I always enjoy RayAnne Thayne's romances. When I'm in the mood for a Hallmark-feeling romance, it's a good bet this author's books will hit the spot. All is Bright is somehow the first book I've read that's set in Hope's Crossing, and I'm not sure how I missed the others. The town is everything I look for in this kind of romance. The characters are quirky and fun, and they all come together when needed. Mason is grumpy, and Sage is full steam ahead and all kinds of everything he needs. There were some elements that were hard for me personally, but that's my own thing and no reflection on the author. We also hear from another couple in this one, and I feel like maybe that part was a bit distracting from the main storyline. Other than that, this one is an entertaining holiday read.

All Is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne is a contemporary romance novel that is set during the Christmas holiday season and is a new book in the Hope’s Crossing series. While All Is Bright is a part of the Hope’s Crossing series it does change the main characters in each book of the series so all can be read as a standalone including All is Bright if choosing to do so.

Sage McKnight is an architect who has decided to specialize in customizing spaces to cater to those with handicaps. Sage has made a decent career out of he designs and has a show showcasing the end results but her current client, Mason Tucker, wants nothing to do with being in the spotlight after his injury.

Mason was once a famous professional baseball player but now he is recovering from devastating injuries after a plane crash which led him to hire Sage to remodel his home in Hope’s Crossing. Mason doesn’t want the pity that will come from seeing him in his current condition but Sage doesn’t want to take no for an answer when his home is some of her most amazing work yet.

While I have been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne for several years now I have not had the chance to read all of the books in the Hope’s Crossing series yet so I can safely say from first hand knowledge All Is Bright reads fine on it’s own. As with other books I have read by this author I was immediately pulled into the small town setting and fell in love with the characters and story. The author did a wonderful job bringing to life Mason’s struggles and you couldn’t help but feel for him but diving deeper and you will see how Sage got to be who she is today and I couldn’t help but love her too. Being all wrapped up in Christmas cheer I didn’t want to story to end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

It has been over 20 years since RaeAnne Thayne wrote her last Hope's Crossing book, and I haven't read the previous 7, but I want to now. All is Bright is the story of Sage McKnight, a talented architect who redesigns homes for people who need adaptations due to physical limitations. She has been working with Mason Tucker, a former pro baseball player who survived a plane crash that left him in a wheelchair. He is still healing, both physically and emotionally, raising his daughter and trying to keep to himself. Sage wants to showcase his home on her YouTube channel, but he is adamant that he wants his privacy. Sage wants to help this grumpy Morgan and his daughter become part of the community and heal. As they spend more time together, they are also drawn together emotionally. Will they act on the chemistry that is between them.

This was such a sweet, Christmas story. Sage and Morgan are both great character and deserve a happily ever after. The town is full of quirky characters that want to not only see inside Morgan's home, but want to see Morgan and Sage together. The children in this story are such a delight. They added sweetness to the story, while they also pushed Sage and Morgan together. There are also a lot of characters present that were in previous books to round out the cast of characters, and I know I want to go back and read their stories as well. Morgan had a lot of hurt inside and it took a lot of conversations with others for him to reassess things and move on. There is a lot of winter fun and traditions that bring the Christmas Cheer to this story. Overall, this is a wonderful winter/holiday story with family, friendship, new beginnings, strength and highlighting people with physical limitations and their abilities. I definitely recommend this one.

This is a good book. This book is about the people who live in Hope’s Crossing. They are good, trusting, and helpful people. When they see their neighbors needing help they will be there to help. This is about asking for help and everyone that can help shows up. To seeing what is in front of you and falling in love.

4.5 Stars

Sage McKnight is an architect specializing in “universal” or “inclusive” design for those with different mobility needs. Sage used those talents to redesign Wolf Ridge, a big mountain lodge, for Mason Tucker, an ex-pro baseball player still recovering from an accident that left him hardly able to walk. Now Sage is back in Hope’s Crossing for the holidays to visit with her family, oversee the finishing touches on Wolf Ridge and hopefully feature the finished project on her YouTube channel show, Homes for All.

Mason just wants to be left alone after the accident the tragic accident that left him a single father and ended his baseball career. He’s a bit of a reclusive grump and who could blame him after all he went through? But getting to know Sage with her warmth, positivity, and love starts to thaw Mason out and awaken feelings he never thought he’d have again after the accident.

