very small town, nestled in the Colorado Mountains, with scatterings of Victorian-era cottages and store fronts and rustic cabins all surrounded by mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forest. It is a landscape of eye-candy and each season has its own special beauty. Ms. March has that special talent of making the setting breathtakingly real. I could just hear the soothing melody of the water running constantly over the rocks and see the beauty of the sun shining its brilliance on the blue waters of Hummingbird Lake. As a reader, I appreciate the details this author gives to all aspects of this book, making me love this town and the sense of community I felt with its citizens.
But be warned - this is a heart-wrenching story that from the very first page grabbed me and I was hooked and held spellbound until the very last page was turned. This is not a light and fluffy read. At the end, I felt drained but well satisfied and alittlelot in love with Colt Rafferty and my highest admiration for Sage Anderson! As I read their story, I fought the strongest urge to search forward and discover answers to all the questions ringing through my mind. I love this kind of book! And I love an author that keeps me invested, making me feel part of the story instead of an outsider reading words on a page. And that’s exactly what Ms. March did with this one.
Dr. Sage Anderson, pediatric surgeon, is a tortured soul! A beautiful young woman that is so haunted by memories, she gives up medicine and comes to Eternity Springs searching for peace and a hope for a future where she is no longer plagued by nightmares from her past. Turning to her childhood love of painting, she looses herself in the battle to purge her demons. She becomes successful in her work but unsuccessful in her personal battle. If there ever was a woman with true grit, it would be Sage Anderson. She is an amazing woman and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone to have their HEA as badly as I wanted this for her.
Dr. Colt Rafferty, Chemical Engineer & former professor now serves the country as a Safety Investigator. While investigating industrial explosions is part of his job, his goal is to educate and prevent these type tragedies. Frustrated and angered by a job where companies are more concerned with lawsuits than saving lives, Colt finds himself in need of a break and much needed R&R. Growing up he spent his summers in Eternity Springs and now it has become a refuge for Colt. This brilliant, sexy man at heart is an artist, creating magnificent carvings from wood and his soul is fed by all the wonder found there.
From his very first meeting with Sage he is intrigued. He likes this prickly proud woman with the flowing red hair and big green eyes. And after only a short time he finds himself wanting to pursue a relationship with her. And even though Sage knows she is in a dark place and not ready for this, she can’t resist Colt. And I just don’t know who could?:) Tall, swoon-worthy handsome, sinfully sexy with piercing blue eyes and a hard, muscled body and 6-pack abs...WOW – one fine looking man and a master in the bedroom! I luuuvvd him..but not only for his body and looks!:) No Way! – There is depth here ---character, intelligence, honesty, sooo much tenderness and a fine sense of humor.
I loved his Persistence – he never gave up on Sage; when all others did, he was her soft place to fall, her sanctuary! She wasn’t going to let him in so he was determined to draw her out! The romantic in me loved his methods and don’t we all at times need a soft place to land!
His Patience – Sage could not bring herself to tell the terrible tragedy that causes her demons, but Colt never pushes her into reliving her nightmare. Somehow he knows this would be a horror too great for her to bear.
His Perception – he recognizes she is in a dark place and knows she’s fought long & hard to escape; but the solitary struggle is weighing her down. His interest in the mystery of her increased. His heart ached for her. What is the core and cause of her pain?
And Sage, she is a broken soul, in a dark place, tortured, searching for a sanctuary, looking for a soft place to fall when the flashbacks come and spins her into panic. Colt’s persistence frightens her. She tells him she has so much baggage and a dark – ugly pain that is so deep it is stamped into her DNA. Why could Colt make her cry when she couldn’t cry on her own? Why does she feel so safe and protected when with him?
There is so much more to this story than dark despair; there is laughter and tenderness. There is sensual, sexy heat. We also get to visit with the citizens of E.S. and catch up on what’s happening in the town and in their lives. The ongoing mystery continues, we get to meet new characters and by the end I came away wondering if there could be any truth in what most of the citizens believe – “Eternity Springs – The valley that nurses a special energy that soothes troubled souls”.
If you love a good romance, where monsters are slain, a mountain is conquered and a fearsome foe is destroyed, you will love this one! I did and can’t wait for the next one! -
This was a 5-Star read for me. I loved it!!
