I enjoyed this Christmas romance set around a small town Christmas market. The two main characters have loved and lost and are not looking for romance. Their shifts at the holiday market and Rafe son, Isaac, keeps them in almost constant contact. Isaac is adorable and is a highlight of the story. Good read that gets you in the holiday spirit!

OHHH MY CHRISTMAS LOVING HEART!!!

Grab a cup of hot cocoa and cozy up with The December Market, a heartwarming, magical, snow falling, small town, clean Christmas romance that is swoon worthy! It’s full of hope, forgiveness, emotional family drama, second chances and Christmas cheer. But it’s also about finding the strength to overcome the struggles and traumas of the past and the impact of their ripple effects.

I read Christmas at Shelter Inn, the first book in the series, in preparation of book two, The December Market. In The December Market, the FMC, Amanda, is a strong small business owner and in charge of the town’s annual Christmas Market. The MMC, Rafe, a fireman/paramedic and a single dad of the cutest, most thoughtful and lovable 6 y/o little boy. I don’t think you necessarily have to read book 1 first but it was helpful to know the backstory of some of the side characters. I have truly fallen head over heels for the diverse, multigenerational cast of characters in the Shelter Springs series and am so sad my time with them has come to an end.

I’m a new reader of RaeAnne Thaynes. I read 15 Summers Later in June and now this series and have really enjoyed all 3. I’ll definitely be looking at her backlist and adding more to my TBR. Thaynes did an incredible job creating lovable characters, an intriguing plot, and describing every detail of the Christmas Market. Visiting a European style Christmas Market is on my bucket list, so I thoroughly enjoyed every minute! The cover is absolutely stunning and makes me wish I were standing next to that gorgeous tree with a cup of hot cocoa while shopping the market!

This book would make a fantastic Hallmark movie! It's sure to put even a curmudgeon in the holiday spirit!

Thank you to @netgalley, @htp_hive, @canarystreetpress, @htpbooks, and @RaeAnneThayne for the #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of The December Market.

Amanda loves her little town and she always goes above and beyond to try to help the other residents with whatever she can. She loves her grandma Birdie and while she was visiting her she runs into Rafe and his son Isaac. Amanda has always felt nervous around Rafe but has never known why. She has been through too much heartbreak to put herself in that situation again. But they keep ending up around each other and it gets harder for her to push her feelings aside. Can she finally let go of her past?

I could not resonate with the characters-the main character Amanda drove me crazy with her constantly second guessing herself. This book has a lot of fluff and slow parts that could have been taken out of the book without losing the story. It was just a boring read.

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.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC!

I really enjoyed this. It was like a Hallmark movie in a book. I adore books based around Christmas. The characters were so lovable, and the two mains had incredible chemistry. This was a nice palate cleanser to my normal reads, as it was an oh so sweet, but clean romance. Isaac was also super cute, and made a nice addition to the story. I don’t find books where I like all the characters often, but this one was pleasantly surprised to find that I did like them all. The only thing I disliked about the book was that there really wasn’t a ton going on, but that book is not that long anyway, but I liked to see the two characters fall in love with each other, without even really knowing.
Overall, it was a nice, sweet read and I enjoyed it.

This was my first holiday book of the year and I enjoyed this one! I absolutely love the single dad trope and he falls first so this was a super quick read. I do wish the epilogue would’ve been a tad longer but other than that it was the perfect Christmas book to get in the spirit.

**Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for an ARC copy of this book, make sure to snag your copy Tuesday**

The h and the H live in the same town. He is a firefighter/paramedic who injures his arm hanging Christmas lights for two older shopkeepers. She owns a gift shop and is in charge of the yearly Christmas market. She lives a couple of houses away from the H and his son. His wife died of an overdose. Her father was the town doctor, a drunk, who killed the H’s cousin in a drunk driving accident. She tries to resist him and his young son, but she is irresistibly drawn to them. Also her grandma begins to date his grandfather.
I received an ARC from net galley

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.

Amanda was dealing with what her father had did several years ago. She threw herself in keeping busy and helping everyone out. She was in charge of Shelter Springs December Market each year. Rafe was her brother’s best friend and she really liked him but didn’t want to be in a relationship and Rafe didn’t neither. Rafe was raising his son Isaac and he had really became attached to Amanda. Birdie is Amanda’s grandmother and she maybe in a relationship as well. This is such a love story and some heartbreaking things that two young people need to come to terms with. Heartwarming story and makes you feel good.

