RaeAnne ThayneRecensioni

Romance

Romance

Romance

Romance

Country

Romance

Romance

Romance

Since losing her husband two years ago, Abbie has begun to feel like her life needs a fresh start. She decides to relocate her career and her young son to Austin, Texas after the New Year. However, before Abbie & young Christopher can begin their journey, they must travel to Silver Bells, Colorado for the holidays to help their friend Lucy's grandmother after a bad fall. It was not on Abbie's radar to spend the holidays among strangers, but how could she refuse - and boy is she glad she didn't! Holiday House, home of the Lancaster family, is a sprawling historical Victorian mansion that is beautiful inside and out - well, it would be more beautiful without the grumblings of Lucy's brother Ethan. Abbie quickly learns that her patient, Winnie Lancaster, is very sweet and gracious, but definitely has a mind of her own! Abbie discovers that her role while at Holiday House is not just a home health nurse, but a caterer, decorator, event planner, and hostess. Can Abbie handle all of the demands of Winnie, Lucy, Ethan, Holiday House, and the town of Silver Bells while also ensuring she & her son have a holiday they will never forget?

On par with the romantic women's fiction genre. The main characters consistently fret over a relationship that is obviously going to work out just fine. The setting in a senior living center adds some humor and variety.

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

She disliked the holidays anyway and she especially disliked being here, filled with memories and ghosts and regret.

After she receives a text that just says “Help” from her younger sister, Natalie knows she needs to go back home. McKenna has been put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy and with an aunt that is recovering from a leg injury, Natalie is needed to help McKenna with her two little girls and the family's business, the Shelter Inn. Ever since Natalie's mom and older brother died and their father abandoned them, Natalie has been a nomad traveling the world, finding it too painful to be at home with all the memories. Now, this Christmas season, she's going to have to confront those painful feelings and the growing ones for her brother's bestfriend who keeps finding ways to rescue her.

If she wasn’t careful, she might find herself falling head over heels for Griffin.

Christmas at Shelter Inn was a story that definitely delivered the festive atmosphere but it also definitely dropped trauma after trauma; I'm talking the old tv show Party of Five trauma levels. Any and all content and trigger warnings for what felt more like book club fiction (if your book club is full of holiday masochists) than romance. Natalie left home because of a painful childhood of having her mother die of breast cancer when she was sixteen, having her father take off to Alaska because of his grief and basically abandoning his three kids to their mother's aunt, and an older brother that became an alcoholic because of his grief and ultimately died in an avalanche. If you're not satisfied with that barrel of laughs, the love interest for Natalie, Griffin, is semi-shunned in town because his alcoholic father killed not only himself but four teens in a drunk driver incident and is divorced after he and his ex-wife went through the death of their baby being stillborn.

She laughed and he thought how lovely she was, there in the wintry moonlight.

So, yes, these two have a lot of baggage and emotional trauma to work through but Natalie gets the load of page time with Griffin's side not really coming in until the latter half of the story. Weaved around all these trauma issues are elements of that festive atmosphere I mentioned, shopping at a Christmas Market, watching a choir sing carols, snowy walks, the joy of putting up inflatable decorations, and hot chocolate and cookies. It was cozy atmosphere with holy god that's traumatic, especially when you add in the fear of miscarriage because her sister experienced two prior ones, Natalie thinking her sister's husband is wanting to abandon his family, Natalie's friendship issues with Griffin's younger sister who also dated her deceased older brother, and then Natalie's father showing back up to spend Christmas with them.

He looked down at her, his blue eyes suddenly warm. For one glittery, breathless moment, he looked as if he wanted to kiss her. He might have even leaned down slightly before he seemed to check the movement and step away.

I found the romance to be fairly weak without much depth, as the focus was more on Natalie's issues. Around the midway point, they kiss (only a few kisses for steam here) but Natalie doesn't see a reason to invest in the relationship because she can't wait to leave home and the pain it causes her to be here. Griffin does have povs but they're mostly him thinking about how to put a stop to his grandma trying to set him up with Natalie but also thinking he's attracted to Natalie. The second half becomes Natalie coming to terms with the past (catching her father kiss someone that threw her and me into a tailspin) and accepting that she has feelings for Griffin. The last fifteen percent has both saying they love each other but I can't say I bought into it, there was no real building blocks for their relationship.

People did change, she thought as they returned to the party. Maybe she had changed. Maybe the perfect life she had created for herself no longer met her needs as it once had. Maybe, just maybe, she was ready for something else—if she could find the courage to reach for it.

Along with the ending I love you, there's a snowstorm that creates some havoc, a situation that leads to our doctor Griffin being able to finally work through his pain of losing his child, and an epilogue that shows a future happily ever after. The romance felt a distance second place to the issues Natalie had to work through and there wasn't enough depth to the main couple's relationship for me. However, if you're looking for the combo of festive atmosphere and trauma (they could be out there!) consider this the snow globe of trauma you'd want to be in.

