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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Luke Hamilton has grieved his missing wife for 7 years, believing her to be dead. When FBI agent Elliott tells Luke Elizabeth is still alive, living on the Oregon coast under a different name, he is stunned and angry that she willingly left Luke and their two children alone all these years. Elizabeth, now going by Sonia, believes that her family is truly better off without her and has slowly built herself a new life in Oregon. However, she has never stopped thinking about and loving her family. When Luke shows up on her doorstep and demands she come back to Haven Point to keep him from being arrested for her murder, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees, knowing she owes it to Luke. Getting to interact with her children again is more than Elizabeth has dreamed of. Can this family find their way back together?
This is the 10th book in the Haven Point series but can be read as a standalone. Elizabeth's story for the last 7 years made it hard for me to root for this couple. I think the district attorney's words best sum up this book: “This is a very far-fetched story, Mrs. Hamilton. Car accidents. Russian wives. Comas. Sounds like something out of a bad soap opera.” That part wasn't what really got me, though. Once she remembered who she was, I don't understand why Elizabeth continued to stay away for the next 4 and a half years or why Luke didn't care about that part, either. For me, it wasn't believable how quickly they changed their minds and decided to get back together, regardless of the major issues caused by the 7 years apart. Other than that, it was a sweet, clean book, and I wouldn't mind reading other books in the series.
Luke Hamilton has grieved his missing wife for 7 years, believing her to be dead. When FBI agent Elliott tells Luke Elizabeth is still alive, living on the Oregon coast under a different name, he is stunned and angry that she willingly left Luke and their two children alone all these years. Elizabeth, now going by Sonia, believes that her family is truly better off without her and has slowly built herself a new life in Oregon. However, she has never stopped thinking about and loving her family. When Luke shows up on her doorstep and demands she come back to Haven Point to keep him from being arrested for her murder, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees, knowing she owes it to Luke. Getting to interact with her children again is more than Elizabeth has dreamed of. Can this family find their way back together?
This is the 10th book in the Haven Point series but can be read as a standalone. Elizabeth's story for the last 7 years made it hard for me to root for this couple. I think the district attorney's words best sum up this book: “This is a very far-fetched story, Mrs. Hamilton. Car accidents. Russian wives. Comas. Sounds like something out of a bad soap opera.” That part wasn't what really got me, though. Once she remembered who she was, I don't understand why Elizabeth continued to stay away for the next 4 and a half years or why Luke didn't care about that part, either. For me, it wasn't believable how quickly they changed their minds and decided to get back together, regardless of the major issues caused by the 7 years apart. Other than that, it was a sweet, clean book, and I wouldn't mind reading other books in the series.
It was really good to be back in Haven Point.
This was a great continuation and the characters were well written.
This was Luke and Elizabeth's story. It showed how far reach consequences can be of decisions we make that we think at the time are for the best. RaeAnne wrote about difficult situations and decisions with a clear and compassionate manner.
If you haven't read any Haven Point books yet I would highly recommend them all.
This was a great continuation and the characters were well written.
This was Luke and Elizabeth's story. It showed how far reach consequences can be of decisions we make that we think at the time are for the best. RaeAnne wrote about difficult situations and decisions with a clear and compassionate manner.
If you haven't read any Haven Point books yet I would highly recommend them all.
I received RaeAnne Thayne's book, Coming Home for Christmas, from the publisher as part of a holiday romance blog tour that was scheduled to be rolling through. I thought the cover was pretty and the title fit, so this book would be a good one to read during the holidays! I have never read anything from RaeAnne Thayne before, but I knew that her books were often on the tops of the lists espeically when it came to women's literature and adult romance.
I will say that overall, this story was a little strange for me but I did enjoy Thayne's writing style and the way she writes characters and the interpersonal relationships. In this book, she did an excellent job writing the male character (Luke). Sometimes he reads as a bit too dreamy and perfect, but it is quite refreshing to read a book where the male isn't a bad person and someone who genuinely loves his children and wants to create a happy and healthy home for them. While Thayne's characterization of him is a bit dreamy and vague, his character still points to those aspects of what being a good parent and husband should be: unconditional love and tenderness, empathy, understanding, and the ability to change and adapt.
