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Shelter Springs #2
The December Market
The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…
Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.
As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.
Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.
As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2024
About the author
RaeAnne Thayne
294 books3,476 followersI'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 468 reviews
October 6, 2024
RaeAnne Thayne has written many books, but this is only the second one of hers I have read. I have so many more to discover! This is the second book in the Shelter Springs series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
Description:
Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.
As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.
My Thoughts:
This is a sweet romance and a great way to spend an afternoon. I liked all the characters, especially the hot fireman, Rafe. He is just what a woman wants in a man. I liked Amanda too and thought she came across as an independent, motivated, and dedicated woman. I could see why she was a little reticent to get involved again after being burned before. I enjoyed the story, the town and the characters. The plot was simple but effective.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing - Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.
As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.
My Thoughts:
This is a sweet romance and a great way to spend an afternoon. I liked all the characters, especially the hot fireman, Rafe. He is just what a woman wants in a man. I liked Amanda too and thought she came across as an independent, motivated, and dedicated woman. I could see why she was a little reticent to get involved again after being burned before. I enjoyed the story, the town and the characters. The plot was simple but effective.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing - Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
June 3, 2024
Amanda is a shop owner in the small town of Shelter Springs, Idaho. She helps take care of her 80 year old grandmother, Birdie, who now lives in a local retirement community As in many small towns, everyone seems familiar with others and their misfortunes: handsome paramedic Rafe’s wife died from a drug overdose, Holly’s husband left her and their Downs syndrome child, and several people are touched by alcohol addiction and its consequences. Amanda refuses to admit that she is attracted to Rafe, but since she’s in charge of the local Christmas market and Rafe will be working at the first aid tent, they will have trouble avoiding each other. She’s also unhappy that Birdie has a boyfriend: Rafe’s grandfather. I am new to this author and was hoping for someone like Debbie Macomber or Viola Shipman, but I didn’t find the same humor and warmth in this novel. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
July 4, 2024
Rafe and Amanda have both had heartache in their lives with the deaths of loved ones. Rafe has his son Issac to raise and has stayed away from relationships. Amanda has kept busy helping neighbors, building her store, and overseeing the Christmas Market. But she, has put love on hold because of fear. In this Christmas romance they find security and love with each other. Isaac is adorable. Thanks NetGalley for a preview copy. Christmas in July!!
October 13, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series last year and I found this one to be just as delightful. You can read this on its own but I so enjoyed catching up with the previous characters. Shelter Springs is the sweetest little town and I was once again charmed by the town and its residents. While this is plenty light and sweet there are also some dark moments to add depth as well. The market itself sounded adorable and there was so much holiday cheer and cuteness
October 10, 2024
RaeAnne Thayne is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing is so warm and her characters are all believable. Once you start reading, you aren’t going to be able to stop. A family coming together at Christmas time…what more could you ask for? Rafe and Amanda both have walls up around their hearts and aren’t looking to fall in love, but you know how that goes right? I thought I knew how THE DECEMBER MARKET was going to end but I sure was wrong! I’m looking forward to reading more by this wonderful and heart-tugging author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
December 24, 2024
The December Market was a sweet, holiday romance set in the small town of Shelter Springs, Idaho. Amanda throws herself into the planning and executing of the town’s Christmas market each year, leaving little time for other activities or people in her life. She still holds guilt and grief from past events, keeping her guarded.
When Amanda runs into Rafe, her neighbor and his son, Isaac, she feels her guarded demeanor threatening to slip, especially as they keep encountering each other and learn more about their grandparents.
The December Market was sweet and wholesome. Even with some deeper topics included, the story leaned surface level. The dialogue felt very formal but I enjoyed the setting and the holiday vibes.
When Amanda runs into Rafe, her neighbor and his son, Isaac, she feels her guarded demeanor threatening to slip, especially as they keep encountering each other and learn more about their grandparents.
The December Market was sweet and wholesome. Even with some deeper topics included, the story leaned surface level. The dialogue felt very formal but I enjoyed the setting and the holiday vibes.
December 17, 2024
A great follow-up to "Christmas at the Shelter Inn." It brought back familiar characters along with some new ones. Filled with family, friendship, and romance. I would love to see this series continued.
December 14, 2024
3.5 Stars
The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne was a heartwarming Hallmark movie type of romance! Beautiful setting and very festive!
The story had a nice cast of fun secondary characters. I appreciated the strong family bonds both Amanda and Rafe had and I’m a sucker for a sweet single dad! Amanda’s reason for hesitation I felt was weak, however, the romance was still pretty low angst.
