Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne
Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance
Publisher: Canary
Street Press
Publisher: 10.3.23
Pages: 315
Rating: 4 stars
Format: eARC
Source: Harlequin via
NetGalley
Sellers: Publisher
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Blurb:
Come home to Shelter Springs this
Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…
Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd
envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to
finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter
Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind
her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor.
On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her
two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday
season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs
into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…
Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s
just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s
carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still,
Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new
adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From
matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and
Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…
The Christmas feel-good vibes are high
and tucking into a comfy smalltown sweet holiday romance is responsible. Rae Anne Thayne is a superstar of holiday
books, but wouldn’t you know it, I’d never dipped my toe into the waters yet. Christmas at the Shelter Inn was a fine way
to acquire a taste for the author’s charming, with just the right sugar
romances.
The set-up is one I enjoy. Natalie Shepherd (don’t you just how her name
even as a holiday-esque connection—inn-shepherd-natal?)… anyway, our heroine
has been away from her home town and kept nomading away by her own issues with
abandonment, but a sister’s bedrest pregnancy causes a predicament and she has
to heed the call of family need. She is
there to run the retirement housing and look after her cute nieces. But, soon, she’s drawn back into reluctant
feelings for her brother’s bestie.
Meanwhile, small town doctor and all
around good guy Griff is eating his heart out about the return of Natalie and
stressing over a long-held guilt-ridden secret.
Even beyond his struggles, Natalie gives him an uphill battle toward
love. But, as we all know, its holiday
romance magic time and with festivities, snowy town setting, cute nieces and
Griffin’s gran, and sweets, this pair don’t stand a chance. I appreciated how the author gave emotional
depth to the romance with the need to deal with the past and grief and
reconnect as older people and with family.
In summary, I adored Christmas at the
Shelter Inn and it left me satisfied, but wishing I hadn’t waited to so long to
experience the author’s books. Do
yourself a Santa solid and snatch this one up with your comfy throw, a hot
cocoa, and curl up in your reading nook for some holiday cheer.
Author Bio:
I’m not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a
writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be
found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed
creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams
besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a
journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that
this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local
daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day
I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was
writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning
scientist.
Through it all — through the natural progression of my career from reporter
to editor — I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but
romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with
tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until
they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try —
their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in
1995 and now, more than 60 books later, I’ve come to love everything about
writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the
“that’s—it!” feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!)
amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger,
now I simply can’t imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers.
Website: https://www.raeannethayne.com/
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
I like her stories too. The characters are so well developed.
ReplyDeleteYeah, she hits you right in the heart. :)
DeleteI absolutely love RaeAnne's holiday stories
ReplyDeleteAnd, now I can see why. Wish I'd gotten to her books sooner. :)
DeleteI love her books.
ReplyDeleteSo much heart in them. :)
Delete