Sage has her career path figured out and staying in Hope’s Crossing has never been her plan, but getting to know Mason, seeing his unerring love for his daughter and his resilience after all life has handed him has her yearning for a future that includes love.

All is Bright was a magical, heartwarming romance! Healing and forgiveness also feature prominently, as well as a community coming together to help a family in need. Just the kind of story to pull at my heartstrings and fill me with joy!

Having recently began reading Raeanne Thayne’s books and loving them, I looked forward to dive into 🎧︎All is Bright. In 🎧︎All is Bright, Thayne treated her readers to a heartwarming holiday story served up with not one but two romances. A story which delivers a powerful message about how holding to the hurt from the past leads to bitterness and how love brings about healing and forgiveness.

Mason Tucker, a retired baseball play, is renovating his new home in Hope’s Crossing. The purpose of the renovations is to accommodate his wheelchair mobility. Two years ago, he lost his wife and unborn child to a plane crash.  As a result of the crash he suffered a spinal cord injury, which left him relying on a wheelchair.  He lost all that mattered to him in one fell swoop, except for his nine-year-old daughter who brought sunshine to his Darkest days. He gave upon love, believing no woman would love a damaged and broken man, but that was before he met the architect in charge of the renovations.

Sage McKnight is working her dream job and using her skills to help clients with mobility issues. She has taken on her most difficult client to date. The one she never expected to develop feelings for. Given her track record with relationships, she knew she should keep her distance. Secondly, she will not be in town for very long. However, the more contact they had with each other, the greater their feelings grew. Soon, they can no longer ignore the attraction brewing between them.

Narrated from triple POVs 🎧︎All is Bright was a heartwarming story of second chances, healing, forgiveness and love. The characters featured in Thayne’s latest novel will capture the hearts of readers. Each has experienced physical and emotional pain and loss in the past, and is still affected by the aftermath. Sadly, as a result, they spent their days mired in self doubt and guilt.

The romance which developed between Mason and Sage will warm your heart on a cold winter night. They may not have been looking for love, but it found them when they least expected it. They will learn that love was more powerful than the baggage they refused to let go. The walls Mason erected around his heart came tumbling down with each interaction he had with Sage. She refused to allow him to wallow in self -pity. The secondary romance didn’t receive a lot of exposure, which for me was a travesty. I believe Taryn and Charlie’s story needed to be told separately.

I enjoyed the romance, but the aspect of the story which resonated most with me lay in Mason’s relationship with his mom. Sadly, they never shared a bond during Mason’s younger years. This made him bitter and angry towards her. Now she’s back in his life wanting to make up for lost time. One could understand Mason’s reluctance to let her into his life. It took him sometime to recognize her motives were pure, and I loved how never gave up despite his antagonistic behaviour towards her.

 🎧︎All is Bright is a sweet small town holiday romance that will warm your heart and have you believing in second chances and happily ever after.

Carly Robins narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story. She brought the characters to life and allowed their personalities to shine through with her impeccable performance. Her performance brought an added layer of goodness to the story.

RaeAnn Never disappoints. This is definitely a book that you want to add to your Christmas list. A very warm and fuzzy uplifting story.

A wonderful Christmas story set in Hope’s Crossing. I loved this book and highly recommend it to romance readers.

I love the cozy feel of Thayne's Christmas books and this was a lovely one. I love the community of Hope's Crossing and reading this book made me want to go back and reread the earlier books in the series.

I liked Sage a lot. She's had some very tough times but has made the absolute best of it and has found her passion with creating homes with universal designs. She's positive and a hard worker but is still struggling a little to find her place and figure out what makes her happy. Mason is a slightly harder sell. He's got a lot of anger both from his accident and from things that happened in his childhood. He has a hard time forgiving and makes a snap judgement about Sage even when there is clear evidence that things might not be fully what he believes them to be.

As the story went on I grew to understand Mason a bit more and was caught up in the story of Sage and Mason and of the town itself. I loved being in Hope's Crossing at Christmas time and getting caught up in the magic of the town and the season itself. I do wish Taryn's relationship had been explored a little more as it did feel like her story was shoved into the corners a bit.

This was a fantastically cozy Christmas-y read with likeable characters (who aren't so likable they're unrealistically perfect) and a magical setting.

Sage is a young architect who takes on challenging work to help people with different needs to create a space that works for them for better quality of life. Currently she's helping a former baseball player who was in an accident that left him wheelchair bound but with her she can make his life easier getting around his home. Sage hoping that Madison Tucker will let her film a clip of the before and after reaction video for her site to case more publicity but the grumpy man just can gain a bigger audience and help those in need for her services.