A copy was kindly provided by Canary Street Press. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne was a heartwarming Hallmark movie type of romance! Beautiful setting and very festive!
The story had a nice cast of fun secondary characters. I appreciated the strong family bonds both Amanda and Rafe had and I’m a sucker for a sweet single dad! Amanda’s reason for hesitation I felt was weak, however, the romance was still pretty low angst.
A copy was kindly provided by Canary Street Press. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 7, 2024
Well hello gorgeous!! 👀 Look at this cover!! I read my first @raeannethayne book last year and I LOVED it. ❤️ So when I heard we were going back to Shelter Springs.. I couldn’t wait!! Thank you soo much @uplitreads @canarystreetpress @htpbooks for this gorgeous gifted copy and having me along on this campaign!! 🥰🫶
So while this is the second book in the Shelter Springs series.. trust me.. it can 100% be read as a standalone. 😉 This is a cozy Hallmark type book that with leave you feeling all the warm fuzzy feels. ❤️ What did I love?? 🔽
🎄 Small town vibes- always a win!!
🎄 A handsome sweet fireman 👨🚒.. ALWAYS also a win. ❤️🤷♀️
🎄Fantastic characters!! I want to be friends with them all!! Especially Rafe. 😉😂
🎄A Christmas market… with all holiday feels 😍
So grab a cup of cocoa.. a warm blanket and snuggle up with this PERFECT holiday read. 🎄 I totally could see this as a @hallmarkchannel movie!! Fingers crossed for another Shelter Springs book. ❤️
So while this is the second book in the Shelter Springs series.. trust me.. it can 100% be read as a standalone. 😉 This is a cozy Hallmark type book that with leave you feeling all the warm fuzzy feels. ❤️ What did I love?? 🔽
🎄 Small town vibes- always a win!!
🎄 A handsome sweet fireman 👨🚒.. ALWAYS also a win. ❤️🤷♀️
🎄Fantastic characters!! I want to be friends with them all!! Especially Rafe. 😉😂
🎄A Christmas market… with all holiday feels 😍
So grab a cup of cocoa.. a warm blanket and snuggle up with this PERFECT holiday read. 🎄 I totally could see this as a @hallmarkchannel movie!! Fingers crossed for another Shelter Springs book. ❤️
September 28, 2024
RaeAnne Thayne perfectly captures the magic of Christmas, and the importace of family in The December Market. Amanda Taylor focuses her energy in helping others, and her soap shop. She has had her fair share of loss, but continues to show up for others, including Rafe. Charming Rafe is a single father, and has had his share of loss as well. They are both set on protecting their hearts, but find themselves with a budding romance when they spent plenty of time together at the hands of The December Market and Rafe's son. Their journal toward healing and opening their hearts up to love is beautifully written. This was a heartwarming holiday read that will make you believe in love and the spirit of the season! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2024
The Christmas part of this book was great.
The romance was... nonexistent? Like. It was not organic at all and then it felt phony once it happened. And it truly felt like the guy was more into her so his son could have a mom than because he had feelings for her. Which, no thanks. The story as a whole did feel quite flat.
Also the ending nearly gave me whiplash.
The romance was... nonexistent? Like. It was not organic at all and then it felt phony once it happened. And it truly felt like the guy was more into her so his son could have a mom than because he had feelings for her. Which, no thanks. The story as a whole did feel quite flat.
Also the ending nearly gave me whiplash.
December 18, 2024
I'm loving the cover, but that's where it ends. Sadly, I didn't enjoy this book. Amanda, the main character, was a letdown. I found it annoying that she had no idea she was in love with Rafe. Overall, I struggled to feel a connection to the story and the characters.
November 8, 2024
4.5
I read Christmas at the Shelter Inn last year and loved it, so I knew I had to read this one. Even though this is the 2nd book in the Shelter Spring series, it can totally be read as a standalone since it focuses on completely different characters.
Amanda Taylor is not a fan of Christmas because of the heartbreak she's suffered in the past. But she realizes the best way to get through it is to stay busy. She becomes fully invested in her store, her kiosk at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market, which she's the chair of. She also keeps busy taking care of her grandmother, Birdie. Birdie, however, seems to be doing just fine in her new retirement community. She even has a new love interest🤭
Rafe, the hot single dad firefighter, has had his own share of heartbreak. He also happens to be the grandson of Birdie's new love interest. Can Amanda and Rafe get past their pasts and open their hearts to each other?