Due to the number of images**, the sizzling nature of some of them, and I don't want to annoy those who don't want a lot of images in their update feed emails, I decided that it might be better to just provide a link to my full review on my book blog, Lady Jayne's Reading Den:
http://ladyjaynesreadingden.blogspot....
But here are some teaser images....
One of my favourite quotes:
'“What?”
“Nothing. You’re ridiculous.”
“Made you smile, though, didn’t I? I felt it against my strong, muscular chest.”'
**I just couldn't decide which pics to get rid of, as they were all wonderful for my visualisations! -
DNF at 60% through, this series is not for me. Only began reading this one as I bought book 1 & 2 together. I only 'liked' book 1, and probably would never of continued if I didn't already own it. I gave it a second try, but the G-rated passion mixed with over-the-top emotional drama, (which is more depressing then romantic), didn't cut it for me. The heroine in this book has a serious issue with post traumatic stress syndrome and a heart breaking story to go along with it, but jeez she was just a mean nut case who turned on friends, family and strangers. WHY did the hero keep coming back for more?
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Bu yazarın biraz sinir bozucu bir huyu var: o da kitaplarını gereksiz bir şekilde havada bırakmak. Yani kim kazanmış yarışmayı, yazsan ne olurdu kiiii 😒
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Mystical Romance
Using Magical Realism and wonderful cast of characters and world building Ms March weaves romance reader bliss. This book focuses on the town artist/doctor and her journey to healing and happiness -
Heartache Falls takes us back to Eternity Springs(ES), a small town with good-hearted people and the angelic Celeste who helps everyone.
When the book opens Nic and Gabe(from Angel's Rest) are renewing their vows, we also have Cole Rafferty(the hero) and his father fishing. Cole is a former professor and now works in the bureaucracy in Washington. His family used to spend summers in Eternity Springs and it is a place for him to un-wind. Nic goes into labor and it is Sage our heroine, the resident artist of Eternity Springs and former(secret) doctor who has to deliver the babies. She does so, but has a complete meltdown in front of Cole later and they share a kiss. That is it. Fast forward a few months.
We don't know much about what happened in Sage's past but we do know that she was a doctor who worked in Africa, and something happened there that changed her so completely, that she left her old life to start a new one, she is friends with Nic, Sarah Reese(who has a college-bound daughter Lori) and Ali(a visitor to ES , whose husband is a federal judge). All these people we met in the first book, along with a little mystery of a missing bride which dates back to the town's history and founders. All this may seem feel confusing to a new reader but to understand and enjoy this book better, one should read Angel's Rest. Sage is plagued by nightmares and she is extremely private about her new life. She paints, but her painting are of two types: one hidden and a reflection of her nightmares and the other she shows the world(nature and its beauty).
Sage then goes for her gallery showing and runs into Cole who comes to see her show, he is shocked and surprised by her art as it lacks the depth and emotion he can glimpse in her eyes. They kiss again but Sage has a flash-back that ends in her screaming.
When they next meet after a few months, Sage hasn't been doing well, her nightmares have increased robbing her of sleep. Cole comes to ES after an incident at work where he nearly lost it, he has come to relax for 2 weeks. They become neighbours and they slowly start becoming friends due to the efforts of Cole, we see them connect emotionally and later intimately(not shown on screen, I mean it isn't described as it is in most books). Sage's friends are worried about her but she rebuffs them.
We learn about Sage's family as well, how she was raised by her disciplined army father she calls Colonel and how she is estranged from her older sister Rose(we learn more about her when she comes to ES and things come to a head).
Cole returns again later to ES and that is when their relationship really deepens, Sage puts roads-block but Cole just smashes them. When Sage finally let's go we see the depth of her suffering and Cole and Rose are there.
Unlike most books, the relationship doesn't develop over a few weeks, but months.
ES books also show a sense of community and friendship. I really enjoyed the book, maybe more than the first one. Read it, but better start with the first book Angel's Rest. -
This is second in a series, though it can probably be read alone. That said, the community and many characters (including Sage) are introduced in the first book and some plot elements carry over so it really is better if you start with the other book first.
