I enjoyed this book. It pulled you right in and kept you turning the pages. This book was well written and I had no issues following the story. It tied into the other books in the series well.

The Christmas Ranch is quite simply a sweet Christmas romance. Hope has been all over the world, first with her missionary parents and later by herself as an educator in impoverished areas. She has returned home, thinking it will be a temporary layover, to see her family. An incident on her way to the family ranch leads her to meeting Rafe, not realizing this is not the first time they've met.

Rafe clearly, and with deep regret, remembers the first time he saw Hope, and the devastation that occurred. He carries tremendous guilt for being unable to save someone and hides that experience from Hope. When she finds out the truth she has to decide whether Rafe's keeping it from her is a bad thing or born from misplaced guilt.

Rafe and his nephew help Hope get Christmas Ranch ready to open, despite the opposition her sisters have to the endeavor. Just as it appears her sisters were right, that this is going to be a failure of epic proportions, a Christmas miracle occurs that might save more than just a place where families enjoy coming to see Santa and reindeer and other holiday festivities. Sweet, enjoyable and just right for the season.

I think I might be a little obsessed. After finishing the last book in the Nichol’s sister trilogy, I came to a surprising realization that somewhere along the way, I did not read the first book. That was unacceptable, so I had to remedy that quickly. I was pleasantly surprised I already had the book on my kindle and dove right in it.

Guys, I cannot believe I somehow put off reading these books. I am totally kicking myself because I just love them so much. I fell in love with all the characters and I find that I truly am going to miss them. I am glad Thayne wrapped everything up on high note and even gave us a glimpse at what’s in store for the sisters.

The Christmas Ranch is actually the first book in this awesome, romantic and sweet series. It features Hope, the middle sister. Hope watched her father get shot at a rescue mission that went terribly wrong. Rafe Santiago was a rookie, who felt responsible for not being fast enough to save the young girl’s father. The last thing Rafe expected was to end up running into Hope Nichols, the girl he pulled away screaming into the helicopter and the guilt that came attached after. Hope doesn’t remember him, but after his nephew puts a nice hole in her car window with a rock, Hope finds a way into his life.

This was super cute. I loved Rafe in the other books and needed to know how it all began. Rafe is so much different than the other men in this series. He is an ex Navy Seal, he rescued Hope and her sisters from the people that held them hostage, and he carries a lot of guilt.

The romance was just what I expected from Thayne, it was sweet, clean, slow, and just what I needed in the past few gloomy and rainy days. I just can’t seem to get enough of her writing.

I adored Hope and how she wanted to restore The Christmas Ranch despite the fact that her sister’s at first were so against it. The ranch was failing, there wasn’t much money made out of it and most of it was falling apart. Until Hope comes along, and tries to breath life back into the place that has been a staple in the community. With the help of Rafe and his nephew, it might just happen after all.

Rafe was amazing, and I loved watching him try to become a father figure to his nephew. He doesn’t tell Hope at first who he is and she doesn’t remember him. So it was interesting to see how it would all unfold.

I was confused by Faiths response to him when she sees him. She’s angry, but thankful to him at the same time? It was a bit confusing.

Overall, it’s a great beginning to a wonderful heart-touching, heart-melting, cozy romance series that will stay with me long after.