The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne is a holiday romance, set in Shelter Springs and features Amanda Taylor, Rafe, and Isaac. The story's focus is on second chances and recovering from past hurts. Extensive background information on past events and secondary characters distracted somewhat from flow of the story. A heartwarming and festive holiday read.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne is a holiday romance set in the charming town of Shelter Springs. The story revolves around Amanda Taylor, a soap shop owner who isn’t fond of Christmas but goes all out for her customers during the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. Her aversion to the holiday is challenged when her grandmother, Birdie, starts dating a new resident at the local retirement community, raising Amanda's suspicions. This is a touching novel about second chances and healing from past hurts. The engaging storytelling and well developed characters make this novel a perfect holiday escape.

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne is a sweet romance for the holiday season. Many of the characters from Christmas at the Shelter Inn are part of this novel and it is good to catch up with them. Amanda, the heroine, must overcome past trauma to fully enter into a romance with the hero, Rafe, who has his own past that haunts him. Rafe's charming son, Isaac, is a lovely addition to the mix. There is also a budding romance between Amanda's grandmother, Birdie, and Rafe's grandfather, both residents of the Shelter Inn. This adds another layer of complexity to the Amanda/Rafe relationship. The plot is nicely done and has some surprises and the characters are well-rounded. Strongly recommended for lovers of warm Christmas romance.

This book was really good. It was heartwarming and romantic. I loved the ending and I thought Issac was cute. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Taylor isn't a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, she can't ignore the holiday season. To distract herself from painful Christmas memories, Amanda dedicates herself to spreading cheer at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. However, trouble brews when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, begins dating a charming new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community. Amanda is suspicious, and fortunately, so is Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s suitor. Unfortunately, Rafe is just as fiery as his grandfather, and Amanda has no interest in getting burned.

Rafe, a single father, paramedic, and assistant fire chief, has plenty to juggle. While he and Amanda share a common goal of keeping their grandparents apart, he struggles with his growing attraction to her. She’s great with his young son and even helps ease the weight of his own painful past. As their paths continue to cross at the holiday market, it begins to feel like fate, making them both wonder if taking a chance on love could give them everything they've been wishing for.