I had hoped that Gabe was an outlier and that we were done with people who view flight as the only possible response to pain. This, sadly, was not so. The thing is, you can understand it with Sage because what she went through would shake anyone down to the roots of their soul. So intellectually, I want to give her a break because she isn't dealing with small potatoes, here. Undermining that, however, is that everybody, every time, and in every circumstance has the exact same response. Something bad happens, something painful, and the person immediately flees. We get that with Colt when he gets the full story (fortunately, he recovers before Sage notices) and with Sage's sister, Rose (Celeste intervenes before anyone else notices). In short, every time someone in these stories experiences something painful, they flee. It's like March cannot conceive of any other response to pain. So in addition to being a plot-killing negative motivational* brake Sage uses over and over again on Colt, the overuse makes it feel fake and artificial.
I got through this because Colt is just so great. He isn't perfect or anything, but he's determined and courageous and a great support for Sage. Sage, herself, was exasperating. Yeah, what she went through was horrendous and awful. But her plan for getting over it by herself is obviously not working and everybody else is being caught in the blast radius when her failures touch others more directly. And she can see this damage. She even acknowledges it. But does she change course or try something different? No. She maintains her course despite every evidence that it isn't working and I got so tired of her fragility being its own excuse.
Two side notes before I wrap this. First, in both books so far, there are occasional but very pronounced misandrist moments that stick out for their brutality. These women are very compassionate and kind, particularly with each other. But every so often, some mistake or failing of a man is attributed to being a man and the gender as a whole is castigated in very mean terms. These casual displays of misandry horrify me just a little bit as they are out of place in stories with compassion and healing at their core.
Second, the first half of this is about Colt's professional struggles and how he can't get the concerns he has through as safety regulations. I was braced for a message about how great regulations are and people should pull their heads out and make businesses comply. Which, as a politically-homeless-but-mostly-small-government guy had me bracing for impact. Only then Colt . And this was such a great development I just sat back and loved Colt that much more.
Both of these are completely irrelevant to my final assessment of the story, but stuck out as something I want to make note of. I was so frustrated with the prevalence of fleeing as the answer to every pain that this is the same 2½ stars that the first book was. There are other ways to react to pain. Having this be the sole response of absolutely everyone is exhausting. But, like the first, I'm rounding up because at least one of the main couple was so very engaging. I'm much less eager to continue in the series, however, as this seems to be a pattern and I hate it more than a little.
A note about Steamy: This was a little weird in that March doesn't follow them into the bedroom, like, at all. There's enough detail both leading up and in other places in the story that I'm still tagging this as Steamy. But it's the very lowest possible steam level because the details just aren't there at the very moments you might expect them.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term.
Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work,
here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story. -
Much better than the first book.
I love Colt. He is unsatisfied with his job and comes to Eternity Springs to unwind. There he meets Sage, a wounded woman and he is instantly attracted to her. His job and the realization that what he feels for her is much deeper and longer lasting than a fling, makes his decision to move to Eternity Springs easy. He is so playful, gentle and patient with Sage.
Sage has gone trough a terrible experience that scarred her deeply. She has nightmares, and is suffering from PTSD. She is not ready for relationships and everything that comes with them, but she can't resist Colt. The scene when she admits that loves him is heartbreaking. And like Colt isn't enough to deal with, her estranged sister shows up trying to fix their relationship.
I like the fact that even though it was incredibly hard for her she tried (unlike the hero from the previous book who ran away) to come to support Colt when his niece was injured. They are friends as well as lovers. BTW I sypathize with Snowdrop and the indignities she was submitted to. :-)
But one part toward the end of the book seemed kind of rushed & unnecessary .
Rating:
4.5 stars. -
This is Sage and Colt's story. I enjoyed book #3 in Eternity Springs series, so I was looking forward to reading this one. But I was quite dissapointed in Hummingbird Lake because the heroine acted way too neurotic for my taste. Its clear that there was some kind of tragic event in Sage's past that still affected her but it didn't seem to justify all her theatrics. Unfortunately the author goes on too long without more closely explaining Sage's past, so by the time I found out about it, I gave up caring.
I felt that no one around her deserved Sage's bad temper and temper trantrums in present -- they had always treated her nicely and it wasn't their fault that something like this happened to her in Africa! I was also wondering why Cold would fall in love with someone like her. I think in real life no man would keep coming back for more of Sage's emotional acts. They would run as fast as their feet would carry them! -
Once again, March returns with readers to Eternity Springs in a heartfelt and completely unforgettable tale of love, loss, tragedy, and healing. Her enchanting narrative pairs with her picturesque descriptions in a way that allowed me to really experience the setting. March really gives readers a feel for the town and its workings. I loved the mix of small town romance with the faith/heeling aspect of the story. Yet March makes this story so real. It doesn’t have that hokey feel that I find in so many inspirational romances. She’s never trying to shove concepts at readers, simply telling her characters’ stories.