Along with writing characters, Thayne is also really well versed in writing the relationship between children and parents. This is brought to light in this story with the relationship between Elizabeth and her daughter Cassie. Even though this is just a story, we are still able to imagine the settings and the people so vividly. One of my favorite moments was when the relationship between Cassie and Elizabeth finally begins to heal; Thayne highlights that with her writing and leaves it open for our interpretation. Just as the character experienced those quiet moments and awkward silences between glances up, we get to experience them with them and watch as relationships change and develop.
So, I enjoyed the writing in this book but what I got really caught up on at first was the overall storyline of Elizabeth and how she ran away from her family (in order to protect them from herself), and then never tried to rekindle anything or even let her family grieve her disappearance. While I don't have any issues with this story itself, I think that the way it is written in this story is also very dreamy and not realistic. I don't know that this is how this sort of story would play out in real life; it would take a Christmas miracle for it to work the way it did, in my opinion. I am also still shaken by how easily Luke forgave Elizabeth and let her back into his life and his children's life completely. I just feel like there would be some sort of trial period within the family or even for a relationship instead of how quickly everything happened. As I read this book I did suspend my belief for those cases and read this for the Christmas story it was featuring.
Overall, this was a nice book to read to help get the holiday spirit going. The overall story was not what I really expected, with the disappearing wife and mother, but it did end up being one that was full of love and hope and set during the Christmas holiday. Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had fun reading this while drinking hot cocoa!
I will say that overall, this story was a little strange for me but I did enjoy Thayne's writing style and the way she writes characters and the interpersonal relationships. In this book, she did an excellent job writing the male character (Luke). Sometimes he reads as a bit too dreamy and perfect, but it is quite refreshing to read a book where the male isn't a bad person and someone who genuinely loves his children and wants to create a happy and healthy home for them. While Thayne's characterization of him is a bit dreamy and vague, his character still points to those aspects of what being a good parent and husband should be: unconditional love and tenderness, empathy, understanding, and the ability to change and adapt.
Along with writing characters, Thayne is also really well versed in writing the relationship between children and parents. This is brought to light in this story with the relationship between Elizabeth and her daughter Cassie. Even though this is just a story, we are still able to imagine the settings and the people so vividly. One of my favorite moments was when the relationship between Cassie and Elizabeth finally begins to heal; Thayne highlights that with her writing and leaves it open for our interpretation. Just as the character experienced those quiet moments and awkward silences between glances up, we get to experience them with them and watch as relationships change and develop.
So, I enjoyed the writing in this book but what I got really caught up on at first was the overall storyline of Elizabeth and how she ran away from her family (in order to protect them from herself), and then never tried to rekindle anything or even let her family grieve her disappearance. While I don't have any issues with this story itself, I think that the way it is written in this story is also very dreamy and not realistic. I don't know that this is how this sort of story would play out in real life; it would take a Christmas miracle for it to work the way it did, in my opinion. I am also still shaken by how easily Luke forgave Elizabeth and let her back into his life and his children's life completely. I just feel like there would be some sort of trial period within the family or even for a relationship instead of how quickly everything happened. As I read this book I did suspend my belief for those cases and read this for the Christmas story it was featuring.
Overall, this was a nice book to read to help get the holiday spirit going. The overall story was not what I really expected, with the disappearing wife and mother, but it did end up being one that was full of love and hope and set during the Christmas holiday. Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had fun reading this while drinking hot cocoa!
1.5 this read like a TLC show… constant recaps after a commercial or in this case, new chapter.
This is very much what I would call a fluffy romance. I read a few of these each year, mostly around Christmas, because they are easy to fall into, and this one definitely was.
The story was somewhat unbelievable in some places. People forgave Elizabeth a little too easily for my taste. There wasn't enough tension. But that wasn't the point of this book, so for what it is supposed to be, it's lovely.
I would call this very "Hallmarkesque" because it definitely could be a Hallmark movie plot. I didn't realize that this was part of a series, I was just browsing around the bookstore. (back in October, my only outing other than work for the past several months, thanks to COVID)
This does work well as a standalone book, but I did enjoy the small town feel, so when things open up more, I'll probably be checking the library to see if I can start at the beginning of the series.
