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!

I read this as an ARC on Netgalley. This was a fantastic Christmas read. It had everything I was looking for and more. Family connections, past conflict, love in unexpected places. And all the Christmas!

A sweet small town Christmas romance. Amanda and Rafe both have darkness in their back story that keeps them from enjoying the season but his son Isaac, well, he deserves a good holiday. And, these two have a common goal of keeping their grandparents sort of apart. It's a slow burn one that will n o doubt remind you of a Hallmark movie but which will also make you smile. Thanks to the publiher fo the ARC. Good characters and storytelling mean a good read.

I was hooked from the moment Amanda met young Isaac after a mishap with a radio controlled sports car and five bags of groceries. After working all day, shopping for grocieries for Thanksgiving, the last thing she needed was to find herself reaching for the hand of Isaac's father, one handsome Rafe Arrendondo. She was just walking down the halls to her grandmother Birdie's apartment at the Shelter Inn retirement community minding her own business, after all!

In the coming days she finds herself faced with the handsome assistant fire chief as if that one encounter was meant to keep them in mind of each other. Both Amanda and Rafe have had past hurts and are definitely ready for nothing more than a passing friendship, at the very least. Fate, however, had other ideas.

Amanda has dealt with her painful past by pouring herself into every civic volunteer role possible. This year, once again, she is managing the Giving Market and pulling together a large community event in addition to running her own successful business. Rafe, after an on the job injury, is manning the first aid booth and observing the beautiful Amanda. Isaac has his own designs on Amanda and isn't the least bit shy about wanting to spend time with her. He seeks as many ways for his father to spend time with them. As Amanda warms up to Issac and Rafe, she is alarmed that her grandmother has found romance with Rafe's grandfather. The conflicting emotions she has for Rafe and his son, and observing the budidng relationship with the grandparents, she struggles to deal with the situations. It is only when something happens to threaten Birdie's new happiness that Amanda realizes the true meaning of love.

I was touched by this story of love, forgiveness and second chances. Set in the Christmas season makes it all the more magical. After all, how many times have wee heard that miracles do come true at Christmas? I recommend this book for those who enjoy snuggling with a good book, warm afghan and cup of hot tea.

This was another lovely book set in a nice location. It’s nice to return to Shelter Springs for the holiday season.
It’s easy to read with some nice romance and characters. Love the cover too!

The December Market
RaeAnne Thayne
December 08, 2024

In Shelter Springs we find Amanda Taylor up to her eyes in things to accomplish for her store, the local soap shop, The Lucky Goat. Soon the Holiday Giving Market would be opening with Christmas to follow. She had just picked up her Abuela’s groceries from the grocery. Birdie wanted to start Thanksgiving baking. In the process of bringing all the bags into her little apartment in the Shelter Inn, the retirement community, she slipped on something. All of the bags fell. One or two ripped, allowing items to smash against the floor and Amanda’s leg. Birdie’s neighbor’s grandson, Isaac, was playing with his car on the floor. In the process, Amanda had slipped on the toy. In came his abuelo, then followed by his father, Rafe. Both men apologized and worked to clean up fruits, veggies, and the flour bag that had torn. Isaac was embarrassed that he had created such a scene.
After the situation ended and introductions were made, Amanda realized that Rafe and his son were the latest to have moved into her neighborhood where she lived in Rose Cottage.
The December Market will be published on October 08, 2024 by Canary Street Press. I was able to read and review Thayne’s latest holiday edition of her Shelter Springs series via NetGalley. It was a delightful escapade of festival preparation and family gatherings. We find Birdie and Paolo, (Rafe’s widowed father) enjoying each other's company. This was too much for Amanda. We find her worrying and spending time with Rafe. Neither he nor she felt they were compatible. Rafe had only one love in his life at this point and that was Isaac. Amanda wanted the best for her abuela as well as keeping the Holiday Market rolling with products for their patrons. It’s another fun tale of Hispanic families and friends, a very pleasant read. Do Enjoy!

RaeAnne Thayne perfectly captures the magic of Christmas, and the importace of family in The December Market. Amanda Taylor focuses her energy in helping others, and her soap shop. She has had her fair share of loss, but continues to show up for others, including Rafe. Charming Rafe is a single father, and has had his share of loss as well. They are both set on protecting their hearts, but find themselves with a budding romance when they spent plenty of time together at the hands of The December Market and Rafe's son. Their journal toward healing and opening their hearts up to love is beautifully written. This was a heartwarming holiday read that will make you believe in love and the spirit of the season!