The main characters were a bit of a conundrum. Colt kept pushing Sage for more, yet Sage refused to tell him why it wasn't possible for her. I appreciated both of their tenacities and understood where both were coming from. The fact that they were both so genuine, if a bit unwilling to share all their secrets all at once was so real. And I really enjoyed how we get to know more about so many of the characters in this town. Sage’s friends are priceless. They are the epitome of small town women with a twist. I love Celeste’s angel in disguise feel.
This was certainly a warm and restorative novel, with some rather emotional moments that brought me to tears. I love how March kept me engaged throughout with this complexly real story where she delves deep into the world of survivors and those around them. -
İlk kitapta Gabe sinirlerimi bozmuştu. Burada da Sage. Neyse yaşadıklarına veriyorum.
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Carrying with her horrific emotional scars, Sage turns her back on the medical profession and retreats to Eternity Springs where she paints fanciful pictures of fairies. But the torment is never far away and in the early hours of the morning, locked away in her studio she pours out her anguish onto canvass in disturbing images of horror. Images she will never let anyone see.
Visiting Eternity Springs, Colt is immediately drawn to the enigma of Sage Anderson, but the torment of her soul which he has glimpsed doesn't match the fanciful pictures of fairies she produces for public consumption.
Hummingbird Lake is the second in the ongoing Eternity Springs series. If you enjoy the writing of Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods and perhaps Debbie Macomber, you will enjoy these books. -
Some parts were boring me to sleep and the heroine was annoying, so yeah..despite her problems, I found it hard to excuse her attitude. The fact that she resolved it at the end was not helping.
As for the others, I love the residence of Eternity Springs and this Rafferty guy was just perfect. -
I enjoyed this book more more the second time because I had read book one in the series so all of the various townspeople meant more to me than the main story this time through.
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An excellent story of finding love and healing in Eternity Springs, Colorado. Sage Anderson is a pediatric surgeon, who no longer practices medicine due to an horrific experience in Africa when she worked for Doctors Without Borders. She's now a painter and the owner of an art gallery. Colt Rafferty has been a frequent visitor to Eternity Springs since he was a boy. A chemical engineer with a Ph.D., he taught at Georgia Tech before taking a job at the Commercial Safety Board. Forced to take a two-week leave after expressing his frustrations during an important meeting, he comes to Eternity Springs to fly fish and to contemplate his future. He's attracted to Sage, and not deterred by her reluctance to even contemplate a relationship. Is a relationship between them possible given Sage's inability to conquer her personal demons?
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Sage - A story i was really interested in. But it was poorly executed. And i didn't like Colt. His pushy nature makes my nose wrinkle. Who walks in to a stranger's house the way he does? The liberties he takes... But I'm grateful for the Sage part, and the foundation it makes for the future stories. Onwards, Eternity Springs!
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Heartbreaking story told in fits and starts. Interesting. Romantic hero who sticks around despite everything she throws at him. A good read.
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It was nice to return to Eternity Springs. As expected this was a fun and easy read. In this book we got to learn more about Sage Anderson’s past. Emily March did not disappoint on this one. Of course we can depend on the healing power of love and a little hope to get everyone through. I love the setting, characters, and the storyline. Lots of good feels from book number two. I’ll be reading the next in her series soon.
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Beautiful, Heartfelt Story of a woman who is afraid to fall in love and open her heart to a man or even her friends.....
Even though this story isn't about Celeste Blessing, I found this quote to be most fitting about her and such a sweet endearment....
"Celeste had been Santa Claus, a fairy godmother, and Glenda the Good Witch, all wrapped up in a bow. When she gracefully brought her arms out as though she were a dove unfurling her wings to take flight, Sage corrected herself. Celeste Blessing was Eternity Springs’ angel."
Ah... I would love to live in the small town of Eternity Springs. Where everyone knows everyone and everyone is a friend. Where people care when you are sick or lend a hand when needed. To live on a beautiful lake, like the picture below, depicted as "Hummingbird Lake" (Photo Courtesy of Emily March's Website!)
