Do you like reading Holiday romance or Holiday books in general at any time of the year? I definitely do, I can read them any time of the year! Coming Home for Christmas is a holiday romance novel based in Haven Point, a small town in Idaho.

Luke Hamilton who lives in Haven Point with his two children, is looking for some jail time in the near future, under suspicions of his wife's murder, which he didn't commit. So he goes to get his wife who ran away from the house, as she was suffering from postpartum depression at the time, but when she didn't return home and stayed away, he presumed she was dead. That's why he is hostile towards her when he discovers that she has been alive all this time and didn't return home for seven long years.

Elizabeth has been through hell and back, with the accident and the reality is completely different from what Luke is imagining. Elizabeth can't get enough glances at her family from afar, she wants to see them and wants her life back but that doesn't seem likely to happen. When Luke comes to get her, she is shocked to learn that Luke is in trouble because of her disappearance and the truth is far from what everyone has been assuming about him. She is all ready to clear the misunderstanding and wants to help her family and protect them with everything she has.

This is a second chance romance, the kids were cute, the people in the town were colourful, some good, some grey, not everyone is perfect, the story had some drama and I liked all of that. But I found the story a bit fast-paced. It doesn't seem plausible to get over all the seven years of hurt in a week, but because the writing was good, it didn't feel out of place and the story flowed nicely. I just wished I had gotten some more time to see the characters adjusting well. I read this book in one sitting because it was such a page-turner, I couldn't stop.

*Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*

RaeAnne Thayne is an utter genius and this story performed a miracle on my heart. Coming Home for Christmas is Luke & Elizabeth Hamilton’s second chance story and it did something I thought could never happen from a romance story. The author was able to flip my feelings toward Elizabeth 180 degrees from ‘You can’t take her back’ to ‘I’m so glad that they are back together.’ We are first introduced to their story in The Cottages of Silver Beach and A Soldier’s Return, when Elizabeth went missing one night, and after 7 years of waiting and searching, she was found in a coastal town in Oregon. The story opens up with Luke finally confronting her, and orders her to return home to Haven Point, in order to clear his name of murder. It wasn’t an easy reunion, and she did go back with him, but it took a heartbreaking story to reveal why she left in the first place. I’m a hard critic to please and I believe the author created a believable and acceptable reason for leaving and being out of the picture. How Luke and his two children go from being on their own, to accepting Elizabeth back into their life wasn’t an easy transition, but it took a slow process to get over the hurt and anger, and begin healing with love, acceptance and forgiveness.

Coming Home for Christmas is a story I will never forget and the highlight of this series for me. Feelings were never sugarcoated and a great deal of time was spent expressing the hurt and the scorn that the situation created when Elizabeth disappeared. Luke did his best to protect his children but he was living an insulated life and only going through the motions to get by day by day. Elizabeth had to accept her role in her family’s current situation and that was a hard pill to swallow. She had to learn to not sell herself short and have courage to move forward with strength and patience. The epilogue was a nice touch because it showed the progress the family made together and that it did have highs and lows, and that they were dealing with it as a family. I loved this story and my admiration for this author has greatly increased in awe of her writing talent.

Seven years ago, Elizabeth Sinclair Hamilton walked away from her family, and wasn't heard from again, until now. Her husband, Luke, never gave up hope that she was still alive, but now he is angry that she hasn't returned to her family and even more angry because the new district attorney is ready to press charges against him for her death. Determined to clear his name, he brings Elizabeth home to prove to the entire town, he did nothing to hurt his wife. But once she is back in town and he finds out what really happened to her, the anger starts to melt away. Will Luke and Elizabeth be able to rebuild the life they once had or is it lost forever?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Usually, I'm not the kind of girl who reads Christmas stories. This one grabbed me right from the very start and wouldn't let me go until the very end. At first I thought this was going to be a romance novel, and it did have to deal with love, but more of love of family and all the things this season is about.

What would you do if one day your significant other just seemed to vanish from the face of the earth? Would you move on with your life after a while or would you never give up the search for them? The truth behind Elizabeth's story is hard to believe and I wonder if the author knows someone with a similar story. Trying to decide how the family dynamic is supposed to look after so long is something the Hamilton family will try to overcome this holiday season. Will Elizabeth be able to regain the trust of her family? Will her kids still want her in their life after her avoidance for so long?

This is a great family novel, I think many people will enjoy.