This was such a great, cozy Christmas romance. Two people who have suffered past tragedies coming together during the holidays is just heartwarming. Throw a cute child into the mix, and this story is perfection. It was such a sweet story, and I really loved Amanda & Rafe. This is seriously the perfect book to add to your holiday TBR!
I read Christmas at the Shelter Inn last year and loved it, so I knew I had to read this one. Even though this is the 2nd book in the Shelter Spring series, it can totally be read as a standalone since it focuses on completely different characters.
Amanda Taylor is not a fan of Christmas because of the heartbreak she's suffered in the past. But she realizes the best way to get through it is to stay busy. She becomes fully invested in her store, her kiosk at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market, which she's the chair of. She also keeps busy taking care of her grandmother, Birdie. Birdie, however, seems to be doing just fine in her new retirement community. She even has a new love interest🤭
Rafe, the hot single dad firefighter, has had his own share of heartbreak. He also happens to be the grandson of Birdie's new love interest. Can Amanda and Rafe get past their pasts and open their hearts to each other?
This was such a great, cozy Christmas romance. Two people who have suffered past tragedies coming together during the holidays is just heartwarming. Throw a cute child into the mix, and this story is perfection. It was such a sweet story, and I really loved Amanda & Rafe. This is seriously the perfect book to add to your holiday TBR!
October 7, 2024
RaeAnne Thayne, the Author of “The December Market” has written a captivating, memorable and heartfelt novel. The Genres for this story are Holiday, Christmas, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. I appreciate how the author provides a magical description that describes the joy and magic of the season. The author vividly describes her colorful characters as complex and complicated. Some are kind, thoughtful and helpful. Some are flawed. It would be fun to have some of the characters as neighbors. Of course, I love the feisty animal characters in the story.
Amanda Taylor has sad and tragic memories of Christmas, but tries to be positive and besides working in her little store, tries to make the holidays brighter by having a Holiday market with crafts, home-made products from the residents, and activities to light up the season. Amanda visits and helps her colorful grandmother, Birdie. Birdie lives in the same senior complex as Paolo, a handsome senior. Paolo’s grandson Rafe comes to visit, with his young child Isaac. Rafe is a single Dad, but is always helpful and respected in the community. Isaac forms an attachment to Amanda, and would like to see Rafe and Amanda become a couple. Amanda and Rafe carefully guard their hearts,
I appreciate that RaeAnne Thayne discusses addictions, alcoholism, forgiveness, and second chances. The author also talks about the importance of family, friends, neighbors, kindness, communication, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable novel.
Amanda Taylor has sad and tragic memories of Christmas, but tries to be positive and besides working in her little store, tries to make the holidays brighter by having a Holiday market with crafts, home-made products from the residents, and activities to light up the season. Amanda visits and helps her colorful grandmother, Birdie. Birdie lives in the same senior complex as Paolo, a handsome senior. Paolo’s grandson Rafe comes to visit, with his young child Isaac. Rafe is a single Dad, but is always helpful and respected in the community. Isaac forms an attachment to Amanda, and would like to see Rafe and Amanda become a couple. Amanda and Rafe carefully guard their hearts,
I appreciate that RaeAnne Thayne discusses addictions, alcoholism, forgiveness, and second chances. The author also talks about the importance of family, friends, neighbors, kindness, communication, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable novel.
October 7, 2024
It's been a while since I read a romance from this talented storyteller, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read from her in the past. I love her stories full of small-town charm, colorful characters, and an abundance of heart.
Amanda Taylor is a single woman who heads up the holiday market in their small town. She's suffered more than her share of loss, but she chooses to focus her grief into helping others. When single dad, neighbor, and assistant fire chief, Rafe Arredondo, falls and breaks his arm during a rooftop rescue, Amanda does the neighborly thing and takes some meals to his house. His six-year-old son, Isaac, is immediately taken with Amanda, and Rafe isn’t far behind.
The emotional aspects of this one are fantastic, with both main characters having loved and lost and becoming brave enough to try again. As kids go, little Isaac is adorable and adds so much to the story which is rounded out with entertaining and caring seniors.
My issues are with some wordiness and repetitiveness, and seeing different characters' dialog in the same paragraph, which made reading difficult for my American eyes at times. While these issues made this a 3.5 star read for me, I’m hoping a lot was corrected in final editing post galley copies. It's really a sweet, heartwarming story that's sure to put readers in a happy holiday mood.
*Special thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press and NetGalley for an early copy.