In the previous novel, we went through the good and bad times of Gabe and Nic.... In this book, they had their beautiful daughters and Sage actually has to deliver them unexpectedly. That's when things start to turn sour for Sage. She has her demons that is for sure. She has nightmares almost every evening now after delivering the twins and is distraught and distant... Sage has always hid the fact that she's actually a pediactric doctor. She practiced in Africa and something really tragic happened while she was there so now she engulfs herself in her art, painting happy things like butterflies and such.
In walks Colt Rafferty... Who Sage automatically dislikes and becomes sarcastic with. But, once she warms up to him and gets to know him, she falls a little bit in love. But, she still won't let her heart be captured by this beautiful man.
Colt loves puzzles and wants to figure out what is going on with Sage. This man will stop at nothing!
I just love this series so far. It's wonderfully written and I love the characters that are introduced in each book. It has love, friendship, and a little bit of magical realism.
A great inspirational read! -
I am really enjoying this series! I liked this one a little better than the last, but I felt like it was alllll about Sage in the relationship. Colt is pretty much every woman's dream man! I know Sage was dealing with PTSD issues from this horrible thing that happened to her, and I understand that, but not once did they talk about him and what he felt other than him telling her how much he loved her. Honestly, he had the patience of a saint and when she finally pushed him over the edge, everyone told him how he needed to have more patience.
Sage came around, of course, and it was nice to see her journey from completely whack to relatively sane. I loved catching up with everyone else in the town. I know the next book is about Ali and I can deal, but I seriously want Sarah's story already! She deserves a happy ending. I'm also hoping we get a book about Sage's sister Rose...it seemed there was one hinted at, though I have no clue who her man could be.
Looking forward to more from this town with the power to heal wounded souls. -
Sage is currently a successful painter, but has had a very dark, violent past in her work with Doctors without Borders. The only person she has told the whole story to was her military father, who more or less belittled her depression & PTSD. 3 days after she told him, he died of a stroke, so she never had closure. She also was cut off from her sister, who never understood what had happened. Colt had been a summer resident in Eternity Springs since he was a child. He has now come back after years away in a government job that included a lot of travel. He is very taken with Sage, who tries to push him away. He continues to pursue her, but although she wants to be whole for him, she cannot share her past & doesn't feel she deserves love. Her sister comes into the picture looking to reconcile & Sage pushes her away also. There is a lot of angst in this story, but eventual healing, of course with the understanding and persistence of Celeste added in the mix.
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Eternity Springs is a small town contemporary series with a hefty sprinkling of the Inspirational genre thrown in for good measure. Not that that's a bad thing, the storyline in Hummingbird Lake of PTSD sufferer Dr Sage Anderson battling her issues with the help of the feel good town and one Dr Colt Rafferty is quite good. However the steam level is nearly non-existent apart from a few ambiguous lines - not that I want a sex-fest but it is a romance novel for crying out loud and it certainly detracted from the overall reading experience for me.
★★★☆ (3.5 stars) -
I'm glad I continued to read the 2nd book in the Eternity Springs series and I will continue to read more. Sage was emotionally damaged (for very good reasons) and Colt was just so committed to helping her...a classic love story. What I love most about a series of books, like this one, is the reference to previous characters (like Nic & Gabe). I would just love a little town like this with close friends, family, and healing powers.
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THIS NOVEL OOZED BEAUTY, CARING, CHARM, SWEETNESS, AND WARMTH FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST! THIS NOVEL PAINTED A BREATHTAKING, HEARTWARMING PICTURE OF THE HEALING THAT A PERSON CAN UNDERGO WHEN HE/SHE FINALLY ALLOWS HIMSELF/HERSELF TO BE EMBRACED BY THE LOVE, SUPPORT, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ONLY TRUE FRIENDS CAN OFFER! FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND SUPPORT WERE EMOTIONS THAT ABOUNDED FREELY FROM THE RESIDENTS OF ETERNITY SPRINGS, COLORADO! THE SMALL, SECLUDED MOUNTAIN TOWN WAS FOUNDED ON BELIEF IN GOD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND TRADITION; THUS, THE RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE IN ETERNITY SPRINGS, COLORADO, ALWAYS RALLY TO HELP ONE OF THEIR OWN WHENEVER HE/SHE IS SWALLOWED UP AND SWAMPED BY A CRIPPLING, DEVASTATING, AND HORRIFYING PAST THAT HE/SHE IS CONVINCED CAN NEVER BE OVERCOME! EMILY MARCH BROUGHT THE SMALL, SECLUDED MOUNTAIN TOWN OF ETERNITY SPRINGS, COLORADO, TO LIFE, ONCE AGAIN, IN SUCH AN AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, AND MAGICAL WAY! USING YET ANOTHER PSEUDONYM, GERALYN DAWSON CLEARLY DONNED A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSONA IN ORDER TO WRITE THIS NOVEL -- AND THE ENSUING SERIES THAT RESULTED BECAUSE OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS NOVEL -- THAN SHE EVER HAD BEFORE IN HER CAREER! THEREFORE, I THINK THAT THOSE READERS WHO HAVE READ GERALYN DAWSON'S NOVELS BEFORE SHOULD TRULY ENJOY THIS NOVEL! ALSO, GERALYN DAWSON'S READERS SHOULD ALSO TRULY ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL PERSONA AND THE ENCHANTED, GENTLE STYLE IN WHICH SHE BECOMES EMILY MARCH!