Nat’s sister sends her a text, Help!, and Nat comes running. McKenna is in the late stages of her pregnancy and is on doctored ordered bed rest. Nat is going to help with her two young nieces while the dad is working overtime. She also needs to assist her aunt with running the Shelter Inn, a place for senior living. On her way there in a rental car, Nat slides off the road in a storm. She is rescued by a handsome man who turns out to be a doctor as well as an old family friend. And then we get into the best part of the story. Old secrets, past hurts, past and current attractions, reconnecting with family, and more all are seamlessly woven into this delightful and heartwarming Christmas story. The characters are well developed and real, complete with good facets and some flaws. The story unfolds with beguiling aspects, keeping up readers’ interest. This well written tale is good Christmas entertainment.

RaeAnne Thayne certainly knows how to create stories with small-town charm and engaging characters. She has done it again with her book, Christmas at the Shelter Inn. The characters were well-drawn with just enough angst to tug at your heartstrings and make the story interesting. Natalie and Griffin were wonderful main characters, and they were surrounded by many delightful secondary ones, including Natalie’s nieces, Griffin’s grandmother, and a whole host of senior citizens at the Shelter Inn. This is a tale of family, forgiveness, and second chances. If you love small-town heartwarming Christmas stories, you’ll enjoy this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

review to come later

What happened to the animals? Did the cat get along with the dogs? And all the obsessing over kisses. I struggled. On the plus side, the setting is extremely well done, and the holiday atmosphere. That's the star of the book.

This was a good book however i wish it had an epilogue. Ended how i figured it would vut ended abruptly. Overall it was a great read.

I always know I’m in for a well-written, enjoyable, romantic read when I reach for the latest RaeAnne Thayne book. I love her talent for creating homey, small-town communities populated with endearing and lovable characters. The Café at Beach End features Meredith Collins who is returning to Cape Sanctuary after years of being away. She has faced humiliation and disgrace since her late ex-husband swindled people out of millions of dollars. She is left with no money, and only a run-down beach cottage and half ownership of a café. Her co-owner and cousin Tori is not welcoming at all, since they had a falling out a few years before. When Liam Byrne rents the cottage next door, Meredith is drawn to him, although he has his own secret agenda. It was fun to have a second romance going on in the book as Tori and her late husband’s brother are thrown together to help their teen-aged daughters through some challenges.This book is a delectable combination of intrigue and romance sure to delight those who enjoy contemporary romantic fiction. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.½

I really enjoyed this clean, Christmas romance. I bought this from a local store and I chose to review this book. I've given it a 5* rating. This has lots of feels in it and a lot of Christmas cheer to spread around when two families reconnect at a families ranch. It's been a long time since all have seen each other. Lots of little surprises come with young children involved. And it has a really good ending.

Ugh

Silver Bells sounds like a great place to live at Christmas. Whatever happened to Abby's cat?½

Another heart warmer

Definitely got me in the mood for Christmas. Loved seeing new faces and catching up with some kid friends. Luke has a heart of gold! No matter what happens, love conquers all.

Another great one. So good to see old friends and meet new ones. Best part of the holiday season is when a new Raeanne Thayne Christmas book comes out! I love that it’s two romances! Neither one outshone the other. I would love to revisit this characters in a future story.

It’s always a treat to return to Colorado for another tale in RaeAnne Thayne’s Hope’s Crossing series. Thayne is a pro at writing charming and heart-warming small-town contemporary romances, and this story fits right in with them. I’ve read most of the books in the series, and it was fun to see some of the characters return in this one. The main characters and supporting cast are engaging and well-drawn.

All is Bright stars a grown up Sage McKnight as an inspiring and capable architect interested in building and renovating houses for people with differing abilities and special needs. Mason Tucker is a client who needs his house adapted for use with his wheelchair after he is seriously injured in an accident. Although it’s fairly easy to guess the final result of the story, the twists and turns kept me involved and entertained. There is a secondary tale going on between Taryn and Charlie who have been best friends since childhood.

With themes of forgiveness, family and community, and hope, this book is a delightful and easy read. Although it’s part of a series, Thayne gives enough back story that it can be read alone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this double romance. I received this clean book for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 5* rating. So much is going on in this story woven around a car crash and a helicopter crash, both in the past. Both couples need a lot of healing and growing used to their limitations. I grew attached to them and used a few tissues also. This is a wonderful heartfelt story.

A 3.5 for me. The plot was run of the mill “anticipated” book. I listen to audiobook and narrator’s voice was so aggravating at times. Maybe it hurt the book for me. Anyway, it was ok. As in all Christmas books everything turns out great.