This was a really great Christmas read! It was sweet and though it tackled a few sensitive issues, they were well handled by the author. The characters in this book were fabulous and very well done. I immediately felt connected to them and loved watching them develop through the book. All in all this was a great Christmas read that I would definitely recommend.

I’m extremely conflicted about Coming Home for Christmas. RaeAnne Thayne is a well known, much loved romance author and her writing is wonderful. I cared immensely for all of the characters, Elizabeth and Luke, and their children. Despite the fact that this is part of an ongoing series, there was enough backstory that I never felt lost or needed more information to comprehend what was going on with the main characters or those in the town.My concern with the book is the story line itself and its lack of credibility.

Elizabeth was suffering from post-partum depression, severely, to the point that she became suicidal and thought that she would harm her baby. Fleeing from her home, she eventually gets into an accident in which the driver was killed and Elizabeth was gravely injured, both physically and mentally. After a very long rehabilitation from which she never fully recovered, she made the decision that it would be better for her family if she stayed away from them. Meanwhile, Luke is going to be charged with her murder by the new hot-shot cop in town. The only way he can save himself is find answers about where Elizabeth is and why she stayed away. Okay, so when I write it all out it doesn’t soooo unbelievable. What do you think? I really loved the story and read it in a nanosecond so I’m going to say that I should recommend it with a the warning that parts may be a teeny-tiny bit contrived. That works.

Coming Home for Christmas is the newest Haven Point titles. I love this series (and don't worry, they absolutely don't have to be read in order and every one can be a stand alone book!). There are characters that are mentioned that are known, but each book focuses on one of the residents of Haven Point. These books, especially the Christmas ones, read like a hallmark movie and are just the perfect warm cozy read that's needed every once in a while!

A book with all the feels! RaeAnne Thayne engaged just about every emotion I have with this story, ripping my heart apart then putting it back together stronger than before. I've read almost her entire back list and I think this is some of her strongest writing ever. What this family has endured is heartbreaking, leaving all of them dealing with strong emotions when they're finally reunited after seven years. I found all of their reactions to be realistic and understandable. Thayne doesn't give them any quick fixes, instead flawlessly guiding them through the peaks and valleys of grief, anger, fear, and forgiveness as they all begin to deal with their new realities. I couldn't stop reading. I cried for what they'd been through and I cried with joy for what they'd found. This one is a keeper.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

I have loved all of RaeAnne's stories from the beginning. The story of Luke and Elizabeth is another wonderful story. I love how I can jump in and go on the ride of a powerful heart warming story. I do not like to give out too much of the story as a reader I love to discover everything a story has to offer. They both went through so many storms as so many people do every day..while reading it felt like it was so real.

Coming Home For Christmas was a lovely second chance at love story. Elizabeth has been missing for seven years and Luke has finally discovered that she is living in a nearby town under a different name. When the local district attorney plans to charge Luke with Elizabeth’s murder, he has to bring her home to show she has been alive all this time. What they both discover is that they still have feelings for one another and and maybe the magic of Christmas can make them a real family this time.

This was such a sweet touching story and I loved how Elizabeth and Luke decided to find their way back to one another. Ms. Thayne wrote a magical story of love and forgiveness and I couldn’t get enough of these wonderful characters. Definitely a perfect story for the holiday season.

Elizabeth and Luke had been madly in love when they got married and started a family. What they could not anticipate was the Postpartum Depression that would take so much out of Elizabeth—affecting her ability to mother as well testing her relationship with Luke. Neither of them really knew how to navigate through it. It seemed never-ending. A car accident. A brain injury. Loss of memory. Elizabeth has created a new life for herself under a different identify. At first it was because she had no idea who she was, but as time passed, her memories began to come back to her. How could she resume her old life when so much time had passed? After what she had done? As much as she loved her family, she still doubted her ability to be a good mom and wife. How could they ever forgive her?

Seven years have passed and Luke is facing a murder charge if he doesn’t produce his wife. His brother-in-law was able to track her down and now he must face her after all these years of believing she was dead. Come to find out, she had abandoned her family completely and gotten on with her life, with no regard for her children, much less him. Or so he believes. The last thing he wants to do is hurt his children more than they’ve already been hurt. It is hard to deny the attraction still between them, but how could their marriage survive what it’s been through?

RaeAnne Thayne is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. She draws out the emotions of her characters so well. I cannot help but cry with them, feel angry alongside them, and want so much for them to find the happiness they deserve. Given the circumstances, Luke’s initial anger toward his wife is completely understandable. His grief and pain are palpable. And so is Elizabeth’s. Having suffered through Postpartum Depression myself, I could relate to some of what she had been feeling after the birth of her children, and see how it could lead her to where she was those seven years later. I do not think she always made the wisest of choices once she regained her memory, letting her fear get in the way, but imagine that was something she still needed to work through.

