The Christmas Ranch by RaeAnne Thayne

Title: The Christmas Ranch
Series: The Cowboys of Cold Creek #1
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Christmas
Published: November 2014 – Harlequin
Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Hope Nichols has never felt as if she belonged anywhere, except her hometown of Pine Gulch. So, when she hears that her family’s property, Christmas Ranch, is set to be shut down forever, a determined Hope heads home. She refuses to let the Grinch steal her holiday. This will be the most memorable Christmas ever! And, thanks to hunky former navy SEAL Rafe Santiago and his adorable nephew, she might just pull off that miracle.

Rafe is undeniably drawn to Hope and her passion for rebuilding her family home. But he knows more about Hope’s tragic past than even she herself could imagine. And though she doesn’t know it, she owes him her life. And all he wants in return is for her to spend it with him. (publisher)

My brief take: The Christmas Ranch is a lovely story about two people who go above and beyond to help the people in their lives. Rafe put his life in San Diego on hold to care for his nephew in rural Idaho. Hope is determined to get the family Christmas Ranch up and running again in time for the holiday season. Once Christmas is over the two will go back to their separate lives – or so they plan. Eventually they figure out that “sometimes what you think you want is different from what you really need”. It’s a sweet story that embodies the spirit of Christmas. Recommended to fans of the author and a sweet Christmas romance.