It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a RaeAnne Thayne Christmas story. Thayne is gifted at writing contemporary small-town romances with lots of heart and warm feelings. Her Haven Point stories are favorites of mine, and Coming Home for Christmas is definitely one for the keeper shelf. I’ve loved meeting the people of Haven Point and then revisiting them in subsequent books. Luke and Elizabeth’s story is so poignant and heart-wrenching, yet I loved the sweet uplifting messages of forgiveness, second chances, and the power of love. Although both Luke and Elizabeth are broken and hurting, they work together toward healing themselves and their family.

With well-drawn, realistic, and multi-layered main characters, and a colorful and delightful cast of secondary characters, this story comes alive on the page. While the background story is tragic and emotional, the overwhelming takeaway of the spirit of Christmas and family is uplifting and heartwarming. I recommend this book to those who enjoy clean contemporary romance. 4 1/2 stars!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rae Anne Thayne is one of my favorite authors, but I was a bit reticent to read this book. The description made it sound like a different focus than others in the series. I was blown away and riveted to turning the pages to find out what happened one so started reading, and had a hard time putting it down. When Elizabeth's story of what happened to her after she left her family 7 years ago, I was flabbergasted.

Ms Thayne's skill as a writer is her character development. Add her empathetic tone and you have a blockbuster. The family comes to life through the story she tells and you can't help but feel Cassie's confusion and hurt, Bridger's acceptance, and her husband's betrayal. This is truly a coming of age story that will tug at your heartstrings.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest opinions.

A lovely story about a woman finding her way back to both her family and herself. This explores some tough and real mental health issues in a sensitive and positive way. Elizabeth suffered post partum depression after Bridger's birth and then her parents died. She opted to leave her family. Her husband Luke struggled with raising Bridger and Cassie but he did a good job. Now, though, he's finally found her and he needs her to step up and more than anything else, admit that she's alive because he's been under a heavy cloud of suspicion since she disappeared. Can she come back for a HEA? It's Christmas and it's Haven Point so you kinda know it will work out, don't you? That doesn't mean there isn't drama along the way. Thayne has created some terrific characters here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Ms Thayne can surely write a book that will keep you hooked till the last page and makes you turn pages as fast as you can.
I loved the story and rooted for the fleshed out and realistic characters.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, heartwarming and full of Christmas spirit.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I really enjoyed this story. I felt everything Elizabeth and Luke were going through. The way that Raeanne dealt with addressing depression was done with respect and candor.
I can't wait for her next book.

This is the 10th book in the Haven Point series, however the books may be read as stand alones. I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This book is Luke and Elizabeth’s story. Seven years prior to the beginning of the book, Elizabeth had walked out of the house on a stormy, wintry night, never to be heard from again. Her parents, with whom she had been very close, had died suddenly and she had suffered from post-partum depression. She was depressed after her parents’ deaths which increased after the birth of her daughter, Cassie. She was feeling better and thought another child would help. Luke was unsure, but was willing to do whatever she wanted if it would help her. The post-partum depression was much worse. Although some people in Haven Point made Luke’s life quite miserable, accusing him of having killed Elizabeth and disposing of her body, he remained in his hometown and raised two beautiful, kind children. Through a series of events, Elizabeth took the identity of another woman, Sonia, and was living hundreds of miles away in Oregon. Luke’s friend and future brother-in-law, FBI agent Elliot Bailey, investigated the cold case and found Sonia/Elizabeth. When the new DA decided to press charges against Luke in the murder of his wife he decided he needed to bring her back to Haven Point whether she wanted to go or not. He and his children had anger issues due to her abandonment seven years before. Luke was so angry with her that he would not listen to her explanations until she told the DA the entire story. The book gives a perspective on how each member of the family feels as they come to grips with reuniting with Elizabeth during the holiday season.

Not an Easy Holiday Read, But a Good One

I am new to this author, and of course, am new to this series. So I feel like I wasn't quite prepared for all this book would be. The cover of it looks like any inviting and lovely Christmas romance. I thought the blurb was a little confusing, as I couldn't quite figure out the timeline and some of what the author was hinting at. Let me just disabuse you of one notion to start with. If you're expecting a light and fluffy Hallmark-style Christmas romance, this is not it. I know for me, sometimes, I want to read that light and frothy holiday romance. But if you are in the mood for a holiday romance that tackles more difficult subjects, like severe postpartum depression and traumatic brain injury, this book definitely delivers a compelling story with all the feels.