Amanda Taylor is a single woman who heads up the holiday market in their small town. She's suffered more than her share of loss, but she chooses to focus her grief into helping others. When single dad, neighbor, and assistant fire chief, Rafe Arredondo, falls and breaks his arm during a rooftop rescue, Amanda does the neighborly thing and takes some meals to his house. His six-year-old son, Isaac, is immediately taken with Amanda, and Rafe isn’t far behind.
The emotional aspects of this one are fantastic, with both main characters having loved and lost and becoming brave enough to try again. As kids go, little Isaac is adorable and adds so much to the story which is rounded out with entertaining and caring seniors.
My issues are with some wordiness and repetitiveness, and seeing different characters' dialog in the same paragraph, which made reading difficult for my American eyes at times. While these issues made this a 3.5 star read for me, I’m hoping a lot was corrected in final editing post galley copies. It's really a sweet, heartwarming story that's sure to put readers in a happy holiday mood.
*Special thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press and NetGalley for an early copy.
December 24, 2024
Review coming soon.
January 2, 2025
Sadly, this is one of those stories that I just finished reading a few days ago and I have already started to forget about the plot. If I remember correctly, Amanda was 31 years old and had never been married. She thought she had loved twice in her life, but things didn't go as planned.
Rafe was divorced after a shaky marriage and his wife died soon afterwards. They had a son, Isaac, who was his pride and joy. When Isaac was on the page, he was a cutie pie.
Amanda and Rafe brought a lot of baggage into the mix and at some point, I started to skim a few pages. I remember some thoughts repeated more than twice throughout the story which is a big turnoff for me. Of course, tell me something once and a second time if you feel the need. After that, stop, because the story starts to drag.
Of course, there was the necessary HEA but by then I was happy to see the story end.
Rafe was divorced after a shaky marriage and his wife died soon afterwards. They had a son, Isaac, who was his pride and joy. When Isaac was on the page, he was a cutie pie.
Amanda and Rafe brought a lot of baggage into the mix and at some point, I started to skim a few pages. I remember some thoughts repeated more than twice throughout the story which is a big turnoff for me. Of course, tell me something once and a second time if you feel the need. After that, stop, because the story starts to drag.
Of course, there was the necessary HEA but by then I was happy to see the story end.
December 24, 2024
What a cute holiday happily-ever-after, and just look at that pretty cover!! This whirlwind second-chance romance really hit my sweet spot as it features a pair of retirement villa grandparents getting involved in their grandchildren’s love lives by secretly setting them up. I had so much fun reading this! And the Christmas Market gave off all those comforting sights, sounds and feels of the holidays! 🎄🍭 4.5 stars — Pub. 10/8/24
December 4, 2024
It’s so bad I want to give you a zero, but that’s not possible, so I give you a one ….. literally perhaps the worst, most dry bland boring STALE book I’ve ever read in my entire life, I could’ve written something more interesting and dynamic in grade 7 and I’m being so serious
October 20, 2024
Love the cover for this latest small town, dual POV, single father holiday romance from RaeAnne Thayne. This book sees two people grieving the death of their former loves trying to figure out if they are brave enough to take a chance on romance again and risk getting hurt. I especially enjoyed that the couple's grandparents have their own romance going on. A feel-good, Hallmark holiday movie style Christmas story that was good on audio and had cameos from last year's Christmas at the Shelter Inn. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: death of loved ones, alcoholism, drug addiction, overdose, grief, depression
CW: death of loved ones, alcoholism, drug addiction, overdose, grief, depression
December 21, 2024
The December Market is a lovely and heartwarming Christmas novel! Rafe and Amanda’s story is so endearing. They’ve each had their share of losses and tragedies, and they had been carefully guarding their hearts for years. Their connection was so intimate and powerful, and I could hardly wait until they finally took a chance on finding love and joy. This is the second book set in Shelter Springs, and although both books are great standalones, it’s so much richer to read them both. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get another book in this series!
December 7, 2024
I adored this story. Small town vibes, jam packed with their own trauma all the while supporting each other. It was beautiful and oh so sweet. I was instantly in love with both Amanda, Rafe and his son Isaac. All the townspeople were just so darn adorable it made me want to jump right into my book and be a part of it all. I laugh, I gasped, I cried, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
An absolutely perfect Christmas Hallmark style book.
An absolutely perfect Christmas Hallmark style book.
October 19, 2024
The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne is the second book of the Shelter Springs series. This is a sweet romantic book about a small-town soap maker, Amanda, and a single father, Rafe. I highly recommend reading this if you want a cozy, magical Christmas read.
December 27, 2024
I adore RaeAnne Thayne.
This book is such a sweet slow-burn. Between the book and all the holiday treats, you may get a cavity. It’s worth it.
