Angel's Rest by Emily March

I am not a huge fan of contemporary romance but this book by Emily March grabbed my attention from the first page.  The book is the first in a trilogy called Eternity Springs which is set in the mountains of Colorado.  Eternity Springs is a peaceful place and it seems to change the lives of people who come there.
Gabe Callahan comes to an estate outside of Eternity Springs filled with grief and despair.  While hiking he comes upon a wounded dog and takes him into Eternity Springs to the local vet, Nicole Sullivan.  This dog becomes a big factor in the saving of Gabe Callahan.
Eternity Springs is a community in economic difficulty.  They are hoping to be awarded the site of a new prison which would improve the economic conditions of the community but might also ruin the peacefulness and healing power of the surrounding hot springs and of the entire area itself.
As Nicole and her friends, especially Celeste, begin to dream of a spa they draw Gabe into the project as he is a landscape architect.  The growing and sometimes turbulent relationship between Gabe and Nicole is interesting to watch.
The plot moves along at a good clip to keep the reader involved.  I fell in love with Gabe and my heart went out to him in his unresolved grief.  Nicole and the dog begin to touch his heart and he begins to live again.  I really liked all of the characters.  Nicole's circle of girl friends were just what every woman wants and needs.  They were so supportive of each other and had fun together.
This a a great romance and I can't wait for the next book.  March also writes as Geralyn Dawson so many folks would be familiar with her.  She says it is so nice to be a virgin again as these are her first boooks under that name.  I got a chuckle out of that comment.
The books in the series with their publication dates are:
Heartache Falls, May 2011
Eternity Springs #3
Mass Market Paperback
Hummingbird Lake, April 2011
Eternity Springs #2
Mass Market Paperback
Angel's Rest, February 2011
Eternity Springs #1
Mass Market Paperback
At least we won;t have to wait too long for the next two books.