As always, RaeAnne Thayne hit a home run for me, and I enjoyed Coming Home For Christmas. Her characters feel so real and Haven Point sounds like such an idyllic place to live. I enjoyed this sweet romance with its heavy themes quite a bit.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Coming Home For Christmas, by ReaAnne Thayne, became available at booksellers in September of 2019. Home is book 10 in Ms Thayne's Haven Point series. I was deeply moved by Luke & Elizabeth's story. I read straight through from start to finish. While not perfect, Home is a compelling tale of love, lost and found. Tragedy and rebirth. It's a perfect tale for Christmas time. Our couple have struggles, before & after reuniting. There are children involved so they tread lightly. I couldn't put myself in either of the characters place but I had a connection, much sympathy, and was glad to reach their HEA.

#ReaAnneThayne #Netgalley #HavenPoint #ComingHomeForChristmas #HarlequinBooks #ContemparyRomance

Can you ever forgive the love of your life who leaves you? What if they don't just leave you, but your children as well? Tall, dark and brooding Luke is facing this exact dilemma, when he rediscovers his wife and her new life after 7 years.
I really enjoyed the story of Elizabeth and Luke, and found for a stereotypical Christmas romance, this one had a very unique premise. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the biggest issue was I felt the ending was a little rushed and I was a bit let down by it. I would love to read a sequel to learn more about the characters lives. All in all, this was a cozy read that I devoured just before Christmas!

I usually just dive into holiday romances expecting over-the-top romance and swoons and this was no different. I wasn't quite expecting such a weird and crazy beginning. And then when Elizabeth's story finally came out, I honestly just couldn't get past it. It was so unbelievable that it was hard for me to recover. There were some really good parts to this, especially in terms of Luke and his children and how he created such a good life for them even with their missing mother. But I found it hard to believe that Elizabeth would do what she did. But she also felt like such an inconsistent character to me that I was never really sure how she felt or why or what she'd do next and she never really felt like the person Luke talked about. All of it was just hard to believe, even for a holiday romance.
I'm still giving it three stars because it was a good, fast read. I just didn't love it.

Absolutely wonderful holiday romance. The setting is inviting and the characters are very complex and compelling. There is a heartwarming plot with plenty of emotion. RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful storyteller and she writes for and respects her intelligent audience. I have loved every one of her books that I have read. She's wonderful.

What a great Christmas story! I absolutely loved every part of it!!
Luke Hamilton’s had enough. Seven years after his wife disappeared, he finds out that the new district attorney is planning on having him arrested in connection with her disappearance. He’s had to raise their two children by himself after she disappeared, and had to deal with certain residents of his hometown gossiping both behind his back and in front of him and his children. The entire small family has had to deal with people saying he killed his wife. He never knew what happened to her, he woke up one winter morning and she was gone. But now, now he finds out that his wife is not only alive, but she’s also visited their hometown. He’s actually seen her at different school events and around town. He just didn’t recognize her. Truth be told, no one did.
Elizabeth Hamilton had suffered from post partum depression and grief after the death of her parents. She couldn’t deal with all the emotions, the children, her husband and one night she snapped. She walked out of the house and just kept on. She was picked up by a kind man, but just a little while later they were in a horrific car accident. The driver died immediately, and Elizabeth almost did. When she awoke in that hospital bed, she had no memory of who she was. Family of the man thought she was his wife, and she accepted that. Years of surgeries to reconstruct her broken body and face, and much physical therapy later, she knows who she is, but also realizes that she’ll never be the Elizabeth she was when she walked away. On top of her physical limitations, she has seizures and a brain injury, not to mention the reconstruction surgeries on her face has changed the way she looks. Not wanting to add burden to her family, she thought it was better to stay away.
Until the night her very angry husband shows up at her door and tells her he’s about to be arrested for her disappearance. Grabbing her bag, she leaves with him to put a stop to all the nonsense.
A truly wonderful second chance novel filled with damaged characters, Ms. Thayne has created a truly compelling story. I became fully invested in the Hamilton family and hoped that they could get past their past and come back together. The author didn’t sugar coat, nor did she overdramatize post partum depression and what a woman goes through that suffers from it. I couldn’t stop reading and had tears in my eyes at different parts. This story radiates hope and love and is a perfect tale of second chance love. I didn’t even realize that the story is a part of a series, it can definitely be read as a stand a lone without issue.
**I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and Harlequin and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Coming Home for Christmas is Book 10 in the Haven Point Series. Every book in the series is a stand alone read but you will get more character backstory and enjoyment if you read it as a series.