This book is such a sweet slow-burn. Between the book and all the holiday treats, you may get a cavity. It’s worth it.
December 27, 2024
It took me til after Christmas to finish this one.... much trauma.. much trauma.... in the backgrounds of.. way.. way too many characters for me.. but.. your results could vary
December 3, 2024
3.5 stars
November 22, 2024
This first book in my personal 2024 Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon – and the second book in the author’s Shelter Springs series of holiday romances – combines two songs that I never expected to find in the same place.
The first one that hit me was Tom Lehrer’s version of “A Christmas Carol”, the one that kind of hits me every year as we get close to Black Friday, as we are. Lehrer’s comical/satirical “Carol” is the one that includes the line, “Angels we have heard on high, tell us to go out and –buy!” As that is EXACTLY what the Shelter Springs Annual Holiday Giving Market is trying to do – while trying to make the shoppers feel virtuous about spending LOTS as the profits from the Market are going to one or more local good causes – which makes it all that much easier for the folks who come from literally miles around to get the holiday presents they are looking for for their friends and loved ones.
But the other song, that wraps around this story like tinsel around a Christmas tree, is Fleetwood Mac’s classic, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” because that’s a lesson, both in the looking forward and in its reminder that “yesterday’s gone” that both market organizer Amanda Taylor and Assistant Fire Chief Rafe Arredondo need to learn.
Which they find themselves coming around to, slowly but not always surely, when their widowed grandparents, his abuelo Paolo and her grandmother Birdie, begin dating each other. At ages 76 and 80 respectively. Because life’s too short to take a pass on happiness when it comes your way – no matter your age.
No matter how envious it might make your adult grandchild, either.
But in the beginning of this holiday romance, Amanda and Rafe are both a bit too preoccupied with the yesterday that’s gone. Both are survivors of relationships with addicts, his wife, her father and her boyfriend.
The difference is that the most damage that Caitlin Arredondo, in her addiction and her resulting death, did was to their little boy Isaac. As well as to Rafe’s willingness to pursue a relationship with any woman he might be tempted to “fix” or “save” the way he was with Caitlin. He sees shadows in Amanda’s eyes that remind him too much of his late wife – never once thinking that the person those shadows really remind him of is the one he sees in the mirror.
Amanda knows that people see shadows around her, because her father’s addiction did considerably more damage to Shelter Springs than just to her and her mother. On his final bender, he killed four people along with himself, and there are entirely too many people in town who STILL look at Amanda and see her father. As though a teenage girl could have done anything to stop a full-grown man who was determined to drive while WAY over the legal limit.
Her baggage makes his baggage gunshy. Rafe’s mother is one of many people in town who still give Amanda the cold shoulder more than ten years after her father’s last drunken spree, because one of the people her dad killed that night was Rafe’s cousin Alex.
But Rafe and Amanda are now neighbors on Hummingbird Lane, and Rafe’s little boy has already decided that Amanda is his new best friend. Isaac was already planning to ask Santa to give him a new mommy, and he’s decided that Amanda is perfect for the role.
And he’s not wrong. She’s already fallen hard for the little boy, and in spite of herself is well down that same path for his father.
The question is whether either of the adults can get past their matched set of emotional baggage to give each other AND little Isaac the Christmas present they all want this Christmas. Even if it won’t exactly fit under the tree.
Escape Rating A-: The December Market wasn’t nearly as light and fluffy as I was expecting in a holiday romance – and it was all the better for tackling a couple of very serious topics, well, seriously, as well as having more than enough light and sparkle to kick off the holiday season’s readings.
The elephant that precedes Amanda into entirely too many rooms in Shelter Springs is her father’s last and final, monstrous and criminal, act. His rage-fuelled drunk driving was all the more tragic because it was entirely preventable. He didn’t HAVE to drive drunk on that or any other night.
But it was not preventable by then-teenaged Amanda. And most of the time she knows it – even if she does occasionally still second guess herself and let a smidgeon of guilt trip in. It doesn’t help at all that she chose to brazen out life in Shelter Springs, and that there are clearly some people in town who see her father’s shadow every time they see her.
It seems as if all of her many, many good deeds – and they are indeed many – and her inability to say “no” to any volunteer commitment, comes out of that smidgeon of guilt, or out of a desire to atone for her father’s deeds in some way – even though her childhood was certainly one of his victims. Being the adult child of an alcoholic has left a deep mark on her life that she may never completely recover from.
Keeping herself overly busy all of the time rather than face her own demons is one way of dealing with that damage.