Okay this is another book I've come across on my way to find some holiday books to recommend people to get them in the festive spirit - or not - maybe your just the type who just likes to read books based around the time they happen matching your world with what's happening in the book. So if your wondering if this got me in a festive spirit I wouldn't say that but this is a great book to still read during the holidays while it doesn't scream holidays in your face its still a nice sweet read that takes place during that time. There are a few sweet wintery themed moments that I enjoyed. This book has second chances at love, life, and family. This book has some heartwarming times between characters and I enjoyed the romance that was simmering throughout the book that I couldn't help but want certain characters to get together. Overall this was a pretty great book I really enjoyed it, if you enjoy books that take place during the holiday but doesn't absolutely scream holidays with loads of cheesiness you'll enjoy and appreciate this book.

After an eight-year absence, RaeAnne Thayne returns to Hope's Crossing with a feel-good Christmas romance that gives three secondary characters - all grown up now - from books two (Woodrose Mountain) and three (Sweet Laurel Falls) their long-awaited happy endings. Fans of the series will no doubt delight in catching up with familiar citizens of Hope's Crossing while readers new to the series should have no difficulty enjoying this new book on its own.

Thayne combines the comfort and complexity of family, community, grief, healing, and hope - along with the magic of the Christmas season - in this new story that drew me in and refused to let go. I love her characters, how she imbues them with realistic flaws and layers then gives them seemingly insurmountable obstacles to confront and conquer. It doesn't matter if they're ridiculously wealthy athletes or guidance counselors at the local school, they all feel real and relatable.

There are a few emotionally traumatizing issues addressed in All is Bright. Thayne deals with them with candor, sensitivity, and a hopeful, though realistic, attitude. I appreciate that difficulties faced by her characters aren't glossed over but dealt with head on. It gives them substance and even more relatability.

There are a couple areas where I found myself wanting a bit more depth. I would have liked a little more attention given to Sage's current relationship with (younger sibling) Nick. Recent changes in Nick's feelings are hinted but not taken any further. Also, while the secondary romance between Taryn and Charlie is meaningful, readers who have also read their backstory will likely have an even greater appreciation for their HEA.

As for Sage, her personal journey begins in the earlier books but culminates in this new novel. It was immensely satisfying to see how far she's come in her life and the good she's doing in the world. Thayne does a good job of giving readers background information to catch them up with Sage's growth since those early years though for a deeper understanding of all she's been through, I'd suggest picking up the books noted in the opening paragraph of this review. Mason is also on a healing journey, one which Thayne handles with care, but realistically, in light of his injuries and losses.

Sage's romantic journey with Mason, fully encompassed in All is Bright, is one that touched my heart and brought me to tears but also had me smiling. I love a grumpy-sunshine pairing and watching Mason slowly succumb to the lure of Sage's kindness and light was immensely satisfying. I also enjoyed Sage's evolving relationship with her parents, younger siblings, and Mason's daughter, Grace who all have key roles in the story. I turned the final page of the book with a smile and a sigh, happily confident in Mason's and Sage's love for one another and their future happiness together.

If you're looking for a holiday story with real-life issues, complex family dynamics, sweet romance, emotional depth, and happy endings, add RaeAnne Thayne's All is Bright to your holiday reading list.

4.5 Stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

All is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne is another wonderful Christmas story set in Hope's Crossing. Sage is an architect who has designed a beautiful and practical home for Mason to live in. Mason is still rather an angry and grumpy man after all he has been through. But he has come a long way, his nine year old daughter Grace providing much of the incentive - just by being.

Sage has family in Hope's Crossing - many of them. She has quite a back story. As she spends time here, away from her San Francisco office, she is more and more delighted by her people here and more and more intrigued by Mason himself.

As well we have the story of Taryn, injured in a car accident that killed Sage's sister. The driver of the car - Charlie has still not forgiven himself. But... Taryn and he have been good friends. Now he is back in Hope's Crossing to see to his father's estate. Taryn is finding she is feeling more than friendship for him, but he is avoiding her. Taryn also featured in another book in Hope's Crossing. I intend going back there!

A community of people who care for each other, a number of people who have disabilities of one sort or another, at various stages in their healing. Family who are there or wanting to be there if they can only be accepted. Another one of those books where the reader wishes it was real and that you could live there.

