Christmas at the Shelter Inn is an instant classic of Raeanne Thayne’s. Set in the small Idaho town of Shelter Springs (Haven Point’s neighbor), it creates a path for a new series in my opinion. Natalie has come home to help her sister McKenna through her bed rest. A digital nomad, Natalie has no intention of staying in Shelter Springs with all the painful memories. But then she spends more time with an old family friend which changes everything. Add to that all the new relationships she’s developed, and the wanderer might just decide to set down roots.

3.5 stars for this one! This story definitely had the making of a Hallmark movie. Natalie, a woman who traveled for work and never stayed in one place for long, needed to go back to her hometown to help her very pregnant sister. While back home, she runs into her brother's best friend Griffin, who she always harbored feelings for. In true romance fashion, of course feelings started to brew between the two of them! My one complaint was that it was just a little too much of a slow burn.

With lots of small town charm and tons of holiday traditions and fun, this was a good read. Throw in some loveable nieces, fun secondary characters, an adorable dog named Dash and even a Christmas snowstorm - you've got a book for your holiday TBR!

I don’t know if this was just the right book at the right time, but I loved it! Perfectly cozy and sweet with just the right amount of depth. Natalie Shepherd is back in her hometown to help her sister who was put on bedrest. She runs into an old friend she’s always had feelings for and also has to decide if she’s willing to forgive her father for his past. This is a story of grief, forgiveness and moving forward. It weirdly got me excited for the snow and it’s a perfect read for the holidays!

Sometimes, you just need a little comfort in your life; this book provides exactly that. I hadn't read a RaeAnne Thayne book in a while so jumped at the chance when this one was offered to me. I'm so glad I did. Reading Christmas at Shelter Inn was like returning to an old friend. Set in wintry Idaho, the Shelter Inn is where Natalie grew up. She's returning home to help her sister who is on bedrest with baby number three. Natalie is a confirmed Nomad but would do anything for her sister and nieces. On her first night back, she is rescued by Griffin Taylor when a storm runs her off the road. Griffin is the small town's doctor and an old friend of Natalie's brother.

Thayne brings all the comforts of love and family to this beautiful book. In Natalie and Griff's biological families and the found family at the Shelter Inn, we are reminded of what community and friendship can do for us. I loved how all the Inn and town members pulled together, whether it was to help one another in a crisis or to prepare for the town's holiday market. Natalie's nieces are adorable without being annoyingly so. There is character growth for both Natalie and Griff as they work to move beyond past hurts and take brave steps toward happy futures.

This book gave me all the cozy, warm feels throughout. It is the perfect read for the upcoming wintry season. Grab your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and snuggle up with the people of this delightful town. You won't be sorry you did.

love a good christmas romance set in a small town. was it predictable, yes. But sometimes we need that comfort in a book. great characters and storyline.

The h comes home to take care of her pregnant sister who is on bed rest. The h travels around the world house and pet sitting for people. The H is an old family friend who has come back home to be with his grandmother and open up a medical practice.
I received a arc copy from net galley

What a lovely, feel-good story. If this one doesn't put you in the holiday spirit, I don't know what will.

Thayne has once again assembled a cast of characters who drew me into their lives and their hearts with ease. They are intriguing, fully-developed characters with life experiences that give them complex layers, making them both realistic and relatable. I love the attention she gives in creating them, all of them, regardless of age or importance to the story. Actually, they are all important, just in varying degrees. That's another of Thayne's gifts; creating a community of characters who all contribute - in ways small and large - to the richness of the overall story.

There's plenty of humor in the journey - how could there not be with two adorable, rambunctious, high on holiday spirit little girls - but this is also a story with significant emotional depth. As in real life, it's rarely all one and none of the other. Thayne blends the two smoothly, eliciting both laughter and tears while guiding these characters through grief, guilt, forgiveness, growth, new beginnings, and love. It's a story that left me with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart. I'm eager to read it again.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review.

4.5⭐️s rounded up to 5

This book was so sweet!  I absolutely adored this heartwarming story of forgiveness and second chances. 

Natalie Shepherd grew up at the Shelter Inn in Shelter Springs, ID.  She was always jealous of the guests who came and went as they pleased.  Once she left for college, she vowed she'd never come back.  She left behind the tragedies that clouded her teen years.  When her sister McKenna, pregnant with her 3rd child, is having complications, Natalie gets on the 1st plane back to Shelter Springs.  The first person she runs into when she gets back is Griffin Taylor, her late brother's best friend.  Griffin has had tragedies of his own to overcome.  He moved back to Shelter Springs to show the town he's not his father.  Can Natalie stop running away from her past long enough to see what she's missing?

I absolutely love Christmas stories, and this one was so good!  It was entertaining and also choked me up with the heart-wrenching tragedies of the past.  Natalie and Griffin were great characters, but Natalie's neices Nora and Hazel, along with the seniors who live at the Shelter Inn, really were bright spots in the book. I also loved the setting! This would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie!  If you like Christmas books, I would highly recommend adding this to your TBR for December.

