The December Market is an excellent holiday read with beloved characters from her previous novel. That being said it could be read as a.standalone if the reader hasn’t enjoyed the precious book. Back to the Shelter Inn where changes have occurred but love remains and continues. A joyful time for both young and older, the December market is about relationships, old and new during the beloved season of Christmas. Five stars to Ms. Thayne for bringing us back to a place we would all love to live.

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!

This was such a cute story about giving love another chance. In a Christmas setting always gets me! There are good vibes before I even begin. The cast of characters was well thought out and put together and had me falling in love with each of them. This is such a feel-good read, so if that's what you're looking for, you better grab this one up! Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC of this book!

RaeAnne Thayne always writes the stories that blend heart, hope, loss, grief and small town history in the best of ways. This story was sad at times but hopeful too. Of course there is the small town drama where everyone's in everyone else's business and grudges are held against whole families for the actions of one member but at the same time the people all come together as a community to help when it really counts.
Amanda is overcompensating in her service to the community to make up for the sins of her father. Her romantic history isn't great, so she keeps her heart locked up and puts her focus on her soap shop and her grandmother living in a retirement community.
Rafe is focused on raising his son after his wife left them and subsequently passed away. He's the assistant firechief & paramedic for Shelter Springs and stubborn as all get out. When he's injured during a roof rescue and put on leave from work he is NOT happy. He's not someone who can just sit around and not contribute so when he's tasked with covering the paramedic tent at the town's December market, he jumps at the chance. Even if it means constantly running into his new, attractive neighbor, Amanda, who was the first person to stop by his house with meals for him and his son.
Amanda tried to avoid welcoming Rafe to the neighborhood when he first moved in because he's the last person she can be attracted to because of the history between their families but when he's injured she can't not do the neighborly thing and bring him food and offer any assistance he might need to aid in his healing. Seeing him everyday at the market is not going to help her avoid this attraction she's tried to ignore. When she discovers that her grandmother and his grandfather are dating, it only complicates everything further.
Rafe and Amanda keep ending up in each other's spaces and a friendship is quickly formed but the attraction between them grows too. Will Amanda be able to open herself up to love and accept that she isn't responsible for her father's mistakes? Will Rafe let himself love again at the risk of being walked away from...again?
If you enjoy a sweet, well-written, low-angst, small town romance in a Christmas season setting, this is one you.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

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.

You will fall in love with all the characters in Shelter Springs- Amanda, Rafe, Isaac, Birdie and more. This book will get you in the Christmas spirit. It is all about community, friendship, and falling in love. It’s a feel good book that you will not want to miss. I wish every town had a December Market.

RaeAnne Thayne is always one of my favorites for a sentimental holiday romance and this did not disappoint. I’ve already recommended it to a few library patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this cozy Holiday romance. RaeAnne Thayne is a fabulous romance writer -- and I especially LOVE to read her Christmas/Holiday novels. If you enjoy series' like Virgin River, I would recommend this book!

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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I will have to admit that it took me halfway through this book to remember how familiar some things sounded and I read the first book last year. I just knew I enjoyed the author when I requested from NetGalley. This book is not an exception and continued my enjoyment in RaeAnne Thayne's books. It had the right amount Christmas cheer, hot cocoas, adorable kids with the sweetest Christmas wishes to Santa. I'm all in if she decides to do a book 3 in the series and continue our journey in this sweet small town.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

This book will have you hooked from the very beginning. From her rough past and why she isn't a fan of Christmas to enjoying it. Would 1000% recommend to anyone looking for a great Christmas book.

They both are packing baggage...

Amanda is packing some baggage around from the addicts in her life and she's been burned more than once. Not sure why she doesn't want her grandmother to have a new beau, but its just a construct to get her and Rafe, the grandson of her grandmother's new beau. Rafe is certainly packing around his own baggage...single father, paramedic, lot's on his plate.
Recommend.

A heartwarming Christmas love story that will put you in the holiday spirit from the very first page!

Amanda has had a few difficult Christmas’ so it isn’t her favorite holiday, but she owns a local soap/gift store and runs the towns Holiday Market so she has to be somewhat cheery. Her grandmother, Birdie, lives in a retirement community and has started dating a new resident there who happens to be the grandfather of Rafe Arredondo. Safe is interested in Amanda and his son is equally as in love with Amanda. They keep getting thrown together this holiday season and they both start to wonder if they could make something work between the two of them.

I love a small town, Christmas romance and this was perfect to get me in the holiday spirit. It is a clean romance and Rafe’s son, Issac, brings a sweet innocence to this story. Amanda has been through so much with her dad being an addict and her previous fiancé becoming as addict as well, that she deserves some happiness in her life. Rafe is in a similar boat with his ex leaving him and overdosing so these two are truly perfect for each other.

Amanda has a hard time with Christmas. It brings back some painful memories. But thanks to her grandmother, she has family to be with during Christmas. And she is the owner of the local soap shop and the director of the Christmas market, so Christmas cannot be ignored. When Amanda realizes her grandmother has a suitor, she is not happy.

Enter Rafe. Rafe is a single father and paramedic. His grandfather is the one that is squiring Amanda’s grandmother around. And he totally disagrees with trying to keep them apart.

It is nice when you have characters that you admire. I admire Amanda and Rafe. Amanda is such a hard worker and then there is Rafe who is a great dad. And believe me, when these two get together, sparks fly in more ways than one.

This is a wonderful tale to get you into the Christmas spirit. I enjoyed all Christmassy stuff and the family drama. And of course the happy ending!

Need a Christmas tale with a side of romance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

A sweet Christmas romance after heartbreak for our main characters Amanda and Rafe. I don't think I would have come through the trauma they both went through in their lives with such grace and positivity. Amanda is admittedly constantly trying to go above and beyond for their entire community, including running the December Market. An annual market where locals can sell their wares and support a good cause in the process. Rafe is one of two paramedics in their small community and is always happy to help a person in need.
These two tried hard to resist the pull, but when fate throws them together at the market, they give into the inevitable. The romance was light with a few steamy kisses, the supporting cast was wonderful and helped to build the story nicely.
I enjoyed this one. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This book foucuses on a small town .. Love the close net feel .. How the whole town works together to help one another.. With a budding romance developing with every page that turns… Leaving the reader to wonder will or won’’t they connect..Will love preview the second time around …? Great read with the Holidays approaching !!!Will definitely seek out more book by this author…

‘Tis the Season! I look forward annually to visiting Shelter Springs, the village featured in RaeAnne Thayne’s The December Market, and its many good townspeople to whom Thayne has introduced us through the years. This year’s novel centers around a holiday market, and is festive and snowy and otherwise offers all the merry feels of the season, together with romance between likable characters. This book is in some senses much like others in this series. But just like watching Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas movies, for me at least, that very familiarity enhances the tale’s appeal.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

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

I’m ready for hot cocoa, cozy blankets, and holiday gift shopping after reading this novel. It’s the quintessential holiday story, full of romance, friends and family, and a little dash of that extra holiday magic in which two characters who’ve sworn off of love fall for each other with the assistance of a cute kid.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good, Hallmark Christmas Movie in book form.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.