Instagram post will be live 04-Oct-2024.

You know how every season you get those sweet romance Christmas movies - and then you get a family drama with real adult situations and Christmas mixed in? This book is the “The Family Stone” Christmas book version. Not overly cute and happy, it has real life problems, addiction, grief and love. It’s kinda of depressing and sad but it’s realistic… and most importantly, it obviously has a happy ending. I hate to spoil the ending but - it’s a Christmas book, why wouldn’t it?… it better!
Thank you NetGalley & Canary Street Press for the ARC

RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful author who knows how to write that sweet, holiday romance that really brings the joy

Oh how I love a Christmas book by RaeAnne Thayne and this book lived up to all of my expectations. The characters in this story are marvellous and the emotional ups and downs in this book hold you captive from the first page to the final page. If you are looking for a wonderful holiday read then don’t hesitate to pick this book up. You will not be disappointed!

RaeAnne Thayne has done it again! This is a wonderful Shelter Springs Christmas love story that kicks your heart into high gear by a 6 year old boy and a handsome fireman who both seem to fall in love with the same woman! Perfect Christmas read. Thanks, NetGalley and RaeAnne Thayne for access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!

RaeAnne Thayne has once again written a beautiful story. This one centers around a Holiday market in the small town of Shelter Springs with Amanda Taylor and Rafael "Rafe" Arredondo as the main characters. Theirs is a strange past; with him being a few years ahead of her in school. She comes from an insecure and volatile family life background, whereas his is one of love and support. They meet awkwardly, when she takes a spill with some grocery bags while bringing food to her beloved grandmother, Birdie, in a retirement community called Shelter Inn. Amanda has her own store in town and Rafe is a firefighter and paramedic.

Amanda feels unworthy or maybe unlovable, due to circumstances out of her control? She feels that love with a partner and family just aren't "in the cards" for her. She has suffered too much heartache and is scared to venture into those waters again. Similarly, Rafe has also had a troubled home life and is raising his 6 year-old son as a single parent.

Can these two find their way to each other and beat the ghosts back enough to maybe find love again?

This is a wonderful story full of sadness and hope, love and forgiveness, and the true meaning of Christmas.

What a fabulous story filled with the magic of Christmas! Amanda Taylor is shop owner, committee member, and chair of the holiday market. Christmas has always been hard for her, due to several traumatic experiences in her past. This year she’s extra feeling lonely as her brother and best friend come home engaged and she starts to feel like everyone else is moving on with life without her. Rafe is a hunky firefighter and paramedic single dad who lives down the street from Amanda. Both of them have avoided each other in the past, since they have some shared painful connections from the past. However, this holiday season they keep running into each other, and being forced into close proximity. Both of them will need to figure out if they are ready to take a chance on love, or if their painful pasts are just too hard to move on from. Another wonderful story by RaeAnne Thayne. Trigger warning for those who have grown up with substance abuse, or had partners with substance abuse.

Christmas months are just around the corner, and as one would prepare for the holiday season, Ms. Thayne has created a sweet Christmas romance you won't want to miss!

Amanda Taylor has had a childhood of trauma of an alcoholic father, a mother. that didn't really help her children deal with that kind of upbringing as well as losing a fiancé. Rafe, a single dad to the adorable Isaac, lost his wife and mother to their son to drug overdose/addiction as well. The holidays are usually hard for both, and being open to love has been a journey. In this story, you are taken through their journey of forgiveness and building strength to persevere through trials but also an understanding that not all people and relationships will be like previous ones.

I enjoyed the journey of Amanda and Rafe's relationship. It was a bit of a slow burn as their friendship developed into something more. I liked Amanda but I didn't like the unhappiness that she conveyed about her grandma finding a companion at her older age but I guess a bit of her bitterness carried into how she viewed others finding love and romance. It took Rafe's patience and understanding (as well as Isaac's sweetness) to peel back her layers and to open herself up to love again. I admired Rafe, not just for his good looks but for how he conducted himself as a single father and always putting his son's needs before his own. He is such a great dad. And sweet Birdie, Amanda's grandma, I loved everything about her! She was a wonderful side character in this story. I loved the idea of this Christmas market and all the vendors. I can only imagine how this market looked, and I would LOVE to come across and visit a place like this.

Clean kisses only romance and mild language used a handful of times in this slow burn Christmas romance. Trigger warnings - both of our main characters had dealing with loved ones that suffered from substance abuse that have unfortunately costed their life.