Tag Archives: Contemporary Woman

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne – a Review

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The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne – a Review

 

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Description:
The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…

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.

 

 

Review:

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne is a sweet romantic Christmas story that takes place in Shelter Springs. We meet Amanda Taylor, who owns the local soap shop, in the town of Shelter Springs, Idaho.  Amanda wasn’t always a fan of Christmas, due to the past in her childhood, especially with her bad father. She runs her store, The Lucky Goat, as well as being the head of the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market during the Christmas holidays.  Amanda keeps tabs on her grandmother Birdie, and goes out of her way to help the community of Shelter Springs. Amanda worries when she notices her grandmother has been hanging around a new resident in the Shelter Inn retirement village.

Rafe Arredondo, is the grandson of Birdie’s suitor, as he is somewhat concerned, though not as much as Amanda is worried.  Rafe has an adorable young son, Issac; as well as being the assistant fire chief and being a paramedic. After an accident on the job, Rafe is told to take a month off, with his broken arm; which finds himself becoming friends with Amanda; and young Isaac is so adorable, with Amanda totally loving him.  Both Rafe and Amanda have had heartaches in their past lives; Rafe having lost his wife due to a drug overdose, and Amanda losing a boyfriend due to a tragedy. 

In a short time, Rafe has strong feelings for Amanda, as they spent a lot of time at the Christmas market together; but Amanda refuses to admit that she is attracted to Rafe.  Both Amanda and Rafe have hard times with emotional issues in their lives, but their attraction continues to keep their paths intertwining.  Isaac was so cute, and he always invited Amanda to come to events, which brings Rafe too.  😊

The December Market was a wonderful, heartwarming romantic Christmas story.  I really like both Amanda and Rafe, and hoped that they would finally give into their love for each other.  The December Market was so very well written by RaeAnne Thayne.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden – a Review

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The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden – a Review

 

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Description:
Lolly Blanchard’s life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she’s lost.

As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift–three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she’s ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

 

 

Review:

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden is a stand-alone novel. This is a wonderful story that took me by surprise, as the concept was different and very good.  We meet Lolly Blanchard, our heroine, who helps run the family diner, which is coming on hard times; she makes her own lemon meringue pies very early each morning.   10 years ago, after her mother’s death, Lolly abandoned her dream of opening up her own restaurant in Europe, determined to care for her young sister and grieving father.  As her 33rd birthday approaches, her sister (Daphne) reminds her of a list she made years ago, which she never had the time to explore; she thinks about what she lost over the years, including her restaurant dream and the loss of the love of her life, Rory Shaw.

Lolly’s great Aunt Gert offers her a chance to revisit some of her regrets; to go back in time and see if she would take a different path. Her aunt gives her three magical lemon drops, allowing her to live a single day in her life to see what would have been.  Lolly will choose three different situations, such as opening her restaurant in England; visiting her mom, if she didn’t pass away; and seeing her life with Rory, if she never broke up with him.  This was amazing to see how Lolly was able to look at what her life could have been.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and you need to read this from start to finish.

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie was a delightful, lighthearted, fun and charming story of family, love, second chances, with a wonderful heroine in Lolly. This was so very well written by Rachel Linden, which was also emotional.  I wholly suggest you read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, as it was a great read that pulled on many emotions. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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