Snow Angel Cove by RaeAnne Thayne Series: Haven Point #1
Published by HQN Books on 2014-10-28
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Add to Goodreads
Also in this series: Redemption Bay, Evergreen Springs, Riverbend Road, Snowfall on Haven Point, Serenity Harbor, Sugar Pine Trail, The Cottages on Silver Beach
Also by this author: A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise, The Christmas Ranch, Redemption Bay, Evergreen Springs, A Cold Creek Christmas Story, Riverbend Road, Snowfall on Haven Point, The Holiday Gift, Serenity Harbor, Sugar Pine Trail, The Rancher's Christmas Song, The Cottages on Silver Beach, Sleigh Bells Ring
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne welcomes you to Haven Point, a small town full of big surprises that are both merry and bright.
Nothing short of a miracle can restore Eliza Hayward's Christmas cheer. The job she pinned her dreams on has gone up in smoke—literally—and now she's stuck in an unfamiliar, if breathtaking, small town. Precariously close to being destitute, Eliza needs a hero, but she's not expecting one who almost runs her down with his car!
Rescuing Eliza is pure instinct for tech genius Aidan Caine. At first, putting the renovation of his lakeside guest lodge in Eliza's hands assuages his guilt—until he sees how quickly he could fall for her. Having focused solely on his business for years, he never knew what his life was missing before Eliza, but now he's willing to risk his heart on a yuletide romance that could lead to forever.
Review
Snow Angel Cove is the first book in RaeAnne Thayne’s new Haven Point series, but it has strong ties to the Hope’s Crossing series: hero Aidan Caine is one of the Caine siblings, several of whom featured in Hope’s Crossing novels. It’s a promising start, and I’m looking forward to the new series.
Tech genius and introvert Aidan Caine loves his family, but tends to keep them at a distance. This year, though, after a sobering experience forces him to rethink his priorities, he plans to host the whole clan at his new lodge, Snow Angel Cove. He doesn’t expect to hit a young woman with his car on an icy street. . . but it may just be the luckiest break of his life.
Eliza Hayward has no job and no home since the hotel she was hired to manage went up in flames on the day she arrived. It’s only a few weeks to Christmas, and she doesn’t know how she and her young daughter Maddie will manage – but they will, somehow. She doesn’t expect to be hit by a car and end up as temporary housekeeper/hostess to Geek God Aidan Caine – someone she has reason to dislike. But the job promises sanctuary through the holidays, so for Maddie’s sake, she accepts the offer.
The chemistry between these two is undeniable, but their growing liking for each other is what makes the relationship believable – and wonderful. Thayne handles the slow revelation of one heart to another with skill and sensitivity; the intensity is more in the feelings than in the physical realm, though there are a few steamy kissing scenes. Best of all, there aren’t any contrived misunderstandings or other plot devices meant to keep the main characters apart – well, other than the fact that Eliza works for Aidan. It’s just a story of two people growing into love.
Maddie is an enchanting child and one of the sweetest things about the book. If she seems a little older than her nearly-six years, well, she’s had some tough things to deal with in her young life. Having had a precocious and imaginative child myself, I took delight in Maddie’s imaginary friend, Bob the horse. I also enjoyed down-to-earth Sue and Jim, Aidan’s retired housekeeper and her husband. I’ve known women just like Sue; she made me feel right at home.
If you’re looking for a sweet Christmas romance for the holidays, Snow Angel Cove is a great place to start. As for me, I’m already looking forward to more books set in Haven Point.
About RaeAnne Thayne
RaeAnne Thayne majored in journalism and worked as a reporter, then an editor, before she began writing fiction. She now writes full-time, and lives in the mountains of northern Utah with her family.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Rita @ My Home of Books
This sounds so good, Lark. I’m glad you didn’t have to had read the previous series to start this one fresh, thanks.
Rita @ My Home of Books recently posted…Weekly Wrap-Up 11/8-11/10/14
Lark_Bookwyrm
I really enjoyed it. No major tensions or disasters, just a sweet, comforting holiday romance.
Bookworm Brandee
I’ve not heard of this author before, Lark. I’ll have to check out the first series. Can this be read without reading that series, though? I want to know what caused Aidan to climb out of his cave. 🙂 And I love it when a child is such a special and integral part of a story. Great review!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…**Blog Tour Review ~ Fairy Tale in New York ~ Nicky Wells**
Lark_Bookwyrm
Yes, you can certainly read this without reading the first series – but that one is enjoyable, too.
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
I’ve never read her before but this sounds good and I’m delighted that there are no contrived misunderstandings. Those annoy the heck out of me.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…The Friday 56 Symbiont by Mira Grant
Lark_Bookwyrm
Me too – especially the ones that could be cleared up in a moment if people just talked to each other. But this one is blessedly free of that sort of thing!
Michele H
Wonderful review! I agree wholeheartedly with you that there wasn’t anything “contrived” about the plot. I loved that Eliza and Aidan’s relationship evolved in a natural way. And the characters were so well developed…as with all of Ms. Thayne’s books I’ve read thus far. Can’t wait for more in this series!
Lark_Bookwyrm
She’s a better romance author than I think she gets credit for – maybe she’s less well-known because her romances are generally sweet, not sensual?