I will have to say that I had a hard time liking the hero and heroine at the start before I knew their full story. I couldn't imagine a mother willingly leaving her family, as Luke suggested rather angrily several times. I also didn't like that Luke at first was unwilling to engage with Elizabeth more than he had to. Even his sister was surprised that he didn't try to find out the “why” and other details on their trip back to Idaho. I probably would have had more sympathy for Luke if I were familiar with the series. But once the couple got back to Haven Point, and the full story began to unfurl, it was amazing and I’m glad I stuck with it. Elizabeth has been through so much. And the children, my goodness! This story is about so much, including the themes of forgiveness of both self and other and the meaning of family and all that entails. There are definitely moments that will have you breaking out the tissues.

Oh my how I love the Haven Point series. This story was amazing. It made me laugh, it made me cry. What an incredible story of strength, stamina and forgiveness! It shows how people while making what they think are the right choices can turn out to be wrong and have dire consequences yet at the same time forgiveness and healing can be instrumental to putting people back on the right path to happiness. I hope this is not the last book in this series. I have loved every one of them and look forward to more.

Coming Home for Christmas is a story about second chances, family, healing and forgiveness.
This is a beautifully written story that will definately tear at your heart strings and expose raw emotions. RaeAnne Thayne had created loveable characters you cant help but cheer for. 
I do have to say I did struggle with this book at times because I am a mom of two little ones and it felt unrealistic at times.
I recieved an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Coming Home For Christmas is book 10 in the Haven Point series by RaeAnne Thayne. It does work as a stand alone book, but I definitely want to go back and read the previous ones.

Several years ago, Elizabeth Hamilton disappeared and everyone suspected her husband Luke of killing her. There was never enough evidence to charge him with it...until now.

Luke has known where Elizabeth was for a few months, but hasn't gone to get her because for some reason she left him and their kids and he is having a hard time getting past that. However, when he learns he is actually going to be charged with her murder he know he needs to get her and bring her back to Haven Point.

When he hears what has happened to Elizabeth since she left him, he knows she did not have it easy. Slowly his emotions towards her begin to thaw as he watches her trying to cope with her limitations and trying to connect with their children.

The story really drew me in, I wasn't able to put the book down.

#ComingHomeForChristmas #NetGalley

This is the 10th book in the Haven Point series. I would recommend to anyone though because it can be read as a stand alone book. I love this little town and the characters. It's definitely a feel good story. Recommended!

A sweet story about forgiveness, redemption, and family. Theyne shares the story of a women whose mental health begins to waiver after she has children. In a decision of self-preservation and the need to protect her children, she leaves in the middle of the night only to disappear for 7 years. Her husband has held the weight of a missing wife in his heart, while townspeople believe that he may have murdered her. The story focuses on the bond between a husband and wife, children's need for parents, and the haze and agony living with untreated mental illness causes. A good rainy day read that addresses some serious emotional and mental issues.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for review.

Anticipation over, Luke and Elizabeth’s reunion, although tense and uncertain, was what I have been waiting for in this series. Since most of Haven Point, Idaho, believed Luke murdered Elizabeth, and with the district attorney about to charge him, Luke’s bringing her back was necessary, even though he didn’t want her there. Now he can get divorced, get cleared, and move on with his life and their two children, Cassie, almost 10 and Bridger, almost 8. Missing for seven years, Luke’s friend, FBI agent Elliot Bailey, found Elizabeth living in Oregon, even though she had a different name and life. As the story develops with Elizabeth temporarily living in the house she was in when she left, and with Luke and their children in their own home, the mystery of where she has been and why is revealed. I loved this book. The transformations of Luke, their children, and the whole town are affected by what happened to Elizabeth for such a long period of time. The strength of Elizabeth as she attempts to clear her name and Luke’s made my heart sing. I truly admire her and what she was able to overcome. This author writes with clarity, heart, and leaves no loose ends. My heart is full.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and a hard copy from the author, this is my voluntary review of Coming Home for Christmas. This is a fabulously wonderful book exploring love, pain, and forgiveness. No one writes a love story better than RaeAnne Thayne!!! Coming Home is a book that you want to end but you don't want to end. I'm so sad when I finish one of That he's books but my heart is happy! ☺ I highly recommend this book to all readers. Enjoy! 📚

COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS was quite the read! Elizabeth left home seven years ago, and now, her husband Luke has come to bring her back. At the beginning, we know that her disappearance was complicated, though the details take some time to reveal. Luke and Elizabeth have two children, Cassie (now 10) and Bridger (now almost 8), who have grown up believing their mother was dead, since this was what Luke believed.

Luke was surprised when his friend and FBI agent told him Elizabeth was still alive and living elsewhere under an assumed name. However, now that the DA is set to prosecute him for her presumed murder, Luke is determined to go get her and clear his name. Emotions run wild and he cannot bear to hear her story- until he absolutely must when she gives it to the DA.

The seven years between them and the time before she left, when she was suffering from clinical depression compounded by postpartum depression, make their reunion complicated. As they hear each other's stories, they begin to consider how they can move forward and make a better life.

