THE CHRISTMAS WISHING TREE

March’s Eternity Springs, Colo. (last seen in First Kiss of Spring), is the small town ne plus ultra, the perfect setting for this lovely tale of fortunate happenstance and Christmas magic. Australian sport fishing guide Devin Murphy is surprised when he picks up a call from six-year-old Reilly Stockton, who dialed a random number seeking Santa Claus. Playing along, Devin can’t satisfy Reilly’s Christmas wish for a new dad, but he wishes he could get to know Reilly—and his obstetrician mom, Jenna, who joins the call. Jenna and Reilly make their way to Eternity Springs, desperate for a peaceful holiday away from a violent stalker; two summers later, Devin joins them there and realizes that they may be reason enough for him to stick around and put down roots. As March conveniently set up in previous books, Eternity Springs is filled with bodyguards, veterans, and spooks ready to help Jenna and Reilly—and happily married, procreating couples eager to welcome an OB/GYN. Devin and Jenna’s rich and nuanced love story will satisfy series fans and new readers. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Oct.)