Tucker: Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas

Emily March

Feb 2020 · Eternity Springs Book 17 · Sold by St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

In Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas, New York Times bestselling author Emily March presents a brand new arc set in the Lone Star State that features a family-linked trilogy within the author's romantic series.

Hope springs eternal in this enchanting Texas town.

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue when an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs...

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime. . .until death do they part.

“A brilliant writer you’ll love creates a world you’ll never want to leave.”—Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author

Ratings and reviews

Eternity Springs: McBrides of Texas: Tucker by Emily March has Tucker McBride leaving the army. He is heading to Redemption, Texas for a time of healing and decide what he wants to do with his future. Along the way, he encounters Gillian Thacker walking along a back road. Gillian had a fight with her fiancé, Jeremy and took off without thinking. The pair share an intense moment before Gillian returns to Jeremy. Three months later, Tucker is opening wilderness skills training school in the building next to Bliss Bridal owned by Gillian and her mother, Barbara. It turns out it was the building Gillian intended to buy for her new venture, Bliss Events. Sparks fly between the pair much to Tucker’s delight. He has his sights set on Gillian, now he just needs to convince her. Tucker is a cute story. I liked the characters (well, most of them—Jeremy and an old frenemy of Gillian’s leave a lot to be desired) and the lovely setting of Redemption, Texas. Tucker McBride is handsome, kind, good hearted man who is a keeper. I like how he helps his niece, Haley who is going through a tough time. Gillian did get on my nerves a few times, but that made her real. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Enchanted Canyon. I can understand why it is a place to unwind, get peace and heal. There were definite sparks between Gillian and Tucker (it is a wonder they did not set paper on fire). I like the survival skills fit into the story as well as the color red. I do want to let readers know that there is foul language in the story along with intimate situations (and thoughts). Those who read Jackson’s tale will be happy to know that him and his fiancé, Caroline are in the book. Gillian is one of Caroline’s bridesmaids. I enjoyed the humor in the story, and I had to laugh at the dress Tucker had Barbara create for the display window. Tucker can be on as a standalone. I had no trouble following the story. Tucker is a relaxing story to read and it will delight those who love romance tales.

Intending to be a career army man, Tucker discovered that life as a paper-manager, while allowing him the opportunity to save lives and make some necessary changes, was too filled with politics, vipers and backstabbing for his soul, and he left. Without a plan. Feeling like he failed. Heading back for some outdoor centering and a visit with his McBride cousins in the little town called Redemption, he’s totally unprepared for someone like Gillian. Walking down a deserted road. In a dress and heels. Miles from anywhere. An argument with her fiancé over their upcoming wedding had Gillian leaving in a snit – and anger had her lost, aided by an old Pecan tree, a feral hog and a car now unable to drive. Walking seemed to be the most logical option. But she saw no one until Tucker. On his Harley. White Knight to the rescue, he shares his phone for her to call her fiancé off the golf course, arranging to pick her up at a local convenience store not 10 miles away. And then it’s on. Tucker trying to forget the beauty and charm that was Gillian, her trying to ignore the flutters. With a recalcitrant (at best) or argumentative withdrawn fiancé, she’s just holding everything together, planning her wedding and making plans for the events planning business she and the fiancé are to open. But Tucker has his own issues – most of all feeling like he failed at his longed for career – while still being there for family, while not quire being able to forget Gillian and his desire for her. But when things start to fall apart for Gillian, she runs to Tucker for help and the confidence that he so quietly gives her. With family, friends and plenty of chemistry and back and forth between these two, plenty of drama from bridezillas and a college nemesis, a few rather ‘offbeat’ references and advice from others in the family and finally the realization that being with someone who builds your confidence and sees you as amazing, even in your childish moments is all that matters. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Eternity Springs-The McBrides-Tucker by Emily March Book 2 Walking down the road in red with sky-high-high-heels without a clue to location or how to get home, Gillian Thacker keeps moving forward. Tucker McBride, recently free from military commitment is on that road, sees the woman in red, realizes she needs help and stops to...help. And thinking that was the hook, and it was, I had to WAIT because the two were not destined to move on from rescued maiden to happily ever after immediately. Nope, they had to deal with a pesky fiance that was a no good low down rather useless waste of space guy that should have been dropped by Gillian MUCH earlier. Again...Nope...I had to wait. I think Tucker knew he was attracted but he was still dealing with a bit of detritus from his past and being a good guy that did not poach, well, the moving on together thing had to wait. What I liked: * Tucker: what a wonderful man this one was! Smart, rugged, focused, ready to settle down, opening up a new business, a great friend, wonderful with family, all that a woman could ask for...and so much more * Gillian: a bit of an emotional mess but working to improve. Her sense of trust (of self and others) shaken and unwilling to believe in herself. I liked her but at times wanted to shake her and say...”wake up”...glad she did...eventually. * Hints of previous characters in book in this and related series. Made me want to find those books and reread them again * The S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. and L.I.V.I.N.G. acronym portions and how they helped Gillian cope and grow * Haley’s porti.on with Tucker * The cave...what fun and what an impact it made on the story...along with the whole survival thing * Boone’s situation – kind of curious how that will work out for him as he deals with whether or not to be the guardian of a child and how that will impact his life and how he will find hit partner. * The play on words that cropped up here and there and mad me think while also making me smile *The significance and power of red * Just about everything except.. What I did not like: * Jeremy: bottom feeder, user, cheater, etc – not worthy of licking Gillian’s boots * Gillian’s dithering, insecurity and inability to trust her ability to truly know her feelings * The bridezillas Did I like this book? Yes Would I read more in this series? Definitely Thank you to Net Gally and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4.5 Stars

About the author

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.