I love this book so much! And I haven’t had a five-star read in awhile so that says something, too! This is a heartwarming, small town holiday story that gave me all the emotions. It made me happy, it made me a bit sad, and it made me laugh here and there. My eyes were wet with tears towards the end and I love a book that can do that to me. Griffin and Natalie are my new favorite holiday couple! Natalie’s family and all the residents at the Shelter Inn are wonderful. And I love her two young nieces, Hazel and Nora, they are absolutely adorable!

This was the perfect feel good, cozy Christmas story. I loved everything about this story especially the characters. I felt connected to each character in their own way. This book was full of love, family, community, self discovery, and a touch of romance. This is the perfect holiday read!!

I was blessed with an advanced copy of CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN and it did not disappoint.

The low down:
+ brothers best friend
+ small town
+ meddling side characters
+ found family
+ adorable kiddos
+ difficult past (check TW!)
+ sweet romance

Synopsis: Natalie left her small town the moment she could and set her sights on a life of travel, bouncing around from spot to spot and never staying in one place. When her pregnant sister gets put on bed rest, she calls for help running the family inn and with her two rambunctious kiddos. Nat can’t say no. Upon her return to town Nat runs into Griffin, town doctor and her late brothers best friend. Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return and yet he can’t seem to stay away. Full of matchmaking seniors and crazy little nieces, life just got hectic for Natalie.

I loveeeeee a holiday romance. But what I love most is a holiday romance that doesn’t skimp on a bit of heartache before the HEA. This is it! This book deals with grief and guilt and forgiveness. The seniors and kids bring levity and warm your hearts while Nat and Griff are working through their STUFF. Speaking of Griff, talk about a topnotch book boyfriend. 🥰

I really loved this book and now I watch to check out the backlist for this new to me author!

Thank you @uplightreads and @raeannethayne for the ARC of this book 🫶🏼❤️

I loved my time in Shelter Springs with this book. From the very first scene I liked Natalies character and was hooked on reading more about this story. Natalie's nieces, her sister, the elderly that live in the Shelter Inn all bring fun personalities to this book. Griffin's character is also perfect for this story, gotta love a small town doctor! This is a feel good holiday romance that I recommend adding to your Nov/Dec TBR. Thank you to Uplit reads for letting me join your campaign for this book and Netgalley for the e-arc!

This is the complicated story of a dysfunctional family who has been estranged from each other for many years.

Natalie Shepherd, her sister, McKenna and her brother, Jake, grew up in the Shelter Inn Hotel with their mother and father. When Natalie’s mother dies of cancer, her father chooses to move to Alaska so he can recover from her death by himself. He leaves his children to live with their aunt. Natalie’s father never returns from Alaska. Natalie, McKenna and Jake, who were already depressed from the loss of their mother, now realize that they have also lost their father.

Jake’s response to his mother’s death and his father’s abandon is even worse. He begins to drink a lot, takes unbelievable risks and becomes wild and dispassionate. Jack’s wild life eventually kills him. When Natalie tries to contact her father, he never returns her call. After she finishes planning her brother’s funeral, Natalie never forgives him, and she never sees him or speaks to him again.

Soon after that, the Shelter Inn is converted into apartments for seniors who are still independent but can’t live alone anymore. It is a group of people who eventually become close friends who work together, help each other, and keep each other from being lonely.

When Natalie is old enough, she makes a decision. Since she lived through “the trifecta of pain” with her family, without ever taking a vacation, she plans to spend the rest of her life traveling.

In fact, Natalie never returns home – until now when her sister calls her home. McKenna badly needs her sister’s help. McKenna has two young girls, and, now, after two miscarriages, she is very close to giving birth to her first son. However, her doctor wants her to stay in bed and do nothing. She needs Natalie’s help to take care of her nieces, and Natalie does not have the heart to say no.

During this time, Natalie gets a chance to reunite with her brother’s best friend, Griffin. He has his own problems and guilt feeling, but the two of them become quick friends are able to support and help each other during difficult time.

Natalie’s return home also gives her the, chance to become close to McKenna again, build new bonds with her nieces, and to reunite with old friends that she hasn’t seen in years. She also finally gets a chance to reconnect with her father when he returns home for Christmas.

By the end of the book, RaeAnne Thayne has created a heartwarming, uplifting and loving story about a group of people who have learned that everyone has problems – they just may not be aware of theirs yet.

An incredibly sweet second chance romance among a cozy holiday setting. This was the best book to curl up with next to the fireplace on our chilly days in northern WI. I want to put my tree up and string some lights!

Shelter Springs is the type of place you immerse yourself into and don't want to leave. This was a heartwarming story perfect for the holidays. It is about grief, secrets, family, and new ventures. Put this one on your list for the holidays!

