REVIEW: The Christmas Ranch by RaeAnne Thayne

In The Christmas Ranch (Cowboys of Cold Creek #13) by RaeAnne Thayne, Rafe Santiago left behind his Navy SEAL career to take care of his seven year old nephew since his younger sister landed in jail. He’s vowed to himself to make sure Joey is well taken care of and has stability in his life for a change. That means relocating to Pine Gulch, Idaho, for a little while. It brings Rafe into contact with a family that changed his life when he was younger, not that they might remember him now. He didn’t realize who Hope Nichols was when Joey’s prank had her stopping her truck at their rental house. But now that Rafe has a chance to make up for an event that altered Hope’s life forever, he’s going to do whatever it takes to be there for her. If he can just keep himself from falling in love with her first.

‘He couldn’t do anything for his sister right now, except take care of Joey. But he could take a little burden off the shoulders of Hope Nichols by helping her make this place ready for the season.’

Hope Nichols expected her sisters and aunt to be in a funk this Christmas after her brother-in-law’s death a few months ago. But to come home to The Christmas Ranch and find it closed indefinitely? That just breaks her heart. Hope takes on the challenge of whipping the Ranch into shape in just a couple of short weeks and enlists the help of Rafe Santiago and his rascally nephew Joey. A bond forms quickly between them all, and attraction had admittedly been instant between Hope and Rafe. But she’s convinced she doesn’t need a man in her life with her stressful holiday project and her career teaching abroad up in the air at the moment. Then Rafe shares information about himself that sends Hope reeling. Can she trust the hunky navy guy to be honest with her in the future? Or will she have to give up the first thing that’s ever felt real in her life?

“I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you. Are you sure you don’t want to come work full-time for me on The Christmas Ranch?” she joked.

“Depends,” he said, his voice husky. “What kind of benefits can you offer?”

All at once, she knew he wasn’t talking about 401(k)s or long-term disability insurance.

This is the second holiday story I’ve ready by RaeAnne Thayne this season and The Christmas Ranch knocked me out just about as much as Snow Angel Cove did. This may be part of a completely different series, but it still had the same feel-good vibe and strong characters I’ve come to love and expect from Ms. Thayne’s writing style.

‘Their lives were inextricably entwined and had been for a long time. She thought about fate–about how the past and the present could sometimes twist and curl together like ribbons on a Christmas tree.’

Like the quote above mentions, Rafe and Hope’s lives were tangled up long before they fell in love. I won’t spoil the plot by saying how that happened. I will say that it made a huge difference in how Rafe viewed Hope at first, and then how Hope and her family saw Rafe once they found out. Secrets can be a frustrating part of some stories, but here I could definitely commiserate with Rafe and understand the need to protect Hope for a while. I really loved how honorable a man he was, doing the right thing by taking over care of his cute and spunky nephew. Rafe was just one of those alpha males who was tough when he needed to be but could be so gentle and caring that it could make a girl swoon.

Hope was also a very interesting character to meet. She had traveled the world doing what she could to help others at every turn, just like her parents had taught her growing up. The way the scene was written when she first came home and saw that The Christmas Ranch was closed was so raw and honest. I could feel how sad she was to see that tradition ending and her longing to turn things around. Hope’s feelings for Rafe were also a lot of fun to watch as they grew. I liked how she kept trying to push them to the back burner, saying she was too busy for a guy in her life, but her emotions wouldn’t go away. It was comical at times, but very sensual at others as Rafe and Hope gave in to some smoldering kisses. I truly loved them together as a couple. It just worked so perfectly.

Looking for a Christmas romance full of hope, family, and the true spirit of giving? The Christmas Ranch has all that and more. I highly recommend this wonderful story.

Book Info:

Published November 18th 2014 by Harlequin | (Cowboys of Cold Creek #13)

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Hope Nichols has never felt as if she belonged anywhere, except her hometown of Pine Gulch. So, when she hears that her family’s property, Christmas Ranch, is set to be shut down forever, a determined Hope heads home. She refuses to let the Grinch steal her holiday—this will be the most memorable ranch Christmas ever! And, thanks to hunky former navy SEAL Rafe Santiago and his adorable nephew, she might just pull off that miracle.

Rafe is undeniably drawn to Hope and her passion for rebuilding her family home. But he knows more about Hope’s tragic past than even she herself could imagine. And though she doesn’t know it, she owes him her life. And all he wants in return is for her to spend it with him…