But part of that damage is that she assumes her attraction to Rafe Arredondo can’t possibly be reciprocated – no matter how often she finds him glancing her way – because his is one of the families that her father nearly destroyed. Rafe tells himself he shouldn’t act on his attraction to Amanda because he doesn’t want to get his heart – and more importantly his son’s heart – tangled up in fixing someone who might not want to be fixed.
Of course, they’ve both read each other very, very wrong. They can’t, and shouldn’t, attempt to fix each other. But they can help each other be strong in the broken places. Figuring that out provides their matchmaking grandparents a chance to say “I told you so” even as it gives Isaac the Christmas present he asked Santa for.
As I said at the top, this wasn’t quite as light and fluffy as I was expecting, although the romance between the grandparents did add plenty of sweetness . It’s always lovely to see a story that shows it’s never too late to fall in love and grab a second chance at happiness.
But the part of the story that really got me were Amanda’s and Rafe’s two-step forwards, one-step back efforts to deal with surviving a family member’s addiction – because that’s a hard road that doesn’t get acknowledged often in fiction. It was terrific, in the end, that they both reached towards a bright future together instead of trying to change, control or simply remain mired in a yesterday that’s gone. Like the song.
Originally published at Reading Reality
The first one that hit me was Tom Lehrer’s version of “A Christmas Carol”, the one that kind of hits me every year as we get close to Black Friday, as we are. Lehrer’s comical/satirical “Carol” is the one that includes the line, “Angels we have heard on high, tell us to go out and –buy!” As that is EXACTLY what the Shelter Springs Annual Holiday Giving Market is trying to do – while trying to make the shoppers feel virtuous about spending LOTS as the profits from the Market are going to one or more local good causes – which makes it all that much easier for the folks who come from literally miles around to get the holiday presents they are looking for for their friends and loved ones.
But the other song, that wraps around this story like tinsel around a Christmas tree, is Fleetwood Mac’s classic, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)” because that’s a lesson, both in the looking forward and in its reminder that “yesterday’s gone” that both market organizer Amanda Taylor and Assistant Fire Chief Rafe Arredondo need to learn.
Which they find themselves coming around to, slowly but not always surely, when their widowed grandparents, his abuelo Paolo and her grandmother Birdie, begin dating each other. At ages 76 and 80 respectively. Because life’s too short to take a pass on happiness when it comes your way – no matter your age.
No matter how envious it might make your adult grandchild, either.
But in the beginning of this holiday romance, Amanda and Rafe are both a bit too preoccupied with the yesterday that’s gone. Both are survivors of relationships with addicts, his wife, her father and her boyfriend.
The difference is that the most damage that Caitlin Arredondo, in her addiction and her resulting death, did was to their little boy Isaac. As well as to Rafe’s willingness to pursue a relationship with any woman he might be tempted to “fix” or “save” the way he was with Caitlin. He sees shadows in Amanda’s eyes that remind him too much of his late wife – never once thinking that the person those shadows really remind him of is the one he sees in the mirror.
Amanda knows that people see shadows around her, because her father’s addiction did considerably more damage to Shelter Springs than just to her and her mother. On his final bender, he killed four people along with himself, and there are entirely too many people in town who STILL look at Amanda and see her father. As though a teenage girl could have done anything to stop a full-grown man who was determined to drive while WAY over the legal limit.
Her baggage makes his baggage gunshy. Rafe’s mother is one of many people in town who still give Amanda the cold shoulder more than ten years after her father’s last drunken spree, because one of the people her dad killed that night was Rafe’s cousin Alex.
But Rafe and Amanda are now neighbors on Hummingbird Lane, and Rafe’s little boy has already decided that Amanda is his new best friend. Isaac was already planning to ask Santa to give him a new mommy, and he’s decided that Amanda is perfect for the role.
And he’s not wrong. She’s already fallen hard for the little boy, and in spite of herself is well down that same path for his father.
The question is whether either of the adults can get past their matched set of emotional baggage to give each other AND little Isaac the Christmas present they all want this Christmas. Even if it won’t exactly fit under the tree.
Escape Rating A-: The December Market wasn’t nearly as light and fluffy as I was expecting in a holiday romance – and it was all the better for tackling a couple of very serious topics, well, seriously, as well as having more than enough light and sparkle to kick off the holiday season’s readings.
The elephant that precedes Amanda into entirely too many rooms in Shelter Springs is her father’s last and final, monstrous and criminal, act. His rage-fuelled drunk driving was all the more tragic because it was entirely preventable. He didn’t HAVE to drive drunk on that or any other night.
