What a fabulous story filled with the magic of Christmas! Amanda Taylor is shop owner, committee member, and chair of the holiday market. Christmas has always been hard for her, due to several traumatic experiences in her past. This year she’s extra feeling lonely as her brother and best friend come home engaged and she starts to feel like everyone else is moving on with life without her. Rafe is a hunky firefighter and paramedic single dad who lives down the street from Amanda. Both of them have avoided each other in the past, since they have some shared painful connections from the past. However, this holiday season they keep running into each other, and being forced into close proximity. Both of them will need to figure out if they are ready to take a chance on love, or if their painful pasts are just too hard to move on from. Another wonderful story by RaeAnne Thayne. Trigger warning for those who have grown up with substance abuse, or had partners with substance abuse.

Christmas months are just around the corner, and as one would prepare for the holiday season, Ms. Thayne has created a sweet Christmas romance you won't want to miss!

Amanda Taylor has had a childhood of trauma of an alcoholic father, a mother. that didn't really help her children deal with that kind of upbringing as well as losing a fiancé. Rafe, a single dad to the adorable Isaac, lost his wife and mother to their son to drug overdose/addiction as well. The holidays are usually hard for both, and being open to love has been a journey. In this story, you are taken through their journey of forgiveness and building strength to persevere through trials but also an understanding that not all people and relationships will be like previous ones.

I enjoyed the journey of Amanda and Rafe's relationship. It was a bit of a slow burn as their friendship developed into something more. I liked Amanda but I didn't like the unhappiness that she conveyed about her grandma finding a companion at her older age but I guess a bit of her bitterness carried into how she viewed others finding love and romance. It took Rafe's patience and understanding (as well as Isaac's sweetness) to peel back her layers and to open herself up to love again. I admired Rafe, not just for his good looks but for how he conducted himself as a single father and always putting his son's needs before his own. He is such a great dad. And sweet Birdie, Amanda's grandma, I loved everything about her! She was a wonderful side character in this story. I loved the idea of this Christmas market and all the vendors. I can only imagine how this market looked, and I would LOVE to come across and visit a place like this.

Clean kisses only romance and mild language used a handful of times in this slow burn Christmas romance. Trigger warnings - both of our main characters had dealing with loved ones that suffered from substance abuse that have unfortunately costed their life.

I won’t lie. I really struggled with reading this book. the formatting makes it difficult to read, so I kept putting it down because I needed a break. I think it could also use some editing which would help with readability.

I am always excited to read a new book by RaeAnne Thayne and The December Market was a great book!
Christmas is my favorite time of the year; however, I know a lot of people dread them.
Amanda and Rafe are hurting, yet their grandparents are pairing up and this is worrying them. Together, can they stop this budding romance?
Rafe’s son is adorable and he wants a Mother for Christmas.
The holiday market seems to be working its magic.
This is a beautiful story! I highly recommend.

Amanda Taylor has had a lot of loss in her young life and Christmas just isn't a joyful time for her. She runs her own soap shop and helps run the annual Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. She keeps herself busy to avoid being lonely. Her grandmother Birdie has recently started dating a new resident at the retirement community. Rafe Arredondo is a local paramedic and firefighter, and his grandfather is Birdie's new suitor.
Amanda and Rafe are trying to keep tabs on the grandparents and end up spending time with each other. Rafe has a six-year-old son and he is seeing Amanda as a mother for him and is asking Santa for help with getting her for Christmas.

The December Market is about Amanda who is a shop owner and Rafe a fire fighter. Both have had lost loved ones and neither is looking for love as they both have many responsibilities. This is a great holiday book.

Thank you net galley for the arc!

it took me a long time to read this book. It just didn't hold my attention. I enjoyed the story line and the characters, I can't say why I had such a hard time with this book. I wouldn't say it was boring because it was not.

Thank you netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

The December Market is a sweet small town romance with all the toppings. It covers loss, love, friendship and found family. It gives you all the feels of a wam Christmas.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne

Amanda is in charge of the Christmas Market that her small town runs every year. It is a lot of work and attention to detail; however, she does it to keep in the holiday spirit. This year she has a hard time concentrating on her booth and the overall operation since Rafe is manning the First Aid Station nearby. Both of them have a lot of baggage from past relationships and losses. Christmas is a hard time of year for them, but Rafe does his best to give his son a great Christmas. However, he will not be able to give his son what he wants most, a mother for Christmas and Isaac has decided it should be Amanda. Threaded through this main theme is Amanda's grandmother Birdie and her closeness with Raf's family, especially his grandfather. This is a heart warming story and shows that we all can find love again and overcome our past. This is the second book in the series and I am now going to purchase and read the first book due to the references to other characters and their story lines. Although, I feel it is fine to read it as a stand alone.