There is of course romance and love and lots of hope. Inspiring really.  If you like a easy to read, warmhearted book with characters you'll want to know more, I sure recommend this book.

ALL IS BRIGHT takes you back to Hope’s Crossing and introduces you to the local legend, Mason Tucker. Sage McKnight is an architect who has been hired to renovate Mason’s home to accommodate his healing. Mason is a single father of one daughter who just lost her mother not too long ago. They are both struggling to move on with their lives when they meet Sage. The more time Sage spends with Mason the more she grows to care for him. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, but you know how that goes. Sage just wants him to be happy and wants to help Mason realize he still has so much to offer. Mason believes he doesn’t deserve her help. She is totally out of his league and he thinks he is no good for her.

Sage is someone I connected with from the very beginning of ALL IS BRIGHT. She has her hands full and never stops trying to help everyone she knows and meets. Mason is very hard on himself. He made some big mistakes in his life and does not feel deserving of any love or happiness. He feels responsible for the loss of his wife and unborn child. Why did he survive and they didnt? To say Mason is struggling would be a huge understatement. RaeAnne Thayne sure was able to portray the Colorado town in such a way that I’d love to live there myself. I am more than ready to read more about Hope’s Crossing. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to come.

ALL IS BRIGHT was a quick read for me. Mason and Sage have some major hurdles to get over and problems to overcome, but if anyone deserves to be happy, it is these two. Even though this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read all of the books in the series yet, and I wasn’t lost at all. I will now go back and read the books I have missed and I can’t wait to go back to Colorado and this beautiful town! I didn’t realize I was holding my breath near the last page until I let it out to let the tears flow. ALL IS BRIGHT is filled with heart-tugging moments and will have you laughing and crying all at once.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was a heartwarming and uplifting holiday romance that actually features two couples. All is Bright is the latest installment in Thayne’s Hope Crossing series and my first. I really enjoyed being transported into the cozy world of Hope Crossing and I personally strongly connected with one of the main themes of the story. Sage specializes in making homes more accessible for people with varying mobilities and I appreciated hearing about all the different things that can make life easier for people. I’ve come a long way in the almost three years that I’ve had MOG and I feel like 90% of the time I have a typical walk but it is definitely something that I still have to actively think about. I love how this story really brings to light the issues that so many of face especially those that primarily use wheelchairs, scooters or crutches.

Mason has a lot he is dealing with and trying to overcome. He has recently suffered some major tragedies and his life was completely upturned but thankfully he has a sweet daughter who centers him. Along with all of that he has a very complicated relationship with his mom. I can’t commend Thayne enough for contrasting Mason’s relationship with his mom versus the choices that Sage has made in her life. It was a delicate topic that I think Thayne handled very well. Sage and Mason’s relationship unfolded so beautifully and I am looking forward to seeing them in future books in this series.

There is also a great side story with Taryn and Charlie who have always been best friends but have drifted apart since Taryn acted on her feelings for Charlie over the summer. Charlie and Taryn have a traumatic past that affected them both in devastating ways but they have always had a strong bond. However, Taryn realizes that she can’t keep waiting for Charlie forever and decides that this holiday season she needs to lay it all out for him.

It was a bit overwhelming with all the different characters but I just let it go and enjoyed the story since I knew that I would definitely be starting this series from the beginning. I’m not a big fan of kids in stories but I found all the kids in this story to be adorable and I’m also looking forward to seeing them grow up in future books. I was instantly captivated by All is Bright and it is at the top of my Christmas romance recommendations. It gives off holiday vibes but in a very restrained way that I think will appeal to a lot of people.

There are so many elements to this story that hit home for me. Physical and emotional scars do take some perseverance to break through and Thayne dives in with some fabulous characters that elevate this story by knowing how to deal with the pain and anger and coming out with deep feelings and happiness.

Do you love warm and fuzzy feels in your story? All Is Bright is a wonderful small-town Christmas story with that cozy vibe where everyone knows everyone. It is a part of a series, but I did not feel lost and you quickly figured out who belongs to whom.

Although there are a lot of characters to try and keep track of you are always brought back to the main few.

When a grumpy single guy trying to find his way after multiple tragedies and a beautiful yet ambitious architect who knows just how to handle him figure it all out, sparks start to fly and the smiles get bigger. This story shows us that buried under the pain and hurt we have, good people are still inside.

