Season of Wonder

Good story about starting over. Dani moved herself and her two daughters across the country to get away from the mistakes of her past. After she finished veterinary school she was offered an internship in Haven Point, with the possibility of taking over the practice when the current vet retired. She loves her work, but life in a small town is very different than life in Queens and Boston, and all of them have some trouble adjusting. Dani isn't accustomed to the friendliness and interest of the people around her, six-year-old Mia has become shy and withdrawn, and thirteen-year-old Silver is grouchy and defiant. When Silver is caught tagging the next door neighbor's boat, life becomes much more complicated. Ruben is a deputy sheriff and show more her boss's son. He is kind, compassionate, and sexy. He was intrigued by Dani from the start, but hesitant about getting involved with the single mom. He had a similar relationship go bad, which has left him wary, but resisting Dani and her girls proved to be impossible.

I loved the development of the relationship between Dani and Ruben. He could have been a hard-nose about Silver's vandalism, but instead found a way to work with her to get her back on the right track. This frequently put him and Dani in each other's company. I loved seeing all of them grow closer as the days went on. There's no doubt about the attraction between Ruben and Dani, but she is determined to resist it. I loved Ruben's patience as he found various ways to spend time with her and show her what could be. I ached for Dani, who was so certain that Ruben would hate her if he found out about her past. There are some very sweet scenes between them as Dani let down her walls a little. But Dani's fears about her past came rushing back when there was another problem with Silver, causing her to jump to conclusions and push Ruben away. It took some words from an unexpected source to show Dani that her fears were ungrounded. I loved that Ruben never gave up on Dani, and showed her that he could be trusted to stick with her.

I loved the family theme of the book. Dani's past choices were caused by her desire for a family of her own. Those choices have made her who she is, which is a woman who will do anything to protect that family. Ruben's family is loving, boisterous, and always there for each other. I loved the way that he drew Dani and the girls into his family's life and holiday traditions. I also loved the connection that Ruben had with both Mia and Silver. It was sweet to see little Mia come out of her shell around him. I especially liked the relationship that grew between Ruben and Silver. He had the firmness that she needed, but also an excellent way of making her look at her actions from a different perspective. I loved how he stood by her at the end and discovered the truth of what had really happened. The epilogue was a nice glimpse into the future of the new family. show less

I found myself reading, turning pages, and finishing chapters while putting off all the rest of the chores that I was supposed to be doing. Maybe it helped that it was a rainy gloomy day but I could not stop reading about Dani and Ruben.

Dani’s children were amazing. The attitude of the teenager, the wanting to please of the youngest were so real to how my children were that I could picture myself as a single mom trying to handle the kids, a job, and now a man that I can’t stop thinking about.

Ruben…sigh… he was amazing. He won my heart when he didn’t push the girls to talk to him; he talked to them as adults and didn’t expect more from them than what a child can give. He knew that Dani and the girls were a family and if he show more wanted to be in any of their lives he had to be in all of their lives. He treated Dani with respect but also as a woman, he showed her he was attracted to her, gave her space when she needed it, and accepted what she was able to give.

RaeAnne Thayne is an author that I always enjoy and Season of Wonder is no exception. I recommend picking up this easy, light, and fun book. It does not have to be read with the rest of the series as it is definitely a stand-alone book. show less

Thayne's Haven Point series continues, this time during the holiday season. Dani Capelli has uprooted her two girls to take on what amounts to a vet apprenticeship with the local Haven Point vet who hopes to retire after the year trial with Dani. She is very reserved--her life out East wasn't easy and the underlying worry about the harm her ex husband has done nags at her. Her girls, both Silver and Mia are so well written. Mia, being younger, is happy to try out this new area, while Silver falls in and out of funks like any good teen who didn't want to leave her 'real' home. Neighbor Ruben Morales soon becomes a wonderful influence and the magic of both the holidays and their budding relationship are evident. Another great story by show more Thayne, I really can't recommend them enough. show less

I have become a huge RaeAnne Thayne fan and this book just confirms that feeling. This is such a lovely, feel-good book and perfect for getting in the mood for the Christmas season! However, this is not a book just for the holiday season - you can enjoy it anytime of the year. This is part of the Haven Point series but I was never lost reading this as a stand alone book.

Dani has moved to Haven Point, Idaho with her two daughters from Boston after attending Veterinary School there. It's a big adjustment especially for her teenage daughter, Silver, who is finding it hard to go from big city living to a small town. Dani's other daughter, Mia, is doing better but it's also a huge change for her.

Dani is interning with Dr. Morales and hopes show more to buy his practice. His son, Rueben Morales, is her next door neighbor and also a Deputy Sheriff. There are definite sparks between the two but Dani is keeping her distance for fear he will find out about her past and he's not really sure he wants to get involved with a woman with children again.

I loved the relationship between Dani and her daughters as she navigates the struggles of being a single, working mom and trying to take care of her family. I also loved seeing the relationship between Dani and Rueben blossom after a lot of false starts.

This book is a beautiful reminder of learning to love and trust despite difficult things in our past. I really loved this story and these characters! Just a wonderful story that made me feel good. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by Little Bird Publicity. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book. show less