But it was not preventable by then-teenaged Amanda. And most of the time she knows it – even if she does occasionally still second guess herself and let a smidgeon of guilt trip in. It doesn’t help at all that she chose to brazen out life in Shelter Springs, and that there are clearly some people in town who see her father’s shadow every time they see her.
It seems as if all of her many, many good deeds – and they are indeed many – and her inability to say “no” to any volunteer commitment, comes out of that smidgeon of guilt, or out of a desire to atone for her father’s deeds in some way – even though her childhood was certainly one of his victims. Being the adult child of an alcoholic has left a deep mark on her life that she may never completely recover from.
Keeping herself overly busy all of the time rather than face her own demons is one way of dealing with that damage.
But part of that damage is that she assumes her attraction to Rafe Arredondo can’t possibly be reciprocated – no matter how often she finds him glancing her way – because his is one of the families that her father nearly destroyed. Rafe tells himself he shouldn’t act on his attraction to Amanda because he doesn’t want to get his heart – and more importantly his son’s heart – tangled up in fixing someone who might not want to be fixed.
Of course, they’ve both read each other very, very wrong. They can’t, and shouldn’t, attempt to fix each other. But they can help each other be strong in the broken places. Figuring that out provides their matchmaking grandparents a chance to say “I told you so” even as it gives Isaac the Christmas present he asked Santa for.
As I said at the top, this wasn’t quite as light and fluffy as I was expecting, although the romance between the grandparents did add plenty of sweetness . It’s always lovely to see a story that shows it’s never too late to fall in love and grab a second chance at happiness.
But the part of the story that really got me were Amanda’s and Rafe’s two-step forwards, one-step back efforts to deal with surviving a family member’s addiction – because that’s a hard road that doesn’t get acknowledged often in fiction. It was terrific, in the end, that they both reached towards a bright future together instead of trying to change, control or simply remain mired in a yesterday that’s gone. Like the song.
Originally published at Reading Reality
October 22, 2024
Amanda Taylor is the owner of a small boutique soap shop. She isn’t fond of Christmas, but focuses on what her customers love when it comes to the Shelter Springs Holiday Market. Trouble arises when her grandmother starts dating a new resident to their local senior living inn, and Amanda teams up with Rafe, the grandson of the suitor, to keep them apart. As a single father and paramedic, Rafe has his own struggles but finds himself drawn to Amanda. Despite their best efforts to resist, their growing connection and frequent encounters at the market spark the possibility of a second chance at love during the holiday season.
3 stars
Unfortunately this one just didn't do it for me, but I can absolutely see there being an audience for this type of holiday story. It felt very much like a Hallmark/Lifetime movie, where there are a lot of characters introduced and many have complicated traumatic backstories. This was my first by RaeAnne Thayne and I did read that there are other books that explain some of the previous emotional trauma that led to Amanda and Rafe's resistance to love. It made it a bit more difficult to find their chemistry as it seemed there was too much avoidance and not enough fun to build a relationship on, in addition to lengthy past dramas to hash out for each character. Not for me, but likely a hit for plenty of other readers!
Thank you to UpLit Reads, NetGalley and RaeAnne for gifting me with an early eARC of this novel!
3 stars
Unfortunately this one just didn't do it for me, but I can absolutely see there being an audience for this type of holiday story. It felt very much like a Hallmark/Lifetime movie, where there are a lot of characters introduced and many have complicated traumatic backstories. This was my first by RaeAnne Thayne and I did read that there are other books that explain some of the previous emotional trauma that led to Amanda and Rafe's resistance to love. It made it a bit more difficult to find their chemistry as it seemed there was too much avoidance and not enough fun to build a relationship on, in addition to lengthy past dramas to hash out for each character. Not for me, but likely a hit for plenty of other readers!
Thank you to UpLit Reads, NetGalley and RaeAnne for gifting me with an early eARC of this novel!
October 22, 2024
Perfect Holiday Read
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, RaeAnne Thayne is Christmas for me. I can’t go a season without reading on of her holiday books.
The December Market was full of great characters and plenty of holiday charm. It would be the loveliest town to visit.
I hope we get another in this series next year. Christmas at the Shelter Inn is book one but you can read in any order. Enjoy!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, RaeAnne Thayne is Christmas for me. I can’t go a season without reading on of her holiday books.
The December Market was full of great characters and plenty of holiday charm. It would be the loveliest town to visit.
I hope we get another in this series next year. Christmas at the Shelter Inn is book one but you can read in any order. Enjoy!
