Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne

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…

 

 

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Audiobook (US) Narrated by Vanessa Johansson
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Canary Street Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really sweet Christmas romance with a lot of fun side characters – both young and old – who give us a very enjoyable reminder of how festive the season can be in a small community who pull together.

Natalie left her small town as soon as she could, and spends her life travelling the world doing house/pet sitting jobs, writing travel blogs, and editing to earn a living. She has no interest in returning to the place where so much sadness enveloped her family. However, when her sister needs her to help with her girls whilst she is on pregnancy bed rest, Nat is straight home – even if she is not at all sure she can cope with two little girls!

Not only does she have to deal with the girls, but also the rest of the town who know all her family's stories. The person she does not expect to see is Griffin, her brother's best friend and now the local doctor. Her teenage crush on him has not waned, but as she intends to leave ASAP, and he is clearly here to stay, there is no point in getting involved. In fact, that is the major part of the lesson Nat needs to learn – that not everyone leaves, that there are people who can be trusted, and there are even people who will change and regret their previous actions, to the point that they need forgiving. These are all things which she has a chance to consider during her stay. It is partly the magic of Christmas, and the love of those around her who show her again and again that there is hope.

A really good way to get into the Christmas spirit and think of what is really important about family and friends.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Natalie has returned to her hometown to look after her two young nieces while her sister is on bed rest. I have to say, listening to Natalie talk about her adult life where she works freelance/remotely while house and pet sitting for people all over the world, I thought that sounded like an amazing life. But it also sounded a little lonely.

Natalie bumps into Dr. Griffin Taylor, her brother’s best friend, and there is good chemistry between the two of them, which they try to resist because they both know that Natalie plans to return to her nomadic life once her sister is up and about. The growing feelings between Griffin and Natalie felt natural as did the ways they kept bumping into each other.

Christmas at the Shelter Inn was an enjoyable Christmas story that was very much like a Hallmark movie. The romance was lovely and had nothing more steamy than a kiss. It was easy reading and the sense of community among the residents of the Shelter Inn was heartwarming and I loved the ending.

 

 

New York Times bestselling author RAEANNE THAYNE finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website.

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne to read and review.