Despite the strange premise, the book feels somehow well-explained and thought-out. Nothing felt so outlandish, and the characters were completely sympathetic and reasonable. I really loved the whole thing, and the Christmas setting only added to the magic of it all. The descriptions of depression seemed really well done, and the characters felt so real- even the kids. This really could be a beautiful Hallmark Christmas movie, and I loved watching Luke and Elizabeth come back together after so much hardship and difficulties.

I would add warnings for suicidal ideation and depression (both past). Overall, this is a strong book about overcoming accidents/mistakes and moving forward with love, set at Christmastime. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book from RaeAnne Thayne and I'm not sure why but I could not finish reading this. It's possible that I was just not in the mood and can come back to read it later. If that happens, I will update my review. But for a few chapters, I just did not care for the writing style and there was nothing to suck me into the story.

If you are looking for a somewhat angsty, Hallmark movie style Christmas romance that also does a great job of highlighting the seriousness of post-partum depression, then Coming Home for Christmas is definitely worth picking up! This is a second-chance romance involving a woman who left her husband and two small children and disappeared for seven years. Now her husband has tracked her down to prove he is innocent of her suspected murder. Why did she leave and where has she been all this time? I initially wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this premise (especially being a mom of two little ones myself) but give it time, because you will fall for this family and root for their healing and reconciliation (even if some of the plot points are kind of over-the-top in terms of believability).

What I love about this book is that it highlights mental health and post-partum depression in a way that is both serious and helpful. Many women experience some degree of of this after having a baby but it is too rarely talked about. In this case, Elizabeth (the main character) has a very severe form of it including suicidal ideation and thoughts of harming her baby. (view spoiler) The narrative is clear that since medication alone did not help, she would probably have benefited from in-patient treatment and I love that this doesn't demonize her or her need for help in having good mental health. This is an important and under-discussed topic. The book also addresses disability and chronic illness in a way that is fantastic, celebrating the things that people experiencing these things bring to the table rather than perceiving them as burdens.

Ultimately, the rekindled romance is also very sweet and the progression of Elizabeth reconnecting with her children feels realistic. Sometimes these things happen to quickly when in reality, this is a trauma that would take time and therapy for a relationship to recover from. This book handles that incredibly well. Overall, I found this to be slightly dramatic for my taste, but mostly enjoyable and a book that handled important and sensitive topics very well. Obviously, content warnings for the things mentioned about including depression, suicidal ideation, thoughts of harming children, plus traumatic injury. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This has to be one of my favorite books. I think I cried through 2/3 of the book. The story will just pull your heartstrings, oh how I felt so much empathy for Elizabeth. Once I started I couldn't stop reading I to absolutely know how it turned out. This book was so good, a perfect read to remind you of Christmas miracles.

If, like me, readers of the Haven Point series have been wondering about Luke and Elizabeth Hamilton – this is their book. Her disappearance several years earlier sparked many wild theories among locals, none that placed Luke in a positive light. When Elizabeth comes back to Haven Point she reveals what happened. Perhaps a bit far-fetched but Thayne gives readers a plausible story. This novel touches on depression (clinical and postpartum) and my heart went out to Elizabeth and the family she left behind.

Coming Home for Christmas is a story of forgiveness and courage – and love. Perfect themes for the season. Recommended to fans of the series, RaeAnne Thayne, and a good Christmas story.

Welcome back to Haven Point!

We finally have Luke & Elizabeth's story. I remember when the author had that little teaser in the last chapter of A Soldier's Secret and I kept thinking it was going to be complete torture having to wait for their story, but the time is finally here and it was so worth the wait!

I have loved all the Haven Point books, but this one was my favorite.

Oh the feels! Tissues will be needed.

If you've been following along with this series, then you would have already met Luke in The Cottages on Silver Beach. Luke has been under a cloud of suspicion with most of the people in Haven Point. Seven years ago, his wife disappeared and was never seen again. Most of the town thinks he murdered her, but he knows differently. He went to sleep one night and when he woke, she was gone. Seven years later and with the help of his sisters boyfriend, Luke finally has an address for his missing wife and just in time too. There's a new DA and she is out for Lukes blood. She plans to arrest him for the murder of his wife, even if she doesn't have the evidence to support it. Luke decides right then and there to go get his wife and drag her back to Haven Point to clear his name.

Elizabeth's story is a hard one. It deals with deep depression, postpartum, a tragic accident, and shame. It was heartbreaking to read. I want to keep this review spoiler free, and to do that, I cannot go into any more details. The reader should experience Elizabeth's story when she tells it.

This was such an emotional book, but it was also full of hope, forgiveness and love.

Coming Home for Christmas was well written, fast-paced and such a pleasure to read.