This author is never a disappointment and proves that once again with The December Market. This one is already for Hallmark Christmas movie scheduling! It’s the perfect Christmas story.

This was a quick, lovely holiday read. This book is worthy of a Hallmark Movie being made out it. You will laugh, cry, and get all the warm feels while reading this book. This book will get you into the Christmas spirit.

Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for access to this early holiday read. It was the first holiday read for me this year and it was a great way to kick it of.

I loved this heartwarming tale of Rafe and Amanda.. This is wonderful to read in front of the fireplace with some hot cocoa,Neither is looking for love but circumstances throw them together. I loved the interactions with her grandmother and his grandfather. I would recommend this story. I was given an arc from Net Galley but this is my honest review.

This is a perfect cozy holiday comfort read! Amanda owns a small shop in Shelter Springs and is busy getting ready for the town's December Market. Rafe is a widowed single dad, a firefighter, who has known Amanda all her life. Amanda's grandmother and Rafe's grandfather live in the same senior community and seem to be falling in love, which Amanda and Rafe do NOT think is a good idea. When Rafe hurts himself and has to take off work for a while, his chief volunteers him for the December Market EMT first aid station -- meaning Rafe and Amanda are going to be spending a lot of time together over the holidays. Fun and romantic!

4 ⭐️ 0 🌶️

Read As An Arc

🎄 Small Town Idaho
🎄 Hallmark Movie Vibes
🎄 Cozy Read
🎄 Second Chance
🎄 Past Hurt
🎄 Christmas Market
🎄 MMC Is A Paramedic & Assistant Fire Chief
🎄 FMC Is A Shop Owner



Amanda takes care of her 80 yr old grandma, Birdie; while Rafe is dealing with the loss of his wife from an overdose while being a single parent, as well as, you get to know, Holly, who’s husband recently left her and her child who lives with down syndrome. Amanda is attracted to Rafe, and has no way to avoid him during the Christmas market as they keep running in to one another. Birdie also starts to date someone, Rafe’s grandfather! So you can imagine how upset Amanda is about this new connection.

Amanda and Rafe are two characters who have heartache and loss in their lives coming to find a new romance during Christmas.

You immerse yourself into this story and experience the magic of Christmas, despite the worries and loss they have in their lives. I love how genuine and real these situations are that the characters represent. RaeAnne’s writing really gets you into the holiday spirit that’s cozy, and light-hearted. The story also brings closure without there being any loose ends that needs to be tied up.

Overall, this book stole my heart, the same way these characters did! This book will not disappoint you this season! Make sure to add it to your TBR, and purchase yourself a copy!




* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas due to past Christmases painful memories. But since she is the owner of a local soap shop ignoring the season is not an option. To help not focusing on the painful memories of past she makes the season come alive for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the debonair new resident at the Shelter Inn retirement community Amanda detects there may be trouble. Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s suitor, fortunately is equally doubtful of this budding relationship. But unfortunately, he’s just as fervent as his grandfather and Amanda has zero interest in being burned.

Rafe has more than enough to handle being a single parent, paramedic and assistant fire chief. He and Amanda share a common interest in keeping their grandparents apart. That doesn’t mean he should feel as drawn to her as he does though. She is fabulous with his young son. She helps his burden lighten regarding his painful past memories too. Their paths keep on crossing at the Holiday Giving Market which may be fate. What may be in store for both these couples? Only time will tell.

RaeAnne Thayne does a stupendous job at ensuring that you escape into her story with all the winter wonderland, feel and wonder of Christmas! When you take a break from the story you feel like it just got done snowing and all the neighborhoods are all decorated with twinkling Christmas lights! She really gets you in the mood for the holiday season. You can just picture the booths and their wares at the December Market and she makes you want to be there too partaking in the festivities. Rafe’s young son Isaac melts not only Amanda’s heart but yours too! I enjoyed his character and he helped make the story. He was my favorite character. A romantic and heartfelt story. Another great one by this author! She doesn’t disappoint yet again! A must read even before the holidays start!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers in letting me read this book and allowing me to leave an honest review.

This is a feel good Christmas story about love, friendship, family, loss and moving ahead in life. The young boy in the story is a delight. The book is perfect for reading alongside a fireplace on a cold winter night. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

What a fun book!!! I felt like I was right there in the story. A very enjoyable, easy read. Characters are well developed, story line is easy to follow and I can see this being a new Hallmark movie!

This is a beautiful small-town story about friendship, love, family, and healing. I loved it and will recommend at publication time as a must-read for the Christmas season. Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

This was just as wonderful as the first one in this series. It was heartwarming and joyful. I loved the setting and the story!