Review By: Tami Rigling
Published: 2020
Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday Fiction, Contemporary
Audience: Grades 10–12, Adult
Goodreads Link: Christmas at Holiday House
Content Warnings: Death of a spouse, childhood emotional neglect, medical issues, relationship insecurity.
Publisher’s Summary
This New Year will bring widowed nurse Abigail Powell a fresh start in a different city. Excited about the chance to create an unforgettable Christmas for her young son in picturesque Silver Bells, Colorado, Abby has been hired to take care of her dear friend’s recuperating grandmother. But sprightly senior Winnie insists she doesn’t need looking after. What she does need is help decorating her historic mansion, Holiday House, for a seasonal town fundraiser.
Abby warms to the festive task, but she’ll have to contend with her own personal Grinch: Winnie’s prickly grandson, Ethan Lancaster. Ethan is good at a lot of things, but relationships aren’t one of them. His ex-fiancée convinced him he was incapable of love—up until the moment he impulsively kisses Abby. As he and Abby work together on the magical Holiday House through the record cold weather, visions of a different future dance in his head… one filled with warmth, love, and a new beginning for them both.
Review
In Christmas at Holiday House, RaeAnne Thayne delivers a heartwarming tale of healing and holiday magic centered on Abby Powell, a young widow seeking a fresh start for her and her son, Christopher. The story masterfully explores themes of grief, emotional resilience, and the definition of family.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for its cozy feel. It is a wholesome, sweet romance that avoids graphic content, focusing instead on the tender development of trust. While there are no illustrations inside, the cover is quintessentially festive, featuring a snow-dusted house that perfectly captures the “Silver Bells” aesthetic.
Ethan Lancaster is a compelling lead—his cynical views on love, fueled by his parents’ many failed marriages, provide a sharp contrast to Abby’s hope for the future. Watching these two navigate their insecurities while preparing a mansion for a fundraiser makes for a low-stress, high-emotion winter read.