HUMMINGBIRD LAKE, the second novel included in the Eternity Springs series, is the fifth novel (albeit sixth work) that I have read by Emily March. And, this time, this charming, clever, and talented storyteller actually FINALLY EMBRACED that pseudonym in order to introduce her audience to the small, secluded mountain town of Eternity Springs, Colorado. After reading ANGEL'S REST, the first novel included in the Eternity Springs series, I knew that this community was a TRULY SPECIAL place to live; thus, I was anxious to discover just what wonderful breakthroughs and occurrences that Emily March had in store for the other residents living in Eternity Springs, Colorado. And... I must admit that having the opportunity to build a deeper relationship with Sage Anderson throughout the course of the plot of HUMMINGBIRD LAKE was definitely NOT a disappointment. In ANGEL'S REST, Emily March expertly depicted Sage Anderson as an artistic, intriguing, and quirky woman. However, having said that, Emily March revealed that Eternity Springs resident artist was also hiding a rather difficult secret underneath her bubbly, effervescent, mysterious, and uplifting personality. Or, more specifically, a personality that proved to actually be NOTHING MORE than a bubbly, effervescent, mysterious, and uplifting facade. For, you see... In ANGEL'S REST, Emily March revealed that Sage Anderson had actually studied medicine and worked as a surgeon BEFORE she ever came to Eternity Springs, Colorado. Sage Anderson even revived those dormant medical skills to oversee Dr. Nicole Sullivan Callahan's high-risk pregnancy with twins. Sadly, though, what did agreeing to take care of an expectant friend cost Sage Anderson emotionally?
Sage Anderson had NOT shared her previous profession with anyone when she moved to AND decided to settle in Eternity Springs, Colorado, permanently. Likewise, she had NOT shared the horrific incidents that led up to her leaving the medical field all together. Sage Anderson pursued painting when she moved to Eternity Springs, Colorado, and she had managed to build up quite a career, name, and reputation for herself as an artist in the time that she had lived there. As a result of the alternate career path that she had chosen, Sage Anderson felt that she was spared the burden of having to share her deepest, darkest, and most shameful secrets with her closest friends in the community. Until Nicole Sullivan Callahan needed her help, love, and support during her pregnancy, anyway, that is... Then, as if the constant curiosity and questions from Celeste Blessing, Nicole Sullivan Callahan, Sarah Reese, Lori Reese, and Allison Timberlake were NOT annoying enough to Sage, this resident artist FINALLY comes face-to-face with a man she thought that she did NOT like. And, strangely enough, this man was someone whom Sage did NOT even know.
Emily March allowed Sage Anderson to come face-to-face with Colt Rafferty at the grand opening of Angel's Rest Healing Center. Because Colt Rafferty dabbled in wood carving as a hobby -- and produced BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT creations, indeed -- Sage Anderson thought of him as an artistic rival and threat. However... Having said that, the dynamic that developed between Sage Anderson and Colt Rafferty AFTER their first meeting at the opening of Angel's Rest Healing Center proved to be NOTHING LESS than monumental! The circumstances that led up to that first major encounter AND the unfolding moments of that scene proved to be beautiful and heartbreaking. From that point forward, Colt Rafferty saw it as his personal mission to "figure out" Sage Anderson. So... As a result of the relationship that was established between this handsome, persistent and this beautiful, stubborn, terrified woman, Emily March set her audience up for yet ANOTHER rip-roaring, fire-cracking roller coaster of a ride in Eternity Springs, Colorado! And... Emily March brought up these questions in order to enrich the plot line of HUMMINGBIRD LAKE
(1) Will Sage Anderson let Colt Rafferty pursue her?