October 9, 2024
The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne
Shelter Springs #2
related series Haven Point
7h 39m narrated by Vanessa Johansson, 336 pages
Genre: Holiday > Christmas; Romance > Contemporary Romance; Women's Fiction > Chick Lit, Adult Fiction
Featuring: Idaho, Grandparents, Single Father, Resort Town, Thanksgiving, Assistant Fire Chief, Firefighters, Widowers, Widows, Love After Loss Trope, Cats, Home Made Goods Store, Octogenarian, Continued Storylines From Book 1, Fear of Getting Hurt, Unconventional Couples, Estranged Family, Deatg by Alcoholism (Past), Sins of the Father Trope, Mommy For Christmas Trope, Blindness, Forgiveness
Songs for the soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by The Andrews Sisters, "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" by LeAnn Rimes, "Jingle Bells" by Michael Bublé, "Jingle Bells" by Joss Stone, "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont, "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Johnny Marks, "Zat You Santa Claus?" by Louis Armstrong and The Commanders, "Joy To The World" by Isaac Watts, "Silent Night" by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr, "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Baptiste Calkin, and Johnny Marks; "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo & Patsy
Books mentioned: The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern (It's A Wonderful Life)
Rating as a movie: PG-10
My rating: ⭐️⭐️½🎄🛍
My thoughts: 📱13% 59:18 Chapter 4 - This area sounded familiar to me, turns out it is Book 2 in a series, I haven't read Book 1, but I read a related series, the story sounds very familiar but it's a typical baby born during a storm story so I'm probably recalling a Debbie Macomber story. So far it's not hitting the spot.
📱28% 2:09:39 Chapter 8 - This town sounds like Splitsville, like that town in Kindergarten Cop.
This story almost broke my romance bone. It was lacking and trying to do too much for me. I've enjoyed other Thayne books but this series isn't for me. My son has challenged me to not read anymore more Christmas books till November, so this will be the Christmas story I'm left with for the rest of the month. The concert was probably my favorite moment in the story, but I'm just not buying them as a couple, but the grandparents ship.
Recommend to others?: Maybe but I wasn't a big fan, and yes Uncle Daddy played a role in my lack of interest.
Shelter Springs
1. Christmas at the Shelter Inn (2023)
2. The December Market (2024)
Shelter Springs #2
related series Haven Point
7h 39m narrated by Vanessa Johansson, 336 pages
Genre: Holiday > Christmas; Romance > Contemporary Romance; Women's Fiction > Chick Lit, Adult Fiction
Featuring: Idaho, Grandparents, Single Father, Resort Town, Thanksgiving, Assistant Fire Chief, Firefighters, Widowers, Widows, Love After Loss Trope, Cats, Home Made Goods Store, Octogenarian, Continued Storylines From Book 1, Fear of Getting Hurt, Unconventional Couples, Estranged Family, Deatg by Alcoholism (Past), Sins of the Father Trope, Mommy For Christmas Trope, Blindness, Forgiveness
Songs for the soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by The Andrews Sisters, "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" by LeAnn Rimes, "Jingle Bells" by Michael Bublé, "Jingle Bells" by Joss Stone, "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont, "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Johnny Marks, "Zat You Santa Claus?" by Louis Armstrong and The Commanders, "Joy To The World" by Isaac Watts, "Silent Night" by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr, "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Baptiste Calkin, and Johnny Marks; "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo & Patsy
Books mentioned: The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern (It's A Wonderful Life)
Rating as a movie: PG-10
My rating: ⭐️⭐️½🎄🛍
My thoughts: 📱13% 59:18 Chapter 4 - This area sounded familiar to me, turns out it is Book 2 in a series, I haven't read Book 1, but I read a related series, the story sounds very familiar but it's a typical baby born during a storm story so I'm probably recalling a Debbie Macomber story. So far it's not hitting the spot.
📱28% 2:09:39 Chapter 8 - This town sounds like Splitsville, like that town in Kindergarten Cop.
This story almost broke my romance bone. It was lacking and trying to do too much for me. I've enjoyed other Thayne books but this series isn't for me. My son has challenged me to not read anymore more Christmas books till November, so this will be the Christmas story I'm left with for the rest of the month. The concert was probably my favorite moment in the story, but I'm just not buying them as a couple, but the grandparents ship.
Recommend to others?: Maybe but I wasn't a big fan, and yes Uncle Daddy played a role in my lack of interest.
Shelter Springs
1. Christmas at the Shelter Inn (2023)
2. The December Market (2024)
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