I received this ARC from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A story as sweet as the cover on the book. Amanda Taylor and Rafe Arredondo both grew up in the same small town a few years apart. Their lives have both been touched by tragedy. He is now a single father to a five year old son and an EMT firefighter. She runs her own shop and is also in charge of the annual Holiday Giving Market. Their paths keep crossing as he buys a house very near hers and then they find that her grandmother and his grandfather have become a couple at their retirement home.

This is a story that could be a Hallmark movie, complete with a child asking Santa for a mom for Christmas. There is no big angst other than letting go of the past. If you like heartwarming, kissing only, family centered stories this works. My feelings didn’t attach to the characters but I enjoyed reading the story. (3.5 Stars)

The December Market is an emotional roller coaster. I cried more than once. Amanda and Rafe both have histories that are difficult. There is a wealth of pain in the past.
Amanda does so much good in town and feels like it isn’t enough. She takes on so much to make the December Market happen and keep her own business thriving.
Rafe is a caring hero. He is a firefighter and a paramedic. He breaks his arm early on helping an older lady.
I suppose there are more books for this setting either before this book or coming in the future because there are a lot of stories here.
I enjoyed reading The December Market. Prepare to have your heart strings tugged.
This is a clean holiday romance with some kisses.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to preview this book.

THE DECEMBER MARKET – RaeAnne Thayne
Shelter Springs, Book 2
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-92935-8
October 2024
Contemporary Romance

Shelter Springs, Idaho – Present Day

Christmas isn’t a happy time for shop owner Amanda Taylor even though it’s her busiest time. She instead focuses on the Shelter Springs annual Christmas bazaar which she is in charge of. When her beloved grandmother Birdie starts dating one of her neighbors at the senior apartments where she lives, Amanda grows concerned because the man is related to a family that has reason to hate the Taylor family. It turns out that the man’s grandson, Rafe Arredondo, is also dubious about the elderly couple’s relationship. Amanda has always tried to avoid Rafe but now he seems to be everywhere. He is a firefighter and a single father of a little boy, Isaac, whom Amanda can’t help but be nice to. After Rafe is injured during a rescue of one of the townspeople, Amanda steps in to help him out as a thank-you gesture. They will soon be spending time together, especially since they are neighbors. Is a romance blooming between Amanda and Rafe?

THE DECEMBER MARKET is a sweet and emotional tale that will tug the hearts of readers when they realize how hard Amanda and Rafe have had. Her father was an awful man who drank too much and then was a drunk driver who killed several people, including Rafe’s cousin. Rafe has a loving and supportive family, but his ex-wife got involved in drugs and eventually abandoned her son. She is now deceased, and their son misses having a mother. With Amanda spending so much time with Rafe and Isaac, it’s no wonder that the little boy sees a potential mother in her. However, she is reticent about getting involved in any relationship because of the losses in her life. Her father’s inglorious death, her mother leaving town, and then there is the death of Amanda’s fiancé. He drank too much and died during a skiing accident. It’s no wonder she feels like she is bad luck when it comes to loving someone. Luckily, she has the support of her brother, his fiancée (and Amanda’s best friend, as well as her grandmother and all of her other friends. But should she dare take a chance to love Rafe?

There are a multitude of other characters in THE DECEMBER MARKET that will draw a couple of comments from me. Grandma Birdie is an adorable older lady who loves her grandchildren and everyone around her unconditionally. Readers will wonder how the romance with Rafe’s grandfather goes. Amanda’s brother and fiancée return after spending time overseas. It’s Christmas, and while Amanda is happy for them, she has missed them. The town is one of those where everyone knows each other and is willing to pitch in and help. This tale will give you all the good vibrations we need in life. But at the center of the tale is the slow-building love between Amanda and Rafe. There aren’t any sexy hot scenes but if you love a sweet romance, then this is the one for you.

Christmas is around the corner and neither Amanda nor Rafe expected love to hit them. But once it does, readers will be rooting for them. If you love a feel-good Christmas holiday romance, then don’t miss THE DECEMBER MARKET.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

This was a lovely book that actually got me ready for Christmas. I enjoyed the writing, plot, and the characters! Would love to read more from this author!