In this installment the focus is on Elizabeth, Luke's wife. This book is my favorite so far in the series.

The author handles the difficult topic of mental illness in only the way that RaeAnne Thayne can.
With a realness and compassion . This is a fantastic Christmas story that will leave you filled with love and hope for second chances.

Mired in grief and suffering from debilitating post-partum depression, Elizabeth left her home one snowy night – and wasn’t seen again. Rumors swirled in the small town of Haven Point and while Luke struggled with his own loss and focused on raising his two daughters, he also heard the whispered accusations that he was responsible for Elizabeth’s disappearance. After seven years Luke learned that Elizabeth was alive and living under another name in a neighboring state. Filled with anger and hurt, he brings Elizabeth back to Haven Point in order to clear his name. Despite his anger and her guilt, the love they shared is still there. But moving past the pain of the past seven years may be too much to overcome.

I was concerned how Thayne would make Elizabeth a sympathetic character but as her story unfolded it was easy to feel compassion for Elizabeth and all that she had been through. Even so, I struggled with the fact that she never once contacted Luke or her children over the years. I could understand her guilt, and her feelings of unworthiness, but allowing them to believe the worst for so long was more than hurtful. Luke’s anger in the beginning was understandable and I felt for the burden he’d shouldered for so many years. Feeling as though he’d failed his wife, being a single parent, and enduring malicious gossip, he’d been through so much over the years. Even so, he was an amazing father who taught his children to be kind to others, to be of service to their neighbors and community, and to respect the mother who suddenly reappeared even when they were angry and confused about what it all meant. Luke and Elizabeth did reconnect quickly but I was so there for their relationship that I just couldn’t find fault with it. Despite past mistakes, they still truly loved and cared for each other and I loved seeing them open up, talk about the past, and be willing to move forward.

This was my first book from Thayne and even though Coming Home for Christmas is the tenth entry in her Haven Point series, it can easily be read as a standalone. It was a perfect story to kick off the holiday season, one filled with family and friends, second chances and forgiveness, and love. This was just the right story at just the right time and it left me feeling happy and hopeful. I’m excited to go back and read more of the Haven Point series!

RaeAnne Thayne did it again, she wrote a fantastic Christmas story that pulled me in right away and didn't let me go till the last word. I loved everything about this story. Every character and every plot point was just perfect. The perfect Christmas read!

Luke Hamilton is going to jail unless he can prove he did not murder his missing wife. Ironically, he has recently found her. The good news is she is alive and well so he cannot be arrested. The bad news is the woman he has loved for years chose to leave him and her two young children behind seven years ago without a word. A private investigator confirmed that Elizabeth is alive and Luke was going to leave her alone until he realized he had to bring her home long enough to prove she is not dead and he is not a murderer.

Elizabeth understands, but is terrified. Many things have changed in her life since she walked out on her family. She has another life, but has secretly caught glimpses of her family during the last few years. She would love nothing more than spending time with her children, but understands Luke’s protectiveness because of the pain she has caused by leaving them.

Luke is determined to get the entire situation taken care of in a few days. Unfortunately, Christmas is just around the corner and the feelings that he has for his wife have never really changed. Yes, he is angry, but he loves her. It will take a Christmas miracle to bring this broken family back together after all they have been through.

Coming Home for Christmas is a heartwarming story of love and redemption. The holiday setting enhances the sense of magic in the air. The underlying mystery of where and why Elizabeth has been for the last seven years is woven throughout the pages until the reader finally gets the last pieces of the puzzle in the final chapters. The mystery of her disappearance adds another layer to an already interesting plot that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Thayne, who is a prolific romance writer. She has written several different romance series, including the Haven Point series, of which Coming Home for Christmas is #10. Even though I had not read the previous books in the series, I was never confused or lost. It works well as a stand-alone novel. I really enjoyed this Christmas romance with a bit of mystery. If you are a fan of Debbie Macomber, you will love this book and author.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman

This was an easy read about a woman who experienced postpartum depression an had been separated from her family. It is the story of her reconciliation with her husband and children at Christmas. A nice read for romance fans.
I received a digital advance readers' copy through NetGalley.