‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SECOND CHANCES…

There’s nothing like a Christmas wedding to warm a girl’s heart—or to distract everyone else from the fact that one particular bridesmaid intends to quickly skip town. Julia Noble’s accident was years ago, and she’s tired of being overprotected. She needs to be on her own. But before she flees Aspen, Colorado, Julia wants to make sure her brother has the perfect wedding and all her ducks are in a row. Yet duty soon turns to pleasure when three days before the big day Julia runs into the only man she ever dreamed of marrying.

Fresh out of the navy, Isaac Nash just wants to feel normal again. But starting his new life means winning back the girl who captured his heart years ago. Isaac didn’t know the truth behind the tragedy that changed Julia’s life forever, and he can’t stop blaming himself for not being there for her. After all this time, he knows that Julia is what he wants, this and every Christmas. Now Isaac just has to convince her that she’s earned a miracle, too.

Click on direct link: –>One Christmas Wish (Heart of the Rockies)

My Thoughts:

Julia Noble has been confined to a wheelchair for twelve years, since being injured in a car accident at age fifteen.  While her family has loved her and cared for her, they don’t realize they are stifling her by wrapping her up in cotton wool to keep her safe.  While family plans are in high gear for her brother’s Christmas Eve wedding, Julia has been making plans of her own.  She has found a job, a place to live, and has made arrangements to pick up a dog, who will be trained to assist her.  Not wanting to upset the wedding plans, she hasn’t told anyone yet.

Isaac Nash has been away for twelve years, leaving the very night of Julia’s accident.  Isaac is three years older than Julia, and is one of her brother’s best friends.  He also has a history with Julia. It broke his heart to leave when she was so badly injured, but he had just enlisted in the Navy, and had no choice.  Now, seeing her grown up, looking so beautiful, he wants to renew their friendship, and perhaps more.  Julia, of course, was in love with Isaac, and it broke her heart when he left without a word.  She is not so sure that she wants to become involved now, though it’s clear she still has deep feelings for him.

This story is not your typical romance, as it’s very unusual to have a heroine who is wheelchair bound.  Julia appears upbeat and well adjusted, but her reaction to Isaac’s reappearance shows that she clearly hasn’t come to terms with their past.  Julia handles her disability amazingly, and she is strong willed and determined to take control of her life and future.  She boldly states she will never marry, though, as she won’t subject someone to be her forever caregiver.  Isaac is a wonderful man – he views helping Julia as a pleasure, rather than a chore.  Her wheelchair is almost invisible to him.  He also treats Julia as a sexy, desirable woman, and doesn’t handle her with kid gloves.  For me, this makes ONE CHRISTMAS WISH an enjoyable, warm, and not-so-ordinary romantic read.

~Bonnie~