The story was somewhat unbelievable in some places. People forgave Elizabeth a little too easily for my taste. There wasn't enough tension. But that wasn't the point of this book, so for what it is supposed to be, it's lovely.
I would call this very "Hallmarkesque" because it definitely could be a Hallmark movie plot. I didn't realize that this was part of a series, I was just browsing around the bookstore. (back in October, my only outing other than work for the past several months, thanks to COVID)
This does work well as a standalone book, but I did enjoy the small town feel, so when things open up more, I'll probably be checking the library to see if I can start at the beginning of the series.
Only worth reading to know why Luke’s wife decided to disappear.
This was a continuation of Luke's story from The Cottages of Silver Beach.
This story hits emotional toll with postpartum depression. There are lots of ups and downs.
Loved the story and loved seeing the girls from the Brambleberry house.
Such a great read.
This story hits emotional toll with postpartum depression. There are lots of ups and downs.
Loved the story and loved seeing the girls from the Brambleberry house.
Such a great read.
Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayer is a wonderful book about love and forgiveness This is part of a series by Ms Thayer called Haven Point. Although it might be good to read the other books, 1-9, I didn’t find that I needed to in order to enjoy this book.
Luke Hamilton has been raising his children following the mysterious disappearance of his wife. All the while, he is living under the suspicion of having killed his wife. However, after a long search, he seems to have found his long lost wife living her life without seeming to care about him or the children left behind. What follows is an untangling of events, forgiveness sought and given, and the triumph of love and family over all.
The book’s characters draw you into the world of traumatic brain injury and all that it entails and weaves a story of trials and tribulations that must be overcome. The story truly came to life in my imagination as I read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book
Luke Hamilton has been raising his children following the mysterious disappearance of his wife. All the while, he is living under the suspicion of having killed his wife. However, after a long search, he seems to have found his long lost wife living her life without seeming to care about him or the children left behind. What follows is an untangling of events, forgiveness sought and given, and the triumph of love and family over all.
The book’s characters draw you into the world of traumatic brain injury and all that it entails and weaves a story of trials and tribulations that must be overcome. The story truly came to life in my imagination as I read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book
In this incredibly touching story by RaeAnne Thayne, Elizabeth Hamilton finds her way home again.
Elizabeth made the ultimate sacrifice. Wracked with postpartum depression, she felt her young daughter, but especially her infant son were better off with her leaving. This broke her heart, and that of her husband Luke. However, when Elizabeth left, she suffered a tragedy and had far more to cope with than ever could have been expected.
It is now seven years later, and Luke is furious, and wants her to come back home and sign divorce papers once and for all. Things were not cut and dried, not by a longshot. Elizabeth spends just enough time with Luke, Callie and Bridger to realize just how desperately she loves each and every one of them. But, is it too late?
It is now the Christmas season, and with all of the festivities, Luke and Elizabeth soon discover that their feelings never went away. Can they all heal at this precious time for the sake of themselves and their family? This is a tender story that hits on a very real, a very serious and what has been for some, a very life-altering condition.
With two of my daughters having given birth this year, this subject of postpartum depression is discussed. Ms. Thayne handled this subject with delicacy and grace. My hat is off to her.
Many thanks to Harlequin and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Elizabeth made the ultimate sacrifice. Wracked with postpartum depression, she felt her young daughter, but especially her infant son were better off with her leaving. This broke her heart, and that of her husband Luke. However, when Elizabeth left, she suffered a tragedy and had far more to cope with than ever could have been expected.
It is now seven years later, and Luke is furious, and wants her to come back home and sign divorce papers once and for all. Things were not cut and dried, not by a longshot. Elizabeth spends just enough time with Luke, Callie and Bridger to realize just how desperately she loves each and every one of them. But, is it too late?
It is now the Christmas season, and with all of the festivities, Luke and Elizabeth soon discover that their feelings never went away. Can they all heal at this precious time for the sake of themselves and their family? This is a tender story that hits on a very real, a very serious and what has been for some, a very life-altering condition.
With two of my daughters having given birth this year, this subject of postpartum depression is discussed. Ms. Thayne handled this subject with delicacy and grace. My hat is off to her.
Many thanks to Harlequin and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.