I’ve read many of RaeAnne Thayne’s books, so I knew to expect a heartwarming, clean romance with nothing more spicy than some lingering kisses. After reading her 2023 Christmas book, Christmas at the Shelter Inn, I also had the backstory for Amanda Taylor, this book’s female protagonist whose brother Griffin was that book’s male protagonist. So, I guess knowing about the tragic events that led to both of their trauma and hesitancy to trust in love made this book’s rehashing of it rather boring, to be honest. I’ve never been a big fan of the trope where one or both of a couple resist falling in love because they feel unworthy or guilty for something that they had no part in. In Amanda’s case, her late alcoholic father caused their small Idaho community immeasurable pain, and she’s taken on the guilt for it although she was just a child when it happened. She also lost someone she loved as a teen and spent the following 13 years fearful of letting love in again despite the fact she had always dreamt of being a mother with a loving husband. So, what does she do when the handsome firefighter & paramedic Rafe Arredondo provokes feelings that she seems powerless to resist?

Overall, I just couldn’t get into this story. It’s mostly set in a Christmas Market where not much happens and is an instalove type of romance that happens over a 3-week period in which Amanda is hiding from Rafe as much as possible, and, when in his presence, is throwing out incredibly mixed signals. I really felt badly for the poor guy. If you’re looking for a low stake, small town Hallmark type story, you should find this one satisfying. I just felt like I’d heard it all before.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Canary Street Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I always look forward to Ms. Thayer’s holiday release as they give all the warm and fuzzy feelings while surrounding you with all the love. Rafe is a firefighter and as a single dad he is doing the best he can. Amanda has experienced loss that makes it hard to celebrate but Issac reminds her that she is important. There is magic around them and the love is there to make you swoon and cheer as they find that sometimes it takes a special person to allow your heart to open to them.

Redhot Rafe immediately caught my attention as a paramedic and a firefighter….yummy!
I adored little motor mouth precious Isaac who is a like a steno pad and tells all, except what he really wants for Christmas.
Amanda is still trying to make up for all the her father’s past sins.
The market place sizzles and simmers with both Rafe and Amanda manning different booths. Can their hungry eyes find satiation?
No one writes seasonal magic like Thayne!

The December Market is a heartwarming and delightful holiday read that captures the magic of the season. RaeAnne Thayne beautifully weaves together themes of love, community, and second chances in a small-town setting that feels like home. The characters are relatable and endearing, and the story is full of festive charm and feel-good moments. It’s the perfect cozy escape for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit with a sweet, uplifting tale. A must-read for fans of Christmas romances!

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne beautifully captures the magic of Christmas and the importance of family. Amanda Taylor dedicates her energy to helping others and running her soap shop. Despite experiencing loss, she remains committed to supporting those around her, including Rafe. Rafe, a charming single father who has also faced his own share of hardships, is hesitant to open his heart again. However, as they spend time together at The December Market and with Rafe's son, a budding romance begins to blossom. Their journey towards healing and embracing love is depicted in a beautifully written manner. This heartwarming holiday tale will reignite your belief in love and the spirit of the season.

There is nothing better than a well written small town Christmas story to warm your heart. The story is set in a small town in Idaho where everyone knows each other. Pay close attention so you don’t lose track of all the characters and the important role they play in the story. Rafe is a hot firefighter single dad with a son that will melt your heart. Amanda is the queen of organizing and giving to other people while neglecting herself. It is truly an emotional and inspirational story that ends in happiness.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Sweet Romance, Christmas Romance
Spice Level: Kissing. A few innuendos.
Representation: Rafe and his family are Latino

Think Hallmark Christmas Romance, and then you're in the ballpark for the vibe of THE DECEMBER MARKET.

Amanda and Rafe are both great characters. I like how they've both gone through similar trauma that formed their attitudes now. When Rafe talks to his mom, I was so touched. Amanda and her relationship with Birdie, her grandmother, is so tender. I also enjoyed the side characters.

Who will love this book:
- Christmas lovers
- Sweet romance readers
- Anyone who identify with substance abuse and recovering addicts
- Christian Fiction readers
- Small-town romance lovers
- Blue-collar romance
- Small business owner romance

Enjoy this book with a cup of cocoa or a nice Latino meal.
Happy reading!