(2) Will Sage Anderson take a chance -- confide her deep, dark, horrifying secrets to Colt Rafferty?
(3) Will Sage Anderson forgive AND mend her broken relationship with her older sister, Dr. Rose Anderson?
(4) Will Sage Anderson FINALLY let go of her anger enough to FINALLY entrust her closest friends with intimate, painful details of her past? Will she seek their love and support?
(5) Will Sage Anderson FINALLY acknowledge her need to seek professional help in order to truly conquer PTSD?
(6) Will Sage Anderson and Colt Rafferty pursue a romantic relationship? Will it be successful OR end in hurt?
Therefore, I truly enjoyed reading HUMMINGBIRD LAKE! I was enthralled with the overall charm displayed between Sage Anderson and Colt Rafferty from beginning to end! Then, during those moments in the novel that Sage relived those bone-chilling, devastating, and horrific moments in her past, I was absolutely clinging to the edge of my seat! So... After reading both ANGEL'S REST and HUMMINGBIRD LAKE, I can NOT wait to discover what other breakthroughs and occurrences that Emily March will have in store for Gabe and Nic Callahan; Sage Anderson and Colt Rafferty; Sarah Reese, Lori Reese and Chase Timberlake; Allison Timberlake, Celeste Blessing -- as well as all of the other residents of Eternity Springs, Colorado, in the future! I can't wait to continue reading the Eternity Springs series! So, come join in! Don't miss out! -
3 1/2 stars for me. while I liked this book, I liked the first book in the series better. Too many emotional pitfalls with this series that feels forced. I don't think I will read the 3rd book etc. Too many setups for more books and as I quote from the book, it was a little too "woo woo" for me.
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ilk kitaptan daha akıcıydı :)
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really a great heartwarming story
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THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
Sage Anderson was a very complex heroine. She was a former pediatric surgeon that served for a time with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. While there she suffered a terrible trauma, including seeing her fiance murdered before her eyes. As a result, she walked away from medicine, moved to the small town of Eternity Springs and now paints. Her artwork is just beginning to really take off. Of course, no one knows about the paintings she creates at night, born of her nightmares when she finds it impossible to sleep. Not even her closest friends know about her past or the fact she was a doctor. She prefers to keep it that way so as to avoid any unpleasant questions or prying into her background. She simply can't, and won't, talk about it with anyone. Why should she when she's dealing with it on her own? Isn't she?
She convinces herself of that fact until she meets Colt Rafferty. He is an environmental inspector and his job requires him traveling as well as working with victims of environmental disasters. He's no stranger to trauma and recognizes the signs in Sage shortly after meeting her. Not only is he attracted physically to the woman, but she represents a challenge to him when he attempts to find out more about her and discovers she's strangely uncooperative. However, Colt isn't one to give up easily. He keeps pushing and prodding, insinuating himself into her life until little by little he begins to break through her walls.
Sage isn't happy about it but she finds herself turning to Colt whenever those same walls start closing in around her. A couple of times she has a complete meltdown and he holds her and comforts her, easing her through it. When Sage's sister, Rose, someone she's been estranged from for years, arrives in town wanting to reconcile, it only adds to Sage's stress. When Rose confesses she has cancer, Colt knows the two women need each other and he attempts to persuade Sage to give Rose a chance. He inadvertently becomes their go-between, a fact he resents at first, until he finds he can learn a lot more about Sage by talking to Rose.
There is also a time when her friends push her to become involved in a project that would require Sage work with children, something she refuses to do because of her past. She ends up in a huge argument with her friends and storms out, then isolates herself from everyone as she gets lost in a dark web of depression and flashbacks. I really appreciated the way the author dealt with the situation as Sage's friends only wanted to help but had no idea as to the extent of what she'd been through and Sage, with all her secrets isn't at all forthcoming. However, she realizes that she's going to have to open up at some point, which scares her to death, going to that dark place in her life, a place she never wanted to visit again at the risk of it destroying her.