This was such an adorable read, from the minute I started it I was transported to Shelter Springs and I kind of never wanted to leave. Natalie is home to help her sister with her kids while she’s on bedrest and while she loves her family, she’s in town begrudgingly. Griffin was her brother’s best friend and when he tragically passed away they didn’t stay in touch. I enjoyed that while this was wholesome and sweet both Natalie and Griffin had some darkness in their pasts they had to overcome before they could find their way to each other. The senior residents of the Shelter Inn were a crack up and I loved the little community they forged together. Add inn Hazel and Nora, Natalie’s super cute nieces and this was beyond cozy and fun. If you want a feel good holiday read this is such a good choice.

Expect two little elves who prance through the story being typical young children but who add bounce and attitude to the holiday season.
Natalie has been in the go for years and shudders at spending more time than necessary at her former Idaho home. But she may need to rethink her future plans with a new diagnosis after running into hunky Dr. jingle. The reason for the name is sweet.
It’s a heartwarming classic Thayne novel. The one thing I disagreed with was giving Stephen a second chance. What he did was unforgivable no matter the cause. I also didn’t like he and Liz’s story angle.

CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN – RaeAnne Thayne
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-00513-7
October 10, 2023
Contemporary Romance

Shelter Springs, Idaho – Present Day

Natalie Shepherd grew up in the Shelter Inn hotel, but the memories are anything but good. Her mother passed away when she was young, leaving behind Natalie, her sister McKenna, and their brother Jake. Shortly after their mother’s passing, their father left town, and the siblings grew up being cared for by family members. Sadly, Jake passed away as a young man. As an adult, the last thing Natalie wants is to live in Shelter Springs and has chosen to travel the world as a house sitter. But McKenna, who is married with two young daughters, asks Natalie to come home and help her as she is on bedrest due to a pregnancy.

On her way to Shelter Springs in a snowstorm, Natalie has an accident. A man stops to help her, and she recognizes him as Jake’s best friend Griffin Taylor. The former Shelter Inn hotel is now an apartment complex where many people, mostly elderly, now reside. This is where McKenna and her family live. Griffin takes Natalie to Shelter Inn, and it turns out that his aunt lives there too. They soon run into each other several times. Or are they being thrown together by those around them in hopes of falling in love? Griffin is a doctor in Shelter Springs and his home is here, while Natalie has no intention of ever living again in this town.

There are a lot of emotions running high in CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN. Natalie has pretty much stayed away from Shelter Springs because it holds unhappy memories for her. First, her mother died from cancer, and then her father skipped town rather than take care of his children. Finally, Jake’s death in an avalanche added to her pain. She vowed to travel the world and when it is time to settle down, it will be anywhere but in Idaho. But now McKenna needs her because a difficult pregnancy has forced her sister to take bed rest. McKenna’s husband is busy working and Aunt Liz recently had leg surgery and can’t take care of the kids. Against her better judgment, Natalie agrees to come, knowing that it could be weeks before she can leave.

Natalie learns soon after arriving that McKenna has been in touch with their father. Natalie is still angry at him for leaving their family when he should have been their emotional support. Meanwhile, she jumps into taking care of the kids, which means she is meeting people she once knew. Of course, she is also running into Griffin, and becoming more aware of him as a man. He thinks that she should hate him because he was with Jake when he died. Yet, there is no denying that he is beginning to have feelings for her, even though she has made it clear that she will be leaving Shelter Springs once her sister has the baby.

Readers will feel the angst and love between the characters. Natalie has chosen to “run away” than stay in a town that only has bad memories for her. McKenna is experiencing worry about the baby she is carrying after the last two pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Griffin was once married and had a baby who only lasted a couple of hours after birth. Then Natalie’s father comes to town. All the painful things he did when he left still lingers with her. Can Natalie resolve her feelings for her father? Can she accept that she is falling in love with Griffin? More importantly, will she even give a chance for them to have a future together, even if it means giving up her dreams of traveling?

A tender, emotional tale set around Christmas, don’t miss CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Putting her globetrotting job on hold, Natalie Shepherd comes home to Shelter Springs to watch her two nieces as her pregnant sister is confined to her bed awaiting her third child.

What a charming setting in having Shelter Inn function as a assisted living home - as her nieces, Nora and Hazel, have plenty of fill-in grandparents - such warmth and love in that.

Natalie has a lot to face - the death of her mom and brother, the abandonment of her father, her father's new relationship, the end of friendships - in addition to supporting her sister, watching her high energy and competitive nieces and wondering why her brother-in-law is rarely at home - using work as his excuse.

She arrives in town and needs the assistance of handsome Dr. Griffin Taylor, another part of her past. However, there is a spark or two which offers the sweet romance for this Christmas story.

Cute story with all we hope for in a Christmas romance.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, RaeAnne Thayne and NetGalley for this ARC.

I always look forward to any book from RaeAnne Thayne but in particular I look forward to her holiday books. This book is an amazing story! I am hoping it will be the start of a new series! The story has all of the emotions that you expect in a holiday book, forgiveness, empathy, love and many more. The characters are realistic, not perfect and flawed in some ways. This is a holiday read that will help your hot chocolate taste better or your fireplace burn brighter as you enjoy reading it.