We also get a separate treat with a second romance that seals the deal for this wholesome Christmas romance. Just the perfect story to kick off your holiday reading! Thayne is a romance writer like none other!

This book takes place in Hope’s Crossing and, although not listed as part of the series as of now, it is a continuation of the stories in books 2 and 3, Woodrose Mountain and Sweet Laurel Falls. You don’t have to have read those books to enjoy this story, but if you have read them and wonder whatever happened to the “kids” (young adults really) in those stories, here you go.

Sage takes center stage in this book. There is a bit of Taryn and Charlie and we get some resolution when it comes to the two of them. Their story is important, but not central to this book. My thoughts are the author wanted to give the Taryn/Charlie fans some closure and it was natural to include them in this book in order to do so.

Just like her biological father, Sage is making a name for herself as an architect. She also has a YouTube channel that features the homes she has modified and/or built to help those with mobility issues. She uses any income she generates from that show to help those who cannot afford the modifications they need to their homes. That’s why she’s excited to have a famous pro baseball player in her hometown who hired her to revamp his home to address his new situation. But Mason doesn’t want anyone’s pity and isn’t willing to include his home, even without going on camera himself.

Mason has a lot to work through. He lost his pregnant wife and a good friend in a terrible accident, one he alone survived. On top of that, he has a wonderful young daughter who lost her mom. Here they are almost two years later trying to make a fresh start in a new place. Understandably, he doesn’t want to draw attention to himself, they’ve been through a lot. He underestimates the warmth (and pushiness) of Hope’s Crossing. Soon he and his daughter are fully immersed in this small community, and he’s finding himself looking forward to each new day for the first time in a long time. Most of that is thanks to Sage and her no-nonsense way.

This is a beautiful story filled with sweet romance and new beginnings. Sage has worked through the problems she had throughout the years and has grown into a confident and compassionate adult. That helps her to hold her own when faced with Mason’s ornery side, she knows his bite comes from the pain and loss he has suffered. Yet she won’t let him bully her or make her feel less than when his walls fly back up. This attitude of hers helps to chip at those walls of Mason’s until there is a place for them to meet and agree and fall in love.

I honestly didn’t know I needed a book about Sage, Taryn, and Charlie until I read this story. I’m so glad the author decided to revisit Hope’s Crossing. It was a truly lovely story.

Their shine has dimmed.

But not gone out.
This book takes you on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Mason is tragically injured from a plane crash that made him a widower and left him in a wheelchair. Sage is the achietect, helping him rebuild his home (both physically and metaphorically).

There is a secondary couple, also with a targic backstory that is also riddled with guilt. Taryn and Charlie are forever linked by that night.

Recommend for a holiday in Wolf Ridge.

A poignant and heartwarming story, two great characters and a compelling novel.
I rooted for the characters and enjoyed the story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

All is Bright: A Christmas Romance by RaeAnne Thayne

RaeAnne Thayne gives her readers a chance for readers to return to Hope’s Crossing. We are able to look at their current lives during Christmas.

However, this story focuses on two different damaged couples who have been traumatized from two tragic accidents. Even though their women are madly in love with them, the two men do not believe they are worthy of happiness. The confusion and conflict that evolves from these contradictory emotions make for a fascinating story.

Mason Tucker was a well-known professional baseball star. Now he is confined to a wheelchair with an incomplete spinal cord injury after a plane crash that also killed his wife and unborn baby.

Sage is an architect who specializes in creating innovative universal designs that make life easier for people with mobility challenges. Mason has chosen her to reconstruct his new home so he can live there with his older daughter. Mason falls in love with Sage, and she returns the feeling. Unfortunately, Mason believes he is too damaged and flawed, both physically and emotionally, to be a good husband to any woman.

The other damaged couple is Taryn Thorne and Charlie Beaumont They grew up together and have always been best friends. However, when they are teenagers, Charlie, Taryn and her little sister, Layla, are drinking when Charlie decides to drive them home. Instead of going home, he causes a serious crash which kills Layla and seriously injures Taryn. He spends months in a juvenile detention center. And, Taryn spends many months in painful therapy. As a result of this, Charlie feels so guilty that he does not believe that he deserves to be happy.

This was a cute book that dealt with some pretty serious issues. I really enjoyed getting to know each character and how they dealt with the things life threw at them. I also really enjoyed seeing all the ways the relationships ended up working out. Overall a cute read, a little less Christmasy than I thought but the rawness of the stories was fantastic.