I loved Colt dearly. He so calmly informed Sage he loved her and wasn't giving up on her no matter how hard she tried to push him away. Yes, there were times he got frustrated, but he knew she would eventually tell him everything and in the meantime, he was always there when she needed him. He even made an attempt to get her to talk to a therapist and read up on everything having to do with PTSD, which he was positive she suffered from.
Sage, in turn, was locked in her own private shell, tormented by her memories of the past but so desperately wanting to be free. She loves Colt and finds it a miracle that he's put up with her so-called craziness. You can't help but feel for her and what she's going through. While reading her story, you so desperately want her to succeed and end up being with Colt simply because he's one heck of a man and deserves being happy with the one woman he knows would make him so.
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Dr. Sage Anderson, pediatric surgeon, is a tortured soul! A beautiful young woman that is so haunted by memories, she gives up medicine and comes to Eternity Springs searching for peace and a hope for a future where she is no longer plagued by nightmares from her past. Turning to her childhood love of painting, she looses herself in the battle to purge her demons. She becomes successful in her work but unsuccessful in her personal battle. If there ever was a woman with true grit, it would be Sage Anderson. She is an amazing woman and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone to have their HEA as badly as I wanted this for her.
Dr. Colt Rafferty, Chemical Engineer & former professor now serves the country as a Safety Investigator. While investigating industrial explosions is part of his job, his goal is to educate and prevent these type tragedies. Frustrated and angered by a job where companies are more concerned with lawsuits than saving lives, Colt finds himself in need of a break and much needed R&R. Growing up he spent his summers in Eternity Springs and now it has become a refuge for Colt. This brilliant, sexy man at heart is an artist, creating magnificent carvings from wood and his soul is fed by all the wonder found there.
From his very first meeting with Sage he is intrigued. He likes this prickly proud woman with the flowing red hair and big green eyes. And after only a short time he finds himself wanting to pursue a relationship with her. And even though Sage knows she is in a dark place and not ready for this, she can’t resist Colt. And I just don’t know who could?:) Tall, swoon-worthy handsome, sinfully sexy with piercing blue eyes and a hard, muscled body and 6-pack abs...WOW – one fine looking man and a master in the bedroom! I luuuvvd him..but not only for his body and looks!:) No Way! – There is depth here ---character, intelligence, honesty, sooo much tenderness and a fine sense of humor.
I loved his Persistence – he never gave up on Sage; when all others did, he was her soft place to fall, her sanctuary! She wasn’t going to let him in so he was determined to draw her out! The romantic in me loved his methods and don’t we all at times need a soft place to land!
His Patience – Sage could not bring herself to tell the terrible tragedy that causes her demons, but Colt never pushes her into reliving her nightmare. Somehow he knows this would be a horror too great for her to bear.
His Perception – he recognizes she is in a dark place and knows she’s fought long & hard to escape; but the solitary struggle is weighing her down. His interest in the mystery of her increased. His heart ached for her. What is the core and cause of her pain?
And Sage, she is a broken soul, in a dark place, tortured, searching for a sanctuary, looking for a soft place to fall when the flashbacks come and spins her into panic. Colt’s persistence frightens her. She tells him she has so much baggage and a dark – ugly pain that is so deep it is stamped into her DNA. Why could Colt make her cry when she couldn’t cry on her own? Why does she feel so safe and protected when with him?
There is so much more to this story than dark despair; there is laughter and tenderness. There is sensual, sexy heat. We also get to visit with the citizens of E.S. and catch up on what’s happening in the town and in their lives. The ongoing mystery continues, we get to meet new characters and by the end I came away wondering if there could be any truth in what most of the citizens believe – “Eternity Springs – The valley that nurses a special energy that soothes troubled souls”.
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Sage is currently a successful painter, but has had a very dark, violent past in her work with Doctors without Borders. The only person she has told the whole story to was her military father, who more or less belittled her depression & PTSD. 3 days after she told him, he died of a stroke, so she never had closure. She also was cut off from her sister, who never understood what had happened. Colt had been a summer resident in Eternity Springs since he was a child. He has now come back after years away in a government job that included a lot of travel. He is very taken with Sage, who tries to push him away. He continues to pursue her, but although she wants to be whole for him, she cannot share her past & doesn't feel she deserves love. Her sister comes into the picture looking to reconcile & Sage pushes her away also. There is a lot of angst in this story, but eventual healing, of course with the understanding and persistence of Celeste added in the mix.
